The Axe at the Root, Sermon

The Axe at the Root · Sermon

p. 1A SERMON PREACHED Before the Honourable Houſe of COMMONS. at their publique FAST. April 26. 1643.

MATTH. 3. 10.

Now alſo the Axe is laid unto the root of the trees, therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewen down, and caſt into the fire.

THeſe words are part of a penitentiall Sermon, Iohn Baptiſt, the greateſt Prophet borne of a woman, yet the humbleſt that had to do with Chriſt, Mat. 3. 11. Preaching repentance to the people v. 2. multitudes flocked to heare him upon that ſubject, amongſt others the Phariſees and Sadduces, which were none of the beſt, came to heare; and theſe he exhorts alſo to bring forth fruit meet for repentance: many arguments he uſed to preſſe on that duty, and this Text is Argumentum …gens, a ſtrong argument unto it: Beſide the Arguments, of the Kingdome of God being at hand, v. 2. and that p. 2there is wrath to come, v. 7. he ſaith, Now alſo is the Axe laid to the root of the Tree▪ if the Kingdome will not draw you, nor the fear of wrath after this life drive you … the preſent Axe that is laid to the root of the … draw and drive you to repentance.

In the words you have a deſcription of divine ſeveritie▪ And firſt in the preparation to it, The axe is laid to the root of the tree. Secondly, in the execution of it, Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewen down, and caſt into the fire.

Firſt, I ſhall open to you the words, and then draw forth ſuch truths, and Obſervations, as the words do naturally prompt unto you, without any ſtraining, or fetching of blood.

By Axe we underſtand not Chriſt▪ as Gregory, nor the Goſpell, as ſome would have it; but any Judgement that God uſeth to cut down a ſinful people by. The Roman forces, under Veſpatian and Titus, were Gods Axe, to cut down the Nation of the Iewes, by the warre they made upon them by the famine attended that warre, and the diſpertion followed it, they were utterly cut downe I will a little ſhew you the reſemblances between them and an Axe: Becauſe Gods judgements are called Axes.

Reſemb. 1.Firſt, an Axe is a ſharpe and terrible thing, ſo are Gods Judgements, Pſal. 45. 5▪ Thine arrowes are ſharpe in the heart of the Kings enemies. Gods Arrowes are not onelyonly his truths, but alſo his judgements▪ and they are ſharpe at diſtance, but eſpecially upon the entrance when they come into the hearts of Chriſts▪ enemies they wound, and that dreadfully, Ier. 5…. 20▪ … called Gods battell Axe, and that you know … a terrible Inſtrument; God by Babylon did break, and terrifie Kingdomes, he dealt ſharply, and roundly with them, and his Judgements executed by Babylon were very dreadfull, Pſal. 119. 120. My fleſh trembleth for feare of thee; and I am affraid of thy Judgements. David that was not affraid of the Beare, of the Lyon, nor of G…liah, yet was affraid of p. 3Gods Judgements If the giving of the Law made Moſes and the people quake, Heb. 12. 20, 21. ſurely Gods Judgements which are lexanimata, the execution of the Law, will make Kingdomes to tremble. At the entrance of the law Mount S…na did ſmoak, and when God ſhall avenge the breach of the Law, Mount Sion will burne, Lament. 4. 11.

When Ananias and Saphira were ſmitten, great feare fell upon all the Church, and all others that heard of it, inſomuch that none of them durſt joine themſelves with them. Acts 5. 11. 13. So you ſee Gods Judgements are ſharpe and dreadfull.

Secondly, an Axe as its terrible ſo its ſtrong and weighty, and Gods Judgments have ſtrength and weight in them, Pſal. 90. 11. Who knowes the power of thine anger? there is power and ſtrength in the wrath of God, let him uſe the leaſt creature to execute his judgements, and there is ſtrength enough in that creature to ruine any: the raine is a weake thing, but if God will uſe raine as a Judgment, it is ſtrong enough to drown a world▪ Job. 37. 6. It is called the great raine of his ſtrength. God can put that ſtrength into a cloud, into a few drops of raine, that they ſhall conquer any oppoſite power; the worms eate up Herod, Act. 12. A humor in the feet tumbles ope Adrian the fourth choaked with a fly at Anagnia Simpſ. Hiſtorie of the church. Cent. 12▪ Iovianus the Emperour ſtifled with ſmoak or eating of a muſhrum Grimſton, lives of Emperours.down Aſa, 2 Chron. 16. a diſeaſe in the bowells conſumes Ieh…ram, 2 Chron. 21. And Stories tell us ſmall things have overthrowne men of great renowne, a grape ſtone▪ a flye, ſome petty thing: God can arme the weakeſt creature with that ſtrength, that no man is able to ſtand againſt it, not the Princes of the earth, Pſal. 76. 1…. Hee cuts off the ſpirit of Princes, Hee deales with Princes as men deale with a Vine, an Axe is too ſtrong for a cluſter of Grapes, or a ſprig of a Vine, it eaſily cuts them off: ſo God by a Judgement eaſily cuts off the ſpirit of Princes, they are not able to ſtand againſt the leaſt Judgement of God, when he puts ſtrength into raine, wormes, or any other creature, they fall.

p. 43Thirdly, an Axe is an inſtrument to hew with, wood and ſtones they hewed with Axes, Eſa. 10. 15. Shall the axe boaſt it ſelfe againſt him that heweth therewith? God by His Judgements hewes Nations and Kingdomes. He hewed Iſrael by forraigne Nations, when Iſrael was under the Judges, the Philiſtimes, and others were Gods Axe to hew them. After they had choſen them a King the Lord alſo hewed them, 2 King. 10. 32. He cut Iſrael ſhort in all their coaſts; the Hebrew word is to curtaile▪ to cut off the ends: Hazael was ſent, and ſmote them in all their coaſts; he took their coaſt Townes, cut off the ſupplies and ſuccors, came from thence and much moleſted them, Pſal. 75. 10. The hornes of the wicked will I cut off; the Lord will deale with them as men doe with Trees firſt loppe off one bow, then another, then a third, and leave only the trunke: ſo for wicked men God will loppe off their pride, their ſtrength, their glory, and leave them deſtitute.

4Fourthly, againe the Axe is deſtructive, Trees are cut down by Axes and great woods. The Lord by His Judgements cuts down Kingdomes and Princes, Pſal. 110. 5. In the day of thy wrath thou ſhalt ſmite through Kings; God ſhall not only ſmite, but he ſhall ſmite through Kings: an Axe cuts, and cuts through; and Gods judgements cut through the greateſt and throws them down, Ezek. 14. 21. Gods Judgements are ſore ones, the Sword, Famine, Plague, noyſome Beaſt, they are His ſore Judgements to hew down People and Kingdomes; hence it is that God is called a conſuming fire, not that He is ſo in his owne nature, for he is nothing but love and delight: but when He ſends out his ſore Judgements, then GOD is fire, and will be everlaſting burning to the wicked.

The next thing to open in the words is, what is meant by the Tree, and the Root of it. By Tree, we are to underſtand the Jewiſh ſtate principally, they were called Gods pleaſant plant, Iſa. 5. 7. God had digged, dung'd, p. 5watered, and ſhined upon, and done much for them; they were a great and goodly Tree: but now the Lord layes the Axe to the Root of this Tree; and if God cut downe this Tree, his pleaſant Tree, then no State, no Family, might ever after look to find Mercy, that was in the condition of this Tree, Every tree that bringeth not forth fruit is hewen down, and caſt into the fire.

For the Root of the Tree, ſome make Man the Tree, the life of Man the Root of it; the Axe to be the ſentence of Death, and Death it ſelfe the cutting down of the Tree. Others make the Root of the Tree to be whatever they built moſt upon, and confided in: they built upon their Temple, Greatneſſe, Strength, Chariots Horſes and ſuch things. But I ſhall commend to you theſe 4. things, wherin the Root of the Tree did mainly conſiſt.

The Firſt was that Covenant which they had with 1God they were the Lords People, and he was their God; and this was one Root which afforded much ſap to this Tree; God being theirs in Covenant▪ He protected them, provided for them, and did wonderfull things among them. Now the laying the Axe to the Root, was the breaking His Covenant with them▪ Zach. 11. 10. & 14 v. there is the ſtaffe of beauty, and bands; ſaith God, I tooke my ſtaffe, Beauty, and cut it aſunder, that I might breake my Covenant with all the people; and when God had broken that, it was not long before He brake that other ſtaffe of Bands, viz. the brotherhood between Iſrael and Iudah, the ten Tribes were diſperſed before: but they had ſome communion with Iudah at Ieruſalem: but God would break the ſtaffe of Bands, he would diſperſe them at Ieruſalem, and ſo there ſhould be no communion between Iudah and Iſrael for the future. The Covenant being diſſolv'd they were wounded at the Root, and were no longer Gods people.

Secondly, by Root is meant the true Religion, and 2worſhip that the Jewes had, theſe are the root of a Kingdome. p. 6A Kingdome then lives and proſpers when Religion and the Pure worſhip of God are maintained; this the aaEthnicus Marcius apud …vium l. 44. dixit favere pieta▪i fidei que Deos, p…r quae populus Romanus ad tantum faſtigium pervenit. a Omnia proſpera eventunt colentibus Deum, ad verſa ſpernentibus. Lucius. l. 5. Numa Pompilius ſecundus Roman…r… rex, ferum p… pulum religionis inſtitutione & utilibus legibus domuit, ſuumque regnum ita formavit, ut pendente ejus regno nemo illi bellum moverit. Plin de viris illuſt. c. 2. Religio & timor Dei ſolus eſt, qui cuſtodit hominum inter ſe ſoci…tatem. Lactant. lib▪ de Ira c. 12.Heathens themſelves did know, that Religion and worſhip of their Gods was the onelyonly way to make a Kingdome flouriſh. Tullie in his Booke (de natura de…rum) attributes the felicitie, Empire and Tryumph of the Romans (Religioni.) They ſaw all things to be rul'd by the Gods, and as we, ſaith he, excelled all Nations p…etate & Religione, ſo we excelled them all in plenty; and when the bbMacrob. in Saturn. l. 3. c. 9.Romans went out to Warre, they firſt took care to call the Gods out of that City and Tow… which they went againſt, and promiſed them better entertainment at Rome, then at any other place, intimating to us, that while they kept their Gods they could not be overcome: and they conceited Rome invincible, while they had their Palladium: but to leave them, and to look to Gods word. ccSanchius in Locum.Hoſea 13. 1. When Ephraim ſpake, trembling, he exalted himſelfe in Iſrael. When Ieroboam ſet up Calves, at Dan and Bethel, and will'd the people to worſhip there, pretending it was too farre to goe to Ieruſalem, theſe were ſhorter journeyes, and the worſhip as warrantable, they ſpake trembling. What ſhall we leave our God, ſhall we give way to Idolatry and worſhip we know not what? When they ſpake trembling they exalted themſelves; but when he offended in Baal then he died; when Ieroboam prevailed by his poſlicie and power and brought them to it then they dyed▪ as the worſhip of God preſerved or corrupted, ſo Kingdomes flouriſh or wither, 1 Chron, 22. 13. 1 Kings 11. 11. 2 Chron 17. 3.

Thirdly, the root of a Kingdome conſiſts in Civill Power, when that is upheld in a Kingdome, it flouriſheth, but when that is wounded or deſtroy'd, the Kingdome is blaſted and withers at the root. Gen. 49. 10. the Promiſe was that the Scepter ſhould not depart from p. 7Iudah till Shiloh come; till Chriſts comming the Civil Power ſhould not be remov'd. There is a Queſtionl among great ones, how this can be made good? But I will not diſpute that, only take it thus: unto the day of Auguſtus Caeſar the power remained, in the State of the Jewes; he then with the Senate took the power from them, placed it in Herod Aſcalonita, and ſet him up, and then the Scepter departed from Iudah. ddWillet. Mercerus A Lapide.The Sanedrim were moſt, if not all of the Tribe of Iudah, and had the ſupreme Authority, they called Herod to Queſtion for his contumacie, and had almoſt taken away his life, which Herod taking to heart, rooted out the Sanedrim, reigned abſolutely over the Jewes, and did what he liſted againſt them, and onelyonly fear'd to diſpleaſe the Romans; here was the Axe at the root, their Civill Power was taken away.

Fourthly, the Root was the Godly partie among the 4Jewes; They, whether Magiſtrates, Miniſters, or People, are the ſtrength of a Kingdome. Eliſhah and Eliſah were the Chariots and Horſmen of Iſrael, they were the Militia of that Kingdome; Pſal. 75. 3. ſaith David, I beare up the Pillars of the earth: he maintain'd Religion, their Lawes, and the faithfull, theſe were the Pillars of the Earth, and his eye was upon the faithfull, Pſal. 101. 6. they ſhould dwell with him, he knew they were ſtrong props of the Kingdome. That place is obſervable, Eſa. 6. 13. As an Oake whoſe ſubſtance is in it, when it caſts the leaves, ſo the holy Seed ſhalbe the ſubſtance therof. When the wind, raine and thunder blow off the leavs, break off the branches, yet the life and ſubſtance remaines; ſo here the holy ſeed ſhalbe the ſubſtance of it. Let Nebuchadnezzar come, blow and break off the leaves and branches of this Vine, throw them into the furnace of Babylon, and make Iſrael as a dead ſapleſſe thing▪ yet the holy ſeed ſhalbe the ſubſtance therof; and when they returne againe, it ſhall ſpread in the Kingdome, and be a great Tree, and the toppe reach to heaven, and over all p. 8the borders of the Land, the holy ſeed being the ſubſtance and root would grow and multiply; when godly Miniſters▪ Magiſtrates and People be ſtruck in a Kingdome, then the Axe is laid to the Root of the Tree. Now they were perſecuted and thruſt from their place; Herod put by the aaNulli Aſamon▪ …orum poſteritati ſacerdo…ium committere voluit Herodes. Joſeph. Antiq. Judaic. l. 20. c. 8.Aſamonaeans, and ſuffered none of them to enjoy the Prieſthood. Annas was ſet up, and bbforeignCaiphas who according to his name, vomited out malice againſt Chriſt; and before their full cutting down, the voice was heard, Ite pellam, goe to Pella, the godly were removed, and then they were deſtroyed.

Queſtion. Was not the Axe laid to the root of the Tree before this time? was it not at the Root, when the ten Tribes were cut off? Why then is it ſaid, Now is the Axe laid to the root of the Tree?

The Anſwer is, it's true the Lord did lay the Axe to the root of it before this time, and that heavily, in the diſperſing of the ten Tribes; therfore its ſaid Now alſo: but he did not ſo lay the Axe unto the root of the tree, as that it was wholly deſtroyed; often times they were hewed with the Judgements of God, yet alwayes there was ſemen, a ſeed left: and when they came out of Babylon there was a glorious Church, and God delighted in them: but now the Axe was ſo layd to the Root, that they bbPoſt pe…catum in Chriſtum commiſſum radi…it…s eſt, percuſſus ſtatus ille per univerſalem captivitat…m. Gorran in Mat.were utterly cut down, and made no People. Now the Lord did unconvenant them, unchurch them, unpower them unſaint them; now the Lord caſt them off; they had no Root left, no god for their God, but were made a reproach and curſe among all Nations.

Secondly, Now the Axe is laid, becauſe the Lord hath another People to graft in; before he took no care of the Gentiles, but left them to periſh in their way; now he would take this wild Olive, and graft it into the Root: therfore ſaith Chriſt Iohn 9. 39. I am come for Judgement, to cut off the Jewes by the Root, and to graft in the Gentiles, that I may try them, and ſee whether they will beare better fruit then the Jewes have done, Acts p. 9opening of the words. Now I come to give you thoſe Obſervations which doe naturally flow from the word.

Obſer. 1.And firſt obſerve, that God beares long with a ſinfull people: Now is the axe layd to the root of the tree, I have borne a long time, been patient, but now I come with the axe, and doe lay it to the root of the tree. God is a patient God toward his people, and toward the world, a God that beares with ſin and ſinners beyond our expectation: three yeares God bore with the Fig-tree, Luk 13. 7. I came theſe three yeares and have found no fruit: Fourty yeares God bare with them in the Wilderneſſe, Heb 3. 9. a hundred yeares God bare with a ſinner, Eſa. 65. 20. an hundred and twenty yeares with the old world, Gen. 6. 3. and after Noah was ſhut into the Arke, God bare ſeven dayes, to ſee if they would repent and turne, as ſome collect from Gen. 7. 4. God goes further then this, he bare three hundred and ninety years with the idolatrous paſſages of Iſrael, Ezek. 4. 5. three hundred and ninety dayes taken for yeares, that God had borne with them. Foure hundred yeares did God beare with the Amorites, Gen. 15 16. God hath borne with Antichriſt above this 1200. yeares: God bare with the Gentiles before Chriſt came, more then 2000. yeares, Acts 17 30. God is foreign, a God of patience, Rom. 15. 5. long-ſuffering, Exod. 34. 6. he doth beare, and forbeare with ſinners, and Kingdomes, and a world full of wickedneſſe and vanity, Eſa. 42. 14. ſaith God there, I held my peace, yea I held my peace a long time, and was ſilent and refrained: God held his peace, ſaid nothing to Kingdomes, nothing to Families, nothing to particular perſons; he held his hand alſo, did not ſtrike a long time: God is patient, and with-holds ſo long, as (patientia Dei turbat pios) the Saints are troubled at Gods patience, it makes them to cry, How long, how long how long ſhall the wicked triumph, utter and ſpeak hard things! it's thrice repeated, Pſal. 94. 3. 4. the Saints are troubled that God doth not come p. 10and deſtroy the wicked: and not onelyonly the Saints on earth, but the Saints in heaven, Rev. 6. 10. they cry, How long, how long wilt not thou avenge our bloud! We have been ſlaine by Cains, by Pharaohs, by Nimrods, by Herod, How long, how long Lord wilt thou not avenge our bloud. Not onelyonly the Saints, but the ſinnes of wicked men, they cry for vengeance; the ſinnes of Sodom cryed for vengeance againſt Sodom: Not onelyonly ſin, but the whole Creation, heaven and earth groanes, Rom. 8. The Land mournes for oaths, and other iniquities, Jer. 23. 10. Satan, the accuſer of the brethren, cryes; Gods Juſtice cryes all his Attributes cry, to deſtroy ſinners, to deſtroy the whole world; yet God ſeemes deafe, and will not heare; yet Vſe.he is patient, and holds his hands: What ſhould the patience of God produce? The Apoſtle tells us Rom. 2 4. Knoweſt thou not that the long-ſuffering and goodneſſe of God ſhould lead (the word is drive) thee to repentance? the patience of God ſhould conſtraine us to repentance. What▪ ſhall God hold the Candle of our lives in his hand, and we ſin againſt him? there is much in Gods patience to conſtraine us to repent, its patience beares with all our ſinnes; if Gods patience were at an end ſin would be heavie; it's patience that lengthens out our lives, Lam. 3. 22. it's divine patience that keepes us out of hell; it's that keepes open the doore of common and choice mercies; the doore of grace and ſalvation had been ſhut long ſince, if Gods patience had ceaſed, 2 Pet. 3. 9, 15. God is willing we ſhould all come to repentance, let us reach to it this day, and make his long-ſuffering ſalvation to us. Oft we have grieved his Spirit by ſinning and abuſe of his patience, once let us rejoice it by repentance, the improvement of patience.

Obſer. 2.Againe, obſerve that great ſeverity goes along with the greateſt mercy. The Goſpel is the greateſt mercy that ever came into the world, and there is the greateſt ſeverity with the Goſpel, that ever came with any mercy into the world; now is the axe laid, when the Goſpel is p. 11comming. Func…ius obſerves that John began his Miniſtery in the fifteenth yeare of Tiberius, Auguſtus died the twentieth of Auguſt, Tiberius ſucceeded him, whoſe reigne is reckoned from that of Auguſt, and not from January; on the firſt of September, which was the feaſt of Trumpets, and on which day was the promulgation of the yeare of Jubile, then was the voice of the Cryer firſt heard: At this time, which was very feſtivall, Iohn preach'd and ſaid, Now the axe is laid to the root of the tree, at the yeare of Jubile, and comming of the Goſpel it's done. Here was the acceptable yeare, and the day of Eſa. 61. 2.Isa 61:2vengeance together; the acceptable yeare of Chriſts comming▪ and the day of vengeance, the axe is layd to the root of the tree. To give more light and ſtrength to this point, be pleaſed to take into your thoughts theſe paſſages in the Goſpel, Mark 16. 16. Goe (ſaith Chriſt) preach the Goſpel, he that beleeves ſhall be ſaved, he that beleeves not ſhall be damned: upon non-believing preſently is damnation entailed. Iohn 3. 18. he that beleeveth not is condemned already. Matth. 10. 14. Shake off the duſt of your feet againſt that City and Towne that doth not receive you: Shake off the duſt of your feet againſt them, that ſhall bee a teſtimony againſt them: It ſhall be more eaſie for Sodom and Gomorrah in that day, then for that Town, that City, that, People, that Chriſtian, that refuſeth the meanes of grace, and the Gospel of Chriſt. Is not here the greateſt ſeverity with the greateſt mercy in the world? And the reaſon is, becauſe the Goſpel is the heigth of Gods mercy; the Angels they had ſimplicem miſericordiam, bare and naked mercy; but men have divitias miſerioordiae, the riches of mercy: in the Goſpel, as there is plenitudo gratiae, ſo plenitudo irae, plenty of mercy, and plenty of wrath too: If there were a ſword on Moſes thigh, there is an axe in Chriſts hand; if there be fire in the Law, there is fire and brimſtone in the Goſpel. In the Law God kept Aſſizes once a yeare; in the Goſpel he keeps Seſſions every monethmonth: If he died without mercy that deſpiſed Moſes Law, p. 12he muſt die with all ſeverity that deſpiſes Chriſt; Luk. 19. 27. Bring thoſe mine enemies, that will not that I ſhould reigne over them, and ſtay them before me: Rev. 8. 13. dreadfuller woes are pronounced under the Goſpel then under the Law, Woe, Woe, Woe, to the inhabitants of the earth: ſo Mat. 18. 7. Woe to the wo ld: there was never a generall Woe pronounced upon the world before this time; but now, Woe unto the world: and the plagues ſince the comming of Chriſt have been greater upon the world then before as the Trumpets and Vials in the Revelation do manifeſt. Till Chriſt was come, and the bleſſings of the Goſpel were tendred to the Jewes, they never had a perfect bill; but after hee was come, and the grace of the Goſpel refuſed, then the bill of Divorce was perfected, … Theſ. 2. 16. they caſt out of Gods family, and his wrath came upon them to the utmoſt, foreign, to the utmoſt, even to perfection: God would beare no more, but cut them off preſently, and with as much ſeverity as ever we read of any.

Vſe.We ſhould learne hence, to take heed how we ſlight and refuſe the Gospel of Chriſt: in it there is the choice love of God, the precious bloud of the Sonne of God; in it is the Spirit of grace and glory, the exceeding great and precious promiſes, all ſpirituall excellencies and eternall life: if you refuſe theſe, you provoke God to lay the axe unto the root of the tree; you provoke Chriſt to ſay, Bring him and them hither, and ſlay them before me, that would not have me to reigne over them. The Gadarenes preferred their Swine, the Capernaites their Loaves, the Jewes Barabbas, before Chriſt; but it coſt them all deare when the axe came. Let not a Gadareniſh, a Capernaiticall, a Jewiſh ſpirit be found amongſt us; let us ſay, Pereant porci, pereant panes, pereat Barabbas, & regnet Chriſtus, let all goe, ſo Chriſt may reigne. The Jewes ſtucke ſo to Moſes and Moſaicall things, ſo to the Temple and the Rites of it, ſo to ſuperſtitions and the traditions of their Fathers, that they would not receive Chriſt and the truths of p. 13the time preſent, and therefore God dealt ſo ſeverely with them, as to cut them downe by the Romiſh axe. There be truths of Chriſt reſerved for ſome times and when thoſe truths are diſcovered, wee ſhould examine them, and labour to bee eſtabliſhed in preſent truths, 2 Pet. 1. 12. as the Apoſtle ſpeakes Are there not truths now on foot, concerning Chriſts Kingly Office, and his government in the Church? hath hee not powred out his Spirit upon men eminently, and brought light out of darkneſſe? Shall wee reject truth and light, it's feared we ſtick too much to Moſaicalls, Prelaticalls, and Trditionalls: Let us prove all things, and hold faſt that is good; let us receive the truth with the love of it▪ leſt we be given up to ſtrong deluſions, 2 Theſ. 2 10. 11. and ſtrange judgements, Acts 2. 13. 17. 28. when the Spirit was given, choice truths preſented and they not received, there is mention of turning the Sunne into darkneſſe, and the Moone into bloud; which notes ſome dreadfull judgements▪ that ſhould darken and imbitter their beſt comforts: The like may we feare, if we refuſe any truths of Chriſt.

Thirdly, obſerve that God doth premoniſh before he 3doth puniſh. Now the Axe is laid to the root of the Tree, Iohn tells them, there was an Axe laid, the newes of the Axes comming was heard before the noiſe of its cutting. The Lord tells Delinquents before he ſtrikes them, Yet forty dayes, and Nineveh ſhall be deſtroyed. Men are cloſe, Cometae vel peſtem provin…i alium vel Regni muta…i…nem portendere pro vero aſſeverabo Gul. Malmsbur. de Geſtis reg. dngl. l. 2 c. 9. de Edwardo▪ Martyre.their deſignes are underneath, they oft ſtorme, ſurprize, and plunder Towns without giving the leaſt notice but when God intends judgements, he ſends his Heralds to warne Kingdomes and Nations. Hath not God given warning to all Nations? hath he not within theſe hundred yeares, given us 100. warnings? have not the Heavens ſeemed on fire? have not there bin foure or five blazing Stars? Herlicius Stargardenſis held that the influence of the Comet 1618. upon the chriſtian world would laſt to between 20 & 30▪ yeares, which is already verified duplicate page p. 12duplicate page p. 13p. 14at laſt is blaz'd over England and expired, intimating that England ſhould take warning by it. Beſides theſe, have we not had Earth-quakes? great froſts, deep ſnowes, unſeaſonable weather, and is it not freſh in your memorie how God had a quarel with your Steeples▪ and Churches for the corruptions and Innovations in them, when divers of the… were ſmitten, broken and burnt by thunder and lightning: not onelyonly by prodigies, hath God warned us, but by his Prophets alſo Ezek. 33. 3. they have bin telling you of a ſtroak that would come, Eliſhahs ſword hath bin drawne, and brandiſhed before us, and becauſe we would not take warning by that, Iehnes and Hazaels ſwords are in the midſt of us; Its undeniable the cocks have crowed and told us of this ſtorme of bloud above this thirty yeares, all exceptions are taken away, none can quarrell with God, he hath warned us, he is juſt and will overcome in Judgement, he hewed Ieruſalem by his Prophets, before he cut it downe by his Axes, Ier. 1. 10 The Prophet did root up by his Prophecy & after that Nebuchad▪ cuts down by the ſword. Further God hath warned us by his judgements on others. Germany theſe 20. years hath bin a Beacon to us, Scotland was lately a Land of darkeneſſe, and Ireland is ſtill a Land of wrath, and muſt England be ſecure. Awake, awake, O England, there be Armies within thy bowells, Parliament Citie, Kingdome, are all in danger. God hath long threatned and is now upon execution. Uſe of the point, Amos 4. 12. Thus will I doe unto thee, and becauſe I will doe this, prepare to meet thy God: Its dreadfull to heare God is in a way of Judgement, eſpecially when we are not in a way of repentance: If I whet my glittering Sword, and my hand takes hold of Iudgment, I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will make mine Arrowes drunke with bloud, and my Sword ſhall devoure fleſh, &c. Deut. 32. 41, 42. When God whets his Sword, and ſhoots his arrowes, he will make them eate fleſh, and drinke blood, yea be fild with blood, and grow fat with fatnes, Eſa. 34. 6. Now p. 15God hath given a Commiſsion to the Sword to eate Engliſh fleſh, and drinke Engliſh blood; and I feare the Sword having bin ſtarved a long time, will now eate to purpoſe, it comes hungry, and is like to eate much fleſh, it comes dry, and is like to drinke much blood▪ before it be put up again: Let us therefore meet God in this way with ſighs and teares, let us take warning in time, praemoniti pr…muni…i, men that are forewarned ſhould be forearmed. In theſe times men are arm'd to goe to battle with men, but are you arm'd to meet God? have you on the girdle of veritie? the Breaſtplate of righteouſneſſe? are you ſhod with the preparation of the Goſpell of peace? is the helmet of ſalvation on your heads? is the ſhield of Faith on your hearts, and the ſword of the ſpirit in your mouthes? If you be thus arm'd you may meet God marching in flames of fire, and that without prejudice. The Lord of Hoſts is come, if we bee not prepared wee cannot ſtand in the evill day, read Ezek. 22. 14 but the ſoul that takes warning ſhall deliver it ſelfe, Ezek. 33. 5. Let us all then, lay it to heart, that the ſword is drawn, hath dranke the blood of our friends, and may drinke ours, The Axe is laid to the root of the tree, and threatens the downfall of Church and State, if we do take warning and meet God the right way, we may deliver our owne ſouls, the ſouls of thoſe that belong unto us, and probably the whole Land.

Fourthly, God begins with leſſer judgements, and afterward 4with greater▪ Now the Axe is laid to the root of the Tree. Firſt there was Culter pota…orius, the pruning hooke, and when that would do no good, then comes the Axe, Gods Judgements are graduall not ſuperlative at the firſt upon Kingdomes and families Sodom was firſt plundered by the foure Kings, after that reſcued by Abraham, and ſet in Statu quo, Gen. 14, 15, 16. This Judgement doing little good, they were ſmitten with blindnes Gen. 19. and when that did no good then came fire, and Brimſtone, and conſumed them from before the face of p. 16the Lord. The Romans had their Faſces, and their Securis, firſt their Faſces came, and then their Securis: God hath his Fiſces, his Rods before his Securis, his Axe, if leſſer judgements will prevail, the Axe ſhall never come, Hoſ. 5. 12. 14. there is mention of a moath, rottenneſſe, and a Lyon, firſt the Moath a leſſer fretting judgement, then comes rotteneſſe▪ a ſoarer judgement, the word for rotteneſſe ſignifies a Worme alſo that eates into Trees, and cauſeth rotteneſſe. God would ſend ſuch judgments as ſhould eat into the heart of the Jewiſh State, and after that he would be as a Lion, tear in pieces and devoure Rac…ab … putred… & te…ed….them.

This ſhewes that God is not willing to caſt off, and deſtroy a people that have bin his, Hoſ. 11. 6, 7, 8. How ſhall I give thee up Ephraim? how ſhall I deliver thee Iſrael? how ſhall I make thee as Admah? how ſhall I ſet thee as Zeboim? &c. The Sword was to abide upon their Cities. their goodly branches were to be lopped off, they followed their owne Councells, went backward from God, they were call'd to by Prophets and Judgements, to exalt God, but would not, yet ſaith God, how ſhall I give thee up, &c. There was a contention between merciemercy and juſtice, the one pleaded as much for them as the other againſt them. Judgment is opus alienum, Gods ſtrange worke, mercy comes out ſweetly, but judgement conſtrainedly (as a ſting from a Bee:) the Woman conſtrained the unjuſt Judge to doe her Juſtice, ſo wicked men conſtraine God to deſtroy them. If the Sodomites would have amended upon the firſt or ſecond Judgement, Salvian.God would have ſtayed the Plague; but ipſi extorſerunt ut perirent, they conſtrained God to deſtroy them. Shall God be unwilling to deſtroy us, and ſhall we deſtroy our ſelves? Let not ſuch a perverſe ſpirit be in us. God is loath to caſt men into hell, and yet they deſire God to damne them▪ and ſweare themſelves many miles into hell. O horrible wickedneſſe! many a man is ready to make away himſelfe, when God ſteps in, and p. 17prevents the miſchiefe. God is willinger to keepe many out of Hell then they are themſelves.

Fiftly, God hath Soveraigne Authority over all Kingdomes, 5Now is the Axe laid unto the Root of the Tree, this axe was the Roman State, this Tree was the Jewiſh State. God hath the Authority of all in his hand, hee ſets one Kingdome againſt another. Babylon muſt ruine Sion: Titus and Vespatian, are ſtir'd up by God to cut down and deſtroy the Jewiſh Nation: God hath Soveraignty over all Kingdomes, Pſal. 103. 19. and can imply them to execute his judgements. Senacherib was his axe, Eſa 10. 15. to cut downe Nations. God makes one Kingdome an Axe to hew downe another, hee makes one part of a State to hew downe another part of the ſame. The Jewiſh Common-wealth was now under the Roman Empire; it's ſo in England at this day, hath not God mingled a perverſe Spirit amongſt us, Eſa. 9. 21. Ephraim againſt Manaſſeth, Manaſſeth againſt Ephraim, and both againſt Iudah; They ſought each others deſtruction as we do at this day; a perverſe Spirit was mingled among them▪ and among us. Kingdomes depend upon God, Dan. 4. 32. 2 Chap. 21. and where there is the greateſt dependancy, there is the greateſt Soveraignty. Now Kingdomes depend upon God, quoad omnia, for their beings, upholdings and bleſsings, and therefore he hath, jus utendi, he may do with his own what he liſt, hee can and may daſh one Family, one Towne, one Country, and one Kingdom againſt another, and that without controule. Who ſhall ſay to him, what doeſt thou?

Vſe.What ſhould this beget in us, but to feare this God that hath Soveraign authori y over all fleſh, over all Kingdoms; let us feare this God, Ier. 10. 7. Who would not feare thee O King of Nations? for to thee doth it appertain: Shall God be the King of Nations, the King of all Kings and not be feared? to the doth it appertaine, not to men to be feared but to thee doth it appertain: The great God muſt be feared. Ye that are petty Kings on the Earth, you that are Gods on the Earth, you muſt know that this God hath Soveraigne p. 18Authority over Nations, Perſons, lives▪ conſciences, hee is the everlaſting King or King of eternity, Ier. 10. 10. Hee can, will, and muſt, diſpoſe of you ere long eternally in heaven or hell, Iob 36. 8, 9, 10. When Families and Kingdomes are in fetters under the afflicting hand of God, then Hee ſhewes them the exceſsiveneſſe of their ſins, and commands them to returne from iniquity. Did not God command them before? yes, but then they ſlighted God, being at eaſe and in proſperity, His commands were not regarded, but when God caſt into ſtreights, fetters and afflicts Families or Kingdomes, their eares are opened, they harken to Diſcipline? What they formerly contemned, is now pretious, and they ſee Authority and Majeſty in the command of Vexat…o dat intelle▪ …um.God, Mic. 6. 9. The King of Nations is wroth with this Kingdome, Hee hath it in fetters, let us hearken to His commands, and tremble at his Soveraignty. Pſal. 99. 1. The Lord Raigneth let the Earth tremble; let all the Potentates and Inhabitants of it tremble and quake before him: It's for our advantage to do it. Hab. 3. 16. when the Caldeans were to come up and beſiege Jeruſalem, the Prophet apprehending it before-hand, quivered and quaked, and why was it? that hee might reſt in the day of trouble: that ſoule which trembleth when judgement is in the Cloud▪ when the Axe is at the root of the tree, ſhall have reſt in the day of trouble: Iſa. 66 2. To him will I looke that is of a contrite Spirit, and trembleth at my word: God will looke to him, that the flood ſhall not drowne him, nor the Axe cut him downe. Lot is ſav'd when the fire conſum'd Soddom; God was to him a Sanctuary, he feared God and God was his defence, Eſa. 8▪ 13, 14. When we have frames of Spirit ſuitable to the Authority and Majeſty of the great God, that is Lord of Kingdomes, that raiſes and ruines them at his pleaſure, then we ſanctifie God in our hearts, and he will be a Sanctuaary unto us, and ſuch a Sanctuary is needfull for theſe times.

p. 19Sixtly obſerve, That after warning, and waiting, God 6will deale ſeverely with Kingdomes and Perſons. Now the Axe is laid to the Root of the Tree, I have warned you long, and waited long, and I ſee no good fruit, now therefore I intend to cut down the Tree by the Root. Iſa. 42. 14, 15. I have been ſilent a long time, and held my peace, and refrained, and ſaid nothing, but now I will cry like a Woman in Travell, I will deſtroy, and devoure at once ſaith GOD, I will ſtay no longer, I will lay waſt Mountaines, and hills, I will dry no Rivers and …ooles: Great and ſmall ſhould now feele the ſtroake of Gods hand; where Gods long ſuffering ends, there his fury begins, and hee will deale ſeverely with Kingdomes, and with particular Perſons.

This ſeverity appeares in three particulars: Firſt, in that it is an Axe, is uſed. Secondly, it is the Root it's laid too. Thirdly, in the impartialneſſe, the root of every Tree. Firſt, it is an Axe not Culter putatorius, a pruning 1knife, that will cut down ſome little Branches, and no more; it is not Falx a Bill or Hooke, to chop off ſome Armes or Bowes, but ſecuris, an Axe, ſome ſharp, ſtrong, hewing, deſtroying Judgement. Secondly, It's 2layd to the Root, not to the branches bowes, not to the great Armes; not to the toppe, not to the Trunck▪ but to the Root of the Tree is the Axe laid. God will deale roundly with them. Now the Lord would un-covenant them, un-church them, unpower them, and un-ſaint them. Here it's inquirable.

Queſt.What makes God to lay the Axe to the Root of a Tree or Kingdome?

Anſw.There are 4 things make the Gardener, and ſo God, to lay the Axe to the Root of a Tree. Firſt, Deadneſſe. Secondly, Rottenneſſe. Thirdly▪ Barrenneſſe, Fourthly, Evill fruitfulneſſe.

Firſt, Deadneſſe: When the Tree is dying or dead, 1the Gardener layes his Axe to the Root of it, and God when a State is dying or dead, layes his Judgements to the root of it. 13 Hoſea 1. When Ephraim ſinned in Baal p. 20then he died. Ephraims death being pronounc'd, Gods Axe was preſently prepared, v. 3. Therefore they ſhall be as the morning Cloud, &c. God would ſcatter them as Clouds, Chaffe, Smoake, and dry them up as dewe. Sardis one of the 7 Churches in Aſia, had a name to live but was dead, Rev. 3. 1. What ſaith the Lord to Sardis? Remember what thou haſt received and heard hold faſt, repent, watch, elſe I will come on thee as a thiefe in the night, v. 3. that is, ſuddenly and cut thee downe: and you know that God did lay waſt that and the other Churches not long after; when Churches or Kingdomes are dying or dead, the Axe is not far from the Root of them.

Hath not our Kingdom bin languiſhing and dying many Hi ſunt ultimi ſingultus moribundae libertatis.yeares together; you know what was ſaid at a Commencement ſome yeares ſince, our Church and State liberties lay a dying: ſome reviving through the meanes, bleſſed be the Lord we have had, but our fainting and feares are not over, England is in a conſuming dying condition, 2and the Axe is at our root. Secondly, Rottenneſſe or corruption, that makes the Axe to be laid to the Root of the Tree; the Gardner cannot endure to ſee a Tree rotten at the heart, though the bowes be greene, and it beare ſome ſmall fruit▪ yet if rotten▪ he will down with it, 6. Gen. 12 All fleſh hath corrupted their way, and the end of all is come before me▪ I have looked upon all fleſh, and finde that great and ſmall have corrupted their way, and therefore the end of all is come before me, I am reſolved to ſend a Flood to drowne the World and its corruptions together. It was not ſome particular corruption among them, but an univerſall one. There was corruption in faith and life, in their Religion, Worſhip, and manners, and when a State is generally corrupt in thoſe, the Heavens grow black, and either a flood or fire comes, a flood to the old world, a fire to Sodom. Trees naturall or politicall being rotten, call for the Axe, and God haſtens it to the 3Root. Thirdly, Barrenneſſe makes the Axe to be laid to the Root of a Kingdome. 13 Luk 7. I came and found p. 21no fruit, cut it down why cumbreth it the ground: a barren Tree cumbers the ground. Some obſerve, that if the Alapide.Fig-tree beare not fruit in three yeares, it will never beare fruit, and therefore it's ſaid, this 3. yeeres I come ſeeking fruit and finde none, cut it downe. A Barren Tree muſt be cut down. God waited long on them when under the Judges, under the Kings, when under the High Prieſts after their captivity, in Moſes dayes, in the Prophets, in Chriſts, and ſtill they were barren, therefore downe they muſt. Fourthly, Fruitfulneſſe▪ but its an ill fruitfulneſſe, Hoſ. 10. 1. Iſraelis an empty vine, 4he brings forth fruit to himſelfe; Emptie and yet fruitfull, it ſeemes to be a contradiction▪ but God accounts that no fruit, is fruit to our ſelves. Barrenneſſe and baſeneſſe is all one with God, when our fruit is not for God and the publique, it's ſelviſh, and tends to ruine. Such fruit Iſraels Tree was full of, and if a barren tree cumber the ground, what doth a tree loaden with curſed fruit.

Queſt.Its demanded, What fruit was it, which brought the Axe to the Root of the tree?

Anſw.1. It was prophanation of the Sabbath, Ierem. 17. 24, 25. 27. If they made conſcience of Gods Sabbath, hee would take care of their City: If they would hollow that day with pious duties, he would honour them with choice Princes; but if they would defile his day, hee would fire their Citie▪ and that with unquenchable fire. This made Nehemiah ſo zealous for the Sabbath, after the returne from Babylon, Neh. 13. 17, 10. hee contended with the Nobles, and ſaid, What evillthing is this that ye doe, and prophane the Sabbath day? did not your Fathers thus, and did not our God bring all his evills upon us, and upon this City? yet yee bring more wrath upon Iſraell, by prophaning the Sabbath day. He knew that ſin had formerly laid them waſt, and would therefore ſtand for the Sabbath, that the Lord of Sabbaths might ſtand for and by them. England is not innocent in this thing. The Booke of Sports (a Monſter that Heathen and Idolatrous Kingdomes p. 22never produced) that opened a wide doore to prophane the Lords day, hath kindled a fire in our Land, which is not like to be extinct till that Booke be burnt by publique Authority.

2. Idolatry, that is a Kingdome deſtroying ſinne. Jeroboams two Calves eat up the 10. Tribes, and Manaſſes Idols devoured Juda, Hoſ. 13 1. When Ephraim ſinned in Baall then he died. Idolatry is the death of a Land, it divides betweene God and Kingdomes, it breakes the Covenant, and cauſes God to give a Bill of Divorce, and that is not all, it calls forth Gods furie upon a Land, Ezek. 36. 18. 19. and that is a deſtructive thing.

3 Neglect of juſtice, when ſinne abounds, execution of juſtice ſaves Kingdomes, and want of it haſtens their ruine. Ierem. 5. 1. …un…e yee too and froe ſaith God, through the ſtreets of Ieruſalem, and ſee now and know, and ſeeke in the broad places thereof, if you can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgement, that ſeeketh the truth, and I will pardon it. Doubtleſſe there was ſome godly man in Jeruſalem, but there was none of a publique Spirit, that did execute Judgement in the broad places, neither King, Councellors, Prieſts or Prophets did execute Judgement▪ and therefore hee could not pardon; when none appeare to cut down ſin, God will appeare to cut down ſinners. Iſa. 5. 7. … looked for judgement: ludah was his pleaſant plant, he had hedg'd, dig'd, dung'd, watered, ſhined upon them, and looked for Judgement, but there was none, therefore God would breake downe the hedge, and lay them waſt. If God could have found 10 righteous perſons in Soddom, he would have ſpared it. You may take the word righteous not onelyonly for godly men, but for men executing Judgement▪ there were none ſuch: Lot could have no Juſtice from them, and that inforc'd God to execute Juſtice on them.

4. Blood, oppreſsion, uncleanneſſe, hatred of truth and ſuch like, which I put together becauſe I cannot inlarge upon all particulars, Hoſea. 4. 2. 3. By ſwearing, p. 23lying, killing▪ ſtealing, and committing adultery, they breake out, and blood toucheth blood; Therefore ſhall the Land mourne, God will deſtroy becauſe of theſe ſinnes, Ezek. 36. 18. When the Brittains called in the Saxons to helpe them againſt the Scots and Picts, God who hath power over Kingdomes and people made them his Axe, to how and deſtroy the Brittains, for they ſoone joyned with their adverſaries and picked quarrels againſt the Britains, and God ſo ſtirred up their Spirit againſt the Brittains, that they ſpoyled them in many places, drove them into corners of the Land, made them flee into forraine parts▪ and deſtroyed the Country with fire and Sword. The aaS…e Speed l. 7. c. 1. of the downfall of Britaine.ſinnes then obſervable, were ſuch as were not among the Gentiles, hatred of the truth; and the patrons of it drunkenneſſe, contention, crueltie, uncleanneſſe countenancing of lies, and the forgers of them, reſpect to lewdneſſe more then goodneſſe, the better things wrought moſt diſcontent; all vice was in the Clergie and people: Princes were Tyrannicall Murtherers, Adulterers, Soddomiticall: and the laſt of the bbCadwalader ſaid, Vae nob…s p…ccatorib…s ob immania ſcelera noſtra. Eitz…erb.Brittiſh Kings flying into France ſaid woe to us for our great iniquities, we had time to repent but did it not, therefore juſtly now the wrath of Godrootes us out. When the ccVide Speed Foxe in the lives of Edgar and Etheldred.Danes conquered England the Land was guilty of blood and uncleaneſſe, it was in ddEjus vitae curſ…s ſaevus in principio, miſer in medio, turpis in exitu aſſe…itur. Guliel. Malmſ. l. 2. de geſt▪ Reg Anglor. c. 10. And he relates in that Chapter vvhat Dunſtan told him▪ Quia inquit p…r mortem fratris tui aſpiraſti, ad regnum, non delebitur peccatum ignominioſae matris tuae, & peccatum virorum qui interfuerunt conſilto illius nequim, niſi multo ſa nguine miſerorum provinctal…um, & venient ſuper gentem Anglorum mala qualia non paſſa eſt ex quo Anglia fuit uſque ad tempu… illud.…theldreds time, whoſe wayes were cruell, miſerable and ſhamefull; his eares were open to to accuſers to calumniations, and no mans life was in ſecurity.

When Roderick King of Spaine deflowred the Daughter of Count Iulian, who in revenge ſtir'd up the Moores, ſhewed them the way to get Spaine, which they conquered and poſſeſt above 600. yeares At the Conqueſt by p. 24the Normans the ſinnes were prophaneſſe ignorance, uncleanneſſe, neglect of Juſtice and Religion, the people were a prey to the Nobles, which made Edw: the Confeſſor ſay before his death, that England ſhould be given into the hands of Divills and wicked Spirits. You ſee what ſins made the great changes in this Kingdome, ſins not unlike the Amorites, which from Levit. 18. Deut. 2 & 12. are conceived to be Idolatry, oppreſsion and filthineſſe, Peccata exitialia humanae ſocietati maxime ſolet punire Deus Alopid. in Gen.which are deſtructive of Religion, Juſtice and holyneſſe of life, the onelyonly bands of humane Societies; and when theſe ſinnes of theirs were full▪ God cuts them off, for when ſinnes become deſtructive to Societies, they whet Gods Axe and haſten it to the root, and now you have heard what are the ſinnes bring the Axe thither. It followes that I ſhew you the third thing ſets out the ſeveritie of God and that is, Thirdly, the impartialneſſe of God in the worke, Every Tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen down and caſt into the fire; let it be an Olive Tree, or a Bramble, a Fig tree or a Vine no exception excuſe, evaſion, pretence, or priviledge or plea is admitted, but the axe is laid to the root of every one, it referres to that in Deut. 20. 20. The trees thou knoweſt be not for meat thou ſhalt deſtroy, ſuch trees muſt not be ſpared though great and goodly: In particulars you may ſee this truth more cleerly: Looke at Kings, they are tall Cedars, Dan. 4. 14. Hew downe the Tree: Nebuchadnezzar himſelfe muſt downe, Herod, Pharaoh, Belſhazzer were cut off by the root. Gods axe neither feares nor ſpares the proudeſt, Pſal. 76. 12. Not Prophets, Balaam is ſlaine by the Sword, Num. 31. 8. Not Prieſts, 1 Kin. 18. Not Nobles, Zimri and Cozbi are runne through, Num. 25. Not Apoſtles, Iudas falls headlong▪ and burſts in pieces, Act. 1. 18. Not Statiſts and great Counſellors, Ahitophel is ſmitten, a Sam. 17. Not Tribes, Iudg. 21. 3. A Tribe was lacking in Iſrael, afterwards ten were wanting. Not Cities, Sodom, Ieruſalem, Babylon, are layd waſt. Not a World, 1 Pet. 3. 20. That is drown'd; no priviledge will advantage. p. 25Abrahams ſeed, Children of the Kingdome, are caſt out, Mark. 8. 12. No place ſecures; Ioab is taken at the hornes of the Altar, Angels in heaven are thrown down, 2 Pet. 2. 4. the Figtree in the Garden is not ſpared, Luke 13. 6 That of Coniah is moſt obſervable, Ierem. 22. 24. Though Coniah be as the ſignet on my right hand, yet would I pluck him thence: though he be much eſteemed and very deare, as Signets on Princes hands are, yet it ſhall not priviledge him; you may thinke his nearneſſe and my affection to him may preſerve him in his place, but be not deceived, as I live ſaith the Lord I will pluck him thence. Thus you ſee the ſeverity of God in his impartiallneſſe towards every tree. Now I come to make application of the point.

Vſe 1.I might here firſt ſhew you that all Kingdomes have their Periods, and learned writers tell us, that there are no Kingdomes ſo great, ſo glorious, ſo powerfull, that extend their duration above 500. or 600. yeares at moſt, but are either ruinated and fall to aſhes, or elſe ſuffer ſome great change. The Jewiſh State from Egypt to the Temple, was 480. yeares, from Saul their firſt King, to Zedektah the laſt of Judah, were 480. yeares, and then they were led into Captivitie, and after their returne within 500. yeares, they were cut off by Veſpaſian and Titus, the Axe in my Text, and are not a Tree to this day. And the ten Tribes after their diviſion 260 yeares were carried away: the Aſſyrian, Perſian, Grecian▪ and Roman Monarchies had their Periods, and were cut downe by one Judgement or another; the Britaines after 500 years Helui…us. Sl…idan Speed.were quit of the Romans tyranny in England, and Athens from the time of its Monarchy, to the time of its Democracy had 490. yeares. The Lacedemonians flouriſhed 491. yeares. The Saxons had to do here 469. years The Danes 242. And then there was an end of them, and it is known to all of you, how long we have been ſince the conqueſt, but I doe not deſire to propheſie, and foretell things to come, all ſeaſons are in the hand of God, but p. 26its thought we are upon the Tropicks, if we be not ruined altogether, certainely there will be ſome great alteration in the Kingdome.

2Secondly, Doth God lay the Axe to Kingdomes? are they lyable to deſtruction? then take counſell this day, let every one provide for a Kingdom that cannot be ſhaken make ſure of that Kingdom which no Axe can cut, make ſure of eternity for your ſoules. It is not long before we muſt be cut downe all by death, you know that night and day, are Axes conſtantly hewing at the root of your Trees, beſides other caſualties which may take away your lives, if you have no other Kingdome but this Kingdome to helpe you, you will droppe into Heb. 11. 7.Heb 11:7a Kingdome of darkeneſſe. where will be waiting and gnaſhing of teeth for ever. When Noah heard of a flood to drowne the world, he prepared an Arke preſently to preſerve himſelfe and his family: when you heare the Axe is laid to the root of Kingdoms and they be terribly ſhaken, ſee you provide an eternall Kingdome, for the ſafety of your ſoules, and thoſe are yours. Chriſt hath a Kingdome to beſtow that is not to be hewen or ſhaken by the power of men or divels get Chriſt and that Kingdome is yours. They have intereſt in Chriſt, are of the Blood royall, and Co-heires with him. Chriſt is the roote of Ieſſe, Rom. 15. 12. deſire the Father to draw you and to ingraft you into that root that being rooted in him as it is, Col. 2. 7. you may be out of all danger, for Romans 8. 1. There is no Condemnation to them that are in Chriſt: foreign, not one condemnation, neither the Divill nor the World, nor their owne hearts, nor God himſelf▪ ſhall, or can juſty condemne you with one condemnation. And if there bee no condemnation, there is no Axe, Iohn 8. 51.John 8:51Hee that believes in mee, an… keepes my ſayings, ſaith Chriſt, ſhall never ſee death, if then you be not in Chriſt, if you be Chriſtians in name, and not in truth, Chriſtians in p. 27the forehead and not in the heart, if you have the ſprinkling of water in the face, and not that of blood in the conſcience, you are dead men, 1 Iohn 5. 12. He that hath the Sonne hath life, and he that hath not the Sonne, hath no life in him: If it be ſo, you are dead Trees and muſt be cut downe, and caſt into the fire, and there will be no remedy, looke narrowly therefore to your intereſt in Chriſt, and right to the Kingdom of Heaven ſeeing the Kingdoms of the earth are ſopping and cutting down by the Axe of God. And to help you a little in this maine point: which way do the branches of your trees tend? is it upwards or downwards? the branches are deſideria & affectus: are your deſires and affections to promotion pleaſure, profit, content in the creature and upon things below? then will you fall downward into the lake of fire, when the Axe doth his office, for the tree ever fals that way, the boughes and branches moſt incline: but if your deſires and affections are after and upon the things above, Chriſt and his Kingdom, the riches pleaſures, honours and excellencies thereof you ſhall not be cut down only be tranſplanted, the Lord will take you out of his kitching Garden, and plant you in Paradiſe, by the Rivers of pleaſure at his right hand for evermore.

Thirdly, as this day requireth, let us all humble our 3ſelves under the hand of God, is the Axe laid at the root of the Tree, and ſhall we be inſenſible of it? It was the Ordinance of this Honourable Houſe, exhorting to repentance, and deepe Humiliation, that ſtrongly inclined me to fall upon this Text: You ſaw the Kingdome in eminent danger, without repentance, and like to periſh, what you have cal'd for, and my Text points at let us reach after and practice this day. It's a day for mourning and afflicting of our ſpirits, Levit 16. 29. 3…. and Chapt. 23. 29. if they be not afflicted, wee and the Kingdome may be cut off together. The ſoule moſt affected with the time, and moſt afflicted for the ſinnes of them, will doe the Kingdome moſt ſervice. There is p. 28ſinne and miſerie enough in the Land to breake and humble us. Beſides our deadneſſe, rottenneſſe, barrenneſſe, are we not ſinfully fruitfull? Have we no▪ ſuch ſinnes and ſinners among us as bring deſtruction unto Kingdomes? Hath not the Lords day beene conſtantly prophaned? Hath not Idolatry and Superſtition bin entertaind, countenanc'd and practiſ'd? Hath not Juſtice bin neglected? hath not blood, oppreſsion, drunkenneſſe, ſwearing, Blaſphemy, uncleanneſſe, contention … 2 5. foreignand ſcoffing at holyneſſe overſpread the Land? England is become like Iſrael a Rebellious Houſe, the Hebr. is, a Houſe of bitterneſſe, or an imbittering Houſe; ſinne is ſuch gall, ſuch worme-wood, that it imbitters Gods foreignSpirit againſt a Kingdome, Hoſea 12. 14. Ephraim provoked him to anger moſt bitterly, the word is, with bitterneſſe: they thruſt Religion, Juſtice and God Himſelfe out of place, they ſet up Idols, forſooke God, and oppreſſed the people, which things were very bitter. It was a bitter provocation when they gave Chriſt hanging on the Croſſe gall and vinegar to drinke. A land doth worſe when it ſinnes againſt God in ſuch ſinnes as have bin mentioned; they give him pure gall to drinke, Lamentation, 1. 18. The Originall runnes thus, the LORD is righteous, for I have imbittered his mouth. The ſinnes of a Kingdome and Families, imbitter the mouth of God; and the Lord pronounces wrath, curſes, and judgement againſt that Kingdome, that imbittereth his heart, his mouth, and hand; he will come, deale ſeverely with that Kingdome, and cut it downe by the Quonia … …d … …dmem …o …it…vit de… ….roots: Hoſ. 13. 16. Samaria ſhall become deſolate, for ſhe… hath rebelled againſt her God, ſhee hath dealt bitterly with her God; and what then? they ſhall fall by the ſword, their Infants ſhall be daſh't in pieces, and their Women with Childe ſhall be rip't up: This was bitter to have their Children daſh't in pieces, their Young-men to fall by the Sword, their Women to bee ſlaughter'd and rip't up like Beaſts, their Country and Land to be laid deſolate; p. 29but it was not ſo bitter as mans dealing is with God, it is a greater evill for u… to ſinne, it croſſes the will of the bleſſed God it darkens his glory ſtrikes at his life and being▪ it murdered his Sonne, vexes his Spirit, defaces his worke, and preſſes him as a Cart i preſſed with ſheaves, and this is worſe then any or all the Judgements of God upon us They are to purge us, to heale us, and to prevent the greateſt puniſhments in Hell, and this is not ſo bitter, but when we deale ſo with God, as to darken his glory, to ſlight his love, to crucifie his Son, to grieve his Spirit, to undervalue the glorious excellencies in the Goſpell, this imbittereth the heart of God, and ſhould imbitter and afflict ours.

There is a bitternesin ſin as well as for ſins: men may be humbled but not be humble; at the ſenſe of Judgments moſt are humbled, there is the bitterneſſe for ſin: but at the ſight of the great wrong to God, men are humble, there is the bitterneſſe in ſin. Let us then conſider ſeriouſly of our ſinnes, and throughly view the enmitie that is in them to God, to Chriſt, and to his Holy Spirit; let us goe downe to the root of all, even originall corruption, and charge the enmitie which is in that ſin to God, and in all thoſe have ſprung thence deeply upon our hearts, that feeling the wrong they have done to God, and the reall bitterneſſe is in them, we may be truely and throughly humble. If the bitterneſſe in ſinne will not do it, let thoughts of Judgement and bitterneſſe for ſinne helpe on and perfect the worke. Conſider, is there not an Axe in the Land and an Axe at worke? is not God hewing and lopping of us? are not hundreds and thouſands cut off? Are not Townes, Counties and the Kingdomewounded? doth not Ireland lie bleeding to death? Is it not drawing its laſt breath? Shall a Tribe be loſt in our Iſrael and we not be ſenſible of it? Shall the Chriſtian world be ſhaking, and cutting downe as it is at this time? and ſhall we not lay it to heart? Are we Chriſtians? where is the Spirit of Chriſt? He wept over Ieruſalem p. 30before the Axe came, we weep not over Ireland or England now the Axe is come. If we will be ſlight and formall in our humiliations, we provoke God to be reall and ſevere in our deſtructions, Iob 36. 18. Becauſe there is wrath, beware leſt hee take thee away with his ſtroke, his hand is lifted up and where his ſtroakes fall they are deadly; let us therefore humble our ſelves under his mighty hand that we may not be cut down.

When the Axe is at the root, the danger is great, and Repentance neceſſary, if teares flow not the chips muſt flie, the tree muſt downe. aaforeign. Chryſoſt: in locum.Chryſoſtome ſaith, the Text is compulſorie, John conſtraines them to repentance, can you endure to ſee your wives and children cut down? your habitations laid waſt? your Temple and worſhip deſtroyed? your City to be burnt? moſt of your ſelves to be ſlaine or enſlav'd? the Axe is at the root, if you repent not theſe things you muſt ſee and feele. Repentance now may prevent all. Smite upon your breaſts and ſay woe is me its my ſin hath provoked God to anger, and brought the axe to the root of the tree that hath endangered all, and now through the helpe of God I will doe what lyeth in mee to ſave all. If we were humble, and broken with the bitterneſſe of ſin, and weight of judgements, wee ſhould find merciemercy, 2 Chron. 12. 56, 7. There was a great Army came up againſt Ieruſalem, Shemiah tells them, they had forſaken God, and therefore he had left them to the ſpoile of their enemies: upon this the King Princes and people humble themſelves and acknowledge the righteouſneſſe of God in his Judgements upon them and what followed, preſently upon their humiliation comes deliverance▪ God ſaw and ſent, he ſaw them humble, and ſent them mercy and in Iudah things went well, v. 12. If we would have things goe well in the Parliament, well in the Armie, well in the Kingdome then muſt we humble our ſelves and ſuitably to our ſins 2 Chron. 7. 14. If there be through humiliation God will heare, helpe, and heale our Land, if we be truly p. 31humble Gods Axe ſhall not cut us downe, but his hand ſhall lift us up in due time, 1 Pet. 5. 6.

Fourthly, as there muſt be humiliation, ſo there muſt be Reformation: let us lay the Axe to the root of our ſinnes this day, if God lay it to the root of Kingdoms, its time for us to lay it to the root of our ſins, Prov. 28. 13. it's ſaid▪ he that confeſſeth his ſinne, and forſaketh it ſhall have mercy. It's without queſtion we have often times in publique confeſſed our ſinnes, but if heaven ſhould now demand of us whether we have forſaken them? I feare there would be a generall ſilence. Its a vaine thing to expect mercy and live in ſinne: if we do not forſake them they will ſtop the ſluces of mercy, and haſten in deſtruction upon you, us, all. Humiliation without Reformation is a mocking of God, and provokes much. Hath ſinne brought us low, let the Axe of Reformation bring ſinne low this day, lay it to the root of ſinne and cut that down. Pſal. 110. 5. It's ſaid of Chriſt, In the day of thy wrath thou ſhalt ſmite through Kings. Is not this the day of your wrath with your ſinne? are you not angry with them? do you not hate them? if it be ſo, ſhew your ſelves Chriſtians, that you have the Spirit of Chriſt in you. Smite through Kings, I meane your kingly luſts; There be kingly reigning ſinnes in men, luſts that do command and imbondage their Spirits to baſe things, coveteouſneſſe, pride, uncleanneſſe, ſelviſhneſſe, inconſtancie, unfaithfulneſſe, unbeliefe, carnall reaſonings, creature feares, and ſuch like, which are predominant in the breſts of men, and indanger their eternall condition, theſe we muſt mortifie elſe we dy for it, and that eternally Rom 8. 13. Let this therefore be one of our great works to mortifie our ſinnes, and to deſtroy them utterly. Many deale too kindly with their ſinnes, they do by them as you do by Malignants in priſon, they have their friends come to them, they have their wine, their feaſts and what they will, onelyonly they are a little reſtrained of their liberty, ſo ſome reſtraine them of their p. 32luſts and that is all the Martyrdome and Mortification they have, their fantaſies give them frequent viſits, and feaſt them with delightfull meditations, and ſo in ſparing of their luſts they ruine themſelves. When Ioab went out againſt Abſalom, what ſaid David, Deale gently with the young man for my ſake, and beware that none touch him, 2 Sam. 18. 5. 12. He would have Abſolom ſpared though it tended to the ruine of the Kingdome. And thus is it when we come out againſt mens Abſoloms, their luſt, they would have us deale gently with them, not touch them; eſpecially not wound them, their luſt they would have ſpared, though a Kingdom by them ſhould be ruined. But you know how Ioab dealt with Abſolom, v. 14. he thruſt him thrice through the heart while hee was alive in the midſt of the Oake, hee made ſure work and prevented future commotions in the Kingdome. You are caught in an Ordinance this day of Prayer and Faſting, it's our aime and deſire to ſtrike through the heart of your luſts by the darts of divine truth, that for the future there may be no commotions in your ſoules. O ſuffer us to doe it and helpe on the worke, for it lyeth moſt in your hands. You know what luſts are ſtrong and living in you, ſet upon them▪ ſpare them not. It was an Argument of wickedneſſe in Saul that he ſpared Agag, of righteouſneſſe in Samuel in that he hewed him to pieces; if you ſpare your luſts, your great and fat ones, it will be an Argument of your wickedneſſe, but if you hew them in pieces and make a generall ſlaughter of them, it will be an Argument of your righteouſnes, and may produce the good and ſafety of the whole Kingdome. I beſeech you therefore in the name of Chriſt, ſpare not one Achan, one luſt, that one may be the ruine of all, one ſinner deſtroyes much good, Eccleſ. 9. 18. and any ſinne may hinder much mercy, Ier 18. 10. Now the Axe is laid to the root of every Tree, we muſt therefore lay it to the root of every ſinne ſinnes of conſtitution, ſinnes of cuſt ome, ſinnes againſt heaven and earth, God and man, the leaſt, p. 33the greateſt, let them all feele the ſharpneſſe and ſtrength of the Axe. He that ſpares any ſinne, doth what lyeth in him to ruine Parliament, Army, Citie, Kingdome, King and all, Ion. 3. 8. 10. When every one turned from his evill way, ſo that there was no way of wickedneſſe left unturn'd from, then God turn'd away his fierce anger and ſpared their Citie; if we turne every man from his evill wayes, and all thoſe wayes, we may certainly and ſuddenly expect Gods turning from his fierce wrath, and his walking in wayes of peace and mercy with us. Peace is a deſirable thing, yet not that peace will whet the Axe ſharper, and make it cut deeper; ſuch peace we deſire as will keep the God of peace with us; we take the wrong courſe for peace if we go on in our ſinnes, Eſ. 57. 21. Pſ. 68. 21. He that cries for peace with his lips, and deſtroyes it with his life, he maintaines the Warrs, divides betweenethe King and Parliament, and widens the breaches of the Kingdome. If we will faſt and goe on in ſinfull wayes, we may have a dubious and dangerous peace with men, but it's impoſsible we ſhould have any with God. I ſhall ſhut up this point with that of Samuel to the people, 1 Sam. 12. 24, 25. OnelyOnly feare the Lord and ſerve him in truth with all your heart, for he hath don great things for you, but if you ſhall ſtill do wickedly, yee ſhall be conſumed, both yee and your King: progreſſe in wickedneſſe produceth not peace. The true product of it is deſtruction to people, Parliament, King and Kingdome. If we would therefore have all ſafe, peace be in our Borders, and the God of peace be propitious to us, let us depart from all iniquitie.

Hitherto I have ſpoken to all, give me leave now Honourable and worthy Senators, to commend ſome things to your conſiderations. My firſt and humble requeſt is, that the Axe of your power may not ly ſtill, but that Juſtice may be done. God is a God of Juſtice, he makes it knowne to all the world he layes his Axe to the root of the Tree, ſhew your ſelves a Parliament of p. 34Juſtice, let the world know it, lay the Axe to the root of Delinquencie. Neglect of Juſtice, as you heard before, indangers a Kingdome, Iudah was layd waſt becauſe there was no Judgement executed▪ Eſ. 5. 67. Suffer not a Kingdome to periſh upon that ground. It brings your Authority into contempt, and renders you deſpicable in the eyes of many: whereas if juſtice were done, Authority would be more dreadfull and your perſons more Honourable, 1 Kings 3. 28. when Judgement was given between the two Harlots, its ſaid, all Iſrael heard and feared; that act ſtruck feare into a whole Kingdom. We do not read what became of the Harlot which took away the Child from the true mother, but it is conceived, and very probably, that ſhe died for it, according to the Plagiarian Law, of which you may read, Exod. 21. 16. Deut. 24. 7. It a man did ſteale an Iſraelite, or the Son of an Iſraelite, any ſoule, and the party were found in his hand, he was ſurely to be put to death; whence we may conclude, the Harlot ſuffered▪ the whole Kingdom feared, and Solomon was honoured for that act of Juſtice; it's execution of juſtice makes Authority to be regarded, and a Kingdome to feare: when your juſtice fell upon that great Cedar above a yeare and halfe agoe did not England tremble? did not it make many feare and flie? Juſtice ſecures a Kingdome, but neglect of it makes Courts contemptible and Kingdomes hazardable.

Againe, the neglect of Juſtice enboldens men to goe on in wicked practiſes, Eccleſ. 8 11. becauſe ſentence againſt an evill worke is not executed ſpeedily, therefore the hearts of the Sonnes of men is fully ſet in them to doe evill, they are void of all feare ſaith one aaAbſque rim re …llo … homin…m vulg.Tranſlation, bbCor homin…m a…da…t… …l…num T…g… rin.fild with boldnes ſaith another; and the ccOnt le coeur rempli pour mal-ſa…e.French is fild to doe evil. Impunity fills the ſailes of wicked men, and drives them againſt Parliaments, Kingdomes, and Heaven it ſelfe. When great Delinquents go unpuniſhed, ddEx impunitate ſ…le…ator…m derogatur fides divine providentie Plut. de Sera numinis vindi…a.divine providence is brought to the Bar and queſtioned, men upon it become Atheiſticall, heady, outragious, p. 35diſſolute. Who knowes it not ſaith eeQuis ignorat muximam illecebram eſse peccandi impunitatis ſpe…. Cic. orat pro milone effraenatus furor alitur impunitate diutur…a id… pro Sextio.Tullie, that impunity is the greateſt incouragement to impiety. The Heathen with his dark Lanthorne could ſee the truth of this, and ſhall wee Chriſtians that have the light of life, Iohn 8. 12. not ſee it? ffRemota juſtitia quid ſunt regnaniſi magna latrocinia. Lib. 4 de civit. aet. cap. 4.Auguſtine long ſince ſaw it, and ſaid, take away Juſtice, and what are Kingdomes but Dens of theeves and places for plunder? wee find and feele the realty of this truth at this day, and are like to lye under guilt till Juſtice be done.

Laſtly, want of juſtice, increaſes the number of Delinquents, Iudg. 17. 6. there was no Juſtice, and now they were all delinquents, every man did what he liſt. The words are, there was no King in Iſrael, and yet they were all Kings in Iſrael. They had not then had any King in a aaDruſ. ad loca difficiliora Iudicum.ſtricke ſence. Judges were their Governours, and becauſe they did rule and execute Juſtice, they are ſtiled Kings, and now they had no Judge no King, and yet they were all Judges, all Kings their luſts were their Lawes, and bbVbi pl…res regnant ibi nemo imperat.every man did what was right in his owne eyes. Nature is corrupt, nothing ſweeter to it then liberty, and where Juſtice is ſuſpended, there is a ccDeterio res omnes ſumus licentia TerentCommiſsion to be wicked, but where is moſt Juſtice, there are feweſt Malefactors and leaſt miſchiefe: The dd…lunt in his voyage to the Levant.Turkes are ſevere and ſpeedy in their Juſtice which prevents increaſe of Delinquents and danger. Thoſe Nations are remiſſe in Juſtice: beſides the ſadding of thoſe are innocent, they abound in Delinquents and dangers, its our caſe at this preſent; Englands dangers are many, becauſe Englands Delinquens are not a few, and its not like to be better with us till the juſtice of a Parliament be ſo feared, that no Delinquent may expect ſafety in any part of our Kingdome. Let Juſtice therefore, O you heads of Iſrael run down as waters, and righteouſneſſe as a mighty ſtreame: we have mighty ſinnes and mighty ſinners which make mightie dangers, and if there be not, **foreign Sicut torrens fortis.tor…ens iuſtitia, a ſtreame of Juſtice, yea a mighty ſtreame, that may eeIuditium contra vos …bet, ut vos obr…at Calv.runne downe and runne over the Sonnes of p. 36B…al, will not be taken away, our guilt and ſpot will not be purged, nor our Land ſecured. You are the Supreme Court of Juſtice, let the Sunne be darke and the Sea dry before your ſtreams doe ceaſe flowing. In Moſes dayes men wondred at the dryneſſe of the Red Sea. In Chriſts dayes they wondred at the darkning of the Sunne, but let none wonder for want of Juſtice. Open your Sluces, and let the floods of Juſtice carry down the floods of Iniquity. ff…n…alls of france … by Al…ide in …meres.Lewes one of the Kings of France having ſpared upon intreaty a man deſerved death, and reading that in the 106. Pſa me 3. Bleſſed are they that keep Iudgement, and he that doth righteouſneſſe at all times, this doing righteouſneſſe at all times, ſo wrought upon him, that preſently he reverſed what he had granted, and ſaid, He that hath power to puniſh ſin and doth it not, becommeth a Patron of it, and is as guilty before God▪ as if himſelfe had committed it; and that its Piety not Cruelty to execute Juſtice. If the ſpirit of this Prince were in all the Princes and Magiſtrates of the Chriſtian world, what a ſudden change ſhould we ſee. The Lenitie many propound and plead for, proves cruelty to particulars, to whole Eſtates: It made ggEos Magiſtratus qui male…c…s panis non co…rcen…, non tantum, non feren …s …e… … …bru…ndos, eſſe, ne ex paenae neglect… ſalus reipublicae la… firet Plut▪ in vita Caton.Cato ſay that thoſe powers did not puniſh Delinquents▪ were not onelyonly to be rejected, but to be ſton'd, leaſt their indulgence might damnifie the State. He ſaw neglect of Juſtice did prejudice Kingdomes, and wee ſee, the want of it hinders much, if not all our good I ſpeak not this from mine own head, but I will give you the warrant of a Prophet for it Ierem. 6. 29. The founder melts in vaine, for the wicked are not pluckt away: Miniſters are Founders▪ they are to melt, make men fit for a ſpirituall eſtate; you are Founders are melting and making men fit for a Politique condition, but both you and we melt in vaine, and the reaſon is given, the wicked are not pluckt away, while they ſtand, the labour is in vaine: and what can an Army do, if Juſtice march not with them? Achan will ſooner overthrow Iſrael then take At: but when Juſtice was executed and he p. 37ſton'd, At was eaſie to take, God was then with Iſrael and fild them with ſpirit to do exploits. Its thought by men of wiſdome that if your power had acted more and penleſſe, we had bin in a ſafer condition, and God more propitious. Juſtice pacifies wrath, when neglect thereof provokes it. Some fear execution of Juſtice will kindle a fire, and make ſtirres in Kingdomes: but Fiat juſtu…a, & ruat mun…as, Gods way will never deſtroy Gods worke; let Juſtice be done, and God will looke to the world, and Kingdomes of it. Further ſee how croſſe mens thoughts are to divine, Ph…chas executes juſtice upon great ones, and what followed? a Commotion? no, Gods wrath was turned away, and a Covenant of peace made, Numb. 25. 8. 11, 12. Seeing hee hath executed juſtice and honour'd me, ſaith God, behold I give unto him my Covenant of peace, and will honour him. In publique calamities the hhNon pinguior ma…tari vi…ima Deo p…teſt quam …omo ſ…lera…us▪ Sen….Sacrifice of a wicked man is a Peace Offering, and may prevent great wrath.

If Powers will winke at wickedneſſe, they may remedy, the time may quickly come, they ſhall ſmart for judgements they cannot prevent. It's injuſtice and want of juſtice that diſturbs Kingdomes and Cities: doth not that treacherous plot of Briſtoll juſtifie what is ſaid? Doth it not cry alowd for juſtice? and ſhall it be forgotten? Let the waters of juſtice flow and they will refreſh. It was the River in Eden that made Paradiſe ſo ſweet and flouriſhing, and ſtreames of Juſtice may make us a Paradiſe once againe▪ being almoſt a Wilderneſſe. When Ioab, Sh…mei and Adon…jah were cut down by Solomons axe, then was the Kingdom eſtabliſhed▪ 1 Kings 2. 46. If Juſtice be at a ſtand, and cannot take hold of living Delinquents, to keepe the Axe from ruſt, let Juſtice be exeuted upon liveleſſe Delinquents. Are there no Altars? no high places? no Crucifixes? no Croſſes in the open ſtreets that are bow'd unto and Idoliz'd? lay your Axe to their rootes and hew them downe. In Ezek. God threatens the deſtruction of their Cities, becauſe they p. 38ſpared their Altars, Idols, Images, and owne works, chap. 6. 6. Let us ſecure our Cities and ſave God that labour, down with all is ſuſpitious, ſcandalous, and ſuperſtitious. Thus have I done my firſt motion.

… 2.The ſecond is, that the Axe of God being layd to the roote of our Kingdome, you would have a ſpeciall care of the root, while that is ſafe there is hope. Job. 14 7.

1. Do your utmoſt to keepe God with us, yet he, is in the midſt of us, Ier. 14. we are his people, hee is Ier. …4. 9.Jer 4:9our God, yet we have no Bill of Divorce, and L…mm… is not written over our Gates▪ do what lies in you to keepe off ſuch a miſchiefe. If God ſhould depart and diſanull his Covenant with us, moſt dreadfull things would betide us, Hoſ. 9. 12. Woe to them when I depart from them, all evills preſently ſtep, croud in upon a people left of God, then publique enterpriſes proſper not, … Chron. 24. 20. 24. then Counſell failes, 1 Sam. 28. 15. Then protection ends. Eſa 50. 5. Then peace▪ loving kindneſſe and mercy goe, Ierem. 16. 5. And ſuch Judgements are as taking the Sunne out of the firmament, and the Soule out of the Body. Popery is the thing produceth ſuch effects, Ezek. 8.Ezek 8it's like … Chambers full of abhominations, and hath that malignity in it as to drive God from his people. You have bin preſt to the iiMr. Newcomb. Serm. on the 5. of Novemb. 1642.extirpation of it▪ had thoughts to effect it: Let them not die in you but come to perfection, and ingage us yet in a more firme Covenant to the Lord, that we may for ever be the Lords, and the Lord ours, according to what you heard out of kkDr. ….Ier. 50. 5.

2. Looke to the Civill power, let not that be reſted out of your hands, your Magna Charta, the Position of Right, your Parliament …riviledge…, what have bin taken from you recover, what have layen dormant and tend to publique good revive▪ what obtruſions and bonds have bin put upon you ad…be…e ſecurim & imputate▪ You are a free Parliament, preſerve your freedome, our Laws and Liberties are in your hands, let them not ſuffer: The p. 39being and lively-hood of the Kingdome depends much thereon. Loges terra & Statuta …egn…, are the Sinewes and Bon…s of the body politick, wound them and the Kingdome bleeds, looſe them and the life of it's gone. Arbitrary Government is a dangerous thing; a Comet that threatens deſtruction to the Country, it's over: you tell us llDeclaration Aug. 3. 1642.That acts of will and Tyranny are the ingredients into it, that neither Parliament nor Kingdome can …e ſafe with it: Let your convictions cauſe prevention, improve your power; let not Eng: become a houſe of bondage a 2^d. Aegypt.

3. Let Religion and truth be pretious in your eyes, they are of mmTanti momenti Religio & ſides & jus ſacrerum in omnt humana republica ut ab illa una pot ſſim…m p…ndeat pax & tranquillitas cujuſque regni Spalatenſ: de republ. Eccleſ. l. 6. c. 5.Sir 50:6ſuch conſequence, as that without them is little peace or ſafety to Kingdomes That ſtate preſerves truth, will the God of truth preſerve. When Ieroboam gave way to plauſible inventions, he layd the foundation for his own and the Kingdomes ruine, 1 King 14. The Church of Philadelphia had a ſpeciall care of Gods word, Rev. 3. 10. and found the fruit of it, becauſe thou haſt kept the word of my patience, not onelyonly in their hearts, in their practiſe, but alſo becauſe nnBeza Annotat. in 1 Job. 518. foreign ▪ is to keepe from dangers.they had kept it from being taken away, from corruption therefore God would keepe them from the houre of temptation▪ Gods word is in danger oft by Haereſies, Schiſmes, Perſecutions, if we will ingage our ſelves for it, GOD will ingage himſelfe for us, but if we deſert the truth, both God and truth will be againſt us. **Chytraeus Chron. Sax n.The Daniſh Prelats ſtood not for pure Religion, but chiefly for that was their own, and therefore were caſt out by Prince and people in the yeare, 1537 God priſeth his truth at a high rate, he will deſtroy Nations for the ſafety of his people. Eſ. 43. 3. and he will deſtroy heaven and earth for the ſafety of his truth, Mat. 5. 18. that he Magnfies above all his name, Pſal. 148. 2. This whole Creation, this viſible name of GOD is little to his eternall Truths. Let truth therefore be gracious with you, and contend with all your might for the faith Iud. 3.Judg 3that it be not pul'd from us. The onelyonly wiſe God bids p. 40you by the wiſeſt of men, to buy the Truth and not to …ell it, Proverbs 23. 23. it's worth all mens labours, liberties and lives, it cannot be over bought; looſe Religion and Truth, and we have loſt all that is conſiderable; where theſe go, the Bleſsing goes, Ier. 31. 23. The Lord bleſſe thee O habitation of Iuſtice, and Mountaine of Holyneſſe. Where the Laws are executed, and pure Religion is maintained▪ there is a habitation of Juſtice, a Mountain of Holyneſſe, and the bleſsing of God upon them both. If you love bleſsings and would avoyd curſes, keep Religion in it's own luſtre, and rather let Men and Kingdomes, then Truth fall to the Earth; yet the way to make earthly Kingdoms happie, is to uphold the Kingdom of heaven.

Fourthly, The godly in the Kingdome, Magiſtrates, Miniſters, and people, let them be preſerved, they are the root of a Kingdome: it was Ioſeph preſerved Egypt, and the Kingdome of the Egyptians: when the Iſraelites were driven out of Egypt, the Egyptians were quickly deſtroyed, and their Kingdome ruined: for Pauls ſake all the ſoules in the Ship were kept alive, Act. 27. Moſes kept Gods hand in Heaven that he did not deſtroy his people on earth, Exod. 32. 10. A godly man is of great worth, Elijah did more good by his faſting, and Prayer, by oppoſing Ahab, and deſtroying Baals Prieſts, then the Chariots and Horſemen of Iſrael. The godly are the Forts and Magazines of a Kingdome: It was Lot upheld Sodome, when he was gone, the brimſtone came and the City was turned into aſhes, the place is very remarkable Gen. 19. 22. Haſt thee, eſcaped to Zoar, I cannot doe any thing till thou comeſt thither; what the righteouſneſſe of one Lot to preponderate the Iniquities of all Sodom, where were thouſands? O wonder! O the weight of one Saint! away Lot, eſcape to Soar, I cannot doe any thing till thou comeſt thither: but were not their ſins great and many? be it ſo yet I cannot doe any thing till thou comeſt thither: but were not their ſins full? Yes, p. 41they were, yet I cannot doe any thing till thou come to Zoar. I but Lord art thou not come downe to execute Judgement without mercy: Its truth yet I cannot do it till hou come to Zoar; my hands are tyed, fire and brimſtone will not come downe from Heaven while Lot's in Sodome. Thou art the man that hinders all, Bee gone, haſt to Zoar, but Lot lingers and will not make haſt, then I muſt linger alſo ſaith God, if he ſtick my Judgements muſt ſticke, till he be gone I cannot doe any thing. Here's the worth and excellencie of a righteous man, he keepes off Judgements, even brimſtone Judgements from a City and a Kingdome.

Great things will God doe for a good mans ſake, 2 King. 2…. 6. I will defend this City for mine owne ſake, and for my ſervant Davids ſake, God joynes David with himſelfe, and puts great honour upon him, its▪ …ſwell for his ſake as for Gods, that Ieruſalem is defended. The Saints are deare to God, he doth much for them, and for their ſakes and ſhall they not be deare to you: there is a choice Prophecy in 1 Zach. 12. 5. the Governours of Iudah ſhall ſay in their hearts, the Inhabitants of Ieruſalem my ſtrength in the Lord of Hoſts their God, they were newly come out of Babylon, their enemies that oppoſed them in the worke of the Temple, and Reformation were many, the number of the godly was few, yet their eyes were upon them. The Governours of Iuaah ſaid in their heart, the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, my ſtrength in the Lord of Hoſts their God, every Governour looked at all the godly in Ieruſalem, and account of them as his ſtrength in particular, and they look't not at the godly in themſelves as poore few, weake and deſpicable but they looked at them in the Lord of Hoſts, their God. They ſaw that thoſe perſons had intereſt in the Lord of Hoſts, that he was their ſtrength and defence: Whereupon they own'd them, cloſ'd with them, and countenanc'd them, knowing that theſe men and their God would bee aſſured ſtrength and ſufficient p. 42defence unto them. You that are the Governours of our Iudah, caſt your eyes upon the godly, and ſay in your hearts, theſe are our ſtrength in the Lord of Hoſts their God, theſe have bin faithfull unto us, and wee will be ſhields unto them, for ſo the word Ruler ſignifies, Hoſ. 4. 18. **….Victor Vicenſis tells of one that had a viſion, of a Tree that reached up to Heaven, and ſpread its branches farre, ſo that all delighted in the greatnes and beauty of it, but ſuddenly there came a wild beaſt and rub'd at the root of it, and overthrew the ſame. This Tree was the Church which ſpread through all Affrica, Hunnerick; an A…ria… Prince was the wild Beaſt, who baniſhed and martyred the Orthodox amongſt them, and laid all waſte; where the Godly are driven out there Judgements are drawn in, if mens Axes cut downe the trees are green: Gods Axes muſt and will cut down the Trees are dry.

3Thirdly, The next thing I humbly deſired of you is that ſeeing God layes his Axe to the root of the Tree, that there may be a through Reformation of all evills in the Kingdome, but eſpecially in the worſhip of God, partiall reformation makes way for a future deſolation. Our Reformation was conceived heretofore in ſinne, and now hath brought forth Iniquity, if it had bin formed according to the mind of God, we ſhould not have had ſuch ſtirs and troubles in theſe daies; if any therefore have built up Hay, Straw, and Stubble, let your fire burne up ſuch combuſtible matter; if bryars and thornes do grow in the Sanctuarie, let your Axe cut them downe, 2 Chron. 14. 3. 5. When Aſa tooke away Altars, high places, brake the Images, cut downe the Groves then had the Kingdome quiet before him, its ſuch traſh as Altars, Images, Ceremonies and inventions of men, which do diſquiet Kingdomes, Churches, Conſciences. Mens thoughts are, that removall of them will breed diſturbance, its their ſtanding not their taking away doth it. When we go in Gods way, breaking p. 43and baniſhing out of Gods worſhip the needleſſe, ſcandalous, and accurſed things, God overules ſpirits which are oppoſite, and a Kingdome is at reſt.. Aſa tooke the Images and high places out of all the Cities of Judah, and yet the Kingdome was quiet; the more exact in the things of God, the better ſucceſſe. God would not have the names of Idols and ſuperſtitious things left amongſt us, Hoſ. 2. 16, 17, 18. Thou ſhalt call mee no more Baali, Baalim muſt be no more in their minds or memories, It was a good ppBaali my Lord.name, but becauſe abuſ'd to Idolatry, God would not endure it. A great name is no great matter in mans judgement, it was much in Gods, and hee would have a perfect Reformation, not tollerate the leaſt evill▪ and thereupon he makes a Covenant with all creatures for them, and promiſes to breake the bow, ſword, battle out of the earth, and to make them lye down ſafely. You ſee a through reformation is the readieſt way to greateſt ſecurity. The qqVide Ca…tw. Anſw. to Rhem. Teſtam. on 1 Tim. 6. 20.1 Tim 6:20Papiſts hope by names and termes of theirs to worke in their faith amongſt us▪ they call our words novita…es vocum, and keep the old termes, Penance, Prieſt, Maſſe, Altar, Sacrifice, &c. Theſe words▪ ſay they will bring us to the faith of our firſt Apoſtles, I beſeech you therefore to daſh their hopes, take away theſe names and dayes, they ſo confide in Neaſt-eggs, yea cockatrice eggs, they are and may rrRudera veteris ſuperſtitioni erunt rudementa novae.breed Serpents, tread them under your feet, ſhew your ſelves children of that Father who hates ſuperſtitious names, times, things, and loves a perfect worke, Eſa. 1. 25. I will turne my hand upon thee and purely purge away thy droſſe, and take way all thy ſinne. God will not endure droſſe and ſinne in the Shekells of the Sanctuarie, thoſe things dim the glorie and imbaſe the ſubſtance, they muſt out; and becauſe there be many adverſities and great oppoſition to works of Reformation therefore ſaith God in the verſ. before, I will eaſe mee of mine adverſaries, doe they hinder ſo needfull ſo good, ſo great and ſo glorious a worke▪ ah I will eaſe my ſelfe of ſuch adverſaries; and if men will duplicate page p. 44duplicate page p. 45p. 44not do the worke my hand ſhall do it and do it, throughly. It's mans wiſdome to do that aforehand which God will doe by his judgements. In this 3 of Math 12. Chriſt is preſented with his Fanne in his hand, and reſolution to purge it to purpoſe. The Jewes would not part with their Moſaicall Worſhip, they ſtuck to the Ceremonies and Rites of the Temple, but becauſe they would not purge out the corruptions crept in, nor part with the ſhaddow for the ſubſtance now come▪ therefore Chriſt fann'd them by a terrible judgment deſtroy'd, them, their Temple, and all the Formalities of it, ſetting up pure and Spirituall Worſhip, which had they admitted, their deſtruction might have bin prevented. Luke 13. 33. 34.

What corruptions are got into the worſhip of God, is not unknowne to you, the Worthies of our Iſrael, turne your hand upon us and purely purge out all the droſſe is there. If things be not evident to you, make an exact ſcrutinie, and whatever you finde without Chriſts ſuperſcription, is adulterate, he will not owne nor bleſſe it. Ius divinum, is his ſtampe, and what hath that Chriſt will owne. O ſuffer nothing to be in his Houſe, which hath not a divine impreſsion upon it, which is not after Chriſt, Col. 2 8. and for the future let nothing be brought in which is after men and not after Chriſt; let no worldly rudiments approach his preſence, when Nadab and Abihu, brought ſtrange fire into the worſhip of God, fire went out from the Lord and made them a Sacrifice; there was nothing againſt their fire, but this was it, they had no Warrant for it, God commanded it not, Levit. 10. 1, 2. Let ſome fiery law go forth from you that may ſcorch all ſuch as ſhall hereafter dare to joine their poſts with Gods, and mingle their chaffe with his Wheate, and let not any lawes be of force, that may countenance ſuch evills, uphold ſuſpected things, or prejudice the liberty of tender conſciences, yea wayes of worſhip which may prove ſnares to you, or your Poſterity; put the Axe of your power unto them, and hew them down.

p. 45There is another thing yet, and very deſirable, you have been faithfull to the Kingdome hitherto, go on ſtill to be faithfull: you are Ambaſſadours of the greateſt King, the great things of heaven and earth are committed to your care; the glory of Iehovah, the Goſpel of Chriſt, the welfare of Churches, the good of Kingdomes; and in ſome reſpect of the whole Chriſtian world is in your hands. Olives and Figgetrees will not let go their fatneſſe and ſweetneſſe, do not you let goe your faithfullneſſe: put forth your ſelves, and do what you can for the glory of God, the Goſpel, the Churches, the Kingdome, the world.

All theſe waite and expect much at your hands, Prov. 13. 17. A wicked meſſenger falleth into miſchief, but a faithfull Ambaſſadour is health. Meſſengers of a State have power to doe great things, if men will be byaſſed with feare, promiſes and ſelviſh reſpects, importunities of friends, and the like, they ſhall fall into miſchief: God hath ſaid it, and well it ſhall not be with them, but a faithfull **The word Meſſenger is Malach, which the Septuagins read Melech, a King, and ſo turne it, Rex audax incidet malum, but a faithfull Embaſſ: ſhall free him.Ambaſſadour he is health, health to his own conſeience, he is health to a Kingdome, health to the Churches, health to all. God calls to you to help Him againſt the mighty; the Churches call to you to help them againſt corruptions, Innovations, impoſitions; this Kingdome, Ireland cryes to you for help againſt diſtractions, oppreſſions, bloud, ruine: now ſhew your ſelves Helpers and Healers. In Prov. 25. 12. it's ſaid A faithfull meſſenger refreſheth the ſoule of them that ſend him: It's not the head, but the ſoule, the heart is refreſhed by ſuch a man; the Hebrew is, He cauſeth the ſoule of his Lord to returne: and we may truly ſay to your comfort and honour, that the ſoule Religion and the Kingdome hath, you have cauſed it under God to returne. We were dying, Religion and Kingdome were dying, and you have given us a little reviving the Lord reward you fully for it: go on and ſhew your faithfullneſſe, bring it to perfection, Eſa. 11▪ 5. faithfullneſſe is the golden girdle of Chriſt.

p. 46Some Expoſitors underſtand by righteouſneſſe and faithfullneſſe, righteous and faithfull men, which are as neare and deare to Chriſt as his girdle; a great and glorious ornament unto him. There is much difference between thoſe are for Chriſt, and thoſe are newters or againſt him: in the 17. Rev. when the Kings of the earth ſhall give their power to the Beaſt, and make warre with the Lamb, the victory is the Lambs, and they that are with him are call'd, choſen and faithfull. Let not a neutralizing or oppreſſing ſpirit be found amongſt you: ſhew your ſelves All now to be with and for the Lamb, His cauſe, His Churches, His People and you ſhall have that honour as to be ſtil'd call'd choſen faithfull. It's good being with the Lamb when the Axe is at the root, and having honour from Chriſt when contempt is powring down upon the heads of others. Faithfull men have the blesſings, when others have blowes and curſes, Prov. 28. 20. A faithfull man abounds with bleſſings, his blesſings are without number; he ſhall have the blesſings of the preſent people; the blesſings of Generations to come, the bleſsings of heaven, the great God will powre forth his bleſsings upon ſuch, and ſay to them as to faithfull Abraham, Gen. 12. 2. I will bleſſe you and make your names great, and you ſhall be a bleſſing, and thoſe that bleſſe you ſhall be bleſſed: the great God will powre forth great bleſsings upon you, and mens curſes ſhall never come neere you; If emergents of time ſhould prove ſuch as that you ſhould not accompliſh what you intend, yet you ſhall not goe without a bleſsing, Pſal 84. 5. Bleſſed is the man in whoſe heart are the wayes of God.

There is another obſervation for all, in which I will be briefe, it's this, That the way to ſave a dying Kingdome from ruine, is by bringing forth good fruit: Now the Axe is layd to the root of the Tree, every Tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen downe and caſt into the fire. There is fruit unto Death, Rom. 7. 5. this the Kingdome abounds withall, and hath brought us under a p. 47ſentence of death. There is fruit unto Holyneſſe, Rom. 6. 22. and fruit unto God, Rom. 7. 2. theſe laſt are the fruits we muſt beare; If our fruit be unto holyneſſe, it's fruit unto God, and will reprive us from death. But to beare ſuch fruit more then nature is requiſite, Semen naturae non conſurg… in fructum Gratiae, It is not naturall abillities be they never ſo great and excellent, it is not Morall principles and vertues which will ſuffice: If a foreignman have not aliquid ampl…, all is nothing, his fruit is ſowre, Rom. 8. 7. the wiſdome of the fleſh is enmity againſt God. If you would bring forth fruit to ſave your ſoules and a Kingdome alſo, you muſt get into Chriſt, Iohn 15. 4. Labour to be rooted in him. Col. 2. 7. who is the root of Ieſſe, Rom. 15. 12. you muſt have divine faculties, 1 Iohn 5. 20. divine habits, Eph. 2. 8. divine motions and operations, Phil. 2. 13. and after all this you muſt act by a divine rule, and for a divine end and then your fruit is good, even ſuch as will keep the Tree from cutting down. There is great difference in trees and fruits, there is a Vine of Sod…me as well as of Sibmah, De…t. 32. 32. Eſa 16 8. both are Vines, have their leaves and cluſters: but in the one is a bleſſing, on the other is a curſe.

Cain and Abel goe forth to Sacrifice, the one is accepted, the other deſpiſed, the Phariſee goes to Prayer with the Publican, the one is juſtified, the other condemned: The Egyptians went the ſame way with the Iſraelites, but they were drown'd where the Iſraelites were ſaved, looke narrowly to your ſelves therefore what trees you are, what fruit you beare. There will be diſtructum judicium, and the waies ſeem right in a mans own eyes may prove death. Prov. 14. 12. Let not flatteries and vaine pretences undoe you: what if you have been baptiſed? So was Rom. 12. 11. Eſ. 60. 17. 54 11, 12 Rom. 8. 21.Rom 12:11Isa 60:17Isa 60:54Rom 8:21Simon Magus. What if you keepe faſts? So did the▪ Iewes, and yet not faſt unto God. If you heare the Word gladly▪ and reforme in many things ſo did Herod: if you pray, Matth. 7. 21. Its not every one that ſaith Lord, Lord, ſhall enter into the Kingdome of Heaven; there p. 48is more then all theſe to be looked after, you muſt be in Chriſt, not have a name to be in him, but ſee to it in truth, that you be in him: The great worke is to make out that you are in Chriſt, moſt preſume and are undone Aliter judicium D…i ali…r… judicium hominis.by it. Gods judgement and mans differ much, and you will finde it when you come to die, his thoughts are not ours. Many that thinke themſelves figtrees will be found brambles, and the fruit of many trees will bee found naught, which hath now an excellencie upon it▪ if you walke after the fleſh and not after the ſpirit, you are not in Chriſt, and that man is not in Chriſt, is Arbor …amnab…lis a Tree for the fire.

I ſhould now exhort all to be fruitfull, time permits it not. I will onelyonly turne my ſpeech a little unto you, O Noble Senators, ſeeing bearing of good fruit is a ſpeciall meanes to ſave a Kingdome, labour to abound in every good word and worke, to beare much fruit, and fruit anſwerable to your opportunities. God hath planted you in this Parliament to beare ſome choice fruit. If any ſhould aske what doe you here? Let your anſwer be, We are zealous for the Lord of Hoſts. When Eſther was advanced ſhe would not looſe her opportunities. She will in to the King, although contrary to a Law, ſhe will have the liberty of her people and Hamans head off, and venture Her life to accompliſh it. If I periſh, I periſh, chap. 4. 16. Ioſia, Hezek…ah, tooke their opportunities and make a thorough reformation in Iudah: you know what great things Elijah did i…spiciente & reluctante rege, 1 Kings 18. Nehemiah and Ezra, for all the enemies ſcoffing cunning complyances to build with them, taking up Armes to ſubdue them, they tooke their times, improv'd their opportunities and brought forth fruit anſwerable to the expectation of heaven and earth, they built up the Temple and walls of Ieruſalem. It was Ahabs ſinne, he loſt his opportunity, in letting Benhadaa go a man that God had appointed unto death and it coſt him his life for it, 1 Kin 22. 31. Men are ſnared p. 49in an evill time becauſe they know not their time, Eccl. foreign.9. 13. You may be timeſervers and obſervers without ſin. The richeſt opportunities that ever men had are in your hands, obſerve them and ſerv the Lord in them. It's good fruit for a Parliament to ſet up a faithfull conſcientious Miniſtry all the Kingdome over, to have a care of all Schooles of learning, that no corrupt opinions or practiſes be there: it's good fruit to abrogate ill Laws▪ to ſee to execution of thoſe are good, to call for an exacter Tranſlation of Holy Scripture, to helpe Ireland, to inquire after and countenance the Gouernment of Chriſt and al thoſe particulars you have bin preſt unto by thoſe you have cal'd to preach before you on theſe dayes. Eſ. 60. 17. 54. 11, 12.Isa 60:17Isa 60:54Isa 60:11Isa 60:12Have you not found the materialls of our Jeruſalem rubbiſh, iron, and braſſe, now give us gold for braſſe, ſilver for iron, and pretious ſtones for rubbiſh. Now lay the Foundations thereof with Saphires▪ make the windowes of Agates, the Gates of Carbuncles, and all the Borders of pleaſant ſtones; then ſhall you ſet the priſoners of hope at liberty. Theſe things are foretold, in their time are to be fulfil'd, and we deſire your hands may helpe on ſo great and glorious a worke. The whole Rom. 12. 11.Rom 12:11Creation groanes to be delivered from the bondage of corruption, and we groan to be delivered from ſuch bondage: If you ſhall deliver us and ſet us in ſuch a condition, you ſhall be as Gods unto us you ſhall be our Ioſhuahs, though not our …eſuſſes, Saviours of our liberties, lives. Kingdom, Religion, All onelyonly not of our Soules.

Laſtly, let not the frut of Prayer be wanting in any: it's choyce fruit, and of great efficacie. The Ninivites Jon. 3.Jonah 3cryed mightily and obtained mercy. The foundation of the Jewes deliverance was layd in Morde…aies, Eſthers, Eſt 4. 16.Esth 4:16and the peoples Prayers. Aſaes prayers overthrew the greateſt Army we read of▪ 2 Chron. 14. 9. 11. The prevalencie of Prayer is yet unknowne▪ When the Maſter bid the Gardner cut down the Tree▪ Luke 13. 7. The Gardner being tender of it, interceeds, and interceeding gets p. 50the Axe removed. We are dreſſers of the Garden, and ſhall cry to God to ſpare it, and give him no reſt: You likewiſe are principall dreſſers, and we hope will not faile to inter…eed for this Land and People; the want of your prayers may retard it not ruine the buſineſſe, Exod. 32 10. Others prayers may doe ſomthing▪ they may doe much: but when Moſes prayers come they doe all, Let me alone (ſaith God) that my wrath may wax hot againſt them and I will make of thee a great Nation. Behold a wonder, the great God petitioning ſinfull man! and that which is yet more, man denying Gods petition. Moſes would not let God alone he would not be hired or byafled by God himſelfe to looſe the people▪ he would not compound or comply with God himſelfe. If God would not blot out the peoples ſinnes, he requeſts God to blot him Verſ. 32.out of his Booke. Moſes knew he had brought them out of Aegypt, ingaged them in a Warre with A…a…k, expoſ'd them to many difficulties and dangers, and therefore he is tender of the people and could not leave them, or any part of them, (when he had a great opportunity to do it) unto the wrath of a provoked King and God. verſ. 12, 13.He puts God in minde of his Name and Oath, What will the Aegyptians ſay, and didſt not thou ſweare to Abraham Iſ…a…k and Iſrael when thou tookeſt them and their Seed to be thy people and promiſedſt them to be their God and Soveraigne, that thou wouldeſt multiplie them and wilt thou now deſtroy them; Lord do it not, provide for thy Name, thine Oath, thy people; and what was the iſſue? The Lord repented of the evill intended and ſpared the people. You that are the Moſeſſes that ſit at the Sterne, and know all paſſages, haſten to the Lord, poure out your hearts before him your ſighs teares, prayers may remove the Axe and ſecure the Kingdome, preſſe him with Moſes his Arguments and you may have his Anſwer, and make us all happy by your prayers and endeavours.

FINIS.

End of the text · William Greenhill, The Axe at the Root (1643)