The Fury of War and Folly of Sin, Title page – Errata
THE aO thou ſword of the Lord, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thy ſelfe into thy ſcabbard, reſt and be ſtill, Jer. 47.6. Meritò in terra homini non gloria, ſed pax eſt quę…enda, pax cum Deo, pax cum proximo, pax cum ſeipſo, Bernard in feſt. omnium Sanctorum, Serm. 5. col. 297.FVRY OF VVARRE, AND bAnd Samuel ſaid to Saul, thou haſt done fooliſhly; thou hast not kept the Commandement of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee, 1 Sam. 13.13. Omnes ſtulti mali ſunt, Senec. de Benefic. lib. 5. cap. 15. Humilis res eſt ſtultitia, abjects, ſordida, ſervilis, multis affectibus, & ſaeviſſimis ſubjecta: Hos tam graves dominos, interdum alternis vicibus, imperantes dimittit a te ſapientia, quę ſola libertas eſt. Idem. Epiſt. lib. 5 ep. 37.FOLLY OF SINNE, (As an Incentive to it) declared and applyed.
FOR Caution and Remedy againſt the Miſchiefe and Miſery of both.
IN A SERMON Preached at St. Margarets Weſtminſter, before the Honourable Houſe of COMMONS, at their late ſolemne and publike FAST, Aprill 26. 1643.
By Iohn Ley Miniſter of Great Budworth in Cheſhiere.
LONDON, Printed by G.M. for Chriſtopher Meredith at the Signe of the Crane in Pauls Church-yard, 1643.
TO THE HONOVRABLE HOVSE OF COMMONS Aſſembled in PARLIAMENT.
WHile I humbly offer that to the view, which I lately preſented to the audience of your ever Honoured, and then ſacred Aſſembly (both the preaching and publiſhing of it in print, being acts of due obedience to your commands; and I wiſh they were capable of titles of gratitude for your favours) it may be my lot, to have ſome paſſages of my Sermon, cenſoriouſly met withall, if not for any falſehood or fault in the matter, yet for ſome ſuppoſed incongruity to the office of the Authour, and with pretence alſo of ſome biaſſed partiality, in the great differences of our moſt unhappily divided Kingdom (divided under thoſe Names as ſome miſtake, and miſ ſtate the queſtion) which have beſt right to the humbleſt reverence, and heartieſt loyalty of all the Subjects of the Land: which calumnie if I cannot prevent, I may have hope to repell the aſſault of it, by ſuch conſiderations as theſe: which I crave leave to tender to the touch of your*Lydius lapis the touchſtone, Plin. nat. biſt. l. 33. c 8. Lydian judgement, and in them to speake to you and of you to others, as the dictat of duty and diſcretion ſhall direct me.
Firſt, It cannot in equity or prudence be deemed an impertinency to our miniſteriall profeſſion, or an over-buſie medling (in matters above, or beſides our calling) to appeare apprehenſive of our common perill, and to doe what lyeth within the fathome of our power, and the verg of our vocation, either for prevention of imminent, or for removall or mitigation of our preſent miſeries.
And if we affected the praiſe of prudent ſilence, which the Prophet commendeth (as ſeaſonable for evill times) Amos 5.12. I doe not ſee, how we could now obſerve it, being often required by our ſuperiours, to publiſh their minds and our own unto the people, in matters of ſecular concernement, and many times alſo (in private) deſired to ſatisfie their doubts, when they are called upon to give their aſſent and aſſiſtance in matters of great moment, for the publike welfare: And I thanke God, ſuch have ever beene the principles, which have ſet the deepeſt impreſſion upon my judgement and conſcience, and upon others likewiſe (by mine information) that, (to my knowledge) I have not whiſpered any reſolution or advice in theeare, which I may not warrantably publiſh upon the houſe topps, as our bleſſed Saviour gave direction to his Diſciples, Mat. 10.27. Nor have I breathed out any poſition or opinion, either in private or publike, for which I ſhould be unwilling to bleed or to dye.
Secondly, For my loyall affection to his Majeſty, mine own heart tells me, I prize him as the dutifull ſubjects of David did him (their Royall Soveraigne) when they valued his life at ten thouſand of their ovvn, 2 Sam. 18.3. and had rather my body ſhould be the ſheath of a two edged and poiſoned Sword, (as*Speeds Chrō. l. 7. c. 20. p. 300 Lilloe's was, when he ſtept betwixt the murtherer, and King Edwine his Maſter, to intercept the deadly thruſt intended and aimed at the heart of his Soveraigne) then conſent to lay any hands upon him, but as the Angells did upon Lot, Gen. 19.16. for his deliverance from danger; in which caſe a loving violence hath more affinity with duty, then with diſobedience: for a King (being a publike perſon) hath no power to diſpoſe of himſelfe (for perillous adventure) in ¶Baſil. Dor. l. 2. p. 165, 166.reſpect, that to his preſervation or fall, the ſafety or wrack of the whole Common-weale is neceſſarily coupled, like as the body is to the head, as his Majeſties learned Father, of famous memory, reſolved in caſe of duells: and though afterwards, ſpeaking of a juſt war, he counſelled the Prince (to whom he wrote)*Ibidem. once or twice, in his own perſon, to hazard himſelfe fairely, (but afterwards, to conſerve himſelfe for the weale of his people; for whoſe ſake, he muſt be more carefull for himſelfe then for his own:) I conceive the reaſon rendred for the ſecurity of his Royall Perſon is of force, not only againſt the perill of a ſingle combat, but of a ſociable warre or ſet battell (especially for hereafter) ſince his Majeſties courage and magnanimity is ſo well knowne, that his cautionary prudence can never come under the miſinterpretation of timerous cowardize; for avoidance whereof, his Royall Father gave advice for the adventure fore-mentioned.
Thirdly, For the high Court of Parliament (whereof your honourable Houſe of Commons is the Alpha in order of proceeding) his Majeſty (that laſt was) hath taught me to know it, as the ¶Ibidem.Kings head-Court; and his Majeſty (that now is) advanced mine eſtimation of it, by his gracious acknowledgement,†His Majeſties Speech, Ian. 25. 1640. that often Parliaments, are the fitteſt meanes to keepe correſpondence betwixt him and his people, which he doth much deſire: ‖His Majeſties anſwer to the Petition of the Lords and Commons, Iunij 17. 1642. p. 6.that it is impoſſible for him to ſubſiſt, without the affections of his people; and that thoſe affections cannot poſſibly be preſerved or made uſe of, but by Parliaments, that they cannot give the leaſt credit, or have the leaſt ſuſpition, that his Majeſty would choſe any other way to the happines he deſires to himſelf and his poſterity, but by Parliaments. And it is raiſed yet higher, by his gracious acceptation of his Speech, who repreſented it to him, as a moſt ſoveraigne remedy againſt all the diſtempers of this Nation: were they (*Mr. Speaker in his Speech to his Majeſty, November the 5. 1640. ſaith he) troubled at Sea, troubled at home, or invaded from abroad? here was the ſanctuary of refuge, hither was the reſort, and no other way found for a foundation of peace. And for a returne of all loyall and affectionate obſervances to his Majeſty, on the Parliaments part, you with your right Honourable colleagues, have profeſſed your reſolution,*So in the Declaration of both Houſes, March, 12. 1642. to keepe your ſelves within the bounds of faithfullneſſe, and allegiance to his Royall Perſon and his Crownes; ¶The Parliaments ſecond Remonſtrance, p 1.to provide for the publike peace and proſperity of his Majeſty and his Realmes; proteſting in the preſence of the all-ſeeing Deity, that it ſtill hath beene, and ſtill is the only end of all your counſells and endeavours, wherein you have reſolved to continue freed and enlarged from all private aimes, perſonall reſpects or paſſions whatſoever. And your*Ibid p. 11. earneſt deſire of his Majeſties returne to London, that upon it you conceive depends the very ſafety and being of both his Kingdomes; and therefore you have proteſted you will be ready to ſay or doe any thing, (that may ſtand with the duty and honour of a Parliament) which may raiſe a mutuall confidence, betwixt his Majeſty and your ſelves as you doe wiſh, and the affaires of the Kingdome doe require. And to the ſame purpoſe againe,¶Ibid p 13. we intend (ſay you) to doe whatſoever is ſit, to make up the unpleaſant breach betwixt his Majeſty and parliament.
By ſuch expreſſions as theſe (carrying moſt cleare and legible Characters of your Loyalty and Love to his Maieſty) you have righted your Reputations againſt all iuſt cauſe of ſuſpition of Popiſh tenets, or intentions againſt his Perſon and his Crowne; and have gained the beleefe of all good Subiects, that you ſpake in ſincerity, when you ſaid, *In the third Remonſtrance or Declaration of the Parliament May 26. 1642. p. 4.You ſuffered not ſuch things to enter into your thoughts, as all the world knowes, the Papiſts have put into act: (whereof I ſhall ſhortly give inſtance in my other Sermons upon this Text, which ſome worthy: Members of your Honourable Society have required to the Preſſe.) And ſo (upon confidence in your fidelity) have ingaged their affections, and all their Interests (both for the preſent and the future) under the conduct of your moſt prudent Counſels and commands, accounting it a most fickle unfaithfullneſſe, and finally destructive to the foundation of our Engliſh Government, if they (who have voted your Election to places in Parliament) ſhould upon any Malignant ſurmiſes againſt you, deſert either their due obedience to you, or juſt and neceſſary defence of you, though with the hazard of their eſtates and perſons.
Againſt ſuch aſſurance as you have given of your faithfull allegiance to his Majeſty, your zealous Conſtancy in proſecution of a perfect Reformation of Court, City, and Country from prophaneneſſe and Popery, importeth no colour of contradiction at all (though ſome, whoſe condition moſt requires it, diſtast and deſire to wreſt it to ſome ſuch miſconſtruction) but carrieth with it an exact conformity to what you have profeſſed.
For what better proofe of integrity in what you undertake, then your preſſing to promote the proſperity of the King, as well as of the Kingdome? And what meanes more conducible unto that end then Religion and Juſtice? As S. Auguſtine ſheweth; where he ſaith,*Ne que no… Chriſt…anos quo…ā emperatores … deo foelices d…cimus, quia vel diutiùs imperarunt, &c. Aug. de Civit. Dei l. 5. c. 24. We account not Chriſtian Emperours happy, becauſe they have raigned long, or becauſe they have had power to ſuppreſſe inſurrections, or oppreſſe their enemies; nor becauſe they have dyed a quiet death, and left their children to raigne after their deceaſe: †Sed foelices eos dicimus, ſi juſtè imperarunt, ſi inter linguas ſublimitèr honoran…um, et obſequia, nimis humiliter ſalutantiam non ex. tollu…u…, ſed ſe homines eſſe memnerint, ſi ſuam poteſ…a…ē, ad Dei …ui…u…, &c. …bid▪But we call them happy, if they rule with juſtice, if among the tongues of thoſe that too highly extoll them, or too humbly ſalute them, or too obſequiouſly ſerve them, they remember themſelves to be but men, if they apply their power ſo, as to make it moſt ſerviceable to the honour of the divine Majeſty, if they feare, and love and worſhip God, and more love that kingdome, where they need not feare competitors or conſorts, then that, wherin they may be afraid of them— *S…uxu…i…ā …ò eis eſt caſt… g…, qu…n… poſſi… … …upiditatibus … quam … imperare. Ibidem.if they ſo much more refraine from luxury, as (being without reſtraint of others) they may be more free unto it; and bad rather raigne over evill concupiſcence, then Countries and Nations. ¶Tales Chriſtianos imperateres dicimus eſſe foelices. Ib.Such Chriſtian Emperours (ſaith he) we call happy, and happy ſurely are the people, who are governed by ſuch an one, as ſo governeth himſelfe.
And for your zeale againſt the prevailing of Popery, and for the advancement of the Proteſtant Religion, it makes moſt for his Majeſties honour and ſafety: not only in reſpect of piety, but of policy, for that wiſe State, man the Duke of Rohan, in his Treatiſe of the Intereſt of Princes and States, makes his obſervation of the State of England, in theſe words‖The Duke of Rohan his Treatiſe of the Intereſt of Princes and States. p 58. Beſides the Intereſt which the King of England hath common with all Princes, he hath yet one particular, which is, that He ought throughly to acquire the advancement of the Proteſtant Religion, even with as much zeale, as the King of Spain appears Protector of the Catholick. And what zeale that is, he hath ſhowed before in the*Ibid … p 4. ad nonam. Intereſt of Spain.
Notwithſtanding all this, there be ſome men, who (deeply guilty of deceit themſelves) will never be ſatisfied with any evidence of ſincerity in other men: with ſuch there is no ſecurity in the Prerogative of the King, nor the Priviledge of Parliament, againſt in urious traducement: ſince nothing beareth ſway with them, but their ſelf-conceit or particular advantage, or which is worſe, their virulent ſpleen againſt the better part, which ſtirreth them up to reproach them, as tumultuary buſie-bodies, who doe but bring ſome buckets of water to quench a burning, which they have treacherouſly kindled againſt their own Country, and as confidently (and not more innocently) to cry Sedition, Sedition againſt the moſt loyall and true hearted Subjects of Royall Maieſty: as Athaliah did Treaſon, Treaſon, 2 Kin. 11.14. When Sedition is their raigning ſin, as treaſon was hers, and that the worſt Sedition of all others, for what can be worſe then that (and theirs is ſuch) which ſeparateth thoſe in iudgement, affection, and locall manſion, who (for the two firſt) ſhould alwaies and (for the third) ſhould very often be united together, viz. his Maiesty and Parliament.
But this ſhould not ſo diſcourage a ſingle Subiect (much leſſe ſo many thoice Patriots as make up your venerable number) as to with-draw or with-hold him from any devotion or endeavour, to which he is obliged (as a part of the publike) and he is more obliged in reaſon and conſcience to the united Intereſts of King and Parliament, then to any devided title of conteſtation betwixt them.
And for this your eminent example for untainted integrity, unquenchable fervency, inſuperable patience, indefatigable diligence and untainted reſolution in the purſuance of your excellent purpoſes (for the good of Church and State) will be to others both a patterne of practice and a Buckler of Defence. The Lord God Almighty, be ſtill reſident in your venerable Senate, to guide all your Conſultations to his owne glory, and the common ſafety both of his Maieſty, of your ſelves, and of the many Millions of people vertually compriſed in your*Diaconos paucitas honorabiles fecit. Hier. Epiſt. Oceano Tom. 2. p. 329. Honourable paucity, being (in equivalence) as a few peeces of gold, to many of ſilver, or of other inferiour Mettals, and to guard your perſons by his power and providence, from all deſtructive plots, and hurtfull miſhaps, that you may live to reape and enioy the ripe fruit of that Reformation, whoſe ſeed hath been ſowen in many teares of humiliation, both publike and private, which the enemies of Gods truth, and of the Engliſh State, would drowne in blood; which God forbid: So prayeth
Your moſt humbly devoted Servant in the Lord Iohn Ley.
Errata.
REader, Beſides ſome litterall errours which alter not the ſence, as Ammon for Amnon, Eſa for Iſai, Egiptians for Egyptians, Sabboth for Sabbath, deiſcovered for diſcovered, theſe following which are of ſome moment to the ſence are thus to be corrected;
P. 3. l. 26. reade the words betwixt therefore and when in the next line as a parentheſes. p. 5. l. 21. for the read this l. 13. for 2 Sam. 11.1. reade 2 Sam 11.7. p. 8. l. 4. from the end of the page after the word Of, adde many. p. 9. l. ult. after the word be, adde ſo. p 14 l. 17. for him read them. p. 28. this marke " to be added to the three laſt lines, and to all the lines of p. 29. as nothing the continuation of the Speech. p. 29. l 12. for combuſtion read concertation. And l. ult. for confuſion read concuſſion. p. 30. l. 3. from the bottome blot out the word ſo. p. 39. l. 27. after the word day, adde and to the men of Iudah, &c. p. 46. l. 10. after the word them adde the word and. p. 35. l. penult. for come read cometh. p. 58. l. 23. for at leaſt, reade or. p. 40. l. 14. blot out the word then, and inſtead of it reade from theſe.