The Mournful Note of the Dove, Parliamentary order to print – Letter
Die Mercurii, 25. Decemb. 1644.
IT is this day Ordered by the Commons House of Parliament, That Master Heveningham and Master Lisle, do from this House give thanks to Master Thorowgood and Master Langley, for the great pains they took in the Sermons they Preached this day, at the intreaty of this House at Saint Margarets Westminster (it being the day of Publike Humiliation,) and to desire them to Print their Sermons: And it is Ordered, that none shall presume to Print their, or either of their Sermons, without first obtaining liberty under their hand writing.
H. Elsynge, Cler. Parl. D. Com.
I do appoint Philemon Stephens to Print my Sermon.
John Langley.
Gemitus Columbae: The Mournfull Note of the DOVE.
A SERMON Preached at MARGARETS Westminster, Before the Honourable House of COMMONS, at their Solemn Fast, Decemb. 25. 1644.
By John Langley, Minister of West-Tuderly in the County of Southampton, and a Member of the Assembly of DIVINES.
Cant. 2.14.
O my Dove that art in the clefts of the Rock, in the secret places of the staires: Let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.
Psal. 124.1, 2, 3.
If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, now may Israel say: If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us: Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us.
Vers. 7.
Our soul is escaped as a Bird.
London, Printed by Joh. Raworth for Philemon Stephens, dwelling in Pauls Church-yard at the Guilded Lion. 1644.
To the Honourable House of COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT.
Honourable Senators,
DIvine providence having singled me out by your call (though most unworthy) to be his Mouth to you, on the day of your Solemn Humiliation: The desire of my soul was to stir up your pure mindes to a serious disquisition, and a privy search of those great and grievous provocations of ours, which caused the Dove to flutter up and down, not having a sure place to rest the sole of her foot on, being exposed to sundry dangers on all hands, and as yet denied the opening of a Window to let her into an Ark, where she might be safe and free from all Military fears.
I found the Dove degenerated and changed into a speckled Bird, leaving her Mate, the Lord Jesus, and following after other lovers. I found the Doves divided amongst themselves, and exercising deadly feude, like those Birds, the Siskin and the Miskin, of whom Plutarch reports,Plutarch Morall. That they fight at every meeting, and when they are dead, their blood will not mingle, but runs apart.
Great are the distractions for the present, and unlesse God in great mercy put in and prevent, pugnent ipsique nepotes, Quarrels are like to be entail'd and bound over to posterity, as the Wars against the Romans were, from Amilcar to his son Hannibal: And I would they were against the Romans: But Brethren contend and strive against Brethren, and that in the view of Infidels, desperately Heathenish Cavaliers, and at such a time when the Harpy and the Kite are like to sweep away all.
I endeavour'd to apply some remedies, insisting upon the Soveraign Panace or Catholicon of zealous Prayer and Devotion; the most successefull infusion in every Recipe or Potion. Then amongst the brief suggestions hinted for the preservation of the Dove towards the close, execution of Justice, as not of the least importance, was presented to you.
Blessed Auditours, qui verba statim vertistis in opera, who were presently doers of the Word, and not hearers onelyonly, deceiving your selves. How acceptable this Work was unto the Lord, I undertake not to prove from the vulgar observation of the Suns breaking forth in a gloomy day, with the greatest lustre, immediately upon the stroke given to the Grand Impostour, and notorious Delinquent, Aristotle Eth.though the very Heathen could say that Hesperus the bright Morning Star, in all its glory, is not arrayed as Astraea or Justice; but the acclamations sent in from Heaven presently after (for so I interpret the flowings in of so much good news from sundry parts of the Land) do abundantly declare: The croaking Frogs of Egypt will not henceforth take you for a Log that may be leapt on, and trifled with at pleasure, and you may put in your plea against black-mouth'd obloquie.
Est Deus in nobis agitante calescimus illo.Tamberlan.
You are a scourge of God on the back of fools, on better Principles and Grounds, and acted by an Higher and Nobler spirit, then he was who assumed this Title to himself.
The best way to stanch a dangerous bleeding, is to make a diversion, and to open a vein in another part of the Body: Like good Chirurgions, by letting out the blood of some heinous Offenders, you have assayed the stanching and stopping of that unnaturall bloody issue in the Land, which hath brought it very low. Quot vulnera, tot ora, So many Wounds as were in the Land, so many Mouthes were opened, as 'twere calling upon you for this necessary Phlebotomy; And so many Wounds seem so many Mouthes to praise God for you, who by this means have endeavoured to heal and cure them all.
'Tis observed, that the worst husbands in all the world,Cunaeus. are found in Egypt, neer Nilus, that is a brave River, and doth inundate and over flow all the bordering grounds, and makes them very fruitfull: Hence the people grow carelesse in the exercise of all points of good Husbandry. There is a River of sweetest Providence,Psal. 46. that makes glad the City of our God in these sad times; yet blessed be God, you are not wanting in your good Husbandry, and necessary Cooperations with it. The Lord reward plentifully into your bosomes all your labours of love, all your layings out for the poor men wounded, between Jericho and Jerusalem, and left half dead, whom the*Bellum Episcopale. Levite hath passed by, shall I say, without compassionating or relieving? nay, hath wounded and mangled, and done his worst to kill him out right.
The good will of him that dwelt in the Bush, blesse you, overshadow you, and compasse you about with his loving kindnesse for ever:
So prayes your Honours humblest Servant in Christ Jesus John Langley.