Englands Pattern and Duty in its Monthly Fasts, Title page – Dedication
ENGLANDS PATTERNE AND DUTY IN IT'S MONTHLY FASTS PRESENTED IN A SERMON, Preached to both Houſes of Parliament aſſembled, on Friday the 21. of July, An. Dom. 1643. BEING An extraordinary Day of publicke Humiliation appointed by them, throughout London and Weſtminſter, that every one might bitterly bewaile his owne ſinnes, and crie mightily vntounto God for Chriſt his ſake, to remove his wrath, and heale the Land
By WILLIAM SPURSTOWE ſometimes Fellow of KATHERINE HALL in Chambridg, and now Paſtor of HACKNEY near LONDON.
Publiſhed by Order of both Houſes of Parliament.
In that day did the Lord God of Hoſts …ll to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldneſſe, and to girding with ſackcloth; and behold joy and gladneſſe, ſlaying oxen, and killing ſheep, eating fleſh, and drinking wine, let vsus eate, and drinke for to morrow we ſhall die. And it was revealed in my eares by the Lord of Hoſts; ſurely this iniquity ſhall not be purged from you till you die, ſaith the Lord God of Hoſts,
Iſa. 22. 12. 13. 14.
LONDON Printed for Peter Cole at the ſigne of the Glove in Corne-hill neare the Royall Exchange, 1643.
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE The Houſe of Lords AND THE HONOURABLE HOUSE Of Commons ASSEMBLED IN PARLIAMENT.
IT is reported of a great Perſian Monarke, that having loſt his royall Conſort, he was ſo deeply affected with ſorrow, as that he refuſed to admit of any comfort: In this height of paſſion, a certaine Philoſopher vndertooke, if that he would furniſh him with things neceſſarie for his purpoſe, to raiſe the dead Queen againe: the Empirour much taken with the offer, was willing for that end, to exhauſt all his Treaſures: but the other only demanded of him three names of ſuch perſons as had never felt any greife or ſadneſſe, to engrave them on the Queens Monument: which after much ſearch throughout his Empire could not be found. I to the reſtoring of this bleeding & dying Kingdom, whoſe wounds every day grow wider and wider, ſhall not deſire the names of any ſuch perſons as have been altogether ſtrangers vntounto ſorrow and humiliation, they being thoſe that have drawne the heavieſt judgments vponupon it; but the names of ſuch as have been reall and ſolemne mourners before God in the behalfe of this Land, which if in any competent number they may be found, I ſhall not feare but this Kingdome may ſee a glorious and happy reſurrection.
This affection of ſorrow is that which this Sermon did firſt call for, from the Pulpit, and doth ſtill continue (being publiſhed by your Command) to doe it from the Preſſe, as being the moſt ſutable poſture and dreſſe to the preſent conditon of this Land, it cals and invites all, to an holy mourning and humiliatiation before the Lord, whoſe ſinnes have bin as oyle to the lampe, and fuell vntounto the fire, to feed and nouriſh that diſpleaſure, that burnes in the bowels of the Kingdome, But more eſpecially your Honours, who are the two eyes of the Kingdome not only to watch over it for it's good, but to mourne over it for it's ſinnes and miſerie: not only to be Reformers of it, but Weepers for it. And the firſt ſtones of Reformation, which are not like the foundation of the Temple, that was laid with the weepings of the old men, and the ſhoutings of the young men, but with the bitter mourning of all ſorts will (I doubt not) in the finiſhing, and perfecting of the worke receive the joyfull acclamations both of young and old, both of Governours and People, the God of Heaven himſelfe turning our water into wine on the wet ſeed-time of teares, into an harveſt of joy and ſpirituall bleſſings: which that he may ſpeedily doe, prayes,
Your Honours to ſerve you for Chriſt. WILLIAM SPURSTOWE.