Gods Ark Overtopping the Worlds Waves, Parliamentary chronicle (1 of 2)
GODS ARK OVER-TOPPING THE VVORLDS WAVES.
MOſt truly ſayes the princely Prophet David; Pſal. 107. 23, 24.They that goe down into the Sea in Ships, and that are buſied in great Waters: Theſe ſee the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the Deep. And as truly may I ſay; They that goe forth, and lanch into our Engliſh-Ocean (to uſe the ſaid holy Prophets Metaphor, and keep a little to his Sea-Allegories) in the Ship of ſerious Contemplation and pious Exploration, England fitly likned to the Sea.may as eaſily and admirably ſee and diſcover the ſtrange workings of the Lord, and the rare wonders which he does in the deep deportments and various viciſſitudes of State-affaires in this (I ſay) our Engliſh-Ocean. Upon one ſide, they may ſee the huge ſwelling waves, the mightie and big billowes of furious floods and raging and roaring waters, I mean wicked and ungodly men, Atheiſts, The wicked and ungodly rable to the raging waves of the Sea.Papiſts, Prelates, and rotten-hearted Malignants, in Citie, and Countrey, puffing, ſnuffing, blowing, and beating their braines, and vexing their hearts to overtop and overturn, to ſwoop away and ſwallow-up in the deeply ingurgitating whirpool of their irreconciliable rage and malice, the Ark of the Lord, his Church and Children, principally perſonated and repreſented in Both Houſes of Parliament, The Parliament and Aſſembly of Divines compared to the Ark of God.and in the happie Aſſembly of Divines, ſweetly ſubſervient unto them, in the long longed for pure and thorough Reformation of all things amiſs in Church and State. On the other ſide they may ſee the moſt admirable and indeed unexpreſſible power and providence, the moſt infinite wiſedome and unfathomable merciemercy of our good God, the as prudent as potent Pilot and Moderator of all that his Engliſh-Ark, God the Pilot.bearing it up moſt ſafely and ſecurely, ſuſtaining and maintaining it (maugre all the beatings and billowings, the ſitly ſurges and ſwellings of all thoſe raging and roaring waves and waters) and making it ſtill fairly to float, The Ark overtopping the waves.and over-top their higheſt riſing and moſt furious flaſhing and deſperateſt daſhing waves, craggieſt penetrating rockes, ſwallowing ſands and ſhelves, and mightieſt and moſt malicious puffes and blaſts of malignity and miſchief, all of them conſpiring and aſpiring with malice, pride and impious ambition, either to ſwallow-up or (per fas aut nefas) to tear in pieces, this moſt honeſt, holy and harmleſs Ark of God; The wicked are Satans Gally-ſlaves.but all of them, labouring and tugging (like ſo many Galley-ſlaves of Satan) in vain (which is their greateſt miſerie) ever glorified and praiſed be the free grace of God therein, as now wee ſhall moſt lively delineat and ſet forth, by Gods gracious aſſiſtance, in this our third Voyage through this vaſte and various Ocean. And having now, I ſay, by the good hand of Gods gracious providence, made two former voyages through this our Engliſh-Ocean, The Authors two former Voyages in this Engliſh-Ocean.and twice ſafely, and (I hope) ſucceſsfully arrived at the deſired Haven, and brought my veſſell thither fully and fairly fraught with ſuch mercifull Merchandizes, as I hope may help my Chriſtian brethren to trade withall, for the enriching of their hearts and ſoules with copious expreſſions of bounden gratitude and infinitely obliged thankfulneſs to our almighty Jehovah-jireh, Gods glory is & ought to be the Alpha and Omega of all mercies.our moſt glorious and gracious Elohim, God-All-ſufficient, for the higheſt improvement of his all-deſerving praiſe and glorie, which, indeed, is and ought to be the pious Alpha and Omega, the originall and ultimate ayme and end of his free and gracious Giving, and of our ſo undeſerved receiving of ſuch, and ſo rich, rare, and manifold mercies and deliverances from the hands and hatred of our ſo raging and roaring enemies.
Now I …ay I am reſolved, by Gods guide and my Readers accuſtomed candor and experienced patience, to ſet ſayl again into this our Engliſh Main-Ocean, The Authors third Voyage.and to enter upon a third voyage therein: OnelyOnly beſeeching thee, good Reader, to aſſiſt me with thy holy prayers, that our good God will graciouſly breath upon our ſayles, and give us a proſperous gale which may carry us on comfortably to the end of this Voyage, and reduce us ſafely to our deſired Haven; And now therefore plainly and pertinently to begin and goe on in this our intended Parliamentarie-Hiſtory.