The Churchs Thank-Offering to God Her King, Chapter 4
CHAP. VI.
September, 1641. The Product thereof. The Overtures, and ſtrange turnings of things therein.
SECT. I.
September. The Product thereof.
AFter a ſtrong commotion the waters will be ſometimes ſwell'd and unquiet▪ ſo likewiſe in our Sea. This MonethMonth came in boyſterouſly partaking very much in the malignancy of the Conſtellation then raigning; The Souldiers (for we muſt ſpeak plaine Engliſh in the Countrey-mans eare) buſled after their manner, but againſt all expectation. The Prieſts (high and low) did more hurt (good I ſhould ſay, yet no thanke to them for the good, God ordered …t ſo, and produced it, as He did the light, out of darkneſſe) for th…y were more cordiall then the ſouldiers, they prayed againſt the Scots heartily, and would ſet their people a praying too. They would force the people to impoſſibilities: To bleſſe God, and curſe Man; perhaps becauſe the Prieſts could skill in it▪ Bleſse with their mouth, and curſe inwardly *Pſal 62. 4.. But ſo the Biſhops ordered it, and ſo there was praying on both ſides; one ſide prayed in paper, the other in prayer dIam. 5. 17.. And that the contrary ſide might pray in more faith, the Scots were written Rebels upon every Poſt and Pillar by the Secretary himſelfe; It was time to rage and pray too, for he had but a ſhort time: But when the cry againſt the Scots was great, and the clamour againſt them very grievous, it pleaſed the Lord to come downe and ſee, whether they had done according to the cry, and behold they had not: But the oppreſſion, violence, and wrong done againſt them, was according to the cry. So He ſtirred up the hearts of the Nobles and Commons, both to fall upon their knees, and petition God and their King, That matters might be heard, and a way thought on to ſtop the great wrath, that was preſſing in like a floud. Then the Nobles went towards the North (there the Clouds of bloud gathered, and there the Heavens were darkeſt) with a ſelect company of the Commons; And by the good hand of God upon the King and his good people, a Parliament was reſolved upon, and newes thereof ſpread apace, and came poſted to London the 23d. of this MonethMonth. About this time there were many meetings of Miniſters every where, and grave conſultations about a new Oath; and damn'd it was by every mouth to the very pit, whence the Biſhops with their, &c. digged it; for there was a digging to Hell to hide their counſell, &c.
At this time alſo the Biſhop viſited by his Chancellour; and the new Oath was ſo corrupt, that it made the old one very unſavoury. So the buſineſſe was carried in a great deale of heate and hurrey, juſt as it is when two ſturdy Rogues fall a ſwearing, that which comes next to hand is their weapon, and then no wiſe man Will come neare them; Then the Chancellor with &c. turned their backs and ſhifted. Here began the troubles which ſhrowdly ſhaked the Hierarchy with &c.
Thus we have the product of this MonethMonth, as it were in the groſſe ſumme, and how the end tended to a calme with them, who heartily prayed for faire weather.
SECT. II.
The Churches Collections hence yeelding matter of praiſe, and wonder, in the ſtrange Overtures and turning of things upſide downe.
VVE were now full of ſtirres, a tumultuous Nation indeed, but the Church a quiet habitation ſtill: Notwithſtanding the contrariety of wils and motions in the World, She could ſtand ſtill, waiting the ſalvation of her God; though indeed ſhe ſ…w plainly, That ſhe was in a wilderneſſe, where ſhe ſaw no path. Then the Church remembred the Lord, and was comforted; He is wonderfull in all His Adminiſtrations, but eſpecially in theſe, which He worketh in a wilderneſſe. Now the Church could leane on her Beloved; O how willingly did ſhe reach forth her hand to Him, who is given a Leader and Commander to the people aIſa. 55. 4.. Marke that, He is a ſure Leader to His Church: Who? The Lord Chriſt; for He commands her: The Church heares no other voice, obeyes no other, but as commanding from His mouth, and leading unto Him. This in paſſage: But I ſay, how willingly and confidently did the Church reach forth her hand to this Leader and Commander; ſhe did aſſure her heart a1 Iohn 3. 13., He would leade her becauſe He doth command her; He could and is able to leade her, becauſe He maketh a way in the Sea, and a path in the mighty waters? He bringeth forth the Charet and the Horſe, the Army and the Power, bIſa. 43. 15, 16.. &c. The Lord did the ſame thing now; He made a way in the Wilderneſſe and Rivers in the Deſart: So He lead His people, even thoſe Ver. 19.that are commanded by Him. The manner how commands our Marke; He brought the blinde by a way; He lead them in paths that they have not knowne; He made darkneſſe light before them, and crooked things ſtraight; Theſe things He hath done unto them, and not forſaken them cIſa 42. 16..
Truly, This Scripture is this day fulfilled in our eyes. The Church commands us to obſerve it in theſe particulars, wherein it will appeare, That the Lords Thoughts (Thoughts of Mercy and of Peace) were as high above mine or yours, nay above the Churches Thoughts, as the Heavens are above the Earth. It appeareth d Iſa. 55. 8. ….thus.
SECT. III.
What our Thoughts were: how high the Lords thoughts were above the Churches thoughts.
¶ 1.
OUr eyes were in the Heavens (as in ſuch times it is our manner aSol niſi cum de ſicit spe…tatorem non ha…. …, &c. Sen.) …nd behold they were very darke and covered with thick clouds. Our thoughts were, and ſtrait-way thus we ſaid; there will be a great ſtorme. So it was; a Starme indeed, haile-ſtones and coles of fire, beating ſore (…gainſt all expectation) upon the hairy ſcalpe of the wicked Man; but a ſweet ſhower to the City of God, ſweetely and ſeaſonably refreſhing them, as the after-raine the parched ground.
We looked up againe to Heaven (whether elſe ſhould we looke, for peace ſeem'd to be taken from the Earth) but behold it was very red (I purpoſely ſpeake in the Almanack-M…kers Dialect) ſtrait way we ſaid, for ſuch our Thoughts were, it will be wind; and ſo it was againſt all expectation, and that which was threatned bIer. 4. 11.; a wind indeed, but not a dry wind, for it did fan and cleanſe; even a f…ll wind …gainſt high places, ſcattering the wicked as with the breath of Gods mouth; and ſo they did flee as the chaffe before the vvind, or as they fled from before the Earth-quake cZach. 14. 5.: So they did flee; but hearken what the Lord ſuch, He that fleeth of them ſhall not flee away: and he that eſcapeth o… them ſhall not be delivered dAm. 9. 1, 2, 3.. Thus the Lord h…th ſaid for after-time, and thus He hath done now, ever bleſſed be His Name.
¶ 2.
VVE heard of warres and nothing but rumors of warres, preparation thereto on every ſide: ſtrait way we ſaid, for our thoughts were, The Sword will be bathed in Heaven eEſa. 34. 5., it will be made drunke vvith the bloud of the ſlaine. And ſo it was in part, but it was in the bloud of the Men of blouds that were to call forth to battle, and to be leaders thereunto. A wonder this alſo, and wrought by Him, Who ſpake of old, and made it good now: Behold, they ſhall ſurely gather together, but not by Me; whoſoever ſhall gather together againſt Thee ſhall fall for thy ſake f…ſa 44. 15, 16, 17., &c.
¶ 3.
VVE beheld here a Troope, and there a Troope: ſtraight-way we …aid, Lord, theſe are called forth to deſtroy Thy Iudah, and to curſe Thy Iſrael And it was ſo in the intention of the Adverſary; and a …kely choyce he had made, for they were of that number, and choyce ones for that purpoſe, to vvhom their ſpirituall Fathers (ſo they will be called, becauſe they ſavour ſo much of the Spirit) gave an Advouſion of liberty, and choyce of ſports (cryed downe by the Heathen gAug. de civ. Dei. cap. 31, 32, 33.) vvhichwhich they might take on the Lords-day.
Certainly, ſaid Dion hforeign. Dion. Orat. 79., ſpeaking of Liberty, Hee made bad Lawes indeed, he gave a wicked Liberty, and writ grievouſneſſe, who preſcribed ſuch Decrees, and gave ſuch a Liberty, which could pleaſe none but the bad. Such a Liberty was this on the Lords-day, which the Biſhops gave to the people. And ſee the luck of it, the Biſhops grant was too large, it gave the people more ſcope then in manners they would take on the Lords-day; and ſo thus they requited their great Dons; vvhen it vvas expected that theſe people, vvho had ſuch an Advouſion of Liberty as this from the hands of their good Lords, ſhould now gratifie the ſaid Lords in fulfilling the whole pleaſure of their will, they did cleane contrary: for, vvheras they were called out to curſe, even theſe (in their manner) bleſſed altogether iNum. 23. 11., and threw-out vvhat the Biſhops had brought-in, the Rails and Mock-gods there. What this people did more, needeth not my Relation; …t is vvell known every vvhere, all the Land over; and vvell obſerved it vvas, even as a vvonder in the eyes and ears of all.
¶ 4.
VVE ſaw ſome of theſe Troopes haſting towards the North, gathered into a mighty body there: Inſtruments of cruelty prepared and ſent downe. All meanes uſed, vvhichwhich Achi…ophel could ſuggeſt (vve remember vvhat his councell vv…s, even to make an irreconcileable difference betweene Father and Sonne) all to ſet Ephraim againſt Manaſſes, and Man…ſſes againſt Ephraim, both againſt THY IVDAH. And ſo it vvas in the intention of the Adverſary. But to ſay ſo now, as one hath done (vvhen he praid too) vvere a bold, arrogant and impious ſpeech, if not blaſphemous: for behold to the admiration of the vvorld, Angels and Men, the Breach made up, a peace concluded, and ſo concluded, That it is a Statute now and an Ordinance in Iſrael, That Iudah muſt rejoyce, and Iſrael muſt be right glad. So they vvill, and they vvill tell it to their children, and ſo down-ward, and not barely ſo and no more, but they vvill ſpeake thereof vvith rejoycing, vvhat the Adverſary intended, how the Lord diſappointed him, and that there is now a Statute in Iſrael, that all Iudah ſhould meet together ſing and rejoyce, vvhen they tell forth the loving kindneſſes of the Lord, That according to this time, it may be ſaid of Jacob and of Iſrael, What hath GOD WROVGHT? What hath He wrou…ht? Speake it out if yee can. Truely Reader, I cannot; I can fill a ſheet or two vvith the Records thereof, but, me thinkes, it is an empty vvorke, no vvay ſufficient to ſet forth the vvonderfull worke of God therein. So I leave it, and leave thee, Reader, to muſe upon it, being reſolved; that this Treatiſe ſhall not cloy thee nor fill thy hand. It is intended but to vvhe… thy Appetite if thou haply meeteſt vvith theſe Heads largely treated on in time to come; and to raiſe thy heart for the raiſing of a PILLAR to the everlaſting Praiſe of the KNOWN GOD. There is one or two Obſervations more, vvhichwhich the Church chargeth us to gather-up, from the ſcatterings of this Month.
¶ 5.
THe Biſhops had a Court; They called it the High-Commiſſion-Court; Others, the bloudy Inquiſition. Certainely (The ſmarteſt Purgatory, the ſoreſt tyranny, that ever the Church felt-upon Earth; but her comfort is, it's all her Purgatory here, and it ceaſeth vvith the Earth: This bloody Inquiſition (for ſo they perverted Judgement and Juſtice there, turning ſuch ſweete bleſſings into Gall and Hemlocke aAmos 6. 12.) received it's fatall blow this very Month, languiſhed the Month following, and dyed ſhortly after.
We muſt enquire now, vvho gave this Court this deadly blow? The Anſwer is, The Iudges there. Yes, that's the Anſwer, the enemies themſelves being Judges. With their owne hands they vvounded themſelves, and gave their Court that deadly blow. I muſt correct my vvords a little; I did but miſtake the hand for the tongue; there is a ſmiting with the tongue too; I ſhould have ſaid, vvith their owne tongues they ſmote themſelves and deſtroyed their Court. See Reader, how they brought the blow about; but obſerve vvithall obſervation, the Retaliation of the Lord; What is that? (For it is not Engliſh) how the Lord, the Lord God of Recompences bIer. 51. 5…., retal ated thoſe Men, that is, returned their Recompence upon their owne head cIoel 3. 7.But yet for the glory of this vvonderfull vvorke of Retaliation, they themſelves vvith their owne Tongues, muſt retaliate, as it vvere, Eye for Eye, Tooth for Tooth dExod. 21. 24.; they muſt, vvith their owne tongues, Returne Recompence upon their owne Heads, for thus it vvas.
¶ 6.
THe Biſhops had an Oath vvhichwhich they forced upon the righteous in homage and meere duty to their Court, and it was a gin and a trap and a ſnare to His people; as a Serpent by the …ay, an Adder in the path, that bite…h the Rider ſo that …e fals back ward cGen 4…. 17.. The Lord, Who commands us to ſweare in Truth, in Iudgement and in Righteouſneſſe *Ier. 4. …., look'd upon this opp…ſſion, and required it; how? They muſt Retaliate themſelves now, Oath for Oath. Their chaine muſt be let out now; the rope muſt be lengthned (give ſome men rope enough, they vvill goe neare to ſtrangle themſelves, as in this caſe) they muſt have full ſcope given them, and vvhat muſt they doe? Hammer out another Oath, and that muſt be as the other vvas to the righteous, a gin, a trap and a ſnare, to take their own foot in; as a Serpent, to make thoſe Riders, that marched ſo furiouſly to fall back-ward. I hat Oath muſt retaliate them, it muſt recompence all their evill upon their owne heads. That Oath, like a Muſhrome (that miracle in Nature, for it growes and hath no root dIn miraculis vel max…mum eſt, aliquid … aut veve…e ſine ul…ā …adice Tub…r… haec vocantur, &c. Pl…. Hi… l. 19 cap. ….) So this Oath, that had no root; neither in Nature nor in Grace; neither i… Law nor in Goſpell; neither in Reaſon, then nor in Religion ſure; This Muſhrome-Oath, this rootleſſe thing, muſt come in, and helpe to carry out head and taile▪ the Biſhops vvith, &c. it muſt be a means to root out them and their Courts. Take we all in two words, and in Scripture language, and then ſee the Retaliation of the Lord; They had killed the Righteous there in that Court as they could; they ſcorched him vvith the breath of their lips See now! The Lord ordered it ſo, That their owne breath as fire did devoure them hEſa. 33. 1….. They ſpake devouring words; indeed they ſwallowed up the Righteous there. See now the Retaliation of the L…rd! and muſe on the worke of His hands iP…. 143. 5., for ſo it was according to the ſaying. The words of a Wiſe-mans mouth are gracious: but their lips did ſwallow up themſelves kEccl. 10. 1….. They fell upon the righteous like a Mil-ſtone, they vvould have ground him to powder: See now! They ſhall make their owne torgue to fall upon themſelves lPſ. …4. … ▪. So I have pointed at the Remarkables in this MonethMonth, as befits an Epitomy or Abridgement. The Et cetera▪s here are very notorious, which I have reſerved to a place vvhere they may take more Roome, then they can doe in this Treatiſe, vvhichwhich I intend as afore-ſaid. So vve goe on.