The Churchs Thank-Offering to God Her King, Preface

The Churchs Thank-Offering to God Her King · Preface

The PREFACE clearing the way through this Treatiſe, and the READERs underſtanding, touching the proceedings in Parliament, the clearneſſe of the Lawes and Iustice therein; his Knowledge alſo of the times, and cleare WILL of GOD, and what Iſrael ought to do, notwithſtanding the contradictions of ſinners, and croſſe wils of Malignant Men.

Reader,

I Ʋnderſtand well the uſe and Law of a Preface, it ſhould containe no more, but what could not be put into the booke; that is obſerved here. And yet it will be very large, and that I could not helpe. I have an hundred ſheets tending much the ſame way this Treatiſe goes; If a Providence ſhould call forth, all or any part of it; I might trouble thee with an Epiſtle, but never more with a Preface. How willingly I would have forborne it here. I know, and God knows; but then I ſtrongly conceived: I had left thee in the darke; but now I ſhall ſhew thee the way in much cleareneſſe, if thou wilt not blind-fold thy ſelfe, and render thee in the cloſe, a Thankefull man, This is the tendency and purpoſe of all this: And ſo, that thou mayeſt reade with profit, underſtanding what thou readeſt, and then ſhew thy ſelfe an underſtanding man; I ſhall endeavour to cleare the way before thee, and give thee cleare reſolution to the matters in debate, ſome more eaſie and quickly reſolved; other ſome more hard and admitting more contention;

1. Touching the Perſon, who offers Thankes, that is eaſily cleared.

2. Then the Thank-offering, there will be the knots, for Collegiate men, the Eyes of the Land, theſe are ſet againſt it, and, ſome ſay, the Law alſo; we muſt examine their reaſons, and cleare the proceedings againſt theſe men, and that will take up ſome time.

3. In the laſt place, the Method, the clearing of that is very neceſſary, but it will bee quickly done. I ſhall now d…ſſolve a continued Diſcourſe into a Dialogue. The firſt Doubt to be reſ…lved, is,

1. Ob. I perſonate the Church here, an excellent and glorious woman, whoſe cloathing is as we reade aaRev. 12. 1.Rev 12:1. And is it not preſumption in me, the loweſt and vileſt of ten thouſand, to take upon me to be the mouth of the Church? Anſ. No for firſt it could not be otherwiſe; None but the upright bbPſ. 33. 1. 119. 7.Ps 33:1Ps 33:119Ps 33:7in heart, the Church, can render a THANK-OFFERING acceptable to the Lord. The Divell and his ſervants neither can nor vvill; They can curſe and blaſpheme, that they can and vvill doe; Thanke and Praiſe God, that they will not, they cannot doe. The Churches heart is prepared, ſhe can ariſe and give thankes; they and they onelyonly, can call upon all that is within them to bleſſe His holy Name ccPſ. 103. 1.Ps 103:1. And if they, like good Stewards, are not carefull at this point, to maintaine their Lords Royalty and Right, his Tribate and Impoſt, their Lord will looſe all, Thankes and Praiſe both. And that is all He lookes for, for all His rich mercies and glorious workes done to the children of men. Therefore His children vvill looke narrowly at this point, That they faile not therein.

2. Ob. I am here the mouth of the Church; hee muſt have her spirit that knows her mind; How doth ſilly man know vvhat the Church will ſay?

Anſ. Yes, very vvell; though in ſome caſes, the well is deepe, and I have no bucket to draw; and in this caſe I cannot dive into the bottome, nor attaine to the height of her expreſſions, being ſo filled with the Holy Ghoſt: Yet I know her mind ſo farre, that I can more then gueſſe at what ſhe will ſay He that hath but a common light (I doe not ſay, I have more) very ordinary abilities, cannot but conceive the ſubject-matter of ſuch a worke, and the manner of proſecuting the ſame very well. He muſt conceive alſo, unleſse he hath put out all his eyes, inward and outwa…d every one, that the Church conſiders and ponders theſe marvellous workes in her heart, wrought for her, and conveyed to her by the hands of her Lord and King (for, what ever the conveyance is, the Church lookes up to her Lords hand,) Surely he cannot but thinke and know, that the Church accounts theſe workes wonderfull, and her recording, thanking, praiſing, all theſe muſt hold an anſwerableneſſe too; the man whoſe eyes were a little opened; what o… him? See how he was taken with the won…er…ull adminiſtrations of God towards His people (ſeeing none of his inchantments nor Divinations could take) and heare his words, How Numb. 23. 23.Num 23:23goodly are thy Tents, O Iaco…, and thy Taberna…es, O Iſrael! As the valleyes, &c. for it containes much. He hath the ſtrength of an Unicorne, &c. Bleſſed is he that bleſſeth Thee, and curſed is he that curſeth Thee ddforeign. 24 5, 6. 8, 9..

Looke ye! Balaam could …ay this, and yet his eyes were but a little opened and preſently ſhut again; Covetouſnes had cloſed them, he loved the wages of iniquity, and yet the workes of God towards His Church dazeled his eies, they were ſo glorious in his ſight, and made him breake out to admiration. Certainly ſuch have beene Gods workes, ſo ſtrange, ſo wonderfull, ſo glorious towards His Church this Yeare; ſo as the blind and the lame, and the foole muſt ſay now, WHAT HATH GOD DONE? Surely even Theſe men muſt know, that Thou, Whoſe Name alone is JEHOVAH art the moſt High over all the Earth eePſ. 83. 18.Ps 83:18, Theſe are forced now to aſcribe ſtrength unto God, ſaying, His excellency is over Iſrael, and His ſtrength is in the clouds. O God Thou art terrible, out of Thy holy places, the God of Iſrael is Hee That giveth ſtrength and power unto His people. Bleſſed be God ffPſ 49. 34, 35.Ps 49:34Ps 49:35. It is no preſumption then to doe as all ſhould doe, and as fools are forced to doe, no nor boldneſſe neither; for ſecondly,

The Lord knowes with what care and diligence I have done this (if it may be ſaid, it is done; for he that comes after, and does much more, with more skill and more ſtrength of parts, will not haply ſay of ſuch a worke as this, it is done, and yet I may ſay) with care and labour enough, and with feare too much, leaſt ſomething ſhould ſlip out unbeſeeming a Thank-offering, or the perſon preſenting the ſame. And not to belie the worke, the Lord knowes with what SEEKING alſo, out of myſelfe unto HIM: and when there was no anſwer in ſupply of ſtrength, then I wrought with the ſtrength of a man, and did drive heavily. He will find it thus, that reades over the worke, and then finding ſomething that is good, he will ſaie, THE FINGER OF GOD IS HERE, and he will make much of it; where he finds weakneſse, (for I will not call it bad or …ll) there he findes a man and no more; no matter how he deales with him, ſo he remembers himſelfe, and conſiders, That in many things we offend all: and he that offends not in his tongue, (especially when he ſpeaks much) (the Pen is but the tongue in print) is a perfect man. And this may ſuffice to cleare the anſwer to the firſt Doubt, That any man, who hath common principles may know the mind of the Church at this point, what her Sonnes and Daughters will doe now at this time, now that their Lord hath dealt ſo like Himſelfe, ſo graciouſl… with His people. We have heard what Balaam ſaid, a vile perſon, blinded with covetouſneſſe, an Aliant from the Common wealth of Iſrael, and a ſtranger to their joy. Who knowes not then, what the Church will ſay, for whom her Lord hath wrought ſuch Deliverances as theſe?

And now, Reader, ſuppoſing thee no Malignant one but alooker on the affliction in the day of calamity aaObad. 13.Obad 1:13, not knowing what ſide to turn to, nor which way to take becauſe of the Dilemma of the Time; ſo thou ſaiſt for which way ſoever thou ſhalt turne, a horne may meet with thee, and puſh thee, yea gore thy ſides, ſo thou ſayeſt in effect. Let me tell thee now in much love, though in plaine Engliſh, That thou doſt not ſeeme to have ſo much Logick as a Dogge hath; for when he comes to the place, where two or more wayes meet, his little Logick ſerves his turne, and reſelves him, which way the Beaſt went. I know thou haſt more Logick, but certainely thou haſt made no uſe of it hitherto; Try thy skill now, and put Reaſon to it, that is naturall Logick, Aske thy ſelfe now, which way goes the BEAST, I meane the Pope and all his ſworne ſ…rvants? Thou needeſt not ſmell here, though the ſavour of the Beaſt is very ſtrong; thy eye … ill tell thee which way go all the Atheiſts and Papiſts all over the Chriſtian world; All the Prelates, all that love to have the preheminence bbIoh. 3. 9.John 3:9, all that ſeeke honour from Men, thy eye will tell thee which way thoſe goe Why then, as ſure as thy ſoule liveth, thou muſt goe a croſſe way to all theſe now, if thou ſeekeſt the right way, the way of the juſt, and lookeſt thy ſoule ſhall live hereafter for ever with the Lord. But I will wind up thy underſtanding by degrees, I ſee thou art but carried on, as others are, by the example of thy betters, who thinke themſelves the two cleared eyes of the Land; I will ſhew you the vanity and danger of following ſuch perſons, and then anſwer what thoſe perſons (that take themſelves to be ſuch cleare ſighted men) have to ſay: And all this, that thou maiſt joyne with the Church in her THANKE-OFFERING, take hold of her skirt, ſaying, I will goe with you, for we have heard (and ſeene) That God is with you aaZach. 8. 23.Zech 8:23.

Ob. You object, You cannot joyne in Rendring a THANKE-OFFERING, for you ſee others doe not, who account themſelves the cleared EYES of the Land. Schollers you meane, Collegiate Men.

Anſ. So you follow the Darke ſide of the Cloud, you obſerve what is done, not what ought to be done: The charge is otherwiſe, we are commanded not to put confidence in a guide bbMic…. 7. 5. Eſa. 55. 4.Isa 55:4, It is o… everlaſting uſe to remember, That we have but one LEADER given us, and He is our COMMANDER; other leaders we may follow, but as they lead us to Chriſt; and other Commanders we muſt obey, but as they command from His mouth The poore ignorant people of old, looked what their Rulers did; and hearkned to what the Scribes and Phariſees, Rabbies and Great Clarks ſpoke, and ſo were miſerably ſeduced, and rejected the councell of God againſt their own ſoules ccIoh. 7. 30.John 7:30. A good warning this for you and for me at this time.

Secondly Conſider, Are theſe cleare ſighted men? They ſay ſo, They ſay, They SEE; Therefore you may ſay, and ſay truly, their ſinne remaineth ddIoh. 9. 41.John 9:41. And that you may know what you ſay, obſerve them in their practiſe. Certainely that old Sorcerer, did not blunder more blindfolded then they have done, for they looke to be promoted to honour; they mind the wages of iniquity, they love to receive honour of another; and ſeeke not the honour that commeth from God eeIoh 5. 44.John 5:44only. Lactantius ſayes well ffLib. 7. chap. 1. Qui ambitione inflati, &c., your ambitious man, BISHOP WOULD BEE, he that is all for his wages, he will blunder on, and though you ſhould tell him, he is out of the way, and the ſword will meete him there, and ſhew him as cleare reaſon, that ſo it will be, as if you ſhould carry the Sunne in your hand, yet he will reject your counſell: he mindeth his wages, and honour from men: Luther ſaid as much long agoe; I will never regard what the Monkes ſay; and leſſe what they doe, they plead for their bellies, their eaſe, &c. light prophets, put them upon the ballance, and a penny weight upon the other ſcale (that is their bargaine, ſo they indent with the Lord,) and that will way them downe. We had our leſſon a little before, But on LEADER, and on COMMANDER.

But we muſt give theſe cleare ſighted men faire quarter, and heare their Objections firſt in the groſſe and full lumpe.

Ob. They have beene heard speaking as they ſate at Table, when their bellies were full (and was it not a good grace after meate) That this Parliament had done ſo much againſt them, that it might be called (as the Councell of Trent) the ILIAD of this age; Therefore they had ſmall reaſon to render them a THANK-OFFERING.

An. Be it ſo, and ſuppoſe too, ſome of them had beene clapt faſt by the heeles (they might have pleaded Iuſtice for it, and merit both) yet ſhould they have joyned in a THANKE-OFFERING, they ſhould have praiſed God, and Thanked man even for that: IN EVERY THING GIVE THANKES; then for impriſonment too: 1 Theſ. 5. 18,1 Thess 5:18To God they will ſay (for they are not paſt grace.) Nay to man, if we follow the light ſide of the Cloud. I remember M^r. Bradford (but he had another ſpirit, an excellent spirit) was of that mind, and ſo he could doe; If the Queene will ſend me to priſon ſaid he, I will thanke her there; if from t…ence to the ſtake, I will thanke her there alſo. There was a thankefull Man.

But if we cannot draw men on to be Thankefull for bleſſings; ſurely we muſt expect they will murmure and curſe too under croſſes: And yet it will be as cleare anon; when I come to cleare the Method, as the Sunnebeame, That we muſt be Thankefull for all, for impriſonment, for ſtripes, &c. Thus in the generall: We muſt now heare the particulars of their charge, and thoſe are two. 1. What the Parliament have done touching Church-livings. 2. Then touching Church-Men. I muſt remember I am in a Preface now, and would not exceed it's bounds. When my pen did take full ſcope touching this double charge, I am perſwaded, that I have cleared the proceedings in Parliament againſt both theſe, double Benefices, and perverſe Men, to be the moſt advantagious for the Church, truly ſo called, the moſt juſt and equitable of any proceedings, that ever were heard of ſince a Parliament was heard of in the world: for to ſay ſo much as may ſatisfie the Reader, touching the firſt Charge; how reaſonable a thing is it firſt; That he, who hath an Office, ſhould attend upon his Office? Againe, how juſt and equitable a thing is it, that Watch-men ſhould be ſtirred up, and not ſuffered to ſleepe in the day, loving to ſlumber, nay to ſnore in their Cabines? And it was ſtrange, Iſa. 56. 10.Isa 56:10(but yet ſo it was) They could ſleepe ſo ſoundly there, who had blood for their boulſters. They ſlept ſoundly, while ſoules, purchaſed by the blood of Chriſt, are murthered at their elbow. Surely this was becauſe their beds were too ſoft, and becauſe of the ſweat and rankeneſſe of their proſperitie **Vitium longe pacis & oputentae ſec…itatis. Sal.. But He, who maketh inquiſition for blood, will require this of them, who ſlept, where the envious man made havocke and deſtroyed: or if they were awake, then they drowned their Cates in wine. Ob. And was is not time the… ſhou…d be jogged, and their full cups taken out of their hands. At, but what encou…agement now to … Sch…l…ars, when the maintenance is taken away from the Church, and her proper inheritan…e …rom her Church-men.

An. It is not taken awaie, all the revenues there, ſhall runne in the veines of the Church, and be according to the firſt intendment (not to maintaine Drones, but the labouring Dee) for the advancement and enlargement of true Prety and Learning. Though we ſhould note this, there is encouragement enough in doing our Dutie, in working the thing that good is, for we worke for a good Maſter **foreign, &c. He ſhall have the greateſt reward, who workes not for a reward Iſid. p…ll. l 2. p. 184.. But I speak to them, that will bargaine with their Lord, and well know their wages, elſe will dee no work. I demand of theſe, why ſhould this Diſcourage them in their ſtudies, or cut them ſhort in their hopes, that ſome men with their Et cetera…s, ſhall not be …uffered any longer, to ingroſſe or incloſe the rich and fat paſtures of the Earth; to eat the fat and creame of the Land, as thoſe their B…ethren before them, Abby-lubbers, evill-beaſts, flow-bellies have done, while the good Schollars feed upon a poore pittance the while; nay, are almoſt ſtarved? I pray …u might not good Schollars picke out many a good bit from ſuch a place as …au…s, were it rid of theſe, &c. and their ſinging men? And a very good riddance; how well might they bee ſpared? no fitter (ſome of the…) for a Church, then a Swine for a Parlour. And yet we doe not thinke, that there ought to be an equall divident, an equall d…ſtribution of honours and preforments in the Church; but according to Deſert and proportion in gifts: yet we thinke the Proverbe hath ſome uſe here; They are merry in the Ha…l, when beards wagg all: And not when the one table have their full meſſes, even to a ſurfitting and vomit; the other none at all, or in no proportion. And ſo much to the complaint touching Church livings; now touching Church-men.

Ob. aaTitularis nō Tu…elaris Rex; deſuit non praeſuit reipublicae. foreign. Naz. complained that in his time, they were made Biſhops, who made themſelves the baſeſt ſervants, ſervants to their luſts. ep. 10.. They cannot give thanks to the high Court, for they have caſt forth of the Church their Church-men?

Anſ. Church-men! As the Iudges, the chiefeſto them, were Common-wealths men; they ſo ſought their owne private-wealth, that they left the poore ſubject, nothing he could call hi… own, but his miſery: So theſe Church-men, they called out the Church, the Church when they ſtab…ed her to the ve…y heart. Put we theſe together for they be M…ches, Church-men and Common-wealths men; then you may ſaie worſe of them then was ſaid of Chilperick…d a bad King of Fran…e, my Engliſh will not be ſo good as the Latine, but too good for them, He was a nurſing Father, not in deed, but in…rame ſo: He was ſet over the Common-wealth, as a golden head there; but he did not the office of an head, of a foot rather, and ſo ſtamped the Common-wealth to powder. Theſe good men are caſt-out, and good reaſon, for they were as unſavourie ſalt, neither fit for the Land, nor yet for the Dung-hill, but men caſt it out aaLuk. 14. 34.Luke 14:34; as the unprofitable wood of the fruitleſſe vine, were they meet for any vvorke bbEzech. 15. 4.Ezek 15:4? But who caſt them out, and how? It is worth our labour the inquiring out. Surely, the Lord God did it, the God of recompences, for the controverſie of His Zion ccEſa. 34. 8.Isa 34:8. He did it even by His owne right-hand. But ſo (and there we ſet a marke) as their owne miſchiefe did returne upon their owne head, And Pſ. 7. 16.Ps 7:16his violent dealing came dovvne upon his ovvne pate. The concluſion is, The Lord caſt them out, by the helpe and violence of their owne hands. It is true, and but equitable, That we ſhould give all dues to man here, for he was a noble and glorious inſtrument in Gods hand for the effecting this worke, and disburthening the Church of theſe oppreſſours; but we muſt reſolve all into Gods Hand, and unto the violence, that was found in their owne hand. It was the Lord, That BENT Judah ddZach 9. 13.Zech 9:13for Himſelfe, and FILLED the BOWE vvith Ephraim (we may fitly allude to that place) He hath raiſed up thy ſonnes, from the North and from the South, O Zion, againſt thy falſe ſonnes, and made them as the SWORD of a mighty man, againſt thoſe mighty Adverſaries: His arrovv vvent forth as the lightning againſt them. He went out with VVHIRLEWINDS of the South and North, a CONTINUING kkIer. …0. 23.Whirlevvind, and it fell vvith paine on the head of the vvicked. We may reade on, The fierce anger of the Lord ſhall not returne, untill He hath done it, and untill He performe the intents of His Heart: For ſee what the intents of theſe Church-men were againſt the Lord, even to make His Land deſolate, and His Church forſaken: To ſet Ephraim againſt Manaſſes, and Manaſſes againſt Ephraim, ſnatching on the right hand and on the left, ſo eating every man the fleſh of his ovvn arme; And yet their wrath is not turned away, no not yet; The ſame eeIer. …0 23. ver 24. Eſa. 9. 20.Isa 9:20malice boyles ſtill and runnes over; This is their worke at this Dait, and theſe the intents of their hearts;

That the ſword may be bathed in our HEAVEN; That the Land may be filled with blood from corner to corner. Obſerve againe, what they have done, and how they have prepared their own way, for the bringing in the Deluge of wrath. They have let the vineyard of the Lord lie waſte; and have broken downe the Hedge (now a Serpent has bit them according to the threat ffEccl. 10. 8.Eccl 10:8) removed the ancient Land marke, made the Heritage of the Lord, as a ſpeckled bird ggIer. 12. 9. foreign Vol. bom. 31.Jer 12:9, expoſed it to the ſpoyle of Foxes and to grievou… Wolves. Here Chryſoſtomes words would aſtoniſh them were they well pondred on; I will but point at them in the margent hhforeign, &c. in Ep ad 1 Cor. 3 Hom. 3.1 Cor 3. The ſame Father doth make it cleare to the whole world, even now ⁱ: That they have taught, yea commanded Atheiſme all over their Dioceſſes, ſo Preachers doe, ſaith the Father (indeed they preach not at all) when they ſpend an houre in a daie (in Chryſoſtomes daies, they preached every Daie) in laying the Foundation of Repentance, from dead workes, and of Faith towards God kkHeb. 6. 1.Heb 6:1: And the reſt of the Day, and whole weeke after, turne their backes upon what they ſaid, in a lewd and wicked carriage. This makes their hearers Atheiſts, it commands llSuade… lingua iubet vita. Gen. 18 19. An example hath the vertue of a Command; nay it is a Compulſion. Cogi cos dicit, qui exemplo Petri iudai…aba…t, Gal 2 14. Beza.Gen 18:19Gal 2:14Atheiſme; and ſo we have a little of that much, whereby the Father reproves the blaſphemie of Miniſter… in his Daies, whoſe examples deſtroyed, what their preaching built up, and ſo they taught flat Atheiſme. Our Church-men have done ſo too, as is cleare to all the world; and their judgement will be as manifeſt. Now the Lord is beginning with them, no… is the yeare of Gods vengeance againſt thoſe treacherous Prieſts and light Prophets; now He will recompence upon them all their abominati…ns, which they have committed in His houſe before His face. Now He will raiſe up Carpenters, which ſhall ſtrike off thoſe hornes, that have puſhed and goard, and ſcattered the ſervants of the LordmmZach. 1. 20.Zech 1:20

And ſurely all the undertakings of that High Court, have gone ou… all along with God in His way: And have the very ſtampe and ſeale of His Hand upon theirs, to make H…s worſhip truly ſpirituall, according to His will; and not clogged and mixed with humane Inventions, Eccleſiaſticall and Civill charges. And he that ſhall looke upon them (the actions, I meane, of the High Court) with an impartiall eye: that ſhall be but willing to underſtand them, the meaning and tendencie thereof, hee will be forced to beleeve, (as was …aid in a higher caſe nnQui ſtuduerit intelligere cogetur ei credere. …ertul. de Deo cap. 17.) That all this hath beene ſuggeſted to them by God, and managed by His right-hand. They have beene but as noble inſtruments, bent unto His purpo…e, and as the bow and ſword in His Hand. But remember this with it, which was intimated before, He hath brought upon them their owne iniquity ooPſ. 94. 13.Ps 94:13, and ſo hath cut them off; Their owne wickedneſſe hath helped forward this great worke; the caſting out of theſe Church-men; nurſing Fathers in Name and no more, for they ſtarved their children; They helped forward ppZach. 1. 15.Zech 1:15the wrath, for the ſlaying a whole Nation: Now His own wrath killeth the fooliſh man, and envy ſlayeth the ſilly one qqIob 5. 2.Job 5:2. So as we may ſay, in alluſion thereunto, and conclude as of old, Theſe Church-mens iniquity, makes full proof of the Juſtice and innocency of that High Court rrProbatio eſt noſtra innocentiae impietas veſtra. Tert. cap. 48..

If you will aske me now in the cloſe, what I can ſay againſt the office?

My anſwer is ready: but yet I will ſay no more here, but as S^t. Paul ſaith, touching the LAW, vve know the Law is good if a man uſe it LAWFULLY **1 Tim. 1. 8.1 Tim 1:8. The next Objection ſcorcheth, for it is from a tongue ſet on fire of hell.

Ob. That now they have caſt forth Church men, they will caſt forth their King too out of the inheritance of the Lord: They will riſe up in batt…ll againſt their King, and can they expect that we ſhould tender them a Thank-offering for that?

An. No ſure, the Axe rather, or a rope; let one or both be tendred to ſuch Philiſtines, who deale vilely with their King, as if he were not anoynted vvith oyle aa2 Sam. 1. 21.2 Sam 1:21; and then ſhall theſe ſervants of the Lord be free, for they can call God to record upon their ſoules, that they riſe up for their King againſt spoylers; for their Religion againſt Papiſts; for their lives and liberties againſt murtherers; for their Church and Nation againſt them that would make fenced Cities, ruined heapes, and bring utter deſolation to the King and Kingdome, Church and Common-wealth and all.

The contrary is ſuggeſted to his ſacred Majeſty, and ſo forced, that he dares proteſt (ſee how wicked Counſell may prevaile!) in the face of Heaven and Earth, that they who ſeeme to be on his ſide, and with him, ſhall maintaine the Lawes, juſt Liberties and Rights of the Church and Common-wealth.

Marke, Reader, Sons of Belial (ſo much malice hath ſuggeſted, and, ſo far prevailed) ſhall maintain the Lawes; and Papiſts the true Reformed Religion; men of bloods, like Iriſh Villaines, nay the very ſame, ſhall ſafeguard your lives. Reade on, Thoſe, that are gone out to battell againſt theſe enemies, vvhither ſoever the LORD ſhall ſend them. VVhat are theſe men?1 Kin. 8. 44.1 Kgs 8:44

Ob. Malice hath ſuggeſted (but ſhee vvas foully out) That moſt of them are ANABAPTISTS.

Anſ. Nay, not one, I ſay againe, not one. Malice may ſuggeſt, That ſome one or two there, is a Samaritan and hath a Divell, for that has bin ſuggeſted againſt the Captaine of the Hoſt bbIoh. …. 48.; but that there are ANABAPTISTS there, that is falſe ſure; becauſe they are gone forth to vvarre, and vvill maintaine it to the Death; No ANABAPTIST then: No nor Rebels, nor Traitors neither, though ſuggeſted ſo. Like the dirt of Oyſters, it will not ſtaine; the righteous have bin ſlandered ſo of old, but never has beene heard or ſeene ſuch contradictions of ſinners, ſuch contrarieties of Tongues and Wills as now a daies.

They can reade much written in commendation of folly and to ſome purpoſe; They can reade alſo ſome ſheets blotted in the commendation of the Ague, the Feaver and the Gout: Yea and one whole ſheet in the praiſe of a Louſe, and three ſheets in the praiſe of the vileſt perſon, (but he was an Emperour) that ever went upon two Leggs: All this they may finde and reade in Bookes; but they never heard or read, till of late, nor their Fathers before them, That an Army moſt of Papiſts, and the other looking ſtedfaſtly towards Rome, in the ſame Kingdom, hauehave bin commended for loyall Subjects, to a Proteſtant King: And an Army of Proteſtants charged with Treaſon and Rebellion againſt the ſame King. But the Righteous are not carefull, they can turne, as afore-ſaid to the LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESSE, and ſeeing there is no vvrong in their Hands: They can ſay, as David ſo perſecuted before them, The God of their Fathers looke theron and rebuke it cc2 Chr. 12. 17.2 Chr 12:17. This has beene the good mans comfort evermore, when he hath been ſmitten at with the tongue; My Adverſaries can ſay much againſt me (for he thinkes his tongue his owne) but he cannot ſay, I HAVE FORSAKEN THE LAW OF MY GOD: So now, malice may ſuggeſt, that there be Traitors in Gods Hoſte, and moſt of them Browniſts and Atheiſts; ſhe is not ſo ſhameleſſe to ſuggeſt, that moſt or any of them are Papiſts (no Anabaptiſts:) If ſo be malice could have ſuggeſted that, and have made the charge good, where had our Hope beene? Certainly had this Hoſte conſiſted moſt of Papiſts, it had gone out under the guilt of all the righteous blood, ſhed upon the earth from the blood of righteous Abell unto the blood of Zacharias; and ſo downe ward unto this Day ddMat. 23. 35.Matt 23:35; but not one PAPIST, no not one in the Hoaſt of God, the enemies themſelves being Iudges; the Papiſts are all on their ſide, all the world over: And that it is ſo, is …n cleare as the Sunne, when he ſhines in his ſtrength; All the Papiſts are on the other ſide, and not one with the Hoſt of God.

Surely, here is matter for high praiſe to our God, Bleſſed be the Father, Sonne and Holy-Ghoſt, that Satan the accuſer of the Brethren, hath condemned his owne cauſe and juſtified theirs: for behold all this is granted, that all the Papiſts in the Land, nay all the world over are on that ſide: why then we conclude firſt, nay the experience of all ages concludes for us;

1. That there on their ſide are all the Rebels againſt their King, his Crowne and Dignity: There are all the Traitors againſt the Church and Common-wealth: For Papiſts have been the Fomenters, the Actors of all Rebellions, treaſons, murders, maſſacres, in all ages ſince that Church had an appearance on the Earth; and ſo are they now, and ſo will be till their great Prophet be caſt into the great wine-preſſe of the wrath of God.

2. That our Hoaſt is gone ſorth, whither God ſhall ſend them **1 King. 8. 44.1 Kgs 8:44againſt … Revel. 14. 19.Rev 14:19His enemies, which are the people of His curſe, and againſt whom we are charged to maintain warre for ever.

3. This Hoſt is gone forth in the ſtrength (I will ſay nothing of the Prayers of Gods Hoſt abroad and at home, but) of the BLESSING of the ALMIGHTY. Some may aske, how doe I know that? Very well, and I would have the poore Country-man know it too, for that is my ayme; The Hoſt is gone forth under the curſe of his Holineſſe, the Pope, I meane. Now it hath been concluded as followes ever ſince there has beene a Pope in Ro…e and a Papiſt in England. Looke which way goes the Popes curſe, that way goes GODS BLESSING, for they goe contrary, as Chriſt and Anti-chriſt. And this is enough to ſet the Country-man in his way, if his guts be not in his head, and his braines in his belly **Cuim cerebr… eſt i… ventro ingenium i… pa…i…is. Agr ep. 2…., and if ſo, yet he can diſcern which way the Papiſts go, and that it is a curſed way.

4 This Hoſt ſhall be victorious, that it ſhall, for it is the Hoſt of GOD and His CHRIST, againſt Antichriſt, it muſt go on and do valiantly, for the BLESSING of God goes with it, and the curſe of the Adverſary.

Ob. At, but the Hoaſt of God hath miſcarried?

An. No never; but ſo as to make them looke better to their carriage, and to manage things more orderly in a way to a bleſſing. They have miſcarried ſo as to make them more victorious over themſelves at preſent, and over the enemie at the laſt. True it is, The Sword devoureth one as well as another dd2 Sam. 11. ….2 Sam 11It may devoure Gods dearly Beloved eeIer. 12. 17.Jer 12:17and as deare to us, as the blood in our veines; and yet it is His Hoſt for all that; who created the Smith that formed the vveapon ffver. 26.. I ſolemnely proteſt in the eares of the God of Hoſts, and could be content I could be heard over all the Chriſtian world, that, if this Hoſt were all wounded-men, yet could I not doubt of the victory. I may doubt, e Iud, 20. 23.nay I doe doubt, That we have not wept enough, nor prayed enough; or if ſo (I doubt it) that may be wanting now, which anſwers to burnt-offerings and peace-offerings ^f once: I may doubt of all this, but I cannot doubt of the victorie, in the beſt Time, Gods Time: For it is Gods Hoſt, a ſlandered Hoſt, curſed by the Pope, and his vaſſals, therefore Gods bleſſing is there; it muſt prevaile and be victorious.

And this is all the anſwer they ſhall get to this, and it may ſuffice. How can I give a direct and ſingle anſwer to a double tongue and a double heart, for their language is different. No man can imagine, That the Adverſaries speake as they thinke; for who can conceive that Noahs flood was ſent upon the Earth to allay the duſt there: or, that the Divell ſtirred up the Arabians, Sabeans, and Chaldeans to be a wall unto Job, to ſafeguard him, his children, his houſe and goods? And ſo I have done with theſe Collegiate men; Removed the offence, taken from their example; anſwered their double charge, and their notorious ſlanders. And yet there is one Objection more, which truly I had cleane forgot to anſwer in it's due place, therefore it muſt be done now.

Ob. The title of honour is taken away from Church-men.

Anſ. That cannot be ſaid to be taken from us, which belongs not to us. Will no title ſerve the turne, but pleaſe your Grace, or your Lordſhip, therby quenching Grace, & Lording it over the conſciences of men? Another Title will ſerve better: as a Rod alſo for Diſcipline, and yet not made of Iron. Let them Lord-it over themſelves, and their owne luſts (which they have ſerved) and then they ſhall be Lords and Princes too, nay moſt Prince-like men ffforeign Iſid. pel. l. 2 Ep. 147.. Why may not thoſe Titles ſerve them, which the Holy Ghoſt hath given: I dare ſay, though you reade much in the Fathers touching Titles of honour given to Church men; and a Church-man of late, but none now, tels us the Biſhops ſeat is a Throne ggPocklington Alt. Chriſt. p. 33 & 95. Thron… propri… principi …ribui ſolet non ſ…rvo. Be…. Heb. 18., yet none of all theſe have reached to that height of honour, as thoſe Titles doe, which the Holy Ghoſt hath given them, Stewards, Embaſſadors, &c. To ſay all in two words, Meſſengers of the Churches and the glory of Chriſt hh2 Cor 8. 23. foreign, 2 Tim 4. 5.2 Cor 8:232 Tim 4:5. Let a Miniſter anſwer theſe Titles, make full proof, they belong unto him; let him fill them up, as the word implies, and then I will not ſay, what he ſhall be, for he ſhall ſhine like the Sunne, but what he is for the preſent, the moſt honoured perſon that is in the world.

We muſt note now in the cloſe two things, one for our information, the other to learne us our Dutie.

1. Schoole-learning is not of virtue ſufficient to unſcale the eyes or unvaile the heart, an annoynting from above does that. Humane learning if not ſanctified, cloſeth the eye the …aſter; it is a great ſnare, and like an ignis fatuus (a mocke fire, a ſancied light, kindled by our owne ſparkes llEſa. 50. 11.Isa 50:11, and a buſie leader in theſe Daies) miſleades ſtrargely.

2. We muſt learne our Duty now. Though they revile, we muſt bleſſe; though they defame, we muſt intreat; though they perſecute, we muſt pray; that the Lord would not deale with them, as they have done; there was none to guide the Church among all the Sonnes ſhe hath brought forth; neither vvere there any that tooke her by the hand; We pray, deale not ſo with them (good Lord) guide Eſa. 51. 18.Isa 51:18them, take them by the Hand, that they may walke in ſtrait pathes. Though they did riſe up againſt Thee; yet doe not Thou riſe up againſt them; but pardon them according to the exceeding largeſſe of Thy abundant merciemercy, which can multiply pardons, as we have multiplied ſinnes. Lord, cleanſe thoſe fountaines, heale thoſe bitter waters, that ſuch may runne thence, which may refreſh (not poiſon) the City of God. Amen.

Now recall what was ſaid at the beginning of this contention, wee have but one LEADER and COMMANDER.

And ſo I have done with the Divines, whom I honour very much and heartily, ſo be they are Divine, magnifying their office, exalting the Scepter of the Lord Ieſus Chriſt… theſe not ſo, but the contrary; the Lord lay it not to their charge: He will not, if, in truth of heart, they can charge and ſhame themſelves with it. I ſhould now come to the Lawyers, the chiefeſt of them, for they have made the THANK-OFFERING to be queſtioned very much in point of Law; but they are run away, turning their backs upon the Law, yes, the ſupreame Law, and the higheſt reaſon.

Thankes be to God, we have the Law on our ſide, and in more ſtrength energie and virtue, now theſe Lawyers be gone: And by helpe of God and the fore-mentioned, I ſhall cleare the THANK-OFFERING, and the Readers underſtanding touching the Cavils about it, and render him alſo, in the cloſe, a very thankfull man, that is, he ſhall give us his heart, and his purſe too, if need require, his life alſo, if Law or Reaſon can perſwade with him, or the WILL of GOD; all this ſhall be cleared in order.

All appeale to the Law, I ſhall appeale thither too; and yet not to the Law of Nature, which teacheth a poore worme to Earth-it-ſelfe againſt the foot of pride; nor to the Law of Nations; no nor to the Lawes and Conſtitutions of this Kingdome, whereby we have a priviledge beyond the Chriſtians in Primitive times, living under thoſe Emperours, whoſe Conſtitutions (I had rather call them ſo then Lawes) were flat againſt the Chriſtians, and their Religion, and that is very conſiderable now. But all this I leave to the good Lawyer, I meane, the honeſt man; and truly he hath cleared the caſe ſoundly and well; ſo much I knew and I doe profeſſe my ſelfe; No Lawyer you will ſay. Yes but I am, for I underſtand the Lavv, as the Proverbe is; Every man is a foole or a Phyſition; he underſtands ſomething touching the ſtate of his bodie, what is good or hurtfull for him: ſo he is a ſimple man, that knowes not ſo much Law (and I preſume no more then) as may fit him for a civill life in his Societie or Neighbourhood. But that I may keepe within my owne bounds, and be ſure to goe right, I will aske and returne ſuch an anſwer, as ſhall be to the mind and heart of every honeſt man.

Q. What is the Lavv? we have heard much of the common Law, we have ſeene and felt ſomething from the Civill-lavv; but what is the SƲPREAME LAW?

A. The anſwer is this, and you ſhall heare no other, if you ſhall ask till Doom… Daie, THAT THE SƲPREAM AND SOVERAIGN LAW IS THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE bbSuprema lex ſalus populi..

We argue, Then the Nobles all (we need no other word, they all are ſo, ſo their Votes for Chriſt, and actions to promote His glory have innobled them) have proceeded according to LAVV, the SUPREAME Law: For I aske, and let malice anſwer, Did ever any before them ſweat as they have done? Did ever any worke ſo effectually, for the ſafety of their Nations? We thought (ſuch fools we were) That ſafety it ſelfe ccSalus ipſa., as the ſimple Proverbe is, could not have ſaved the Nation. We ſaid, Our hope is periſhed; the houſe of Eſau ſhall be a fire, and the houſe of Iacob as ſtubble: Behold by their noble indeavours and contrivements, they have ſo vvrought vvith God this Day, That it is otherwiſe, they have ſnatched us as brands out of the burning: and now we may ſay, as we reade, The houſe of Iacob ſhall be a fire, and the houſe of Ioſeph a flame, and the houſe of Eſau for ſtubble ddObad. 18.Obad 1:18. And have they not Lavv for this? No Lavv for keeping downe the fire, that vvild-fire, from kindling upon our Bodies, our Houſes, our Townes, our Cities, our Nation, our three Kingdomes? No Law for ſaving all theſe from utter ruine and Deſtruction? Doubtleſse they have Lavv on their ſide, which will juſtifie them, and their actions, The Supreame lavv; It cannot be clearer, but it is as cleare as the Sunne, that glorious Creature ſhining in it's ſtrength. Nay, I muſt goe higher, and quite ſtop the mouth of malice it ſelfe. Did ever any contend ſo heartily, worke ſo effectually with one lip, and one ſhoulder, as theſe Nobles have wrought for the SƲPREAME ſafety of the people? I meane, the SALVATION of our SOƲLES, that is Supreme, a Salvation indeed. If we will be fullen, and will not anſwer here (as men hating to be Reformed) I can tell who will anſwer with indignation and wrath enough; the Prelates will, thoſe, that labour not in the Word and Doctrine, thoſe I meane, All that Antichriſtian Tribe, the Divell and all his ſervants. The Votes and actions of the Nobles this way, have tormented the Divell and his Angels; A ſure evidence, That the Nobles have done right; They have wrought for the ſafety o… our bodies and ſoules hoth, that's a Salvation indeed. It were …ol…y to aske now, and blaſphemy to doubt, whether they had not a Law, a Supreame Law for all this? And ſo I would leave the Law (but it will not be left) and come to Reaſon, ſo to argue the caſe.

What is the beſt Reaſon? The Anſwer is, and we have no other, That is the chiefe, the prime, the principall, the higheſt REASON WHICH MAKES FOR RELIGION eeSumma Ratio quae pro Religione fa…., that it is: come then, let us argue the caſe like reaſonable men, keeping cloſe to our Reaſon, yet honouring the Law (of the Land) juſt and good; and the good Lawyer, for he is a good man: and be knowes himſelfe to be ſo, or the contrary, no man in the world more clearely then he, becauſe, though he could tread the Law under his foot (as the bad Lawyer hath done) yet he cannot put-out the light, which he hath ſet up in his underſtanding.

All call out law, law, as if all their helpe were in God and the law. It is indeed, but if wee forſake right Reaſon, and yet expect helpe from God and the Law, we ſhall faile of our expectation, neither God nor the law will yeeld us any helpe, for God is holy and the law is juſt.

Conſider then, what partie (for there be two parties in the world, deviding all betwixt them, and carrying all before them, ſo they have done ever ſince the world was, and ſo they will doe while the world ſtands.)

Which of the two doe act according to right Reaſon, that we cal'd the higheſt Reaſon? Who of them doe make it their worke, to doe Iuſtice and Iudgement? But I will come to the higheſt ſtep, which of them doe labour to advance Religion; to …et up the Standard of Ieſus Chriſt? He is blind and will not ſee, who ſees not his anſwer hereunto. Why then, they have God on their ſide and the law on their ſide (I might ſay, Gospell too for there comes in the higheſt Reaſon) and therefore by helpe of God and the law, and right reaſon alſo, they will doe exploits. Obſerve we how the Worthies in the managing of their great affaires, have walked (by the ſame help, and ſteering their courſe by the ſame hand, levell to the ſame mark) how exactly, how blameleſly, how harmeleſly, as the Sonnes of God, (according to the line of men) ſo as Momus himſelfe, an envious and prying perſon once, and now, and yet cannot rebuke them ddPhil. 2. 15. foreign.Phil 2:15. How comes it to be ſo, That theſe Worthies have carried themſelves ſo exactly well? There can be no other reaſon given but this, by helpe of God, the law, and the higheſt Reaſon. For as was ſaid, God is their Pilot, He ſteers their courſe, and the law was their land-marke, their boundary, their hedge (had they broken that a Serpent had bi **Eccl. 10. 8.Eccl 10:8them aaEccl. 10 8.Eccl 10:8) therefore, &c. for every man knowes it; they with ſuch helpe, muſt ſteere their courſe as exactly as the King does, who does according to his charge, ſeeke helpe from God, and direction from his Law-book bbDeut. 17. 18, 19.Deut 17:18Deut 17:19. But now on the contrary; when a man ſhall ſlip his hand from out of Gods hand; will have none of Him, none of His help, will deſert the Law, the ſupreame Law, that old Land-marke, remove that out of it's place, and forſake Reaſon, the higheſt reaſon; what will hee doe? blunder on as the old Sorcerer did (Prophet is too good a name) Balaam, I meane, ſo he will blunder on, though a flaming Sword ſtand in their way, turning every way to ſtop them in their courſe: Like the Duke of Arabia, Leader to the S…beans, ſo they will doe; And he was a wild Duke, ſome ſay, mad, for, careleſſe of his owne deſert Country, he commanded in chiefe over thoſe, who, carrying their right upon the Swords point, robbed, ſpoyled, pillaged all places and perſons they came to; though their beſt friends, they ſerved all alike, as they did Job. How ſo? By helpe of the Divell (he ſtirred them up) and by helpe of his Lawes, which are written in blood. They forſooke the ſupreame law, and were forſaken of right Reaſon. So they went on in a curſed way, the path of the Deſtroyer, waſting and deſtruction was there; and this is the way of the wicked now, the old pathes that the Papiſts have trod in through all Generations; the way of peace they have not knowne, and curſed are they that walke therin; nay he ſhall not eſcape puniſhment that ſtands ſtill, walkes not, but alloweth of that way. Marke this good Reader, (for I would gaſter thee at the very thought of this way) he ſhall not eſcape puniſhment that alloweth (or conſenteth to) this way. I will cauſe them to be removed into all Kingdomes of the Earth, becauſe of Manaſſeh the ſon of Hezekiah King of Iudah, for that which he did in Ieruſalem ccIer 15. 4. You will find part of this anſwer in the large Engliſh Bible, more fully in Iunius, but moſt fully, clearly and uſefully explained in Calvin upon this place.Jer 15:4. Might we queſtion the Righteous judgement of the Lord, we would aske here; Why muſt the people be removed for that which their King did? And why muſt the after-generation (for this was long after) be ſorely viſited for the ſins of their fore-Fathers?

There is a double anſwer unto this double Queſtion, and it will cleare the juſt proceedings of the Lord, The Judge of all the Earth, and ſhall not he do right ddGen. 18. 25.Gen 18:25? Becauſe the people then when Manaſſeh was living, allowed of what their King did in the alteration of Religion, purged and ſetled by his good Father; and perſecution of Gods ſervants: He was the Authour of bloody Decrees, but the People were the Miniſters and Executioners therof, and woe to both **Tum auctoribus maleficiorum, …um administris. Iſa. …. 10. Iun.. 2. And the generations following, allowed of all this, for they went on ſecurely not humbled for what their Fathers had done. This is the anſwer, and the note, and if it be noted well, it will be as a flaming ſword to keepe our foot from the path of the deſtroyer; nay more, from allowing of that way, for as ſure as our ſoules doe live, they ſhall fall, they and their companies, that walke in this way, that allow and conſent to ſuch a way, where waſting and deſtruction is, forſaking the helpe of God and the Law, and forſaken of right Reaſon: For the bleſſing of the Pope goes along with them and the curſe of the Al…ighty: That was the point, and it cleares forth the way unto us, what way we muſt avoid, if we would eſcape the curſe of God; what way w… muſt take (for there is no ſtanding ſtill, a N…ter, that is to allow of a ba… way) if we do… expect a bleſſing from Him. And this I hope is cleared out unto thee, …o is thy judgement therein, Thou ſeeſt clearly what way thou art to take by the helpe of God, the Law, and the higheſt Reaſon. I ſhall …leare the WILL of GOD unto thee next, for I doe ſuppoſe th…re is a th…cke c…oud betwixt thine eye and it thou art not cleare at that point. By the helpe of God, I ſhall make it as cleare unto thee as is the Sunne beame. But I doe beleeve already thy mind is ſo cleared now, That thou doſt thinke it but a point of meere duty, that the Church ſhould render a Thank offering to Her God (that cannot be queſtioned now) and to man alſo (that is queſtioned) by whoſe hands the Lord hath wrought ſo wonderfully this laſt yeare: Nay, I am perſwaded better then ſo, Thou wilt doe, as the Church doth, thou wilt offer too; Yes thou wilt ſay, thou wilt give thankes, for that is as eaſily done, as thy Cap is moved, an eaſie motion that. No, but it is not; it is the Churches THANK-OFFERING, and ſhe offers willingly; therefore if thou wilt doe like her, we muſt have thy tongue and thy hand, and thy heart: A Thank-offering is not a Lip-labour, no, there is in it the very labour of love, the worke of faith; and, (becauſe we looke to ſee our thankes againe) the patience of hope. Come now, what wilt thou doe? (For words and no more, are like Nuts, they nouriſh not) Marke what followes; If I knew the will of my GODS, I vvould doe vvhat they vvould have me doe; and they ſhould have vvhat they vvould have from me. A notable ſpeech, and yet a Heathen spake it, Seneca, whom becauſe of this and ſomething elſe he ſaid and did, Eraſmus cals a Divine-man, and is ſo charitable, as to regiſter him in the Catalogue of Saints. Indeed this ſaying containes much, and we muſt make much uſe of it; we will heare it again; If he knew the will of his gods; What then? Then they ſhould have the ſtrength of his parts, and the chiefeſt of his Riches, they ſhould have vvhat they vvould have. So he ſaid. What were theſe gods? Stocks and Stones, ſome of them Divels; few did him a little good, at ſomtime in conceit; the moſt a great deal of hurt, but he offered ſo liberally to all, becauſe he would pleaſe all, that ſome might do him good, others might doe him no hurtddAuſt. de civit l. 8 13. Plac…ndi ſunt Dij mali ne laed…nt, bo…i invocandi ut profi….

Enquire now and ſo thou ſhalt underſtand His Will the better. VVhat is thy God? As we reade, The God That made the Heaven and the Earth, The Father of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the God before whom thou doſt walk bbGen 49. 25.Gen 49:25, the God Who hath fed thee all thy life long unto this Day; The God Almighty, Who hath bleſſed us with the bleſſings of Heaven above, bleſſings * Gen. 4. 15.Gen 4:15of the deep that lieth under, bleſſings of the breſt and of the womb. But when I have ſaid God, I have ſaid all, Mercy goodneſſe, wiſdome, power, riches, all; only this was not ſaid, That He ſo loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Sonne, &c. What wilt thou do now for this God and His Chriſt? Thou wilt underſtand what His will is firſt: Thou doſt well, So thou ſhalt; His will ſhall be cleared unto you, as the Sunne beame. This is His will, even thy Sanctification cc1 Theſ. 4. 3.1 Thess 4:3, His will, the very Law of His will (but His will is His Law, an holy Law; and His will revealed is our Law) that wee ſhould ſanctifie His Name a…d His Day, heare His word, a…d doe it, that is His will; walke as people in Covenant with Him, as children of the light, honeſtly ddRom. 13. 13.Rom 13:13, as in the Day, ſoberly, righteouſly and godly in this preſent world eeTit. 2. 12.Titus 2:12: not in rioting and drunkenneſse, not in ſtrife and envying, not as Arabians (Sabeans) and Chaldeans, Papiſts and Atheiſts, men without God in the world, robbing, spoyling, pillaging; not as the fiſhes in the Sea, where the greater devoure the leſſer aaHab. 1. 14.Hab 1:14; not as Devils bb1 Tim. 2. 12.1 Tim 2:12, ſlandring each other; not as his eldeſt ſonnes children of Beliall, breaking yoakes and caſting away bands, and girdles, under a pretence of being freed from fetters: not ſo, for this is after the luſt of the Divell, moſt contrary to the will of God, which is as was ſaid, Holy, juſt and good. It is impoſſible we ſhould be ignorant of it Why then Thou knoweſt what the will of thy God is, and Thou ſeeſt Who ſteere their courſe thereafter, by the help… of God and the Law. You ſee who doe contend for the Faith, for Religion, for th… Gospell, call it what you will; It is that whereto the Prophets and Apoſtles have ſealed, and ſo tranſmitted it to the generations following, and from them it came ſtreaming downe unto us in the blood of the Martyrs, under the ſhadow whereof this Church hath enjoyed her Sabbaths, reſt and peace theſe foure-ſcore yeares and upward: So long have we ſet in peace under this cove…ing. For this the Nobles have contended, and are reſolved to reſiſt the oppoſers of it unto blood. And is it not Gods will they ſhould ſo doe? Yes, more cleared unto them, then if it could have bin written with the Sunne beame. And is it not their bounden duty ſo to doe? No queſtion to be made of that, when it is clearly the will of God. But I would rather their children ſh…uld anſwer here: Certainly ha… theſe Nobles failed at this point, had they not given out their Male, their ſtrength in the managing thi… great buſineſſe; had they not contended here, then had their Deſcendents put up a complaint againſt them doubled, the ſame, as we reade, Bloody Fathers have ye bin to Exod. 4. 25.Exod 4:25us, bloody Fathers ye are. Yee contended not for Religion, ye neglected that, ye were careleſſe thereof, and ſo of the good eſtate of future times, unnto which ye knew, ye muſt tranſmit and commend-over, us; your deareſt pledges; bloody Fathers ye are, ſo they had complained.

Bleſſed be God, they knew the will of their Lord, and their bounden dutie, and have done thereafter; they have contended for this Faith, and they will contend: what is their life to them? o… what regard to a new b…rne ſon? If ICHABOD, where is the glory? that is gone. They will contend for the Glory, they will keepe it, they are reſolved ſo, ſo to contend even as for life.

Ob. What contend againſt their King! Is that the will of God?

An. A ſillie Objection, I had almoſt ſaid wicked; They contend for the King, for the maintaining his Crowne, Peace and Dignitie. They contend for the maintenance of Religion, and that is like the maintaining a Ship in a Tempeſt; a ſillie will…ull man, and let him periſh (if he be not a ſleepe) that will not put forth his hand to maintaine the Ship now in diſtreſſe of weather▪ if that lives he lives; if that drowns be drownes. Truly, I have ſaid all I can ſaie; They that contend to maintaine Religion, doe as thoſe, who contend to ſave their ſhip, ſave that and that will ſave them. The Nobles doe contend to maintaine Religion (that ſhip) and in ſo doing they contend for their King; his life and peace, for his everlaſting Crown, for the peace and honour of his people; for the ſafetie of his Kingdomes, that they may be the head and not the tail…, the moſt honourable of Kingdomes. All this they doe contend for, for they contend for Religion, that ſhip which carries three Kingdomes in it at once, peace, ſafetie, lives, liberties and all. And is it not the will of God they ſhould ſo contend? It were folly to anſwer, for it is blaſphemie to doubt. Then what wilt thou doe to helpe them and their cauſe, againſt the Mightie. It is the greateſt, the moſt hopefull cauſe, the beſt, the plaineſt and cleareſt (as cleare as the Sunne beame) the moſt legible cauſe that ever was heard or read of in the world What wilt thou doe now to reſcue thy King from out of the hands of Murtherers? The Land from out of the hands of ſpoylers? The Laws of God and man from ſons of Belial, who would make all void? What wilt th…u doe, to helpe the Lord againſt theſe Nimrods, mightie hu…ters? What wilt thou doe, I ſay, to helpe God and the cauſe of Chriſt? Neither of them both do need thee, He, Whoſe cauſe it is, can manage it without thee; But ſo He is pleaſed to honour His Servants, by calling them forth to helpe Him againſt the mighty. And what wilt thou doe for H…m and His cauſe, Who was made a curſe for thee, gave His blood for thee, what wilt thou doe for Him? It is His will and command both, that thou ſhouldeſt give in thy helpe, the Male of thy flocke, thy ſtrength and chiefe of thy ſubſtance to Him, and thou haſt heard what an Heathen will doe in ſuch a caſe; then thou wilt bid freely, Thy Religion, thy Faith, never put thee to coſt, till new, what wilt thou doe now? A Papiſt ſhall not out-bid thee, for the maintaining, his Idol-ſervice, a curſed ſervice▪ yet ſee how forward he is, he will give all to his skin; nay skin and all, for …e will venture his precious ſoule, he loves not his life unto death in his blind zeale, ſo he may maintaine the Man of ſinne, a despicable man; and his cauſe, a deſperate cauſe. The Atheiſt bids roundly too (the man without God in the world, who bel…eves not that there is any Spirit good or bad) he carries his ſoule in his hand too, he fights himſelfe into ſlavery, that he may maintaine his Idol, his …ride and Ambition, for Honour in that waie there is none, no nor eaſe, nor peace neither, yet ſee what he doth, how impatient **Omne peccatum impatientiae aſcribendum: Nemo impudicus non impatiens pudicitiae, n…c iniuſtus non impatiens iuſtitiae. Tert. de pat. cap. 5.he is in traverſing his waie, that curſed waie! The Papiſt ſhall not exceed thee now, no nor the Atheiſt neither. Why then thou muſt be very active and liberall too, thy hand and thy heart and all muſt go, els they will go beyond thee. I aske agai…e, what wilt thou doe? Before thou canſt anſwer me, I muſt reſolve thee in one doubt more.

Ob. I could act with a more free spirit, with more enlarged affectio…s, If he be a Clerg… man, that ſcrup…es here, either …t the will of Man, or at the offering, beleeve him not: he is a counterfeit, he hath ſatisfied his conſcience and rock'd it a ſleepe, reſolved in a more ſcrupulous caſe; that he may receive h… offerings next Eaſter; his Tithes all the yeare after, and more a great dealt from two places, though he miniſters at neither: there he is pinched now, but no ſcruple there.becauſe with more cleareneſſe of judgement, if ſo be Gods wi…l were concurring with the will of my …ur…ing Fathers and ſpirituall Lords.

An. Theſe were no… ſpirituall once, nor Lords now. But this is a ſtrange ſpeech if we marke it, that Gods will muſt concurre with mans wi…l, elſe we will not doe there after. This is prepoſterous indeed. What muſt yeeld here? Without all contradiction, as the leſſe is bleſſed of the better aaHeb. 77.: So the leſse muſt yeeld to the greateſt, and the worſt to the Beſt. Gods will is an holy, a good, a juſt will, as you heard; mans wil… is croſſe, ſtubberne and perverſe, as you ſhall heare, it is affianced to carnall wiſdome and humane reaſon, and ſo it is, as it hath bin; and it doth, as it hath done, all the miſchiefe in the world. Mans will, by the helpe of carnall reaſon, and the Law of ſin in the members, hath rebelled againſt God ever ſince there was a man upon the Earth. This will, ſaith one bbBernard: Ochr: Serm. 3., was the Serpent in the Garden; it made Cain kill his brother; perſwaded the old world to do as we reade, and provoked Pharaoh to ruſh into the Sea: It made Gods people murmure, it made Solomon loſe his wits amongſt his ſtrange wives; and ſtirred his Father to kill Uriah; this very will with her confederates, perſecuted the Patriarkes, Prophets, Apoſtles in former ages, the Meſſengers of the Churches and the glory of Chriſt ever ſince, downe ward to this day Nothing ſo much as this will favoureth the Kingdome of Anti-chriſt, introdu…ing all the ſuperſtitions, Hypocriſies, murthers, maſſacres, &c. This will perſwades a man rather then ſtoope to fall, though he is but to ſtoope to Law and right Reaſon; This will makes the moſt worldly wiſe, the moſt foole, moſt wicked, moſt perſecuting. And ſo the Authour goes on. Teſtimonies from latter times can tell us as much; Mans will by it's helpers, afore ſaid, will bring a city into a ſnare, So in Engliſh eePro. 29. 8. Sufflant ſufflando inflammant,Prov 29:8: Will ſet Cities on fi…e, and whole Kingdomes in a flame, ſo Iunius reades it, and ſo we, for ſo this will would have done. As then, it is wilfullneſſe to ſay: This ſhall be for I Will have it ſo, the VVill is the Reaſon: So alſo, it is wickedneſſe, to looke unto mans vvill (further then it is ſubordinate to Gods vvill) for it is as the carnall mind, enmity againſt God, not ſubject to His Lavv, neither indeed can be ffRom. 87.. It is then ſufficient, abundantly ſufficient, That we know Gods vvill, and this is our wiſdome, to reſolve all thereinto; That it is His VVILL we ſhould contend for the Faith; (for the ſafeguarding that Ship) ſtrive, even unto death, for the reſcuing our King, Parliament, Nation, Lavves, Liberties, Religion, Lives, out of the hands of Spoylers.

Ob. Spoylers! why ſo? Thoſe of our owne Nation, and thoſe called in unto us, endeavour with all their might to eſtabliſh our Religion, Iawes, Liberties: God forbid I ſhould denie it, for they affirme and vow it too.

Anſ. I thought this had been anſwered before, but ſome men will not be anſwered. In earneſt, tell me, Art thou ſo credulous as aforeſaid? Yes, Then doſt thou beleeve, as afore-ſaid, that Noahs flood came-in to allay the duſt: And that the Duke of Arabia with his companies of Sabeans, were ſtirred up to ſafeguard Job and his houſe. It is not Gods WILL we ſhould beleeve lies; not what the tongue ſaith, but what the hand doth. Mans WILL is cleared here to be perverſe and wicked, GODS WILL ſo cleared alſo, that we cannot pleade ignorance therof. I will hold my Candle no longer before that Sun.

This is GODS WILL as afore ſaid, and we kn…w it ſo to be, and They that doe know it, and are engaged to doe thereafter, have ſuch a ſenſe of Dutie, that they would rather looſe their Heads, then that their King (ſo we touching King and PARLIAMENT) ſhould looſe one hai…e of his (or their) Honour.

And ſo I have cleared (as I could, and as briefly) the maine doubts, touching the Thanke-offering, the perſon that offers it, our Dutie thereupon, and grave queſtions thereabouts, for the ſetling of the judgement therein, that we alſo may offer ddAmemus Chriſtū & facilè videbitur omne difficile, parvum &c. Hier. ad Euſt. ep. 17. p. 207. Sequitur hunc affectum membra omnia & omnes partes &c. Cal. in Dan. …. 4., THANKES to GOD, His King and His faithfull Servants (i e.) our Tongues and our hands, and our hearts to ſerve them in LOVE, and Love is a great Commander, it commands all; it does all, it beleeves all, it gives all, ^d &c.

The method is queſtioned next, not where I am to begin, for ſurely that is out of all queſtion, with prime and ancient Mercies, and with the bottome or top Mercy (expreſſe it you, for I cannot) the foreign Chry. in cap. 29. Gen.root-Mercy. The Church fixeth thereon, therefore I muſt remember that; for I could not raiſe a Pillar, and make it ſtand in the …yer without a bottome. Hee that builds without hands, upholds without pillars: So God doth, man cannot doe ſo. I am right thus farre.

Indeed the maine Queſtion is, touching the Method; and the good ſtumble at it, Why there is a Thank-offering, for dayes of Captivitie?

I conceive there is great reaſon for that, and had I failed at that Point, I had no way anſwered the mind of the Church: Therefore it was my chiefe care and I knew it was the Churches pleaſure ſo, To remember her Nights of Affliction, for ſhe never profited ſo much as in that Schoole, though ſhe ſate in the darke; her daies of e Zach. 1…. 10.Zech 1:10Captivity, for ſhe never felt ſuch enlargements as then; The time when ſhe ſate as a widdow, for then ſhe remembers the Lord was a Husband unto her, when ſhe ſate an Orphane, fatherleſſe and motherleſſe, nay childleſſe, for then ſhe was in bitternes ^e. A Father and Mother both are carried forth to the place of ſilence, laid in their darke beds, and little is ſaid, and leſſe is done, but for oſtentation and ſhow for the moſt part, but the child is carried …orth to that place, and behold there is Lamentation and bitter mourning, as Rachels was ffIer. 31. 1….Jer 31:1: This ſad time muſt be remembred too, for the Church can ſay now, That then the Lord was to her better then ten Sons. The immediate comforts are the ſtrongeſt comforts, & are then powred in, when the veſſell is emptied, Creature comforts are denied, or drained forth, and ſelf confidence is gone-out, for then prayers are powred-out too ggIſa. 26. 16.Isa 26:16(at other times there was but a dropping, a powring forth now) when ſhe is in bitterneſſe, or a ſufferer, in bonds or impriſonment, for the cauſe of her Chriſt, &c. Enquire of him or them that have been pillored for the cauſe of Chriſt (it muſt ſtill be remembred, The cauſe makes the Martyr) then ſeparated to the winds; theſe will tell us the ſame, which my eares have heard, that then came-in the greateſt Spring-tide of comfort, when they were at the loweſt eb…e of diſtreſſe; then their ſoules were raviſhed, then they felt a joy unſpeakable, when the Adverſary had made them a GAZING STOCK by Reproaches and afflictions ddHeb 10. 13.Heb 10:13, A SPECTACLE, to the world, Angels and men ee1 Cor. 4. 9.1 Cor 4:9. It was ſo with our brethren, as with the Apoſtles in ancient times, when the Adverſary ſtopt up every crevice, that no light might come-in, then behold a light ſhineth ffAct. …. 7.; when the Adverſary layeth load upon the loynes, and makes faſt the barres, then behold ſtrange enlargements, for God workes then; all difficulties remove, and the irongate opens ggver. 10. Hab. 3. 18.Hab 3:18. When there is no ſupply from the Field, nor from the Fold, nor from the Stall, Then God comes-in. What then? Then it followes, I will rejoyce in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my Salvation.

I could fill the Margin and line both, and to ſome purpoſe, but the caſ… is plaine, and the du…y is evident, The Church hath thrived beſt, when 2 Chro. 28. 22.2 Chr 28:22her paſture vvas ſhorteſt: Adverſity hath ſlaine a thouſand (and yet I cannot tell that, for I reade but of one that was not bettered by it, and that was King Ahaz; his name is doubled, for he rebelled under Gods rod in a time of diſtreſſe) But prosperity hath ſlaine it's ten thouſand; perhaps more, for I never read of any more then one, that had his eyes opened by eating hony hh1 Sam. 14. 7.1 Sam 14:7: Few or none have bin battered by the ſweets of prosperity; many have bin undone. But I forbeare, only noting this; He that feaſteth upon the ſweets the Creature yeelds, taketh full liberty there, is not acquainted with the righteous mans joy, who then, and never but then, ſceles rivers of living waters flowing-in; flouds of bony and butter, when he hath ſtop'd and dommed up (in affection and judgement) all his freſh ſprings from below. And ſo much to cleare the Method at that point, as the Church is preparing ſtill for the houre of Temptation, ſo they are joyfull in it, and thankefull for it. This is of great concernment to us, who are at the heights in our joyes and at the depths in our ſorrowes.

For the Remainder, let it anſwer for it ſelfe, Surely, I ſtood bound to God and man both, undertaking that worke (fitter for another, but another did it not, till I was ſo farre, as paſt hearing a callbacke) to begin with that yeare and mouth, when God did worke moſt wonderfully, for then …ee wrought alone, His arme was bare, there was no covering of fleſh. Thence I proceed to thoſe vvorkes, that man VVROUGHT vvith God, and I bring them in as the bearers did the fruits of a good Land, thruſt and throngd together, like Grapes in a cluſter: Yet ſo as all may ſee how pleaſant the Land is our Nobles would bring us alſo to.

The meaning is, you ſhall have but an Abſtract here, an abridgement of many particulars largely debated on in their place, and there making up a full Volume, which the Authour keepes entire, knowing very well, if there be cauſe of it, He that ſuggeſted it, and br…ught it to his hand, will bring it forth in due time: In the meane time he could not forbeare, but he muſt ſend forth this Abſtract in the Churches name: For though Epitomies are deemed, by a nob…e Schollar, the Moates and Cankers of Hiſtory, yet conſidering the ſeaſon, that the time is quick and may be ſhort, they are the fulleſt in ſenſe and quickeſt for uſe. It is indeed in two or three h…ads too large for an Abſtract, but it is conſiderable, whether there was not juſt and neceſſary reaſon I ſhould give it enlargement there, more then ordinary But whether it pleaſeth or not, I am not carefull: I was carefull with all my care to doe my duty, and I have done it according to my meaſure, with all my ſtrength, and above it; and, if my heart deceives me not, in tru…h and uprightneſſe.

I would not deny to man one graine weight of his dues: Nor can I give him one graine more, then what my ſoule can goe-out with in tendring unto him; no not for a returne of a pound weight of his Favour. I eſteeme mans favour, as the favour of a man, can thank him for it, and heartily: And mans frowne, as the frowne of a man, can make uſe of it, and yet neglect it.

If I might make a ſhort Apologie for my long Preface, it would be this; The vile Prieſt and his brutiſh people did preſſe me with very hard words againſt them, That have done us all the right that could be: And Pamphlets from their ſide were ſtuffed with ſuch contradictions, ſuch an inconſiſtency in matters, ſuch incongruities as theſe; That all they, who contend for the cauſe of Chriſt, are Rebels, and yet not one Iriſh amongſt them, hardned and brawned in villanies: All Traitors, who contend and will contend for the Truth, and yet not one Rev. 11. 7.Rev 11:7Ieſuited HEL-HOWND (it is a Kings word contending with a Cardinall) not one Catholicke (murderer) in our Hoſte (ſo hee hath bin accounted in all times and places, making no more conſcience to out his Kings throat, then to cut a peece of bread) Theſe Iriſh Romiſh Catholiques, univerſally bloody and monſtrous Savages all the world over, ſo brawned in cruelties, are accounted now the only loyall Subjects, ever ſince the Lord Chriſt hath taken to Himſelfe great Power, reigning more viſibly upon the Earth, demanding His Rights there. And His faithfull Servants are reſolved to give theſe Rights unto Him, Whoſe they are, not with-holding a hoofe, nor diſhonourably compounding His matters, ſo forfeiting Truth for Peace; but reſolving to maintaine both with honour, or an honourable warre: ever ſince this conteſtation for Chriſt, and His Truth; Rebellion, which is as the ſinne of Witchcraft, againſt God and His Chriſt, hath been accounted obedience, and loyall ſubjection: And a true ſenſe of Dutie to God and man, and to doe thereafter, even what God commands, and will have done, is accounted Rebellion and Treaſon both. The comfort is, Wiſdome is juſtified of her children, yes, (and in this point) of all, that are not unreaſonable and wicked men. The Truth is, I could not beare this, at ſuch a time as this, being to render a THANK-OFFERING in the Churches Name, but I muſt Preface to it againſt ſuch contradictions of Sinners; and render the THANK-OFFERING free, and the Churches Servants as cleared of theſe blackes, as was the Snow in Salmon. And what is wanting here ſhall be ſupplied elſe where; for I will goe on from this Preface to another Treatiſe, where, by the helpe of God, And His Law, I ſhall cleare this very way, wherin the Nobles have walked, ſo ſpoken againſt now, and blasphemed, as a way of Rebellion and Treaſon, to be the very way, wherein all the Nobles, that ever were in the world, have walked, who walked uprightly with God, dealt faithfully with His people, not treacherouſly and as Traitors to King and Kingdome, and their owne ſouls; for,

I have a moſt comprehenſive mercy to treat on, and enlarge upon, which I may call the Abridgement of this laſt yeares wonders, containing, as in a moſt fruitfull wombe, all nationall bleſſings, which the Nobles and Worthies have hitherto, or their children after them, ſhall travell with, and bring forth to the Nation. And this they are compleating, and in ſo excellent a way; as that, though we ſhall never ſay of it in this world, the worke is done, and compleated (of that comprehenſion it is) yet, I ſay, they have ſo orderly proceeded in it, by that line and plummet, afore-ſaid, of all the truly Noble, that ever were on the Earth, as that it is fully to the Mind of the Lord, and the heart of the Nation. And now let the Devill rage and his Servants roare (for in that they glory) though by a wofull prolepſis, here, in ſport, for hereafter in earneſt, when they, and their King of the bottomleſſe pit ſhall roare there to all eternity: Let the Arabian Dukes with their companies of Sabeans; let the noble Monſters of theſe dayes (ſo they were called anciently who are Gentile and noble in the root, but monſtrouſly degenerate in the fruit of their converſation ddNequitiae ſordibus imbuta Nobilia portenta, Valer▪ Max. l. 3. c. 5.) let theſe doe their worſt, rob, ſpoyle, pillage, ſhed bloud, to their power, yet by the helpe of God and the Law, the worke ſhall be carried on, and the work-men ſhall proſper, and overcome by the bloud of the Lambe eeRev. 12. 11.Rev 12:11.

But what is our worke now? Worke and Pray; or pray and worke, no matter which is firſt, ſo both goe together. Worke with hand and mouth and heart and all. We have a noble paterne before us of Work men, who (bleſſings be upon them both from above and beneath) have offered themſelves willingly to this worke, and will very gladly ſpend, and be ſpent for us (in this worke) though (they may reade on) the more abundantly they love us, the leſſe they are beloved ff2 Cor. 12. 15.2 Cor 12:15. But we have our patterne, and we ſee our dutie; worke we as men, who can very gladly ſpend and be ſpent for this cauſe; for it is His cauſe, Who did ſay indeed, and did as He ſaid, (for H… zeale eat Him up He was a whole burnt-offering) I VVILL VERY GLADLY SPEND AND BE SPENT for you (ſo it was indeed) the cauſe of the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, Who was made for us a curſe once, That He might make us, as He is, bleſſed for ever; having ſuch an example before us, and ſuch a cauſe in our eye, we will worke now or never. VVorke we now as we are able, and let the Lord worke as He pleaſeth, He will worke like Himſelf. Truly He worketh wonderfully in all His peoples ſight: But if He wrought in the dark, as ſometimes He doth; if His foot-ſteps are in the waters (as M Bradford expreſſeth it) a man can ſee no prints where His Hand is, or which way His feet goe, whither towards us or againſt us; yet, ſaid that good man, My hand and my ſpirit ſhould worke after Him; for I am ſure I am in the way, though I ſee it not; my God goes right, though I diſcerne not the path. Worke we, I ſay, as we can, and let the Lord worke as He will; He doth worke gloriouſly and in ſight; worke wee and pray too, elſe our worke is vaine, and to no purpoſe; worke we, but ſay, BLESSED BE GOD, firſt;

Bleſſed be Thy Name for the Governours among the people, and for them, that offered themſelves willingly. It was, becauſe Thou commandeſt and ſo it is, the North gives, and the South keepes not backe: Sea and Land comes in for Thy Churches helpe (peace, peace be to her helpers) to deliver us from the Heathen, that we may give thankes to Thy holy Name, and glory in Thy praiſe, Amen. Now

Pray for the peace of Jeruſalem, they ſhall (ſtill) proſper that love her; Pray in Prayer, pray earneſtly, our children ſhall reape the fruit thereof, if we doe not now, for now we have reaped what our fore-fathers have ſowne, the fruit of the prayers of many Generations; Pray we, That the Lord would owne His owne cauſe (certainly He will, and ſo He doth, but He muſt be ſought unto for this, and enquired after) That His eyes would be for good upon His Children and ſervants all over the world; for their eyes and hearts are ſet ſtedfaſt towards Him and His Jeruſalem here below, and there they fix, waiting what God will doe, at ſuch a time as this, and hearkning what God will speake now; It is their confidence, He will ſpeake peace, and doe according to His owne word, give His Servants the opening of the mouth, that the enemies may know, HE IS THE LORDs. The Churches all over the … Ezek. …. 21.world are reſolved now to give their Lord no reſt, till He ſhall give them reſt. The Lord hath given His people th… greateſt mercies, which they prayed not for, ELECTION before time; His SON in the fullneſſe of time: How can He with Him denie His people any thing? They forſake not their confidence, there ore they are importunate with their friends, as they have beene in former yeares, the day of Jacobs troubles, and treading downe, ſaying, Pray, pray, pray;

Pray for the King, That the Lord would deliver his ſoule from the ſnare of the Hunter: And pray for the Parliament, who have ſought the peace of the King and his Kingdomes, as their …wne peace, nay more then ſo, they have preferred it before their owne: And ſeeing 'tis cleare to every man, that will ſee, that thus they have done, They have ſought and wrought effectually for the peace (that containes all) of their King; or the Salvation (a comprehenſive bleſſing) of King and his Kingdomes: for maintaining this Ship (RELIGION) wherein our lives, our liberties, our eſtates, our peace, and the Churches all over the world, and our Generations after us are bottomed and maintained; ſeeing, I ſay, their Care, Piety, Zeale, is manifeſt to all men in the maintaining this Ship: And all this by the line of the Law; the Plummet of right Reaſon, the Rule of their Lords will: Seeing we know it to be ſo, and doe know alſo in all our hearts and ſoules, That not one thing hath failed of all the good things, which the Lord hath ſpoken concerning His people: Nor any of Ioſh. 24. 14. 1….Josh 24:14Josh 24:1the evill things, which He threatned againſt His enemies, but all came to paſſe: We will cloſe with the word of the Lord, which He hath ſpoken to the heart of all His faithfull Servants in all Generations, I VVILL BLESSE THEM THAT BLESSE Gen. …2. 3.Gen 2:3THEE: and CURSE HIM THAT CURSETH THEE, even ſo, Lord, let the curſe they have called for fall upon the wicked; but Thou haſt promiſed this goodneſſe unto Thy Servants: Now therfore, Let it pleaſe Thee to bleſſe the houſe of Thy Servants, that they and their houſe may be before Thee for ever: For Thou bleſſee, 1 Ch…. 17. 26, 2….O Lord, and it ſhall be bleſſed for ever. Amen and Amen.

p. 1THE CHVRCHES THANK-OFFERING To GOD, Her KING and the PARLIAMENT.