New-englands' Sense, OF OLD-ENGLAND AND JRELANDS' SORROWS.  
A Sermon Preached upon a day of general Humiliation in the Churches of NEW-ENGLAND. In the behalf of Old-England and Jrelands' Sad condition. By WILLIAM HOOKE, Minister of GOD'S Word at Taunton in NEW-ENGLAND.  
Entrusted in the hands of a worthy Member of the Honourable House of Commons, who desired it might be Printed.  
Imprimatur JOSEPH CARYL.  
LONDON, Printed for John Ro●●●ell, at the Sign of the Sun in Pauls-Church-yard, 1645.   

NEW ENGLAND'S SENSE, OF OLD ENGLAND, AND IRELAND'S SORROWS.  2 SAM: 10.6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. 
6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-Rehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of King Maacha a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand footmen.  
7 And when David heard of it, he sent joab, and all the host of the mighty m●n.  
8 And the Children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.  
9 When joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.  
10 And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.  
11 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, than thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, than I will come and help th●e.  
12 Bee of good courage, and let us play the men, for our people, and the Cities of our God; and the Lord do that which seemeth him good.  
THe occasion of this wars was this. Nahash the King of Ammon (he who once demanded the right eyes of the Gileadites, and to lay it as a reproach upon all Israel, upon condition of covenanting with them) is now dead. He had been, it seems, a friend to David, in opposition, probably, to Saul who was an enemy to them both. David looked at the expressions of his love, and left his heart to him that searched it, accounting it an office of humanity to comfort him concerning the death of his Father. His kindness is misconstrued by the Princes of the children of Ammon, who detracting from the sincere intentions of upright David, hasten to their King and fill him full of jealousy and prejudice against David, as if he had not sent Ambassadors, but Spies; not Conforters, but Traitors. The young King is overthrown in the entrance of his government by evil Counsellors, whose suggestions he receives in stead of the comfort of David's Ambassadors, which cost him dear. His Counsellors were indeed his Traitors, not the Messengers. Alas, how fearfully is the King misguided in the threshold of his reign, by such who should have better advised him? It is well said of a Bishop upon these words; Happy is that State, where both the Counsellors are faithful to give only good advice, and the King wise to discern good advice from evil.  
But what doth Hanun do? He takes the servants of David and shaves off the one half of their beards, and cuts off their garments in the middle, and sends them away. The news of it is brought to David, who sends to meet them; because they were greatly ashamed, and he said, Tarry at jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.  
And when the children of Ammon saw that they stanke before David, they sent and hired the Syrians, etc.  
In the words, there is, first, A preparation for war by the Ammonites against David. Secondly, david's addressing himself for an encounter.  
In Ammon's preparations, there is, First, The ground of it, which was; because they saw that they stanke before David. Secondly, The hiring of Auxiliaries out of Syria, and that at a dear rate, viz. For a thousand talents of silver, 1 Chron. 19.6.  
In David's address for encounter, we have, first, his sending of joab, with all the host of the mighty men. Secondly, The subtlety of the Ammonites, who were so wise as to divide their forces, and to leave the Syrians to fight in the open fields, whom they durst not trust at the entrance in of their Cities, while themselves put the battle in array before the gates, that so also they might (if need were) have opportunity to retire. Thirdly, The wisdom of joab in ordering the battle the best way, in the straight he was in. Fourthly, a covenant of mutual assistance between joab and Abishai, as need should require. Fiftly, joabs' words of encouragement to Abishai, yea and to himself. Be of good courage, & let us play the men, etc. Which are the words that I have especially looked at for the occasion of this day. But some things I shall briefly observe in the way to them.  
First, for the ground of Ammon's preparations; They saw that they did stink before David, by reason of the abuse they had done to his Ambassadors. Whence we may observe.  
Observation.  
That Indignities and inhuman carriages to Ambassadors of Peace, is that which will make the Enemies of GOD to stink in the nostrils of his People.  
Do not expect a parallel text for proof, for such practices have been very rare till of later years. There is no sin but it stinks in the nostrils of God, but as for men, it must be very gross before it hath so ill a savour; and such are especially grosie sins against the second Table, as being committed against the greater light. Of this kind I remember for the present but one more in Scripture, and that was the bloody treachery of Simeon and Levi against the Sechemites, to whom therefore their Father jacob said, Ye have made me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, Gen. 34.30. For such deal are against the light of blindest nature, especially such usage of Ambassadors, whose name hath ever been honourable by the law of Nations.  
Use.  
First, This gives us to see one special cause why the Prelates in England do this day stink in the rostrils of God's people, yea of many such as have but little Religion in them, there indignities and abuses offered to the Lords Ambassadors have been infinite and intolerable. Alas! what are the insolences of Hanun here, to theirs? For first, He and his Ammonites never saw the tithe of that light that these have done. Ammon saw not the light of Israel; nor Israel the light of England. Secondly, those indignities done by Hanun, were fare inferior unto these. For first, He only cut the beards and garments of these Messengers, whose beards grew out again at jericho, and whose garments might be changed for longer; whereas these have pared the Ears of the servants of God, which can never grow again; and stigmatised the Faces with indelible characters. And therefore, secondly, Hanun came not so near to the persons of those Messengers, for he meddled only with beards and garments, the cutting off of which shed no blood; whereas these have offered bloody indignities to the Lords Ambassadors. Thirdly, those Ammonitish insolences brought upon Messengers only a civil inconformity in hair and vestments to the manners of Gods Israel: whereas the practices of these men have forced a Spiritual conformity on God's Ministers, to the manners of that great Strumpet and Mother of whoredoms. Fourthly, David's messengers were abused only in Beards and Garments; but these have been Convented, Suspended, Deprived, Degraded, Excommunicated, Imprisoned, Impillored, Fined, stripped of all, Exiled, and exposed to great extremities. Thus the indignities considered in themselves were fare inferior unto these. Thirdly, Hanun never sinned herein against Conscience, as these have done; for he was misguided by his Princes, and so he knew not that the Messengers were Spies: whereas the Prelates have offered horrible indignities to many such of whose integrity they have themselves first given ample testimony. Fourthly, Hanum did nothing obstinately, for his Nobles persuaded him; but with these, all the Noble men in the land could not prevail with that Arch-Ammonite and his followers, to deal favourably with the Lords Ambassadors. Fiftly, If we look upon the Messengers, Hanuns inhumanity was offered to the messengers of a mortal Prince, but these men have most dreadfully abused the Ambassadors of the Prince of the Kings of the Earth. For the Lord hath sent his Messengers to England, and one they have beaten, another they have killed, a third they have stoned; or that which is as bad. Again, the Lord hath sent more Servants, and they have done to them likewise. Lastly, those were sent only to minister a little comfort to a man who (it seems) had no great need of it; but these have been sent to publish the Gospel of everlasting Peace to the wearied.  
O monsters among men that these Prelates are, trained up by Tigers, whom no incestuous offspring of Lot can parallel by a thousand degrees! that if such Prodigies among men do this day stink in the nostrils, not of Israelites only, but even Ammonites also, we have great cause of thankfulness, none of wonder.  
Secondly, This may show us the sad estate of these noisome enemies of CHRIST and his Messengers; for seeing they are thus unsavoury, what are they good for? What use can there be made of unsavoury Salt? It is neither fit, saith Christ, for the Land, nor for the Dunghill. It is good, saith he, for nothing, but to be cast out, and trodden under foot of men, Math. 5.13. An unsavoury Ammonite may be good either for the land or for the dung hill. Moah was trodden down as straw for the dunghill, Isa. 25.10. But an unsavoury Prelate is good for neither, as being unsavoury Salt. The most noisome Dung that is, is good enough for the dunghill; but unsavoury Salt is not, because it is so fare from making barren land fruitful, that it makes fruit full land barren. And such salt are the enemies of CHRIST'S Ambassadors, that wherever a Prelate hath been cast, the place (though fruit full before) hath soon proved barren in Religion round about him. For as they have no favour of life in themselves, they cannot endure either that Minister or People that have: Oh what will become of them now, whom the very dunghill doth reject? Who shall lament for them now, saying, Ah my brother; or, ah Lord; or, ah his glory, when they shall be cast forth beyond the gates of jerusalem? As for other men, though never so vile, or degenerous, that are still good enough for the dunghill; men will find some mean employment or other to put them to. If there be refuse people in a land, thou shalt have a drum beaten up to call them together, that they may be sent forth in some service against the enemies of the land: whereas these want both ability and fidelity for such a service. Yea, should they come and crouch for a piece of silver, or a morsel of bread, saying, put us into the Priest's Office, or as it is rendered after the Original, put us into somewhat about the Priesthood, as much as to say, make Parish Clarks of us, that we may eat a piece of bread; they are not fit for it, for they cannot say, Amen, to the prayers of God's people this day. They are not fit to occupy any room in Church or Common wealth; they are not fit for Pulpit, or Press, for Church-government, Counsel-table, Parliament, justiceship, Traffic, who have thus long traded only for the mother of Whoredom, and who begin now to weep and mourn, because no man buyeth their Merchandise any more, Revel. 18. 11. They are not then good for war, nor peace; for Prince, not people; for Church nor State: only being wiser in their Generation, than the Children of light, like that wicked Steward they have rob and spoiled, and feathered their nests, before they were turned out of their Stewardships, as being conscious to themselves, that dig I cannot, and to beg they are ashamed.  
Thirdly, This should make us this day more earnest with God for England, that he would purge the Land of this filth; for otherwise how noisome will that Country be wherein there are so many unsavoury creatures. Not that we desire any other purging of them, than their deposing and repentance for their horrible indig●aties, and inhumanities to the Ambassadors of the King of Kings. And thus much for the grounds of Ammon's Preparations to muster up Forces against David, because they saw, that they stanke before him.  
Secondly, we have their hiring of Auxiliaries to defend them in their wickeduesse: They sent and hired the Syrians of Beth Rehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, etc.  
Observation.  
When wicked men are come to that height of sin, that they stink in the nostrils of God's people, they will rather die, then confess and repent of their wickedness.  
We have the like example in the Benjamites against the eleven Tribes. And it is made good this day in the Prelates against England. For whereas they should have put on sackcloth on their loins, and ropes upon their necks, and gone to the King and Parliament, saying; Your servants say 〈◊〉 pray you let us live; they have stood out rebelliously, and protested against Parliamentary proceed. Nay, their moneys have gone most profusely for the hiring of Syrians, and the maintenance of wars against the Scots, calling it, Bellum Episcopale; The Bishop's War. It was 1000 talents of silver that the Ammonites expended to hire help against the Israel of God, when first they had offered them such a moustrous indignity: But how many thousand talents these have disbursed and collected among themselves, and their Clergy, and Popishly affected party, it is not easy for to say. For, The Angel of the Lord hath powered out his vial upon their Sun, and they have been scorched with great heat, and have blasphemed the name of the Lord which hath power over these Plagues; and they have not repent to give him glory. REV. 16. 8. 9  
But whom now do the Ammonites hire? but a sort of flagitious Pagans, that neither looked into the price of other men's blood, their own souls, or the justness of the cause? A thousand talents have soon bought them to fight the battles of the Devil against the Lord of Hosts.  
Observation.  
There is no cause so wicked or deplored, but money will hire some mercinarily minded to abet, who will damn their souls for a little silver. And how many such there have been even in the Christian world, the Prelates better know than we. What forlorn creatures, Papists, Atheists, Neuters, and mongrel Protestants, had they procured to fight against the Scottish Nation? When wicked men are conscious to the insufficiency of their cause, they muster up the greater forces, and place their affiance in the arm of flesh; that what innocence here could not do, three and thirty thousand Pagans joined to the forces of Ammon shall. But thus much shall suffice to be spoken of Ammon's Preparations, both their ground and helps.  
Secondly, in David's providing to encounter them, we have, First, his sending of joab, with all the Host of the mighty men. David, you see, is sensible of the horrible abuses done to his Ambassadors.  
Observation.  
Indignities offered to Ambassadors, redound to their King, who cannot be insensible thereof, especially, they being Ambassadors of Peace.  
And thus it is with God; as it is written, The Lord God of their Fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending, because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: but they mocked the Messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his Prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose, and there was no remedy. Therefore he brought upon them the King of the Caldees, who slew the young men with the sword in the house of their Sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or may den, old man, or him that stooped for age; he gave them all unto his hand. 2 Chro. 36. 15, 16, 17. And now under the Gospel; when the Lord of the Vineyard sends his servants to the Husbandmen, and the Husbandmen beat one, and kill another, and stone a third; and when he sends yet more servants, and they do unto them likewise; surely he will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his Vineyard to other Husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their season. Matth. 21. 33.  
Beloved! CHRIST is this day sensible of all the abuses that have been offered by the Prelates to his Messengers. How often hath he cried from heaven if that poor soul had not been utterly deaf, Laud, Laud, Why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. Oh! CHRIST in his Messengers hath given his back to the smiters, and his cheeks to them that have plucked off the hair; his beard hath been cut, and his garments curtold by these Prelatique Ammonites. The Messengers of jesus have been made a spectacle to the world, Angels, and men; they have been made partakers of Christ's sufferings, and have filled up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in their flesh, for his body's sake which is the Church. And is Christ sensible, and shall not these Ammonites hear of it? Yes; for he is now awaking as out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of Wine; Ah! saith he, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me● of mine enemies, and put them to perpetual shame. But so much be said of this.  
joab now approaching with his Forces; when lo, the Adversaries have cunningly divided themselves, some standing at the entrance of the gates of the City, the residue in the open field. joab a wise General, and prepared for difficulties, forecasteth the best way of encounter, and fitting himself to assault the Syrians, leaves the Ammonities to his brother Abishai, but with this covenant of mutual assistance (for I must now put sundry things together) If the Syrians be too strong for me, than thou shalt help me, but if the Children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then will I come and help thee.  
Observation.  
When Gods Israel hath to do with many potent, subtle, most wicked and desperate enemies, they had need to enter into a covenant of mutual help and assistance.  
Abraham was confederate with Mamre, Eschol, and Aner, when he was to encounter with the four Kings that had carried away his cousin Lot, prisoner, Gen. 14. 13. 24. Yea, it is lawful for us herein to learn wit of an enemy; For thus the enemies of Israel confederate themselves. Come, say they, let us cut them off from being a Nation, that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. Yea, they have consulted together with one consent, and are confederate against Israel; the Tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites, of Moah, and the Hagarens, Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalech, the Philistims, with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assur also is joined with them, they have helped the children of Lot, Psal. 83. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 And in the days of Ahaz it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim, Isa. 7. 2.  
And this covenanting in case of opposing many, powerful, cunning, wicked, desperate Enemies, is very requisite; Seeing a Kingdom divided cannot stand, which firmly united by confederacy is not easily vanquished, when every man's interesses are another's, and the same engagements common unto all. And this Antichrist knows well enough; for he being set forth most lively under the Type of Antiochus Epiphanes in the 11.th of Daniel, his heart is said to be against the holy Covenant, verse. 28. by and by he is said to have intelligence with them that forsake the holy Covenant; yea, and to have indignation against the holy Covenant, verse. 30. And such as do wickedly, against the Covenant, He is said, to corrupt by flatteries, verse. 32. Mark these expressions. His heart is against the holy Covenant. His very heart riseth at the name of Covenant, and Covenanting, and Covenanters, and those are the most odious people with him in all the world. Yea, he hath indignation against the holy Covenant. He could tear it in his teeth; the very gall of bitterness riseth in him at it. And with whom hath he intelligence, but with them that forsake it? They are his Counselors, that either fall off from the Covenant, or are learned to declaim and rail against it. And such as do wickedly against the Covenant, he corrupteth by flatteries. If there be any who are more malicious than others against the Covenant, and the Covenanters, who will go about to break the League, to raise Arms, to hatch Treasons, to confound Kingdoms, Commonwealths and Parliaments, and to bring all things into combustion, that he may fish in troubled waters, O these are his white boys, these he smooths and strokes, and flatters, these shall have Prebendaries, bishoptics, Cardinals Caps, and great preferments, etc. And no marvel, for these Covenanters is the ruin of Antichrist; for he could never have been, if the Covenant had been kept, his Babel can never be built where men keep close to God and one another.  
Use.  
First, this showeth us the wonderful goodness of God in four particulars, which should melt our hearts this day.  
First, in uniting the Honourable Nation of the Scots by Covenant against the Prelates, in their late defence against their Tyranny. Which how powerful and successful it was, we may easily see, not only by the carriage and issue of things on their parts, but also by the continual attempts of the Prelates to have divided them.  
Secondly, In the firm brotherly Union of England and Scotland, as it were of Joab and Abishai; and that too, by such an occasion, as the Prelates hoped should have engaged them in blood, the one against the other, like Manasseh against Ephraim, or as if joab and Abishai should cut one another's throats.  
Thirdly, In uniting both houses of Parliament, they having to do with such Ammonites and Syrians. It is such a knot, that the very Sword of Alexander, we hope, shall not easily cut asunder.  
A Kingdom united into one body, will endure a mighty shock. Men standing single are soon jusled down, most difficult, when they are all embodied into one.  
Fourthly, In uniting the hearts of all the Churches in this Land to one another, and all of them this day to our dear Country, in opposing the common Adversary. F●r what hath England said to us of late? If the Papi●…s, Prelates, and Atheis●s be too strong for us, th●n you shall help us; and if at any time the enemy be too strong for you, we will help you. O let us all enter into Covenant with England, to live and die against these Ammonites and Syrians.  
Secondly, If so necessary be a Covenant of mutual assistance against a common Enemy, such a one as we hear of; how much more had the Israel of God, need to enter into Covenant with the Lord of Hosts, in opposing such an Adversary. What is a Politic to a Religious Covenant? When the Israelites fled, and fell before the men of Ai; the Lord gives the reason of it unto joshua, josh. 7.11. Israel hath finned, and they have transgressed my Covenant which I commanded them; for they have taken of the accursed thing, etc. Where by the way, you may see how nearly this Covenant uniteth, that what one doth, (which the rest might with circumspection have prevented) is imputed to them all. The Lord will never have need to say to England, or to us, If the Malignant party with their Cavaliers be too strong for me, then shall you help me; but we shall have need so to say to him; and therefore we had need see that we be in covenant with him.  
And where a people are in Covenant with God, and cleave only to him, having cast away whatsoever is displeasing to him, he enters himself presently the General of all their forces, leads their Armies, and fights their Battles. And than who can be against us? For one shall chase a thousand, and ten, ten thousand; because their Rock will not fallen them, nor the Lord shut them up. And so much for the Covenant of mutual assistance.  
We are now come to joabs' words of Encouragement: wherein we have; First, an Exhortation. Secondly, a Resignation. An exhortation to be Valiant in fight the Lords Battles; and a Resignation of their wills into the Lords hands.  
First, of the Exhortation. Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, & for the Cities of our God. And here we may observe the grounds of their encouragement, viz. They were to fight for all that they had, or were; God, and their Country; Church, and State; souls and bodies; their own, and others.  
Observations.  
When Religion and Policy, Church and Commonwealth lie at stake, God's people had need to encourage themselves, and one another.  
Therefore we shall find, that when the people of God were to go to battle against his enemies, both the Lords, the Priests, and the Officers, did (All) give them encouragement, Deut. 20.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 The place is pregnant to this purpose, and worthy our reading. Excellent are the words of Nehemiah to this point, Neh. 4.14. He said to the Nobles and Rulers, and the rest of the people, Be not afraid of your Enemies; remember the Lord which is great and terrible, and fight for your Brethren, your Sons, and your Daughters, your Wives and your Houses. They were to fight for the Lord, whose cause was then in hand; and for the Commonwealth, and each man's private interesses: therefore saith he, Be not afraid of your Enemies.  
Use.  
First, this showeth us, how direct a way it hath pleased the Lord herein to guide both Houses of Parliament to walk in, viz. A way of undaunted courage and resolution, as if they should say to one another, as once those Trojans, The only way to safety to the Conquered, is to turn desperate. Some may think they transgress their limits; No, for how can they take less courage to themselves, who being beset behind and before with Syrians and Ammonites, are to bestir themselves for their people, and the Cities of their God. God and England, and every Shire and City in England, do this day cry out unto them, saying; Be strong and of a good courage, be not afraid, neither be dismayed; for the Lord your God is with you whithersoever you go. Therefore let us not only have high thoughts of them, and such as are always Honourable, but magnify the Lord who hath put such resolutions into them.  
Secondly, let these words of Joab sound in our ears this day. Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the Cities of our God. Beloved! I cannot but look upon the Churches in this Land this day, as upon so many several Regiments, or bands of Soldiers lying in ambush here under the fearn and brushet of the Wilderness, like the liars in wait beside Gibeah, against the wretched rebellious Benjamites. I know we are little dreamt of at this time in any part of Christendom, our weapons being as invisible to the eye of flesh, as our persons are to all the world. So much the better; we shall fight this day with the greater safety to ourselves, and danger to our enemies; among whom, I am confident in the Lord, thousands shall fall, and never know who hurt them. We arrogate nothing to ourselves; for if the weapons of our warfare are mighty, it is not through us, but through God. But if the Israel of God would have thought of a way of quickest discomfiture to the adversary, what course could they have taken better, then to have divided their Forces, and to have sent some to lie in wait in the wilderness, to come upon the backs of God's Enemies with deadly Fast and Prayer, murderers that will kill point blank from one end of the world to the other. Here then is our station, therefore be we of good courage, and let us play the men at this time; and first, For our God. For he is ours, Beloved, and we trust he is England's: and shall we see ourselves bereft of him? Can the Israel of God endure to see Idols and Idolothites to stand in his place, and Dagon to be exalted above the Ark? If Israel be rob of their God, what have they more? What are the people, or Cities, if they be not the people and Cities of our God? They are even like the world without the Sun. God therefore and Religion lie at stake; and therefore let us play the men.  
First, God's worship lieth engaged: all the pure and unmixed Ordinances of CHRIST JESUS call for help this day. The Word of God lifteth up its voice this day unto us, like a banished Virgin; O how have I been abused by the corrupt Glosses of these modern Pharisees? How have the Scriptures been wrested? The Word profaned in Pulpits? Christ fought against, with the word of his own mouth? Doctrines of Devils maintained with pretence of Scripture? The Messengers of Christ persecuted and hunted like Partridges upon the Mountains; for holding forth the Word in his native lustre? O deliver the Word of God out of this Captivity! The Seals of righteousness cry aloud to us this day; They crave reduction to the rules of the Gospel. Every Ordinance pleads for vindication, travelling in pain under the captivity of beggarly Rudiments. O, say they, we have been dealt forth these many scores of years under gospel-light, in such fulsome forms, that men abhor the offerings of the Lord. Oh! The Whore hath quaffed, and made herself drunk with her Panders, and Paramours, and with her cunning and unclean Merchants, in the vessel of the Lords Sanctuary.  
Beloved! Let us hold; and hear no more of these sad complaints; for who can have pitic, and patience too? Have we the blood of Protestants in us? Doth the spirit of JESUS run in our veins? It is enough: We cannot want courage, nor but play the men for God and pure Religion. And if any people under the Sun, who more than we, whom the gracious hand of heaven hath asserted from that spiritual bondage, under which we once did groan? It is a truth, we saw but little in comparison of what now we do, when we left our Native homes; as much it is not that yet we see, though, blessed be the Lord for what we do. But is there any people in the world who have tasted more of the sweet of God, and Christ, and Ordinances, than we in this Land have done? Do any know the price of God and Christ, more than we here? I beseech you in the Lord, Consider, and let the spirit of Christ rise in you at this instant, and wrestle and strive this day in Prayer; let us lose a joint with jacob, but we will be Israelites this day. Let us play the men according to the knowledge, fence and experience that we have of God and Christ. Let us halt to our dying day, but we will return laden with the spoil of Rebels.  
Secondly, as God's worship lieth engaged, so by consequence his Name; And what saith joshua to God upon the day of afflicting his soul? What shall be done to thy great Name? When the Ministers of the Lord were to weep between the Porch and the Altar upon the day of their fasting, they were to say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them; wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? Then will the Lord be jealous for his Land, and pity his people, as it followeth. And shall not this argument then move us, which ever prevailed with the Lord? Moses, Joshua, the Priests, no sooner urge God's glory, but the Lord answereth them.  
Oh! how then hath God's honour been laid in the dust by those Prelates, who now with their honours begin to lie there themselves? What insultings have they used? What triumphs have they often led? And as if they had bound our Christ like Samson, and put him to grind in the Prison house (as in some sense they have.) Oh! how have these Lords of the Philistims gathered themselves together to offer sacrifice to their Dagon, to burn Incense to their Drag, to their power, their Policies, Prelacies, Confederacies, Conjurations, Superstitions, and so rejoice? Saying, Our God hath delivered Christ our enemy into our hand, the destroyer of our Prelacies, who slew many of us.  
And thus, could they but get the day again, they would say, and Dagon should up as high, and CHRIST be thrown down as low, as ever. And can we endure so much as the thought of it? The Lord forbidden. O let us play the men for our God, and our Christ, whose glory is more worth than ten thousand worlds of souls. O let us set to it this day with all our courage; let every vein, and joint, and limb, and affection in us, pray this day; O Lord God, remember thine honour, we pray thee, and strengthen us, we pray thee, that we may once be avenged on these Philistims against their Lords; for our two eyes. Yea, as Samson said, Let me die with the Philistims: So, let us die with these Philistims, if need were. Let us kill ourselves with fasting and prayer, to destroy them, and to pull down the Temple of their Dagon, all the fabric of the hierarchy, upon the heads of these superstitious Prelates.  
Thirdly, Let us consider how inglorious a Nation is without God. when the Ark was captivated, the glory was departed from Israel. The Ark was the testimony of God's presence; so that when God doth not testify his presence with a People, they are without glory. If the World be beautified by the presence of the Sun, so great glory attend the Court where the King is resident: How doth the special presence of the Prince of the Kings of the earth, beautify that Land where it is? Yea, there is not only a spiritual glory, visible only to a spiritual eye, resulting from the special presence of the Lord among a people; but also an external, and visible glory. When jehoshaphat walked in the first ways of his Father David, and lift up his heart in the ways of the Lord; and that a great Reformation was wrought in the Land, and that he had spread the Word all over his kingdom; it is said, That he had riches and honour in abundance; and The fear of the Lord fell upon all Kingdoms of the Lands that were round about judah, so that they made no war against jehoshaphat. Yea, the Philistims and Arabians brought him great presents, insomuch that jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly, and he built in judah, Castles, and Cities of store; and he had much business in the Cities of judah; and the men of War, mighty men of valour, were in jerusalem. So that judah had abundance of external glory, even the glory of riches, and honour, and power, and greatness, and peace, and homage from foreign States, and of great employments, and of mighty men of valour. Wherefore, seeing God is come nearer to England, then formerly, and hath of late made such gracious tenders of himself, and hath found better acceptance then formerly; O let us conclude in daily prayer, and this day especially, for his presence to be continued, and more clearly manifested then ever. For if he should now withdraw again, we are to expect no glory to rest among them. You know how little honour hath been visible in that Land of late years; It hath for a long time been a Land of sorrow, of mourning, and not of joy and rejoicing. It hath not been called Naomi, but Marah; it hath not been a Crown of Glory, nor a Royal Diadem in the hand of the Lord; but been termed forsaken and desolate. But now the day hath begun to dawn, yea, the Sun seems to be ris●n on it, if it strike nor in again, and a Tempest ensue upon it; which the Lord forbidden. O why should we give the Lord any rest, till it be called Hephzibah, and Beulah, My delight is in her, because she is married to the Lord. For when once a Land is joined to the Lord, he is married to it, and then his delight is in it, and he will  it with honour and glory. And thus much for the first ground of the Exhortation.  
Secondly, the other is the State and Commonwealth, which lie engaged; our people, and our Cities. Even Politic Privileges are of weighty consequence, and moment. But in what a way, both people and Cities in that Land, have been dealt with for many years past, we need say nothing, when it is clearly represented to the view of the whole world in the late Remonstrance of the state of that Kingdom. When men judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked, and rid not the poor and needy out of the hand of the wicked, nor do justice to the afflicted; when they will not know, nor understand, but walk on in darkness; what followeth? All the Foundations of the Land are out of course, Psal. 82.5. The Heavens, Sea, and dry Land have been shaken, and there hath been both a Church-quake, and a State-quake in that Land, which hath removed Foundations, and swallowed up both people and Cities. For when Foundations are not only shaken, but out of course, and removed, what have people, and Cities to stand upon? There is no man in such a case, who can say, I stand upon sure ground, I fear no colours, I am able to bear out my just actions. For if they should say, we will have recourse to our Foundations; alas, they are out of Course, they are removed, and none knows where to find them.  
Beloved! It is a fearful thing to have but the foundation of an house undermined, the corner stones removed, and the pillars pulled down; but when whole Cities, and Towns, and Shires of people, shall be undermined, and near blown up, oh how dreadful is it? When a People who can say, We are Romans, neither did we buy our freedom, but are the lawful and legitimate heirs of Liberty, shall be scourged uncondemned; and when Cities that were formerly Cities of Refuge, where the afflicted might find succour under municipal Laws, shall be invaded by destroyers; what cause have men to do as David and his followers, when they had recourse to Ziklag, thinking to have found shelter there; but lo, the City was burnt, and their wives, and sons, and daughter's taken Captives? Even lift up their voices and weep, until they have no more power to weep. When a man may say as David; In the way wherein I walked, they privily laid a snare for me: I looked on my right hand, and behold, there was no man would know me, refuge failed me: this is miserable. For a man thinks himself safe in his way, and if he be in the King's high way, he thinks much to have a snare laid for him; and none but Cutters will way lay a man there. For Edom to assault Israel, when they promised to walk on, only in the King's high way; O barbarous and inhuman! Numb. 20, 17, 20. But when a man shall be assaulted in such a case, and he looks on his right hand, and on his left for help, and can see none, than his purse, if not his throat is endangered. Surely it is uncomfortable travelling in such Countries.  
Brethren! Liberty is more precious than life, inasmuch as death is the common lot of all men, but servitude the portion only of men destined to misery. And if a people be sold for bondmen, and bondwomen, what can countervail the King's damage? And seldom is it, that cruelty rests satisfied with bondage, but makes his progressions to further degrees of blood. When people & Cities cannot say Municipia, but Man●ipia, what remains but death; as when the Ephramites could not pronounce Shibboleth, but only Sibboleth, presently they died for it. If goods and liberty be in the power of men's wills, why not also life? There is much comprised in people and Cities, even all that is Politic, Oeconomick, or Private; but I instance only in the greatest mischief. Let us therefore use the words of Queen Hester unto Ahasuerus, and direct them unto God. If we have found favour in thy sight, O Lord, and if it please the King, let our lives be given us at our petition, and our people at our request; for our people are sold to be destroyed, and slain, and perish.  
If any say, How are we concerned in the miseries of other men, so long as we are free. I say, It toucheth us, as Lot's captivity touched Abraham, who mustered up his men, and took his confederates along with him, Mamre, Eshcol, and Aner, and delivered him out of bondage. And if we forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; if we say, we knew it not or what did it concern us? He that pondereth the heart considereth it, and he will render unto us according to our works. Prov. 24.11.12. Wherefore Let us play the men for our people and Cities. What though it be well with us? Let us yet remember the afflictions of Joseph; yea, and the words of joseph to Pharaoh's Butler; Think upon me when it shall be well with thee; and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house. For thus in effect speaks England and Ireland to us this day, and all the Cities in them; now that it is well with you, think upon us, and show kindness unto us, and make mention of us unto the God of heaven, that we may fully once be delivered out of the house of bondage. Oh, saith such and such a City, there are so many thousand souls in me, who cannot discern between the right hand and the left.  
But if it be not well with them, how can it be well with us? If the Ark, and Israel, and judah, abide in tents, and the people of God are encamped in the open fields, what comfort can we have in our houses, food, or wives? What though we are so fare from them in place? The needle in the Compass is never quiet till it pointeth to the North, at a thousand times greater distance. Affections touched with grace, stand firm from one end of the World to the other. Nehemiah's heart stood right towards Jerusalem, when he was in Persia; and though he was not in an humbling Wilderness, but an alluring Palace, even in Shushan, yet Jerusalem came into his mind. For when Hanani, and certain men of judah came thither to him, he asked them concerning his brethren that were left of the Captivity, and concerning jerusalem. And when they told him of the great affliction and reproach, he sat down and wept, and mourned many days, and fasted and prayed before the God of Heaven, Neh. 1.1, 2, 3, etc. Wherefore let that Word of the Lord sound often in our ears; Ye that have escaped the Sword, go away, stand not still; remember the Lord a fare off, and let jerusalem come into your minds. jer. 50.51. And though we have but a day, or two, wherein to join all our Forces in the Land together, and to give the Adversaries a broad side; Yet let us now and then make excursions by ourselves in private, now that the Lord calls for help against the Mighty. Are we not all the Voluntary of JESUS, whose People shall be willing in the day of his power? neither is there any restraint unto the Lord, to save by many, or by few; by whole Churches, or by single persons. Let us therefore be often adventuring by ourselves, like jonathan and his Armour-bearer against the Philistims. If ever we afflicted our souls, let it be in these days; for we may partly understand by Books the number of the years which God will accomplish in the desolations of jerusalem. So that, we set our faces unto the Lord God, to seek by Prayer and Supplications, with Fasting, Sack cloth, and Ashes. There is at this time a great battle between Michael and the Dragon, and the Angels. The Beast and the Kings of the earth, and their Armies have gathered themselves together to make war with the Lamb. All the Principalities, and Powers, and Rulers of the Darkness of the World, and Spiritual wickednesses in High places, are up in Arms this day, and there is scarce a Devil left behind in Hell. If ever therefore, now Let us quit ourselves like men; the weapons of our Warrefare are not Carnal, but mighty through God. Let us pray against them, as Moses against Amalek; and Preach against them, as the Priests under the Law, when the Host went out against the Enemy; and sing against them, as jehosophat and the men of judah did against Moah, Ammon, and Edom; and live against them, as it is written, When the Host goeth forth against the Enemy, then keep thee from every wicked thing. Deut. 23.9. Every Ordinance of God is a deadly murderer. O let us walk and sleep in our Armour and never be unfurnished of promises touching the confusion of Babel, and her bvilders. Let the cause of God affect us deeply, and the people and Cities of our God be always in our eyes. And let the desolations of Christendom awaken us to frequent Prayers, and constant sympathy; and the blood of God's people (particularly) in Ireland, be to us as the blood of Grapes and Mulberries are to Elephants, to provoke them to fight. Oh those incarnate Irish Devils! let them be often in our sight. Their blasphemies, their burn, their robberies, their rapes, their rosting, their strippings, ripping, hang, drown, dis-membrings, butcheries, the very shambles of the Devil erected in Ireland, would be always in our eyes and ears. And yet when we have done all, let us refer the issue to the Almighty, saying; Let the Lord do what seemeth him good. The last thing, is their resigning up their wills into the hands of GOD; whereof a few words, and I end.  
joab is not wanting in the use of all means to obtain victory, yet looks above them, and refers the issue to the Lord of Hosts; teaching us, Doctrine.  
To neglect no means of Victory, yet to depend upon the Lord only for a gracious issue.  
For there is no trusting in our bows or swords, it is the Lord that saveth us from our enemies. It is not the race to the swift, for then joab knew that his brother Asael had not died by the hand of Abner. Neither is it the battle to the strong, for than he knew, that Goliath should never have fallen by the hand of David. The Horse is prepared against the day of Battle, but victory is of the Lord.  
Vsc.  
First, Let this teach us to seek the Lord, that none of this may ever rest upon the arm of flesh, nor number the people; as once David did. He had a Catalogue of all the mighty men, 2 Sam. 23. and now too, he will have a list of all the Soldiers in his Kingdom, 2 Sam. 24. He Idolised the carnal strength of Israel, and remembered not the Word of the Lord, which said, When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel, after their number, than they shall give every man a ransom for his soul unto the Lord, that there be no plague among them, when thou numbrest them. Exod. 30.12. Let us remember England in this particular; It lieth under great temptations to this kind of Idolatry. The Union of the two Nations, two Houses, all (or most) of the Shires by Petitioning for Reformation, the settling of the warfare of the Kingdom at Sea and Land, the mervellous wisdom, and undaunted resolution of Parliament, their success in many matters, the eyes of many on them, and the applause that is given them, besides whatsoever other temptations, and arms of flesh; may soon solicit the hearts, even of the godly, much more of others, to carnal confidence, that they may never lift up their eyes unto the hills from whence cometh their help.  
Sisera, Midian, Goliath, Senacherib, Zerah, fall by their carnal props; when Barak, Gedeon, David, Jonathan, and Asa, resting upon the Lord in the use of small means, return victorious. Two days weeping & fasting was little enough for the eleven Tribes to gain the day of Benjamin. O let not God's people rest in Council, Number, Courage, Ammunition, but in the Lord of Hosts.  
Secondly, Let not us then place any affiance in our Fasting days, but refer all to God when we have ended them. If the Devil cannot make us convert our Prayers unto Idols; he will see whether he cannot convert them into Idols.  
Lastly, Let us lay our hearts this day in the Lord's hand, as once Eli & Hezekiah being threatened, as here joab ready for the onset, did. The People of God, both in old England and new, have waited on his providence both by earthly and heavenly means. Now let the Lord do what seemeth him good. If it shall seem good to him, that England, Ireland, or Scotland, shall suffer yet further, the will of the Lord be done. What remaineth, but for us to magnify God's justice, and to put our mouths into the dust? Especially, (as for England) considering how long the Prelacy hath fought against Christ, and kept him out of his Kingdom: What bloody brazenfaced Idolatries have been committed there? What Atheisms, Blasphemies, Adultery, Prodigies of pride, grinding of faces, selling of the Poor, countenanced Sabbath breakers, derision of holiness, shedding the blood of the Saints, have been common in that Land; and in a special manner, considering the sins of Gods dear people there, particularly of his Messengers in their lon● continued subjection unto the power of Antichrist, in the Prelacy, the warpings and shrink of some, the fearfulness and cowardice of many (for which, for mine own particular, I desire to be humbled while I live) the reading of that abominable Book of cursed liberty, contributing to the Superstitious pompousness of Paul's, and to the raising of Forces against the Scots, (a dreadful bloody sin) reading, or permitting to be read, Proclamations, and Prayers in the Churches against them. I say, considering all this (to mention no more) though we have used what means we can, and though they should do the like, yet let our expectations of success be low, let us humbly submit ourselves to the will of the Lord, saying; Let him do what seemeth him good. If it seem good to him to pardon the Land, O blessed be such gentleness; If otherwise it seem good to him to correct it, blessed be his justice. What soever he doth, is good; therefore let him do it. And any mercy at any time, is enough for great transgressors.  
FINIS.