A SERMON Preached at Petworth in Sussex, September 9 1683. Being a day of Solemn THANKSGIVING For the Gracious and Wonderful Deliverance OF THE KING, His Royal Brother, And the GOVERNMENT, From the late Barbarous CONSPIRACY, As TRAITOROUS.  
By JOHN PRICE, D. D.  
Concilia callida & inhonesta primâ fronte laeta, tractatu dura, eventu tristia.  Tacitus. 
LONDON: Printed for john Fish, near the Fountain-Tavern in the Strand. 1683.   

TO THE Truly Noble and Virtuous Lady ELIZABETH, Duchess of Somerset.  
MADAM,  
YOur Grace upon the hearing of this ensuing Discourse, was pleased to do me that unexpected Honour, as to desire the Publication of it, which by me ought dutifully to be interpreted as a Command; you judging it might be beneficial to others beyond the Walls of this Parish-Church. Which if it shall prove so, let God have the Glory, and Your Grace the Thanks: All that I desire from the Reader, is Candour, and Pardon. Madam, Your natural and acquired Accomplishments, Your Hereditary Honour and Estate, brought you early upon the Stage, and soon after into some afflictions, in which I had a share in my thoughts for You: but they have been such, as have rendered You Prudent beyond Your years; for You are so in my esteem, without Flattery. Your Grace hath chosen for Your Husband a young Nobleman, who is the second Peer for Dignity in the Realm, excepting the Royal Line; whose Loyalty is well known among us, and whose influence, together with Your Graces, may be able in Your Stations to encourage Loyalty, and to discountenance Faction; which to do, is not only the duty of the Nobility and Gentry, but their interest too, and indeed of every man, who can call an Acre of Ground his own.  
Madam, as I did always, and ever shall sincerely Honour Your Grace, so I beseech God to Bless You with all Spiritual Blessings; and that to those for this Life, he would add the Blessings of Children to inherit them. Madam, I ask leave to be  
Your Grace's Most Devoted and Dutiful JOHN PRICE.   
1 Corinth. 10.10. 
Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the Destroyer.  
BEcause His Majesty's Declaration represents to us the Methods contrived by Malevolent men to destroy his Sacred Person, and his Royal Brother, and subvert his Government, which of all Governments that are nigh or known unto us, is the most easy to the Subject, not excepting the Democratical, so admired of late, but falsely as factiously called Commonwealths, as exclusive of Kingdoms, where the Sovereigns are not the sole Proprietors. And of all Sovereign Princes known to us, his present Majesty hath been most kind and indulgent to his People, as many of them have owned by their public Addresses, which were seasonable Remonstrances of their Loyalty. Withal, the Declaration notifies to us, what must have been the ill consequences of the Conspiracy, had it taken effect.  
I have therefore chosen to discourse to you from this Text, wherein the Apostle bids the murmuring Corinthians look back upon the murmuring Israelites in the wilderness against their Leaders, who had soon forgot their long oppression, and cruel bondage in Egypt, and their miraculous deliverance from it by the hands of Moses and Aaron, as soon as we have forgot the Calamities of a long Civil War, and the heavy oppressions that we felt and complained of, from usurping Governors, and our deliverance from them by the most happy Restauration of our King, where the hand of God was most eminently seen, as eminently as any humane record can produce, would I allow myself time to survey it in all its circumstances, or were it for me proper now to do it.  
But scarce was our Sovereign restored, and with him our Laws and Religion, and Peace at home, but we were discontented at our own happiness.  
Neither the sense of a Natural Allegiance, nor the Sacred Ties of Oaths, nor Preferments, nor Honours, nor Riches, could keep some men in the dutiful station of Subjects; who from a false esteem they had gained for their wisdom and integrity to their Country, as Patriots of it, had inveigled great Parties to tread in the same footsteps of Disloyalty, and to use the same measures to disturb the Throne, and so our Peace, as before had been done in the late King's days: all the same, with the additional contrivance of the Black Box, etc. which were so publicly taken notice of, that the late Lord Chancellor spoke to this purpose to both Houses of Parliament, That he hoped they would not see Three Kingdoms twice destroyed in one Age, by the same Methods. Examples are cogent Arguments; if men are in their wits, they will not fall into the same pit, into which they have seen others fall before them; even beasts will not do it, be the bait what it will. So St. Paul would have the Corinthians take warning from the Israelites, whose Murmurings and Discontents are recorded in Scripture, and recorded there not only to upbraid their ingratitude, but as the Apostle speaks, v. 11. These things happened to them for ensamples; and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Neither murmur ye as some of them, etc.  
Solomon gives a Caveat, Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? 
Eccles. 7.  for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this matter. The murmuring Questionists of his age had the like before them; and they have been since, and ever will be: so long as time is, men will complain of the times; and the little portion of happiness that God gives us in this life, is disturbed by our own restless and repining nature, by comparing the present with the former; and because the former is past, it is therefore better. Any little petty accident at present, doth more disturb us, than a load that is past and gone off our Shoulders. Israel was under the miraculous protection and deliverance of Heaven, but wants some little convenience; and presently we read of a loud and clamorous murmuring; Would to God we had died in Egypt.  
The hard bondage they had felt in Egypt, was gone off now; and the want but of a meals meat in the wilderness, put them to murmur against God and their Governors.  
As if it were not enough that man was born to labour as the sparks fly upward, but we add sparks to the fire.  
When we are Children, and under the Discipline of the Rod, we complain, that we were not born sooner, and past the correction of our Master; and when we are old, we think, we were never so happy as when we were Children: indeed we are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. The fancies that pleased us, we are soon weary of, and seek for new; something it is that would please us better, but what it is we know not.  
Navibus atque Quadrigis petimus benè vivere, etc.  
This is not only a froward distemper, whereby we create miseries to ourselves; but 'tis a sin too, though but little taken notice of; yea, a heavy provocation, by which we draw Gods Judgements upon our heads. This was the sin of Israel in the Text, and ranked among the great sins of Idolatry, Fornication, and tempting of God; and derives punishments as great as these do. The Text hath these parts.  

1. The sin set down, that is Murmuring.  
2. The sin exemplified in Israel; As some of them murmured.  
3. The severe punishment of this sin, in the Paradigm or Example, Were destroyed of the Destroyer.  
4. The like judgement threatened to the Corinthians, if they did continue in Israel's example; employed in the Prohibition, Neither murmur ye.   
I. To consider something of the nature of this sin murmuring: The word in Greek seems to be framed by the voice of Nature, and to be significant of every thing that creates discontent; a peevish, quarrelsome, nay too, an irrational distemper. A word, say some, taken from the grunting of a Swine, whose eyes are bigger than their bellies; that though there be Wash enough in the Trough, yet hunch each other with their heads, as if enough would not come to their share.  
'Tis a sin of a secret and specific malignancy; I know not to which of the Commandments I may refer it, unless it be to the tenth, Thou shalt not covet. Covetousness is the root of all evil: the Apostle instanceth in the love of Money; but the object of Covetousness is, as itself, infinite, it hath no bounds nor period. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear with hearing; and the mind of man is not so soon satisfied as his sense: Take it regularly in the pursuit of knowledge, which is as the exaltation of his nature, there is still an ultra progredi; the most knowing may know more, and desires to do it: but when the mind is debauched, as Israel's once was, given up to its own lusts, not only the object is infinite as well as the desire, but its mediums are folly, and its end is ruin. The wicked man is well compared to the troubled Sea, that casts up mire and sand: and the stronger the tempest, the thicker are the waters. The wickedness of murmuring hath a specific influence on this Sea, to cast up dirt and filth.  
To give then this Discourse a body, and to represent unto you the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Murmurer.  
1. He is a Heretic. St. jude speaks of false teachers in general, that they are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage. A juggling sort of Heretics murmur and complain, and yet flatter too; cunningly sift out, who they can make for their Party, so as to disturb the Church.  
Such men softly instil the venom of their Principles, and so bring about their ends, not by strength of their Arguments, (for that cannot be done) but by a sleighty insinuating themselves into men's affections, complying with their humours, and admiring their persons; and so take advantage to convey their odd and false conceits.  
Inquietae Haereticorum curiositates, said Tertullian; they are always restless, and always prying; creep into houses, and then into affections, till their murmuring discontents at last break out into open Factions. So  
2. The Murmurer is certainly the State-sinner: the little grudge that begin in Prince's Courts, are soon spread into the Country; and they are like the Poets Fama malum, the farther the same goes, the greater it grows. The murmuring discontents in the State, at last break out into open Rebellions. The Israelites said, As for this Moses, we wot not what is become of him; the next thing we hear of them is, they make a molten calf, that is, set up a Religion and Government of their own. The Tongue is a little Member, saith St. james, but 'tis a great evil; and the murmuring tongue, sets the State 'tis in on fire; and Hell-fire shall be the portion of such tongues.  
3. The Murmurer is ever an envious person, and so an ill Member of a Society; disquiets the Neighbourhood he lives in, and, as Theophrastus observes of him, quarrels at good Offices done him by his Friends, and saith they could do no less, and that they were more kind to others: and if he chance to find Money in the way, he soon forgets it; and says, when another after chances to find Money, that he could never have any so good luck. 'Tis a distemper called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, a complaining without a cause; and the envious man always doth this. 'Tis a nature that makes a near approach to the Devils; the prosperity of job is an eyesore.  
4. He is the malicious man, delights to do mischief where he lives; is a trouble to himself, and will be a trouble to his Neighbour; and therefore no wonder if punishment doth attend him: for he is ranked by Solomon among the seven abominable things that God hates, 
Prov. 6.19.  him that soweth discord among brethren; so that if his hands be too short, his tongue shall be long enough.  
In short, a Murmurer is he that is every thing that is mischievous. Blasphemes God, the King, the Church, and his Neighbour; and he is a burden to the earth, and to himself. Neither good nor bad weather pleases him: complains in War, and yet is discontented in Peace; pines away in scarcity, and yet repines at plenty: when 'tis summer, he longs for winter; and when 'tis winter, wisheth for summer. Neither times nor manners please him; and could he call for them at his pleasure, yet would murmur still: of which we have a full instance in the Text.  
II. The Example, As some of them murmured. St. Paul being to dissuade the Corinthians from this sin of Murmuring, as from others there mentioned, prefaceth the dehortation with a compendious account of God's mercies to Israel: I would not have you ignorant, Brethren, that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and were all baptised unto Moses in the cloud, and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat, and did all drink the same spiritual drink; (for they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ)  
The Holy Ghost intending by the Apostle to upbraid the Church of Corinth, and that for their ingratitude for so many mercies multiplied upon them, in stating a parallel between them and Israel: and indeed their mercies were greater than Israel's, for as much as the substance is better than the shadow. They tempted Christ in a Type, but these more plainly wantoned it with the mercies of the Gospel: The Israelites were profane, when they did eat of that spiritual meat, and drank of that spiritual drink; but the Corinthians were much more, when they did not discern the Lords body, and so did desecrate and unhallow that Sacrament.  
But to consider distinctly and briefly this sin of Israel. The people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? 
Exod. 15.24.  The waters of the place were bitter, either naturally, or by Divine appointment, to try them; and because they were so, a clamour was raised, and their Governors must hear of it: What shall we drink?  
In the next Chapter they murmur for Meat, as before they did for drink; the whole Congregation murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: a National sin, the whole Congregation; and that both against their Prince, and against their Priest. But because this Murmuring was more loud than the former, more combined and National; 'tis called, Gnal Adonai telunnothechem, 
v. 7.  Your murmurings are against the Lord, and God looked upon it as done against himself. The glory of the Lord appearing in a cloud whilst they were in this contest with their Leaders, 
v. 10.  determined the case; The Lord spoke unto Moses, I have heard the murmurings of the Children of Israel.  
And are they better yet? No: in the next Chapter, they are at the same trade again; they want Water to their Manna, they had in the last. The People did chide with Moses: Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us out of the Land of Egypt, to kill us and our Children?  
Their murmuring now had broke out into downright and impudent revile; they chide, and that to the purpose; and therefore Moses called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us, or not?  
I will leave you to judge whether we have not thus tempted God. We are querulous and complaining upon every exigency, and our Governors must hear of it with both ears. Ill men, who have private designs of their own to carry on, will always be complaining of public Affairs: and their complaints may sometimes seem so plausible, that they may gain Proselytes to their Faction, some of whom may not mean so ill, as they do. For, with what plausible pretences did the Serpent of Discord and Rebellion beguile many thousands? What more plausible, indeed more honourable, than to engage in a War for the defence of King and Parliament? 'Tis the constitution of our Government, and a happy one it is, if we did well understand it: our Laws propounded by ourselves in Parliament, and ratified by our Kings, are our proper freedom as English Men; and the due execution of them, is our safety: and they are State-Malignants indeed, that will not contend for this. But the cunning and ambitious men, that framed the platform of our following Miseries, fixed that odious name of Malignants upon all those, who adhered to the King, and the known Laws, and would not run to the same excess of Riot and Madness with themselves. After the same manner now, they are stigmatised with the more odious name of Tory's, who have signified their resolution to stand by the established Government, and will not be seduced by Popish and Fanatic contrivances: for their eyes are open, by woeful experience, to know and discern the aims of Seducers. But he, or they, who gave them the name of Torys, did design their ruin by it, as if they were not fit to have so much as protection from the Government. For Torys are in Ireland the Outlaws, as the Banditi in Italy. I remember the time when Parliament-Souldiers, as they would be called such, did Plunder the Houses, and take away the Horses of honest Countrymen, who lived peaceably at home, because they were Malignants. The name of Malignant did warrant the Plunder. But the Tory deserves the Gallow's: so we see what quarter we must expect from some men, if they could compass their ends to unhinge the Government. Government is from God, and so sacred, whether it be in Church or State; therefore Kings and Priests, who are the Ministers of it, are sacred persons, and were always esteemed so, till the Serpent in Paradise, who presented the bait of immortality to Eve, ensnared us with the like, viz. freedom and liberty of Conscience; both which we do measure with our own Rules.  
I need not tell you the effects of those murmurings and complaints that brought the late Civil-Wars among us, about forty years since; the decoy to engage many thousands was to fight for King and Parliament; but it ended in the ruin of both. Our Zeal now is against Popery; I beseech Almighty God, with all the sincere Devotions that I can send up to Heaven, that an indiscreet Zeal among some, too many, be not the occasion to bring it in: but to keep it out from re-entering, as a National Church, none can ever be more concerned in interest than a King of England; this is our great security, so long as we can enjoy a lawful King, and him in peace at home, for Popery cannot enter but by struggling of Factions.  
III. Part of the Text, The severe punishment of this Sin of murmuring, in the Paradigme or Example: Were destroyed of the destroyer. The first punishment was a fire, that broke out from the Lord, and consumed some of them. 
Numb. 11.  When the people complained, it displeased the Lord, and the Lord heard it, and his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the Camp: Bemithonnim, in the very fact, when they complained. The occasion is concealed in the Text: but it was, say the Jews, from the mysterious reversion of the letter Nun, when they would conspire to go back to Egypt. The fire fell on the uttermost parts of the Camp; that is, that which should have led the Van for their retreat to Egypt The fire of the Lord, (to speak in the Hebrew Idiom) a very great fire, fell not many years since upon our Metropolis, if I may not say a fire from the Lord; for all disastrous casualties depend upon his Providence, without which a Sparrow falls not to the ground.  
The next punishment for Israel's murmuring is for their desire after flesh: 
Numb. 11.4.  The mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting, and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?  
This mixed multitude were those Nations gathered up in their march, as we may probably conjecture with Grotius: God was oft jealous over Israel, for the evils he foresaw would accrue to them from other Nations, and therefore by many repeated Laws did forbid their commerce with them. This mixed multitude, call them Arabians, for that the word imports, soon drew in the whole body of Israel into the same sin: 
v. 33.  the people weep throughout their Families, and call for flesh; they had it, but they had it with a vengeance; 
v. 10.  for, while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord smote the people with a very great Plague.  
Truly we have not asked meat for our lusts, as Israel did, but we have had it without ask, and plenty hath oft been our complaint.  
The next murmuring was occasioned by the Spies bringing up an evil report upon the Land of Canaan. They died of the Plague before the Lord, and the Carcases of those Murmurers fell, and never entered the Land of promise, Numb. 14. But Chap. the 16. Corah and his Complices enter into an open Conspiracy against Moses and Aaron; they perish in an Earthquake; and two hundred and fifty by fire from Heaven, who offered up strange fire: The people cried, and fled, lest they also should perish.  
You would think that their mouths were shut up from murmuring any more, as the earth had shut up those Rebels in her Womb. No: they had but slept upon the judgement, and they had forgot it as a Dream: On the morrow all the Congregation murmur against Moses and Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the Lords people. Belike Moses and Aaron were none, the Prince and the Priest, because they were not of their Faction. God appears, and bids Moses and Aaron withdraw, that he might consume the Congregation in a moment. It was commanded so before, in the case of Corah: but there, Moses and Aaron fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the Spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be angry with the whole Congregation? they had than something to plead; they had nothing now, but fell upon their faces, and by a silent prostration deprecated the justice of the vengeance: it was a more universal Mutiny of the people against their Leaders; and there died of them, as in the twinkling of an eye, fourteen thousand and seven hundred of the Plague; and had it not been for the hasty charity of Aaron's Censer interposing between the living and the dead, they had all perished.  
If they, who did but whet their tongues against their Governors, fell thus; what do they deserve, who badthed their Swords in the blood of our late King? a Murder, by the mockery of Justice, never to be forgot, yet never to be mentioned without horror and detestation: But what do they deserve, who would have justified that fatal murder by the assassinating of our present Sovereign, and his Royal Brother? as if the murdering of Kings by these Casuists was excepted from the sixth Commandment. When froward men do take a liberty to speak, Write, and Print what they please, and all with designs against the Government they live under, 'tis plain that they would be Governors themselves: and when they have whet their tongues, and sharpened their pens, they are not far off from drawing their Swords; then the mischief is completed, the Sin is fulfilled, and it brings forth death, and none knows how long it will reign.  
I shall stop here, either to any farther instances of Israel's sin or punishment. But before I proceed to the 4th. part of the Text, let me try to inform myself and you, why this sin hath this punishment. The Murmurer is said to be destroyed of the Destroyer; that is, by some more remarkable and immediate hand of vengeance: and why so?  
1. Because by what appears, this Sin of murmuring doth more immediately strike at God's Government of the World; that peevish and froward men, as Israel in the example, will not allow God to do as he pleaseth, no not to do them good: for if all will take upon them to be Governors, they must always be exercised in a state of War and Confusion. St. Peter speaks of wicked men, 
2 Pet. 1.9.  who made pretences to Godliness, that they were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, could not see a far off, forgot they were purged from their old sins by Baptism; which also did engage them to give all diligence to make their calling and election sure; and that by addding to their Faith Virtue, etc. an holy Life, to an holy Profession.  
Israel was brought out of Bondage from Egypt by mighty signs and miracles; they had forgot that; and that God had engaged himself by solemn promises to bring them to a Land flowing with Milk and Honey; but because they were in the Wilderness, and in a marching condition, which sometimes, as all marches, have their straits, they presently forgot what God had done for them, and what more he had promised. Such were those ill Christians in Saint Peter, who were weary of their profession, because it did enjoin too strict a Life, or was attended with some pressures and affliction: and such are all ill Subjects, who forget the benefits they receive from the Government under which they live, and will be always making attempts to mend it, though they do not foresee the mischiefs that their own designs would ensnare them into.  
Froward men disturb God's method of mercy, and make it miscarry in the Womb. He intended quietly and safely to lead Israel out of Egypt into Canaan; and the march of so many years might have been accomplished in so many days: but they stood in their own light, and stopped the way against themselves. They tempted God very oft, and so oft, that a patient and long-suffering God at last Swore in his wrath that they should not enter into his rest.  
The murmuring discontents of Israel were not recorded by Moses only for their sakes; St. Paul applies it in the Text to the froward Corinthians: and it ought to be a warning to all Malcontents, especially to those, who are always complaining of their Governors.  
2. This Sin of murmuring is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, an ill habit of the stomach, that corrupts the best meat; we murmur at mercies, as Israel did at Manna. Certainly to all wise and unprejudiced men, the Restauration of the King, and so of the Church, Anno 1660. was a mighty mercy, and I may say, almost, or altogether equal with any that Israel had: for it secured to us all our Liberties as Subjects, which before were but precarious; for the Governments we lived under were Arbitrary, and themselves were uncertain, still upon the wheel of Motion, as Factions could supplant each other: and the Restauration of the Church, that is, of our National as established by Law, hath best secured to us the Protestant Religion. I speak to them, who are the lovers of it: for though the Factions, that have been rampant, were very zealous against Popery, yet they might in time have been betrayed into it; for the Basis on which those usurped, and still changeable Governments were founded, was Liberty of Conscience; and so soon as they could see themselves secure against the claims of the Royal Family, Popery also might have had its share in the Toleration: for it was the interest of the Usurpers to do it; and in doing of it, to strengthen themselves against the Common enemy, the King and his Party, as they were then called. For they are much mistaken, who think that the Pope loves Kings, more than Demagogues, the Directors of popular Governments. For this, let an enquiry be made, what Monarchys have been abased by the Papal power: And if Popery could have once come to have as free toleration, as the then Factions had, in some few years it would have swallowed them up, as Moses' Rod did the Magicians. For men at last, when their civil Rights were secured, would be weary of so many new invented forms of Religion; and would be now, but that they are continually hurried on by underhand contrivances.  
3. This Sin of murmuring is a most comprehensive and diffusive malady; few of us, that are not guilty of it. There are some sins, that great Sinners are not guilty of; and though this be a sin that is ranked by the Apostle with Fornication and Idolatry, and possibly a sin too, that we are apt to condemn in others, yet we will not discern it as such in ourselves: we say in their Language in the Psalmist, Our tongues are our own, who is Lord over us? we are apt to think that we can speak without offence. Who puts into the Diary of his Confession, his reviling of Government, his speaking evil of Dignitys, his repining at every accident or event of Divine Providence? These things pass incognito, we rarely reflect upon the guilt. Are the entertainments we give ourselves and our friends, but things with us of no peccancy, or sins that seldom descend so far as to the Conscience, though whole Families, Villages, and Corporations are poisoned with it?  
Some Casuists tell us, that Habitual sins have a guilt distinct from those sins of which they are habits; and that they are more dangerous, because the Sinner is the farther off from Repentance. The guilt that is contracted from those habits doth make a Callus, and fear the Conscience, that the Sinner little thinks on it, that he is going down to the Chambers of death, and he is ensnared into Damnation, drowned in Perdition, before he says, Domine miserere, or asks, What he hath done. The habit of murmuring is so universal, hand joined to hand, tongue to tongue, that the sense of the guilt is lost; and because 'tis so, 'tis a distinct guilt: for the greatest Sinners have repent, as suppose Murderers, Adulterers, yea and Idolaters too, who are in a peculiar manner guilty laesae Majestatis divinae, and Traitors to the God of Heaven.  
The Repentance of all habitual Sinners is difficult, but the repentance of an habitual Murmurer is beset with more than ordinary difficulties: for the arguments that should reach the guilt, are not well reducible to any single Commandment, and do scarce affect the letter of any: Though murmuring is a sin of a complicated guilt, affects both Tables, and most of the Commandments of both.  
Besides, the Murmurer is not so soon as other Sinners convinced of his guilt, because he hath framed a rule of rectitude to himself; and his conscience opens and shuts by that rule, and so he strains at Gnats, and swallows Camels. Nothing so much troubled the Conscience of a Neapolitan Shepherd, when he came to Confession at Easter, as that he had tasted a little Cream the Lent before: But he had often Rob and Murdered Passengers on the Mountains; and that troubled not his Conscience, because his Father and Grandfather had done so before.  
I believe we are all of us very ready to pass a true and just censure here: but reflect. There are, who cannot digest a Set-form of Prayers in our Assemblies, are offended at a Surplice, startle at the Cross in Baptism, etc. and yet can whisper against their King, and whisper to be heard too; talk loudly against Bishops and Priests, censure all men; complain of every thing, and be satisfied with nothing.  
Remember that God passed by some of the discontents of Israel; but when they grew clamorous, and more combined, his wrath fell in among them. And Remember, that God hath other eyes to see sin with than we have; and hath other Scales to weigh them in. But, we ourselves do not take kindly ill Language from our Neighbour; and can we think that God will from us, when by our discontents we daily revile his Providence? The method of which is to us, as once to Israel, to try us, to do us good at the latter end.  
FOUR Part of the Text: Neither murmur ye. The like judgement threatened to the Corinthians, as once executed on Israel. Theod. saith thus; that they were the Murmurers among the Corinthians, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, such, who were endowed with less gifts of the Spirit. 'Tis plain, that the Church of Corinth did contend for them, even to the breach of Charity; they would be all Apostles, all Prophets, all Teachers, etc. We have lived in an Age, where we have seen such contentions as these, and have felt the mischiefs that have been occasioned by them.  
All Societies whatsoever, must yield obedience to the Government they are under; for 'tis their safety to do it: for we must not think to be all Kings, and Magistrates; for if all are to be Governors, there must be none to be governed. The case is the same in all Christian Assemblies, be they greater or lesser. 'Tis the Apostles argument, If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? if the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body?  
'Tis true! Offences are given and taken in all Governments, Civil or Sacred. For this, Kings set uneasy in their Thrones, and Bishops and Priests are meanly esteemed, and the people are Tumultuous, and Religion is disgraced; and all this, because ambitious men cannot have their aims: They struggle with the Divine dispensation, which hath allotted to all men their proper places. Let the Governors and Governed look to their duty. So I leave this, and propound next the sense of Theoph. upon the Text: who says that the Apostle chides them, who did not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, generously bear up against the reproachers and persecutors of their Religion: and this seems to be congruous to the argument of consolation; There hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to men; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it; and therefore falls upon those Murmurers, who say, When shall we have any good days? and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉; how long shall we lie under these pressures?  
The Carnal among them, as there were many no doubt, did oft reflect upon their quiet state when they were Heathens, as the Israelites did, when they were in Egypt: but the conditions of both became troublesome; of the one, by changing their Religion; of the other, by changing their Country; though both were for the better: but both did repine and murmur, because of their present distresses; they did not or would not see a Divine Intendment of love in them.  
Truly God hath exercised us with a various face of afflictions in one Age; but such have been in our, and in other Nations before: but on whomsoever, or whensoever he sends them, they are as so many Summons to Repentance: and if we make that use of them, he hath gained his end in sending of them; for he doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the Children of men: but if we repine, and are impatient under correction, there is for us a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as St. Chrysostom told his Auditors, God may deal with us more severely, than with Israel; for we live in a fuller light, and a greater experience, on whom the ends of the World are fallen. The aim of Israel was an Earthly Canaan; ours is a Heavenly: but we must pass through a Wilderness to the one, as they did to the other: but if God hear of our murmurings in it, take care, that he doth not Swear in his wrath to us, as once to them, If they shall, that is, we shall not enter into his rest.  
The punishments that God afflicts on us, we must patiently abide; which if we do, 'tis to us a Signature of our adoption, that we are Sons and not Bastards, who will own him to be our Father which is in Heaven; and so pray to him when he Corrects us with his Rod, as well as when he Comforts us with his Staff.  
But we have no reason to complain at any outward Calamities at this time, but we have much to thank God for the peace and plenty we do enjoy. There are scarce any parts of Christendom so unmolested as we are; of whom some are now contending unto blood for their Lives, Liberties and Religion, against the Mahometans.  
My Brethren, I will close with that of the Apostle, Do all things without murmurings and dispute; 
Phil. 2.14.  yea, and suffer all things, which God hath not put in our power by regular means to redress: However, make no complaining in our Streets, until there be actual leading into Captivity; for that is to exceed the example of Israel.  
Fears and Jealousies in our Nation, hath even anticipated our miseries; and we brought real mischiefs upon ourselves, by hastening to prevent the fancied. In a word, the murmuring of Israel was against Moses and Aaron, that is, the King and the Priest; which God took as done against himself.  
Be wise before it be too late, lest we fall into the hands of the Destroyer.  
For the Declaration saith thus: In case it had pleased God to permit these wicked designs to have taken effect, there could have been nothing in prospect but confusion. For instead of a Reformation they pretended, their Success would have produced Divisions and Wars among themselves, until the predominant party could have enslaved the whole Kingdom. So far the Declaration.  
Such intestine broils might have brought in an Invasion indeed.  
There were, some years since, Libellous Pamphlets, under the Allegory of a Ship and its Officers, in which the King, the Duke, etc. were covertly traduced. Allow me to speak under the like. Suppose a Ship out at Sea many Leagues from Land, in which a Conspiracy was made by some Male-contended Saylors and under- Officers against the Captain and others; but the Captain had so many true to him, that with them and his Authority, he still so kept them in awe, that they durst not attempt an open Mutiny: Wherefore these Malcontents secretly join in a Conspiracy to sink the Ship, and for their escape, to hoist out the Longboat under some colour, as the Mariners did, Acts 27. Suppose now the Ship with the Captain and his friends were sinking, and the Conspirators had cleared their Boat of the Ship, and were safe in it, rejoicing to see that their Plot and Revenge had taken effect. The next thing they contrive for themselves, is to agree what Land to make: some are for directing their Course East, some West, etc. In this difference, they could not agree what Land to make; but the case was such, that the determination must be speedy: but neither yielding to each others conceit what Shore was nearest or best, from words they fall to Blows. So here I leave them, and the Allegory to be applied by every common capacity.  
Wherefore let us bless God for the Deliverance we this day are required to celebrate, and let us beseech him still to protect our Sovereign Lord the King, and His; and his Government as now it is in Church and State; to convert those, who have taken up any prejudices against either, and to disappoint all the machinations, open or secret, of the Enemies of our peace, which God continue among us.  
FINIS.