The Opinion OF THE ROMAN judges Touching Imprisonment, and the Liberty of the SUBJECT, OR, A SERMON Preached at the abbey at Westminster, at a late public FAST, JAN. 25. 1642▪ ACTS 25. V. 27. It seems unreasonable to me to send a Prisoner, and not to signify the crimes against him. By J. V. Prisoner. Printed in the year of our Lord, 1643. TO THE READER. THe occasion of this Sermon was the importunity of Prisoners, and by the same importunity it is printed without addition or detraction of any thing material, * Acts 24. 1. not with a majestic style, like Tertullus the orator, but like Paul a Prisoner; neque altum semper urgendo, neque dum procellas, cautus horrescis nimium premendo, Littus iniquum: It was Preached on the day of Paul's Conversion, and the Subject is Paul the Prisoner, and on a Fast day, a day of Humiliation, and who is so humbled as a Prisoner: If any receive profit thereby, Let him pray for Prisoners. J. V. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} A Sermon preached at the abbey at Westminster, on the last public Fast, January 25. ACTS 25. 27. It seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify his crimes against him. I read since our Saviour Christ of a fivefold persecution; a {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}. the first, the persecution of the high Priests, the Archierarchical persecution, Act. 4. 1. And when they spoke these things to the people, there rose up against them the Priests and Sadduces, and Rulers of the Temple, being filled with rage against them, because they taught the people, they laid hands on them, and put them in b {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} custody, afterwards into the common gaol: this is the Judaical persecution that lasted 40. years after Christ, as it is in the Syrian Paraphrase. Secondly, when this began to cool, than followed the persecution of c {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}. Arethas. old Rome by the Caesar's, which continued about 600. years, till Constantine the great. By d Tres Fontane. Nero Saint Paul was decapitated at Rome at the e {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}. Epiphan. Oecumen. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, Euseb. 13. Nero. three fountains, and Saint John banished to the Isle of Patmos. When Constantine came, then omnia nova, all things were new, and he saw a sign from Heaven, In this sign thou shalt prevail. Thirdly, there followed f {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}. persecutio Haereticorum, whereof Epiphanius and others write. I begin with the gnostics, and I find in Epiphanius, first g {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, Epiphan. they despise dominion, to which Anabaptists succeed. Secondly, h {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, Epi. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, Epiph. they deny the Law, as the Antinomians now do, that say, God sees no iniquity in Jacob, nor perverseness in Israel, and all the sins they commit are works of the outward man, not of the mind. Thirdly, they understand not, nor allow the Hebrew text: The Hebrew and Greek these unlearned men regard not, though they be the languages of the holy Ghost. Secondly, Euchitae, such as abused the saying of Saint Paul, i {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}. Pray continually, to vain babbling, and think that God is persuaded by Battalogies and Tautologies, yet in Eccles. 5. 1. it is said, God is in heaven, and thou on earth, therefore let thy words be few. Thirdly, the Pelagians and Semipelagians, to which the Arminians now succeed for their Liberum arbitrium, free will. Fourthly, the Enthusiasts, that pretended enthusiasm, and that they spoke by the Spirit, as Brownists now do. Fifthly, Arians, to whom the Socinians answer, that deny the Divinity of the Son of God. Sixthly, k Donatistae, &c. S. Austin. Donatists, that are separated from the Church, and and so the Separatists. Seventhly, Marcianites, that held l Epiphan. second baptism, as Anabaptists now do: Thus much of the persecution of the heretics, which were limbs and forerunners of Antichrist. Fourthly, the persecution of the Turks, which was about the year 666. by the computation of Lyranus. Fifthly, the persecution of Antichrist, which begun at the same time, Revel. 13. ver. ult. The number of the Beast is 666. that is, the time of his rising, and his fall shall be 1260. years after, that is, near a thousand years he hath already continued by Nauclerus, and the Magdeburg Centurists: then Constans the Emperor gave to Pope Vitalian, Imperium urbis, the rule of the City; and this is the worst persecution of all the former, because the heretics are incorporated into a body, and the united force is stronger. The reason of my large Preface is this, because my Text falls under the second persecution: for Festus was Deputy under bloody Nero, who wished that Rome had only one head, that he might cut it off at one blow, who clothed Christians in beasts skins, and after devoured them, who ripped up Agrippina his mother, to see the place of his generation; yet I shall speak tria memorabilia, three memorable things in commendation and discommendation of this Deputy: His m Dictamen rectae rationis. right opinion of the person, and of his cause, It seems to me unreasonable; therefore he had reason, and the Heathens had the Law n {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, Rom. 2. written in their hearts. And in Isa. 24. 5. They have made void the everlasting covenant, or covenant made with the o {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} whole world, this is the law of Nature: First, he approves of his appeal to Cesar, as the chief of the Senate, Act. 25. 25. Because he desires to be kept to the hearing of Cesar, I have determined to send him. Secondly, he approves of his cause, he had done nothing worthy of p {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Syr. death, or bonds. Thirdly, he calls him to speak for himself, after eight or ten days he came to Caesarea, Act. 25. 6. and the next day sat on the Judgement seat, he did not stay two or three years, or ten years; the Jews after five days came down, Act. 24. 1. they delayed not, but hastened his doom. Fourthly, not before mean, ignoble men of no reason, birth or education, but by a q {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, Oecumen. Roman Deputy, a King, Queen, Chiliarch, and chief of the City, he saith, I have brought him before you, and specially before thee, O King Agrippa. A King is of royal blood, and will not trample upon a worm; but a poor man oppressing the poor, is a sweeping rain, that will leave no food. The Lion is the King of Beasts, and is satisfied with homage, Corpora magnanimo satis est prostrasse Leoni. Augustus Caesar was called r Pater atque Princeps, Hor. Father and Prince. Fifthly, he thinks it unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not signify the crimes. Sixthly, to signify them in s {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Syr. writing, for perpetual memorial. But here is a grand objection: Were not grievous crimes objected against the Apostle? as first, that he was a pestilent fellow, that is, a man dangerous, as one infected with the pestilence, or a t {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Chrys. Gr. Basil. pernicious fellow, as it is in the Syrian. Secondly, a sour of sedition among the Jews in the whole world, Acts 24. 6. That he {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Syr. a {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Syr. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} raised sedition, and spread it, and x Gr. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}. Epiphan. Beda, Jerom. obstinately maintained it. Thirdly, a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarens, this crimination overthrows the former; Nazarens were Christians, and Christ was Prince of Peace; and his Ministers, Ministers of peace, how then should he sow division? Fourthly, a profaner of the Temple, that is called by Josephus the y {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Antiq. 15. cap. 14. holy place: So Christ saith, When ye see the abomination of desolation stand in the holy place. These are the crimes objected against Saint Paul, and the Jews affirmed, or as the Father saith with imprecation, that these things were so. To the first he makes no answer; z {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}. Oecumen. for it was in general, that he was a dangerous fellow: and a general proves nothing, neither is worthy of an answer by the divine apostolical wisdom. To the second he answers by way of negation, that he was no sour of sedition, but that they themselves first caused the tumult, {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Syr. & Vatab. Acts 24. 19 The Jews that came from Asia caused the tumult, for they saw him in the Temple, and stirred up the people against him, and laid hands on him in that sacred place and Sanctuary, Men of Israel, help, this is the man that teacheth against this people in every place, Acts 21. 27. he was accused by them that were the only actors in the tumult. Hence we learn to stand for peace, and avoid sedition. In the 120. psalm, ver. 5. Woe is me that I sejourne with Mesech, and have my dwelling in the tents of Kedar. Mesech and Kedar are Tuscany and Turkey, by Kimchi out of Joseph ben Gorion. Here are the two great enemies of the Church, in whose person David here speaks. His sojourning with the Tuscans was tedious, and his dwelling with the Turks called Kedar, so the tongue of Kedar is the Arab. in Abben Ezra, and in Arab. the Alcoran is written. My soul hath long dwelled, he saith not his body; but he was grieved at the heart that he dwelled with such ill neighbours, b {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} with him that hated peace, he saith not with them, but with him, because there was one a ringleader of the rest; neither doth he say unquiet, but that hateth peace, and will never admit c {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} reconciliation. And he adds, I am peace, God is love, Christ is out peace, and the Church is peace, yet not without truth, though it be not expressed, it is understood; for peace and truth do meet together, and sweetly kiss each other. Christ is our peace, and yet he is truth: But when we speak for peace, they are for war. If we pray, or petition, or preach for peace, they are for war; what shall I say of them? they are Mesech and Kedar. To the third he confesseth, that according to the way that they call heresy, so he worshipped the God of his Fathers: Here we learn three things, Faith, Hope, and Charity. 1. Faith, to believe the Law and Prophets as he did, to worship the God of our Fathers, not new Gods, and in a new way; inquire for the old way and walk therein, that is, the way of the Law, not in the way of our Fathers, against the Law, Prophets and Apostles before the Reformation; To the Law and the Testimony, if they walk not by this rule there is no light in them, with the heart man believeth, and with the tongue confession is made to salvation. 2. We learn Hope, for if we believe we shall have hope towards God, Acts 24. 15. no hope in ourselves, but in him. 3. We learn Charity, the third theological virtue, v. 16. for this cause I labour, this is the labour of love, love to all, as in Rom. 13. 8. Owe nothing to any man but love, pay to every man his due, custom to whom custom, tribute to whom tribute, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour; custom is ordinary, tribute extraordinary, both due to the Roman Caesar's, persecutors of the Christians, Justin Martyr, and Tertullian in their Apologetikes prove this duty from thence, and that Tribute they paid, was employed for the eradication of the Christians, but they suffered, and the blood of Martyrs was the seed of the Church, the arms whereof were prayers and tears, so than fear God, and honour the King, and meddle not with them that are given to change; again, love worketh no ill, shall I say that he who kills and robs his brother loves him? seeing love fulfils the law, and if a man have this world's good, and see his brother in want, and shut up his bowels of compassion, how dwells the love of God in that man? Micah. 6. Three things are required of a man, 1. to do justly, 2. to love mercy, 3. and to walk humbly with God, Love is above all, above Tongues, faith of Miracles, Prophecy, Knowledge, alms, Burning, 1 Cor. 13. 1, 2. It beareth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things; embrace this charity with peace, and the peace of God be with you. To the fourth he answereth and denyeth, that he was a profaner of the Temple, but they profaned it by raising a tumult in it, as is showed before, a thing abhorred of Heathens, I read in Herodotus, that certain profane Atheists robbed the Temple of Venus, and the goddess, by way of punishment, sent the d {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, Herod. faemineall disease among them, thought to be new, but Elder than Herodotus. Thus I have done with the right opinion of this Heathen deputy. Now I proceed to show how Antichrist is opposite in every particular, and his persecution worse than the Pagans, out of three prophecies of Dan. 7. 25. he shall speak words on the side of the most high, this I take for granted, by the best expositors, that it is meant literally of Antiochus, mystically of Antichrist, that is, pro & contra, for and against Christ, a little home in his beginning, but hath eyes and policy, and a mouth, speaking great things, he shall wear out the Saints of the most high, those that have grey hairs here and there upon them, he wears out by long imprisonments without cause, as in the Spanish and Italian Inquisitions he is kept 2. 4. years, all the days of his life, and no accuser known, but they ask him what he hath done, what enemies he hath, &c. The Roman deputy allowed appeal to Caesar, In utroque jure sunt tituli de appellationibus. but the Conclave and their adherents deny all appeals, and trample upon Princes, and depose Kings upon suspicion of another Religion: The Romans after a small time called the Apostle to his answer, and not before ignoble, but honourable persons; but Antichrists limbs to the greater disgrace, judge them by mean persons, of no birth, education, or religion: The Romans thought it reasonable to signify the crimes, but these imprison without any crime, except bare affirmation without oath prove a crime: The Jews affirm these crimes forenamed against Saint Paul; but he saith, They cannot prove the things whereof they do accuse me, Acts 24. 13. In the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall stand. Thus by tedious delays of judgement and imprisonment, Antichristians wear out the Saints, And he shall think to change times and laws, Dan. 7. 25. he shall think to make a new Heaven and Earth, a new Church and State, a new Sun, moon and stars, which God made for times and seasons, he shall make new laws, abrogate the old, and all shall be delivered into his hand, for a time, and times and half a time, that is, three years and a half, In Queen Mary's time the presecution was about three years and a half, and in the last times of Antichrist shall be the like, Rev. 11. 7. The bodies of the witnesses lie unburied three years and a half: In Dan. 8. 10. it is said, the horn shall grow great to the host of Heaven, and shall cast to the earth some of the host, and of the starves, and trample on them, not only shall Antichrist throw out of their places, but by contumelies trample the Ministers of Christ in the mire, And he shall take away the daily sacrifice, this signified the public forms of God's e Chrysost. worship, as in Ps. 141. 1. My prayers as incense▪ and lifting up of my hands as a daily sacrifice, in Dan. 11. 36. it is said, that Antichrist shall presume to be a King, and do, or make war according to his will, by an arbitrary government, not by any law, and shall exalt himself f {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Heb. above every God, that is, every King who is called a God in Scripture, so 2 Thess. 2. every g {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}. Augustus or Caesar, And be shall not regard the God of his Fathers, but a new God, and a new Religion; Nor the desire of women, that is spiritual fornication with Idols he shall detest, but shall commit sacrilege, And he shall honour the God of forces, he shall ever be for war, and not for peace; so Mahomet propagated his Religion by war, Christ Jesus by peace, A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, because David had shed much blood, he must not build the Temple, and in the building no tool of Iron was heard, for it was a House of peace; but Antichrist is all for the God h {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Dan. 11. of forces. Thus I have done with the first thing imitable in this Roman Deputy, his Right Opinion. Secondly, his humanity, In sending a Prisoner, so saith the Text, and it is expressed in what manner he was sent elsewhere, {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Syr. Acts 27. 3. The Centurion showed pity to S. Paul, and suffered him to go to his friends to refresh himself, he suffered him to go to his friends, a great favour, much more than to suffer his friends to come to him, he gave him i Potestatem egredieuti, Cartluisian. power to go forth, there was an opening of the Ports, that he might be refreshed with food and raiment necessary: Likewise the other Roman Deputy Petix, Acts 24. 23. He commanded a Centurion, no meaner man, to keep him, not to hurt him; k Syr. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} with gentleness, not rigour and fierceness, (as the Gaoler in Acts 16. that put them in the hole, in the stocks) and that he should forbid, or restrain, or l Syr. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} discourage none of his acquaintance to minister to him; And when he was in Rome two years, he dwelled in his own hired house, and received all that came unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching with all liberty, no man forbidding him; but Antichristian sectaries forbid all to publish any doctrine against their way, as appears in Waldus, the Albingers, Husse, Jerom, Luther, &c. neither will they afford bread to eat, raiment to put on, or house wherein to hide their heads, or bed to rest upon, more cruel than bloody Nero to the Christians and Doctor of the Gentiles. Some read m De suis sacultatibus, Gloffa ordinaria. none of his goods were restrained from him in his Imprisonment, but such men take away both liberty and goods at once. Thirdly, observe the justice of the Romans, Acts 25. 16. It was not the manner of the Romans to give up a man, till his accuser came face to face, to justify the crimes objected, and that he have n Syr. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} space and place to answer for himself; but among Antichristians, no accuser shall appear, but the same man shall be accuser, Judge, and witness; or if he do appear, it shall be as a backbiter, not face to face; or if he confront the defendant, he shall have convenient place of Apology, but among his enemies, to be derided as Samson was; or he shall have no space for his defence, but he must answer Oretenus & ex tempore, according to their ex temporary prayers and sermons: Is this justice? Likewise the Romans stood much for the Liberty of the Subject, Acts 22. 25. Is it lawful for you to scourge a Roman, and uncondemned? The Orator said, that Citizens of Rome may not be scourged, whether they were borne Romans, or o Cives Romani verberibus caedi non possunt, Cicero. Nati, & Civitate do nati Ciceo. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} made free, there were two kinds; now Saint Paul was borne free, for his Father was a p Oecumen, Roman, and q Chrysost. Oecumen. Theophylact. Cilicia was under Rome, or Tarsus was called r Dio. Cassius. Juliopolis, howsoever it were, he had the Liberty of a Subject and Citizen of Rome; but if a man's goods be taken away by violence, and himself imprisoned, where is the Roman Liberty? Pagans shall rise up in judgement against Antichristians: Yet more, the Romans rescued from violence such as were Freemen, Acts 23. 10. The chief captain fearing lest Paul should be torn in pieces in a Tumult, sent Romans to deliver him; far it was from him to send troops to destroy his own Citizens, as Antichristians have done: and he further saith, Acts 23. 26. The Jews took this man, and I came with the s Syr. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Roman soldiers and rescued him, understanding that he was a Roman. Lastly, they opposed all private ordinances, and inventions of men, therefore Festus saith of Paul, his accusers stood up against him, t Syr. and could prove no evil accusation against him as I supposed, but had certain questions of their own superstition, private ordinances and inventions Act. 25. 18. 19 he stood for the Roman laws, which were so good that the t Plutarc, in vita Cam. Falisci did choose rather to serve the Romans then to be free. The use hereof is in Mal. 6. He hath told thee, O man, what the Lord requireth of thee, to do justly, as this Roman, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God, which are the three and all to be imitated in this Roman spirit. Now briefly I come to the other three which are to be avoided. First, Popularity. Secondly, Bribery. Thirdly, Obloquy. 1. Popularity, Acts 25. 2. Festus would do the Jews a pleasure, and Felix Acts 24. 27. because he would do the Jews a pleasure he left Paul bound, but this popular air is but a staff of reed bruised, and shaken with the wind, Gaius Marius, who was seven times Consul, and the third u Nobilium turba, Quirilium Odi profanum vulgus & atceo. Malignum spernere vulgus. Horat. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}. Plutarch. in Mario. Founder of Rome, yet by envy expelled; so Coriolanus and Scipio Africanus that won his name x Ejus qui domita nomen ab Africa, Lucratus rediit. Incendia Carthaginis impiae. Rejectaeque retrorsum Hannibalis minae. from the subduing of Africa, the burning of Carthage, the victory over Hannibal, and had marble inscriptions to his honour, yet losing the popular respect, was banished for ever, de repetundis. The people almost in one breath cried Hosanna, and crucify him: * Syr. Inscriproque notis marmora publicis. Herod Agrippa, Acts 12. 2. Killed James, and because it pleased the peopeople imprisoned Peter, under the custody of y Syr. Non Vox hominem sonat. sixteen soldiers, but observe his end, the people cried, The voice of a God not of a man, and he became worms meat. How can you please God that seek honour one of another? The second blemish in the Roman is bribery, not expressed in the text, but employed, he desired to do the Jews a pleasure, it was hot for nothing. And of Felix his predecessor it is said, he hoped that money should have been given to him, by St. Paul, Act. 24. 26. The Romans were covetous, & therefore bitter was the sarcasm of mithridate upon them, that the Founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus, were nursed by z Some say Lupa was a Woman. a hungry wolf, and therefore the posterity were so greedy of wealth, that Tertullian saith, he not a Non solum spcrabat, sed clam tractabat. only hoped, but privately dealt for bribes. The third fault in this Roman was obloquy, Acts 26. 24. b {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, Oecumen. out of wrath and fury, when St. Paul made his Apology, Festus exclaimed, Thou art mad, much learning hath made thee mad; so the limbs of Antichrist, jeroboam's, and Micah's Priests, cry out, of learned men that they are mad, because themselves cannot understand them: If they be mad, it is for Christ; and oppression oft times makes a wise man mad: but indeed they are not mad, but speak forth the words of truth and soberness, c {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, 2 Tim. 1. They have not the spirit of bondage or fear, but of a sound mind. Let us eschew bribery, popularity, and obliquv, loquy, for who shall dwell in God's Tabernacle? First, He that backbitoth not with his tongue, that makes not his tongue, z {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} his foot to trample the reputation of his neighbour in the mire. Secondly, In whose eyes a vile person is contemned, therefore he is no man-pleaser. Thirdly, That takes no reward against the Innocent, yea saith Solomo Jarchi, that takes no reward to do justice; therefore he is no briber, He that doth these things shall never fall, Psal. 15. 1, 2, 3, 4. &c. Thus I have described a Roman spirit, and compared the Romans and Antichristians together, who are the greater persecutors; which may be, first a premonition to us in these last days, to expect perilous times for three years and a half, Revel 11. 7. worse than those of Jews, Turks, and Infidels; even the times of hypocritical Antichristian heretics, 2. Tim. 3. 1. Secondly, an exhortation to patience, for he that kills with the sword, shall be killed with the sword; he that now leads into captivity, shall be led; he that robs, shall be robbed; here is the patience g Revel. 13. of the Saints, h Zach. 9 10. return to the strong hold, ye prisoners of Hope, this day I declare unto you, that I will restore double to you. And as I have preached for Love and Peace, so let us conclude with a Prayer, for the peace of God that passeth all understanding, to guide our hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and Holy spirit, be honour and glory throughout all ages. Amen. The prayer before SERMON. O eternal, the high and only a 1. Tim. 6. Potentate, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, before whom thousands of b Dan. 7. Angels do minister, and ten thousand times ten Thousand do stand before thee, who makest thy angel's Spirits, and thy Ministers a flame of fire, who ride on the wings of the wind, and makest the cloud thy c Psal. 104. 2. 3. v. pavilion, and art clothed with glory and Majesty. At the footstool of thy Throne are we prostrate, sinful dust and ashes, beseeching the d Ezra 1. God of heaven to have mercy upon us miserable sinners. Have mercy on us, O Lord, and according to the e Psal. 51. multitude of thy mercies blot out our offences, in thought, word, and deed, and thou that hast proclaimed the name of the Lord, the Lord God f Exod. 34. merciful and gracious, long-suffering, abundant in kindness and truth, for giving iniquity, transgression and sin, and showing mercy to thousands: show mercy to us the chief of sinners, forgive our g Psal. 51. original sin wherein we were borne, our actual sins, the sins of our youth; Remember not how h Psal. 25. ignorant we have been of thy truth: i Psal. 19 Lord, who can understand his errors, who knows how often he hath offended. Then cleanse us from our secret sins, forgive our presumptuous sins, perpetrated with a k Numb. 15. high hand, and our rebellions wherein we have warred with the Almighty, and keep back thy servants from the like iniquity, so shall we be innocent, and avoid the great transgression, and though we sin of weakness, or ignorance l Eccles. 7. (for no man lives on earth that sinneth not) yet restrainus by thy grace from sins of stubbornness, which is as Idolatry, and from the m Matth. 12. irremissible sin against the spirit of grace. n John 17. Holy Father, we desire not only remission of sins, but the sanctification of the Holy Ghost, though sin tyrannize and dwell in us, o Rom. 5. Galath. 5. so that we cannot do the things we would, yet let not sin p Rom. 6. reign in our mortal bodies, that we should obey it in the lusts thereof, that we who are dead to sin, may live no longer therein, but q Rom. 6. as Christ is risen from the dead, so we may rise to newness of life, and as we have yielded our members servants to iniquity, so to yield them weapons of righteousness unto holiness, the end whereof may be everlasting happiness, and as we rise, so help us to ascend with Christ to heaven, minding heavenly things, r Col. 3. where Christ sits at God's right hand, teach and enable us to do justly, to love mercy, s Micah 6. and walk humbly with our God, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, and walking holily, righteously, and soberly in this present evil world, waiting for the t Titus 2. appearing of the glorious Judge to Judgement. We believe O Lord, the way of man is not in himself, neither is it in man to guide his steps, it is not in him that willeth, nor that runneth, but in God that showeth mercy, who hath mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Give therefore grace, O heavenly Father, for Christ's sake: In whose name we pray not only for ourselves, but for the whole estate of Christ's Church on earth, distressed and dispersed. The Spouse of * Lament. 1. Christ sits as a widow that is desolate, her hair hanging down, rivers of tears falling from her eyes without intermission, and it is nothing to all them that pass by the way, u Lament. 1. no sorrow is like to her sorrow, yet none of her sons doth comfort her, none doth turn out of the way to ask how she doth, x Lament. 2. the breach is like the wide sea, who can heal it? there is no balm in Gilead, there is no physician there. y Ier. 4. O thou sword of the Lord, when wilt thou be quiet, when wilt thou return into the sheath, and be at rest? When, O Father of mercies, and Lord of hosts, wilt thou turn the edge thereof against the Heathen that know thee not, and call not on thy Name? Shall thy wrath burn like fire against Germany, which before the civil war was as the garden of Eden, but now is a desolate wilderness, and many years bath groaned under that unnatural intestine war? z Psal. 90. Thou hast turned man to destruction, say likewise return to life ye sons of men. Just art thou, O Lord, to punish their Idolatry, sacrilege, and high contempt of the Ministry; a Habak. 3. but in the midst of thy Justice remember Mercy: And forget not our brethren in Ireland, who have suffered cruel mockings, scourgings, bonds, imprisonments, rapines, deaths under the merciless Rebels, that curse b isaiah 8. their God and their King, and look upwards; They have bewed in pieces thy Prophets, thrown down thy worship, and killed thy servants with a rage that c 2 Chron. 28. reacheth to heaven. Thy truth falleth in the streets, and righteousness cannot enter. O God of truth, justice, and vengeance, show thyself, let not the sons of wickedness ever prevail. More especially we entreat for England, wherein we are a d Zephan. 2. Nation that is not worthy to be beloved, for there is no truth, or mercy, or e Hos. 4. 1. 2. 3. 4. knowledge of God in the Land, but by swearing, lying, killing and stealing, we break out, and blood toucheth blood, we have oppressed one another, and therefore are justly f Gal. 5. devoured one of another, every one by the hand of his neighbour, friend, and brother, Manasses, Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasses, and every one eats the g isaiah 9 flesh of his own arm, the son riseth up against the father, and the father against the son, to put him to death, and they h John 16. think in so doing, they do God good service. Who could have thought that this flourishing country should have become a sea of blood, and this Eden a dead sea? Oh the severity of God's justice against our sins i Ezek, 16. of Sodom, such fullness of bread, abundance of idleness, and oppression of the poor and needy; our crying sins have called for plagues of leading into captivity, and complaining in our streets. Oh ever happy England, the glory of Nations is now become the seat of Sects and Heresies, the daughter of Babel, the mother of all confusion, God's Temple profaned, his Ministers misused, Jeroboams and Micaes' Priests of the lowest of the people substituted. To thee, O Lord, we make our complaint: k Ezech. 20. last. This is, and shall be a lamentation, l Ierem. 13. O thou hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a wayfaring man, as a traveller that abides for a night? Awake, O Lord, have mercy on Zion, that sits as a woman, m Ierem 30. or cast away, that none looketh after; build up the walls of Jerusalem, restore her Teachers, as at the beginning. Have mercy on our dread sovereign Lord, CHARLES, by the grace of God, King of Great Britain France and Ireland, Defender of the true ancient Catholic, and Apostolic Faith, and in all causes, and over all persons ecclesiastical and Tempor all supreme moderator and governor, bind up his soul in the n 1 Sam. 25. bundle of life with the Lord his God, as for his enemies sling them as a stone out of the middle of a sling, clothe them with shame, but upon himself let his crown flourish. According to his present afflictions let thy Comforts refresh his soul. Give not thy Honour to another, but for thy Names sake (who hast said of Princes, ye are God's Vicegerents) save the face of thy anointed from the tongues of men, and in the midst of weapons of war, that no weapon framed against him may prosper, that every tongue which shall rise up against him, may be condemned, and he in due time restored to his former and greater royal splendour and dignity, and after this trial may come forth as gold: And as a Father of the Country may pity his children, and lament the shedding of the blood of his sons and daughters. Bless the Queens most excellent Majesty, ourillustrious Prince CHARLES, and the rest of the royal Progeny, that they may be like Olive plants round about their Table, suffer not the sons of wickedness to afflict them. We pray likewise for the Lords of his majesty's most honourable Privy counsel, the True hearted peers and Commons assembled in Parliament: Give o Ephes. 4. them the spirit of unity in the bond of Peace, the spirit of p Phil. 4. Moderation between the two extremes, that by the wise accommodation, this civil war may cease, the head and body may be united, Religion restored, Sectaries and Heresies restrained, and so Prince and people, Church and State their due repaid, that we may owe nothing, q Prov. 24. Rom. 13. but to fear God, honour the King, and love one another. Uphold the Ministers of thy holy Word, by what names or titles soever dignified or distinguished, though they be r Dan. 8. trampled under foot by Antichristians, yet raise them up again, to shine like Stars in the firmament, all clouds of obscuration and opposition scattered and consumed, and for a continual supply of them, bless the two universities, Cambridge and Oxford, that from thence religious and learned men may come forth, whose s Mal. 2. lips may preserve Knowledge, and disporse it thorough the whole Land, that the t Psal. 107. mouth of ignorance and iniquity may be stopped. Remember all that are afflicted, especially thy servant that desireth the prayers of this congregation: Oh Father of mercies, and God of all consolations, comfort those that be any Way cast down. The living, the living, shall u isaiah 38. praise thee, the dead cannot praise thee, nor such as go down into silence; O great physician of the bodies and souls of thy servants, heal those whom thou hast wounded; x Ier. 10. Correct them, but in thy judgement, not in thy fury, lest they be confounded. Neither ought we in this day of humiliation, to forget our thanksgivings unto thee, O Father of mercies, who hast chosen us in Christ before the y Ephes. 1. foundation of the world was laid, to the glory of thy grace, wherein we are accepted in thy beloved, who hast called us with an holy calling, and sealed us with the earnest of the Spirit, who hast persuaded us of thy love here, z Rom 8. and given us some hopes of glory hereafter, who hast fed us all our life long, even from our mother's breasts, and will bear us even in old age when our strength faileth us, who hast led us by the Word and Spirit, and drawn us by cords of love by the a Hos. 11. bands of a man, who hast delivered us in seven troubles and in eight, that they have not hurt us. To thee b Ioh. 5. be glory and praise for ever and ever. Oh let the thoughts of our hearts, the words of our mouths, and the works of our hands, be c Psal. 19 now and ever acceptable in thy sight. O Lord our strength and our Redeemer, d Chro. 29. keep these good imaginations in the hearts of thy people for ever, and prepare our hearts unto thee, put thy fear into us, and cause us to walk in the way of thy commandments, that we may never depart from thee; at this time teach us the way, and lead us O God of our salvation, for we are children and cannot go. Help us by power from on high, that we may begin, continue, and end in thee, by the help of Jesus: In whose Name and words we conclude our prayers in the most e Matth. 6. absolute form of Prayer which he hath taught us in his holy gospel. Our Father, &c. FINIS.