An Alarm to TRUMPETS: OR, Mount Chival to every dejected, remiss, and secure Trumpet, either in England, Scotland, or Ireland. By E. F. Jerm. 4. 19, 20, 21. My bowels, my bowels, I am pained at my very heart, my heart maketh a noise in me, I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. Destruction upon destruction is cried, for the whole land is spoilt: suddenly are my tents spoilt, and my curtains in a moment. How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet? London, printed by R. I. for E. F. 1651. To Horse. Mount tag a taw naw, Mount tag a taw naw, Mount tag a taw naw, Mount tag a taw naw, Tinck tag a taw naw, Mount tag a taw naw, Tinck tinck tag a taw naw, Mount tag a taw naw▪ &c▪ woodcut of two horsemen blowing horns Art thou seduced to sin, and dost descry Thy heart assenting to it, then strait way by An Evangelicall conveyance say, The Trumpet sounds to Horse, I cannot stay. To his worthy Friend Mr. John Bret, Trumpet in special to His Excellency the Lord General CROMWELL. Kind Sir, I Am persuaded that you are very sensible that we are fallen into as sad and as bad times as hath befallen this Nation, since and long before we were acquainted with it; and indeed, let us balance the effect but by the cause, and here's no cause of wonderment at all: We have often grieved and sadned the good Spirit of the Lord, & now the Lords Spirit is about to saden us; we have most unkindly lain his honour in the dust, & now he is about to throw us into the grave; we have been disobedient to the golden Sceptre of Christ, and now he may justly break us in pieces with a rod of Iron. Yet however the changes and revolutions of the times may prove, it will go well, very well with them that fear the Lord, of which number, I do confidently believe that you are one; witness your Christian carriage amidst the sad miscarriages of very many men of our Profession since the wars began; and though you have lain open to as many, if not more, temptations than any of us all, considering the very many Messages that you have been employed in, and how you have been earnestly solicited both by the adverse party abroad, and importuned by your loving friends at home; and yet the candid love and reciprocal affection you always had to temperance and sobriety, by assistance from on high, you have very safely waded through them all. I must confess 'tis a great honour to you, that you have been Trumpet to three most famous and renowned Generals. viz. To the Right Honourable Robert Earl of Essex, to the right Honourable Thomas Lord Fairfax, and to the Right Honourable the Lord Gen: Cromwell; but to be servant to the most high and everliving God, is an honour for you in a superlative degree Indeed. I'll say no more for fear I may be thought to flatter you, only entreat your love to patronise and shroud a sheet or two under your kind protection; in doing which, you will very much oblige me to remain, Sir, Your faithful and assured Friend to command, Edw: Ford. Dear Friends, and Brother TRUMPET'S. KNowing for certain that poor sinful man of all Creatures living is most prone and incident, (especially in a natural condition) to permit and suffer the benefits of the Lord easily to slide and slip out of his mind, and to bury in oblivion all those great and memorable mercies that he from time to time most graciously hath been pleased to give & bestow upon such worthless worms, and poor unworthy Creatures as we are; and therefore to get our hearts into a frame of better obedience for the time to come, let us a little consider what the Lord hath done for men of our quality by Sea and Land; notwithstanding we have so grievously offended him both by Land and Sea, and for his unparallelled love, and matchless mercies extended to us on the Ocean Sea, there is many ancient and able Trumpets that are yet extant and living to this day, can give a large and better testiment thereof then I, the names of some of them, as my small acquaintance and short memory will give me leave, I briefly shall insert to you, viz. Mr. Warner, Mr. Stock, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Bosgrave, Mr. Beale, Mr. Flowers, Mr. Simson, M. farrel, M. Slaughter, M. Day, M. Hawkins, Mr. Creammer, Mr. Deane, Mr. Loveday, Mr. Whitmeale, Mr. Cardiff, Mr. Walker, Mr. Anslow, Mr. Smith, Mr. Jefferies, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Gerard, Mr. Bishop, Mr. Coe, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Hermon, Mr. Hill, Mr. Norman, Mr. Buckly, Mr, Collins, Mr. Spilsworth, Mr. Argo, Mr. Boone, Mr. Seaton, Mr. Williams, Mr. Peacoke; these with many more, can evidence unto the world, what mercies and miraculous preservations they have had, and how Divine Providence hath led them as it were by the hand, from place to place, from City to City, from Port to Port, and from one Haven to another, and never left them till he had brought them home, and safely arrived them where they feign would be; and for his love and lenity by Land, there is few or none of any fashion, rank, or quality, but can sufficiently demonstrate to the World, what choice and singular Deliverances they have had since and before the beginning of these intestine and unnatural Wars; and since Calamity like to a tedious Torrent, hath swiftly overtaken three poor distressed and distracted Nations all at once; and because I am loath to appear too silent in reference unto what was said before, I shall give you a list of some of the places, and eminent fights, where God in mercy most graciously did appear, both for the safety & preservation of such as did profess the quality of a Trumpet; as Branford, Hounslow, Basin, Dorchester, Lynne, Weymouth, Tanton, Bristol, Bridgewater, Plymouth, Listethell, Newbury, Oxford, the Vizes, Cherry-downe, New-market, Gloucester, Edgehill, Marston-Moore, Nazeby, with many places more, in all which fights and several skirmishes, I never yet could learn that there was above twenty Trumpets slain, only now and then a Trumpet wounded and taken prisoner sometimes, which could not possibly be avoided in such notable chase and dangerous fights as many of these same were; and how the Lord hath mightily preserved you both in Scotland, Ireland, Holland, France, and Spain, and other remote places of the world, is not unacquainted, nor concealed to any rational and knowing man; besides, when you have ridden solely by yourselves, sometimes forty, threescore, a hundred miles an end, how have you been preserved from private Ambuscadoes, Toryes, the Mosse-Troopers, Robbers, and the like? delivering your Letters and several Messages with a great deal of safety, civility, and respect; and in conclusion, very well returned to your own Garrisons in health again, which is and hath been no small mercy to us, if we consider of the same aright; nay, hath he not very often made the very quarters of the enemy a receptacle and place of safety for us: Moreover, how bountiful and forward he hath been to bestow upon us many a liberal and large advance, notwithstanding how backward we have been to advance his glory for the same, and what a non-improvement we, or the most of us have made of the many favours, and the large Talents he hath given unto us, is best known unto his sacred self and our poor sinful selves; Likewise how careful God hath always been to feed us with the finest Wheat, & our bodies with the purest Wool, notwithstanding we have not hungered and thirsted after Righteousness, nor yet earnestly desired to have our souls invested with the long white garment of Christ's Righteousness, as they that live under a Gospel dispensation ought indeed to do; and truly, if every one that hath a silver Trumpet, had but a sanctified soul annexed thereunto, doubtless we should be more sound in our judgements, and more pious in our practice then at this day we do appear, and manifest ourselves unto the world to be; but some I know will readily object and say, what is the meaning of all this? doth Vice correct Sin? doth he that presses us so hard to consider the goodness of the Lord to us, and our ingratfulnesse to him do so himself? do we not know he is a man that hath as much forgot the love and lenity of God as any of us all? or are we not acquainted that he is one that hath a long time had the form of godliness, yet hath denied the power and efficasie of it in a good Life and Conversation, and to this day for aught we know, or visibly can discern, continues the same man? Why truly Gentlemen, I must ingenuously confess with heaviness of heart, and grief of soul, that you are not mistaken in what you do affirm, I willingly could wish you were, on condition I should take the mistake very patiently; for indeed I must confess; according to the allowance of the word, that I am one that hath refused to work in Gods▪ Vineyard, excused the great Supper of the Lord, and slighted the marriage of the King's Son; by which sad consequence it hath come to pass that I have sinned against the clearest light, and dearest love that ever poor creature could transgress against; and if any one of you that is less offensive than myself, will please to fling the first stone at me, I shall neither snarl at the hand, nor yet by't the stone, but kindly salute the one, and meekly kiss the other; and truly there is great reason for the same: for if the Youngman in the law that was but disobedient to his earthly parents, was to be stoned to death, how justly might this sentence pass on me that have been so stubborn, rebellious, and disobedient to my Heavenly Father? And if in the Gospel St. Stephen suffered for his constant adhearence to Christ and his Truth, well may I suffer for my constant separation from the truth of Christ. In few words; Gentlemen, I am a man that am really dead in trespasses and sins, and yet I trust in the blood of the Lamb, I am not twice dead and pulled up by the roots, and though I have gone a long time a stray from my God, I shall now at the last and eleventh hour of the day, return to my dear Shepherd and sweet Bishop of my soul. In order hereunto I shall entreat your prayers unto God for me, as mine shall be to the Throne of Grace for you, and that in much mercy he would be pleased to say to your spiritual desertions, and my inordinate affections, as he is pleased to say unto the raging surges of the Sea; thus far shall you go, and no further. This is and shall be the prayers of Your assured Friend and Servant Edw. Ford, A Brief description of the vanity of the times wherein we live. A Man is happy when he doth begin For to discern the sinfulness of sin, And when he daily doth contrive and plot To use this world as if he used it not; And not to trust unto a broken reed, But seeks for that is happiness indeed: Alas what is pleasure but a Harlot's smile, Which while it strokes you, may be kills the while & will involve you into such a snare That will destroy you, if you have not care; For Satan shows the milk thinks will prevail, But doth obscure the hammer and the nail. Shows us her oily words that do distil from her smooth tongue, but hides the dart will kill, Then happy he that can her beauty view Not to his hurt, but rather to eschew Those ways of hers that do directly lead Unto that place where many a one lies dead. And what is riches, but a glittering prize, Set on a pinnacle to feast the eyes? And for to please those senses lest deserve, Whilst that the better parts is like to starve. Have you not heard of some to purchase gold Hath both their souls and bodies sadly sold & pawned that gem, how slight so ere it seem, The Universal world can near redeem? How many men that hath like horses toiled, A little fire hath undone and spoiled? How many Merchants in this City too, That never any want or hunger knew, A little water that the winds hath spread, hath sent these men fairly to beg their bread. And therefore my advice in fine shall be To labour not for Gold, but Purity, For that will put a man in such a way He shall be safe, when th'other doth decay. Alas what is Honour, but a little fame That's blotted out ere one can write his name. And what's the smile of great men now in power Much like the morning dew or April shower May be 'twill wet a man from top to toe, Yet by the fire it will melt like Snow; I mean the fire of Adversity, Be this same Honour ne'er so great or high. Have you not heard or seen a while ago, How Majesty was mastered by a Blow, And he that had 3 Kingdoms of his own, Can not get leave at last to live in one; And since that time many great ones bereft Of their dear lives, and several Stations left To satisfy the world in the event, there's nothing here below that's permanent; Then if we would have honour that will last, Let us like good proficients, wisely cast, To bring Jehovah honour, lauding his name That sits in heaven, and laughs vild men to shame. A kind of persuasion to temperance. DOst in a morning favour drink that's strong, Then do not drink thy morning's draught too long; However let me crave, and beg this Boon, You do not drink your morning's draught till noon, But you undo your solid senses quite, If that you drink your morning's draught till night, For many men in their excessive Bowls, With their own bodies overthrow their souls; And therefore never let thy own right hand Ruin thyself, by breaking this command: Grant me but this, and truly though I'm poor, I'll never beg of you, nor yours, more. Against excessive mirth in mournful times. YOu Halcyon Lads that sings, and joyful are, And very blithe will be despite of War, Let me entreat this favour at your hand, To think upon the misery of the Land, And be not over-frolick, till you see Some motives may induce jocundity; For when the Church's head is sick, or aches, Then all her Members presently partakes Of her deplored grief, and doth bewail, Those sorrows makes her look so wan and pale; And truly methinks 'tis a grievous thing, When God is angry, for to sit and sing, And when his Judgements are upon the earth, To frame ourselves to fond and foolish mirth; Therefore let me entreat each one a while Forbear to laugh, till God is pleased to smile. Necessary Aphorisms for a Trumpet to observe. THree things very good for a Trumpet to practise; to practise his Trumpet, to practise the truth, and to practise piety. Three good things for a Trumpet to obey; to obey his Creator, to obey his Commander, and to obey the Gospel of Christ. Three good things for a Trumpet to remember; to remember his Creator in the days of his youth, to remember his youth in the days of his age, and to remember his end in the beginning of his days. Three things very bad for a Trumpet to forget; to forget his great deliverances by Land, his wonderful preservation by Sea, and his marvellous safety in the City. Three bad things for a Trumpet to be full of; to have his eyes full of adultery; his head full of foolery, and his mind full of mischief. Three things very unfit for a Trumpet to begin; to begin Healths, to seek Healths and to sound Healths. Three good things for a Trumpet to find; to find mercy with God, and honour him for it; to find favour with good men, and respect them for it; and to find out his faults, and obtain faith to mend them. Three good things for a Trumpet to keep; to keep a fair correspondency with those he deals withal, to keep good company, and to keep a good conscience. Three good things for a Trumpet to set light by; to set light by the losses of the world, to set light by the crosses of the world, and to set light by deeds of darkness. Three things very bad for a Trumpet to be an Artist in; to be an Artist in the ways of wickedness, to be expert in the paths of impiety, and to be delightfully acute in the wiles and stratagems of sin, and Satan. Three things very bad for a Trumpet to lose; to lose his taste, to lose his teeth, and to lose his time. Three things very dangerous for a Trumpet; to look high, to feed high, and to climb high. Three things very good for a Trumpet; good store of modesty, good store of mercy, and good store of money. Three things very bad for a Trumpet to fall into; to fall into a Pit, to fall into Perjury, and to fall into Poverty. Three things very bad for a Trumpet; a bad Moor, a bad march, and a bad mind. Three very hard things for a Trumpet to learn; to learn continency in the Stews, temperance in a Tavern, and righteous actions amongst roaring boys. Three good things for a Trumpet to keep; to keep touch, to keep tune, and to keep time. Three things very good for a Trumpet; a good colour, good cordins, and a good conscience. Three other things good for a Trumpet; good Lungs, a good Lip, and a good life. Rom. 13. 14. And make no provision for the flesh. MAke no provision for the flesh? why than I must forbear to be, or live 'mongst men, And neither must I be, or come by far, In any company where women are, Especially if they be pleasing to the eye, For than I shall transgress undoubtedly; I must not think a thought that is unclean; Of any immodest Curtizanion, Nor speak a syllable that may suggest, There's something that's unclean within my breast, And then by consequence it will be wrought, I must not act by no means what is nought; Nor must I by my childish ignorance Use any foolish, wanton dalliance, And prattle forth such talk as may impart My mouth is very foul, and so's my heart. Again, if this be true, why then I guess, I must not drink at no time in excess; No, nor at no time eat a meal that may Provoke the flesh, but rather it alloy; And if this Aphorism I would keep I must be careful too of too much sleep, I must not condescend, assent, or please To give my mouldering body too much ease; I must not go too gorgeous in attire, For that like Tinder, sets man's Lust on fire; But decently adorn my body so, That all imperious thoughts may be kept low; I must at no time look too curiously Upon a beauty, whose attractive eye May render me obnoxious, and impair My thoughts that should be chaste, as joseph's were. Likewise all objects I must still deny, That doth but relish, taste of vanity; All curious Pieces pencild lively forth, By me must be esteemed of little worth: All places too of pleasure I must shun, And ne'er to Theaters, or Pastime run; I must not sport like the Leviathan My life away, that is but like a span; Nor come in company, whose carriage may Tell me, they do not love a pious way; And while I have a being here on earth, I must not give myself to too much mirth, But circumspectly keep my heart in awe, And not like children, laugh at every straw, Working out my salvation while I am here, With Saintlike sighs, with trembling, and with fear. But stay, my soul, is this the way to bliss? Then prithee say, How far art thou from this? For by thy scandalous and knowing sin, Thou hast brought many a soul to suffering; As first, by thy presumptuous sins so rife, Thou hast aimed to crucify the Lord of life, And by thy breaking of his blessed commands, Thou didst surrender him into cruel hands, And did not his great love thy hate repel, Thou mightst have sought thy soul ere now in hell: Likewise consider, 'tis for thy offence God's people suffer for their innocence, And many a Saint is brought in jeopardy, Not for their own, but thy impiety. Again consider, if thy patiented Wife, Do not enjoy the comforts of this life, The fault's thy own, that has so lavish been, Feasting abroad, when she oft fasts within: Or doth thy Children want that nourishment, That pretty babes expects to give content; 'Tis thy default that art so foolish grown, To waste on wantoness, and neglect thy own: And do but think upon the little Lambs, That harmlessly disports upon the Plains, Should they, I say, want of their usual food, It is because that in thy drunken mood Thou hast abused those mercy's God has sent, Both for thy own, and for their nourishment; Or dost thou see the Oxen, Cow, or Horse Lament i'th' field, and low for want of grass? The reason is, because thy Leprous lust Has burned the grass, and hay, so near to dust That they can get no food for to suffice Their bodies, without which thy body dies. In brief, since we perceive the efficient cause Of all our sorrows is the breach of Laws, 'Tis meet we do repent while we have breath; Before the Nation bleed itself to death; And that we seriously reform our ways, Before the Sword and Famine end our days; Look Northward, and behold a cloud of blood, And then look , and behold no good; Take a Prospective-glass, and view the West, Alas the East, and that is like the rest. Now seeing that no safety can be found, On Irish, Scottish, no nor English ground, Let's go to Christ, for it is he will teach us Away to live, where Armies cannot reach us; And therefore in all dangers let's embrace, And make the King of Kings our hiding place; So shall we be secure when storms arise, Living in bliss when our poor bodies dies. Let me crave your patience to peruse a few lines more and I have done. Dear friends: According to my mean ability, you have had a little taste of the Lords extraordinary love and lenity to us, and our empty returns of obedience to him again. Now as we have had a feast of his favour, could he but have a little relish of our love to him it would do well; it is not unknown to you, that there is but three paces more especially that doth direct a man either to pain, or Paradise: He that by his little and small sins, as he accounts, slowly creeps to Hell, doth very bad; but he that by his more known and scandalous offences goes a round pace thither, doth a great deal worse; but he that by his more profuse and riotous living runs thither, doth worst of all: So on the contrary, he that by his small and feeble faith endeavours for to creep to Christ, doth well; but he that by a stronger faith goes lustily, doth better: but he that by the mighty power of God with cheerfulness, and alacrity, doth sweetly run his ways, doth best of all; O that we could so run, as through the strength of Christ we might obtain. Dear Sirs, let us consider, and a little recollect our memory what we came into this world for; was it do you think to sport like the Leviathan in the Sea, and for to waste our days in wanton dalliance, surely no; alas, you know our errand hither was, to get God glory, and to save our poor souls; but how neglective we have been in he one, and constantly remiss in the other, ●s you know known unto the Searcher and Trier of the reins fare better than to us, for we do find by sad experience, Judgements has not deterred us. Menaces has not warned us, nor many mercies won us; and though the Sword be drawn, yet we cannot be drawn from the vain vanities of this present life, and fading pleasures of this wicked world. There is a notable passage in the second of Kings, the fift chap. and about the 26, & 27 ver. where covetous Gehazi abusing the name of his kind Master to Naaman the Syrian, by which means he receives of him two talents of Silver in two bags, and the two changes of Garments without the consent of the good old man, but the business being understood, and cleared up to him, he sharply doth reprove him for his fault, saying unto him, Is this a time to receive money, garments, olive-yards, vine-yards, sheep, oxen, men servants, and maid servants? and in few words told him, that the Leprosy of Naaman should cleave to him and his posterity, and straight way he went out of his presence a Leper as white as Snow. Why even so might all the good Elisha's, the Ministers of the truth, justly reprove & say to us, when in our frantic mood we are no whit ashamed to knock and call for Wine when we have Wine enough, and with our Trumpet openly proclaim our follies to the world, may they not then allege, is this a time for to drink wine in Bowls, and sound shrill healths till we are sick again? is this a time for to spend all our time to purchase change of Garments for the body, and to neglect the covering of the soul? is this a time to ravel out our days in filthy idle jests, and spend our precious minutes in obscene and scurrilous discourse? is this a time to visit Theaters, sit in a Tavern, sing, rejoice, and laugh, when as the pious party and holy people of the Land sit by the Waters of Babylon weeping, and have hung their Harps upon the Willows, and will not be comforted because God is displeased? One pregnant passage more between David and Vriah, and I shall conclude; it is in the second of Samuel the 11. Chap. the 8, 9, 10, and 11. verses. After the Prophet David had demanded of Vriah how Joab did, how the people did, and how the wasting War did prosper, he being willing to win him to his bed, he doth use some modest motives to invite him thither; but when his purpose would not take effect, he uses another argument to persuade him, that he had rid a very tedious and toilsome Journey, and therefore thought it meet and necessary he should repose and rest himself a while, but pray observe his warlike answer to him. And Vriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah abide in tents, and my Lord Joab, and the servants of my Lord are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go unto my house, to eat and drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing. The Application that we may easily collect from hence is this. That if this gallant and heroic Christian did so readily refuse these pleasures, and refreshments that were very good and lawful of themselves, as to go down to his house to eat and drink, and to embrace his Wife: because the Ark, Joab; and many of God's people were encamped in the open fields, and might for aught he knew, be engaged with the enemies of the truth before he might return back to the Camp again; how should this move us then now that the Ark, I mean the Cause of God is in dispute, and many of God's people hath been encamped in open field many a Winter's night, and tedious stormy day? how should this, I say solemnly invite us to forsake our former foolish disports, and utterly to abandon and relinquish every unlawful lust & pleasure whatsoever; and if our hearts be so obdurate that we cannot bring them to suffer for the Lord in open field, let us never suffer them to sin against him in a private room; and if we cannot be wooed to join with the people of God for the testimony of the truth and a good Conscience, let us never join with the people of the world against our Conscience and its testimony. Alas, you see already here is three tottering Nations, and a few steadfast souls; many broken heads, but a few bleeding hearts; therefore it is very requisite that hereafter we do walk more circumspectly, not as fools, but as wisemen, Redeeming the time because the days are evil; in order hereunto, it is very fit that we speedily, frequently, and fervently apply ourselves unto the throne of Grace to obtain mercy, and find Grace to help in time of need: imploring and beging of him for the son of his love's sake, to infuse into us a principle of Life and Grace, that we may be his Children not only by name, but by nature also; so shall we stand in awe, and sin not, common upon our beds & be still, counting it indeed an ignominious shame, that the Lackey should live more in awe of his Lord, than we of Jehovah-●issi; that the Servant should stand more in awe of his Master, than we do very often of our Maker; and that the Child should stand more in awe of his earthly Parents, than we of our heavenly Father. 'tis time (says David) that thou have mercy upon Zion, yea the time is come; and in order hereunto, it is time that we forsake our sins, yea, the time is come, it is time that we abandon our impiety, when our impiety is about to abandon us; it is time to forsake riotous and tippling houses when the Judge is at the door; high time to get Christ into our hearts, when the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. But I grow too tedious, consider what is said, and the Lord give us understanding in all things. A few fair Caveats for secure Christians. DEclare in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem, and say, Blow ye the Trumpet in the Land, cry, gather together and say; Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced Cities. Set up the standards towards Zion, retire, stay not, for I will bring evil from the North, and a great destruction, Jer. 4. 5, 6. And the Word of the Lord came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? and I said, I see a seething pot, and the face thereof was towards the north. Then the Lord said unto me, out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the Land, Jer. 2. 13, 14. O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to fly out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the Trumpet in Tecoa, and set up a sign of fire in Beth-haccerem, for evil appears out of the north, and great destruction; thus saith the Lord, Behold, a people cometh from the north Country, and a great Nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth, Jer. 6. 1. 22. The great Day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the Day of the Lord; the mighty man shall cry there bitterly, that day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble, and distress, a day of the Trumpet, and Alarm against the fenced Cities, and against the high Towers, Zeph. 1. 14, 15, 16. And behold, God himself is with us for our Captain, and his Priests with sounding Trumpets, to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight not against the Lord God of your Fathers, for you shall not prosper, 2 Chron. 13. 14. Therefore behold, the days come saith the Lord, that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites, and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burnt with fire, then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs, saith the Lord, Jer. 49. 2. Blow ye the Trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy Mountains, let all the inhabitants of the Land tremble, for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand; blow ye the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a Fast, call a solemn assembly, joel 2. 1. 15. For the Builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded, and he that sounded the trumpet was by me; and I said unto the Nobles, and unto the Rulers of the people, the work is great & large, and we are separated from the wall one far from another, in what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us, our God shall fight for us, Neh. 4. 18, 19, 20. Shall a trumpet be blown in the City, and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in the City, and the Lord hath not done it, Amos 3. 6. Son of Man, speak unto the Children of thy people, and say unto them; When I bring the Sword upon the Land, if the people of the Land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their Watchman, if when he sees the Sword come upon the Land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people, than whosoever hears the sound of the trumpet, and takes not warning, if the Sword come and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning, his blood shall be upon him; but he that takes warning shall deliver his soul, Ezek. 33. 2, 3, 4, 5. A prudent man foresee the evil, and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished, Prov. 22. 3. But stay: MEthinks I hear poor Malachi complain, That Israel deals unkindly, and profane, Their irreligiousness he mentions too, 'Tis my default, and sighing, say, 'tis true: For pray, how many times have I declared, That i'd go labour in God's Vine-yard, Supposing it indeed a great disgrace, For to sit idle in the Marketplace; And straightway has my nimble thoughts rid Post, For to be there at nine a clock at most, But sinful spraines made both my feet so lame, That it was near a leaven before I came; Nay, my lukewarm affections was so staled, I had not then come, had I not been called, And when I was arrived, the heat of day Made me so faint that I could hardly stay, And that which moved me chief to be gone, Was, 'cause I saw that some had almost done, And 'cause that I so long had loitering been, That I had all my labour to begin; Yet to't I fell, and wrought some half a day; But was ashamed to ask so much as they; At night the Master called to take our due, And I received, thank God, a penny too: Some of my neighbours muttered, but says he, You have a penny as we did agree. Methinks it savours of corrupted blood, That your eye should be ill 'cause mine is good; I must confess, the burden of the day Has been borne out by you, yet tell me pray, Had not my loving grace assisted ye, For aught I know you had come as late as he: And in conclusion graciously did say, 'Twere hard all Loiterers should be cast away. When I did hear the Master tell them this, My soul was ravished with his gentleness, And thought it was great pity, men should be Backward to work for one, that was so free. Maker of Heaven and Earth, if thou wilt hire A poor and sinful soul, that doth desire To work byth' day; i'll promise faithfully To be laborious, for no one but thee: He make no bargain with thee, but will stand To thy own courtesy, only in hand I do desire that thou wilt please to give An earnest penny, that my Soul may live, And to declare if I should questioned be By any one, I do belong to Thee; This through thy tender mercy being done, For fear of night, I'll come no more at noon. FINIS.