AN OLIVE BRANCH Found after A Storm in the Northern Seas. AND Presented to his MAJESTY in a Sermon at the Court in Newcastle. By SAMUEL KEM, a little before his Majesty's going to HOLMBEY. GEN. 8.10,11. And he stayed yet other seven days and again he sent forth the Dove out of the Ark: And the Dove came into him in the evening, and lo in her mouth was an Olive sprig plucked off: So Noah knew the waters were abated HAGGAI 2.9. Thus shall the glory of the latter House be greater than the former sayeth the Lord of Hosts, and in this place will I give peace saith the Lord of Hosts. Published according to Order. LONDON. Printed by J. D. & R. I. for Andrew Kembe, and are to be sold at his shop, at Margaret Hill, next door to the Talbot-Gate in Southwark. 1647. TO THE KING'S MOST Excellent Majesty. May it please your Majesty, WHen the King of Kings had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered: (although assisted by the deity) and then for any within knowledge of it to neglect administering to him a morsel had really concluded them guilty of the highest ingratitude and inhumanity. Man lives not by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God▪ Which your long abstinence from, in relation to public administration; hath put me upon this bold attempt, in tender compassion to your better part; as to present you with a branch the fruit whereof will, if savoured sensibly, procure an appetite, to those delicates, which by more excellent hands are ready at your call to be served in unto you: which degree of recovery will disrobe thousands of God's people, and your faithful Subjects of their sad and sable thoughts, and serve up their hearts to the highest degree of praise that hath, in relation to his glory, and your good, so far heard their prayers. Thus, thus Sir, if your Majesty please to forsake your nets that entangle you; deny yourself, and your self-reasoning audience that assault You, and follow Jesus Christ in his ordinances the Prince of peace, whose name is Councillor to advise you. You may yet create all good men your cordial friends; and admit none to repine at your return, but the Gospels and Religions enemies. Great Sir, If this plainness be an error it is my affection to your Majesty's soul makes me to err, and the prosperity of one fault, hath made me confident to commit a second; for I profess I long after it, and make it one part of my design, at the throne of grace, that God would so sanctify all your experiences for the time past; that you may be a gracious Instrument for the advancing of his glorious will for the time to come: And now the Lord grant you useful profit, in perusing my poor endeavours so as shall best sort both for the accomplishment of your own eternal good, and the Kingdom's just desires, yea the Lord grant that as this sermon received grace from you in hearing it with reverend attention; so it may increase grace in you by your serious intention. And the Lord of peace peaceably salute you by it: and grace you with all spiritual blessings till he bring you to enjoy his, and your people's firm love; your Parliaments council; and Heaven's Glory: which is and shall be the daily prayer of God's Majesties poor Ambassador to You in this Treatise of Peace, and Your Loyal Subject SAMUEL KEM. TO THE Right Honourable PHILIP Earl of Pembroke, BAZILL Earl of Denbeigh and the rest of the Honourable Commissioners with His Majesty at Holmbey. Right Honourable, I May not (without your leaves obtained) approach his Majesty in person or paper; It is my duty to beg it; May it please your Lordships to grant it; I call God to record, and my conscience is clear, I neither have, nor will speak one word but for his glory and the furthering, (if possible) the Kingdom's Peace and his Majesty's good. I ingenuously confess, if you search, you may find about me one Epistle superscribed to his Majesty, but it is unsealed, and on purpose for your perusal; For myself I am unworthy to come under that roof, being the meanest servant in my Master's Family; yet this Testimony I have in Heaven; I have ever desired to do the best service I could in these sad times, to promote the Peace of Church and State; and although I have observed many men to have been thought rare at an easy rate; yet it hath been a piece of my infelicity to multiply enemies by acting and speaking to my power to settle Peace and Truth. Therefore as I implore your Lordship's favour for your lilence; so I humbly Petition your pardon for my boldness; and present all your conditions daily to the Throne of Grace; that as you have been Pillars of God's Truth; so you may be prevailing Councillors with His Majesty, and be honoured in your generations, which is the hearty and constant prayer my Noble Lords and Gentlemen Of Your Obliged and Immutable Servant, SAMUEL KEM. TO THE Truly Noble, Faithful, Vigilant and Valiant, William Batten Esquire Captain of His Majesty's Ship the St. Andrew, and Commander in Chief of the Fleet at Sea; for the service of the King and Parliament. Most Honoured and Noble Sir, I Shall desire to wave all Apologetical expressions in relation to myself and the weakness of this piece: You know that the quiet repose of the spiirit is the means to produce to the world, such births as may enrich it with admiration and delight, which my floating condition denied me the happiness to enjoy, having my intellectuals so Searummaged that they returned me but dark & unrefined notions: the product whereof are these poor expressions, void of all perfection, unless the heat of your affection and Nobleness please to hatch them to some form beauty worthy acceptation: and to reduce the Chaos of my confusions to a serenity worthy the world's meditation: Hover therefore (I beseech you) with the wings of your protection over these feeble, but sincere endeavours, to promote, in this juncto of time, with his Majesty for a settled and well grounded Peace: for which I have esteemed my life as a trifle in way of purchase, and have for some years past; waded through variety of difficulties to this end. And although the inacountable and uncontroleable waters, with their independent ragings, sunk me to the eye of sense; yet God provided something like a Whale, that by a strange providence, cast me on shore (to behold) that which I believed; and believing maintained; Our Brethren of Scotland their integrity to Our mutual Covenant and the Kingdom's safety: and to act that which I never expected, as a poor messenger from the Prince of Peace, to salute his Majesty just before the coming of our Right Honourable Commissioners, as a providential preparation to their invitation of him to take the Covenant, and in this now of time to accept of the Olive Branch of Peace, the best fignall betwixt King and Parliament; if well grounded. For whose experience doth not inform him, what dismal confusion is, as the worst of plagues, upon us? Even amongst those I mean, who profess themselves to be Children of Gods own Family? Since the breach of the bond of Love amongst ourselves how dispicable are Pastors to their sheep? how are the profane and Irreligious strengthened in their impiety? how doth the common adversary of God's Truth jeer at this our folly? and secretly as spectators behind the curtain, make themselves sport to see us so violently and industriously acting for them what they could never effect, with all their hellish plots for themselves to this day, ruin (if God prevent not) to ourselves; and open a gap for them to enter and enjoy prosperity. It hath several times affected and afflicted me to see so many dying and wounded bodies conveying out their souls in streams of blood; but it hath lately affrighted me to see the very heart of true Piety vulturated since our fiery zeal to Christ's honour is Monopolised into a consuming fire of envy, malice & undermining (in zeal to our own private ends) each others honour. And although I have never made Arithmetic my study, yet I easily may sum up what all our divisions, subdivisions, and sad contentions amongst ourselves (when all profess to be Children of him of whom the whole Family in heaven and earth is named) will amount unto. viz. To Christ's Kingdoms disbeautifying; Satan's enlarging by impiety, superstition, and heresy. For what ever it cost, I would not have the Family want solid and sweet-refreshing fire; yet would I not have any to be affected merely with such blazes as are not serviceable but to set the whole house on fire: which to prevent let us open the floodgates of our souls, and turn the sluices of our eyes heaven-ward; & implore the great God to settle Gospel Peace and Truth in his Majesty's three Kingdoms; and his Majesty in Truth, to be an happy instrument for the speedy settling that peace, which may be for God's glory; his people's settlement, his Kingdom's enlargement; his own felicity and all good to his posterity; This Sir is the prayer of him, who is Yours faithfully, In the service of the Gospel, and for the good of his country as obliged SAMUEL KEM. AN Olive Branch, found after a Storm in the Northern Seas. 2 THESS. 3.16. Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always, by all means. IT is the happiness of the Church of God, that although they cannot give peace, yet they may get it: and although they cannot settle it on earth, they may seek it from heaven: and they have this of Gods own mind, for their encouragement; that he thinks thoughts of peace towards them, and to give them an expected end, Esa. 29. ver. 11. and what is at any time most improbable to sense is visible to faith. And my present vision is a ladder reaching from heaven to earth, and this ladder is Christ, by whom all our prayers have their passage to the Throne of grace: and their rich and faithful returns made from God's Treasury to supply all our wants. Which hath put me upon this design in the travel of my soul, and I wish my words might have their passage through a river of tears, and every sentence be swaddled up in sackcloth; and one, and all of us appear on this ladder as vile as dust and ashes: that in his glorious interest we might in this season be found prevailers with God for this sweet mercy of Peace, in relation to Your Majesty, and your three poor lasserated, distracted Kingdoms: And as I have not valued my life, so will I never think much of my labour, although Pioneer-like to cast in any matter as rubbish, and myself as dirt and clay to make up these Nationall breaches. And of all effective means I find none more speeding than prayer, Esay 29.11,12,13. Then shall you call upon me, and you shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you: and you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart. And if ever it were seasonable, now, yea now is God's time, now your time, now it's our time, now its high time, now, or it may be at no time. Now than if ever: and now although never: now what ever you do, nay, now what ever you leave undone, let all that have interest in God through Jesus Christ, become importunate petitioners, and hearty pray, Now the very God of peace, give you, with him, with us, Peace, always, by all moans. Thus hover up and down upon the waters, I have at last made discovery of an Olive Branch; and what we see by faith, the Lord assist us, as upon instruments in our several actings, to convey on the wing of prayer to the poor Ark, the Church of God, blown up and down by the tempestuous winds of Heresy, and Malignancy, that it may at last have hopes to settle on mount Ararat: and be firmly established as mount Zion. And having this Olive branch in my mouth, give me leave to show you the several sprigs of it: which will yield fruit, to provoke our spiritual appetites; and such oil as will not only replenish our lamps, to light us to Christ, the Prince of Peace, but possess us of such inward enjoyments as hence forward to walk with a cheerful countenance: as possessed with it. This Olive branch hath two more eminent sprigs: The first is, Peace its opportunity, Now The second is Peace its gaining, in this season: by importunity, by all means. Or if you please to have it in smaller parcels, you have First, its season to be prayed for, Now. Secondly, the Donor, The Lord of peace give you Peace. Thirdly, the Donum, Peace. Fourthly, the Excellency of God's peace above all other peace it is an always peace, and an everlasting peace. Observation, And now I hope you see that seasonable and importunate prayer to God by Christ is a sure way to obtain a well-grounded and lasting, yea, an everlasting Peace. The learned can tell you that there is no bodily action betwixt hic & nunc: and therefore the acting this duty will admit of no delay. Now, that's the season. Quere, I but why such haste? Sol. When I shall but tell you what peace is in the general, and show you the distinct members, you will be satisfied; nay, not satisfied without it. In the general, Peace is the well-being of all other enjoyments; all other mercies suck their livelihood at the breast of peace: It is the Mother of all prosperity, in relation to Arts, Sciences, Trades, all flourish or whither in peace her presence or absence. It is the Milch-nurse of Religion, it thrives not in divisions nor contentions, Act. 12. When the Church had peace, it increased exceedingly, did you ever know a body with all the members out of joint, thrive? when one is for Paul, another for Apollo's, and a third for Cephas, few or none, more than formally, follow Jesus Christ. It is but one word, but it is big-bellyed with many, many mercies, Peace crownes the years with goodness, and her paths drop fatness. It is, or should be, the felicity of the Saints on earth, and the glory of the Angels in Heaven. The Jews custom was, when they wished all happiness, they used only this expression, Peace be with you. There is something in this to affect us towards it, that all our endeavours, Counsels, Examples may act to this end. I am sure it was David's practice to pray for peace for the Church: when he might have preferred his own ease, and Kingship, Psal. 51.18. Be favourable to Zion, build up the walls of Jerusalem, then shalt thou accept the sacrifices of righteousness. q.d. he will accept of no services in divisions. Moses practice was for this, David's counsel, Paul's studies were bend to remove divisions, and settle order and peace in the Church of God, 2 Tim. 2.23,24. Avoid foolish questions, the servants of the Lord must not strive: Satan is best known by his cloven foot: And the Pythagorians have set a note of infamy on the figure of two: because it first parts from unity. To conclude in general, as the life of old Jacob was laid up in the life of the lad Benjamin, so all our happiness is inmantled in this: Peace with our God, and with one another. More Particularly, Peace is distinguished by these three notions, Externall, Internal, Eternal. It is of very large extent in Scripture. First, I find it used to express the making up of that great breach betwixt God and Man, Christ reconciling us to God, is styled our Peacemaker: For he is our peace Ephes. 2.14. Who hath made both one, 15 having abolished in his flesh the enmity. Rom. 5.1. Being justified by faith, we have peace with God. Secondly. For quietness in conscience which is a fruit of this peace. Rom. 14.17. when the come of his smiling mercies on the soul, when the storm of our contracted guilt is over, and a sweet calm in the Spirit that we may see his face. Thirdly For mutual concord betwixt man and man. Phil. 4.2,3. Forbearing one another in Love, Endeavouring to Keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Psal. 34.14. Depart from evil, do good, seek peace and pursue it. And had I time whilst I am on this subject I could desire to melt into tears, and present You with the sad actings of these times, obvious to my own experience. Fourthly. For the presence of all outward blessings and mercies to a people. Ephes. 6.23. Peace be to the brethren. Which how fare from us we all know: and therefore full time to make towards them in the travels of our souls. Fifthly, For the public tranquillity and quiet estate of a Church when not troubled within, by blasphemies, schisms, and heresies, nor without by persecuting enemies, Psal. 122.6. O pray for the peace of jerusalem. Acts 9.31. Then had the Church's rest (or peace) throughout all judea and Gallile and Samaria & were edified, walking in the fear of the Lord and comfort of the Holy Ghost, and were multiplied. Sixtly. For the Tranquillity of the State when free from foreign and civil war 2 Kings 20.19. said good King Hezekiah is it not good if Peace and Truth be in my days; jer. 9.7 seek the peace of the City. etc. Seaventhly. Security from alarms, all Arms, and dangerous effects of war: In the peace thereof you shall have peace. Eightly, For an happy union by way of Covenant before God betwixt the King and his people. 2 Chro. 15. And they entered into Covenant to seek the Lord God of their Fathers with all their heart, and soul, and all judah rejoiced at the oath and he was found of them, and the Lord gave them peace round about, which the Lord persuade your heart unto, this day, for jesus Christ sake. And thus have I shown you the sprigs of this branch: and the pathway for a sound peace and the extent of Peace in the duty of prayer in this opportunity. First▪ Now God be friends with every one of you in ●esus Christ. Secondly. The Lord give you peace in conscience; a demonstration of it, make your conscience friends with you. Thirdly. make you friends one with another. Fourthly. Multiply all blessings on you inward and out ward. Fifthly send quieT in the Church. Sixtly send quiet in the State and Kingdom from enemies. Seaventhly. Send freedom from alarms and ease from taxes etc. Eightly. A mutual agreement and covenant betwixt King and people. And thus have you the sprigs extended, I now come to the season foregoeing all; this prescribed: Now you may review the Observation. That seasonable and importunate prayer to God through Christ is a sure way to obtain the gift of a firm settled and well grounded peace with God and man. You are to know; I therefore add seasonable prayer, because there are as well unseasonable, as unreasonable prayers abroad in the world: it was the folly of the Virgins that they cried Lord Lord open unto us so late: there is a season wherein God gives this gift and there is a season wherein he will not give it. There is a time for every thing, but there is an end of that time: There is a time when God is near, and a time when he is fare off. Esay. 55 Omnia tempus habent, and as true in this season omnis qui querit invenit, The Prophet preaching before King Manasses prays him to seek while he may be found, call whilst he is near, in some time if Moses, Noah, Santuel, should pray he will not grant. Oh that we had the art to hit this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this joint of time, I pray consider that place in Luke 19.41,42. If thou hadst known, even thou at least in this thy day, but now these things are hid from thine eyes. You cannot have roses in winter, when the Angel moved the waters than was the nick of time to step in: else they might lie long enough for a healing: when the Lord said seek my face, then King David's soul Echoed Lord thy face do I seek. To miss a tide or a wind, is to lose a voyage; in the 2 Cant. The Church drousily neglecting her season in the 3 Chap. Seeks it night and day, but ver. 1,2. found him not, Stephanus is his apology for Herodotus reports the practice of the warlike Scythian upon his tender of quarter aptly. Truly our season and time of prayer for Peace is but like the Jews feasts some lasted longer than others, yet none all the year. Sentences have their periods: I and ut sententiae, sic regna. The old world had a season of one hundred and twenty years, Israel in the Wilderness but forty years was he grieved with that generation in Luke 13. but three years to the figtree under the Gospel: so you see as means hath been more excellent; the season hath been shorter. Not that it is in the power of man to shorten it, but in sin to provoke God to do it. Our season hath pant, and yet life in it, although not health, the Lord hear our prayers to recover it out of its fits of convulsion: Is there no Balm in Gilliad, that will do it? 2 Chron. 7.14. If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, I will forgive their sin and heal their land. 1. Argument The season of Peace, and the seasonable praying for Peace, hath been prescribed, limited, and terminated to all that have gone before us, in relation to Persons, Kings, or Kingdoms: Esau's season past, he could never get a return of the blessing although sought with tears: The Gadarens could never get Christ over their water more; Nor the jews a second season as yet to learn Christ, lo I go to the Gentiles Esa. 6. Osea 3.4. I have forsaken my house, I have left my heritage: The Monarchy of the Babylonians and Syrians was transferred to the Medes and Persians, The Macedonians to the Romans, The Empire of Constantinople to the Ottoman Family: Joshua took ten stones out of Jordan and put other ten in the room of them. Secondly, It is but just with God, if none find any want of this precious jewel, to shut up his cabinet, and see who will seek after it: God always substracts his mercies when they prove not useful to us, or we ungrateful for them: God knows as well how to take them from us, as tender them to us, Hosea 2.3.9. Thirdly, In relation to the Giver there can be but a season expected: It is the Mighty God King of Kings, unto whom all the Nations of the earth are but as a drop of a bucket, etc. It becomes not Majesty to wait long upon the tender of their favours, the Lord will give inward peace, and outward peace; but he will seasonably be sought to for it: It is no dishonour for the greatest Monarch to attend his Majesty, but unbecoming him to wait a moment, on the greatest earthly Prince: David esteemed it the height of his ambition to be a door keeper, undervalue not then; to be a receiver and in capacity to enjoy his favour, Use of Exhortation If this be so that we have but a Now for it: I beseech you support your drooping souls, because although near yet is not our season past, for yet we hear of peace from the criers of peace in public: God hath not yet forbidden us with Jeremiah not to cry peace unto you: cry for peace with me. Nay secondly, by a strange kind of working on the heart, his messenger's day and night seek peace for the three Kingdoms and your Majesty at the throne of grace, you are hearty presented by many thousands of religious conscientious, holy, faithful, Subjects in both Kingdoms for peace to your soul etc. nor hath the Lord stopped our mouths as Jeremiah's 11.14. as yet to say to us pray not &c. Yea, Thirdly, the conditions of Peace, and the Lords Propositions to be reconciled to him, are by his faithful messengers presented and by many accepted of; the Lord incline your Majesty's heart to sign for ever, his and your Kingdoms good. Yea, it is your people's hopes that you will with the Sun of righteousness gloriously arise with healing and peace under your wings, to your three Kingdoms, all sore wounded, and in blood. This door of hope opened let all our seasonable prayers be presented for this blessing of Peace: ply this work hearty I beseech you. 1. Motive, you have but a Now sor it, much of the season spent; a great journey and little time puts upon expedition and design; David's former experience of the misery of war puts him upon the design of of Prayer for Peace: Psal. 122. O pray, saith he, for the peace of Jerusalem, and he plies it night and day, Finis operationis est opus. 2 Motive, There is yet Peace to be had for his people, and although with Joseph, for a time, he hath spoken ruffely unto us, Gen. 45.1. yet I am confident he yernes in his bowels to us; he cannot contain himself longer, ere he reveal himself unto us; and although the Cup of affliction hath been for a time inour sack's mouth, yet in the end it shall produce good, to us Isa. 63.8,9. He will not cast off his people; when they rebelled he was wrath, yet he said, Surely they are my people, I am their Saviour: Wherefore I beseech you as the dumb son of Croesus when he saw his Father about to be slain, though never before broke silence, and cried out violently, the strings of his tongue being loosed, Kill not King Croesus; so upon the vision of the sad actings of these times, break silence and seasonably, every one cry out, Now the Lord of Peace himself give you peace always, by all means. Thirdly, Because we are all sharers in the Church and Kingdom's peace, more or less: every owner prays and looks after the safety of the ship, the Church of God is the ship, wherein our great joint stock of Religion is embarked, and we all bear a great adventure. It is at this day on a hazardous voyage, many seeming friends by their colours, ready to betray it: and what betwixt the Rocks of superstition and Idolatry, and the quicksands of blasphemy, schism, and heresy, it steers sadly, we, nor our posterity, cannot stand after the loss; it will be their undoing for ever: therefore now pray. Think it sad to poison a pond, but a river much more: Oh think of your posterity what truths streamed to us in our Father's blood, the Martyrs, let it run to our posterity in ours, or tears: and let us protest against blasphemy and errors: for jarring in Jerusalem is a sad and prodigious Omen: when the worshippers in Jerusalem were divided, the common enemy prevailed, Jer. 7.28. This is a Nation that receiveth not discipline, truth is perished from them, clean gone out of their mouths: then read ver. 33. Then I will cause to cease from the Cities of Judah and Jerusalem, the voice of mirth and gladness, the land shall be desolate. Jer. 8.19. The cry of the daughter of my people is great, for fear of them of a fare Country: Nay further, that you may see the necessity of seasonable prayer, you may observe, our Saviour makes it a sign of the eternal ruin of the world, Mat. 24.1,2,3. They say, Master what sign wilt thou give us? Take heed none deceive you, for many shall come in my name, and deceive many. Many shall betray one another, hate one another, etc. See Deut. 28.47,48,49,50. The divisions amongst the Primitive Christians in the Eastern Churches, gave the Turk an opportunity to make them his vassals: when the Divines of Bohemia, and Germany, fell to discord, it proved a sad time, and when the Pelagians had made their faction strong, they set the whole Kingdom in a combustion: The Lord give us deliverance from all factions and fractions from the truth of Jesus Christ. Fourthly it is an honourable design, and such become Christians, it is noble to do good to one with the Samaritan; but to do good to a nation; nay three nations, is Heroical and well becomes Majesty. Therefore now pray, yea excite all from Dan to Bersheba, and let it be your motion to set apart a day of fasting and prayer that no apple of contention may grow in our Paradise of God his Church. Every blessed action becometh you; this is not only blessed in itself, but makes you blessed: Beati pacifici is entailed upon you. Now as peace in Religion is the greatest blessing to a Kingdom, so to beget or conserve this peace makes a man most blessed in a Kingdom: and it is my souls desire you may be yet blessed of God and of your faithful people. Fifth Motive. Our relation, yea near relation to the Church and State, it is of us, we of it: The hurt of it will be our hurt: the blood shed in war, our blood, wounds our wounds. It is a sad spectacle and moves much for a Captain or Commander in Chief to see but a forlorn hope or a few scouts come off in blood; but to see a field spread with dead bodies like dung as of late times, a piercing calamity. For a tender mother to see, not a child, but all her children sick, puts her to an extacy of grief, and importunity to seek remedy: and that is the second sprig of this Olive Branch: viz. That seasonable and importunate prayer to God, through Christ, is a sure means to obtain a firm lasting and well grounded peace. And first I should discover to you what I mean by importunity, and in a word, it is a prayer that will take no nay of God; that if bare ask will not serve we will seek, if that do not obtain; we will be so bold as to knock; that will not be put off with primitive silence, or positive denial, or any contumelious reproach; knowing well, as I said before, that Finis operationis est opus for Zions sake will not hold his peace, nor for jerusalems' sake give God no rest, till he make it the praise of the earth. And truly we had sped sooner had we prayed better; not that prayer merits it, but it's God's means to obtain it. There are several defects in prayer; and there are six, or seven sorts which will stand us in little stead. First, A Lazy prayer, God cannot away to have men reporters, when they should be Petitioners. Secondly, Empty Prayers that are not full, for prayer is a pouring out of the whole hearth to God. Psal. 62.8. Now many power out their wants, but not their sins, men should pour out their prayers like water not like Tar, the greatest part sticking behind. Thirdly, Snatched prayer, many give God a rag of prayer, fitting your prayers to your businesses, not a Kingdoms miseries: or pressing necessities, etc. Fourthly, Silent prayers, neglecting that in our prayer which God looks we should insist on, Ps, 32. David is said to roar for the disquietness of his heart & and yet was silent in relation to his bloodshed. Fifthly, Seldom prayers, An Hypocrite can sometimes pray, but a good Christian prays continually, Dan. 3. Sixthly, Lukewarm prayers, Prayers that can never boil out the scum of sin or take away the rawness of our fleshly part, Quifrigide orat oupit negari, though you make many, Esa. 7. Seventhly, By-thoughted Prayers, like that unworthy Orator, invocating heaven, looking to the Earth, but in this case do as Abraham, Gen. 15.11. when the birds pecked his sacrifice, he hushed them away, so do thou, that thy prayers may prove an acceptable service through Jesus Christ. Quere, Sir, pray what need so much importunity? Sol. First, in relation to God's Majesty, as in Ezekiel 36. from ver. 23. to ver. 27. The Lord shows his people in misery, rich mercies, and full compensations, that he hath in his hands, but yet read ver. 27. Thus saith the Lord God, I will yet for all this be inquired after by the house of Israel to do it for them, etc. We have an homely Proverb, It is an ill dog that is not worth a whistle. We find little want of, and less esteem, that mercy we omit in prayer. Princes freely contribute their favours, but to Petitioners. And God is the King of Kings: and I am yet buoy up with hope, having hitherto rid out this storm, on a good ground, with the Sheare-Anchor of Faith, that God will by all our evils refine us, not ruin us; correct us, not destruct us; and bring us all a precious and refined people, out of all our devouring flames, both gracious and glorious. Secondly, in relation to mercy: mercy appears best when we blazen out our misery: it is a disgrace to mercy to come on the wing of lazy prayer, Herculii duri celebrant Labores: Samuel shall be dedicated to God, that is, obtained by prayer, and that mercy made much of, and hugged in the bosom, that is obtained with the passion of the heart. Thirdly, In relation to ourselves: we would soon slight mercy if easily granted, Esa. 44.23. Soon gotten, soon forgotten: who prodigal away their estates sooner than they that never sweat to gain a penny? jer. 31.9. They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: as a gentleman leads a beggar: that penny that a man hath begged for all day, is not commonly idly spent away: so if your Majesty and your three Kingdoms can but work out their peace with God by prayer it will be the sweetest mercy that ever lay upon the palates of our souls: It will relish our spirits after all our bitter potions we have taken to physic us. 2 Quere Why are not men more importunate in prayer? Sol. Because most are Romanists in this point and esteem prayer a penance, an irksome thing: Mal. 1.13. Behold you say what a weariness it is? ye have snuffed at it saith the Lord. A man can never be found abounding in that is tedious to him to perform, we must count prayer a blessing if ever we will do good on it. Blessings are highly prized: I beseech you set a high price on this kind of prayer. 2 Many are Formalists, and like the Peach, that hath a ragged stone under a smooth skin: so many, under fair and specious shows and pretences, have strange self ends, sinful ends and much raggedness of Spirit. Now if I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear my prayer. Thirdly, Men are gentlemen-beggers, they are loath to have the world know they want, or would be beholding to any, stand often upon this punctilio of Honour till they starve, so of old; have not we Abraham to our Father why should we be beholding to this Carpenter's son? Men are loath to be beholding to God through Christ: and truly none are so miserable as they that hid their misery: now it is good to move pity to spread our miserable condition before the Lord, and if ever there were more miserable visions since man's fall then the evils of our times, I appeal, to urge God to heal and help us. Fourthly, Men have strange conceits of prayer: mean conceits of sin, a wrong conceit of God, and a base conceit of importunity, which I am enforced but to hint in relation to my time and this presence. 3 Querie, Wither our prayers have beeve, or are prayers of Importunity? Sol. If thou in the fashion and Image of thy soul have the stamp of jesus Christ. It is in all petitioning a great matter who petitions: the Spirit of supplication is called the Spirit of Grace: Vnumquodque operatur ut est. The prayer of Moses a man of God: mala conscientia bene spirare non potest. Secondly, It is the prayer of a pure conscience: it was of old writ over the door of the Temple, let no impure conscience enter here: all such petitioners were to weak to wing it above the clouds, their prayers might well beat the air but never arrive to Knock at the throne of Grace: the activity and strength of prayer, as grounded on Christ's merits, still runs strongest in the channel of a good conscience. Thirdly, It is a prayer full of reason, job 23.1,2,3,4. I will fill my mouth with arguments. A good Orator before God is a good Logician: show God reason either from himself, in relation to his promises, or faithfulness, or in jesus Christ etc. 4. It is a stout courageous prayer that will never give over but in victory, either with supply or support: In Scripture it is called Wrestling with God, it is such a prayer as hath its affections rather inflamed then a bated by disdains and denials, Mark 7.24. It may in a holy sense be called an impudent prayer, Luke 5.19. That man sees such necessity that being crowded out will come to Christ, or untile the house. And thus have I given you the reasons why we must pray for peace seasonably, Secondly, why we must pray importunately, and what importunity in relation to prayer is in its imperfections; and perfection: I come now to show you the fountain from whom we must, by this prayer, fetch this great mercy of a safe and well grounded peace. It is from the God of peace, or Prince of peace: from God through jesus Christ: Note I pray. It is Jesus Christ is the sweet rise of all our rich mercies; especially of this of peace, Esay 11.1. and Chap. 12. all those mercies in the 11 and 12 Chapter. which they were to enjoy, flourish and spring forth of the root of Jesse: And indeed peace is not a mercy if it come not from this fountain: you may call meteors stars, but they are of a more viscous substance that fire by an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in and out immediately: you, if ignorant may think a skinning over to be a cure but it will break out again. 2 Sam. 11 Amnon thought he enjoyed prosperity when he was feasting, but then death was present. 2 Sam. 3.27. Abner thought all was peace when joab took him aside & spoke quietly to him, but then he smote him under the fifth rib that he died, For Asabel his brother. It is a sweet thing when afflictions arise from God's love, and lead us to Jesus Christ for deliverance from them. There are varieties of mercies, and degrees of those varieties: Christ is the first step and the highest of those degrees: and we ought not to be satisfied till we have them from the love of God in Christ. It was a great and rare vision, jacob's ladder. Every step was a mercy above another, but that which ravished Jacob was, that they came from God by the way of Jesus Christ the Ladder. First, in relation to Reality of Peace in him, it is Yea and Amen, and an always Peace. Other peaces are mere Spectrums, shadows, apparitions, like Sodoms' apples, appear beautiful to the eye, touch it, it vanisheth to dust. Like a candle, gives light for a time, but goes out in a stink. This is as a house built on a rock, others as on a foundation of sand. I beseech you now lay a good foundation on God's Peace. Secondly, in relation to the discovery of peace; there is no light but the light that ●…mes from the Sun of righteousness, by which we can see the excellency of it, as to desire it, or to receive it, In his light we see light. If we see it not come streaming in his blood, it is not a well-grounded Peace. It comes as from an enemy to an enemy. And as heaven itself would not be heaven, if Christ were not present: so will Peace be no peace, if Christ be not the Original of it. The glory of the Mount was Christ's presence. Thirdly, we have no right or title to Peace, but by him. There was no mercy founded for us before Jesus Christ. All that share in it are usurpers: now what is it to wear rich apperell and own for it liable to arrests every moment? and to enjoy peace and to account for it to God for eternity? Fourthly, If we look to the workings of mercy; for unless we have them from this fountain, no mercy can be sanctified unto us. Peace itself will harden, not soften: we shall abuse it, not rightly use it: it fat's us to wrath, not feeds us to perfection. Men may rise from a sick bed, and a bed of war, but they cannot go away and sin no more: They cannot take up their couch and follow Christ: they may promise fair, but are not able to perform but upon this ground. Fiftly, He made it his design from all eternity to be so; and all the accumulated excellencies and riches, that he received in the Godhead of his father, he laid out and expended to this very end; that he might be the means to convey peace from God the father to us, for he needed none for himself. Use of Exhortation. To all in the practice of this duty of seasonable and importunate prayer to design by the activity of faith: First to discover Jesus Christ, look out for Christ as Mariners at Sea for a Landmark to their Port: Where they are to lad Riches for a good Voyage: If you can see the Fountain, water is at hand. If you can see the Sun, there is light to guide you in the way: See Christ, Peace will come easily: you need not question lower favours. God will never stick to give your Majesty, or England Peace, if he give you the Prince of Peace, this is but as the Earnest to the Bargain: Settle, Christ in the three Kingdoms, and you settle Peace I'll warrant you, and all blessings needful below him: This will make Gospel, Peace, and Truth, Staple Commodities: But if Naomi go out of the Country, Ruth will not stay behind. If Christ ascend in a Cloud, the Disciples will be gazing upward, and restless till they be with him. Riches, honour, etc. all are at his heels, and there are that follow the Lamb where ever he goeth. Use of Direction Why are ye so dejected? why are your souls cast down and disquieted within you? what is it you want? in this juncture of time would any of you have peace? would you have it? seek it seasonably, and importunately in the way of Jesus Christ: I dare assure you your wants: if you can but get to this Joseph, fear not in a famine thy sacks filling: his love, (although disquieted with frowns at present,) cannot send desiring hungry souls after peace empty away. Col. 1.19. It's God's pleasure we should come to this fountain for them, they have taken up their abode there, nor can you show me in any time a seeking soul that ever lost his labour, He ever affords us supplement or supportment. He may try us for a time but at last, with Joseph, will long to manifest his love and self to us. Doth your Majesty want council what to do in cases of difficulty? how to steer the great ship in this storm? I direct you to him whose name is Counsellor. Do you want pardoning mercy? in his fullness is all you want. Doth any man want grace to carry him through temptations? why his grace is sufficient for thee. Truly the defect is not in God, nor in Jesus Christ, goodness, kindness, but in our unfaithfulness: That Hagar thirsted the fault was not in the well, but in her eyes that could not see it: There was no want in God's assistance to his people, but the Prophet's servants eyes, that could not see more with them, than against them. There was no less Love, Peace, Glory, Beauty, and Riches in Jesus Christ when Saul persecuted him, then when he preached him; but the scales were on his eyes. Illust. As there is the same light and heat in the Sun at all times, although dead men feel it not, nor blind men see not. So there is the same love in Christ to give us peace. Why then should we neglect so great salvation. I beseech you follow after it with holiness, without which you cannot see God. First Motive He doth not only permit us as Laban permitted Jacob to love fair Rachel, but commands us to seek after him; call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver you: you shall glorify me, Ask, seek, knock: If a child ask a father a fish will he give him a Scorpion? nay he expects, invites, entreats, etc. First Illustration Yea: as the visible Sun toucheth every thing with its lively heat, and as the common lover of that below, doth impart unto them requifite vigour to produce: so doth Jesus Christ. I confess of ourselves we can never attain to get peace: For naturally it is with us as with Aristotle's reported bird called Apodes, whose legs are so short they cannot use them, if once they light on the ground, they are not able to take flight, or to raise themselves on their feet: but remain puling and dying; unless the power of some wind, with a blast, bear them up; and then they make use of their wings. We are naturally like these birds in relation to our flight to Jesus Christ for any mercy, till his spirit as wind act us to him. Second Illustration Then as the unhooded Hawk, having got her prey in view, doth suddenly launch herself upon the wing, and being held in her leech struggles upon the hand with extreme ardour. So faith, having drawn the veil of ignorance, and got a discovery of the sovereign good of peace, cannot be satisfied but in seeking after it in Christ: and as tears, were David's practice so long as God seemed to be absent: so prayer is their daily practice, their obedience echoing to God's command, till they do enjoy this peace. 2 Motive, Because if you practise seasonable and importunate prayer this way; you may be sure although you presently have not a return of your prayer in the present enjoyment of a settled peace; if you have it not, he will be with you in your trouble and afflictions as he was in the flaming bush and with the three children in the furnace. They lost nothing by it, they appear most glorious in it: If the waters increase, the Ark and all in it get nearer heaven by it, there's all the inconvenience. Yea the time shall come that you shall say with David, It is good for me that I was so afflicted; All this shall work for the best, when once you are interressed in the Prince of Peace. Therefore now if ever, I beseech you with the pressing desires of my soul to lay this sure foundation of peace, through Jesus Christ, with your God; and hearty, and joyfully incline to spell out Gods own meaning in all the actings of his providence, that shall as means be presented to you from your great and faithful Councillors, for the framing out and perfecting that glorious Architect that may make you as glorious to posterity, as Solomon for building a house for his God, and may be a shelter for the people of God in your three Kingdoms; and the defence of you and your posterity from the violent storms of foreign enemies; which that you may with all cheerfulness act, as an Eminent Instrument in this opportunity, Let us all with all importunity seek God with humble and sincere Spirits. FINIS.