A FIREBRAND PLUCKED OUT OF THE BURNING. A SERMON PREACHED AT Margaret's Westminster, before the Honourable House of Commons, at their late solemn Fast, Novemb. 27. 1644. By Benjamin Pikering, Minister of God's Word at Buckstead in Sussex: and a Member of the Assembly of Divines. Published by Order of the said House. Jer. 50.33, 34. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: The children of Israel, and the children of Judah were oppressed together, and all that took them captives, held them fast, they refused to let them go. Their Redeemer is strong. The LORD of hosts is his Name, he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon. LONDON, Printed by I. L. for Philemon Stephens, and Samuel Gellibrand in Paul's Churchyard. 1645. Die Mercurii 27. Novem. 1644. ORdered by the Commons Assembled in Parliament: That Master Sallowey, and Master Knightley, do from this House give thanks to Master Pikering, and Master Gipps, for the great pains they took in the Sermons they preached this day at the entreaty of this House, at S. Margaret's Westminster: It being the day of Public Humiliation; and to desire them to Print their Sermons. And it is Ordered that none shall presume to Print their or either of their Sermons without leave under their or either of their Handwriting. H. Elsying Cler. Parl. D. Com. I Appoint Philemon Stephens, and Samuel Gellibrand, to print this Sermon. BEN. PIKERING. TO THE HONOURABLE House of Commons, Assembled in Parliament. HOnourable Senators, Your patiented attention unto, and thankful acceptance of my undeserving pains in this Sermon (now according to your Order printed, and in all humility presented unto you) emboldens me again to reinforce my exhortation that you would be of good courage, and go on zealously to work with God, until he be pleased to make you and all God's people happy and blessed in ordaining peace, perfecting Reformation, and working all your works for you. Nothing is so prejudicial to your proceed, nothing so much hinders good things from us, as many grievous provoking sins in the midst of us. Hence is it that when peace and freedom with Truth in purity have been flowing in toward us as a River, the Lord hath caused them as jordan to be driven backwards: the night seemed to be passed, and the day of the glorious Gospel with peace on earth seemed to spread itself over us; but now the shadows are again stretched out, black clouds hang over our heads, still threatening a day of darkness and gloominess. The profaneness and incorrigibleness of the multitude declare that we are ripe for judgement, indisposed and unfit for such mercies as have been ever since the happy beginning of your sitting tendering themselves unto us: The vitals of this Kingdom are fearfully distempered, the whole head is sick and the whole heart faint: Our sinful distempers threaten the dissolution of the whole body: Therefore through the wrath of the Lord of Hosts is the Land darkened, and the people are as fuel for fire, and their carcases lie torn in the midst of the streets: for all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. Certainly it will be acceptable to God, available to the healing of the Land, and reducing us to a fitness for Reformation, if you could, as you have begun, set up a faithful Ministry, and establish judgement and justice in the Gates. If judgement had its free course in City and Country, the course of God's judgements would determine. Let your zeal for the Lord burn; and this burning which the Lord hath kindled would be quenched. Phinehas stood up and executed judgement, and the plague ceased. Let not the sons of Belial say, There is no law now: Let them not be as when there was no King in Israel, every man doing that which was right in his own eyes: let them know that the Kingly power resides in his High Court of Parliament. Let your terror be on all the wicked: bring the wheel upon them, or make them flee into desolate places to cut up the mallows by the bushes, Job 30. and Juniper roots for their meat. If iniquity were purged and the wicked took away, God would leave off melting, Jer. 6. Satan would be rebuked, the enemies unarmed: no weapon form against you should prosper. Every known sin suffered amongst us, if not prevented nor punished by you, will be as yours, and will give the enemy advantages: Greg. Moral. 10. ●. 20. Therefore some think that Satan is said to stand at Ioshua's right hand, and so of his fellow reformers, as having just accusation, and therefore too hard for joshua and his fellows: Nam dextra fortius aliquid & majus significat: to this purpose they bring that in the 109. Psalm, Let Satan stand at his right hand, and thus expound it: fac ut Satan in judicio superiores habeat parts: The reason why they thus thought was, because joshua did not carefully oversee and instruct the people in Babylon; he was not zealous in exciting to the building of God's Temple: And although we read not that he was faulty in marrying a strange woman, (as some say, (but without Scripture) he did) yet this was accounted his sin that his brethren and sums by his neglect or sufferance had done so, Rabb. & Hieron. As Sanctius hath it. Ezra 10. Thus fare this is useful; to excite you to prevent sin in others, and to take away occasion from all that seek occasion either to asperse, or hinder your pious proceed in building the Lords House, and setting up his Worship and Ordinances in purity: O be careful lest the Adversary get advantage; for you are not ignorant of his devices. justice's also requires that you should make speed to hear and to relieve the innocent that cry to heaven, that cry to you as Gods on earth; let not their eyes fail with waiting. Be zealous for Christ's cause: delay not to establish his government and discipline with vigour: proceed so on in your reforming and treating, that glory may dwell in our Land; that mercy and truth, righteousness and peace may meet together, and kiss each other. Let your wisdom find out a way so, that for circumstantial differences there be no rent made by those who are one body: The wisdom which is from above, which is pure and peaceable, so direct you, that you may take away all pretences of separation or schism; that every mouth may be stopped, that brethren may dwell together in unity, serving the Lord with one shoulder; that the God of love and peace may be amongst us. Your religious approbation, and expediting of the Directory for God's worship, is no small refreshing to the spirits of all the godly: you have gone fare, but forget the things that are behind, and press on toward the mark: So long as the jewish bvilders and reformers minded more themselves and their own houses then the House of God, Satan prevailed by the King's wicked Counselors in Babylon, and the Samaritancs about judea, to hinder their counsels and endeavours: you have given good proof that you exalt God, and prefer his glory with the hazard of the depressing of yourselves and yours. (The Lord is faithful who will not forget your unparallelled zeal and labour of love) Continue in your integrity, and the Lord will continue a Sun and shield to you; Psal. 105.14. he will for your sakes rebuke Princes; he will rebuke Satan and all his malignant Instruments, that they shall be as still as a stone: Although Satan be at your right hand, fear not, so long as our Mediator sits at the right hand of God: fear not, if you (with joshua) stand before the Angel of the Covenant: continue to stand before him as your Master whose work you are about, expecting what he will prescribe, or enjoin. Continue in his work, that you may be found so doing; so acquit yourselves, that he may say, Well done good and faithful servants, you have been faithful in all my house, enter into your Master's joy. Stand before this Angels as your judge, to whom in all your just proceed you may appeal and have relief. Stand before him as your Advocate, who hath undertaken the Patronage of your righteous cause, and the promoting of your pious undertake in heaven with his Father; there he speaks good; there he pleads for you: and the Lord will answer him with good words, and comfortable words concerning you, and concerning his jerusalem. To his powerful Patronage, constant care, and gracious guidance, you and all your weighty Affairs are commended in the daily prayers of Your most unworthy, but faithful and humble servant, BEN. PIKERING. A SERMON PREACHED AT Margaret's Westminster, before the Honourable House of COMMONS, at their late Solemn Fast, Novemb. 27. 1644. Zach. 3. latter part vers. 2. Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? IT is the Lords pleasure that the condition of his Church many times should be such, as the Prophet expresseth: I beheld the earth, and lo, it was without form and void: Jer. 4.23. and the heavens had no light. Thus it was with God's people in the Babylonish captivity: Heaven and Earth, Church and Commonwealth, were in a confusion. It is the Lords goodness to have respect to his people in such extremities, and when all is in a Chaos, to stir up helps and ways to a new Creation of this heaven and earth. The God of the spirits of all flesh, for this end stirs up the spirit of Cyrus, to give way, and of Zerubbabel, joshua, Ezra, and Nehemiah, to revive the stones out of the rubbish to build the City and Temple, and to set up the true worship and pure ordinances of God. It is observable, that the best undertake, meet with greatest discouragements▪ As these Builders and Reformers did; both from the King's Courtiers and Malignant neighbours, stirred up by the Devil: Therefore lest they should faint and be weary, lest their spirits should fail, the Lord sends encouragements by his Prophets, Haggai, and Zachary. Ezra 5.1. The like oppositions (much Honoured) you have had, and such encouragements the Lord hath not been wanting in to you. This Prophet Zachary: First, to fit and dispose the people for mercy, exhorteth to repentance: Thus is a people prepared for the Lord. Secondly, by sevetall visions, the Lord first showeth how he had dealt with them, that is, with moderation, not according to their deserts, but in measure and much mercy, Chap. 1. & 2. Secondly, for their comfort, he declareth how he would deal with them, Chap. 3. & 7. that is, he would deal graciously with them, if they would turn to him, and build his Temple, and set up his worship and ordinances in their purity. In this third Chapter, is set down the fourth vision, which the Lord manifested to this Prophet, that is, joshua the high Priest, and Satan standing at his right hand. In joshua the high Priest, a type of Christ, is set out the restauration of the Church, and Priesthood, and true worship. He stood before the Angel of the Lord, that is, the second person of the Trinity, called the Angel of the Covenant, and vers. 2. of this Chapter, jehovah, attending his commands, expecting his aid: he was in vile raiment, not as the high Priest of old; though the Priesthood and Church be in a vile despicable condition, you see it is in Christ's eye, he hath care of it. Satan an adversary stands at his right hand to resist. The devil will still be hindering the acting hand in the things of God: Our Saviour found it so, when first he entered upon the work of a Mediator, and Saint Paul, in his pious intentions: Matth. 4. 1 Thess. 1. Satan hindered us. The Devil hateth all Divine Order and pure Ordinances, therefore he resists joshua, in whom the Priesthood and Divine worship were restored. Hence vers. 3. the Lord is pleased to grant a threefold encouragement to joshua and the rest, which is also a threefold discouragement to the adversary. First, The Lord hath chosen jerusalem, and the Ministry appointed to gather and build up his people: and the Lord by deliverance of his people hath manifested his election: therefore he will not forsake those whom he hath chosen: Gods choosing is loving, jacob have I loved. Whom God loves he loves to the end: therefore fear not. Secondly, The Son of God undertakes the Patronage of his Church, he prayeth for them, he makes intercession to jehovah God the Father: jehovah said, jehovah rebuke thee: and observing the reduplication, the Lord rebuke thee, even the Lord that hath chosen jerusalem rebuke thee, we may see vehemency of affection in our Mediator toward his Church and chosen: he was heard always whilst he was upon earth: Joh. 11. Father I know thou hearest me always. Therefore now he is at the right hand of God he is heard; The Lord will rebuke the adversary, and answer this angel with good and comfortable words concerning jerusalem: This was to joshua and the rest, and is to you another singular encouragement. The third is, in the words of the Text read unto you: that is, present rescue: This manifests what Gods purpose is toward his people: he hath delivered them out of a woeful captivity likely to consume them, as a brand out of the fire, therefore the Lord will save them to the uttermost; hath he begun and shall he not finish? what work he gins he will perfect it, the Lord will perfect that which concerneth his chosen: Psal. 138.8. Thus may the Lords chosen instruments and servants be encouraged: and thus the malignant enemy took off. Upon this third let us stay our souls: I shall not trouble you with variety of interpretations, nor with multitude of observations which might very aptly be drawn out: but shall labour to present the sum in this general instruction. God's people may be in the burning, but they shall certainly be rescued and perfectly delivered. Doctrine. This I shall labour to explain and prove with the same labour. 1. First, Here is employed, that calamities by the enemy is a burning: as also, Amos 4.11. So this people find it, and so express it, From above hath he sent fire into my bones and it prevaileth against them: he hath burned against jacob, Lam. 1.13. Chap. 2.3. like a flaming fire which devoureth round about. First, Psal. 124. If fire have the mastery it is raging, devouring and wasting: fire and water have no mercy, we say of them, they are good servants, but ill masters: so if the cruel enemy get the mastery he ruins all, and lays all waste: A fire devoureth before them, and behind them a flame burneth; Joel 2.3. The land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness, yea and nothing shall escape them. When through the Lords anger this fire is kindled, it devoureth every green tree with every dry tree, that is, both the good which are as the green tree, having some sap of grace, and the wicked which are as the dry tree, fit for nothing but fuel, Ezek. 20.47. and all faces from the North to the South shall be burnt therein: They pity not the young, nor regard the person of the old: even as the devil's malice and spite ceaseth not, notwithstanding, that joshua and the jews were but newly come out of the fire, Auget culpam Satana. Drufius. as it were brands half burnt. Secondly, burning is a tormenting, painful punishment: so is this: The Lord is angry and malicious men help forward the affliction: and it's more smarting because it's by their hand: when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he. Hab. 1. Thirdly, fire is unsatiable; it makes no end of burning so long as there is any thing combustible: Thus are the enemies, and the multitude of those that distress jerusalem; they are even as a dream of a night vision, as when a hungry man dreameth, and behold he eateth; Isa. 29.7, 8. but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and behold he drinketh; but he awaketh, and behold he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: although they load themselves with plunder and spoil, and glut and make themselves drunk with blood; yet they are no more satisfied than though they had only dreamt of such things: they are as one of the things that never say, It is enough: Their rage ends not with the life of the godly, but it extends itself even to their ashes; as was seen in Wicklif, Bucer, and Phagius. Fourthly, Fire is purging: it trieth: it separates, & divides things Heterogeneal: as the dross from the silver: so this evil is to God's people as a Refiners fire; it purgeth them from their hypocrisy, worldly-mindedness, and self-love, etc. Also it separates the wicked of the earth as dross from the godly, as in this season; the truly zealous from the malignant now combined together; Michael and his Angels, against the Dragon and his angels. 2. Secondly, here is implied, Revel. 12. that God's people are often in this burning, and that to some extremity, and for continuance, the Lord lets them lie in till they apprehend themselves even consumed as a brand in the fire. For first, we are not immediately purged, the bellows are burnt, the lead is consumed out of the fire, Jerem. 6. the Founder melts in vain; the wicked nor our wickednesses are not taken away: as it is now seen, notwithstanding we are in the burning, yet our dissensions and fires amongst ourselves are not quenched; as it was with the jews when they were near to be consumed by the Romans: our Pride, our Covetousness, etc. are not taken away; Then no wonder if we continue yet in the burning. Secondly, it may be also the Lord will thus feed the malignity of the enemy, till he become prodigious in cruelty, blasphemies, and insolency; and fill up a full measure of vengeance for himself. And thirdly, God's wisdom is best seen when we are at our wit's end; and the Lords power is most manifest, when we are at the extremity of misery, when we think and say, we are cut off for our parts, Ezek. 37. And secondly, when the enemies are at the height of their malice, and extremity of cruelty: when the Pope was at his height, than Luther with others about that time gave him a second deadly wound: and when God's people in this Nation groaned under the Hierarchy, as Israel under Egyptian Taskmasters; even then when Tyranny was come to the height, the Lord was seen in the Mount; then his wisdom and power wrought for us: There was none to help, than his own arm brought salvation by England's Parliament, and Scotland's Army: Thus some understand the enemy's ruin, in Armageddon, expounding it to be the Mount of Megiddo: Isa. 63.5. Revel. 16. Judg. 5.19. because the enemies are at a height when they are brought to Horma, an utter destruction, as Israel's enemies were at the waters of Megiddo. Fourthly, contraries are ordinarily cured by contraries: cold diseases by hot Medicines, and hot diseases by cold: we are a cold Nation; at the most we are (as we are aptly resembled by Mr. Brightman to Laodicea) but lukewarm; therefore the Lord applies these burn unto us, that he may bring some warmth into us. 3. Thirdly, Here is expressed, that though God's people be in the fire, they shall certainly be pulled out, as Israel was out of Egypt from the Iron furnace, and out of the miserable captivity in Babylon, where they endured this burning here mentioned: first, they are in hazard; then certainly rescued: The enemy said, I will pursue, Exod. 15.9, 10.13. I will overtake, I will divide the spoil: my lust shall be satisfied on them: I will draw my sword, mine hand shall destroy them. Thou didst blow with thy wind, the Sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters. Then, Lord, thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people whom thou hast redeemed. So they seem to be in their graves when in Babylon, but the Lord that quickeneth the dead, tells them, Isa. 26.19. Thy dead men shall live, the dead bodies shall arise: awake, and sing ye that sit in the dust: for the Lord's favour is as the dew of herbs. First, thus the Lords Power, Wisdom, and Truth shine forth when we say, Our bones are dried, Ezek. 37.11. and our hope is lost; we are cut off for our parts. Secondly, than the Lord is sought unto, (in their affliction they will seek me early) and rested upon, when we know not what to do; when refuge faileth, and none careth for our souls: And then the Lord will never leave us nor forsake us; he will not be as waters that fail. Thirdly, God's love is immutable; more constant than the mother's love to her sucking child: Isa. 49. No waters can quench it; the coals thereof are coals of fire which have a most vehement flame; Cant. 8. many waters cannot quench this love, etc. In wrath he remembers mercy, and will not contend for ever, lest the spirit should fail before him, Isa. 57.16. and the souls that he hath made. The Lord will repent himself for his servants, when he seethe that their power is gone; and there is none shut up, or left: Deuteronomie 32.36. The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel, their malice is endless; but the Lord in wrath remembers mercy: When his people are humbled, his repentings are kindled, his bowels are troubled, and acknowledgeth that Jerusalem hath received double at his hands for all their sins. Isa. 40.2. Duplum in Christo. Junius. And so one adds an Argument besides those I have set down out of these words, which may silence the Devil and all implacable enemies: Thus; This people is sufficiently punished, therefore God is not to be urged to add to their punishment. Sanctius. Fourthly, the enemy shall not always blaspheme; the Lord will stop the mouth of iniquity, he will still the enemy and avenger: Deut. 32.26, 27. the Lord would have scattered the Israelites into corners, and caused the remembrance of them to cease from among men, were it not that he feared the wrath of the enemy. Fifthly, thus the Lord takes course for his own Name; although not for our sakes, yet for his own Names sake he will work for us that his Name be not polluted. And so joshua pleads, Josh. 7. Chap. 7. that for this reason the Lord would not leave his people in the enemy's hand; for then, What (saith he) will't thou do unto thy glorious Name? Fourthly, here is implied; that if the Lord begin in mercy he will finish: Psal. 102. Psal. 138.8. when the time to favour Zion, the set time is come, than the Lord will perfect his work concerning us: he will do it in despite of all Devils and Antichristians: though there be mountains before his Zerubbabels, God will make them plains, and bring forth the headstone of his work with shouting: He can make the hardest resistance as Clay, or Wax to the Signet; the greatest impediment shall give place, as Euphrates did to Cyrus that he might take the old Babylon; He saith to the deep, Isa. 44. Be dry: and so will the Lord do that he may be avenged on Rome, Revel. 16.11. Yea, things adverse shall not only yield, but concur: The Lord will make away in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert; the beasts of the field shall honour him, the Dragon, Isa. 43.19, 20, 21. and the Owls, etc. As the beginnings of the ruin of the wicked evidenceth their certain total ruin: If Haman begin to fall, he shall not fail but fall: so the beginnings of deliverance from our Romish enemies, are pledges of complete deliverance; the beginnings of the repairing of God's Temple, evidence the certain finishing of it: beginnings of woe were signs to the jews of the extremity of woe: and beginnings of blessedness and purity, are like signs of perfect blessedness and purity. First, for the Lord hath chosen jerusalem: and his beginnings declare what he hath decreed: If God hath decreed to deliver, to build, to beautify the place of his Footstool and make it glorious, who can hinder? the Lord God hath purposed, and who can disannul it? Isa. 14.24.27. he hath stretched forth his hand, and who can turn it back? Secondly, It stands God upon for his honour to go on in mercy, when he gins in mercy: his Truth, his Wisdom, and Power are engaged: Moses therefore was much affected when the Lord threatened to destroy Israel as one man, after he had pulled them out of the Egyptian burn: Exod. 32.12. Lord (saith he) why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the Land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? Wherefore should the Egyptians speak and say, for mischief did he bring them out to slay them in the mountains? Num. 14.15, 16. And now if thou wilt kill all this people as one man, than the Nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying: Because the Lord was not able to bring this people into Canaan, he hath slain them in the wilderness. The Lord would not have us such unwise bvilders as begin and cannot finish; such bvilders are exposed to scorn and shame; therefore the omnipotent only wise God will not do so. The Lord also is tender of his servants honour: he will still the enemy, Psal. 8. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem will laugh Nehemiah and other Worthies to scorn: Neh. 2.19, 20. What is this thing that ye do? Neh. 4.2, 3, 4. Will ye rebel against the King? What do these feeble jews? will they fortify? will they sacrifice? Then his fellow: Even that which they build, if a Fox go up he will break down their stone wall: but Nehemiah, and such, may be confident and say, The God of heaven will prosper us, therefore we his servants will arise and build; and make all known to God who careth for your persons, your names, and honours: Hear, O our God, for we are despised, and turn their reproach upon their own head. The reproach of his servants he will wipe away: Isa. 66.5. The Lord will appear to your joy when they shall be ashamed. Thirdly, God is constant: so is his love and resolution to do us good: he is not as the son of man that he should repent: Num. 23.19. Mal. 3.6. 1 Sam. 12.22. he is God and changeth not: The Lord will not forsake his people for his great Names sake, because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people: Therefore when the Lord begins he goeth on: as Naomi said of Booz, The man will not be in rest until he finish the things this day. Men are mutable, discouraged, weary; but the Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not: Natura not dilassatur opere; as the heavens are never weary; the Sun after millions of revolutions continueth still rejoicing as a mighty man to run his race; much less is the God of Nature, and the God of these Heavens weary: shall the Lord than begin and not finish? Shall I bring to the birth, Isa. 66.9. and not cause to bring forth, saith the Lord? The Lords care over his Church, is also a constant care; his eyes are continually upon it: upon one stone, that is, Christ jesus, the Cornerstone on whom we are built: there are seven eyes; that is, many eyes; the Lords eyes are upon God's House, Populi causam Deus semel tucudan suscepit, ac proinde qua est constantia ●●nquam deseret cam. Drusius. his chosen, and so shall be till all be perfected concerning his people. They may be in the burning, but they shall certainly be rescued: and if so, perfectly delivered: The constant zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this First, sympathise and pity Ireland almost burnt: Use 1. Levit. 10.6. and England in the fire. Let the whole house of Israel bewail the burning which the Lord hath kindled: let your compassions be toward the Palatinate, that Vine that had strong rods for the Sceptres of them that bear rule: but fire is gone out of a rod of her branches which hath devoured her fruit, Ezek. 19 ult. so that there is no rod for a Sceptre to rule. This is a lamentation, and it shall be for a lamentation: let your compassions be kindled so that they may set you on a course to help them out of the fire: use means (as the Lord hath put into your hands) if so be there may be balm for their healing: if we shall still look on without contributing to their relief, look for the like measure from others in our miseries: Who shall pity thee, O England? or who shall bemoan thee? or who will turn aside to ask how thou dost? we have been too much and too long wanting unto God's distressed Churches; fear lest the fire of God's anger be kindled against us, because we have been a staff of reed unto the house of Israel. Ezek. 29.6. Secondly, let the Lord be magnified by us. First, for giving warning: he sets us on fire round about, before his wrath kindle upon us. It is the Lords mercies that we are not consumed: let your praise be continually of him for keeping off this fire: when the enemy hath been coming in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord hath lift up a Standard against him: he hath appointed bars and limits unto these raging waves of the enemy, and said, Stay there thy proud waves and go no further. Secondly, bless the Lord for chastising in measure, for that he hath not poured out all his anger; he might have scattered Brimstone upon our habitations, and made us as Sodom and Gomorrah. Bless our God ye people, etc. For thou O God, hast proved us, thou hast tried us as silver is tried; Psa. 66. we went through fire and through water; hence we have good hone that the Lord hath not ordained us to wrath: for when we are judged we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Thirdly, magnify the Lords Omnipotency, that hath kept his Church in the midst of flames. Numb. 21. The bush burneth and is not consumed: Israel was preserved among fiery Serpents; so are we kept amongst a Malignant company (the brood of the Serpent) who are set on fire: Magnify the God of Truth who hath spoke with his mouth, and with his hand fulfilled it: When thou walkest through the fire, Isa. 43.2. thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Is it not marvellous in your eyes that the religious in France have been preserved in Massacres and Butcheries, and the Protestants in England in the fires in Queen Mary's reign; and since from the damnable Powder-Plot; and many a time since from the Antichristians set on fire against us, and their Adherents, brutish men, skilful to destroy? Fourthly, let the Lord be magnified for making some impressions on the Antichristian party: The Lord God of recompenses hath begun to give burning for burning. Let all give glory to the Lord for stirring up the spirits of our Worthies to hate the Whore, to make her desolate, to eat her flesh, and burn her with fire: O glorify ye the Lord in the midst of the fires. Thirdly, let us not think ourselves exempt: the Lord hath brought this fire upon all his people, and shall we be free? First, therefore shake off security, and bestir yourselves to prevent and keep ourselves out; we have been as brands in the fire; The child dreads the fire. Our neighbour's house is on fire, we cannot but be concerned in this. I will not meddle in Politics, only advise thus. Therefore, first, kindle not the Lord's jealousy by superstitions; cast not a favourable eye toward the Whore of Rome; leave not an hoof of the Beast in England. Secondly, tempt not God: complain not of his wise administration: think not, say not as Israel: Can God do this? can he perfect Reformation? can he give pure Ordinances? can he subdue such a people as we are to his Sceptre? can he ordain Peace? can he work all our works for us? When the Lord heard this he was wroth, so a fire was kindled against jacob, Psal. 78.21. and anger also came up against Israel. Thirdly, purge out every cursed sin by repentance: let this be manifested in a holy indignation against all remainders of Idolatry and Superstition, as you have zealously begun: make the stones of the Altars as Chalke-stones, beat them to pieces: Isa. 27. Every sin makes us as ready to take fire, even as Gunpowder: let us therefore have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: for first, Our God is a consuming fire: and secondly, this fire of the Enemy is dreadful: A fire devoureth before them, and behind them a flame burneth: all that is will be consumed by them: God's Sanctuary shall be laid waste, his Worship, his Ordinances polluted, we shall lose communion of Saints, the excellency of our strength, the desire of our eyes; no fire makes such a desolation as this: An Idolatrous Army is the abomination of desolation. Ezek. 24. And if the Lord have stretched out his hand so that we cannot put it back but that this fire do kindle upon us, I shall prescribe the same course; Turn to him that smiteth: take away the sting from the fiery Serpents: that is, our sins: The sting of death and every deadly evil is sin: sin is as fuel and bellows, both increasing the flame, and the wrath of God as a stream of Brimstone: If we could have broken hearts, the Lord would bind up our broken State, our broken Church. If we be not found in our sins, the fire can have no power over us: Dan. 3. Satan shall not be at our right hand so as to prevail. But if we continue in our neutrality, like warmness, divisions and heats one toward another, in covetousness, pride, injustice, unthankfulness, despising the day of small things, and contempt of the Gospel, grieving Gods holy Spirit, by which he still striveth with us; the Lord will be turned to he our enemy: how then can our hearts endure, or our hands be strong in the day that the Lord shall deal with us? hereunto will be added the burning of an evil conscience, Ezek. 22. a terrible devouring fire: and thus the fire will be as Nebuchadnezars furnace, Heb. 10. seven times hotter. Be instructed lest the Lords soul departed from you; let this fire that the Lord hath kindled be a Refiners fire, lest the Lord come from his place as a consuming fire, and everlasting burn. Our God hath been trying to purge us a long time, he hath smitten us with Pestilence after the manner of Egypt, but we have not turned to him; he hath now drawn out his sword to avenge the quarrel of his Covenant, and the fire of his anger burns; but he may complain as of old, Jer. 6. The Founder melts in vain; our wickedness is not taken away by repentance, the wicked are not taken away by the hand of justice: Or as Ezek. 22.18. The house of Israel is become dross: all they are brass, and iron, and tin, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver. Behold therefore, (O tremble at this) I will gather you into the midst of jerusalem in mine anger, and in my fury, and I will leave you there and melt you; yea I will gather you and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, etc. and ye shall know that I the Lord have poured out my fury upon you. O then hear the rod and who hath appointed it: it is an ill sign when we are set on fire round about and lay it not to heart: An ill sign when we are with the old World and Sodom secure; when we put away the evil day, and think when the overflowing scourge passeth through the City it shall not come near us. This City is the Cauldron, and we are the flesh; and when we make the Lord complain, as Amos 4.11. Ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning; yet ye have not returned to me: and when unfruitful, notwithstanding Sun and rain, like that cursed earth: our end is to be burned. Secondly, when we are in the burning look up to jesus Christ, (as the Israelites being bit with fiery Serpents looked up to the brazen Serpent) thus we shall have healing: Num. 11.3. by faith we may quench the violence of flames. Heb. 11. In Christ we shall have safety. This man shall be the peace when the Assyrian (the greatest enemy that ever Israel had) cometh into the Land. Thirdly, labour for the Spirit of comfort; The refresh of this Spirit, as living water, will cool the heat of the spent soul. Fourthly, pray that the Lord would mitigate the flames: so he did for those three, Dan. 4. and for some Martyrs: pray and draw out water as in buckets, and pour it out before the Lord: It will be a sure means of quenching: when Moses prayed, the burning at Tabera was quenched. Labour to be constant; hold fast the Name of Christ: the Church of Pergamus is a pattern to us: that held fast and denied not the faith when Antipas suffered martyrdom, and where Satan dwelled: do likewise: Revel. 3. you have covenanted with God: deal not falsely in his Covenant: let not your steps decline out of the way though the Lord should smite you into the place of Dragons, Psal. 44. and cover you with the shadow of death: for your encouragement hearken to the Lord of Hosts, Zach. 3.7. If you will walk in my ways, and keep my charge, than you shall also judge my house, and keep my Courts, and I will give thee places to walk among them that stand by. (Honourable Worthies) if you will persevere zealously in the Lords work, you shall be advanced to be among Angels: though you cannot have the presence and face of an earthly King, you shall be with the glorious Angels standing before the face of the King of heaven. This may be abundant comfort unto you (much Honoured) and to all God's people: Use 4. We are in the fire but first, the Lord is with you and all his, Isa. 43.2. so that the flame shall not devour. Secondly, you are choice Instruments, God's people are his chosen; choice gold will endure the fire, and the Lord will not cast away his people whom he hath chosen: when the house is on fire we take care for our Treasure; our choice vessels, our jewels: we are not so solicitous for lumber: so the Lord careth for you and all his; you are his choice Vessels, Mal. 3. and peculiar Treasure, and his jewels very precious in the Lords eyes. Thirdly, Christ the Son of God intercedes for you, and that affectionately; he will prevail with God to rebuke the Adversary: and that to the purpose. The Lord rebuke thee, Increpationem tuam contra te dirigat. Dion. Carthul. the Lord rebuke thee: even as Christ rebuked Winds and Seas; so will he do with Satan and all his instruments: as Nahum. 1.4. Fourthly, let the gracious beginning which the Lord hath made be a sure pledge unto you that he will finish: be bold to plead with God: Lord thou wouldst not that we should undertake a building and not finish it, thou hast undertaken to build thy House here, be not so thyself as thou wouldst not that we should be. Fifthly, the Lord hath promised great things, and spoke of glorious days which now hasten concerning his Church: nothing shall hurt in Gods holy Mountain. The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea: Isa. 11. the waste and desolate places, and the land of thy destruction shall be too narrow by reason of the Inhabitants; and they that swallowed thee up shall be fare away. Isa. 49.18. O thou afflicted and tossed with tempest, and not comforted; behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and thy foundation with Saphires; and I will make thy windows of agates, Isa. 54.11, 12. and thy gates of Carbuncles, etc. And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children. The time and my strength would fail to recite the glorious things that are spoken of thee, thou City of God, the new Jerusalem coming down from heaven with God's glory upon her: In that day, saith the Lord, Zach. 12. I will make the Governors of juda as an hearth of fire among the wood; and like a torch of fire in a sheaf: and they that have fought against jerusalem, their flesh shall consume away whilst they stand upon their feet; Zach. 14. and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, etc. Thus (Right Honourable) be comforted over the Church of God now in the burning; and over your enemies which are ordained for destruction, by the words of the God of Truth. The Lord bids them take away Ioshua's filthy raiment, and restore to the Priesthood its former lustre, signified by change of raiment: Hence saith Master Calvin: Plus expectent fideles quam coniicere licet ex praesenti aspectu: Expect more than the present face of things can promise: the Lord will be known to be jehovah in giving a being to his Word; He will be with you, fear not: Hag. 2.5. Psal. 68.13. Though ye have been among the pots, yet shall ye be as a Dove covered with silver, etc. Therefore let every man in his Sphere be encouraged to be active and zealous to forward and hasten the perfect deliverance of God's Church, Use 5. and the perfect building and furnishing of God's House: be not scandalised, be not disheartened for every dysaster, or for any present weakness or misery we are in; the Lord carrieth on the work of restitution and salvation of his Church and people in a mystery: when we are at the top of misery, the Lord will be seen, jehovah iireth: the Lord will be seen, or will see: even in the Mount his footsteps are hardly known: the Sun ariseth and shineth upon Sodom, than the Lord reigned fire and brimstone from the Lord out of heaven▪ Gods people lie as buried or burnt up in Babylon, than the Lord sends from heaven and saveth them from those that would swallow them up: This is the season not for shrinking, but for zeal; 1 Chron. 14. the Lord hath gone out before you, and broke in upon the enemies as the breaking in of many waters; therefore now bestir you: Those of Issachar are commended because they had knowledge and understanding of the Times, 1 Chro. 12.32. and knew what Israel ought to do: This will be your wisdom to take notice that to hazard that Christ's kingdom is in by Enemies abroad, and Schisms and Divisions among ourselves in this season, requires all your diligence, skill, and power to bring present healing and aid. And so now when Babylon's rage & cruelty is at the height, it is the time, it is the time to render to her double as she hath done to you. In this season we are in straits, as when the children are come to the birth and there is no strength to bring forth: Is it not time for us then to stir in these straits; strive, and extend yourselves to get God's children, and the Lords work drawn out of the womb: let not that be your spot which was the spot of Ephraim in the like case; the sorrows of a travelling woman are upon him: He is an unwise son, for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children. Hos. 13.13. Now we are in the fire, let your zeal hence be enkindled: take fire from this fire: Every man, especially Reformers, Repairers, Deliverers must be salted with fire, as every sacrifice was seasoned with salt; Mar. 9 be ye therefore thus seasoned with this heavenly fire of zeal, without which all will be unsavoury, that you may go on in promoting the great works you have in hand. Further to provoke you, I add some further incentives. First, Observe that the bvilders and reformers had as many discouragements as are now; they had a great work before them, many enemies about them, and the King's Authority and express command against them; E●●a ●. 2. yet they went on and prospered; there were Mountains before them, Zach. 4.7, 8, 9 but God made all plain in a strange way of providence; Not by Army nor Power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord: He will do the like for you. Only, as it is said to joshua, Be of good courage: The Lord can rebuke the Devil and all his Instruments with a word, and make them as still as a stone. Secondly, If ye faint and grow cold, ye lose all that hath gone before: (ye Worthies) ye have done much in pulling down Popery, a Tyrannous Hierarchy, and the strength of Babylon's Armies; ye have begun a glorious Reformation, and your Zeal hath set you upon high undertake, and effected such things as we, through our baseness of spirit, neither looked not hoped for: you suffered as much as did ever any Parliament; hazarding your Persons, Estates, and Families; endured much contradiction of sinners, and many reproaches; ye have had many acknowledgements and thanksgivings from City and Country. O then lose not all that hath gone before; let your last be more than the first: Will ye do, will ye suffer so many things in vain? Thirdly, Ye work with God, and the Lord will work with you; It is an honour to the noblest to put their necks to this work: The Son of God appeareth upon a Red Horse, going out in a fiery appearance against the enemy: He is among the Myrtle trees; that is, in the midst of his people, who are his delight; and with him there are Red Horses also: Michael hath his Angels to take vengeance on the Dragon and his angels: also there are speckled Horses, useful every way, both for defence and offence. Fourthly, The great oppositions you have should stir up zeal; the god of the world is against you; Antichrist, and all that have the mark of the Beast upon them, are against you: You are engaged in the greatest work that ever lay upon the children of men; therefore there is required strong endeavours. O be strong, ye Zerubbabels, he for the Lord of Hosts who hath been zealous for you: and withal take notice that your opposition is from devilish and malignant spirits; Satan and his Instruments who stand at your right hands to resist: Then up and be doing; go on, your cause cannot but be good. Firfthly, Take courage and go on, else ye open the mouth of iniquity; you will be tried with cruel mockings by those that look and gape to see your spirits flat and cold: Oh how will they of Gath and Askelon insult? this will pierce as a sword; Saul chose rather to fall on his own sword and die, then to be mocked by the uncircumcised Philistines: and Zedekiah would not yield, (but let come on him whatsoever it was) because he feared to be scorned and mocked: And consider, I beseech you, that we have made out boast of God, and gloried in such instruments; let not our confident boasting make us ashamed. Sixthly, Thus if you go on, you and we may leave happiness to our posterity: if through our slackness and pusillanimity the enemy prevail, we shall have nothing left to bequeath but Slavery and Popery. Sevently, Antichrists end is near: Babylon is (and that shortly) to be destroyed, therefore faint not: you have given her a deadly wound, follow on your stroke; let that wound never be healed: the Beast roars, and struggles, and bestirs herself; she recollects spirits, but it is but as in a dying man, naturea ultimus conatus, which we call a lightning before death: then now is the time to extend yourselves to make a full end of the Whore; to dispatch her with swords (as the Prophet speaks) and to burn her houses with fire. Then keep your spirits up, fall not to an indifferency or base neutrality: They that be not with Christ are against him: They that come not out to the help of the Lord, (suppose they be inoffensive moderate men) are cursed with a double bitter curse. Judg. 5. The history of the men of jabesh Gilead may be for our learning on whom these sad times are come: They assisted not the Beniamites in protecting those Delinquents, sons of Belial; nor associated with the Tribes of Israel in their just War, which was (as this War now) to bring such wretches to judgement and punishment. Upon inquiry these being found Neuters, were dealt withal as utter enemies; they were all smitten with the sword, both men, women and children, Judg. cap. ult. except some virgins reserved for the Beniamites. I beseech you that my exhortation and advice may be acceptable: I could multiply many other considerations to set you on in a course of zeal; but if these I have spoke help not to bring you to a further degree of heat, especially now that we are in the fire round about; we may fear that grey hairs are upon us, we are in a decaying condition as David, whom many could not make warm. Let all malignant spirits mark: Use 6. let this consideration take them off from their malice in opposing. Altaschith is the title of some Psalms: Destroy not, as a caution and a confident expression of the boldness, malice, and deficiency of the enemy. Let the gold and silver vessels, etc. be every one in his place, as it is by Darius' Decree seconding Cyrus: Now therefore Tatnai and Shethar-Boznai, and so Rehum the Chancellor, and Shimshai the Scribe and such companions must be fare from thence. If thou oppose the peace of God's people, and the building of the Lords house, it is in vain; thou wilt be found to fight against God; It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks: therefore meddle not to thy hurt; the Lord will finish in despite of thee: The Devil and his instruments could do nothing when Israel was in Chaldea depressed and buried; how much less now when they are delivered, lift up to Heaven, brought to jerusalem and the Temple? so the policy and power of the enemy could do nothing when the faithful were enthralled under the Hierarchy, when they had all advantages: how much less now, when the Lord hath taken off those yokes, and advanced his servants as the stars into the right hand of Christ? Rev. 1. But the Devil's malice is such, that although he know that his own practices shall ruin his own kingdom, yet he will not, he cannot desist from mischief: for malice is natural to the Devil, and therefore he is necessarily malicious, as the fire is naturally and so necessarily hot and burning: Zanch. de malis angelis. and as Zanch. saith, id in angelis est casus quod hominibus mors: therefore as men after death are either pertinaciously evil, or constantly good; so are the Devils after their fall pertinaciously wicked and malicious: and so it is with God's enemies in whom the devil works with efficacy: they are not only devilish, but even equalise the devil in malice and mischief; judas was even a devil, john 6. The enemies know and see that the Lord is with his Parliament, with his Armies, yet they go on; the devil drives them and thrusts them on as the Turkish horsemen do their foot to their manifest inevitable ruin. When thy hand is lifted up, Isa. 26.11. they will not see. It is an evidence of and deal, as Revel. 16. It is noted that notwithstanding the pouring out of the vials they were vexed and pained, and gnawed their tongues; yet they repent not: and they repent not. O let this take thee off, when the Lords hand is lifted upon to deliver his people, or judge the enemies: Thou wilt not see, but thou shalt see to thy woe, if thou goest on to oppose the Lord. It is usually asked: Is the devil in such a one whom we see mad and maliciously bend? what devil then shall we think is in those that will yet in malignity of spirit oppose themselves? * Qua voce adeo potenter fregit satanae vires, ut nullum postea reliquum fuerit impedimentum. Zanch. in loc. This reprehension for aught we know took off the devil himself, as thus: dost thou not see that the Lord hath pulled his people out of the fire? he thinks they have burnt long enough; he hath begun their deliverance, and so is engaged to perfect it: then why wilt thou offer to be an adversary? how transcendently devilish then are those enemies of all piety? they see that there is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against the Lord; and yet they will continue obstinate in their malice. The Lord rebuke them, the Lord that hath chosen jerusalem rebuke them: Job 41.8. O consider, ye that forget God, whom you have to deal withal: Remember the Battle and do no more. I add to this an admonition to every one. Use 7. O let us take heed of hindering the good of Christ's Church and chosen: Know I beseech you, that it is not only hindered by Malignity and neutrality: but even the best have a hand in stopping God, which causeth him after he hath begun so to pause and to be at a stand: How? First, by our Infidelity: Thus were Moses and Aaron, and all Israel kept out of Canaan after their deliverance out of Egypt: Matth. 13. ult. The Lord cannot do many moe mighty works for us, because of our unbelief; Thus when things are adverse, we give ourselves for lost, our hope is cut off, as though God were not all-sufficient: when things are prosperous we do nothing less than rest on God, we lean on an arm of flesh, we have a prudent Parliament, a potent Army, we have counsel and strength for war: so the Lord is depressed and these exalted, which provokes the Lord to let us see the vanity of these without his helping band, and may provoke him to reject our confidences and swear in his wrath that we should never prosper in them. Secondly, there hath been but bad use made of God's beginnings. First, we have despised the day of small things: Thankfulness would make us account small beginnings great favours: yet what the Lord hath already wrought should not seem small in our eyes: considering what the Lord hath pulled down, and what he is setting up, what he hath plucked up, and what he is about to plant, what taskmasters we are delivered from, and what blessed freedom we enjoy. Successes have made us more insulting then thankful, and took us off from our dependence on God who wrought for us. Secondly, we are a stubborn people; now that Christ would reign amongst us, we say this man shall not reign over us: now Christ is coming toward us, we bid him departed out of our coasts: we are loath to subject our necks to his yoke, our pride is such: This makes him also at a stand. Thirdly, since the Lord hath multiplied mercies, we have multiplied divisions, and keep in and foment such fires of dissension among ourselves, as justly provokes the Lord to let us lie in the burning: Such a fire was kindled between Abimelech, and the men of Shechem, fire went out from Sechem and devoured Abimelech; and fire went out from Abimelech & devoured the men of Shechem; Judg. 9 the Lord quench the fire threatening the like evils amongst us: It is a fearful sign of the fire of God's anger ready to kindle on us when he sends and suffers an evil spirit to prevail so between King and people; but for the divisions of God's people there should be great thoughts of heart; as for the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts, and great seaching of heart. It is to be lamented with the tears of us all, to see brethren agreeing in all substantials; serving one God, having one Father and Hope, etc. yet for some circumstances in matters of Discipline their contentions are as the bars of a Castle, and the heat is increased, as between Guelphs and Gibellines. Honourable Senators, here your Wisdom (yea a Divine Wisdom from above must be obtained for you) would shine if you could repair all these breaches, and compose things so, that brethren might with peace of conscience dwell together in unity, than we should see that the Lord would delight over us to go on to do great things for us: and the graces of God would then shine in his servants when they would in the spirit of meekness yield one to another, so that the unity of the spirit might be kept in the bond of peace: This only I add; If ye by't and devour one another, Gal. 5. take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. Fourthly, when we have had mercies showering down from heaven, we have slacked our hands in prayer: when Moses hands fell down, Amalek prevailed; and so through our slackness & coldness in this duty and others, more than through the slackness of our Armies; the enemies who were not long since even prayed down, have strengthened themselves to our reproach and danger. Fifthly, Self-love, which sets us upon self-seeking, and selfe-ends, is so predominant, that the public concernments are not so promoted: If we had public concernments are not so promoted: If we had public spirits, our endeavours would have had a further influence into the public good then yet they have had. And many provocations there are amongst us to bewail; many achan's amongst us, many cursed things, not only hid in the tents; but brought forth in the sight of the Sun; they declare their sin as Sodom, and hid it not: much cause of humiliation these are unto us all this day: and we must not look to see God's work-perfected till we All mourn and repent for the many evils in the midst of us: How long shall I see the Standard, and hear the sound of the Trumpet? Jer. 4.21. It is answered in the next words by the Prophet; My people is foolish, etc. Junius reads it, So long as my people is foolish and sottish, and wise to do evil. And (Honoured Worthies) I beseech you to admit of me that I may use boldness: This burden concerns all, and calls upon all; it is for admonition to all, but especially You: When Israel had provoked the Lord by their spell and bodily uncleanness, the people were plagued in a fearful manner; there fell in one day four and twenty thousand: Moses was not blamed, Num. 25. but the Heads of the people: Hang up the heads of the people that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel: Why the Heads of the people? They should have looked better to the people in governing, so to prevent sin; or they should have been more swift to execute judgement, when they fell into sin: It is not enough that you are not gross sinners, that you are reform, so long as there are in the midst of City and Kingdom, even where your Power also reacheth, many abominations; there are as Ezekiel speaks, Ezek. 22. in thee; in thee much excess, many profanations, horrible uncleanness, (I speak what I know) even abominable incest, not only acted once or twice, but continued in to the just provocation of God's anger against you and all of us; and there is no course for redress, none to punish or put them to shame: there is in the midst of us oppression and cruelty, there are in the midst of us many Innocents' whose faces are ground, and their bones crushed and broken most injuriously; they cry for relief, they stretch out their hands to you for help: O relieve the oppressed, and judge the cause of the helpless, lest the Lord hear their cry and it be sin unto you. Delay not, make speed to seek judgement, to bring the wheel upon the wicked; put not off such things; the delaying of which, delays all your hopeful proceed: delay not one day to trouble those that trouble Israel: but as joshua said, so do ye; God shall trouble thee this day. These and many such things lie upon you: therefore provoke your spirits to zeal and courage; fear not, faint not; if Christ had fainted in the work of our Redemption, what had become of us? he fainted not, not was discouraged till he set judgement in the Earth; do ye likewise. Observe how the Lord describeth the Horse, job 39 His neck is clothed with thunder, he paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength; he goeth out to meet the armed man, the quiver rattleth at him, the glittering spear and the shield; he saith among the Trumpets, aha! and doth God care for horses? glorify God in the creature and learn courage from him; break through all like lightning: as in natural motion, so the nearer you come to your haven where you would be, let your motion be swifter: The Lords beginnings engage him to finish; ye are Gods, as Psalm 82. Fellow God: the Lord hath been very zealous for you and us, take heed of coldness in this heat: labour to hasten Reformation in the Church, that it may be the gladness of God's people to go to the beauty of holiness, that the Tribes may go up to the Testimony of Israel; and for the better governing the Commonwealth, let there be set thrones of judgement in all places: as Psal. 122. And to conclude: Let us all put to our helping hands, arms, purses, counsel, encouragement, for the help of the Lord against the mighty: let the Ministers of Christ be careful to maintain unity; to provoke Christians to peace; to unite against the common Enemy: on some have compassion, making a difference; and others save with terror, pulling them out of the fire. O let all be humbled before our God this day, and put our mouths in the dust; and then our prayers will be very prevalent with God; our legions would be thundering legions, as Christian armies of old, dreadful to the enemy: let us all help with our constant prayers, be the Lords remembrancers, give him no rest till he refine his Church, and pull it out of the fire: he that hath neither purse, nor weapon, nor hands, nor counsel to help, hath a heart; O pour it out in prayer; give not over till the Lord hath made jerusalem a praise in the earth. It is usual to put words into a Delinquents mouth whereby he is delivered from death. The Lord deals thus with us; he bids us take words, and he also suggests words whereby we may be delivered from iniquity, & received graciously, Hos. 14.2. So jer. 3.19. He deviseth a way for us how we should obtain the lengthening of our tranquillity: It is the Lord that asketh the question: How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, even a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? And I said, thou shalt call me, My Father, and shalt not turn away from me: This than is the Lords way that he would have us take, to cry Father, Abba Father, to pray, to devote ourselves to God, and never to turn from him: No people ever had more encouragements, and more needs than we have to wrestle with God: O wrestle with God, leave him not till he bless us: give him not over till we prevail: when we are Princes and prevailers with God, then shall we see Mercy and Truth meeting, Righteousness and Peace kissing, then would the Lord be with us in these fires, or pull us as brands out of the fire; and then, and not till then we shall be prevailers over men. FINIS.