A LETTER, DISCOVERING The Cause of GOD'S continuing wrath against the Nation, notwithstanding the present endeavours of Reformation: DIRECTING To the Means of appeasing that wrath; And Encouraging to Constancy in those Endeavours: Written with much Judgement and Pious affection,  
By Mr Nathaniel Rogers,  
A godly and Learned Divine now in New-England, To a worthy Member of the Honourable House of Commons, bearing Date, Decemb. 17, 1643.  Imprimatur EDMUND CALAMY. 
LONDON, Printed by G. M. for Christopher Meredith at the Crane in Paul's Churchyard, M.DC.XLIV.   

Honoured Sir:  
OH that I had, or could sanctify the Lord according to his manifold, and great administrations of late days in England our dear mother. It's not long since we were as men that dreamt dreams when we here at once heard of that which might have been the work of many years, such a Parliament once more chosen and assembled: such liberties granted unto it, such acts done by it, for Scotland (whose peace and liberty procured by your counsels, and England's willing charges, I hope shall not be wiped off from your account in the behalf of the Land) against enemies of God, Religion, Church, State, such tall cedars felled, etc. But how suddenly did the Lord bring a black cloud over the Nation, and a new presentment of it had we, as lying in blood, rend with division (even such as scarce any cause but the Gospel useth to make) filled with alarms, the mart of all rich commodities, made the shop of artillery; the garden of pleasure, the stage of war in one part of the Country and another: some Worthies already fallen, besides divers (no question) though of less name on earth, yet of precious account in Heaven: some pined in prisons, others spoilt of their estates, (not to mention miserable Ireland made a very slaughter-house, whiles your home-affaires filling your heads and hands, and emptying your purses, give advantage to those bloodthirsty sons of that scarlet-whore to execute that cruel rage, that cries to Heaven) In the midst of all these sad calamities, yourselves, whom God hath honoured to serve him at such a time, in that high Court, as Pilots and Mariners toiling night and day in a storm (longer than that Paul was in) to save that precious Bark from shipwreck and utter submersion, with all that rich treasure that God hath stored it with, especially of precious Saints, more precious than the fine gold, though accounted as earthen pitchers: It hath been matter of admiration unto me often, to see how the Lord upholds that House itself from dissolution in many respects, that you know better, but that it's He that hangs the earth upon nothing (job 26.7.) and those whose hearts are faithful, and close to the work, how their heads have held, and their spirits not been exhausted, and hearts with weatinesse failed, and given over, who have so many various, weighty, unusual cases to attend: who were sufficient for these things without divine assistance? But not to seem to forget what I writ by troubling you with long writing, be pleased to understand hereby our due respect to and remembrance daily, and almost continually of the great and high work that you have in hand: and our labours and travailing thoughts and desires (according to our condition and measure) to promote that Cause, which you have the heaviest end of at present lying upon your hands: and we say and desire the Lord daily to speak to your hearts, what he oft did to his Worthies in their great employment: Fear not, but be courageous; you serve a great Lord, that is higher than the Kings of the earth, and shall reign in Zion: in a victorious cause, however oft oppressed; and for a people that are dear unto God, his Israel, which he will deliver, his Saints that shall reign with Christ Jesus. But why then are all these things befallen us, and where are all his miracles? etc. [judg. 6.13.] I confess its a case worthy enquiry, and the Lord give an answer of peace unto his servants. It's true, that Antichrist will not down with case: not the woman bring forth the manchild, that should rule all nations with a rod of iron, a son of the Church to reign, without the painful throws, and bloody sufferings of many Martyrs: Pharaoh would not easily let the people go: We ourselves inherited the Gospel with a merciful Reformation, not without the ashes of many faithful witnesses in those Marian days: yea how long was the Church in her painful breeding, and bringing forth the Truth in the years and from under the tyranny of the Romish mystery of iniquity in the bitter persecutions, and innumerable slaughters of the Waldenses and others of the same Religion, though of several names: The two witnesses were slain after their sad prophesyings in sackcloth, before they are taken up to Heaven: yet we must seek a  reason from sinful sons of men, as of the taking away the Truth, so of the withholding it from them: And it's no uncharitable guess to say, that the hearts of the people of England are not prepared for the receiving Christ Jesus in his kingdom. This is obvious: yet the case sticks, for the nearness of England to this mercy, and the sudden withdrawing of it again, increaseth the darkness of it: Doth the Lord use to refuse zealous Reformation especially in the hands of men of authority, that hath made such promises, if there were but one such, etc. jer. 5.1. Yes! it's not without precedent. Israel would correct Benjamins unnatural wickedness defended with diabolical pride and impenitence, yet they lose 40000. before they all can punish one such Tribe, as vengeance itself would not suffer to live. josiah is zealous in purging and restoring God's worship, his heart of a most choice temper, his actions almost all non-paraile, matchless and superlative, yet it stands not: there were sins before which God would not pardon, [2 King. 24.4.] no not to the accessaries, though they were to the principal, Manasseh I mean, but it was that those repent not, but their hearts hung idolward. What remedy then? Truly you are the Body representative, and there are many of the body personally, yea some of all ranks, whose sincerity of Repentance, I am persuaded the Lord would not refuse. And I know your Fasts are many, and your care great that all the people of the Land should observe them: Blessed be God Only be pleased to give me leave to suggest one question, which, it may be you can readily assoil, though my distance keeps me ignorant: Hath that Honourable House, which hath begun to cast out, the persons, and things that have so much offended God, and good men; hath it confessed the guilt of neglecting such Reformation in former Parliaments, yea the rejecting of motions presented that way: and justifying the then present state of the Church, as being pure, & c? Hath there been any public testimony of acknowledgement of the great sin of the Land in worshipping Christ after the manner of Antichrist, and shutting out the Ordinances of Christ, and polluting God's service with men's superstitions? Ezra began that zealous divorcement of strange wives, which Shecaniah advised him to attempt, with his deep abasement for that great trespass, which in a most humble and affectionate confession he acknowledged they had been in so long unto the just bringing and continuing all those evils that lay upon them. That amendment that is without confession and conviction hath not depth and bottom enough for the Lord to say much upon. If they be ashamed of their ways then show them the ways of my house, Ezek 43.11. God knows not what to do with Israel, unless by stripping themselves of their ornaments they show they were ashamed of what they had done, Exod. 33. God leaves Ephraim to his troubles, till he should become guilty, Hos. 5.15. Is that Reformation pleasing to God that is not of evil condemned by God? if so: the guilt should first be yielded, before the practice removed: It's the deceit of many a soul in his personal estate, to be zealous in casting off such corrupt customs, as his soul never abhorred itself for former defilements thereby: and the truth is, the deceit lies in imperfection of conviction, humiliation, yea of mortification: and that evil which a man leaves without acknowledgement and sense of his former offensiveness in such way, doth but reserve to himself a liberty in case of more easy taking up, that which he laid down. Were that Truth duly stated, by which Episcopacy, Ceremonies, etc. are condemned, then should God be duly justified, the sinfulness of former aberrations perceived, yielded, censured and condemned, and a sure standard, and inflexible rule be laid for a perfect repairing and regulating future work. It was alleged by a learned man in the Council of Trent, when they were disallowing some things (as I remember) that there is nothing false but because it errs from somewhat that is true. If it were no offence to God to worship him, and dispense the things of his house as they were: and yet it is good to remove them, and have them otherwise: then the government of his Church, and the manner of his worship is a matter indifferent, and indeterminate: and then Christ hath gained nothing: but the royal prerogative of his Kingdom is as much abased as it was before: and then he will say, Obedience is better than sacrifice. But perhaps, what I writ is needless: however, my boldness coming from sincere desire of your best success and honour, and special confidence of your pious candour, will be pardoned. My desire and prayer is, that the Lord will rebuke Satan, and take away any defiled garments from joshuah and Zerubbabel, that should hinder acceptance or success: yea so I writ as one that acknowledge myself to have had a share in those provocations and pollutions, and want yet an heart to be meetly sensible of the wrong done to the Lord Jesus therein, though the Scripture showeth example, and argument plentiful in that kind. Wherefore, Honoured Sir, if all be not right therein, improve I beseech you, that zeal which God hath enkindled in your breast, and that interest that so long experience of your fidelity to the Cause of God hath bred you in the hearts of those Noble spirits, whom I hope God hath raised up to be the repairers of breaches, the restorers of paths to dwell in, to draw as many as you may unto such a due humiliation before the Lord, not for other abominations, and crying wickednesses of the Land alone, but this which was the cause of the rest, and of higher nature than the rest, that the Lord Jesus hath not been set up in his throne, but iniquity established therein by a Law: and that so as scarce any reformed Church hath done besides, and contrary to the testimony of many most able, worthy Confessors, Cartwrights, Brightmen, etc. by their pens and sufferings: prevailing against that precious blood of holy Bats and others in prisons, the impoverishing families, and obscuring of men of choice abilities, in learning, preaching, writing, cast aside for rotten trash, the starving of many Congregations, rob of their profitable and painful pastors, and infinite wrong to souls, bodies, estates of Saints, and dishonour to Christ, and that though by Bb. yet through either power conferred, or not taken away by Parliaments: the very Religion of the greatest part of England being but formality and blind devotion standing with gross profaneness: the best Congregations forced to prostrate themselves to the tyranny of men over their consciences, and the most sacred parts of his worship corrupted with superstitious mixtures: Oh what Repentance, and what public testimonies of self-condemning Repentance doth the holy God expect, when as England hath been a scandal to other Churches for these things: which being meetly performed, I hope the Lord would not be long absent from counsels and endeavours for his own honour. David himself that was fetching up the Ark with so much zeal, met with a terrible check: and though he was displeased at the breach, yet he was feign to confess the sin of not seeking God after the right manner before he could prosper in his most pious attempt. How many of the Bethshemittes fell, that yet went to bid the Ark welcome among them: Well perhaps this Perizuzza, and this slaughter of the Bethshemites was to prepare David and the people to sanctify the Lord in their hearts, and say, who is able to stand before this holy Lord God?  
Truly Sir, our eyes are looking up, waiting and hoping, that the Lord is doing some great work by you in these days: It's no small joy to think how many now look upon that truth with patience & inquisition, that thought it a note of pride or hypocrisy to be meddling withal: and that now pens and tongues do justify that, which erewhile it was scarce tolerable to be practised here: you know what great things are expected of a long time from the Revelation, and I hope some of them are at the door: But than what manner of persons ought we to be, not only that shall 〈◊〉, but shall bring forth such things unto the world: Truly, God is to be feared for his mercies, and if fearful in praises, when Christ came to redeem as a Son of Righteousness, yet who might abide the day of his coming? When the Lord appeared to Moses in a vision, portending deliverance, and preparing him to be the deliverer of Israel out of Egyptian bondage, he bad Moses put off his shoes, for the place where he stood was holy ground, Exod, 3. When joshuah saw a man with his sword drawn, and understood, that he was the Angel of the Lords host, for them, not against them, he fell on his face and worshipped: and was told that ground was holy, and bidden to put off his shoe. Now the Lord, that hath chosen England to save it, help his Moseses, and his joshuahs' to such a peculiar holiness that he requires of those whom he will delight to work by: It's not by might, nor wit, but my Spirit: the barley cake tumbles down Midians tents, that is, Gideon humbled with such a description made of him in that divine dream. Now the time is for such as Nehemiah was, to repair jerusalems' walls, men of faith, that will not be daunted, men of innocency and goodness, that cannot be blemished, men of zeal that can neither endure God's honour to be profaned, nor people's poverty to be oppressed by the greatest whatsoever. And who but Nehemiah's could do your work, and act your part at this day? who could have endured such labours and discouragements? His enemy's scoff: at length they conspire to be upon him from every part: his own people complain of the difficulty of the work, their weary shoulders with carrying burdens, the abundance of rubbish still remaining, never like to be overcome, Neh, 4, 3, 8, 10. yet he encourageth the people, puts himself and his upon the hardest tasks, puts not off his , watcheth, worketh, prayeth, and is at great charges instead of taking the wont allowance of men in his place. Truly, when God hath such work to do, he raiseth men of such extraordinary spirits: Blessed be our God, that hath raised up such, and upheld their hearts in that Honourable House of invincible courage, and patience, and labours, whatever is become of others, whom the Lord deligts not in, to honour them with such choice work, as his Temple-work is. Be you assured that the hearts of the faithful in Israel are towards the governor's of Israel that offered themselves willingly among the people, bless ye the Lord, judg. 6. The poor despised of Christ's flock here do pray, whiles you watch and work, and in the sense of the weight of your charge would gladly be putting stones under your arms, whiles with Moses you are stretching out the rod of your authority and deliverance, and others are fight against Amalck. And the good Lord stir up the hearts of the people of the Land to cleave unto you, that as God hath made you as the two hundred heads of Issachar, men that had understanding of the times, and what Israel ought to do, and their brethren were at their commandment, 1 Chro. 12.32. so you may be able to say as the Governors of judah, The inhabitants of jerusalem are our strength in the Lord of hosts their God, Zech. 12.5. And certainly the true inhabitants of jerusalem they are a great strengthening (though very few) not in themselves indeed, but in their God who is the Lord of hosts: you are the Vindices or Judges of Gods Israel, a people precious unto him: who should be afraid to be the keeper of God's sheep: joab bid be of good courage, and behave themselves valiantly for their people, and the Cities of their God, 1 Chro. 19.13. He that keeps the Church of Christ keeps that which will keep him: yea it is the Ark of the Lord which you are guarding, which guards them that carry it: as sometimes when it was sent homewards in a Cart by the Philistines, it was both auriga & onus, as Theodoret observes: Esther need not shrink to speak for the saving of that people, whose safety without her, was surer, than her own without speaking for them, as Mordecai told her. And though it's not the least part of your temptation that the success depends much upon people, who are generally as unstable as waters: who may do much either way, but are doubtful whether: yet both these are in the hands of the Lord, who if he touch their hearts, they shall as one man flow and stick close unto you: and doubtless the faithful in the Land, who are not of a double heart close with your godly aims and endeavours, and one of them is better than a thousand others, and the Saints shall prevail though it be by their death to bring forth the Cause of the Lord Jesus in his own time. But oh that I might aspire farther in hop●, that the Lord, in whose hands are the hearts of Kings, would give you the heart and hand of his Anointed, to join with his Nobles and people to bring back the Ark with David to its place: and that He would at length say, that which I am persuaded he might say in his very heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in the Lord their God: and alas! that in the mean time his soul dwells among those, who are Apollyonists, children of the curse, & the generation of God's wrath, of whom we might say, Depart from their Tents, lest, etc. and with jaacob, o my soul come not into their secret: The Lord persuade. As for yourselves, whom the Lord hath hitherto maintained constant, and faithful to his Cause, though with the extreme hazard of your persons, families, estates, etc. in the midst of such multitudes of your rank that follow the wind, yea a body of people, which through ignorance and profaneness, are enemies to the pure and exact ways of our Lord Jesus, the Lord remember you, and wipe not out any of your kindnesses to the house of your God; yea the Lord is with you, and you are laying that stone, which hath seven eyes, which run through the whole earth, to watch for you, and most wisely and prosperously to carry on your work about it to perfection in his season: Fear not, but let your hands be strong, you fight the battles of the Lord, and (I trust) evil hath not been found in your (no not in your hearts towards his Anointed) He shall bind up your souls in the bundle of life, but the souls of the Cavalieres shall be fling out as out of the midst of a sling. Only may I humbly suggest my suit, that no unbelieving fears, nor ensnaring flatteries of men wise according to the flesh, cause you to make haste, or turn aside short, or into any crooked ways: but make through work, as tender hearted josiah, and listen not to Samaritan worshippers any more, as formerly others have: Placet mirum in modum nostrae carni (saith P. Martyr on 1 Cor. 5.) in duas parts claudicar●: quod est Deo, quam odiosissimum. Civiles homines, quòd in Reformatione leniter agere volint, causam adducunt, quòd tumultus horrent, atque seditiones. Ideò ubique suadent ad multa connivendum esse: Caterum alia est severitas verbi Dei. Moses was so strict, and yet it was but faithfulness, as to stay 600000. men, then leave one hoof behind him, for that it might be for sacrifice in service of the Lord. It's true, Prudence directs quibus medijs, to press and put on the work of the Lord: but Piety admits not of any fitting of Religion or the Kingdom of Christ to times, places or persons: His worship and Kingdom is not one framed for the plain or persecuting times of the Apostles: and another for the stately frames of Christian polities be they never so great: All States must conform to the Church, all Kingdoms unto Christ's: Ecclesiam ad mundi normam Regnorum & Statuum componere, est merè Domum tapetibus accommodare. I know, the contrary hath been the professed judgement of many, and I fear the practice and way of more inclines thereunto: But once I hope Christ shall in England be acknowledged All, and only in his Church, and it shall be the greatest honour unto him to accept him in every of his laws and privileges: And give me leave to use the like argumentation that Bucer (whose piety in his works de Regno Christi, is worth the reading and observing at this time) to King Edward, you will not suffer any Parliament privileges, or rights and liberties of subjects to be taken away, but will rather hazard the loss of all: shall not zeal and punctualnesse here be much more seasonable and warrantable. I do not think all will be seen at once, yet this shall be acceptable service and honour to the Lord Jesus our King, if you aim at that one way, wherein he will be served, and weigh all in the balances of the sanctuary, and prefer the wisdom and authority of his word therein above civil policy, humane reason, yea universality or antiquity of any practice since the first & normal pattern prescribed in the doctrine, & recorded in the history of the sacred Scriptures. And I am persuaded thus much being asserted, for truth, and sincerely professed as your scope, and aimed at in endeavours, it shall be acceptable unto the Lord, and a blessing to his people. Pardon my boldness good Sir, if I present to your wisest consideration, the unhallowed passages that come forth in Mercurius Britanicus, of scornful dishonour put upon the Name and Person of Him, who is by you acknowledged the Lords Anointed: It's very aimeable to read terms of honour put upon his Majesty, though so fare stirred up against you: It's that which I meddle not with, what is cast upon those that are about the King: I deem just to make Remonstrances, as things stand, wherein even the actions of his Majesty may be complained of for your justification: but to put bitter and most contemptuous scoffs upon His royal Person, is that which David's heart could not bear: nor will yourselves if you take notice of it, I am assured, and know the offender. It's against not only the course of Scripture, but one Article of the late Covenant. Though I am thus bold to mention what flies about; yet I am not so bold as to accuse any of that Honourable House herein, who may be fare from the knowledge hereof. Since my setting pen to paper; we heard so sad news as made me lay aside my pen, fearing no passage would be to you: but since again, much better, blessed be the God of our mercy, that would not let us sink in sorrow: and the comfort of our comfort is in the religious and blessed Covenant made by you and the Scottish: which He who hath wrought it graciously accept it, and scale it in all hearts, and give us all with you not to make the emphasis of our Joy, that it is made with the Scottish, but that it's made by them and you with the great God of Heaven: that sin is so humbly acknowledged, so holily disavowed and divorced, and God's truth and service so zealously avowed and professed. It's the way whereby Kings have sought and found the Lord: and whereby Nehemiah settled the peace of a troubled State. You have to all the world avouched the Lord for your God, now we look for Him to avouch you for His people in the sight of the world: And now our hearts have gotten some good hold to wrestle with the Lord, which we poor worthless worms desire to do, so, as your expectations may not be failed of us: nor our duties towards you, on whom the eyes of the world are set: and in whose hands is the Cause of God, and the great action of this age for his Church: and in this purpose and posture I shall humbly take leave, and with all due service and honour to yourself, and worthy Mr M.C. the only one, that I have had acquaintance with, in that Honourable House, which hath now some years been more your house, than your own home where that worthy and virtuous consort, and sweet hopeful children were wont to accompany you, to whom with most affectionate respect I desire to be remembered, I commit you to the God of the spirits of all flesh, who hath honoured you with his highest work, and will crown you with an immortal reward through Christ Jesus, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.  
Ipsw. Decemb. 17, 1643. Your Worships obliged, but especially in the Cause of our Lord Jesus, NATH. ROGERS.  
FINIS.