A PREPARATIVE FOR THE FAST, OR, A sovereign Balsam for the cure of the distempers of the times.  
by Job weal apothecary  
LONDON, Printed by A. N. for Richard Lownds, at his shop adjoining to Ludgate, 1642.   

A PREPARATIVE FOR the Fast, etc.  
WHo that is embarked in the Common Vessel, interested and engaged by the Laws both of Nature and Religion; to maintain the Truth and Peace of the Church and State, will not at this time of their apparent distress, lend his helping hand, and give his best assistance (as fare as lawfully he may) to any probable way, to close up those fatal wounds that have been made therein?  
To that end (according to my mean ability) I have, yet once again, adventured to cast in my Mite, and to present a Sovereign and infallible Balm to heal all our Solutions of Unity whatsoever.  
Much good may come by making use thereof, and no small danger by the neglect thereof. If you shall find it consonant to God's Truth, beware how you contemn and defer the use of it. However it be accepted, it shall comfort me that I discharged my Duty, Conscience, and true affection, to the best of my understanding, for the peace and welfare of the Church and State, (though to my own prejudice.) But to my purpose.  
The most sacred Word of God, and the Laws and Ordinances of Man grounded thereon, are those Oracles which afford Theorems and Aphorisms, aswell for the knowledge of our present condition, as also for the true indication and perfect cure of the same, and which will one day be the Judge of us and all the World.  
The Disease whereof the Church and State in general labour at this present time, is a Solutio Continuitatis, a solution of Unity. This (in Physic) is that Morbus communis, or preternatural affect, which alike incommodates the functions of either part, and is variously procured by (and I pray God we see it not accompanied with) Wounds, Ulcers, Fractures and Luxations.  
The Primary and Antecedent cause of all these Disunions and Disjunctions, are most certainly our most heinous sins, whereby we have justly provoked the Almighty to wrath and indignation against us.  
The Secondary, Instrumental, and Conjunct causes, are the Malicious and Seditious practices of the Jesuited Papists, and the Schismatical, factious, and sinister endeavours also, of others, and their adherents likewise; both of them being made the Heretical instruments of the Devil, unnatually to Divide and Rent, the Head from the Body, or the Body from the Head, that he might the better rule and prevail against both, and the Truth, Peace, and Prosperity of our Church and Common-weal.  
I am not ignorant that many good Patriots and nehemiahs, true Friends to the Church and State, are scandalously branded with those names, but I fear that some seem to be when they are not, and it is one thing to be falsely called so, and another thing to be so really indeed: For such certainly there are, whom God in his good time will make manifest, who unlawfully go about to sever them whom God hath joined together, to divide and rend the Truth and Peace of the Church and State. These indeed (according to Saint Paul in the Galathians) trouble, and intent to pervert the Gospel: But (saith he) though that an Angel from Heaven preach unto you otherwise then the Truth, Let him be accursed.  
The signs of this Disease have been sufficiently made known, and they are apparent in their effects, these gaping wounds, both in Church and State, pities their beholders and friends to see them. The Prognostics are of great danger, and threaten the subversion and dissolution of the whole Body, and this may justly be feared, if the complication of this Disease be well weighed with the manifold and malignant Symptoms wherewith the Body languished before; this tends to the very expiration of the animal and vital spirits the life itself; And that which makes the Omen worse, is, that Instruments for Cure are not only neglected, but despised.  
This triple cord of Unity, to which our Ship was fastened in those storms, is cracked, and shipwreck feared; Our partition Wall is broken down, or at leastwise uncaemented, and ready to fall, whereby we are exposed aswell to Foreign as intestine mischiefs. This divide and scatter, if it be not prevented, will be no small curse to Jacob and Israel: and our Saviour (if we will believe him) tells us, that the issue of a Kingdom divided against itself will be destruction.  
The Remedies as they ought to be contrary to the effects, so they must have respect to the causes, for till they be removed the effects will not cease.  
That irritating and primary cause that hath made a Separation between our good God and us, are our sins, these are those noisome and infectious vapours that have ascended up, and by their interposition and Eclipse of God's gracious goodness, have produced malignant and pestiferous influences on us.  
To you that are so much distempered at this time, give me leave before I come to propound you a cure, to advise with you first, that you may be the more willing to embrace and undergo it; To which purpose let me entreat you diligently and considerately to read over and meditate on the second Chapter of the first Epistle to St. Peter, if you be religiously inclined, which I hear you much profess, it will make you the better listen to what I shall afterwards say unto you for the same end. In the next place I would advise you to resolve to be contented to refer yourselves to your Prudent Physicians, Whom God hath made as happy instruments of his mercy for your recovery; and let me entreat you to be persuaded by those that are, and always have been, your true friends, and have loved, and desired your welfare as their own: Be confident that they know your disease, and several distempers, and the several causes of them, and have provided (to their great charge and pains) fit Remedies for you, if you will be patiented, and conform to their directions, without which all their skill, care and cost, will be of no avail to you: Your Disease for want thereof hath grown more difficult of Cure, and hath contracted to it other desperate diseases, and is now become of such a phrenetical disposition, that it transports you beyond yourself, and hath depraved, and corrupted your judgement, And your distracted fears and Phantasms make causeless jealousies in you, even of your best friends, and make you sometimes to offend them that most commiserate and endeavour to heal you.  
Your actions now will not endure the touchstone of Common sense and Reason, nor the law of the Land, nor the Balance of the Sanctuary, wherein you desire to be weighed; insomuch that unless a speedy remedy be applied, you are like to destroy yourself and all yours, and it may be everlastingly too. Therefore while you do enjoy at sometimes a little better understanding, let the light of common reason prevail with you. If the benefits of recovery will not invite you to incline to a cure, yet let the terrors and torment of thy diseases, and Death allure thee, and the consideration of thy Parents and friends, or thy wife, children, estate, and all that is thine or theirs: Besides, remember that thy life is not thine own to dispose of, thou must know that it is but lent thee for the service of thy Creator, thou shalt aswell answer for the neglect of that due means God hath appointed thee for thy recovery, As for laying of violent hands upon thyself or any other, both of them being Murder in the sight of God. So likewise if the blessings and Commodities of Unity and Order will not prevail with thee, Let the discommodities and terrors of Discord and disorder affright thee to it. Suppose thyself and all thou hast, or canst call dear and precious to thee, either for the present or the future, were embarked only in one Vessel, and it in a great storm, amongst rocks, quicksands, and Pirates, and your only Cable that holds and preserves you from ruin were almost cracked in sunder, Wouldst thou be so fare from lending thy hand to mend it, that thou wouldst cut and break it more. Certainly no man in the same Ship that understands themselves, but will account thee a mad man for so doing, and hinder thee from doing it. Again, if there were but one Bulwark or partion-wall that keeps us from our bloody enemies, and the cruelties of our adversaries, wouldst thou be one of them that should pull it down; Think upon the hideous roaring of Cannons, the tormenting murders, bloody Massacres, and lamentable cries of thy Parents, Wife, Children or Friends, and loss of all, it may be of thine own soul and theirs likewise. Again, consider of those bounds and Fences which keep in the violence of the Fire, and the rage of the Waters, which within their due bounds are useful and profitable for thee, wilt thou be so senseless to pull the fire out of the Chimney into the middle of thy house, where Gun powder and other combustible matter is? Wilt thou break down those banks, and let the Ocean in to make a perpetual deluge and inundation of all? Or let me demand of thee if thou hast so much judgement to discern it, whether in thy warfare thou wouldst not observe military discipline? Wouldst thou be one of them that shouldst endeavour to break those ranks and forms thy General and Commanders order thee to fight in, and thereby to let the enemy make an inroad upon thy rout, and disorder, and so bring thee to confusion? and you must know this may happen, by so small a matter, as the loss of one nail of an horse shoe, inan Army, and therefore how behoveful is it for thy Commanders, and thee also, to take care, and prevent all disorder whatsoever in the least appearance. Wherefore now as it stands thus desperate, you are to be the more patiented and willing to submit yourself to your Physician's care and fidelity. Be confident that they will do nothing but for thy good, for they and theirs are likewise interressed therein. Thou must be contented to have thy ulcers and putulent wounds cleansed before they are bound up, and Fractures and Dislocations are not so easily united and reduced to the service of the body without some dolour; Peradventure some of thy wounds are gangrened, and have contracted so much virulency, that there must be amputation and dismembering of that joint; But be well assured that thy Physicians will not order it so to be, unless they find absolute necessity, and then thou wilt find it better to part with a limb, then lose thy life. Peradventure they may see cause to make some evacuation of thy redundant and peccant humours which hinder thy wounds from healing, and are apt to bring thee into other distempers. When they see it fitting; they will give thee Cordials to comfort thee, and to give thee rest for thy unsettled and distempered spirits, if they find it to conduce to thy good. By this time I hope you are resolved to be patiented, and therefore now I will apply myself to the Remedies.  
Let this Principle be granted (which indeed is not to be denied) that all afflictions come from God, and all injuries whatsoever do befall us, by the Providence of the Almighty, and then we may presently draw these Conclusions; That the instrument must do that which the Almighty will have it to do, And that it can go no farther than he pleaseth to order it, and therefore we must first apply ourselves to him to remove it from whom it cometh.  
The Disease indicateth a necessity of a speedy unition and Reconciliation to be made with the Almighty (whom we have offended and provoked to wrath) in and by the Mediation and intercession of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Speedy I say, because that a little delay may bring a great deal of danger, few days neglect in this case may hazard thy life, And if this Remedy prevail not sentence of Death may pass upon you sooner than you are ware. Procrastination in wounds and other diseases often makes them incurable. Continuance in sin is not the way to make satisfaction to God, Confession, and Contrition begets remission, when obstinacy heaps on further punishment. Dost thou think to escape God's hand by murmuring against him? Be well assured, if the sword of Justice prevails not, it may be the Plague or Famine shall, or some severe judgement. Thou shalt get nothing by thy impatience; for thou art not able to resist the Almighty, and if he takes the rod into his hand again, he will make thee feel it to the purpose. Let me rather advise thee to submit to the mercy of so gracious and loving a Father; and not to stand to the terror and anger of the Almighty. That we may meet God in the way of his Judgements by Prayers and true Repentance, that sweet Incense which will correct and dissipate those malevolent aspects. It hath been hearty prayed for, and endeavoured, that there might be a general monthly day of Humiliation, for the blessing of the Parliament with unanimous proceed, for the settling of Religion in Truth & Peace, for the composing of distractions at Home, and for the distresses and seasonable relief of our Brethren in Ireland, for aversion of those impendent judgements over our heads. Not forgetting to give thanks to the Lord, for those manifold Mercies we have received, and for all good means conducing to our relief.  
That these days may take the better success and effect, As a praeparatory thereunto, it may prove useful and beneficial, if some grave Orthodox Divines, and Christians, well settled and affected to the Truth, and Peace of the Church and State, did meet and consider of those chief and provoking Sins of this Kingdom, which are those efficient and impulsive causes of our disunions and distiesses at this time.  
There are questionless general sins of Nations as well as of particular persons, whereby God is provoked to wrath.  
There may be sins of Superiors, as well as sins of Interiours, there may be sins in the Court, and sins in the Parliament. Sins of Universities, and sins of those streams that flow from thence, sins of the City, and sins of the Country, sins of the Clergy, and (which is to be lamented) scandalous, seditious, and Schismatical sins of Professors, and such as take themselves to be (and peradventure some of them are) of Gods own Isael and chosen people, wherewith God is, and will be much incensed and offended.  
When these are well discovered (and notice also given by Advice of Authority) that true Repentance may be faithfully and respectively preached, and Reformation in general and particular endeavoured, otherwise the cure will be but Palliative, and Master left for Recidivation. Humiliation without Reformation is but Hypocrisy, which will end in Apostasy. There must be true and plain dealing with the Almighty, he seethe and knows every man's heart and ways, and ponders all our do.  
It is not any particular blaming one another will excuse us to him, not the Cities crying out on the Country, or Country on the City, or the like. Every one must put his hand to this genreall work; every one that hath had but one hand in breaking down our Partition wall, must lend both hands to build it up again: But those that have lent both their hands to pull it down, and more than their own hands too, as well in the Primary as in the instrumental cause, had need to give more than ordinary diligence to the speedy rebuilding thereof again. And whosoever that is not willing to put his helping hand hereunto, let him partake of those miseries which his own hands have wrought.  
It agrees not with my disposition to grate and stir in those wounds, they have already by some been laid open, and may endue time be more largely discovered by others, to whom it properly belongs. I shall rather lend my hand to close them up, to which end till better Remedies are found out, I shall make bold to recommend and Present a most sovereign and precious Balm for all Solutions of Unity whatsoever. It is composed of many several Ingredients of admirable virtue. It is Saint Paul's Balsamum Charitatis. It is his Sine quibus esse nole. You shall find the Receipt in the first of Corinthians the 13 Chapter: where also you may ready the Description of the several Virtues and Operations thereof. Charity (saith he) suffers long, and is kind, Charity envies not, Charity vaunts not itself, Is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own; is not easily provoked, thinks no evil, Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the Truth: Beareth all things, Believeth all things, hopeth all things, eudureth all things.  
The farther excellency and necessity thereof, is expressed in the said Chapter. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of Angels (saith he) and have not Charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling Cymbal, and though I have the gift of Prophecic, and anderstand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove Mountains, and have no Charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, & though I give my Body to be burned, and have not Charity, it profiteth me nothing.  
Charity never faileth, but whether there be Prophecies shall fail, whether there be tongues they shall cease, whether there be Knowledge it shall vanish away. And now abideth Faith, Hope, and Charity, these three, but the greatest of these is Charity. This Composition includes the Prophet Micahs Tripharmacum, viz. To do justly, to love Mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. And what doth the Lord require more of thee O Man, saith the Prophet.  
This is that Balsamum Sympatheticum, the true Panacca that will heal all our rents and divisions, and it doth not only cure for the present, but preserves for the future, wear it as a Prophyactick about thee, and go notwithout it. He that rejects it, put a mark upon him, and according to Solomon's advice in the 24 Pro. Meddle not with him, for he fears not God and the King, and is given to sedition. Avoid such an one as thou wouldst do a Viper, a Crocodile, a Basilisk, or one that is infected with the Plague.  
Our wounds being bound up with this Balm, (it hath been likewise humbly sought, and prayed for) that Religion may be settled both in Doctrine and Discipline with all due and convenient speed, and all Protestants, especially Ministers, united therein by Protestation, and satisfactory explanations and reasons published thereof.  
That the Conversion of all Papists and other Heretical and Schismatical Subjects in the Kingdom, who have erred and gone astray from the Truth, may in all charitable and Christian manner be endeavoured with to be reduced home to the Church; showing them the necessity of our Separation from them, or rathers as it is indeed their Apostasy from the true Church with which we partake, the danger of the condition they are in, the benefit of embracing these, and the like gracious invitations, extending to the good of their souls, bodies, and estates. Thus many of them, who certainly belong unto God, may be brought home to him, and made useful and serviceable, the rest left inexcusable to God, the World, and their own consciences.  
That justice and judgement may be executed on such as have received such putrefaction, that by their virulency they infect and endanger others.  
That the several languishing, oppressed, whose cries have entered the ears of the Lord (some of whom for several years have received almost deadly wounds for the mayatenance of the public good) may in good time be relieved and redressed.  
That the well deserving may be encourage, Virtue advanced, and Vice depressed.  
Thus God will be pacified, and we united and reconciled to him, and amongst ourselves. Thus all those incoveniences and Mischiefs which we fear, by God's blessing on the unanimous endeavours of the Parliament, may turn to our great blessing and commodity.  
Thus our Ship will arrive safely at her desired Port.  
Thus our triple Cord, and Partition Wall, will be made stronger than ever.  
Thus those bloody, fiery and malignant Configurations (which hang over our heads) will be speedily terminated, and their revolutions prevented for the future, and we shall receive more benign and favourable influences and aspects from above, then ever we had before.  
Thus we shall begin a new World, or at leastwise make a happy Conclusion of an old, Wherein God will give us one heart, and one Way (as it is in Jeremiah) that we may fear him for ever, for the good of us and our Children after us.  
God I say will do it, for He and He only is able to unite and heal all our Solutions, and therefore, Not unto us Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name be given the Glory and Praise, now and for evermore. Amen.  
I. W.   

PErlegi Tractatum hunc ingeniosum, in quo nihil inveniri potest, quod non sit pium, religiosum, bonismoribus, legibusque sanis maxime consentaneum: cessent itaquè virulentae malevolorum linguae hoc (ut optima imò quidem omnia solent) carpere opusculum, acerbitatis suae virus in Authorem candidum evomere erubescant; & dum morosos & imprudentes nostri hujus saeculi homunciones (quorum insipidis palatis nihil nisi proprii cerebelli figmenta sapit) ad rectam rationis legumque normam reducere conatur, ab omnibus (quibus curae est pax & serena Ecclesiae heu nimis nunc temporis dilaceratae tranquillitas) laudem, uti benè meretur, consequartur.