יהוה GOD IN THE FLAMING-BUSH.  EXOD. 3. 2. 
Moses looked, and behold, the Bush burned with fire, and the Bush was not consumed.  EXOD. 3. 3. 
And he said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the Bush is not burnt.  DEUT. 33. 16. 
Blessed of the Lord be His Land, for the precious things of Heaven: And for the precious things of the Earth; and for the goodwill of Him, That dwelled in the Bush.  ESA. 63. 9 
In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them.  
Published for a memorial of the first wonderful year, The day of the LORDS vengeance, and year of Recompenses for the controversy of Zion.   

THE CHURCHES THANKOFFERING To GOD Her KING, and The PARLIAMENT, FOR Rich and ancient Mercies; Her Years of Captivity; Her first Year of JUBILE;  
THAT IS, For the Marvellous Deliverances Wrought with God the first Wonderful Year (since the Year 88) beginning at September 1640. and ending the ninth of the same Month following: In all which time, The Lord appeared for His Church, as in the days of old, out of the midst of the BUSH, so the Church burned with fire, and was not consumed.  
In the PREFACE, The THANKOFFERING is vindicated, and set free, from all the Cavils and Charges against it; Where also it is cleared To be, as every Man's Duty, so every Man's purpose, To Offer Willingly now, who doth not make full proof, that he falls short of Pagan, Papist or Atheist; and is wilfully resolved to walk cross to the most SUPREME Law, The HIGHEST Reason, and The unquestionable WILL of GOD.  1 Chro. 17. 19 O Lord, for Thy Servants sake, and according to Thine own heart, hast Thou done all this greatness, in making known all these great things. Psal. 1●6. 17 I will offer to Thee the Sacrifice of thanksgiving: and will call upon the Name of the Lord. Nehem. 5. 19 Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people. 
London, Printed for T. V at the sign of the Bible in Wood street, 164●.   

TO THE LORD, the most high GOD, Possessor of Heaven and Earth. TO JESUS CHRIST, His only Son our LORD, Prince of Peace, King of Saints. To the blessed SPIRIT, the Truth, and leading thereinto.  
BLessed be Thy glorious Name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. Thou alone workest wonders, and in so doing haste magnified Thyself and honoured man: Thou show'dst signs and wonders upon Thy Adversaries, for Thou knewest they dealt proudly against Thee: So didst Thou get Thyself a Name, as it is this Day; and herein didst Thou use man as an instrument, Dust and Ashes he is, give him grace to magnify Thee. Blessed Saviour, Rock of our Salvation, Desire of the Nations, Hope of Israel in time of trouble, Thou wast content to be made of no esteem, that Thy people might be greatly beloved; to be made a curse, that Thy people might become a blessing; content to be made low, that Thou mightest exalt man. So Thou hast done, Thou hast exalted him, even to sit in Thrones next to Thyself; Give him an heart to exalt Thee, to honour Thee, to love Thee much, for Thou art worthy. Blessed Spirit, Thou hast done great things and marvellous, not by 
a Nihil aliundè mutuatur Deus ad Ecclesiae suae conservationem, ergò vult sibi Vni acceptam referri Ecclesiae saturens. Cal.  (humane) might, nor by power, but by Thyself 
b Zach. ●. 6. Nec tamen omnia immediatè & per se agit Deus, sed tantum ostendere v●l● Ecclesiam erigi et conservari non humano & vulgari modo, sed mirabiliter & praeter omnes spes & sensus nostres, Cal. in locum. , o blessed Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts, take to Thyself the Glory, even all.  
Almighty Father, Son and Holy Ghost, Trinity in Unity, and Unity in Trinity; unspeakably Three in One, and One in Three, One in Authority, Will and Worship of all Three; King of Kings, Lord of Lords; Spare Thy Servant according to the greatness of Thy mercy. Thy handmaid is recording Thy ancient thoughts of Grace and Peace towards Thy Servants, her Sons and her Daughters: Ancient mercies towards them, when they lay in their blood, for that was a time of love 
c Ezech. 16. 8. . Mercies toward them, exceeding Mercies, when they were in the furnace of affliction, for than Thou didst DEVIL with them and they had ENOUGH. Mercies towards her Land and People this former year, strange Rescues, wonderful Deliverances, admirable Discoveries; what then can Thy Servant say now? Even as Thou shalt be pleased to open her Mouth, and give her enlargement. She would take with her words 
d Hos. 14. 2. , but from Thy own mouth, and of Thy own choosing; Thou must give first; for all things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee 
e 1 Chro. 29. 14. . Thy servant must now speak Thy high Praises; then Thou, Lord, must tune my spirit, and raise it up, else it will flag; or like a Bird without wings, now up and presently down. How insufficient Thy Servant is, for so high and excellent an employment, Thou knowest, for Thou even Thou only knowest the hearts of all the children of men 
f 1 Kin. 8. 39 . At this present indeed, now that I have some high thoughts of Thy glorious excellencies, Thy Servant can speak, as one brought down to the ground, whose speech whispereth out of the dust; yet, as one presently stolen away from herself, she can, with that Sorcerer, think herself some GREAT ONE 
g Act. 8. 9 . Lord, rebuke this proud spirit, and cast a spewing upon Selfe-glory 
h Hab. 2. 16. : for truth Lord, something it would be, and something it would do, though a thousand experiences have told us, that nothing it is, nothing it can 
i jer. 3. 5. , but sin against Thee. Thy grace in us doth all, no more power in self, no more canning except the contrary way, then can the instrument of late held in the workman's hand, but now cast-out, or lying by him. Lord, leave me not, no not a little, work all in me and for me, then work by me, for what we give to Thee is from Thy own hand to us first. And though flesh and blood would share here, yet suffer it not; but say (where Thy voice is, there is power) it shall not be so, and so take to Thyself Thy proper right, all the glory. Let not so excellent a thing as the Spirit is, so vast and capacious, be lost in self, which is nothing; but, let it run forth to Thee, and though it will be lost there also, amidst such an Ocean, yet there it finds a proportionable good, even all in Thyself, for Thou art All.  
Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto my Lord, that am but aust and ashes, Thou wilt suffer this once, and lead me into Thy Treasure-house, to behold Thy mercies there, which I am no more able to understand, than I can the treasures of the snow and of the hail 
k job 38. 22. ; nor comprehend, no more than I can measure the wind in my fist, or Heavens with my Span: for I must look bacl to the days of eternity, and Thy ancient thoughts towards Thy Sons and Daughters before the foundation of the world. And behold Thy ways there, as undiscernible as the way of an Eagle in the Air; or of a Serpent upon the Rock 
l Pro. 30. 19 : as is the path which no foul knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen 
m job 28. 7. . But blessed be Thy Name, though there in that dark path, the soul can find no rest, nor feels any bottom, yet, in Thy Christ 
* De praedestinatione d●sputaturu● incipe ● Christi vulneribus, Mel. Ad. in vitâ Sta●●p. Vera est ea poenitentia quae ab amore justitiae & Dei incipit. , we have a foundation, even according to the good pleasure of Thy will, towards us in Him, to the praise of the glory of Thy Grace 
n Eph. 1. 5. . For Him we bless Thee, we praise Thee, we adore Thee, for Thy glorious manifestations, secret inspirations, immediate workings; for all the means of conveyance, whereby Heaven is pleased to condescend and to have communion with earthly creatures, and earthly creatures have fellowship with the FATHER and the SON. For Thy Son's sake all this, therefore we bless Thee for that unspeakable gift, with Whom Thou givest all things, a subduing of iniquity, victory over sin; (sin is not left to bring forth its own cursed fruit, an exceeding mercy) pardon of sin; communion with Thyself; joy in the Holy Ghost; then the strongest, when we are weakest, and our sufferings the greatest: Then the highest elevation of spirit, than the flood of consolation runs highest, when the flood of wickedness runs over the head, and seems ready to swallow up. This is that the world stumbles at; nay, we shrink at too, at sufferings, at persecution, though yet a thousand experiences tells us, Persecution is the sign of 
a Thes 1. 7.  the true Church, and to them, who are persecuted, Rest with us (and our Rest is in Thee and with Thee) at last; and then, even in that hour of temptation, than dost Thou administer abundant consolations, even according as the sufferings are; through fire, yet not consumed; through water yet not drowned 
o Esa. 43. 2. ; Surely this is because Thou dost guide Thy Servants by Thy Council; we are not careful whether we go, when Thou hast us by the hand, being assured, the end of the way is GLORY.  
And now, that the people may flow in hither, cause them to turn aside and behold this sight, why the BUSH burns and is not consumed. All that look on must resolve it thus, because Thy GOOD WILL DWELLS IN THE 
Esa. 63. 9  BUSH. In all their affliction Thou wast afflicted, and the Angel of Thy presence saved them. O blessed be the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, for Thy  That dwells in the Bush.  
O let not my Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once; we Thy people have said in our haste, Our hope is cut-off, we shall be termed FORSAKEN, and our Land DESOLATE. But we behold and wonder, Thou hast shown grace unto us, to give us a nail in Thy 
Esa. 62. 4.  Holy place, and hast revived our hope, That we shall be called HEPHZ●BAH and our Land Beulah. Truly Lord Thou hast comforted all my waste places, Thou hast made my WILDERNESS like EDEN, and my DESERT like the Garden of the Lord, joy and gladness is found therein, Thanksgiving 
Ezr. 9 8.  and the voice of Melody 
* Esa. 51. 3. . But, Lord, why is it so? Why such severity towards our sister-Churches, and such goodness towards us and our Land? Even so, because it pleaseth Thee; It is Thy good will so. Be it so, but we are overcharged with the consideration thereof, and are silent. Truly, Lord, we stand wondering at Thy works, beholding terrible things 
r Esa. 64. 3. , which our Fathers saw not, and we looked not for; The turning counsels upside down, etc. (for had Thy Servant the tongue of an Angel she could not express it) but at ourselves we wonder most of all, at the drossiness, the dregginesse of our spirits, not yet resolved into a spirit of Thankfulness; no, not yet, though we have seen such and such things, above all, such forbearance; such a patiented suffering our manners 
o Act. 13. 18. , at such a time as this. Why Lord God, Thou didst send unto us Saviour's, we should have looked through them, as through a thin covering, to Thy arm made bare for our Salvation; we did not so, it was a thick covering before our eyes, it hide Thy Almighty Arm quite from us. We did lean upon that Reed (such is the help of flesh) yet did it not pierce nor break. O wonderful! it is not Thy manner so, the prop of flesh did not break, though we laid so great a weight of expectation thereupon: notwithstanding it hath held, etc. for Thy Servant is overcome; more she would speak to that point and is not able. But she hath wherewith to answer Thy Adversaries (as followeth.) The Enemy reproacheth Thy Name daily, and asketh, where is now your God? Our God is in Heaven, and thence Thou hast declared Thyself against Thy Enemies, confounding them: and for Thy people, reviving their hope. Thou hast exalted THY CHRIST before our Eyes: and received Thy people into COVENANT; these two things Thou hast done this last year. And if Thou dost no more in our days, yet thy Servants have ENOUGH: And by Thy good hand upon them, they have out-plotted all their enemies. Thy Servants have no more to say, but, Remember, Lord, Thy Covenant, and keep the hearts of Thy Servants close with thee therein: Thou art Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, and only art able to make Thy Servants to perform the words of Thy Covenant, and to STAND TO IT 
p 2 Chro. 34. 31, 32. ; and then, though the Enemy rage, he shall not hurt; though he conceives mischief, he shall bring forth a lie.  
God in Covenant defeats all their hellish counsels, weakeneth all their power, answers all Arguments against Thy people, or their Cause, nothing shall do them hurt, every thing shall do them good. It is Thy Promise, Lord, I will not turn away from them to do them good 
a jer. 32. ●0. , All shall work together for their good; losses in the World, for their good; troubles in the flesh, for their good; come what can come, all is sanctified, by all Thou wilt do Thy children good; Reproaches, wants, necessities, Persecutions, Captivities 
b jer. 24. 5. , All to do them good, even so Amen.  
And yet, Lord, we remember Thou hast spoken good words and gracious concerning the Church for the time to come. We humbly conceive now is the time, when Thou art making good this good word to Thy people; not only because they do set their faces unto Thee to seek by Prayer and Fasting 
c Dan. 9 3.  (a great and good sign that Deliverance is comming-on, that Thou art appearing in Thy glory 
d Ps. 102. 16, 17. , because the Fatherless, the Destitute pray unto Thee for this thing, and are resolved to give Thee no rest.)  
But there are other Reasons, why we should set our hope in Thee, and that it is Thy meaning we should so do, which we shall speak of before Thee now, and (if it could be) in the ears of all the Christian world, for they are legible in all the people's sight, and most commanding, we think, to draw in others that are not willingly ignorant, and to make them fall down, kiss Thy Son, and trust in Him.  
1. We humbly conceive that Thine Adversary and Enemy shall proceed no farther. Surely, we say, that is Thy meaning and purpose of Thy Heart, because His folly is manifest unto all men 
e 2 Tim. 3. 9 .  
2. We conceive, that Thy Adversary (a Legion) hath been at the highest, his vertical point, and we see he is fallen thence. Truth, Lord, he falls slowly now; when his fall is like a millstone 
f Rev. 18. 21. , with violence, than it shall be mighty, quick and irrecoverable; there is that in his fall now, which, in our haste, we call slackness, and we say, in the same haste, we may fall before him: If so, yet so, as we shall rise with more strength and in more glory; but he never to rise again to that same point. We conclude so (for so Thy manner hath been) when the Adversary gins to fall, he shall fall yet lower 
g Est. 6. 13. ; when he ascends again (if he falls not low in humiliations) it is up the Gallows. 
h 7. 9   
3. The Adversary hath been proud, as Moab, VERT PROUDLY 
i Esa. 16. 6. , exceeding proud 
k I●r. 48. 29. , as proud waters, which went over the heads of the righteous. We humbly conceive now, they must be brought LOW, VERY LOW; now they must be made Base, EXCEEDING BASE, even now.  
4. Prayer hath commanded (we look above all means to Thy glorious Right-hand) as strange a standing still of the stars in one place of the HEAVEN, as was the standing still of the Sun upon Gibeon, and the Moon in the valley of Aialon 
l Iosh. 10. 12. . We humbly conceive, Thy meaning thereby is, and Thou wilt have it published to the whole Christian world; That the great Court of Nobles and Worthies shall not arise from their place, till Thou dost arise in all Thy people's sight, to avenge Thyself upon Thy Adversaries, for all the dishonours they have done to Thy House, Thy Day, Thy Servants, Thy Service, etc. Come Lord Jesus, Thy Servants wait Thy coming; Praise waiteth for Thee in Zion. The souls under the Altar say COME; multitudes, we cannot number, thousand thousand souls on the Earth, wearied out, because of these Murderers 
* Jer. 4. 31. , all these say come. The sighing of the needy and the oppression of the poor, saith come. Thy Day so profaned, saith come; The spirit so grieved, saith come; Thy Spouse (so often forced before Thy face) saith come; and because of the present feeling, she doubles it, Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly; ease Thyself and Thy poor flock of those Adversaries, who have fed themselves and fleeced Thy Sheep; have made void Thy Law, have taken peace from the Earth; have valued precious souls no more than they do old shoes 
* Am. 26. . Come Lord Jesus, come quickly, and work so, that a man shall say: verily there is a reward for the Righteous, verily He is a God That judgeth in the Earth. 
Ps. 58. 11.   
Thy Servant hath spoken, do Thou according to the greatness of Thy power and mercy, for Thy words sake, Thine own sake, Thy Names sake, Thy Christ His sake, Thy Church's sake, His dear one (the price of His blood) His near one (as the Apple of His eye) His only one, His beloved one, the Crown of His sufferings, the Glory of His shame; and then will the Church ascribe power, riches, wisdom, strength, honour, glory, blessing to Him. Who is worthy to receive all this; for of Him, and through Him and to Him are all things, to Whom be glory for ever, Amen.   

TO THE HIGH COURT OF PARLIAMENT, The LORDS and COMMONS there assembled,  
NOw the Church hath tendered Homage to her Lord, you will give me leave to be her mouth to you; and to neglect Titles, when your works render you truly Noble, and Right Honourable, so praising you in the Gates. I know not how to give flattering Titles, said Job 
a job 32. 27. , for in so doing, my Maker would soon take me away. Since Thou wast precious in mine eyes, Thou wast honourable 
b Esa. 43. 4. , saith the Lord, and you will believe Him. I cannot crave your Honourable Patience neither, to hear me out: let that be as your leisure serves, I must do my duty; and, being the mouth of the Church, whose heart is full, and thoughts not so composed, I cannot so contract as I would: others may read, who need information, and receive benefit therefrom, while you work.  
Fellow on your work, in God's Name, you work for a good Master, whose wages are sure, and like Himself; He gave an Heathen King for serving a great service, no less than a great Kingdom, the wages for his work 
c Ezek. 29. ●8. : You have done a greater service, you may expect greater wages, A Kingdom that cannot be shaken, for so God will honour you. We say surely, you have honoured Him, so blasphemed in the world, so slighted and disregarded there. You have got yourselves a Name: Verily, we conclude, you have wrought singly and purely to advance the Glory, and to get Christ a Name in the world, which as it is the end, so should it be the work of the whole life.  
Worke-on, You shall prosper yet more, though you have prospered already to a miracle; and know for encouragement (if you needed any) That, while You are so working, not Man only, but God also is Recording, whose Records are never laid aside, being ever in His eye. While you are giving out for the public Good, all good people are giving in to you, PRAYERS and THANKS; great matters both; The one turns and wheels about things to Admiration, being the strongest engine in the world, and the greatest stock you have upon Earth, always gaining, because always trading Heaven-ward.  
Certainly the PRAYERS of the Church, of all her Sons and Daughters, all the world over, are for you (a mighty consideration, these only make Prayers, the other party speak only or curse rather, they do not pray) And all their BLESSINGS (as mighty and prevailing now, as were the BLESSINGS of the Tribes, that stood upon Mount Gerizzim) are upon your heads and endeavours, a 
Deut. 27. 12.  shower of blessings. Much may be gathered touching the strength and nobleness of those blessings; to bless did belong to the children of the free-women (the Church and her freeborn can bless, and they only) but yet, though these were appointed by Moses to bless, yet there is not one blessing expressed, and that is very notable by the way. For by such silence, Moses would have God's people expect great 
Mr Ans.  blessings, such as cannot be expressed by the tongues of Men or Angels: but yet this good people must look for those blessings by another, that is Christ. For the Curses, these are mentioned, not the people, who must curse; as if Moses were loath to name them for such a misery. But the curse not causeless must come 
e Pro. 26. 2. . The point and comfort is (which required clearing notwithstanding the haste, for I would be very short, though in such a business I cannot well frame to it) the viols of the Saints, so full of prayers and blessings are all poured out upon your heads, and the Lord smells a savour of rest and peace from these odours, for such they are, being presented by the hands and through the Mediation of His Beloved Son CHRIST JESUS.  
The Nations will rush now, as the noise of many waters; There will be a shaking in the Earth; much strife and contention there. Who shall have the Day, and overcome? who shall return ashamed from the battle, with their hands upon their heads, as Mourners? A foolish question this; I might as well ask, what will prevail most with God, PRAYERS or CURSES? Who shall tread down most, the feet of the proud and lofty ones, whom God resisteth, and hath now cast out of their places: or the feet of the poor and steps of the needy, whom the Lord guides with His eye? yet I determine not. It sufficeth me, and you too, I believe, that all the prayers in the world are for you; all the blessings of all that can bless there are upon you, as assured yours, as if they were pronounced by the very mouth of Christ: and all the curses in the book of God are upon your enemies, and shall overtake them in due time, if hearty Repentance prevent not.  
So much touching the first great thing, so prevailing in the world, PRAYER: You will be remembered of it again anon; For, as with Esther 
f Est. 4. 16. , you have commanded it, so with her, you will pray likewise. THANKS follow, and that is the subject of this Treatise; a gaining commodity also, freely laid out, and the more freely so, the more they receive-in, the fuller are the returns and Incomes every hour.  
These you have here from a most considerable person (for I take a single word) The CHURCH, who can prize mercies, speak them forth with rejoicing; can skill in giving thanks, for the time, matter and manner, and order in the same, excellently well.  
Thanks! You may say; That is a poor Return. No, A rich Return, considering who offers them; The Church, and from her They never go alone; her hand goes with them, she works for you (never was there a greater, a better, a more hopeful cause to set all on work) and her heart also, she prayeth for you too she cryeth in the cares of her God, night and day, though you hear her not, for so you read of Moses, he cried 
* Exod. 14. 15. , and yet there was not a syllable of a word heard.  
Some doubts are to be cleared here, the Method also which is easily done. Another work there is, not so easy, the answering some grave questions about the THANKOFFERING: Churchmen (so in name) question it very much; set themselves against it; plead rather, not for a return of curses, we hope, but mightily set against a return of thanks: here they have indignation also, saying, to what purpose is this waste? And some are so pinched gnawing their tongues, that they know not what to say, only they mutter, that the LAW is against a Thankoffering too. The Lord knows how willingly I would have stepped over these blocks; but He knows, so I could not do, and not offend the Church, and the Reader both, so great is the offence in the way, which by His strength, I shall remove from before his eyes, who is not resolved to shut them, that he may stumble with less excuse, and more impudence in a Sunshine. But I have so much wit and manners both, to reserve this for him, that hath leisure, disposition, and reason to hearken to it anon. It will be sufficient for you, if you take leisure for two things; &, whatsoever the employment is, they must take place, Consideration and Prayer: the one will take up some length in your thoughts not more than may be thought necessary in this Paper; the other may be lengthened also in your closet, it shall be very short here.  
Consider, for it is also HIGGAION-SELAH 
g Psa 9 16. Rem meditand●● summè. Jun. , A thing much to be considered on; That there hath been no undertaking, no Design of yours, all this time, which God hath not prospered: and no design of the Adversary, which God hath not cursed. You do consider this, and is it not wonderful, That you should go over such Mountains, all along through a Sea, so full of straits and and rocks on every hand, and yet not dash the foot? No, for you consider this with it, That you have managed the cause of Christ all this while; you have carried all things, your Counsels and Consultations and Actions, level to that Mark, the advancing that STANDARD (call it what you will) that GLORY: Your Adversaries have done the clean contrary. Not any one ACT hath passed through your hands all this long Session; not any one Vote from your mouth, that hath sadded those hearts, which should not be sadded 
c Eze. 13. 22. . The Church hath high thoughts of this, thus she thinks, Nay, she knows; That never was there such a PRICE put into men's hands; nor more wisely managed then by you, for ye have set your hearts to it 
d Pro. 17. 16. . You naturally 
a Phil. 2. 20. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  cared for the CHURCH'S state; as Sons, ye served with her in the GOSPEL. The Church wonders not at all this; for, (1.) You naturally cared for her, therefore you work and are not weary. Love feels no more burrhen; then the Woman did, taking the Child into her Arms, being the true Mother 
b Exo. 2. 9 ; She did it hearty. (2.) Hear we can discern GOD'S hand with you: We must say, as the Heathen did, GOD IS 
c Gen 21. 22.  WITH YOU IN ALL THAT YOU DO; GOD'S hand hath been with your KING, therefore hath His Hand been so gracious to you, and his heart is still in the same Hand, not as Iron and Brass (and yet all is one to an Almighty Hand) but as waters there 
d Prov. 21. 1. , easily bend and called forth TO HIS FOOT 
e Isa. 4. 1. 2.  aqua in areolâ quocunque dux ris sequitur Higher ep. 16. . You that have God for your Pilot, if He steer your course (certain enough He does) what ever straits or rocks there be, you shall not dash against them. Yea, but there is the Leviathan, he takes his pass-time in this Sea, A mighty and grievous Adversary, we mean LEGION, for he is Many; They hear and see, that the walls of Jerusalem are made up, and the breaches begin to be stopped 
f Neh. 4. 7. , They will be, as than they were, very wrath: As then the Adversary reported, feigning out of his own heart, That Nehemiah was King in Judah, and the Jews think to rebel: very likely he will say as much now, for malice boyles as hot in his heart now as then; Therefore such scum must run over at his mouth. You have tormented him, casting him forth, and so have cheered the hearts of the Righteous, and gauled the wicked, yea, cut them to the heart: you do expect now, they will gnash on you with their teeth 
k Act 7. 54. , and by't, yea, swallow you up if they can, for they will speak devouring 
l Ps. 5●. 4.  words; their mouth being an open sepulchre 
m Ps. 5. 9 , and the poison of Asps under their tongues. But let malice draw her bow with full strength, and shoot forth her arrows, yet she shall not be able to wound you; or if she do, these considerations will yield you sovereign balm, whereby to cure the venom thereof, or to turn it into balsam, and that is better.  
1. It hath been the manner always, To take away the Righteousness of the Righteous from him 
m Isa 5. 23. . A notorious wrong that; A little consideration will serve here, for there is but one way to turn now, ye will TURN to the LORD our RIGHTEOUSNESS 
n Jer. 23. 6. ; That is a garment, which all the unclean spirits in the world cannot defile. There is one Consideration.  
2. Here below, things are miscalled now, as in former time; The greatest Idolatress and Murderess, that ever was in the world; (She had killed all the seed Royal, excepting one, and he was wonderfully rescued and preserved in the ISLE of PROVIDENCE) calls out TREASON TREASON: what was the matter? This and no more; she heard a noise saying, GOD SAVE THE KING, singing and praising, for all the people of the Land rejoiced, and the City was quiet. This was Treason doubled from her 
2 King. 11.  mouth, TREASON TREASON.  
So also, True Piety, a sense of Duty, is called Rebellion; This opprobry hath been cast, like dirt, into the face of all the true Ministers of Christ, with this addition, that 7. times washing in Jordan shall not wash it off. No? what had the Ministers done? They would not proclaim a liberty for sports 
* Siccine exprimitur pu●licum ga●●iam per p●●l●cu● de●ec●● &c ●e●tul. cap. 37.  on the Lord's day, etc. Well, you have been judge in this case; you have outed that blasphemer, his places shall know him no more; You have cast him out, where the unsavoury salt is, for he is not like unto it but the very same. So let all thy Adversaries be cast out, O Lord, who blaspheme Thy Name daily, calling good evil, and evil good; Thy servants by their OWN 
d Exulem me de suo nomine vocat Cicer. Parad.  Name, and that is as bad as can be. But now, this is the point we have in hand, how persons and things are miscalled here below; Loyalty is called Treason; and so backward, Oppression is called Justice; that which is truly Law is called Violence; and Violence is called Law. The vile person is called liberal, and the churl bountiful 
e Isa. 32. 5. ; The Messengers of the Churches, and the glory of Christ, are miscalled, blasphemed, as we hear and read. Thus we call things and persons now. It shall be otherwise here on earth towards the end of the world, as it was in the beginning, when every thing shall be called by its proper name, and according to its nature. The vile person shall be called as he is, and the churl as he is: And as it shall be done here below on earth, so it is now done above in Heaven. That consideration yielded much comfort to the servants of God in ancient time, and so it will do now 
f Quae hic mala putantur: haec sunt in coelo bona. Lact. 5. 15. .  
3. We read of Petilians' tongue, as fiery a flying serpent, as any is now in the world. It stung Augustine exceedingly, it scorched the Church, as it could. Augustine seems either not to feel it, or not to care for it two straws; for, using another Metaphor, he says thus; Petilian blows hard, but all his wind blows away nothing but the chaff. Thanks be to God, PETILIANS' TONGUE IS NOT COD 
Lingua Petiliani non est ventilabrum Dei.  FAN. He will not lose one grain of wheat by all this blustering wind. That was his consideration then, and very comfortable it was then; it is yours now, and it is as comfortable now.  
4. Consider Days of old, since man was created upon the earth, and you will find the proverb true, An unjust man is an abomination to the Just 
g Pro. 24. 21. : and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the 
h Isa. 32 5.  wicked. And so, though you cannot ward off a blow from the tongue, for it wounds suddenly and undiscerned, and more deeply than any sword 
i Quovis gladio acutior calamnia, etc. Lips. Orat. de Calum. , being as an arrow shot out 
k Jer. 9 8. ; yet you know a Dog's tongue is healing, if he be not mad; and grant he be so, and so goes about the City grinning, yet these considerations yield you balm enough to cure the poison thereof.  
You have but Angers first weapons 
l Prima semper irarum tela male●●cta sunt: & quicquid non possumus imbecilli, optamus irati. Salv de Gub. l. 3. pag. 81.  yet, Devouring words; you must expect violent hands, hard and ungodly deeds, whole Armies against you, while you are for Christ; Troops after Troops from all quarters; such a Muster, or Combination rather as you read of 
m Psal. 83. : for the Lord Almighty hath taken to Himself great power, and hath reigned. What then? It follows, And the Nations were angry 
n Rev. 11. 17, 18. . So they are now, and for the same reason, very angry and full of wrath. Consider now, the Lord Christ is King; be the earth never so unquiet, Yet he reigneth then most gloriously amidst His enemies 
o Ps 110. , When they make a tumult, and speak in their pride, Zion shall be defiled, and our eyes shall look upon her 
p Mich. 4. 11. . Consider now what that zealous Reformer said, who set his face like a flint; Be not afraid, remember the LORD who is GREAT 
q Neh. 4. 16. ; great in power, great in wisdom, etc. This answers all. Great tumults, great rage, great wrath, The Enemy comes in like a flood, with open mouth to devour all; REMEMBER the Lord Who is GREAT, His Spirit will set up a Standard against them 
r Esa. 59 19 . When the sons of Belial do, as their Name imports, break bands, and cast away coards, than the Lord will laugh 
s Psal. 2. : And then, said Luther well, he would not cry like a child; he would be merry as a Man, and sing for joy of heart, the 46. Psalm: For he remembered the Lord WHO IS GREAT; It follows, and TERRIBLE, To his Adversaries, fury to them 
t Isa 59 18. ; and He has them under His feet already (like unto fine brass 
u Rev. 2. 15. ) and He can stamp them to powder (but He is patiented, He will endure a little while their wriggling) sooner than you can a worm under yours. Nay you have had assurance ever since the days of Joshua 
x Josh. 10. 25. , That you shall set your feet upon them too. It seems the Lord is fulfilling this good word to you now; nay, doubtless, He hath fulfilled it even now; He hath done as He promised to His worm Jacob, He hath taken you, a company of worms (ye are no better) wormlike men; He hath given you arms of steel, and feet like brass, and you have threshed the Mountains like straw, and have come upon the Princes as upon Mortar, and as the Potter treadeth clay 
y Isa. 41. 15, 25. .  
Thus the Lord hath done, Who is GREAT and TERRIBLE even now in all the people's sight. Remember Him, you cannot be afraid. And remember where you are. And yet, as one saith 
a Nihil interest ubi sitis in saeculo qui extra saeculum estis. Tert. add Martyrs. chap. ●. , no matter where you are in the world, who have your thoughts above the world, and managing the great things of Christ there. But yet to tell you what you know, and what your security is, you are in God's hand 
b Deut 33 3. .  
Now put all together and consider on it; God, He is GREAT and TERRIBLE; He is your God; you are His by covenant; you are in His hand; your enemies under His feet; nay under your foot. The Result from hence is; A Glorious Dependence upon this Lord, Who is Great; yea, a TRUST FOR EVER in Him, Who is EVERLASTING STRENGTH 
c Isa. 26. 4. , and that is a sure ground for EVERLASTING CONFIDENCE; That, though the earth should shatter to pieces, and the mountains be taken off from their everlasting foundations, yet God is good to Israel; you shall not be greatly moved; your head may ache, but you may repose it in the Lap of your EVERLASTING FATHER; certainly He will sustain you; you may lay your selves down in peace, He will make you dwell in safety. The enemy shall not be able to come near you to do you hurt, no nor to sad your spirits, who in all this time, have not spoken one word, whereby to sad the heart of the Righteous. Ye must (the promise is so 
d Isa. 65. 13, 14. ) rejoice, when the Adversary shall be ashamed: ye must sing for joy of heart, when your enemies must howl for vexation of spirit; your Name must be a blessing, theirs a curse. This is glorious matter for faith to work upon; it will make you pray in the Holy Ghost. You need not be entreated to take leisure for that, it is the very breath of faith, and it hinders nothing at all, but sets forward businesses exceedingly, it makes them glide-on. I give myself to prayer, said David 
e Ps. 109. 4. , when he was in the very case you are in 
f ver. 2, 3. ; He made prayer his work, what ever he was doing; and so his work slided-on; he had an easy pass through all; he could leap over this wall, and that mountain was a plain before him; and his enemies were given into his hands, for he gave himself to prayer. What ever we omit, we must not omit prayer. It commands your Mark, that, betwixt the King's Question to Nehemiah, and his Answer, there is a prayer; his Answer was as ready as the Question was, but he would pray first 
q Neh. 2. 4. . A hint only is enough to wise men. Your prayer shall be short, you may lengthen it in your closet; pray as Nehemiah did; he believed as you do, and you have done as he did, and you have as many enemies as he had, and so envious against you; They would make you afraid too; they would weaken your hand from the work that it be not done, pray; now THEREFORE O GOD STRENG THAN OUR 
Ne. 6. 9  HAND; AND REMEMBER US O OUR GOD, FOR GOOD. Now there is a voice gone up (that never returns in vain) and cries aloud in the ears of the Lord, like the sound of many waters, saying, AMEN; Mercy and Truth be with you, AMEN: And the God 
2 Sam. 15. 20.  of both these give you favour in the eyes of the Man, Amen: wipe not out the good deeds that you have done for the 
Ne. 13. 14, 22.  house of your God, and for the Offices thereof; AND SPARE YOU ACCORDING TO THE GREATNESS OF HIS MERCY, AMEN, AMEN.   

The PREFACE clearing the way through this Treatise, and the READERs understanding, touching the proceed in Parliament, the clearness of the Laws and justice therein; his Knowledge also of the times, and clear WILL of GOD, and what Israel ought to do, notwithstanding the contradictions of sinners, and cross wills of Malignant Men.  
Reader,  
IVnderstand well the use and Law of a Preface, it should contain no more, but what could not be put into the book; that is observed here. And yet it will be very large, and that I could not help. I have an hundred sheets tending much the same way this Treatise goes; If a Providence should call forth, all or any part of it; I might trouble thee with an Epistle, but never more with a Preface. How willingly I would have forborn it here. I know, and God knows; but then I strongly conceived: I had left thee in the dark; but now I shall show thee the way in much clearness, if thou wilt not blindfold thyself, and render thee in the close, a Thankful man, This is the tendency and purpose of all this: And so, that thou mayest read with profit, understanding what thou readest, and then show thyself an understanding man; I shall endeavour to clear the way before thee, and give thee clear resolution to the matters in debate, some more easy and quickly resolved; other some more hard and admitting more contention;  
1. Touching the Person, who offers Thanks, that is easily cleared.  
2. Then the Thankoffering, there will be the knots, for Collegiate men, the Eyes of the Land, these are set against it, and, some say, the Law also; we must examine their reasons, and clear the proceed against these men, and that will take up some time.  
3. In the last place, the Method, the clearing of that is very necessary, but it will be quickly done. I shall now dissolve a continued Discourse into a Dialogue. The first Doubt to be resolved, is,  
1. Ob. I personate the Church here, an excellent and glorious woman, whose clothing is as we read 
a Rev. 12. 1. . And is it not presumption in me, the lowest and vilest of ten thousand, to take upon me to be the mouth of the Church? Ans. No for first it could not be otherwise; None but the upright 
b Ps. 33. 1. 119. 7.  in heart, the Church, can render a THANKOFFERING acceptable to the Lord. The Devil and his servants neither can nor will; They can curse and blaspheme, that they can and will do; Thank and Praise God, that they will not, they cannot do. The Church's heart is prepared, she can arise and give thanks; they and they only, can call upon all that is within them to bless His holy Name 
c Ps. 103. 1. . And if they, like good Stewards, are not careful at this point, to maintain their Lord's Royalty and Right, his Tribate and Impost, their Lord will lose all, Thanks and Praise both. And that is all He looks for, for all His rich mercies and glorious works done to the children of men. Therefore His children will look narrowly at this point, That they fail not therein.  
2. Ob. I am here the mouth of the Church; he must have her spirit that knows her mind; How doth silly man know what the Church will say?  
Ans. Yes, very well; though in some cases, the well is deep, and I have no bucket to draw; and in this case I cannot dive into the bottom, nor attain to the height of her expressions, being so filled with the Holy Ghost: Yet I know her mind so fare, that I can more than guess at what she will say He that hath but a common light (I do not say, I have more) very ordinary abilities, cannot but conceive the subject-matter of such a work, and the manner of prosecuting the same very well. He must conceive also, unless he hath put out all his eyes, inward and outward every one, that the Church considers and ponders these marvellous works in her heart, wrought for her, and conveyed to her by the hands of her Lord and King (for, what ever the conveyance is, the Church looks up to her Lord's hand,) Surely he cannot but think and know, that the Church accounts these works wonderful, and her recording, thanking, praising, all these must hold an answerableness too; the man whose eyes were a little opened; what o● him? See how he was taken with the wonderful administrations of God towards His people (seeing none of his enchantments nor Divinations could take) and hear his words, How 
Numb. 23. 23.  goodly are thy Tents, O Iaco●, and thy Taberna●●es, O Israel! As the valleys, etc. for it contains much. He hath the strength of an Unicorn, etc. Blessed is he that blesseth Thee, and cursed is he that curseth Thee 
d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. 24 5, 6. 8, 9 .  
Look ye! Balaam could ●ay this, and yet his eyes were but a little opened and presently shut again; Covetousness had closed them, he loved the wages of iniquity, and yet the works of God towards His Church dazzled his eyes, they were so glorious in his sight, and made him break out to admiration. Certainly such have been God's works, so strange, so wonderful, so glorious towards His Church this Year; so as the blind and the lame, and the fool must say now, WHAT HATH GOD DONE? Surely even These men must know, that Thou, Whose Name alone is JEHOVAH art the most High over all the Earth 
e Ps. 83. 18. , These are forced now to ascribe strength unto God, saying, His excellency is over Israel, and His strength is in the clouds. O God Thou art terrible, out of Thy holy places, the God of Israel is He That giveth strength and power unto His people. Blessed be God 
f Ps 49. 34, 35. . It is no presumption then to do as all should do, and as fools are forced to do, no nor boldness neither; for secondly,  
The Lord knows with what care and diligence I have done this (if it may be said, it is done; for he that comes after, and does much more, with more skill and more strength of parts, will not haply say of such a work as this, it is done, and yet I may say) with care and labour enough, and with fear too much, lest something should slip out unbeseeming a Thankoffering, or the person presenting the same. And not to belie the work, the Lord knows with what SEEKING also, out of myself unto HIM: and when there was no answer in supply of strength, than I wrought with the strength of a man, and did drive heavily. He will find it thus, that reads over the work, and then finding something that is good, he will say, THE FINGER OF GOD IS HERE, and he will make much of it; where he finds weakness, (for I will not call it bad or ●ll) there he finds a man and no more; no matter how he deals with him, so he remembers himself, and considers, That in many things we offend all: and he that offends not in his tongue, (especially when he speaks much) (the Pen is but the tongue in print) is a perfect man. And this may suffice to clear the answer to the first Doubt, That any man, who hath common principles may know the mind of the Church at this point, what her Sons and Daughters will do now at this time, now that their Lord hath dealt so like Himself, so graciously with His people. We have heard what Balaam said, a vile person, blinded with covetousness, an Alien from the Common wealth of Israel, and a stranger to their joy. Who knows not then, what the Church will say, for whom her Lord hath wrought such Deliverances as these?  
And now, Reader, supposing thee no Malignant one but alooker on the affliction in the day of calamity 
a Obad. 13. , not knowing what side to turn to, nor which way to take because of the Dilemma of the Time; so thou sayest for which way soever thou shalt turn, a horn may meet with thee, and push thee, yea gore thy sides, so thou sayest in effect. Let me tell thee now in much love, though in plain English, That thou dost not seem to have so much Logic as a Dog hath; for when he comes to the place, where two or more ways meet, his little Logic serves his turn, and reselves him, which way the Beast went. I know thou hast more Logic, but certainly thou hast made no use of it hitherto; Try thy skill now, and put Reason to it, that is natural Logic, Ask thyself now, which way goes the BEAST, I mean the Pope and all his sworn servant's? Thou needest not smell here, though the savour of the Beast is very strong; thy eye ●● ill tell thee which way go all the Atheists and Papists all over the Christian world; All the Prelates, all that love to have the pre-eminence 
b joh. 3. 9 , all that seek honour from Men, thy eye will tell thee which way those go Why then, as sure as thy soul liveth, thou must go a cross way to all these now, if thou seekest the right way, the way of the just, and lookest thy soul shall live hereafter for ever with the Lord. But I will wind up thy understanding by degrees, I see thou art but carried on, as others are, by the example of thy betters, who think themselves the two cleared eyes of the Land; I will show you the vanity and danger of following such persons, and then answer what those persons (that take themselves to be such clear sighted men) have to say: And all this, that thou mayst join with the Church in her THANKE-OFFERING, take hold of her skirt, saying, I will go with you, for we have heard (and seen) That God is with you 
a Zach. 8. 23. .  
Ob. You object, You cannot join in Rendering a THANKE-OFFERING, for you see others do not, who account themselves the cleared EYES of the Land. Scholars you mean, Collegiate Men.  
Ans. So you follow the Dark side of the Cloud, you observe what is done, not what ought to be done: The charge is otherwise, we are commanded not to put confidence in a guide 
b Mic●. 7. 5. Esa. 55. 4. , It is o● everlasting use to remember, That we have but one LEADER given us, and He is our COMMANDER; other leaders we may follow, but as they lead us to Christ; and other Commanders we must obey, but as they command from His mouth The poor ignorant people of old, looked what their Rulers did; and harkened to what the Scribes and Pharisees, Rabbis and Great Clarks spoke, and so were miserably seduced, and rejected the council of God against their own souls 
c joh. 7. 30. . A good warning this for you and for me at this time.  
Secondly Consider, Are these clear sighted men? They say so, They say, They SEE; Therefore you may say, and say truly, their sin remaineth 
d joh. 9 41. . And that you may know what you say, observe them in their practice. Certainly that old Sorcerer, did not blunder more blindfolded than they have done, for they look to be promoted to honour; they mind the wages of iniquity, they love to receive honour of another; and seek not the honour that cometh from God 
e joh 5. 44.  only. Lactantius says well 
f Lib. 7. chap. 1. Qui ambitione inflati, etc. , your ambitious man, BISHOP WOULD BEE, he that is all for his wages, he will blunder on, and though you should tell him, he is out of the way, and the sword will meet him there, and show him as clear reason, that so it will be, as if you should carry the Sun in your hand, yet he will reject your counsel: he mindeth his wages, and honour from men: Luther said as much long ago; I will never regard what the Monks say; and less what they do, they plead for their bellies, their ease, etc. light prophets, put them upon the balance, and a penny weight upon the other scale (that is their bargain, so they indent with the Lord,) and that will way them down. We had our lesson a little before, But on LEADER, and on COMMANDER.  
But we must give these clear sighted men fair quarter, and hear their Objections first in the gross and full lump.  
Ob. They have been heard speaking as they sat at Table, when their bellies were full (and was it not a good grace after meat) That this Parliament had done so much against them, that it might be called (as the Council of Trent) the ILIAD of this age; Therefore they had small reason to render them a THANKOFFERING.  
An. Be it so, and suppose too, some of them had been clapped fast by the heels (they might have pleaded justice for it, and merit both) yet should they have joined in a THANKE-OFFERING, they should have praised God, and Thanked man even for that: IN EVERY THING GIVE THANKS; then for imprisonment too: 
1 Thes. 5. 18,  To God they will say (for they are not past grace.) Nay to man, if we follow the light side of the Cloud. I remember Mr. Bradford (but he had another spirit, an excellent spirit) was of that mind, and so he could do; If the Queen will send me to prison said he, I will thank her there; if from thence to the stake, I will thank her there also. There was a thankful Man.  
But if we cannot draw men on to be Thankful for blessings; surely we must expect they will murmur and curse too under crosses: And yet it will be as clear anon; when I come to clear the Method, as the Sunbeam, That we must be Thankful for all, for imprisonment, for stripes, etc. Thus in the general: We must now hear the particulars of their charge, and those are two. 1. What the Parliament have done touching Church-livings. 2. Then touching Churchmen. I must remember I am in a Preface now, and would not exceed its bounds. When my pen did take full scope touching this double charge, I am persuaded, that I have cleared the proceed in Parliament against both these, double Benefices, and perverse Men, to be the most advantageous for the Church, truly so called, the most just and equitable of any proceed, that ever were heard of since a Parliament was heard of in the world: for to say so much as may satisfy the Reader, touching the first Charge; how reasonable a thing is it first; That he, who hath an Office, should attend upon his Office? Again, how just and equitable a thing is it, that Watchmen should be stirred up, and not suffered to sleep in the day, loving to slumber, nay to snore in their Cabins? And it was strange, 
Isa. 56. 10.  (but yet so it was) They could sleep so sound there, who had blood for their bolsters. They slept sound, while souls, purchased by the blood of Christ, are murdered at their elbow. Surely this was because their beds were too soft, and because of the sweat and rankness of their prosperity 
* Vitium longe pacis & oputentae sec●●●itatis. Sal. . But He, who maketh inquisition for blood, will require this of them, who slept, where the envious man made havoc and destroyed: or if they were awake, than they drowned their Cates in wine. Ob. And was is not time the● should be jogged, and their full cups taken out of their hands. At, but what encouragement now to ●● Scholars, when the maintenance is taken away from the Church, and her proper inheritance ●rom her Churchmen.  
An. It is not taken away, all the revenues there, shall run in the veins of the Church, and be according to the first intendment (not to maintain Drones, but the labouring Dee) for the advancement and enlargement of true Pretty and Learning. Though we should note this, there is encouragement enough in doing our Duty, in working the thing that good is, for we work for a good Master 
* 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, etc. He shall have the greatest reward, who works not for a reward Isid. p●ll. l 2. p. 184. . But I speak to them, that will bargain with their Lord, and well know their wages, else will dee no work. I demand of these, why should this Discourage them in their studies, or cut them short in their hopes, that some men with their Et cetera●s, shall not be suffered any longer, to engross or enclose the rich and fat pastures of the Earth; to eat the fat and cream of the Land, as those their Brothers before them, Abby-lubbers, evill-beasts, flow-bellies have done, while the good Scholars feed upon a poor pittance the while; nay, are almost starved? I pray ●●u might not good Scholars pick out many a good bit from such a place as ●au●s, were it rid of these, etc. and their singing men? And a very good riddance; how well might they be spared? no fit (some of the●) for a Church, than a Swine for a Parlour. And yet we do not think, that there ought to be an equal dividend, an equal distribution of honours and preforments in the Church; but according to Desert and proportion in gifts: yet we think the Proverb hath some use here; They are merry in the Ha●l, when beards wag all: And not when the one table have their full messes, even to a surfitting and vomit; the other none at all, or in no proportion. And so much to the complaint touching Church livings; now touching Churchmen.  
Ob. 
a Titularis non Tu●elaris Rex; desuit non praesuit reipublicae. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Naz. complained that in his time, they were made Bishops, who made themselves the basest servants, servants to their lusts. ep. 10. . They cannot give thanks to the high Court, for they have cast forth of the Church their Churchmen?  
Ans. Churchmen! As the judges, the chiefesto them, were Commonwealth's men; they so sought their own private-wealth, that they left the poor subject, nothing he could call hi● own, but his misery: So these Churchmen, they called out the Church, the Church when they stab●ed her to the ve●y heart. Put we these together for they be M●●ches, Churchmen and Commonwealths men; than you may say worse of them then was said of Chilperick●d a bad King of Fran●e, my English will not be so good as the Latin, but too good for them, He was a nursing Father, not in deed, but in●rame so: He was set over the Commonwealth, as a golden head there; but he did not the office of an head, of a foot rather, and so stamped the Commonwealth to powder. These good men are cast-out, and good reason, for they were as unsavoury salt, neither fit for the Land, nor yet for the Dunghill, but men cast it out 
a Luk. 14. 34. ; as the unprofitable wood of the fruitless vine, were they meet for any work 
b Ezech. 15. 4. ? But who cast them out, and how? It is worth our labour the enquiring out. Surely, the Lord God did it, the God of recompenses, for the controversy of His Zion 
c Esa. 34. 8. . He did it even by His own right-hand. But so (and there we set a mark) as their own mischief did return upon their own head, And 
Ps. 7. 16.  his violent dealing came down upon his own pate. The conclusion is, The Lord cast them out, by the help and violence of their own hands. It is true, and but equitable, That we should give all deuce to man here, for he was a noble and glorious instrument in God's hand for the effecting this work, and disburthening the Church of these oppressors; but we must resolve all into God's Hand, and unto the violence, that was found in their own hand. It was the Lord, That BENT Judah 
d Zach 9 13.  for Himself, and FILLED the BOW with Ephraim (we may fitly allude to that place) He hath raised up thy sons, from the North and from the South, O Zion, against thy false sons, and made them as the SWORD of a mighty man, against those mighty Adversaries: His arrow went forth as the lightning against them. He went out with WHIRLWINDS of the South and North, a CONTINUING 
k jer. ●0. 23.  Whirlwind, and it fell with pain on the head of the wicked. We may read on, The fierce anger of the Lord shall not return, until He hath done it, and until He perform the intents of His Heart: For see what the intents of these Churchmen were against the Lord, even to make His Land desolate, and His Church forsaken: To set Ephraim against Manasses, and Manasses against Ephraim, snatching on the right hand and on the left, so eating every man the flesh of his own arm; And yet their wrath is not turned away, no not yet; The same 
e jer. ●0 23. ver 24. Esa. 9 20.  malice boyles still and runs over; This is their work at this Dait, and these the intents of their hearts;  
That the sword may be bathed in our HEAVEN; That the Land may be filled with blood from corner to corner. Observe again, what they have done, and how they have prepared their own way, for the bringing in the Deluge of wrath. They have let the vineyard of the Lord lie waste; and have broken down the Hedge (now a Serpent has bit them according to the threat 
f Eccl. 10. 8. ) removed the ancient Land mark, made the Heritage of the Lord, as a speckled bird 
g jer. 12. 9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vol. bom. 31. , exposed it to the spoil of Foxes and to grievous Wolves. Here Chrysostom's words would astonish them were they well pondered on; I will but point at them in the margin 
h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, etc. in Ep ad 1 Cor. 3 Hom. 3. . The same Father doth make it clear to the whole world, even now ⁱ: That they have taught, yea commanded Atheism all over their Dioceses, so Preachers do, saith the Father (indeed they preach not at all) when they spend an hour in a day (in Chrysostom's days, they preached every Day) in laying the Foundation of Repentance, from dead works, and of Faith towards God 
k Heb. 6. 1. : And the rest of the Day, and whole week after, turn their backs upon what they said, in a lewd and wicked carriage. This makes their hearer's Atheists, it commands 
l Suade● lingua iubet vita. Gen. 18 19 An example hath the virtue of a Command; nay it is a Compulsion. Cogi eos dicit, qui exemplo Petri iudai●aba●t, Gal 2 14. Beza.  Atheism; and so we have a little of that much, whereby the Father reproves the blasphemy of Minister● in his Days, whose examples destroyed, what their preaching built up, and so they taught flat Atheism. Our Churchmen have done so too, as is clear to all the world; and their judgement will be as manifest. Now the Lord is beginning with them, no● is the year of God's vengeance against those treacherous Priests and light Prophets; now He will recompense upon them all their abominations, which they have committed in His house before His face. Now He will raise up Carpenters, which shall strike off those horns, that have pushed and gored, and scattered the servants of the Lord 
m Zach. 1. 20.   
And surely all the undertake of that High Court, have gone ou● all along with God in His way: And have the very stamp and seal of His Hand upon theirs, to make H●s worship truly spiritual, according to His will; and not clogged and mixed with humane Inventions, Ecclesiastical and Civil charges. And he that shall look upon them (the actions, I mean, of the High Court) with an impartial eye: that shall be but willing to understand them, the meaning and tendency thereof, he will be forced to believe, (as was ●aid in a higher case 
n Qui studuerit intelligere cogetur ei credere. ●ertul. de Deo cap. 17. ) That all this hath been suggested to them by God, and managed by His right-hand. They have been but as noble instruments, bend unto His purpose, and as the bow and sword in His Hand. But remember this with it, which was intimated before, He hath brought upon them their own iniquity 
o Ps. 94. 13. , and so hath cut them off; Their own wickedness hath helped forward this great work; the casting out of these Churchmen; nursing Fathers in Name and no more, for they starved their children; They helped forward 
p Zach. 1. 15.  the wrath, for the slaying a whole Nation: Now His own wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one 
q job 5. 2. . So as we may say, in allusion thereunto, and conclude as of old, These Church-mens iniquity, makes full proof of the Justice and innocency of that High Court 
r Probatio est nostra innocentiae impietas vestra. Tert. cap. 48. .  
If you will ask me now in the close, what I can say against the office?  
My answer is ready: but yet I will say no more here, but as St. Paul saith, touching the LAW, we know the Law is good if a man use it LAWFULLY 
* 1 Tim. 1. 8. . The next Objection scorcheth, for it is from a tongue set on fire of hell.  
Ob. That now they have cast forth Church men, they will cast forth their King too out of the inheritance of the Lord: They will rise up in batt●ll against their King, and can they expect that we should tender them a Thankoffering for that?  
An. No sure, the Axe rather, or a rope; let one or both be tendered to such Philistines, who deal vilely with their King, as if he were not anointed with oil 
a 2 Sam. 1. 21. ; and then shall these servants of the Lord be free, for they can call God to record upon their souls, that they rise up for their King against spoilers; for their Religion against Papists; for their lives and liberties against murderers; for their Church and Nation against them that would make fenced Cities, ruined heaps, and bring utter desolation to the King and Kingdom, Church and Commonwealth and all.  
The contrary is suggested to his sacred Majesty, and so forced, that he dares protest (see how wicked Counsel may prevail!) in the face of Heaven and Earth, that they who seem to be on his side, and with him, shall maintain the Laws, just Liberties and Rights of the Church and Commonwealth.  
Mark, Reader, Sons of Belial (so much malice hath suggested, and, so far prevailed) shall maintain the Laws; and Papists the true Reformed Religion; men of bloods, like Irish Villains, nay the very same, shall safeguard your lives. Read on, Those, that are gone out to battle against these enemies, whither soever the LORD shall send them. What are these men? 
1 Kin. 8. 44.   
Ob. Malice hath suggested (but she was foully out) That most of them are ANABAPTISTS.  
Ans. Nay, not one, I say again, not one. Malice may suggest, That some one or two there, is a Samaritan and hath a Devil, for that has been suggested against the Captain of the Host 
b joh. ●. 48. ; but that there are ANABAPTISTS there, that is false sure; because they are gone forth to war, and will maintain it to the Death; No ANABAPTIST then: No nor Rebels, nor Traitors neither, though suggested so. Like the dirt of Oysters, it will not stain; the righteous have been slandered so of old, but never has been heard or seen such contradictions of sinners, such contrarieties of Tongues and Wills as now a days.  
They can read much written in commendation of folly and to some purpose; They can read also some sheets blotted in the commendation of the Ague, the Fever and the Gout: Yea and one whole sheet in the praise of a Louse, and three sheets in the praise of the vilest person, (but he was an Emperor) that ever went upon two Legs: All this they may find and read in Books; but they never heard or read, till of late, nor their Fathers before them, That an Army most of Papists, and the other looking steadfastly towards Rome, in the same Kingdom, have been commended for loyal Subjects, to a Protestant King: And an Army of Protestants charged with Treason and Rebellion against the same King. But the Righteous are not careful, they can turn, as aforesaid to the LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, and seeing there is no wrong in their Hands: They can say, as David so persecuted before them, The God of their Fathers look thereon and rebuke it 
c 2 Chr. 12. 17. . This has been the good man's comfort evermore, when he hath been smitten at with the tongue; My Adversaries can say much against me (for he thinks his tongue his own) but he cannot say, I HAVE FORSAKEN THE LAW OF MY GOD: So now, malice may suggest, that there be Traitors in God's Host, and most of them Brownists and Atheists; she is not so shameless to suggest, that most or any of them are Papists (not Anabaptists:) If so be malice could have suggested that, and have made the charge good, where had our Hope been? Certainly had this Host consisted most of Papists, it had gone out under the guilt of all the righteous blood, shed upon the earth from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias; and so down ward unto this Day 
d Mat. 23. 35. ; but not one PAPIST, no not one in the Host of God, the enemies themselves being judges; the Papists are all on their side, all the world over: And that it is so, is ●n clear as the Sun, when he shines in his strength; All the Papists are on the other side, and not one with the Host of God.  
Surely, here is matter for high praise to our God, Blessed be the Father, Son and Holy-Ghost, that Satan the accuser of the Brethren, hath condemned his own cause and justified theirs: for behold all this is granted, that all the Papists in the Land, nay all the world over are on that side: why then we conclude first, nay the experience of all ages concludes for us;  
1. That there on their side are all the Rebels against their King, his Crown and Dignity: There are all the Traitors against the Church and Commonwealth: For Papists have been the Fomenters, the Actors of all Rebellions, treasons, murders, massacres, in all ages since that Church had an appearance on the Earth; and so are they now, and so will be till their great Prophet be cast into the great winepress of the wrath of God.  
2. That our Host is gone forth, whither God shall send them 
* 1 King. 8. 44.  against 
● Revel. 14. 19  His enemies, which are the people of His curse, and against whom we are charged to maintain war for ever.  
3. This Host is gone forth in the strength (I will say nothing of the Prayers of God's Host abroad and at home, but) of the BLESSING of the ALMIGHTY. Some may ask, how do I know that? Very well, and I would have the poor Countryman know it too, for that is my aim; The Host is gone forth under the curse of his Holiness, the Pope, I mean. Now it hath been concluded as follows ever since there has been a Pope in Ro●e and a Papist in England. Look which way goes the Pope's curse, that way goes GOD'S BLESSING, for they go contrary, as Christ and Anti-christ. And this is enough to set the Countryman in his way, if his guts be not in his head, and his brains in his belly 
* Cuim cerebr●●● est i● ventro ingenium i● pa●i●is. Agr ep. 2●. , and if so, yet he can discern which way the Papists go, and that it is a cursed way.  
4 This Host shall be victorious, that it shall, for it is the Host of GOD and His CHRIST, against Antichrist, it must go on and do valiantly, for the BLESSING of God goes with it, and the curse of the Adversary.  
Ob. At, but the Host of God hath miscarried?  
An. No never; but so as to make them look better to their carriage, and to manage things more orderly in a way to a blessing. They have miscarried so as to make them more victorious over themselves at present, and over the enemy at the last. True it is, The Sword devoureth one as well as another 
d 2 Sam. 11. ●●.  It may devour Gods dearly Beloved 
e jer. 12. 17.  and as dear to us, as the blood in our veins; and yet it is His Host for all that; who created the Smith that form the weapon 
f ver. 26. . I solemnly protest in the ears of the God of Hosts, and could be content I could be heard over all the Christian world, that, if this Host were all wounded-men, yet could I not doubt of the victory. I may doubt, 
e jud, 20. 23.  nay I do doubt, That we have not wept enough, nor prayed enough; or if so (I doubt it) that may be wanting now, which answers to burnt-offerings and peace-offerings ᶠ once: I may doubt of all this, but I cannot doubt of the victory, in the best Time, God's Time: For it is God's Host, a slandered Host, cursed by the Pope, and his vassals, therefore God's blessing is there; it must prevail and be victorious.  
And this is all the answer they shall get to this, and it may suffice. How can I give a direct and single answer to a double tongue and a double heart, for their language is different. No man can imagine, That the Adversaries speak as they think; for who can conceive that Noah's flood was sent upon the Earth to allay the dust there: or, that the Devil stirred up the Arabians, Sabeans, and Chaldeans to be a wall unto Job, to safeguard him, his children, his house and goods? And so I have done with these Collegiate men; Removed the offence, taken from their example; answered their double charge, and their notorious slanders. And yet there is one Objection more, which truly I had clean forgot to answer in its due place, therefore it must be done now.  
Ob. The title of honour is taken away from Churchmen.  
Ans. That cannot be said to be taken from us, which belongs not to us. Will no title serve the turn, but please your Grace, or your Lordship, thereby quenching Grace, & Lording it over the consciences of men? Another Title will serve better: as a Rod also for Discipline, and yet not made of Iron. Let them Lord-it over themselves, and their own lusts (which they have served) and then they shall be Lords and Princes too, nay most Princelike men 
f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isid. pel. l. 2 Ep. 147. . Why may not those Titles serve them, which the Holy Ghost hath given: I dare say, though you read much in the Father's touching Titles of honour given to Church men; and a Churchman of late, but none now, tells us the Bishop's seat is a Throne 
g Pocklington Alt. Christ. p. 33 & 95. Thron●● propri● principi ●ribui solet non s●rvo. Be●. Heb. 18. , yet none of all these have reached to that height of honour, as those Titles do, which the Holy Ghost hath given them, Stewards, Ambassadors, etc. To say all in two words, Messengers of the Churches and the glory of Christ 
h 2 Cor 8. 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, 2 Tim 4. 5. . Let a Minister answer these Titles, make full proof, they belong unto him; let him fill them up, as the word implies, and then I will not say, what he shall be, for he shall shine like the Sun, but what he is for the present, the most honoured person that is in the world.  
We must note now in the close two things, one for our information, the other to learn us our Duty.  
1. School-learning is not of virtue sufficient to unscale the eyes or unveil the heart, an anointing from above does that. Humane learning if not sanctified, closeth the eye the ●aster; it is a great snare, and like an ignis fatuus (a mock fire, a sancied light, kindled by our own sparks 
l Esa. 50. 11. , and a busy leader in these Days) misleads strargely.  
2. We must learn our Duty now. Though they revile, we must bless; though they defame, we must entreat; though they persecute, we must pray; that the Lord would not deal with them, as they have done; there was none to guide the Church among all the Sons she hath brought forth; neither were there any that took her by the hand; We pray, deal not so with them (good Lord) guide 
Esa. 51. 18.  them, take them by the Hand, that they may walk in straight paths. Though they did rise up against Thee; yet do not Thou rise up against them; but pardon them according to the exceeding largesse of Thy abundant mercy, which can multiply pardons, as we have multiplied sins. Lord, cleanse those fountains, heal those bitter waters, that such may run thence, which may refresh (not poison) the City of God. Amen.  
Now recall what was said at the beginning of this contention, we have but one LEADER and COMMANDER.  
And so I have done with the Divines, whom I honour very much and hearty, so be they are Divine, magnifying their office, exalting the Sceptre of the Lord jesus Christ● these not so, but the contrary; the Lord lay it not to their charge: He will not, if, in truth of heart, they can charge and shame themselves with it. I should now come to the Lawyers, the chiefest of them, for they have made the THANKOFFERING to be questioned very much in point of Law; but they are run away, turning their backs upon the Law, yes, the supreme Law, and the highest reason.  
Thanks be to God, we have the Law on our side, and in more strength energy and virtue, now these Lawyers be gone: And by help of God and the , I shall clear the THANKOFFERING, and the Readers understanding touching the Cavils about it, and render him also, in the close, a very thankful man, that is, he shall give us his heart, and his purse too, if need require, his life also, if Law or Reason can persuade with him, or the WILL of GOD; all this shall be cleared in order.  
All appeal to the Law, I shall appeal thither too; and yet not to the Law of Nature, which teacheth a poor worm to Earth-it-selfe against the foot of pride; nor to the Law of Nations; no nor to the Laws and Constitutions of this Kingdom, whereby we have a privilege beyond the Christians in Primitive times, living under those Emperors, whose Constitutions (I had rather call them so then Laws) were flat against the Christians, and their Religion, and that is very considerable now. But all this I leave to the good Lawyer, I mean, the honest man; and truly he hath cleared the case sound and well; so much I knew and I do profess myself; No Lawyer you will say. Yes but I am, for I understand the Law, as the Proverb is; Every man is a fool or a Physician; he understands something touching the state of his body, what is good or hurtful for him: so he is a simple man, that knows not so much Law (and I presume no more then) as may fit him for a civil life in his Society or Neighbourhood. But that I may keep within my own bounds, and be sure to go right, I will ask and return such an answer, as shall be to the mind and heart of every honest man.  
Q. What is the Law? we have heard much of the common Law, we have seen and felt something from the Civill-law; but what is the SUPREME LAW?  
A. The answer is this, and you shall hear no other, if you shall ask till Doom's Day, THAT THE SUPREME AND SOVEREIGN LAW IS THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE 
b Suprema lex salus populi. .  
We argue, Then the Nobles all (we need no other word, they all are so, so their Votes for Christ, and actions to promote His glory have ennobled them) have proceeded according to LAW, the SUPREME Law: For I ask, and let malice answer, Did ever any before them sweat as they have done? Did ever any work so effectually, for the safety of their Nations? We thought (such fools we were) That safety itself 
c Salus ipsa. , as the simple Proverb is, could not have saved the Nation. We said, Our hope is perished; the house of Esau shall be a fire, and the house of jacob as stubble: Behold by their noble endeavours and contrivements, they have so wrought with God this Day, That it is otherwise, they have snatched us as brands out of the burning: and now we may say, as we read, The house of jacob shall be a fire, and the house of joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble 
d Obad. 18. . And have they not Law for this? No Law for keeping down the fire, that wildfire, from kindling upon our Bodies, our Houses, our Towns, our Cities, our Nation, our three Kingdoms? No Law for saving all these from utter ruin and Destruction? Doubtless they have Law on their side, which will justify them, and their actions, The Supreme la; It cannot be clearer, but it is as clear as the Sun, that glorious Creature shining in its strength. Nay, I must go higher, and quite stop the mouth of malice itself. Did ever any contend so hearty, work so effectually with one lip, and one shoulder, as these Nobles have wrought for the SUPREME safety of the people? I mean, the SALVATION of our SOULS, that is Supreme, a Salvation indeed. If we will be sullen, and will not answer here (as men hating to be Reform) I can tell who will answer with indignation and wrath enough; the Prelates will, those, that labour not in the Word and Doctrine, those I mean, All that Antichristian Tribe, the Devil and all his servants. The Votes and actions of the Nobles this way, have tormented the Devil and his Angels; A sure evidence, That the Nobles have done right; They have wrought for the safety o● our bodies and souls both, that's a Salvation indeed. It were ●ol●y to ask now, and blasphemy to doubt, whether they had not a Law, a Supreme Law for all this? And so I would leave the Law (but it will not be left) and come to Reason, so to argue the case.  
What is the best Reason? The Answer is, and we have no other, That is the chief, the prime, the principal, the highest REASON WHICH MAKES FOR RELIGION 
e Summa Ratio quae pro Religione fa●●●. , that it is: come then, let us argue the case like reasonable men, keeping close to our Reason, yet honouring the Law (of the Land) just and good; and the good Lawyer, for he is a good man: and be knows himself to be so, or the contrary, no man in the world more clearly than he, because, though he could tread the Law under his foot (as the bad Lawyer hath done) yet he cannot putout the light, which he hath set up in his understanding.  
All call out law, law, as if all their help were in God and the law. It is indeed, but if we forsake right Reason, and yet expect help from God and the Law, we shall fail of our expectation, neither God nor the law will yield us any help, for God is holy and the law is just.  
Consider then, what party (for there be two parties in the world, deviding all betwixt them, and carrying all before them, so they have done ever since the world was, and so they will do while the world stands.)  
Which of the two do act according to right Reason, that we called the highest Reason? Who of them do make it their work, to do justice and judgement? But I will come to the highest step, which of them do labour to advance Religion; to ●et up the Standard of jesus Christ? He is blind and will not see, who sees not his answer hereunto. Why then, they have God on their side and the law on their side (I might say, Gospel too for there comes in the highest Reason) and therefore by help of God and the law, and right reason also, they will do exploits. Observe we how the Worthies in the managing of their great affairs, have walked (by the same help, and steering their course by the same hand, level to the same mark) how exactly, how blamelessly, how harmelesly, as the Sons of God, (according to the line of men) so as Momus himself, an envious and prying person once, and now, and yet cannot rebuke them 
d Phil. 2. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. . How comes it to be so, That these Worthies have carried themselves so exactly well? There can be no other reason given but this, by help of God, the law, and the highest Reason. For as was said, God is their Pilot, He steers their course, and the law was their landmark, their boundary, their hedge (had they broken that a Serpent had by 
* Eccl. 10. 8.  them 
a Eccl. 10 8. ) therefore, etc. for every man knows it; they with such help, must steer their course as exactly as the King does, who does according to his charge, seek help from God, and direction from his Law-book 
b Deut. 17. 18, 19 . But now on the contrary; when a man shall slip his hand from out of God's hand; will have none of Him, none of His help, will desert the Law, the supreme Law, that old Landmark, remove that out of its place, and forsake Reason, the highest reason; what will he do? blunder on as the old Sorcerer did (Prophet is too good a name) Balaam, I mean, so he will blunder on, though a flaming Sword stand in their way, turning every way to stop them in their course: Like the Duke of Arabia, Leader to the S●beans, so they will do; And he was a wild Duke, some say, mad, for, careless of his own desert Country, he commanded in chief over those, who, carrying their right upon the Sword's point, rob, spoilt, pillaged all places and persons they came to; though their best friends, they served all alike, as they did Job. How so? By help of the Devil (he stirred them up) and by help of his Laws, which are written in blood. They forsook the supreme law, and were forsaken of right Reason. So they went on in a cursed way, the path of the Destroyer, wasting and destruction was there; and this is the way of the wicked now, the old paths that the Papists have trod in through all Generations; the way of peace they have not known, and cursed are they that walk therein; nay he shall not escape punishment that stands still, walks not, but alloweth of that way. Mark this good Reader, (for I would gaster thee at the very thought of this way) he shall not escape punishment that alloweth (or consenteth to) this way. I will cause them to be removed into all Kingdoms of the Earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah King of judah, for that which he did in jerusalem 
c Ier 15. 4. You will find part of this answer in the large English Bible, more fully in junius, but most fully, clearly and usefully explained in Calvin upon this place. . Might we question the Righteous judgement of the Lord, we would ask here; Why must the people be removed for that which their King did? And why must the after-generation (for this was long after) be sorely visited for the sins of their forefather's?  
There is a double answer unto this double Question, and it will clear the just proceed of the Lord, The Judge of all the Earth, and shall not he do right 
d Gen. 18. 25. ? Because the people then when Manasseh was living, allowed of what their King did in the alteration of Religion, purged and settled by his good Father; and persecution of God's servants: He was the Author of bloody Decrees, but the People were the Ministers and Executioners thereof, and woe to both 
* Tum auctoribus maleficiorum, ●um administris. Isa. ●. 10. jun. . 2. And the generations following, allowed of all this, for they went on securely not humbled for what their Fathers had done. This is the answer, and the note, and if it be noted well, it will be as a flaming sword to keep our foot from the path of the destroyer; nay more, from allowing of that way, for as sure as our souls do live, they shall fall, they and their companies, that walk in this way, that allow and consent to such a way, where wasting and destruction is, forsaking the help of God and the Law, and forsaken of right Reason: For the blessing of the Pope goes along with them and the curse of the Almighty: That was the point, and it clears forth the way unto us, what way we must avoid, if we would escape the curse of God; what way w● must take (for there is no standing still, a N●●ter, that is to allow of a ba● way) if we do● expect a blessing from Him. And this I hope is cleared out unto thee, ●o is thy judgement therein, Thou seest clearly what way thou art to take by the help of God, the Law, and the highest Reason. I shall ●leare the WILL of GOD unto thee next, for I do suppose th●re is a thick c●oud betwixt thine eye and it thou art not clear at that point. By the help of God, I shall make it as clear unto thee as is the Sun beam. But I do believe already thy mind is so cleared now, That thou dost think it but a point of mere duty, that the Church should render a Thank offering to Her God (that cannot be questioned now) and to man also (that is questioned) by whose hands the Lord hath wrought so wonderfully this last year: Nay, I am persuaded better than so, Thou wilt do, as the Church doth, thou wilt offer too; Yes thou wilt say, thou wilt give thanks, for that is as easily done, as thy Cap is moved, an easy motion that. No, but it is not; it is the Churches THANKOFFERING, and she offers willingly; therefore if thou wilt do like her, we must have thy tongue and thy hand, and thy heart: A Thankoffering is not a Lip-labour, no, there is in it the very labour of love, the work of faith; and, (because we look to see our thanks again) the patience of hope. Come now, what wilt thou do? (For words and no more, are like Nuts, they nourish not) Mark what follows; If I knew the will of my GOD'S, I would do what they would have me do; and they should have what they would have from me. A notable speech, and yet a Heathen spoke it, Seneca, whom because of this and something else he said and did, Erasmus calls a Divine-man, and is so charitable, as to register him in the Catalogue of Saints. Indeed this saying contains much, and we must make much use of it; we will hear it again; If he knew the will of his gods; What then? Then they should have the strength of his parts, and the chiefest of his Riches, they should have what they would have. So he said. What were these gods? Stocks and Stones, some of them Devils; few did him a little good, at sometime in conceit; the most a great deal of hurt, but he offered so liberally to all, because he would please all, that some might do him good, others might do him no hurt 
d Aust. de civet l. 8 13. Plac●ndi sunt Dij mali ne laed●nt, bo●●i invocandi ut profi●●.   
Inquire now and so thou shalt understand His Will the better. What is thy God? As we read, The God That made the Heaven and the Earth, The Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, the God before whom thou dost walk 
b Gen 49. 25. , the God Who hath fed thee all thy life long unto this Day; The God Almighty, Who hath blessed us with the blessings of Heaven above, blessings 
* Gen. 4. 15.  of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breast and of the womb. But when I have said God, I have said all, Mercy goodness, wisdom, power, riches, all; only this was not said, That He so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, etc. What wilt thou do now for this God and His Christ? Thou wilt understand what His will is first: Thou dost well, So thou shalt; His will shall be cleared unto you, as the Sun beam. This is His will, even thy Sanctification 
c 1 Thes. 4. 3. , His will, the very Law of His will (but His will is His Law, an holy Law; and His will revealed is our Law) that we should sanctify His Name a●d His Day, hear His word, a●d do it, that is His will; walk as people in Covenant with Him, as children of the light, honestly 
d Rom. 13. 13. , as in the Day, soberly, righteously and godly in this present world 
e Tit. 2. 12. : not in rioting and drunkenness, not in strife and envying, not as Arabians (Sabeans) and Chaldeans, Papists and Atheists, men without God in the world, robbing, spoiling, pillaging; not as the fishes in the Sea, where the greater devour the lesser 
a Hab. 1. 14. ; not as Devils 
b 1 Tim. 2. 12. , slandering each other; not as his eldest sons children of belial, breaking yokes and casting away bands, and girdles, under a pretence of being freed from fetters: not so, for this is after the lust of the Devil, most contrary to the will of God, which is as was said, Holy, just and good. It is impossible we should be ignorant of it Why then Thou knowest what the will of thy God is, and Thou seest Who steer their course thereafter, by the help● of God and the Law. You see who do contend for the Faith, for Religion, for th● Gospel, call it what you will; It is that whereto the Prophets and Apostles have sealed, and so transmitted it to the generations following, and from them it came streaming down unto us in the blood of the Martyrs, under the shadow whereof this Church hath enjoyed her Sabbaths, rest and peace these fourscore years and upward: So long have we set in peace under this cove●ing. For this the Nobles have contended, and are resolved to resist the opposers of it unto blood. And is it not Gods will they should so do? Yes, more cleared unto them, then if it could have been written with the Sun beam. And is it not their bounden duty so to do? No question to be made of that, when it is clearly the will of God. But I would rather their children should answer here: Certainly ha● these Nobles failed at this point, had they not given out their Male, their strength in the managing thi● great business; had they not contended here, then had their Descendants put up a complaint against them doubled, the same, as we read, Bloody Fathers have ye been to 
Exod. 4. 25.  us, bloody Fathers ye are. Ye contended not for Religion, ye neglected that, ye were careless thereof, and so of the good estate of future times, unnto which ye knew, ye must transmit and commend-over, us; your dearest pledges; bloody Fathers ye are, so they had complained.  
Blessed be God, they knew the will of their Lord, and their bounden duty, and have done thereafter; they have contended for this Faith, and they will contend: what is their life to them? o● what regard to a new b●rne son? If ICHABOD, where is the glory? that is gone. They will contend for the Glory, they will keep it, they are resolved so, so to contend even as for life.  
Ob. What contend against their King! Is that the will of God?  
An. A silly Objection, I had almost said wicked; They contend for the King, for the maintaining his Crown, Peace and Dignity. They contend for the maintenance of Religion, and that is like the maintaining a Ship in a Tempest; a silly wilful man, and let him perish (if he be not a sleep) that will not put forth his hand to maintain the Ship now in distress of weather▪ if that lives he lives; if that drowns be drowns. Truly, I have said all I can say; They that contend to maintain Religion, do as those, who contend to save their ship, save that and that will save them. The Nobles do contend to maintain Religion (that ship) and in so doing they contend for their King; his life and peace, for his everlasting Crown, for the peace and honour of his people; for the safety of his Kingdoms, that they may be the head and not the tails, the most honourable of Kingdoms. All this they do contend for, for they contend for Religion, that ship which carries three Kingdoms in it at once, peace, safety, lives, liberties and all. And is it not the will of God they should so contend? It were folly to answer, for it is blasphemy to doubt. Then what wilt thou do to help them and their cause, against the Mighty. It is the greatest, the most hopeful cause, the best, the plainest and clearest (as clear as the Sun beam) the most legible cause that ever was heard or read of in the world What wilt thou do now to rescue thy King from out of the hands of Murderers? The Land from out of the hands of spoilers? The Laws of God and man from sons of Belial, who would make all void? What wilt th●u do, to help the Lord against these Nimrods', mighty hu●ters? What wilt thou do, I say, to help God and the cause of Christ? Neither of them both do need thee, He, Whose cause it is, can manage it without thee; But so He is pleased to honour His Servants, by calling them forth to help Him against the mighty. And what wilt thou do for H●m and His cause, Who was made a curse for thee, gave His blood for thee, what wilt thou do for Him? It is His will and command both, that thou shouldest give in thy help, the Male of thy flock, thy strength and chief of thy substance to Him, and thou hast heard what an Heathen will do in such a case; then thou wilt bid freely, Thy Religion, thy Faith, never put thee to cost, till new, what wilt thou do now? A Papist shall not outbid thee, for the maintaining, his Idol-service, a cursed service▪ yet see how forward he is, he will give all to his skin; nay skin and all, for ●e will venture his precious soul, he loves not his life unto death in his blind zeal, so he may maintain the Man of sin, a despicable man; and his cause, a desperate cause. The Atheist bids roundly too (the man without God in the world, who believes not that there is any Spirit good or bad) he carries his soul in his hand too, he fights himself into slavery, that he may maintain his Idol, his ●ride and Ambition, for Honour in that way there is none, no nor ease, nor peace neither, yet see what he doth, how impatient 
* Omne peccatum impatientiae ascribendum: Nemo impudicus non impatiens pudicitiae, n●c iniustus non impatiens iustitiae. Tert. de pat. cap. 5.  he is in traversing his way, that cursed way! The Papist shall not exceed thee now, no nor the Atheist neither. Why then thou must be very active and liberal too, thy hand and thy heart and all must go, else they will go beyond thee. I ask again, what wilt thou do? Before thou canst answer me, I must resolve thee in one doubt more.  
Ob. I could act with a more free spirit, with more enlarged affectio●s, 
If he be a Clergyman, that scrup●es here, either ●t the will of Man, or at the offering, believe him not: he is a counterfeit, he hath satisfied his conscience and rocked it a sleep, resolved in a more scrupulous case; that he may receive h●● offerings next Easter; his Tithes all the year after, and more a great dealt from two places, though he ministers at neither: there he is pinched now, but no scruple there.  because with more clearness of judgement, if so be God's will were concurring with the will of my ●ur●ing Fathers and spiritual Lords.  
An. These were no● spiritual once, nor Lords now. But this is a strange speech if we mark it, that Gods will must concur with man's will, else we will not do there after. This is preposterous indeed. What must yield here? Without all contradiction, as the less is blessed of the better 
a Heb. 77. : So the less must yield to the greatest, and the worst to the Best. God's will is an holy, a good, a just will, as you heard; man's wil● is cross, stubborn and perverse, as you shall hear, it is affianced to carnal wisdom and humane reason, and so it is, as it hath been; and it doth, as it hath done, all the mischief in the world. Man's will, by the help of carnal reason, and the Law of sin in the members, hath rebelled against God ever since there was a man upon the Earth. This will, saith one 
b Bernard: Ochr: Serm. 3. , was the Serpent in the Garden; it made Cain kill his brother; persuaded the old world to do as we read, and provoked Pharaoh to rush into the Sea: It made God's people murmur, it made Solomon lose his wits amongst his strange wives; and stirred his Father to kill Uriah; this very will with her confederates, persecuted the Patriarches, Prophets, Apostles in former ages, the Messengers of the Churches and the glory of Christ ever since, down ward to this day Nothing so much as this will favoureth the Kingdom of Anti-christ, introducing all the superstitions, Hypocrisies, murders, massacres, etc. This will persuades a man rather than stoop to fall, though he is but to stoop to Law and right Reason; This will makes the most worldly wise, the most fool, most wicked, most persecuting. And so the Author goes on. Testimonies from latter times can tell us as much; Man's will by its helpers, afore said, will bring a city into a snare, So in English 
e Pro. 29. 8. Sufflant sufflando inflammant, : Will set Cities on fi●e, and whole Kingdoms in a flame, so junius reads it, and so we, for so this will would have done. As then, it is wilfulness to say: This shall be for I Will have it so, the Will is the Reason: So also, it is wickedness, to look unto man's will (further than it is subordinate to Gods will) for it is as the carnal mind, enmity against God, not subject to His Law, neither indeed can be 
f Rom. 87. . It is then sufficient, abundantly sufficient, That we know Gods will, and this is our wisdom, to resolve all thereinto; That it is His WILL we should contend for the Faith; (for the safeguarding that Ship) strive, even unto death, for the rescuing our King, Parliament, Nation, Laws, Liberties, Religion, Lives, out of the hands of Spoilers.  
Ob. Spoilers! why so? Those of our own Nation, and those called in unto us, endeavour with all their might to establish our Religion, jaws, Liberties: God forbidden I should deny it, for they affirm and vow it too.  
Ans. I thought this had been answered before, but some men will not be answered. In earnest, tell me, Art thou so credulous as aforesaid? Yes, Then dost thou believe, as aforesaid, that Noah's flood came-in to allay the dust: And that the Duke of Arabia with his companies of Sabeans, were stirred up to safeguard Job and his house. It is not Gods WILL we should believe lies; not what the tongue saith, but what the hand doth. Man's WILL is cleared here to be perverse and wicked, GOD'S WILL so cleared also, that we cannot plead ignorance thereof. I will hold my Candle no longer before that Sun.  
This is GOD'S WILL as afore said, and we kn●w it so to be, and They that do know it, and are engaged to do thereafter, have such a sense of Duty, that they would rather lose their Heads, then that their King (so we touching King and PARLIAMENT) should lose one hai●e of his (or their) Honour.  
And so I have cleared (as I could, and as briefly) the main doubts, touching the Thanke-offering, the person that offers it, our Duty thereupon, and grave questions thereabouts, for the settling of the judgement therein, that we also may offer 
d Amemus Christum & facilè videbitur omne difficile, parvum etc. Hier. ad Eust. ep. 17. p. 207. Sequitur hunc affectum membra omnia & omnes parts etc. Cal. in Dan. ●. 4. , THANKS to GOD, His King and His faithful Servants (i e.) our Tongues and our hands, and our hearts to serve them in LOVE, and Love is a great Commander, it commands all; it does all, it believes all, it gives all, ᵈ etc.  
The method is questioned next, not where I am to begin, for surely that is out of all question, with prime and ancient Mercies, and with the bottom or top Mercy (express it you, for I cannot) the 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chry. in cap. 29. Gen.  root-Mercy. The Church fixeth thereon, therefore I must remember that; for I could not raise a Pillar, and make it stand in the ●yer without a bottom. He that builds without hands, upholds without pillars: So God doth, man cannot do so. I am right thus fare.  
Indeed the main Question is, touching the Method; and the good stumble at it, Why there is a Thankoffering, for days of Captivity?  
I conceive there is great reason for that, and had I failed at that Point, I had no way answered the mind of the Church: Therefore it was my chief care and I knew it was the Church's pleasure so, To remember her Nights of Affliction, for she never profited so much as in that School, though she sat in the dark; her days of 
e Zach. 1●. 10.  Captivity, for she never felt such enlargements as then; The time when she sat as a widow, for than she remembers the Lord was a Husband unto her, when she sat an Orphan, fatherless and motherless, nay childless, for than she was in bitternese. A Father and Mother both are carried forth to the place of silence, laid in their dark beds, and little is said, and less is done, but for ostentation and show for the most part, but the child is carried ●orth to that place, and behold there is Lamentation and bitter mourning, as Rachel's was 
f jer. 31. 1●. : This sad time must be remembered too, for the Church can say now, That then the Lord was to her better than ten Sons. The immediate comforts are the strongest comforts, & are then poured in, when the vessel is emptied, Creature comforts are denied, or drained forth, and self confidence is gone-out, for then prayers are powred-out too 
g Isa. 26. 16.  (at other times there was but a dropping, a pouring forth now) when she is in bitterness, or a sufferer, in bonds or imprisonment, for the cause of her Christ, etc. Inquire of him or them that have been pillored for the cause of Christ (it must still be remembered, The cause makes the Martyr) then separated to the winds; these will tell us the same, which my ears have heard, that then came-in the greatest Springtide of comfort, when they were at the lowest eble of distress; then their souls were ravished, than they felt a joy unspeakable, when the Adversary had made them a GAZING STOCK by Reproaches and afflictions 
d Heb 10. 13. , A SPECTACLE, to the world, Angels and men 
e 1 Cor. 4. 9 . It was so with our brethren, as with the Apostles in ancient times, when the Adversary stopped up every crevice, that no light might comein, then behold a light shineth 
f Act. ●●. 7. ; when the Adversary layeth load upon the loins, and makes fast the bars, then behold strange enlargements, for God works then; all difficulties remove, and the iron-gate opens 
g ver. 10. Hab. 3. 18. . When there is no supply from the Field, nor from the Fold, nor from the Stall, Then God comes-in. What then? Then it follows, I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my Salvation.  
I could fill the Margin and line both, and to some purpose, but the cas● is plain, and the du●y is evident, The Church hath thrived best, when 
2 Chro. 28. 22.  her pasture was shortest: Adversity hath slain a thousand (and yet I cannot tell that, for I read but of one that was not bettered by it, and that was King Ahaz; his name is doubled, for he rebelled under God's rod in a time of distress) But prosperity hath slain its ten thousand; perhaps more, for I never read of any more than one, that had his eyes opened by eating honey 
h 1 Sam. 14. 7. : Few or none have been battered by the sweets of prosperity; many have been undone. But I forbear, only noting this; He that feasteth upon the sweets the Creature yields, taketh full liberty there, is not acquainted with the righteous man's joy, who then, and never but then, sceles rivers of living waters flowing-in; floods of bony and butter, when he hath stopped and dommed up (in affection and judgement) all his fresh springs from below. And so much to clear the Method at that point, as the Church is preparing still for the hour of Temptation, so they are joyful in it, and thankful for it. This is of great concernment to us, who are at the heights in our joys and at the depths in our sorrows.  
For the Remainder, let it answer for itself, Surely, I stood bound to God and man both, undertaking that work (fit for another, but another did it not, till I was so fare, as past hearing a callbacke) to begin with that year and mouth, when God did work most wonderfully, for then ●ee wrought alone, His arm was bare, there was no covering of flesh. Thence I proceed to those works, that man WROUGHT with God, and I bring them in as the bearers did the fruits of a good Land, thrust and thronged together, like Grapes in a cluster: Yet so as all may see how pleasant the Land is our Nobles would bring us also to.  
The meaning is, you shall have but an Abstract here, an abridgement of many particulars largely debated on in their place, and there making up a full Volume, which the Author keeps entire, knowing very well, if there be cause of it, He that suggested it, and br●ught it to his hand, will bring it forth in due time: In the mean time he could not forbear, but he must send forth this Abstract in the Church's name: For though Epitomies are deemed, by a nob●e Scholar, the Moats and Cankers of History, yet considering the season, that the time is quick and may be short, they are the fullest in sense and quickest for use. It is indeed in two or three h●ads too large for an Abstract, but it is considerable, whether there was not just and necessary reason I should give it enlargement there, more than ordinary But whether it pleaseth or not, I am not careful: I was careful with all my care to do my duty, and I have done it according to my measure, with all my strength, and above it; and, if my heart deceives me not, in tru●h and uprightness.  
I would not deny to man one grain weight of his deuce: Nor can I give him one grain more, than what my soul can goe-out with in tendering unto him; no not for a return of a pound weight of his Favour. I esteem man's favour, as the favour of a man, can thank him for it, and hearty: And man's frown, as the frown of a man, can make use of it, and yet neglect it.  
If I might make a short Apology for my long Preface, it would be this; The vile Priest and his brutish people did press me with very hard words against them, That have done us all the right that could be: And Pamphlets from their side were stuffed with such contradictions, such an inconsistency in matters, such incongruities as these; That all they, who contend for the cause of Christ, are Rebels, and yet not one Irish amongst them, hardened and brawned in villainies: All Traitors, who contend and will contend for the Truth, and yet not one 
Rev. 11. 7.  jesuited HEL-HOWND (it is a King's word contending with a Cardinal) not one Catholic (murderer) in our Host (so he hath been accounted in all times and places, making no more conscience to out his King's throat, then to cut a piece of bread) These Irish Romish Catholics, universally bloody and monstrous Savages all the world over, so brawned in cruelties, are accounted now the only loyal Subjects, ever since the Lord Christ hath taken to Himself great Power, reigning more visibly upon the Earth, demanding His Rights there. And His faithful Servants are resolved to give these Rights unto Him, Whose they are, not withholding a hoof, nor dishonourably compounding His matters, so forfeiting Truth for Peace; but resolving to maintain both with honour, or an honourable war: ever since this contestation for Christ, and His Truth; Rebellion, which is as the sin of Witchcraft, against God and His Christ, hath been accounted obedience, and loyal subjection: And a true sense of Duty to God and man, and to do thereafter, even what God commands, and will have done, is accounted Rebellion and Treason both. The comfort is, Wisdom is justified of her children, yes, (and in this point) of all, that are not unreasonable and wicked men. The Truth is, I could not bear this, at such a time as this, being to render a THANKOFFERING in the Church's Name, but I must Preface to it against such contradictions of Sinners; and render the THANKOFFERING free, and the Church's Servants as cleared of these blacks, as was the Snow in Salmon. And what is wanting here shall be supplied else where; for I will go on from this Preface to another Treatise, where, by the help of God, And His Law, I shall clear this very way, wherein the Nobles have walked, so spoken against now, and blasphemed, as a way of Rebellion and Treason, to be the very way, wherein all the Nobles, that ever were in the world, have walked, who walked uprightly with God, dealt faithfully with His people, not treacherously and as Traitors to King and Kingdom, and their own souls; for,  
I have a most comprehensive mercy to treat on, and enlarge upon, which I may call the Abridgement of this last years wonders, containing, as in a most fruitful womb, all national blessings, which the Nobles and Worthies have hitherto, or their children after them, shall travel with, and bring forth to the Nation. And this they are completing, and in so excellent a way; as that, though we shall never say of it in this world, the work is done, and completed (of that comprehension it is) yet, I say, they have so orderly proceeded in it, by that line and plummet, aforesaid, of all the truly Noble, that ever were on the Earth, as that it is fully to the Mind of the Lord, and the heart of the Nation. And now let the Devil rage and his Servants roar (for in that they glory) though by a woeful prolepsis, here, in sport, for hereafter in earnest, when they, and their King of the bottomless pit shall roar there to all eternity: Let the Arabian Dukes with their companies of Sabeans; let the noble Monsters of these days (so they were called anciently who are Gentile and noble in the root, but monstrously degenerate in the fruit of their conversation 
d Nequitiae sordibus imbuta Nobilia portenta, Valeria▪ Max. l. 3. c. 5. ) let these do their worst, rob, spoil, pillage, shed blood, to their power, yet by the help of God and the Law, the work shall be carried on, and the workmen shall prosper, and overcome by the blood of the Lamb 
e Rev. 12. 11. .  
But what is our work now? Work and Pray; or pray and work, no matter which is first, so both go together. Work with hand and mouth and heart and all. We have a noble pattern before us of Work men, who (blessings be upon them both from above and beneath) have offered themselves willingly to this work, and will very gladly spend, and be spent for us (in this work) though (they may read on) the more abundantly they love us, the less they are beloved 
f 2 Cor. 12. 15. . But we have our pattern, and we see our duty; work we as men, who can very gladly spend and be spent for this cause; for it is His cause, Who did say indeed, and did as He said, (for H●● zeal eat Him up He was a whole burnt-offering) I WILL VERY GLADLY SPEND AND BE SPENT for you (so it was indeed) the cause of the Lord jesus Christ, Who was made for us a curse once, That He might make us, as He is, blessed for ever; having such an example before us, and such a cause in our eye, we will work now or never. Work we now as we are able, and let the Lord work as He pleaseth, He will work like Himself. Truly He worketh wonderfully in all His people's sight: But if He wrought in the dark, as sometimes He doth; if His footsteps are in the waters (as M Bradford expresseth it) a man can see no prints where His Hand is, or which way His feet go, whither towards us or against us; yet, said that good man, My hand and my spirit should work after Him; for I am sure I am in the way, though I see it not; my God goes right, though I discern not the path. Work we, I say, as we can, and let the Lord work as He will; He doth work gloriously and in sight; work we and pray too, else our work is vain, and to no purpose; work we, but say, BLESSED BE GOD, first;  
Blessed be Thy Name for the Governors among the people, and for them, that offered themselves willingly. It was, because Thou commandest and so it is, the North gives, and the South keeps not bacl: Sea and Land comes in for Thy Church's help (peace, peace be to her helpers) to deliver us from the Heathen, that we may give thanks to Thy holy Name, and glory in Thy praise, Amen. Now  
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall (still) prosper that love her; Pray in Prayer, pray earnestly, our children shall reap the fruit thereof, if we do not now, for now we have reaped what our forefathers have sown, the fruit of the prayers of many Generations; Pray we, That the Lord would own His own cause (certainly He will, and so He doth, but He must be sought unto for this, and enquired after) That His eyes would be for good upon His Children and servants all over the world; for their eyes and hearts are set steadfast towards Him and His Jerusalem here below, and there they fix, waiting what God will do, at such a time as this, and harkening what God will speak now; It is their confidence, He will speak peace, and do according to His own word, give His Servants the opening of the mouth, that the enemies may know, HE IS THE Lord's. The Churches all over the 
● Ezek. ●●. 21.  world are resolved now to give their Lord no rest, till He shall give them rest. The Lord hath given His people th● greatest mercies, which they prayed not for, ELECTION before time; His SON in the fullness of time: How can He with Him deny His people any thing? They forsake not their confidence, there over they are importunate with their friends, as they have been in former years, the day of jacob's troubles, and treading down, saying, Pray, pray, pray;  
Pray for the King, That the Lord would deliver his soul from the snare of the Hunter: And pray for the Parliament, who have sought the peace of the King and his Kingdoms, as their ●wne peace, nay more than so, they have preferred it before their own: And seeing 'tis clear to every man, that will see, that thus they have done, They have sought and wrought effectually for the peace (that contains all) of their King; or the Salvation (a comprehensive blessing) of King and his Kingdoms: for maintaining this Ship (RELIGION) wherein our lives, our liberties, our estates, our peace, and the Churches all over the world, and our Generations after us are bottomed and maintained; seeing, I say, their Care, Piety, Zeal, is manifest to all men in the maintaining this Ship: And all this by the line of the Law; the Plummet of right Reason, the Rule of their Lords will: Seeing we know it to be so, and do know also in all our hearts and souls, That not one thing hath failed of all the good things, which the Lord hath spoken concerning His people: Nor any of 
Iosh. 24. 14. 1●.  the evil things, which He threatened against His enemies, but all came to pass: We will close with the word of the Lord, which He hath spoken to the heart of all His faithful Servants in all Generations, I WILL BLESS THEM THAT BLESS 
Gen. ●2. 3.  THEE: and CURSE HIM THAT CURSETH THEE, even so, Lord, let the curse they have called for fall upon the wicked; but Thou hast promised this goodness unto Thy Servants: Now therefore, Let it please Thee to bless the house of Thy Servants, that they and their house may be before Thee for ever: For Thou blessee, 
1 Ch●. 17. 26, 2●.  O Lord, and it shall be blessed for ever. Amen and Amen.   

THE CHURCHES THANKOFFERING To GOD, Her KING and the PARLIAMENT.  

CHAP. I.  
Recording, thanking, praising, an high employment; who fit for it; how great the engagement to it; who the fountain of mercies; whence received, thither returned.  

SECT. I.  
Thanksgiving and praise a sacred employment.  
THe old manner was, that a certain number were appointed, to record, to thank, and to praise the Lord God of Israel 
a 1 Chron. 16. ●. ; These must b● Levites, such as did minister before the Ark of the Lord. It was a sacred employment, a work (as some Psalms are) of Degrees. To Record was the lowest, and required little clevation of spirit: To Thank was an higher Degree, and commanded more life of affection. To Prai●e, that it, to sing the high praises of our God, there comes in Selah, a winding-up of the spirit to the highest. It may be said, What need all this? Such a liveliness of affection? Such an activity of spirit to thank and to praise God? It is as ordinary a thing, and as easy a work, as is done in the world; Kings of the Earth and all people, Princes and all judges of the Earth, both youngmen and Maidens: Old men and children 
b Ps. 148. 11, 12. . All these do as they are commanded, they thank the Lord and praise Him too; if we could hear the  speaking one after another, we should hear nothing but Thanks and Praise. I am in health saith one, I thank God: I am increased and prosper in the world, saith another, I praise God: I have had many crosses and troubles in the world, I bless my God. They have well spoken in all that they have said, but o that there were such an heart 
c Deut. 5. 29. ! All creatures praise God, for so they are commanded, Dragons and all deeps, etc. Beasts and all Cattles, creeping things and flying soul; all praise Him in their kind. But man is a more excellent Creature, he stands charged to do it in a more excellent manner, else as good not done; he hath a tongue for that end, and called his glory; and yet the fewest of all do praise God, as they should, and all, because they think it so easy and ordinary a work to praise Him, whereas tongue and heart both must be well tuned for this work, for it is the most heaven-like of all the services performed by Man here below. As to Praise is comely, so is it a clean, pure, heavenly, lasting action: None but the Righteous, whose hearts are cleansed from sin, and emptied of Self, they only do it, the upright in heart 
d Ps. 33. 1. Ps. 119. 7 ; and what they do now on Earth, they shall do hereafter in Heaven; it is their work to all Eternity.   

SECT, II.  
Who the Person is that is fit for this work.  
WE must then find-out a fit person for this work, so high an employment; a person that can do it to purpose decently and in order, that ministers before the Lord continually, they that walk with Him, cleave to Him, trust in Him: the people of God, such as fear Him only, serve Him only, so walking in his ways. These many are but one, one House, one Body, so single they in conversation, so useful they in their communion each with other, as members one of another. And so I shall take them all under a single Notion, as one person, whom I shall properly call the Church. The Church indeed 
e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. , having more than a name, for that and no more is nothing. She hath a Name that she lives and she doth live: and this life is the more spiritful and active, because as light was brought out of the womb of darkness; so her life from death: She was dead, but she is now alive and lives for ever, her life being hid with Christ in God 
f Col. 3. 3. . A very fit person for such a work, an heavenly work, an heavenly person; who, might she deliver her own words with her own mouth, would do it exactly well: but howsoever she will do it decently and in order, after she hath told us her engagement to the work, how she doth record it, and to whom she payeth the tribute of praise and thanks.   

SECT. III.  
The Church's engagement to record, to thank, to praise.  
HItherto all fits very well, the Person and the Worke. Now see the engagement thereunto, that's very strong and binding: For behold, how great the loving kindnesses are? how rich the mercies? how marvellous the works, which the Lord hath done for this Nation (whereof in due place) and conveyed to it, through the hands of man? It is God Who makes two of one mind in one house; and the same God, Who hath made two Houses one, to go together, as one man, hand in hand, heart with heart, in the same way perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgement 
g 1 Cor. 1. 10. . I shall then take these many under one single Notion also, as one person and so go on to tell the Church's engagement, but to her God first. As the King said, if the Lord do not help, whence could he help? out of the Barne-floore or out of the winepress 
h 2 Kin. 6. 26. ? The same may be said touching all created power; if the Lord had not helped, neither this nor that could have helped. The proud helpers do stoop under Him. 
i job 9 13. . But when the year of Recompenses for His Zion is come 
k Esa. 34. 8. , when He will be avenged of His Adversaries, who have made void His Law; when He works salvations 
l 1 Sam. 11. 13.  in Israel (as He hath done this Day;) when He doth arise to judgement, to save all the meek of the Earth 
m Ps. 76. 9 : What then? Then He breaks the Arrows of the Bow, the Shield 
ver. 3.  and the Sword, and the battle (ay God doth it, and so doth it, that all may say, The hand of the Lord is here, He hath done it of a truth.) Then he spoils the stout hearted; then he cuts off the spirit of Princes; so as when they would oppose the way and work of the Lord, those men of might shall not find their hands; but it shall be with them as once it was, when the Chariot and Horse were cast into a dead sleep, 
ver. ●. 6.  and then the weak sh●ll say, They be strong 
n joel 3. ●0. , their Armour, though as contemptible in man's eyes, as David and his Armour was, is of proof, and shall do exploits upon His Church's enemies. He goes not unweaponed, that carries the revenge of God along with him, though he carries but a sling, a scrip and a pebble 
* Sam 17. 40.  Such despicable instruments are chosen of God, whereby He will perform exploits, so as He may have all the glory, putting into them Heroical Motions for atchieument.  
Surely all this hath the Lord done for His people this last year; all these Scriptures have been fulfilled in our eyes. How hath H●e disappointed the Hopes and Helps of the Adversary? how did He rise u● against the help of evil doers 
p Esa. 31. 2. ? how did He starve the gods of the Earth? how did He make the faces of the wicked as flames 
q Esa. 13. 8. ? And that this last may not be forgotten: how did He set the face of the Righteous like a fl●nt, against the faces of them, who turned th●ir backs upon God, and went contrary to Him in all His commands? Truly it is wonderful in our eyes; but behold we therein the Church's engagement to their God.  
Surely, if we shall well consider what deliverances the Lord hath wrought this year, we must say of this day, as was said in ancient days, The Lord hath wrought Salvation in Israel. But we shall 
r 1 Sam. 11. 13.  find our Deliverance exceeding that Salvation, and parallel with that Deliverance in the following Chapters, where we read thus; That the Philistines had so beslaved Israel, that they had neither weapon nor Smith left amongst them 
* ● Sam. 13. 19 . And yet in this miserable low condition, This naked, peeled people marched on (two leading the way, and overcoming the difficulties therein; for the terror of the Lord went before, and then no matter whether few or none followed after) against a mighty Legion, a numerous and well furnished Adversary, thirty thousand Chariots and six thousand Horsemen, and people in multitude, as the ●a●d on the Sea sh●re 
t ● Sam 13. 5. , and returned from those adversary's laden with arm●s and victory ●oth. The church's victory over her Adversary's, this last year, equals that in some things, and exceeds it in other some. There the Lord armed a naked people with the rev●nge of a God, and behold they did exploits. Here He did as much, for He raised up the fallen spirits of a beslaved Kingdom also. He wrought exploits by a few chosen instruments, and put into their herres heroical motions for achievement, so as a few went out against mighty Legion, a numerous and proud adversary against light and treacherous Prophets, against herds and droves of Priests, and of Malignants, as th● sands of the Seashore are for multitude: But being armed with the revenge of a God, they did exploits, as appears this day. So fare the Salvation wrought then and now run parallel. Here now our Salvation exceeds: for, behold the Lord wrought the greatest Salvation by contrary means, such as threatened a sore desolation: and so only a God can do, Who at the first brought light out of the womb of darkness. By a most idolatrous Service-booke, composed of purpose to establish that abomination, hath he confounded that Idolatrous Service and cast it out. By the works of an imperious whorish woman 
u Ezra 26. 30.  (such were the works of the Bishops) hath he confounded them and their works. By the strength of the Adversary, He hath trod down his strength. By giving Scope to the foot of pride, He hath spoilt the proud and stouthearted. By lawless men, their violent deeds and devouring words, He hath wrought forth the redemption of our Laws, and establishment of the same By a Popish Party, a most malignant generation, He hath confounded them and their abominations. By sons of Belial, who know no yoke, nor will bear any, He hath wrought for the vindication of our Religion, Lives, Laws, Liberties. Thus jehovah can do, The great and dreadful God; He can by most contrary means and Wills, bring to pass the good pleasure of His own Will He can by such cursed Instruments, which threaten desolation to a Land, work forth Salvations for the same. Thus God can do, and no god besides Him: For man to say, that so he will do (by outlawed men maintain the Laws) were blasphemy in his mouth. Thus far to show the Church's engagement to their God.  
The Church will tell her engagement to you, but first she blesseth God, Who hath instructed you to discretion; That you do so well understand your engagement to Him, which is, To walk before Him, and to be perfect. God hath wrought gloriously by you, ye will walk honourably before Him. The Church is confident you have engaged your hearts upon this thing 
x jer. 30. 21. . Ye are workers together with God, ye will labour to be Holy as He is Holy. What ye condemn in others, ye will hate in yourselves; knowing well; He that will cast a stone at an offendor must be free himself, otherwise he condemns and executes himself in another's person. Ye are, as good Samuel was, he did first clear his own Innocence, ere he duist charge the people with their sin 
y 1 Sam. 12. . Innocency and uprightness becomes every man, especially those that must take a liberty of controlling offenders. Ye have well considered all th●s; Ye have begun to reform in your own hearts and families: This is the true method of proceeding according to the Order and a Statute in Israel; Ye are the Lords Host, His Warriors, His Worthies, They that fight his battles must keep themselves from every wicked thing 
a Deut. 23. ●. . That is the Order; The judgement upon breach of that Order, ye may read ●ud, ●o. And he that reads and considers will conclude his Duty thence, That a true and orderly Reformer, reforms at he me first, and in his own heart, than his Family, That the one may be kept as the Temple of the living God; The other ordered as the Church of Christ. And he that considers it not, as amongst many, more than one there may be; This Scripture will have a keen edge against him, which we may read with some alteration in the words, but none in the sense; Th●u therefore who correct est another, correct est thou not thyself 
b Rom. 2. 21. ? Thou who seemest to reform abroad, reformest thou not at home? Certainly, there the Reformer gins, when he gins decently and in order, Great and mighty reason there is that he should do so; and pressed upon you all by the Captain of your Host: The very same that was for the Host of the Lord going forth against the Lords enemies; The Lord your God walketh in the midst of your Camp to deliver up your enemies before you; therefore shall your Host, your House, your Court, your 
Deut. 23.  Camp, your Fleet be holy, that He see no unclean thing in you, and turn 
Ver. 14.  away from you. The Church hath told you your engagement, now she will tell her engagement to you.  
Great reason the Church should record your labour of Love, work of Faith, patience of Hope; for in all these you have been abundant. The greatest reason in the world, she should be exceeding thankful; for you have been exceeding careful. How? you have oft refreshed her; You were not ashamed of her Chain; when she was in Rome, you sought her out very diligently and sound her 
h 2 Tim. 1. 16. Mat. 4. 1. : The Church's prayer is, The Lord grant that you and yours may find mercy of the Lord in that day. What Day? A Day that shall burn like an Oven; nay, more terrible than so; A Day when the wicked sh●ll be at their wits end for expectation, and call to the Hills to fall upon them. O it is a mighty matter to find mercy of the Lord in that Day, that terrible Day; that all searching, all quickening, all opening, all manifesting Day: I cannot express what a mercy it is to find mercy in that Day. But so the Church prays, That you may find mercy in that Day, That you may lift up your heads with joy in that Day; Behold Him in that Day, Whom your soul loveth, Whom you serve, Whom you fear, and Whose Rights you have maintained with all your might. So the Church prays; And good reason the Church should pray so, That you may find mercy in that Day; for in this Day, in how many things you have ministered to her, her Lord knows, she knows not; but in very many, that she knows, and she doth Record them with rejoicing: And she wisheth you prosperity in the Name of the Lord, that you may ride on with your honour and do valiantly; The greatest Reason that can be, She should wish even so, your prosperity; for therein are involved Peace and Truth, the safety and prosperity of the whole Kingdom.  
I must observe, as they call it, decorum Personae, The Church is never lavish or large in praises to Man; She likes not to strike much upon that string, lest it should affect too much, and make too sweet Music in the ear: Yet She cannot but add this, and then She will put in for Caution, That many Parliaments have done worthily; Many very worthy deeds have been done for the Nation thereby, but you have exceeded them all. Indeed you have done so much, so many worthy deeds, that, as was said wittily, the Church may say truly, You have made the Church the greatest Usurer in the World; for you have turned all her estate into Obligations. Truly She hath nothing She dares call her own; all her Estate lieth in Bonds indeed, whereby She is tied fast to her King and You. She thanks you hearty, so well content is She with her Bonds; her Estate is good enough, and sure enough, and rich enough; her Bonds are her Freedom and her Riches both.   

SECT. iv  
Abundant Thanks and Praise tickle the ear; therefore the Church puts in Caution for that.  
FOr Caution now, and there is need of it: For we low men can exalt man very high, and give him high praises, more than is comely. We can say, That Gods are come down to us in the likeness of men, and we can offer sacrifice unto them, such as is only due to God: And so mighty men have fallen even by the applause of man, as well as by the tickling of their own hearts. This is a dainty point, man had need to look on straight, lest he trespass upon God's peculiar Right, which he may do before he is ware.  
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the most High, so the great King of Babel thought and spoke in the pride of his heart 
i I●●. 1●▪ . And yet we do not conceive, that he thought himself able to clamber up above the clouds, and there set himself in the Throne of God; He was not so brutishly confident as to think so. We find him guilty but of stout words against the Lord, and high thoughts; and so we also may, though we think not so, ascend above the height of the clouds too: For (I borrow M. Perkins words which will explain 
Perk. on Gen. ●. 21. c. 5. sect. 1.  these) we may do all this two ways.  
First When we think we have power of ourselves, whereby we can match or countervail the power of God. This thought riseth in the heart very often, when we trust in our Mountain, and it is a strong City and an high Wall in our conceit 
k Prov. 18. 1●. ; and in our counsel and strength, that it shall prevail against God.  
Secondly, When we take to ourselves the honour of God and thinks it our own proper due. Such thoughts as these rise very often in good hearts, but upon wiser thoughts they put it from them as a cursed thing, and give not place by subjection thereto, no not for a minute. They can consider with all their hearts how stout those words are, we have read, and how high and abominable such thoughts. But yet we may note, That the wisest have not always these wise and considering thoughts before they be beaten into them first, by some sore affliction, whereby they are put into fear, and know to purpose; That they are but men 
l Psal. 9 Vehementissimè agnoscant. jun. ; and therefore what they did was not by their own strength. It is a passage surely to be noted, how brag Samson was of what he had done. What had he done? With the jawbone of an Ass heaps upon heaps 
m judg. 15. 16, 17. ; With the jaw of an Ass have I slain a thousa●● me●: ●● doubles it, that the b●●enesse of the instrument might add to his praise, and then he cast away the Instrument as a contemptibl● th●n●, th●t the victory might be given wholly to his own hand. Next news we hear, Samson is sore athirst. Then he speaks more sa●ly and wi●ely; Thou hast given ●his deliverance into the hand of thy servant And then he lo●ked toward the bone that he had cast away with scorn, and behold water thereout, whereby his spirit revived; That he might know (and be humbled) the same hand which gave him drink now, gave him the victory before. But such a proud spirit Man hath, it will not down till it be beaten down; he is seldom made wise but by strokes.  
The Church speaks as unto wise men, who can ju●ge what She saith, and account it but a point of her zeal and wisdom to put in Caution here, and to show her care and fear, lest praise and applause should do you hurt; lest having done so much and so worthily, and being so famous in Israel, you should not be able to look through all; a●l you have, and all you are, and all you have done, through all to Christ, and through Christ to God; for indeed the Church finds it by experience to be an hard thing; nay, without a great measure of Grace, impossibl● to do as aforesaid, That is, To say as one did, I have laboured more abundantly than they all; and then to conclude hearty I have done nothing at all: yet not I but the grace of God which was with me 
a 1 Cor. 15. 10. : To say in w●y of glorying as a man hath done, and as you may do; In nothing, am I behind the very chiefest, that have formerly or now have sat in Consultation; and the●● in the close of the work, think truly as he saith, though ●he nothing 
b ● Cor. 12. 11. , A hard matter this to all that are made of one blood 
c Acts 17 26. , to that part we properly call flesh, a great incroacher still upon Divine Right. If God be pleased to honour flesh a little, and to cast Hi● quickening Beams upon it, then commonly fl●sh will honour itself a great deal, it will come in, carve liberally to itself, All the Glory Indeed if we do not look well unto it, and with a strong hand command and charge it: so flesh will do, it will (Bishop like) take a large shar●; at le●st, it will encroach far upon Gods peculiar Right. And then it doth just as if the Wall should, now the Sunbeams are upon it, boast, That the Beams were produced by some excellent virtue and power in the Mud wall ●nd not by the Sun 
d Perinde ac si partes radium se par●●rire dicat Calv. Instit. 3. Cap. 12. .  
This is enough to show the Church's engagement, and to keep Man from encroaching upon Gods Right, or from boasting in himself In God we may boast all the day long, and spare not, there is no danger there, for in Him shall all the seed of Israel be justified and shall glory 
* Isa. 45. ●3. .  
And this could not be well omitted here; for in very deed, the Church will Record very great things, admirable works, rich mercies, mighty Deliverances, strange Discoveries, etc. and She will enlarge herself very much in thanksgiving and praise for all this; therefore the Caution was necessary.   

SECT. V  
How the Church records Mercies; Who the Fountain; to whom She pays Tribute.  
THe Church records these things in her heart; There she weigheth and ponders them. She can be content there might be a Pillar raised, and a perpetual Remembrance written thereon of the wor●s of her God, and in great Characters, so as he that runs might read them: But nevertheless She records them, as was said; and She writes upon them all, Asked of God, and the gift of God through Christ: She Records them as the purchase of Blood, and so streaming down to her; Which quickens her up very much, and raiseth her Spirits high in the receiving and Recording of them; And then She is fitted and well prepared for the high work of Thanksgiving and of Prai●e. O S●e is abundant in Thanksgiving and in praise for Christ as the bottome-Mercy, Which beareth up all; The Foundation, Whereon She is established mightily, even with the strength of God; and in that strength, She holds up all her Mercies, and Records them from the least to the greatest; from the first to the last; He is the Root, That beareth all her sweets; All her Fruits are in Him, and some She gathers up, and picks from the earth; but the full Vintage (all below is but as the first fruits and glean) is where the Root is, in Heaven: He is the Sun to her little World. If He hid His face, She is in the Dark, though all the other Stars shine upon her, though there be an influence of all earthly Comforts towards her habitation: Still His Presence makes the Day; His Absence, the Night. The Church doth sometimes reflect upon her old Condition; She would not be in it again f●r a world, for therein She can behold now the very utmost of misery; What is that? and without God in the World 
a Ephes. 2. 12. . It was s●id before, as the Sun to the great World, so the Creator thereof to our little World: If that be eclipsed but for an hour, see how the Creatures droop and hang down the head: so it is with the Church; Let her be without health, if her God please; without liberty; without any thing in the world, so She be not without God in the World, all is well; for it is Day with her, notwithstanding all her Nights of sorrow: For He i● the fountain of Light, and of Life too; All her fresh Springs, the very being of life, the joy and comforts of her life are in Him. And if some of her Rivulets, some one or more streams be cut off or tu●ned another way; yet the Springhead runs clear, The fountain is the same, and She is sure, That is her●; She hath an interest therein; Therefore She can make her boast of God all the Day, and all the Night of her sorrow also; For in Him She is justified and will glory: And for Him her heart would be enlarged as wide as are the two Poles one from the other; such an enlargement She would find in Thanksgiving, but She is a poor straitened handmaid; yet so She would be enlarged to her God: For She hath all from Him, Blood to justify, Water to sanctify; She can desire no more, and all this She Records here; for all this She will Thank and praise her God to all eternity. To conclude, She receives all from Him; She returns all to Him; She Records all for Him, that He may have all the Glory. So we have the bottom and foundation whereon to raise the Pile of Mercies, and our Sacrifice of Thanks and Praise.    

CHAP. II.  
The Church, in Recording, looks bacl to the Ancient of Days, and those ancient Mercies hid with Christ in God; exalteth free Grace; Thence receives all concerning this Life, and the Life to come; Then Recordeth her forgetfulness of Mercies and is humbled.  

SECT. I.  
The Righteous Nation advanceth free Grace. God is to be praised for the least of His Mercies. He is to be admired in the glorious ways of Redemption.  
THe Church cannot fix the time where She gins to thank and to praise, no more than She can the just period or end thereof; for her Thanks and her Praises are as her Mercies are, from everlasting to everlasting. But yet She may speak to our capacity and purpose here, to show us the method which She useth in Thanksgiving, and where She gins; Not, as the usual manner is, at the present time only, for Mercies in sight, and for all the sweets and comforts to sense. She is not all for present Mercies, though She can be enlarged for them; These move upon an everlasting foundation; And in the virtue and by the strength of old Mercies, She, receives and carries on the new. We must observe the order. The Church than gins to Record, to Thank, to Praise her God, looking bacl as far as her understanding can carry her, and beyond it, even to the days of Eternity, before the foundation of the World: There, according to her measure, beholds free Grace, Mercy, and Love; Love to His, because He loved them 
a Deut. 7. ; Grace, because He will be gracious; Mercy so free too, even because it pleased Him 
b Eph. 1. 5. . It was according to the good pleasure of His will. What is ●reer than Grace? and behold what Grace! Is there any vain boaster in the World? Yes, thousands: She can confound him and them, that they shall never open their mouth a●y more because of their shame 
c Ezek. 16. 63. ; If they will remember with her the Time, when She, as they, lay in her blood to the loathing of her Person; and that her good Lord, said even then, this is a Time of Love 
b Ezek. 16. ●. . An admirable and free Love. She was even as others, by nature the children of wrath 
c Eph. 2. 3. , in the same lump and transgression, no difference there 
d Rom. 3. 22. . Free Grace came, made her to differ from another 
e 1 Cor. 4. 7. . She was dead, and then her eye was closed, and her ear stopped to all that man could do or say; Say what you will, the dead hear not: But the dead can hear a creating and quickening voice, and so her Lord was pleased to speak unto her, with a strong hand 
f Isa. 8. 11. , as the expression is, which speaks and draws too, and then She was obedient: And as her Lord spoke with a strong hand to her at the first; so, with the same hand hath He commanded in her ever since, therefore She is not rebellious: her Lord rules in her heart as he doth in the world, in the midst of his enemies 
g Psal 110. 2. ; and through the greatness of that power shall those enemies submit themselves unto Him, 
h Psal. ●6 3.  and be subdued in her. But here is free Mercy still, free Grace; She is called by a very proper Name, The Church; Persons called and culled out, not for any worth that was in them: 
* 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  The Lord cast aside a thousand on the right hand, and ten thousand on the left, as honourable, as wise, as good as they, within and without the Pale, pitched his Love upon her. And now She is a select, choice and peculiar people; nay a more choice and peculiar people yet (as one saith) 
i Clem Alexandr. Strom. 6 p 485. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  which engageth mightily to walk more peculiarly. The Church hath another Name, which me thinks is very significant, and must keep her very humble all her days; Thou shalt he called, Soughtout 
k Isa. 62. 12. ; Sought out indeed from amidst a refuse multitude, when as She was no better than they, as Children of the Aethyopians unto me, saith the Lord 
l Amos 9 7. . Sought out, as you seek your Wheat amidst tares, or covered over with ●n heap of Chaff; or as you seek Fish in a Drag-net, amidst rubbish and heaps of dirt. 
* Phil. 3. 9  Thou shalt be called, Sought out, and it is her Glory, That She is found in Christ: She Records that, and is humbled, and so well fitted to Thank and Praise, wherein She is too much straitened: But in this She is comforted, That what She doth, She doth hearty; and what is wanting to that work now, shall be made up hereafter; for it is the work the Saints shall be employed in to all Eternity.   

SECT. II.  
Common expressions suffice not to show forth Rich and precious Mercies.  
NOw the Church should Record her strong Consolations, when ●●r Beloved brought her to the Banqueting house, when His lefthand was under her H●ad, and His right-hand did embrace Her. Then I should come to Revelations, clear Manifestations of 
Cant. ●. 4. 6.  her Beloved unto her, still with sweet distillations, droppings of the Spirit upon her heart; Then His hiding of Himself, for that made her ask more earnestly after Him whom her soul loveth: She Records all these, and calls in all her sweet experiences, gracious and rich Promises, for these are the Pillars that bear her up, her hands and her heart: All these she doth Record, for these she doth Thank and Praise: I leave her before her God, and to her own expressions, for truly they are unspeakable, they cannot be uttered by any other but herself. Besides, I should speak Parables, and dazzle my eye with an amaze. We will conclude here, That her vessel is filled, and her house with the glory of the Lord, as full as an habitation on earth can be; so as the Glory of the World is darkness to her, and the fullness of the Creature there but emptiness, her mouth then is filled with praise, and her heart shall be kept as a chaste Matron for her Beloved, even as the Holy of Holies. She will praise the Lord while She hath any being here, and hereafter the high Praises of her God for ever.   

SECT. III.  
The Church overcome with the loving kindness of her Lord, giving her all things richly to enjoy, chargeth herself with unthankfulness.  
ANd now that this fountain is opened, this Wellhead of Mercies ●nd loving kindnesses; The streams flowing towards her therefrom, do carry her down as into an Ocean of Love; for now behold what a rich portion She hath! All things are hers, God is hers, and She hath enough, for He is all things; All things in Heaven and in Earth work for her good: She looks abroad in the World, and behold mercies before and behind, and on each hand. Truly the Church cannot tell what to record next; but much is to be recorded before She comes to that which is expected. Indeed her good Lord, blessed for ever, hath dealt to her such a largesse of good things, according to His rich bounty, even in earthly matters, under Moon comforts; That She can resolve upon no other way but this, being amidst a throng of Mercies, which now press in upon her, even to Record, Thank, and Praise the Lord for H●s free grace towards her, so abundantly showed in this; That He hath not charged upon her the days of her forgetfulness; When She did not record and render bacl, according as She had received. Her Lord hath forgiven much this way unto her; and therefore She loveth much; for how few of many Mercies are recorded, and fewer yet had their full weight of Thanks and praise from her. Mercies! When She speaks of them, She is confounded, and as one in a maze: Mercies clothe her; Mercies feed her; Mercies uphold her every moment; She lieth down with them, riseth up with them: Mercies privative; Mercies positive; Preventing Mercies; Following Mercies; Crowning Mercies; Mercies to the outward man; Mercies to the inward man. How many? Ask rather how many Sands there be, and the number of the Stars: But there is One for all, A comprehensive Mercy indeed, and the fountain of all; From Him (that is, from Christ) All flow down unto her, and are a purchase of blood. And truly She saith hearty, She is not thankful for Christ, not for that unspeakable gift, not according as She hath received; and that is her shame and trouble both. It is her wonder, and shame, and sorrow, all three, That Mercies should be continually in her sense; She sees them, and tastes them, and feels them, and yet so little in her mind. O blessed be God, Who hath not charged upon her the days of forgetfulness.  
Recording, Thanking, Praising, is the only Tribute, Taxation or Impost which the Lord hath set upon all things, He gives us richly to enjoy. The Earth shall give in unto thee her fruitfulness; not the least herb there but is for thy meat or thy medicine: So the Waters, so the Air, the variety of Inhabitants therein: So the Heavens, the Stars and influences therefrom. All shall give forth their strength, besides their homage and Tribute to man their Lord; But now he must remember this Tribute to God And yet how is that forgotten? Hear what the Lord saith; My flax and my Wool (all are His, even the Beasts upon a thousand Mountains) are to clothe thee; My Oil and my Wine to refresh Thee; My Wheat and my Barley to be a stay and staff unto Thee: Only record these Mercies, acknowledge the Giver, and pay Him His Tribute, Thanks and Praise. Good Lord, how short are we herein in rendering back! Nay, the Church doth say so, and yet her Lord hath passed it over, and in this way of loving kindness hath forgiven much; She hath no more to say, but this: Therefore She loveth much. And yet I must add this; for it is according to the mind of the Righteous, They remember notonly, Their forgetfulness of mercies, but their unfruitfulness under them; Their abuse of them; Their security; Yea and their rebellion also; The more the Mercies were, the more secure they were; The fuller the Pasture was, the more they kicked with the heel, fight sometimes against God with His own weapons. But sigh their God hath passed over all this; Therefore they love much.    

CHAP. III.  
Days of Affliction, Days of blessing; for so the Lord hath altered them, and sweetened these to the Church.  

SECT. I.  
Afflictions must be reckoned among the Blessings.  
ANd thus for Mercies, which properly and in their own Nature are so, and sense can relish so. Now the Church must record her afflictions and sorrows, for these She can call Mercies now; Not so in their own Nature, but through the Mercy of her God, so ordering her and them; And this must be recorded; for this She stands most bounden to Thank and Praise She could surfeit on her sweets as we may with honey; Her sorrows allayed the lushiousnesse thereof. She expected an Heaven upon Earth; her unquiet motions there told her it was not the place of her rest. She had comforts upon the Earth, and She would build Tabernacles upon them; A Cloud overshadowed them, and She feared. She blesseth God for all this, but more of this anon.  
The Church than looks back and beholds Mercies, and calls them so, which the world calls evils: Her God made them good to her, and a blessing; therefore must She bless God for them in the first place, accounting them fit matter to stir her up to Record and Thank. Gall and Wormwood yielded sweets to the Church; She found Honey in the carcase of the Lion; Therefore She remembers the time, when She said, This is my death 
a Ps. 77. 10. . No indeed it was her mistake, and she sees 〈…〉, ●●r it was but her infirmity, and wrought very effectually to th● strengthening of her, so that she can now glory in that she, in her h●ste, called her Death, knowing that it wrought Patience, and Patience Experience, and Experience Hope 
b Rom. 5. 1, 4. . She recordeth the days of her Widowhood. She cannot leap over that time, when she sat Desolate, alone, and as forsaken. There she said well, as forsaken; for indeed there is but a sicut, an as, in all which she suffers, and in all she enjoys here below, she weeps as though she wept not; she rejoiceth as though she rejoiced not; she possesseth as though she possessed not 
c 1 Cor. 7. 3. . So also she knows now, by experience, that there was but an as in her greatest sufferings, as unkowne 
d 2 Cor. 6. 9, 10. , as dying, as chastened, as sorrowful, as poor, as having nothing: and so, as forsaken, but then God was with her, working most powerfully for her establishment, and most effectually for her comfort; therefore she remembers that time, even when she spoke in grief of heart, as jacob did; All these things are against me 
e Gen. 42. 36. . joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take my Benjamin also; All these things are against me. No indeed jacob was deceived, so hath the Church been these ten times, and now she sees her mistake and must record it, that all these things were for her; This dear child was snached away; and this so suitable a comfort, this staff and this stay all gone; and yet for all this, as her long Captivity was, all for her good 
f jer. 24. 5. , that the stream of her affections might run the clearer to the Fountain; That He, Who alone is Worthy might have all, all her Love, and all her delight, and all her joy, as near as can be in this world; That her Lord and Christ may be, if not All in All, yet above all Beloved's, the chiefest of ten thousand: Why then all those things She thought against her were for her, promoting her good very much. Therefore She doth record that time, and speaks of it with rejoicing, finding by many good experiences, That there is no Condition, how uncomfortable soever, but what is ordered according to Righteousness and faithfulness. This ce●tains much, we will then proceed in it.   

SECT. II.  
As the Righteous now do, so have all done before them: They have recorded Days of Trouble, for that was a means to settle them the faster on their Rock; and have been thankful for their Hell here, for that made them look for Heaven where it is.  
THe Church must remember the former years, when they called her Marah, because the Almighty had dealt very bitterly with her 
d Ruth 1. 20.  She cannot passover that Time, as if a Time let forth like water, to waste. Ploughing and harrowing time is as seasonable for the Church, as it is for the fallow-ground, and she doth record that time thankfully and with an heart full of Praises: for the deeper the furrows are, and the longer, the fuller the Sheaves will be at the Harvest.  
Chrysostom's words are remarkably notable. Evermore in your 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys Hom. 10. Col. 3. See ●hil. 4. 6.  prayers give thanks for known and unknown mercies; for mercies which appear to you so to be, and such which appear not: for mercies you received with a willing mind, and for those, which God did for you against your will, be exceeding thankful for them. For your good things, your comforts, your refreshments, your strange Deliverances, your rich mercies, yea and for your lucida intervalla, for your well nights and your good days. Yes, who would not be thankful for all this? All are not, nay the fewest of many. But the Father hath not raised up his children to the height of thankfulness yet. You must be thankful for your turbida intervalla, sick days and wearisome Nights; for your aches and your pains, for your troubles in and to the flesh; the knotty racking Gout, the tormenting Stone, the bloody torturing Strangury, the burning Fever: In a word, you must be thankful for your Hell here. For Hell! who can be thankful for that? they that are of another 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Humb. 14. 24.  spirit. Their Hell here made them not to look for Heaven here, which else they had done, though they have their Lords express word for it. In the world ye shall have tribulation, in Me peace 
e joh. 16. 33. . Their Hell here made them to lift up their heads and stretch forth their necks 
* 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Rom. 8. 19 , and to stand, as it were, on tiptoes, so earnestly looking after things, which are not seen. And this earnest expectation of glory hereafter, even to see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the living, this assurance of hope caused their very Hell here to seem a very light affliction, and its continuance very short, but for a night, an hour, nay, but for a moment, a little small moment. 
● Cor. 4. 17.   
To conclude; Their Hell here made them flee from the wrath to come, and that is hell indeed, and the sense thereof raised up their thoughts and endeared Christ unto them, the chiefest now of ten thousand. O how precious are their thoughts concerning Chr●st? A drop of wrath burnt their flesh, and was sore upon them, though but for a night: how are their he●rts enlarged after Christ, who redeemed their soul out of all adversity, and from the wrath to come.  
I have added a short paraphrase on Chrysostom's words, he goes o● 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ch●y●. T●m. 6. ●e 〈◊〉. judic.  and gives us an example I knew a man said h●, a very pious Man he was, who prayed thus (as we have heard) and the first word was Thanks: and that he first thanked his good God for, was for his afflictions, his Hell here So we have that we come for so fitted to this place, which is, They put afflictions into the Catalogue or Register of God's mercies, and in the first p●●ce. Indeed it is no ha●d matter to open the mouth in way of Thankfulness, for the goo● things of this life, as we call them; but to be thankful for the ●vils, that is an hard task, but yet the daily work of a true Christian.   

SECT. III.  
The Church recordeth her evil Days, when She saw Affliction.  
HEnce we also may learn our Duty and see our pattern; for according thereunto the Church Records and Thanks her Lord for her afflictions, her pressures, her tribulations, her anguish, her sorrows. She gives thanks for her nights of mourning, as well as for her morning joy; for her Egypt in this life, as well as for her Goshen here. She thanks her God for her treading down by the foot of Pride, for that made her rise more victoriously: for the blood was drawn from her, because that watered her, and made her more fruitful. She thanks her God for the Courts of Inquisition, though bloody Courts, and all the Purgatory she looks for: because the oppression she felt therein, and the violent perverting of judgement and justice, pointed her eyes and set them steadfast towards Him, Who is higher than the highest; and made her to stay, fix and settle herself at that high Throne, before which the Judges must be judged, and from which there is no appeal. She gives thanks for her mockings, 
Eccl. 5. 8.  scorn, revile, buffet; for all the hard words and deeds she heard and felt there. O how thankful is she for all that, thereby she was made conformable to Her Lord and Head; so He was dealt withal. O, how did She rejoice at all this! (though perhaps not at that present) all this makes their Crown the more massy ●●d weighty. It added muc● to their consolations, which 
● 2 Cor. 15, 7.  are ever ●fter the measure and is their sufferings are. The Righteous do conclude thus, That after the rate of their sorrows and sufferings shall their comforts and consolations be And by the measure of their shame and reproach for Christ here, shall their Robe o● Glory be cut out hereafter, wherewith they shall be vested in Heaven; Therefore, The Church thanks her God for her weaknesses and many infirmities; They made her lean more steadily upo● her Beloved, That strong Arm: For her sl●ps and falls too, they made her stand 
● Thes. 1. 10.  more strong in her God, and in the power of His Might: For her fears, they pointed her to her rock, that is higher than her, above all: For her troubles without, and her terrors within; For now She can admire her Saviour, the mighty God of her strength: For her anguish of spirit, and pains in soul, when She traveled with her Christ first, and now with her afterbirth: For all this made their birth more vigorous, strong and Manlike.   

SECT. iv  
The Church returneth Praise and Thanks for all the good She received from That, The World calls evil.  
IT is not possible to reckon up the heads and particulars of the Church's accounts; nor how She hath gained by her losses; nor what dealing She hath had from her stripes; nor how enriched by her poverties; nor how enlarged by her straits. But abundantly thankful She is for former years, and for all that which happened to her then, and was, as She thought, against her, being evil days, and the years of her captivity: for all that which happened to her then, helped marvellously to clear her vessel; and She is as thankful for that, as for filling the same with Glory. All that fitted, made her meet ᵃ for after Glory. 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Col. 1. 12.  All that their Adversary did against them then, his madness and rage, his breathing out threaten, all tended much to their advantage. These smitings of the hand and tongue, hewed them, polished them, as the stone● of the Temple in the out-Court, so making them as lively stones built up a spiritual house: These preparations; These fittings; This making meet for glory, are more to the Church, though these are blows, prisons, inquisitions, fire, faggot, sword and the like; These, I say, are more, and of more account with the Church then. Glory itself. Their way thither, to Glory, I mean, sometimes hedged about with thorns, and blocked up against them, as with hewn stone: This way is as pleasant to think on (when it is passed over) as is the Crown at the end. The Sum is; The Church gives thanks unto the Father, Who hath strengthened Her with all might, according to His Glorious Power unto all patience, and long-suffering with joyfulness, and so hath made her meet, hath fitted, hath prepared her to be partaker of the inheritance of her Brethren and Sisters, the Patriarches, Prophets, Apostles, Disciples, Martyrs, of all the Saints by Calling, while here below in this dark world, now Saints in light.  
And so the Church hath after her measure, offered to her God the sacrifice of Praise and Thanks for His good and gracious dealing with her in former times, the days of her captivity. O what her enlargements then! Their straits helped to set their feet in a large place; Their bonds made them free indeed; Their wounds healed them; Their distractions united them; Their unquiet motions settled them; Their ●eaths quickened them; Their sorrows comforted them; The sh●me for Christ is their Glory; Their reproach for Him their Crown. Who would not serve this God? Who would not fear Him? He turneth sickness into health; weakness into strength; mourning into Songs of rejoicing; The shadow of Death into the Morning 
* Amos 5. ●.  Who would not seek this Lord? Who would not fear Him? This by the way, we go on.  
This is written for our instruction, whose minds are taken up with present things, which fill us with so much hope as that we cast away fear; o● with so much fear, that we cast away hope. We are in an extreme about them still, either over-grieving or overjoying; full of stirs we are, a tumultuous people the Lord knows. A Gracious heart not so, he can indite Psalms not only when out of afflictions, but in the night of his sorrow, even the deepest afflictions; When flying before the enemy; When persecuted and distressed; When in darkness of spirit, yet than he can indite a Psalm: Heman did so, for he was the wisest man upon earth, next unto King Solomon 
b 1 King. 5. 4, 31. ; but so sorely afflicted, and suffering such terrors, that (in his sense) he was distracted 
c Psal. 88 15.  A Good heart can make the greatest sorrows that he hath felt, or doth feel, matter of blessing and praise, always an hint for prayer. However it is to sense, yet God is good to Israel still, and doth good; Therefore all the work he hath to do with his own spirit is this, To serve His God hearty, and to submit to Hi● will patiently, yea comfortably; for many experiences have told him, That the end will be good. The Righteous know well, That no Condition here below is like the Hill Olympu● (some say) wholly clear 
a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , without clouds. No, They expect winds and storms both, which when blown over, The air is the clearer and wholesomer for it; They have made application, and counted their Cost, and those happy who endure, and so can wait patiently, having seen the end of the Lord 
b jam. 5. 1●. .    

CHAP. IU.  
Before the Church can Record the late wonderful Works wrought for her by the ministry of Man, She will put some things to our Consideration, which observed, may make us wise, and fit us for the Times, how hard, fierce and perilous soever.  

SECT. I.  
What the Church is most taken with; Whom She looks unto in all administrations; What settles and calms her spirit in the greatest Commotions.  
THus we have cleared, That the former Days, Days of trouble, are to be recorded, for God's Deliverance out of them is wonderful; and they have yielded the Church in all ages, a peaceable fruit of righteousness.  
Now before She can Record these fresh and late works of wonder, wrought with God this Day, The Church will give us some Considerations from her own practice, to take along with us, first; so shall we understand the works, and ourselves and the Church the better.  

¶ 1.  
One Work only wonderful, and to be admired.  
THe Church can muse on the works of God, and ponders them in her heart; She can call them wonderful works and marvellous: But She can admire nothing but the riches of Grace, those hidden, mysterious and unsearchable ways of her Redemption. There is matter of admiration, and there only; for other Works, She laboureth to search them out; and her Thoughts thereon are very precious: But in this light path, which so dazleth her eyes, and amazeth her, She stands admiring, and it is her Lord's pleasure She should do so 
d 2 Thes. 1. 10. .   

¶ 2.  
A Gracious spirit is not much taken with under-moone matters.  
IF at any time we find the Church's mouth wide open to Praise and Thanks, Then we must know her heart is much more enlarged. About what? yes, that is a necessary Question, so is the Answer; Evermore about spiritual matters, such as concern the soul, the welfare and prosperity thereof. At that point She is enlarged; She is not overmuch taken (as we of the common sort are) with under-moone matters; She is not taken with the fl●wing in of Oil and Wine; nor with the recovery of Flax and Wool, of Soap and Salt, and Leather, and the like; She observes the crooked ways of men, and carriage of things very well; rejoiceth and mourneth in her measure; but I say She is not taken with them as we are: For we find quick flesh, lively and stirring affections only there: If we have our outward Liberties and Privileges as free Subjects, and Citizens here, of the jerusalem below, than we are well and marvellously appayed: Indeed we say 
a Gen. 33 9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  as Esau said, We have enough, that is, much or a great deal. The Church not so; give her the liberties of sons and daughters of jerusalem above, or else, but that Christ liveth in her, She will die: So unsatisfiable are All things here below to her everlasting soul; But if She have her God, though with Him captivity, fire, sword, what other evils you can name, if with these She hath her God, She is well enough, and with jacob She hath enough, for She hath All 
b Gen. 33. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 .   

¶ 3  
The Church refers all to the first Cause, and thereon fixeth.  
WE must note, That the Church beholdeth all the Works wrought by Man, not as Man's works, but the works of Him, Who only doth wonders. She looks through them, and through Man also unto God, There She terminateth her sight. Whence it is, That whatsoever thing comes unto her, through the hands, and by the administration of Man, She accepts with all thankfulness, but She writeth upon it, upon every thing (what ever were the means of conveyance) the Gift of God.   

¶ 4.  
The Righteous are calm and settled what ever the news is, or troubles are in the World; and thankful for all.  
WE should observe her quiet and calm deportment and carriage in all administrations of God; for She looks upon them as His Administrations; and She accounts all good, nothing evil, except sin; and by the good hand of God towards her, even sin shall work for her Good; God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin. All is well, She saith, and will end well. Well, What ever 
Rom. 6. 17.  News She hears; What ever Troubles and Tumults, unquiet Motions there are, yet the Church is not full of stirs, not a tumultuous City 
c Isa. 22. 2.  for all that; She is quiet notwithstanding all that can be said or done: Her Sons and Daughters are as well contented with the News they hear, as the honest Shepherd with the Wether; his judgement was asked, What weather it would be? He answered, It will be what weather it shall please me. The Answer seemed dark, and to contain a Riddle; therefore he was courteously requested to explain it, which he did thus: It shall be (said he) what weather pleaseth God, and what weather pleaseth God pleaseth me. Truly just so are the Righteous pleased with their News; It shall be what pleaseth God, and what pleaseth God pleaseth them. If News this day be, as we call it, good, They are cheered at it, but not overjoyed, they say, It is well. If the next Day (such turn there are and tides of things) the News be contrary, they are the same, they were the Day before; for they know their God is the same, He is not changed; Therefore they conclude, notwithstanding that cross News, It shall be well in the Morning, perhaps before night. They are not troubled about the fixed time, it is not for them to know that; they know it will be well. straightenings serve very much to widen the way for enlargements: and stops towards the Springhead make the waters rise the higher, and anon will cause them to stream the faster. Blocks in the way make them walk more warily, and lift up their feet the higher. It is so with the spirits of Men. But yet the Church looks not to Man, for He is full of Changes; but her eyes are to her God who changeth not; and, according to the Counsel 
d Exod 14 13. Ne commoveami●●, ac fluctuetis animo; ●ed spe firm● ope● D●mini expecta●e. jun. , stands still, waiting the salvation of her God, and is not greatly moved 
e Psal. 62 2. ; nor doth She faint in her mind; She doth not float, nor roll this way and that way, but rolls herself upon her God. In firm hope her mind is anchored and fixed upon Everlasting strength, and leapt up in a promise within Everlasting Arms, expecting His Salvation, which She is confident to see in the fittest time.    

SECT. II.  
We that have not fixed spirits feel unquiet Motions.  
NOw let us observe our own spirits; ours of the Common-sort; it is a thing worth our observation. If we observe right, we are in Deaths often; not as Paul, in real Dangers, but imaginary only and in conceit; for as often as cross News comes we die In extremes still, either all hope and no fear; or all fear and no Hope. We cannot cast away our confidence 
f Heb. 10. 3●. , for we have none, unless it be in the Creature; and i● that ●ailes us, we sink, and our spirits fail too. A miserable condition this, and a trembling posture to stand in; Indeed we do not stand, we totter like drunkards, because we are so filled with the sweets of the Earth, and so empty of the comforts of Heaven. We are as weak as water, carried and t●ssed as Cork with the tide there; Just so hurried are our spirits with wind and tide. As the water riseth or falleth at the Parliament-staires, just so do our spirits at the hearing the News thence. As the wind and gale of breath sits there, so our minds turn, just like a weathercock. If the news thence be pleasing to sense, than we rise high, that's well, say we; and then we are all Hope. If the contrary, That troubles are like to abide us, than we are down the wind, and make conclusions as men do, that have no Hope. This is to have spirits as weak as water, and a mind not standingstill, but turning like a weather cock.   

SECT. III.  
The Reason of the Church's settlement, and of our unquiet Motions, very necessary and considerable at this time.  
WE must note what causeth the Church's stability and our floating. What is the reason, that the Church standeth still, quiet and calm in her spirit, when trouble is on every side: while we are at our wits end for expectation, troubled and moved, As the Trees of the Wood are moved with the win● 
g Esa. 7. ●. . We must I say, inquire into this thing, and find out what is the reason hereof. The Resolution must be this; Because the Church stayeth herself on the Arm of God; Therefore she standeth still, is firm and steadfast. Whatever changes are below, whatever turn and wind of things here with us, yet there is no change in that Arm, no diminution tall of that power; It is the same yesterday, to day, and the same for ever 
h Esa. 59 1, 2. 40. 27.— 51. 9 . Sin causeth some change in us, but there is no change in God. The Church's eye is upon her God, there she fixeth, she will not trust in charets nor in horses 
i Ps. 20. , because she hath asked from one end of Heaven to the other; she hath enquired of all age's, what became of them that so trusted, that made flesh their Arm? The answer is, They that so trusted are brought down and fallen. But the Church remembering the name of the Lord, and in that Name se●ti●g-up Banners, she riseth and stands upright; she must needs have a firm standing; for sh●e hath a sure foundation, she is well under-laid, underneath the everlasting Arms. Therefore 
Deut. 33. 27.  though her outward House be battered down over her head and about her ears, yet according to the promise, she is a quiet habitation 
k Esa. 33. 20. . How boisterous soever the winds are, and troublesome the weather is, she is quiet notwithstanding.  
Indeed we may observe some times have been so hard with her, fierce 
* 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Mat 8. ●8.  and perilous 
* 2 Tim. 3. 1. , that she hath complained, My soul is bowed down to the dust 
l Ps. 44. 25. ; I am covered with the shadow of Death, yet we must observe from the same place, how the Church beares-up herself by Experiences and Promises, those great pillars staying up her Hands in Faith: and then she resolves to beast in her God all the day long. SELAH. It is an high note, and her voice is greatly exalted in Praise and Thanksgiving.  
Object. Why then the Church is borne up by Experiences from Days of old, what God hath done: And by Promises, what God will do in after times?  
An. True, but these Experiences have a bottom, the Almighty's arm; they were wrought by Him, Whose power is still the same, an everlasting God. And these Promises touching that, the Lord will do in after times, have the same foundation too, made unto her in and through Christ her Lord and everlasting Father. There is her strength, her staff and her stay. And now though the Pillars of the Earth are out of course and continue so, yet the Church is where she was, upon the same foundation. She knoweth whom she hath trusted: she rowles herself upon God, waiteth his salvation, knows He will comein for her help in due time (she would not have it sooner) and praise waiteth for Him in Zion.  
Thus in Quietness and confidence is her strength 
m Ps. ●46. 10. . She can now, according to her Lords command, Be still and know that I am God 
n Ps. 46. . She can stand still, calm in her mind, for she knows that her God reigneth, with Him is power and faithfulness 
o Ps. 146. 6. . He can, He will, nay, with reverence be it spoken, He must help His Church, and seasonably too, for He is bound so to do; He hath engaged His faithfulness upon it; there's the Church's confidence; she bears herself up upon it, and walks on by Faith.  
And so we see the difference in our walking and place of confidence; such and so great is the difference in our comforts and peace; the Church's peace full and lasting, ours but empty and momentany, like the laughter of fools: for, we walk by sight; we must see or else we cannot believe. We cannot rest upon the Almighty's Arm, unless we see it clothed with flesh. One God is not enough for us, we must see Many on our side, and whole Countries come in for our help, or else we can see no hope of Victory, though the Lord hath said, The People are too, many 
p jud. 7. 4. . We verily believe, That the race must be to the swift, the battle to the strong 
q Eccl. 9 11. , though a thousand experiences have told us the contrary, when the battle hath been against the Church. Fools as we are, when will we be instructed? We trust in means, likelihoods and probabilities, thereon we bottom ourselves, therefore it is, that we are in Deaths often: our spirits are up and down, full of changes; for such changes and tides of things there are in that, we place our confidences. Our hearts are not fixed, not up-wards where they should be, therefore we must needs reel like a drunken man, or a Ship in a tempest. We do not trust in the Lord, therefore we cannot be established 
r 2 Chro. ●0. ●0. : we do not believe H●s Prophets, we shall not prosper, nor see when good cometh 
s jer. 17. 6. . Had we the arm of flesh with us, than we could believe; nay, that is not Faith, for Faith is of things not seen. My meaning is, for I must speak like a fool to make otherswise; Had we thirty thousand Chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand on the Seashore in multitude; all these coming in for our help: And were we to march-on against a feeble folk, a peeled, beslaved, unarmed people, that had neither Sword, nor Spear, nor shield; O how confident would we be of the victory! We would rush on as terrible as an Army with Banners: and as fierce and fearless as the war-horse. O how we would boast▪ The Glory of our nostrils would be terrible; we would rush on upon such a people as thunder; we would rejoice in our strength, mock at fear, and swallow them up with fierceness and rage. A brutish people we, for we have not considered this in all this time; that the Battle is neither yours nor ours, but Gods 
t 2 Chron. 10. 15. : And He hath taken all this strength before mentioned, and given it into His people's hand, when they were a feeble, beslaved, unarmed people; these have houghed the Horses and burnt the Chariots in fire, 
Iosh. 11.  that is, The weak have taken all this prey 
u Esa. 33. 2●. ; And all this hath the Lord done; Why? that jonathan and his Armour-bearer (the Lord's Worthies) may not be discouraged at the mountain● of straits; Where there is a s●●●p Rock on the one side, and the same on the other; The our situate Northward: the other  
* 1 Sam. 14 4, 5. . God doth drive His People to exigency, That they may show themselves what they are. Then a man ●●ves by faith in God, when means die, and he is quite forsaken of them, Certain it is, God will bring His Church to the Mountain of Straits; but they shall see glorious things there; What? God appearing in H●s Glory; His Arm made bare of flesh. God is never seen so glorious as upon That Mount; Then He lifts up Himself on high; Then He appears in all the people's sight. This is a mighty Consideration even now, it follows.   

SECT. iv  
How necessary the consideration hereof is at this time, that our eyes may not fail with looking upward; nor faint when we are corrected; nor make haste when troubles are upon the heel.  
ANd this was necessary to be noted here, That we might behold the Church's stability and firm standing, see our error all this while, and vain confidence; Correct ourselves, take off our hold, and hasten to the Church's Rock, that we may be as She is, a quiet habitation also. What troubles soever, & how strong soever the tide of things is against her, yet not greatly moved; Though standing at the foot of the Mountain of Straits, and before a Sea of dangers and difficulties; yet standing still notwithstanding, calm and quiet in her spirit. I say, it is necessary we should note this; for,  
Though by the good hand of God upon our Worthies, We have the great work of Reformation as it were within ken, and in sight; yet this Mount of God is before us as a great Hill in the Traveller's eye; The Hill may be afar off, and he must take many a weary step before he comes at it: so, before the Church be thus exalted and set up, as it were, upon a Hill, She may pass as through valleys, low and dangerous bottoms, so as She may be much obscured, and almost hid there. Before She be refined and purified in her worship and Ordinances. She may pass through the fire. But how perilous soever her passage be to her promised Land, though through fire and water both; over the Lion's den; hole of the Asp, and Mountains of Leopards; how perilous soever her way is; how straight, foul, thorney soever, Though many changes in her, and in her way, yet no change in God; His power, wisdom, love, the same, from everlasting to everlasting, no change there. Her Lord will bring her into a wealthy place, that is certain, no doubt of that. For the means and manner how, and the time when, The Church is not careful about that; She commits all this into the hands of ●er good God and faithful Redeeme●. She doth believe that her wealthy L●●d lieth beyond as howling Wilderness, and the Red Sea; And yet She is not careful, nor doth She say, there is a Lion in the way, and he will devour: no, her Lord hath commanded her, saying, be still. Be still? what can still her spirit then, when a bloody enemy is behind her, a devouring Sea before her, Mountains on each hand, what can still her spirit now? This, and know that I am God 
a Ps. 46. 10. . A God That can stop the Lion's mouth; He that made the Leviathan can make His sword approach unto Him, even through his scales, though they are his pride; and to his heart, though as firm as a stone, yea as hard as a piece of the nether Millstone 
b job 41. . And for the strong tide of opposition against her passage, She is not careful about that neither. She knows God can divide the waters; for the Adversary he thinks, so wise were his thoughts once; The Red Sea opened a way for him: Yes, that he may march on fiercely and hopefully a little way, and then in the midst of his way sink into the bottom like a stone. The Sea is divided for the ransomed to passover, and so He made a path in the Seas: so can He also through the fire, the Church knows it full well, for she knows whom she trusteth. Ancient and present experiences hath assured her, that wherein the enemy deals proudly, therein the Lord ever hath been, is, and will be above them 
c Exo. 18. 11. . And there the Church resteth, her heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. A cold Winter makes the Spring more delightful, the year more fruitful, and the man more healthful. The Church is 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Dion. de Reg. Orat. 3.  not displeased with the days, because evil days; These make her the better now, and, when good come, they will be the more pleasant and comfortable. In this quietness and confidence is her strength; she beholdeth what God hath done, and gets assurance for after times: and she is stayed up with promises too, as with strong consolation, for these she sees even now fulfilling.  
And so the Church addresseth herself to make her acknowledgement unto man for present deliverances, which she takes as pledges to assure and ascertain her the future, what her Lord will do in after time. For though she boasteth of God all the day long, and will praise His Name for ever; yet she forgetteth not to return all that is due to man in full weight and measure, through whose hands her God hath conveyed loving-kindness and mercy unto her.    

CHAP. IU.  
The Church wisely considereth her two Sister-Churches; The people amongst whom she dwells (for the most part enemies to peace;) The straits that now are. The Church looks through all unto God.  

SECT. I.  
The Church remembers how it is with her Sister-Churches; and Gods gracious dealing towards her, which raiseth her spirit to praise and Thanksgiving.  
THe Church being now to give in a Catalogue of wonders, cannot but remember her two Sister-Churches, the Palatinat, which hath been under wrath now these 24. years: so long the anger of the Lord hath burnt against that people; so long he hath stretched forth His hand against them and smitten them. The Hills did tremble and their carcases were thrown in the midst of the Streets 
d Esa. 5. 25. See Psal 77. . For all this his anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretchedout still. This Church seems to stand with her Records in her hand, written within and without, Lamentation and Mourning and Wo●. But the sum and abridgement of her sorrows is contained in these two words, her Sabbaths and her God, both gone. Time was when she hid her eyes from her God, and from H●s Sabbaths, turning her back upon both. Now God turns to them the back and not the face; and His Sabbaths are now hid from their eyes.  
Her other sister, the Church of Ireland, speaks forth bitter complaints and supplications; that her land is dunged with her carcases, and watered with her blood: That whatsoever was pleasant in her eyes, the enemy hath put into his hand, and taken it away.  
All this time, the day of jacobs' trouble, the Church of England stands still beholding and accounting the salvations of her God coming in unto her like the Rivers, mercies overtaking mercies, and loving kindnesses overtaking loving kindnesses; Deliverance upon Deliverance, and discoveries upon discoveries. The Church is straitened in herself here, she wants expressions, but what engagements are there in all these! How doth she stand bound to Record and Thank and Praise her good God, Who hath done all these things for her! What a mercy is this? How unspeakable? That at such a time as this, when the Lord hath been to these sister-Churches, as a Bear lying in wait, as a Lion in secret places, He hath pulled them in pieces, hath made them desolate; hath bend his Bew upon them, hath set them as a mark for the Arrow; hath filled them with bitterness, and made them drunken with wormwood: so as now they are recording, their afflictions and their misery, the wormwood and the Gall, their soul hath them still in Remembrance, and is humbled in them. I was speaking; that at such a time as this, a time of treading down and perplexity, the day of jacobs' troubles, yet now this Church should stand up with Records in her hand, written within and without, mentioning the mircies and loving kindnesses of her God. O! what an exceeding mercy is this, at such a time as this, when she thought verily she should be termed also forsaken, and her Land Desolate; Her Lord said, no; But thou shalt be called Hephzibath, and thy land Beulah 
e Esa 62. 4. Deliciae meae oblectatio mea. , for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. What loving kindnesses are these! how wonderful! how unutterable!  
Again, The Church looks over the land and Nation, where we live, and behold corruptions in Doctrines, and manners have leavened the land from corner to corner, and have eat and consumed the heart thereof as doth a canker; whence it is that we see strange vanities, horrible impieties; abominable Idolatries; vile Priests, and almost as unclean a people: All setting themselves and taking council together against the Lord and against His anointed, saying, let us break their hands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. And yet see the exceeding goodness of the Lord, they prevail not with their number, nor with their strength; they assemble themselves, and are broken; they take council, and God turns it into foolishness, and their recompenses upon their own head 
f joel ●. 7. .  
Thus the weak overcome the strong, and the fewest in number prevail: We know not how, but so it is, the Lord hath set His King upon His holy Hill; and if the Lord the Captain of His Host, march out before, it matters not, whether few or many of gideon's soldier march after, but the fewer they are, the more is the strong arm of the Lord exalted.  
And what cause hath this Church to speak good of the Name of the Lord, and to exalt His Arm, Who hath made her to stand upright and above her Adversaries with a Catalogue in her hand, wri●●e● within and without, as aforesaid: and which heightens the mercies, at such a time as this, when her other sisters are recording their days of trouble, she is recording the loving kindnesses of her God. The Church here must stand still a little to behold the severity and goodness of God 
a Rom. 11. 22. , towards her sister▪ Churches, severity; towards her people, Goodness: And that the may the more magnify free Grace, exalt the Riches thereof, the go●dnesse and exceeding patience of God, All His excellencies, the Church reasoneth out the case, and asketh, why is it so? why such severity towards her sister-Churches? And yet towards her people such goodness?  
Did Thy wrath burnout against them, because Thy Sabbaths were profaned there? Here they were profaned too, and more, by a Law and Statute in Israel; notwithstanding, a fire did not kindle in our gates, nor devour our palaces 
b Icr. 17. ●7. .  
Was it because the people there turned Grace into wantonness, they slighted the offer and means of Grace, they would have none of Thee; they turned their backs upon Thee, and the Gospel? was it for this? Hear we sit down astonished, for here we have done so too.  
Was it because of their unfruitfulness under the means of Grace? H●re we stand astonished, considering how hig● we have been liftedup in respect of the means, no Nation under the Sun like to us; and then thinking of our casting down, how low that will be.  
Was it because of their unthankfulness for, and abuse of mercies? Here also our Tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean 
c Esa. 28 8. : And we reel and fall down in the Streets at Noonday.  
Was it because the Messengers of the Churches, and Glory of Christ 
d 2 Cor. 8. 23. , Thy faithful Ministers there were villainously used? We hear of no such matter; they were contemned in deed and of no account with them: but with us they have been used worse than David's Messengers; Their Beards and Garments were cut by halves 
* 2 Sam. 10 4. : But here they were smit on the cheeks, and, as Swine, lugged by the ears.  
Were they brutish Pastors 
f Esa. 56 9 jer. ●0. 2●. & 12. ●. , who broke down the Hedge, and laid open gaps, whereat men after the manner of Beasts, skilful to destroy, might enter in? The same Pastors are with us, vain men, treacherous Prophets, light Priests.  
Was it, because violence was done to the Law 
g Zeph. 3. 4. ? Because they did as they could to their power to shed blood 
h Eze. 2● 6. ? Because their Judges were as Evening 
i Nic 3. 11, 12.  Walves, ravening the prey? so it was here, such judged here. Why then is not our Zion ploughed like a Field 
k Esa 9 5 ? Why are not our garments rolled in blood ˡ? Why are we not long before this time dashed to pieces one against the other, Brother against his Brother, and Neighbour against his Neighbour, in all our Cities and Countries, in all places and corners of the Land? Why is it not so? She knows the answer must be, because is pleaseth the Lord, it shall not be so 
* Amos 7. 2. , ●aith the Lord, It is His good pleasure so, He loves the Land, because He loves it: He will rejoice in showing mercy: and, it may be, will overcome us, and lead us captive with loving kindnesses; and give gifts to the Rebellious. Be it so good Lord, because it pleaseth Thee: Amen. Thi● is all the Church can say to all this.   

SECT. II.  
Some light Objections blown away, and a grave Objection cleared.  
BUt now there is something said against the Church, that she need not be so brag of her mercies, her tranquillity and peace, for she may now look to the end thereof; her peace is taking from her; she is sinking now, down, down, down she goes, so her adversary boasteth, so he puffeth at the Righteous 
g Ps. 10. 5. . The Church answers hereto in order, and blows away this, as you will a dust from your sleeve. The Adversary saith, first  
Ob. The Church may see now to the end of her mercies?  
An. No, but she cannot, her mercies are the mercies of a God, and they have no end.  
2. He saith, Her peace is taken from her?  
No, that it is not ● her peace cannot be taken away: it shall flow in like the Rivers, and comein unto her as the waves of the Sea 
h Esa 4818. . Though the Assyrian should come in to her Land, and tread in her Palaces 
i Mic. 5 5. , yet he cannot take away her peace. When the enemy shall come in like a 〈◊〉, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift-up a standard against him 
k Esa. 59 19 .  
3. The Adversary saith, That the Church is falling?  
No, The Adversaries flesh shall consume away first, and his eyes consume away in their holes, and his tongue consume away in his mouth 
l Zach 14 1●. ; but the Church shall not sink nor fall away; she is well under laid, as well this present year as the last, yesterday, and to day and for ever, The eternal God is her Refuge, and underneath her are the everlasting Arms 
m Deut. 33. 17. . She is well underlaid then; her enemies themselves being judges.  
Ob. But it is said, here is more need of Prayers then of praise●. Things that seemed to be in so forward a way, are now set back, God now seems to stand still; or if he goes forward, it is in carrying His Church to the Mountain of straits.  
An. I might answer, things are never in so good and settled an estate, but there is matter for prayer: nor never in so bad and low an estate, but there is matter for praise, as in the case of jehosaphat d. But this would not be to the mind and sense of the Objection, which is this, That the Church should be so much taken up now with her straits, that s●e might very well forget prosperity; all the good that God hath shown her these former years. Now God forbidden.  
There be some indeed, upon whom you lose all your formet courtesies, unless you still follow them with new and fresh favours every day 
e Nonnulli ita comparati sunt ut antiqutora benefici● subvertas nisi nova posterioribus cumules, & quamlibe● sape obligati, si quid unum tamen neges, hoc unum meminerunt quod negatum est. Plin. epist. 2 King. 20. 19 . Some there be who have an hundred blessings, and with them but one Cross; but that one Cross sours all their sweets, clouds and hides all their blessings from their eyes. The Church not so, Good is the word of the Lord, said the good King, which thou hast spoken. What did he speak? Heavy tidings; yet saith the good King, Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken; Is it not good if peace and truth be in my days? The good King was not careless, what would befall the Church and His House, when he must be taken thence and gathered to his Fathers. O no, doubtless those tidings went to his very heart, touching those things which should befall to the House of God, his house and his sons after him. O, it was bitterness, bitterness; but yet the Word of the Lord is good. It was matter of Admiration and everlasting praise; That God had shown him so much good, had wrought such Deliverances for him; That his eye had seen such salvations; That, when his Father Abaz had wrought such abominations in judah, yet his son should see such salvations in Israel; and, which is the vision indeed, peace and truth all his days. This was matter of wonder, yea of praise and thank both. It is so with the Church; they consider well of their straits now, and that these may be yet greater (and yet a sign for good.) They can consider that the Church is not cast so farre-backe yet, but she may be cast yet farther even to the place of Dragons, she hath not seen nor heard the worst yet, so it may be; nor is she careless of what she sees or hears. No, she feels them, and ponders things in her heart; but so as she holds fast her confidence; and she must show herself exceeding thankful for all the Good her Lord hath done for her the last year, That when her people were ripe for judgement, as the corn for the sickle, yet there was not a cutting down. Truly when she doth but think of it, she is as one in a dream, her spirits fail her. But this she would say; if Desolations should follow such salvations as these (which she cannot believe) if the Lord should send unto her sad tidings, such as would make the hearer's ears tingle, Why yet, The word of the Lord is good, and He is good to Israel Blessed be His Name for His salvations notwithstanding; for what He hath done, for ever blessed be His name; And because we have Peace and Truth ●n these days. these fierce 
d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 8. 28.  days, these perilous 
e 2 Tim. 3. 1.  days, yet Peace an● Truth in these days. But yesterday almost, not a year ago, we thought that Truth was perished, and Peace was taken from the earth; We should never hear of that any more; no more peace; no more Truth in our days. 
* 1 Sam. 4. 21.  ICABOD was in every man's mouth. The Glory is departed; yet not so, Behold Peace and Truth even in these days!  
You will say no, Warres ●nd rumours of wars in these days. True, and yet Peace and Truth in these days. The Church contends for Truth, she maintains it, and will hold it fast till she dies, and not let it go. Why then, Though the mountains be removed, and hu●led into the Sea, yet her peace cannot be shaken. Though the Kingdoms be moved, she stands still Reader, you and I may learn from thence; Maintain we Truth; contend we for that, and Truth will maintain us; Hold fast Truth, and we keep Peace God hath joined these together, Man shall not be able, no nor the Gates of Hell, nor power, nor policy, to separate these; they are still together, they kiss each other. And that is the Reason, That when we are full of stirs, a tumultuous people, The Righteous at such a time stand still, and are a quiet habitation. But I recall myself, Thus the Church concludes; Though the Lord should make Desolations now in the earth; Though He should stretch over us, The line of Germany, and the plummet of Ireland; yet the Righteous stand bound to Record the Salvations He hath wrought. The Righteous are not a sullen froward people, as we are; All the mercies we have are nothing in our eyes, because there is something wanting, as still there will be in the most accomplished, the most completed condition here below. But I say, because it is so, some want there is still; therefore all our mercies, so great, so many, lie buried in us under that clod of discontent. As I said before, so now, The Church not so; Though she should walk in the shadow of death; Though she were stricken into the place of Dragons, yet would they Record the year of the Right hand of the Lord, when He wrought so wonderfully, such salvations in Israel. And this is the task she is addressing herself unto, but she cannot hastily recollect her spirits as she would do, for she would call upon all within and without to praise his Holy Name.   

SECT. III.  
The Church opens the Records, gins to read, but must pause a little, being taken off with Admiration.  
THe Church is taken w●th the works of her God, as the Queen of Sheba was with the wisdom of Solomon, and the magnificence of his Court; When she had seen all that, There was no more spirit in her 
a 2 Chron 9 4. . Fame, which creates something of nothing, hath made whose Kingdoms, and peopled them with her own inventions, reported not the half of salomon's wisdom. It exceeded the Fame that was heard 
* 1 King 10. 7. . Fame falls as short in these Transcendents which we are upon; Therefore there is the same reason, and greater, That the Church should be so affected now, as that Queen was at that time: For behold, a greater than Solomon is here; and a greater Glory is put forth in His works now, then could be seen in salomon's Court. She must be in an amaze when she beholds the admirable, strange and unsearchable ways of Providence towards her this last year: He made a path for her in a wilderness; turned the drought of her Summer into fresh Springs. A poor blind 
b Isa. 42. 16.  Handmaiden, She; her Lord leads her in paths, she could never have discerned, never have spied out with all her search, by a way she knew not, never thought of: No, as hid from her eyes as were the unsearchable ways of her first Redemption. Her Adversary led her more than once, as they did her Lord, to the brow of the Hill 
c Luk 4. 29. , thinking verily to cast her down headlong. But her Lord wrought gloriously for her escape: For as her Lord then, so She now passed through the midst of them, and went away; She wondered how she escaped, and was at that time as one in a dream; but being well awakened, and coming to herself, she remembered her Lord, whose she is, and whom she serves, He upheld her with His hand.  
But what thanks and praise are due to her God? Who let out the wrath of man, and gave it the more Scope, so as the more it was let out, the more it might praise Him! Who so ordered the work of an imperious whorish woman 
d Ezek. 16. 30.  (such was the Church in name so) and her works such; for she w●s impudently bold, and past all shame (whom they commonly called the Church) to work thereout good to his people; To cause the summoning of a Parliament; To make it hold; and that a caution was put in for aftertimes. What a confluence of mercies is, in all this! What abundant matter of praise! And that, when the Priests, for the most part, were brutish, and the people but a little more reasonable, as froward as that Israelite, who counted reforming a kill 
* Exod. 2. 4. ; Y●t such a Parliament notwithstanding, Who have laid a foundation of mercy for themselves, and their posterity, even for all the generations to come.  
But I must not huddle up things so, nor throng them together, remembering, That the greatest wonder, which most engageth the hearts of the Righteous, was wrought before the Parliament sat; Therefore I shall take leave to begin according to my proposed Method, and to set down two Months, which are not in our late Calendars; and then the Church's collections there-out, in the same order.  
Surely, September (there I shall begin) it shall be to us the first beginning of Months, the first Month of our jubilee to us: For in that Month the Lord began to bring His Church out of Egypt, with a mighty hand, and to set His face against His Adversaries, and toward His people. And because He proceeded on toward the accomplishment of what He had begun, and to make Himself known, and to get a Name and everlasting praise all the Months after; in allusion to the Spirits words touching Moses, I will say of this year There hath not been a year since the Redemption like unto this year, in all the signs and the wonders which the Lord hath done in the Land of Egypt, To the Pope and to all his servants, and to all his Land. And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror, which the Lord shown in the sight of all Israel 
* Deu●. ult ●. .    

CHAP. VI  
September, 1641. The Product thereof. The Overtures, and strange turn of things therein.  

SECT. I.  
September. The Product thereof.  
AFter a strong commotion the waters will be sometimes swelled and unquiet▪ so likewise in our Sea. This Month came in boisterously partaking very much in the malignancy of the Constellation then reigning; The Soldiers (for we must speak plain English in the Countrey-mans ear) busled after their manner, but against all expectation. The Priests (high and low) did more hurt (good I should say, yet no thank to them for the good, God ordered ●t so, and produced it, as He did the light, out of darkness) for th●y were more cordial than the soldiers, they prayed against the Scots hearty, and would set their people a praying too. They would force the people to impossibilities: To bless God, and curse Man; perhaps because the Priests could skill in it▪ Bless with their mouth, and curse inwardly 
* Psal 62. 4. . But so the Bishops ordered it, and so there was praying on both sides; one side prayed in paper, the other in prayer 
d jam. 5. 17. . And that the contrary side might pray in more faith, the Scots were written Rebels upon every Post and Pillar by the Secretary himself; It was time to rage and pray too, for he had but a short time: But when the cry against the Scots was great, and the clamour against them very grievous, it pleased the Lord to come down and see, whether they had done according to the cry, and behold they had not: But the oppression, violence, and wrong done against them, was according to the cry. So He stirred up the hearts of the Nobles and Commons, both to fall upon their knees, and petition God and their King, That matters might be heard, and a way thought on to stop the great wrath, that was pressing in like a flood. Then the Nobles went towards the North (there the Clouds of blood gathered, and there the Heavens were darkest) with a select company of the Commons; And by the good hand of God upon the King and his good people, a Parliament was resolved upon, and news thereof spread apace, and came posted to London the 23d. of this Month. About this time there were many meetings of Ministers every where, and grave consultations about a new Oath; and damned it was by every mouth to the very pit, whence the Bishops with their, etc. digged it; for there was a digging to Hell to hid their counsel, etc.  
At this time also the Bishop visited by his Chancellor; and the new Oath was so corrupt, that it made the old one very unsavoury. So the business was carried in a great deal of heat and hurry, just as it is when two sturdy Rogues fall a swearing, that which comes next to hand is their weapon, and then no wise man Will come near them; Then the Chancellor with etc. turned their backs and shifted. Here began the troubles which shrewdly shaked the Hierarchy with etc.  
Thus we have the product of this Month, as it were in the gross sum, and how the end tended to a calm with them, who hearty prayed for fair weather.   

SECT. II.  
The Church's Collections hence yielding matter of praise, and wonder, in the strange Overtures and turning of things upside down.  
WE were now full of stirs, a tumultuous Nation indeed, but the Church a quiet habitation still: Notwithstanding the contrariety of wills and motions in the World, She could stand still, waiting the salvation of her God; though indeed she s●w plainly, That she was in a wilderness, where she saw no path. Then the Church remembered the Lord, and was comforted; He is wonderful in all His Administrations, but especially in these, which He worketh in a wilderness. Now the Church could lean on her Beloved; O how willingly did she reach forth her hand to Him, who is given a Leader and Commander to the people 
a Isa. 55. 4. . Mark that, He is a sure Leader to His Church: Who? The Lord Christ; for He commands her: The Church hears no other voice, obeys no other, but as commanding from His mouth, and leading unto Him. This in passage: But I say, how willingly and confidently did the Church reach forth her hand to this Leader and Commander; she did assure her heart 
a 1 john 3. 13. , He would lead her because He doth command her; He could and is able to lead her, because He maketh a way in the Sea, and a path in the mighty waters? He bringeth forth the Chariot and the Horse, the Army and the Power, 
b Isa. 43. 15, 16. . etc. The Lord did the same thing now; He made a way in the Wilderness and Rivers in the Desert: So He lead His people, even those 
Ver. 19  that are commanded by Him. The manner how commands our Mark; He brought the blind by a way; He lead them in paths that they have not known; He made darkness light before them, and crooked things strait; These things He hath done unto them, and not forsaken them 
c Isa 42. 16. .  
Truly, This Scripture is this day fulfilled in our eyes. The Church commands us to observe it in these particulars, wherein it will appear, That the Lords Thoughts (Thoughts of Mercy and of Peace) were as high above mine or yours, nay above the Church's Thoughts, as the Heavens are above the Earth. It appeareth 
d Isa. 55. 8. ●.  thus.   

SECT. III.  
What our Thoughts were: how high the Lords thoughts were above the Church's thoughts.  

¶ 1.  
OUr eyes were in the Heavens (as in such times it is our manner 
a Sol nisi cum de sicit spe●tatorem non ha●. ●, etc. Sen. ) ●nd behold they were very dark and covered with thick clouds. Our thoughts were, and straightway thus we said; there will be a great storm. So it was; a Starme indeed, hailstones and coals of fire, beating sore (●gainst all expectation) upon the hairy scalp of the wicked Man; but a sweet shower to the City of God, sweetly and seasonably refreshing them, as the after-raine the parched ground.  
We looked up again to Heaven (whether else should we look, for peace seemed to be taken from the Earth) but behold it was very red (I purposely speak in the Almanac-makers Dialect) straight way we said, for such our Thoughts were, it will be wind; and so it was against all expectation, and that which was threatened 
b jer. 4. 11. ; a wind indeed, but not a dry wind, for it did fan and cleanse; even a f●ll wind ●gainst high places, scattering the wicked as with the breath of God's mouth; and so they did flee as the chaff before the wound, or as they fled from before the Earthquake 
c Zach. 14. 5. : So they did flee; but harken what the Lord such, He that fleeth of them shall not flee away: and he that escapeth o● them shall not be delivered 
d Am. 9 1, 2, 3. . Thus the Lord h●th said for aftertime, and thus He hath done now, ever blessed be His Name.   

¶ 2.  
WE heard of wars and nothing but rumours of wars, preparation thereto on every side: straight way we said, for our thoughts were, The Sword will be bathed in Heaven 
e Esa. 34. 5. , it will be made drunk with the blood of the slain. And so it was in part, but it was in the blood of the Men of bloods that were to call forth to battle, and to be leaders thereunto. A wonder this also, and wrought by Him, Who spoke of old, and made it good now: Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by Me; whosoever shall gather together against Thee shall fall for thy sake 
f ●sa 44. 15, 16, 17. , etc.   

¶ 3.  
WE beheld here a Troop, and there a Troop: straightway we ●aid, Lord, these are called forth to destroy Thy judah, and to curse Thy Israel And it was so in the intention of the Adversary; and a ●●kely choice he had made, for they were of that number, and choice ones for that purpose, to whom their spiritual Fathers (so they will be called, because they savour so much of the Spirit) gave an Advousion of liberty, and choice of sports (cried down by the Heathen 
g Aug. de civ. Dei. cap. 31, 32, 33. ) which they might take on the Lordsday.  
Certainly, said Dion 
h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Dion. Orat. 79. , speaking of Liberty, He made bad Laws indeed, he gave a wicked Liberty, and writ grievousness, who prescribed such Decrees, and gave such a Liberty, which could please none but the bad. Such a Liberty was this on the Lordsday, which the Bishops gave to the people. And see the luck of it, the Bishops grant was too large, it gave the people more scope then in manners they would take on the Lordsday; and so thus they requited their great Dons; when it was expected that these people, who had such an Advousion of Liberty as this from the hands of their good Lords, should now gratify the said Lords in fulfilling the whole pleasure of their will, they did clean contrary: for, whereas they were called out to curse, even these (in their manner) blessed altogether 
i Num. 23. 11. , and threw-out what the Bishops had brought-in, the Rails and Mock-gods there. What this people did more, needeth not my Relation; ●t is well known every where, all the Land over; and well observed it was, even as a wonder in the eyes and ears of all.   

¶ 4.  
WE saw some of these Troops hasting towards the North, gathered into a mighty body there: Instruments of cruelty prepared and sent down. All means used, which Achi●ophel could suggest (we remember what his council w●s, even to make an irreconcilable difference between Father and Son) all to set Ephraim against Manasses, and Man●sses against Ephraim, both against THY JUDAH. And so it was in the intention of the Adversary. But to say so now, as one hath done (when he prayed too) were a bold, arrogant and impious speech, if not blasphemous: for behold to the admiration of the world, Angels and Men, the Breach made up, a peace concluded, and so concluded, That it is a Statute now and an Ordinance in Israel, That judah must rejoice, and Israel must be right glad. So they will, and they will tell it to their children, and so downward, and not barely so and no more, but they will speak thereof with rejoicing, what the Adversary intended, how the Lord disappointed him, and that there is now a Statute in Israel, that all judah should meet together sing and rejoice, when they tell forth the loving kindnesses of the Lord, That according to this time, it may be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath GOD WROUGHT? What hath He wrought? Speak it out if ye can. Truly Reader, I cannot; I can fill a sheet or two with the Records thereof, but, me thinks, it is an empty work, no way sufficient to set forth the wonderful work of God therein. So I leave it, and leave thee, Reader, to muse upon it, being resolved; that this Treatise shall not cloy thee nor fill thy hand. It is intended but to whe● thy Appetite if thou haply meetest with these Heads largely treated on in time to come; and to raise thy heart for the raising of a PILLAR to the everlasting Praise of the KNOWN GOD. There is one or two Observations more, which the Church chargeth us to gather-up, from the scatter of this Month.   

¶ 5.  
THe Bishops had a Court; They called it the High-Commission-Court; Others, the bloody Inquisition. Certainly (The smartest Purgatory, the sorest tyranny, that ever the Church felt-upon Earth; but her comfort is, it's all her Purgatory here, and it ceaseth with the Earth: This bloody Inquisition (for so they perverted Judgement and Justice there, turning such sweet blessings into Gall and Hemlock 
a Amos 6. 12. ) received its fatal blow this very Month, languished the Month following, and died shortly after.  
We must inquire now, who gave this Court this deadly blow? The Answer is, The judges there. Yes, that's the Answer, the enemies themselves being Judges. With their own hands they wounded themselves, and gave their Court that deadly blow. I must correct my words a little; I did but mistake the hand for the tongue; there is a smiting with the tongue too; I should have said, with their own tongues they smote themselves and destroyed their Court. See Reader, how they brought the blow about; but observe withal observation, the Retaliation of the Lord; What is that? (For it is not English) how the Lord, the Lord God of Recompenses 
b jer. 51. 5●. , retal ated those Men, that is, returned their Recompense upon their own head 
c joel 3. 7.  But yet for the glory of this wonderful work of Retaliation, they themselves with their own Tongues, must retaliate, as it were, Eye for Eye, Tooth for Tooth 
d Exod. 21. 24. ; they must, with their own tongues, Return Recompense upon their own Heads, for thus it was.   

¶ 6.  
THe Bishops had an Oath which they forced upon the righteous in homage and mere duty to their Court, and it was a gin and a trap and a snare to His people; as a Serpent by the ●ay, an Adder in the path, that biteth the Rider so that ●e falls back ward 
c Gen 4●. 17. . The Lord, Who commands us to swear in Truth, in judgement and in Righteousness 
* jer. 4. ●. , looked upon this oppression, and required it; how? They must Retaliate themselves now, Oath for Oath. Their chain must be let out now; the rope must be lengthened (give some men rope enough, they will go near to strangle themselves, as in this case) they must have full scope given them, and what must they do? Hammer out another Oath, and that must be as the other was to the righteous, a gin, a trap and a snare, to take their own foot in; as a Serpent, to make those Riders, that marched so furiously to fall backward. I hat Oath must retaliate them, it must recompense all their evil upon their own heads. That Oath, like a Mushroom (that miracle in Nature, for it grows and hath no root 
d In miraculis vel max●mum est, aliquid 〈◊〉 aut veve●e sine ul●ā●adice Tub●r● haec vocantur, etc. Pl●●. Hi● l. 19 cap. ●. ) So this Oath, that had no root; neither in Nature nor in Grace; neither i● Law nor in Gospel; neither in Reason, then nor in Religion sure; This Mushrome-Oath, this rootless thing, must come in, and help to carry out head and tail▪ the Bishops with, etc. it must be a means to root out them and their Courts. Take we all in two words, and in Scripture language, and then see the Retaliation of the Lord; They had killed the Righteous there in that Court as they could; they scorched him with the breath of their lips See now! The Lord ordered it so, That their own breath as fire did devour them 
h Esa. 33. 1●. . They spoke devouring words; indeed they swallowed up the Righteous there. See now the Retaliation of the L●rd! and muse on the work of His hands 
i P●. 143. 5. , for so it was according to the saying. The words of a Wiseman's mouth are gracious: but their lips did swallow up themselves 
k Eccl. 10. 1●. . They fell upon the righteous like a Millstone, they would have ground him to powder: See now! They shall make their own torgue to fall upon themselves 
l Ps. ●4. ●▪ . So I have pointed at the Remarkables in this Month, as befits an Epitome or Abridgement. The Et cetera▪ s here are very notorious, which I have reserved to a place where they may take more Room, than they can do in this Treatise, which I intent as aforesaid. So we go on.     

CHAP. VII.  
October, The Product thereof; Many Mercies, and yet but one marvellous work wrought for the Church at that time.  

SECT. I.  
October, The employment thereof.  
NOw the Lord Keeper was busily employed in issuing forth Writs to summon a Parliament, which service he did more out of duty than affection to that high Court.  
This Month was much of it spent in enquiring after, or reading news out of the North; and in choosing Knights and Bargesses for the several Counties, Cities and Towns; Where there were a poor people also, who had no voices but in corners, and there they might be bold to send up strong cries to Heaven, which furthered the business not a little.  
Now the people having chosen a Man to stand for ten thousand, they transmitted unto him the great Trust, their Estates, their Liberties, their Lives, their all, that was theirs, Religion and all: And they, who understood what they did, prayed, That the service he had to do for his King and Country, might be throughly thought on and accepted: And that he might go up and return in the fullness of the blessing of God.   

SECT. II.  
Many Mercies in one Parliament. A comprehensive Blessing. Why called a Parliament. The Honour and Antiquity of that High Court. Long vacation there makes sinners impudent.  
THis Month the Church heard the news, That a Parliament must be summoned again. Very comfortable news That, and another manner of sight then to see the whole world represented in a M●p: That's but a dead representation: In a Parliament we see the Body of a Kingdom, not, as sometimes you see in a Table, head and shoulders only and no more, but the entire Body represented and compacted together as one man. And myself I see there, though but as the foot in the Body, yet there I am, my interest there, my estate there, my liberty, my Religion (so fare as man can command it) all is there, that I have below, as in a joint stock: there it is managed and carried about by that great Body.  
We cannot wonder now, that we hear such shootings in every corner, besides those we hear from the Pulpit, Grace Grace 
a Zach. 4. 7.  unto it; The  of Him that dwelled in the Bush 
b Deut. ●3. 16.  be upon it, Lord bless the King and the Parliament.  
It is the highest Court on Earth, it can call all other Courts to account, how they have proceeded, whether according to or against Law. It is the great Assembly gathered from all the quarters and corners of the Kingdom, whether all the people from Dan to Beersheba come up to present their sores (there they look for balm) their grievances and pressures, there they expect help and ease.  
It is the great Council of the Land, there they consider, take advice; and speak their minds. Every man there does as the purpose of the word is, PARLERLAMENT, speak judiciously his mind, neither to flatter prerogative, nor ●o extend privilege 
c Nec praerogativis blandientes, nec privilegia dilatantes. L. Cook ●p.. 8. behis Reports. , being wisely valiant and zealously wise. Therefore (if I might use the Sages word) christened a Parliament; the highest House on Earth, (we cannot properly call it two Houses,) if we do respect the Antiquity of it, it is most venerable and ancient 
d Si vetustatem est antiquissim si dignitatem est honoratissima si iurisdictionem est capacissima, Ep 9 : if the honour and dignity of it, it is most honourable: if Jurisdiction and Power, we remember the old saying, The KING and the PARLIAMENT, what cannot they do? Even what they please: and we stand still and hearken what that will be; The Church is resolved already, That shall be done which plea●eth them; for sh●e is of the Shepherd's mind, That shall be done which pleaseth God, and what pleaseth God, pleaseth her: But the Church counted it a mercy to hear news of another Parliament. If we should outlive Parliaments; if a Parliament should be denied us; or, being granted, should be destroyed, then I-C ABODE, where is the glory? Then call the Church desolate, and her Land forsake●: The wicked would walk on every side, for the vilest men should be exalted 
* Ps. 12. 8. .  
The long vacation given to the high Court, hath given all the advantage to the Adversary, whereby to work their own ends in the ruin of the public. Then was their time to sow tares, and to give them rooting, when they could cast the Laws into a dead sleep; when they could cause jealousies, between Prince and people; when they could raise an evil spirit (their own familiar) a fire of Contention, which should come forth on the lefthand, and devour upon the right, and then from the right, and devour upon the left.  
O what an exceeding Mercy to have a Parliament in England! like the great day of Judgement to the wicked; when by the good hand of God upon it, there is a full discovery of things; the ways, yea the hearts of men are laid open; Things represented as they are: the upright person, as he is, The vile, as he is: When Mephibosheth cometh in, but of late, represented as an enemy unto his Prince, but now sound at the heart, (though lame in his feet) and forgetting himself wholly for joy that the King is in safety, and his Kingdom like to prosper; when there is a right understanding of things between the King and his Subjects. The King beholding his good people's he●rts, truly loyal and faithful; and they the face of their King, as an Angel of God O! A Parliament, 'tis a fundamental Mercy: So th● Church allows us to call it, and to put it to that head, and then reckon on, A great Mercy to have another PARLIAMENT, a Mercy, but no wonder. For,   

SECT. III.  
Things were so fare out of frame, that they could not be set as rights, but by a Parliament: The having one or two in one year, is not a wonder, but a Mercy.  
COnsider we how it stood with the Church (as it is commonly and 〈◊〉 be cal'●) ●nd no● with the Commonwealth; we consider there two, the Church (as then it was called) and the Commonwealth (as then it stood) a part and divided, for so they are; The Church standing against the Commonwealth, as the one Pole against the other. The Church (so they were called) the Governors, Seers, Overseers, chief Over seers, commonly called Priests, Bishops, Archbishops and their ETCETERA'S, made their loins so strong and fortified their power so mightily, as they thought they might rule with a rod of iron, and still prevail, breaking in pieces the Lords Jewels, as they pleased; and making-up in the place thereof, the basest pieces of the Earth. The Holy Ghost hath fitted us with a most fit and full expression, none like it, Their works were the works of an imperious whorish woman 
a Ezek. 16. 30. , They were grown so impudently bold, so past all shame, so fare beyond all bounds of civility and modesty; that they could not be longer endured. They laid such loads upon the people. That the stomach of the Land was so overcharged, that it must spew them out, without putting finger into the throat, or else die of a Surbet. No Remedy, but by a PARLIAMENT. I shall be corrected, a CONVOCATION, you should say, let the Priest correct the Priest. A Convocation! that were to send the jesuite to be tried in a Conclave of Cardinals, they would never find him guilty sure. The whole Body of the Land was so overcharged with the last Convocation, that th●y cannot think thereof without loathing. It's so unsavoury at this day. There must be a Parliament, if it were for no other end, but to advise about this whorish woman, so imperious she was. And a Covocation, in all likelihood, would make her more imperiously proud They would have reform the Church (they were about it) as the Reformers did in the Council of Trent, who made the greatest Deformation that ever was heard or read of in the world. But it is pleaded. Let Churchmen determine Church matters; Let spiritual men have to do in spiritual things▪ And let them ●o; ●ut let them know, that there is a Council above them, that can call them to an account, how spiritual they have been. And how like Churchmen, they have kept to the rule in their Determinations about Church matters This is not above the Power and Wisdom of a Parliament, called together to advise, DE ARDVIS REGNI & ECCLESIAE Then surely the Lord Christ, Hi● Religion, Worship and Service; the matter and manner of it is one of the greatest and most weighty things, and of the highest concernment.  
N●w every considerate man was very jealous of the Clergy of England, as corrupt then every whit, as once it was in the jewish Church, when head and heart, all was sick and faint, from the sole of the foot ●ven u●to the head, there was no soundness in ●t, but wounds and bruises and putrified sores So it was in the Church 
a Esa. 1. 5. .  
No better in the Common wealth, for where God's Law is insulted over, Man's law will be trodden under; such a confusion there was in the Kingdom: The Pillars were so wrested out of place; Prerogative so strained; Privileges so broken, and underfoot; such vexations there were, on every hand, such breaches in the great house, such clefts in the little house 
b Am. 6. 11. ; such a howling for v●xation and oppression; That it had been a wonder if a Parliament had not been summoned.  
Ai, but to see two Parliaments in one year, and to see one hold so long, and to give Caution against so long a vacation, to that High-Court, is a wonder sure.  
No, none of all this; time was, when a Parliament was called twice a year and oftener, as the affairs of the Kingdom might require: So I remember a great Sage of the Law r●p●rts. Therefore I have no warrant from the Church to call this a wonder, the having two Parliaments in one year, or the having ●ne every third year; it is rare with us; but every thing that is rare is not a Wonder: Natural causes can produce, and so did, all this. The breaking of the one, Naturally and Rationally worked for the producing of another, and to make it hold, and to put in Caution for aftertime. We never exclude the first cause, That we suppose goes along with us still, as the Needle before the Thread, and then no wonder is all this, but a very great Mercy, as we heard, and shall hear. And all this we have heard, is but to prepare the ear to let in the Wonder, and that it may not stay there, but link down into the heart.   

SECT. FOUR  
God's marvellous works for the Church, and with the PARLIAMENT, That it wrought for her Liberties and enlargement every way.  
YEs, that is the marvellous work indeed; not that she hath a Parliament, and that continued, etc. But that the Church hath received so much good from a Parliament; the finger of God is there, most remarkably there. The Church hath as much cause to complain of Parliaments, as to speak good of them, though she can bless God for all. She was never trod down, never set underfoot, till a Parliament had set their foot upon her. You may believe her; the Church did tremble, and had fainted, but that the Lord was her staff and stay, when she heard news of a Parliament. Therefore she bestirred herself, and used her weapons to purpose, Prayers and Tears, and so became Israel, a prevailer with God. The Church doth acknowledge, That she never received such enlargements from any means here below of humane institution, as from the hands of a Parliament: nor ever cast into such straits and bondage, as by the same hand. That Court ever made her happy, or miserable; it laid the foundation ever, either for the greatest blessing, or the sorest curse: either it lifts up a Nation, making it honourable; or sinks a Nation, making it the basest of Kingdoms. That this Parliament did not do the later, make her Desolate, and leave her as forsaken, That will be the Wonder, the marvellous working of a God towards His People, if we consider,  
I might say first, the Trust and Confidence we put in that High-Court. We rested-upon it, more than upon God; we waited for it as for the rain, and opened the mouth wide, as the parched ground for the latter rain. So we did well; but our eyes, which should be single to God only, were single 
b job 29. 23.  towards it, as the only means that could do us good and recover our sick and languishing State, And this our vain Confidence might have spoilt all; for, as God doth curse bold and daring Attempts: so he doth shrinke-up and whither the Arm of flesh, when man will make it his arm, depend and rest upon it; for than his heart departeth from the Lord 
c jer. 17 5. . There is but one thing, wherein is assurance and strength, strong confidence 
d Pro. 14. 26. , and the Lord doth commonly reject all other confidences, so as man shall not prosper in them 
e jet. ●. 37. . But I pass this; for the Lord hath passed it over, not charging upon His servants their vain Confidences.  

¶ 1.  
THis we must chief consider; That it was the great Design of the Adversary; This they plotted and contrived; for this they spent their precious spirits, that such might be chosen, who might draw to their side, and establish their wicked and mischievous Devices by a Law; wherein the HEAD and TAIL, both worked together; the HEAD contrived; the TAIL, put forth it is sting, and therewith did much hurt: All conte●●ed and contended, and altogether, not only to make the hope of the righteous Null (as they call it) invalid and of no force; but to take them away from the Earth, Root and Branch, that they might be no more a people; or, if so, than the most despicable and peeled people on the face of the Earth: Thus HEAD and TAIL contrived and contended. Who are they? I thank the Reader, that he will not construe my words▪ before I have explained them. By the Head I do not mean the Ruler of the People; but him, that presumes to rule the Nations, and that with a Rod of Iron (which he calls seeding 
f Rom. 2. 27. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. .) Not him, that beareth the Sword, but him, that challengeth two Swords, and hath right to neither I mean him, that is the Head of Heads and Lord of Lords, the POPE, I mean. I confess I never heard him speak; but I have heard some of his flatterers say; That a Priest is so much above a King, as a Man i● above a Beast; 
Tantum Sacerdes praestat Regi, quantum homo praestat Bestiae, quantum Deus praestas Sacerd●ti, tantum Sacerdo● praest as R●gi; Qui Regem anteponi● Sacerdote, is anteponis Creatu. ram ●reato●● Stanu laus Ovichovius. I find it in M Iu●ls Apol. 4 par.  as much as God is better than the Priest; so mu●h is the Priest better than the King: He that setteth the King be over a Priest, setteth the Creature before the Creator: Then how fare think you, doth a Pope exceed Kings and Emperors? How much then is that Head above other Heads? It is answered, w●th liberty enough (for they take leave to pen ●heir own Charter) He is as much higher above Kings, as the Sun is above the Moon He sits i● the very ZENITH of the Church, in the highest place there; as hi●h above your Head, as you can look with your eyes. There's a tall Man indeed. True, but he was a woman once, and that they may not be couz●ned the second time, he must set upon a stool, (so 'tis related) and before he must know himself to be Pope, the stauders by must know him to be john, not jone. And tru●y, bu● th●t he goes to the stool every day, he would quite forget that he were a man, for he is above the Sacred Scripture too.  
This is the HEAD, a monstrous Head, he is MANY, a Legion and more, for I join the whole Body with this Head, and all those Heads too, be they Kings, or be they Emperors, or what heads you can think off, who have given up their Head ship to this Head, I mean their power unto the Pope; have made themselves Servants to that SLAVE. Slave! What a word is that to give to such a tall Head? The Pope in a voluntary humility gives himself that Title, SERWS SERVORUM. What's that? In plain English, the basest Servant, S●ave; for a● a Song of Songs, is an excellent Song; The God of gods, is the true God; the Lord of Lords, is the excelling Lord; th● Master of Masters, is our Master in Heaven: So a Servant of Servants, is the lowest Servant, the vilest, basest Servant, a true Slave. But there is the Head with all the appurtenances and adherents. And see how he contrived and plotted to enlarge his Dominions, to dethrone the Lord Christ, to take from Him, His possession, not only the ends of the Earth, but the head of Kingdoms. See I say, how he wrought to establish mischief by a Law! How he sought to curse the people of God For that purpose his Balaams were posted to every place, and Altars built up there; and all to curse those, whom God had blessed, and they must be blessed; but considering the height, the power, the policy of this Head, and yet he could nor prevail, he could not curse, that is the wonder, and yet we hear not the half.   

¶ 2.  
WE must descend to the TAIL, that Nadar, that despicable part, as that Earth is, whereon the foot stands (if it stands upon a muckhill) that stinging part; the Text saith, and we feel, the sting is in the Tail; What is that? the sacred Scripture interprets it, The Prophet that teacheth lies, he is the TAIL 
b Esa. 9 15. . Reader, look about thee, and observe in passage, where he or they are, who teach Lies: They that do so, though they be dignified with Titles and Honours, and Preferments; though they have their Schools and Colleges for their encouragement, and to engage them the more to their God; yet if they teach Lies, they shall not be called by Him, Who giveth to every man his deuce and right name, not Seers, not the Eyes of the Land, but the TAIL. The Prophet that teacheth Lies, he is the TAIL. And he is many too; and how did he wriggle, I cannot express myself, how did he struggle, and strive, and contend, to wriggle-in that Head the Pope, to sting the Church and to curse those, that stood on her side? Truly, this was told in Gath; what? What Prophets we have: it was published in the streets of Askelon, and the daughters of the Philistines did rejoice, and the uncircumcised did triumph: True, but their rejoicing was but short, for the TAIL could not sting His People. Of the sting in the Tail and poison in the mouth, the Lord made a preservative, a sovereign medicine, and He turned the curse into a blessing; Blessed be His Name.  
Now the Church prays, the Lord unscale the eyes and unveil the hearts of those Prophets, that they may see and consider what they have done and do, and pardon them according to the multitude of His compassions. Amen.   

¶ 3.  
THat the marvellous works of the Lord may be raised in our thoughts yet higher, that we may have an high and honourable esteem of them, we must consider, as followeth.  
Here was a Head which thought to establish wickedness by a Law; here was Tayle-Prophets, who taught lies, and these prevailed so far, that they brought the people on their side, as the sand on the Seashore for multitude: These made the People glad with their lies, and he was a Prophet unto them, that could prophesy of wine and strong drink 
a Mic. 2. 11. . See here, Council and Strength is for the war, the Adversary had both, and multitudes so many as we heard, and yet see the overruling hand of the Lord Almighty; these prevailed not, neither by their strength nor by their council, nor by their multitudes, as appeareth this Day. There is the marvellous work of God and a wonder.  
To make the wonder yet more complete, we must takein a third person the most chief and principal, BEE LZEBUB their Prince and King, the Angel of the bottomless pit; he keeps his nature still, so he keeps his name still; in the Hebrew ABADDON ᵇ; in the Greek APOLLYON 
b Rev. 9 11. ; two names different in language and in sound, but in signification one and the same, A man slayer, a Soule-devourer. He hath his name so in the Hebrew, because he is a mighty let to the comming-in of the jews (no such offence to them in the world as your Images and Image-makers. And he hath his name so in the Greek, because the head of this faction mightily opposeth the completing or filling up the number of the Gentiles: For he opposeth with all his might, the spreading of the Gospel, the revealing that mighty arm of the Lord.  
We have the principal now, the King and Prince, we will put all together, the Head, the Tail, the bulky-Body, with the King over them. What is the marvellous work now, what is the wonder? This, That the gates of Hell prevailed not. Wisdom, mighty for plotting and contriving, was turned into foolishness. Strength, mighty for action, was turned into weakness. Multitudes did fall as drunkards; had not so much power as women, or as wounded men. We have not all yet, this must be considered also, for this is our design, to advance the name of God in confounding such a Troop, by such weak means.  
The Righteous, who seemed a very few, a thin scattered people, these spoke often (not only, as in an evil time) one to another ●, but openly, and to the Adversaries face. These I say, though Prudent men, 
Mal. 3. 16.  did not keep silence, no, not in that time, such an evil time 
* Am. 5. 13. . I should go on, but here an Objection will thrust in upon me, to take off from this wonder, and to shorten, if it could be, the Arm of God, even the right hand of the Almighty.    

SECT. V  
The Objection, That the Arm of the People was strong here, and the Arm of God not so glorious.  
SEe the manner of Men before we hear them if we can see any cranny or chink, whereat light and comfort comes in unto us, to that we will look, not minding the Sun, whose beam it is. If our net be quite broken all to pieces, we will scarce cast it away; we will think it may catch and hold something, and so to our Net we will sacrifice, that is, to our own strength and wisdom; That did it, God did nothing 
g Adrete re●●rr●●, hoc est, pu●a●● Dium nihil esse. Hab. 1 16. vid Calv. , If the arm of flesh be strong, we look not after, we regard not at all the Arm of the Lord, the Right-hand of the Almighty. But was the arm of flesh strong now? nay, was it considerable? surely, the Lord seemed now to cut Israel short 
h 2 Kin. ●0 30. . jacob was then very low, as a worm now, very small; Surely it might be questioned now as once it was, O Lord God forgive, I beseech thee, by whom shall Jacob rise? for he is SMALL 
i Am 7. 2. . But see, I say, what hearts we have, still warping, nay, still departing from the Lord. If there be any thing of the arm of flesh discernible, whereat to take hold, there we take our holdfast, and thereon we rest, Just so we did here; Here we saw Head and Tail, and multitudes, and their King also, all confounded. Thank the Countryman for this, so they say, and so they abate of the wonder, and from the glory of the work. We will examine the truth of that.  
It is said, the People in the Country were at this point wise enough and provident enough. That's true, wise enough in their Generation, wiser than the children of light; and provident enough too; for what? For their own private-wealth, their particular interests; Take them otherwise and in the lump, and out of their own tracts, and they have little wisdom or providence at all. True it is, they were pinched now, and that made them look up from the ground, whereon they are still poring. They did howl, because of their Taskmasters, which made them look out for help, and be a little more provident than ordinary. They that pressed Ship-money, should never have their voices; so they were resolved, so tender they were in their own ease, and where it pinched; but for the cause of Christ and His Church, it is little in their thoughts. I know the manner of men well enough, by making enquiry into mine own heart, and the manners and customs there. As our interests lead us, and our relations stand, there is the BIAS, that way we go, and there we cast our voice, considering no more, but that he is our most honoured Lord and Master. Thank the Countryman, who will; the Church will not, till she hear of such an one, who, against his own interest, private-wealth, and special Relation, minded the Commonweal, and so cast his voice, She will praise the Lord, as well as she can, and call upon all so to do; and bless His Name for His good Servants, whose voices were sent up in corners. And so we may count it a mercy, that such a choice was made; but for the marvellous work, and the wonder we read it before, and this, that follows, makes it yet more wonderful.  
That when the Worthies came altogether, and made a full Court, then and there, The Lord did so stirre-up their spirits, as that they were carried some of them above themselves, yea, and (I appeal to themselves) against themselves: I mean, against what they thought and intended, when they were entering the doors of the House. Doubtless so it was, else such things had not been done, as are done, had it not been even so. But it is wonderful in our eyes, for it is the Lords doing, Who when His work is in hand, will frame and mould the spirits of Men, according to His good pleasure. There is yet something more in it, and greatly to be observed, that the Lord sent forth a dry wind, which sifted and sifted this Court; now one was blown away, anon another: Now this man went his way, and the other did flee away. All this, that it might appear to all the world, that the Lord intended assuredly to do His Church good by this Court, with His whole heart, and with His whole soul 
* jer. 32. 41. . We must learn now from all these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 great things, wrought these two Months, these wonderful administrations; and pick out great lessons therefrom.    

CHAP. VIII.  
Certain Uses or Conclusions from the premises, clearing forth unto us, The Church, by the DEFENCE that is still upon the GLORY; their stability and innocency; then our duty from all.  

SECT. I.  
We know the Malignant Church by their envy at the People: the true Church, because, they are the But against whom Malice bends her Bow, and yet is not able to overthrow them. They are delivered still after that sort, etc.  

¶ 1.  
THis will help us to decide a gre●t controversy. There are two parties, both say, They are the Church, not in name, but in de●d whom may we believe? Enquir●, and we shall have full satisfaction. What party have a Malignancy in them? both you will say; that's true enough; but I mean, a professed enmity against God and goodness. If we can resolve ourselves in this point, Who these are? We may take full satisfaction to that question. It is said, There are no Malignant persons in our Church, none that have a professed Malignancy in them. No! Is there no Malignancy in that monstrous Head? nor in its app●●rtenancies and adherents? None in that Tail, those lying Prophets? Is there no Malignancy in their ungodly deeds, and hard speeches? None in those words, which corrupt and eat, as doth a Canker 
k 2 Tim. 2. 17. . None in all this? Perhaps it will not be granted, that there is a Malignancy in the Devil, who is their King, and hath the keys of the bottomless pit. But in courtesy I demand, and let them answer me as Men; actions we say, make the fullest discovery what spirit we are of: was not that a fruit of utter enmity, of desperate Malignancy & madness, to hurry th● Church, to drag her to the very brow of the Hill, there shocking her again and again, that she might (3 Kingdoms at one shock) fall down headlong from that precipice, or pinnacle? Certainly this must be granted to be a fruit of Cankered Malice: Surely then by the fruits you shall know them to be no Church, but in name so, and that name is, a Malignant Church. Wickedness 
● 1 Sam. 24. 13.  proceedeth from the Wicked, as saith the Proverb, and that's the first Conclusion, clearly evidencing Who is That Church, and Who is the Church indeed And now I proceed to make further Discovery at this point, Who is the True Church?   

¶ 2.  
We must inquire, Against whom doth Malice bend her bow with full strength, and shoots her Arrows? Against whom do these Malignants bend their hand (Ungodly Deeds) and their Tongues (hard words) and their hearts (destructive intentions?) Who is the Butt, The white, the Mark? Who are they, against whom (in the pursuance of their most Destructive Designs) these Malignants do carry all their ungodly Words, and hard Deeds level unto? Look which way is the Malignants aim, and that will point your eye directly to the Righteous Man. Whom do they hurry and drag unto the Brow of the Hill? The righteous evermore, and because they do the thing that is right: therefore doth that Head, that monstrous Head and Tail, that Serpentine generation, and those multitudes, with the King over them, bend all their counsels, policies and strength against these people, because they see the thing that good is. So it hath been from the beginning, so it will be to the end of the world. And so we conclude from the sacred Writ, and from the present times, where are clear and manifest proofs, That the Church must be tried, as Silver and Gold is tried: That Legions of Adversaries do seek and wait her destruction; that whole Armies of troubles, afflictions and sorrows do abide her; but Her God will deliver her, from and out of all, that's her comfort, The Gates of Hell are against her, but shall not prevail, that is her conclusion We proceed on to give hints of things, that we may magnify the arm of the Lord, and raise our spirits in the high praises of the Churches God.   

¶ 3.  
When we have made full inquiry into these present and last Times, let us search the Records of all times, and enquite there, Who it is over whom the fire hath no power? Who it is that God doth rescue out of the Mouth of the Lion? Whom doth He suffer to be carried to the brow of the Hill, and then makes way for escape? Whom doth He bring to the mountain of straits, and there is gloriously seen in their Salvations? For whom doth He divide the Sea, and makes paths in the great waters? For His enemies you wil● say. Yes, that they may pursue, then fall and sink like a stone, and rise no more. But for whom doth He open a way, that they may go over? It must be answered, He doth this, for His Church, His Israel, His ransomed ones. The redeemed of the Lord will say so; He delivers them so, such Salvations He worketh for them and them only: He delivers them after THIS SORT 
l Dan. 3. 29. . What sort? None delivered as are these, after such a strange, wonderful and miraculous way, after THIS SORT. The fire had no power over them. But for their enemies, the flame of the fire slew them, and for those enemies, that are suffered to go on in their furious March, He takes off their Charet-wheeles, makes them drive heavily then: When? When they are upon the very heel of the righteous; then the waters over-whelme them, and they are made as still as a stone 
m Exod. 15. 16. . The Conclusion is, the Lord never made His Arm bare of flesh, He never appeared in the Mount of straits; but for His Church, and against His Adversaries; but so He hath appeared this day.   

¶ 4.  
Who are they whom we see guarded, fenced, hedged about ●; what more? There needs no more, and yet to assure their security, and that there is not a chink open, whereat danger shall enter to do them hurt, there is more added, and on every side 
n job 1. 10. . See their security! Whose security? the Churches, the Righteous man's security evermore. They are hedged about, and on every side, not a cranny hole left open, whereat danger can comein to do them hurt. No? no.  
Object. This carries not the face of Truth, you will say. See we not these sort of men hurried, and spoilt, and peeled, exposed to all danger from the tongues and hands of violent and bloody men? Are they then hedged about, and on every side, when dangers come in upon them at every turn? and they are made now Magor-missabib 
o jer. 20. 3. , beleaguered-about, and terror on every side.  
Answ Yes, and yet notwithstanding all this, they are so hedged, as was said, and nothing shall come unto them for their hurt.  
They may be hurried, and peeled, and spoilt, and killed too, and yet all for their good. Reader, this will not seem strange unto thee, if thou readest and considerest with all thy heart, that seventy year's Captivity was for their good 
p jer. 24. 5. . Therefore we must set a mark upon these words; No cranny is left open, whereat danger can enter to do this people hurt. They are a protected people still; hedged about still, and on every side. God keeps their persons from troubles; or He delivers them by troubles; or supports them in troubles (as He did job, a miracle of patience; never any man so tried as he, never any man so supported, as he) or opens a door and passage through dangers, so bringing His Servants to the place where they would be. The Devil spoke good Divinity, the Servants of the Lord will say so; Thou hast made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side This then is the conclusion; Surely there is no enchantment against J●cob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, what hath God wrought 
q Numb. 13. 2●. ▪    

SECT. II.  
From what God hath done, The Church gets assured confidence for time to come.  
SEe again, for we have observed the premises; here was an Head against the Church, that monstrous Head; the Tail against Her, That serpentine Tail; that bulky-body, as the sand for multitude, all these against Her, with their King over them, yet could do Her no hurt. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on Serpents and Scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you 
q Luk. 10. 19 . These are good words and comfortable, and now are they fulfilled in our eyes. All these enemies did what they could to sting and poison the Church, but they were not able: All these blowed hard to quench the light of Israel, yet could not do it; the Lord kept His Church alive as a spark (which is said of Noah 
r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Chrys. Tom. 5. Ser. 6. ) in the midst of the roaring Ocean. Who would not fear this God? Who would not serve Him? None, but a God can deliver after this sort: That was the conclusion, and none are so delivered, but His Church; He reproveth Kings, nay He breaketh the Head of the Leviathan in pieces for His Church's sake. And this is the Church's confidence for ever, from all these things, which her God hath done, they can assure their hearts for the time to come, That when they shall be brought again to the Brow of the Hill, to her mountain of straits, their God will appear there. He that broke the Heads of the Leviathan to pieces, Pharaoh and his great Host 
s Ps ●9 14. Annona fuit hu●● reposita, qua vesceretur populus, Cal. in loc. , gave that deliverance for meat to His people inhabiting a wilderness (i. e;) that when they should be in straits, than they might remember that deliverance, and be encouraged. He that gave them such a Deliverance as was that, would not suffer them to sink now; That which God hath done, was a cordial unto them in their fainting fits: Verily, verily, That God Who had so delivered would never never leave them nor forsake them 
s Heb. 1●. ●. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Five Negatives. , Thus the Church concludes now from the premises, which she calls experiences; God, Who did deliver from so great a death, and doth deliver, in Him they do trust, that He will yet deliver 
t 2 Cor. 1. , even so, Amen.  

¶ 1.  
This we must add to the former Conclusion; as we must learn to trust in Him, to set our hope upon Him 
a Ps 78. 7. , Who is Mighty: So also to set our heart upon Him; He is Mighty, and hath done for us mighty things, therefore we must serve Him with all our M●ght. He hath done His Church good assuredly, with His whole Heart, and with His whole Soul 
b Ier 32. 41. ; that we might serve Him so with our whole heart, and with our whole soul. He hath not like a warfaring 
c jer. 14. 8.  man, stayed with His Church for a night, and then away: No, He hath made His abode with her (He dwells in the flaming-bush) He sets. up His rest there, because there His soul delighteth: All this, that we might be steadfast with Him, and turn bacl no more in the Day (of Trial) of battle. It is much to be thought of, that God dwells in His Church, when they are as a flaming Bush, in the furnace of affliction, than He dwells with them; which mightily engageth His people to Devil, to delight themselves in the Lord, Who so regarded them in their low estate. He followed His Church with mercies after mercies, and deliverance after deliverance, and discoveries against discoveries, these followed hard, and overtook one the other Why so? That we might follow after righteousresse 
d Esa. 51. 1. , that v●e might follow on to know the Lord 
e Hos 6. 3. ; That our souls might follow hard after the Lord 
f Ps 63. 8. , and not cease till we have taken hold of Him, & resolved to cleave unto Him, to close with Him in all His Commands and Promises: And so to say of the Lord, as He hath said, Who hath chosen Zion, The Lord is our Rest for ever, here will we dwell, for we have desired it 
g Ps. 132. 14. . The poor man that was possessed with a Legion of Devils, but now delivered and in his right mind, prayed the Lord Christ, that he might be with him 
h Mar. 5. 18. . he remembered his old bondage, how the case was with him, when under the power of that cruel Lord, and feared the like again, if he should departed from Christ, or Christ from him. I will repeat the former conclusion and join this with it, for we find them together, Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy Wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth ha●d after Thee, Thy Right hand upholdeth me 
i Ps. 63. 7. 8. .    

SECT. III.  
This will serve to clear the Church's Innocency as the Noonday.  
THe Church hath been so and so delivered, after such a sort: They have been in Deaths often; yet, behold she lives, is confident and strong in her God and power of His Might Nay, the Church hath been as the Bush, (that's her Type) all in a flame, and yet, as then, so now, which appeareth this day, not consumed. Let us turn aside, and see this great sight; Certainly, than we must behold GOD IN THE BUSH. When I say, GOD, than I have said all, the Love, the Wisdom, the Power of God, all exceeding towards His Church, the sons of jacob, in whom He beholds no iniquity, neither hath He seen perverseness in Israel 
g Num. 23. 21. . If we shall well consider this, and ponder it in our hearts, we shall be well able to clear the Church's innocency. I mean, if this, which hath been said, shall sink down into our hearts, it will be more cleansing then Fullers-sope to wash-off a foul imputation, a notorious slander cast upon the very face of the Church, and to render her, as white and clear thereof, as the Snow in Salmon, or as raiments, white as the Light, so as no Fuller can white them.  
It is said, her people are enemies to their King; they seek not his peace; they have driven him from them. Nay, the slander riseth higher; as high as that of Saul against David. That imputation then, and this now, run together like parallel lines, We will see then how David clears his innocency; and how God clears him; and then we shall see the very same thing done now. Thus David was slandered, That he conspired against his Master; That he lay in wait to catch him in a 
h 1 Sam 22. 8.  Snare, etc. See how David clears himself. Now the Lord forbidden that I should do this thing unto my Master, the Lords anointed, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord 
i 1 Sam. 24 6. . Moreover, my Father, see, see here a good token, yea, see the skirt of this robe in my hand; had an uncircumised (a Jesuited) person come so near thee, he would have taken away thy head, and have rejoiced when he had done: for wickedness proceedeth from the wicked, as saith the Proverb. But my heart throbs within me, because I have cut-off the lap of thy garment: Know thou now and see, that there is 
ver. 13.  neither evil, nor transgression in my hand; So David clears himself. Yes, if a man's own words will clear him, who will not 
ver. 11.  appear innocent? True, but here are more than words, yet they are clear and simple; here is more than a single proof, for here are deeds too, as we may read, if we will pe●use the Story. But the main thing and to our purpose here, is this. How doth God clear him? Thus; And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways, and God was with him. 
k 1 Sam. 18. 14.   
Was that the clearing of David's innocency? Yes, none like that: David behaved himself wisely, and God was with him; he could strengthen his hand in God; he could encourage himself in the Lord his God 
l 1 Sam. 23 16. 30. 6. : A wicked person cannot do so; if he do; it is presumption, and an unwarranted confidence. God will not take part with the wicked; He will not shine upon their counsels. Yes, He doth, and so He i● said to do 
m job. 10. 3. . True, and we will answer that by the way.  
God may shine upon the Counsels of the wicked, and cross the proceed of the just commanded and warranted from His own Mouth. He may do the first, as to make them confident, so to ripen the design, and to hasten its ruin; and to make Himself more glorious in confounding them and their designs. He hath done the latter more than once, to quicken up His servants to more caution about themselves, and their work, and the manner of performing their Master's charge.  
But here is the point we drive unto; when Deliverances comein unto His people with the seal and impression of the wisdom and power of God upon them, this is ever, because they are His people; He delights in them; there is innocency in their hearts, and their hands are pure from that great evil suggested against them. Such Salvations the Lord wrought for David, They had the impress of the Almighty's hand upon them. Saul hunted him like a Partridge: God would not deliver him into his hands; He rescued him here and there and every where. It had not been so, if innocency had not been found in his hands, and integrity in his heart towards Saul, his peace and dignity, for he was the Lords anointed. The Text is plain, it needs not my Comment, but I'll apply it comparing the Salvations then and now together; for their accusation is the same; crimes objected the same; their defence or apology the same; and God the same in rescuing them, and clearing their innocency as the Noon day.  
The servants of the Lord are thus accused at this day; they are enemies to their King, they seek his hurt; they have driven him away, etc. These servants of the Lord answer, God forbidden, for who can do so against the Lords anointed and be guiltless? They seek the hurt of their King, their consciences bears them Record, and God also, they seek God for the King, and are not weary; Grace, Grace unto him, Peace, Peace unto him (and that is all) Peace be both to him; peace to his house, and peace be to all that he hath 
a 1 Sam. 25. 8. : peace, peace unto him, and peace be to his helpers, for their God helpeth them 
b 1 Chro. 12. 18, .  
They enemies to their King the Lords anointed! So they are to their own souls, for so they pray for him.  
They have driven him away from them! As a man drives away the candle, when he is in the dark, and must walk, but would not stumble. They quench the light of Israel! As they would the light and influence of the Sun, without which they could not move the least finger: As they would quench the light and motions of God's Spirit in them, without which, they sit in miserable darkness, and move not, or move to their own destruction. They seek his life! They do indeed; hear them in the Church, or in the Closet, O King live for ever. The eternal God be thy Refuge and underneath the EVERLASTING ARMS, 
Deut 33. 27.   
They deliver their King up into his enemy's hands! they set him in the Front of the battle! As they would set themselves at the mouth of a Cannon, or thrust themselves into the mouth of a Lion or Bear, bereft of her whelps, which will tear the Cawl of their hearts. So they clear themselves and their innocency at this point. Ai, but a man is not justified by the words of his own mouth.  
Well, be it so, that their own words clear them not. See how the Lord clears them. How? They behave themselves wisely, and God is with them; They proceed on and do exploits, as Men made wise by the wisdom of God, and mighty in the strength of His power: They can strengthen their hand in God; They can encourage themselves in Him. He hath made an hedge about them; and about their house, and about: all that they have on every side: He hath blessed the work of their hands; and prospered the very thoughts of their hearts, These were to promote Christ, the Glory, for He is worthy. He hath constantly shined upon their counsels. He or they that can observe, and can speak by the Spirit, must say concerning this people, as Amasai did concerning David, Thine are we (thou blessed of the Lord) and on thy side thou daughter of Zion; Peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers, for Thy God helpeth thee 
d 1 Chro. 12. 18.  Indeed He doth, and in all the people's sight; They can see the Salvations of a God coming in unto them with the seal, impress and inscription of the Wisdom, Power, Majesty of a God upon them. These servants of the Lord can say as David did, My soul was among Lions, but the Lord shut the mouth, that Devourer could not swallow-up 
e Ps. 57 4. : They did lie among them, who were set on fire; yet their garments did not smell of the smoke. But for the wicked it shall not be so with them, not so with them, that seek the hurt of their King. They may triumph for a short time, and joy for a moment; but how oft is their candle put out, how oft cometh their destruction upon them 
f job 21. 17. ? God distributeth sorrows in His Anger. The wicked shall be as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away: The Lord rewardeth the wicked, and they shall know it. Thus and thus shall it be to the wicked, but thou Lord 
Ps. 5. 12.  wilt bresse the righteous: with favour wilt thou compass him, as with a shield. That's the Conclusion, That the salvations of God, great salvations, are evermore the portion of the Church, the Israel of God, who seek the p●ace and life of their King; and so they can commit their righteous cause unto a righteous God, Whose eyes are upon the Truth, and will bless those that are children of blessing, even according to the innocency of their hands, and integrity of their hearts in this matter, even so. Amen.  

¶ 1.  
I shall passover now a chief thing, which must be concluded also from the premises and contains much: I shall name it only and no more, and so put a Mark upon it for observation.  
† 1. That the Lord hath a time to bring down H●s Adversaries. When? Then when they are a float, when the flood of their pride riseth to the highest; When they say in their hearts, They will climb up above the heights of the clouds, and be like the most high 
d Esa 14. 14. ; They had an arm like God (such were their proud thoughts) Who changeth the times and the seasons, ramoveth and setteth up 
a Dan. 2 21. ; they could sl●y whom they would, and whom they would they could keep alive. They could set up whom they would, and whom they would they could put down 
b Dan. 5. 17.  When their heart was thus lifted up, than they came down mightily; then the Lord was above them, in all wherein they dealt proudly 
c Exo. 18. 11. ; and made them know that they are but Men 
d Ps 9 10. Vehementissimèag. n●scant. jun. . But this knowledge is too high for them; they will not know in good earnest, that they are but Men. For truly we are a stubborn Generation, as our forefather's; who when they saw their fellows killed with plagues, yet they Repent not of the works of their hands, neither of their murders, nor of their Sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts 
e Rev. 9 20, 2●. . When men have ascended to that pinnacle and height of wickedness, seldom do we read, that they have repent. But then we read, as we now see, they have been tumbled down thence even then, and great must their fall be, when the time comes, that God must ease Himself of His Adversaries.  
† 2. God hath a time to raise up His People. When? Then, when jacob is very l●w, very small, little in all men's eyes and less in his own. Then, when the Worm Jacob, lying at the mercy of the foot of pride, trampled upon, insulted over. Then, when the Giants and proud men of the Earth said to jacobs' soul, Bow down that we may go over, and he laid his body as the ground, and as the street to them that went over 
f Isa. 51. 23. . Then God raised jacob up; then He makes them Israel, for then His people will ascribe Salvations to their God; to His right-hand all the glory. The Earth mourneth and languisheth, Sharon is like a Wilderness, now will I rise, saith the Lord, now will▪ I be exalted, now will I l●ft up Myself 
g Isa 33. 9, 10. . For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I rise, I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him 
h Ps. 12. 5. . I should be larger here, whereas I have set but a mark for observation upon it.   

¶ 2.  
Now the poor Captives, who believe, will not hasten, that they may be loosed 
i Isa. 5●. 14. . They can wait now God's time, for He waits the fittest time to give Deliverance, when His children are fittest to receive it, and to let it sink down into their hearts, which they never do, till they are emptied of self confidence. If Deliverance came not when they would have it, yet they did not die in the pit, nor did their bread fail. Rescues and Deliverances did come at such a time, when they were most sweet and seasonable Blessed is the man that maketh the LORD his trust: And respecteth not the proud (not how many, nor how fierce they be) he respecteth the Promise, and waits God's time in confident assurance, that God will 
Ps. 40. 4.  come, bring Deliverance with Him in His own time, that is seasonably, ever the fittest time. And so I p●sse on unto other Uses and certain Conclusions here from.    

SECT. iv  
We cannot partake of the Church's Privileges, but we must be free of her Corporation.  
NOw we will be on the Church's side too, for we expect such salvations: We will lay hold on her, and will be called by her Name, and expect the s●me Almighty hand to be put out for us, and against our enemies. Surely, this is a good resolution, to come under this shadow, for here is safety, notwithstanding all the noise, hurry and tr●ubles that are abroad. This is the sure side, her Redeemer is strong, He will give rest to her Land, and He will disquiet the Inhabitants of Babylon 
* jer. 50. 34. . The Church shall stand still, and behold the salvation of the Lord, that is certain, notwithstanding all the shocks, they shall stand; notwithstanding all the contrivings and policies to bring them to the Brow of the Hill, they shall escape, and the nearer she is brought, the more glorious will her Deliverance be. It is our wisdom to join ourselves to the Church's side, for it is the sure side. Peace, Peace unto her, and Peace be to her helpers, for their God helpeth them.  
But stay a little, Let us not run away with the comfort, as our manner is, and neglect the duty: the Lord hath wrought and doth work great Salvations, as becometh a great God; and seasonably in the day of trouble. For whom? for His Church, yea and for me and thee for His Church's sake. But our comfort will be small, and of small continuance, if we do not our Duty as the Church doth, She hath been delivered, I say, marvellously delivered, that is true enough; but see, she prayed for this thing, she was importunate, she gave her Lord no rest. Indeed He told her, He would be enquired for that thing 
d Ezech. 36. 37. , so they wrestled and wept too, and prevailed, as we see this day. H● doth guide her by His Council. Whether? For that she is not careful, whethet through thick or thin (as we say;) whether through rough places or plain, she is not careful for that, her Lord hath her by the hand, that's enough, He guides her, and will bring her to glory, she is sure of that; Glory is the end of her way, what troubles so ever are in the middle of the way, and in that her heart is assured. Take all with it; He guides Her; He leads her; yes, and He commands her, a LEADER and COMMANDER to His people; that is the point, and our lesson of everlasting use. Would we be a protected people; would we be guided by His hand? (He is a sure Guide) would we be carried as upon eagle's wings? We must then hear His voice; we must obey Him, He must command us, and no other, but as they command from Him and lead to Him He is a LEADER and COMMANDER to His People. Take we this comfort and feed upon it, but remember the duty too, a LEADER and COMMANDER to His people. We would be as the Church is, for we would be in as safe a condition and harbour, as the Church is. Ai, but surely a VELIETY, a would so, will not serve the turn. There is not a Balaam in the world, not such a sluggard, but he hath a veliety, a would so; he would have plenty and peace both; he would have protection and safety; he would have it now, but at his end, when he must be taken from the Earth, than he would in good earnest. No matter for plenty then, but for peace. O, but let him lay this to heart, and muse upon it, when he turns upon his bed, like the door upon its hinges, expecting that salvation will come unto him, and drop into his mouth. If he would have peace (for that contains all) he must up and be doing, he must stir up himself with all his might, he must come out of himself, and thrust out his Idol, whether one or many, his ease, his profit and his pleasure.  
His excuse will not serve the turn, that there is a Lion in the way, a difficulty he cannot overcome; therefore he will not endeavour it. If he saith so, and is resolved to be lazy, and sit still, I pronounce against him this Day, from the mouth of the Lord, That Peace shall not b● his portion, but the contrary. When he expecteth peace, behold trouble; he shall have wrath with his sickness; Tribulation 
Eccl. 5 17.  and anguish shall come upon him like an armed man; and when he would solace his soul with peace, when he would see the Rivers, the Floo●s the Brooks of Honey and Butter 
f job 20, 17. ; he shall see the contrary, that which shall amaze and astonish him, if his heart be not as a stone within him: Heaven above him, shut against him; the grave open to receive him: His soul launching forth into the Ocean of Eternity, where he must wallow in the streams of brimstone, and flames of fire; how long? The answer thereto sinks the spirit, for it is the very Hell of Hell, FOR EVER and EVER. We have not a thought that can ●each half way to the bottom of that Ocean. But this thought of perishing FOR EVER, of everlasting burn shall drink up the spirits of a Man, and be within his bowels as the gall of Asps. But the serious thoughts thereof, now, now, this present time, the acceptable time, and day of Salvation, m●y be very effectual to awaken him, that lieth down NOW, as in the midst of the Sea, or as he that sleepeth upon the top of a Mast 
g Pro. 23. ●4. : To stir him up to arise, and call upon his God, if so be that God will think upon him, that he perish not 
h jona. 1. 6. , FOR EVER, punished with everlasting destruction, from the presence of the LORD, and from the glory of His power 
i 2 Thes. 1. 9 .  
The Conclusion is; if a Man would fly from the wrath to come; if he would assure his heart, that everlasting consolation shall be given unto him; if he would have peace now, which all the Malignants in the world cannot take from him; if he would have a defence, a shield over his head now, which the most fiery darts cannot pierce through; if he would have assured confidence of all this, if he be in earnest and will have it indeed; He will get assurance, that he shall stand now and hereafter, as the everlasting Hills, and perpetual Mountains; if this be his will indeed; if this be the very purpose and resolution of his heart, than he will give all diligence, to the full assurance of Hope 
* Heb. 6. 11, 12.  (that proves his will whether true or not) to do as the Church doth, to obey hearty, to trust perfectly, to be guided by Him, to walk before Him, and to be perfect. So the Church doth do, and if we do as she doth, we shall be as she is, though the Rain descend and the floods come, and the winds blow, and beat upon her house, yet a QUIET HABITATION notwithstanding.   

SECT. V  
We cannot expect to be delivered AFTER THIS SORT, unless we walk in THIS WAY, the way of God's Commandments.  
LAstly, learn we from hence, to keep ourselves in God's way, there is safety in those paths; the Angels carry us, we cannot dash the foot therein. We are sure of protection so fare, as we keep ourselves in that path, though it seems overclouded with the shadow of death. In that dark path the Church can walk on boldly and confidently, though through fire and water, for she walks under the shadow of the Almighty, and in the fear of God all the Day long 
a Pro. 23. 17. : Therefore she finds comfort, even where she sees no light. But if she doth find comfort and light both, yet than she fears the Lord and His goodness 
b Hos. 3. 5. . She fears at all times, she presumes at no time; she walks boldly, but humbly; she doth not lead herself into temptation; no, she is lead to the Brow of the Hill, or forced rather; but then she is sure the Adversary cannot force her down.  
We may note this by the way; it is one thing when a man is driven upon straits; and another thing when he drives himself upon straits. It is one thing to be brought to the brow of an hill; and another thing for a man to bring himself to such a precipice. I may be c●st into the arms of God, and be assured to be held up by them; but if I presumptuously rush-in upon them, I shall not find those arms underneath; I shall not be held up by them. To presume, that God will keep me, when I walk not in His way, is as if a man should hang himself in hope, that one would come and cut the halter.  
To close up all; We find safety no where but in God's way, for therein with jacob, we find a Command and a Promise both (these are still together) The Lord which said unto me, Return unto thy country, and 
Gen 32. 9  to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee. The Conclusion than is; if in this way, Esau, a bloody persecutor, will come out against the Church, he shall not be able to do them hurt, though his wrath should not abate: but ●t may be the Lord w●ll so overpower his spirit, that he shall not dash against the Church, but meet them, as becometh a Brother, with embrace.   

SECT. VI  
An Apology for this digression, if it seems so; And a short view or recollection of what was last said.  
I May seem here to have digressed not a little in discontinuing the Calendar by these Uses or Conclusions, so largely insisted upon: If so it seemeth to the Reader. I would desire him to consider this; and than if he thinks it a digression, he will think it necessary also, first;  
† 1. Tha● (which was intimated before) God wrought then like Himself, 〈◊〉 wonderfully, before man was called forth to help Him against the Mighty. He alone doth wonders: but they are not wonders in our eyes, unless He works alone. Though we have not many to work with Him, though but a few, yet these few take off much from the wonderfulness of His works 
* Miram●r si nobis coelestis manus aliqu● non prastet, cui quicquid prasti● terit derog 〈◊〉. Sal. de gub. l. 7. p. ●47. ; such a regard we have to the arm of flesh, though a weak arm, and often broken in all the people's sight. But, I say, before the Parliament was summoned, He wrought alone; and then was the Adversary confounded, his snares broken; then was the Church plucked (three Kingdoms at once) as a brand out of the fire 
a Zach. 3. ●. ; then, at that time, the Church passed from the brow of the Hill, through the midst of her Adversaries, and went her way. The Lord knows how she escaped, for she knows 
Luk. 4. 30.  not. but she passed through the midst of them, and went her way: A flaming Bush then, as once she was. But see this great sight! The Bush burned with fire and was not consumed. Then came help from Heaven, when there was none from the Earth: Then rowled-in streams of consolation, floods of honey and butter, when the enemy and adversary had stopped and damned up all her fresh springs below. Then came in the springtide of Deliverance, when she was brought to the lowest ebb of Distress. See the workings of a God 
* 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Chrys. Tom. 4. ep. 1. .  
I could not passover this, and not set marks upon it, for it clears forth unto us as the Morning light, (no such demonstration as this) who are the Church indeed; who but in name so, and that the MALIGNANT Church. It clears the Church's innocency also, as the Sun beam: and clears our duty, to walk exactly, as a peculiar people, if we look to be delivered; how? So miraculously, after THAT SORT, that all must say, The Right-hand of the Lord did This.  
† 2. The Reader may consider, that in the following Month, I met with that ROOT (the PARLIAMENT, I mean) which bears all our sweets (here below) our Religion, our Laws, our Liberties, our Lives; by the good hand of God upon that High Court, the KING and PARLIAMENT (accursed be they that divide them, and accursed be they also that strike at that Root) we gather all the , for ourselves and our children after us, even all that blessed fruit; for there it is as in a common root. Therefore I stayed the longer upon that fundamental blessing. Now I can go on apace, for I am but to bring in these after fruits, as they did the Grapes, all in a cluster: but we must view over the lessons we took forth last, and make a short collection thereof. 1 The Lord hath triumphed gloriously; H●s right Hand hath dashed to pieces the enemy: In the greatness of His excellency, He hath overthrown them, that risen up against Him. 2. We have seen the Salvations of God, great Salvations, therefore the Israel of God is here amongst 
Exod. 15. 7.  us, a people greatly beloved, Saved by the Lord, for whose help Herideth upon the Heaven, and in His excellency on the Sky. 
Deut. 33. 26.   
Lastly, Would we be so saved, than we must be guided as the Church is, according to her Lords WILL, and so commanded by Him; if we would be carried as upon the wings of Eagles, than we must be found walking in His way. Thus we have seen the strange Overtures and turn of things in these two Months; and we have observed the certain Uses and Conclusions therefrom, Now we go on, to set down the Heads of the after proceed.   

¶ A Transition to the next Chapter.  
Hitherto we have observed what God hath wrought working alone, and by His own Arm, bringing Salvations. Now we must observe with the same observation, what Salvations Man hath wrought with God, the following Months, as strange as was that Salvation, which jonathan wrought for Israel 
a 1 Sam. 14. 45. . I have treated thereon severally, not according to the excellency thereof, but after my measure, as I was enabled, and am resolved not to mutilate or maim that continued Story by taking any part thence: But which is more suitable to this place and my scope, to set down the Heads thereof in as narrow a compass, as may be, and, as the matter can be contracted, to give an abstract only, leaving the specification of the set time (when the Salvations were wrought) the Month and the day, to those Diurnals, which are written before me (where also I blotted a few sheets of paper) but specially to the worthy pains of good M Vicars, worthy all acceptation. So I proceed.    

CHAP. IX.  
The Heads of proceeding the following Months to the end of the first Jubilee, holding forth the wrath of God, fury to His Adversaries; His marvellous works of Grace to His people, breaking bands and taking off yokes, and bringing them into the band of a Covenant: engaging His Church for ever to Record, to Thank, to Praise.  

SECT. I.  
The Church blesseth God for you, That you did not join yourselves with the Men of the Earth; nor after the manner of Men, forsake her in her low estate: That you did not establish iniquity by a Law; that ye read her petitions and heard her complaints; that you opened her prisons and mouths of the Ministers; And had Dominion over the Mighty.  
NOVEMBER, a Month specially to be observed. The third Day the High Court assembled, things were done after the Manner, etc. At this point others begin, and here I shall not break off; but dissolve a well continued Story into some chief Heads, which will contain the chief works of wonder, and so yield us matter enough of praise to God, and thanks to Man. The Lord tune our spirits to the setting forth the high praises of the Lord. The first Head will leadin all the test (for it contains much 
a Ezek. 23. 32. ) therefore, that we may begin right, the Church would have us consider, That her enemy and adversary, the Head and the Tail, (who these are is now fully manifested and declared before) had wrought effectually in the children of disobedience; They had carried all before them level to their own mark; They had levened the Land (they thought) from corner to corner with most impure Doctrines, and as unclean practices. Indeed, as was said, they had wrought very effectually, as appeareth this day. They had prepared their own way, made it so straight. plain and level, so as they thought verily, they could find no rub, no opposition, none at all; they might go on smooth away, the Angel of the Lord could not meet with them; at least, could not stop, control, nor cross them in the way, no not with the Sword in the hand. They had now set the BUSH on fire round about (I mean the Church) a flaming Bush was her Emblem once, and it must be her Emblem (there you see the Church) to the World's end. They had set the Church all on a flame, and thought verily, if God's dwelling were there (which they thought not of) they could, if not thrust Him out of His House, yet they could fire Him out, for they looked wistly when His House would sink down and fall into ashes. Indeed this is notable by the way, and engageth the Church mightily; That God dwelleth with her, when she is all on a flame, in the furnace of afflictions; then He DWELLS in the BUSH, therefore it consumes not. But the Adversary and enemy thought not of this; they looked when the House should fall as aforesaid, and hastened, what they could, the Ruin thereof. They would put to more wood, and make the burning yet greater. This then is the first Head, for this the Church blesseth God and thanks you.  

¶ 1.  
That you did not join with the stronger side, I mean in appearance: That you did not join strength to strength, and add more fuel also, to make the flame the more fierce and raging: for this is the manner of men, To oppress the oppressed; to add to the affliction, and, like Mice, as to run out, when the House is on fire: So to judge of God's works before they be ripe, I mean before the FIFT ACT, and that is against the Rule 
b De operi●us Dei 〈◊〉 quintum actum 〈…〉 . If a storm lie upon the Ship of the Church, and she be tossed with tempests, men will not wait till the fourth watch; commonly so long the Lord deferrs His coming, but then He comes. That you did now, as wisemen, strike in to help, to quench the burning; to help the Lord against the mighty; that you did regard the Church now, as the Lord regarded you once, in a very low estate. for this she blesseth God and thanketh you. To speak in plainer English, for this she blesseth God and you;  
That, having but one Priest, one Altar, one Sacrifice, you did not defile all this at this time, making many Priests; setting-up many Altars; commanding many Sacrifices; all this, as the statutes of Omri, by a Law; That when many Altars (the same of other provocations) were made to Sin; Altars were not made by you, unto the whole Nation to Sin 
c Hos. 8. 15. . That when the ROD of the wicked, lay heavy upon the back of the Righteous, you did not turn it into a Scorpion: and when blood was upon the Earth, upon the Church falsely so called, you did not FEOFF it upon HEAVEN, the true Church. So you might have done, and have left the Church, as a Widow forsaken in the Earth, and comfortless there. That all this was not done, but the contrary, she accepts in all thankfulness always, and blesseth God, Who kept you from the paths of the destroyer 
d Ps. 17. 4. .  
If this be not plain enough, this, which follows, will make it as plain as can be. Ireland did contribute money toward the WAR. What war? A War that would have ruined Scotland; a War, that would have sheathed a Brother's Sword in the heart of a Brother. Ireland contributed money toward such a WAR. Behold now! The Sword is hathed in that HEAVEN; it is drunk with the blood of those slain, who contributed money to maintain that WAR: Their Land is now full of the fury of the LORD, the Rebuke of Thy GOD.  
You would not contribute thereto, no not 20●, for it had been too heavy upon the loins of the Church by a pound weight. Behold now, this Kingdom hath weathered-out the storm, lies at Anchor, cast upward, and is the very miracle of God's patience to all the world. I have heard that some say, for some will be willingly ignorannt, What great matter have you done? I think verily no man is so foolish, so forsaken of all his wits, but he may receive satisfaction herein anon. I will answer but this now; What ye have not done. Ye have not engaged the Kingdom in that War, which would have dashed the people one against another, even the Father and the sons together 
a jer. 13. 14. . Blessed be your Council and your Wisdom; and blessed be you of the Lord, for what ye have not done; for it hath cast a sweet savour over all the Churches in the world. But with your good leave, I would rather ascribe all to your good God, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders 
b Exod. 15. 11▪ : He counselled you; His right Hand was upon you, therefore your feet were kept from the path of the DESTROYER. The Church would make her acknowledgement very full at this point: That, though there are strange vanities, etc. as was said, yet not countenanced by law. Though the Tayle-Prophets as they are, and the Priests as they will be called, both high and low, are most vile, and have made themselves and the people so, having leavened the whole Land from corner to corner with poisonous and cursed corruptions in their Doctrines and practices: though so, yet there are no Statutes for all this, but Orders against it. Praise be to her good God for all this, and all due thanks to you. So also,   

¶ 2.  
That you received the Petitions from all Quarters of the Land, heard the groans of the oppressed, made to serve under cruel Taskmasters; that you rebuked their Lordships; took off their yoke from off the jaws of the Ministers and People; that you opened the prison doors, and mouths of the Ministers. This the Church could record with more words, but not with more thankfulness: yet you shall hear more of it anon.   

¶ 3.  
That by your Wisdom and Providence, the Church had such freedom the last year, and such communion and fellowship with jesus and His Disciples; more the last year than 20 years before. Time was, and but as yesterday, when they that feared the Lord spoke often one to another, but so as their voice might not be heard, for it was an evil time. The Messenger of Satan was abroad, buffering the Servants of the Lord in every place; his ear was under their window, 
Mal. 3. 16.  and his foot at the door, and the sound of his Master's feet behind him: So as it was the hardest thing to serve God without fear: for it was a crime to be godly 
* Si fuerit sublimis, fi●despicabilis: si fuerit splendidissimus, fit vilissimus: si fuerit totus honoris, fit totus iniuria. Sal. de gub. lib. 4. p. 113. Under whom it was always unsafe to dye well. T●●it. sup. . This the Church acknowledgeth with all thankfulness, and behold the benefit; you have commanded Prayer; Prayer shall command for you, for now this follows, which the Church recordeth with all thankfulness, and some wonder.   

¶ 4.  
That the mountains have flown down before you, and the Hills did melt and tremble. My intent was but to name things, yet the Church commands us to stay a little here, and behold the great, high, lofty ones, (they are Mountains and Hills fast upon their bottom) behold the Lord hath shaken them, given power to His Servants to over-top them, to have Dominion over the mighty, and to tread down strength 
f judg. 5. 13, 21. , I say, the Church commands us to observe all the pieces of the Lords providence here, look upon them apart, then put them together. She saith, and is confident; That, this being done, you shall see the most admirable work, that ever was wrought since the Creation, and that AMAZING work of REDEMPTION. Next place to these two works, this work will take; and in every good order; for it is most fruitful and big with mercies, and brings forth every Day. Had You not overtopped the Mountains and the Hills, and over-shadowed them, (You began well, You shall go on and prosper) You could never have refreshed the weary, and parched valleys: for those high places kept off Rain, and Dew and Sunshine altogether. But now that these are taken down, behold a shower of blessings upon the Land, by your care, conscience and vigilancy, all this, follows, first.    

SECT. II.  
The Lord's Day, a comprehensive blessing to a Nation; Indignation and wrath from the Lord against the prophaners of it; And yet the Priests most notorious this way; Your Zeal for it; how necessary it should be fervent.  

¶. 5.  
1. THe Church records and thanks, That ye rolled away the reproach of Egypt, and restored to her sons and daughters their Lord's Day. That she sees That Day again in its beauty, and in honourable account, from which the wicked hide their eyes, and she her face for grief of heart, because she saw its visage marred, spit upon, vilified, trampled on more than any Day. Oh it joyed her heart, That you, who, next to God, maintain her spirits and life, you accounted her Lord's day honourable; that was, because you honoured the Lord of the Day. And indeed how could you not? For He is worthy, and you look to be honoured.  
The Church will look upon this mercy again and again, and reckon the restoring to her the Sabbath among the chiefest and choicest of your good deeds, which, by God's good hand upon you, you have done. Had the Adversary taken away the Sabbath, as he had almost done, tantum non; he h●d taken away all, The Word, the Sacraments, God, and all. All goeth, when the Sabbaths are gone, as you may see in our sister Churches. What is left them now? Lamentation, and Mourning and Woe. What hear they in their Temples now? Howl instead of Songs. What are their Towns and Cities now? Ruined heaps; a Golgotha, a place of dead men's sculls; or, to speak as Salvian doth in the like Desolation 
d Omnis Civita●●ustum, etc. Sal. l. 7 210. , Their Towns are like our new Churchyards, scarce large enough to bury in. The Lord hath stretched out upon the Land, the like of confusion and stones of emptiness; They shall call the Nobles thereof to the Kingdom, but none shall be there: And all her Princes shall be nothing 
e Isa. 34. 11, 12. . Wherefore hath the Wrath of the Lord burned out against that people so fiercely? Surely because the Land had greatly provoked the Lord of the same. Where great Desolations are, there are great provocations: so we may conclude, though God's Judgements are as the great deep. And this we may say more, That our English Commanders noted this still, and it was to be noted with all observation, That still, on the Lords Day, the Enemy got much ground; And that, which opened the floodgate to all their misery, fell out thrice upon the Sabbath Day; The Lord pointing, as with the finger, to that sin, The profanation of the Lords Day, as to the Source, whence all their Evils have issued.  
I will take leave now, for I must not pass over this lightly, to note two things, 1. The Priest's Villainy; 2. Your Piety; That they may remember, and be confounded, because of their shame: And that you may go on, and do exploits.  
† 1. The Priest's Villainy, Is not that too heavy a word? No; It is the word of the Lord. The Priest's heart hath wrought iniquity, to practise Hypocrisy, and to utter error against the Lord; to make empty the soul of the hungry, and to cause the drink of the thirsty to fail 
h Esa. 3●. 6. . This is villainy, and they have spoken it before the Lord in His house, where He hath said, He will be sanctified; and they have compelled others to speak it too, even to utter error against the Lord, there in His House, where they stand charged to deal faithfully, To utter Truth; To speak as the oracles of God. They have committed villainy in Israel, a greater villainy than they committed, whom the King of Babel roasted in the fire 
i jer. 29. 2●. ; They have not only committed Adultery with stocks and stones ᵏ: but they have spoken lying words in God's Name. I KNOW, AND AM A WITNESS, saith the Lord 
l jer. 29. 23:   
Many villainies have been committed in Israel, but none like this, which the Priests have committed, The giving liberty to profane the Lords Day, BY A LAW; Nay, a forcing thereunto. Every Word of God, shall meet with some, who will turn head against it: look how many kinds of Precepts there are, so many adversaries there are 
m Omnis sermo divinus habit am●los suos, quo● genera praeceptorum sunt, ●●t adversarior●●. Salu. ad Ecc. Cath. l. 4. p 486.  But let the superstitious Papists turn head against the second WORD: Let the Licentiously Profane oppose the fourth WORD: Let the Athyst, the Pagan who knows not God, blot out the first and the third WORD, Take away all, but let not the Priests do it; let not them oppose so holy, so just, so reasonable a command. They know the Lord, They minister before him. But they did it, even the Priests. And for a Priest to turn this good Word out of God's house, and the Ministers after it, if they would not speak error against the Lord; for him to blot out the Hard writing there; this was villainy sure, never the like committed in Israel; it exceeded the boldness of that Pagan King 
n Dan. 5. .  
The Time must be enquired into; When did the Priests commit this wickedness? Then; At that time, when the Lord called to mourning, they called to Dancing 
* Nigra est incendio civitas, & in vult●● festivities usurpa●. Lugent cu●cta, tu latus et. Sal. de gub. l. 5. p. p. 22●. . To allude to that place; Then the Priests proclaimed a liberty for sports on the Lord's Day, when the Lord proclaimed a Liberty in the Neighbour's Church, to the Sword, to the Pestilence, to the Famine 
m jer. ●4. 17.  Salvian would express this a great deal better; Then they consulted all this against the LORDS DAY, when they saw Cities wasted, and two Kings slain; if not in battle, yet they were slain. The Priest did just like Ahaz; they saw (as he) a miserable destruction before their eyes, yet they brought a pattern of that abomination, which caused that desolation, and (as Vriah did) set it up here by a Law 
* 2 King. 16. . The time must be noted, and (that our spirits may be raised high in praise) the exceeding 
2 Chro. 28.  patience of a God must be noted also, we did pattern after them; we were like them; nay, we exceeded in that profanation, yet the Lord did not pattern us, He did not make us like them in desolations. O exceeding patience that, The patience of a God.  
Truly, when the Church heard this, she was persuaded in her heart, That the Lord would strip her people naked; set them as in the day they were borne; make them as a Wilderness, like a dry Land, and slay them with thirst 
n Hos. 2, 3. . Nay, her sad thoughts risen higher; she verily thought, that the Lord would put a Cup of deadly wine into her people's hand; a Cup of pure wrath; That is, she thought her Lord would not have mercy upon her children. And that is a Cup of deadly Wine ●ndeed, of pure wrath wherein there is no mixture of Mercy. A people may be stripped naked, etc. and yet there may be mercy in all that. Truly, the Church thought thus now, the Lord will not have mercy: He will turn His back upon her people now, for He beheld abominations in His House, which His soul hateth; and His Day was profaned by a Law. But see now, That we may set our hope, and our hearts upon the Lord, and setup a pillar, an everlasting Monument to His Name; there is mercy to her people; they are yet the Lords people, and the judgement is upon the Priests and they shall KNOW IT: Surely some strange judgement, the first borne of Death 
o job 18. 19 , shall devour their strength. Now the Lord make them know it for their good, That whatsoever strange punishment they feel here, they may not feel the wrath to come. So the Church prays, and every man will say. Amen.  
2. The Church remembers your Piety now. Blessed be You of the Lord, you have rescued this day from out of the hands of Spoilers; Ye have recovered Your Lords Right; Ye have vindicated His Name: So Ye have provided for Your own peace, and prepared a way for a blessing upon all You shall do, and for Mercy upon the Nation. Peace be both to You, and Peace be to Your house, and Peace be unto all that You have. The Church wisheth unto You a blessing, which contains all blessings, because You have restored unto her, her Lord's Day, which next to her Lord Christ, is the fullest and most comprehensive mercy.  
Go on and do yet more, and be more zealous: Give all diligence, and let Your zeal boil yet higher (it cannot boil over, Th●s shall Ye do in the fear of the Lord faithfully, and with a perfect heart 
* 2 Chro. 19 9 ) for it is for the Lord, His Day, His House, His Worship, Seek Ye that first, burn in Your zeal that way, and other things will come on as they do, as east in upon You by an Almighty hand, for the Lord will be with the Good, and He will remember You for good, for You remembered His Day and His worship on His Day; He will remember You for good, Amen.    

SECT. III.  
That You have advanced Christ in the Ministry of the Gospel, how efficacious that is. To promote the chief end, the Glory of God; and Your end, Man's Salvation.  

¶ 6.  
2. THe Church blesseth God that hath instructed You to discretion, so as You have shown Your zeal, and given all Diligence, to promote the Gospel: The readiest and most compendious way to Your aim and end, to bring all the designs about, which we hope are all level to the glory of Christ, and Your own glory with Him at the end. And now great is the company of Preachers; their mouth opened now, who, of late, were used worse than the Ox, which treadeth out the Corne. They speak boldly now, as the Messengers of the Churches, and the Glory of Christ. That, which letted shall let no longer.  
The Sceptre of the Lord Christ is advanced, and the people flow in unto it. The Church thinks her Sons and Daughters never had a more glorious year, since the day her Beloved, and Crown of rejoicing, ascended to His Glory. Never since that Day, when He was lifted up from the Earth, was He so openly shown to the world, as this last year. Though there had been no other very worthy deeds done unto this Nation by Your providence; yet this she accepts always and in all places which all thankfulness, accounting it an exceeding great mercy, That by Your means she was respited and spared one year longer to lay in her provision, and more fully to stock herself against hard and de●re years. This the Church accepts, as aforesaid, for this is the way to do, and effect the greatest things. Therefore this the Church accounts an exceeding mercy. The blessing of blessings; and she prayeth, that the blessing of Him, Who dwelled in the Bush, may go along with You in this Design, in making known the Arm of the Lord: In advancing this Glory, through the whole Land, that they, who walk in darkness may see a great Light: They that dwell in the Land of the shadow of Death, upon them this light may shine. This is the only way to do good to the whole Land; to make it a Land of visions, wherein the Lord may delight, and to make his people a willing people.  
The Church will remember You here, what Luther, her valiant Gideon spoke to the business now in hand; I will not, said he, trouble myself any more with the Cloisters, the Monks and Scholars there, those Armies of Adversaries; they mind their belly, that is their god, and the belly hath no ears. Nor will I contest with the Pope any longer: (he had done it, and was too hard for him and all his Cardinals) let the Philistines alone with their Dagon: They will find ways enough to break themselves and their god; he would not beat and buffet the darkness (so he said also) as the fool did his shadow; he would set up a light, than the darkness slinkes away. I know not where it is, for it is a privative thing: but it flies away as the cloud before the Sun, or as the beasts of prey will do when the Sun ariseth, there is a riddance, it is gone, and those beasts go to their dark Dens.  
You know his meaning, and know it for the good of the Land. He would advance Christ; He would set up that Standard (that was his meaning and his work) To use his own word; he would promote the Ark; then Dagon falls, breaks himself to pieces, head and hands both cut off, the Head for council, hands for action, ●ll gone. That's the way indeed: So You have done, and so You have succeeded already. You will to that work again, and join shoulder to shoulder for the advancing thereof; That the Lord Christ may be shown openly; His glorious excellencies made known, specially in those places, where CATHEDRALS are, as barren in the Church's observation, to the souls of men, as the Surface of that Earth, where the Mines of Gold and Silver are, there no meat grows for man, nor grass for Cattles The Church entreats you to remember those barren places, and those dark places all over the Land, where the dead bury the dead, and the blind lead the blind every Day, Truly the Church is persuaded, that the people for the most part, are as ignorant as the Monks are of Christ; (to speak as Luther spoke) or as they were of the Holy Ghost, they know not whither there be any Christ or no, unless a Christ of their own framing in a Table. They have heard of the name jesus, and the Monks have taught them to bend the knee unto it, and that is all their Devotion according to their knowledge. O, that the Name indeed, the glorious excellencies of that wonderful name, were made known unto them, certainly their Hearts would bend also. Blessed be Ye of the Lord, Ye have laboured herein, and Ye will labour yet more to advance this STANDARD; to setup this Ensign (that the mountains may melt before you, and the people may flow in unto it;)  
To make known this Arm of the Lord, for this makes us a willing people. That I may speak all in our Lord and Masters words; 
Ps. 110.  In so doing, you shall do as Christ did; you will give eyes to the blind; feet to the lame; you shall cleanse the Lepers; make the deaf hear; nay, you shall raise the dead. You will stick most at this last, though the other, as this, are all the works of the Almighty's Arm; and all is effected, when the poor receive the Gospel. If then, you will order it so, that the poor people may have the Gospel preached unto them, you shall do all the  works, which are so wonderful, for all these miracles are wrought by the Ministry of Man, the Hand of the Lord going along with that ministry; so we understand it; as the Lord dealt with His Servant Ezekiell, so He must deal with every man, upon whom these works are wrought, eyes opened, ears boared, dead heart raised; The word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel, and the hand of the Lord was there upon him: when the hand of the Lord comes along 
Chap. 1. 3.  with the word (for the word comes but to the ear. The hand of the Lord carries it to the heart) than the eyes of them, that are borne blind are opened; feet, bound-up as with fetters of iron and brass, are enlarged; the dead are raised, etc. The blessing of the poor and thirsty souls be upon you, and upon your house, and all that you have: for you have and will pity these poor people; ye will thrust out the dumb and the ignorant; the light Priest and treacherous Prophet; the lame and the blind that are hated of David's 
2 Sam. 5. 8.  soul. And you will send forth Ministers unto those places, such as are indeed the Messengers of the Churches and the glory of Christ. 
Mat. 11, 5.  Then behold these marvellous works wrought, The blind receive their sight; and the lame walk; and the Lepers are cleansed; and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them. Amen.    

SECT. iv  
The PROTESTATION, how wonderfully the Lord brought it about. Though Ye shall do exploits, yet nothing to be wondered at now; The reason. But one head or charge is handled here, and that is RELIGION, a great Hinder. The Method in giving-out this abstract.  

¶ 7.  
THe Church blesseth Gods wonderful work in you, and by you and for you; That you have protested to take the Lord for your God; So you have provided for the Church's security, what ever times may come: for you have brought her into COVENANT with her God. I know that is a thing the Church doth mind every Month, I may say, every Day, and can do it without you; but not in such a way, as you have done it, in a Nationall way, which you, and none but you, can do. You could make a Covenant between GOD and between all the People, that they should be the LORDS PEOPLE 
a 2 Chro. 23. ●● .  
The Church will put a Question to you now, not to pose you, for you are wise, and she knows the Answer before hand, and would have you know it, yet better. She would know, How you brought this work about. Your answer is, Not by your strength, nor by your wisdom, but by the good hand of God upon you, so you brought it about; and so you shown mercy to your souls, and to the whole Nation. And thereby the Lord would make you know, That He intended, by you, to do the Nation good assuredly, with His whole heart, and with His whole soul. The Church hath heard and understands well all the exploits you have done ever since; such as seem marvellous works and wonders in the eyes and ears of the multitude; yet to her, they seem (great mercies indeed) but no strange matters, no wonders at all No? no;  
1. The Church knows you had a liberty granted to continue your Session, as long as you will, that is, till you have done God's will, for He procured that grant unto you; this Grant, though she counts it an exceeding mercy: Yet she doth not count it a wonder.  
2. The Church knows that you marched valiantly, and trod down strength: You rend a Lion without hands, as easy as a man, with both his hands, can rend a kid; and yet this the Church accounts no strange thing neither.  
3. The Adversary and enemy had made a breach great like the Sea 
b Lam 2. 23. ; We asked, Who can make it up? Who can heal it? You could, and you did it, and y●u shall be called the repairers of the breaches: You stood in that Gap, and you made it up; the greatest work that ever was done by M●n, since that Breach was made up betwixt God and Man; since that PACIFICATION made by the MAN CHRIST JESUS; And yet this work doth not seem strange to the Church Nay, should any one of you tell the Church, That since the Day you entered into the Protestation, the Adversary made great breaches upon your soul, and the Lord made them all up: Temptations came-in upon you like a flood; The Spirit of the Lord setup a Standard against them 
c Esa. 54 19 , they could do you no hurt, but good a great deal: should you tell the Church so, she would not think it strange Should your thoughts stray a little from out this year, where we suppose we are, unto the next, when some say (but they are much mistaken, or see and will not see) that God did nothing for you, but against you, and then should you tell the Church, what she knows well;  
That your Soul was amongst Lions, and yet not devoured; That you did lie amongst those that were set on fire, and yet not consumed; none of all this could the Church call wonderful, or think strange. Nay, to express it as fully as I am able; Were all the wildfire in England (the Church hears the Land is well st●red with it now, and ●he expects it shall be hurled in her face, and thrown into her bosom, she is the But and White, against which the Malignants level all this, this she knows, but she is fearless) were all this, I say, gathered up and rolled together into one Ball, and then with 500 hands, nay with the whole Arm of flesh, hurled into your Court, and the Church should be told, that the fire took not, not one spark kindled there; not one hair of any head there was touched; the Church could not count this wonderful neither, no such strange matter. Why? Because you have protested to take God for your God. You are a pe●ple in Covenant with Him; you are sworn Servants to Him; He must protect His sworn Servants; when you are brought to the brink of destruction, to a precipice (so we must understand it, some ex●gence, some knotty business, that all the fingers in the world cannot undo) such a straight as this: when at one shock, three kingdoms must be cast down, if God helps not 
* Nodus vindice dignus. When the Gibbet is up & Mordecai designed to it the next day, then it's God's t●me to work●: it is ●or His Glory t● defer ●o long; and for the ●lory of His faithfulness to de●er no longer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Chrys Tom. 4. Epist. 1. : I say, in such an exigence, God must help. He stands bound to it; You have protested to take Him for your God: He hath protested to take you for his people. You have sworn, and by the good hand of God upon you, you will stand to the Oath; and He hath sworn: by what? By Himself (by all that is in Himself, and He is all;) You will stand to your Oath, that's supposed; He will stand to His Oath, that must not be doubted. You rejoiced at the Oath; He will rejoice over you to do you good: It must be so, ye have struck hands together. Ye may say, The Lord must remember me. How? with the favour He heareth unto His people 
d Ps. 106. 4. . He must visit me now with His Salvations, that is with a great Salvation. When I am at the pits brink, one shock throws me down, then, with reverence be it spoken, He must deliver me. He must comein at the fourth-watch: when there is no help from Earth, than the Arm of the Lord must be revealed from Heaven. I am His and He my God, a God in Covenant. The OATH of GOD is betwixt us; by His good hand upon me, I will stand to it, and then He must stand by me. I am thine ● save 
Ps 7. 1.  me. It w●s David's argument, and prevailed still, SAVE me, for I TRVST in THEE. The Church saith, it had been a wonder if God had not done for you even so, for you are His sworn Servants.  
The Church commands me now to proceed on in declaring this wonderful work, which the Lord so strangely, and as graciously (by your means) brought about, To bring yourselves and the Nation into Covenant with Himself. I shall not meddle with the several heads or charges in the same, which would take up more roomth, than her● can be allowed. Religion is the chief head (there are the spirits) and a great binder it is, it binds a people to their God; and God to the people. I proceed herein in this order, first;  

1. What this PROTESTATION is to you, and all that stand to it.  
2. What a discovering note it is to your Adversaries.  
3. The Church will put-up a short prayer to her God.  
4. Then a Supplication to you.   
In all this, you shall have but an Abstract, out of a large Volume or Theme, rather nothing taken thence, but an addition thereunto.   

¶ 1.  
A Rock of DEFENCE to the Righteous.  
THis PROTESTATION is to you, and all that have taken it, and will stand to it 
b 2 Chron. 34. 32. , a SELA-HAMMAHLEKOTH 
c 1 Sam. 23. 28. , a Rock of Separation betwixt you and your Adversaries; nothing shall be able to reach you, to do you hurt. Should the Lord fill all the Inhabitants of the Land, even the Kings and the Priests and the Prophets with drunkenness (so He hath done for the sins of a Nation, as He threatneth 
d jer. 13. 13. ) Should He dash them one against another, even the Fathers and the sons together 
e ver. 14. , for so He threatens also in the same place; Why yet, you should be safe, none of all these shall come near you to hurt you. Why so? Because you are a people in covenant with your God, and He with you. Look you to it, how ye stand to it, for this follows; TROUBLED ye may be on every side 
f 2 Cor, 4 8. , (no doubt of that) and so you may say; you shall say withal, yet not DISTRESSED: PERPLEXED ye may be (not knowing what way to take, or what to do) but not in DESPAIR: PERSECUTED ye shall be, but not FORSAKEN: CAST-DOWN ye may be, but not DESTROYED: ye may be set as on fire round about, ye shall not be consumed▪ Why so? The same answer, and it answers all Arguments, even the Jesuits their fire and sword, the hardest words and most violent deeds, ye are in covenant with your God, nothing shall come unto you to do you HURT. No Plague shall come to your dwelling, as a plague. Though great Letters are written upon your door, yet the Plague is not there for all that. God is with you, even YOUR GOD, He will save you even from that Destroyer; it shall but reach your body at the furthest.  
The time will come, when you will say, your head aches, and your heart too; nay, it fainteth; and yet hear what the Lord saith, The Inhabitant shall not say, I am SICK 
g Esa 33 24: . Why so? The people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity 
h I bear any thing now my sins are pardoned. M●● ad in vita Lutheri, p. 168. ●. ● Ps 73. 2●. : Look ye there, My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever ●. That stills and quiets all, God at peace with me and all is peace: God in Covenant with me; in Christ reconciled to me; if so, I am not SICK, my sins are forgiven, all is well with me, for God is with me, and HE is ALL, health, strength, riches, All. See how efficacious this Covenant is (if we STAND to it) nothing shall stand against us, nothing shall come unto us to do us HURT; that is first.   

¶ 2.  
As Sibboleth to the Wicked; It discoveres the Priests and their People; It hampers the Malignant, though, like possessed Men; No Cords will hold the Papists; Their obstinacy in God's house: how to judge of the Legality of an Oath.  
THis PROTESTATION or sacred covenant is a Destinguishing character; Thereby you shall know, who is a true Englishman; Who, a Treacherous Priest Papist, or Malignant person. Give it to a right Englishman, a True Israelite in whom is no guile, He goes clear and smooth away with it; He takes it with all his heart, and stands to it, rejoiceth at the Oath 
k 2 Chro. 15. 15. , that is, he pronounceth it right. Give it to the Priests, they will refuse it, or fumble at it, they cannot frame to pronounce it right ●: Present it to the Papist, you shall see what he will do anon. This is to the Priests (the two Armies of them) to the Papists also, as SIBBOLETH to the Ephraimites 
l jud. 12. ●. : Now you shall know whose eyes are evil against you, because your eye is good, and you are resolved to do the thing that good is. Now ye shall see, who they are, that puff at you, deride you (blow their nose at you 
b Luk 16. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. ) Because you would have them protest to take God for their God; (and not their bellies;) to bind themselves in covenant with Him, as the very word (Religion) imports. But see how their mind and affection stands! They protest to take God for their God no not they, Their belly, ease, profits, pleasures are their gods; these and other Lords have ruled over them, and they shall rule by their means. So now you know them; their madness is manifest; this very Protestation hath discovered them; it is a SIBBOLETH unto them; bid them take it; They will refuse; or, if they do take it, they fumble at it, they cannot frame to pronounce it right;  
Nor the Papists neither; Yes but they can you will say, for they can frame their mouths to pronounce any thing, to swear and lie both: What care they what covenant they enter into, what Oath they take, when they are resolved to break it, and are resolved upon the Question, that they may break it, for it is their Doctrine 
c Dogmatiza● mendaciae. . They are as the man possessed with the Devil, no coards, no bands can hold them, they break all, Words, Oaths and all, as you can flax, that is burnt with fire 
d jud. 15. 14. . An Oath is a great binder, (it cannot bind them) the strongest cord, the greatest security, the only chain on earth (as one saith 
e Dan. Hen. 3. ●. 167. ) besides love, to tie the conscience of a man and humane Society together, yet the Papists can turn it over as a Gipsies knot, fast or lose at their pleasure. We hear and see that they take the Oath of Supremacy now, etc. What then? Then they are good Subjects. No, the most treacherous and mischievous men in the world, and the truest enemies to the Lords anointed, none like them. Now beware of these men, for now they will act villainy, they will kill, stab, poison, murder, massacre, they will act any thing, which the Devil can suggest. Why so? Because they do not awe, they do not reverence the Oath of God: they count it a Gipsies knot fast, or lose as the Malignant Church will. No Oath will serve them but the Bishop's Oath, with their etc. which fits the mouth very well, though it be an open Sepulchre. But for all their sleight in turning over Oaths, we may see them hampered anon, after we have laid open their cunning a little more, first,  
Oaths will not hold them, the Church shall for an hour: Thither some of them go, never more frequently than now. There is some hope then, you will say, They will prove honest men and good Subjects. Yes, or the contrary, and the latter most likely. The Church (as it is commonly called) is as the pool of Bethesda; if I go rejoicing thither, and have the same desire the poor man had to be made whole, it is the likeliest place in the world to find cure there. But if I go thither to cloak my wickedness, etc. then I do aggravate my sin, I make it as the sin of witchcraft: The Papists go to Church, that hath been the manner, but observe still, they commonly go thither, where a Dog, that cannot bark, keeps the House That adds something to their sin; but this makes it above measure sinful: There they sit, and there they meet with their Adversary every hour, that is certain: A●d this is as certain, they ●re fully resolved bef●r● hand not to AGREE with him. The WORD saith This is my Lords will: They ●ay, they will d●e their own will The word is flat against them, and they as contrary to it, Thou shalt not make, saith the WORD: They will make Images and bow before them; so they say and do. They go to Church ●nd have concluded, are settled and resolved upon it, not to conclude their souls under the power of God's Word: Here they prevaricate fearfully, and, as with Oaths, so they play fast and lose in God's House too: Let them alone traversing their way in their Month 
a jer. 2● , they sh●ll be found crying out like a travelling woman, for that is the time when they must cast forth their sorrows. In the m●an time, ye must look to th●se men now more narrowly, and with a more wakeful eye, now that they stand before the Lord in His house outfacing H●m there Now surely they will be more abominable than ever, They will murder and commit Adultery, and swear falsely and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods. All this they will do the more boldly now, now that the House of the Lord is a DEN of ROBBERS in their eyes. But see how the 
jer. 7.  LORD takes all this, and how His Servants should lay it unto heart; BEHOLD I HAVE SEEN IT, saith the Lord. And we must behold also how ye have hampered them as a Bull in a Net. Blessed be ye of the Lord, Who hath instructed you to discretion, and hath made you to be quick o● understanding. Never was there any engine invented like this Protestation, to batter their strong holds, and to confound them in their cursed craft  
Ai, but you will say, the Papists will not come within a mile of it; no matter, that will come to them, and pluck off their vizard, we shall know them, now their madness will be made manifest. But it is ILLEGAL you say; say so still, and say the Bishop's Oath i● LEGAL but let my soul go out with that, which the Devil and his Kingdom are most against 
b Gaudeo sic Satanam indignari & blasphemare quo●●es ● m● tangitur. Luther ● Epist. ad Am . That which pinch●th and galleth there, my soul upon it, that is Truth 
* Quoth signum maioris ●●●riae est omnes haeretici de●estantur. Hier. , that which ought to be, and we stand bound unto. Mark it evermore, That which cuts the wicked to the heart, which makes them gnash on you with their Teeth▪ that's GOOD, very GOOD, good Law and good Reason, and good Conscience for it too, there is no doubt of it; every wise m●● will give as much credit to that sign, as to the word of the greatest Gamaliel ●n the world.  
Lastly, It may be said, Have not the Papists a sleight to turn this ov●r the Thumbs too, as the other two Outhes?  
Truly I think not, This will hamper them sure; for it seems to me, this PROTESTATION hath bound up Satan. No you will say, he rageth, never more. A good sign that he is in chains, never closer penned up then now, and his servants with him; and that they have but a short time, because they have so much wrath. They are met with now, and heldin short, and pinched very sore, for though they dare do much, even to the putting out of the Light of Nature, and the casting the conscience into a deep sleep, yet I must suppose that this little remaining light is so prevailing with them, as that, though they could dispense with the taking of it, yet that light would so flash in their face, that their tongues would but fumble at it, they could not frame to pronounce it right. Now the Church puts up a prayer to her God.   

¶ 3.  
The Church's Prayer; An Objection against her Prayer, answered. Her weapons ●●●yer and Tears; In what cases the Sword is her Weapon.  
THe Lord shake out every man from His House, and from His labour, that hath not a will and a heart to perform according to the PROTESTATION, even the Lord shake him out and empty him 
c Neh. 5. 1●▪ . The Lord grant these Malignants, th●se sons or B●liall, these troublers of Israel, who will be bound by no other cord, but by the cords of their own sins, may be cut off, even all cutoff that trouble the Church, those that love peace and pursue it. These sons of belial cannot frame to pronounce an holy, just and good Commandment; o that they were dealt with now, as those persons were we read of in the Text; Then they took him and sl●w him at the passages of Jordan 
d jud. 12. 6.  The Church knows, that there would be a greater slaughter than was that we read of, and there fell at that time of the Ephramites forty and two thousand. Hear comes in a doubt, and it will be easily resolved. The Objection ●s.  
Ob. The Church is a peaceable Mother in Israel; her Father is the God of peace, her Lord, the Prince of peace; her servants, the children of peace; then sure the Church doth not know what spirit she is of, that prays for Fire and Sword to come down from Heaven.  
Answ. Yes, the Church knows she hath the Spirit of God dwelling in her, and by that Spirit she can and doth pray as aforesaid (●nd will fight anon) and be a peaceable woman for all this, and a true Mother in Israel, and follow the Lamb here also; for in some cases (and none riseth higher than this) He, even the Lamb hath wrath, and that must be executed by her Sword. Nay more, as she prayeth for this thing, so she can rejoice to see this vengeance, and to wash her feet 
c Ps. ●8. 10.  in the blood of the wicked, and the whole City with her, yea and to shout for joy 
d Prov. 11. 10. . These are wicked persons, professed enemies to God and His Christ; Without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, inconti●c●t, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, not having so much as a form of Godliness 
e 2 Tim. 3. 3, 4, 5. . Pity these wicked Malignant persons, and you destroy the Good; show mercy here, you are cruel to the Church; spare such, and they will make havoc of God's Servants, as you see they do, and have done in all ages. Wicked persons they, and desperately bold and daring; They would turn the Songs of the Temple into howl 
f Amos 8. 3. . She can rejoice to see the vengeance, yea and to wash her feet in the blood of these slain. And till this be done, she never looks to have peace on the Earth, for these are they who have taken peace from her. Therefore she is resolved upon it now, she will not only pray, but use her WEAPONS too. Yes, you will say. PRAYERS and TEARS. True, for these are the Church's weapons, and very prevailing, nay, commanding they are. (Prayers command God, He is pleased to say so much, and to yield 
g Esa. 45. 11.  so fare:) but the Church said, she will fight too in a case, wherein her Prince, His State, Crown and Dignity is concerned, for in all this the Church is concerned, her Laws, Liberties, Religion, Life. In such cases, He will fight. Let it go; it is good construction to apply a Masculine word to so Heroic a spirit: as I read Queen Elizabeth did not well digest that Grammatical nicety, to be prayed for by the Title of DEFENDRESSE of the Faith, DEFENDER was better concord in her Ears: And indeed never any man Answered the Title better. I was saying the Church hath another weapon, which we call the Sword, and she will make it drunk in the blood of these Adversaries, and yet do no more than what she hath done in all Ages, from the Primitive time downward. For though Prayers and Tears and these only are her Sons and Daughters weapons, as they are private persons: Yet, as they are public persons (That altars the case) and exalted in the Earth, the Sword belongs unto them as their proper right; and they stand bound to use it, though then also They STUDY TO BE QUIET 
h 1 Thes. 4. 11. , and know themselves CALLED UNTO PEACE, so they may have TRUTH too 
i 1 Cor. 7. 15. . The Church hath her Ioshaahs; and, they must not lie upon the face 
* Iosh. 7. 10. , wishing those even cut-off that trouble us. 
k Gal. 5. 12. . He must rise and cut-off those TROUBLERS; it is his office so to do. The Church hath her Nehemiahs, they may build with one hand and hold the Sword in another. She hath her david's, the truest Subjects in the world (as then he was) and yet their H●ast may be as his was, as the HOST OF GOD ˡ, and all for their own safety, and to maintain (as 
● Chr●. 12. ●2.  David did) their Master's peace The Church hath her Princes and her Nobles, and her Worthies (blessed be God for them all) to whom the Sword belongs, and they are charged to use it, for the cutting off those, that trouble her; and are enemies to her Lord's Crown and Dignity: They are charged to be of good courage, and to play the men for their King and His people, and the Cities of their God, and the Lord do that which seemeth Him good 
d 2 Sam. 10. 12. : Then in the last place;   

¶ 4.  
Private Persons must make Supplications.  
THe Church makes her Supplication to you; That you would rise up and be doing; that you would avenge her of these Adversaries, who have done what they can to take peace from the Earth. All is contained in your Covenant, every whit. Remember that and you remember all; and the Lord remember His Covenant with you, for the dark places of the Earth are full of cruelty 
e Ps. 74. . Doubtless the Lord, Who keepeth Covenant and mercy for ever, will not break with you now. Remember 
f Deut. 7. 18.  WELL, what the Lord your God hath done for you; That will give you assured confidence for the time to come. Only deal courageously 
g 2 Chron. 19 11. ; stand to what you have said, and what in you lieth, cause the Covenant to pass through the Land, and do as the good King did; what you can to make the people stand to it 
h 2 Chron. 34. 32. , and the Lord shall be with the good 
i 2 Chron. 19 11. . (Amen) for they will make their prayer to Him, which cannot be in vain 
k Esa. 45. 19 , being one of the most prevailing things in Heaven or Earth: but it is reserved for the time, when ye as Esther 
l Est. 4 16.  commanded Prayer, than it will appear how prayer commanded for you.    

SECT. iv  
The engaging the heart to God, engageth God to our Business; then they slide-on; the loftiness of Man shall be bowed down, and the ●aughtinesse of Men shall be made low; Idols and Idol-men, and Idoll-garments, and bloody Courts shall be destroyed; Counsels hid in the dark, discovered; and a Breach made-up, great as the Sea; so as the Lord alone shall be exalted in that Day.  
THe people that do know (that is) do fear and rely upon their God, shall be strong and do exploits: So it was in days of old, 
Dan. 11. 32.  So it will be to the end of the World. Please you we will remember a sacred Story, and consider it with our whole heart and with our whole soul Time was when our Grandfathers dwelled in seiled houses, while they let the house of God lie waste. Every man ran after (that is) was very earnest in his own affairs, but the affairs of the Church, no man regarded▪ much work was done, but no Temple-worke. The Lord by His Prophet Haggai admonisheth and reproveth for this, correcteth and punisheth too: bids them consider the order and method they took, whether things were done decently and in order; all for themselves, their private wealth; nothing for God, and the Common g●od; and how they prospered in their contrary way: whither God walked not contrary to them also? Shame devoured their labours 
a Ier 3. 24. , there was a SWORD and a DROUGHT 
b ●er ●● 38.  upon all they had and upon all they did; They were in a deep consumption; They eat and they drank, and yet pined away 
c Hag. 1. 1●. ●er. 6. ; They laboured, but in the fire; Wages they earned, but they put it into a bag with holes; much they did, but nothing prospered. After many ●ore and sharp strokes (for man will not be made wise, but by blows) they began to look up and consider their way, which was not right, yet they thought to prosper in it, but it was not possible. At last they considered and thought thus, if God does all, and gives all richly to enjoy; if He be the best and highest Master, and pays the best wages; The greatest reason in the world, His work should be done first; and so like wise and considering Men▪ they fell to God's work, ran as fast to His House, as before to their own. This the Lord took very kindly, as His manner is, and ordered it so (that is His manner too, for His wrath is quickly appeased, when He sees Men but look STEADFASTLY to Him and His House) that their own house should not far the worse; they should sensibly see now a strange alteration in things, as a SWORD and a DROUGHT before upon every thing: so now a BLESSING; a shower of BLESSINGS. Yes, but they must wait for it; No, no waiting now Behold presently a shower of blessings, that God's people may for after times, lift up their feet in God's way, observe good order and method there, still to begin with God and Temple-work, call it what you will, Religion if you please; From this Day that the Foundation of the Lords Temple was laid CONSIDER IT 
d Hag. 2, 18. . What must they consider? It follows, FROM THIS DAY WILL I BLESS YOU; from that moment of time when they minded God's work to do it, I WILL BLESS YOU saith the LORD.  
If ever GOD made good this Scripture to His people in after ages, than now He hath fulfilled it even in our days: Every man can make application, for from this Day the Lord hath blessed you; you must prosper now and do exploits, for you go on now in the strength of a COVENANT, and in the strength of the prayers of all those that are in Covenant with you, and that ●s an ALMIGHTY strength.  
Y●u have given forth your MALE, the first Borne of your strerg●h to manage the great things of HEAVEN: assuredly from this Day the Lord hath blessed you  
You have found wherein the strength and spirits of the business lieth now; these are contained in Religion, very efficacious in working; and a mighty binder, as was said; ye have bound your selves to G●d, and God to you; now ye shall g●e on as valiant men in the strength of God, and with His increase and ●l●ssing. Though you should hear, in after time, the multitude of many people 
a Esa. 17. 12, 13. , which make a noise like the Seas, and a reshing like the rushing of mighty waters. Then shall ye see also, that God will rebuke them, and they shall flee fair off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the Mountain's before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind, etc. For it follows, but I forbear for I must keep myself within the bounds of this WONDERFUL YEAR. This is but to show, that you have chosen a way to walk-in, and a rule to walk by called the WAY of HOLINESS (the Lord keep you in it, and to it;) it is a clear, an holy, a s●●e, an une●ring way, The way faring men, though FOOLS, shall not err therein. 
b Esa 35.  Ye may fall into the straits there (as was said) ye may be troubled on every side, yet not distressed; perplexed ye may be, but not in despair 
c 2 Cor 4 8. , as you read; ye may meet with a Lion in that way; persecuted ye may be, but ye shall not be forsaken: The Lord whose ye are, and whom ye serve, and have engaged your hearts so to do, (the greatest security that Earth or Heaven can give, is yours now) will carry you through all (His NAME, His GLORY is engaged too) and make ye more than Conquerors at the last But for the present, we are to Record yet farther, what GOD hath wrought by you, or what you have wrought with GOD this Day, where you will see and take good notice what an easy pass or slide you had unto business, as they have, whom God will lead and prosper (from this very Day the Lord did bless you) Take a short view of the works in the same order they were done, so the Church will render you an account, and an acknowledgement together, very short in these particulars.  

¶ 8.  
Then, from that Day, ye marched valiantly, ye trod down strength, ye had Dominion over the Mighty 
d jud. 5. ; ye troubled the Troublers, and the Destroyer was destroyed. Then no power of the adversary could withstand you from that Day.   

¶ 9  
Then, from that Day, ye found out the treacherous Priests and their Babylonish garments; than you were to the poor Ministers, as your good God before you; you took off the yoke on their jaws, and to the people, you laid meat unto them 
h Hos. 11. 4. . Then you pursued your Adversaries to their strong-holds, and you beat them there with their own weapons: Indeed their own weapons, weapons of unrighteousness, were as Goliahs' Sword to the Giants of the Earth, as M. Dearing called them long ago, who searched the Scripture whether things were so, and would take poison from no man's hand. Ye found these men overcome to your hand, bound fast with the cords of their own sin, as a wild Bull in a Net (the Lord give them to feel it for their good) full of the fury of the LORD, the Rebuke of Thy GOD 
i Esa 51. 10. .  
Then, from that Day, ye proceeded against them and their Courts, so that the Church may read her Deliverance, now in that which the Lord wrought for her people in days of old, So the terrible one is brought to naught 
k Esa. 29. , and the Scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity, and they that made a man an offender for a word, and laid a snare for him that reproveth in the Gate, and turned aside the just for a thing of nought, all these are cutoff; for where is the fury of the oppressors? and the jurisdiction of their Courts, Where is it? She remembers this with all thankfulness and she remembers you in all earnestness before the high Throne, as was said before, for she can read on; Now 
l Esa. 29. 19  the meek shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israël: for how you eased the Church's shoulders, and cheered her heart, when you took off those yokes, the two ensnaring Oaths and bloody Courts, she and you know very well: and she accepts with all thankfulness, but she gives glory to her God.   

¶ 10.  
Then, from that Day, you could trace the footings in the dark; the turn and wind of the crooked Serpent in his crooked paths; Then the Lord made darkness light before you, and crooked things straight. Then you had discoveries upon discoveries, for what a discovering God have you! How easily did He defeat His enemies! Their turning of things upside down, He esteems as the Potter's clay, for He turned them and their work upside down, as easily as the Maid doth the Dish, which she wipes, or the Potter the clay vessel he frames 
m Esa ●9. 16. Vid. Cal. in loc .   

¶ 11.  
Then you quenched the SONS of the COAL; and though they sparkled in your face, yet they could not kindle: notwithstanding the wrestling of the Adversary, you held and maintained the staff of BEAUTY and of BANDS 
n Zach. 11. , and so made firm the Brotherhood between jacob and Israel. And it was like the making of twain one, so making peace 
a Ephes. 2. 15. ; as the causing the envy of EPHRAIM to cease, and the cutting-off the Adversaries of JUDAH 
b Esa. 11. : Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim, but they shall be as one stick in the hand 
c Ezek. 37. 19 , that so with united force, they may fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines. I will say no more of it here (for it fills a volume) But according to this time it shall he said of Jacob and of Israel, WHAT HATH GOD WROUGHT? 
Num. 23. ●3.   
In all this last mentioned, the Church turns to her God, renders praise and glory to Him, for he only works wonders. She will ascribe all to her God, so the Church may do, and yet make all due acknowledgement to man, whom the Lord is pleased to honour as an instrument. Man stood in the GAP, and he shall be called, The REPAIRER OF THE BREACH, but God made it up, even 
Esa. ●8. 12.  by His own Right-hand, for it was great as the Sea. He did it who hath taken the wicked in their own Snare; consumed them with their own breath; swallowed them up with their own lips; fallen upon them with their own tongues; bound them fast with their own cords, HIGGAION SELAH 
d Ps. 9 16. Rem meditandam summè. , a matter HIGHLY to be considered on. Therefore with your good leave, the Church ascribes all to her good God, Blessing, Honour, Power, Wisdom, Thanks, all the glory unto Him, that sitteth upon the Throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the Church makes account that so ye will do also; ye do call this year and your Court BAALPERAZIM, for at this time, the Lord smote His enemies there, and hath broken forth upon them before you as the BREACH of WATERS; Therefore ye call this year and that place BAALPERAZIM 
e 2 Sam. 5. 20. , giving glory to the Lord, for HE IS WORTHY.    

¶ A Transition to the next Section.  
THus I have made as short a collection, and given-in as brief a Catalogue, as I could, of God's deal, His wonderful Administrations; His strange dispensations of Wisdom and Providence towards His Church this year so full of Grace and Power; all these contracted here into as narrow a room as possibly might be, considering how comprehensive some of the Heads were; else where I have given them more enlargement; but I look and hearty expect, that my pains will be prevented by some others pen, that hath more leisure, and a larger portion of gifts and abilities for the completing such a History, which so much advanceth the Name of God, and the hope of Israel in the time of His distractions: The Remembrance of what God hath wrought this former year, will be to the Church in after times, and in all her fainting fits, as we read 
a Deut. 7. 18. , for the consolation is the same, and the gr●und thereof the same; Thou shalt not be afraid of them. T●ou shalt WELL remember what the LORD thy GOD did unto PHARAOH, the Pope and unto all his helpers. The, &c  
Another great Work you have wrought in the close of the year, concerning Gods immediate worship and service, which must be recorded in order, with reverence to the time, when these works were done (I say, work●●, for it is plural, a comprehensive work, and contains m●ch:) Though it may suffice very well, that the Lord hath registered them, and will reward them. A Cup of cold water 
b Mat. 10, 4●.  given to His Church, He will think upon and reward, for that is His manner; He will not be in arere with any man, much less with His faithful Servants; if He seems to delay the time, or to forget, it is for your advantage, and that he may remember you in the fittest time, as in the case of Mordecai. A Cup of Water shall be remembered; how much more your labour of love, patience of hope, your works of Faith, such works which you have done, and are written in the records of Heaven and Earth both, for they concern His pleasant Sacrifices, which He hath commanded, such as were in the days of old, and as in former years 
* Mal. 3. 4. .  
But before the Church can record all this, she must record with all thankfulness, what you have done for her Land, her people there, breaking our bands and taking-off our yokes also, and rescuing us from cruel Taskmasters.  
This the Church accepts always in all thankfulness. But we account this rescuing us and the Law from out of the hand of cruel Lords, the chiefest among your many worthy deeds: being most taken with outward privileges, and so we may prosper in the world, we care not how our souls prosper: such our teaching is, and so blind our guides are (for the most part) which will be considered as we passe-on. For after we have rendered our heartiest thanks to you, for rescuing us from under those hands; The Church will reason out the case with the judges, will point to the root of our evils, than she will show ●s a more excellent way.   

SECT. V  
No oppression to the oppression of a Ruler or Judge offering violence to the Law; we howled under that oppression; The Lord remembered us in our bondage, and sent us Saviour's, who disburdened our Shoulder of our grievous pressures and oppressors.  
THen (from that Day) you rescued a poor peeled people, from those that are as EVENING WOLVES 
c Zeph. 3. 3. , Who are they? The Prophet means by an ordinary figure, JUDGES, and we mean not the like but the same: for they ravened the prey, they gnawed the very bones; they devoured and consumed the COMMONWEALTH; but to heighten their wickedness, they first KISSED her LIPS, pretending the PUBLIQVE GOOD. These men of the Earth denied to free Subjects their Catholico●, that 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. 1 Pet. 1. 19  which is every freeman's birthright; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, that which the child receives from his Father, though be ●●●he youngest, and his Father the poorest The Judges denied us this our proper inheritance; they imprisoned the freest thing, that is in all the world, and that which is most innocent. As the Bishops Lorded it over the King of the Church, offering violence to His Laws: So these Lorded it over the Catholic Rule of the Common wealth; I had almost said, the most Catholic King in the world; but we submit here, for we are not learned; we think that the sacred Scripture saith as much, That the Law is the highest power on earth And we remember well that 
Rom. 13.  a mighty Emperor tells us, that the LAW was his MASTER; The LAW IS EVERY MAN'S MASTER 
d Mar Aurel An. l 10. Medi●. 25. Pag. 71. , said he, than he could not exempt himself from out of that universality; it was his MASTER too. This Catholic Master was trod under foot by its Servants 
e Servientes ad legem fortiscue. , so we think Judges are called. And then all falls to the ground and is trod under foot, when the Master is under 
f Nihil sequens stat cum principale non steverit. Salu. , when the Servant is on Horseback and rideth his Master, than he oppresseth very sore, as we read, He oppresseth the poor like a sweeping rain that leaveth no food 
g Pro 28. 3. 1 Sam. 14 1●. . Then we lay like the Hebrews oppressed by the Philistines, in our holes, brought very low, down to the ground, and our speech scarce whispered out of the dust. Complaints were vain and to no purpose, or made our burden heavier; for the Servant was the Master, and what pleased him was the Law: So they turned judgement into gall, and the fruit of Righteousness into Hemlock 
h Amo. 6. 1●. , Then we were afflicted indeed, fleeced and peeled; the flesh was torn from the bone; and then we howled. Nay, the oppression was so heavy, that some of us were mad (oppression makes wise men so 
g Eccles. 7. 7. ;) and we spoke as mad men, so unadvisedly with our lips, accounting the proud happy, for they that work wickedness were setup, and they that tempted Go● were even delivered 
h Mal. 3. 15. , and we were made as the little fishes, as the creeping things that have no RULER over them 
i Hab. 1. 14. . But notwithstanding we provoked Him so, the Lord looked down from Heaven, saw our burdens, and that they were very sore, sent Saviour's unto us, blessed be His Name, and blessed be ye in the Name of the Lord. We might complain now and be heard, and complain we did as an oppressed people before us. 
k Neh. 5. 5.  Our flesh is as the flesh of our Judges and Rulers just the same; theirs no better, ours no worse: Our children as their children, not so gay, but as good, and as free borne as theirs: And we are brought into bondage, our sons and our daughters, to be servants to them, who profess themselves to be Servants to the Law. But these Servant's overruled their MASTER, and so enthralled us: And when you heard this cry and these words, you were very angry (for the whole body was pinched where there was quick flesh) Than you consulted with yourselves, and rebuked the Judges and the Rulers who dealt so treacherously, so like evening Wolves ravening the prey; And you disburdened the Commonwealth of her pressures (too many to reckon, and) grievous oppressors (as the Squire of the Body, still attending such Judges) a company of sharks, proging fellows, pests, vipers, grievous vermin, worse than the Egyptian frogs, which devoured every green thing. You eased the Land of those Adversaries; abominable filth is cast into their faces; their names ●ot and their arm is withered. And this is all which ye have done, terrible things which we looked not for. We do not diminish one grain, we think it very much which you have done, though we outrun you in our expectation. But we must give great bodies leave to move slowly, (they meet with many rubs in the way) to deliberate long upon the case, where it reacheth to the precious life of a man; when that thread is cut, life runs out from a bottom that hath no end. We are pretty well satisfied in this, that we are rescued and taken as a prey out of their teeth. We would have the jawbone broken too; we wish sometimes, and not in our haste, that they who so troubled us, offered such violence to the Laws of God and man, were cut-off. Indeed we cannot think ourselves secure, while they are, and are not made examples, though one is fled, and another is fast by the heels, and all are put to shame, being pointed at with the finger, These are they, more unrighteous than was the unjust judge. For though he feared not God, nor regarded man, yet he was gained with importunity, to do right. These not so, The HOWLING of the widow and TEARS of her Orphans, These they regard not, no not these: the Lord grant they may know all this for their good, and be confounded and turn unto the Lord before the first borne of Death 
d job 18. 1●. , some strange judgement consumes their strength, and the curse that is written fall upon themd.  

¶ 1.  
The Church argueth the case with the judges, bids them mark the old way which wicked men have trodden; adviseth them to an humble confession of their fault, and to leave proud Apologies, for there the Law leaves them, and is clear against them.  
ZOphar spoke well, though he applied it ill, Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon Earth, that THE TRIUMPHING OF THE WICKED IS SHORT 
e job 20. 4, 5. . So Elephas a little after 
f 22. 15, 16. , Hast thou marked the old way, which wicked men have trodden? WHOSE FOUNDATION WAS OVERFLOWN WITH A FLOOD.  
The Church applies all this right, even to the Judges, and would have them apply it so too, for they are able. Surely they can look bacl and inquire of the days of old, which will tell them, that their Fathers in whose steps they trod, consulted shame to their house: Because of men's blood and for the violence of the Land 
g Exod. 22, 22, 23, 24. , shame devoured the labours of their Fathers 
h Hab. 2. . The stone cried out of the Wall and the Beam out of the Timber answered it; woe to him that buildeth a House with blood and establisheth it with iniquity; And so it was and is, for these houses are consumed away by the heat of God's displeasure, as if they had been made, as we read 
jer. 2.  some houses are in Gothland, of SNOW 
i O lau● d● rit: Gent. Septen. lib. 1, Ch●. 23. .  
The Lord grant they may consider this, and trust to their Repentance, and free acknowledgement of their crimes; to that BLOOD above all which yet speaketh, rather than to their Apologies, which some think, and all say, are smooth and plausible. A SAGE of their own is clear against them. Thus the Lord Cook speaks, where he speaks as we may understand him, Latin and English both, and full to this purpose, for I may not hit of his words, being long since I read them. The Law is clear for free Subjects in point of Privilege and property, if the Client through ignorance, and the Lawyer through wilfulness, do not darken it. The Law shows a way very discernible to a cleared sight, betwixt Mine and Thine. If the Lawyer be at a fault here, surely there is dust cast into his eyes, and he deals treacherously, because he will do so, not because he wants wit or knowledge, but because he is subtle and wicked: for he goes by the clearest Lights (not single but plural) that any Science in the world hath, the light of Nature and of Reason and of conscience, all three; Therefore the Sage concludes, A knowing Lawyer (whom we commonly call good) must necessarily be a good man, or etc. the Contrary, as the Country man calls him who calls a Spade, a Spade. And the best excuse he can make, why he dealt contrary must be his fear; that made him clash against the Law, fear of present drowning, if he did not swim with the stream; and not ignorance of the Law. But here also our Chronicles gives us a famous example of a good Judge, and a good man, Sir john Markham by name, (late times yield us one or two more) King Edward the 4. outed him his place. But the valiant Knight, valiant for the Truth, no judge thereof now) gloried in this (as well he might) that Though the King could make him NO JUDGE, he could not make him a DISHONEST MAN, He could do nothing against the Truth, but for the Truth 
k 2 Cor. 13 8. , notwithstanding all provocations and forcing to the contrary. Our judges (the worst part of them) clean contrary, nothing for the Truth, but against the Truth, nor were they so much forced, as they used forcing. Then judgement was turned away backward, and justice stood afar off: for 
Esa. 59 14.  Truth sell in the street, and equity could not enter, etc. For it followed just so. Therefore Gods Arm brought Salvations, He put on the garment of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as 
ver. 16, 17. 18.  a cloak. According to their deeds, He did repay fury to His Adversaries, recompen●e to His enemies.  
Thus the Lord did for a peeled people, that we might set OUR HOPE in Him, and not forget His works But behold we are turned bacl, we are not steadfast. This is the Truth which appeareth thus.   

¶ 2  
We mind our Covenant no further then as it may be a Covenant of Salt, to assure us our outward Privileges for ever. That's our great error: the Church confutes it, and instructs us to Discretion.  
WE are not steadfast in the Covenant farther than it concerns our private wealth: so far we will holdfast to it, as it doth maintain our outward Rights.  
We are resolved upon the Question, and let us now be begged for fools or mad men, if we do not by all lawful means, maintain the peace of our King, His Crown and Dignity; and the Privileges of Parliament: for herein (we must have a principle of profit to carry us) the Rights and Liberties of the Subject are maintained. Vows are upon Him and Them; the Oath of God is betwixt us; the strongest engagement that can be to maintain th● LAW, and then the Law will maintain us, and all the . And that is all we look after. We consider not how spirituals strengthen politics; that both King and Kingdom are established by Righteousness. Therefore the Church mindeth us of a great principle of State government which is this; That true Religion and Godliness is the root of all true virtue, and the stay of all well ordered Commonweals: And to keep the true Religion pure and unstained, aught to be the highest of all cares appertaining to public Regiments, and the peace thereof. Did not thy Father josiah do judgement and justice, and it was well with him 
l jer. 22 ●●. . While he was yet young, he begun to seek after the God of his father, and to pur●e judah and jerusalem 
m 2 Chro. 34. 3. . And there was never any King before him or since, that live● so desired, or died so lamented, No not one. But his son jehoiakim not so; His Eyes and his Heart were for oppression, and for violence to do it 
n jer. 22. ; therefore he was buried with the burial of an Ass; they lamented not for him, saying, AH LORD, or AH IS GLORY: But what is this to the people? much every way, as what concerned the HEAD then, concerns the BODY now, because of that sympathy, and nearest Relation betwixt them: and what concerns the BEE concerns the BEEHIVE, and what doth good or hurt to the one, doth the very same to both. Therefore this is added; They then and They only do seel the weight of Duty towards their Prince and Country; they know the just bounds of observation towards both, who can, in a gracious freedom of Spirit, arising from Their innocency and independency (except on the living God) stand out, notwithstanding all shocks, against all corruptions in Doctrine and manners, having a tender sense of both, that there be no corruption in either: And so do wish from an entire and ingenious heart, O KING LIVE FOR EVER. It is not the strength of all united hands, that can set the Crown fast upon a King's head: not the policy of as many heads can make it flourish there: nor can all the Arm of flesh put out to it's utmost strength confirm to us our Liberties, and establish the Right of Subjects: No, but it is RELIGION kept in its purity; justice, maintained in its integrity; obedience (more beautifying then a Crown) performed to God's command in sincerity; This will do it, even all the . And we are convinced hereof by a common light, and natural principles; and can conclude therefrom, when we are ourselves, that we should give out our strength and be most active for the first and last thing in the PROTESTATION; To maintain RELIGION in its purity, and the BROTHERHOOD in Sincerity; for therein are contained the very strength and spirits of the Covenant, as hath been said, and cannot be to often thought upon.  
But now what blunts the edge of our endeavours and affections this way, comes now seriously to be considered on.   

¶ 3.  
Our Priests, who pretend to lead us, misled us destroying all▪ that the Church doth for our building up, to the subverting of our souls, and the putting out of a common light, by their common and unclean conversation. The Church points us to a more excellent way.  
WE are naturally blind, and cannot see fare off 
* 2 Pet. ●. 9 . We are not instructed to discretion; not so discerning, as to approve the things that are excellent, much less to contend for them. And a great cause hereof is, (we are naturally stupid and blind, a spirit of infirmity naturally boweth down; but I say a chief cause is) without us, in our guides and leaders, for the most part blind, and yet they lead us. Many of them preach once in a Year, perhaps some of them once a Month, and not a sound word of Doctrine then, comes from them, but their TEXT. Their practice is as bad, it corrupts like a canker: We observe that, and nothing else, we see they oversee nothing amongst us with any care or diligence, but their Easter-booke, and their Tithes all the year after. That hath been the complaint against Bishops from Days of old to this present Day 
a See Hist. of the Council of Trent. 2. p. 252. & p. 216. Non magis de pāscen●o grege cogi tant quam sutor de arando. Pastor's now a days, the wert part of the, think no more of feeding the flock, than a Cobbler does of the plough. Call Ins. 4. cap. 5. Sect. 1●, 13. . And if our SEERS do so, we think and are persuaded we may do so too, mind Earth and do well enough for Heaven, for they do so, and yet they know better and see farther than we can see, for they are called Seers, The Lord unscale their eyes, and unveil their hearts, and deliver His people from these murderers, because of whom the Church's soul is wearied 
b Ier 4. 31. . The Lord stir up your hearts to pity the Countries round about yet more. For we are in a sad condition if we saw it. Our Teachers are as you hear, and the People content to have it so. Truly had not the Oppressor touched us in that we make our god, outward profits and Privileges, we should never have complained: what violence the Priests had done to the Law of God, to the House of God, to His worship there, we regarded not: but what violence the Judges did to the Laws of Man, that we regarded, and then we could howl.  
Truly we mind not what bands you have broke; nor what yokes 
c Facile est quicquid in praesenti seculo nocet: illud grave, illud perniciosum quod in aeternitate iugulabit. Salv d● Eccl. Cath. l 2. 410.  you have taken off the necks of Ministers; Nor that you have advanced the Sceptre of the Lord Christ; and that worship which is according to the Rule and mind of God; these things we mind not; No nor that you have troubled the troublers, the achan's, That you have searched their Tents, and found out the Babilonish garments; We regard these things no more than Gallio did the beating of Sosthenes: for so we are instructed; Our Prophets, for the most part, prophesy to us of wine and strong drink, which pleaseth the sense well, and our walking is thereafter, we regard only our Oil and Wine.  
And yet upon sadder thoughts, when we think as men, we are half convinced; That this our walking is not right; That rivers of Oil and wine (i. e) the marrow, and fatness, and fullness of the world is but emptiness, and will ●ot satisfy: All this reacheth but to the body, no farther; and will leave us, or we them on this side the grave. We can consider sometimes that we have a Spirit within us (which is called the soul) a vast, large and capacious thing: It can measure and grasp all the , all the things in the world; and, when all is done, find but an emptiness in all. We are able to consider, That the world cannot satisfy this soul, no more than can the East-wind the stomach. It is Heaven and the great things there, which can satisfy this great capacity, which can widen and stretch forth itself like the Heavens. The soul may go from creature to creature, as the Bee from flower to flower, and be as restless still, and as unquiet in its motion, as is the needle, (not pointed right) and so must be till it be pointed steadfast to Heaven  
All this we can consider, and, upon due consideration, approve the things that are excellent. But then we behold our Priests, and are quite off again, seeing them walk like men, nay many of them more like beast's I would rather my tongue were silent in darkness, than it should cast a note of contempt upon outward civility. These have not so much, but, as beasts, could they fancy happiness, would place it in fat pastures, and sweet waters so do these droves and herds of men This is a mighty snare unto us, lead not so much by rule as by example 
* Persuade● lingua iubet vitae, Athan. ad Monachos. The Tongue persuades, the life commands. : We consider not what ought to be done, but what is done by our betters, and thereafter we practise as our leaders do, as if what they did were well done; and, as if outward things could inwardly satisfy. This digression is necessary, declaring how our minds stand: Now I must show, That the Church is of another mind, and so make way to the scope.   

¶. 4.  
The Church desires to prosper as her soul may prosper; Contends for the advancing of Christ's Kingdom; prefers inward enlargements before outward privileges.  
Esaves ENOUGH 
a Gen. 33. 9 Gen. 6.  will not content the Church, though that be much or a great deal. jacobs' ENOUGH 
b Gen. 33. 9, 1●▪  only contents her, which inwardly satisfies and fills up the vast capacity of the soul, This God alone doth, Who is jacobs' ENOUGH, for HE is ALL.  
The Church's Sons and Daughters look after those things, which may further them in their way Heaven-ward: such things as will make their souls to prosper are to their mind and heart. They look after spiritual enlargements, they would have their Lord Christ to be highly ●d●anced in the world; It would rejoice them at the heart to see His Sanctuaries kept clean; all filthiness remooved thence, and those that attend His services there to be purified and Holy ones, That their Lord might see no unclean thing there which might cause Him to turn away from them, and turn His back upon His Sanctuaries, The sum of their desires is; That they may offer to the Lord an offering in Righteousness. Then shall their offerings be pleasant unto the 
Mal. 3. 3. v. 4.  Lord, as in the Days of old, and as in former Years. The Church Remembers wh●t you have done to promote these services so pleasant to the Lord, and she must refer it to a special head of Praise and .     

CHAP. X.  
It is ordered that neither the Table of the Lord, nor His Name be Idolised; nor His Day profaned; nor Prayers restrained; All this the Church Records with all Thankfulness; The Time also when this was done: and She sets her hope in God for after Time, therefore She gives herself to Prayer.  

SECT. I.  
The Name restored; Idols and Idol Priests Cast-out; The bold Chancellor rebuked; the Lords Day rescued from those that offered violence thereunto.  
BLessed be ye of the Lord; you will have things called by their Name; Cringing and bowing, flat Idolatry; The Table of the LORD, a Table: And His Name ye will not suffer to be made an Idol neither; nor His Day profaned; nor would you restrain prayer; for, next to her Lord Christ, it is the life of her soul, and more precious than the breath in her Nostrils. She will speak of these in order, and to your everlasting praise.  

¶ 1.  
The Church accounts of but one feast during her wea●y Pilgrimage here, and it is, That her Lord Christ is pleased to invite her unto, and make her partaker of at His own Table; where She beholds admirable things, an unspekeable gift, which She cannot express, but there She sees her jesus, Him, Whom her soul loveth, in Him and through Him exceeding riches of grace, abundant mercy, great love.  
The Church is abundantly thankful to you now; That you have restored to her the Name, and the use of That, whereat She doth communicate, and feast with her Lord: She may call it a Table, for so it is, and not an Altar, for that is a lie, an abomination, not to be once named in the Church of God, who hath but one Altar, as She hath but one Priest.   

¶ 2.  
The Church hath more thanks to give you before She can leave the Table; That you have rebuked the bold Chancellor, his turning of things upside down, which you esteemed as the Potter's clay: Let him order things at his own Table, he had no more to do in Church-work, than Vzziah had to meddle with the Priest's office: Therefore the Lord going along with you, hath set a note of disgrace upon him (so notoriously transgressing the bounds of his office, the patent whereof he hath quite lost, or willingly laid aside) as manifest, as was the Leprosy rising in the forehead. Blessed be ye of the Lord, that ye have so rebuked him, and the vile Priest also, who would make an Idol of his Lords Name; That WONDERFUL NAME, making one letter in that Name, more excellent and honourable than another, whereas every letter there is WONDERFUL, and infinitely glorious: but so he did Idolise that Name there, and every where, bowing the knee at the hearing of it, and, in the mean Time, mocking Him to His face. The Church thanks you for this, and that you remembered also that which was an offence, and grief of heart.   

¶ 3.  
The ENCLOSURE, the Rails there, for why should the Priests, now the veil of the Temple is rend, make the Chancel, as the HOLY of HOLYES, so making a difference in places, where God makes none; or why should he stand alone there, so like a sacrificing Priest, as if the gift he were to distribute there, were not common to all believers? Now the Lord Christ is as a fountain opened to the house of Judah, the Church. She is indeed a garden enclosed, a spring shut up, a fountain sealed 
b Cant. 4. 12. , Because the Church is separated 
Optimâ fide casta● conservas ●● & tuos fructus intogroes. jun.  for her Lords use: and all her fruit, as from Him, so all reserved for Him: What her Lord Christ is, what He hath, all is for His beloved; Therefore she is peculiarly His, all she is, and all she doth. But her beloved is a common good to the whole Church, to every part and member of the same: The poorest, weakest person, hath the same right and interest in Him, the same access to Him, as the strongest Christian hath; even as a beggar pleads the same interest to the Sunshine, and a common fountain, as a King doth; for God hath made these things common. Blessed be ye that you have broken down the Rails there, and thrown-down those Mock-gods, which did serve the Heathen, in those dark times, to keep their gardens, and drive away the Crows; and may yet serve some to make sport with, who in the Sunshine (their tender years w●ll excuse them) do ride upon a long reed and play with Rattles. These dunghill goods ascending out of the earth, you have ordered to be cast out to their place; And some of the Priests you have whipped-out too, more polluting the Temple then ever did the buyers and sellers there. The Church accepts all this with all thankfulness, and waits the time when you must do more, even avenge her of such Adversaries as these; who have not only done as abovesaid, but forced the profanation of her Lord's Day after an unheard of and heathenish manner, Surely this bold and daring sin hath filled up their measures brim full, so as wrath is running over now, and bearing them down as a mighty stream. And this the Church remembers often, the more to enlarge and heighten her spirit in thanksgiving and praise.   

¶ 4.  
That seeing she hath but one Day in seven, her Lords Day therefore most honourable; her soul's Day, therein she hath sweet communion with her Lord, and finds rest to her soul; Her market-Day, than she lays in her provision, expecting to live comfortably upon her gatherings all the week following: Seeing, I say, she hath but one day, she is dainty and curious thereof: zealous according to knowledge, and religiously covetous, she would not have a minute of that sacred time wasted. And now that you have rebuked the vile Priests and their brutish people, for their horrible profanation of this Day, she accepts this with all thankfulness. Surely the Day when you did this, and the place where you did it, shall be called GILG ALL, for then and there you rolled away the reproach of Egypt. This she accepts always with all thankfulness, but more abundantly, if more 
I●s●. 5. ●.  can be, would she be enlarged for that which follows.    

SECT. II.  
The Church's Prayers, precious and prevailing; She entreats she may speak for herself, or choose her spoakes-man.  
THat you have regarded the breath of her nostrils, and the life of her soul, She doth profess unto you in the presence of her God, that she hath but one means, in her absence from Him, whereby to seek His face; To know His mind concerning her, and her conversation here below: But one means to carry up all her wants, and to bring down all her blessings: for she accounts nothing a blessing which is not gained by Prayer; and she writes upon every thing she receives, ASKED OF GOD: But one means to hid herself in the cliffs of the rock, till the indignation be over: For, when the Lord sh●ll shut the Heaven, and open His Armoury against the earth 
a jer. 50 25. , bringing forth all the weapons of His indignation: Then hath she but one means, one shift (but as one said, its 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a great one, and a sure one) HE ARE THOU IN HEAVEN THY DWELLING PLACE, AND FORGIVE AND DO. This is all her refuge, SUPPLICATIONS TO HER GOD.  
The Church hath much to say at this point; But she humbly thanks you; that you did not think it fit to bind her strictly, in her Public Assemblies, to forms of others making: Alas they cannot reach her wants, nor the bosom of her God. The heart knows its own bitterness, and can best indite her own sorrows, and make them known unto her God. But yet the Church will not prescribe here, only she hopes you will consider, how she hath been dealt with very lately, when a stout Prelate was so daring as to prescribe her a prayer, and then cheat the world with her Name, The Church's Prayer, when indeed it was Lincoln's Prayer, so the prayers have been all this Time, some private men's devotions, and then called the Prayers of the Church. But had this been all, she had held her peace. Behold how her Adversary like an imperious WHO RISH WOMAN hath dealt with her these l●st years, which surely her Lord will take as a FORCING His QUEEN before His Face; It is notoriously known, that the Adversary hath, by his prescribed forms, compelled her to blaspheme the Name of her God, and her own Name; to curse her best friends, and to bl●sse her worst enemies. In consideration of the premises, she conceives great hope, that, if you allow not her children to choose their speakers, yet to allow of your choice; such an one, who is sincerely honest, understands their case, the weight of his office, and is sufficient to be their mouth to their LORD, and to make known His meaning to them.  
The Church is confident, that if you shall well consider her Negotiations, you will find them weigh more upon the balance, than those concerning the greatest Prince in the world; and yet she will take the grant of this her request, as a special favour and grace from you, though not only a Prince, but inferior persons will challenge so much as their proper Right.  
But she refers her suits to the Closet, she is now giving in the tribute of thanks and praise: and she blesseth God and thanks you with all her heart, for all the labour of Love, work of Faith, Patience of Hope towards her Sons and Daughters, that you have brought them so fare, even HITHERTO; she sets a mark upon it, for it requires special observation.   

SECT. III.  
The ninth of September, a notable Day, to be written and to be named both; written, because; on that Day, an unrighteous Decree, To establish a Service odious to God (one of their own being Judge) was made Null and of none effect: Named, as in Days of old forth same Reason.  
HEre I have concluded the year almost in the midst of a Month; I could not else have given up the full tale of wonders. It was necessary I should go to the ninth of that Month, so fare, that it might the more fully appear, how fare the Lord hath brought His Church working wonderfully for His people. That Day the Worthies adjourned their Court for five weeks, that so they might look over their private interests, and then return again well refreshed for the Commonweal, and God's work, which that Day, late at evening, had a notable close.  
The Church seems to hear a voice now, as one of her sons once did, coming to her ears with a double charge, Son of man write the name of the Day, even of THIS SAME DAY 
* Ezek. 24. ●. . And the spirit suggests unto her the same Reason in effect, which He did to the Prophet for so doing. She remembreth well, some there were, who that same Day, would have established the Liturgic (as now it is) with all its faults, which all indifferent men do find there not a few: and acknowledge it to b● a Service, which God never commanded, neither ever ca●e it into His Heart. He that pleads so hard for the Liturgy (as now it is, for that must be remembered still) the continuance and establishment of it in the Church; even the same man t●ls us, it is a SERVICE ODIOUS TO HEAVEN. Doth he so? Truly, I th●nke so, but judge you. No that you w●ll not, you will say, for you are not a judge; let the learned give judgement in these matters, and let my spirit be subject thereunto. I confess this is a point of wisdom and of modesty both But I take judgement here in a vulgar construction, and so we may judge; for the ear can try words, as the Mouth can taste Meat 
* job 12. 11. . I will then give you out his wor●s by tale, for we find a pretty parcel of them together. Thus he saith first,  
GOD WILL HAVE NO WORSHIP OF OUR 
D. Hals Com. l. 2 p. 138.  DEVISING, Then God will not allow of all our Liturgy, for sure, there is something of man's devising therein, as no man will deny that is not all forehead, and dares deny that Snow is white or fire will burn.  
2. WE MAY ONLY DO, WHAT HE BIDS US, Then we must worship the Father in SPIRIT and in TRUTH, for the FATHER SEEKETH such to worship HIM.  
3. NOT BID WHAT HE COMMANDS NOT. 
joh 4. 23.  Then the Curate must not bid Saints days to be kept holy; for God commands them not. He commands His Day to be kept holy (which the bold Priest hath countermanded) and such days, which are to the Church now, as days of PURIM were to the Church of old, Days turned unto them from sorrow to joy and from mourning into a good Day 
b Est. 9 ●●. . So also days of Atonement, Fasting Days, called also Sabbath Days.  
2. The Bishop must not bid his Curate read all the Liturgy, for than he will read Arch-Angels, which he ought not to do, for God commands him not to read a lie, we never heard or read of that word plural, but in the Liturgy,  
4 NEVER DID ANY TRUE PIETY ARISE OUT OF THE CORRUPT PUDDLE OF MAN'S BRAIN. We believe it; and withal, that all is not true Piety, that is contained in the Liturgy; for the worst part of it (I hear the most part of it, nay, some say, all that is properly called the Liturgy) ariseth out of the corruptest sink that is in the world, the Pope's Masse-book, and that had its original spring out of man's brain.  
5. THAT SERVICE, WHICH FLOWS NOT FROM HEAVEN IS ODIOUS TO HEAVEN. Be it so, then ODIOUS this Service must be for the Reason aforesaid; for the worst part of it flows from the Priest's mouth now, and he derives it, as was said from the most corrupt person and book, the ●ope and his Masse-book.  
The Church now makes no conclusions from the premises against some set forms of CONFESSION, THANKS, REQUEST etc. It being the judgement of the gravest and most learned Divines, that such set-formes may be and must be. Indeed the Doctors words seem at the first view, and more than seem, if they be narrowly looked into, clean against them, set Forms I mean. But the Church concludes nothing; No, she leaves all determinations and conclusions at the foot of her Lord, and of His Word; and under that authority, she concludes her soul: and she expects, That all her Sons will in their consultations, touching this great business, stand like the stalk of a Balance, leaning to no side, neither to the right nor left, but just as the Church's Standard, the MIND and WILL OF GOD expressed in the sacred Scripture, shall sway them just so.  
But for this Liturgy so distracted, so mangled, so like torn flesh, so complying with the Mass-book all along, and so filling up the hour, so as when the Minister hath ended his Liturgy, he thinks he hath done service enough to the Church, that part of the Day: For this Liturgy the Church thinks there can no sufficient reason be given for the continuance of it; and therefore her Sons and Daughters will write this Day, when the weak overcame the strong, and the fewest in number prevailed over the spiritual Lords; even that Day, the NINTH OF SEPTEMBER And that we may set a fuller mark yet upon that Day, the Church would have us note two ACTS of the spiritual Lords, very notable both, and the consequence therefrom: The one bearing date from the 16. of january, 1640 and issued forth by bill the ninth of September following, for the feoffing this Liturgy by their last will and testament upon the Church, her sons and daughters for ever; wherein their spirits were so servant that they were consumed in their own fire. The other Act, bearing date the ●9. of December, 1641. whereby they would have made void ●ll that the Lords ●nd Commons, (more spiritual than they) had done for the Church and Commonwealth. Presently after their former Act, so full of that, we sometimes call Spirit; This word SPIRITVALL was cast out of the bill; we might read it there this once, and then no more for ever. By the●r l●st Act ●f Subscription, full of the same spirit also, their LORDSHIPS were c●st out of the house and with their own hands. H●●ein the Retaliation of the Lord was wonderful, how He meeted forth unto them the portion of their measures, because they forgot Him and trusted in false hood 
d I●●. 13. 25. . But this belongs to the year following; we are to write this day, even this same Day the ninth of SEPTEMBER for then the Church put-in a Caveat, That the spiritual Lords last Will and Testament might prove null and of none effect. The Church must name that Day also; so she can and give it a very proper name, as once it was, when the Lord wrought wonderfully for His people. Thus we read, That the Lords of the Philistines came up against Israel, presently after Israel had poured out themselves before the Lord: Then Israel cried unto the Lord and to their Seer, that he would cry for them in the ears of the Lord: So he did, for he knew his duty, and he cried so long till he got a great Thunder out of Heaven upon the Philistines and discomfited them; So they were smitten before Israel. 
1 Sam 7.  Where we note in passage, that Samuel is the man of war, and his Lord the God of Hosts, all creatures serve Him, great and small, high and low, Fire and Hail, Snow and Vapours, stormy wind, which execute His Word 
b Ps. 148. 8, . It was so here; The Seer he prays, offers Sacrifice, and then the Lord thundered.  
And now that the Lord had made a Breach upon the enemy, Israel pursues them, and smote them until they came unto Bethcar: Now the Prophet hath his mouth as wide opened in praise, as before in prayer; and not only so, but he sets up a Monument to keep in mind this admirable Deliverance; he took a stone setting it up, and called the name thereof, EBENEZAR, saying, HITHERTO the Lord hath helped us; His glory hath been a REARWARD 
c Isa. 58. 8.  hitherto.  
This must be the Name of the Day, a good Day, and a good name HITHERTO. The Church commands her Sons and Daughters to setup quickly this Monument to His praise, while the Mercy is fresh; for, as the Eel out of the hand, so Mercies slip out the mind; We have still need of Remembrancers and none like this: To remember this Day, and that HITHERTO the Lord hath helped us. But because this HITHERTO is counted by some a small Mercy, the Church will reason out the case with a brutish people at this Standard, turning herself unto her Lord.  

¶ 1.  
A wonderful mercy and must have everlasting praise; That the Lord hath brought his Church HITHERTO.  
IS this the manner of Man, Lord God? I must answer, no; Kings of the Earth will not do so: If they be crossed, yea but a little, they will rage's 
2 Sam. 7. 19  very much, show much wrath, they will be avenged, if they can, sevenfold, yea seventy-and sevenfold: Nay, we poor men, low creatures, worms of the Earth, cannot bear injury and wrong, our patience is tired-out presently, and we will be avenged; we will not stick to say in our haste, vengeance is ours, we will repay. Can two [Men] walk together, except they be agreed 
b Amos 3. 3● ? No, for they will fly one in the others face presently. There was a great disagreement betwixt God and His people, even now at this time, yet, behold! He and they walk together HITHERTO. We w●lked most contrary; He not so; but most comfortably with us HITHERTO. We maintained w●rre against God; yet HITHERTO, God hath helped us. We thought He would have st●rred up all His wrath, and have consumed us utterly; He stirred up all His bowels, and so brought us HITHERTO; for, as we read, He is God and not Man 
* Hos. 11 9 . But to put this mercy home, and to make it sink down into our hearts, The Church tells us more:  
That, as this is not the Manner of Man, so, nor of God neither. The Lord hath wrought a new thing upon Earth, amongst us in our Land. It is not His Manner to use such patience towards such sinners as we are. He hath sworn in His wrath against those, that have not provoked Him as we have done, and they are an astonishing example of God's smoking wrath at this Day, and written for our example, who come the nearest to that Mother-Church in our receipts and returns, I mean in mercies and sins But this example, though an astonishing one, is fare off, and we are, if not blind, yet very dim-sighted; We cannot clearly see into a judgement so far-off, though it is at this Day, as that was 
c Numb. ●6 10. Exemplum omnium oculis expositum, ut est erectum signum. Trem. , for a sign conspicuous to every eye, as a banner displayed, or as ensigns lifted up 
d Esa 57 17, 18. .  
Consider we Gods dealing, His Manner towards His people nearer hand; but first, His dealing towards us. We went on very frowardly, traversing our way. What did the Lord do? Did He deal frowardly too? No, to the Admiration of Angels and men, He did as he said even then, He HEALED us; He sent us Saviour's, He did terrible things against the Adversary, which we looked not for; He brought us HITHERTO: How fare? I cannot tell that: Let it suffice to test, fare beyond our Prayers and above our Hopes: so fare He brought us, as we can conclude it, but possible to an Almighty hand, to bring us so fare, HITHERTO. Is this His manner to deal so graciously with such presumptuous sinners as we are? No, He did not deal so with Ireland, that Land lieth under the displeasure of an angry God, full of the fury of the Lord, the rebuke of thy God. 'Tis not His manner neither to deal so with our Sister-Churches. O no! The Lord hath brought them to an HITHERTO of judgements. I pray you, nay I charge you before the Lord observe their HITHERTO, and our HITHERTO, compare them together, and then consider on it. I was saying, the Lord hath given the dear Beloved of His soul (see how angry the Lord may be with His Beloved) into the hand of her enemies 
* jer. 12 7. . He hath brought His people in Germany to a HITHERTO of judgements, and how fare beyond this, we cannot tell. He began with them twenty four years ago (thereabouts) He hath not ended with them HITHERTO, no not to this Day. The Sword is yet bathed in blood. HITHERTO the Enemy hath prevailed, and keeps the Sanctuary of the Lord in his possession. O set we up a Monument here for establishing the Memory of this Mercy, that God hath brought us HITHERTO. We profess o Lord God, we feel ourselves overcharged with this mercy, that Thou hast brought us HITHERTO. Truth Lord, if Thou wilt bring us no further, no not one step, we do indeed fear the reproach of Men, that Thy great Name may suffer; Their Manner is to open against Thee and to say as of old, THOU ART NOT ABLE. But we recover ourselves again, and upon second thoughts we are pretty well persuaded; That thou canst work out Thine own glory in Thine own ways by us unsearchable and past finding out; And therefore o Lord God, we do profecie before the World, Angels and Men, That if Thou shouldest set up Thy Pillar here, and write upon it, Beyond this HITHERTO, this PILLAR, there remaineth no Mercy, not a jot which you or your children shall live to see, for you are a brutish sullen people, a crooked Generation, ye will not know, That I have sent you SAVIOUR'S; You fly from them as from Spoilers; You account REFORMATION a kill 
a Ex. 2. ; and so you speak of it in my ears. Therefore he that is filthy, let him be filthy still 
b Rev. 22. 11. . And for these Saviour's I will take them away, or put a cloud over them, or an evil spirit into them; so as they shall carry you bacl again to the Egypt you mind so much and like so well (yet the utmost of all evil, 
c Deut. 28. 68 Iratum habemus Christum quòd ● iustâ Reformatione absumus; sin red●er●mu●●● vo●●tum, quo furore, in nos exardesces, Bright. i● stev. c ●. 11. v. 15. Quid reliquum est prater ultimum supplicium, ubi conclamata est omnis emendatio, Bright. in Rev. 16. 10. ) even to your pollutions, your MIRE and VOMIT where They sound you.  
If Thou shouldest say to us even so, and do as Thou hast said, yet thy Servants can find in their hearts to give Thee everlasting praise for bringing us SO FARE, and helping us HITHERTO: for to the Confusion of our face, and to the praise of Thy abundant Mercy be it spoken, that Thou hast much the same indictment against us, as of old against Thy Israel; We have dealt so and so, YET THOU DESTROYEDST THE AMORITE B●FORE US. Thou broughtest US also up from the Land of Egypt, BUT, etc. The same YET and the same BUT, thou hast against us, so as Thou art pressed under us as a Cart is pressed that is full of Sheaves 
d Amos 2. ●, 12. . Therefore what though Thou wilt not do this in our days, no nor in our children's days; our eyes must not see such Salvations: What though, we a foolish and gain saying people, must by Thy appointment, go to the place of silence, and our children's faces also must be wrapped up within their mould, ye● notwithstanding we can bless Thee, we can praise. Thee with open Mouth and enlarged Hearts, for that Thou hast done before our eyes this last year; and for those glorious promises, Thou hast made to Thy Church for a great while to come: Which we see (as in a Glass clearly by that thou hast done this year) are now fullfilling. We can bless Thee for all this, for helping us thus fare, for bringing us HITHERTO: How many of our Brethren, better than we, would have rejoiced to have seen such a day as this, and EBENEZAR that Name put upon it; That they might have seen the good of Thy chosen, have rejoiced in the gladness of Thy Nation, and glory with Thine Inheritance. But Thy pleasure was not so. Thou hast provided better things for them, where their sight is more cleared, their joy more refined, their glory more abundant, blessed be Thy Name. We bless Thy great Name also, and we can almost say, We have enough, that Thou hast spared us to this Day, and brought us HITHERTO, so wonderfully working for us; and while we have any BEING it is the full purpose of our Hearts to praise Thy Name, and the Lord keep it in the purpose of our hearts for ever Amen: For what are we, what are our persons or our Father's House, That Thou hast brought us HITHERTO. 
● Sam. 7. 18.    

¶ 2  
The Church hath strong Consolations, because the LORD hath spoken good words and comfortable touching her house for a great while to come. She gives herself to Prayer.  
BUt yet, o Lord God, as thou hast commanded us to Record, to Praise, to Thank Thee for Thy Mercies HITHERTO: So dost Thou take pleasure in those that hope in THY MERCY 
f Ps. 1●7. 11.  for after times. Good Lord, what a good word is that! Thou takest pleasure in those that HOPE in Thy Mercies: This word is to Thy people sweeter than the Honeycomb; They keep it as a sweet Morsel under the tongue. Sith it pleaseth Thee so well, They will hope in thy Mercy, that they will. It is the manner of the Church, I will look unto the Lord, I will wait for the God of my Salvation, my God will hear me 
* Mic. 7. 7. . It is the Church's confidence, Thou wilt hear; But if thou seemest to slumber, she will waken Thee with Importunity; she will give Thee no rest, her Sons and Daughters will be Thy Remembrancers, for they remember all that Thou hast done HITHERTO is That they might set their hope in Thee for after times 
g Ps. 78. 7. . They do, Lord, they do, and they will give Thee no rest touching this thing, even that Thou wouldst go with thy Church yet farther, even till the enemy be subdued, and come no more into the coast of Israel to destroy there. And they will trouble with their importunity, those thou hast sent to heal us when we thought 
2 Chro. 10.  there was no remedy, they shall have no rest neither (Thou lovest an humble violence) till they bring this people yet farther; if but to that place, where, though there will be weeds many, yet they shall not keep down the good Corn; though Briars there be, yet they shall not choke it; nay, though Scorpions be there, yet they shall not sting in Thy holy Mountain. Why, Lord God, as if this, which Thou hast done, were but a small thing, Thou hast promised to go with Thy people yet a great way farther, for thou hast spoken good and comfortable words touching Thy Servants for a great while to come. Thou art beginning, we hope, and Thou wilt not go bacl with us till thou hast finished; we dare not make haste, for some faith we have concerning this, That Thou wilt hold the sanne in Thy Servants hand, till the floor be throughly purged, as becometh a floor on Earth; that Thou wilt root out them, whom Thy right Hand never planted; set Thy face against them, who turned Their backs upon Thee, walking so contrary; That Thou wilt thrust out that, which thou never commandedst, nor ever came it into Thy heart; o Thy Servants think they have very strong arguments; when they can plead the case before thee with Thy own. Thou hast said, Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted 
Mat. 15. 13.  up; we know they have taken root, but not by Thee; and h●ld possession, but not in right from Heaven: Will't not Thou judge them O Lord God, and remove them from being Overseers unto Thee? Thou hast broken down what Thou didst build; and plucked up what thou didst plant ᵏ; how much more those, who 
h jer. 45.  have built themselves up with their own hands; and planted themselves upon their own bottom? Thou hast said, Thou wilt be served in spirit, for that service only reacheth unto Thy bosom, and that hath been the manner of all Thy Servants, true worshippers; Whom I serve in spirit, saith Thy Servant 
i Rom. 1. 9 . What hast thou to do with a fear taught by the precepts of men? Thou hast rejected them, who did reject the commands of God, that they might keep their own traditions 
k Mark 7. 9 . Thou art the same jealous God st●ll; Thou dost look into Thy Temple still with the same eye, and beholdest the abominations there, both persons and services, and we hope Thou wilt arise now and avenge Thyself of Thy Adversaries, who have made void Thy Law, and the offering vile, who have given Thy children stones for bread, and fo● a fish, a Serpent. Surely Thou wilt be avenged of such murderers. Thou hast given Thy Servants a sure and gracious word of Promise, Ask what you will and i● shall be done ˡ: Thy servant's 
〈…〉  ask nothing, but according to Thy ᵐ will, and it is th●● confidence, that Thou hearest them: It is Thy will that we 〈◊〉 pray for the peace of jerusalem; Thy will, that they should prosper that love it; Thy will, that the zeal of Thy House should consume Thy Servants; and that the abominations there should vex their righteous souls, for such are as smoke in Thy nose, and a fire which burneth all the Day: It is Thy w●ll, Lord, Thy Servants should pray, Ease Thyself of Thine Adversary's. Thy Servants are assured they do not ask amiss: they ask according to Thy own will: Thy own command; for Thine own glory, that Thou mayest have a pure and clean Sacrifice offered unto Thee; that Thou mayest be the King in Thy Church, and rule by Thine own Laws there; they ask nothing in, or for behalf of their lusts, but against them altogether; that Thou wouldst be King in their hearts, as well as in their Churches: That Thou wouldst take all Thine and our enemies, which would not have Thee for their King, and sl●y them before their eyes. We do not ask (wickedly) therefore we will never leave ask, we will trouble Thee day and night with importunity and give Thee no rest, 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. jam. 4. 3.  till Thou shalt hearken, and hear us, and grant our request; till Thou shalt perfect what Thou hast begun; perform the word to Thy Servants wherein Thou hast caused them to trust; till Thou shalt bring Thy Church THITHERTO, to a safe place, where jacobs' face shall wax pale no more; shall be troubled, and tossed, and vexed no more; shall hear Thy Name blasphemed no more; see Thy worship defiled no more; Thy Day profaned no more; Anti christian Rights, base beggarly Rudiments, prevailing no more; Thy Ministers villainously used no more; Thy Servants thrust into corners no more: and because of Egyptian burdens and illegal pressures, Thy people howling no more; nor any breach betwixt judah and Israel any more; where jerusalem shall be a QUIET HABITATION, where she shall look from the top of AMANA, from th● top of SHINAR 
Isa. 29. 2●. ●o 33. 20.  and HERMON, from the LION'S DEN, from the MOUNTAINS of the LEOPARDS; then we shall ●●ng the high praises 
Cant 4. 8.  of our God: Then Jacob shall rejoice and Israel shall be right glad, saying HALLELUJAH, Salvation, and Glory and Honour, and Power unto the Lord our God Amen, HALLELUJAH.  
FINIS.