234 c NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY LIBRARY PURCHASED FROM THE AIWA SHUMAN ELLIOl FUND I PRESENTED I K A Sermon, ^ I ■ >,. P I'Vo -. f V i "■ f - kv ; ( ■ Cl li Preached before the Honor able Hoiife of G o M M O N s, At their [ace folerane Ea s t, ' Dectmber 22, 164 i. - "By Edmund f alaniy, B. D» And Preacher at AldermarAwj, London. 'E 2. E K, 18.31. Ca^ arpayfirom you all your trauf^reffions ivhereby y& • bove tranjgrejjed, and makfi^jott a nerp heart and-a Htfv S^irit^ TOuiU yee-die^O hottft of JfraeJ, Publiflied by Order of the Hou)l', LONDON, Printed by J. RaftfOrthS^r Chr. Meredith^Sind are to be fold at the in Churchyard, 1642, , .1 To the Honourable Houle of COMMONS Aflembled in' P a r l i a m e n r. Bedience is a virtue of fuch great worth, that Luther did rather defire to ha've grace to be ohedi' ««f, than power to TborA miracles^ Out of this very Principle it was, that I firft adventured to preach before Luchoi grave and judicious Senate, coram tarn Maikmabt. 7?iultis Viris ejr tarn paucis hominibus. And SSIT from the fame Principle it is, that I prelenc the Sermon to a more publike view. The time allotted for the making of it,was lb fhort ( by reafon of your more (erious affairs) that it might have been aflifficient Apology, to excufe both the preaching and A 2 printing printing of ir, bad not pure Obedience juft- jy filencedall fuch Apologies. And nftw it is printed, the Sermon it fe1 f is ib poor and mean, that it may fitly be anfwered to me, what once did to aPai^r, who having drawn many Lines in a little fpaceof d ne, and boafiing to yfpelles ihit he had done lo much in ib fhorc a time,* it was ^eplyed, That he Tuondered that he had drawn no more. But yet howroever,n:jy humble reqneft is, That you would accept of this poor Mite , this little Goats.haire, which your Commands (like a Mid-wife} have brought into the world. , And indeed the kinde entertainment it found in the hearing , and the great acknowledgement of yourTWzAr (farre aboye all expedlati- on or defert) afterwards, is an abundantly fufficient incitement againfi: all difcourage- ment whatfcever. 1 he fubjedl ofthe Ser- mon is of great concernment. It is about the ruifie and repair of Kingdoms and Ha- tionsj a raatreriucable foryoii that are the reprelentativcBody of the Kingdom. Sin mines Kingdoms, ^hen Nkephorus Tho- CM had buiiE a mighty Wall about bis Pa- lace Jace for his defenfe, he heard a voyce in the night, crying '{co^ , tvhv S" KSf^YSv lv(l\anf>5 v 'vraAij. Though thoubuild'ft chy walJs as high as ^leaven, fin is within, and this will cafiiy batter down thy walls. Sin is like a Traycor in our own bofomes, chat will open the gates to the enimy. Sin weakens our hands, and makes them unapt to fight, "Sintaketh away the courage of our hearts. It was not the flnngth of M that overcame the IfraeliteSj hut Mxuns fin, Sinne caufeth a great Army to be overcome by a little one. The Army of the Syrians came iDtth a ^ fmall company of men, and the Lord delivered a \ ^;t A .v;nl^ ;A> A'.^^^v'h tAiVr^v-^ I '3^.^ ts^h iA^';-■^^^' l..-Ai J c!b!.I \'i/•erh'ii^a t ■•• • ■_ - - - ,. ' vhGl^:v/;oA%.;U/;U'Jv?( w'*n ilo;]j fhou-^V^ fha\\\ '-h\o ■"■■m osd -H .•,£--'ji1i:.i;r/I o:h:J!rh :iKX3T ',' * V" ' S . A" ^ , *\ t f '''\ ' *"• T t f h '■ y -Uii^ .-bcO I's - 'iaqb.i3fl3^>" - ^'.%nl-tixU'y &A37.:b"'3fi')". siolano-?' |C-f;i / ' AJ' Oi!;.. ■ : Hi*.('31 '■' ,. i-u/^)^lTiw/.:'3bfs^; ?i;3b'::d.03 •■ ^ i\i r u\-z'} 37.1 d *' t' f» 'N ,'' •^. • •" ' * «: ♦ • • f 'T • ? r^* — •-.3 i->r3 ■- .4 r; nr !;;a*;> -• '" .?iuo^ Laii bQoitJ ^2^a:i. . ^t^<-'.v 1 > ''"c-' ^ ; V .■t^ ■ t ■ \\ } ; IN » V I. A3 ;■' j5Kn 1Vt^^ / >, •* . . • • >v • > • t •»•■"* »,'r ' . -V .V;M A-a VM <1'3\'- ■ \ .»• . • ^>-,- . /I 1 A Sermon Preached at a Faft before the Honourable Houfeof Commons. 3 E a E M. i8.7, 8j Pj lo. what infiant 1 fhall fpeak concerning a H&tion^ ani concerning a Kingdom^ to f luck up, and to pull down, andto dejlroy it. ^ thai Nation againfi whom I have pronounced, turn from their evill, I void repent of the evid that I thought to do unto them, .^nd at what infant JJhall [peak concerning a Nation, and concerning a Kingdom, to build and to plant it: if it do evill in mj fight, that it obey not my voyce, then I will repent of the good wherewith I faidi would be' neft them. His Text may fitly be called a Looking glaflc for England and Ireland, or for any other King- doin whatfocver j wherein God Almighty declares what he can do with Nations and Kingdooas, and what he will do. B I. What 2 A Sermm preached at a Faji before 1. What he can do. He can build and plant ei N at ion. a nd he can pluck up, pull dewn, and dejlrcy a Nation. And when a Kingdom is in the depth ofmifery, he can in anif he but fpeakc the word, raife it up to the top of happineflc; and when it is intheheigth and Zenith of hap- pincfle, he can in another inftant fpeake a word, and throw it downe againe into an AbyiTe of mifcry. 2. What he will do. God will not alwayes ufe his Prerogative, but he will firfl: jpeake before Feffe 7. he ftrikeSihe will Hr&pronounce judgement before Ferfe 8. he cxecuteth judgement. And iftbat Nation againjl which he hath pronounced the evill of punifhmcnt turn Verfe 8. from their evill of fin, then will God repent of the evill he. intended to do unto them: And not only fo , but Ferfe^. he mil build andplant that >ieitio€i, and of a bar- rcn wilderncfic, make it a fruitfull Paradifc. But yer ,.10. if that Nation do evill in Gods fight, and will net obey • his voice ^ then will God repent of the good wherewith he would have benefited them, and pull down what he hath built, and pluck up what he hath planted, and of a fruitfull Paradifc, make it a barren wilderneffe. By all this it appears. That as this day is a Na-- tionallday^ and this Honourable Alfcmbly a Nati' onad Affemblyfo this Text is a NationalTfxt,every way futabic for the occafion about which we arc met. The Lord make it as profitable to you, as it is futabic for you. From the words thus explai- ned, I gather thcfe four DQ(Srinall conclufions., I." That the Honourable Houfe of Commons 3 1. That God hath an abfolutc povvcr over all Kingdomsand Nations, to pluck themop, pull them down,and deftroy them as he plcafcth. 2. That though God hath this abfolute Pre- rogative over Kingdoms and Nations, yet he felckjme ufeth this power, but firft he gives warning. 3. If that Kingdomc againft which God hath threatncd deft ru(a:ion,repent and turn from their cvill i God will not only not deftroy that King- dome, but build it, and plant it. Or thus, Nationall Repentance will divert Nationali judgements, and procure Nationall bleffings. 4. That when God begins to build and plant a Nation, if that Nation do evill in Gods fight, God will repent of the good he intended to do unto it. The firfi is this^ I. That God hath an independent and illimi- Do^. i. ted Prerogative over all Kingdoms and Nations to build them, or deftroy them as he pleafcth. Thisfs fet forth in the beginning of the Chap- tcr, by ocular demonftratioH. God bids leremj Anfe and go down to the Potters houfe^^c, and •^hcixVerfe 2 he came there, he beheld the Potter making a Veffellofclay, and breaking it, and making it again another Veflell, as feemed good to the Potter to make it. And God himfelfe makes the application j oh Houfe of Ifraef cannot I do with you yerfe 6. as this Potter, faith the Lord? Cannot I make you Vcftclls of honour, or diflionour i cannot I fave B 2 you, 4 A Sermon preached at a Fafl before you, or deftroy you as I pleafc i Behold, as the clay-is in the Fetters handfo are ye in mine hand/) Heufe efrfrael. Becaufc Nebuchadnezzar would not cos- fefifc this truth, he was driven tofchool to the bcaftsof the field, and he had the heart of an Dan.4,54, Oxe, till he acknowledged, that God doth vd^tfo- i')- ever he mil in the Army of Heaven ^ and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can flay h^s handler fay mto hhn^ What dof thou ? leaf I. This fupremacy ®f Gods power, is founded upon that abfoliite Right that God hath over us as he is our Creator. For he is Jehovah, that gives being to all,and receives being from none. Ro.ii. 36. of him^ and to hi?n^ and through him are ail things. All creatures arc beams from his Sun, drops from his Ocean. 7/(faith the Text,) J whom all men iive^ move., and have their being 5 i that made all things out of nothing, and can as cafily turn all things intonothing. If I fpcak. This power of God over Kingdoms , hath two properties. I. It is illimited and independent,which appears by three cxprcflions in the Text i. By thefe irtoxds^At what infant; which hold fch-th unto us, that God can dcffroy a Nation in an inftant, in the very twinckling of an eye- In the mornkig the Sun flione upon Sodome, but before night it was dcftroyed with fire and biimftonc. The old World was drowned (as Luther thinks) in the Spring time, when all things began to bud and bioffomc.The flood came fuddcnly,faith Chriff, it tfoe Honourable Houje of Qommons. 5 ■ ■ ' ■ I -r■ ■" ■ i I '■ 1 it came derepentc^zccoidin^ to the vulgar tranlla- tion of thcfe words, when they leaft cxpc(!ied it. And on the contrary, God canin an inftant make a Nation happy. The Ifraclites were in an inftant brought out of Egypt; and were in one and the fame day, of all pdoplc moft mifcrablc, urn inijhri- and of all people moft happy, as Cahm well ob- mi&omni. ferveth upon this Text. 2. By thefc words— Jjhalllpe,ik. If God do but fpeak t© deftroy a Na- non untum tion, it is prefently deftroyed : He fpake word,andthe World was made-, and iPhc fpeak tradKxit,(ed the wordjthe World will return to its firft Prin- ciples. Jf I bring a fsvord upm a Und^ and fay^ fword ^ go through that land^fo that I cut ojf man and beaftfrom fk^rao/mem ' it. Though thefe three men were in it, as I live^ faith the f Lord, theyP)ali deliver neither fons nor daughters, ^c. Ezak. 14.17,18. On the contrary, if God do m'-a- but fpeak to plant a Nation, it is planted j for Gods benedicere, isbenefaeere, 3, This abfoiute. power of God is likewife deciphered by three fynonimicall expr?ftlons in the Text, To pluck up, pulldown, and to deftroy. Which three words do 'intimate. That Godhathan illimitedPrcroga- tiveover Kingdoms, and that he can overturn, overturn, overturn uhem, as it is faid, E'i{ek, 21.27. Or as Hugo glofteth upon the words,He can Pluck all mercies,all judgments,and and if God arife, he nauft needes be fcatccred. Oh, Ictus fee God on work this day, to deftroy the implacable enemies ofhis Church ; arife oh Lord, and fcacter the Irifh rebclls! arife oh Lord, and confound Antichrift:, and build up the walls of lerufttlem I The Romans in a great diftrefTe were driven to take the weapons out of the Temples of their Gods, and to fight with them, and fo they overcome. This is our courfe this day, wee fight with the-weapons of the Church,Prayers and Teares. The Spartans^viiiWs were their fpeares ; Our walls are our prayers, ourhelpe ftandeth in the Name of the Lord, who hath made Heaven and earth. Lord fpcakea word and Jerieho (hall fall, be favourable to England and Ireland; Lord rake away our tinne, and purely purge ourdrGfTc! Ourtruft is not in onr bow, nor fpeare. Let us labour to become Gods favourites,zx\6i then we have all happineflcconcen- tred in two words. Do^l 2. feeond DoSlrinall conclusion. Though God hath this abfolute power over Kingdomcs and Nations, yet he fcldomc ufeth this power, but firft he gives warning. I fay he feldome ufeth it: for I do not lay it downc as a generall rule: Be us eon alligat fuas manml God may, and doth foraetimes deftroy at once, and give no warning. Thus he dealt with the Hea- then Ammonites and Idumaans, as Calvin obferves; but he feldome or never fends any greatjudgc- the Honourable Houfe of Commons, 11 ment upon his own people, but firft he fpeaks before he ftrikes. Fiift Verha^ then Verbera, as it is in the Text. what inftant I Jpeak,i^c. If that 'Nation concerning whtch I have ponounced, ^c. Firft God pronounccth a judgement before he cxecuteth a judgment: he lightiieth before he thundieih ^ he hangs out his white Flag of mercy, before his red Flag of utter defiance; firft he fhoots off his warning Peeccs, before his murdering Pec- ces. Jndihc Beafons arct I. That all the World may take notice, that Reaf. i. all punilbmcnts and affljdions ceme not by chance, or fortune, but from the immediate hand of the great God. It is he that forms the light, andcreates darkntjfe; it is he that makes peace, ar.dcreates evill, I the Loiddoall thefe things. And therefore God gives warning to imprint this do- (ftrine: That there is no evill of pumfhment, but from God. 2. BecaufeGodisloathtopunifli.t^//»4t«rZ)^- Reaf,2, Tu,(itnenpuniat: they that minde mifthiefe, give no warning. When intended to murder i^mnon, he fpake neither good nor bad unto him, 2 Sam.12,. 12, Neither would God reveale his intentions to deftroy us, but only becaufe he de- fires not to deftroy us. I readc of one that came to murder one of the Roman Emperors, and by fpeaking thefe words, Hunc tibi pugionem mittit Senatws,detexit facinusfatum,^ nen implevit. Ano- ther was feen whetting his (word, and by that, fttfpeded and detctfted. But it is cthcrwife with C 2 God, 12 A SermonprenebedAt a Fall before God, he gives miny items, and fees many Bca. cons on fire before he dcftroycs a Nation. As K^mbrefe obferves upon Gen.g.i-^, he puts his hew in the cloud % Nenfa^ttam, fed aream^ nor his Arrow, but his Bow; the Bow cannot hurt us, but the Bow forewarns us of the Arrow j and the firing of the Bow is CO US-ward, tofiiewhow unwilling God is to punifh : He muft firft turn the Bow and put in the Arrow, before he can (hoot. And as it is, Pfdm.jAi, ijyeu will not turn^ I will whet my fword, I will bend my Sow, and make ready my Arrow, Firft God whets his fword before he firikes, and bends his Bow before he fiioots, his Arrow is unprepared,&c. And all this, becaufe he is a Father of mercies, and a father you know is loath to whip his child. I affliU not willingly, Lamen.3.?3, Fury is not in me, lfa.ij,s[. It is your finncs that put thunder- bolts in ray hands. As a Woman brings forth her childc with pain, and a Bee never fiings, but when he is provoked : So ic is with our good God, He never puniflicth, but when there is no remedy, 2 chron, 36.15, i5. When God came to punifia c^4 mejfenger of death ■, His death did prefage the flood. Thus Afifiin was taken away by death, immediately before the facking of Hiffo where he lived. Parxus before the taking of Heilderherg. Luther a little before Warres came into Germany, as he himfelfe did fore-fignifie at his death. Thus the death of Saint Amkrofe was a fore-runner of the ruine oiItaly, The many Reverend Preachers, The chariots^ and Horfemen of Ifrael, that in thcfe few yeares arc gone to their graves in peace; arc as fo many blazing Comets to portend our ruinc. 4. God hath fpoken to us by the voice of other Proreftant Nations beyond the Seas, that have drunk dccpe of the Cup of Gods wrath. Herodotus tells us, that in a certainc Egyptian Temple, there was a Statue hmltfoxSennacberih, (this was he that bcfiegedand blafphe- tncd the God of Ifrael, and was afterwards flainc by his fonncs) and upon this Statue was this In- firription; Look ufen me,and \ Iearn 16 A Sermon preAched at a Fafl before learn to be righteous. Me thinks I hcare RoeheUt Bo- hemid) the Palatinatet and other parts of Germany y faying: Oh England look upon us, and learn to be righteous. God will not alwaycs make you like GoJJ}en, when we arc plagued as Egypt: make you like Noah in the Ark, when we arc drowned with a flood of mifcries : m3kc you like Gideons dry Fleece, when wc are like his wet Fleece, bedewed with forrow and lamentation You muft not look alwayes to drink fo deep of the Cup of profpcrity, when wc have drunk fodeep of the Cup of adverfity. God hath made us examples to you ; but if you amend not, God will make you your felvcs the next examples. It is a moft true faying; Legimus fJifhrias, ne ipji famus htjloria. If you will not learne righte- oufoeffe by our Hiftory, God will make you the next Hiftory. Difeite jujlitiam moniti ^ nen temnere Vivosy This is a loud and powcrfull voyce. 5. God fpeaks now more neerly unto us, by the bloudy rebellion that is in Ireland The fword that is there drawn, is like the Comet, that for a whole ycer hung overin the likencffe of a fiery flaming fword. This fword is Gods warning pccce to England: It is like Tamberldines red Flag, thrcatning ruine, and dc- folation Co us; For It is an old faying, He that would England win^ mufi with Ireland frjl begin. A Serpent, the neerer it is, the more dangerous it is. The fvrotd is now come very nccrc us; It is the Honourable Houfe of Commons. likea Serpent in ourbofomcs : The Lord awaken our fleepy fpirits. God hath 3. iwoids. The fsvord of the Angel, which is the plague: the fmrd of the Spirit which is his Word ; and the fivordof the Enemy. Wc have been wofuliy maflacrcd with the firft fvvoid. The Plague hath beengtie- voufly upon out bodies, but the plague of fin ftlll remainesupon our foulesj this {word hath done little good. If the fword of the Spirit will not now at laftcut down ourfinnes, we muftexpedf the fword of the enemy to cut us down, and to de- ftroy us. 6. God now alfo fpeakes untp us by the many fad divifions, and unhappy fradiions that arc in Church and State, Kingdmt di'videdagainfiit felfe, cannet jland. It is cblcrveable, thatfcarce ever any great enemy entred this Kingdcme, but when it was at Schifme and divjfion within it felfe. Tacitus faith, that nothirggsve the more advantage againftthe ancient Brittains then this, ^rndfaSliomhus {jrfiud^strahebantur. (JliaU' dtibratiHs {zs Cafar cih hml) cut of hatred againft Cafilellanusy brought in lulius Cafar. dminius, brovgbtir, Claudius. Guartigernus BtR, andotfer- intht* dredus after brought in xhc Saxons. Toufiains di- ^*^8"?' vifion and inrode, made way for the Normans ; Uh.'i.de and there were more divifions than one to helpc ^eli.Gai. in the Dams. And there is nothing more likely to bring in the Romans once mere into our King- dome, than thcfe Kjliandubratiansy the Adminiansy J had almoft faid thcfe Armimans, Oh fad divi- D fionsl A Semonpreachedata Fa^ before fions i thcfe are aschickeblacke clouds thrcatning a great fliower ofdefolation. 7. God fpeakcs uftto us by the great demur and delay of the reformation of the Church. For the Childeof reformation is come to the birch ; but there wants ftrength to bring it forth. This is a figne. That there arc fomc great obhruc^lions in the Krigdome, thai hinder the birth of this much de- fired Childe. And it fhrewdly prefageth, as if God had begunne to repent of the goodp thathee hath begun to doe for us^ And that, it will be with us, as it was with tamary in the time of her travell, 58.28,29. firft puts forth his hand out of the Wombc, but afterwards drew is in againe, and Fharez, came out in his ftead. So it gives us caufe to fcare, Icaft the Childe of Mercy ihould goebacke into the Wombe againe, and the Childe of judgement come forth in his ficad. 8. God hath fpoken to us by the voice of our ownc confciences. There is no man that lives in any knowne finne, but his confcience hath often told him,as Ahnerdxd Joah, Will mt this finne bring bittfrnefie in the latter end? And as Reuben to his Brethren, Dtdl notteUpuefthisaforehAnd e Tbac shis finne would bring you to hell. There is a Light which God hath fet up in all our foules, which is as a Beacon, fet on fire, to give notice of Gods Wrath and Vengeance. This light is .4. Confcience, which TertuUtm calls prajudicium judfc^. This is Gods bofomc Preacher s. and when the Honourable Houfe of Commons, when this is fiknccd,uportends nothingjbuc utter ruine and derdacion. And thus you fee how many vvaieSjGod hath gi- vcn warning to this Kingdonj. Now 1 bcfeech you. Let thehng-fuffering^Hnd gocdnejje ofCod, drwe ustereptntance. "This is the ufc the Apoftle P-««/ makes. Mom. 2. 4. which is the more to be laid to heart, becaufe that Saint peter pickes out this exhortation from out of all the Epiftles of Fault as one of the choifeft, and urgcthitupon thofe, to whom be wrote, as you may read, 2 Pe/ 15 'And account the long- fufferwg of the Lord, is Jalvation-t even as our beloved Brother Paul aljo hath rvrttten unto you. Now I conceive, this is no where written, but in the place fore^ mentioned. Let not that which is our falvation (as Peter faith) bcccme our damnation. Let us follow the example of Noah, Ueb. 11.7. Noah by faith being warned of Cod, of things not (een asyett moved with fear preparedan C/drhttothefavrng of his houfe,&c, Noah had but one warning, and that of a judgement, which had no print in nature; But wee have had eight kindes of warnings, and there are many prints and foot-fteps of Gods judgements amongft us. O let us beleeve thefc Voices of God and let faith workc fearc, and fearc workc care to prepare an Arkc, before the Floud comes. Let us be amended by Gods war- cing-pceces, left we be confumed by his murde- ring.^cccs. There 20 A Sermon preached at a Falh before Motives There are two Motives to quicken us to the obe- dience of this exaortation. I. Cods mornings are in Gods keeping. No man hatha locke and key of Gods' patience. Hce is long-fujfering, but not ates fufferingy zwdhow long he will fuffer, no man knows. Sometimes God is warning of a people 120. yecrs, as he was the old world. Sometimes but 40. yccrcs, as he dealt with the Jews, before thedeftru(5i:i- on of lerufalem. Sometimes but 40. dayes, as in Ninive'sc^i^G. Sometimes but one night as in Lots cafe, who had warning of the burning of Sodomy but the night before. We in this Nation have had many yeers warning. I fcare me, the Taper is alraoft burnt out : That the Sun of our profpcrity is ready to fet. And that the hourc- glafle of our happinefle is almoft runout. This, is our lafl: warning. Miftake me not •, I doe not prophecy what God will do j but what wee de- ferveGod fhould doe, and what wee may juftly cxpe<5l he will doe, and what wee ought to pro- vide, if hce fhould doe. Let us amend now, or never; before the day of Mercy be paff, be- fore the draw-Bridge betaken up. It may be foo late the next yccr. 2^ The warnings of God, when they are flighted, they will necejfitate and aggravate our condcm- nation. I. They will neceffitate our condemnation. For there are three degrees of Gods wrath. His thrcatning wrath, his punifliing wrath, and his con- I ^ the Honourable Houfe of Commons. 21 condemning Wrarh. And this is Gods Methodc. Firft, He threatneth;, before he punifheth : And if hist hreatning anger reforme us, weefliall never fccle his puniflimg anger ; but if his threatnings prevailc not, wee fhall certainly feele his punifli- irg anger. And if neither threats, nor pu- ^ nifliments prevaile, nothing remains but his con- ■ demning Wrath. Si neytaudtesvecemmilericordiie, fentiesvocemjudicij StKon audiesfrtma.mtubam,Je}t- tiesultimam. S^non audtesDeummimntemy fenties funienttm^condemnantem. What deftroyed the old World, but becaufe they did not regard Noahs warning < What deftroyed Lots fonnes in Law, but becaufe they mocked at Lots Waf- ning, 2, They will aggravate our condemnation: For as a childe in the Mothers womb, the Ion- gcr it is in the wombe, before it comes forth, the bigger the childe will be, and the more pain it will put the Mother unto. So the longer God keeps in his wrath, and is patient toward a Nation, the bigger the childe of wrath will be, when it comes forth, and the greater will be our milery and afflidion. This Metaphor God himfelfe ufcrh, IfdahOfi. 14. ibavealong time holdenmjfeacey I bavebten ftill, andrefrdned my felfe j now will J cry like a traveling woman, I willdeftroy, anddevcure at once. Though God hath Uaden feet, yet he hath iron hands. The longer he is before hee ftrikcs, the heavier the blow will be, when hee ftrikes. Patience is the pro- D 3 per <11 A Sermon prea ched at a Fafl before niptidvii' Jtrie. I.; per purchafeof rhe bloud of Chrift. There was BernnrJ. HO paticticc undcr the firft Covenant. Deus no» Sermon. Je ix^tciabat K^ngcloSi non expetiabat AdamtjfttQod, did not wait for the Angels, nor {oxi^dum ; but as foone as ever they had finned, Hee throws the one out of Paradife, the other into Hell. But for usfinfull fons of LAdam, God for Chrifts fake tarricth, and waiteth our converfion. Oh, let us not finneagainfl: the merit of Chrifts bloud ! Read the 5c. Pfa, 21,22, Thefe things thouhaftdone^ and I kept filenct^ thouthcu^hteB that I was altogether /kch a one as thy felfe: but I wtU reprove thee .andfet theminorder before thneeyes. Now confiderth^tje that forget Cod'^ lefl tear you in peeces, and there bz^ none to deliver. Let us not ftop our ears from hea- ring thefe eight Voices, left God turne his words into blows, and ftop his cares from hearing our voices in our extremities. There are two de- grecs of mercy in God, CMiferieordiaparvd, mi. ferieordia magna. His little mercy, and his great mercy. For God to wait our converfion, and to forc-warnc usofevillto come, this is a mercy, and a great mercy in it felfe confidcred. But it is but a little in comparifon of the fccond mercy, which is the great mercy. And that is, when God gives usgracetomakeaholyufeofhis pati- cnce, to make his patience our fal vstion, and to be led to repentance by it^ The Lord bcftow this great itiercy upon us 1 The third Docfrinall contlufon. That National! turning from evil!, will di- vcit Bernard. Strmm, de triplici mi' Jeric (sr ^u.'snw the Honourable Boufe of Commons, vert Nationaii j-;c!gcmenrs, and procure Nacio- nail blclTiogs, So Tnith rhe Text: if that Nation turnefbnv their cvili, then mill recent, and not only fo, htit verle.^. IwiUhttdd, and plant it,(fre. The Do(5trine is a mercifoll qualification of Gods abfolute power, he is lo larre troin ufing it, as that he indents and covenants with every Nation. if they repent, I mil repent. Now whereas God is here faid to repent, it is fpokcn bur it muft beunderftood ©eoTjsTrJf. Cod is not as man,tbat he jhouldrepentHee is faid to repent, becaufehce doth that which men doe when they repent. 7 mil repent^ That is, T will rurne my judgements into mercies. God doth fomctimes will achange, but ^efram- hQn^VGx changeth his rviII. God from all eternity mu- decreed to be ferved in the old T^ftamcnt with types and figures, and in the New-Teftament, in Aquin.s. fpirit and truth. Hcrewasa»/7/^<tmaiu change in Gods will. When God is faid to repent, mfatyen- the change is in us, not in God. As when the Sun tmiam, fofrneth the wax, and hardncth the clay; here is a fed »m- different ad oftheSunne; but the change arifeth ]lt^d^re- from the different objed, not from the Sunnc. *urn»Qteg. So God from all eternity decrees to punifh the Jmpcnite^^, and to bleffe the penitent. And when a Nation by Gods Almighty grace be- comes penitent, Godturnes his punifhments into blcffings 5 but the change is in the Nation, not in God. And now give me leave to fpeake my minde ftfcly 5 J am not come hither this day to feaft yout"'^- ~r - .. — 24 A Sermon preached ac a Fafl before your eares, but to wound your hearts; yonmuft not exped elegant and fine phrafes. Non Itcetm tama miferia difertum ejfe. This is a day, not for humane, but divine eloquence. Nonloquor difertd fedfortia. A day wherein we are to cry mightily unto God, to knock aloud at Heaven gates, and to extort mercy from Gods hands, by a holy and acceptable violence. And for my part I know not any Dodrine more futable to workc upon your hearts and affe-^tions, then this plaine conclufion; That there is no other way to pro- cure blcflings from God, ortoturneaway judge- mcnts from the Land, but by turning from finne unto God. The wrath and pun'fliments which finne hath twifted,Repentance will uocwift. Sinnc is as athickc Cloud, flopping the Sun-fliinc of Gods tnercy; but if we turnc from finne,this will melt the cloud, and caufe the Sonne of Righteouf. nelfctolhincupon us. Sinnc, it is as a Divell in the Aire, to hinder our prayers from afcending; but if we turnc from finne,this will charmethe Divell, and make Satan like lightning fall downe from Heaven. Sinne is like fo many great peeces of Ordnance, planted and charged upon high mountaines, ready to flioote downe Cities and Kingdomes: But if we turne from finne, this will take away the force of thcfe Cannons,and make them as Paper-(hot. Sinnc is a wall of reparation bctwcene God and us: To turne from finne, will brcake downe this wall. Sinnc is the great make- bate betweene God, and man: Sinnc diflblveth Parlia- the Honourable Hotife of Commons, ParKamcnc unhappily : Sinne puts variance be- twecne a King and his Subjefts. Sinnc dcflroycd Rocbel and the Palatinate ; it brought the fword into lrelafj(i,md will bring it'mtoEnglanel, unlcile wc turnc away from all cur cvill doings. To turne from finnc,is a key to unlock all the chcfts of Gods mercies. It is Clavfs vifcerum Dei, A prefcrva- tive againft all mifcry. Oh the ^divine Rhcfo- rique, and omnipotent cfficacie of Repentance I This is that Raine-bow, which if God fecthihi- ning in our hearts, he will never drownc our foules. That ftarrc which will bring us to Chrift. A repenting faith, is cur Sacra anehra to flycun. Tertul.i« to s It is Ilex mfericerdia: it tyes Gods hands, and charmcs his wrath. There is no thunder-bolt raJens cs* fo great, no wrath fo furious in God, but Re- pentancc will abolifh it. This Abigail, will eafily ibid! appeafe our Heavenly David, though hce m.arch never fo furioufly. Repentance is fo acceptable to God, that he rewarded K^hah for his hypocri- ticall repentance, that others by his example might be provoked to furnctruely to God, who knew not his repentance to be hypocriticall, I have here a large field of matter, for a ycare, ra- ther than a day ; But as a little Boat may land a man into a large Continent; fo a few words may fuggeft matter fufficient to a judicious eare, for a whole lives meditation. I iball not fpend time in unfolding the nature of this duty of turning from finnc 5 or in fhcwing the reafons why this turning is fo potent to divert judgements, and E pro- 26 A Sermon preached at a F*a^ before procure mercies (this is the worice of every hon°lior Sermon.) I will onely make one Ufc of exhor- unto two tation (for it needes application, more then ex- Diitk», plication.). To befcech you to turne the ciodfrine into pra- (flice, and to exprclTe the fincerity of your Re- pentance, by two duties, which are as the tvvo poles, upon which our turning from finnc doth move. By humiliation and reformation j Humi- liation for finnes paft, Reformation for the time to come: Humiliation xvithmt Reformation, is a ffiundation mthout aluilding: Reformation without Humiliaticn., f roves often a building, without a foun- dation. Both of them together, comprehend the EfTentialls of this great duty, which is the very quinteffence of Pradicall Divinity. i/ToHu. I. Let us turne unto God by humiliation, for finnes paft. This day is a day of humiliation. A Sabbath, of weeping and mourning : Wherein we fliould wafh the fcete of Chrift with our teares, wherein we fhould weepe bitterly, before the Lord, powre forth our hearts like water, and ft rive who fliould put mofl: teares into Gods hot- tic. 1 befeech you, let us turne unto God with true penitent teares, dravvnefrom the Well of a broken heart, fetcht out with the backet of Gods love. Let us fancffifie a fift, and aflliift: our fouks be- fore the Lord,, that this day may become a day of attonement. And becaufe the 11 is deepe, and our, hearts arc very hard, andfome, it may be. the Honourable Houfe of Commons, 47 be, want buckets to draw water withall : Give Sciren mce leave to ofFcr unto you feven buckets, j which will fcrve, as feven helpes to humilia- the water tion. oftcarj, I. Let every manconfiderhisQwnefins,which hee himfelfc is guihy of. Have wee not broken the holy , and righteous Commandcments of God a thoufand times, and ihall not this break cur hearts ^ Have wee not broken our vovves and covenants which wee have often made with . God, and will not the meditation of this break our hearts < God in Scripture is faid to have a baggeand a bottle. Abaggetoputourfinsin, and a bottle to put our teares in. Have wee not filled Gods big with our finnes, and fliall wee not now fi!l Gods bottle with our teares f Doth it not grieve us, that wee have fo often^ ffely Spirit ejGod f A re we nor heavy laden with ' thole finnes, with which God himfelf ispreffed Am.z.r,. as A Cart rvUh fhfavet? Is not GodhurStM broken with cur wlorip) hearts, and will northis breakout Ezck.e.p. hard hearts l Have wee nor hadyeares of finningif Oh let us have one Day of mourning 1 Have we not trampled the bloud of Chrift under our feete, and fliall rot the bloud of this Scape- goate melt our adamantine hearts « fin, and fo it is of ours. Wee have finned not oncIy under mercies, but with our mercies, wee have made a golden Calfe, with the jewels of mercies which God hath bcftowed upon us. We have taken the Members of Chrift,and have E 3 made JO A Sermon prea ched at a Fad before made them the members of a Harlot. What fin is there under the cope of Heaven, whereof any Nation is guilty, which wehavenot ingrof- fed to our felvestr Let us weepe for the beaftly drunkennefie of this Nation : But why do I call it beaftly t" for generally beafts are foberrltdc- fervesa name inferiour to beafts, for Co k makes a Jufi.Ep4 Pqp time. faith, that in his days drunkennefie wasgrovvne to that bcigth, as that there was no remedy againft it, but by calling of a Synod. And in our dayes it is growne to that Gyant-like bignelTe, as that there is no hope of rcdrefle, but in the Parliament. Woe to this Land becaufe ofthisfinne; this is that which will make us unable to ftand before our enemies, and to ftaggei like a drunken man. For this fin God gives a Landovertothefpiritofgiddinefle. Letus weepe for the blafphemous fwearing that is in the Nation, wherein (if in any thing) there is a pride taken in offending God, for other benefit of it I know none. For this finne the land moumeth, and let uS mourne. Weepe for the adultery and fornication, which as an Epidemxall difeafe hirh over- Hcb.13.4. fpread the Nation, Whoremongers and Adult tr its - God will judge. If man vvill nor, God will. He that divorccthhimfclfcfrom his wife, and joyns himfelfe to a harlot, God will divorce him'felf from fuch a man, and divorce his mercies arid bleflings from him. VV&epefor the covct'oufnes of the Nation. This finne is the foot of ail cviil: and theHomurabh Boufe of Commons. 51 2nd for this- finne God will roof out a Nation. He that is fwallowcd up with earth, (as Corah, and his company ) his eares ftopped with earth, his he-^rt ftutTed with earth, God will give him earth enough when he dyes: and they that love earth fo immoderately, are likely to have little enough of Heaven, Weepe for the oppredion, Extortion, Bribery, Lying, Griping, Ufury, Coufcnage and Deceit in trading. Thefe finnes will caufe a fourth ocean to encompaiTc this I- {land, and that is an ocean of mifery. Let us {bed teares for the innocent blood that is flied in the Land 5 for the divellifli pride that is amongft us : Pride of heart, pride of apparell, in fol- lowing the fafliions of every Nation almoft. How juftly may wee expedi:, that God.fliould make us flaves to that Nation, whofe fafliions •we (b eagerly follows Mou.rne for the great pro- phanation of our Chriftian Sabbath-day .* how can we cxpcd that God^ fhould give us reft in this Land, if we will not give him a Sahhath, a day of reft i Oh, let cur eyesgufti downe with riversofteareslOh that our heads were fountaines of teares for the Idolatry (that Land-devouring finnc of Idolatry) for the fuperftkion, the Apo- ftafie, the contempt of the Gofpel, and ofthe Minifters, and Miniftery of it that raignes amongft us 1 It is time for God to deprive us of CManna, when we begin to be weary of it; thctirnemay come we may have Sermons few enough, that negled them fo much as forae doe. The Con- fcftbrs 32 A Sermon preached af a Faji before feffors that fled for their Religion in Quecnc Ma- Fcfa"ce to dales, acknowledged (as Vrftnut relates) that his Gate- that great inundation of mifery came juftly up- chiiir.e. Qn them> for the negled of, and unprofitable- nclfe under the Gofpel, which they had enjoyed in King Edwards dayes. And if they were fo fe- ' verely ipuniflicd for a few yeares contempt of the Gofpcl J what a fupcrlative degree of punifli- ment doc we deferve, that have had the Gofpcl of Peace, and the peace of the Gofpel, for al- moft an hundred yeares, and yet are fo unlike the Gofpel in our converfations f The rime would failc, if 1 Hiould make a catalogue of our Natio- mil finnes. Oh, let us be one of the mourners in S'm, for the abhominations of the Land j that fo we may be mark'c out for fafcty. And let us take this rule to perfwade us. Thofe fimes which tvc "know ethers te committ and^jet mourne mtfor them^ thefe fws become our ewnejitts: And therforewe may well pray with JluJNve, Lerddeliver mefromether mensfinnes ^ which fir want efmonrmn^ andgrkving for,I have made mneewne. A third bucket to draw the water of tcares withall; is the confideration of the great brca- chcs that arc in Church and State. We are di- vided in minutulafrujlnU (as <^uJfineo(thcDO' natifts,) Let thefe breaches break our hearts, Let thefe rents rend our hard hearts. For the divifion of England let us have great thoughts of heart. A fourth helpe to humiliation, is the confide- ration of the mifcrics that arc like to come upon us \ the Honourable HoHfe of Commons . US as the woefull confequcnt of thcfc breaches. As our Saviour Chrift, when heccamenecrc fe- mjalentj and beheld the finne of if, andthedefola- tion that was impendent over it, he wept, fay- ing ; oh that thcuhaJfi kffown, evert thou, at leaf Luk-rj. in this thy day, the things vohich belong unto thy peace! ^ but nm they are hid from thine eyes, &c. So let us contemplate the fins of England, and the deftru- dhon which wee may juftly txpedasihe fruire of our finnes •, and let us weepeovcr England, and fay. Oh England, England, that killed the Prophets, and ftbncft them that are fent unto thee 1 Oh that thou hadft knowne, even thou, at lead in this thy day, the things which belong to thy peace. It is reported of Xerxts, that having prepared 300000. men to fight with theCracians, and be- holding fo great a multitude of Sculdiers 5 hce fell a weeping out of the confideration, that not one of them fhould remaine alive. Within the fpace of an hundred years. Much more ought we to mourn, when we confider the abundance of people that are in England, and the abundance of fia perpetrated among us ; and what fliall be- come not oncly of cur bodies within thefe few years, but what fliall become of our fouls to all eternity. A fifth Bucket iSjthe contemplatio;i of Germany, a fifth which is now become a a place of dead help to hu, mens fculs, and an Aceldama, a field of bloud. ""°®' Some Nations arc chadifed with the fwerd, O- thcrs with famine. Others with the man-dedroy- F ing A Semonpreachedata Fafl before ing Plague. But \tooxtGermitny hath been forely whipped with all thafc three iron whips at the fame time, and that for above twenty ycares fpacc. Oh, let us makeufe of this Bucket, and draw out water, and poure it out before the Lord this day j let us fend up our criesto Heaven for CermoftyXx. is a figne that weare not true mem- bersofthc body of Chrift, becaufe we have no. more fellow-feeling of the miferies of the fame body. A dead member hath no fenfe of its own mi- f€iy,or of the bodies diftemper. If wee be living members, we will fimpathize with the calamities of Gods people. Bucket. A fixth helpe to Humiliation, is the confide- ration of the bleeding condition of Ireland. I need not relate (you have great reafon to know it better than my felfe) the inhumane, barba- rous, Canniballifticall, and fuper-fuperlative out-rages, butcheries, and maffacres that are there committed by thofc bloudy Rebels. Oh,, let us fend up onetearc this day-, as an Orator to. the Throne of Grace, to plead for mercy for poore Ireland I This is one chiefe caufe of this, generall Faft, to pray and weep for Ireland, Help it (Right Honourable) Oh, hclpe it with your Prayers and Tears. Tears have voices as well as words. Ithank thee, eh Lord (faith I>avid) that then haft heardthe voice of my weeping. W here note, weeping hath a voice. And as muficke upon the waters founds farther, and mote harmonioufly than upon the Land So Prayers joyned with i Tears», the Honourabk Houfi of Commons. Tears, cry louder in Godseares, and make fwee- tcr muficice then when teares are ablent. When ji»tipater hzd written a large letter againft^/cAr- Mother unto f^lexander, the King anfwe- ^kxand. red him : Doft thou not know that one teare from my Mother, will wafh away all her faults^ So it is with God ; A penitent teare is an undeni- able Embaflador. An ob]c<^t look't upon when It is in the water, fecmes bigger than when it is out of the water. Let us looke upon Irelands mi- fery through the water of our teares, and this will reprefent it in its due proportion. Let us weepc, becanfe we cannot wcepe, Jet our hearts v/ecpc, beeaufe our eyes cannot weep. To move your hearts a little more, fiiffcr mee to propound three examples, i. The example of who was fo zealous for the prefervation of s§. demCy that by an humble importunity he brought God down to thefe terms, that if rhcre had beene ten Wheat-ears in SodomCj all the Tares fhould have been fpared for thefe ten mens fake. And when God was gone from Jhraham, he conti- Bued fo felicitous for the good of Sodome; that (as Luther thinks) he could not fieepeall night. I am fure the Scripture faith. He gate up early in Gen.19: the morning to the place tvhere hefood before the Lordf *7*^8. andbelookedtowardSodem,x.o fee what was become of his Prayers. If Abraham did thus much for Sodome, for wicked Sodome; ought not you to be much more zealous for the Proteftantsin/r^- land, who profeffc the fame faith, and are un- F 2 der A Semonpreached At a Fall before - dcr the fame Governmcnc with us in BngUnd ? N«h.i.j,4 2. Let me offer the example of Nehemiah^ who though for his owne particular he was in great profperity, and in great favonr at the Court; yet when he heard of the afflidlon and raifery of the people of God at lernfalem, hee fate downe and wept, and mourned, and fafted, and never dcfifted, till hee had obtained leave to goe and helpc his brethren at lerufakm. y I fh^i pro- pound the example of Hhrome^ who was writing Fmntium a Commentary upon Ez>ekiel; but when hee cdmntar. befieging of Rome (a place wherein " he had formerly lived) and of the death of many godly peoplc> he was fo aftoniflied and aimzed at the oewes,, that for many nights anddayeshee could thinkc of nothing. Et in eaptivitate San- Sl»rum fe ejfeeaptivumputahu He thought him- , s« 4,« fclfe taken captive, araongft thofe that were taken captive. 1 might addc the flory of Phineas wife, but I forbcare. Let thefe examples be your inftrudlionand encouragement. Me thinks I heare a voice in/re/W, like the voice that was heard in Ram.t, Lamentation and xveepin^ and threat monrningy Mat.i.i 8. Rachel tveepingfor her children,and wottldmt be com- fortedbeeaufe they are not Me. thinksl rec(do not you foairo!f) the poore people of looking out of their windows, and crying out as the Mother T a 8 of Sifer a,why u his chariot fi long in commingf why. • • ' tarry the wheels of his Chariot ? Why is aide fo long delayd •? where are bowels i Me thinks 1 fee the very flames ofthis great fire that ——— — I ...'l- I.I . LI. I the Honmahle Houfe ofCommons. n is kindled in Ireland. Oh, let this fire melt our hard hearts into pitty and compaflionll doubt not but this Bucket will draw out a great deal of water this day. There is one Bucket more, the laft, but not the 7. Icaft; and that is the confid^ration of the Lord Jefus Chrift. His body was rent and tornefor us. Oh, let this rend and teare our hearts that c- ver we (hould finne againft fuch a Chrift ! His bloud was poured forth as a facrifice for our fins. Oh, let us pour forth our tears, for our of- fences againfl: him ! Beloved in the Lord; This- is a day wherin we ought to make confcience to get our hearts affcdted with deep forrow for fin ; otherwife we do but take Gods name in vain. Now there is no way more powerful] to produce this effed:, then by going to mount C^/- varp and by burying our felves in the roedita- tion of Chrift crucified. There is a ftory of an Earle called El:^earusy that was much given to immoderate anger; and the means he ufed to cure this difordercd aflfedlion, was by ftudying of Chrift, and of his patience in fuffering the injuries and afironts that were offered unto him; and he never fuffered this meditation to paftc from him, before he found his heart transfer- raed into the fimilitude of Jefus Chrift. Wee are all fick of a hard and ftony heart ; and if ever we dcfire to be healed of this foulc-damning difcafe, let us have recourfe to the Lord Jefus Chrift ; and never leave meditating of his brea- F 5 kings I II.— - 38 A Sermonprea ched at 4 Fafl before kings and woundings for us-^, till wc finde vcr- rue commingoutofChrift, to break our hearts. Let us pray to the great heart-maker, that hcc would be the heart-breaker. So much for the duty of hnmiliation. Thefe- The fecond duty wherein wee muft expreiTc is°Refor-^ our tumiug to God is ReforwAtion. Humiliation mation, is not fufficient without Reformation. It is not enough to be broken fer Jtme, but we muft alfo be broken Jro/?/finne. As a bird cannot flie with one wing, nor a man walke with one leg ; no more can we get to Heaven by Humiliation, without Reformation. Both of them ccnjoy- ned, are the legs and wings by which we walk and flie to Heaven, And therefore ler me moft carneftly exhort you to repent from fin^ as well as for fin. The Crown we fight for this day, the Garland wc run for, the Marke we aime at, is Mercy 5 this is our joynt fuir. That God would (hew mercy to England and Ireland. Now the way to obtaine mercy is clearly cxpreifed, Prov, a8. 15. He that confefieth and forjakethhfs fins ^fhad have mercj. This God cals for from Heaven ; this all the faithfull Miniflers in the City preach for this day3 Reformation, Reformation, Refor- mation. As Mafler Bradford at the flake cried out, fo do I at this time. Repent, 0 England, re- pent, repent. There is a three-fold Fafl, a Fafl from meat, from mirth, and from finne. The two firfl will not fuffice without the laft. A beafl: may fafl from meat. The Divels fafl, faith the Honouralle Boufe of Commons. 3 p K_^whrofi. The old World (as fomc thinke) did never eate Flcfli, and yet they were all drowned. Though we could faft till we were pcrfe(5t Anatomifts ; though we could pray and knecle, till our knees were as hard as Camels knees (as it is reported of fames the brother of Cnrift)yet all were to no purpofe,without this tur- nmgjromJin.This is jejunium magmm, asK^uJlm faith. This is jejunium tetius anni^ jejuniam omnium fartium.This isthe great and theeverlafting faft,to faft from fin by reformation. Now this Reformation, it muft have two This Re- Properties, which are both ofthem mentioned f-'fraation in the Text. 1. It rauft be Perfonall, 2, It muft be National!. It rauft be perfonall 5 forfo faith the Text 5 If that Nation againft whom I iPerforul. have pronounced, turn jrom their evilly Amalitia fua. Every man hath fome finne which is his f eccatnm in delic'js, his dtle£iumdel'tSiumy hisbelo- ved fin,, the finofhisconftitution. Let usturne from that fin, vvhatfoever it is j and if vve know not what that fin is, let usturne from every finne, and fo vve (hall be fure to turnc from that fin. Thisthe King of Ninlveh commanded that eve- ry one of his Subjects fhould cry mightily unto God-^ Jona* and not onely fo, but every one to turne jrom his evillrvayi andjromthevielencethat.isin their hands. Thus muft we j vve muft be ableto fay vvirh Vat vidj I have keft my felfe from my fin. We live pf.is. in times wherein there was never more turning. Some turne like the Dogge tothe vomit, and like the A Sermon preached a Fafl before the Sow to the wallowing in the myrc : Some turne Athcifts, iome Papilts, fome Socinians, feme Arminians. Some tuine like the weather, cock, which way the winde bioweth j which way foever preferment goes* that way they turne ; Many turn Neuters ; Many turne from Chrifts fide, to be of Antichrrfts fide ; Many turne cold and Icy for God and his Church: Some ate like unto the Chamelion, that will change it felfe into any colour but white. So ma- uy will turne to be any thing but good. If times turne ill, they will be naught; but if times turne good, they will not be good. But I be- fecch you, let all us here prefent before the Lord this day, turn fincercly unto the Lord our God from all iniquity. Let us ftrip our fclves ftark naked,, of all the rags of the old Repent of your pride ; duftand afiaes doth bet- tcr become you. Repent of your gluttony ahd drunkenneffe, let weeping be your drinke, arid faftina your meate. Repent of your fwcaring. Conlcmne your felves out of your owne mouths, that God may juftifie you. Repent of your co- vetourneffe : Ifevcryouexpcato gaine Heaven, lookc not after the canh fo much. Repent of your Adultery* that God may marry you unto himfelfe, and leaft you be married to cternall flames. Repent of your fecurity, that yon may live fccurely. No way to cfcape damnation, but by Repentance 5 and no man that ever re- pcnted aright, but did cfcape damnation. Oh ^ that the Honourable Houfe of Commons, 41 that this day might be the converfion of fomc {inner, that they may be able to fay, From fuch a fafling daj, I began to turn unto God! Oh that this Fa{ling-day might be aFeftivali-day tothc Angels in Heaven; who rejoycc at the convcr- {k>n of a finccr 1 Oh that feme Zachem would make reftitution this day ! That {bmc Prodigall childc would return to his Heavenly Father ! God Alnaighty exceedingly delights to (hew mercy to a penitent {inner. As a husband-man delights much in that ground, that after long unfruitfulnelTe proves fruitfull, and calls his friends and neighbours, to behold that ground: As a Captain loves that Souldier, that once fled away cowardly, and afterwards returns and fights valiantly j Even fo God is wonderfully inamourcd with a {inner, that having onte made ftiipwrack of a good confciencc j yet at la{l re- turns and fwims to Heaven upon the plank of Faith and Repentance. This is a notable provo- cation to all wretched hard-hearted fianers to turn unto God by true Repentance. God isfo farre from refuling you, that he rejoyceth in your coDvcrlion, and is more ready to receive yoUj then you are to come. And I may fafely adde. That in fome fcnfe God delights more in a penitent ProdigalUthendn one of his righteous children. As the good Shephcard tcjoyccd more in his loft fhcep, then in his pp. {hcepj And the good Woman in her loft groat ^ And the good Father in his loftfonne, more then in G the 42- A Sermon preached at a Paft]^ before the fonnc that went nor aftray. Itistrue, tha-t Imocenc) of life is better, fimply and abfolutcly cociCidcxcd^thzn Repentance : And it is more to be dcCircd to liw without fin ^ than to have grace to repent after (in. As a whole Garmeat is better than a rent G irment, and yet a rent Garment may be fo handroinely pieced together, that there fliall be little difference between that and a whole Garment. A penitent finncr, that feel- ingly apprehends the great mercy of God in pardoning fo great a finner as he was j thefenfe of this diifinguifhing love of God towards him, raifeth up his heart to a higher pitch of zeal,and enables him to draw necr to God with more affe (^lon and fervently to be more tender of fin, and to do, and fuffcr more for God many times, thanthofe that are more righteous than he is. As fuppofCjtwo men atSca,thc one comes fafcly to fhorc without danger , the other cfeapes to fltore not without great hazard and pcrill of life: He that comes without hazard hath more caufc fimply to be thankfull; yet ordinarily, he that had the greater danger, out of fenfeof his dan- ger, will return more praife than the other. Saint Pu«/ laboured more than all the other A- poftles , becaufe he was a greater finner than all the other A}9ofllcs,and had obtained greater mercy. Therefore I^ary Magdalen loved much ^ be- caufe much was forgiven her. We never rcade that the blcffcd Virgin ever came to wafli the Feet of Chrift with her tears. But Mary Magdalen^ a great fin* the honourable Houfe of Commons, 43 {inner (he did ir, and (lie comes firft to the Sepul- cher, and afterwards (as fome report) flie fpcnc yeers in Gallia Narbonenji in weeping for her " fins. brings the example of who after he had obtained pardon for murdering Vrtahj and committing adultery with Bathjhsbaj fella longing after the water of Bethlehem. But when the water was brought, He four edit forth before the Lord and wttild not drink of it^ becaufe it hazarded the lives of his men. Oblcrve ho w tender ' of finwas after his Repentance. He that before had fpilt innocent blood,is now troubled in cenfcience, for putting the lives of his men in jeopardy : He that before longed for mans mfe, doth now repent, for defiring another mans water. Bernard brings the example of Peter y who before his denyall,confidcntly told Chrift, Though allferfook him^ yet he would not i Yet after- wards, when he had repented of his denying of Chrift, he was fo tender, that when Chrlft purpofcdiy asked him three times, Lovefitkoume more than the(e ? he anfwers not comparatively, as before, but pofitively j Onely Lord thou knowefi I love thee. And this is another provocation fo exhort all finncrs to lay hold upon this holy Anchor , this wrath-charming Repentance. Come all ye prodigail children , all ye lofi: ihcep that have gone aftray : Behold your Heavenly Father is notonely ready, but joy full to receive you} and if rightly underftood, more joyfull, than in his faichfull Children. Was G 2 there' 44 Sermm preached at a Fa/i before there ever mercy like to this ! Oh that we had hearts to embrace it! And the greater any man is in eflate,and parts.the more honour God fliaii have, if fuch a man will turn to God this day. Great men arc the Looking-glafTc of the Coun- trey where they live, :\ccording to which, moft men drcflTe tbcmfeives: If they be wicked, the whole Countrcy is much the worfcr by them. gm- The vices of Rulers are rules of Vices, ^^icqaid dm nomen facimt fr£cipere vidmtar. If the head be giddy, .fiSnZ members reel, If the liver be tainted, the body is dropfic. leroboam made all Ifrael to fin. But when great men prove good men, it is not Aft, i8.8. to be exprelfcd, what good they do. When Crif- ^\xs the chief Ruler of the Synagogue^ beleeved onthe Lord, many of the Corinthians hearing, beleeved alfo. WhcntbeMafter of the family was converted, his whole family were alfo baptized. The Lord make all great men, good men and good men fof parts and abilitiesj great men. Ttmuft 2. As this Reformation muft be pcrfonall, fo alfo it muft be natioDall. For fo faith the Text, If that Nation againft which^ (jrc, A parti- cular man by turning unto God, may turn away a particular judgement. But when the fins of a Nation arc generall, and the judgements upon a Nation generall, the turniRg muft be generall. If the Sea hath broken the banks, and over- flown the Countrey, it is not the care of one or two men, by repairing, their banks, that can prevent the inundation. Even fo when God is overr the Hoyiourable Houle ^>7^3 ?• yee eat, but ye have not enough, ye cloath you, but there is none warm •, and he that ear net h wages, ear net h wages to put it into a bag with holes. Thus faith the Lord, Confid& your wayes,go tip to the Mountain, and bring Wood and build the houfe, and I will take pleafureinit, and I will be 'glorifed, faith the Lord, ^c. Read alfo, Verfef, 10,11. 2. Qoni\6iQt Ythdit MordecaifiTAyxntoEfther, 2. Think not with thy felfthat thou fhalt efiiape in the Kings Efth. 11. houfe, more then afl the lews, for if thou altogether holdejl thy peace at this time,then jhall there enlargement, H and ^<5 A preached at a Fafl before and deliverance arife to the lews from another place j 3ut tho» and thy Fathers Houfe JhaH be defiroyed. And fohoknotoeth rvhether thou art come to the Kingdom^ for fuch'a time .is thk ? As lerome faid concerning the day of judgement. That whether he did cat, or drink, or whatfoever he did, he did alwayes hear the voice of the Arch-Angel, Arife yee dead^and come to judgement. So doe I defire that you would at all times,and in all places,remcm- ber and confider this foul-awakening fpcech of Mordecai and Ejlher, 3. Confider the famous examples of Ezra^ Nehemiahy and Zcrubhahely what care and pains they took for the rebuilding, not only of the Walls, but alfo of the Temple of lerufalem. It is not enough to let the State in tune, but you muft remember to repair the Temple alfo. Be not afraid of Tobiahy Sanba/laty or of any other &ch.4 7 enemy. Who art thou O great Mountain? Before Ze- rubbabelthou fialt become aplain, A Parliament-man muff be like Athanafus, who was Magnescjr Ada- mas. A Loadftone, and an Adamant. hLoad' fonehy his affable carriage, and courteous be- haviour, drawing all men to the love of him. But in the caufeof God he was as zrx Adamanty untameable and unconquerable. 4. If we reform and turn, God will turn; If we turn from the evill of our fins God will turn from the evill of his judgements. Tertullian himfelf. That he was born to nothing elft but to Repentance. An excellent faying fo-r every one the Homurahle Hou/e of Commons, 51 one to lay to heart. The firft Text that ever lobn Baptift preached on, was Repentmce, The Mawli-j i. firft that ever Chrift preached on, was Repcn- tAnce. And the firft thing that Chrift comman-Wat.4.ir. ded his Apoftles to preach, was Repemame. God himfelf hath confccratcd Repentance, by his Lufc. 24. own example, faith 7'tnuHiAn^ Dedicavit peenitm- turn in femetipfo. He repcnteth to teach us to re- ^^ pent. This is that which God not only com- raands, and cntreatcth, but fwcareth that he ^ would have us to do. Happy we for whofe false ' God fwcars, but mo ft unhappy if we bcleevc not God when he fwcars, and if we live not as we beleeve. Will a nationall reformation certainly divert Gods judgements from a Nation < Did not JoftAh reform, and yet it is exprelTely faid, That notwithftanding this Reformation, iCetthe aKing.25. turned not from thefierceneffe of his great rvrathy where- with his anger was kindled againfi ludah^ kecaufe of all the provocations that Manaffes had provoked him withaU. I. A nationall reformation will certainly de- Anfw, liver us from everlafting mifery . 2. It is Gods ordinary way for the removeali of tcmporall judgements. There is no inftance fully againfi: it, but this odofiah: but to this it may be replyed, that lofiahs reformation in reference to themul- titude, was hypocriticall j and therefore it did only prorogue and adjourn 4 but not totally remove Gods wrath. That it was foki regard Ha of A Sermon preached at a Fafi before of the people, appears, krem. 3.10. And yet for all this^ her treacherous ftfler Judah hath not turned unto mcvoith her tvhole hearty butfainedly, faith the Lord. A fincere Nationall turning will certainly divert Nationall Judgements,and procure Nati- onall Blefiings. 5, If we will not turn, reform, and repent of Our fins, God will repent with a new kinde of re- pentancCj he will not repent of the evilly but repent that he hoxbrepentedof theevtll; he WiW repent of the good wherewith he laid he would benefit us. And this leads rac to the fourth DoArinall Conclufion. LoElrine Locf.A^y That when God begins to build and plant a Nation J if that Nation do cvill in Gods fight, God will unbuild , pluck up, and repent of the good he intended to do unto it. This is a point of great concernment, exprcflTely fet down in the tenth verfe. It is certain that God hath bc^ gun to build and plant this Nation, and he hath made you his Inftruments (Right Honourable) in this great work. We reade, Zechary i. 19. of four horns^ which fcattered ludah and lerufalem. By thcfe four horns , are meant all the enemies of Gods people, that are alwayes pufliing at them, and goring of them. And verfe 20, we reade of four Carpenters whom God raifcd up to fray away thcfe horns. Such Carpenters have you been unto us : You haveknockt off all thofc horns wherewith the fat Buls of Bapan puflied at us : You s the Honourable Houfe of (Jommom, 53 You have endeavoured to undcr-prop the Houfe of this Kingdom, and to keep it from falling: You have flubb'd up many unprofitable Trees, » and taken away ( at Icaft, in your endeavours) many rotten polls ; you have removed a great deal of rubbidge : You have been our Ebed- melech's, to releafe our leremics out of the Dun- geon. Indeed you have done marvellous things, bleffed be the Name of the Lord I And we have caufe to be enlarged in much thankfulneffe, though you never have opportunity to do more for us. jEz-ra bleffed God thtit hud given them a little reviving in^beir hondxge^ A man that hath been for many yeers in a dark Dungeon, will rejoyce exceedingly for a little crcvifc of light, though never fo little. We have been in the Dungeon of defpair , and we bleffe God for the little crcvifc of light let In by your mcms.We ■ have lien Among the pets {inter ollns fuliginofas) ful- lied with filth J and there is a crevife of hope (in the Valley of ^chor ) that m pall he as the tvings of a Dove, covered with fiver, and her feathers withyellorvgold. And though this childc of hope be but yet an Embrio i We will not depife the day of^^c. 4.10. little things. When Ez,ra had laid the foundation of the Temple, there was great joy and rejoy- cing. We doubt not but there is a foundation laid of better times , and fuch a foundation which fhall never be taken away. The Lord rccompcnce all the pains you have taken, upon you and yours. And yet let me adde one word H 3 as ^4 ^ Sermon preached at a Fa/i before as a parenthcfis ^ that Nehemiah after all his good II] fcrviccs he had done for the Church, fub-joyns .. thefe words.Remember me,0 my God,concern- ing this, and fpare me 5 he begs pardon for his noble work of Reformation. Blcfled be God here is hope of a faire building, and of a raoft beautifull Paradife, if things fucceed as they have begun. But now markc the Dodfrine. When God be- gins to build, and plant, if that Nation do evill, God will un-build what he hath built, pluck up what he hath planted. He will repent cfthe good^c^c. For you muft know, that God repents as well of his mercies, as of his judgements. When God had made Satd King, and he proved ftubborne and difobedient, God repented that ever he made him King. When God faw that the wic- Gene. 6. kedneffe of the old World was great upon earth. He was grieved at the very heart, and repented a Sam,made man. When David was bring- ing home the Arke with great pompc, becaufe it was not brought home in due order j and be- caufe of F&zah's fin, God repented of what he was doing, and the Arke flayed in the middle way. When the people of Ifrael were come out of Egypt ^ and very ntGXt Canaan -, becaufe they brought an evill report upon the Land of Canaan^ and murmured, The Lord repents of what he had done, and carries them backc a- gaine forty years journey through the vaft howliflg WildernefTe. Reafin, tfje Honourable Honje of Qommons. 5 ^ Reafon. Reajon^ I .Becaufe GodsCovenant with a nation is con- i. difionall. It is qitamdiufebene gefferit. If thatNa- tion obey my voice,then wil I build it and plant it: but if it difobcy my voice, then will I pluck it up,pull it dowojand deftroy it.TbeLordis withyeu, ^ cliron. while )e be with him: and if ye feek him,he will be found a. of.yoH : but f you for fake him, he willforfake you. Sam. 12. yoH do wickedly^youJhall perifh,both you andyour^ King. 2. Becaufc that finne is fo pernicious to a '2. Kingdom, that where finne rules,there God and his mercy will not abide. Sinne takes away the favour of God , by which all Nations fubfift. And if Gods favour be gone, all is gone. Sinne difTolves the very Joynts and Sinews of a Nati- on^Religion maintains and upholds Kingdoms. ThcTrojanshad their: Palladium •, as long as that was fafe,they were fafe. The Romans had their as long as that was kept, they were fe- cure. The Jfraeliteshzd their Ark , as long as that was fure, there was a defenfeupon Mount Zion. Pure and und»filed Religion, is the Pal-^ ladium, the Ancile, the Ark, to preferve King- doras. But finne betrayeth Religion into the hands of fuperftition and idolatry. Sinne is a Serpent in the bol'orae, a thief in the houfe, poyfon at the ftoraack, zfword at the very heart of a Na- tion. If the Serpent be in the bofome,it will bite; if a. thief in the houre,he will fteal j if poyfon in the ftoraack,it will pain us •, if a fword at the heart, it ^ will kill us. Ufc. H'- Hence 1^6 A Sermon preached at a Fafl before Hence we may learn what the rcafon is of the great delay in the Reformation of the Church j why the childe of Reformation fticks in the Birth ; why the hand of mercy begins to be pulled in i and why many obfervers of the times begin to fear that this is not, as yet,the ap- pointed time wherein God will have mercy up- on Sion. I am very confident, that the fault is not in you to whom I fpcak; but it is laid down, 2 CfjTon.zo, 33. Howheitthe high places, were not taken away, for as jet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their Fathers. The people of the Land would not bear a thorow Refoimati- on. I deny not but that the Land ia which we EC x6. live, is a Landofuprightnejfe, As many among ft us truely religious, as in any place in the world, of the like bignclfe. But yet the Bulk of our pec- pie are wicked, and their hearts are not as yet prepared tp the yoke of the Lord, odermt wn- culapietatis. They arc unrcformcd themlclves ; and it is no wonder they are fo oppofitc to a tho- row Reformation. It may be faid of many a- mongft us, as leremy did once fay of his people, Icr. y, 3The F rophets prophefie faljly, and the Priejls bear rule by their means, arid my people lone to have it Jo-, and what wiUyedointheendthereof f Now it is this fin of the Land that weakens your hands, and divides you fomctiraes one from anothcr,and keeps you from perfecting this great work of Rcformati- on. And I conceive no way better to remedy this, than by fending a faithfull and painfull Mi- niftcry the Honourable Houfe of Commons. 57 niftcry thorowout the Kingdom. For if you will be plcafcd to obfcrvc, you willfindc that thofc places which arc rud'ft and moft ignorant, moft irregulati and where the leaft Preaching hath been, arc the arcateft enemies to Reforma- tion. This is a work worthy of fcrious confide- ration. The Lord ftir up your hearts to confidcr it, and open your eyes alfo, "clearly to perceive that there are more with you, then againft youi and that when God rcformes a Nation, he doth not finde us prepared, but he makes us prepared. When God flieweth naercy t© a Nation, there goeth power with the mercy to heal the Nation, Mz,ek.:^6. 24,2 5, 2^7,27,28. If when a Nation doth cvill in Gods fight, God will repent of the good he intended, &c. Let us repent of our evils committed againft God, that he may not repent of the good he intends to do unto us. Chule which you will. If iverej>em, God will repent of theevill, ^c. If rve rcpem mt, God will repem of thegood^ c-rc. And fuffer me to tell you. That when God begins to draw bjick his mercies from a Nation, that Na- tion is in a wofull plight, God repented that be made the old World ; And what followed i The next news you hear, is, they were all drew- ned. He repented that he had made King, and the next news we hear, is. That he was re- jcdcd from being King. He repented that he had brought the Ifraelitcs out of Egypt ; and thereupon he carries them back again, and I fwcars ' —— ^ 58 A Sermon preached at a Fafi before fwcars that not one of them fhould enter into Canaan^ but that all their carkafcs fliould pcrifh in the Wildcrncflfc.It is God only that can build and plant a Nation. He is the only Archite and that untill the fcandalous Mini- fters be removed, Gods heavy hand will never be removed from us. The rich complain of the poor, that they arc lazy, and theevhh. The poor of the rich, that they are proud and hard- hearted. The fupcriours cry out againft their inferiours, and thcinfeiiours againft the fuperi- ours. And becaufe every man expcdls when I 3 his 6o ji Sermm preached at a Fajl before his neighbour (houlcj turn, hence iccometh to pafTe that no man in particular turns.. We look for that in another, which vre forget to do in our fclves. I know no way to reconcilethis divi- hon, bat by railing a new divilion, and by per- fwading all lorts of people to ftrivc, who Ihould be ti>e firft in turning to God,who fliould firfi get into Chrift, who Ihould firft get into the Ark. Every man ftrivcs for worldly prece- dcncy. Oh Ictusftrive for this fpirituall pre- cedency 1 It is no pride in this to go one before another. He is the humbleft that goeth firft. And being reformed in our own pcrfons, let us in the next place labour to reform one another. We are all of one nation, of one body, one. flefli, one Church. Thcreisa Nationall Com- munion, -a Morall Com-munion, a Politicall Communion, a Spirituail Communion amongft us. Imayadde, There is a Communion in mi- fery. We are all in the fame condemnation. Let us labour to pitty one another, and to turn one another. Let every man fearch what drun- kard, what fwearer, what adulterer, &Cv He hath in hisHoufe, and either caufc the fin to de- part from the perforr, or both fin and perfon from his houfe. Firft rcformc your own families, and then you will be the firter to rcformc the family of God. Let the Maflcr reforme his fervant, the Father hisehilde, the Husband his Wife. Will a ma4 kecpca fervant in his houfe ail night, if he were affurcd the Honourable Houfe of Commons, 6i affurcd he vf culd murtbcr him before morning 1 Such a fervant is finnc, It will murther foul and bodie. Let us caft it away from our feiycs, and from our.families. There is one Motive more, and that is from the ayd you are fending to Ireland^ to diftrefled Ireland^ that at th:s inltant calls to Englaud with aloud cry for help and afliftance. I doubt not, but you are fcnfiblc that delay is as bad as deni- allalmott. 1 fliill offer only one Text t© be coDlidered on when you fend forth your help, and that is Deat. 9, When the fJoJl goeth forth dgainfl their enemies^ then keep thee from everj wicked thing. If fin be in the Hoft, it will, make you turn your backs upon your enemies;. Turn to God, and he will make your enemies turn their backs upon you. But it is not in my power to turn, unleflc I objefl, were prsedeftinatcd < lanlwcr with Mafter thatwerauft ^ firft go to the Grammar-fchoole of Repentance, before we can be admitted to the Univerfityof Prtedeftmation. It is not a difputc about P.^de^ ftination that will turn away Gods wrath, but it is the pradife of humiliation and Reformation. It is moft certain, that God is not the caufe of any mans damnation. He found us finners in K^dam, but made none finners. Thy perd tion is of thy fe/fe^ oh ifrael \ And it is as certain, that it as not in the power of man by nature to convert himfclfc. And that therefore God commands I 3 what A Sermon preached at a Fafl: before what wc cannot perform, that wc might thcrby take notice what wc fhould do, and what we OBCC could do in Adam, and where wc fhonid go to get power to do that which wc cannot do of ourfclvcs. Goto thcWord^ that hath a cr.ca- ting power. God oftentimes in fpeaking gives power. Go to prayer, for converting Grace, Pray with ^ufline, Lord give me rvhat then com- mandefl^ and command what thou wilt. It is an excel- lent rule obfcrved by the fame Author. That there it nothing rcc^uired of m from Godot a duty in Scrip' ture, hut it u either promifed by God as a gift, or fome of Gods Saints have prayed for it as a gift. As for example. God commands us to turn unto him, but /frfwyprayesfor itj Turn us^ oh Lord, and we fhadbe turned. And God promifcth it, Deut» 30.^., Ezek. 35. i6. Let us therefore be fcnfible of our inability to kcepe the commandcment of the text; and let us bcleeve in his promife, to give us power to keepe it, and pray for the pcrfor- mancc of his promife. FINIS. Gods free Mercy TO ENGLAND: Prefented as a Pretious,and Powerfull motive to Humiliation: IN A SERMON Preached before the Honorable Houle of Commons, at their late folemne Faft,Fe^. 2^. 1(^41. 'By Edmvnd Calamy B. B, and Breacher at Jldemanbury London. i o'e l 2. 12, 15 , 14. Therefore alfo how faith the Lord, Turne jee even to me roith all your heart, andwithfafiMg, and tvith weefing , and with mourning: And rent your heart, and not your garments, and turne unto the Lord your God.-for he is gracious and mercifull,fiow to anger^ an d of great kindneffe, and repenteth him of the eviH: }Vho knoweth tfhee will returns and repent, and leave a hleftng behind him, even a meatC'offering , and a drinks-offering unto the Lord your (jod ? 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