A REMEDY AGAINST RUIN: OR, A SERMON PREACHED At the Assizes at LANCESTON in Cornwall, March 17 1651. Before the Right Honourable Henry Rolls, Lord chief Justice of the upper Bench, And Robert Nicholas, Judges for the Western Circuit. BY THOMAS PETER M. A. and Pastor of the Church at Mylor, in Cornwall. With an APPENDIX, Vindicating the Author from an horrid imputation cast on him by Samson Bond, Rector of Maugon, and Martin in Meneague, in the said County. ESAI 51.6. My Salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. Vel Sile, vel dic aliquid Silentio melius. London, Printed by Tho. Maxey for Samuel Gellibrand, at the sign of the Ball in Paul's Churchyard. 1652 To the Right Worshipful RICHARD LOB Esquire, and High Sheriff of the County of CORNWALL. Grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied from our Lord Jesus Christ. Sir, 'tWill be quered, why in the autumn of my days, and in this Presse-sweating generation, I should thrust myself into print, who never before peeped in the Press, beyond the letters of my name. To the reasonable and religious I render these accounts: some whereof point the finger at 1 Yourself. 2 Myself. 3 Your and my Antagonist. 4 Your and my Christian Friends. 1. For yourself. I must confess I own you Paul's praises and Paul's prayers, as he to Onesiphorus, 2 Tim. 1.15. At my return from New-England to London, you sought me diligently and found me out, And ever since have refreshed me with an annual as personal countenance to my Lecture at Penrin, and contribution to my Labours at Mylor. Let these lines (when I am dead) speak Paul's prayers; ver. 16. The Lord give mercy to the house of Onesiphorus; the Lord grant you may find mercy in that day. In the mean, may you honour your God (who hath honoured you) with the choicest of your increase, Pro. 3.9. pracipuum pro ventuum. with your person, posterity as purse. And may your and my Enemy, who hath persecuted you for malignity, me for perjury, be therein still found (as he is found already) a liar. 2. For myself. I have not been without solicitations to commend some of my late labours to a public viem, but could not be induced to such condescendency, till providence put into my hand this medium to purge my repute from the venom of that slanderous tongue, which hath bedirted my fame through many places of this nation. I was loath my posterity should have a rotten father's name fling in their faces, while my ashes mouldered in the grave, when a living opportunity bids me clear my blasted innocency. 3. For my Doctoriall, * S. B. D. Featly. Don. martial Adversary (so his name and books proclaim him,) I shall use Marshal's weapons to foil him with, Stat contra, dicitque tibi tua pagina, fur●es. You know, Sir, and many knowing Ministers here, that his Sermon on Rom. 12.1. is done, horis furtivis, without trope or figure, being scored from the two Doctors, verbatim, paginatim, lineatim: sed si forte suas, etc. and the Jackdaws furtivity is nakeded. Though he imprecate curses on himself, if ever stole two lines from them; Rom. 12 1. yet to a runner as reader, 'tis evident more then half of that Sermon preached before the Committee of Assembly of Divines, May 20. 1646. is as the hatchets helve, borrowed; or he rob a thief, who inhumanely stole the sheets from the two Doctors, after they slept in their Graves. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Surely, Jer. 24. if he be one of Jeremy's figs, 'tis of the worst basket; Jer. 6.1. if of Esop's tongues, 'tis not the best in the Market; or if of Jeremis fronts, 'tis such as cannot blush. For his Alarm at Pendennis, on Psal. 106.9. both title, text, some of the Epistle, and main prosecutions, with small variation of phrase, are formerly beaten by Doctor Featly, as is cleeer to an unprejudiced comparer. But I'll leap him over in the front, till I meet him in the rear. 4. For your and my Christian friends, Justices, Gentry, Ministers, and Corporations, and my endeared parishioners, who have attested my life and labours beyond my desires, and deserts; let these syllables re-attest my gratefulness; truly, you came forth timely to help the Lord against the mighty, even the Lords Truths against one of the mightiest falsehoods was ever daubed in the teeth of a Gospel Minister. 'Tis well mine adversary shuns godly Ministers societies, by this they shun the gunshot of a fiery serpentine Arrow. For most of them know, what places he hath lived in, he hath appeared cometicall, carrying a Titio of Contention in the tail: the Lord quench it, make him truly humble, and fit him better for the labours of Christ's vineyard: which will be the rejoicing of From my Study in Mylor, the 27 of May, 1652. Sir, Your weak, and unworthy Chaplain, Pro tempore. THO. PETER. A REMEDY against Ruin. Amos 5.24. But let Judgement run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. WE are fallen into the hands of a blunt Prophet, and He into the handling of a far more blunt expositor, yet both into the Arms of truth, which as it seeks no corners, so no colours; her native beauty fare transcends all borrowed. I may not make 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉; the whole work an introduction, not the introduction, the whole work: Nor dare I detain you any longer at the door of the Chapter: be pleased to walk into the inner rooms. The Chapter containing a lamentation over, or for Israel, may serve for England's meridian; where are four Generals: the 1 Inviters to this Lamentation. 2 Invited or called to this lamentation. 3 Grounds or reasons of this invitation and Lamentation. 4 Cures or remedies to remove this Lamentation. 1. The Inviters are threefold. 1. The Prophet of God, ver. 1. He are this word which I take up against you, O house of Israel. 2. The God of the Prophet, verse 16. Therefore the Lord of hosts saith, That wailing shall be in all streets; they shall say in all the highways, Alas, alas, etc. 3. The good people of this God. verse 18. They shall call the husbandmen to mourning, and such as are skilful in lamentations to wailing. 2. The Invited are of two sorts: described 1. Generally, as appears by the universality of places, Streets, Vineyards, Fields, verse 16. and O house of Israel. ver. 1. 2. Particularly; the skilful in mourning: either first, The Prophet and the godly people; or Secondly, Such as were accustomed to such doleful solemnities; such as could command a resympathizing passion from their sorrowful expressions. 3. The Grounds or occasions of this lamentation, which in general are twofold, 1 their sins: 2. their sufferings. 1. Their sins were twofold, either against the first or second table. 1 Their sins against the first table were Idolatry, superstition, hypocrisy, vers. 5. ver. 21. sought to Gilgal, Beersheba, etc. anciently eminent for some extraordinary act of God. 2 Their sins against the second table, were oppression, bribery, unjustice, ver. 11. treading on the poor, taking from him burdens of wheat, ver. 7. turning judgement into hemlock, wormwood; building houses upon unrighteousness. ver. 12.13. turning aside the poor in the gate, from his right. verse 13. Therefore the prudent shall keep silence. 2. Their sufferings: which were twofold; 1 Corporall. 2 Spiritual. 1. Their Corporal sufferings mentioned ver. 2. they shall fall and not rise; a thousand shall go out, and but an hundred shall return. or, an hundred go out, and but ten return to a City. Israel, when they went forth to wars was wont Decimari, to be tithed forth. ver. 16.17. fly from one danger and fall into a worse, from a Lion to a Bear; a Serpent, both in field and house. 2. Spiritual, viz. Gods slighting, abominating, abhorring their sacrifices, fats, farinals; not smelling at their solemn feasts, fasts. Away, avaunt to their melodies, incense, and viols. ver. 22.23. And the prudent's silence in this evil day, may be a Judgement, as a sin. 4. The cure, remedy, removal of this lamentation. Consisting of exhortations, threats, directions, vers. 6. Seek ye me, and ye shall live. ver. 8. seek the Lord, lest he break out as fire in the house of Joseph. Seek the Lord, that made the seven stars and Orion, that turns the shadow of death into morning. ver. 9.14. that strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong. Seek ye good and not evil, so the Lord of hosts shall be with you. ver. 15. hate evil, and love good, establish judgement in the gate, so the Lord will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. And think not to tickle the ears of the Lord with the empty airs of your viols; But let judgement run down as waters, and righteousness as the mighty stream. And thus at length we have met with our text again: in handling whereof, we shall observe this method. 1. The Explication. 2. The Observation. 3. The Confirmation. 4. The Application. 1. In the explication, the sense of the 1 Scope. 2 Terms. 1. For the scope, many are the Conceptions of Interpreters. Some think it a naked exhortation q. d. I weigh not your external fumes of formalities in my worship, but earn after your hearts real sincerity. Calvin. in loc. Others repute it a pressure to repentance, with a stating the symptoms thereof, viz. a rectitude in judgement and righteousness toward God and man. A third sort rove far from the mark, as if God threatened his judgements against Israel's hypocrisy. Who hoped to pacify an angry God with outsides, as children do their babies, puppets, with fair words and silken clouts. A fourth sense is that the words are a solution to a vain objection, thus, What, will not hear, smell at what himself commands? Yes: yet not at these externals only and simply; but let judgement also and righteousness run down as waters, etc. A last party repute it a prophecy, reaching the clearer days of Christ's larger manifestations. When the Son of righteousness shall appear with healing under his wings. Mal. 4.2. I'll not clash, but close the various opinions of Godly expositors, and say, 'Tis an exhortatory prophecy, or prophetical exhortation. For Calvin renders it in the future, decurret, shall run down. The Interlineary, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Devolvat, ve-Jiggall, in the imperative, let it roll down; as if the first made it a prophecy, the second an exhortation. In this exhortatory prophesy, are 1. The Object, or things exhorted, or prophesied of, scil. Judgement and Righteousness. 2 The act or motion, let it run down, or it shall roll down. 3 The Manner of this motion, under a double metaphor of 1 Waters in the plural. 2 Mighty stream or strong torrent. And now secondly, are we arrived to the Explication of the terms. Mishphat, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 judicare, judicium exercere, or litem tractare, to Judge, exercise Judgement, or handle a controversy; which skill leans on four particulars. 1. Consultation: wherein these two must sit supreme; thus David about the Arks return, 1 Chr. 13.1. consulted with the Captains of thousands, and Captains of hundreds, and every leader, yea with Levites, Priests and all Israel, ver. 2, 3, etc. 2. Pleading: Where these two must fix on the lips and conscience; Job (ch. 13.4.) questions his friends, whether they durst plead a lie for God: if not, much less for any man. 3. Pronunciation of sentence: Here these two must stand on the right and left hand, without respect of persons in judicials, Rom. 2.11. Prov. 15.17. 'Tis equal abomination, to condemn the righteous, and acquit the nocent. 4. Execution of sentence: To which motion these two Sluices should be so opened, that all corruptions in persons, things, actions, may be swept away out of Churches and Common Wealths. Eccles. 8.11. Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil: Ergo, Let judgement run down as water, and righteousness, etc. Tsedecha, from Tsadick, Divisum, divided; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Righteousness divides to each one his due portion, according to right proportion. Thus Solomon with his sword divides true justice to the two mothers, and the sword is still Justice's emblem. 2 King. 2.8. Elisha with his mantle divides the waters, and passeth over safely: This division is the author and completer of our safeties. Its parts are divided Into 1. Commutative: consisting in bargain, sale, contract. 2. Distributive: comprehended 1 In Praises, recompenses for well doing. 2 In Punishments for evil doers, Romans 2.8.9.10, 11. These two last are the legs of Commonwealths, and Churches; if either be wanting, the whole body halts; If both, 'tis a Dagons' trunk. Some distinguish judgement from righteousness, as if the first consisted in condemning condemnables, and the second in approving approvables. Job 36. ver. 17. Let Judgement and Righteousness take hold on thee. Often one is set for the act, the other for the manner. Ps. 9.8. Shall minister Judgement to the people in righteousness. Christ join them, John 7.24. Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgement. Sometimes Righteousness is taken more strictly, for defending and rewarding God's people; and Judgement imports an avenging wrath on God's enemies, but what God hath joined, let no man separate. And thus we are come to the second General of my method, Which is the observation from the whole words. Doct. A main cure of corruptions, is, when judgement, righteousness, execution, resembles the rolling of waters, and mighty streams. Proof. Psal. 72 contains a Prophecy of Christ under Solomon's type, who is fronted in the dedication; a Psalm for Solomon: Give thy Judgements to the King, and thy Righteousness to the King's son. ver. 3. then the issue is, Mountains shall bring peace. ver. 4 the children of the needy shall be saved, the oppressor broken. verse 5. they shall fear thee as long as the Sun and Moon endures. ver. 6. he shall come down as rain upon the mown grass, as showers that water the earth. And so wash away corruptions out of Common wealths and Churches; such were Ezra, Nehemiah, etc. in their days: and Christ in his, John 2 15. whips away buyers, sellers in the Temple; and hucksters of Justice will be whipped away by those defluxions. To clear this channel more perspicuously, Three circumstances in the Text may be dived into more deeply. 1 The term à quo, couched in the term ad quem; run down, therefore were first above. 2 The term ad quem, arguing the descent of judgement, etc. 3 The intervenient motion; run, or roll. 1. Judgement, righteousness must derive their pedigree from above, James 1.17. Psalm 8.9. Justice and judgement are the habitation of his throne; he loves them highly. Psal. 33.3. God calls his Vice-gerents Gods, and their seats are above men, to stamp on their spirits Jehoshaphats charge, 2 Chron. 19.6. Take heed what you do; for ye judge not for man; but the Lord is with you (on the Bench) in Judgement. Vers. 7. Wherefore let the fear of the Lord be upon you: Take your judgements from him. The nearer men's laws border on Gods, the clearer they run. Other waters are dead, deadden, deadly, breed barrenness, bursting and death, as those of Jealousy, Num. 5. they can rise no higher than the fountain. Self, man, corruption can cast forth nothing but mire, Isa. 48. ult. Such were our Regalian, Episcopalian, carnalian streams, lately cried up by some leprous Naamites: Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? 2 King. 5.12 2. The term ad quem; Down, Psal. 133.3. as oil from Aaron's head, beard, to the meanest skirt of the garment: it must as well reach a poor Naboth, as a potent Ahab; Too long have our waters been turned into blood, Psalm 105.25. with not only a tenth, but a fifth part of our men, Rev. 8.10. Were turned into wormwood, gall, hemlock, Jer. 8.19. Now since Immanuel is more gloriously discovered, imitate him, Psal. 68.5, 6. who is the Father of the father less, a judge of widows causes. v. 6. Sets the Solitary into families, brings bondmen out of chains, but drives the Rebels to dwell in a dry Land. 3. The intervenient motion; run, roll without demur, the laws common leprosy in England. What Tully said of Oratory, Elocution is the choicest part. Augustine of Christianity, humility is the best ornament. I of Law, wise expedition is the most beautiful piece. Waters, streams, seas motions, run in a Circular circuit. From the Seas, waters are sucked up by the Sun into the clouds, these unbucket themselves into the hills, thence flow your fountains, these by pores crawl into the rivulets and brooks; which meeting in an assembly, unite their powers into mighty streams, and these lay themselves down into the oceans lap again. One act denominates not; the text names waters in the plural (not a few dribbling drops) which rise into a strong torrent. At the world's deluge, we find a conspiring concurrence of them. 1. From the swollen Seas. 2. Then from the big bellied rivers. 3. Heavens open their windows, else could never swinge away a whole world of corruptions. Gen. 6.12. Truly, our channels in Churches, Commonwealths, are yet mighty foul, need these mighty waters, streams, to cleanse them. So fall we into the third General, the confirmation of the Observation, by Reasons taken from waters. 1. Reas. Celerity: streams will not be interrupted in their journey: If you pervert or divert them into many or undue courses (as Alexander vapoured over Ganges, to cut it into several channels) they'll soon lose their name and glory. These two should keep like Mary, to what Christ commanded his Disciples Luk. 10.4. salute no man in the way. Court Bribey Greet them, they must make no halt; not stalk in a Portugal pace. And yet may not run as Ahimaaz, with an imperfect errand; but as Cushai, with the full truth. This speedy motion argues them from above, James 3.3 last verses. Thus God ran down on Israel's cry in Egypt, and on the sins cry in Sodom, without delays, after just scrutiny, Slow obedience is the first step to disobedience, which is rebellion, the sin of witchcraft. 1. monstrous. 2 hardly forsaken. 1. Whereto tends needless delays, but to keep the differencing party more irreconcilable? 2 To play the box with the client's purse? 3 To squeeze tears from the eyes of oppressed orphans and widows? which argues no truth of Religion, James 1. ult. 4 To offer a rape on these pure virgins, judgement, righteousness? 5 To spread a general mischief, as they who stop streams from a mill, or water from a common conduit; hazarding many lives of 1. bodies, 2 states, 3 reputations, 4 souls. O the quarrels started 'twixt the Patriarches and Phylistins about damning up the fountains! Jer. 21.12. Execute judgement in the morning (i) timely, speedily. Soldiers that must die, rather choose a speedy bullet, than a lingering prison. 2 Rea. From their purity and cleanness. 2 Rea. 1 From base passions of love, fear, hope, etc. 2. Clearness from respect of persons, declaimed against in many Scriptures. 3. Clearness from all sinful self ends, 2. Chron. 9.17. Solomon's throne is of Ivory; pure gold overlaying it; two lions standing by the stays. Lions are free from mous-like. fear: 'twas Ivory, not iron; noting all iron cruelty in Counsels, plead, sentencing and executions to be absent thence; not too hard against innocent and harmless; not leaden, and easily turned to every side. Isa. 1.6. complains their silver was turned to dross, their gold to tin. Ours of late into Excrements: A monstrous metamorphosis, desperate degradation! their wine into water, ours lately into poison. Our Princes were companions of thiefs. First, Cheated cunningly, by others hands; or secondly, commandingly, by open violence. These corruptions are intolerable in any, in every place, most abominable in places of Judicatory, ordained to sponge away all such filthiness. Grand sins in hell are no novel spectacles; But in heaven, in heavens Representative, Gods; (so God himself styles them, Psalm 82.2, 3. this staggers the wisest Solomon, Eccles. 3.16. Moreover I saw under the sun, the place of Judicatory, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. This in strangers to the Commonwealth of Israel were no strange thing; but a prodigy in the Commonwealth of Israel. Where (not Prince's sons) but poor orphans went with pitchers in hand, and returned not only empty of water, but full of mud; yea, their pitchers broken; Our fountains have resembled Monastical Ponds, not only full of children's, but men's, women's, children's, and whole families skulls. May not our God take up Jeremiahs' Quere, chap. 5. 7. Shall I pardon for these things? shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? Some writers say, some waters in Macedonia being drunk by black sheep, change their fleece into white. Nothing but the pure administration of judgement and righteousness can transform our blackmouthed, blackhanded, blackhearted adversaries into white, who cry, our corruptions are greater than in time of Regal Tyranny, as if Rehoboams little finger were heavier than his Father's loins. 3 Reas. From water's naturalness of motion; 3. Reas. whence issues their facilicy and constancy in running down: this flows from internal principles. Indeed a new nature makes judgements race untireable; and truly, piety is the best policy. Policy forceth Judgements streams as waters out of a pump. If the crew in the ship be compelled overlong to sweat at pump, 'twill tyre the Mariners, and sink the vessel and goods. The Politicians hieroglyphic, is, A man standing on his head, grasping the grass with his hands, kicking heavenward with his heels. Such a station must be very short, and such supports must soon yield and fail in such a preposterous posture. Rehoboams young Counsellors could no more fasten his throne, than a tower in the air: nor Jeroboams calves no more confirm the crown to posterity, than a sucking babe protect a kingdom from an army of Giants. What is natural, is facile and amiable, yea irresistible. As law constrains, so nature loves its own actings. Can you command the seas at low water to stand still without reflux; or at full, to keep its mark without flux? Omnia difficilia facilia et propè. Nulla efficit amor. Imitate then the grand Judge, Psal. 33.5. who loves judgement and righteousness; do the like. Love makes all things that are difficult, easy; yea, as nothing. 4 Reas. From its irresistibleness. Court, compliment the running waters, chide or check the mighty streams, they'll drive on, as Jehu, furiously; time, tide, stays for no man. If any great log lie in the streams way, they'll roll them along; if any trash choke their channels, they'll besom them before them into the grand ocean. Nor friend nor foe, nor bribe nor promotion, nor self nor passion, should withstand their passages. Remember the Fig trees resolve, Shall I leave my sweetness to become a wooden King? Felix may leave Paul in prison gaping for a bribe; Herod may a while fear the people, which may stave John from a present decollation. Pilat may tremble at the loss of Caesar's friendship, and so may give up innocence itself against his conscience, to gratify Jews: But is not Herod afterward haunted with John's Ghost, and Pilat with Satan's hells scourges? Love of safety, self, ease, honour, have too long stopped our streams; now times of reformation are fallen upon us, and Christ gins to shine in a more Gospel splendour; let not a shut, a bolted door, or gate of brass be able to keep him out from entering our everlasting doors, Psal. 24. But let judgement run down as waters, and righteousness as the mighty streams. I am now arrived at the fourth general, the Application. 1. Use Reacheth every soul that heareth me this day. 1 Use. 1. Art thou righteous, and hast troubled the defluxion of those waters, streams? then hast thou fallen down before the wicked, and art a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring; Pro. 25.26. that troubles the streams which glide from it. Thy misexamples are infectious. 2. Art thou unrighteous? then art thou one of them who have raised this lamentation in this chapter, as high as heaven. Thy sins are the troublers of England, as achan's of Israel. God may for thine own only sake, turn his back upon all our Armies, and make us fly before our Enemies. Again, art thou a private man? as man, thou art a Microcosm, a little world; and can the world continue without water and streams; and these in a constant successive defluxion? these two must have their irresistible race in all thy borders, else art thou as Israel's land in three years and half wanting rain, ready to starve all that lived in it; thy gifts must whither, thy Grace will shrivel, thy comforts shall languish and be near giving up the Ghost. Pro. 14.34. If righteousness exalt a nation from a dunghill to a throne; unrighteousness will tumble it from a throne to a dunghill, how soon then shall it demolish a private man's foundation? Thou complainest the ship is leak, many foot of water in the hold, every particular hand must take its spell at the pump, else the vessel is like to perish for ever. Again hast thou a family, and lamentest the Great corruptions that swarm in Commonwealth and Churches? Let the waters in thine own cistern be clear. Oh that each family in this Land, were as George Duke of Anhalts Chamber, Academia, Curia, Templum. 1. An University, to dispute what waters, streams have run down from Governors, Parents, Masters, Fathers, to servants, children, inferiors. This carelessness is the ruin of Great and many families. 2. A Court, to pass severe sentence, and see its execution on all corruptions that bubble up under their jurisdiction; Eccles. 8.11. Elies' cruel indulgence, cool reproofs, broke the neck, back, and bulk of all that posterity. 3. A Temple, for prayer, praise, holy conferences, heavenly practices, and Christian encouragements, how soon would this hush our general complaints 'gainst commanders, and turn the mouth of the Canon upon our own neglects? Families are Churches, Commonwealths Nurseries. As these trees here are good or bad, such will be the fruits in the Orchards. Should God come, as once to the Vineyard, Luke 13.6.7. and find no fruits of righteousness, he might after a hundred years manuring, trimming, not only threaten, but actuate a decision from the Land of the Living. Do not many Masters, Parents, Governors actions speak cain's language, Genesis 4. Am I my brother's keeper? Or the blind man's Fathers Idiom; he is of age, let him speak for himself? But their blood cries loud in heaven for vengeance, on such servant slayers, children killers. 3. You that are Judges, Magistrates on bench, at bar, if you hasten not forth to help the Lord against those violent, mighty torrents of headstrong corruptions, that like the host of Sisera, threaten our desolation; not I, but the Angel of God threatens a doubled curse against you, Judges 5.23. Curse ye Meroz bitterly, etc. I cannot read of any such obligation on Meroz to come into the Lords help, as I know lies on you, who have your titles from him, to mind you of your duties, scil. to stand for him; not to fight for God, is to fight against him. Can God fight against God; or Michael's angels against Michael? Are you not Gods? Psalm 82.2. Are you not stars in the higher sphere? stars never fought against Israel, but against Sisera. Psalm 82.6. I have said, Ye are Gods, and all of you are children of the most high ('tis monstrous to see children imbattel their own Father) ver. 7. but ye shall die like men, and fall as one of the Princes (remember such a one not long since hath fallen) for helping the mighty against God, ver. 8. Arise O Lord, judge thou the earth. If men in power of Judicature, judge not for God, he'll arise and take the helm into his own hand, and judge the Judges. Let me leave one text of Scripture seriously to be ruminated by you, when I am far remote from you, 'tis Moses charge to the two tribes and half, whose hearts were glued to a plantation on this side Jordan. Num. 32.23. If ye do not this (help your brethren against a numerous Enemy) behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out, first, to a discovery. Secondly, or battery, or both, as Achan's did. 4. Are you Jurymen, take these two companions in the text, in your consciences, as ye go hence to the Hall, And David's resolve as he went to the Temple, Psalm 26.6. I will wash my hands in innocency, so will I compass thine altar, O Lord. Washed in such a Bath, you may compass the bar boldly, cheerfully. The lives and estates not only of present persons, but future posterities hang upon your lips, take these assistants to your consults, results. 1. A good conscience. 2. Scripture Evidence. 3. Christian compassionateness. 4. Right consideration of your latter ends, in which is wrapped up much of wisdom, Deut. 32.29. O that my people were wise, that they would consider their later ends. When the great King of Jury must pass a verdict on all your verdicts, Juries, and souls. And that without any the least atom of hope of reversing it. though all the Angels of heaven and Saints there should beg it in tears of blood. 5. You witnesses, carefully carry with you these two in the text; ere any one word run rashly down from your lips, harken to the charge, Pro. 14.25. ye that are true ones, A faithful witness delivers souls, in the plural, of selves and others: ye that are false ones) but a false witness destroys souls; of selves as others. The scope is to show what power is hinged on your tongues testimonies, viz. to save, or sink the estates, credits, and lives of many, many. Go ye false ones, and read your neck verse, Pro. 24.28. A false witness shall not escape. viz. God's tribunal; though he may, often doth man's. 2. Use. Consists in exhortation, 2 Use. to each soul in the Nation. Every man hath had a finger in breeding these Cobwebs of Corruption, in weaving these spider frames of poison. Let each one with all might, labour a sweeping them down; throw them into the fire: to which purpose take these Excitations, or Arguments. 1. Motive. From the Exuberancy of these corruptions, Gen. 6.12. 1 Motive. The whole earth had corrupted their ways before God. And this brings in a deluge that destroys all to eight persons. A flood of blood hath been drowning many thousands of English souls of late; and are our corruptions fewer then formerly? instead of superstitions, Idolatries, etc. recited in this chapter, bolstered in England, have not hideous blasphemies, hellish heresies, uncouth Errors risen up in their room? and have not some of the prudent kept sile nce, because 'twas an evil time? should not therefore our david's, their swordmen, Levites, Priests, all Israel, unite shoulders, help to reduce the Ark from the Philistims, and settle it in its due posture, place, basis! 1 Chron. 13.1.2. I confess corruptions are more than my memory, or this time permits a repetition, much less a declamation; I shall therefore epitomise all in one Grand one, Thievery, General Thievery. I have heard of a Corporation of Thiefs in the Great City, some termed standers, others walkers, etc. I wish it were banished the Land, or confined to London walls only. But, Illiacoes intra muros peccatur & extra; This (as the fashions) hath its Country house also. Formerly this Corruption sat on the Throne, clothed with Tissue, Isa. 1.11. formerly it sat in the Consistory, robed in Lawn sleeves; formerly it sat on the Bench, clad in scarlet; formerly it stood in the pulpit, covered with sable: Anciently the Lord found it too common among the old Prophets, insomuch that he declares himself against it, and them, Jer. 23.30. Behold, I am against those Prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my word every one from his neighbour. These had almost stolen away our Laws, liberties, lives, and our Lord Jesus too, (if possible) and would have lain him we know not where. And are our corruptions clean washed from our church channels? I dare not spare my own coat: Are there not some of the younger fry of false Prophets, that can steal in print, imprint those stealths, justify those stolen impressions even with imprecations? And when all is done, all is Featly Done. I should be larger in presenting you a mess of such ones, heterodox hogpodges; but I'll shun the imputation of Envy, and fall on the second Motive. 2 Motive. From the necessity of these two, 2 Motiv. as of waters, streams in a Land; how can the inhabitants live without these? will not that place be truly, what false Spies said falsely of Canaan, a Land that eats up the inhabitants thereof? nay, must I not say, a Land, the inhabitants whereof eat up one another? Eccles. 1.7. All the rivers are still running into the seas, else could not be maintained by the seas, not the seas without the rivers. What quiet in Commonwealths, Churches, men's estates, or God's Worship, or what graces increase, support, continuance, without a constant progress of these two? They mistake a Regulation, that repute it an Annihilation; pure waters are wholesomer than puddled ones, which Tyrannical Elephants have thickened to fish, not see their faces in. 'Tis a curse, that the heavens shall be turned into brass, Deu. 28.23. earth into iron; yet want of waters pulls down this curse suddenly, irremediably. And death consequently must seize on all the vegetables, sensitives, rationals; Yea, the whole Creation must soon surcease its successive Individuals. Three years and a halfs want of water beleaguers King, Peasant, man and beast. Elias rain, is Israel's resurrection to life, and, our text waters, streams to England. While no King in Israel, Judge's ult. every one did what he list: by King is meant supreme Governor, for then Israel did not the perirs reges, as in samuel's time, when that Idol was as much doted on by Israel, as by all other nations; but its better being where nil licet, then omnia. Now self is the universal Idol, Nebuchadnezzers Image; burn them in hot furnace, that bow not down at its command, and pipe. 3. Motive. 3 Motive. From the several Excellencies found in waters, streams; too many to Enumerate in so short a scantling; take a taste of some few. 1. These quench flames, fires, heats; so timely execution of judgement doth the contentions in Kingdoms, Commonwealths, Dum crastinam semper apparamus aquam, praesenti conflagramur incendio. Churches, Countries, corporations, families; it neglected, occasions the rulne of all. Rome fell by its own civil flames, conflagrations. 2. These conjoin heterogenealls. God and Israel are at odds, Joshuah and the Camp fly Enemies, Achans stealth hath created this Chasma; judgement, righteousness ran down as waters, streams, on the delinquent, and God and Israel are thereupon reunited, as the chappie earth meets, becomes one, after some continued showers, Josh. 7. 3. They Enliven most Creatures, hold up their lives by the chin Isa. 10.2. the fishes die when waters dry. The lives of states and Churches must expire where is no, or no due administration of Justice. Armies without these crumble to Atoms; and nations untwist to nothingness. 4. They purge, cleanse the streeets channels, sources; so do these two in the text, a land, from 1 Corruptions, 2 Corrupters. 3 Corrupted ones. All which defile a Land as much, nay more than whoredom or Solomon's whore, which breeds innumerable transgressions. Right Honourable, the due source of these two in the text will gladden the City of our God, Psal. 64.4. and as much sadden the Citizens of Babylon. 'Twill not only exalt, but keep our Commonwealth in an established exaltation; Yea, lift your heads above your Enemies. 'Twill break in shatters the complicated confederacies of all our Enemies, Isaiah 8.10.11, 12. even for Immanuel, and keep God with us. 'Twill fatten your own souls, estates, purses, posterities, Proverbs 11.25. He that watereth, shall be watered, as a gardener by watering his flowers, herbs, roots, advanceth then growth, and his profits by their advance. Last of all, it will cleanse the cankers in Churches and States, drive away our Egyptian frogs, that have been one of our former plagues, change our mournings into melodies, our lamentations into leapings, skippings for joy; our real complaints into rich contents, and our sorrows into a song, not unlike that of Angels. Glory be to God on high, on earth peace, good will unto men: Amen. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. An APPENDIX, showing 1. the rise, 2. progress, 3. issue of a difference between the Author, and Master Samson Bond prementioned in the frontispiece. 1. MAster Bond preaching in Keverne, on Matth. 5.8. divides it into 1. the purchase, blessedness. 2. the price, purity in heart. 3 perpetuity, they shall see God: had the second branch excepted against by Master Sweet the incumbent, alleging that purity in heart could not be price of that purchase, blessedness: Master Bond maintains it; a dispute is concluded. Many at the time appointed flock to hear it. The lists are entered. Master Bond proves impar congressus, flies to supplications, whereinvents many nonsensicalities (as the author is credibly informed,) and the assembly is dismissed. Master Bond then did cadere causay. Not long after Mr. Bond addresseth, by a bold Mercury, a certificate of his own abilities, and orthodoxness, unto ten of us Ministers then met at Truro, desiring our subscriptions; which we denied because of this dispute, writing to them both to meet us at Halston: There Master Sweet modestly, briefly opens his accusation. Master Bond as strenously justifies his second branch, and vents this position, that the purity in heart, and blood of Christ were one and same thing. Our Prolocutor replies, thereby he had confounded Logic and Divinity; for purity was the effect, Christ's blood its cause: to this effect we most of us spoke as the Spirit gave utterance. M. B. Justifying some absurdity produce a printed Sermon. Then the Author produced Master Bonds book on Romans 12.1, preached before the Committee of assembly of Divines, May 20. 1646. Master Ley being chairman, and giving Master Bond only a days Preparation, (as his frontispiece avers) Master Bond seemed to deny the book to be his. But soon after confessed, through want of time he was forced to be beholding to another's library. Thus much for the Rise. 2. Progress. The Author a while after called before Justices to depose what he heard of unsoundness in M. Bonds preaching, took oath, 1. that M. Bond said in Gluvius pulpit, that believers had not only Grace enough, but more then enough. 2. That Christ's blood and purity in heart were all one 3. that M. Bonds sermon preached on Romans 12.1. was for the fourth part, or there about stolen out of Doctor Featlies' works. 4 that M. Bond seemed at first to disown that book; but afterward confessed he was forced through want of time to be beholding to another's labour. At these last words M. Bond replies, God give you repentance, M. Peter for your perjury; you have taken a false oath, I never spoke such a word. Hereupon the Author bond him to the good behaviour; M. Bond appears, justifies the words, travenseth, sonds for two certioraries; and near a year spent in the suit. At Bodmine Sessions Mr. Bond gives these words in the face of the Bench, M. Peter is a perjured man, and I'll prove him a perjured man: on this the Author seeks a trial in Guildhall, but his witnesses not there, 'twas brought down to our assizes. Many importunities were made to the Author for a reference, which he declines, till come to the bar where M. Bond's three Counsellors sue for a reference my Lord chief Justice moving the Author, 'tis yielded unto: since which time, M. Bond vents many falsehoods, 1. that the Author first sought a reference: 2. that the Author at bar desired it from some of Master Bonds counsel, nominatim from M. Yard. 3. that the Author's Counsellor, Mr. Long also entreated a Reference, and many the like which M. Quarum Minister of Manaan refuted to his face, and on oath. 3. The Issue, the day of reference came, Master Bond protesteth he never called the Author perjured, yet was it proved by the oaths of Master High Sheriff, Master Quarum, Master Halse, Master Upcot, all three Ministers; also by the oaths of Master Pierca, Master Littleton, and testimony of absent Master Coode: sothat Master Bond is told, he must acknowledge his error; who returns this, I'll die first, but after a space, he is ordered to pay the Author's costs, and confess his fault; which he did very oddly. The Order was very easy, and if justice be done to the Author, he shall silence his pen: if not, here's room enough to discover the final period. FINIS.