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L'ie Mercurii, 25. Decemb. 1644.
IH
)
T is this day Ordered by the Commons
Houſe of Parliament That Maſter
Heveningham and Maſter Liſle, do from
this Houſe give thanks to Maſter Thorow-
good and Maſter Langley, for the great
pains they took in the Sermons they
Preached this day, at the intreaty of this
Houſe at Saint Margarets Weſtminſter (it
being the day of Publike Humiliation,)
and to deſire them to Print their Sermons:
And it is Ordered, that none ſhall preſume
to Print their, or either of their Sermons,
without firſt obtaining liberty under their
hand writing
H. Elſynge, Cler.Parl.D.Com.
I do appoint Philemon Stephens to Print
my Sermon.
John Langley.

વિષમ
sa ခန္ဓာ
Gemitus Columba:
The Mournfull Note of the
DOVE
SERMON
A
Preached at MARGARET S Weſtminſter ,
Before the Honourable Houſe of COM
MMONS,
at their Solemn Faſt, Decemb.25. 1644.
S2
By John Langley, Miniſter of Weſt-Tnderly
in the County of Southampton , and a Member
of thc Aſſembly of DIvIN E S.
Cant. 2, 14.
O my Dove that art in the clefts of the Rock, in the ſecret places of the
ſtaires : Let me ſee thy countenance, let me hear thy voice ; for fweet is thy
voice, and thy countenance is comely.
Pfal. 124, 1,2,3.
If it had not been the Lord who was on our fide, now may Ifrael ſay:
If it had not been the Lord who was on our ſide, when men roſe up againſt
us : Then they had ſwallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled
againſt us.
Verf. 7. Our ſoul is eſcaped as a Bird.
London, Printed by Joh. Raworth for Philemon Stephens, dwel-
ling in Pauls Church-yard at the Guilded-Lion. 1644.
SER ទីភ្នំភ្នំ ភ្នំ ភ្នំ ភ្នំ ភ្នំ ភ្នំ ភ្នំ : ខ្ញុំ ខ្ញុំន ងខ្ញុំ ខ្ញុំ ខ្ញុំ )
Thin
80820
English - Hanford
2-8-1923
BV
4287
428

To the Honourable Houſe of
COMMONS Aſſembled in
PARLIAMENT.
Honourable Senators,
Ivine providence having ſingled me
out by your call (though moſt unwor-
thy) to be his mouth to you, on the
day of your solemn Humiliation :
The deſire of my ſoul was to ſtir up
your pure mindes to a ſerious diſqui-
ſition, and a privy ſearch of thoſe
great and grievous provocations of ours, which cauſed the
Dove to flutter up and down, not having a ſure place to
reſt the fole of her foot on, being expoſed to fundry dangers
on all bands, and as yet denied the opening of a Window
to let her into an Ark, where she might be ſafe and free
from all Military fears.
I found the Dove degenerated and changed into a
speckled Bird, leaving her Mate, the Lord Jeſus, and
A 3
following
417420


11
20
ERS

To the Honourable Houſe of Commons

rall.
following after other lavers. I found the Doves divided
amongſt themſelves, and exerciſing deadly feude, like
thoſe Birds, the Siskin and the Miskin, of whom Plu-
Plutarch Mo- tarch reports, That they fight at every meeting, and
when they are dead, their blood will not mingle, but runs
apart.
Great are the diftra&tions for the preſent, and unleſſe
Godin great mercy put in and prevent, pugnent ipfique
nepotes, Quarrels are like to be entaild and bound over
to poſterity, as the Wars againſt the Romans were, from
Amilcar to his fon Hannibal : And I would they were
againſt the Romans : But Brethren contend and ſtrive
againſt Brethren, and that in the view of Infidels, defpe-
rately Heatheniſh Cavaliers, and at ſuch a time when the
Harpy and the Kite are like to ſweep away all
.
I endeavour'd to apply ſome remedies, inſiſting upon the
Soveraign Panace or Catholicon of zealous Prayer and
Devotion, the most ſucceſſefull infuſion in every Recipe
or Porion. Then amongſt the brief ſuggeſtions hinted for
the preſervation of the Dove towards the cloſe, exécu-
tion of Juſtice, as not of the leaſt importance, was pre-
fented to you.
Bleffed Anditours, qui verba ſtatim vertiſtis in
opera who were preſently doers of the Word, and not
hearers onely, deceiving your felves. How acceptable this
Work was unto the Lord, I undertake not to prove from the
Vulgar obſervation of the Suns breaking forth in a gloomy
day, with the greateſt luftre, immediately upon the ſtroke
given to the Grand Impoſtour, and notorious Delin-
Ariſtotle Eib. quent, though the very Heathen could
ſay that Heſperus
the bright Morning Star, in all its glory, is not arrayed as
Aftræa or Juſtice; but the acclamations ſent in from
Heaven

Afſembled in PARLI A MENT.
Tamberland
Heaven preſently after (for ſo I interpret the flowings in
of ſo much good news from ſundry parts of the Land) do
abundantly declare : The croaking Frogs of Egypt will
not henceforth take you for a Log that may be leapt on,
and trifled with at pleaſure, and you may put in your plea
againſt black-month'd obloqwie.
Eft Deus in nobis agitante caleſcimus illo.
You are a ſcourge of God on the back of fools, on
better Principles and Grounds, and acted by an Higher
and Nobler fpirit, then he was who afumed this Title to
himſelf.
The beſt way to ſtanch a dangerous bleeding, is to make
a diverſion, and to open a vein in another part of the
Body: Like good Chirurgions, by letting out the blood
of ſome heinous offenders, you have affayed the ſtanching
and ſtopping of that unnaturall bloody iſſue in the Land,
E
which hath brought it very low. Quot vulnera, tot ora,
So many Wounds as were in the Land, ſo many Mouthes
were opened, as 'twere calling upon you for this neceſary
Phlebotomy; And ſo many Wounds ſeem ſo many Mouthes
to praiſe God for you, who by this means have endeavoured
thein all
'Tis obſerved, that the worſt husbands in all the world, Cumaks,
are found in Egypt, neer Nilus, that is a brave River,
and doth inundate and overflow all the bordering grounds,
and makes them very fruitfull: Hence the people grow
Careleffe in the exerciſe of all points of good Husbandry.
There is a River of ſweeteſt Providence, that makes glad Plal. 46.
City of our God in theſe adtimes; yet bleſſed be God,
you are not wanting in your good Husbandry, and neceßa-
ry Cooperations with it. The Lord reward plentifully
into your boſomes all your labour's of love, all your laying's



the
Out
To the Honourable Houfe, &c.

out for the poor men wounded, between Jericho and
* Belluno Epif- Jeruſalem, and left half dead, whom the * Levite
copale. hath paped by, ſhall 1fay, without compaſsionating or re-
lieving ? nay, hath wounded and mangled, and done his
worſt to kill bim out-right.
The good will of him that dwelt in the Buh, bleffe you,
overſhadow you, and compafe you about with his loving
kindneſe for ever:
So prajes
your Honours
humbleft servant
in Chriſt Jeſus
John Langley
SM
A


I
A
Sermon Preached before the Ho-
nourable Houſe of COMMONS,
Decemb. 25. 1644.
S.
Psal M. 74. 19,20.
o deliver not the fowl of thy turtle Dove unto the multi-
tude of the wicked, or to the many beaſts: forget not the
Congregation of the poor for ever.
Have reſpect unto the Coverart, for the dark places of
the Earth are full of the habit ations of cruelty.
Ome grievous enemie was Propheſied of
here, who ſhould lye very heavy upon the
boſome of the Church, and threaten an u
ter devaſtation and deſolation of it, whether
Nebuchadnezar, or Antiochus, or whether
the Roman Eagle, that ſhould faſten her
pounces on the Dove;or whether this Pſalm reſpects all theſe
(as ſome think)'tis not cleer : fanſenius an ingenuous Papiſt,
conceives, it ſpecially relates to the perſecution of Antiochus,
and not to the defolation under the Roman Empire, or that
under Nebuchadnezzer: not to the firſt, for the Jews were
ytterly excæcated, fhut up under unbeleef,and could not pro-
B
perly
2
A Sermon Preached Decemb.25. 1644.

perly have been called the ſheep of Gods Paſture, verſo din
nor pauperes Dei, the poor of God, as in the Text: not to
the ſecond, for under Nebuchadnezzer, Ifrael had Prophets,
which is denied to the State of the people at this time ver.9:
There is no more any Propher. 'Tis remarkable in Janſenius,
that he takes hold of this, That what was done againſt the
Saints under Antiochus was a figure of the ſufferings and per-
fecutions that ſhould follow under Mahomet and another
Antichriſt befides him.
The next doubt is touching the Author and firſt compoſer
of the Pſalma, the Title beares Maſchil of Aſaph: now who
this Aſaph ſhould be, whether he lived in Davids time, or
whether ewere another of his order, or one of his family in
fucceeding times, we are at uncertairties. Tis ſufficient for
is to reſt in the firſt inditer, the Spirit of God, who made this.
nold and ſtandard in the Church to be viewed and made ufe
of by the Church, when an hour and power of darkneſſc
lay upon it; the word Maſchil in the Title implies ſo much,
which, as judicious Maſter Calvin obſeryes, is very rarely ſec
over a Pſalm, but where Gods Judgements and heavie cala-
mities are mentioned, and implies that ſuch a Pfalm may
give heavenly Inſtruction to people, how to carry themſelves
beſeemingly under the Croſſe, and how to implore the mercy
of God for the removall of it. Athanafius therefore propo-
fed this Pfalm to Marcellinus,as moſt uſefull, when the wrath
of God did lye very heavie upon a land.
It is ſtories of Agamemnon, that when he went to the Tro-
wars, he left certain grave Odes and Sonnets with his
Queen, by the peruſall of which ſhe might be kept chaſte till
his return: the Spirit of God hath left Hymns and Songs of
another nature and more noble ftrain, to keep the Dove of
Chriſt his Church chafte, while ſhe is abſent from the Lord,
that ſhe may not make a defection from him, no though ſhe
fhould be ſmitten down into a place of Dragons. This
Pſalm, amongſt the reſt of this nature, is left upon record,
wherein the Church panting hard and labouring for life un-
der many heavie preſſures, calls in for fuccaurs upon all the
win-

Before the Honourable Honſe of Commons.
3

think on
16. 17. V.
winning, endearing engagements that poſſibly she can
As firſt her neer relation, Sheep of paſture, Congrega-
tion of old. • not 1000 201
Secondly, the cruelty and infolency of the enemy, but fpe-
cially the hortid blaſphemy againſt God himſelf uttered
by him.
163
Thirdly, the power of God, exerciſed for the good of his
people; leen in extraordinary acts and that of old, in ſubduing
Pharoah and his hoft, 12, 13, 14, 15. 0.as alſo in ordinary
ſtanding acts, put forth in a way of ordinary providence,
Some termes in the Text are to be opened and cleared.com
Turtle Dove thin fo the modern interpreters read the
Hebrew. Others 47in the ſoul that praiſeth thee. Some read
anging the ſoul that loves thy Lam. Others compound all
theſe into one ſenſe thus : O deliver not the ſoul or life of the
Turtle Dove that loves thy Law, and delights to praiſe thee, 4n-
to the multitude of beaſts.
Another word is nin which ſignifies both a multitude
and wilde beaſts, Ainſworth therefore renders to the (wilde
crew) and we may well take the word for multitude of
beaſts, or a beftiall multitude.
1. Figuratively, a Turtle Dove, and ſtands in
In the words,
51. To God, 'tis very dear
1. The Church a double relation, to him,
is here de
2. To Man.
fcribed. 2. Litterally, a Congregation of poor, and
Turtle Doves is the ſame with it, but what
is the number of them, a little flock, 12.32.
i
Si nogo
2. The enemies 1. For quality, cruell Beaſts.
of it are de- 1 2. For number, very great, the word niat
(cribed ſignifies it, and 'tis faid, the dark places of
the earth are full of them.
Po 3. A main cauſe of their cruelty let down;
darkneffe, blindneſſe, ignorance.
B 2

3. The

4.
A Sermon Preached at the Faſt, Decemb.25. 1644•
Mar. 10,
3. The beſt means or engine to be uſed againſt them, is fer-
vent prayer. O deliver nor: which muſt be mounted upon
theſe advantages or motives.
1. Infirmity, 'tis a poor Turtle Dove, or Congregation of
poor, with reſpect to the Potency of the Adverſary: they are
very numerous, cruell, and barbarous.
2. The Covenant that God hath made with them, the
{trorigeſt enforcement of all.
1. The Church is reſembled to a Dove: place
A Dove is a low-priz'd creature, as appearts by that al-
lowance in the old Law, that they who could not compaffe
a Lambe might offer up a pair of Turtle Doves; and yet by
reaſon of the apparition of the Spirit of God in that like-
nelſe, and the Morrall fignifications God is pleaſed to put up-
on it in the Word, tis ſtampt with no ſmall worth and va-
luation.
I. A Dove is an innocent creature, not armed with beak.
or talons to do harm, a bird without gall as ſome obſerve,
therefore beinnocent as Doves, is the advice of Chriſt to his
Diſciples.. doda
2. Hence it follows, that tis weak and impotentto help
it ſelf againſt birds of prey.
3. The Turtle is very loving to her mate, very chaſt, twill
keep cloſe to her ftill: fo the good Chriſtian will not leave
Chriſt to turn to Idols. In the dayes of Julian, when Idols
were ſet up in every corner of the Chriſtians Temples, yet
then they made a ſhift to turn their eyes from beholding
vanity.00
4. Tis a cleanly bird, and feeds cleanly upon pure grain,
Carn, or Pulſe, or the like, fo the good foul feeds upon the
pure Word of God, cannot endure mens inventions or lying
Legends,
5. The Dove hath a very mournfull note , ſo the good
Chriftian; wo is me that I muſt dwell in Meſech, and have
may habitation in the Tents of Kedar.
Nowas the Metaphor hands in relation to God, Turtle
Dove. Obferve,
1. There


POL. 320

Before the Honourable Houſe of Commons.
5
1. There is a moſt ſweet foul-raviſhing intimacy and bo- I. Obfers
ſome familiarity that paſſeth between Chriſt and his people.
2. Lay the Turtle Dove to the Congregation of poor, and
then Note,
Gods people are an barmleſſe, innocent people, unſufficient al. 2. Obfero
together to help themſelves againſt their enemies, who are very
numerous, cruell and barbarous.
3. Ignorance in ſpirituall matters makes men brutiſh and 3. Obfer.
of a lavage diſpoſition.
i. Touching the firſt ;There is a moft ſweet intimacy, các.
The Song of Solomon proves it at large, ſuch paſſages as
theſe in fpeciall:
I am my beloveds, and my beloved'is mine. My love, my Dove, Cant. 1. 16:]
my fair one.
That book ſhews what ſweet billings, flutterings and em-
bracings do paſſe between them, what walks they do take
together in the gallery, what refreſhings in the Wine-cellar.
Let his money perilh with him
that reckons all the gold in
the world, worth one dayes fociety with Jeſus Chriſt and Beza inibis
fecond Mofes.
his Spirit: it was the ſpeech of Antoninas Carraétiola Mar-
queffe of Vico.
And as a paſſionate lover will paſſe through the fire and
the water with his beloved, ſo doth Chriſt with the good
foul, when thou art in the water I will be with thee, lo he
was with fonak, by interpretation, a Dove in the water; ſo he
was with Simon Ber-Ionab in the fire, in that fiery tryall of
his in the high Prieſts Hall:
The Dove cannot ſigh, or groan, but preſently he takes no-
tice of it, and is at hand with her, my groaning is nor hid froma Pfal. 38.8%
Lo I am with you alwayes unto the cud of the world, it is Mat. 28;
Chriſt's gracions promiſe to his Church, though the words
principally reſpect the Apoſtles , yet they take in by their
reach and complexure all good Chriſtians, and an aſterisk
or quickning note of attention is ſet before the word, Loi
am with you alwayes. The ground of this intimacy is Chriſts
own beauty, which reflects upon himſelf; which makes
thee. 19 visar
B 3
him

6
A Sermen Preached, Decemb.25.1644.
him fo amorous out of meaſure. He caſts beauty upon his
zeck. 16. Spouſe, his Dove, and then huggs his own picture, even ſo
far,that as Narciſſus by a fiction is ſet out viewing his own
image in a fountain, and lay over it gazing and catching after
it, and killing it, and could hardly be drawn from it; ſo
Chriſt doth infinitly much more in deed and truth imbrace
and hugg a gracious ſoul, and follow ſuch an one with moſt
tender affection : Hence, that joy unſpeakable and glorious
S. Peter ſpeaks of, wherewith the ſoul is filled, hence thoſe
raviſhments and ſpringings of ſpirit ſometimes in Gods
Mr. Fox his
Mareks his Children, as in maſter Glover at the ſtake, he cries out, Hess
Martyrs.
come, he is come
Wobe to him that is alone, who cannot addreſſe himſelf
to Chriſt under the notion of a Turtle Dove, in fad times
of affli&ion, tentation, or perſecution, to moan to him and
receive comfort from him ; ſurely a Staphylus or a Spira
could beſt ſet out the hell that ſuch an one muſt needs carry
about with him in his boſome.
What an unſpeakable comfort and quickning vertue doth
Si es basa ſuch a twining and pairing carry along with it, even joy and
ſtrength, and Spirituall boldneſſe and contentation: the ence
of the truth, Prieſts and Sadduces, when they ſaw the
boldneſle of Peter and John, and perceived that they were un-
Icarned and ignorant men, they marvelled, and they took
knowledge of them that they had been with Jeſus: the Tur-
tle will carry away a ſent and relliſh from her mate.
& Sam. 30.6.
David was in a very ſad plight at Ziglag, the city was
burnt with fire by the Amalakites, his wives were taken
priſoners by them, and the wives and friends of the people,
and the people were ready to ſtone him, yet he encouraged
himſelf in his God.
Yet notwithſtanding though they be thus highly honoured
and graced by God as to be his Turtle, they are deſpiſed and
perſecuted in the world.
Obſer. 2,
mo
Gods peaple are an barmclefſe innocent people, altogether unable
And unſufºcient to help themſelves againſt their enemies, who
ATE 178€rous, crwell, and barbarous.
Hence
mies
Act. 4.13.
hey be chausen

Before the Honorable Houſe of Commers.
7
14.
M21. 11.
Hence they are reſembled to ſheep, Doves; called in the Joh. 19.
Word, fatherleffe, orphans, little ones, babes, poor, ſimple,
Hof.
needy.
They are men bound to their good behaviour, may not
harbour fo much as a bad thoughe againſt any; are called to write tuits
fuffer, not to dowrong: julian did jeer at them for this, hendes
would ſtrike them on the one cheek, and tell them that their Hift. Ecclef.
Maſter taught them to turn the other ; his ſouldiers would
take away their cloaks, and minde them that they muſt part
with their coats alſo a solo tried
Out of their own good diſpoſitions they judge of others,
Vir bonuss formas
therefore may eaſily be deceived and entrapped : thus Gedali-
per ty;0.
ab, that ſweet man, would not beleeve the relation of Fohanan
touching the conſpiracy of that Crocodile Iſhmael againſt Jer. 4o.ulta
him, nay, was even angry with him for his faithfull dealing &.C.41.
that way, and it coſt him his life. That famous Admirall of
France, faſper Coligny, though he had information and intel-
ligence from ſundry parts beyond the Scas, that the Court did
intend to miſchief him, and that there was no ſecurity in Invitacoligneia.
their promiſes and agreements, though backt with oaths,
thruſt himſelf notwithſtanding upon the Lyon, and was
ſmoothed with one paw, and torn with the other : being
ſuch, they lye open to the rage of many adverſaries.
Man, being in honour, kad no underftanding, but became Pll. 42.12.
like the beaſts that periſh.
Hola
51
1. Stupidity. On the only me
Like the beaſt for or
2. Cruelty. Nay beyond them for both.
The Oxe knowos bis ownerthe Aſſe his maſters Crib, but Ifrael 112. za
hath not known, my people have not underſtood.
The Stork in Heaven knoweth laer appointed time, and the Tur-
Jer. 8.92
tle, and the Crane, and the Swallow obſerve the time of their
comming, but my pcople knolb not the judgements of the Lord.
For Cruelty, The reſemblance of them is very ordinary
to Lyons, Bears, Tygers, Wolves.
The wolf Thall dwell with the Lamb, and she Leopard fhalllje Ifa.11,6
down with the Kid, etc,
Man

8 A Sermon Preached at the Faft, Decemb.25. 1644.
Dan. 7.
Verl. 9.
Man is the great morrall Behemoth: in fob you read of
ſuch a beaſt, the word ſignifies Beaſts, becauſe indeed he is
fo huge and vaſt of body, that he ſeems a compound and
complication of many : all beſtiality ſeems to have run into
Virium hominis man, and to concenter in him. The nature of the beaſt is the
natura beſtie, vice of man; ſo that the beaſt, if it could ſpeak, might ſay,
Ang. & Econ. The man is become like one of us, nay, one man like many
of us. The four Monarchies are reſembled and typified by
four favage beaſts; they wereto oppreffe the people of God,
and make havock of them, eſpecially the Roman Empire, it
had great Iron teeth, it did rent and teare and did grinde more
than the reſt; more Chriſtians were ſlain under the ten blou-
dy perfecutions, than Paſchall Lambs were offered up under
Citatur a Ger-
hordo.Mar.24.
the
State of the Old Teſtament, as hath been obſerved.
But Rome Chriſtian,or rather Antichriſtan, the great Anci-
chriſt puts down all the reſt for bloody butchery and barba-
rous Tragedies, whence ſhe hath the name of the Scarlet
whore, and is ſet out as a Diverſified monſter, a compound
Apoc. 13. of the reſt propheſied of in Daniel , bodyed like a Leopard,
footed like a Bear, mouthed like a Lyon : like a Leopard, that
{potted Beaſt, for the variety and inultiplicity of them that
embrace that grand Impoſture, the feet are like a Bears for
dulneffe and ſtupidity, the mouth like a Lyon for horrid blaf-
phemy and cruelty.
The Gloffe in the Cannon Law applies a gentler title, and
Decretal.
ſuch as may ſeem more gracefull unto them : the Oxen were
plowing, the Aſſes were feeding beſides them, twas in
Job 1.14
the relation of one of jobs Meſſengers. By the Oxen we
are to underſtand the laborious Clergie, by the Aſſes that were
feeding beſides them, we may underſtand the Laiety.
The Oxen indeed have been ploughing a long time, and
making long furrows on our backs; they have been plough-
ing, but with our heifer, to do is the greateſt miſchief; they
have been ploughing, but to fowe our fields, as Cadmus did,
with Serpentine teeth, that they may riſe up in armed men.
And indeed they have endeavoured, by laying unſupportable
burthens on the Laity, to make good the odious term they
have
Before the Honourable Houſe of Cormons.
have faſtned on them. Our brave Gentry have been almoſt
quite Cow'd by them, yet they have recovered, and reproved
thoſe by whom they were rid, and ſo much ſcorned ; the Lord
open their mouths and Thew'd that they were the great Beaſt
indeed, whoſe horns the Carpenters are now fawing of
'Twould be an endleſſe and needleſſe taske for me to treat of
the cruell burthens, maſſacrees, and aſſoffinations which
this ſeven headed monſter hath practifed in France, Germany,
Bohemia, the Palatinate, Ireland, and England, in our own
memories,
rooli
The thing with I will undertake to prove, is, that the crue
elty of man, eſpecially of theſe men, exceeds that of Beaſts, in
fundry reſpects.
- Man hath a very ſhrewd ſharpe inſtrument or tool to im-
proove his malice by, beyond the bruite, whereby he can let
out his rancorous venome in fundry miſchievous methods
and contrivances, viz. Reaſon, which being rightly imploy-
ed, aſſociates man with Angels; being abuſed, ranks him
even
with devils, the worſt of creatures.
A ferpent will ſting the unwary travellour, if he can, ly-
ing in the way; if he cannot, he ſcands a way to ſave him-
ſelf; man hath the venome and poyſon of a Serpent, is not
fo fearfull as a Serpent, but daring and ventrous beyond
meaſure: that wretch Faux, when he could not act his
bloody Tragedy, ſtood to it, being apprehended, and profeſ-
ſed his grief that he was prevented therein, though he him-
ſelf had been involved in the combuſtion, and blown up in-
to mites in the 'ayre.
A Beaſt, a Lyon will give over a crouching proſtrate man,
but theſe beaſts I ſpeak of will tread and trample upon the
meekeſt ſuppliants, as the Pope upon the neck of Frederick
the ſecond, Emperour.
A Beaſt will give over a man when it hath ſlain him, if
buried, and removed out of fight, but Popiſh rage hath fallen
foul upon the duſt and Tombes of men. Pope Stephanus cau-
ſed his predeceſſour Formsofus, to be digg‘d up, cut off his fin-
gers, and caſt him into the River Tyber, you know how they
C
dealt





IO A Sermon Preached at the Faſt Decemb.25.1644.

retii,
dealt with Wickliffe, and the wife of Peter Martyr.
5.
Beafts if they be faft in a grate, or tyed up, a man may paſſe
too and fro ſafely by them; But what bonds, or tyes, or fet-
ters can hold theſe? what Oathes,or Covenants, or Articles
can ſecure men againſt them? Faith is not to be kept with
Heretiques : they ſtick ſtill fat to their old poſition.
Flavius Vopif- ? Aurelius the Emperour comming neer the City of Tyana,
cus in vita, Akm demanded a ſurrender of it to himn; In caſe of refufall, he
threatned he would not leave a dog in it, when he did ſtorm
and take it : He was withſtood, and yet prevailed, and took
the City : the firſt thing he did, he hang d up a Captain that
betray'd it to him; and when the ſouldiers ( whoſe fingers
did itch to dive into the Citizens pockets and fall upon the
plunder ) minded him of the threat he had uttered againſt
them, That he would not leave a dog there: ſo ſweetly tem-
pered and generous was the Emperour, that he bid them go
and kill all the dogs if they would, but ſecured and ſpared
the inhabitants. Paul who eaſily ſhook a viper off from his
hand, doth not a little complain of Beaſts of Epheſus ; whom
he interprets elſewhere to be unreaſonable men, and deſires
the Church,with much earneftneſſe, to pray that he might be
delivered from ſuch.
Wicked men, enemies of Gods Church, his truth and his
wayes, are very many.
The Word ning lhews it, which ſtands indifferently for
beaſts and multitudes, and 'ris faid here, That the dark places
Nah. of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty. They may
be called Legion as their father the Devill, for they are ma-
ny; many like Bees, Flyes, Graſhoppers, Locuſts, Canker-


Wormes.
Apoc. 20,8.
The Devils flock is very great, you have the full muſter
of them fet down; the number of them is as the Sand of
the Sea.
There are many Hawks and Kites and other Birds of prey
to one Turtle; men of all rankes and all forts are againſt the
Dove, the fecond Pſalm hewsit; Princes and Rulers, and
Common People, Jews, and Gentiles ſet themſelves againſt
Chrift

Before the Honourable Houſe of Commons.
II
A&.4.
Chriſt and his followers. This Pſalm concerns the ſtate of
the Church now under the Goſpell, for ſo it is applyed to it
by the Apoftle: the watchmen that went about the City found Gant. 5.7.
me, and they (mote me and wounded me,
Chief Rulers of the Church are meant, who ſhould have
watcht over her for her good, and not perfecuted and woun-
ded her as they did.
ugaſtine, Bernard, and others, rank the many thus, Ty- Luk. 21.7.
rants, Hereticks, falſe brethren, and make the foreſt perſecu-
tion to be raiſed by falſe brethren.
You ſhall be hated of all men for my fake, and you mall be
betraid both by Parents and kinsfolks and friends, and ſome of
gou they shall cauſe to be put to death. Thoſe that have been
bred in the fame neſt, and nurſſed in the ſame family, that
have tumbled in the ſame belly, ſhall Aye upon the Doves
and tear them.
The ſtory of Diarius is one of the ſaddeſt that one ſhall Sleyder-com-
likely read of (all circumſtances well weighed) ſetting out mènt.
the enmity of one brother againſt another. This man turned
Proteſtant upon the conference which he heard at Ratisbone
being before a Popiſh Spaniard; Alphonſus Diarius his bro
ther, a Civillian in Italy, upon the fame of it, paſſed over to
him in Germany, and laboured with him, what with preſene
ting dangers, what with propofing hopes of great prefer-
ment and promotion, to the utmoſt of his power to reduce
him back again to Rome; when he could not prevaile with
him, he pretended an inclination in himſelf to his Religion,
gave him money for the preſent, they parted both with wee-
ping eyes, Alphonſus promiſing to viſit him again within a
while, ſo he did, he came about ſpeedily,brings an Aſſaſſinate
with him, who carryed an Axe under his Cloak, ſtands at the
(taires foot of his brothers Chamber, fends him up in a
morning with a letter, as from bim, his brother roſe ſpeedily
as glad to hear from him, and let him in, whilft he was rea-
ding the letter, the bloody wretch,getting behind him, ftruck
him
in the head with all his might, beat him down, and left
the Axeſticking in his brains.
In



.

C2
A Sermon Preached at the Faft, Decemb.25. 1644.

In the next place ſee the carrying of a Parent to his child:
Wolphia Cent. The Jeſuits prevailed ſo far with Philip King of Spain, that
16. left.memo. they cauſed him to give up the Prince his Son (who was Car
ca Avis an harmeleſſe innocent Deve) to be butchered, bez
cauſe he fighed and mourned for the unheard of tyranny and
cruelty that was practiſed on the Netherlands, and had om
Wolpius. ther good things in him; touching which foul fact, Beskiex
1. the Jeſuite vents this no leſſe foul and aboininable blaſphe-
my, He Spared not his own ſon but gave him up to death for
us : and when his fatherly affection had a recourſe, and diſa
covered it ſelf in ſome pangs of ſorrow for the death of his
fon, they concluded he was ſomewhat tainted with the Lux
theran Hereſie as his fon, and would not give him over till
they had prevailed witk him, to have a vein opened in his
head, that the hereticall blood might be let out tonissund
They are very many beaſts that ſet themſelves againſt the
of Dove witneſſe the Augenn ſtable that hath been ſo long in
ridding by you, and yet encrcaſeth upon your hands.
One would think theſe Turtles ſhould rather win the love
of all that come neer them, then incur the hatred-of any,
Eray 11,
for they are quiet and peaceable perfons; in the mount of
the Lord, there is no hure done, yet notwithſtanding, they are
maligned by a world of people,
Becauſe they are not like them. di
Joh. 15.19.
Becauſe they are not of their number.
Gen.4.4,
Becance their perſons and their facrifices are more accep-
ted with God then the others, nous
Joh. 3. 20. Becauſe they reprove them for their revill wayes.
Mat. 11.25.,
Becauſe they are for the moſt part poor and mean, have no
great forecaſt in worldly affaires, are no deep polititians,
they are ſuch as thoſe Pauperes Lugdunenfis, thoſe poor men
of Lyons in France, therefore are expoſed to; beaſts, and
Lyons.. so
Execki 9.
Becauſe they mourn for ſm in themſelves and others, they
quarrell with the Dove, even becauſe of her mournfull note,
They will jeer at ſighing ſiſters, and men that hang the head
like a Bull-ruſh, yet ſeeing this Bull-rulh cannot grow..with-


Pet. 4.4.


Quta
Before the Honourable Houſe of Commons. 13
out mire and mud, why ſhould it not hang the head ? :
Oh weigh this well, and with a religious heart, and nei-\ Vije.
ther let Popery gain upon any of your Spirits, that will tell
you, the multitude is a genuine infallible marke of the Church,
nor Coelius ſecundus who hath writ a book, De Amplitudine
regni Doi, touching the largeneſfe, the amplitude of Gods
Kingdome, affigning a greater number of people to heaven
then to hell; nor the carnall Goſpeller, who makes the gene-
rality of the world, the rule of his life, but ever fook for
truth and goodneſle in the ſmalleſt number. Never think to
finde the golden Oare but in veines. bandavadorban
The main cauſe of all, why men are ſo bruitiſh and cruell, 36
is ſet down in theſe words; The dark places of the earth are
full of the habitations.of cruclty.
Somerender the words thus ; Obſcuri terre ſunt plerin,
domibus rapine: Obſcure and baſe fellows have invaded tire
faire demaines and poffeflions of thoſe who are of better
rank and quality; ſome apply it to the Turk; who outed the
Chiſtians of their habitations ; and this we ſee to our great
grief, practiſed in many parts of our Land at this day: the
Doves are beat out of their Dove-coats, and Owls are per-
ched there : Obfcuris terra, night-birds,ignoble, obſcure per-
ſons, the baſe have behaved themſelves, proudly againſt the E lay 3
honourable.
- Veteres migrate coloni
Hea mea funt Hath been their high and info-
lent language.com dan
deod
Others underſtand the ſenſe of the words thus where God
doth hide himſelf as it were, and doth not ſhew himſelf by
his judgements, there many are emboldned to practiſe tyran- Ecodes
ny,
oppreſſion, cruelty. Becauſe ſentence againſt an evill
not preſently executed, therefore the hearrs of the
fons of men are altogether ſet in them to do Wickedneffe, as
Solomon ſpeaks.
But I take the word with Judicious Interpretors to im-
port thus much, That blindneſſe and ignorance of the will
and wayes of God and mans duty, did fo raign every where,
that.



work is
6.3
14
A Sermen Preached at the Faſt, Decemb, 25.1644.

so
that men were grown very barbarous, cruell, and mercilelle
in their carriage argiler ile bu
And have not we found the dark places of our land full
of the habitations of cruelty ? hath not our fallow ground.
where the ſpirituall plough was wanting, broughe forth
thornes and thiſtles in great abundance. Have not our Orcades
here in England, for we have them here alſo to our coſt,
have not our dark places been full of the habitations of
cruelty? who have more moleſted us than the Troglodites
the mine-diggers, the workers under ground, who have
feem'd to have burried their ſouls and all humanity, in thoſe
Cor. 2.8. pits they have digg'd. The Apoſtle deſcribed the moſt crim-
ſon ſin of crucifying the Lord of life, to ignorance. And how
comes it to paſſe that they have been ſo enraged againſt the
people of God, Parliamentary proceedings, and againft
Chrift himſelt upon the matter ? ſurely tis out of deep igno-
rance, Why do the people ragei? it muſt be reſolved, They know
not what they do.
Upon ſpeech with an ingenious ſouldier, who came out
of thoſe Weſtern parts, twas related to me, That enquiring
of a woman in a Pariſh there, When they had a Sermon
laſt, the anſwer was, That ſhe remembred about two and
twenty yeers ago they had one.de
We have been grievouſly laſhed with thongs cut out of
our own leather ; Itung with Vipers that have ſprung out of
our own bowels; we are hurlid and hampered as the black
bird with his own excretion; we have not been active to
plant the Goſpell, neither at the Northern, nor the Weſtern
point.
We have a little fiſter, and ſhe hath no Breſts, what shall We
do for our fifter ? the converted Jews are brought in, howing
and taking thought for the Gentiles; She kath no Breſts:
Pilluar alii er- that is, wants the fincere milk of the Word, the knowledge
ponis. of the true God and of Chriſt. We have been wanting in
prayers, motions, ſollicitations and endeavours this way.
This care came not ſo neer our heart, as it ſhould have done;
what feall we do for our fifter that hath no breſts? It was our
great


Can. 8.8.
Before the Honorable Houſe of Commons.
15
tum
,
great ſin and now is our punishment, Ibi flagellum ubi pecca-
Fiat Lux , Lerthere be light, was the firſt word that drew
a well ordered world out of a confuſed Maffe and Chaos. In
a qualified ſenſe (honourable) let it be your word under God,
Fiat Lux: ſet up lights in every dark corner of the King-
dome, that beauty, and order , and peace may be recovered
out of this great confuſion.
A good means to recover perſons out of the bodily frenzie
is to keep them in the dark, but as for thoſe that be ſpiritually
mad, bring them to the light as much as ever you can, it you:
intend to relieve and reſtore them.
When Chriſt the light of the world,came into the world,
there was a great huſh,calm and peace throughout the world,
that prophecy was fulfilled, that The Nations Mould break Elay 2. 4.
their ſwords into plow-fhares, and their Speares into pruning
hooks, and the other, The Wolf fall dwell with the Lamb, the Eſay 11. 6.
Leopard ſhall lye down with the Kid, and the Calf, and the young
Lyon, and the fatling together. They ſhall not hurt ner deſtroy
in all my holy mountaine, for the earth shall be full of the
knelvledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the Sea.
When Chriſt comes into the heart of a man, he changeth
it into a meek, quiet,ſweet, peaceable temper.
The Goſpell is that harpe that will charm and ex-
pell any evill Spirit, twill tame the wildeſt beaſt, ſo that
a little child ſhall lead him; as it follows in the eleventh




of E ſay.
A ſmall thread will move a tun of timber, lying upon the
water, becauſe the Element on which it lyes is fluid, and eafi-
ly diſpoſeth it to inotion; ſo an heart wrought upon by the
Word will eaſily bend this way or that way, becauſe it hath
a kind of con-naturality with the Word.
Give me a man never fo impure and beſtially with ſome Laétán. 1. 3.
words out of this book, I will make him a mirror of cha- De fals. Sapien-
Atity : give me a man never fo furious and implacable, by the sie c. 26
power of this word, I will make him as Gentle as a Lamb,
much more there to this purpoſe.
A

16 A Sermon Preached at the Faft, Decemb.25. 1644.
A word of Chriſt upon the ſea did ſtill the tempeft; the
words of Chriſt, ſet on by his Spirit, in a faithfull miniſtery,
may ſtill and compoſe the rageing and mutinous lufts of
men.osbus SHAME boutoos 0100 blow. bas to
Pythagoras comming into a room where a wilde crew
were met, rufiling and revelling, quaffing and dancing, with
garlands-upon their heads; a company of Fidlers caſting
oyl upon their flame, he prevailed ſo far with thoſe Fidlers,
that they played a Dorinn dump, a very ſad tune, whereupon
the Ruffians were aſhamed of the pickle they were in, grew
demure and very folemn, yea caſt the garlands off from their
heads; but this was but a pang for the preſent, a good mood
and fit that quickly vanilhed no doubt; but the word ſet on
by the Spirit, as Scanderbags ſword by the arme of Scandera
pa bag, will make a deep impreſſion, and unbottome a man
quite of hiinſelf, and ſet up a Divine nature in him.
And here I cannot but bleſte God, who hath made youre-
member your fault in this day of your viſitation, and hath put
you upon the ſending of able learned conſcientious Miniſters
into the North. Theſe lights in the North I doubt not will
boad you much good.
I know you would ſpread the heavenly fire to the Weſtal-
fo, and how are you ſtreightned till it buru?
In the mean time while you ſtudy to ſave their fouls, it
muſt be your renewed care and endeavour to guard and ſecure
our bodies from the buſhing of the beaſt; yea it muſt be the
earneſt endeavour of us all, to advance the great engine of moſt
humble and afliduous prayer to this purpoſe with the beſt
advantage. O deliver 40t — But a very uſefull note lyes
in my way, which cannot be balkt, and muſt be diſpatcht be
fore I enter upon the handling of it,
Note.
The enemy cannot prevaile againſt the Dove, nor hurt it, till
God delivers up and gives her into his hands : D.deliver not-
Numb. 23.
Hence was it that Balack kept ſuch ado to diſgratiateIſrael,
and to work them out of Gods favour', for which purpoſe
alfo Balaam caſt the ſtumbling block before them, ſet faire
women before them that they might be enfnared.
God


Before the Honourable Houſe of Commons.
17
God delivers not till man delivers himſelf: Thine olion
Country men have delivered thee unto me, faith Pilate to
Chriſt, They are our own luſts, that are bred and foftered in
us, that deliver us up to the enerny abroad. Therefore Libera
me Domine ab homine malo, id eft, a meipſo was devout Ber-
nards prayer ; and Chryſoſtome hath writ a little Treatiſe, to Nemo læditur
ſhew that every man is onely hurt and miſchieft of him- niſi a ſeipso
feife.
The Lord did ſhave with a razor that was hired, the head Efay 7, 20.
and the hair of the feet of his people, the razour was the Af-
Syrian, he was ſaid to be hyred, becauſe their fins brought
him on,and hired him as it were.
We have had many ſharp razours and threw'd ſhavers
upon us of late, we may thank our felves we hired them,
giving them great wages, many, many heynous ſins and pro-
vocations, and God ſet them on.
The Turtle Dove is delivered up in theſe three Caſes;
When it proves a fpeckled bird, changeth hue and nature,
and her dependance on her mate; the Lord. Chriſt who hath
ſo highly dignified her: when the people of God change their
glory, and forget their Ornament, whether in life, or wor-
ſhip, and cleave to vanity.
Mine heritage is to me as a ſpeckled bird, the birds round a- Jer. 12.9.
bout are againſt her; aſſemble all ye beaſts of the field to de-
When the people of the Jews would not be hived under
Chriſts wing (for he would have gathered them as an hen ga-
thereth her chicken, and they would not ) then the Roman Éa-
gle was ſent amongſt them, who pounced and plumed them,
tore and ſcattered them.
Titus Veſpatian, acknowledged himſelf but the hand of Jojeph.ben. Jud.
God againſt them for their ſins.
The Hottoman family ſprang up in the world, juſt fifteen
Spin&us tra&tar.
years after the Idoll of the Maſſe was brought in.
de peccat, con-
And reverend Brightman hath obſerved, that the Popes feff
.
worſhipping of gods of gold and ſilver, brought the Turkija
yoak upon Chriſtendome; he ſtirred up the Princes of the
D
earth
I.
VONYP.

18
A Sermon Preached at the Faſt Decemb.25.1644.
earth to wage war againſt him, gave out Chryſadoes for their
encouragement, and yet ſecretly put ſtrength and vigour in-
to him, by his foul Idolatries. We were Languiſhing and
declining in this Kingdome a long time, but then we came to
the height, ſhall I ſay, of our Fever, or Frenzie rather, when
we began to catch Dotterills, and to comply with the Idola-
trous Adverſary in will-worſhip, on a colour to win them
to us, and to make of bad Catholiques. worſe Profelytes;
when we fell to cringing and complementing in worſhip,
Aretching out a wing to their wing, a legto their leg. Frana
ciſcus de Santa Clara, was a very skilfull man in this Art;
a great Decoy-maſter, and ſtretcht every Article in our Do-
ctrinall body, as Procraſtes rackt the Limbs of men to make
them equall with his bed) that it might ſuite and ſhut in
with the Cannons of Trent, the bed of the Scarlet whore,
wherein ſhe rets.
Then we fell away apace, when this foul prevarication
was not onely ſuffered, but likºd by many, yea much appro-
and the Lord could endure us no longer, when we cor-
rupted the very rule of faith.
When the Doves ſeparate and divide, they are often deli-
vered up by God to the enemy.
When the Dove and the Pigeon were divided, a ſmoaking
furnace and a burning Lamp palled between them ; when the
Doves are divided an hundred to one but they ſmoak for it.
Cyprian amongſt other cauſes that he reckons up, of the
inundation of Gothes and Vandalls, a barbarous people, upon
Africa, and the grievous perſecution that lay upon the
Church, takes in the Diviſions that were found amongſt the
Chriſtians for one; The Lord (faith he) let looſe the dog that
the ſheep might run together.
Therefore I beſeech Evedias, I beſeech Syntyche, thar they be
of the ſame mind in the Lord : Syntyche ſignifies one of the
fame ſcot and lot with another, one that hath gone through
thick and thin with him: the brethren that be at difference
now, have had their ſhare in ſufferings alike; the black Oxe,
I dare fay, mentioned before, hath trod upon the toe of every
one of them, more or lelle.
ved;
Gen. 15:37
Phil. 3.20

Before the Hononrable Houſe of Commons.
19
000
Evodias ſignifies a good wayes-man, or traveller ; the bre-
thren agree in this too, they have all made a very good pro-
greſſe out of Babylon, they have caſhered alike, all Romiſh
traſh and trumpery; pitty 'tis they ſhould fall out by the way,
about the limits of the Inheritance and bequeathment of an ari
Chriſt. Let it be conſidered, How fimall a portion of this
ahui
goodly Reformation, which by Gods bleſſing is like to en-
fue, would have quieted our ſpirits, and fitted our hearts and
mouthes with the praiſes of our God.
The light of a few Glufters of theſe Grapes from Canaan,
would have over-joyed us. If but the three coſtly Ceremo-
nies had been taken off coſtly I call them, becauſe they coſt
the Church the loffe of their fruitfull labours, of ſo many
precious men, and them of their livelihoods ) If theſe I ſay,
and the clogging ſub-ſcriptions had been removed, I am per-
ſwaded the Doves would have kept at home, and not taken
ſo great a flight as to the diſcoveries of Columbus, no not to
Holland and other neighbouring Countries. Let us not then be
ſo ungratefull to our gracious God, who hath done ſo
great things for us, as to undervalue thoſe precious truths
we agree in, and to ſleight thoſe priviledges we may cheer-
fully enjoy together, by growing impatient, and fundring in
aflection, like children of a divers family, becauſe we cannot
conſent in opinions preſented under the notion of new light;
which eo nomine, may very well be ſuſpected, as unknown to
former ages. Therefore I beſeech Evodias, I beſeech Synthyche,
that they be of the ſame mind in the Lord.
When the Dove flyes too far from the Dove-coate, even
neer the perch of the hawk, then ſhe is ſometimes delive-
A Chriſtian woman that went to a Stage-play, was there Turtul.de Speft.
bodily poffeſt of the Devill, and he gave this reaſon of his en-
try, Inveni eam in meo fundo, I met with her upon mine
own ground, in my purlue. Certainly the Devils Commilli-
on is larger in ſome places then in other, and his haunt is
greater, as at Theaters, Brothel-houſes, Game-houſes, blind-
cipling places, &c. The Lord hath given his Angels charge
D2
3.
réd up.
over

20
A Sermon Preached at the Faft, Decemb.25. 1644.
over Chriſtians to keep them in all their wayes, but not in
their errours, by-pathes, and deviations.
Apoc.9.-20. Take wenotice here, that he delivers up his people to their
The meaſure enemies, ſometimes by way of location, loan or letting;
of delivering ſometimes again by vendition, ſale, or utter alienation.
up the Dove.
By way of location or loaning thein out, ſo we ſhall read
Judg.3.& 4. in the book of Judges, he did often let out his people to the
Oppreſfour, for their fins; ſometimes 8. yeares, ſometimes
18. years, ſometimes 20. yeares.
By way of vendition,or ſale, he gives them up, when he paſ-
ſeth thoſe two diſmall words upon them, Larubamab, Lom
Hoſ. 1.6. Ammi: I wil no more have mercy upon them,cano more my people.
But we muſt diſtinguiſh here of a viſible Church, and a
faithfull ſoul, a trué member of the myſticall Body, whereof
Chriſt is the head.
A viſible Church which hath been accounted Chriſts
pleaſant plant, his vine, the place of his reft, his Dove; may
degenerate, apołtatize, may be utterly waited and loſt, in re-
fpect of the out ward face of it. Ls-Ammi may paffe upon
it from the Lord, ſo it did upon Jeruſalem and the famous
Churches of Aſia for their fins.
But then 'tis otherwiſe with the members of Chriſts
myſticall body. They may be delivered up by way of location
or loan to an enemy;for a time they may ſuffer many grievous
things, but God will not take his mercy from them. They
fhall not be utterly alienated from him, nor loft unto him.
Truely (my Brethren) it cannot be denyed, but that we
have almoſt quite vapoured out the good ſpirits of a pleaſant
Applicarion, land, in a vain converſation; we have played the wantons in
Goſpell fun-fhine.
Pitty we ſay tis that fair weather ſhould do any harm,
yet four Halcyonian calme, peaceable, Goſpell dayes, have
brought forth in us Spiders and Caterpillers and the
like Vermine, even pride, luxury, prophanes, Atheiſme, ſpi-
rits averſe from the power of godlineffe,and a ſound reforma-
tion ; now the Lord hath changed the weather, he hath raiſed
up ſtorms and tempefts againſt us to ſweep away the vermibe
yec

Before the Honourable Houſe of Commons.
yet in this our diſtreſſe, many do provoke the Lord yet morejas
the Arcadians are faid to ſhootup arrowsagainſt heaven when
it thunders; and as Salvian complains of Treviers a city in
France. Aſſiduitas illic calamitatum,augmentum vitiorum crat;
the more it was ſtormed by the enemy, the more it rebelled
againſt the Lord, and
gathered more ruft under the file.
Now then we confeſſe we deſerve not onely to be loaned
out or parcell'd to the enemie, but to be ſet out to whole ſale.
Oar Kingdome deſerves to be made an Holocauſt to the juſt in-
dignation of God, but yet he is pleaſed ſtill to wave his gol-
den Scepter to us, and gives us leave to put in a plea, and to
petition for a poor, forfeited, almoſt quite-loft State and
Kingdome.
o deliver 100 ] No remedy is more Soveraign, none more
frequently preſſed upon men, wone more difficult to be well
managed, none wherein we are more apt to languiſh then
this of holy devotion and interceſſion with God. You muſt
be content to hear often of it, and pray againſt nauſeouſneſſe
and wearinefſe when the point and practiſe comes fo often
about to you ; that is never ſufficiently taught, that is never
fufficiently learned. This is the great wheel that fets all o-
ther motions going. Tis the great Thaumaturgus ſpoken of
Heb. 11. By faith men ſtop'd the mouths of Lyons, by faith put
the Armies of the Aliens to flight, by faith did this, did that,
viz. by the vertue and efficacy of faithfull prayer.
It will be a great encouragement to confider the returnes
that have been made to us in this heavenly traffique and mer-
chandiſe.
Weowe it certainly to the gracious acceptance of our
prayers through our Redeemer, that we had not been quite
delivered up to the multitude of beaſts, and that long ere this.
Nay, let me tell you, God was never fought by us in vain
in any of our dayes of humiliation, and devotion, wherein
our hearts were engaged, as well as our bodies.
Tis a very true and ſweet comfortable paſſage in devout
Bernard, Solus Deus eft qui nunquam fruſtra qnaritur, imò ne 1.5.de Conhd.
tunc cum inveniri non poteft. God is never fought in vain, no
nat
D%

22
A Sermon Preached at the Faſt, Decemb.-25.1644.
them upon
not even then, when we have fafted and have prayed, and
have fallen before our enemies, or have turned our backs: or
ſhould we have gone out with huge Armies, glorious as the
Sun, and after wards have been clouded, and ſeemed to go
forth into the field, onely to break an egge: have ‘atchieved
litele, ſo that we have been ready to ſay within our felves,
Why have we fafted and thou regardeſt not? even then God
hack done us more good then we were aware of, for Re-
formation hath gone on the better ; for every blow and diſ-
appointment, hath put the godly upon new ſcrutinies and
examinations of their wayes, and the State of the Kingdome,
and have puc
upon Pauls temper, beaten off from his
horſe; to ſay Lord, what wilt thou that we do.? and to crouch
low, and cry out, Lord, put any yoak upon us, fo it be thine;
not Babyloniſh, not Spaniſh, not Cavelieriſh. We owe our
Covenant to the low and ſhattered eſtate God was pleaſed
to caſt us into for our fins, and we make the more fruitfull
reviews of it : when we are pincht from abroad, then we
are ready to caſt wares out of one ſide of the ſhip,and luggage
out of the other; any thiog then we will part with for a
godiy, quiet, and ſecure life. Outcomes one good Ordinance,
then another : Upon ſuch a nip, here lyes one rotten apple,
there another, elf where more, which did all lye pretty fair
before upon the heap: one ill humor rids this way, another
ſcatters that way, upon the working of the Phyſick; and ſo
the body Pollitick gathers ſtrength upon a ſeeming kinde of
weakneſſe: We pray that Reformation may go on, and the
Lord will effect it, by giving up many places and perſons ut-
terly averſe froin it, to the rage and fury and oppreſſion of
an inſolent enemy, that at length they may put a difference
between the Lords yoak, and theirs, and ſo be prepared
for it.
Weare exhauſted and brought low that wemay be brought
into a ſtate of doing God faithfull ſervice. Keep thy ſervant
low (laid the Florentine Achitophel) and he will do thee good
ſervice. So baſe and ſervile we are that we muſt be held to du-
ty, and even kild that we may be quickned.
Tis

Before the Honorable Houſe of Commons.
23
Tis good for us to waite with patience, till God hath
brought his ends together, and to expect without murmur-
ing, till this great motion doth determine: many wheels are
ſtirring, and they ſeem to be involved, wrapt one within ano- Ezeck. I.
ther, as in the Viſion of Ezekiel, but God hath an eye ol
Providence on every wheel, as there.
And one day I doubt not, we ſhall ſee that every wheel
that hath ſeemed irregular in the motion, hath been guided
by a ſupreain moſt skilfull hand, to a good point and period;
and each good prayer that hath ſeemed to have been caſt a-
way,hath been a good ſpoke in the wheel : therefore let us
go on without fainting, and ſay, o deliver not.
The Lord doth promiſe to make Jeruſalem a burthenfome Zach. 1.2.
ſtone for all people, all that burthen themſelves with it ſhall
be cut in peeces; and much to the purpoſe, as you may read
there at the tenth verſe, the Prophet ſhews by what means it
Thall be effected. I will poure upon the houſe of David, and
the Inhabitants of Jer#ſalem, the Spirit of Grace and Sup-
plications.
We have been much broken and exhauſted in all thoſe ac-
compliſhments, wherein our thoughts were like to pride it,
and on which we did lean, that the Crown of our preſerva-
tion might be ſet on the head of prayer. David muſt come
on and take Rabbah, left Jeab ſhould have the name and the
honour ; prayer muſt ſo ſtrike in, that God may have the glo-
ry of our deliverance, leſt ſtrength ſhould be cryed up
mans wiſdome deified, or money ſhould be mentioned in
the ſaine day with it.
Ambroſe hath a very good paſſage; There was a great drowth Hexam.1.4.0.7.
(faith he, ſpeaking of the place where he lived) and when
people were complaining for lack of rain, one amongſt them
ſaid. The new of the Moon will bring it. I deſired rain as
well as they, ſaid he, yet I wiſht within my ſelf it might not
come then, left men ſhould aſcribe it to the full of the Moon,
and an ordinary courſe of nature, rather then to a ſpeciall
Providence of the Creatour. The Lord in his moſt wife dife
penſation, may ſuffer us to run out almoſt all.cur worldly
ftock
OL

24
A Sermon Preached at the Faſt, Decemb.25. 1644.
I Motive.
II.
ſtock and our proviſion, to be waſted and brought very low
before he give the greas deliverance, that it may appear to be
the iſſue and child of prayer, that it may come out with the
name inſcribed in the fore-head ( Begʻd of God)and under that
notion tis moſt likely,with Samuel, to be dedicated again to
God, and prove the more comfortable and uſefull to our
ſelves,
The people of God are taught in this form of Supplication
how to edge and keen their prayers and make them vigorous,
to wit, by diſclaiming any ability or ſufficiency in themſelves;
by ſtiling themſelves a Congregation of poor , Glly, weak
Doves, no way in cafe to encounter an Army of beſtiall,cun-
Hof.14.13.
ning, crafty, bloudy, boiſterous enemies. This plea the peo-
ple of God make much uſe of;withthee the fatherleſſe findeth
mercy.
2 Chron. 14.
Lord tis nothing with thee to ſave, wbether with many or with
thoſe that have no power, help us for we reſt on thee, and in the
Name we go againſt this multitude : and good King Jehofapharm
2 Chron. 20. We have no eſtrength againſt this great company that come a-
gainſt us, neither know we what to do, but our eyes are tolvards
thee.
The Lord ſmote the enemies of both for them. It a little
childe going along with his father, ſhould ſee an Adder in
the way, or meet with a furious wilde Bull, and the childe
Mould cry out, ô what ſhall I do, help, help father; would
he not beltir himſelf thiuk you, to kill the one and to ſtave
off the other : truely the bowels of the Lord infinitly ſurpaſle
thoſe of the tendreſt mother. When an Hawk purſued a
Sparrow ſo cloſe that it Hew into Xenocrates his boſome,
Non opertet fupplicem prodere, was his word; 'twere barba-
rous for one to betray a poor ſuppliant ; and ſhall God give
up his Turtle Dove that flyes into his boſome for ſuccour,
molt cagerly purſued by ſo many birds of prey.
The next motive, Have reſpect anto the Covenant : This
preſſeth the Lord more than the former, This is the cloſe,
grapling as 'twere with him in the words of Jacob, I will 2008
Let thee go, till thor haft blesſed me. This is the throwing out
of
12.
2.

Before the Honourable Houſe of Commons.
25
of the greateſt ſacred Anchor in the tempeft, for it layes hold
on Gods faithfulneſſe and truth, and fatherly goodneſle ; for
what though men ſhould plead with them that they are
poor and weak and unſufficient to withſtand a potent ene
my yet if they be not in Covenant with God, it may be
charg'd upon them ; you have violated my holy Law, you
have incenſed my wrath againſt you, by your perverſe wayes,
therefore I will be avenged of you, I will not help you, but
give you up; but now the ſouls that be in Covenant with
God, will not be put off fo (be it ſpoken with holy Reven
rence) but will cry out, O Lord though our iniquities do te
ſtifie againſt us, do thou it for thy Names ſake, Jer. 14. 7.
We have an excellent place, the God of 1ſrael laid, The
Rock of Iſrael ſpake to me, He that ruleth over men muſt be 2 Sam.23.5;
juſt, ruling in the fear of God; and he ſhall be as the light of 4,5
the morning, when the ſun riſeth,even a morning without clouds, uno
as the tender graſſe Springing out of the earth, by cleer ſhining
after rain: Although my houſe be not ſo with God, yet he went
hath made with me an everlaſting Covenant, ordered in all
things and ſure; for this is all my Salvation and deſire, although
be make it not to grow. The tenour on Gods part to them
is, that he will be a God to them, Exod, 6.7. as if he ſhould
ſay, I will own you for my people, and whatſoever I am, it
{hall be yours, my power, my wiſdome, my ſtrength, my
providence, my goodneſle, which are all infinite and bound
leffe ; my All-lufficiency ſhall be for your good, your ſafety,
your welfare, and preſervation.
Now though Gods Covenant is to be pleaded, and we are
wholy to lean upon that in time of trouble, becauſe it de
pends on his free love, tendred in a promiſe which is un-
changeable, and not on our Covenant, wherein we are un
{table off and on; yet we can never preſent God with that
to our relief, unleffe we have ſome reſpect to our own, and
make up with ſincere aymes what is defective touching reall
performances.
If I eucline my heart auto whickedze re, ele Lord will not here
may prager faith the Prophet,
E
The

26 Sermons Preached at the Faſt Decemb.25.1644.
The Loadſtone will not draw if it be touch with Garlick,
a rank unſavoury diſtemper of heart will flat and dead any
prayer, that it ſhall not derive any bleſſing from God; with
what face can any one ſay, Lord have reſpect to thy Covenant,
when as he caſts his own Covenant behind his back, and
cannot ſay with the Prophet David, I have a reſpect to all thy
Pfal.119.
Commandement. How canſt thou ſay, Deliver me not up to
the many beaſts without, when thou art not afraid to be deli-
vered up to thy vile beftiall laſts and affections that are with-
in. Thou Hypocrite, firſt Labour the ſubduing of the mon-
Iters that are within thee, then a fair way will be open to
have thine enemies ſubdued round about thee.
The worſt Troopers that a good heart finds it ſelf peltered
rate with, are ſwarms of ſinfull laſts. Theſe are a body of death
to him, and he cryes out under theſe, with the Apoſtle, Who
Rom.7. ult.
Shall deliver me?
Bafil the great, that holy man, was much troubled with
In vita Baſilii. the head-ach, he ſued to God and was at length caſed of it)
afterwards he felt many bad motions, and finfull luftsſtir-
ring in him, then he prayed to God and earneſtly deſired that
he ſhould rather return the headach again to hiin, then ſuffer
the Peace of his ſoul to be diſquieted with thoſe lufts.
Now as we muſt all pray, Deliver not thy Turtle Dove,
ſo tis your calling (trudly Honourable) and it muſt be your
chief care, that it may not be delivered: you are the Noahs
to whom the care of the Dove is committed : God hath
ſhut you up in this City as in an Ark, while a deluge, not of
water.bat of blood hath drowned many places of this Land.
We acknowledge with all humble thankfulneſſe to God firſt,
and then to you, your indefatigable paines, your admirable
fidelity, your matchleſſe conſtancy, we acknowledge I ſay,
with all thankfulneſte. Benè dormivi quia Antipater vigilavit.
Twas the ſpeech of Alexander the great, This night I ſlept
fweetly and ſecurely, becauſe our truſty friend Antipáter was
upon the watch: The Doves in this City, and many other
places, owe much good reſt to your faithfulneſſe, who have
been ſo conſtant upon the watch.
Did

Before the Honourable Houſe of Commons,
27
Did I now ſuſpect or ſuppofe that any ſuch Spirits did yet
lurk amongſt you, like thoſe that went out from you, but
were not of you, for if they had been of you, they would
1 Joh.2.106
no doubt have continued with you, but they went out of you
that they might be made maniféft they were not of you : did
I ſuſpect that any ſuch were amongłt you, who have acted
the part of Judas, and have falſified the great truſt that was
repoſed in them; ſaying, what will you give us, and we will
deliver the Dove unto you : I ſhould a little in my great ma-
{ters name expoftulate with them: How hath God wearied
you ? Can you mend your condition? the more ſervice you
undergo for God, the more you are honoured, the more ha-
Zards you run for him, the more glorious Crowns are prepa-
red for you. Have you ſuffered ſo many things in vaine? you
have run well, who hath hindred you that you have not gone
on, who hath bewitched you? what night-bird hath ſtollen
away the Doves heart? What is become of the ſheep left in
the wilderneſle? Where are the Doves that fate ſighing and
woing by the waters of Marah ? Quintili Vari redde Legio-
nes, Quintili vari redde legiones : how urgent and importu-
nate was Cæſar upon Quintilius Varo, when he had ſquan-
dred away an huge Army of brave men, to give an account
of it;Certainly God will have a moſt ſtrict and exact account
made to him of his Doves, and what a fad reckoning will it
prove, when the Dove Call come in, and ſay ; The watch
men found me, and (mote me, and wounded me, as the Spouſe
complains. If Chriſt had a whip for thoſe that fold Doves
in the Temple, what Scorpions hath he prepared for thoſe
that have ſold the Doves, which are the Temples of the Ho-
ly Ghoſt? If Lo be the Traditores Bibleorum in the Primi-
tive times, thoſe who delivered up the Bibles out of fear
frailty, and Cowardiſe to thoſe Tyrants that required them
to calt them into the fire and burn them, were ſo ſeverely
cenſured in the preſent Age afterwards, and were branded to
all pofterity with a mark of very great infamy and reproach,
what ſhall become of thoſe who have ſtudioully and purpoſe.
ly betrayed the Dove, the Bible of God himſelf? what black
E 2
marks

28 A Sermon Preached at the Faft, Decemb.25. 1644.
marks and brands of fowleſt infamy ſhall lye upon them to
pomalo all ſucceeding Generations.
As for you Noble Patriots, who have continued in the ſhip
all this while during this ſtorme, and do yet abide , as we
mult confefle (unletic you do continue in it we cannot in an
ordinary way be ſaved, as Saint Paul ſaid to thoſe who were
ſhuffling out) I muſt beſpeak you, as he did thoſe who had
been long faſting, that you would take meat, for 'cis for your
health, and that an hair ſhall not fall from the head of any of you,
though I cannot ſpeak to you as he did to them, by an imme-
diate revelation from God, yet by goed prognoſticks and
Tignes drawn out of the book of Gods Providence, I ſhall not
onely manifeſt more than a probability of the ſucceeding and
proſpering of this cauſe, but ſhew good grounds of ftrong
hopes that
you ſhall have alſo your lives given you for a prey,
and may live to ſee peace upon Iſrael. irwau fost o co
1. Let it be conſidered, that the great God who of ſmall
Acorns brings up huge Oakes, and uſually hangs upon little
Wyres great weights, and promotes a day of ſmall things to
very great perfection, whereby he ſets out to the view of
all, the ſplendour of his omnipotent Agency) hath carried
on things thus in this great motion : who would ever have
thought the throwing
of aſtool in the Church, out of indig-
nation by a godly woman, a zealot, at the firſt broaching of
the Exgliſh Maſſe at Edenbourough, I ſay who would have
thought that the throwing of that ſtool, ſhould have ſo migh-
tily ſnaken the Popes chair. This I take to be a very great and
good Omen.
2. You have been all caryed on with Eagles wings, by the
Lord, to flye neerer heaven, I dare ſay,then ever you imagined:
It hath been with you as it was with Luther, he doth pro-
feffe of himſelf, that he thought onely to cry down the baſe
nundination and ſale of Indulgences and pardons, and God
led him on as he did Ezekiel, froin chamber to chamber, and
ſhew'd him greater and greater abominations ſtill, which he
did cry down and writ againſt. I dare fay you thought at firſt
onely to reſtrain the exorbitancy of the Bithaps, and reforme
fonc

Before the Honourable Houſe of Commons. 29
ſome faults of the Service-book, to rectifie che irregularity of
Civill Courts, and God hath diſcovered innumerable abomni-
nations unto yon, and hath led you in paths not intended by
you, but well-pleaſing to himſelf.
This touching the cauſe: Now concerning your owne
preſervation. adt 001 yarn
Although your main care and ſtudy ſhould be like feeled
Doves to mount upward, ayming right at the honour of God,
and though in your moſt ſerious thoughts you might reckon
it your higheſt perfection, if even your bodies ſhould be fa-
crificed in this cauſe, ſo long as your ſouls aſcending upward
did wonderfully, as that Angell did, when he aſcended in
the finoak of Manoahs facrifice; yet the Lord in the courſe Judg.13.19.
of his Providence towards you, holds out ſtrong probabili-
ties, that you ſhall out-live theſe ſtormes, and ſhall be kept
ſafe and inviolable in them, the Lord hath delivered you, and
2 Cor.1.10.
doth deliver, and we truſt therefore he will deliver you.
Time was when the Dove-coat was ſearched, the Piſtolls
were cockt, the bloudy birds were skirring about, then the
Lord that gave the woman wings of an Eagle to flye into the
Apoc.20.12.
wildernelle for her ſafety,withdrew the Doves,and the word
was then as you may remember the birds are flown) We
have been ſigned, ſealed, and delivered to deſtruction, ſo far as
Jeſuites, Prieſts and their buſie Inſtruments could prevail,and
there have not been wanting graceleffe poſt-maſters, that
have carried a worſer packet then that which Paul did for
the impriſonment of the Saints, yet we were not delivered
to their fury, but graciouſly and miraculouſly delivered by
the power, and goodneſle, and wiſdom of our God.
Wonderfull and manifold have been the pledges of Gods
love to his people; ſtrange their preſervations in theſe gloo-
my dayes, and yet as David againſt fundry fweet experiences,
and the ſecuring word he had from God, in his haſt, faydn
I Mall one day periſh by the hand of King Saul; ſo they are
ready to conceive upon ſome fad viciffitude and turn of
things that the Cauſe and they ſhall at length periſh together.
But I muſt beſpeak theſe in the Sharpe accent of Chriſts lan-
E 3
guage:

30
A Sermon Preached at the Faſt, Decemb. 25.1644.
guage ; 0 fools, and flow of heart to beleeve all that is writ-
ten : Ought not judgement frſt to begin at the houſe of
God, what then ſhall be the end of thoſe that ſet them-
ſelves againſt Chriſt and his Goſpell ? This ficknefíe is not
unto death, this ſhaking is not to utter deſolation, but
that the trees of Paradiſe may root the better, and now
the people of God may triumph through God, and ſay to
their enemy, The Virgin daughter of Sion doth defie thee,
the Turtle Dove that reforms, and intends to keep cloſe to
her mate,feares not but that a hand ſhall be put out to receive
her, when a mighty deluge of Gods wrath ſhall ſweep away
the ungodly.
Honourable Senators, may you be pleaſed, before I cloſe to
hear with patience an unworthy meſſenger of God in a few
hints and addreffes, humbly tendred to you for the preſerva-
tion of the Turtle Dove.
Imploy not thoſe in the publike ſervice, who like paraly ti-
call Pallie members, or parts of the body, will fall on the left
fide, when they ſhould fall on the right, tis the advice that
Gerfon gives to Pope Benedi&t.
Coinmit not the Dove to the cuſtody of an Harpy, let no
Papiſt or Popiſhly affected, as neer as you can, lurk in your
Arinies: I have heard it, with the rifing of my ſpirit, and in-
dignation, objected by the Malignants, I took it for a ſcan-
dalous ſuggeltion; yet the ſame hath been brought about by
thoſe that are cordially affected to the Cauſe, and fear God;
for my part I know none ſuch, and I am ſure you have de-
clared againſt them, and do utterly deteſt the entertainment
of them, Nontali auxilio. This Cauſe ſtands not in need of
ſuch rotten props and ſupporters.
Yet ſome ſuch may ſlily creep in to do miſchief, therefore
be pleaſed to make ſome luſtration of your Armies in this
particular.
Pardon the double diligence of your poor watchman, if
he cryes out Lances and Speares, when as perhaps they be
but Thiſtles, which was ſometimes the miſtake of the Bur-
gundians.
Touching

Before the Honorable Houſe of commons.
31
3
Hierome.
Touching the Officers of your Revenue, may it pleaſe
you to take into your thoughts, that Doves may not ſuffer
and be preyed on, under the name of Valtures, and that they
may not prey at large. Falco domeſtica eſt rapacior Sylveſtri,
fibi enim predatur & Domino.
Let not the Doves eyes faint when they waite for ſuccour,
being ſurrounded with preying Birds, let them not looſe
their feathers, and be ihrewdly ſcratcht and clawd, and left
half dead, as the man that fell amongſt theeves between Jeri-
cho and Jeruſalem, before they be relieved.
Tis a very great diſ-
heartning when the condition of them ſhall be like to that
Captains, who when he held the boat that was going away
with one hand, and that was cut off, took hold with the o-
ther, and having lost that too, faftned with his teeth, pitty tis
they ſhould not be relieved till the hold-faſt is onely by the
teeth as 'twere.
When your gins and ſnares catch any of the bloody Birds,
dally not with them, blood will have blood, contract not
their blood-guiltineſſe upon your own fouls, by an unwar-
ranted clemency and mildnelſe.
When Biſhop Gardiner was coop'd up in the Tower, in
Edward the ſixts days, Latiner ſaid, That Wolf was reſerved
to devoure him and others; which proved too true at length.
If thoſe that rob one ſingle inan are juſtly truſſed up, why
ſhould they eſcape who have merchandized and fet to fale
whole Kingdomes.
To conclude, you that are Noabs, and carry tender affe&tion
to the Dove, who have ſeen the end of an old world, and
the beginning of a new as he did, and have the principles
and feeds, about you for a new Plantation as he had, who
have followed Chriſt žu marryynysoia in the Regeneration, Re-
novation, Reformation of all things, ſhall fit upon thrones
and ſhall judge your adverſaries in an higherCourt. You ſhall
read Ex.24.10. That Mofes and Aaron and 70. of the Elders
faw the God of Iſrael,and there was under his feet as'twere a
paved work of Saphir ſtone, Lyranus and Arrias Montands
render the word as a Saphyr brick, whereby is ſignified
that

32
A Sermon Preached at the Faft, Decemb.25. 1644.
that the bricks of his People, (with Allufion to Ægypr)
that is, their Labours, and forrows, and ſufferings which
they did undergo for Gods fak, in his cauſe, and his work,
ſhould at length be turned into pure Saphyrs of Eternall
Glory. This Comfort and encouragement I leave with you,
and the Lord bleſſe it unto you.
bi big Tika
nuwa
Den salt bovaibadah polad her flash
03 ou rodino
bort tot 3000w is bas
pit feridos al riu FINIS. olgnir
DS
C
10 og bold wiw booklet
was er nå Voedol no Tomoda con heol wa
abublin hoe hearts
Ourteous Reader, I requeſt thee to take notice of theſe
Errata, and paſſe by ſome other literall Syllabican faults,
which could not be avoided, by reaſon of my abſence from the
Preffe. Das
Page 3. Lines 14-17m 15 min
Page 3. line 30. for 12. 32. read Luk. 12. 32. p. 8. margent, r. citamur a
Gerrkardo, p.9.1. 4. for open r.opened, 1. 7. for burthens r. barbarous,
p. 11. l. 17. for Diarius r. Diazius, 1. 21. r. Diarius, p. 12. I.1. for
carry-
ingr. carriage, 1. 324. for Caca Avis r. Rara Avis. p.13.1.4. for the mul.-
tituder. thar multitude. 1.15. for pleris,r. pleni. p. 14.1.12. for deſcribed
r.aſcribed, 1 26. for hurlar harid, 1.27. for have r.having, ibid. marg.
for Pilluan alii r. Pellican & alii.p.16. for Pythagorus r. Pythagoras, p.21.
1. 36. for quarjihr, r.queritur. p. 22. l.3. for Nould r. when.
aid abroaswoisa bol to be bois
To installation,
חוות 20 תוֹרַתן 16
20