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O God, wherefore art thou absent, &c. 79. O God, the Heathen are come, &c▪ 80. Hear, O thou Shepherd of Israel, &c.
O Lord God, to whom vengeance belong∣eth, I desire humbly to confesse before
thee, both on my own behalf, and that of this nation, that these many years of calamity we have groaned under, are but the just (yea mild) returns of those many more years of our pro∣vocations against thee, and that thy present wrath is but the due punishment of thy abused mercy. O Lord, thou hast formerly aboun∣ded to us in blessings above all people of the earth. Thy candle shined upon our heads, and we delighted our selves in thy great goodness, peace was within our walls, and plenteousness within our palaces, there was no decay, no lead∣ing into captivity, and no complaining in our streets: But we turned this grace into wan∣tonness, we abused our peace to security, our plenty to riot and Luxury, and made those good things, which should have endeared our hearts to thee, the occasions of estranging them from thee; Nay, O Lord, thou gavest us yet more precious mercies, thou wert pleas∣ed thy self to pitch thy Tabernacle with us, to establish a pure and glorious Church among us, and give us thy word to be a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our paths; But O Lord we have made no other use of that light, then to conduct us to the chambers of death, we have dealt proudly, and not hearkned to thy commandments, and by rebelling against the light, have purchased to our selves so much the heavier portion in the outer darkness. And now, O Lord, had the overflowings of thy ven∣geance been answerable to that of our sins, we had long since been swept away with a swift
destruction, and there had been none of us a∣live at this day to implore thy mercy. But thou art a gracious God, slow to anger, and hast proceeded with us with much patience and long suffering, thou hast sent thy judgments to awake us to repentance, and hast also al∣lowed us space for it: But alas! we have per∣verted this mercy of thine beyond all the for∣mer, we return not to him that smiteth us, nei∣ther do we seek the Lord, we are slidden back by a perpetual backsliding, no man repenteth him of his wickedness, or saith what have I done? 'Tis true indeed we fear the rod (we dread every suffering, so that we are ready to buy it off with the foulest sin) but we fear not him that hath appointed it, but by a wretched obstinacy harden our necks against thee, and refuse to return. And now, O God, what balm is there in Gilead that can cure us; who, when thou wouldst heal us, will not be healed, we know thou hast pronounced that there is no peace to the wicked, and how shall we then pray for peace, that still retain our wickedness? 'This this, O Lord, is our forest disease, O give us medicines to heal this sickness, heal our souls, and then we know thou canst soon he••l our land. Lord, thou hast long spoken by thy word to our ears, by thy judgments even to all our senses, but unless thou speak by thy Spirit to our hearts, all other cals will still be uneffectual, O send out this voice, and that a mighty voice, such as may awake us out of this Lethargy: thou that didst call Lazarus out of the grave, O
be pleased to call us, who are dead, yea putri∣fied in trespasses and sins, and make us to a∣wake to righteousness. And though, O Lord, our frequent resistances even of these inward calls have justly provoked thee to give us up to the lusts of our own heart; yet O thou boundless ocean of mercy, who art good not only beyond what we can deserve, but what we can wish, do not withdraw the influence of thy grace, and take not thy holy Spirit from us. Thou wert found of those that sought thee not, O let that act of mercy be repeated to us, who are so desperately, yet so insensi∣bly sick, that we cannot so much as look after the Physician, and by how much our case is the more dangerous, so much the more soveraign remedies do thou apply; Lord help us, and consider not so much our unworthiness of thy aid, as our irremediable ruine, if we want it; save Lord, or we perish eternally. To this end dispense to us in our temporal interest, what thou seest may best secure our spiritual; if a greater degree of outward misery will tend to the cureing our inward, Lord, spare not thy rod, but strike yet more sharply, Cast out this Devil, though with never so much foaming and tearing. But if thou seest that some return of mercy may be most likely to melt us, O be plea∣sed so far to condescend to our wretchedness, as to afford us that, and whether by thy sharper, or thy gentler methods, bring us home to thy self. And then, O Lord, we know thy hand is not shortned, that it cannot save, when thou hast
delivered us from our sins, thou canst and wilt deliver us from our troubles, O shew us thy mercy, and grant us thy salvation, that being redeemed both in our bodies and spirits, we may glorifie thee in both, in a cheerful obedi∣ence, and praise the name of our God, that hath dealt wonderfully with us, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
O Thou great God of recompences, who turnest a fruitful, land in∣to barrenness for the wickednesse of the•• that dwel therein; thou hast most justly executed that fatal sentence on this Church; which having once been the perfection of beauty, the joy of the whole earth is now become a scorn and derision to all that are round about her. O Lord, what could have been done to thy vineyard, that thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not done in it, and since it hath brought forth nothing but wild grapes, it is perfectly just with thee to take away the hedg thereof, and let it be eaten up. But O Lord, though our iniquities testifie against us, yet do thou it for thy Names sake; for our backslidings are many, we have sin∣ned against thee. O the hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldst tho•• be as a stranger in the land, as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to carry for a night? Why shouldst thou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man that cannot save? Yet thou, O Lord art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name, leave us not, de∣prive us of what outward enjoyments thou pleasest, take from us the oppor••unities of our Luxury, and it may be a mercy, but, O take not from us the means of our reformation, for that is the most direful ex∣pression of thy wrath. And though we have hated the light, because our deeds were evil, yet. O Lord, do not by withdrawing it condemn ••s to walk on still in darkness, but let it continue to shine, till it have guided our feet into the way of peace; O Lord, arise, stir up thy strength and come and help us, and deliver not the soul of thy turtle dove (this disconsolate Church) unto the multitude of the enemy; but help act, O God, and that right early. But if, O Lord, our rebellions have so provoked thee, that the Ark must wander in the wilderness, til all this murmuring generation be consumed, yet let not that perish with us, but bring it at last into a Canaan, and let our more innocent posterity see that, which in thy just judgment thou denyest to us. In the mean time let us not cease to bewail that desolation, our sins have wrought to think upon the stones of Sion, and pity to see her in the dust, nor ever be ashamed or afraid to own her, in her lowest and most
persecuted condition, but esteem the reproach of Christ, greater riches then the treasures of Egypt, and so approve our constancy, to this our afflicted mother, that her blessed Lord and head may own us with mercy, when he shall come in the glory of thee his father with the holy Angels. Grant this merciful Lord for the same Jesus Christ ••is sake.
LOrd Jesus Christ, which of thine almightiness madest all creatures both visible and invisible, which of thy godly wisdome governest and settest all things in most goodly order, which of thine unspeakable goodness keep∣est, defendest and furtherest all things, which of thy deep mercy restorest the decayed, renewest the fallen, raisest the dead: vouchsafe we pray thee at last, to cast down thy countenance upon thy well-beloved Spouse the Church; but let it be that amiable and mer∣ciful countenance wherewith thou pacifiest all things in heaven, in earth, and whatsoever is above heaven and un∣der the earth: vouchsafe to cast upon us those tender and pitiful eyes, with which thou didst once behold Peter that great Shepherd of thy Church, and forthwith he re∣membered himself, & repented, with which eyes thou once didst view the scattered multitude, and wert moved with compassion, that for lack of a good Shepherd, they wan∣dered as sheep dispersed and strayed a sunder. Thou seest (O good Shepherd) what sundry sorts of Wolvs have bro∣ken into thy sheep cotes, of whom every one cryeth: Here is Christ, here is Christ. So that if it were possible the very perfect persons should be brought into error. Thou seest with what winds, with what waves, with what storms thy silly ship is tossed, thy ship wherein thy little flock is in peril to be drowned. And what is now left, but that it ut∣terly sink, and we all perish? Of this tempest and storm, we may thank our own wickedness and sinful living; we espy it well and confesse it, we espy thy righteousness, and we bewail our unrighteousness: but we appeal to thy mercy which (according to the Psalm of thy Prophet) surmount∣eth all thy works; we have now suffered much punishment, being sousted with so many wars, consumed with such losses
of goods, scourged with so many sorts of diseases and pe∣stilences, shaken with so many flouds, feared with so ma∣ny strange sights from heaven, and yet appears there no where any Haven or Port unto us being thus-tired & for lorn among so strange evils, but still every day more grie∣vous punishments, and more seem to hang over our heads. We complain not of thy sharpness, most tender Saviour, but we espy here also thy mercy, forasmuch, as much grie∣vouse•• plagues we have deserved. But O most merciful Je∣su, we beseech thee, that thou wilt not consider not weigh what is due for our deservings, but rather what becometh thy mercy, without which neither the Angels in heaven can stand sure before thee, much less we filly vessels of clay. Have mercy on us, O redeemer, which art easie to be intreated, not that we be worthly of thy mercy, but give thou this glory unto thine own Name. Suffer not that the Jews, Turks, and the rest of the Panims, which either have not known thee, or do envy thy glory, should conti∣nually triumph over us, and say, Where is their God, where is their Redeemer, where is their Saviour, where is their Bridegroom, that they thus boast on? These oppro∣brious words and upbraidings redound unto thee. O Lord, while by our evils, men weigh and esteem thy goodness: they think we be forsaken, whom they see not amended. Once when thou sleptst in the Ship, and a Tem∣pest suddenly arising threatned death to all in the Ship, thou awokest at the outcry of a few Disciples, and straight∣way at thine Almighty word the waters couched, the winds fell, the storm was suddenly turned into a great calm; the dumb waters know their makers voice. Now in this far greater tempest, wherein not a few mens bo∣dies be in danger, but innumerable souls: we beseech th••e at the cry of thy holy Church, which is in danger of drowning, that thou wilt awake. So many thousands of men do cry, Lord save us, we perish, the tempest is past mans power: yea we see that the endeavours of them that would help it, do turn clean a contrary way. It is thy word that must do the deed, Lord Jesu. Only say thou with a word of thy mouth, Cease O tempest, and forthwith shall ••he desired calm appear. Thou wouldst have spa••ed so many thousands of most wicked men, if in the City of Sodo••
••ad been found but ten good men. Now here be so many thousands 〈◊〉〈◊〉 men, which love the glory of thy name, which sigh for the beauty 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thy house; and wilt thou not at these mens prayers let go thine an∣••r, and remember thine accustomed and old mercies? Shalt thou ••ot with thy heavenly policy turn our folly into thy glory? Shalt thou ••ot turn the wicked mens evils into thy Churches good? For thy mer∣••y is wont then most of all to succour, when the thing is with us past ••medy, and neither the might nor wisdom of men can help it. Thou ••one b••ingest things that be never so out of order, into order again: ••hich art the only Author and maintainer of peace. Thou framedst ••hat old confusion, which we call Chaos, wherein without order, with∣••ut fashion confusedly lay the discordant seeds of things, and with a ••onderful order the things that of nature fought together, thou didst ••ly and knit in a perpetual band. But how much greater confusion is ••is, where is no charity, no fidelity, no bonds of love, no reverence either of lawes, nor yet of rulers, no agreement of opinions, but as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were in a misordered quire, every man singeth a contrary note. A∣••ong the heavenly Planets is no dissention, all four Elements keep ••••eir place, every one do their office whereunto they be appointed. And wilt thou suffer thy Spouse, for whose sake all things were made ••hus bycontinual discords to perish, and go to wrack? Shalt thou ••••ffer the wicked spirits, which be authors and workers of discord, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 bear such a swing in thy Kingdome unchecked? Shalt thou suffer ••e strong Captain of mischief, whom thou once overthrewest, again 〈◊〉〈◊〉 invade thy tents, and to spoil thy souldiers? When thou wert here man conversant among men, at thy voice fl••d the Devils. Send forth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 beseech thee, O Lord, thy spirit which may drive away out of the ••ests of al them that profess thy name, the wicked spirits masters of ri∣••••, of covetousness, of vain-glory, of carnal lust, of mischief, and of dis∣••ord. Create in us, O our God and King, a clean heart, and renew thy holy ••pirit in our breasts pluck not from us thy holy Ghost. Render unto us ••e joy of thy saving health, and with thy principal spirit, strengthen ••y Spouse and the Herdmen thereof. By this Spirit thou reconciledst ••••e earthly to the heavenly: by this thou didst frame and reduce, so ••any tongues, so many nations, so many sundry sorts of men into 〈◊〉〈◊〉 body of a Church; which body by the same Spirit is knit to thee ••••eir Head. This Spirit if thou wilt vouchsafe to renew in all mens ••earts, then shall also these foreign miseries cease, or if they cease ••ot, at least they shall turn to the profit and avail of them which love ••ee. Stay this confusion, set in order this horrible Chaos (O Lord ••e us;) let thy spirit stretch out it self upon these waters of evil wa∣••ering opinions. And because thy spirit, which according to thy Pro∣••ets saying containeth all things hath also the sience of speaking▪
make that like as unto all them which be of thy house, is all one light, one Baptisme, one God, one Hope, one Spirit; so they may also have one voice, one note, and song, professing one Catholick truth. When thou didst mount up to heaven triumphantly, thou threwest out from above thy precious things, thou gavest gifts amongst men, thou dealt∣est sundry rewards of thy Spirit. Renew again from above thy old bountifulness, give that thing to thy Church, now faincing and grow∣ing downward, that thou gavest unto her shooting up, at her first beginning. Give unto Princes and Rulers the grace so to stand in awe of thee, that they so may guide the Common-weal, as they should shortly render accompt unto thee that art the King of kings. Give wisdome to be alwayes assistant unto them, that whatsoever is best to be done, they may espy it in their mind, and pursue the same in their doings. Give to the Bishops the gift of prophecy, that they may declare and interpret holy Scripture, not of their own brain, but of thine inspiring. Give them the threefold charity which thou once de∣mandest of Peter, what time thou didst be••ake unto him the charge of thy sheep. Give to the Priests the love of soberness and of chastity. Give to thy people a good will to follow thy Commandments, and a readiness to obey such persons as thou hast appointed over them. So shall it come to passe, if through thy gift thy Princes shall command that thou requirest, if thy Pastors and Her••men shall teach the same, and thy people obey them both: that the old dignity and tranquilli∣ty of the Church shall return again with a goodly order unto the glo∣ry of thy name. Thou sparedst the Ninevites appointed to be destroy∣ed, as soon as they converted to repentance; and wilt thou despise thy house falling down at thy feet, which in stead of sackcloth hath sighes, and instead of ashe•• tears? Thou promisedst forgiveness to such as turn unto thee, but this self thing is thy gift, a man to turn with his whole heart unto thee, to the intent all our goodnesse should re∣dound unto thy glory. Thou art the maker, repair the work that thou hast fashioned. Thou art the Redeemer; save that thou hast bought. Thou art the Savi••ur, suff••r not them to perish which do hang on thee. Thou art the Lord and owner; challenge thy possession. Thou art the head, help thy memb••rs. Thou art the King, give us a reverence of thy laws. Thou art the Prince of peace; breathe upon us brotherly love. Thou art the God, have p••ty on thy humble bes••ec••ers; be thou according to Pauls saying, all things in all men, to the intent, the whole quire of thy Church with agre••ing minds and consonant voyces for mercy ob∣tained at thy hands, may give thanks to the Father, Son & holy Ghost wch after the most perf••ct example of concord, b•• distincted in property of Persons, and one in nature, to whom be praise and glory eternally. Amen.