The shaking of the olive-tree the remaining works of that incomparable prelate Joseph Hall D. D. late lord bishop of Norwich : with some specialties of divine providence in his life, noted by his own hand : together with his Hard measure, vvritten also by himself.

A SERMON Preacht in the Cathedral at EXCETER, UPON The solemn Day appointed for the CELEBRATION OR THE PACIFICATION Betwixt the Two KINGDOMS. Viz. Septemb. 7. 1641.

By JOS. EXON.

PSAL. 46.8.

Come, behold the Works of the Lord, what Desolations He hath made in the Earth. He maketh warrs to cease unto the ends of the Earih, &c.

IT was doubtless upon the happy end of some warr, and the renovation of an established peace, that this gratula∣tory Psalme was penned, and therefore fits well with our occasion. My text then is an earnest invitation to a se∣rious and thankfull consideration of the great works of God in his contrary proceedings with men; Desolations of warr and restaurations of Peace: we are called first to a generall survay of Gods wonderfull works: and then to a speciall view of the works

of his justice first, (what desolation he hath made upon Earth) then of his mercy; in composing all the busie broils of the World; He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the Earth. These must be the subject both of our eyes, and of my tongue, and your ears at this time.

We must then behold the works of the Lord, but that we may be∣hold them we must come; and that we may both come and behold them, we are invited to both: Come and behold. We are naturally full of distractions; ready to mind any thing but what we should; unless we be called we shall not come, and unlesse we come and behold, we shall behold to no purpose: that which our Saviour saith of Mar∣tha is the common case of us all, we are troubled about many things: One is carking about his household affaires, another is busying his thoughts with his law-suits, another is racking his mind with am∣bitious projects; another is studying which way to be revenged of his enemy; and some other, perhaps, rather then want work will be troubling themselves with matters of State or other mens affaires that concern them not, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 busie Bishops in other mens dio∣cess we had need to be call'd off from these vain unmeet avocations, ere we offer to behold the works of God; else it will fall out with us as it doth ordinarily with our bodily sight, that whiles we have many objects in our eye we see nothing distinctly at all. A∣way therefore with all the distractive, yea divulsive thoughts of the World; and let us Come and behold the works of the Lord: as the Vul∣gar hath it in the next verse, vacate & videte. Come then from thy counting house thou from thy shop-board, thou from thy study, thou from thy barr, thou from the field, and behold the works of the Lord. Indeed, how can we look beside them? What is there that he hath not done? What thing is it that he hath not created; or what event can befall any of his Creatures which he hath not contrived? Or what act can fall from any Creature of his wherein he is not inter∣ested? So as unlesse we will wilfully shut our eyes, we cannot but behold the works of the Lord: But there is more in this charge then so; as these works are not meant of the ordinary occurrents, so it is not a mere sight that is here called for; but a serious and fixed contem∣plation: It is not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; that is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as I remem∣ber Beza distinguishes upon an other occasion; a bending of our eyes upon this holy object: Solomon the Son interprets his Father

David, Eccles. 7.13. Consider the work of God: This beholding there∣fore is with mentall eyes, and not with every suddain glance, but with deep considerations, so to see them as both the Hebrew and the English phrase elsewhere to lay them to heart.

Wherefore hath God set us here on this greatstage of the world, but that we should be spectators of the marvailous acts that are here done.

1. Surely, they are worth beholding; for they are all like his; well becoming his infinite power, wisdom, justice: So hath God done his wondrous works that they ought to be had in perpetuall remembrance: Beauty and excellence is abstractive where ever it is: There is not one act of either his creation or administration wherein there is not the footsteps of an omnipotence, and an infinity of pro∣vidence? Every thing works according to his ability: As the man is, so is his strength: and as his strength, so his actions: Alas, we weak creatures produce weak and feeble, and imperfect acts, nei∣ther can we possibly do other; for such as the cause is, such must the effects needs be: God therefore, who is all power, justice, wisdom, goodnesse, must needs produce acts answerable to such an agent: therefore behold the works of the Lord.

2. Wherefore were our eyes given us, but for this very purpose they were not given us for the beholding of vanity; not for the en∣snaring or wounding of the soul; but for the use and honour of the Creatour; and wherein is that attained, but in the beholding of the works of the Lord: hence it is that they can behold all things but themselves; and discern those things worst, which are closest to them; and see, not by sending forth any vertue from themselves, but by intromitting of those species which are sent in to them; short∣ly, that God who hath made all things for himself, hath in the ma∣king of this most excellent and usefull peece had an eye to his own glory in our beholding of his works; which if we neglect to do, we do, what in us lies, frustrate Gods purpose and intention in crea∣ting them.

3. Add to this, that the Lord delights to have his works beheld; for he knowes the excellency and perfection of them, and knowes that the more they are seen and noted, the more honour will accrue to the Maker of them: like as some skilfull Artizan (some exqui∣site Limner or Carver) when he hath made a Master-piece of his Art, he doth not hide it up in some dark corner where it may not be

seen; but sets it forth in the best light, and rejoyces to have it seen and admired: Thus doth the Almighty; when the Creature was first made because there was no other eyes to see it, he lookt upon it with great complacency, and rejoyced in his own handywork; It being the Epiphonema to every days work when he comes to the re∣lation of the particularities of his workmanship, And God saw that it was good; and in a recapitulation or winding up all; God saw every thing that he had made; and behold, it was very good, Gen. 1.31. But when the An∣gels were created, and saw the glorious handy work of God, they did presently applaud the marvailous works of their Maker; when the morn∣ing Starrs sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy, Job 38.7. And when after that, man was created, he joyned with those glori∣ous spirits in viewing and magnifying the works of his Creatour. And so he should do. God was well pleased that he should do so. Alas we men who are conscious to our own infirmity, let passe many things from us which we care not how little they are viewed and scanned; for we know there may be flawes found in our best per∣formances, which at the first blush appear not; we hear sometimes a discourse, which as it passes through the ear sounds well, and seems to carry a good show of exquisiteness, which if it be set down and come to an accurate examination, may be found defective in this point, in that redundant, here mis-placed, there inconsequent; even course tapestry may afarr off show well; which when it comes to be close viewed discovers an homelinesse in texture and faults enough both in shapes and colours: But as for the works of God, In wis∣dom hast thou made them all; saith the Prophet: The more they are scanned, and tryed the more pure and precious they will appear; and as Solomon expresses it, Man shall find nothing after him, Eccl. 7.14. And the God that knowes this, loves that we should in all hum∣ble and modest-diligence search into, and behold his works.

4. There is great reason that we should carefully behold the works of the Lord, because none but we can do it; of such infinite variety of Creatures, there is none but the rationall and intelligent, viz. Angels and men, that can so much as take notice of what God hath done, no not of themselves; that sence whereby they are led cannot reach so high as a thought; what is before them, they see so farr as their downward eyes will reach, and make towards that which serves their appetite, and avoid what they apprehend may

hurt them, but as for their Maker, or for their own condicion, or their fellow Creatures, they are not capable of any glimpse of know∣ledg thereof: And even of reasonable Creatures, what a World is there that are as insensible of the works of God as if they were utterly in∣sensate; Pagans, Infidels, Worldlings that are carried by no o∣ther guide then mere bruit Creatures are; and affect no other light then that of sense; Alas, what is it to them what God doth, or what he doth not? How much then doth it concern us whom God hath illuminated with any measure of knowledg, and furnisht with any measure of grace to be inquisitive into the works of God, and to give glory to him in all his actions.

5. This shall not be so much advantage to God (alas what can we add to the infinite?) as benefit to our selves: it is here as with those that dig in some precious mine, the deeper they go, the richer they are: hence it is that the most contemplative have been noted for most eminent in grace, and surely it is their fault if they be not so; for they should be the best acquainted with God, and with their own duty: shortly then, seeing the works of God are so excellent, and well-worth beholding; since our eyes were given us for this use, since God delights to have his works viewed; since there are so few that are capable of giving this glory to God; since in beholding the works of God we do most advantage our selves both in knowledg and holi∣ness; let us as we are here invited, Come and behold the works of the Lord.

His works; in all the variety of them; not some one work, but all; as the works of his creation, so of his administration too; the divers, yea contrary proceedings of God therein; in the changes of his favours and judgments; I confess there is and may be some one work of God so marvelous that it is able and worthy to take up all our thoughts; but we may not suffer our hearts to dwell in any one work of his, but inlarge them to more; we may not rest in the con∣templation of his mercy only, but we must look to his judgments; else we shall grow secure we may not rest in the view of his judgments only without meet glances at his mercy, els we shall grow to an heartlesse distrust and despair; As we say in our philosophy; Composita nutriunt, only compounds nourish; those things which are merely simple can give no nutriment at all; so it is in spirituall matters, there must be a composition in those objects of contemplation, where∣by we would feed and benefit our soules; our resolution for our

thoughts, must be the same that the Psalmists were for his song Of mercy and judgment will I sing.

Now, that we may descend to the particularities; the Psalmist begins at judgment. What desolations, &c. This is the right method; as in the very being of both, judgment leads the way to mercy; so in the meditation and view of both: As it was in the Creation; The Evening and the Morning were the first day; The darknesse of the night led in the brightness of the morning; and as the Prophets word was post tenebras lucem; when we are humbled, and astonished with the consideration of Gods vengeance upon sinners, then, and not till then are we meet for the apprehensions of his wonderfull mer∣cies: In this regard it is truly verified that the fear of the Lord is the be∣ginning of wisdom, and his judgments are they that make him feared; It is the thunder and rain that prepares the hearts of Israel for Samu∣els good counsel, 1 Sam. 12. It is with the hearts of men as with the Earth and the seasons of the fruits thereof; If there be too much ease in the winter, and the Sun send forth gleames of heat towards the entrance of the spring it brings forth the blossoms hastily, which af∣ter by later frosts are nipped in the head and miscarry; but if there be kindly frosts and colds at the first that hold in the juice of the plants, they are in due time drawn forth by seasonable heates, and prosper; First therefore let us be wrought upon by the meditation of judgments; and then we shall be fit for the beneficiall applicati∣cations of mercy.

We are then here first invited to a Tragicall sight, we are carried into the Camera dimorte, to see the gastly visage of deaths, and de∣solations all the World over, then which nothing can be more horri∣ble and dreadfull, you are called out to see piles of dead carcasses, to see whole basket fulls of heads as was presented to Jehu; a wofull spectacle, but a necessary one; See therefore what desolations the Lord hath wrought in all the Earth: Desolations by warrs; how many fields have been drencht with blood,* 1.1 and composted with carcasses; how many Millions of men have been cut off in all ages by the edge of the sword? Desolations by famine wherein men have been forced to make their bodies one anothers Sepulchers, and mothers to devoure their children of a span long: Desolotions by plague and pesti∣lence,

which hath swept away as our story tells us 800000. in one City: Desolations by inundations of Waters, which have covered the faces of many Regions, and rinsed the Earth of her unclean inha∣bitants: Desolations by Earth quakes which have swallowed up whole Cityes, and those great and populous. Desolations wrought by the hand of his Angels; as in Egypt, in the tents of the Assyri∣ans, 185000. in one night in the camp of Israel in Davids pestilence; Desolations wrought by the hands of men in Battails and massacres; Desolations by Wild-beasts, as in the Colonyes of Ashur planted in Samaria: Desolations by the swarms of obnoxious and noysome crea∣tures, as in Egypt, and since in Africk, He spake the word, and the Grashoppers came and Caterpillers innumerable. Ps. 105.34. Insomuch as in the consulship of M. Fulvius Flaccus, after the bloody warrs of Africk, followed infinite numbers of Locusts, which after devouring of all herbs and fruit were by a suddain wind hoysed into the African sea; infection followed upon their putrefection, and thereupon a ge∣nerall mortality, in number fourscore thousand dyed, upon the Sea coast see twixt Carthage and Utica above 200000. Desolations every way; and by what variety of means soever, yet all wrought by the divine hand: What desolations he hath wrought; whoever be the instrument, he is the Author. This is that which God challengeth to himself, neither will he lose the glory of these great executions. We men have a rule in the course of publick administations, and we think a politick one, that all matters of favour Princes should derive from themselves, but all acts of harshnesse and severity they should put off from their persons to subordinate agents; God will not stand upon such points, he rather professes to lay claim to all the memorable acts of vengeance upon sinfull Nations and People: Israels revolt under Jeroboam is owned by him in his message to Rehoboams Captains: Ashur is the rod of his wrath: He slew great Kings, and overthrew migh∣ty Kings; He hisseth for the Fly of Egypt, and for the Bee of Assyria, I say 7.13. Thou hast scattered thine enemies abroad with thy mighty arme, Ps. 89.11. Good reason that God should claim the propriety of these Acts; For they are the noble effects and proofs of his vindica∣tive justice; Justice renders to all their own: Publick Desolations are due to publick wickednesses. And if this should not be done, how would it appear that God took notice of the notorious sins of a peo∣ple, or were sensible of their provocations? As in outward Govern∣ment

if there were no Assizes or Sessions to judg and punish malefa∣ctors how could we think other but that all were turned lawlesse, and that no respect is given to law or justice; the Wiseman could ob∣serve that because judgment is not speedily executed upon wicked men, the hearts of men are set in them to do evil. But surely, if it were not executed at all, men would turne Divells: But now that God calls sinfull Nations to account for their iniquity by exemplary judgments men are ready to say with the Psalmist, Doubtlesse there is a God that judgeth the Earth, Ps. 58.18. God will be glorified even for hell it self Topheth is ordained of old. Isa. 30.33.

2. Even these desolatory judgments are a notable improvement of his mercy: There cannot easily be a greater proof of his respects to his own, then in sweeping away their enemies. Which smote Egypt with their first born, for his mercy indureth for ever; which overthrew Pharaoh and his Host in the sea, for his mercy indureth for ever: which smote great Kings, and slew mighty Kings for his mercy indureth for ever; Sihon King of the Amorites, and Og the King of Basan, for his mercy in∣dureth for ever. Ps. 139.

Neither is there a greater demonstration of his mercy in his strokes then in his warnings; for surely God intends by these examples of his just vengeance, to deterr all others from following the footsteps of those wicked men, whom he thus plagues: as good Princes and Magistrates do so order their executions that paena ad paucos, terror ad multos: some may smart, all may fear. It is excellent and preg∣nant which the Apostle hath, 1 Cor. 10.11. Now all these things hap∣pened unto them for ensamples; and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. See I beseech you, God hath further drifts in his executions of judgments then we can imagine; he intends them not only for acts, but patterns; he means not so much to punish, as to teach, every judgment 'tis a new lesson, and to teach not the next successions, but all generations of men to the end of the World; and if we do not make this use of his terrible proceed∣ings, we shall be much wanting both to him and our selves: and no marvell if we be whipt for dull non-proficients in Gods School if we be not taught fear and obedience by his so many judgments.

We need not cast our eyes much back to the view of former ages (though there we may meet with worlds of examples) let us but look at the present estate of our miserable neighbourhood; of the

wofull ruines of Germany; once and in our time, one of the most rich, and flourishing countreys of the Christian world, famous for goodly Cities, for a plentifull soyl, for frequence of trafique, for the seat of the Empire, now wasted with the miseries of a long and cruell warr, wallowing in blood, buried in rubbidge and dust: Oh see the deso∣lations that God hath wrought in this part of the earth, and pick out of them (as we well may) pitty, fear, thankfulness. Pitty and just commiseration of the grievous sufferings of that desolate Nation; fear of that just hand of God which hath thus humbled them, and might no less deservedly have fal'n as heavily upon us: thankfulness for those gracious immunities which he hath given us hitherto, from their e∣vills; and mercifull respites of repentance for those sins which have called down these judgments upon them.

And this is the former particular object which the Psalmist calls our eyes unto; worthy of our view; but yet not the main and in∣tended subject of this dayes discourse; rather the other that now followes, the cessation of armes, and the blessing of peace, He makes Wars to cease in all the World, &c. however the sight and due medita∣tion of the miseries of war and the vastations that follow upon it may be a good preparative to us for setting a true value upon the benefit of peace.

For us, Alas, we had rather a threatning then a sense of war, our neighbours entred into our borders not with a publick denunciation of an offensive war, but with a profession of defence. And if some blood were mutually shed, in the passage it was not out of a profes∣sedly hostile intention on either part (which had it been, might easi∣ly have proceeded to a far greater slaughter) but out of the suddain apprehensions of the intervening crosses of each others purposes: And if the long abode in those our quarters have been not a little chargeable to us, yet it hath been without any violent and bloody prosecution on either part; and now thanks be to God, they are pas∣sed away in peace: But even this little glimpse of a dry war is enough to show us the wofull misery of a war denounced, prose∣cuted, executed to the height of cruelty; where there are nothing but intentions of killing, spoiling, desolation: The anguish of this very touch is sufficient to make us sensible of the torment of the full shock of a destructive war: Out of the sense whereof let us look at this great work of contrary mercy which is here set forth unto us: He maketh wars to cease unto the ends of the earth.

Wherein we have an intimation no l••sse of the wonder then the benefit of peace: It is a work of power mixed with mercy that he so restraines the spirits of men that they are composed to peace. Deso∣lation is not a work of so much power as peacemaking is; naturally every man hath the seeds of war and qu••rrell sown in his heart, and they are apt to come up on every occasion. Through pride men make contention, saith Wise Solomon: From whence are wars among you, come they not from hence, even of your Lusts, that war in your Members, saith St. James 4.1. Lo, the outward wars come from the inward; The unquiet thoughts of the heart arising from ambition, from malice, and envy, and desire of revenge, are those which are guilty of these generall affrayes and bloodsheds of the World; and what heart is free from these? Every man naturally hath a tyrant in his bosome: We are all by nature thornes or nettles, and cannot be touched with∣out some stinging or pricking: when there were but two Brothers in the World, one of them rises up against the other, and dashes his brains out: Surely as we do all partake of Adam our Grandfather, so we have too much of our great Uncle, his Eldest Son Cain, naturally affected to violence & slaughter: Hence in the next age after the de∣luge Nimrod was a mighty hunter, Gen. 10. pursuing men, doubtlesse, no lesse in his tyranny, then beasts in his game: And ever since, Lord; how hath the World been over-run with battails and murder! Here one Prince findes his Territories too straight, and hath a minde to en∣large himself with the Elbow-room of the neighbouring Region; There, another scornes to be incroached upon by an injurious usurpati∣on, and repells a lesse violence with a greater: Here one pretends to the title of a Crown, wherein he hath no more interest then he can hew out with the sword; There another under colour of ayd, thrusts himself into that throne which he pretended to succour: here one picks quarrells with the defect of justice done to his subjects, and makes sudden embargoes, and unwarned inroads into the adjoyning Coun∣try: There another takes advantage of the violation of leagues, and coulours his ambition with the fair name of a just Vindication: Here one, if he can have no other ground will make religion a stalking horse to his covetous and ambitious intrusion; it is bellum Domini, a sacred war that he manages; for the reducing of Hereticks to the unity of the Church; or punishing their perfidiousnesse: There, a∣nother will plant the Gospell with the sword-point amongst Infidels,

and massacres millions of Indians to make room for Christianity; It is a rare thing, if where great Spirits, and great power are met in any Prince, he can be content to fit still, and not break forth into some notable breaches of publick peace. And where once the fire of war is kindled, it is not easily quenched, yea it runs as in a trayn, and feeds it self with all the combustable matter it meets withall on every side; and therefore tis a marveilous work of the power and mercy of God, that he makes war to cease. And this he doth, either by an over-powering victory, as in the case of Hezekiah & Sennacherib; which should seem to be the drift of this Psalme, whereof every pas∣sage imports such a victory and triumph as the conquered adversary should never be able to recover. Or by tempering, and composing the hearts of men, restraining them in their most furious carriere, and taming their wild heats of revenge; and inclining them to termes of peace. This is a thing which none but he can do; the heart of man is an unruly and head strong thing: it is not more close then violent; as none can know it, so none can over-rule it, but he that made it; It is a rough sea; he only can say, here shalt thou stay thy proud waves: Shortly then, publick peace is the proper work of an Almighty and mercifull God: His very title is Deus pacis, the God of peace, Rom. 15.33. and 16.20. Heb. 13.20. so as this is his peculium: yea it is not only his, for he owes it; but his, for he makes it, I make peace and create evill, I the Lord do all these things, Esa. 45.7.

That malignant Spirit is in this his profest opposite; that he is the great make-bate of the World; Labouring to set all together by the ears; sowing discord betwixt Heaven and Earth, betwixt one peece of Earth against another, Man against Man, Nation a∣gainst Nation; hence he hath the name of Satan, of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of Di∣abolus; of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; as whose whole indeavour is enmity and de∣struction? Contrarily, the good God of Heaven, whose work it is to destroy the works of the Devill, is all for peace: he loves peace he commands it, he effects it, He maketh wars to cease.

This is his work in the kinde; and so much more his work in the extent; To the ends of the Earth; by how much more good any work is, by so much more it is his, and by how much more common any good is, by so much better it is: Even the pax pectoris, the private and bosome peace of every man with himself is his great and good

work; for the heart of every man is naturally as an unquiet sea, ever tossing and restlesse: troubled with variety of boistrous passions; he only can calme it; the peace of the family is his; he maketh men to be of one minde in an house, without whose work there is no∣thing but jarres and discord betwixt husband and wife; parents and children, masters and servants; servants and children with each other; so as the house is made if not an hell for the time, yet a purgatory at the least: the peace of the neighbourhood is his, without whom there is nothing but scolding, brawling, bloodsheds, lawing: that a City is at unity in it self, not divided into sides and factions, it is the Lords doing: for many men, many mindes; and every man is naturally addicted to his own opinion; hence grow daily destractions in populous bodies.

That a Country, that a Nation is so, is so much more his work as there are more heads and hearts to governe: But that one Nation should be at unity with another, yea that all Nations should agree upon an universall cessation of armes, and embrace peace, A domino factum est hoc & est mirabile, it must needs be the Lords doing so much more eminently, and it is marveilous in our eyes: Faciam eos in gentem unam, was a word fit only for the mouth of God: who only can restrain hands, and conjoyne hearts, as here, He maketh wars to cease unto the ends of the Earth.

Now wherefore serves all this, but for the direction of our re∣course, for the excitation of our duty and immitation; for the chal∣lenge of our thankfulnesse?

In the first place, are we troubled with the fears or rumours of wars? are we grieved with the quarrells and dissensions that we finde within the bosome of our own Nation or Church? would we earnest∣ly desire to finde all differences composed, and a constant peace set∣led amongst us? we see whether to make our addresse, even to that omnipotent God who maketh warrs to cease unto the ends of the earth, who breaketh the bow, and snappeth the spear in sunder. And surely if ever any Nation had cause to complain, in the midst of a publick peace, of the danger of private destractions, and factious divisions, ours is it; wherein I know not how many uncouch Sects are lately risen out of Hell to the disturbance of our wonted peace; all of them ea∣gerly pursuing their own various fancies, and opposing our formerly received truth: what should we do then but be take our selves in our

earnest supplications to the God of peace, with an Help Lord; ne∣ver ceasing to solicit him with our prayers, that he would be pleased so to order the hearts of men, that they might encline to an happy agreement; at least to a meek cessation of those unkinde quarrels wherewith the Church is thus miserably afflicted.

But secondly, in vain shall we pray, if we do nothing: Our pray∣ers serve only to testifie the truth of our desires; and to what purpose shall we pretend a desire of that which we indeavour not to effect: That God who makes wars and quarrels to cease, useth means to ac∣complish that peace which he decrees; And what are those means but the inclinations, projects, labors of all the well-willers to peace? It must be our care therefore to immitate, yea to second God in this great work of peace-making; The phrase is a strange but an em∣phaticall one that Deborah uses in her song; Curse ye Meroz, said the Angel of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to help the Lord, to help the Lord against the mighty: Judg. 5.23. Lo, what a word here is, To help the Lord: what help needs the Almighty, or what help can our weaknesse afford to his omnipo∣tence? Yet, when we put our hands to his, and do that, as instru∣ments, which he, as the authour requires of us, and works by us; we help that Lord which gives us all the motions both of our wills and actions: so must we do in the promoting of peace, and the al∣laying of quarrells: when an house is on fire we must every one cast in his pail-full to the quenching of the flames. It is not enough that we look on harmlesly with our hands in our bosomes; No, we add to that burning, which we indeavour not to quench:

We must contribute our utmost to the cessation of these spirituall and intellectuall wars: which shall be done

1. By withdrawing the fuell of contention; mitigating what we may the grounds of dissension; those grounds are the matters controverted; these, our Christian charity, and love of peace will teach us either to decline, or to abate & lessen by all fair interpretati∣ons; according to that of the blessed Apostle, Charity thinks not e∣vill; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things, 1 Cor. 18.5.7. So when Isaacs Servants found the Philistims to st••ive with them for their two wells of Esek, and Sitnah, th••y did no•• stand upon points with them, but removed and digged ano∣ther which was out of the reach of the strife, and called it Rehoboth;

elbow-room: Gen. 26.22. And thus the Servants of Isaac made the Philistim quarrells to cease, though by Abimelecs own confession, Isaac was much mightier then himself.* 1.2 Thus when the main difference grew betwixt Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, and the rest of Israel concerning the altar beyond Jordan, a fair construction stinted that strife, which might have embroyled both parts in a bloody war. Thus it was in the Synod of Ephesus, betwixt our good Bishops Cyrill and Theodoret, whose differences had like to have rent the Church in pieces, but upon better understanding were a∣lay'd: Thus it was in the more generall and dang••rous quarrell be∣wixt the East and West Churches concerning the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 subsistences, and essence in the Trinity, had not holy Athanasius inter∣posed, showing them their own, unknown, and unacknowledged accordance: would God I could give this phrase to these times: we should not be in the condicion we are. How many are rather apt to cast oyle then water upon this flame; to enlarge rather then heal this wound of the Church?

2. By giving seasonable counsels of peace; so the Father of the faithfull to his nephew, Let there be no contention between me and thee, and thy herdmen and my herdmen, for we are brethren, Gen. 13.8. So Moses to the contending Israelites; wherefore smitest thou thy fel∣low, Exod. 2.12. So the wise woman of Abel to Joab: Thou seekest to destroy a city and a Mother in Israel: why wilt thou s•• allow up the inheri∣tance of the Lord? 2 Sam. 20.19. So Abner the Son of Ner, after he had set the two armies together by the eares by the pool of Gibeon, yet at last moves for a retreat, calling to Joab whose men he had challenged; Shall the sword devoure for ever, knowest thou not that it will be bitternesse in the latter end, how long shall it be then, 2 Sam. 2.26. Oh for these counsails of peace in these distracted times; how beau∣tifull would their feet be that should bring these glad tidings of peace: Alas m••n are more ready to clap their hands (as boy••s are wont to do in dog-fights) and to say Eia Socrates, Eia Zantippe: How much more justly may we take up that word of the Psalmist; Wo is me that I so••ourne in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar; my soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace, I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war. Ps. 120.5, 6, 7.

3. By opposing & restraining the known make-bates of the Church and State. If Corah and his Company rise up against Moses and Aaron,

God takes the quarrell in hand, and they are swallowed up of the earth; If Sheba the Son of Bicri blow a trumpet of sedition he must be spee∣dily pursued to the gates of Abel, 1 Sam. 20. Would God those were cut off that trouble you, saith the charitable Apostle: Neither know I whe∣ther this be a greater act of Justice or of Mercy: of Justice, in respect of the delinquents; or of mercy to the Church and Common-wealth. Wo is me, with what words should I bewail the d••plorable estate of these late times in this behalf; Let me appeal to your own eyes and ears; I know I speak to judicious Christians: Tell me whether ever you lived to see such an inundation of libellous scandalous mali∣cious pamphlets as have lately broke in upon us: not only against some particular persons which may have been faulty enough, but a∣gainst the lawfull and established government it self, against the an∣tient, allowed, legall formes of divine worship. Certainly if we love the peace of this Church and kingdome, we cannot but lament, and to our power oppose these insolences: If Reformation be the thing desired, and aimed at; let not that man prosper which doth not affect it, pray for it, bend his utmost endeavours to accomplish it, but is this the way to a Christian reformation, to raise slanders, to broach lying accusations against the innocent, to callumniate law∣full & established authority? God forbid; these are the acts of him that is the man-slayer from the beginning; the holy God hates to raise his kingdome by the ayd of the Devill. Be as zealous as you will, but be withall just, be charitable and endevour to advance good causes by on∣ly lawfull means. And then let him come within the compasse of this Curse of Meroz, that is not ready to assist and second you.

4. By cherishing the moderately affected; and incouraging those that intercede for peace; as those who do the noblest offices both to the Church and Common-wealth; if we meet with a man that can truly say with the woman of Abel, ego sum ex colentibus pacem (as Tremelius turnes it) 2. Sam. 20.20. I am one of them that are peace∣able and faithfull in Israel; make much of such; To the Counsel∣lors of peace shall be joy, Pro. 12.20. Pray for the peace of Jerusa∣lem (saith the Psalmist) they shall prosper that love thee, certainly, thus it should be; but alas we are fallen upon times wherein it is cause enough for a quarrell to plead for peace; too well fulfilling that of the Psalmist; They speak not peace, but they devise deceitfull matters a∣gainst them that are quiet in the Land, Ps. 35.20. A man in this case is

like the sheepheard that would part the fray betwixt his two rams: they both met together upon his bones, and send him halting out of the field. The God of peace in his good time remedy these distem∣pers; but in the mean time let us comfort our selves in the consci∣ence of our happy indeavours with that of St. James, The fruits of righteousness are sown in peace, of them that make peace. James 3. ult

And thus much for our duty in seconding and immitating this act of God, in making this cessation of wars; by withdrawing the feuell of contention; by giving seasonable counsails of peace, by op∣posing known make-bates, by cherishing the peaceable minded.

We descend to our third use proper for this day, which is the challenge of our thankfulnesse. And surely, wheresoever God vouchsafes to bestow this mercy (that he causes wars to cease un∣to any nation) he looks for no lesse, and we shall be foulely ungrate∣full if we disappoint him: whereto we shall the better be excited, if we shall consider first the miseries of war; and then the benefits and comforts of peace. The former of these may be talk't of, but can never be thoroughly conceived by any but those that have felt them. I could tell you of sieging and famishing, sacking, and spoiling, and killing, and ravishing, and burning, of weltring in blood, and a thousand such tragicall calamities of war; but I had rather the spirit of God should describe them in his own expressi∣ons; These Sword without, & terrour within shall destroy both the Young-man and the Virgin, the suckling also with the Man of gray haires, Deut. 32.25. And Jeremy, Every battle of the warriour is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood, but this shall be with burning, and with fenell of fire. Jer. 9.5. Not to presse those passionate de∣scriptions of Esay, and Nahum; that one of the Prophet Azariah the Son of Obed shall shut up all. Chro. 15.6. In those times there was no peace to them that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the Inhabitants of the Countreys; and Nation was destroyed of Nation, and City of City, for God did vex them with all adversity; Mark but the foot of this report; upon the mention of war straight it followes, God did vex them with all ad••er∣sity; surely there is no adversity incident unto a Creature, which doth not inevitably attend a war: and as all wars are thus wofull and hideous, so much more the intestine, and domesticall, those that are raised out of our own bowels, these are beyond all conceit,

dreadfull and horrible. As therefore we do in our ordinary prayers put all these together (which are the effects, and concomitants of war) From plague, pestilence and famine, from battail and murder, and from suddain death, good Lord deliver us; so good reason have we to put them into the tenor of our hearty thanksgiving, that God hath graciously delivered us from the fury of all these, in that he caused wars to cease to the ends of our Earth.

As for the benefits of peace, if we were not cloyed with them by their long continuance, we could not but be heartily sensible of them; and know that all the comforts we enjoy either for Earth, or for Heaven, we owe to this unspeakable blessing of Peace; whereto if we add the late accession of further strength by the union of our Warlick neighbours, and the force of a strong and inviolable league for the perpetuation of our peace and unity, there will need no further incitements to a celebration of this day, and to our hearty thankfulness unto the God of peace; who whiles he hath made wofull desolations in all the Earth besides, yet hath caused wars to cease unto our ultima the ends of our Earth, and hath broken the bow and cut the spear in sunder: Oh then prayse the Lord, O Jerusalem, prayse thy God of Sion; for he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates, and blessed thy children within thee;* 1.3 He maketh peace within thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat; To that good God of all glory peace and comfort; Father, Son, Holy Ghost, one infinite God in three most glorious persons, be given all praise honour and glory, as is due from Heaven and Earth, from Angels and Men, from this time forth and for evermore. Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  One would wonder that so many should have had a b••ing upon Earth.

  Our Florignes tells us that in the year 665. there was so great a mortality in this Island, that men run up by troups to the tops of the rocks, and cast themselves into the Sea.
• * 1.2

  Gen. 26.16.
• * 1.3

  Ps. 147.12.13.