Kaina kai palaia Things new and old, or, A store-house of similies, sentences, allegories, apophthegms, adagies, apologues, divine, morall, politicall, &c. : with their severall applications / collected and observed from the writings and sayings of the learned in all ages to this present by John Spencer ... | Early English Books Online | University of Michigan Library Digital Collections

[ 456] Adversity seeks God.

IT is reported,* 1.1 that when on a time the City of Constantinople was shaken with a terrible Earthquake, many Houses were overthrown, and with the fall ma∣ny people perished; The whole City is hereupon so amazed, and every one so re∣membred to think on God, that they fall to their publique devotions, the Churches

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were thwack'd full with people, all men for a while were much amended, Ju∣stice commutative and distributive both, advanced; the poor relieved, Justice exalted, Lawes executed, no fraud in bargaining, it was become a very holy place; but when God held his hand from punishing, they held their hearts from praying; when his wrath ceased, their Religion ceased also: And was it not alike in the civill Wars of France? after the putting forth of that Act, or Edict, Ianuary 1561. and in the second and third years of those Wars,* 1.2 such as were of the Religion, then groan∣ing under the heavy cross of poverty, oppression, and war, how devout were they towards God? very carefull in their waies, glad to hear any preach the Word, and glad to receive the Sacrament any way: but when the third peace was conclu∣ded, which seemed a very sound peace, and the Rod was now thought to be remo∣ved afar off; such carelesn••sse and security overgrew the hearts of all, and in the Protestants there was so cold a zeal, Tanta erat Religiosorum taediosa curiositas &c. and that within less then two years, that a Sermon plainly made with good grounds of Divinity,* 1.3 was not thought to be worth the hearing, unlesse it were spi∣ced with Eloquence, or flourished over with courtly expressions: Nomine mutato d•• nobis fabula, The case is ours, witnesse that Marian persecution, when so many of the dear children of God mounted like Elias to heaven in fiery Chariots; What prayers were made within the Land and without? and what coldnesse benummed some hot ones of that time not long after? Call to mind that miraculous year of 88. How did the piety of our Land exceed at that time? young and old then came to∣gether into the Courts of the Lord;* 1.4 Sabbaths were then sanctified, week-dayes well spent; How did the people flock to Church? It might have been written in golden letters over every Church-door in the Land, Cor unum, via una; such was the unity, such was the uniformity of their devotions at that time; but with the cold of the winter, their devotion grew cold too, and many moneths had not passed, but as in few things some were the better, so in many things a great deal worse: To come yet downwards, Anno 1625. to omit others, The chief City of our Kingdom being struck with the plague of Pestilence, seemed no other then a dreadful dungeon to her own,* 1.5 a very Golgotha to others; What then? The King commands a Nine∣veh-like humiliation; with what eagerness were those fasts devoured? What loud cryes did beat on all sides of the Gates of Heaven? and with what inexpect∣able, unconceivable mercies were they answered? Suddainly those many thou∣sands were brought down to one poor unite, not a number; then was all the fasting and mourning turnd into joy and laughter: To come yet lower to this very year, this very day; How hath the Sword devoured? and whilst it did so, how did the people unite and associate; but when it seemed to be but a little sheath'd, what re∣misness, what divisions were found amongst us? It is so, and it is not well that it is so; It is a reproach to some, No Penny, no Pater-noster; it is a shame to us, No Plague, no Pater-noster, no punishment, no prayer.