Ohel or Beth-shemesh A tabernacle for the sun, or, Irenicum evangelicum : an idea of church-discipline in the theorick and practick parts, which come forth first into the world as bridegroom and bride ... by whom you will have the totum essentiale of a true Gospel-church state according to Christs rules and order left us when he ascended ... : published for the benefit of all gathered churches, more especially in England, Ireland and Scotland / by John Rogers ...

An Epistle to the Parish of Purleigh in ESSEX, nigh Malden; wherein the Author was setled Minister; till of late.

Dear Friends.

I Call you dear, not onely that I found you at a dear rate, but I am forced to leave you so; yet some of you are very dear to me, and in my heart, and whom I can freely bear in my bosom to the Father. But because the Death, or departure of a Minister from his people should be his last Sermon; I must therefore say in general to you this, That my greatest grief for most of you, is, That like the Cypresse, the more you were watered, the more you withered. Would it not grieve you, Husbandmen, to see your good seed every year to be lost, and to lie and rot under huge, hard clods? and never to bring forth fruits, or to come up? So how can it but be my com∣plaints

before my Lord and Master, when I give up my accounts, Heb. 13.17. and say Lord, I have preached! prayed! catechized! expounded! conferred for above this five years at Purleigh to such a people, and they have not beleeved nor obeyed thy word: but many of them are as ignorant, arrogant, bitter, prophane still, ungodly, and opposers of Christ and his Gospel still, as ever. O sad! what comfort can I have of this? Is not the thriving of the flocke the glory of the Shepherd? and their losse his griefe? Blessed bee God whom I serve! that some of you are my joy and my crowne, which I shall wear with me to heaven, Phil. 4.1. But yet the most of you (with much griefe of heart, I must say it) have rejected the Gospel, and the tenders of love, and the warme bowels and ••eeking blood of Jesus Christ; and oh! heavy, shal I say, the Day of your salvation! O deare souls! precious hearts, for whom I weep in secret! what will yee doe in the day of the Lord! where will you hide your selves from the wrath of the Lamb! O, O! how is it, that you bring forth nothing but briars and thorns! what? are yee accursed ground? Heb. 6.7, 10.28. Hos. 6.5. Matth. 12.41. Ier. 11.6. Ezek. 34.13.33. &c. Let me aske you, Is it not lamentable to see a poor father wringing his hands, and weeping over a stubborn childe, wishing he had never been borne! saying, I have tryed him so many weeks, and months, and yeers, and yet he is worse and worse, would you not pity the poor man? and say of this stub∣borne wretch, Well, you have a good father, God will never blesse you, you cannot thrive, you will come to nothing. Oh! so is it grievous to my heart! as it was to Ieremiah, and Elijah, to complaine to God of the stubbornnesse of the people: Ah! it is too notoriously

knowne that I have taken much pains to little purpose amongst you: And yet, O! what plottings! and conspiracies there were against me? what lies and libels were invented? what scandals raised? what scoffes and scornes I continually met with? what huge taxes and troubles you cast upon me? what backbitings and railings every day? what variety of designes were hatched in the midst of you to afflict me? yea, with plotted and premeditated malice & menacings to undo me? what work you made to render me contemptible to all the Country? before Magistrates, Ministers, people, & all? yea the children and servants set upon mee to abuse me? yea to stone me? yea to swear to take away my life from me? all which forced me to bee much absent from you. And oh friends! do ye think, God will not visit you for these things? have yee not suffered your servants and children to laugh and sport in the publick places openly in the sight of all the people, whilst the word hath been preaching? and when I have mildly reproved them to make mowes and mocks at me in the open Church? yea to lay dog-whips, and what not on the Pulpit cushion when I was to preach? What kinde of injury and abuses have you not returned to me, for all my love and pains, and care, and continual prayers for you? hath there one poor soule of us in Church-communion escap'd your malice and menacing? and your diligence to raise ill-reports, and to cause wrongs to befall them? have yee not vowed not to leave us, til you had rooted all of us from you, and not left a Round-head or Independent to dwell nigh you? have yee not consulted with all the Malignants about, how to bring to passe these designs? yet in the midst of all these troubles, and every day new trials and

wrongs from some or other of you? yet the Lord will one day witnesse what a care I had of you, when I could not be with you, or durst not; how I provided for you, and how ye were the travel, as well as the trouble of my soul. Yet when you had not worried mee away with all this, how often did many of you designe to starve me from you? And though like a Bird kept in a Cage without meat, yet I must doe my duty, and sing, though the thorne were ever at my breast. Still I followed you with love, patience, pity to your poor mi∣serable soules (O that yee knew it!) and with sweat and swinke praying, preaching, and expounding, in season and out of season.

But as I have heard of the Seminary (in Lancashire riding disguised) that lost his glove, one that found it rode gallopping after him to restore it; but the Semi∣nary fearing he was a Pursevant, put spurs to horse, and flew from him as fast as he could, and for fear he should be overtaken, hee makes his horse take a hedge, and suddenly skipping over, fell full into a desperate deep pit, wherein he was drowned presently; O! so Sirs! the faster I have followed you to doe good, to recover you, to help to save you, why alas! the faster you fled away into sinne, after sinne, rejecting all offers and opportunities (almost) refusing to come to hear the word on the week-day, and many of you not coming a∣bove once on the Lords-day! Oh, alas! for the Lords sake! hear! make not such post-haste in sin to the ruine of your soule, body, and all! but O remember! the Pit is but on the other side, yee may soon be in it; but have a care lest you perish! Have I not spent out my owne bowels, and like a candle consumed my selfe (even out) to give you light! have I thought my life

too deare for your souls! O no! but you would not regard it! some pretended I was young, to keep them off! but alas! this was but a colour! did not young Solomon give good counsel? young Daniel discerne much? young Joseph fill the Granary with plenty? and excell all the Grandees and Gravities in Pharoahs Court, for wisdome and judgement? Did not young Christ put the Doctors to silence? and young Timothy preach the Gospel powerfully and profitably? But indeed, the maine offence (you know) was my zeal for God; for silence is the basest tenure a Minister can hold his living by; I could not be silent, but tell Israel of his sins, and Jacob of his transgressions. Though many feed their Ministers as the Theef doth his Dog, porrigit panem, ut sileat, he gives him bread to be quiet, and not to bark,* 1.1 lest he discover him; but the truth is, benevolence could not tongue-tye the truth, and 'twill bee sad for you to have a Minister who can suffer you, and see you live in sinne, and yet let you alone; the City is in danger when the Alarm-bell is tyed up, and so is the Parish.

I have read of a Law made in a certain Town that none should bring a Rumor of the enemies coming upon pain of death,* 1.2 & this was because they had before some false Alarms; but alas! at last the enemy came sud∣denly and destroyed them all; so that it was a Proverb, Here stands a Town destroyed by silence. God grant it be not true of Purleigh,* 1.3 for the want of a carefull and faithfull Minister! neither could I please your itching humors, as to give you the Sacraments in the condition you are in, or the like, which others (may hap) will doe with∣out fear or wit, warrant, or order:* 1.4 For as a Painter of old being asked, who taught him his Art; answered, The people, for that he was forced to study how to

please their fancies: So may some Ministers say. But this I can say from my soule, that I sought all meanes to make you sure of Christ.* 1.5 And as the Angel stir∣red the waters of the Pool,* 1.6 but thrust no man in, because it was a worke to bee performed by themselves; so I have stirred, but ah! alas, how few of you have stepped in! onely a few of the poorer sort; As when an Angler laies in,* 1.7 he hath many small ones (and that was my hap) but few great ones that were struck, ut puncti & compuncti, Act. 2.37. Yet this is my comfort, I have not lost all my labour, and my reward is with my God: As an Ad∣vocate that hath his reward,* 1.8 let the cause goe how it will:* 1.9 And though Flowers grew, though none ga∣thered them, and Springs run, though none dranke them; yet there may come a sore drought when you will wish for those well-heads that were opened to you but you regarded not.* 1.10 The good Lord lay this in mercy upon your spirits.

And now let me leave one word with you, never to be forgot, viz. to prize the Gospel, which is Gods book of Canticles, and begins and ends with love (as I have formerly laid it before you in the Exposition of Canticles) it begins with a Kisse,* 1.11 and ends with Spices. The manna comes downe in the dews of the Gospel. Prize Gospel-Discipline, and Doctrine! and to enjoy▪ Christ in both,* 1.12 is like to the Sun, which not onely de∣lights us with contemplation,* 1.13 but warms, and enlivens us by his Application. Wherefore beware the world steals not away your hearts;* 1.14 the Bird that is limed is held fast, and so art thou! O then have a care! I have read that when Honorius was told that Rome was lost; he cryed out, Ah! Alas! thinking it had been a Hen that he called by that name;* 1.15 but when he heard

it was his Imperial City of Rome, that was lost and sacked by Alaricus the Goth, his spirits were revi∣ved again that his losse was no worse: so O! how few of you are halfe so much troubled to hear you have lost your souls, as to heare you have lost your Cattle! corne! money, or such like things as belong to the world! And without the Lord awaken you, yee are undone! Julius Caesar had a paper given him of the Conspirators that were ready to murther him; but alas!* 1.16 not minding the paper,* 1.17 but regarding other things of lesse concern∣ment, he lost his life for it! And so will you, unlesse yee arise! and repent! O heare the voice! with Jerome! saying, Arise yee dead, and come to judgement!* 1.18 Arise yee dead, and come to judgement! Arise yee dead, and come to judgement! O be warned! lest the many warnings (which yee have had by me and others) be at last regarded!* 1.19 And all of them knit together like the many beams of the Sunne in a burning-glasse, may (I hope) serve to kindle a fire and flame in your hearts after I am gone from you,* 1.20 and to be no more seen among you! Heare the Watch-man! hark! hee gives you warning Sirs! by the word of God, (as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) beware of an invasion! Sathan is mustering up against your soules! the enemy is nigh! that will destroy you! Up, up! make haste! Arme, Arme, Arme! but if you will not, yet I shall have comfort, Isa. 49.5. and yee shall know (to your cost) that there was a Prophet sent to warne you, whom yee have despised, Ezek. 33.33. Jer. 28.9.

Gods vengeance sleeps not,* 1.21 but like a pragmatical Promoter is searching your houses for ill gotten goods,* 1.22 i.e. gotten by theft, robbing God of his time, and honour, when you should be at Church hearing the word, you

were in the fields telling your Cattel, counting your estate,* 1.23 laying up for many years with the Fool in the Gospel, Luke 12.19, 20. Now the searcher is coming who will apprehend yee all for fellons, and so bring ye before the great Judge; and what follows but the sentence?

* 1.24Demosthenes was asked the first, the second, and the third time what were▪ the parts of Oratory; who an∣swered,* 1.25 Every time Pronunciatio, Pronunciatio, Pro∣nunciatio; and so should I say, the next part is the Pro∣nunciation of the sentence. O what will yee doe in that day? Isa. 10.3. whither will yee flye? O I feare it! though you will not see it! for as Caesar said of the Scythians,* 1.26 difficilius est invenire quam interficere; so I thinke may be said of your sinnes (Sirs) which you will not see,* 1.27 but ye shall see, and be ashamed, Isa. 26. yet I say I feare it, that many of you, are as men that goe to a Lottery with heads ful of hopes, but returne with hearts full of blanks;* 1.28 and the greatest blanke of all will bee this, that the world hath so filled your hearts that Christ could finde no room;* 1.29 like the Reubenites, Num. 32.4, 5. you are content to stay on this side Iordan,* 1.30 because it is a place fit for Cattel: And like Spiders,* 1.31 O what pains ye take! how yee toyle! even to eviscerate your selves, and spend your own bowels with working! and what comes on't? Hah! onely a web to catch a flye in, and which the least besome from above will sweep downe into the dust in one night, Luke 12.20. O! it is this that made them in Luke 14.18, 19. with one consent to reject the offers of grace,* 1.32 and the Call!* 1.33 And it is this worldlinesse that makes you like Tumblers stand upon your heads, and kick at heaven with your heels. It is this that made you to persecute the Saints, and to expell us your coasts. O take heed!

God hath planted his Artillery against you, and with∣out a parley, if you make not your peace with God, and forsake the world to follow Christ! from the Lord I am to tell you it, that God is ingaged against you with his armies of judgements, Matth. 22.7. and there is no hopes of you. And the world like a bullet shot from a peece of Ordnance, whilst it runs up and down,* 1.34 and danceth (you think before you) on the ground shall deceive you; (for you shall be like the ignorant souldiers) that thinkes to take it up with your hands,* 1.35 but it dasheth out your brains, which example shall warn others, and make them wiser that succeed you, by seeing the Lords vengeance on you.

Thus having stood Sentinel all this while among you, though I must be justled aside now from you;* 1.36 I have given you WARNING, and so will leave you: You shall finde the world a Book full of false prints (as by men) but at the End of all,* 1.37 thousands of Errata's shall appear to your shame: And being thus to part,* 1.38 I shall say (with Synesius) I carry nothing from Purleigh (of ΠΥP & ΛAOΣ fire, and people) but bonam conscientiam & malam valetudinem, a good conscience,* 1.39 an ill constituti∣on, and an empty purse (being denied by you the bread I have earn'd with sweating brows) yet the Lord shew you mercy, and melt your hearts; and if it be his will give you the breast, and not the breach;* 1.40 the blessing and not the blow, and spare the Rod for those few sakes; that like children long for full breasts of milk among you. Wherefore flye Sirs!* 1.41 flye from the Common-Law which will condemn you! to that Chancery-Court (the Communion of Saints) where Christ sits as Judge to relieve you;* 1.42 and there I will promise to meet you by faith, and to plead for you by prayer, though I never

see you more face to face, unlesse you meet me at home in our Fathers house.* 1.43 And so farewel! Dear hearts! farewel! —

Finally, my brethren, farewel, be perfect, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you all, 2 Cor. 13.11. Amen.

Thus prayes

Your affectionate Friend, and late your Minister in the hot bowels of love to you, yet ready to serve the meanest and worst of you, in the work of my Master Jesus Christ. In, and for whom, I am JOHN ROGERS.

From my Study at Thomas Apostles Lond. March. 25. 1653.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Sim.
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• * 1.4

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• * 1.5

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  ••oh. 5.
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• * 1.11

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• * 1.12

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• * 1.13

  Sim.
• * 1.14

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• * 1.15

  Honorius.
• * 1.16

  Julius Caesar.
• * 1.17

  Sim.
• * 1.18

  Jerom.
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  Sim.
• * 1.21

  Sim.
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• * 1.24

  Demosthenes.
• * 1.25

  Sim.
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  Caesar.
• * 1.27

  Sim.
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• * 1.30

  Sim.
• * 1.31

  Gaddites.
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• * 1.33

  Sim.
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• * 1.36

  Sim.
• * 1.37

  Sim.
• * 1.38

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• * 1.39

  The Authors leave of Pur∣leigh, and he may say of England.
• * 1.40

  His Prayer,
• * 1.41

  And Counsel,
• * 1.42

  And Promise.
• * 1.43

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