A word in season, for a warning to England: or a prophecy of perillous times open'd and apply'd. Wherein the signes of bad times, and the means of making the times good, are represented as the great concernment of all good Christians in this present age. First exhibited in a sermon preached in the Abby at Westminster, July 5. 1659. and since enlarged and published. / By Thomas VVilles, M.A. minister of the Gospel, in the city of London.

The second Branch.

STrengthen not, by an active Compliance, [unspec 2] the hands of Evil Doers. These are they which make the Times perillous. A quiet submission to the Providence of God, wisely ordering all the Changes in the world, does well become the Saints. It is good for a Saint to take notice of Gods hand in all things, and to submit to his Will (as well in permitting of Evil, as in Depriving of good) with silence. So David, though at the first† troubled to see the wicked in Power while the righteous was op∣prest, at length exprest his submission by

silence; I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, because thou didst it. But every Godly man must have a singular care, lest by a∣ny active compliance, he should strengthen the hand of Evil Doers in their irr••gular actings. This was the sinne wherewith the Lord sharply charg'd Jehoshaphat, a good King, by the hand of Jehu, the Prophet, and threatned wrath for it.† Shouldest thou (sayes Jehu to Jehoshaphat) help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? Therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord. And therefore though the Lord of all may permit great changes to be irregu∣larly made, both for the manifestation and punishment of the Pride of man, yet must not his people yeeld any consent or con∣currence to them that irregularly make them. This is the wise Counsel of the wi∣sest of men, which was dictated to him by the wisdome of God; My son, fear thou the LORD and the King: and meddle not with them that are given to change, For their calamity shall rise suddenly, and who knoweth the ruine of them both? Take heed therefore, Christians, of contributing to the Rise of Evil Doers, lest you fall in their Ruine†. Partake not in their sins, lest you partake of their Plagues, and feele the smart of their Punishments, for having tasted the sweetnesse of their Favours. For (to speak to you in the words of the Prophet) the Lord spake thus to me with

a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, say ye not, A Confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A Confederacy; neither fear ye their Fear, nor be afraid. Take heed therefore lest by your concur∣rence with them whose pernicious practices do make these perillous Times, you contract to your selves the guilt of their sinnes, and contribute to the Evil of the Times.

Let not the Desire of Gain or Glory, nor the Fear of Disgrace or Danger induce you hereunto. A man can never be un∣done by the greatest losse he can sustaine for the keeping a good conscience, and pre∣serving an interest in Gods Love and Fa∣vour. He is Rich and Happy that hath God for his Portion, and Heaven for his Inheritance, how great soever his sufferings and losses be; when he that wants this, notwithstanding his greatest worldly Gaine or Glory, is Poore and Miserable. Account not that Gaine which may hazard the losse of your immortal soul. For what shall it profit a man, if he should gain the whole world and loose his own soul? Abhor the basenesse of serving your self of the evil of the Times, by seeking a private gaine, by that which will turn to the publick losse. Abhor the basenesse of fearing to adventure a private losse, by that which may turn to the Pub∣lick gaine. Never expect that God should

blesse those Riches to you or yours, which are rais'd out of the Ruines of the Church or Common-wealth. He is no good mem∣ber of either that hath not learn'd to de∣ny his Private Interests for the Publick Good.

Notes

• †

  Ps. 39.1, 2
• Psal. 39.9
• †

  2 Chr. 19 2
• Prov. 24 21, 22.
• †

  Rev. 18.4
• Esay 8.11, 12.
• Mar. 8.36