The churches thank-offering to God her King, and the Parliament, for rich and ancient mercies; her yeares of captivity; her first yeare of iubile; that is, for the marvelous deliverances wrought with God the first wonderfull yeare (since the yeare 88) beginning at September 1640. and ending the ninth of the same moneth following: in all which time, the Lord appeared for his church, as in the dayes of old, out of the middest of the bush, so the church burn'd with fire, and was not consumed. In the preface, the thank-offering is vindicated, and set free, from all the cavills and charges against it; where also it is cleared to be, as every mans duty, so every mans purpose, to offer willingly now, who doth not make full proofe, that he falls short of pagan, papist or atheist; and is wilfully resolved to walk crosse to the most supreme law, the highest reason, and the unquestionable will of God.

CHAP. IX.

The Heads of proceeding the following Months to the end of the first Jubile, holding forth the wrath of God, fury to His Adversaries; His marvellous workes of Grace to His people, breaking bands and taking off yoakes, and bringing them into the band of a Covenant: engaging His Church for ever to Record, to Thanke, to Praise.

SECT. I.

The Church blesseth God for you, That you did not ioyne your selves with the Men of the Earth; nor after the manner of Men, forsake her in her low estate: That you did not establish iniquity by a Law; that yee read her petitions and heard her complaints; that you opened her prisons and mouthes of the Ministers; And had Dominion over the Mighty.

NOVEMBER, a Month specially to be observed. The third Day the High Court assembled, things vvere done after the Manner, &c. At this point others begin, and here I shall not breake off; but dissolve a well continued Story into some chiefe Heads, vvhich vvill containe the chiefe workes of wonder, and so yeeld us matter enough of praise to God, and thanks to Man. The Lord tune our spirits to the setting forth the high praises of the Lord. The first Head will lead-in all the test (for it containes much a 1.1) therefore, that we may begin right, the Church would have us consider, That her enemy and adversary, the Head and the Tayle, (who these are is now fully manifested and

declared before) had wrought effectually in the children of disobedi∣ence; They had carried all before them levell to their owne mark; They had levened the Land (they thought) from corner to corner with most impure Doctrines, and as uncleane practises. Indeed, as was said, they had vvrought very effectually, as appeareth this day. They had prepared their owne way, made it so strait. plaine and levell, so as they thought verily, they could find no rubb, no opposition, none at all; they might goe on smooth away, the An∣gell of the Lord could not meet with them; at least, could not stop, controll, nor crosse them in the way, no not with the Sword in the hand. They had now set the BƲSH on fire round a∣bout (I meane the Church) a flaming Bush was her Embleme once, and it must be her Embleme (there you see the Church) to the Worlds end. They had set the Church all on a flame, and thought verily, if Gods dwelling were there (which they thought not of) they could, if not thrust Him out of His House, yet they could fire Him out, for they looked wistly when His House would sinke downe and fall into ashes. Indeed this is notable by the way, and engageth the Church mightily; That God dwelleth vvith her, when she is all on a flame, in the fornace of afflictions; then He DWELS in the BƲSH, therefore it consumes not. But the Adversary and enemy thought not of this; they looked when the House should fall as aforesaid, and hastened, vvhat they could, the Ruine thereof. They would put to more wood, and make the burning yet greater. This then is the first Head, for this the Church blesseth God and thanks you.

¶ 1.

That you did not joyne with the stronger side, I meane in ap∣pearance: That you did not joyne strength to strength, and adde more fuell also, to make the flame the more fierce and raging: for this is the manner of men, To oppresse the oppressed; to add to the affliction, and, like Mice, as to runne out, vvhen the House is on fire: So to judge of Gods workes before they bee ripe, I meane before the FIFT ACT, and that is against the Rule b 1.2. If a storme lye upon the Ship of the Church, and she be tossed with tempests, men will not waite till the fourth watch; com∣monly so long the Lord deferrs His comming, but then He comes. That you did now, as wise-men, strike in to helpe, to quench the burning; to helpe the Lord against the mighty; that you did regard the Church now, as the Lord regarded you once, in a very low e∣state. for this she blesseth God and thanketh you. To speake in plainer English, for this she blesseth God and you;

That, having but one Priest, one Altar, one Sacrifice, you did not defile all this at this time, making many Priests; setting-up

many Altars; commanding many Sacrifices; all this, as the sta∣tutes of Omri, by a Law; That when many Altars (the same of other provocations) were made to Sinne; Altars were not made by you, unto the whole Nation to Sinne c 1.3. That when the ROD of the wicked, lay heavy upon the backe of the Righteous, you did not turne it into a Scorpion: and when bloud was upon the Earth, upon the Church falsly so called, you did not FEOFFE it up∣on HEAVEN, the true Church. So you might have done, and have left the Church, as a Widow forsaken in the Earth, and com∣fortlesse there. That all this was not done, but the contrary, she accepts in all thankfulnesse alwayes, and blesseth God, Who kept you from the pathes of the destroyer d 1.4.

If this be not plaine enough, this, vvhich followes, will make it as plaine as can be. Ireland did contribute mony toward the WARRE. What warre? A Warre that vvould have ruined Scotland; a Warre, that would have sheathed a Brothers Sword in the heart of a Brother. Ireland contributed mony toward such a WARRE. Behold now! The Sword is hathed in that HEA∣VEN; it is drunke with the bloud of those slaine, who contri∣buted money to maintaine that WARRE: Their Land is now full of the fury of the LORD, the Rebuke of Thy GOD.

You would not contribute therto, no not 20^•, for it had bin too hea∣vy upon the loynes of the Church by a pound weight. Behold now, this Kingdom hath weathered-out the storme, lies at Anker, cast upward, and is the very miracle of Gods patience to all the world. I have heard that some say, for some vvill be vvillingly ignorannt, What great matter have you done? I thinke verily no man is so foolish, so forsaken of all his wits, but he may receive satisfaction herein anon. I will answer but this now; What ye have not done. Ye have not engaged the Kingdome in that Warre, vvhich vvould have dashed the people one against another, even the Father and the sonnes together a 1.5. Blessed be your Councell and your Wisedome; and blessed be you of the Lord, for what ye have not done; for it hath cast a sweet savour over all the Churches in the world. But vvith your good leave, I vvould rather ascribe all to your good God, glorious in holinesse, fearefull in praises, doing wonders b 1.6: He councelled you; His right Hand vvas upon you, therefore your feet were kept from the path of the DESTROYER. The Church vvould make her acknowledgement very full at this point: That, though there are strange vanities, &c. as was said, yet not coun∣tenanced by law. Though the Tayle-Prophets as they are, and the Priests as they will be called, both high and low, are most vile, and have made themselves and the people so, having leavened the whole Land from corner to corner with poysonous and cursed corruptions in their Doctrines and practises: though so, yet there

are no Statutes for all this, but Orders against it. Praise be to her good God for all this, and all due thanks to you. So also,

¶ 2.

That you received the Petitions from all Quarters of the Land, heard the groanes of the oppressed, made to serve under cruell Taske-Masters; that you rebuked their Lordships; tooke off their yoake from off the jawes of the Ministers and People; that you opened the prison doores, and mouths of the Ministers. This the Church could record with more words, but not vvith more thankfulnesse: yet you shall heare more of it anon.

¶ 3.

That by your Wisdome and Providence, the Church had such free∣dome the last yeare, and such communion and fellowship with Iesus and His Disciples; more the last yeare then 20 years before. Time was, and but as yesterday, when they that feared the Lord spake of∣ten one to another, but so as their voyce might not be heard, for it was an evill time. The Messenger of Satan was abroad, buffering the Servants of the Lord in every place; his eare was under their window, * 1.7 and his foot at the doore, and the sound of his Masters feet behind him: So as it vvas the hardest thing to serve God without feare: for it was a crime to be godly * 1.8. This the Church acknowledgeth with all thankfulnesse, and behold the benefit; you have commanded Prayer; Prayer shall command for you, for now this followes, which the Church recordeth with all thankfulnesse, and some wonder.

¶ 4.

That the mountaines have flowne downe before you, and the Hils did melt and tremble. My intent was but to name things, yet the Church commands us to stay a little here, and behold the great, high, lofty ones, (they are Mountaines and Hils fast upon their bottome) behold the Lord hath shaken them, given power to His Servants to over-top them, to have Dominion over the mighty, and to tread downe strength f 1.9, I say, the Church commands us to observe all the peeces of the Lords providence here, looke upon them apart, then put them to∣gether. She saith, and is confident; That, this being done, you shall see the most admirable worke, that ever was wrought since the Creati∣on, and that AMAZING worke of REDEMPTION. Next place to these two works, this worke will take; and in every good order; for it is most fruitfull and big with mercies, and brings forth every Day. Had You not over-topt the Mountaines and the Hils, and over-shadowed them, (You began well, You shall goe on and

prosper) You could never have refreshed the vveary, and parched val∣lies: for those high places kept off Raine, and Dew and Sunne-shine altogether. But now that these are taken downe, behold a shower of blessings upon the Land, by your care, conscience and vigilancy, all this, followes, first.

SECT. II.

The Lords Day, a comprehensive blessing to a Nation; Indig∣nation and wrath from the Lord against the prophaners of it; And yet the Priests most notorious this way; Your Zeale for it; how necessary it should be fervent.

¶. 5.

1. THe Church records and thankes, That ye rouled away the re∣proach of Egypt, and restored to her sons and daughters their Lords Day. That she sees That Day againe in it's beauty, and in ho∣nourable account, from which the wicked hid their eyes, and she her face for griefe of heart, because she saw it's visage marred, spit upon, vilified, trampled on more then any Day. Oh it joyed her heart, That you, who, next to God, maintaine her spirits and life, you accounted her Lords day honourable; that was, because you honoured the Lord of the Day. And indeed how could you not? For He is worthy, and you looke to be honoured.

The Church will looke upon this mercy againe and againe, and reckon the restoring to her the Sabbath among the chiefest and choisest of your good deeds, which, by Gods good hand upon you, you have done. Had the Adversary taken away the Sabbath, as he had almost done, tantum non; he h••d taken away all, The Word, the Sacra∣ments, God, and all. All goeth, when the Sabbaths are gone, as you may see in our sister Churches. What is left them now? Lamentation, and Mourning and Woe. What heare they in their Temples now? Howlings instead of Songs.

What are their Townes and Cities now? Ruined heapes; a Golgotha, a place of dead Mens sculls; or, to speake as Salvian doth in the like Desolation d 1.10, Their Townes are like our new Church-yards, scarce large enough to bury in.

The Lord hath stretched out upon the Land, the like of confusion and stones of emptinesse; They shall call the Nobles thereof to the Kingdome, but none shall be there: And all her Princes shall be nothing e 1.11. Wherefore hath the Wrath of the Lord burnt out against that people so fiercely?

Surely because the Land had greatly provoked the Lord of the same. Where great Desolations are, there are great provocations: so we may conclude, though Gods Judgements are as the great deepe. And this we may say more, That our English Commanders noted this still, and it was to be noted with all observation,

That still, on the Lords Day, the Enemy got much ground; And that, which opened the floud-gate to all their misery, fell out thrice upon the Sabbath Day;

The Lord pointing, as with the finger, to that sinne, The propha∣nation of the Lords Day, as to the Source, whence all their Evills have issued.

I will take leave now, for I must not passe over this lightly, to note two things, 1. The Priests Villany; 2. Your Piety; That they may remember, and be confounded, because of their shame: And that you may goe on, and doe exploits.

† 1. The Priests Villany, Is not that too heavy a word? No; It is the word of the Lord. The Priests heart hath wrought iniquity, to practise Hypocrysie, and to utter errour against the Lord; to make empty the soule of the hungry, and to cause the drink of the thirsty to faile h 1.12. This is villany, and they have spoken it before the Lord in His house, where He hath said, He will be sanctified; and they have compelled others to speake it too, even to utter errour against the Lord, there in His House, where they stand charged to deale faithfully, To utter Truth; To speake as the oracles of God. They have committed vil∣lany in Israel, a greater villany than they committed, whom the King of Babel roasted in the fire i 1.13; They have not only committed Adultery vvith stocks and stones ^k: but they have spoken lying words in Gods Name. I KNOW, AND AM A WITNESSE, saith the Lord * 1.14

Many villanies have been committed in Israel, but none like this, which the Priests have committed, The giving liberty to prophane the Lords Day, BY A LAW; Nay, a forcing thereunto.

Every Word of God, shall meet with some, who will turne head against it: looke how many kinds of Precepts there are, so many adversa∣ries there are m 1.15

But let the superstitious Papists turne head against the second WORD: Let the Licentiously Prophane oppose the fourth WORD: Let the Athyst, the Pagan who knowes not God, blot out the first and the third WORD, Take away all, but let not the Priests doe it; let not them oppose so holy, so just, so reasonable a com∣mand. They know the Lord, They minister before him. But they did it, even the Priests. And for a Priest to turne this good Word out of Gods house, and the Ministers after it, if they would not speake errour against the Lord; for him to blot out the Hard writing there; this was villany sure, never the like committed in Israel; it exceeded the boldnesse of that Pagan King n 1.16.

The Time must be enquired into; When did the Priests commit this wickednesse? Then; At that time, when the Lord called to

mourning, they called to Dancing * 1.17. To allude to that place; Then the Priests proclaymed a liberty for sports on the Lords Day, when the Lord proclaimed a Liberty in the Neighbours Church, to the Sword, to the Pestilence, to the Famine m 1.18 Salvian would expresse this a great deale better; Then they consulted all this against the LORDS DAY, when they saw Cities wasted, and two Kings slaine; if not in battell, yet they were slaine. The Priest did just like Ahaz; they saw (as hee) a miserable destruction before their eyes, yet they brought a patterne of that abomination, which caused that deso∣lation, and (as Ʋriah did) set it up here by a Law * 1.19. The time must be noted, and (that our spirits may be raised high in praise) the ex∣ceeding * 1.20 patience of a God must be noted also, we did patterne after them; vve vvere like them; nay, we exceeded in that prophanati∣on, yet the Lord did not patterne us, He did not make us like them in desolations. O exceeding patience that, The patience of a God.

Truly, when the Church heard this, she was perswaded in her heart, That the Lord would strip her people naked; set them as in the day they were borne; make them as a Wildernesse, like a dry Land, and slay them with thirst n 1.21. Nay, her sad thoughts rose higher; she ve∣rily thought, that the Lord would put a Cup of deadly wine into her peoples hand; a Cup of pure wrath; That is, she thought her Lord would not have mercy upon her children. And that is a Cup of dead∣ly Wine ••ndeed, of pure vvrath wherein there is no mixture of Mer∣cy. A people may be stript naked, &c. and yet there may be mer∣cy in all that. Truly, the Church thought thus now, the Lord will not have mercy: He will turne His backe upon her people now, for He beheld abominations in His House, which His soule hateth; and His Day was prophaned by a Law. But see now, That we may set our hope, and our hearts upon the Lord, and set-up a pillar, an ever∣lasting Monument to His Name; there is mercy to her people; they are yet the Lords people, and the judgement is upon the Priests and they shall KNOW IT: Surely some strange judgement, the first borne of Death o 1.22, shall devoure their strength. Now the Lord make them know it for their good, That whatsoever strange punish∣ment they feele here, they may not feele the wrath to come. So the Church prayes, and every man will say. Amen.

2. The Church remembers your Piety now. Blessed be You of the Lord, you have rescued this day from out of the hands of Spoylers; Yee have recovered Your Lords Right; Yee have vindicated His Name: So Ye have provided for Your owne peace, and prepared a way for a blessing upon all You shall doe, and for Mercy upon the Nation. Peace be both to You, and Peace be to Your house, and Peace be unto all that You have. The Church wisheth unto You a blessing, which containes all blessings, because You have restored un∣to her, her Lords Day, which next to her Lord Christ, is the fullest and most comprehensive mercy.

Goe on and doe yet more, and be more zealous: Give all diligence, and let Your z••ale boyle yet higher (it cannot boyle over, Th••s shall Yee doe in the feare of the Lord faithfully, and with a perfect heart * 1.23) for it is for the Lord, His Day, His House, His Worship, Seeke Yee that first, burne in Your zeale that way, and other things will come on as they doe, as east in upon You by an Almighty hand, for the Lord will be with the Good, and He will remember You for good, for You remembred His Day and His worship on His Day; He will re∣member You for good, Amen.

SECT. III.

That You have advanced Christ in the Ministery of the Gos∣pell, how efficacious that is. To promote the chiefe end, the Glory of God; and Your end, Mans Salvation.

¶ 6.

2. THe Church blesseth God that hath instructed You to discretion, so as You have shewen Your zeale, and given all Diligence, to promote the Gospell: The readiest and most compendious way to Your ayme and end, to bring all the designes about, which vve hope are all levell to the glory of Christ, and Your owne glory vvith Him at the end. And now great is the company of Preachers; their mouth opened now, who, of late, were used worse than the Oxe, which treadeth out the Corne. They speake boldly now, as the Mes∣sengers of the Churches, and the Glory of Christ. That, which let∣ted shall let no longer.

The Scepter of the Lord Christ is advanced, and the people flow in unto it. The Church thinkes her Sonnes and Daughters never had a more glorious yeare, since the day her Beloved, and Crowne of rejoy∣cing, ascended to His Glory. Never since that Day, when He was lifted up from the Earth, was He so openly showne to the world, as this last yeare. Though there had beene no other very worthy deeds done unto this Nation by Your providence; yet this she accepts al∣wayes and in all places wich all thankfulnesse, accounting it an ex∣ceeding great mercy, That by Your meanes she was respited and spa∣red one yeare longer to lay in her provision, and more fully to stocke her selfe against hard and de••re yeares. This the Church accepts, as afore-said, for this is the way to doe, and effect the greatest things. Therefore this the Church accounts an exceeding mercy. The blessing

of blessings; and she prayeth, that the blessing of Him, Who dwelt in the Bush, may goe along with You in this Designe, in making knowne the Arme of the Lord: In advancing this Glory, through the whole Land, that they, who walke in darkenesse may see a great Light: They that dwell in the Land of the shadow of Death, upon them this light may shine. This is the onely way to doe good to the whole Land; to make it a Land of visions, wherein the Lord may delight, and to make his people a willing people.

The Church will remember You here, vvhat Luther, her valiant Gideon spake to the businesse now in hand; I will not, said he, trou∣ble my selfe any more with the Cloysters, the Monkes and Schollars there, those Armies of Adversaries; they mind their belly, that is their god, and the belly hath no eares. Nor will I contest with the Pope any longer: (he had done it, and was too hard for him and all his Cardinals) let the Philistines alone with their Dagon: They will finde wayes enough to breake themselves and their god; he would not beat and buffet the darknesse (so he said also) as the foole did his shadow; he would set up a light, then the darknesse slinkes away. I know not where it is, for it is a privative thing: but it flies a∣way as the cloud before the Sunne, or as the beasts of prey will doe when the Sunne ariseth, there is a riddance, it is gone, and those beasts goe to their darke Dens.

You know his meaning, and know it for the good of the Land. He would advance Christ; He would set up that Standard (that was his meaning and his worke) To use his own word; he would promote the Arke; then Dagon fals, breaks himselfe to peeces, head and hands both cut off, the Head for councell, hands for action, ••ll gone. That's the way indeed: So You have done, and so You have suc∣ceeded already. You will to that worke againe, and joyne shoul∣der to shoulder for the advancing thereof; That the Lord Christ may be showen openly; His glorious excellencies made knowne, specially in those places, where CATHEDRALS are, as barren in the Churches observation, to the soules of men, as the Surface of that Earth, where the Mines of Gold and Silver are, there no meat grows for man, nor grasse for Cattell The Church intreats you to remember those barren places, and those darke places all over the Land, where the dead bury the dead, and the blind lead the blind every Day, Truly the Church is perswaded, that the people for the most part, are as ignorant as the Monks are of Christ; (to speak as Luther spake) or as they were of the Holy Ghost, they know not whither there be any Christ or no, unles a Christ of their own framing in a Table. They have heard of the name Iesus, and the Monkes have taught them to bend the knee unto it, and that is all their Devotion according to their knowledge. O, that the Name in∣deed, the glorious excellencies of that wonderfull name, were made knowne unto them, certainly their Hearts would bend also. Bles∣sed be Ye of the Lord, Ye have laboured herein, and Ye will labour

yet more to advance this STANDARD; to set-up this Ensigne (that the mountaines may melt before you, and the people may flow in unto it;)

To make knowne this Arme of the Lord, for this makes us a willing people. That I may speake all in our Lord and Masters words; * 1.24 In so doing, you shall doe as Christ did; you will give eyes to the blind; feet to the lame; you shall cleanse the Lepers; make the deafe heare; nay, you shall raise the dead. You will sticke most at this last, though the other, as this, are all the workes of the Almigh∣ties Arme; and all is effected, when the poore receive the Gospell. If then, you will order it so, that the poore people may have the Gospell preached unto them, you shall doe all the fore-mentioned workes, which are so wonderfull, for all these miracles are wrought by the Ministery of Man, the Hand of the Lord going along with that ministery; so we understand it; as the Lord dealt with His Ser∣vant Ezekiell, so He must deale with every man, upon whom these workes are wrought, eyes opened, eares boared, dead heart raised; The word of the Lord came expressely to Ezekiel, and the hand of the Lord was there upon him: when the hand of the Lord comes a∣long * 1.25 with the word (for the word comes but to the eare. The hand of the Lord carries it to the heart) then the eyes of them, that are borne blind are opened; feet, bound-up as with fetters of yron and brasse, are enlarged; the dead are raised, &c. The blessing of the poore and thirsty soules be upon you, and upon your house, and all that you have: for you have and will pitty these poore people; yee will thrust out the dumbe and the ignorant; the light Priest and treacherous Prophet; the lame and the blind that are hated of Da∣vids * 1.26 soule. And you will send forth Ministers unto those places, such as are indeed the Messengers of the Churches and the glory of Christ. * 1.27 Then behold these marvellous workes wrought, The blinde receive their sight; and the lame walke; and the Lepers are cleansed; and the deafe heare; the dead are raised up, and the poore have the Go∣spell preached to them. Amen.

SECT. IV.

The PROTESTATION, how wonderfully the Lord brought it about. Though Yee shall doe ex∣ploits, yet nothing to be wondered at now; The reason. But one head or charge is handled here, and that is RELIGION, a great Binder. The Method in gi∣ving-out this abstract.

¶ 7.

THe Church blesseth Gods wonderfull worke in you, and by you and for you; That you have protested to take the Lord for your God; So you have provided for the Churches security, what ever times may come: for you have brought her into COVENANT with her God. I know that is a thing the Church doth mind every Month, I may say, every Day, and can doe it without you; but not in such a way, as you have done it, in a Nationall way, which you, and none but you, can doe. You could make a Covenant betweene GOD and betweene all the People, that they should bee the LORDS PEO∣PLE a 1.28.

The Church will put a Question to you now, not to pose you, for you are wise, and she knowes the Answer before hand, and would have you know it, yet better. She would know, How you brought this worke about.

Your answer is, Not by your strength, nor by your wisdome, but by the good hand of God upon you, so you brought it about; and so you shewed mercy to your soules, and to the whole Nation.

And thereby the Lord would make you know, That He intended, by you, to doe the Nation good assuredly, with His whole heart, and with His whole soule. The Church hath heard and understands well all the exploits you have done ever since; such as seeme marvellous workes and wonders in the eyes and eares of the multitude; yet to her, they seem (great mercies indeed) but no strange matters, no wonders at all No? no;

1. The Church knowes you had a liberty granted to continue your Session, as long as you will, that is, till you have done Gods will, for Hee procured that grant unto you; this Grant, though shee counts it an exceeding mercy: Yet she doth not count it a won∣der.

2. The Church knowes that you marched valiantly, and trod down

strength: You rent a Lyon without hands, as easie as a man, with both his hands, can rent a kid; and yet this the Church accounts no strange thing neither.

3. The Adversary and enemy had made a breach great like the Sea b 1.29; We asked, Who can make it up? Who can heale it? You could, and you did it, and y••u shall be called the Repayrers of the breaches: You stood in that Gappe, and you made it up; the grea∣test worke that ever was done by M••n, since that Breach was made up betwixt God and Man; since that PACIFICATION made by the MAN CHRIST IESVS; And yet this worke doth not seem strange to the Church Nay, should any one of you tell the Church, That since the Day you entred into the Protestation, the Adversary made great breaches upon your soule, and the Lord made them all up: Temptations came-in upon you like a flood; The Spirit of the Lord set-up a Standard against them c 1.30, they could doe you no hurt, but good a great deale: should you tell the Church so, she would not thinke it strange Should your thoughts stray a little from out this yeare, vvhere vve suppose we are, unto the next, when some say (but they are much mistaken, or see and will not see) that God did no∣thing for you, but against you, and then should you tell the Church, what she knowes well;

That your Soule was amongst Lyons, and yet not devoured; That you did lye amongst those that were set on fire, and yet not consu∣med; none of all this could the Church call wonderfull, or thinke strange. Nay, to expresse it as fully as I am able; Were all the wild∣fire in England (the Church heares the Land is well st••red with it now, and ••he expects it shall be hurled in her face, and throwne into her bosome, she is the But and White, against which the Malignants levell all this, this she knowes, but she is fearelesse) were all this, I say, gathered up and rowled together into one Ball, and then with 500. hands, nay with the whole Arme of flesh, hurled into your Court, and the Church should be told, that the fire tooke not, not one sparke kindled there; not one haire of any head there vvas touched; the Church could not count this vvonderfull neither, no such strange mat∣ter. Why? Because you have protested to take God for your God. You are a pe••ple in Covenant vvith Him; you are sworne Servants to Him; He must protect His sworne Servants; when you are brought to the brinke of destruction, to a precipice (so we must understand it, some ex••gence, some knotty businesse, that all the fingers in the world cannot undoe) such a strait as this: when at one shocke, three king∣domes must be cast downe, if God helpes not * 1.31: I say, in such an ex∣igence, God must helpe. He stands bound to it; You have protested to take Him for your God: He hath protested to take you for his peo∣ple. You have sworne, and by the good hand of God upon you, you vvill stand to the Oath; and He hath sworne: by what? By Himself (by all that is in Himselfe, and He is all;) You vvill stand to your

Oath, that's supposed; He vvill stand to His Oath, that must not be doubted. You rejoyced at the Oath; He vvill rejoyce over you to do you good: It must be so, ye have strucke hands together. Ye may say, The Lord must remember me. How? with the favour He heareth unto His people d 1.32. He must visit me now with His Salvations, that is with a great Salvation. When I am at the pits brinke, one shocke throwes me downe, then, vvith reverence be it spoken, He must de∣liver me. He must come-in at the fourth-watch: when there is no helpe from Earth, then the Arme of the Lord must be revealed from Heaven. I am His and He my God, a God in Covenant. The OATH of GOD is betwixt us; by His good hand upon me, I will stand to it, and then He must stand by me. I am thine •• save * 1.33 me. It vv••s Davids argument, and prevailed still, SAVE me, for I TRƲST in THEE. The Church saith, it had beene a vvonder if God had not done for you even so, for you are His sworne Ser∣vants.

The Church commands me now to proceed on in declaring this won∣derfull worke, vvhich the Lord so strangely, and as graciously (by your meanes) brought about, To bring your selves and the Nation into Covenant with Himselfe. I shall not meddle vvith the severall heads or charges in the same, vvhich vvould take up more roomth, then her•• can be allowed. Religion is the chiefe head (there are the spirits) and a great binder it is, it bindes a people to their God; and God to the people. I proceed herein in this order, first;

• 1. What this PROTESTATION is to you, and all that stand to it.
• 2. What a discovering note it is to your Adversaries.
• 3. The Church will put-up a short prayer to her God.
• 4. Then a Supplication to you.

In all this, you shall have but an Abstract, out of a large Vo∣lume or Theame, rather nothing taken thence, but an addition there∣unto.

¶ 1.

A Rocke of DEFENCE to the Righteous.

THis PROTESTATION is to you, and all that have taken it, and will stand to it b 1.34, a SELA-HAMMAHLEKOTH c 1.35, a Rocke of Separation betwixt you and your Adversaries; nothing shall be able to reach you, to doe you hurt. Should the Lord fill all the Inhabitants of the Land, even the Kings and the Priests and the Prophets with drunkennesse (so He hath done for the sinnes of a Nation, as He threatneth d 1.36) Should He dash them one against a∣nother, even the Fathers and the sonnes together e 1.37, for so He threa∣tens also in the same place; Why yet, you should be safe, none of all these shall come neare you to hurt you. Why so? Because you are a

people in covenant with your God, and He with you. Looke you to it, how ye stand to it, for this followes; TROVBLED ye may be on every side f 1.38, (no doubt of that) and so you may say; you shall say withall, yet not DISTRESSED: PERPLEXED ye may be (not knowing what way to take, or what to doe) but not in DESPAIRE: PERSECƲTED yee shall bee, but not FORSAKEN: CAST-DOWN ye may be, but not DE∣STROYED: ye may be set as on fire round about, ye shall not be consumed▪ Why so? The same answer, and it answers all Arguments, even the Jesuites their fire and sword, the hardest words and most vi∣olent deeds, ye are in covenant with your God, nothing shall come unto you to doe you HƲRT. No Plague shall come to your dwel∣ling, as a plague. Though great Letters are written upon your door, yet the Plague is not there for all that. God is with you, even YOƲR GOD, He will save you even from that Destroyer; it shall but reach your body at the furthest.

The time will come, when you will say, your head akes, and your heart too; nay, it fainteth; and yet heare what the Lord saith, The Inha∣bitant shall not say, I am SICKE g 1.39. Why so? The people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity h 1.40: Looke ye there, My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever ^•. That stils and quiets all, God at peace with me and all is peace: God in Covenant with me; in Christ reconciled to me; if so, I am not SICKE, my sinnes are forgiven, all is well with me, for God is with me, and HE is ALL, health, strength, ri∣ches, All. See how efficacious this Covenant is (if we STAND to it) nothing shall stand against us, nothing shall come unto us to do us HƲRT; that is first.

¶ 2.

As Sibboleth to the Wicked; It discoveres the Priests and their Peo∣ple; It hampers the Malignant, though, like possessed Men; No Cords will hold the Papists; Their obstinacy in Gods house: how to judge of the Legality of an Oath.

THis PROTESTATION or sacred covenant is a Destingui∣shing character; Thereby you shall know, who is a true English-man; Who, a Treacherous Priest Papist, or Malignant person. Give it to a right English-man, a True Israelite in whom is no guile, He goes cleare and smooth away with it; He takes it with all his heart, and stands to it, rejoyceth at the Oath k 1.41, that is, he pronounceth it right. Give it to the Priests, they will refuse it, or fumble at it, they cannot frame to pronounce it right ^•: Present it to the Papist, you shall see vvhat he will doe anon. This is to the Priests (the two Armies of them) to the Papists also, as SIBBOLETH to the Ephraimites l 1.42: Now you shall know whose eyes are evill against you,

because your eye is good, and you are resolved to doe the thing that good is. Now yee shall see, who they are, that puffe at you, deride you (blow their nose at you b 1.43) Because you vvould have them protest to take God for their God; (and not their bellies;) to bind them∣selves in covenant with Him, as the very word (Religion) imports. But see how their mind and affection stands! They protest to take God for their God! no not they, Their belly, ease, profits, pleasures are their gods; these and other Lords have ruled over them, and they shall rule by their meanes. So now you know them; their madnesse is manifest; this very Protestation hath discovered them; it is a SIBBOLETH unto them; bid them take it; They vvill refuse; or, if they doe take it, they fumble at it, they cannot frame to pronounce it right;

Nor the Papists neither; Yes but they can you will say, for they can frame their mouthes to pronounce any thing, to sweare and lye both: What care they vvhat covenant they enter into, what Oath they take, when they are resolved to breake it, and are resolved upon the Question, that they may break it, for it is their Doctrine c 1.44. They are as the man possessed with the Divell, no coards, no bands can hold them, they breake all, Words, Oathes and all, as you can flaxe, that is burnt with fire d 1.45. An Oath is a great binder, (it cannot bind them) the strongest cord, the greatest security, the only chaine on earth (as one saith e 1.46) besides love, to tye the conscience of a man and humane Society together, yet the Papists can turne it over as a Gipsies knot, fast or loose at their pleasure. We heare and see that they take the Oath of Supremacy now, &c. What then? Then they are good Subjects. No, the most treacherous and mischievous men in the world, and the truest enemies to the Lords annoynted, none like them. Now beware of these men, for now they will act villany, they will kill, stabbe, poyson, murther, massacre, they will act any thing, which the Divell can suggest. Why so? Because they doe not awe, they doe not reverence the Oath of God: they count it a Gipsies knot fast, or loose as the Malignant Church will. No Oath will serve them but the Bishops Oath, with their &c. which fits the mouth very well, though it be an open Sepulcher. But for all their sleight in turning over Oathes, vve may see them hampered anon, after vvee have laid open their cunning a little more, first,

Oaths will not hold them, the Church shall for an houre: Thi∣ther some of them goe, never more frequently then now. There is some hope then, you will say, They will prove honest men and good Subjects. Yes, or the contrary, and the latter most likely. The Church (as it is commonly called) is as the poole of Bethesda; if I goe rejoycing thither, and have the same desire the poore man had to be made whole, it is the likeliest place in the world to find cure there. But if I goe thither to cloake my wickednesse, &c. then I doe aggravate my sinne, I make it as the sinne of witch-craft:

The Papists goe to Church, that hath been the manner, but observe still, they commonly goe thither, where a Dogge, that cannot barke, keepes the House That adds something to their sinne; but this makes it above measure sinfull: There they sit, and there they meet with their Adversary every houre, that is certaine: A••d this is as certaine, they ••re fully resolved bef••r•• hand not to AGREE with him. The WORD saith This is my Lords will: They ••ay, they wi••l d••e their owne vvill The word is flat against them, and they as contrary to it, Thou shalt not make, saith the WORD: They will make Images and bow before them; so they say and doe. They goe to Church ••nd have concluded, are setled and resolved upon it, not to conclude their soules under the power of Gods Word: Here they prevaricate fe••refully, and, as with Oaths, so they play fast and loose in Gods House too: Let them alone traversing their way in their Moneth a 1.47, they sh••ll be found crying out like a travelling woman, for that is the time vvhen they must cast forth their sorrowes. In the m••an time, ye must look to th••se men now more narrowly, and with a more vvakefull eye, now that they stand before the Lord in His house out-facing H••m there Now surely they vvill be more abominable then ever, They will murder and commit Adultery, and sweare false∣ly and burne incense unto Baal, and walke after other gods. All this they will doe the more boldly now, now that the House of the Lord is a DEN of ROBBERS in their eyes. But see how the * 1.48 LORD takes all this, and how His Servants should lay it unto heart; BEHOLD I HAVE SEENE IT, saith the Lord. And vve must behold also how ye have hampered them as a Bull in a Net. Blessed be ye of the Lord, Who hath instructed you to discretion, and hath made you to be quicke o•• understanding. Never vvas there any engine invented like this Protestation, to batter their strong holds, and to confound them in their cursed craft

Ai, but you vvill say, the Papists will not come vvithin a mile of it; no matter, that vvill come to them, and plucke off their vizard, vve shall know them, now their madnesse vvill bee made manifest. But it is ILLEG••LL you say; say so still, and say the Bi∣shops Oath i•• LEGALL but let my soule goe out vvith that, vvhich the Divell and his Kingdom are most against b 1.49. That vvhich pinch••th and galleth there, my soule upon it, that is Truth * 1.50, that vvhich ought to be, and vve stand bound unto. Marke it ever-more, That which cuts the vvicked to the heart, vvhich makes them gnash on you with their Teeth▪ that's GOOD, very GOOD, good Law and good Reason, and good Conscience for it too, there is no doubt of it; every wise m•••• will give as much credit to that signe, as to the word of the greatest Gamaliel ••n the world.

Lastly, It may be said, Have not the Papists a sleight to turne this ov••r the Thumbs too, as the other two O••thes?

Truly I thinke not, This vvill hamper them sure; for it seemes

to me, this PROTESTATION hath bound up Satan. No you will say, he rageth, never more. A good signe that he is in chains, ne∣ver closer pent up then now, and his servants with him; and that they have but a short time, because they have so much wrath. They are met vvith now, and held-in short, and pinched very sore, for though they dare doe much, even to the putting out of the Light of Nature, and the casting the conscience into a deepe sleepe, yet I must suppose that this little remaining light is so prevailing vvith them, as that, though they could dispence vvith the taking of it, yet that light vvould so flash in their face, that their tongues vvould but fumble at it, they could not frame to pronounce it right. Now the Church puts up a prayer to her God.

¶ 3.

The Churches Prayer; An Object••on against her Prayer, answe∣red. Her weapons ••••••yer and Teares; In what cases the Sword is her Weapon.

THe Lord shake out every man from His House, and from His la∣bour, that hath not a will and a heart to performe according to the PROTESTATION, even the Lord shake him out and emp∣tie him c 1.51.

The Lord grant thes•• Malignants, th••se sonnes or B••liall, these troublers of Israel, vvho will be bound by no other cord, but by the cords of their owne sinnes, may be cut off, even all cut-off that trouble the Church, those that love peace and pursue it.

These sonnes of Beliall cannot frame to pronounce an holy, just and good Commandment; ô that they vvere dealt vvith now, as those persons vvere vve reade of in the Text; Then they tooke him and sl••w him at the passages of Jordan d 1.52 The Church knowes, that there vvould be a greater slaughter then was that vve reade of, and there fell at that time of the Ephramites fourty and two thousand. Heere comes in a doubt, and it will bee easily resolved. The Obj••cti∣on ••s.

Ob. The Church is a peaceable Mother in Israel; her Father is the God of peace, her Lord, the Prince of peace; her servants, the chil∣dren of peace; then sure the Church doth not know vvhat spirit shee is of, that prayes for Fire and Sword to come downe from Heaven.

Answ. Yes, the Church knows she hath the Spirit of God dwelling in her, and by that Spirit she can and doth pray as afore-said (••nd will fight anon) and be a peaceable vvoman for all this, and a true Mother in Israel, and follow the Lambe here also; for in some cases (and none riseth higher then this) He, even the Lambe hath wrath, and that must be executed by her Sword. Nay more, as she prayeth for this thing, so she can rejoyce to see this vengeance, and to wash her

feet c 1.53 in the bloud of the wicked, and the whole City with her, yea and to shout for joy d 1.54. These are wicked persons, professed ene∣mies to God and His Christ; Without naturall affection, truce brea∣kers, false accusers, inconti••c••t, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God, not having so much as a forme of Godlinesse e 1.55. Pit∣ty these vvicked Malignant persons, and you destroy the Good; shew mercy here, you are cruell to the Church; spare such, and they will make havocke of Gods Servants, as you see they doe, and have done in all ages. Wicked persons they, and desperately bold and daring; They would turne the Songs of the Temple into howlings f 1.56. She can rejoyce to see the vengeance, yea and to wash her feet in the blood of these slaine. And till this be done, she never looks to have peace on the Earth, for these are they who have taken peace from her. Therefore she is resolved upon it now, she vvill not onely pray, but use her WEAPONS too. Yes, you will say. PRAYERS and TEARES. True, for these are the Chur∣ches weapons, and very prevailing, nay, commanding they are. (Prayers command God, He is pleased to say so much, and to yeeld g 1.57 so farre:) but the Church said, she will fight too in a case, wherein her Prince, His State, Crowne and Dignity is concerned, for in all this the Church is concerned, her Lawes, Liberties, Re∣ligion, Life. In such cases, He vvill fight. Let it goe; it is good construction to apply a Masculine vvord to so Heroicke a spirit: as I reade Queen Elizabeth did not well digest that Grammaticall nicety, to be prayed for by the Title of DEFENDRESSE of the Faith, DEFENDER vvas better concord in her Eares: And indeed never any man Answered the Title better. I was saying the Church hath another weapon, which vvee call the Sword, and she will make it drunke in the bloud of these Adversaries, and yet doe no more then what she hath done in all Ages, from the Primitive time downe-ward. For though Prayers and Teares and these onely are her Sonnes and Daughters vveapons, as they are private persons: Yet, as they are publike persons (That alters the case) and exalted in the Earth, the Sword belongs unto them as their proper right; and they stand bound to use it, though then also They STƲDIE TO BE QƲIET h 1.58, and know themselves CALLED ƲNTO PEACE, so they may have TRƲTH too i 1.59. The Church hath her Ioshaah's; and, they must not lye upon the face * 1.60, wishing those even cut-off that trou∣ble us. k 1.61. He must rise and cut-off those TROƲBLERS; it is his office so to doe. The Church hath her Nehemiah's, they may build with one hand and hold the Sword in another. Shee hath her Davids, the truest Subjects in the world (as then hee was) and yet their H••ast may be as his was, as the HOAST OF GOD ^l, and all for their owne safety, and to maintaine (as * 1.62

David did) their Masters peace The Church hath her Princes and her Nobles, and her Worthies (blessed be God for them all) to whom the Sword belongs, and they are charged to use it, for the cutting off those, that trouble her; and are enemies to her Lords Crowne and Dignity: They are charged to be of good courage, and to play the men for their King and His people, and the Cities of their God, and the Lord doe that which seemeth Him good d 1.63: Then in the last place;

¶ 4.

Private Persons must make Supplications.

THe Church makes her Supplication to you; That you would rise up and be doing; that you would avenge her of these Adversaries, who have done what they can to take peace from the Earth. All is contained in your Covenant, every whit. Remember that and you remember all; and the Lord remember His Covenant with you, for the darke places of the Earth are full of cruelty e 1.64. Doubt∣lesse the Lord, Who keepeth Covenant and mercy for ever, will not breake with you now. Remember f 1.65 WELL, what the Lord your God hath done for you; That will give you assured confidence for the time to come. Onely deale couragiously g 1.66; stand to what you have said, and what in you lyeth, cause the Covenant to passe through the Land, and doe as the good King did; vvhat you can to make the people stand to it h 1.67, and the Lord shall be with the good i 1.68. (Amen) for they will make their prayer to Him, which cannot be in vain k 1.69, being one of the most prevailing things in Heaven or Earth: but it is reserved for the time, when ye as Esther l 1.70 commanded Prayer, then it will appeare how prayer commanded for you.

SECT. IV.

The engaging the heart to God, engageth God to our Businesse; then they slide-on; the loftinesse of Man shall be bowed downe, and the ••aughtinesse of Men shall be made low; Idols and Idol-men, and Idoll-garments, and bloody Courts shall be destroyed; Counsels hid in the dark, discovered; and a Breach made-up, great as the Sea; so as the Lord alone shall be exalted in that Day.

THe people that doe know (that is) doe feare and rely upon their God, shall be strong and doe exploits: So it was in dayes of old, * 1.71

So it will be to the end of the World. Please you we will remember a sacred Story, and consider it with our whole he••rt and with our whole soule Time vvas vvhen our Grand-fathers dwelt in seiled hou∣ses, while they let the house of God lye waste. Every man ranne af∣ter (that is) was very earnest in his owne affaires, but the affaires of the Church, no man regarded▪ much vvorke was done, but no Tem∣ple-worke. The Lord by His Prophet Haggai admonisheth and re∣proveth for this, correcteth and punisheth too: bids them consider the order and method they tooke, whether things vvere done decent∣ly and in order; all for themselves, their private wealth; nothing for God, and the Common g••od; and how they prospered in their contrary way: vvhither God vvalk'd not contrary to them also? Shame devoured their labors a 1.72, there was a SWORD and a DROVGHT b 1.73 upon all they had and upon all they did; They vvere in a deepe con∣sumption; They eat and they dranke, and yet pined away c 1.74; They laboured, but in the fire; Wages they earned, but they put it into a bagg with holes; much they did, but nothing prospered. After ma∣ny ••ore and sharpe stroakes (for man vvill not be made vvise, but by blowes) they began to looke up and consider their vvay, vvhich vvas not right, yet they thought to prosper in it, but it was not possible. At last they considered and thought thus, if God does all, and gives all richly to enjoy; if He be the best and highest Master, and payes the best vvages; The greatest reason in the vvorld, His vvorke should be done first; and so like wise and considering Men▪ they fell to Gods worke, ranne as fast to His House, as before to their owne. This the Lord tooke very kindly, as His manner is, and ordered it so (that is His manner too, for His vvrath is quickly appeased, when He sees Men but look STEDFASTLY to Him and His House) that their own house should not fare the vvorse; they should sensibly see now a strange alteration in things, as a SWORD and a DROƲGHT before upon every thing: so now a BLESSING; a shewer of BLESSINGS. Yes, but they must wait for it; No, no wai∣ting now Behold presently a shewer of blessings, that Gods people may for after times, lift up their feet in Gods way, observe good or∣der and method there, still to begin vvith God and Temple-work, call it vvhat you vvill, Religion if you please; From this Day that the Foundation of the Lords Temple was layed CONSIDER IT d 1.75. What must they consider? It followes, FROM THIS DAY WILL I BLESSE YOƲ; from that moment of time when they minded Gods worke to doe it, I WILL BLESSE YOU saith the LORD.

If ever GOD made good this Scripture to His people in after a∣ges, then now He hath fulfil'd it even in our days: Every man can make application, for from this Day the Lord hath blessed you; you must prosper now and doe exploits, for you goe on now in the strength of a COVENANT, and in the strength of the prayers of all those

that are in Covenant with you, and that ••s an ALMIGHTIE strength.

Y••u have given forth your MALE, the first Borne of your strerg••h to manage the great things of HEAVEN: assuredly from this Day the Lord hath blessed you

You have found vvherein the strength and spirits of the businesse ly∣eth now; these are contained in Religion, very ••ffic••ci••us in vvorking; and a mighty binder, as vvas said; ye have bound y••ur selves to G••d, and God to you; now ye shall g••e on as valiant men in the strength of God, and with His increase and ••l••ssing.

Though you should heare, in after time, the multitude of many people a 1.76, vvhich make a noyse like the Seas, and a reshing like the rushing of mighty wa∣ters. Then shall ye see also, that God vvill rebuke them, and they shall flee faire off, and shall be chased as the chaffe of the Moun••••ins before the vvinde, and like a rowling thing before the whirle-winde, &c.

For it followes, but I forbeare for I must keepe my selfe within the bounds of this WONDERFULL YEARE. This is but to shew, that you have chosen a way to walk-in, and a rule to walke by called the WAY of HOLINESSE (the Lord keepe you in it, and to it;) it is a cleare, an holy, a s••••e, an une••ring way, The way faring men, though FOOLES, shall not erre ther∣in. b 1.77 Ye may fall into the straits there (as was said) ye may be trou∣bled on every side, yet not distressed; perplexed ye may be, but not in despaire c 1.78, as you reade; ye may meet vvith a Lyon in that way; persecuted ye may be, but ye shall not be forsaken: The Lord whose ye are, and whom ye serve, and have engaged your hearts so to doe, (the greatest security that Earth or Heaven can give, is yours now) will carry you through all (His NAME, His GLORY is engaged too) and make ye more than Conquerours at the last But for the present, we are to Record yet farther, what GOD hath wrought by you, or vvhat you have wrought with GOD this Day, vvhere you will see and take good notice what an easie passe or slide you had unto businesse, as they have, whom God will lead and prosper (from this very Day the Lord did blesse you) Take a short view of the works in the same order they were done, so the Church will render you an account, and an acknowledgement together, very short in these parti∣culars.

¶ 8.

Then, from that Day, ye marched valiantly, ye trod down strength, ye had Dominion over the Mighty d 1.79; ye troubled the Troublers, and the Destroyer was destroyed. Then no power of the adversary could with-stand you from that Day.

¶ 9.

Then, from that Day, ye found out the treacherous Priests and their

Babylonish garments; then you were to the poore Ministers, as your good God before you; you took off the yoake on their jaws, and to the people, you laid meat unto them h 1.80. Then you pursued your Adversa∣ries to their strong-holds, and you beat them there with their owne weapons: Indeed their owne weapons, weapons of unrighteousnesse, were as Goliahs Sword to the Giants of the Earth, as M. Dearing cal∣led them long agoe, who searched the Scripture whether things were so, and would take poyson from no mans hand. Ye found these men overcome to your hand, bound fast with the cords of their owne sinne, as a wild Bull in a Net (the Lord give them to feele it for their good) full of the fury of the LORD, the Rebuke of Thy GOD i 1.81.

Then, from that Day, ye proceeded against them and their Courts, so that the Church may reade her Deliverance, now in that vvhich the Lord wrought for her people in dayes of old,

So the terrible one is brought to naught k 1.82, and the Scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity, and they that made a man an offender for a word, and laid a snare for him that reproveth in the Gate, and turned a∣side the just for a thing of nought, all these are cut-off; for where is the fury of the oppressours? and the jurisdiction of their Courts, Where is it? She remembers this with all thankfulnesse and she re∣members you in all earnestnesse before the high Throne, as was said before, for she can reade on;

Now l 1.83 the meeke shall encrease their joy in the Lord, and the poore among men shall rejoyce in the Holy One of Israël: for how you eased the Churches shoulders, and chea∣red her heart, when you tooke off those yoakes, the two insnaring Oaths and bloudy Courts, she and you know very well: and she accepts vvith all thankfulnesse, but she gives glory to her God.

¶ 10.

Then, from that Day, you could trace the footings in the dark; the turnings and windings of the crooked Serpent in his crooked pathes; Then the Lord made darknesse light before you, and crooked things strait. Then you had discoveries upon discoveries, for what a dis∣covering God have you! How easily did He defeate His enemies! Their turning of things upside downe, He esteemes as the Potters clay, for He turned them and their vvorke upside downe, as easily as the Maid doth the Dish, which she vvipes, or the Potter the clay vessell he frames m 1.84.

¶ 11.

Then you quenched the SONNES of the COALE; and though they sparkled in your face, yet they could not kindle: notwith∣standing the wrestling of the Adversary, you held and maintained the staffe of BEAƲTY and of BANDS n 1.85, and so made firme the

Brotherhood betweene Iacob and Israel. And it was like the making of twaine one, so making peace a 1.86; as the causing the envy of EPHRA∣IM to cease, and the cutting-off the Adversaries of IƲDAH b 1.87: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim, but they shall be as one sticke in the hand c 1.88, that so with united force, they may fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines. I will say no more of it here (for it fills a volume) But according to this time it shall he said of Jacob and of Israel, WHAT HATH GOD WROƲGHT? * 1.89

In all this last mentioned, the Church turnes to her God, renders praise and glory to Him, for he only workes wonders. She will a∣scribe all to her God, so the Church may doe, and yet make all due acknowledgement to man, whom the Lord is pleased to honour as an instrument. Man stood in the GAP, and he shall be called, The REPAIRER OF THE BREACH, but God made it up, e∣ven * 1.90 by His owne Right-hand, for it was great as the Sea. Hee did it who hath taken the wicked in their owne Snare; consumed them with their owne breath; swallowed them up with their owne lips; fallen upon them with their owne tongues; bound them fast with their owne cords, HIGGAION SE∣LAH d 1.91, a matter HIGHLY to be considered on. Therefore with your good leave, the Church ascribes all to her good God, Blessing, Honour, Power, Wisdome, Thanks, all the glory unto Him, that sitteth upon the Throne, and unto the Lambe for ever and ever. And the Church makes account that so yee will doe also; yee doe call this yeare and your Court BAAL-PERAZIM, for at this time, the Lord smote His enemies there, and hath broken forth upon them before you as the BREACH of WATERS; Therefore ye call this yeare and that place BAAL-PERAZIM e 1.92, giving glory to the Lord, for HE IS WORTHY.

¶ A Transition to the next Section.

THus I have made as short a collection, and given-in as briefe a Catalogue, as I could, of Gods dealings, His wonderfull Ad∣ministrations; His strange dispensations of Wisdome and Providence towards His Church this yeare so full of Grace and Power; all these contracted here into as narrow a roome as possibly might be, con∣sidering how comprehensive some of the Heads were; else where I have given them more enlargement; but I looke and heartily ex∣pect, that my paines will be prevented by some others pen, that hath more leisure, and a larger portion of gifts and abilities for the compleating such a History, which so much advanceth the Name of God, and the hope of Israel in the time of His distractions: The Remembrance of what God hath wrought this former yeare,

vvill be to the Church in after times, and in all her fainting fits, as vve reade a 1.93, for the consolation is the same, and the gr••und thereof the same; Thou shalt not be affraid of them. T••ou shalt WELL rem••mber what the LORD thy GOD did unto PHA∣RAOH, the Pope and unto all his helpers. The, &c

Another great Worke you have vvrought in the close of the yeare, concerning Gods immediate worship and service, which must be re∣corded in order, with reverence to the time, when these workes were done (I say, work••••, for it is plurall, a comprehensive worke, and containes m••ch:) Thou••h it may suffice very well, that the Lord hath registred them, and will reward them. A Cup of cold water b 1.94 given to His Church, He will thinke upon and reward, for that is His manner; He will not be in arere with any man, much lesse with His faithfull Servants; if He seemes to delay the time, or to forget, it is for your advantage, and that he may remember you in the fittest time, as in the case of Mordecai. A Cup of Water shall be remembred; how much more your labour of love, patience of hope, your workes of Faith, such vvorkes vvhich you have done, and are written in the records of Heaven and Earth both, for they concerne His pleasant Sacrifices, vvhich He hath commanded, such as were in the dayes of old, and as in former years * 1.95.

But before the Church can record all this, she must record with all thankfullness••, what you have done for her Land, her people there, breaking our bands and taking-off our yoaks also, and rescuing us from cruell Taske-masters.

This the Church accepts alwayes in all thankfullnesse. But we ac∣count this rescuing us and the Law from out of the hand of cruell Lords, the chiefest among your many worthy deeds: being most taken with outward priviledges, and so vve may prosper in the vvorld, we care not how our soules prosper: such our teaching is, and so blind our guides are (for the most part) vvhich vvill be considered as vve passe-on. For after vve have rendred our heartiest thankes to you, for res∣cuing us from under those hands; The Church will reason out the case with the Iudges, will point to the root of our evils, then she will show ••s a more excellent way.

SECT. V.

No oppression to the oppression of a Ruler or Judge offering vio∣lence to the Law; we howled under that oppression; The Lord remembred us in our bondage, and sent us Sa∣viours, who disburthened our Shoulder of our grievous pressures and oppressours.

THen (from that Day) you rescued a poore peeled people, from those that are as EVENING WOLVES c 1.96, Who are they? The Prophet meanes by an ordinary figure, IƲDGES, and we meane not the like but the same: for they ravened the prey, they gnaw∣ed the very bones; they devoured and consumed the COMMON∣WEALTH; but to heighten their vvickednes••e, they first KIS∣SED her LIPS, pretending the PƲBLIQƲE GOOD. These men of the Earth denyed to free Subjects their Catholico••, that * 1.97 vvhich is every free-mans birth-right; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that which the child receives from his Father, though be •••• ••he youngest, and his Father the poorest The Judges denied us this our proper inheritance; they imprisoned the freest thing, that is in all the vvorld, and that which is most innocent. As the Bishops Lorded it over the King of the Church, offering violence to His Lawes: So these Lorded it over the Catholicke Rule of the Common wealth; I had almost said, the most Catholicke King in the world; but we ••ubmit here, for we are not learned; we thinke that the sacred Scripture saith as much, That the Law is the highest power on earth And we remember well that * 1.98 a mighty Emperour tels us, that the LAW was his MASTER; The LAW IS EVERY MANS MASTER d 1.99, said he, then he could not exempt himselfe from out of that universality; it was his MASTER too. This Catholique Master was trod under foot by it's Servants e 1.100, so we thinke Judges are called. And then all fals to the ground and is trod under foot, when the Master is under f 1.101, when the Servant is on Horse-backe and rideth his Master, then he op∣presseth very sore, as we reade, He oppresseth the poore like a swee∣pi••g raine that leaveth no food g 1.102. Then we lay like the Hebrewes op∣pressed by the Philistines, in our holes, brought very low, downe to the ground, and our speech scarce whispered out of the dust. Complaints were vaine and to no purpose, or made our burthen heavier; for the Servant was the Master, and what pleased him was the Law: So they turned judgement into gall, and the fruit of Righteousnesse into Hem∣lock h 1.103, Then we were afflicted indeed, fleeced and peeled; the flesh was torne from the bone; and then we howled. Nay, the oppression

was so heavy, that some of us vvere madd (oppression makes wise men so g 1.104;) and we spake as madd men, so unadvisedly with our lips, accounting the proud happy, for they that vvorke wickednesse were set-up, and they that tempted Go•• were even delivered h 1.105, and we were made as the little fishes, as the creeping things that have no RƲLER over them i 1.106. But notwithstanding vve provoked Him so, the Lord looked downe from Heaven, saw our burthens, and that they were very sore, sent Saviours unto us, blessed be His Name, and blessed be ye in the Name of the Lord. We might complain now and be heard, and complaine we did as an oppressed people before us. k 1.107 Our flesh is as the flesh of our Judges and Ru∣lers just the same; theirs no better, ours no worse: Our children as their children, not so gay, but as good, and as free borne as theirs: And we are brought into bondage, our sonnes and our daughters, to be servants to them, who professe themselves to be Servants to the Law. But these Servants over-ruled their MASTER, and so en∣thralled us: And when you heard this cry and these words, you were very angry (for the whole body was pinched where there vvas quicke flesh) Then you consulted vvith your selves, and rebuked the Jud∣ges and the Rulers who dealt so treacherously, so like evening Wolves ravening the prey; And you disburdened the Common-wealth of her pressures (too many to reckon, and) grievous oppressours (as the Squire of the Body, still attending such Judges) a company of sharks, proging fellowes, pests, vipers, grievous vermine, vvorse then the Aegyptian froggs, which devoured every greene thing. You eased the Land of those Adversaries; abominable filth is cast into their faces; their names ••ot and their arme is withered. And this is all which ye have done, terrible things vvhich vve looked not for. We doe not diminish one grain, vve thinke it very much vvhich you have done, though vve out-runne you in our expectation. But vve must give great bodies leave to move slowly, (they meet vvith many rubbs in the vvay) to deliberate long upon the case, where it reacheth to the precious life of a man; vvhen that thred is cut, life runnes out from a bottome that hath no end. Wee are pretty vvell satisfied in this, that vve are rescued and taken as a prey out of their teeth. We vvould have the Iaw-bone broken too; vvee vvish sometimes, and not in our haste, that they vvho so troubled us, offered such violence to the Lawes of God and man, vvere cut∣off. Indeed vve cannot thinke our selves secure, vvhile they are, and are not made examples, though one is fled, and another is fast by the heeles, and all are put to shame, being pointed at vvith the finger, These are they, more unrighteous then was the unjust Iudge. For though he feared not God, nor regarded man, yet he was gained with importunity, to doe right. These not so, The HOWLING of the wid∣dow and TEARES of her Orphanes, These they regard not, no not these: the Lord grant they may knovv all this for their good,

and be confounded and turne unto the Lord before the first borne of Death d 1.108, some strange judgement consumes their strength, and the curse that is written fall upon them ^d.

¶ 1.

The Church argueth the case with the Iudges, bids them marke the old way which wicked men have trodden; adviseth them to an hum∣ble confession of their fault, and to leave proud Apo∣logies, for there the Law leaves them, and is cleare against them.

ZOphar spake well, though he applyed it ill, Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon Earth, that THE TRIƲM∣PHING OF THE WICKED IS SHORT e 1.109. So Elephas a little after f 1.110, Hast thou marked the old way, which wicked men have trodden? WHOSE FOƲNDATION WAS OVER∣FLOWNE WITH A FLOOD.

The Church applies all this right, even to the Judges, and would have them apply it so too, for they are able. Surely they can looke backe and enquire of the dayes of old, which will tell them, that their Fathers in whose steps they trod, consulted shame to their house: Because of Mens bloud and for the violence of the Land g 1.111, shame de∣voured the labours of their Fathers h 1.112. The stone cryed out of the Wall and the Beame out of the Timber answered it; woe to him that buildeth a House with bloud and establisheth it with iniquitie; And so it was and is, for these houses are consumed away by the heate of Gods displeasure, as if they had been made, as we reade * 1.113 some houses are in Gothland, of SNOW i 1.114.

The Lord grant they may consider this, and trust to their Repen∣tance, and free acknowledgement of their crimes; to that BLOOD above all which yet speaketh, rather then to their Apologies, which some thinke, and all say, are smooth and plausible. A SAGE of their owne is cleare against them. Thus the Lord Cooke speaks, where he speakes as we may understand him, Latine and English both, and full to this purpose, for I may not hit of his words, being long since I read them.

The Law is cleare for free Sub∣jects in point of Priviledge and property, if the Client through ignorance, and the Lawyer through wilfullnesse, doe not dar∣ken it. The Law showes a way very discernable to a cleared sight, betwixt Mine and Thine. If the Lawyer be at a fault here, surely there is dust cast into his eyes, and he deales treacherously, because he will doe so, not because he wants wit or knowledge, but because he is subtle and wicked: for he goes by the clearest Lights (not single but plurall) that any Science in the world hath, the light of Nature and of Reason and of conscience, all three;

Therefore the Sage concludes, A knowing Lawyer (whom wee commonly call good) must necessarily be a good man, or &c. the Contrary, as the Country man calls him who calls a Spade, a Spade. And the best excuse he can make, why he dealt contrary must be his feare; that made him clash against the Law, feare of present drowning, if he did not swim with the stream; and not igno∣rance of the Law.

But here also our Chronicles gives us a famous example of a good Judge, and a good man,

Sir Iohn Markham by name, (late times yeeld us one or two more) King Edward the 4. outed him his place.

But the valiant Knight, valiant for the Truth, no Iudge thereof now) gloried in this (as well he might) that Though the King could make him NO IƲDGE, he could not make him a DISHONEST MAN, He could doe nothing a∣gainst the Truth, but for the Truth k 1.115, notwithstanding all provocati∣ons and forcei••g to the contrary. Our Iudges (the worst part of them) cleane contrary, nothing for the Truth, but against the Truth, nor were they so much forced, as they used forcing. Then Iudge∣ment was turned away backward, and Iustice stood afarre off: for * 1.116 Truth sell in the street, and equity could not enter, &c. For it fol∣lowed just so. Therefore Gods Arme brought Salvations, He put on the garment of vengeance for cloathing, and was clad with zeale as * 1.117 a cloake. According to their deeds, He did repay fury to His Adver∣saries, recompen••e to His enemies.

Thus the Lord did for a peeled people, that we might set OƲR HOPE in Him, and not forget His workes But behold we are turned backe, we are not stedfast. This is the Truth which appeareth thus.

¶ 2

We mind our Covenant no further then as it may be a Covenant of Salt, to assure us our outward Priviledges for ever. That's our great errour: the Church confutes it, and instructs us to Discretion.

VVE are not stedfast in the Covenant farther then it concernes our private wealth: so far we will hold-fast to it, as it doth main∣tain our outward Rights.

We are resolved upon the Question, and let us now be begged for fooles or madd men, if we doe not by all lawfull meanes, main∣taine the peace of our King, His Crowne and Dignity; and the Priviledges of Parliament: for herein (we must have a princi∣ple of profit to carry us) the Rights and Liberties of the Subject are maintained. Vowes are upon Him and Them; the Oath of God is betwixt us; the strongest engagement that can be to maintaine th•• LAW, and then the Law will maintaine us, and all the fore-men∣tioned. And that is all we looke after. We consider not how spiri∣tuals strengthen Politickes; that both King and Kingdome are estab∣lished

by Righteousnesse. Therefore the Church mindeth us of a great principle of State government which is this;

That true Re∣ligion and Godlinesse is the root of all true virtue, and the stay of all well ordered Common-weales: And to keepe the true Re∣ligion pure and unstained, ought to be the highest of all cares ap∣pertaining to publicke Regiments, and the peace therof.

Did not thy Father Iosiah doe judgement and justice, and it was well with him l 1.118. While he was yet young, he begun to seeke after the God of his father, and to pur••e Iudah and Ierusalem m 1.119. And there was never any King before him or since, that live•• so desired, or dyed so lamented, No not one. But his son Iehoiakim not so; His Eyes and his Heart were for oppression, and for violence to doe it n 1.120; therefore he was buried with the buriall of an Asse; they lamented not for him, saying, AH LORD, or AH IS GLORY: But what is this to the people? much every way, as what concerned the HEAD then, concernes the BODY now, because of that sympathy, and nea∣rest Relation betwixt them: and what concernes the BEE con∣cernes the BEEHIVE, and vvhat doth good or hurt to the one, doth the very same to both. Therefore this is added; They then and They onely doe seele the weight of Duty towards their Prince and Coun∣try; they know the just bounds of observation towards both, who can, in a gracious freedome of Spirit, arising from Their innocency and in∣dependancy (except on the living God) stand out, notwithstanding all shockes, against all corruptions in Doctrine and manners, having a tender sense of both, that there be no corruption in either: And so doe wish from an entire and ingenious heart, O KING LIVE FOR EVER. It is not the strength of all united hands, that can set the Crowne fast upon a Kings head: not the pollicy of as many heads can make it flourish there: nor can all the Arme of flesh put out to it's utmost strength confirme to us our Liberties, and establish the Right of Subjects: No, but it is RELIGION kept in it's purity; Iu∣stice, maintained in it's integrity; obedience (more beautifying then a Crowne) performed to Gods command in sincerity; This will doe it, even all the fore-mentioned. And we are convinced hereof by a common light, and naturall principles; and can conclude there∣from, when we are our selves, that vve should give out our strength and be most active for the first and last thing in the PROTESTA∣TION; To maintaine RELIGION in it's purity, and the BROTHER-HOOD in Sincerity; for therein are contained the very strength and spirits of the Covenant, as hath been said, and can∣not be to often thought upon.

But now vvhat blunts the edge of our indeavours and affections this way, comes now seriously to be considered on.

¶ 3.

Our Priests, who pretend to lead us, mislead us destroying all▪ that the Church doth for our building up, to the subverting of our soules, and the putting out of a common light, by their common and unclean conversation. The Church points us to a more excellent way.

VVE are naturally blind, and cannot see farre off * 1.121. We are not instructed to discretion; not so discerning, as to approove the things that are excellent, much lesse to contend for them. And a great cause hereof is, (we are naturally stupid and blind, a spirit of infirmity naturally boweth dovvne; but I say a chief cause is) without us, in our guides and leaders, for the most part blind, and yet they leade us. Many of them preach once in a Yeare, perhaps some of them once a Moneth, and not a sound word of Doctrine then, comes from them, but their TEXT. Their practise is as bad, it corrupts like a canker: We observe that, and nothing else, we see they oversee nothing amongst us with any care or diligence, but their Easter-booke, and their Tythes all the yeare after. That hath been the complaint against Bishops from Dayes of old to this present Day a 1.122. And if our SEERS doe so, we think and are perswaded we may do so too, mind Earth and do well enough for Heaven, for they do so, and yet they know better and see farther then wee can see, for they are called Seers, The Lord unscale their eyes, and unvaile their hearts, and deliver His people from these murderers, because of whom the Churches soul is wearied b 1.123. The Lord stirre up your hearts to pitty the Countryes round about yet more. For vve are in a sad con∣dition if we saw it. Our Teachers are as you heare, and the People content to have it so. Truly had not the Oppressor touched us in that we make our god, outward profits and Priviledges, vve should never have complained: what violence the Priests had done to the Law of God, to the House of God, to His vvorship there, we regarded not: but what violence the Judges did to the Laws of Man, that we regarded, and then vve could howle.

Truly we mind not what bands you have broke; nor what yoakes * 1.124 you have taken off the necks of Ministers; Nor that you have advanced the Scepter of the Lord Christ; and that worship which is according to the Rule and mind of God; these things we mind not; No nor that you have troubled the troublers, the Achans, That you have searched their Tents, and found out the Babilonish garments; We re∣gard these things no more then Gallio did the beating of Sosthenes: for so we are instructed; Our Prophets, for the most part, prophesie to us of wine and strong drinke, which pleaseth the sense well, and our walking is thereafter, we regard only our Oyle and Wine.

And yet upon sadder thoughts, vvhen we think as men, we are halfe

convinced; That this our walking is not right; That rivers of Oyle and wine (i. e) the marrovv, and fatnesse, and fullnesse of the world is but emptinesse, and will ••ot satisfie: All this reacheth but to the body, no farther; and vvill leave us, or vve them on this side the grave. We can consider sometimes that vve have a Spirit within us (vvhich is called the soule) a vast, large and capacious thing: It can measure and graspe all the fore-mentioned, all the things in the world; and, when all is done, find but an emptinesse in all. We are able to consider, That the vvorld cannot satisfie this soule, no more then can the East-wind the stomach. It is Heaven and the great things there, which can satisfie this great capacity, vvhich can vviden and stretch forth it selfe like the Heavens. The soule may goe from creature to creature, as the Bee from flower to flower, and be as restlesse still, and as unquiet in its motion, as is the needle, (not pointed right) and so must be till it be pointed stedfast to Heaven

All this vve can consider, and, upon due consideration, approove the things that are excellent. But then we behold our Priests, and are quite off againe, seeing them vvalke like men, nay many of them more like be••sts I would rather my tongue were silent in darknes, then it should cast a note of contempt upon outward civility. These have not so much, but, as beasts, could they phancy happines, would place it in fat pastures, and sweet waters so do these droves and heards of men This is a mighty snare unto us, lead not so much by rule as by example * 1.125: We consider not what ought to be done, but what is done by our betters, and thereafter we practise as our leaders do, as if what they did vvere well done; and, as if outvvard things could inwardly satisfie. This digression is necessary, declaring how our minds stand: Now I must shew, That the Church is of another mind, and so make vvay to the scope.

¶. 4.

The Church desires to prosper as her soul may prosper; Contends for the ad∣vancing of Christs Kingdom; prefers inward enlargements be∣fore outward priviledges.

ESaues ENOƲGH a 1.126 will not content the Church, though that be much or a great deale. Iacobs ENOƲGH b 1.127 only contents her, which inwardly satisfies and fills up the vast capacity of the soule, This God alone doth, Who is Iacobs ENOVGH, for HE is ALL.

The Churches Sons and D••ughters looke after those things, which may further them in their way Heaven-ward: such things as will make their soules to prosper are to their mind and heart. They looke after spiritu••ll enlargements, they would have their Lord Christ to be high∣ly ••d••anced in the world; It would rejoyce them at the heart to see His Sanctuaries kept cleane; all filthinesse remooved thence, and those that attend His services there to be purified and Holy ones, That their Lord might see no uncleane thing there which might cause Him to turne away from them, and turne His back upon His Sanctuaries,

The summe of their desires is; That they may offer to the Lord an of∣fering in Righteous••esse. Then shall their offerings be pleasant unto the * 1.128 Lord, as in the Dayes of old, and as in former Yeares. The Church Re∣members vvh••t you have done to promote these services so pleasant to the Lord, and she must referre it to a speciall head of Praise and Thanks-giving.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Ezek. 23. 32.
• b 1.2

  De operi••us Dei 〈◊〉〈◊〉 quintum actū 〈…〉〈…〉
• c 1.3

  Hos. 8. 15.
• d 1.4

  Ps. 17. 4.
• a 1.5

  Ier. 13. 14.
• b 1.6

  Exod. 15. 11▪
• * 1.7

  Mal. 3. 16.
• * 1.8

  Si fuerit sublimis, fi••despicabilis: si fuerit splendidissi∣mus, fit vilissimus: si fuerit totus hono∣ris, fit totus iniuria. Sal. de gub. lib. 4. p. 113. Vnder whom it was alwayes un∣safe to dee well. T••••it. sup.
• f 1.9

  Iudg. 5. 13, 21.
• d 1.10

  Omnis Civita•• ••ustum, &c. Sal. l. 7 210.
• e 1.11

  Isa. 34. 11, 12.
• h 1.12

  Esa. 3••. 6.
• i 1.13

  Ier. 29. 2••.
• * 1.14

  l Ier. 29. 23:
• m 1.15

  Omnis sermo di∣vinus habit am••∣los suos, quo•• gene∣ra praeceptorum sunt, ••••t adversari∣or••••. Salv. ad Ecc. Cath. l. 4. p 486.
• n 1.16

  Dan. 5.
• * 1.17

  Nigra est incen∣dio civitas, & in vult•••• fest••vit•••••• usurpa••. Lugent cu••cta, tu latus et. Sal. de gub. l. 5. p. p. 22••.
• m 1.18

  Ier. ••4. 17.
• * 1.19

  2 King. 16.
• * 1.20

  2 Chro. 28.
• n 1.21

  Hos. 2, 3.
• o 1.22

  Iob 18. 19.
• * 1.23

  2 Chro. 19. 9.
• * 1.24

  Ps. 110.
• * 1.25

  Chap. 1. 3.
• * 1.26

  2 Sam. 5. 8.
• * 1.27

  Mat. 11, 5.
• a 1.28

  2 Chro. 23. ••••
• b 1.29

  Lam 2. 23.
• c 1.30

  Esa. 54 19
• * 1.31

  Nodus vindice dignus. When the Gib∣bet is up & Mor∣decai designed to it the next day, then it's Gods t••me to work••: it is ••or His Glory t•• deferre ••o long; and for the ••lory of His faithful∣nesse to de••er no longer 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Chrys Tom. 4. Epist. 1.
• d 1.32

  Ps. 106. 4.
• * 1.33

  Ps 7. 1.
• b 1.34

  2 Chron. 34. 32.
• c 1.35

  1 Sam. 23. 28.
• d 1.36

  Ier. 13. 13.
• e 1.37

  ver. 14.
• f 1.38

  2 Cor, 4 8.
• g 1.39

  Esa 33 24:
• h 1.40

  I beare any thing now my sins are pardoned. M•••• ad in vita Lu∣theri, p. 168. ••. •• Ps 73. 2••.
• k 1.41

  2 Chro. 15. 15.
• l 1.42

  Iud. 12. ••.
• b 1.43

  Luk 16. 14. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• c 1.44

  Dogmatiza•• mendaciae.
• d 1.45

  Iud. 15. 14.
• e 1.46

  Dan. Hen. 3. ••. 167.
• a 1.47

  Ier. 2••
• * 1.48

  Ier. 7.
• b 1.49

  Gaudeo sic Sata∣nā indignari & blasphemare quo∣••••es •• m•• tangitur. Luther •• Epist. ad Am
• * 1.50

  Q••od signum maioris ••••••riae est omnes haeretici de∣••estantur. Hier.
• c 1.51

  Neh. 5. 1••▪
• d 1.52

  Iud. 12. 6.
• c 1.53

  Ps. ••8. 10.
• d 1.54

  Prov. 11. 10.
• e 1.55

  2 Tim. 3. 3, 4, 5.
• f 1.56

  Amos 8. 3.
• g 1.57

  Esa. 45. 11.
• h 1.58

  1 Thes. 4. 11.
• i 1.59

  1 Cor. 7. 15.
• * 1.60

  Iosh. 7. 10.
• k 1.61

  Gal. 5. 12.
• * 1.62

  •• Chr••. 12. ••2.
• d 1.63

  2 Sam. 10. 12.
• e 1.64

  Ps. 74.
• f 1.65

  Deut. 7. 18.
• g 1.66

  2 Chron. 19. 11.
• h 1.67

  2 Chron. 34. 32.
• i 1.68

  2 Chron. 19. 11.
• k 1.69

  Esa. 45. 19.
• l 1.70

  Est. 4 16.
• * 1.71

  Dan. 11. 32.
• a 1.72

  Ier 3. 24.
• b 1.73

  ••er •••• 38.
• c 1.74

  Hag. 1. 1••. ••er. 6.
• d 1.75

  Hag. 2, 18.
• a 1.76

  Esa. 17. 12, 13.
• b 1.77

  Esa 35.
• c 1.78

  2 Cor 4 8.
• d 1.79

  Iud. 5.
• h 1.80

  Hos. 11. 4.
• i 1.81

  Esa 51. 10.
• k 1.82

  Esa. 29.
• l 1.83

  Esa. 29. 19.
• m 1.84

  Esa ••9. 16. Vid. Cal. in loc.
• n 1.85

  Zach. 11.
• a 1.86

  Ephes. 2. 15.
• b 1.87

  Esa. 11.
• c 1.88

  Ezek. 37. 19.
• * 1.89

  Num. 23. ••3.
• * 1.90

  Esa. ••8. 12.
• d 1.91

  Ps. 9. 16. Rem meditandam summè.
• e 1.92

  2 Sam. 5. 20.
• a 1.93

  Deut. 7. 18.
• b 1.94

  Mat. 10, 4••.
• * 1.95

  Mal. 3. 4.
• c 1.96

  Zeph. 3. 3.
• * 1.97

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. 1 Pet. 1. 19.
• * 1.98

  Rom. 13.
• d 1.99

  Mar Aurel An. l 10. Medi••. 25. Pag. 71.
• e 1.100

  Servientes ad le∣gem fortiscue.
• f 1.101

  Nihil sequens stat cum principale non steverit. Salv.
• g 1.102

  Pro 28. 3. 1 Sam. 14 1••.
• h 1.103

  Amo. 6. 1••.
• g 1.104

  Eccles. 7. 7.
• h 1.105

  Mal. 3. 15.
• i 1.106

  Hab. 1. 14.
• k 1.107

  Neh. 5. 5.
• d 1.108

  Iob 18. 1••.
• e 1.109

  Iob 20. 4, 5.
• f 1.110

  22. 15, 16.
• g 1.111

  Exod. 22, 22, 23, 24.
• h 1.112

  Hab. 2.
• * 1.113

  Ier. 2.
• i 1.114

  O lau•• d•• rit: Gent. Septen. lib. 1, Ch••. 23.
• k 1.115

  2 Cor. 13 8.
• * 1.116

  Esa. 59. 14.
• * 1.117

  ver. 16, 17. 18.
• l 1.118

  Ier. 22 ••••.
• m 1.119

  2 Chro. 34. 3.
• n 1.120

  Ier. 22.
• * 1.121

  2 Pet. ••. 9.
• a 1.122

  See Hist. of the Councel of Trent. 2. p. 252. & p. 216. Non magis de pās∣cen••o grege cogi tant quam sutor de arando. Pastors now a dayes, the werst part of the, think no more of feeding the flock, then a Cobler do's of the plough. Cal Ins. 4. cap. 5. Sect. 1••, 13.
• b 1.123

  Ier 4. 31.
• * 1.124

  c Facile est quic∣quid in praesenti seculo nocet: illud grave, illud perni∣ciosum quod in ae∣ternitate iugula∣bit. Salv d•• Eccl. Cath. l 2. 410.
• * 1.125

  Persuade•• lingua iubet vitae, Athan. ad Monachos. The Tongue per∣swades, the life commands.
• a 1.126

  Gen. 33. 9. Gen. 6.
• b 1.127

  Gen. 33. 9, 1••▪
• * 1.128

  Mal. 3. 3. v. 4.