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yJCENTURY*/ Eminent Presbyterian Preachers.
OR, A
COLLECTION
Of C H O I C E
SAYINGS
From the Publick SERMONS Preached before the Tw o Houses.,
From November 1640, to January 31. 1648. ( The Bay after the King was Beheaded. )
Jn which the Seditious and Republican Principles of a great Part of the Celebrated Assembly of Divines are detected, their Flowers of Rhetorick difplay'd, and their Hypocrify and grofs Ignorance fully expoj'd.
To which is added,
An APPENDIX, with the fliort Charafters of feveral of thefe Preachers (who furvived the Refto- ration ) taken from DhCalamy's Abridgment of Baxter's Life.
By a Lover of Episcopacy. Z > r* r
J , _ i
"Let every Soul be fnb]e& to the higher Powers. Rom. xlil. I. Likeivife alfo thefe filthy Dreamers defile the Flejl>} dfyife Dominion,
and /peak evil of Dignities. Jude viii. Where the Word of a King is, there Is Power ; and who may fay unt*
him, What doefl thou ? Ecclef. viii. 4. My Soul, come not thou into their Secrets ; unto their Aflfembly mine
Honour be not thou united : For in their Anger they flevj a Man,
and in their Self-Will they digged down a Wall. Curfed he their Ar.ger, for it was fierce \ and their Wrath, for it was
cruel* Gen. xiix. 6, 7.
LONDON: Printed for J. Roberts, near the Oxford-Aw* \n Warwick-Lave. Mdccxxiii. (Vi'icc 1 s. 6 d.)
' 7 \\\7^.
Preachers cited in tills Book.
Simeon Ape , Member of the Affembly of Divines.
Sam. Annejley.
John Arroivfmith, M. Aff. Di- vines.
Matt. Barker.
Robert Bailis, CommilTioner for Scotland.
Sam. Boltony Matter of Chrifis- Colledge, Cambridge.
John Bandy M. Aff. Divines* *
Will. Bridge, M. Aff. Divines.
Oliver Bowles , M. Aff. Divines.
Tho. Brooks.
Cornelius Burgefs , M« Aff. Di- vines.
Antho. Burgefc M. Aff. Divines.
Jer. Burroughs, M. A if. Divines.
Rich. Byf.eld, M. Aff. Divines.
Edmond Calamy , M. All. Di- vines.
Tbpt Carter, M. Aff. Divines.
Will. Carter, M. Aff. Divines.
Tho. Cafe, M. Alf. Divines.
Jof. Caryl, M. Aff Divines.
Daniel Cawdfej , M. Aff. Di- vines.
Pra. Cheynel, M. Aff. Divines.
Tho. Coleman, M. Aff. Divines.
John Conani, M. Ail". Divines.
Grorge Cockayn.
lidzv. Corbet, M. Alf. Divines.
Will. Crado,k.
John Dfuiji M. Aff. Divine?.
John Ellis, Junior.
Dan. E/uarM*
John Bxcroft, M. Aff. Divines*
Sam. Gib/on, M. Aff. Divines.
John Gaud en.
Geo* Glllefpie, CommifSoner for Scotland.
Geo. GippSy M. Aff. Divines.
Will. Wood, M. Aff. Divines.
Tho. Goodwin, M. Aif. Divines.
Will. Gouge; M-Aff. Divines.
Stanley Gowef, M« Aff. JDivines*
John Green, M. Aff. Divines.-
Will Greenhlll, M. Aif. Divines.
Henry Rail, M. Aff. Divine*.
Nathaniel Hardy.
Humph. Hardwtck, M. Aff. Efr vines.
Rob. Harris, M. Aff. Divines.
Alexander Hendevjon, CommiiE- oner for Scotland.
Charles Herle, M. Aff. Divines,
Jafpar Hicks, M. Aff. Divines,
T/b. Hill, M. Aff. Divines.
2TU Hodges, M. Aff. Divines.
Richard Heyrick , M. Aff. Di- vines.
George Hughes.
William Hujfey.
William Jenfa/ns**
Robert Joh?ifo77, M.- Aff. Divines*
Richard Kentip.
John Langley, M* Aff. Divines*
rohn Ley I M< Aif. Divines.
John Lfghtfoot, M. Aff. Divines/
Mich, Lockyer.
Ch^iffvpher Love.
Stephen Marpalt, M. Aff t>U
vines* J^ri
JohnMaynard, M. Aff. Divines. ■
Will Mews, M. Afl". Divines.
James Nalton.
Matt, Newcomer M. Aff. Di- vines.
John Owen*
Herbert Palmer , M. All. Di- vines. ; .
'Andrew Pern, M. Aff. Divines.
Hugh Peters, M. Aff. Divines.
B*»(. Pickering, M. Aff. Di- vines. .
Wiiliam Price, M. Aff. Divines.
Nk& Prqff^, M. Aff. Divines.
E^. Reynolds, M. Aff. Divines.
UTtt J?<*y«er, M. Aff. Divines.
Francis Roberts.
Mr. Rutherford, Commif&oner for Scotland.
'Arthur Salwey, M. Aff. Divines.
Lazarus Seaman, M. Aff. Di- vines.
Obadiah Sedgwick, M. Aff. Di- vines.
William ( alias Doom/day ) Safe-
Hewry Shudder, M. Aff. Divines. P«*er Smyth, M. Aff. Divines. JTi//. Sputfiow* M. Aff. Divines.
JV///. S/*w*£, M. Aff. Diving, jf^w Strickland, M. Aff. Divines. Dr. Edw. Stanton, M. Aff. Di- vines.
Peter Sterry, M. Aff. Divines. _
Sydrach Simp/on, M. Aff. Di- vines.
Fra. Tayler, M. Aff. Divines.
fcfcr#. Tefdale, M. Aff. Divines.
Dr. Temple, M. Aff. Divines.
Tfco. Thorowgood, M. Aff. Di- vines.
S#wz. Torjhell.
Dr. ^»*fc. Tuckney, M. Aff. Di- vines.
77>o. Valentine, M. Aff Divines.
Richard Vines, M. Aff. Divines.
Geo. Walker, M. Aff. Divines.
3&3b WW, M. Aff. Divines.
Nathajiiel Ward.
Thomas Wat/on.
John White, M. Aff. Divines.
Henry Wilkinfon > M. Aff. Di- vines.
Jer. Whitaker, M. Aff. Divines,
Dr. John Wbincop, M. Aff. Di- vines.
Tho. Wilfon, M. Aff. Divines.
Fra, Woodcock^ M. Aff. Divines.
PRE-
PREFACE.
HE bright Sayings of a great Men have of late met with Jo much Encouragement, that I was tempted ( not through the Importunities of my Boolfeller, or ProfpeB of any great Advantage to my felf but purely for the Reader's Diverjion ) to make a Collection of that Kind from the publich Sermons of a Set of Men, who though their Memory will he rendred jujlly h famous tofuc* ceeding Ages, from their Writings and Actions, yet made no fmall Figure in thofe bleffed Times of Infpiration and Re~ formation in which they lived; and have been cried up as Per- fons the mofi eminent for Learning, Piety and Goodnefst- byfome of their Followers : But our Comfort is, that thofe who have fet forth their Praifes fo largely, were generally as bad as themfelves-, and of confequence , a good CharaSer fromfuch Men, juft JlavJs for nothing.
Mr. Baxter {the Oracle of the Di Mentors ) fays of the Ajfembly of Divines, b " That the "Divines congregate
a Tillotfon'j Maxims and Difcourfes. Vr* South'/ Sayinss. R&d- cMS'sVfe. J
i Baxter'/ Life written by hiwfclf. P*rt I. P. 73*
" at
i) PREFACE.
a at 7/yimhiJler , were Men of eminent Learning ,' c< Godlinefs, and Minifterial Abilities and Fidelity. " And not being worthy to be one of them himfelf, " ( he tells us ) He may the more freely fpeak the " Truth, (which he knew) even in the Face of Malice tc and Envy, that as far as he was able to judge from c£ the Information of all Hiftory of that kind, or by " any other Evidence left him, the Chriftian World, " flnce the Days of the Apoftles, had never a Synod of lc more excellent Divines, than this Synod, and the cc Synod of JDo/t." And another Author of more Lear- rang, though of not much more Credit and Reputation, has told ns, c " That no Man with any Modejly can deny, " that they were a Company of very excellent Perfons, <: both for Learning and Piety." But how far his Modefty mil he called in ghiejlion, for fo bold and ground- lefs an A'fertiov, by every impartial Reader, who will b$ at the trouble of reading over their Sayings, I will not tale upon me to deter?iih:e.
The r.oble Hijlorian gives this Character of them : * <c That of about a Hundred and Twenty, of which iC that great AiTembly did confift : Though by the Re- (< commendation of two or three Members of the <{ Houfe of Commons, (whom they would not willingly " difpleafe ) a few very reverend and worthy Men were '-' inferted 5 yet of the whole Number, there was not " above Twenty who were not dcclar'd and avow'd " Enemies to the Do&rine and Discipline of the H Church : Some of them infamous in their Lives and " Conventions, and moft of them of mean Parts in rt Learning, if not of fcandalous Ignorance 5 and of
no other Reputation than Malice to the Church of
England."
c P'/ircc'j Ytvdicathm of tie D;ffeni<r$. Part 1. P. 205. J C Ltrendoii'i ttyffory tf ils RibeiliQ?u Vol. 1. P. 414.
it
it
PREFACE. n)
The Character which my Lord Clarendon 'gives that Afembly, has indeed been called, * " A heavy Charge " upon fuch a Body of Men as they were " and though my Lord Clarendon was a great Man, yet it hath been ob- jected, " That this Cenfure will not recommend his " Hiftory to Pofterity \ who will be hard put to it, to " find Men of more exemplary Piety, and more emi- " nent Minifterial Abilities amongft their Progenitors " in anyAge,than theft whom he endeavoursatfiicharate " to expofe. Who will reprefent fuch Men, as Dr. Twifs « Mr. Gatahr, Mr. Reynolds, Sec. as Perfons of no other u Reputation, than of Malice to the Church of %tjjL a land ? The Gentleman tells 'us, He has given us *a « Lift of the AfFembly, that the World may judge of " the Hiftorian by the AfTembly, or the Affembly by a the Hiftorian, as they fee Occafion 5 and that he u caif t fee the leaft Reafon to fear the Confequences u where Perfons are not over-run with the grofleft Pre- * judice and Partiality." Kcw though I might venture to leave the IJfue of this affair upon the Character of my Lord Clarendon, and this Animadverter h yet mil venture to throw in feme additional Evidence for the Proof of my Lord Clarendon'* Ajfertion. A Right Reverend and Learned Author ( who lived in thofe Times) tells «, f " That they were moft of them Men, notomV " juftly fufpefted to be ill difpofed to the Peace of our <c Church, and too much addicted to Innovations to " alter the Government, to reject and caft awav'the u Book of Common-Prayer, to oppofe Epifcopacv and t< to dnplace the Grave and Godly Governors of God's ?! Church 3 but alfo apparently fafhion'd to the Hu- ' mours of thefe their own Difciples, (who are the on- " ly Judges of their Determinations ;) that (although
e Dr. CalamyV Abridgment, &c. Vol. I. p. 82.
' Vl ™fi^#j* Mypertes\ or the Plots and Frances of a prevalent Fafron in this pefent Parliament. By Gr. Wiffiatos JtyKp of OiTory, p. 4j, Printed if tf. } vv imam.,
« feme
iv PREFACE.
•' fome few Canonical Men, and moft Reverend,
" Learned, and Religious Bifhops, and others, for
11 Fafhion's Sake, to blind the "World, were named
" among them ^ yet when, as in a Parliament, fo in a
*c Synod, the moft defperate Fa&ion, if they prove
f* prevalent to be the major Part, will carry any thing
€c in fpite of the better Part, they fhall ftand but as
" Cyphers able to do nothing.) They might abolifh
" our old Eftablifh'd Government, erect their own
** new-invented Difcipline, and propagate their well-
" affected Doctrine in all Churches. For you may
" judge of them by their Compeers, Goodwin, Burroughs,
" Arrowfmitb, and the reft of their ignorant, factious,
u and fchifmatical Minifters, that together with thofe
lt intruding Mechanicks, (who without any Calling
€i either from God or Man, do ftep from their Botcher's
" Board, or their Horfes Stable, into the Preacher's
u Pulpit) are the Bellows which blow up this Fire,
" that threaten'd the Deftruction of our Land ^ like
" Shebcts Trumpet, to fummon the People into Rebel-
" lion-, and like the Red Dragon in the Revelation,
" which gave them all his Poifon, and made them
" eloquent to difgorge their Malice, and caft forth
*e Floocjs of Slanders after thofe that keep Loyalty to
" their Sovereign •, and belch forth their unfavoury Re-
cl proaches againft thofe that difcoverd their affected
ct Ignorance, and feditious Wickednefs in Defence cf
a Truth -, and are the Inftruments of this Faction to
*' feduce the poor People to a Defolation of the whole
" Kingdom, if not timely prevented by their Repen-
<c tance and Afliftance, to enable them whom God hath
" made our Protectors, to defend us againft fuch tran-
" fcendent "Wickednefs. And thefe are the main Ends
" /or which they fummon'd fuch a new Synod of their
*c furious and fanatick Teachers, upon whofe Temper
" and Fidelity, I believe no wife Man that knows
«' them, would lay the leaft Weight of his Soul's Feli-
" city/'
jfyfr
PREFACE. v
Nay, it is apparent from their publick Sermons, that every Branch of my Lord Clarendon's Charge againft them was true. Mo ft of which were calculated to fir up the Peo- ple to Rebellion, either by reprefenting their Caufe to be the Cattfe of God 5 or by comparing their moft Excellent Mo- %arch to the moft impious and wicked Princes of Ifrael and Judah. And by way of Encouragement to take him of, not a few of them fuggefting how Saul was punijlfd for fvf fering Agag to efcape ; and how much Ahab was condemned for letting Benhadad go, when he was hi his Fewer, And as a Confirmation of what I have faid relating to the Encou- ragement given by thefe Sermons to the People to be J editions , £ Dr. South informs us, u That he had it from the Mouth " of Axtel, {one of thofe accurfed Regicides) that he " with man/ more went into that execrable War with " fuch a controlling Horror upon their Spirits, from " thole publick Sermons, (efpecially thofe of Brooks " and Calamy) that they verily believed they fhould " have been accurfed by God for ever, if they had not <c adted their Part in that difmal Tragedy, and hearti- " ly done the Devil's "Work, being fo effectually called " and commanded to it in God's Name." And others wire fo worked up by thofe Botefeus and Incendiaries into a Perfnafxon of the Idolatry of the Church of England, h that one (in thofe Ble/fedTi?nes of Inf pi ration) murder d his own Mother for kneeling at the Sacrament -, alledgivg it was Idolatry, and that his Confcience told him, that it was his Duty to deftroy Idolaters. Nay, their DifaffeBion to the be ft of Princes was fuch, that few, I think, have the Hardi- 7iefs at this time to excufe them from being the principal Injlruments of the Kings Murder. For tin they did not direRly cut off his Head, (that wicked and dirty Work beivg ftnftedojf to a much more impious Sett-,) yet they founded the fir ft Alarm to Rebellion, and kept up that f editions Spi- rit fo long, that at the long run 'twas too late to retract it.
e South** Sermons, Vol. I. P. 513. * South'; Serm ? /, Vol. 3. P. 225.
( a ) And
4
v) PREFACE.
And how far that Fart of the Parliament which fat at Weftminfter were hiclineable to a Peace and Reconciliation with { their rnoji injured Monarch, their voting his Con- finement to "Warwick Cafile, (when he was riot in their Hands ) and their making Choice of fnch a Set of Preachers?- wight be fujfcient to convince us, had we no other Proofs of their Difaffeftion to \heir lawful Sovereign. For, notwitb* [/landing they have been called, k " A Parliament of Patri- " ots, who flood up againft Tyranny both in Church " and State : " And all their Pretences from fir ft to laft were, that they were fighting to refcue their Sovereign out of the Hands of wicked Ccunjellors, and to bring him in Ho- your to his Parliament, ( a Thing frequently fnggefted by thefe Preachers.) let, bejides what has been f aid, it u very ap- parent from what follows, how conjijlent their publick De- clarations and Aftions were with each other. For when Mr. Nathaniel Ward, one of their Preachers (in other Refpeffs incendiary enough) chanced to /peak favourably of the King, and of bringing him back to the FarliamenTy in the follow- ing Words r l " Let us lament and mourn for our royal *c Sceptre, that he is weakned and unfitted to rule $ let " us lament his perfonal Sorrows \ pity mould be
* ihewn to him that is in Affliction $ let us lament that cc he is deprived of his royal Contort and Children,
* the Supports and Delights of Nature, the fweet Ob- " jecls of human Affection >, deprived of his wonted " Honour and Attendance, his Nobility and Compeers 5 " deprived of his wonted menial Servants, and atten- " ded with military Guards, ( unwelcome and ungrate- " ful to him $ ) deprived of his wonted Liberty ;
i Vita Joh*n- Barwick. p. 40. OrleanceV Hiftory »f the Revolu- tions, &c. in England P. 93, 97, 98. A villainous Pbdmpblet, called, A Itefolve upon the Perfon of the King, or a Corre&or of the Anfwerer of the Speech out of Doors. P. 6. Printed 1646*.
k Peirce'/ Vindication of the Lijfenters. P. 185.
1 See Letter to fome Friends printed before Nathaniel Ward'j Faft Sermon before the Commons, June 30. 1 64.7. Printed without any Order of that Houfe- P. 3. •
7 Thefe
PREFACE. vij
n Theie things muft needs make him a Mail of Sor^ " rows : However his Heart is fupported, he cannot <c but look upon himfelf as a Man under God's Black- iC Rod. If God would foften our Hearts to lament him " as we ought, it is probable he would foften his Heart, " to lament his Subjects as he ought."" They did not defire him to print his Sermon, or return him thanks for the great Pains he took, according to Cujtom. A Favour that I am convinced was never refitfed before, in the Com* pafs of Seven Tears, from near two Hundred and Thirty Sermons I have in my Cujlody, which were preached before the Two Houfes, from November 1640, to February 1648.
But after all, thefe Preachers by their demure Looks f affetfed Whines, fet off with fome devotional Pojiures and Grimaces, and fuch like Arts of Dijjimulation, commenced Heroes for SanBity, Self-Denial and Sincerity -, when at the fame time they were a&ed not by Devotion, but Defign, and hwas by fuch crafty and delujive Methods that they gained upon the heedlefs and unthinking Multitude.
And might I be permitted freely to declare my Sentiments % I Jlwuld be of his Opinion, who, f peaking of their publick Fajls, Prayers and Preachments , fays, m " That the/ u were like thofe of the Pharifees, famous for Length " and Tautology ^ two whole Hours for one Prayer at " a Faft, ufed to be but a moderate Dofe • and thofe " for the moft Part [as well as their Sermons] fraught a with fuch irreverend and blafphemous Expreilionsj c< that to ipeak them, would have profaned the place " he was then fpeaking in 5 and indeed they feK <c dom carried on the Work of the Day, ( as they " called it) but they left the Church in need of a new <c Confecration. In their long Fails, from firfr, to <c laft , from fevcn in the Morning , to feveii at " Night, their Pulpit was always the emptier! thing in a the Church ; and there was never fuch a Fait kept by
■ ■WllWIUtJtt.l M i-Wi^.llii '■
So'jth'j Sermons, Vol. 4- V. 175.
( a 2 ; u them
viij PREFACE.
" them, but their Hearers had Caufe to begin a Thankf- 11 giving as foon as they had done."5 Their Confciences werefo very fqv.eami ft), that for the Generality of them, they boggled Jo far at the Legality of our Divine IForJbip, asy infead f.f a well compofed Liturgy, to fet up in its place, what they called a Tithy Directory. And fvch was the Manner, as well as the Matter of both their Frayers and Tread merits, if we conjider the Holders-forth for the moft fart with their Arms ft retched out, and in a yawning Po- jivre, n " That a Stranger, who fhou'd have heard any " of them pray or preach, might by a very pardona- " hie Error have been induced to think, that he was all " the time hearing one talk in his Sleep. Befides the *c ftrong Virtue their Prayers [and Sermons"! had to pro- u cure Sleep for others too^ fo that he who^ fhou'd have been prefent at all their Cant, would have had a greater Ability in watching, than ever they c:ou d pretend to praying [or preaching] if he could forbear fleeping, having fo ftrong a Provocation to it, and fo u fair an Excufe for it." Nay, feme of them at the laft were arrived to fvch a ft range Fitch of Impudence, or I may fay Blafphemy in that refpeB, ° that when Oliver Crom- wel lay ill of the Sicknefs of which he died, a voted Inde- pendent Divine declared, " That God himfelf reveal'd it " to him, that he fhou'd recover, and live thirty Years " longer ^ for that God had raifed him up for a Work, " that cannot be done in a lefs time. But Olivers " Death being pubiifhed two Days after, the faid Di- " vine publickly in his Prayer expostulated with God Xl the Defeat of his Prophecy in thefe Words : Lord, *' thou haft lied unto us ^ yea, Lord, thou haft lied unto vs. Their Phwers of Rhetor ick, I think, are net to be ex- ceeded ly any thing that has been elfewhcre publift)ed of that Kind, either by the ingenious Dr. Echard, the worthy Au~ thor 'f the Friendly Debate, the Scotch or Englifh Pref-
» Soiul'V Sermons, Vol. ?.. P. 175. 0 ScuthV 5er;?io?:j, Vol. I. P. 102.
bytcrian
PREFACE. ix
feyterian Eloquence : The? by the way, there are a great ma- ?iy Inflances that border not a little upon Blafphemy $ and others fo idle and filly, as to convince any one that reads them, that what Dr. South faid of that Reforming Age was true : p " That all Learning was then cried down 5 " fo that with them, the beft Preachers were fuch as *' could not read, and the ableft Divines fuch as could " not write. In all their Preachments they fo highly " pretended to the Spirit, that fome of them could " hardly fpell a Letter. To be blind with them was a " proper Qualification of a Spiritual Guide 5 and to be " Book-learn d (as they calPd it ) and to be irreligiouss " were almoft Terms convertible. None were thought " fit for the Miniftry but Tradefmen and Mechanicks, " becaufe none elfe were allow'd to have the Spirit: " Thofe only were accounted like St. Paid, who could " work with their Hands, and in a literal Senfe drive " the Nail home, and be able to make a Pulpit before " they preach'd in it.
■But after all, it may probably be asked, Why this Col- lection was made at this Time £ Tho3 this fjwrt Anfwer might ferve fome, Becaufe it was made no fooner : Tet t declare, that 'twas not done with the leaf} Intention of Re- flexion upon their Succejfors : Sume of which (bating their Separation) are very Learned and Valuable Men. But be- caufe by fume <i Authors of late tkefe Preachers have been cried up, as Men of Learning and Piety j and the Genera- lily of them have been canonized as much for Saints as any in the PopiJI) Legend. But how far the Char after of Goodnefs, . Holinefs, or Ingenuity did really belong to thefe Men \ or how far they are jujli fable, I will leave it to the unbyajfed Reader, from the fever al In fiances here collecled, to form a Judgment. And fo long as fome Men take upon them to jn- Jiify thefe Preachers, it is neither nvchriftian, nor a Breach of good Manners, for others to undeceive the World, byfet-
2^-r ■**-■ mm. -~*—
f South'/ Sermons, Vol. 5. P. 500.
* CaUmy'i Abridgement c/Baxtex'j Life, Vol. 2.
iirg
Mt PREFACE.
ting ibeir Characters in ajttjl Light. ] &> Roger TEftrafige.. 2?<w iw^d ^'ww w* tf Collection of Diffenters Sayivgs in Two Tarts. But thefe are principally colletfed from the Writings of the old Difciplinarians, Scoth or Englifh Republicans \ and not above Ten or Fifteen of the Sermons before the Two Honfes ( out of the Number of 2 30 ) are cited by him 5 and but very few Pa jj ages coll etfed from thofe. And tho° I have here and there inferted a Pajjage which he has likewife quote d7 yet I have generally done it, where the Senfe of the remain- ing Part of the Paragraph tnuft have otherwife been mangled or curtaiVd. And whatever I have inferted that is lihewifs in his Colleflion, I have put within Hooks, that the Reader may readily fee how little of this Kind has been colleBed frcm thefe publick Sermons before. A Work that I believe will as foon let the Reader into the Iniquity of thofe T'nnes, as any Thing that Hijhry can afford. And tho* Gingles, Rhimes, and Similes, were then only too much inVognewith the Wri- ters and Preachers of all Sides ♦, yet fucb far-fetch1 d and cbildiJI) ones, without either Senfe or Signification, cant be produced from the Works of any other Body of Men : So that the Prejbyterians muft be allowed to have born away the Bell in this Refpetl from all the Setts that were then in being. But as their Followers are much more polite ; and have gone off, in a great Meafure, from the Cant of thofe Times, and fame of them have approved themf elves Men of Learning ; and have exerted themfelves in the common Caufe of Cbri/ti- anity, and gaind no J mall Reputation in that Refpeci : They way jv fly be entitled to our Ejieem , fo long as they dont prove Eccentrical, and pretend to hoi ft their Toleration into an EJiablifimerit. And whevfoever they relinqvifo the wick- ed Principles of their Forefathers 5 and inftead of crying npy condemn their Writings and A&ons, and pay that Refpeft to the EJlabli/Ifd Church which they ought to do -, I dare fay the Members of the Ej'abli firmer. t will be far frcm imputing the Crimes of their Predeceffors to them, or grtidging them that Toleration and Indulgerce, which has been legally granted to all whofe Confciences are really J crupulous.
CON*
CONTENTS.
P
REFACE.
Chap. I. T7;e Behaviour of thefe Preachers towards the Civil Government $ their f editions Fajfages, and Encou- ragement of the King's Murder. Page I
Chap. 2. The Rebellion jujiifed from Succefs. 2 2
Chap. 3. A Reformation by Blood encouraged. 35
Chap. 4. Againjl the Church of England, her Clergy and Liturgy. 48
Chap. S. Againjl Toleration. 66
Chap. 6. A Vindication of the Covenant. 69
Chap. 7. Their Flowers of Rhetorick by way of Allegory, Metaphor, and Similitude, Sec. 73
A C E N-
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A
CET
O F
Presbyterian Preachers,
m^WQWsmammassm' ^Tas^soasfaasesffis^^^ zs
CHAP. I.
The Behaviour ofthefe Preachers towards the Civil Government ; their Seditions Pal] ages , and En- couragement of the Kings Murder.
HE People are now as then, \y\%\ un- der the jepifi) Theocracy,] We will have a King ; Ke hearkens to the Peo- ple 5 fets the King upon his Throne : They fhout out, Vivat. Surely they are now happy. Pie reigns One Year well ♦, Two Years indifferent. What then ? You fee the Scripture veils ; I wave it. What he did in the Bii/jnefs
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of % Amaleh, Gibeon, David, Abimehcb $ what Wars, Famine, Cruelty Ifrael lay under, I would rather you fhcu d read, than I fpeak. God give the King a Spirit of Grace and Government.
Samuel Annefley's Fajl Sermon before the Commons, ' July 26. 1648. P. 13.
Woe unto thee, 0 Land, when thy King is a Child, is ra- ther meant of a Child in Manners , than in Years. Ibid. p. 24.
In the full Vindication of our Liberty from Op- prefllon and Tyranny, this Kingdom, as well as other Nations about us, have a long Time groan'd for it ; but it hath been curbed and ftifled by Prerogative and Arbitrary Power. It hath been coming to the Birth in former Parliaments, but had not the Strength to bring forth. Oh ! be you the Midwives to fhew it the Light, and bring it forth in its full Proportion.
Matthew Barker's Fafr Sermon before the Commons, October 25; 1648. P. 33.
In the Execution of Juftice, fear not the Power or Greatnefs of any. The Counlel that Jehofiaphat gives to the Judges, I fhall give to you •, Take heed what you do ; for ye judge not for Man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the Judgment. Does innocent Blood cry, and will you not hear what it fpeaks, what it demands, whom it accufeth > Blood cannot be buried in a Grave of Oblivion : for the Earth will difclofe its Blood, and no longer cover its Slain. Ibid. p. 37.
The King mud not only command according to God's Laws, but Man's Laws: idly, If he don't fo command, the Refiftance is not a Refiftance of Power but Will : %ily, To fay that fuch Refiftance muft only be defeniive, is Konfenfe -, for fo a Man may ever be refitting, and never refill. Like the filly Women of whom the Apoftle fays, They are ever learning, and never attain the Truth.
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William Bridget Fajl Sermon before the Commons* February 22. 1644. • Preface.
Right Honourable, Confider this $ Thofe Perfons who have negle&ed the Execution of Juftice upon their moft implacable Enemies, when God has given them into their Hands , thofe God has left to perifh bafely and miferably. See it in Ahab 5 God gives Eenhadad into AhaFs Hands : Becaufe thou haft let a Man go that I had appointed unto Deftru&ion •, there- fore thy Life fhall be for his Life. So concerning SauVs fparing Agag: And he wou&fiift off the Command 5 therefore God fhifted him out of his Kingdom , when he neglected to do Juftice to an implacable Enemy, when God had given him into his Hands.
Thomas Brook's Fajl Sermon before the Commons, December 26. 1648. P. 18.
p In the Story of Afash putting to death his Mother Maacha , it is faid , that he removed her from being Queen, becaufe fhe had made an Idol in a Grove : He broke down her Idol 5 and alfo Maacha his Mother, even her he removed from being Queen ^ altho' a Mother, altho3 a Queen, yet even her he deprived of the Dig- nity. This he did, and this he muft do by Virtue of the fpecial Command of God himfelf ^ even in what Relation foever fhe had ftood unto him. So in Dent. 13. 6. the "Law was. For tho' fhe had been nearer than a Mother, even the Wife of his Bofom •, yet if fhe were an Jdolater, and fhould entice him fecretly, faying, Let us go and fervz other Gods, fhe muft have been put to death ♦, and his Hand muft firft have been upon her.
Cornelius Burgefs's Fajl Sermon before the Commons, November 17, 1640. P. 7.
The many Confpiracies that have been detected, the many Popifh Defigns that have been defeated, the ma- ny Snares that have been broken, the many Mountains that have beer} levelled, the mighty Nimrods that have
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been plucked down, the unfupportable Yokes of which our Necks have been freed, thofe Whips of Scorpions, the Back-breaking, Heart-finking Courts which are now difiblvcd} thofe Rights and Liberties which had .been led away captive, paft Hopes of Refcue, are now re- frored : That noble Vow and Covenant for Confervati-
fiowM in upon this unthankful Nation.
Cornelius Burgefs'j Sermon before the Commons , . No- vember 5. .1641. P. 54.
Let me tell you, You are in a great Meafure en- gaged to fiich, fo as in Juftice it may be required they ftioiul be countenanced, and receive Comforts from you t for the much Good we have now in Deliverance from Slavery and Innovations in Religion, God has made them inftrumental in. If 1:0112 had been willing to have ventured themfelves, to have fufrered in denying illegal Taxations, and fuperftirious Innovations, what woifd have become of us <? And who were they that principally fuftered in vindicating the Liberties of the Subject, but fiich as did it out of Conference 5 fuch as were Mourners in Sion for the Evils that hung over us ?
Jeremiah Burroughs'* Fajt Sermon before the Commons, September 17. 1641. P. 19.
There were Corruptions both in Church and State \ Idols were fetup in Lan and Bethel : Dan fignifies Places of Judgment 5 there were Idols : And Bethel fignifies the Houfe of God-5 and there were Idols alfo. Ibid,
But now mark the Doclrine 5 when God begins to buiSd and plant, if that Nation do evil, God will un- build what he lias built, pluck up what he has planted • and will repent of the Good, &c. For you muft know, that God repents as well of his Mercies, as of his Judg- ment?. When God made Saul King, and he proved {tub- bom
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born and difobedicnt, he repented that he had made him King.
Calamy before the Commons , December 22.1641.
P. 34.
If there be found any amongft you, that drive on the Defigns of Oxford, and are prefent at iVeJlmivfter only to betray their Country, the Lord unmaik fuch, and the Lord give them repenting Hearts. This is to build up Houfes with the Blood of Tliree Kingdoms 5 this is to fell your Souls for Preferment : And it is juft with God, that fuch not only lofe their Souls, but lofe their very Preferments alfo 3 as Judas that fold his Mailer, hung himfelf.
Calamy before tie Commons, October 22. 1644. P. 2J,
Let me make bold to remind ycu, That in this Co- venant you have vow'd to aifift the Forces railed by the Parliament, according to your Power and Vocation $ and not to ailift the Forces railed by the King, neither directly nor indirectly.
Calamy'* Thankfgivivg Sermon before the Lords, June 15. 1643. P. 45.
Is it not a fad Thing to fee the Head rent from the Members 5 and that that Head which fliou'd be the Pre- ferver of the Body, is, by ill Counfel, a Deftroyer of its Body ? That that Head which mould be like a Head of Gold, is now (through ill Counfel) made a Head of of Iron to crufh his own Body in Pieces.
Calamy "5 Fajt Sermon before the Lords on Chriftmas Bay, 1644. P. 12.
Such as are falfe-hearted, and have made their Peace at Oxford, build their Houfes upon the Blood of Three Kingdoms. Thefe are the Judas's of Er gland \ and 'twere juft with God to give them their Portion with Judas. Ibid. p. 18.
• Let me forewarn you, not to truft too much to Trea- ties and Overtures of Peace 3 for it is very fatal, that
in
6 A Centvry of
In the midft of our Treaties there have been always Plots to deftroy us, as we fee verified at this Day. Ibid.
p. 22.
Shall the trijb Rebels, the Oxford Lords and Gentle- men, the Englijh Papifts, and the Englijh Bifhops ; the Proteftants at large, and feduced People, all agree to- gether, (like Samfons Foxes, with Firebrands in their Tails ) to burn Three Kingdoms •, and fhall not we a- gree together to fave Three Kingdoms ? Ibid. p. 27.
What a fad Thine; is it, my Brethren , to fee our King at the Head of an Army of Babylonians, refilling to be called King of England, Scotland and Jreland -, chu- fing rather to be called King of Babylon.
Cafe's Tbankfgiving Sermon before the Commons, Au- guft 22. 1645. P. 18.
The Pfalmijl takes notice what God doth in breaking the Power of mighty Princes , turned OpprefTors and Tyrants, in making them contemptible •, and GwVlike Vagabonds to wander up and down in defart and hun- gry Places.
Cafe s Thanlf giving Sermon, February 19. 1645:. P. 2.
Sirs, "We pray for the King's Converfion. Ibid. p. 26.
It were a fad Thing, that the ftrong Holds of the Kingdom fhould be taken for God, and kept^for the De- vil. Ibid. p. 31.
Here you fee was Pharaoh and all his malignant Courtiers and Subjects oppoling and obftru&ing E?igland's Deliverance: Yea, when they had got loofe, arming all the Militia of Egypt, and putting them in Array to reduce Ifrael again into their old Servitude and Bon- dage. And I wifh he had been the laft Pharaoh, who was drowned in the Red-Sea. There arofe up after him new Pharaohs in every Age of the Church, that knew not the Lord.
Cafe's Fajl Sermon before the Peers, March 27. 1^46. P. 8. Called, The Set-Backs of Reformation,
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You fhall find that the want of due Execution upon Delinquents, has obftructed if not dafhed hopeful Begin- nings in the Churches Deliverance. Saul fpares Agagy and 'twas a prefent flop in the Work ^ and had like to have been the after Ruin of the whole Seed of the Jews : And how Ahab fped for fparing Bevhadad, Story will tell you. Ibid. p. 21.
* If a King of the Proteftant ProfefTion fhou'd give his Strength and Power to a Queen a Papift, and^ fhe give it to the Jefuits, to the Beaft, it is neither Rebel- lion nor Treafon to fight for the King, to recover his Power out of the Hands of the Beaft.
Cheynel'5 Fafi Sermon before the Commons , May 31. 1643. P. 10.
Wilt thou have Jefus Chrift for thy Antiquity, for thy Nobility, for thy Husband, thy King, Prophet, thy Prieft, thy Saviour, thy all? Jefus Chrift will bind Kings in Chains, and Nobles in Fetters of Iron, he will pour Contempt upon Princes, if they contemn him.
Fra. CheyneFs Fafi Sermon before the Lords, March 26. 1645. P. 53.
Mind what Religion is practifed in the King's 'Army. With him are the golden Calves, which he made for Gods. Can he pretend to frand or fight the Battels of the Lord, that hath in his Army Superftition and For- mality for his Religion -, Man's Invention , Idolatry- Worfhip, and Mafles for his Devotion ? I do from my Soul wim that every particular Perfon within this King- dom, would impartially and without Refpecl to one Side or other, mind thefe Things y to wit, Which Ar- my confifts of, and mufters, and retains Athcifts, Infi- dels, Papifts, and the like : Which Side has Popilh Mafles, Superftitious Worfhips, cold Forms in the Wor- fhip of God : Which Side isftored with Fopifh Priefls^ doth harbour all our drunken debauch'd Clergy -, our Idle, Non-preaching, dumj} Mioiftrv -9 our Ambitious,
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Tyrannical Prelacy, and the Sink and Dregs of the Times, the Receptacles of the Filth of the recent and former Ages.
Tho. Coleman' j Fafi Sermons before the Commons, Au- guft ;c. 1643. Pref. {
The Un found are quickly {educed, and Men of weak Underftandings much puzzled with the fpecious Name of a King 5 and ftrange Mifapplications of Scripture, as if they had been particularly written for England. Ibid. p. 43.
Benladafs Life was once in^a^'s.Hand, and he ven- tured God's Difpleafure to let him go : But fee how Ben- hadad rewards him : Fight neither agaivfi Great vor SmaUy but againft the King of Ifrael Honourable and Worthy, if God don't lead you to do Juftice upon thofe that have been the great Actors in fhedding of Innocent Blood, never think of gaining their Love , by {paring them. For they will, when Opportunity offers, return again upon you : But then they will not fight againft the Poor and Mean, but againft thofe that have been the Foun- tain of that Authority and Power, which had been im- proved againft them.
George Cockayn's Fafl Sermon before the Commons, November 2£. 1648. P. 26.
If in Church Matters Ahab will have fuch an Altar as at Damafcits, he fhall have an High-Prieft that will do according to all that the King commands him.
John Fllis , Jim. Faft Sermon before the Commons ? February 22. 1642. P. 25.
Obferve, That a State invaded in a hoftile Manner, to the Overthrow of their Liberties, contrary to Cove- nant and Agreements, by thofe that (hould protect them, may defend themfelves in the fame Way, raife up Of- ficers, and draw others into their Society for that Pur- pofe. Ibid. ^61.
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It's better to live under a Nero than under a Nerva ; where nothing is lawful, ( for a cruel Tyrant feeks only his own Advantage in any Man's Wreck,) than where all Things are Lawful. Many Ruffians abuiing the Sloth of a carelefs Prince, who will be fure to do no- thing well, becaufe they may do whatfoever they will.
John Foxcrofts Fafl Sermon before the Commons, De- cember 31. 1645;. P. 4.
One Thing I may not forget, and that is, That the Lord may punifh Blood with Blood 5 the Blood cf the Opprefled, the Blood of the Perfecuted, the Blood of thofe that have died in Prifon, or in ftrange Countries, dying for Righreoufnefs fake. There was not fo much as one Drop of Blood fpilt upon the Pillory, for the Teftimony of the Truth, but it crieth to Heaven. So precious is the Blood of Saints 1
George Gillefpie's Fafl Sermon before the Commons, March 27. 1644. P- *9-
The Prince that wanteth Underftanding is alfo a great OpprefTor. Rulers have a Power to enact- Laws to be other Men's Rules : And if they fet up Iniquity by Law, how will this haften the Deftruction of them that obey>
Good's Fafl Sermon before the Commons, March 26.
1643. P. 11.
Confider how many ftupendous Works God hath made you Inftruments to bring about ? How many mighty Nimrods have you cut down? How many Yokes of Tyranny have you broken ? How many dying Saints have you revived ? You have fprung a Well under Ba- bylon, unfettled the Throne of the Bead:.
Henry Hall's Fafl Sermon before the Commons, May 29.
1 644. Called, Heaven ravilhed, Epifl. Ded.
F Do Juftice to the Greatefr. Spiffs Sons are not fpa- red^ no, nor Agag, nor Benhadad , tho' themfelves
C Kings.
lO A C E N T U R Y of
Kings. Zimri and Cojt'i tho' Princes of the People, muft be purfued into their Tents. This is the way to confecrate your fe! ves to God ."]
Kerle before the Commons , Nov. I?. 1644.
Ch ! that there were not too juft a Caufe of remo-. ving the Bounds from Jndah to England. Shall we re- flect upon former Times ? Might we not then have be- holden the Commonwealth, the Bound of legal Rule, too much changed into Arbitrary Government ?
Nathaniel Hardy's Faji Sermon before the Feers, Fe- bruary 24. 1644. P- J3>
Farther, They make a Covenant, and oblige all up- on Pain of Death, Man, Woman, and Child, to take the Covenant ; yet after all, the Work flicks, and goes not on, till Maacha, the King's Mother, be put down from being Queen 5 becaufe ifie had made an Idol in a Grove.
Humphry Hardwick's Faji Sermon before the Commons, June z6. 1644.
Hence all the bloody Cains , tht fcoffing Iftmaels, the profane Efau\ the Politick Achitophels, the railing Rab~ fliakebs, the World of ungodly Perfcns, became Enemies and Oppofers. The Kings of the Earth ftand wp, and the Riders take Counfel together *, Gebal and Ammon, and A- maleh, Sec. complot and confpire to root out Ifrael. lb, p. 10.
Neither let your Eyes fpare, tho' they are great ones that are guilty. Princes have not any Licenfe to of- fend : Queens themfelves have no Gb ft ante for Sin. 'Tis the Mifery of Greatnefs, the Offenfe is as great as the Offender ^ the Sin as fovereign as the Perfon. Great Perfons do not fo much commit Sin as teach it : Their Difobedience is ever Mafcuiine, and begets Followers. The higheft Court may reach the higheft Perfon. Cau- fes and not Perfons are to be heard in your Parliament
Richard Heyrick's Faji Sermon before the Commons, May 27. 1646. P. 84. *
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A hard-hearted Pharaoh , a wicked Herod may have fome Fits of Goodnefs, fome liefhly Purpofes and Pro- mi (es for God, and yet the Bent of the Heart be enga* ged in evil Ways.
Tho. Hills Faft Sermon before the Two Honfes, Auguft 13. 1644. P. 21.
Happy the Land vvhofe Kings are ennobled by God, and Princes made gracioas and taught by him, even td the Ufe of Meats and Drinks. But woe to the State, where the King is a Child, aFool fhall reign, an Ene- my to the Lord ^ and Princes luftful and gluttonous, drunken and lafcivious •, fuch as muft have a Break- faft every Morning in Sin, lliall fteer by their Coun- fels. Chrifl: is no Lawgiver there. This is woful : The People muft mourn where the People bear rule.
George Hughes's Faft Sermon before the Commons, May 26. 1647. P. 29. Called, The YVo-Joy Trumpet.
My Text doth charge the King to come to his Parlia- ment, and with them to fubmit to the Yoke of Chrifl: ; he mail thereby obtain the Privilege of fuch Kings, as are Kings in the Church of Chrifl.
William Huffey's Fuji Sermon before the Peers, May 26. 1647. P. 32.
I befeech yon, be impartial in doing Juftice 5 and let not the great Flies break through the YYreb , whilft the little ones are entangled : To fpare the great Birds, and deftroy the fmall ( not fo hurtful ) is no good Juftice. There are many wonder there are no more Delin- quents called to the Bar. Take heed you? fpare not Brother Benhadad, left you, and the Kingdom fare, the worfe for it $ as the Prophet told Ahab, 1 Kings 20.42, Becaufe thou haft let go a Man whom I had appointed to Be- Jlruftion ^ thy Life f jail go for his Life, and thy People for his People. I befeech you think of this, and be impar- tial.
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Richard KentinYs Fafi Sermon before the Commons^ November 24. 1647. P. 32-
" What Juncto's of Hell have been found out ? What Plots difcovered ? What Cabinets of Letters deteBed f What Aftors defcrib'd ? What Hearts anatomized ? Popery, Prerogative , Proteftations, Plotters, Prelates, all come to Light, and found defperate and devilifh.^ All done by the great Bufmefs of the Devil : God over- powering him, and making him prove a Tell-tale of his own Counfels 5 and as it. were, a falfe Brother to his own Hell and Fraternity.
Lightfoot'5 Fafi Sermon before the Commons, Auguft 26. 1645. P. 11.
" Thofe mine Enemies that would not that I mould reign over them, bring hither, and flay them before me : Let me fee them executed •, Kings, Rulers, People, who confpire againft the Lord, and his Anointed. J
Maynard before the Commons , O&ober 28. 1646. P. 2%
The Judges and Rulers, who fhould have been our Help, had many of them their Hands in the Means of our Deftru&ion. We were tantum non fwallowed up in Confufion : And when the Foundations were thus diflbl- ved, what could the Righteous do? Only with Jehefija- fhat mourn before God.
Stephen Marfhal'j Thanlifpving Sermon before the Com- wions, September 7. 1641. P. 17.
This Year have we feen broken the Yokes which lay upon our Eftates, Liberties, Religion and Confcience : The intolerable Yokes of St ar -Chamber , and terrible High-Commiilion Court, infufferable PrefTures to many Thoufands* all eafed removed, broken, and fwept away. Ibid. 45.
A Child, a poor Child that hath Wifdom, will have more Love and Honour than a King, tho5 an old Man,
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and a great Prince , if he be doating and Foolifh, and will not receive Counfel, and learn Wifdom to difcharge his Duty. Tis "Wifdom that will win Hearts : And one Dram of this Wifdom and Grace, is worth a whole Pound of Greatnefs.
Marfhall^ Faft Sermon before the Commons, December 30. 1646. P. 44.
Ex profejfo. There has been Treafon againft the Parliament. The Plots in England have exceeded the Powder-Treafon : Thofe Traitors laid their Trains in the Bowels of the Earth -, thefe have laid theirs in the Bowels of their Sovereign. Their Pretences have fo far prevailed with him, that he confides more in a Po- pilh Party than a Proteftant Parliament.
Newcomen'5 Faji Sermon before the Commons, Nov. 1 ?. 1642. P. 34.
The Searcher of Hearts knows how the Hearts of all his loyal Proteftant Subjects bleed within them, for the Soul of our Sovereign $ to fee his Confidence withdrawn from them, and leaning upon a Company of bloody Wretches, whom no Proteftant Prince but himfelf durft truft. Ibid. p. 3 J.
The curfed Fa&ion knowing that upon Union betwixt Prince and Parliament, follows their deferved Ruin , have counfelled, yea compelled his Majefty to that , which, if any Thing, might make the Breach incura- ble. Ibid. j?. 38,
What but this mould prevail with our Sovereign to abandon this Church into the Hands of Faction > Un- doubtedly it ftands not with Reafbn , that a Proteftant Prince mould knowingly and wittingly give way toefta- blifh Popery, and therein, ipfo fafto, diveft himfelf of his Supremacy 5 and lay his Head at the Pope's Feet, to kick off the Crown from his Royal Brow, with a Spurn of his difdainful Foot at Pleafure.
Newcome^; before the Commons, November 5. 1642. P. 30, .
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As the flaming Sword turns every Way •, fo God can turn it into every Thing. To thofe that cry, Give me a King, God can give him in his Anger •, and from thofe that cry, Take him away, he can take him away in his "Wrath.
John Owen's Faft Sermon before the Commons y January 3 1. 1648. P. 3. [The Day after the King was Beheaded."]
When Kings turn Seducers, they feldom want good Store of Followers. Now if the Blind lead the Blind, they mall both fall into a Ditch. [ When Kings com- mand unrighteous Things, and People fuit them with willing Compliance •, none doubts but the Deftruction of them Both is Juft and Righteous/] Ibid. p. ?.
Give me the Number of Witnefles of Jefus, whofe Souls under the Altar cry for Revenge againft their falfe Worshipping Murderers •, and the Tale of them, whofe Lives have been facrificed to the infatiable Ambition and Tyranny of Blood-thirfty Potentates, with the If- fues of God's juft Vengeance upon the Sons of Men, for complaining of thefe two Things • and you will have gathered in the whole Harveft of Blood, leaving but a few ftraggling Gleanings upon other Occafions. And if thefe Things have been found in England, and the prefent Adminiftration with fincere Humiliation do run crofs to unravel this clofe-wove Web of Deftruclion, all Thoughts of Recovery will be quickly too late. And thus far Sin and Providence drive a Parallel. Ibid. p. 7.
There is an Array raifed by Papifts Counfels, Ene- mies to the true Religion, and confequently to the State and Laws-, made up for the moftPart of Men of defperate Spirits , Enemies to Parliaments and Laws , becaufe themfelves are Delinquents, and refolved to be Liber- tines • and Men of defperate Fortunes , and therefore Enemies to the Propriety and true Liberty of the Sub- jects, without the Violation of which they cannot fub- fift in their broken Condition. Thefe Enemies pofTef- fing the Perfon of our King , abufing his Mind by their wicked Suggeftions and Counfels, ufe his Name to coun- tenance
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tenance all their lawlefs Outrages, and to call all Man- ner of Reproaches upon the Parliament.
Palmer's Tall Sermon before the Commons, June 28. 1643. P. II.
If all the Lords of England and Commons mould again ride down to York, or elfewhere, and remain up- on their bended bare Knees a whole Day, they mould not be able to put by fome Defigns. Pilate's Wife did her Duty, but could not prevent the Mifchief. Gama- liel's Counfel was good, and yet the Apoftles were brought to the Whipping- Poft. He needs mujft go, the Devil drives.
Hugh Peter's Thank] t giving Sermon before the Two Hon- fes, April 2. 1645. P. 13.
The Enemies fee and know that the Lord is with his Parliament, and with his Armies •, yet they go on, the Devil drives them, and thrufts them on, as the TurkiJIi Horfemen do their Foot, to their inevitable Ruin.
Benjamin Pickering's Faft Sermon before the Commons^ November 27. 1644. **• 22« Called, A Firebrand pluckt out of the Burning.
If the Kingdom be divided, that is nothing but Re- hoboam's Folly, and ill Counfel of ill-ad vifed Courtiers. If Ifrael make War upon Judab, and Judah upon Ifrael, that is only Policy to keep down one another. If there be a Civil War, that is through the Faction of potent Statefmen. If a Foreigner invades them, it is nothing but the Pride of Ambitious Tyrants, that feek after Greatnefs in the Ruin of other Kingdoms.
Nicholas Proffet's Sermon before the Commons , Septem- ber 25. 1644. P. 9.
The Man who felleth his Religion for his private Ends, will fell his Country, his Parliament, his Laws and Liberties of his Kingdom. Will he put the Law of God, and the Crown and Sceptre of that Princely
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Lord Jefus to the Market ^ and will he flick for his Court and Honour to fell the Laws of England ? And will he not forfeit you all, and your Parliament and Liberties ?
Rutherford's Fajl Sermon before the Commons, January 31. 164?. P. 6.
What Fools are we, to place our Hopes in a King that (hall die ? Surely they call their Anchor on an ill Ground, who truft in the Creature. Thou putteft thy Heaven betwixt the Brows of a King, and in the Light of his Countenance : He is a Man, and may change ^ and tho3 his Favour were conftant, yet his Eye-brows fhall be broken with one Breath : He mall breathe out his own Soul, and thy Heaven. Ibid. p. 53.
It has been the Sin of this Land, that when Epifco- pacy, Antichriftian Ceremonies, Superftitionand Will- worfhip were enjoined by Law, to pleafure an earthly King •, you followed after the Command againft the Direction of the King of Kings. " And hath not the Lord delivered the People of the Land into the Hand of their King ? And for this , the Sword of the Lord hath gone through the Land. Ibid. p. 59.
Courtiers and Cavaliers, Prelates and Atheifts, who profefs they are of the King's Religion , and will dif- pofe of their Souls at the King's Pleafure to kill the In- nocent. They make their Souls Baftards and unlawful Broods -, and they make the King the Creator of their Souls, and the abfolute Lord of their Religion. Oh, Fool ! the King did not make thy Soul, there is another Soul-Lord than the King. Ibid. p. 61.
The Lord will not always be bearded and out-braved by Man, but will even ftrike through Kings in the Day of his Wrath.
Reyner'j Fafi Sermon before the Commons , Auguft 28.
1644. P. 27.
The Earthquake fhall fiiake down all thefe Evils, and their Supporters : The Beaft, his Hierarchy, his Horns, the Kings of the Earth, that fhall defend him
to
Presbyterian Preachers. \j
to the laft. And as the Lord did not deftroy only the Heathen Empire, guilty of fo much Cruelty and Idola- try, and would not fo much as let the very Form of Go- vernment fland 5 fb it is probable, if not more, that all thefe Dignities that have fo defperately oppofed the Sceptre of Chrift, fhall be taken away. Ibid. p. 5 ?.
Agag comes forth delicately and confidently too * furely, faith he, the Bitternefs of Death is palled s and prelently he is heweci in Pieces by the People in Gih
Obadiah Sedgwick's Faft Sermon before the Commons, Odober 2. 1644. P. 13.
We mud remember, there may be Changes of the Right Hand of the moft High ; he may repent of thofe Mercies, as he did when he made Saul King.
William Strong's Sermon before the Commons, November ?. 1646. Epift. Bed.
The meaner! Subject of England has as truly an In* tereft in the common Juftice of the Kingdom, tho' he fue for it in Forma Pauperis, Do Juftice therefore fpee- diljr. Ibid. p. 26.
Execute Judgment : If the Lord fee the Want of Judgment amongft us, 'twill difpleafe him. By this Phinehas turned away Wrath from Jfrael. And who knows what you may do for England, if you be not wanting in this. " The Execution of Judgment is the Lord's Work, and they (hall be curfed that do it neg« ligently *, and curfed fhall they be, who keep the Sword from Blood in this Caufe. ] You know the Story of God's Meflage by the Prophet to Abab, for letting go Benhadad : Becaufe then haft let go a Man, whom I had ap- pointed to Deftruflion -0 therefore thy Life ft: all go for bis Life, and thy People for his People.
Strickland if/bre theLordsy November 5. 1644. P, 26*
i8 Kenturyo[
Execute Judgment impartially. To hang a poor Soldier for running from his Colours, may have a piece of Juftice in it : But it was SauVs fparing of Agag that rent his Kingdom from him.
Dr. Stanton'* FaJiSermor before" the Lords, O&ober 30. 1644. called, L'binehass Zeal in Execution of Judge- ment. P. 22.
[Phyficians, by way of Revulfion, Hop Bleeding by Letting of Blood. And did England bleed enough in the Malignant Vein, we have Caufe to think that other fad IfTues of Blood wou d be "Hopped and ftanched. Ibid. p. 26.
Reformation is liable to inhuman Treacheries : Vha» raoh's Dealing was very treacherous «, he bad the People go, gave them Liberty by Proclamation •, when he had got them at Advantage, he brought up an Army to cut them off The reforming Church will meet with fuch Kind of Enemies.
Sidrach Simpfon'j Fajl Sermon before the Commons, July 26. 1643. P. 7-
Who gave this Power to our Kings, to raife an Army againft the Parliament, to keep Malefactors from de- fended Punilhment ; to arm Papifts againft Proteftants $ to bring the barbarous Irifi into this Kingdom, to cut our Throats ? Is this Power of God, or from Men ? If not, we may juftly refill: it, and defend our felves, and our lawful Privileges.
Fra. Tayler'j Fajl Sermon before the Commons, October 2?. 1645. P. 19.
Balaam may engrofs the Promotions of Moab fas the temporizing Clergy of late, the Dignities of our Church) but on faucy Terms. They muft come then and curfe England as it were with Bell, Book and Candle. Mi- cqiah may have the Court Favours, but he muft frame his Mouth in the flattering Vein, aud comply with the falfe Prophets, in carrying the King with lying Viflons
to
Presbyterian Preachers. 19
to his DeftruSion. Elijah hirnfelf need not defpair of being Chaplain in ordinary to Queen Jezabel, could he but bate of his fiery Zeal, and take the Priefts of Baal for his Comrades.
Tefdale'i Fafi Sermon before the Commons, Auguft 28.^ 1644. P. 8.
That fo manyjudas's mould be found amongftChrifVs Difciples, fo many falfe Sinners amongft them that pro- fefs his Name 5 fo long as there mall be a Devil in Hell, and a Pope at Rome 3 nay, fo much Room for a Pope, we fhall never want Achitophels and Rawflacs, either Heads to plot , or Hands to act mod bloody De- signs againft the Church and Commonwealth. Ibid. jp. 13.
We mud be happy in fuch Treaties as might not prove a Trojan-Horfe unto us 5 which might heal us to the Bottom, and not fkin us over.
Richard Vine's Fafi Sermon before the Commons, No* vember 50. 1642. P. 24.
/
After God had rejected Saul for his Difobedience from being King over Ifrael, and had declared his Purpofe unto him, by Samuel -, an evil Spirit of Fury, Jealoufy and Tyranny came upon him.
Walker's Fafi Sermon be fore the Gammons, January 29, 1644. P. 10.
It hath been the ancient Privilege of the great Council of this Kingdom, the High-Court of Parliament (where- of you are Members,) to call to account all unjuft Judges, corrupt Officers, and the wicked Counfellors of your Kings •, to depofe them from their Offices, {trip them of their Power, to diffolve their Courts •, and for treache- rous Counfels and Attempts againft the Laws, Liberties and Religion , fometimes to cut them ofF by the Sword of Juftice. Ibid. p. 17.
If Princes would acknowledge the Commonwealth to be their Msther, there would be fome Hopes they
D 2 would
0,0 A Ce n T V R y of
would better obierveSc/o?/zo7f5s Advice, or rather God's 4 which is not to forfake the Laws cS their Mother to rule pro Arbhrio, nor prove a Heavinefs to 'their Mother, a Shame to their Mother, nor defpife their Mother, nor chafe away their Mother, nor finite their Mother, nor curfe their Mother. It is Chnltianity to wait with Pa- tience for the Return of a King : It will alfo (land with ChiiFiianity, when all Patience and Hope is fpent, to look out for a Succefior.
Nathaniel Ward's I Fajl Sermon before the Commons, June 30. 1647.
When Kings will not be quiet without abfolute Mo- narchy, and fovereign Liberty •, they may come at length to that Market, where they may have none at all. Ibid, p. 4.
Court-Shakings are fuch as when God makes fiich State-Quacks, and Church-Quacks ^ that all the People of the Land, and fundamental Laws of the Nation, fhake together.
Jer. Whitaker's Fajt Sermon before the Commons, Janu- ary 2J. 1642. P. 8.
Is there any Character more fit for Priefts and Jefuits than this ? Who can transform themfelves into more Shapes than they $ Soldiers, Merchants, Phyficians, Di- vines > Are there any Guards, their Spirits cannot pafs ? Is there any Place or Palace , thefe cannot enter ? Is there any Company or Councils thefe cannot infinuate themfelves into-, yea, tho' [JV. JB."] fecret*, yea, tho* Cabinet Councils ? Cannot thefe Jefuitical Spirits work themfelves into them ? And need we go far for an In- ftance that they have done fo >
Francis Woodcock's Faft Sermon before the Commons} O&ober 30, 1644. P- *5° Called] Chrift's Warnings Piece. '
Kath not a Popifh Spirit polTefied their Divines, a SfamJJ? their Councils, and their Soldiers ? I appeal to Vqu. Are not thefe Spirits familiar at Court this Day ?
Their
Presbyterian Treacher*. a i
Their Inftruaions are to feduce the Kings of the Earth to Battel -, and woe to us! have they not prevail'd here in this Kingdom \ Have they not drawn the King into Arms ? and we experience the Miferies following here- upon every Day more and more. Ibid. p. 18.
Much a- do there has been to hide their Shame, by turning the Blame of all our Miferies upon evil Coun- fellors, Incendiaries, and the like, to discharge them of it : But all in vain h it can be hid no longer. For now we have worfe Things, and more difhonourable under their own Hands, [ the Kings Letters, ] as their own avowed Acts, than any we have had formerly againft their bad Counfellors. And what other Reafon can we aiiign for it than this, That God's Honour has fuffered exceedingly by them • and therefore they are fallen un- der all this Dilhonour.
Woodcock5* Fafl Sermon before the Commons, July 30. 1 645. P. 22. Called, Lex Talionis.
I appeal to you, Honourable and Beloved, when the Cabinet-Council was made publick. For now upon reading the Cabinet- Letters, Who of us is not of the Cabinet-Council ? I appeal to you, Was Majefty at that Day a facred Thing amongft the People ; or rather the higheftamongft us [wz. the King] daring to dilhonour God 5 what Honour of Word, or A&ion, or Perfon, is left unto them ? Ibid. p. 25.
Are not you become fcorned and derided > Oh ! the fpiteful Scorns, contemptuous Names of Roundhead, Puritan, Anabaptift, Rebel, &c. that have been daily fcift upon us. Oh ! the fcandalous, malicious Declara- tions, Invectives, Libels, compofed of the Elixir and Spirits of Malice, that have been fet forth againft us. Oh ! the defperate Surmifes inflnuated, the horrid Cri- minations the Enemy hath forged. In all which they have precifely obferved their Mafter's Rule, [ meaning the King,] calumniating with all their Might 3 hoping that fomewhat at leaft would ftick upon us.
Wood-
2 2 ^ Century 0/
Woodcock's Sermon before the Commons, February 19. 1645. Upon the RedaBion o/Chefter. P. 1 1.
I appeal to you, Beloved, Were there not EngliJI) Coun- fellors that fold us into Egyptian Bondage > Were they not Engltjb Prelates that confpired to fell their Brethren into RomiJI) Slavery ? Ibid, g, 12.
We are dealt withal by way of Treaty and friendly Accommodation ; Places of Meeting are propofed : And the Truth is, their Trains of Love are Trains of Powder to blow us up.
Henry Wilkinfon's_ Fafl Sermon before tie Commons. 1643. P. 1?.
CHAP. II. .
The Rebellion juftified from Succefs,
ASSURE your felves , that all your unwearied Travel and Attendance now for thefe Eight Years •, all your Expence of Time, your Lofles, Suffer- ings, Reproaches, that you have fuftained, in Profecu- tion of this Caufe you have in Hand, (which will be carried againft the Gates of Hell -, ) yea, all thofe Votes, Orders, Ordinances, Declarations, that have proceeded from you, in the Integrity of your Hearts, do ftand up- on Record in Heaven, and are fruit that will abound to your Account in that great Day of Recompence.
Matthew Barker's Fajl Sermon before the CQ7nmQnsyOdLQ* ber 2 J. 1648. P. 60.
By the Mercy of God thefe two Years by-gone, nei- ther Prince, nor Papifts, nor Prelate, nor any open Malignant, have been able in the leafi Degree to flop the wifh'd Reformation,
Ro-
Presbyterian Preachers. 2 3
Robert Baily'5 Faji Sermon before the Commons Fe bruary28. 1645. EpJKDed.
Surely to take a ftrong Place by Strength and Storm doth argue, that there is very much of jGod in it efpe- cially when effe&ed with fo little Lofs.
John Bond5* Thanlfglvhg Sermon, called, Ortus Occi- dentals. OSober 8. 1645:. P. 27.
What think you of the Vertical or Critical Vidory of Nobby ? You were pleafed to command out feme Nine Regiments of Voluntiers out of thefe Cities 5 I mean, fo many Congregations to keep a folemn Day of Prayer and Humiliation. ( And believe me, they are your Voluntiers that mud do the Work, both in your Spiritual and Civil Militia : ) Thefe Regiments did be- fet Heaven upon the Tuefday , and the Saturday after in the fame Week God gave you that Vi&ory of Vido- ries-, the great, unexpected, necefTary, England-&vinz Mercy of Nafeby. Ibid. p. 27.
The Lord gives the Enemy a Cut when the Sap is up5 when they are riling, gathering , and growing : And when a Cut will undo them, then God gives them a Blow. Ibid, p; 43.
There is a Caftle taken in too, the Caftle of Sher- bourn. Oh ! that firft Neft of the Cockatrices Eggs, the Cradle of Cavalierifm -3 the very Bag of the Wefitrn Impofthume .: Now I hope the Bag is plucked out lb J>. 46.
Magnify the Lord we mould for Parliament Mercies, which would require the Volumes of a Barotitis or Tim- anus, rather than this Piece of a Sermon to fet them forth. But I hope you have Pens employ'd upon this Subjeft all this while : I hope you have employed fome Committees to Audit the Debentures of the Lord of your Hofts, as well as of the Soldiers.
Bond'j Thankfgivivg Sermon before tie Commons, July, 1648. P, 22, Called, Elhcol} or, Grapes among Thorns,
I tell
Qjj. ^ Century of
I tell you, the Saints of the mod high God can pray down Empires and Kingdoms ^ and the Towers, andCa- ftles, and Walls of the proudeft Enemies. It is fafer Handing before the M©uth of a Canon, than of the Prayers of the Saints.
Cafe'i Thanhfglvhig Sermon before the Common^ Augufi;
22. T645. P. II.
I think thefe proud prefumptuous and blafphemous Armies have been pretty well thrafh'd by this new In- ftrument, in the Hand of our Redeemer : It hath beat- en them even to Dull and Chaff in the high Places of the Field. God hath honoured you more than any Par- liament, fince the Foundation of this Kingdom : He has done as great Things for you, as he has done for any Affembly of Men, fince the Foundation of the World was laid.
You may obferve that the very lengthening the Siege was the Advancement of a Defign, while in the IfTue it appears to be nothing elfe, but an Ambufhment of Providence, laid on purpofe to draw off the Enemies to their own Deftru£tion.
Cafe's Tbaiikfgiving Sermon upon the Surrendring of Chefter, hej ore tfo Cow wow, February 19. 164.5. EfiJK Led.
How hath the Lord guarded, guided, and enabled our Parliament from the Grave, even a dead Kingdom •, whofe Laws and Liberties had yielded up the Ghoft 5 and revived Religion, which lay drawing on towards her long Home, expecting every Moment to breathe her laft. Popery having long fince prepared her Wind- ing Sheet •, and the Sovereign Power being employed to draw away her Pillows, and clofe up her Eyes.
Cornelius Burgefs's Faft Sermon before the Peers, Octo- ber 2 9. 1645. P. 24.
As Abraham received Jfaac from the Grave, fo do you all Mercies Temporal j efpecially having fo many Vi-
6fcorks
Presbyterian Preachers. 2$
eiories and Deliverances vouchfafed by God in jour Ar- mies. You have many Fifths of November in this one Day : And every Time you have a Victory, it is a De- liverance from a Gun-Powder Plot. Before it was fe- arer, now it is open.
Anthony Burgeffs $th of November Sermon , 1644,. R 21.
By now Oppofition he waftes and deftroys the Ene* mies by Degrees ^ every Plague devours fome : The Frogs fome , the Lice fome , the Locufts fome. So Edgcbill fome, Newberry fome, Tork fome. A Man might reckon you a good many fomes. And fa God fomes them out by Degrees, and thereby gratifies his People's Prayers, as well as promotes his Work. The Delive- rance out of Egypt fhall never be forgotten ^ no, nor England's out of our Epifcopal Bondage.
Cafe's Faji Sermon before the Peers, March 25, 1646, P. 40, 41. Called, The Set-Backs of Reformation.
Our Victories are not the Iilues of a War raifed upon the difiemper'd Heat of green Heads, but upon the cooler! Confutation of our Elders ^ the faddeft Refolu- tion of a grave-fteady Senate. If a War be ( as ours has approved and appeared over and over to unbiafled Confciences) a juft War, I know no Reafon but we may, nay, but we ought to rejoice in the profperous Succeis of it, though againft our neareft and naturally related Friends.
Jofeph Caryl's Thanlf giving Sermon before the Commons ? April 23. 1644. P- 14-
But furely in Allufion I may fafely make ufe of it When we fee a Sword fallen from Heaven •, that is, a War begun and carried on by extraordinary Providen- ces, we may more than probably conclude, that Chrilt is come to be Captain of that Militia. Ibid. p. 37.
The Parliament of Englav d hath been pray'd to Death* curfed to Death, drunk to Death, devoted to Death., and voted to Death in deepeft Confultations , and yet is
E alive
0,6 ACEKTVRYof
alive, and lives in the Mouths of many, whofe Throats were an open Sepulchre, to fwallow it up for ever.
Caryl's Thanlygivirg Sermon before the Tiro Hovfes, A- pril 2. 1646. P. 10. Called, England's Plus ultra.
I verily believe that the Life of the Kingdom of England is bound up in the Parliament of England 5 and when this dies, that muft, in the Notion now intended. Ibid. p. 14.
Who, under God, are fitter to addrefs themfelves to the Cure of thefe Evils than you, who are our State Phyficians ^ by a fpecial Hand of Providence convened and continued unto this Day ? For who knows whether yoa be not called to this honourable Service for fuch a Caufe as this ?
JohnConant's Fajl Sermon before the Com mon s, July 26. 1643. Epift. Ded. Catted, The Woe and Weal of God's People difplay'd.
It is a Word of Information to us all : I am fure I have it from the Lord and his Word $ that we learn from our Mercies, (Oxford efpecially) that every proud zn& high Thing that exalts it felf againft Chrift and his People, God will throw down. I my felf was a Spe- ctator, &n Eye-Witnefs, when the Lord delivered that City, that Univerfity, it was the Centre of all the E- nemles of God.
A 'Tbankfgiving-Sermon for 'the Surrender of Oxford, be- fore the Commons, July 26. 1646. By W. Cradock, the leaji of Saints.
God is the Caufe why a wife Council of .State-Phyfi- ckns cannot cure the Wounds of a Bleeding Kingdom -, why a Peace defired between Two contrary Armies finds 110 Succefi.
Edward Corbet's Fajf Sermon before the Commons, De- cember 28. 1642. P. 5.
In
Presbyterian Preachers. 27
In all the World there is not a Magiftracy fo eminent- ly entrufted with fuch a Charge over a People fo nearly united to God, as you and the Parliament of Scotland, Your Charge is not only the Safety of Three King- doms, to fettle them in fuch a way as you have cove- nanted, but the Care of the Proteftant Religion and Caufe is committed to you, that you together with them may be brought out of Babylon. I beleech you mark this our Engagement to God 5 and let us lay it to Heart. J. Dury^ Fafl Sermon before the Commons? November 26. 1645. P. 24.
Surely there is hope for England and Scotland. We have had and have fo many praying Days, fo many praying Men, praying Commanders, praying Soldiers, praying Parliament-Men, praying Affembly, and other praying Minifters and People. We have had comfortable Experiences of the good Effects of our Prayers.
Samuel Gibfon'j Faft Sermon before the Commons, Sep- tember 24. 164?. P. 32.
Some who like of Reformation well enough both in Church and State, and were perfwaded God was about that Work, yet finding many great Difficulties and Re- moras which clog the Bufinefs, are now content to take up with any reafonable Accommodations for Peace, even with Impatience to hear of the contrary, merely becaufe they dare not truft God with a thorough Refor- mation, and the perfecting his Workfo happily begun, and miraculoufly carried on, in fpight of all Difficul- ties, and the Powers of Hell bandying themfelves againft it.
George Gipp'5 Fafi Sermon before the Co?;2?wo?/i,Novem- ber 27. 1644. P. 18.
Honourable Senators, you are called out of all the Faithful ones of this Kingdom to do this great Work 5 and have obtain'd Mercy from our God to be in a great
E 2 Mea-
J2% i Century of
Meafure faithful. Confider the Truft God has commit- ted to you 3 you have the Richeft that I know God has above Ground elfewhere.
Tho. Goodwin's Fafi Sermon before the Commons, Fe- bruary 1%. 1645. P. 54.
We have feen God do that in a few Years, that he has not done in an Hundred Years before. For he be- ing King of Nations and Saints purfues his Intereft ^ and being more near his Kingdom, he takes it with Vi- olence 5 we are within the wheel of it3 and his Moti- ons are rapid. lb. p. 46.
What C&far once faid of Rome , He found it Rock, but left it Marble 3 may much more be faid of you : You found our Church and State Atheiftical, Prelatical •, you leave the Beams of our Houfe Cedar, our Galleries Firr. Stan. Gower's Fafi Sermon before the Co?nmons, July 31. 1644. £p. Led.
Great Things have been done for us in our Councils, in our Wars by Land and Sea : Many fine Defigns Ha- lted, many dangerous Plots difcover'd, great Expecta- tions fruftrated, great Armies defeated, great Victories obtain'd 5 great Aihftance from our Brethren in Scotland, great Faithmlnefs and Courage in Commanders and Soldiers. We can do no lefs than with Admiration praife thefe great Things done for us.
John Green's Fafi Sermon before the Commons, Febr, 54. 1646. P. 18.
What Army of Martyrs has God given to the Fire for cur Reformation at firft ? What a Kalendar of Tray- tors has he given to the Gallows, for our Prefervation f nee.
Herle's Fafi Sermon before the Commons , Nov, 30* ' J642* P. 57-
You
Presbyterian Treacher*. 19
Yoa, Right Honourable, are the Repairers of our Breaches in Church and State • you are the Phyficians of the Body-Politick and Ecclefiaftick.
Robert Johnfon's Faft Sermon before the Commons^ March 31. 1647. P. 3T.
[ The People of England blefs their God , that he hath taught your Hands to war, and laid the Necks ol" your Enemies under your Feet. ]
Love, before the Commons, November 25. 1646. Epft. Ded. to Lord Fairfax.
O, read over God's admirable Dealings towards us in thefe four or five laft Years. I am fare 'twill be the "Wonderment of lucceeding Generations. God will have it written with one Hand or other 5 and when thefe Things {hall be told, this will be wonder'd at indeed; when it {hall be written, what a low Ebb we were at ; how we were tantum von fwallowed up with Popery, Prelacy, Super ft it ion, Arminianifm , Tyranny, Op- preflion, and all Things concurring to deftroy us : And then God broke thofe Iron Yokes, and hath called this Parliament, and put them upon repairing his Church, and building the Walls of his City in a troublefome Time ; when they build with the Trowel in one Hand, and Sword in another.
Steph. MarQiaU's Faff Sermott9M^tcb 26. 164 J. P. 36. Called , God's Mafter-Piece.
I may confidently conclude, That our Two Houfes of Parliament, and our Armies, ( as unworthy as we are) are daily carried upon the Wings of many Milli- ons of Prayers.
Steph. Mar {hall's Faft Sermon before the Co mumis^ April 3. 1645;. P. 23.
God feems now to put in your Hands, what unto the End of the World he may expert from the Kingdom of England, in the Way of Ordinances . Not only the ma- naging
§o ^ Century 0/
paging a Kingdom of Men, but the Kingdom of our £erd and Saviour Jefus Chrift, feems now to be in the Hands of the Two Houfes of Parliament.
Steph. MarfhalFj Thank/giving Sermon before the Two Houfes, upon the Viftory of Nafeby, June 19. 164?. P. 16.
It is EmanneVs Caule that you oppofe $ it is Emanuel's People that you fight againft ; It is Emanuel that is the Leader, the General of that Army: One that will out- wit you, and out-plot you, and out-fight you.
MarfhalPs Thankfglvhig Sermon before the Commons, May 17. 1648. P. 7.
Thofe Perfons, of what Degree foever, mean Men, Nobles, Peers, Princes, who ftand up as Adverfaries againft the Truth, feem to be born in an evil Hour.
Maynard's Fafi Sermon before the Commons, February 26. 1644. P. 33.
"Whereas our Parliaments have been formerly made like fleeting Meteors , or falling Stars , giving fome Glimpfe of Light, and prefently vanifhing : The Lord Ihou'd now hearken to the Cries of his People -, and give us a fixed Parliament, like the Sun {landing ftill in the midft of Heaven, that fo there might be Time to eftablifti Truth, and for fcattering the Enemies of Truth, lb. p. 36.
Was there ever a Parliament that had God fo near ihem in all Things?
Newcomen, before the Two Houfes, September 12. 1644. P. 27.
Hereunto I muft add, what Oil the Footfteps of God have dropped within the Walls of the Parliament Hou- fes. Coniider, Chriftians, how the Lord loved you ^ he loved you fo, that he is willing to take the Devil's Leavings. When Sin and Satan had taken the Ufe of
your
Presbyterian Preachers. g t
your beft Strength and Time, yet he loves, and woes, and waits.
Hugh Peter'* Tbankfgiving Sermon before the Two Hou- fes, April 2. 1645. P. 22, 24.
An Antiparliamentary Spirit I look upon as the Fruit of much Malice or Ignorance * and the Brat of thofe Men's Brains that never lived beyond the View of the Smoke of their own Chimnies , that meafure States and Kingdoms with their private Shopwands : And if they be prefs'd into it by any of my Coat, it will argue more Feeblenefs, and prove more dangerous. To be weary of the Parlaiment, is to proclaim to the World, that we are Mercy-Sick, Vi&ory-Sick, and Li- • berry-Sick. lb. jp. 35, 36.
But I know I fpeak to Men too wile to believe that God's Quarrels can be taken up by human Treaties { but they will, without fail, attain the Iflue by God himfelf before prefixed •, and by his Word threatned and pro- mifed.
Reyner's Faft Sermon before the Commons, Augufl: 28. 1644. Ep. Bed.
A Fourth Sort of enormous TranfgrefTors , whom the Lord takes off in a publick Calamity , are the Proud, Strong, and the otherwife Invincible Supporters of falfe Worfhip, Errors, Herefy, Idolatry h. as the Popiili and Hierarchical Generation, both of the Civil and Ecclefiaftical State. Thus the Lord deftroyed the High-Priefts, and other Supporters of Idolatry in the Captivity of Babylon. Ibid. p. 17,
They don't fly to the ftrongeft Part, who defert the Parliament, and fly to Oxford j they run but down to Egypt.
Rutherford's Fafl Sermon before the Commons, Jan. 31. 1643. P. 5).
And verily, Brethren, the Lord himfelf in that Day of our Battel feem'd to decide the great Djubt, and re-
folve
3^ ^ Century of
folve the Queftion which Side was Right 5 whofe Caufc was his $ who were for him, and who againft him. . Ob. Sedgwick's Thankfgiving Sermon before the Com- mons, April 9. 1644. P. 24.
Whilft God ftands for us, what can ftand againft us ? Mountains of Difficulties (hall be over-turned- the proudeft Enemies mail be made to know and feel what Folly it is to kick againft the Pricks, and contend with the Almighty : And therefore we lee and hear daily, the mighty Things which God hath wrought for us.
Dr. Peter Smyth's Faft Sermon before the Commons, May 29. 1644. P. 43.
Thofe Men of Belial that are now in Arms againft us, that will not read the Book of God, nor haply dare not, becaufe it no where prophefieth good unto them z, I wiih they wou d perufe our Ecclefiaftical Wri- ters, and fee what is there touching the divine Venge- ance, which purfued fuch as lead the Way to them, and taught them this Art of Cruelty ^ and taught how to be fkilful to be deftroy'd by their Examples. Ibid. p. 45.
The taking away a Plaifter before the Wound be perfectly cured, is the way to make it rank and dange- rous. An unjuft Peace is as much worfe than a juft War , as it is better for the Church to be at Peace with God, rather than to be at Peace with Men.
Strickland's Faft Sermon before the Commons, Decem- ber 27. 1643. P. 27.
The Enemy relies much upon his Skill in the Intoxi- cation of Princes with a Cup of Fornications, thereby holding them up in their Engagements againft ffrael
Dr. Stanton's Faft Sermon before the Commons, April 24. 1644. P. ,10.
That Providence which pitied England Heathenifh, and made it Chriftian 5 which pitied England Popiih, and reformed it 5 which appeared in 88, and againft
the
Presbyterian Preachtrf. 33
the Powder-Treafon ; and of late at Kehton, Brentford^ Glovcefier, Newbury, Sec, which brought us out of Egypt, will bring us into Canaan •, if our Murmuring, felf-feek- ing Hearts make not our Arrows to fall in the Wilder- nefs. Ibid. p. 11.
England may fay, I enjoy a Parliament, a lading, a wife, and indefatigable Parliament h wherein the Ja- cobs have been too hard for the Efaus. I am well eafed of High-Commiilion, Star-Chamber, and the Iron Yoke of Epifcopacy : I have the Lord of Hefts fighting my Battels at Keinton, Newbury, &c. lb. p. 24.
All the well-affe&ed cry to you, as the Difciples do to Chrift •, Save us, for we are finking : Sinking in our E- ftates, our Liberties, our Religion 5 yea, in our Hearts and Courage too. You having Ways before you for our Safety •, as fpeedy Execution upon Offenders , and the vigorous Profecution of the War.
Sidrach Sympfon's Fafi Sermon before the Commons, July 26. 1643. Ep. Bed.
Laftly, There is the Peace of Samfons Foxes that were tyed by the Tails, but all their Heads were loofe, and looked feveral WTays. You may difcover here the Peace of our Adverfaries : The Agreement of Atheifts and Papifts, Priefts and Prelates , Irijl) Rebels and Ett~ glijl) Traitors, to ruin the Church and Commonwealth 2 We may read the Pedigree of Popifh Peace and Unity.
Chr. Teafdale1* Fafi Sermon before the Commons, Au- guft 28. 1644. P. 6.
This, if ever any, is the holy War : The Lord him- felf feems to have fet up his Standard, and founded an Alarm from Heaven, Who is on my Side > Who ? Ibid, p. 17.
You are a People faved this Day: Your Enemies crouch, and flatter, and lye unto you 5 you have trod upon their high and forfeited Places. Beiides all here- tofore regain'd, you have lately trod upon the forfeited
P Mount
34 A C E N T.U R Y of
Mount in Cornwall, upon the ftrong City of Exeter, up- on Barn/fable her Neighbour, upon the Fort of Ilford- Comb, the Caftles of Ruthein and Bridge-north : You have trod upon the ftrong Caftle of Banbury, and the moil confiderable Inland Garifon in Newark.
Sam. Toxfae¥ sThankfgivhigSermon before the Commons, May 26. 1646. P. 1.
The firft Summer of our War, God wrote himfelf our God in great Letters at Edgehill , the fecond in greater at Newbury. He hath wrote himfelf bnmanuel, in a Text Letter even in that Place 5 where that which has fince proclaim'd it felf a cruel War , did then in In- fancy difguife it felf under the Name of a Guard. A good Omen. Hannibal is routed near the Walls of his own Carthage.
Vine'* Thank/giving Sermon before both Hoitfes , July
18. 1644. ?? 2» Called, Magnalia Dei ab Aqui-
lone.
Hath God ever favoured any Parliament ^ nay, let me fay any Society of Men, fo much as he has done 3^011 ? Have any made fuch Attempts againft Popery, Tyranny and Prelacy, and profper'd in them ? Have any fought fo many Battels, and won them > Any been endanger'd by fo many curfed Defigns and Plots, and efeapedthem?
Woodcock's Faji Sennon before the Commons, July 30. 1645. P, 20.
CHAP.
Presbyterian Preachers, 35
CHAP. III.
A Reformation by BLOOD Encouraged.
WHereas, if this be not done [ viz. the punifhing the Cavaliers "] the Lord will lay on more "Weight : He will punifh feven Times more, and feven Times more, and feven Times more, and feven Times more, and feven Times more, and feven Times more, Simeon Afhe'5 Fajt Sermon preached before the Commons, March 30. 1642. P. 16.
Speed the defired, much -needed, long-looked-for Coun- fels for the purging of polluted Oxford. You cannot be ignorant how much Matters are cut of Order there, both in reference to Errors, yea Herefies impudently broached h and alfo in refpecl of profefled Malignants continued. Give me leave to petition you, that notori- ous incorrigible Malignants may not be encouraged there.
Afhe'5 Faf Sermon before the Commons, April 28, 1647, P. 3*.
We muft root out Idols 5 not only thofe in Wood, Stone, or Glafs, in Walls and Windows ; but thofe li- ving Idols that are in foine Pews $ and thofe in Pulpits, they muft out ; I mean all Idol-Shepherds and dumb Dogs. A preacber-lefs People will be a lawlefs People. In fhort, the Lord would have you to demolifh all high Places, not to leave fo much as the Stump of Dagon re- maining.
Bond'* Fajl Sermon before the Commons, March 27.
1644. P. 48. Called, A Projective Glafs tor
England's Cafe.
F 2 T
^6 ACENTVRYof
The Fourth Confideration is critical. My Money fhall never help to kill Men. I anfwer >, Your Money is not yours, if the Lord, .the Law, the Liberty, the Caufe, or the Defenders thereof, Hand in need of it. zdly, I anfwer 5 Your Money fhall not help to kill : If you hinder the killing or quelling of thofe,' who would both kill and quell us, ours, our Religion, and King- dom 5 you become Friends of God's Enemies and ours, and refolve to make Peace with them, with whom God is refoived to make War.
Bridges'* Faji Sermon before the Commons, February 22. 1642. Called, Jacobs Couvfel, and King David's feafonable 'hearing it, P. 12.
Make no Friendfhip with angry Men, much lefs with bloody Men : Rather die by them. It is the greateft Honour that can be put upon you, to be Inftruments in deftroying the Church of -Rome.
Anthony Burgefs'i Fifth of November Sermon. J 644. P. 12.
The Garden of this Nation is over- grown with Weeds: And there are not only unprofitable but hurtful Trees planted in this Garden. Now this is the great Work the Lord requireth at your Hands, (Oh, ye Worthies of Jfrael,) to flub up all thefe unprofitable Trees •, to repair the Breaches of God's Houfe^ to build it up in its Beau- ty, according to the Pattern of the Mount •, to bring us not only to our Reformation in King Edward's Days, but to reform the Reformation it felf Our Saviour Chriftrofe from the Dead, and left all his Linen Clothes behind him 5 fo muft we bury all luperftitious Ceremo- nies in the Grave of Oblivion, and perfeft Reformati- on. Oh ! that you would command the Apoftles of Chrifr, the Faithful and Learned Ministers of this KJng- dorn.to meet you in a free national Synod.to inform you about taking away thefe Grave-Clothes, the Eye|-bind- ing Napkins $ or whatever elfe fhall feem prejudicial to m Piety or Purity of Gti&s Worlhip. You are now
C5U-
Presbyterian Preachers. 37
converting with God in the Mount 3 Oh! that your
Lives might {bine forth in Holinefs this Day -/and
that it may be with you as with Hezekiab when he and
all his People kept the PaiTbver together h thefirft Thing
they did ( before the killing the PaiTbver) was taking
away all the Altars that were at Jemfalem, and the
catling them into the Brook Kidron. And when the
Paflbver was flnimed, all Ifrael that were prefenr,
went out to the Cities of Jvdab, and brake the Images
in Pieces, cut down the Groves, and threw down the
high ^Places, and the Altars of Jitdah , Benjamin, E-
pbrahi, and Mana firth, until they had deftroy'd them,
Calamy, before the Commons, December 22. 1641.
P. 29, 30.
God hath called you to the purging of the Land of thefe Locufts and Caterpillars • I mean the Romijh Fa- ctors amongft us, who would not have left fo much as a Meat-Offering for our God.
Will. Carter's Fafi Sermon before tbe Commons, Augutt 31. 1642. P. 23. Called, IfraelV Peace with God, Benjamin's Overthrow,
Yqu that are for Confutation, go to Council ; you that are for Execution, go on to acting ; you that are for exhorting the People in this Work, attend to Exhor- tation •, you that are Soldiers, draw your Swords ; vou that have Eftates, draw your Purfes •, you that have Strength of Bcdy, lend your Hands 5 and all you who have honeft Hearts, lend your Prayers, Tears, for the profperous Succefs of this great Work.
Caryl, before tbe Commons, October 6. 1643. P. 43.
And if Chrift will fet up his Kingdom upon Milli- ons of Carkafles of the Slain, it well becomes all the Elders to rejoice rind give Thanks.
Caryl's Tbankfgivivg Sermon before the Commons, A- pril 23. 1644. P. 46,
How
38 ^ Century 0/
How fad would it be, if Chrift fhould ever expostu- late with the great Council of England thus ? Your Pays of Thankfgiving to me for Victories, teftify that I have fubdued your Enemies by my Power. Shall not your Authority protect my Friends ? Your Thank fgi- vings for Victory teftify that I have aflerted your civil Liberties, through the Blood of your Oppofers : And will not you affert their fpiritual Liberties, purchafed by my Blood ? Your Thankfgi vings for Victories tefti- fy that I have fuffered no Man to do you Wrong, but have reproved a King ( and O, that fuch Reproof may be as precious Ointment, which might not break, but heal both Head and Heart! ) for your Sakes : And will not you reprove either High or Low for the Sake of my Servants > lb. p. 49.
Let thofe Men of Iron Entrails and Brazen Bowels, who are Spaniarded and Italianated 5 I mean Jefuited, go live in Spain or Italy. Such Monfters are not fit for our dlimate. You are Phyficians to the State -,-and thefe are purging Times : Let all malignant Humours be purged out of the Ecclefiaftical Body. Oh ! let the Excrements be expelled, the vital and integral Part be prefer ved. But if there be any who out of Simplicity have wandered after the Beaft, and are now probably reduced, and credibly penitent, fuch may be {pared in Hope *, yet it will not be amifs to give them a little Phyiick to prevent a Relapfe.
Cheynel'j Fajl Servian before the Commom , May 31. 1643. P. 18.
Away with Babylonijl) Geftures, Names, Titles, Rites, and Ceremonies •, away with Babylonijl) Garments. Our 'Babylomars begin now to air their mouldy Copes. I ihall employ my utmoft Strength, eonfecrate my totum nil, blow my Rams Horn againft Babylon. Ibid. p. 33.
Be of good Comfort, tho' your "Enemies can out- fwear you, yet they can't out-pray you $ if they be a Thoufand ftrong, and march againft you with all their Might. lb. p. 35.
If
Presbyterian Preachers. q^
If it [viz. the Hierarchy] ftill appear uncured, down with it, down with it to the Foundation, Stick and Stone, Top and Bottom, Roof and Sides. And foraf- rauch as this is become our Cafe now,our Formalities and Government in [the whole Hierarchy is become a fretting Gangrene, a fpreading Leprofy, an infuppor- table Tyranny ^ up with it, up with it to the Bottom, Root and Branch, Hip and Thigh : Deftroy thefe Ama- lekites, and let their Place be- no more found.]
Coleman's Faft Sermon before the Commons, April 30. 1649. P. 24.
They fhall die with the Mighty that fall , and go down to Hell or the Grave by Weapons of War, with their Swords under their Heads. They fhall not die lighting valiantly. How then ? I defire the Words may be minded, both in their Death and Caufe : For their Death it fhall be ignominious and bafe ^ their Iniquity (hall be upon their Bones. For fome Capital Crime they fhall die by the Hand of the Executioner. Ibid.
p. 41.
Vex the Midianites, abolifh the Amalekites, elfe they
will vex you with their Wiles, as they have done here- tofore. Let Popery find no Favour, becaufe 'tis trea- fonable $ Prelacy as little , becaufe it is tyrannical, lb. ]). 41.
God is worming out his and our Adverfaries, which he will do by little and little, till they are confutned. Coleman Jj Faft Sermon upon taking the Covenant, Sep- tember 29. 1643. P. 33.
Carl out the ftrong Man, and the Seven Devils which have long kept the Houfe. Superftition, Formality and Profanenefs. Caft him out of the State by fuch Laws as give him Title : Out of the Church, by removing fuch Superftition and Will-worihip, as give him Foot^
ing-
J, Ellis, Jmu Faft Sermon before the Commons, Febru- ary 22. 1642. P. 46. Called, The fole Path to a found Peace. The
40 ^ Century of
The Kingdom in Church and State have fufFered much by difaffecled Malignants •, and Means have been, and are ufed to difcover them : And I wifh they were all found out, that are Troublers of our 1/rael.
J. Green's Fajl Sermon before the Commons, February 24. 1646. P. 12.
[If Juftice be at a ftand, and can't take hold of living Delinquents 5 are there no Altars, no high Places, no Crucifixes,! no Crofles bowed to in the open Streets ? Lay your Axe to their Roots, and hew them down : Down with all that is fufpicious, fcandalcus and fuper- ftitious.
Greenhill's Fajl Sermon before the Commons] April 26.
164?. P. 37. Our Reformation was conceived heretofore in Sin,
and now hath brought forth Iniquity. If it had been formed according to the Mind of God, we ihould not have had fuch Stirs and Troubles in thefe Days. If any therefore have built up Hay, Straw, Stubble, let your Fire confume fuch combuftible Matter. If Briars do grow is the Sanctuary, let your Axe cut them down. It's fuch tram, Altars, Images, Ceremonies, Inventions of Men, which difquiet Kingdoms, Churches and Con- fciences. lb. p. 42.
The Papifts by Names and Terms to work their Faith amongft us , keep up the Terms of Penance, Prieft, Mafs, Altar, Sacrifice. I befeech you therefore dafh their Hopes •, take away the Names and Days they fo much confide in: Neft-Eggs, yea, Cockatrices-Eggs they are, and may breed Serpents •, tread them under your Feet. Let fome fiery Law go forth from you, that may fearch all fuch as mail hereafter dare to join their Pofts to God's Pofts, their Chaff to his Wheat 5 Ways of Wormip which may prove Snares to you and your Pofterity. Put the Axe of your Power to them, and hew them down. Ibid. p. 43, 44.
Let
Presbyterian Preachers. 41
Let not my Noble Lords be angry, and I will/peak but this once more. I humbly befeech you, that you would improve the utmoft of the Power that God hath put in- to your Hands, for the banifhipg away of thefe Moths, and killing thefe Worms.
Nath. Hardy's Faft Sermon before the Feersy February 24. i&tf P. |$
It was a bloody Saying of one once your ^rifoner^ that if the King commanded him, he would not care to burn all the Cities of the Kingdom. O ! let not thefe Sons of Zemiab, that fried the Blood of War in Peace ; let not their hoary Head go down to the Grave in Peace ; they have been the Troublers of Ifrael. Enter into your Chambers, and fhut the Doors upon you, and re- volve again and again all the fad Stories of thefe Men's Cruelty 5 fum up what e're Lofs and Damage the King- dom has fufrer'd by them \ yea , exacl: not only the Principal, but the utmoft Farthing of Ufe and Intereft.
Heyrick'j Faft Sermon before the Commons , May 27* I646. P. 22.
Curfe ye Meroz, fays the Angel of the Lord $ Curfs ye bitterly the Inhabitants thereof Who this Mercz was, is not fo eafily concluded by Interpreters : But this is enough to know of them, that they had Ability and Opportunity ofTer'd them of being helpful to the Peo- ple of God 5 which they neglected, and thereupon were curfed, The like we mail find to be pronounced againS thofe that did not help again ft Moab, Jer. 48. Io, Cur- fed is he that doth the Work of the Lord dec eh f idly 3 and curfed is he that keepeth back his Sword from Blood : That is, from the Blood of the Church's Enemies , which God had commanded to be fhed by the Church's Friends.
Horton'j Faft Sermon before the Peers, December ?o<>- 1646. P, 8. Called, Sins Difcovery , and Re-
venge.
G 6m>
^7 ACtNTURYof
Conflder whether Juftice run with the Dromedary, or whether it does not rather creep with the Snail.
Richard KentiuY* Faft Sermon before the Commons, No- vember 24. 1647. P« *7« Called, AfureWayfor a finking State.
The People of England once defired a Reformation, petitioned for a Reformation,covenanted fora Reformati- on, but now they hate to be reformed. They are like If- rael of old, in their Travel towards the promifed Land : They preferred the Garlick and Onions of Egypt, be- fore the Milk and Honey of Canaan. So now a Prela- tical Prieft, with a fuperftitious Service-Book, is more deiired, and would be better welcome to the Generali- ty of England, than the moft Learned, Laborious, Con- scientious Preacher, whether Prefbyterian or Indepen- dent Oh ! how England is fallen. lb. p. 19.
When your Gins and Snares catch any of thefe Birds, dally not with them. Blood will have Blood. Con- trad *iot their Blood-Guiltinefs upon your own Souls, by an unwarranted Clemency and Mildnefs.
Langley'i Fajf Sermon before the Commons on Chriftmas
• Day* 1 £44. P. 30.
Right Honourable, ye are to be our Phyficians and ..Repairers of our Breaches. The Horns of God's Wrath begin to puih at us $ you are the Carpenters that muft cut off thefe Horns. The Lord direct you, that you may be as the Angels of God, to difcern what fhall been done with them, who have been Troublers of our Peace, &nd the greateft Kindlers of God's Wrath againft us. Spare when ye may with God's good Will: But remem- ber that 'tis fooliih Pity that deftroys a City. Let not the Men efcape, whom God appoints to Punifhment.
Steph. MarihaH'j Sermon before the Commons, Decem- ber 22. 164.1. P. 5:0, 51.
Beloved, our Days are better than they were Seven Years ago : Becaufe it is better to fee the Lord execu- ting
Presb}
terian Preachers. 43
ting Judgment, than to fee Men working Wickednefs : And to behold People lie wallowing in their Blood, rather than apoftatizing from God, and embracing Ido- latry and Superftition -, and banilhing the Lord Chrift from amongft them.
Stephen Marshall's Tbankfgiving Sermon before the Lords and Commons, January 1643. P. 18.
Let all England cry 5 that our Blood, our Armies* our Poverty, our Millions wherein we are engaged, are all abundantly repay'd in this, That there is fuch a Con- currence to fet up the Lord Chrift upon his Throne, to be Lord and King over Ifrael. Ibid. p. 20.
Carry on the Work ftill 3 leave not a Rag that be- longs to Popery •, lay not a Bit of the Lord's Building with any Thing that belongs unto Antichrift's Stuff : But away with all of it , Root and Branch, Head and Tail. Throw it out of the Kingdom. Go on coura- gioufly. Never can you lay out your Blood better than in fuch a Quarrel. Chrift fried all his Blood to fave you from Hell ^ venture all yours to fet him up in his Throne, that you may preferve your Liberties and Laws, and preferve us out of the Hands of them, who would de- ftroy us all. Ibid. P. 21.
Oh ! that God would deliver our King from thofe that are Adversaries to his Truth h and make him an Inftrument to execute his Wrath upon the great Whore, that the Truth of God might have a free PafTage thro1 the feveral Regions of the Earth.
Maynard, before the Commons, Febr. 26 1 1644. P. 23.
BlefTed be the Lord, who hath put it in the Heart of the Honourable Parliament, to purge out the Dregs of that Leaven, which the Lord hates in his very Soul ♦, and to pull down that proud opprefling Prelacy, and thofe Prelatical Popiih Innovations , which were the Props and Pillars of Idolatry.
James Nalton, befote the Commons, April 29. 1646.
G 2 ^ou
44 A Centvky of
You have the Broom of Reformation in your Hands , for the Lord Jefus's Sake, do fomething to cleanfe us -, fweep the Church, as well as Commonwealth. Ibid> J>< 40.
Whether it be right in the Sight of God, that his and the Kingdom's Enemies, when God hath (hut them up in your Hand, mould not only have their Lives and their Eafe, but their Sins indulged them, confide*.
Newcomen's Sermon before the Two Hoifes, Sept. 1 2, 1644. P. 4J.
ConFult the Land , the Church , Religion , Laws , Thoufands that have helped you : Confult with their Good, tho' not with all their Perfons «, and then you will fee what yoli muft do with Delinquents. You fee I meddle not with Particulars. But St. Paul bids me remember thofe that are in Bonds ♦, becaufe I am bound with them: So, I befeech you, to take an effectual Courfe, that God's Prifoners, and your Prifoners at Ox- ford, and eliewhere, may be better ufed », or if poflible delivered.
Herbert Palmer's Fafi Sermon before the Commons, June 28. 1643. P. 70.
If Prelates, Papifts, and Malignants, be hated only as hurtful to your State, to the Gain and external Peace of the Commonwealth, and not as God's Enemies, as Idolaters, as under the King of the Bottomlefs Pit, An— tichrift 5 and Comets borrowing Light from that fallen Star, and not as Servants to our King 5 the War is fixed- ding of innocent Blood.
Rutherford, before the Commons, January 31. 1643.
Nov/ God is rifen upon the Prayers and Tears of his People, groaning under the intolerable Oppreilions of Hierarchy, Prelates , High-Commiifion , &c. ( who lorded it over their Faith and Confciences , and tyran- nized over their Bodies and Eftates ) crying unto him
Pay
Presbyterian Preachers. 45
pay and Night for Help. I am confident there was fcarce the like Crying in the "World, as there was of late Years in England. Why ihould it not be ftill con- tinued > The Lord being therefore up, will not fit down till he has done his Work.
Reyner's Fafi Sermon before the Commons, Auguft 28. 1644. P. 26.
If the Blood of one Man, and he a wicked Man, un- juftly ihed, will bring Sin upon a whole Nation, till it be done away by the Blood of him that Ihed. it h how much more will the Blood of fo many Martyrs cruelly flain for ChrilYs. Sake inguilt our Nation I . Now, Right Honourable, becaufe you cannot reach the old Pcrfecutors, do Juftice upon their Succeflors that have received all their Sins. Ibid, p. 47.
An Earthquake was appointed to {hake down the Ce- remonial Ordinances. Now if this was neceflary for the Abolition of that Divine Worfhip, which had been God's own Inftitution : How much more fhall that which is cf human Invention, (yea the very Fumes and Frogs of the Bottomlefs Pit) to God's infinite Dif- pleafureand Difhonour, be tumbled down with Vio- lence and Vengeance to Hell, from whence it came. Ibid. jp. 20.
God is full of Wifdom in his Difpenfations to his Church, like a Phyfician to his Patients • and there- fore will not adminifter Cordials to her, being full of Corruption, till he have purged her , and brought her low : It rna? be even by letting Blood.
Strickland's. %th of November Sermon before the Lords, 1.644. P* 22. ,
[Down with EaaVs Altars, down with BaaTs Priefls,
Saiwey, hefore the Commons, October *J. 1645. P. 19.
I plead only for Juftice againft thofe Children of Death *> fuch as are dead in Law alrea ly : That a Tri- bute
4^ ^ Century of
bute of Wolves Heads may be laid upon bloody Ireland, till that monftrous Generation of new Cannibals be quite rooted out. And we have too Cut-Throats among our felves 5 and I hope the good Blood of thofe honeft Clothiers that cry aloud for "Vengeance in God's Ears, cry for Juftice in yours •, feeing they have been fo bold to drink - Blood to their Betters, let them pledge you now,andgive them Blood todrink, for they are worthy. Tefdale's Faft Sermon before the Commons, Auguft 28. 1644. P. 26.
I confefs it is not fo proper for a Preacher of the Go- Ipel to call for the drawing of the Sword • but the Peo- ple from all the Parts of the Kingdom, who have been plundered, waited, opprefled, do and may cry aloud, Juflice, Juftice 5 as they have done formerly with good Succefs. But it is enough to have given an Intimation. Verbum fapienti fat eft.
Sam. TorfhelPs Thankfgiving Sermon before the Com- mons, May 26. 1646. P. 9.
If our Egyptian Tafk-Mafters had been as wife as the Egyptian Tyrant Sefoftris, they would have defifted from their Cruelties beibre they were enforced $ but God re- ferved them for their deferved Punifhment.
Tho. Valentine'* Faft Sermon before the Commons, De- cember 28. 1642. P. 27.
Thofe that are Men of Belial, harden'd in their Ma- lignity, cut them down with the Sword of Juftice, root them out, and confume them, as with Fire, that no Root may fpring again.
Geo. Walker5.? Faft Sermon before the Commons, Janu- ary 29. 1644. P. 19.
Of all AhaVs Family and perfecuting Houfe, there was not a Man left, to make Water againft the Wall. Not one Man of all Baal's Prieft efcaped, but all were cut off. Ibid. p. 39.
Blcf-
Presbyterian Preachers. aj
Blefled be God, many of the Utenfils and Moveables, and much of the Trumpery are caft out already. A vaft old Frame muft be plucked down ; many Horns muft be knocked off, many rough Stones and knotty Pieces you fhall meet withal to be fquared and polifli- ed. And there be more Builders of Babel than of Je- rufalem ; more that would pluck down, than rear up the Walls of Jemfalem.
Hen Wilkinfon'* Fajl Sermon before the 'Commons 1643. P. 17.
Leave no Frogs that creep into Kings Chambers, pro- voking them by their Croaking to make War. [ They are Spirits of Devils which go forth unto the Kings of the Earth, to gather them to Battel.] Prince againft Principalities, King againft Parliament -, by Men like Frogs, impudent in Croaking. Their Frogs Heads like their Caps, Ghtadrata Ranarnm Capita. Here is Work for the Power of Parliament, that the King may have no Croakers in his Chamber or Court.
Wilfbn's Fajl Sermon before the Commons, September 8. 1642. Called, Jericho's Downfall p. 34.
Remember the Prelates, as that proud Primate Dio- trepheSyWith malicious Words,prating againft and cafting out good Church Members. lb. p. 3 ?.
Confider what Succefs has followed fince the voting down Prelacy, what Bleiiings God gave you. Ibid, p. 36.
The Bead's Kingdom is full of Darknefs. A Scottijh Mift is fallen on Epifcopacy. The Vial is upon them, and yet they repent not : Go on and profper in your Work. The Lord haften Babylon* Fall, and final Fall. lb. />-4>.
Me thinks I hear the Croaking Frogs , and what they buz into the Ears of their Princes : Me thinks I hear them thus bemoaning Popery to them $ That Ancient, that Catholick Religion ^ that fweet and eafy Way of
ferving
4& yl Century 'of
ferving God, thus in Danger to be extirpated, beloved Popery extirpated , and no Man moved at it.
Fran. Woodcock'* F&ft Sermon before the Commons, OSiO- ber 30. 1644. P. 16.
CHAP. IV.
Again ft the Church 0/ England, her -Clergy, and
Liturgy.
X Humbly befeech you to confider, Whether our Pre- lates have not been the grand Oppreffors of the Kingdom. Have they not been great OppreiTbrs both in Church and Commonwealth ? What Country, what Ci- ty, what Town, what Village, what Family , I had almofl: faid what Perfon in the Kingdom, hath not in one Kind or other, in one Degree or other, been oppref- fed by them > How many wealthy Men have been crufhed by their Cruelty > How many poor Families have been ruinated by their Tyranny ? S. Afh. before the Commons, March 30. 1642. P. 31.
It is a Burthen intolerable, that Men ihould be cafl: out of the Congregation of God's People, and deliver- ed up to Satan, for working on an idle Holiday. I humbly recommend this to your Confideration, Whe- ther the Prelatical Government has net been the Root of all, or at leaft almofl: all thefe Oppreilions. [For my Part, I confefs, I can't expert a complcat Delive- rance from thefe, and fuch like Oppreilions, but by the Extirpation of that Frame.] lb. p. 60, 61.
It will not be fufficient to fay a Prayer only, ( as the World is wont to exprefs it ) or to word it before the Lord. B'Jt we mould rather heart it before God in holy Prayer. !/>./>. 48,
If
Presbyterian Preachers. Ap
It is a working Prayer $ Lip-laboured Prayers, well- Worded Supplications, are no good Arguments to prove an Ifraelite^ much lefs will yawning, fluggifh, bed- ridden Devotions evidence a Man's Intereft in this Pre- rogative.
Sim. Afhe's Faft Sermon before the Commons, April 28k
1647. P. 20. "Whereas the publick Worfhip of God was muclr em- bafed, you have been careful to take away the glittering Tin of ipecious Ceremonies, together with the ugly Drofs of ipecious Superftition.
J. Arrowfmith's Tkankfgiving Sermon before Both Hon- fes, March 12. 1645. Called, England's Eben-E^ zer. Epijh Bed.
With a good Confcience have your Honours rooted up that evil Tree [viz. Epifcopacy,] which God did never plant. What farther fhall be found neceiTary for the full Extermination of that curfed Weed $ if an Ordi- nance were requifite to be added to the former Bills $ or whatever the Hearts of good People can require for their full Security from the Return of that Popifli Govern- ment 5 it is expected from your Piety and Zeal.
R. Barly's Faff Sermon before the Commons, February 28. 1643. P. 26.
It can't be denied, but that Epifcopacy is fuch a Sup- porter of Papacy, that where one falls, the other cannot ftand. Pluck up this one Weed in the Antichriftiari Kingdoms beyond Sea, and the Pope can no more (land than a Head without its Body. Ibid. p. 2 8*
Such Tigers have we had of late amongft us 5 Tigers in Rage and Cruelty againft the Saints * the fweet Sa- vour of their Graces fo delightful to God, made them rage againft them : And now the fweet Savour of their Comforts, their Peace, their Liberties, make them to rage again.
Burrough'5, before the Commons, S:ptember 7. 1641, P. 3.
H They
$o /tf Century of
They faw Jernfalem even turned into Babylon : They faw what Havock was made of the Saints, of faithful Minifters , of Truth'3 Ordinances. Thofe who were even as Pillars, were taken away, and even rotten Pofts, yea Sticks were fet up in their Room. If any Truths, any Ordinances tended to the Power of Godli- nefs more than other ^ if any Saints were more eminent, if any Minifters were Faithful, more ufeful than others -5 thefe were efpecially, ftruck at. lb.
That God fhould fo honour a Nation, who have ap? peared in the Caufe of Religion for their Confciences, againft. the Antichriftian Party : For fo it was, not againft their King -, that all Things fhould be fo carri- ed, Religion maintained, fuperftitious Vanities remo- ved, Prelatical Tyranny banifhed, and all in a peacea- ble Way 5 altho' appearing in a hoftile Way, yet re- taining Peace in their Bofoms, behaving themfelves peaceably, and departing from us in Peace.
Burroughs , before the Commons, September 7. 1641. P. 23, 24. "
I believe the whole World cannot parallel fuch Con- fcience-Oppofition as was practifed here in England, lb. p. 27.
They fought to call Shame upon the Saints, vilifying them, and reproaching them what they could ^ tram- pling them under Feet as Duft. Oh ! how fhamefully were moft precious fpirited Men abufed by every paltry Gommiilary in their Courts. What Names were they called by vile Men, who were not worthy to fit with the Dogs of the Flock ? But now, who are made vile, who are the moft loathfome Men in the Eyes and Hearts of all ? I appeal to all Men, what Generation of Men are there in England, that lie upon the Stomach of all, rea- dy to be fpued out ? I fhall not need to name the Men. There wants but putting the Finger a little in the Throat, and they are gone : There is a Preparation of Men's Spirits throughout the Kingdom to caft them out^
and
Presbyterian Preachers. r i
and God will do it in his due Time -, and we hope the Time is at Hand. lb. p. 33, 34.
And when all had been wallowing in Blood, if this Queftion had been afked ^ Et qnorfiim bac ? And where- fore is all this ? If this had been the only Account that could have been given of it, the Defence of a Bifhop's Rochet, Surplice, or Crofs, how fad would they have been > What then muft the Title of this War have been, but Bellum Epifcopak ? If we had engaged War with the Scots, and got the better, [what ihould we have got if the Prelatical Party had been fet up ? What could we have expected from them, but Superftitions, inno- vations, Illegalities \ Bondage of our Eftates, Liberty, Confcience > ~\ And to venture our Eftates, our Bloods , and the embruing our Hands in the Blood of our Bre- thren for to get this Victory, as the beft Reward of our Adventures ^ Oh ! how miferable had this been ? Ibid.
i7- 19'
This Deliverance from our fore Travail, which we
were in danger of, is come likewife from the Travail
of the Souls of the Saints in Prayer, crying to Heaven,
If it be poffible, let this Cup pafs from us. lb. p. 42.
The Adverfaries made more Hafte than good Speed : They laid, they would devour us at once : They drove on furioufly, like Jehu the Son of Nimjln ^ They thought all was fure, all was done $ but the Lord hath rebuked them. The Changers of God's Worfhip amongft the Ten Tribes were wifer : They were as hot as an Oven in their Refolutions and Defires to bring in a falfe Wor- fhip h yet they take Time, as a Baker, to knead their Dough. Ibid. p.V,>
Be not difcouraged by the Impudencies and Infolen- cies of the Popifft Party, who yet ( tho' God and Man be againft them) will lift up their Heads and promife themfelves great Things, as if yet they had a Day. For this is the Cm ft of God upon that Party ^ t^at not- withstanding God fet liimfelf againft them, they will not yet come and repent : But they fhall ftanl it cut m
H 2 the
$2 ^ Century 0/
the Pride and Hardnefs of their Hearts, that they may perifb. lb p. 58.
The greateft Blow that ever was given to the Anti- chriftian Government, is that which it now hath had. Babylon is fallen, is fallen. As when Rachel brought forth a Son, flie faid, God bath taken away my Reproach. So rnay we fay this Day, for we lay under Reproach amongft the Nations about us. They faid, England is again de- clining to Popery ^ Bifhops have the Rule there, to drive cut the Minifters of God's People. lb. p. 44.
The Pbilijlines are rooted out , utterly out of the World *, but. PhiMine Enemies of Sion remain ftill, ne- ver more. Chiefly Papifts, Prelates, with all Refifters of God's Mofes's and Aaron 's. This is our prefent Con- dition ^ the Philiflines are upon us • they rejoice that they have our Samfon, our King in their Prifon •, and that they have put out our Eyes : They plough with his Heifer, they have fhorn offhis Locks, where his Strength lay, even the Hearts of his faithful godly People of thefe Kingdoms, and this prefent Parliament of Eng- land. His Heart is for them ^ his Hand againft them.
Richard Byfield^ Fafr Sermon before the Commons, June 25. 3645. P. 7, 8. Called, Zion's Anfmr to the Nation s Anihajfadors.
Beholding Faith and a good Confcience in the midfi of fuch Sons of Belial that will live without Yoke % fuch Bulls of Bafian, fuch Brats of Babylon, of Confu- sion, FaQors for Hell and Beelzebub ; if we can but efcape a while, and get Heaven over our Heads at laft. II: p. 37.-
T Such Carpenters have you been to us, you have knock- ed off all the Horns, wherewith the fat Bulls of Bafnn pufhed at us : You have ftubb'd up many unprofitable frees, and have taken away ( at lead in j^our Endea- vours) many rotten Pcfts : You have removed a great
dflal of Rubbifn.
Cala-
Presbyterian Preachers. 55
Calamy's, before the Commons, December 22. 164.1. P. 33-
[ This Year God, by his Providence, has buried this Feaft [viz. Chriftmas-Day] in a Faft : And I hope it will never rife again.]
Calamy's Faft Sermon before the Lords, December 2?, 1644. P. 41.
Prevent the farther Departure of the Land from God, by keeping out Seducers -, thofe Seducing, Malignant, Popifh, Prelatical Priefts, who have been call: out -3 who have been one great Caufe of the Apoftacy of England. They are Men, who, with Hananiah and Zedekiab, have taught Rebellion againft the Lord.
Cafe '5 Faft Sermon before the Co?nmons, May 26. 1^47. Called, Spiritual Whoredom difcovcr'd. P. 34.
If a tender Confcience did but fcruple a Ceremony, or but flop ( it may be) at fome of their Yefternight- Dreams, and late Innovations, it wou'd not be long be- fore they heard of it, as Perfons intolerable.
Caryl's Sermon before the Commons, April 27. 1 642. P. 46.
It was a noble Refolution in the Ifraelites, who were no fooner informed that their Brethren the Children of Reuben, and Children of Gad, and the half Tribe of Mavaffch , had built an Altar upon the Borders of Jor- dan, but they prefently refolve to fight againft them. Let me befeech you this Day to take up the like Refo- lution, and fpeedily execute it againft; every Altar, eve- ry Thing about God's Worfhip, whofe Authors and A- betters can't give a good Account of its Beginning, Standing and Continuance, as thofe Reitbenhes did for that. lb. P. 5T.
Bear not the Seats of thofe who have fold and vexed Doves, but have fpared Crows, and admitted unclean Birds to neftle there. Bear not ignorant, idle, Idol- Shepherds, who feed themfelves, and not the Flock.
Bear
*J4 A Czn TVKY of.
Bear not fuperftitious Innovations, who are all for Mix- tures in God's Worihip. Bear not the old Mixtures, nor the old Leaven, which was left in the firft Refor- mation. Take away the Names of Baalim, the Rem- nants' of Superftition. Confider whether you mould bear that which has been complained of as a Burthen, by many, by moft Petitions, from all the Quarters of the Land 5 I mean plainly, our prefent Frame and Con- ftitution in Church Difcipline and Government. But let, let this come to Trial, lb. p. 53.
And becaufe they triumphed that they had beaten all Enemies out of the Field, but Prayer j and no Prayer was left to oppofe them, (for the Letany was almofl: eve- ry where on their Side, ) but the Prayers (as they call them) of addle Heads and lick Brains : Therefore alfb Jefus Chrift, to vindicate this defpifed Ordinance, hath let them fall in all Places, by that which they little thought could ftand before them : The Prayers (as they count Madnefs and Diftra&ion ) of armed diffracted People. And do not. thefe SuccefTes look like the Sue- cefles of Chrift's Kingdom >
CzryY sThanlfgiving Sermon before the Commons, April 23. 1644. P. 35.
Let us not receive the Babylonifli Creed, the Trent Creed, the EngliJIj Liturgy. The Church of God lias a Spirit of Prayer -, therefore we need not fend to Baby- lon, to Rome for Prayers.
Cheynel's Fafl Sermon before the Commons, May 31. 1643. P. 30. "
You fee that thefe Men have fteePd their Brows with more than a BabylonifJ? Impudence, who have been ever and anon altering the EngliJI) Liturgy for the worfe, as if the Miffal had been Jure Divino \ And therefore the Liturgy can never come near enough the Romifi Mafs. Believe it, if the Faction that is now up in Arms pre- vail, we (hall have the Service-Book which was prepa- red for Scotland, or a worfe ^ fome Babylonian Service impoled upon us as Divine Service. lb. p. 3 2.
The
Presbyterian Preachers. cjj-
The Communion-Table flood like a Kitchen Drefler- Board 5 but it muft be advanced to the upper End, that none might fit above God Almighty : It muft be raiPd in 5 it muft have fome Refped fheW'd to it. Holidays, the Saints Feftivals muft be kept with fome Stric~tne{s .$ and in Lieu of them, you fhall have Liberty on the LordVDay to game, and revel, and do what you pleafe.
Coleman'* Fajl Sermon before the Commons, Auguft 30. 1643. P. 38.
But what Kind of Men were ordinarily feated in the Cathedrals ? In a great Part of late become the Neft of Idle Drones, and fuperftitious Formalifts. lb, p. 39.
The Tampering and Efiays of fbme, to clip, or walh* or new coin, or allay and abafe with fome Romifi Mix- ture the Gold and Purity of our Doctrine. Is this to love the Truth ? That pure and refined Truth which hath pa fled the fiery Trial *, hath been baptized in the Blood of many Martyrs ^ fown in a Field made fruitful with their Afnes *, who loved not their Lives fo much as the Truth. To let up lying Vanities, Pictures and Images 5 and to cry down Praying and Preaching, whereby thofe Toys may be ufeful and neceffary to the ignorant (becaufe untaught) People. To fuffer Idola- try or fuperftitious Formalities in ferving God, to get Ground upon our Opinions and Practices. Is this to love the Truth ? Are not the Lengthening and Encreafing of ceremonious Shadows a Prefage and Sign of Shortning our Days, or Setting of our Sun, and diminiihing our Light ?
John Gauden'j Sermon before the Commons, November 29. 1640. P. 29.
Such hath been the fhamelefs Impudence and Effron- tery of fome ridiculous Heads, that plain and honeft Minds fhall be fcorned and derided, and in a juggling Fafhion cheated out of the Power of Religion. Whe- ther they have a Defign to re-edify EabeVs Ruins or nor, I can't tell. Some vehemently fufpect it. Sure I am,.
there
$6 ^Century 0/
is fuch a Confufion and Novelty of Language affecla- ted by fome Men, of Altars, Sacrifices, Priefts, Corpo- riety of Prefence, Penance, Auricular Confeilion, &b. that moil People know not what they mean, what they would have, or what they intend to call for next. Ibid.
It will be objected by our Adverfaries, that they pray as well as we. And why may they not be heard as well as we ? It is true, they pray ; fome of them to our Lord, fome of them to our Lady, (as they call her) fome fay, Our Father, fome Pater Nofter and Ave Ma- ria, and fome make ufe of Beads and Crucifixes when they pray $ and the Generality of them read out of a Book. But how many of them pray in the Spirit? Certainly there is great Difference betwixt their Pray- ing, and the Praying on this Side : And there is great Difference between the Men that perform Prayer on both Sides, and thofe they pray for. And were their Prayer better than it is, their Caufe is naught -, and their Armies too, like the Abfalonian Army, to profper.
Samuel Gibfon's Fall: Sermon, September 24. 164 ?. P. 32.
Is it not frefh in your Memory, how God had a Quar- rel with your Steeples and Churches, for the Corrupti- ons and Innovations in them , when divers of them were fmitten and broken by Thunder and Lightning >
Greenhil, before the Commom, April 26. 1643. P. 14. Called, The Axe at the Root.
The Lord will deal roundly with them, uncovenant them, unchurch them, unfaint them. lb. p. 1 9.
Thofe Troops of blind Guides, ignorant Sots, Priefts of Jeroboam's Orders , the Scum and Froth of the People.
Henry Hall's Fajl Sermon before the Commons, May 29. T644. Called, Heaven ravifh\l. P. 22.
When Jezalel, that Mother of Whoredoms, and all her Merchants, Facto, and Retainers, with all their
Presbyterian Preachers. 57
Babylow/h Trafh and Trurrfpery, the Wares which they trafficked in, are packing away, then and not before be- gins the victorious Song of the Elders, Rev. 19. 6.
Look upon your Enemies, how more than Hyperbo- lically Violent they are carrying on their Defigns of Rome and Hell. Ibid. p. 70.
In the Church the Bound of Orthodox Proteftant Re- ligion is grofly invaded and innovated. The illegal In- troduction of fuperftitious Ceremonies, Tables remo- ved, Crucifixes ere&ed, Adoration towards Altars pra-
flifed.
Nath. Hardy '5 Fafl Sermon before tie Peers, February
24. \6\% P. 15.
Methinks, moft noble Patriots, I fee Religion bke^a Forelorn Damfel in ragged Attire, with her difheveFd Hair, weeping Eyes, and bleeding Wounds , lie pro- ftrate at your Feet, crying out like the Woman of Te- koab, Help, &c. Oh*! be pleafed to take her by the Hand, raife her up, fet her upon her Legs, place a Guard about her, and drive away her Enemies. Ibid. p. 16.
It feareth me, that a great Part of the Land are not yet brought to this Confeifion -, but are ftill fond of a formal Service, a Proud Prelacy. And therefore as you your felves are to acknowledge this Sin as a high Provo- cation, fo would all good Means be ufed for bringing the People to the Sight and Senfe of it.
Alexander Henderfon's Fafl Sermon before the Commons, December 27. 1643. P. 18.
If any fay, that I feek the Ruin and publifh the Shame of Men of mine own Calling • I anfwer 5 No. They are the Proud, the Perfecting, the Prophane, the Popifh, the Temporizing, the Inefficient, the Lazy, the Drunken, the Scandalous Prelates and Minifters that difgrace the holy Fundion, and make us aihamed of them, as an hoHeft Man is to fee his Brother go to the
Gallows. . m m
I Jaf-
5$ ^ Century of
Jafper Hicks^ Fajl Sermon before the Commons, June 16. 1644. P. 16.
As Ahab had his 400 Prophets of the Day, which flatter'*! him, and footrf d him up in Sin ; Even many " fuch like are ftill alive in the World, who inftead of fearching the Wound to the Bottom, flan it over 5 .har- den others in their Sins, by their Applaufes and Appro- bations of them. And I would that great Perfons were always free from fuch Inconveniences as thefe are.
Horton's Fajl Sermun before the Veers, December 30. ; 1646. P. 15.
That we may have an incorrupt Religion, without finful, without guileful Mixtures. Not a Linfey-wool- iky Religion. All new-born Babes will defire Word- Milk, Sermon-Milk, without Guile, without adultera- ting. ,
Tho.UilYs Fajl Sermon, July 27. 1642. P. 5. . Cal- led,. The Trade for Truth.
If our Prelatical Power and Cathedral Pomp be of divine Right, let us fee a divine Word for it. P. 1 7.
The Sword is already ihaken out of the great Church- men's Hands, by Parliament Power. The Keys don't hang under their Girdle as they did. We dare not but hope that there are engaging Providences, earneft Pen- nies, of ibme great Payment yet behind. Oh ! there- fore know and redeem your Opportunities of trading for Truth. lb. p. 29.
Maintain among us a free Courfe of Trading for eter- nal Happinefs. Set and keep open thofe Shops, fuch Pulpits , fiich Mouths , as any Prelatical Ufurpation have, or would have flint up. lb. p. 33,
What Pity is it that. Cathedral Societies fnould be of- teii Sanctuaries for Non-Refidents, and be made Nurfe- ries for fuch idle Drones, who can neither preach nor pray other wife than read, fay, or fing Prayers. And in the rntan Time moil be obferved in a Non-edifying Pomp of ceremonious Service. Ibid. p. 51.
Be-
Presbyterian Preachers. ^
Behold 'the -many hundred Congregations where Mil- lions of Souls are like to periih for want of Villon. Truth is fold from amongft them, either by Soul-be- traying Non-Refidents , Soul- poifoning Innovators, or Soul-pining dry Nurfes. In many Miles not a Minifter that can preach and live Sermons. I wifh every Par- liament-Man had a Map of the Soul Mifery of the moft of the Ten Thoufand Churches and Chappels in Evg- land. Ibid. p. 52, if.
Firft, Provide that every Congregation may have an ample Trumpet of Truth : Secondly , Let every great Town have Lectures, Markets of Truth. Ib.p.$$.
Inftead of High-Commiffion, we have an honourable Committee, that turns the Wheel upon fuch as are ican- dalous and unworthy. In the Room of Jeroboams . Priefts, burning and finning Lights are multiplied. In the Place of a long Liturgy we are in Hopes of a Pithy Directory. Inftead of Prelatical Rails about the Table, we have the Scripture Rails of Difcipline. Where Po- pifh Altars and Crucifixes did abound, we begin to fee more of Chrift crucified, in the Simplicity and Purity of his Ordinances.
Hill's Faft Sermon before the Two Hovfes, Auguft 13 1644. P- 2g-
Down with the old Building of Popery and Prelacy, The Pope has been railing himfelf a pompous Palace fat many Years together upon Chrift's Groiifed^ a great Encroachment to our own Saviour. Prelacy was the Scaffold whereby the Building of Popery was raifed to fo great a Height-, and many would retain it as a Crutch to fupport tottering Babylon. Ibid. p. 3>.
The croaking Frogs of Egjpt will net henceforth take yoil for a Log, that may be leap d upon and trifled with at Pleafhre. ' And you may put in your Plea againft
black moutifd Obloquy.
la La
6o j4 Century of
Langley's Fafi Sermon on Chriftmas-Day before the Commons. Ep. Ded.
The Lord fhew'd that they were the great Beaft in- deed, whofe Horns the Carpenters are now fawing off. Ibid. p. 9.
Every Blow has put the Saints upon Paul's Temper, beaten off from his Horfe , to fay, Lord, what wilt thou we do ? And to crouch low and cry out, Lord, put any Yoke upon us, fo it be thine. Not Babylonijj^ not Spanijh, not Cavalierifi. lb, p. 2 2.
Who would have thought the throwing of a Stool in Church, out of Indignation, by a godly Woman, a Zea - lot, at the fifft broaching the EngU Jh Mafs at Edinburgh 5 I fay, who wou'd have thought that the throwing that Stool fhould have fo mightily fhaken the Pope's Chair. Ibid. p. 28.
But above all, the extreme daring bold Audacioufnefs of a Generation of Men, that have adventured as much as in them lies to corrupt God's Worfhip 5 that not only rejoice to fee the Idolatry and Superftition of the Church of Rome pra&ifed by others, but have dared to fet their Thresholds by God's Threfnold 5 and to drefs out all God's Worfhip according to their own Fancy.
Marfhall, before the Commons , November 17. 1640. P. 3?.
But God knows, and you know, That we have not only Abundance of Idolatrous Papifts, but Abundance of Popifh Idolatrous Spirits, who are fuperftitioufly ad- dicted, willing to embrace any Thing that goes that Way $ only they will not have it go under the Name of Popery. And as for our Minifters, how many Com- plaints and Petitions has this Honourable Aflembly re- ceived, againft many Hundreds of them 5 Multitudes of them rotten and unfound in their Doctrine, and viti- ous and corrupt in their Lives \ befides Thoufands of others, who, God knows, want either Will or Skill to do the Lord's Work Faithfully!
Presbyterian Preachers. 6 1
Marfhal before the Commons, December 22. 1641. P. 44, 4?-
They have a Third Engine, and that is the Injuncti- on of new Ceremonies and Adorations, that if any cou'd fwallow the Book,, yet they may difcover and cafi: them out by {training. To this they add a Fourth, Prayers and Proclamations againft: our Brethren the Scotch 5 and their laft and greateft Engine, which was like the Powder-Plot, againft the godly Minifters of the Nation, to blow up the Reliques of them at once, was their Oath for Epifcopacy $ and as it was fome time faid to Elijah, Him that efcapeth the fword of Hazael fmll Jehu fay, &c. fo had they faid, Him that efcapeth the Dint of the Ceremonies, fhall the Book of Sports flay 5 him that efcapeth the Book of Sports, fhall the new Injunctions flay 3 and him that efcapeth the new Injunctions, fhall the Proclamation flay 5 and him that efcapeth the Proclamation, fhall the Oaths flay. The bellowing of Offices, collating of Benefices, Election of Matters and Fellows of Colleges, who had the over- ruling Hand in them, the Power of Mandamus, but Canterbury and his Faction ? And who were they confer- red upon, but upon Men infamous and impudent iti Armhnan and Popifli Opinions ? Profeffed Armimamfi* and bold-faced Popery were the only fpeedy Way to Church Preferment.
Newcomen before the Commons, November 5. 1642. R 28.
Why the Bifhops, who have heen obferved to wifli well to Popery ab Incunabulis, fhou'd carry on fuch a Plot, fome Reafon may appear: For cou'd they but once have obtained this, That Popery fhou'd have tri- umphed over the Reformed Religion, the Mitre wou'd have foon trampled upon the Crown. Ibid. R 30.
As for our Adversaries, if they ever ftrain'd their Wits to exceed themfelves in plotting Mifchief, it has been fince this Parliament, Such a Succenturiation there
byis
6l A C £ N T U R Y of
has been of Plots, that we may fay of them, as fhe of Gad, A Troop cometh. Befides, fome ridiculous Things have been fent forth into Publick, on purpofe to outface the Truth, and fully the Glory of our Deliverance -, which is the Reafon why fbme Men are fo incredulous ; They can fee no Danger \ the Parliament needs no
uards ; there's no need of fettling the Militia. Ibid. G.32.
They neither regard Prince nor People : For we may eafily perceive, if England tear out its own Bowels, tho5 all we die, fo Hierarchy furvive, they wou'd be well pleafed. Ibid. P. 38.
Surely his Majefty's Life, if bound up in one Hair of his Head, might be more fecure [ in the Scotch Ar- my ~] than he can be amongft Papifts and Cavaliers, if every Hair of his Head were a Life. Ibid. P. 3 9.
But, O Lord, in fuch a corrupt State of Clergy and Univerfities, where ihall we find faithful Men to plant the Nation with? To alter Religion fo as to corrupt it, was the Plot of the Popifh Prelates, and their FaSors. Ibid. P. 45, 47.
Such were the Innovations of the late Hierarchies in Worfhip, their Paintings, Crolfmgs, Crucifixes, Bow- ings, Cringings, Altars, Tapers, Wafers, Organs, An- thems, Litany, Rails, Images, Copes, Veftments y what were they, but Roman Varnifh, Italian Drefs for our Devotion, to draw on Conformity with that Ene- my of the Lord Jefus >
J. Owen's Fajl Se/mon before the Commons, April 29. 1646. P. 29.
Againft the Second Commandment I name Super- ftition, and the heavy Weight put upon Ceremonies, Circumflances, and human Ordinances , whilft the Or- dinances of Gcd have been fhamefully negleeled by an Ignorant, Pluralizing, Non-Refident, Carelcfs Miniftry, and a Prophane People, who liked all this well enough, and loved to have rtTd;
Palmer's-
Presbyterian Preachers. £ 2
. Palmer's Fafi Sermon before the Commons, June 28. 1643. P. 38.
God befools them to worfhip the Works of their own Hands, their own Babies.
Pern's Fajl Sermon before the Commons, May 31. 1643. P. 10.
We hope God will famifh Popery, Arminianifm, and Jew Worfhip. Ibid. P. 18.
Hope of white Sleeves has made many a Man bloody his Fingers. Ibid. P. 22.
It is known to you all, that when the Whore of Ba- bylon was call: out of the Church, fhe left behind her a Gold Ring, and fome lefs Tokens 5 I mean E- pifcopacy, and human Ceremonies. This was the Whore's Policy, to leave a Token behind her, that {he might find an Errand in the Houfe again : And fhe was indeed returning to the Houfe again to demand her Love-Token. But it fhall be heavenly Wifdom to make a thorough Reformation, to leave nothing that belongs to Babylon • and let not a Corner Stone be taken out of Babylon to build the Lord's Houfe, for they are curfed Stones.
Rutherford before the Commons, Jan. 3T. 1643. p. 18.
There is a long Web now weaving in England and Ireland : Many Hands fpin Thread to the Web •, as England, Scotland, Ireland, Rome, Italy, France, Spam, Denmark, Papifts, Jefuits, Cardinals, Princes, Prelates, Politicians ; and Jehovah the Lord hath had a Hand eminently in the Contexture. Ibid. P. 38.
Oh People really in Covenant with God • England, Britain be not weary ; the King is coming, Chrift is on his Journey, Polling Deliverance is at hand. Ibid. P. 51.
W"e cou'd not imagine, that fo many Cages of un- clean Birds, fuch Beds of Snakes, fuch Nefts of Wafps, fhould fuller the Refiner's Fire with Patience or Quiet-
nefs :
6$ yf Century 0/
nefs : Or that fuch Heaps of idle and fuperftitious Mi- nifters, fuch Swarms and Hives of Papifts, fuch Dung- hils of Profanenefs, fuch mighty Nimrods, and devour- ing OpprefTors, fhould fufFer themfelves to be difpoflef- fed without Refiftance or Oppofition . , Will. Sedgwick'5 FaJ} Sermon before the Commons, 1642.
P. 7. God has poured out fome Wrath upon the Throne of
the Beaft. Prelacy, by fome late and found Expofitors,
is conceived to be that Throne $ and we have feen it
pull'd down in Scotland, and darken'd in England. Ibid.
P. 18.
We have an ungodly Generation, that weep with a loud Voice, and complain their Gods are gone-, their God Epifcopacy, their God Liturgy, the Surplice, the Crofs, the Organ and Maypole, their Sabbath-Dance, and Whit f mi- Ale*
Dr. Stanton's Fajl Sermon before the Commons, April 24. 1644. Epjl. Bed.
I am glad, for my part, that our Churches are fcou- red of their gay Gazing -, and I marveli'd a great while fince, how, and why the Organs were fo many, and blew fo loud, when the Homilies accufed them for de- filing God's Houfe.
Thorowgood's Fafi Sermon before the Commons, De- cember 25. 1644. -P- *&
As for the Crown, let Mercy and Truth be Suppor- ters of it for ever. But for Mitres (if Hiftory lie not) we may fay of them, that the Crown has never flou- nfhed, thai has grown near the Mitre.
Vines'* Tbajtkfgiving Sermon before the Tiro Houfes^ July 18. 1644. P. 15.
• I law a fpecial Hand of God, in calling me to preach to fo Honourable an Ailembly ^ and his Power and Pro- vidence in fruftrating and bringing to nought the Conn-
fels
Presbyterian Preachers. 6$
fels and Purpofes of the proud Perfecuting Prelate of Canterbury : who on the fame Day of the Week, the lame Month of the Year Six Years before, brought me to anfwer, Ore tenns, in the Star-Chamber, with a full Intention to lay a heavy Cenfure upon me ; and when the Juftice of God (for which I fuffer'd) did bear me out againft all his Slanders and falfe Accufations, he mofl: proudly affirmed, and bid me afTiire my felf of it, that I fhou'd never come in "a Pulpit, nor preach any more.
George Walker's Fajl Sermon before the Commons^ Jan. 29. 1644. Bjpft' Ded.
We are generally guilty in one meafure or other, in that out of cowardly Fear we received, without Con- tradiction or Refiftance, their Popifh Ceremonies, fu- perftitious Rites, and idolatrous Innovations $ and too jnany footh'd them in their ufurped Power. Ibid* P. 22.
Prelacy, Purple Prelates and their Clergy, hinder the Paflage of God's Redeemed over into Canaan, Heaven ^ and lhall down. Prelacy, Root and Branch, lhall be taken away, as a Tree that cumbers the Ground : It muft be cut down : The Church and pure Religion can- not thrive by it, near it, under it. Prelacy is not on- ly not ufeful, but hurtful : The Prelates were daubing a Wall with untempered Mortar, made of Canons, Oaths, Conftitutions, and Superftitions 3 yet all fall, that one may fay, Where is the Wall, and they that daubed it >•
Wilfon's Faji Sermon before the Commons, Sept. 28* 1642. P. 5, 6.
Altho' many a lufty n ^bber hath labour'd hard to promote Rome^s luftful Laws, as Cardinals, Patriarchs, Archbiftiops, Biihops, Deans, Archdeacons, Abbots, the Canonical Clergy, and all inferior Officers -, yet the more they wou'd cover, the more they difcover the Whore's and the Pope's filthy Wickednefi. Ibid. P. \2.
K 1\m
66 A C E S T U R Y of
The late Canoniers call Canons to defend their Walts, but they recoird upon themfelves, they travaifd with Iniquity, conceiv'd* Mifchief, and brought fojth Falfe- hood. How manifeft is 'this in W. L, and the Reft of the Prelates come down, when they were in their Von- tifcalibns. Ibid. p. 16.
What Tribe of Men ( notwithftanding their late Greatnefs) are more abjeft than the late Prelates at this Day ? They were not fo high, but they are now as vile and contemptible. And what was it that loft the Houfe of Eli their Prieftly Dignity, but. their diftio- nouring God I
Woodcock's Fafi Sermon before the Commons, July 30. 1645. P. 24.
69^2952^
C H A P. V.
Jgahijl a TOLERATION.
I Speak this only to prevent a publick Toleration, which I hope, through the Care of our King and your Diligence, our Eyes ihall never fee 5 but to put an Authority to the utter rooting out of that Abomina- tion \ althoJ committed in Secret or by Connivance only.
Corn. Burgefs's Fafl Sermon before the Commoyis, No- vember 17. 1640. P. 48
. Take heed of Tolerations. Do you know what they are ? They are nothing elfe but a Gunpowder Treafon to blow up Religion g a Balaam's Plot to bring in God an Enemy upon us. For God's Sake, my Lords, let us not leave a Reformation that may need a Tolerati- on 5 much lefs that {hall enforce it. To have founcl
ftch
Presbyterian Preachers. 6y
fuch an one, would have been grievous, but to make fuch an one would be intolerable. What could Epifco pacy it felf have done more ?
Cafe1* Fajl Sermon before the Peers, March 25. 1646. P. 36. •
[ Liberty of Confcience , falfely fo called, may in good Time improve it felf into Liberty of Eftates, Li- berty of Houfes, and into Liberty of Wives : And in a Word, Liberty of Perdition of both Souls and Bodies.
Cafe s Fxjt Sermon before* the Commons, May 26. 1647, P. . 34. Called, Spiritual Whoredom difcover'd.
If it prove an Ichabod of Toleration,- the Glory will depart from her -, but if the Benom of Reformation, the Father, God will call it Benjamin, the Son of his Right Hand.
Nath. Hardy 'j Fajl Sermon before the Peers, February 24; 164I. P. 16.
All which I deflre may be taken into ferious Confide* ration ; and efpecially ( which grows fo much upon us, and which threatens fo.much Evil to. us J. that Sin of Libertinifm and Toleration, which is the Ringleader of all the reft, and involves all others with it. Oh! that this mould ever be once mentioned amongft us, who have enjoy'd fo much of the Gofpel as we have done'* profecuted with To many Bleilings, . and Victories, and gracious SuccefTes both of former and later Times, to the Admiration both of Friends and Enemies, Surely God cannot but take it ill from us, that we Ihould but incline and lean hereunto. Toleration of all Errors does but ftrengthen many amongft the reft.
Horton'.? Fajl Sermon before the Peers, December 30, 1646. P. 37.
Beware left* out of Cowardice ye tolerate what God wou'd not have tolerated : For I conceive it worthy of the Confideration cf the .Wifeft, whether the Devil
K 2 wou'd
68 A Century of
wou'd not think he had made a good Bargain, and gain'd well by the Bargain, if he cou'd exchange Pre- lacy for an univerfal Liberty >
James Nalton's Fajl Sermon before the Commons, April 29. 1646. P. 38.
Men wifti themfelves in Egypt again, 'and wou'd ra- ther be under Prelatical Bondage, than under a Govern- ment moft conform to the Word : Nothing will ferve fome, but a Toleration of all Religions and Opinions. Ah, Brethren, this is a Provocation : For this God will turn us back into Egypt again.
Newcomen'j Faji Sermon before the Two Houfes, Sep- tember 12. 1644. P' ?*•
This Error, that Men muffc enjoy Liberty of Con- fcience, is an Inlet and Ground of Toleration of all Re- ligions : Errors and Herefies are Gangrenes, which if their Courfe be not ftopp'd, will increafe to the De- duction of the whole.
Henry Skudder's Fajl Sermon before the Commons, Oclob. 30. 1644. P. 28.
The Toleration of every Religion will deftroy all Religion, and leave no Religion at all. Let fuch a To- leration find Allowance in the Turks Paradife : I truft it fhall never be planted in the Paradife of God.
Thorowgood's Fajl Sermon, December 25. 1644. P. 12.
There are fome who boldly afiemble in Congrega- tions, poifoning the Unftable againft us. When we crave the Help of the Magiftrate's Sword, it is an- fwer'd, that there is no eftablilhed Law that warrants them to proceed againft them. Let me therefore hum- bly befeech you by the Mercies of Chrift, and in his .Name, to haften fome fpeedy Remedy for thefe Evils, left the Blood of the Souls that perifh by thefe Seducers be put into your Account at the laft Day.
J. White before the Lords, November 6. 164?. P. $7.
CHAP.
Presbyterian Preachers. 69
CHAP. VI.
A Vindication of the Covenant.
GOOD God, into what Times are we fallen ! Give me Leave to fay on this Solemn Covenant, what Auftin wrote to Boviface upon the Breach of a particular Vow -, Thofe that break thefe Bonds afunder, and caft away thefe Cords from them, truly I know not what they can expect, but even Chains of Darknefs to bind them over to the Judgment of the Laft Great Day.
Sam. Annefley's Fajl Sermon before the Commons, July 26. 1648. P. 12.
In our Solemn League and Covenant, an Holy, Juft and Good Covenant it is in it felf, and fo we took it -, however wicked Men do turn every Stone to abufe it. Believe it, that Covenant fhall break thofe that defigii to break it 5 and if any fhall endeavour to make it an old Almanack, they will find it full of red Letters to them.
Bond's Tbmikfgwlng Sermon before the Lords, July 1648. P. 40.
The Enemy wou'd not leave adding one horrid Pro- vocation to another, by fighting againft the Parliament, denying them a Being, proclaiming them Rebels, and owning the Diabolical Rebels of Ireland as good Sub- jects to cut their Throats, until by fuch fharp Provoca- tions as thefe, they had fpurred and (witched Three Kingdoms into a mod folemn Oath aud Covenant for a compleat Reformation.
Bond's Faft Sermon before the Commons, March 27. 1644. P. 38. The
jo i4 Centur y of
The Lord doth expect that you ihou'd promote the Solemn League and Covenant, that Triple Cable of the Three Kingdoms, by which the Anchor of our Hope is faften'd \ that Threefold Cord that binds all Three Kingdoms together unto God : Our noble Builders, up and be doing your feveral Parts ^ your Cafe is invinci- ble, and nothing is fo like to hazard us, as not adventu- ring. Ibid. p. 49, 50.
When your Enemy fhall perceive, that you come armed with the Armour of a Covenant with God, I hope ftricken with Amazement, they fhall cry,Woe unto us, we were never oppofed fo before : Woe unto us, who fhall deliver us out of the Hand of thy mighty Pre- vailer ?
Coleman's tap Sermon iipon taking the Covenant, Sept. 29. 1643. P. 3?.
Fools and Malignants, who know not the Caufe, and fuch as have no Love at all to fchis Caufe, fhou'd be Outcafls from this Covenant : Such faplefs and rotten Stuff will but weaken (if not corrupt) this Sacred Bond.
CnvyYs Sermon before the Co7nmo7ts, October 6. 1643, upon taking the Covenant. P. 3.
Let us, both Parliament and People, remember our Covenant, read over our Covenant, and live up with our Covenant : It is a fearful thing to let a Covenant lie by the Walls as Worm-eaten Paper.
Cafe's Thankfgivhtg Sermon bejore the Commonsy Auguft 22. 1645. P. 33.
Take care the Covenant be kept inviolate. Our Co- venant is the moft Adamantine Bond to preferve our Church : And now we have fworn it before God, let us take heed how we break it, or flight it ^ for if we do, we muft expect that God will lengthen out his Commif- lion to the Sword to revenge his Quarrel.
Sam.
Presbyterian Treachers. ji
Sam. Good's Faji Sermon before the Commom, March 26. 164$. P. 31.
The next thing I defire may be efpecially cared for, Is the general Prefling and Proportion of the National Covenant ; a thing pleafing to God, profitable to the Kingdom 5 by which there is, and through God's Blef- ling may be the moft famous Blow given to the Whore of Babylon, and her Baflard Imps, that ever yet was. Now we have this Stick amongft us, to lay it aflde whilft Malignants live in our Bofoms, blefling and ap- plauding themfelves, that they have neither taken this, nor the former Proteftation 5 May not this be the way to leflen the Honour and Authority of the High Court of Parliament ? May not this caufe the common Sort to deem themfelves little bound in Confcience to keep the Covenant, when they fee others not bound to take it ?
Humphrey Hardwick's Faft Sermon before the Commons, June 26. 1644. P. 33.
Methinks the Stroke of God upon us fo near that time Twelvemonth wherein we took the Covenant, feems to fpeak, as if God once a Year wou'd require an Account of this Covenant at the Hand of England.
Newcomen's Faji Sermon before the Two Honfes, Sept. 12. 1644. P. B>*
See that the Covenant be both taken and performed : It is the Covenant of the moft High God, who will be much provoked with the Neglect of it. You have holden forth a picus Example, in entring into our folemn League and Covenant for Reformation ; like the ho- noured Prince Jofiah, and with the fame Sincerity. Oh, accompany that King one Step farther, by carrying all in Jemfalem and Benjamin to make it, and ftand to it, when they have made it.
Strickland's Sermon before the Lords, November >, 1644, P. 24.
Ergland
72 ^Cknturyo/
England {hall be England, or a Mora and Gomorrah, according as it keeps or breaks the Covenant.
Lazarus Seaman's Fajl Sermon before the Commons, Sept. 2$. 1644. P. 45,
If any of you fhou'd have taken the Covenant with his Lips, his Heart not confenting $ fhou d pretend to God, and intend for himfelf^ look to Wejlminfier, and row to Oxford \ give Counfel here, and Intelligence there 5 fhou'd coft in any thing to retard the Reforma- tion, fpin the War, &c. Doth not God know it ?
John Ward's Fajl Sermon before the Commons, March
26. 1645. P. 56.
We covenanted not only againft Prelacy, but Popery 5 not only Hierarchy, but Herefy ^ not only againft Sin, but Schifm 5 and have we not gone againft the Letter of it ? How is the Covenant flighted, even as a thing out of Date ? Tho. Watfon's Fajl Sermon before the Commoyis, Decem- ber 27. 1648. P. 13. Called, God's Anatomy upon Man's Heart.
CHAP. VII.
Flowers of Rhetorick by way of Allegory^ Meta- phor, and Similitude, &c.
YO IT have endeavoured to fence this Vineyard with a fettled Militia, to gather out Malignants as Stones, to plant it with Men of Piety and Truft, as choice Vines, to build the Tower of powerful Miniftry in the midft of it, and to make a Wine-Prefs for the fcjueezing of Malignants.
F re face to John Arrowfmith'j Fajl Sermon before the Commons, 1642. called, The Covenant-avenging Sword Lwidified. The
Presbyterian Preachers. 75
The main Work of the Spirit of Grace, is to negoti- ate the Treaty of a Match betwixt the Lord Jelus, and the coy Souls of Men. Ibid. p. 20.
3Tis a Spiritual Affection that hath the Holy Ghoft for its Father, Faith for its Mother, Prayer for its Mid- wife, the Word for its Nurfe, Sincerity for its Keeper, a Trembling for its Handmaid.
Arrowfmith's Tkankjgiving Sermon before the Two Hon- fes, March 12. 1645. called, England's Eben Ezer. P. 32.
After fome Overtures of a Match in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth, the Reformed Church in this Kingdom was folemnly married to Jefus Chrift, when the Sceptre was fway'd by Edward the Sixth : That godly •young Prince (as became the Bridegroom's Friend) re- joycing greatly becaufe of the Bridegroom's Yoice : The famous 39 Articles of her Confeilion, then framed, were an evident Sign of her being with Child, and that a thorough Reformation was then conceived, tho* but conceived : Many and fore were the breeding Fits me conflicted with in Queen Marys Days, and fuch as gave Occaflon to fear ihe wou'd have mifcarry'd. But God fent her Eafe from Heaven under the fucceeding Princes : In which Condition ihe went on for a long time, drawing on frill nearer and nearer her Time. Six Years ago, after this Parliament had late awhile, it was generally believed, that fhe was fallen into her Tra- vails 5 and in the midft of ail the Sorrows which have fince befallen England, her Friends encouraged them- felves with this Hope, that the quicker and iharper her Pains grew, the liker fhe was to be delivered of that Man-Child, which they fo greedily expected. But be- hold, as if all thefe had been but Forerunners of her Labour and Bearing Throws, ihe continues ftill in Pain ^ infomuch that they now begin to think ihe has not gone her full Time, and earneftly defire Ihe may, becaufe they fear nothing more than an abortive Reformation.
T Cur
74 ^ Century of
Our Church's Condition being fuch, as has been deferi- bed, fhe makes her fpecial Addrefs to you, Honourable Senators, whom God has now called to the Midwifes Office. Oh what Care, what Help is expected from you, who above all Men are bound with all your Might and Skill, to promote the Birth of fuch a Child, as may caufe the Woman to forget all her Sorrows. Objletricate as ye ought : I know ye will not think it Pre- fumption, if I offer two or three things by way of humble Advice. Imitate Tamars Midwife, Gen. 38. For the different Judgments of Profeffbrs throughout the Land fhew, that the Church hath Twins in her Womb : So much Truth as has been already own'd by Parlia- anent, Zarah like, has put forth both her Hands ; None can but fay, This came out firft 3 for you have marked it with theScarlet Thread of Civil Sanction.
Arrowfrnith's Faft Sermon before the Commons, Jan. 27. 164I. called , A great Wonder in Heaven. P. 35.
If I woif d be curious to mince a Text, both thefe general Parts might admit of a more particular Anato- my.
J. Bond's Faft Sermon before the Commons, March 27. 1644. P. 5.
So much ought necefiarily to be laid for draining, le- velling, and trenching the Ground ior a Foundation. Ibid. p. 7.
Oh, what rare Maps of faving Wonders, what Ana- tomies of publick Mercies cou'd I ipread before yon this Day. Ibid. p. n.
The Parliament of Enghvd hath lately taken up very reat Sums of Mercy ( to the life of thefe Kingdoms )
upon Truft and Credit : May it pleafe you to confider, how to difcharge thefe publick Debts.
Epft. Bed. to Bond's Tiankf giving Sermon before tie Commons, October 8. 1645. called, A Dawning in the Weft.
Hight
Presbyterian Freachers. jt*
Right Honourable and Beloved, I have reaped fome Sheaves out of this Field already, and have threih'd them out in part for the Home-Provifion of my own Flock : But there is fome of the fineft Wheat Flower yet remaining, which with a fecond Bolting may make a fit Meat-Offering for this foleirin Day of Praife and Thankfgiving. Ibid, Pref. p. $.
Here are fome five or fix Fingers in the Text, that do all point out the fpecial Hand of God in this Mercy. Ibid. p. 12.
If I ihouM fpeak this Feaft into a Fait, by fpeaking away the Day and my own Spirits, I fhoti'd not be able to unkernel this fivefold Crop. Ibid. p. 47.
Right Honourable Senate, I do at laft prefent yoii with that Cluiler of Grapes, which have been longer in the Prefi than your Order doth feem to permit.
Epift. Ded. to Bond's Tbavkfgivivg Sermon before the Commons, July 1648. called, Efchol, cr, Grapes among Thorns.
Prayer is the Bread and Salt at every Spiritual Meal* Ibid. p. 7.
Tho5 1 can't launch out into the Sea of all Mercies- yet I wou'd, I muft fifh in the River of this Day's Sal- vation. May it pleafe you to lend me your Hearts but half an Hour, I fhall endeavour to warm them, and return them back to you again. Ibid. p. 23.
The Lord hath fhewed us Mercy notwithflandivg our Sins, and (hall we fin agaiiift him nctwithftandiwg his Mercies ?
Will. Bridget Sermon before the Commons, Novemb. ?♦ 1647. P- 9- called, England faved with a Not with- Handing.
Behold, our Saviour hath faved us with a Notwith- fianding 5 and why fhou'd not we be contented to walk as he walked, and live as he lived, for he hath faved us with a Notwithflandivg. Ibid. p. l$<
t 2 Ifcculd
~<6 ^Century of
I fhould tell you in the next Place, that if God doth fave us with a Notwithftanding, that we fhould ferve him with a Notnitbftavdhg. Ibid. p. 15:.
There is a great Folio Book before you of Providence : Indeed it is fealed with many Seals t, but if opened, you will find it is writ in every Page, Free Grace, Free Love, Salvation, with a Notwithstanding. Ibid. p. 21.
Sometimes Men are fo difcouraged with what is evil amongft us, that for Anguifn of their Souls they can- not fee what is Good. Some Crimes go awry ^ and fo thev lofe the whole Meal of Mercy. Id. lb.
Ye are now embarked in a great Work and Service, ye may not, ye cannot, go where and when you will. Sometimes ye muft lie becalmed. But, oh ! that Men did know the Gale of Providence, the Time and Tide of Providence. lb. jp. 24.
Beloved, do what in you lies to bring this blefled King Jefus unto his Throne of Inheritance.
Ep. Ded. to W. Bridge's Tbaukfgivivg Sermon before the Commons, May 17. 1648.
Chrift loves that his People fhould fit up for him $ watch and wait for him. Ibid. p. 9.
The Ordinances are thofe golden Pipes, by which the golden Oil empties it felf into the Hearts of God's Peo- ple. They are the Church's Breafts, from whence her Members fuck Nourifhment : They are the Church's Barns and her Wine-prefs. They are on Chrift's Part the Kifles of his Mouth, the mutual Embraces betwixt God and the Chriftian Soul. Dry up all thefe Breafts in fuch a City as this, and how great will the Cry of the Infants be ?
Preface to Oliver Bowls' j Sermon before the Two Hctifes, July 7. 1643.
The People when they returned from Babylon , found God to keep touch with them to a Day.
Corn. Burgefs's Fa ft Sermon before the Commons, No- vember 17. 1640. There
Presbyterian Preachers. jj
There is not a Witch that hath the Devil at her Beck, but (he muft feal a Covenant to him j Sometimes with her Blood , fometimes by other Rites and Devices : And perhaps he mult fuck her too, as in thofe hellifh Bargains, youhww, they ufe to do. lb. p. 44.
It is the great Fault of many, when they read in Scri- pture of wonderful Deliverances, they behold them on- ly to admire the Acts done, but not to rowl themfelves by Virtue thereof upon Gcd for the like.
Corn. Burgefs',9 Fajl Sermon before the Commons, No- vember 5. 1 641. P. 57.
You came together by Prayer • you fcand by Prayer * your Succefs hitherto isa bleiTed Fruit of Prayer : The BleiTings of the Prayers of Thoufands, Thoufands of the Saints are daily upon you.
Jer. Burroughs Fajt Sermon before the Commons • Sep- tember 7. 1641.
Tho' Chrift be as a Bundle of Myrrh, in which there is Bitternefs, yet he is the well-beloved of his Church : And he fhall lie all Night between her Breads. Iludi jp. 11.
Surely Prayer hath been the Midwife to help to bring forth this Mercy. What is it that is brought forth > Oh ! it is no mean unworthy Thing 5 it is a Man Child that is brought forth : It is a Mercy full of Strength and Vigor, that prefently crufheth thefe Ba- byloniJJ) Brats of Innovation lately hatched, and prorni-* feth great Mercy to us: A Mercy that is the Foundati- on of Mercy to the Generation to come ; fuch a Mercy as is beyond the Parallel of any Mercy which England ever had fince the Gofpel came into it. lb. p. 43.
Sin is the great Make-Bait betwixt God and Man. To turn from Sin is the Key to unlock all the Chefts of God's Mercies.
Calamy before the Commons, December 22, 1642.
P. 15.
The
78 ^ Century of
The many grievous Yokes that Chrift has freed us from, God has delivered us from Civil Yokes, and from Spiritual Yokes ; from the late Canons mounted up againft all good Men, but now turned againft them- felves : From the Star-Chamber, the terrible High-Com- miiHon, that Wreck and Torture of Confcience and Confcientious Men, which was appointed like the Dogs in the Capitol, to fcare away Thieves -, but have at the fnoft Part barked at honeft Men: From the Oath of the late Canons, which is now made the great Canon to fhoot them down.
Calamy's Faft Sermon before the Commons , Febr. 13. 1641. P. 6.
There is nothing done in the Lower-Houfe of Par- liament upon Earth, but what is decreed in the Higher- Houfe of Parliament in Heaven.
Calamy1* Tbanhfgiving Sermon before the Lords, June 15;. 1643. P. 56.
You lhall not have a Farthing's Worth of Harm more than God hath from all Eternity decreed. God hath all our Enemies in a Chain. All Men and Devils are but Cyphers without God. The Devil can't go be- yond his leather. lb. p. 57.
All the Blood-thirfty Cavaliers are but as fo many Shepherds Dogs, fent out by God to gather his Sheep together. God's People are now as Sheep fcattered one from another , to the Reproach of Religion and Dilho* nour of God. And God has fent the Enemy as his Dog, to call them together. And till this be fully ac- complilhed, thefe Dogs fhall not be taken off
Calamy's Faft Sermon before the Lords on Chriflnias* Day. 1544. P. 18.
This difcovers the Reafon, why we have fo many Cenfures and Mifconceits of our Worthies in Parlia* irent and in our Atmies •> Men fhooting the Arrows of
harjh
Presbyterian Preachers. jg
harfh Cenfures out of the Bow of a proud Heart, even againft thefe Stars.
Thomas Carter's Faft Sermon before the Commons, Janu- ary 28. 164?. P. IT.
God will put all your Tears into his Bottle, and they {hall do more againft the Rebels, than fo many thou- fend Bullets from their Canons.
Will. Carter's Faft Sermon before the Commons, Augufi: 31. 1642. P. ?$.
Did the Ifraelites powder up the CarkalTes of the Lc-
viatbavs, and Dragons the Egyptians, whilft they kept Lent in the Wildernefs ?
Cafe's Tbankfgiving Sermon before the Commons, Febru- ary 19. 164*5.
To humble his People is the Exercife of their Graces. Prayer wreftles , Patience fiiffers, Hope waits, Faith puts forth pure Acts in Hope above Hope. Love is active, Self-denial watcheth over publick Concern- ments \ and Poverty of Spirit faith, If he have no De- light in me, here I am, let him do what is good in his Eyes. And holy Refolution fays, Tho' he kill me, yet will I truft in him.
Cafe's Faft Sermon before the Commons, March 2?. 1646. Called, The Set-backs of Reformation. P. 2,3.
If we be rewarded for cold Water, which coft us no- thing 5 what mail we be for warm Water from our Brows and Bodies given to a Difciple in Chrift's Name?
Caryl's Faft Sermon before the Commons , April 27. 1642. P. 18.
God hath ever in his Eye, all the Records and Chro- nicles of his good Works. He reads over your Journals every Day, and when he meets with any which have done or fpoken Right for him, he enquires what Ho- nour.
80 j Century of
nour, what Dignity hath been done for this Man? Ik
P. 19.
I know right Honourable and Beloved, you have of- ten dined upon Bufinefs. Ibid. p. 22.
Love hathbroad Shoulders, it can bear much. lb. p. 42.
Seeing then we are in Covenant, we muft go to Counfel by Faith, and to War by Faith -, we muft pull down by Faith, and build up by Faith 5 we muft reform by Faith, and fettle our Peace by Faith.
Caryl's Faft Sermon before the Commomy October 6.
- 1645. P. %f*
Joy cannot be filent ; it is the Ointment ,in the Saints Right Hand, which bewrayeth itfelf in perfu- ming the Name of God -, in making his Name like an Ointment poured out.
Caryl's Tbarhfgivhtg Sermon before the Commons^
April 23. 1644- P- 4- The Saints have Right-handed Mercies, Full- handed Mercies, greater Mercies, and better Mercies «, both Quantity and Quality commends : They have choice Mercies, and a Benjamins Mefs. lb. p. it.
Prayer is a felf-Emptying , and a God-exalting Duty. P. 16.
' Faith may be juftly furnamed Long-Kand h it can reach to Heaven.
Epift. Bel to Caryl's Faft Sermon, May 28. 1645. before the Two Houfes.
Scornful Men are the Devil's Bellows, to blow the Coals of Sedition, Strife and Contention, till they fet the City on Fire. '
Paniel Cawdrey's Faft Sermon bejore the Commons*
June 31. 1643. P. 4- . . _
Ply God with Prayers and Tears, and be Importu- nate, and in a manner Impudent. Ibid, p. 25.
Oh!
Presbyterian! Preachers. 81
Oh ! my Lords, give your Chaplains as free Leave to weed your Souls and Families, as your Gardiners have to weed your Gardens.
Cheyner* Fafi Sermon before the Lords, March 26.
1645. P. 6$.
I arreft you this Day at the Suit of the great Jehovah, the glorious Commander of Heaven and Earth, for a Debt of Ten Thoufand Talents ; and over and above, of High-Treafon againfi: all the Three Perfons of the Holy Trinity.
Cheynel'j Fafi Sermon before the Commons, March 25'.
1646. P. 4. Called, A Plot for the Good of Po- fterity.
Wou'd you have your Heirs good Statefmen ? Teach them how to whet their Tools at the San&uary, to Oil their Wheels with Prayer, and Steel their Engines with Religion. Ibid, p. 26.
Let every Chriftian endeavour to join his Soul clofe unto God, and as it were, fquare it for him.
Edward Corbet's Fafi Sermon before the Commons, December 2 S. 1642. P. 25.
Unveil Chrift in Point of Difcipline. You have remov'd the Mafkers and falfe Chrifts out of the Fa- mily, which like Thieves arid Cavaliers commanded with Infplence.
John Ellis's Fafi Sermon before the Commons, Feb. 22. I642. P. 56.
In the Schools both Trivial and Academick, throw in Chrift, as Elffh* did Salt into the Waters of Jericho, and they will become Fountains of living Water, Ibid 57.
My Lords, one Word is enough to your Honours 5 you can never have a firm PoneiFion? till you hold your Honours in this Title, that Godbeftows them, and until you pay^a Pepper Corn unto God again.
M Dan;
8a A Centuky of
Dan. Evance's Fajl Sermon before the Lords, Jan. 28,
1645. P 3*- You have honoured God in Topping the Poppies, [the Pride and Infolence of the fwelling Clergy.] Ibid. p. 42.
How comfortlefs is that Man's Condition , who having no fafety abroad, dares not return, having no quiet at home through a brawling Wife ♦, both at Bed and at Board reftlefs !
Geo. Gipp's Fajl Sermon before the Commons , Novem- . ber 27. 1644. P. 29.
In this Difcourfe I prefent you with, I have laboured chiefly to di (cover thofe Rocks of Self-Shipwrack, which lie hid in the Waves of publick Employments ^ that in the Steering of the publick Ship, you might not daih your Souls againft them, and fo fink the Comforts, that out of all your worthy Labours, might eternally redound unto your Souls.
William Good's Fajl Sermon before the Commons, March 26. 1645. Ep. Ded.
Prayer is the Key that can open the Treafures of all the Locks of God's Mercies. Ibid. p. 2>,
Prayer and Failing are the Kingdom's Plaifters •, but woe to us, if thofe Plaifters turn into Poifon, and make the Sores of the Kingdom the more to Gangrene. Ibid. p. 27.
I befeech you trifle not with God, get your Hearts broken. Ibid.
The Church has been like a Breeding Woman ; She began fir ft to conceive, when God made the Promife of the Woman's Seed 5 fhe grew bigger and bigger through many other Promifes, Prophecies, Types and Figures, whereby her Hopes in the Me'ifiah were nourifhed. At the Fulnefs of Time fhe travailled, and brought forth this long expected Man-Child.
William Gouge's Fa (I Sermon before the Peers, Septem- ber 24. 1645. P, 18. ' The
Presbyterian Preachers. 83
The Lord hath his Flail to threfh out their Chaff, his Water and Soap to make them white, his Fire to try and melt them.
Stanley Gower's Fafl Sermon before the Commons, July 31. 1644. P. 7. Called, Things now a doing.
Many deal too kindly with their Sins •, do by them, as you do by Malignants in Prifon ; they have their Friends come to them, their Wine, their Feafts, and what they will.
GreenhiPi Fafl Sermon before the Commons, April 26.
1643. P. 3T.
Oh! wonder, Oh 1 the Weight of our Saint. Away Lot, fays God, efcape to Zcar -, I can't do any thing till thou corned thither. But were not their Sins great and many > Be it To, I can't do any thing till thou co- rner!: thither. But, were not their Sins full? Yes they were : but I can't do any thing till thou comeft to Zoar. But Lord, art thou not come down to execute Judgment without Mercy > It's truth 3, yet I can't do any thing till thou comeft to Zoar. My Hands are tied, Fire and Brimftone will not come down, whilft Lot is in Sodom : Thou art the Man that hinders all, be gone, h fte to Zoar. But Lot lingers, and will not make hafte^ then I muft linger too, faith God 3 if he ftick, my Judgments muft ftick j till he be gone, I cannot do any thing. Ibid. p. 40.
Mofcs would not let God alone: He would not be byaffed or hired by God himfelf, to loofe the People: He would not compound or comply with God himfelf. Ibid. p. 50.
A ftrong Gale of Prayer would turn this Lock of the Prifon Doors, fhake off all their Fetters, and fetch them out.
Hen. Half.? Faft Sermon before the Commons, May 29.
1644. Called, Heaven raviihed. p> lo,
M 2 I well
§4 A C E N T U R Y of
I well know that Reprehenfion to great Men murf be wrapped up in Sugar, ( as we do Pills,) that it may the 'more eafily be fwallowed ^ and work before they think of it.
Nath. Hardy'* Fafi Sermon before the Peers, February 27. i64f. Ep, Ded.
I deny not but the Fringe of Divine Worfhip may be variable 5 and yet in this, venerable Antiquity is not to be fnrfaken for novel Fancy. However, the Gar- ment of Truth never waxeth old. lb. p. 1 1.
Right Honourable, our Mother the Church is now in fore Travail : You are her Midwives. The Child fhe brings forth will be either an Ichabod, or a Benon'u lb. P. 16.
Oh! that this Day of felf- humbling might be to us in the life of it, according to its Nature, a felf-fearch- ing or Soul-purging Day.
Thomas Hill's Fafi Sermon, July 27. 1642. P. 17.
Shall the Militant Church be triumphant over the Dragon and his Angels > Then Chrift's Soldiers have no Heafon to repent, who have taken Prefs-Money from him.
Tho. Hill's Fafi Sermon before Both Houfes, July 23. I 1643. P. 8.
Jacob knows not what Difcouragement means : God feems to give him his Anfwer in Efaus Expedition againft him, but he will not take it. God was willing to put him off, but he will not take any Put-offs : He feems to take his Leave 5 but Jacob by bis Leave will not part fo : He feems angry, and willing to fhake him off-, but Jacob holds his Hold : Nay, he feems to crufla him, to maim him, to begin Efaus Quarrel againft him. But he, like him in Story, when he was maimed on one Hand, holds the Stick in the other 5 and when he was Handlefs, held by his Teeth. So our Champi- on, frown God, finite he, wound he, Jacob is at a Point,
aBlef-
Presbyterian Treachers. 85
a Bleffing he came for, a Bleiling he will have • his Limbs, his Life might go ^ but there is no going for Chrift without a Pawn, without a Bleiling.
Robert Harris1* Faft Sermon before the Commons, May 25. 1642. P. 5.
The Lord himfelf fometimes will feem an Adverfary : He will hide himfelf from thee, as faft as thou runs af- ter him. Now he will chide, now frown, now feem to reject and fcorn thy Services j in a word, quite to (hake thee orfj when yet he defires thy Company. In this Cafe thou muft not fhew thy felf a Daftard, but gather Spirits from the Oppofition. lb. p. 1 2.
All within us lies dead, till we ad God by Prayer 5 all the Comfort in the Creature fleeps, till we extracl it with this Limbeck. A good Engineer is not the worft Soldier ^ nor a good Prayer the worft Parliamentman./£.
P- & ...
Gather upon God, and hold him to it as .Jacob did ;
prefs him with his Precepts, with iris Promifes , with
his Hand, with his Seal, with his Oath, till we do
4£*£i47s as fome Greek Fathers boldly fpeak. That is,
if I may fpeak it reverently enough , put the Lord out
of Countenance, put him as you would fay to the Blufh,
unlet we be Mailers of our Requefts. lb. p. 18.
If God fill not every Veflel, challenge him upon that his "Word , Open thy Mouth wide , and I will jill it. Ibid. p. 20.
Hold this PaiTant God amongft you, as Mofes did 5 chain him up with your Prayers and Tears. lb. p. 38.
Truth and Peace make up between them the only Compafs to fteer a Chriftian Courfe by •, and there is nothing better refembles them than a Pair of Compaf- fes. Truth is the Foot that keeps the Centre 5 Peace the other Foot that takes in, and makes the Circle.
Charles Herle's Fajl Sermon before the Commons, No- vember 1. 1642. P. 14. Called, A Pair of Com - pa lies for Church and State.
If
86 ^f Century of
If Truth be a Girdle, Lore is the Buckle of that Girdle. If Peace be a Bond, Love is the Knot of this Bond •, the very Twift and Rivet of this Pair of Com- pares. The Philofophers call Love Pondm ffiaiurz, a Weight that fets all the Wheels in the Clock of our Souls a going. A Weight which makes the Piercer of our Under (landings enter, and bore through the knot- tieft Pieces of Truth. lb. p. 29.
Religion is a Kind of Yenifon : If true, 'tis not fo foon come by. Ibid. p. 3 £.
The Subject of our Difcourfe at this Time is a Song of three Parts \ and every Part, like -Jacob's Part of the Sheep, brings forth Twins. Each a double String (as it were) in the Mufick of this Praife, finely twifted of Two Parts into a Kind of Difcord and Concord, falling into a mufical Clofe, through a differing yet reconciled ■Diapafan. The firffc Couple in this Song of Praife are Multitude and Unity, Concourfe and Concord. Oh ! come, there's Multitude and Concourfe. Let us, there's Uni- ty.and Concord. The fecond twifted Pair are Tongue and Heart $ Let us jing.
Ch. Herle's Toankfgivhig Sermcn before the Lords, June 5. 1643. P. 4^5:. Called, David's Song of three Parts.
The Mother does not. defire with more Earneftnefs to be rid of her Milk, that fills her Breafts, nor gives it forth with more Delight to her Babe, than God his Mercy.
Hodges'* Faft Sermon before the Commons, September 18. 1642. P. 27. Called, A Glimpfe of God's Glory.
With Jonathan I rafher give you a Tafte than a Meal of this Soul-quickening, Mind-enlightening Honey in the Text. lb. p. 34.
The Height of my Ambition is, that by this Ink- work, the Spirit of the Living God would write the
Name
Presbyterian Preachers. $j
Name of the Lord and his Chrift upon this Parliament. George Hughes'* Fajl Sermon, May 26. 1647. Ep« Ded. Called, The Two Joy Trumpets.
^ My Text is a Harp tuned by the Finger of God him- felf to drive away this evil Spirit of Temporizing in a Time of Temple-Building.
Jenkyns^ Fajl Sermon before the Peers, February 2?.
1645. Ep. Bed. Called, Reformations Remora. Oh ! let it be the Work of England's Nobles to conti- nue the Prefence of England's God. lb. p. 1 1.
The Law is pure Yinegar, the Gofpel is fuppleing Oil. The Law, like a Hammer, may break the Hearty but 'tis the Gofpel like Fire, that foftens it, melts it, and brings it to Repentance.
Richard Kentyfh'j Fajl Sermon before the Commons, November 24. 1647. P- 24-
Never had England better Preaching than fince this Honourable Parliament : Never had a Parliament fo many powerful Soul- fearching Sermons preached to them, as this Parliament has had. lb. p. 27.
The Parliament, by their many Petitions and Ad- drefles, have promoted Peace ^ yet fo, as to defire no Peace, but fuch a one as whofoever treats of it admits of God to be of the gniorum in it.
John Ley's Fajl Sermon before the Commons, April 26. 164?. P. 23.
Thus fweetly and nearly Hand the two Te (laments joined together, and thus divinely would they Icifs each other, but that the -wretched Apocrypha does thruft in between , like the two Cherubims betwixt the Temple Oracle. They would touch each other, the End of the Law with the Beginning of the Gofpel, did not this Patchery of human Inventions divorce them a (under.
Lightfoot'j Faft Sermon before the Commons, March '9. 1643, called, Elias Redivivus. P. ;.
Re-
88 /4 Century of
Reconciliation and Reformation are the two Twins for which the Tamar of our England is in Travail, and in Pain to be delivered, if there be but Strength to bring forth. Ibid. p. 7.
It is our Hope and Prayer, that once you may have Liberty and Leifure, from the great Rent in the whole Piece of the State, to look upon the Rippings in the Seams of the Church. Ibid. p. 28.
I wifli People would be patient, and think lower Thoughts of their own Wifdom, and higher of Chrift's and yours, as an Ordinance of God for their good • and in all their Travail travail with you, and cry out for a Man Midwife from Heaven for you, when you are like to mifcarry.
Nich. Lockyer's Fafl Sermon before the Commons, Octo- ber 28. 1646. EpijL Ded.
Chrift is the Hind of the Morning, hunted from Sun-rife to Sun-fet -, but having Hind's Feet, he cannot be taken. Ibid. p. 10.
When many are about Bufinefs, often no body is ^ one joftles fo againft another,till he is in Danger to joftle againft Chrift, and the very Principles of fober Men. Ibid. p. 14.
I know the Hearts of fome of you have fadly ex- pected, when God Ihould come and erect his Juftice- Seat amongftus, and give the Sword a Commiffion againft us. Now you are met for this very thing, to provide for our Welfare ^ for the Lord's Sake, take care to keep him with ta'\ if he goes, all gees $ we can ne- ver light this Candle, if this Sun be fet \ we (hall ne- ver fill our Buckets, if this Fountain be fliut up.
Stephen MarlhaFi Fafl Sermon before the Commons, November 17, 1640. P. 19.
. As all Things were made for God's Praife ; lb the Creature Man was in an efpecial manner made a fit Bailiff, or Gatherer ia of God's Quit-Rent of Praifes
from
Presbyterian Preachers. 89
from all the reft of the Creatures, to pay it to him- feffi
MarttiaYsThanlf giving Sermon, Sept, 7. 1 04 1. befor the Commons. P. 26.
Keep in with God, and ye (hall be fafe enough None mall arreft you, till God's Hand be to the War- rant. Ibid. p. 1 4.
I could eafily fet before you a great Catalogue of Mercies. You have received many peculiar to your own Perfons, to your Souls and Bodies, your Eftates and Families $ privative Mercies, pofitive Mercies ; You eat Mercies, drink Mercies, wear Mercy's Cloaths, are compaffed about and covered with Mercies, as much as ever the Earth was in Noah's Flood. Ibid. p. 38.
God's Wrath is like a great Bell, long a railing. Marfhal before the Commons, December 22. 1641. P. 10. You are now called to have your Hearts rent: I. have that to fay, which might rend the very Cawl of your Hearts. Ibid. p. 19.
If any other Talent be a Penny, Prayer is a Pound 5 Prayer is the Talent of Talents.
MarfhaFs Faft Sermon before the Commo7is9 Feb. 23. 1641. called, Meroz curled. P. 40.
Remember, when I exhort you to pray, I mean it muft be Prayer indeed : Many can read Prayers, ling Prayers, who yet cannot pray. Ibid. p. 47,
I have feen a Hen go clocking and fcraping in the mid ft of her Chickens 5 then comes the Kite and matches away firft one, then another, then a third, till all are gone. The Hen buttles and flutters a little when any are fnatched away, but returns inftantly to her fcraping and picking, as if ihe had loft nothing; Even fo do we, prefently forgetting our great Lolles.
Stephen Marihal^ Sermon at the Funeral of Mr. Fym, before the Tjfo Hovfes. 1643, P, r$.
N L*t
po ^ Century ojf
Let us give God no Reft, Night nor Day, till he eftabliihes our Jerusalem in Peace.
MarfhaFs Fafi Sermon before the Commons, April 3 c. 3644. P. 50. called, The ftrong Helper.
What I (hall at prefent commend unto you, is, to be often with God in the Mount: Follow him with your Prayers and Supplications : Give him no Reft, till he has carried on this great and honourable Aflembly to do this Work, that they may raife the Foundations to many Generations.
Marfhal'j Thankfgiving Sermon before the Two Hovfes, June 19. 1645. for the Vittory at Nafeby. P. 21.
God hath fteeped England in the Oil of Mercies, and we are not melted one whit *, he has ground us under terrible Judgments, and we are as hard as ever Rock was.
MarfhaPj Fajl Sermon before the Commons, July 28. 1648. P. 24.
I {hall pray, that our dread Sovereign may live to fee, and fay "of God's Houfe, as that Emperor did of Rome, Invenit Lateritiam,' & reliqmt Marmoream, He found it thatched and overtopped with Lauds, Wrenns, and Cofem ,and he will leave it adorned and paved with Whitacres, Vrefons fiibbes's, cum multh aliis.
Will, Mew's Fajl Sermon, November 29. 1643. Epjl. Bed.
'Tis God's ufual Courle, when he means his Rods {hall fmart to the Quick, to brine them in Shame. Ibid.
You have the Prayers' and Tears of all the Saints pofting incefTantly to Heaven lipori the fame Embaflage \ and can you then fail of Deliverance > You are a Par- liament of Prayers and Tears, if ever any was.
Matth. Newcomen\f Fafi Sermon before the Commons, Nov. j, t&ii. P, 40, 43: •
The
Presbyterian Preachers. 91
The Church has for almoft three Years, ever fince the Beginning of the Parliament, the Church of God has been in TravaiU crying,' and- in Pain to be delivered 5 and all this while the great and Red Dragon ftands be- fore the Woman to devour the Child, as loon foon as it is born.
Newcomen before the Two Houfes, July 7. 1643. p. z6> called, Jerusalem's Watchmen the Lord's Remem- brancers.
I wifti fome of my Brethren's Time were fperit ra- ther in conveying pure Scripture to Pofterityv than fcratching others with their fharpen'd Pens, and making ■Cochpits of Pulpits.
Hugh -Peters' j Thavkjghivg Sermon before the Two Honfes, April 2. 1645. ft 2.
There are fome that be Crafts-m afters in finning, who can fpin Threads of all forts : You have your Court Sins, Gity, Country, Univerfity Sins : Men take their Degree in Sin-Crafts. Ibid. p. 1 1 .
You Saints, you Faithful ones, you that^ have' and feel Mercies, that wear Mercies Cloaths, lie in Mercies Bed, live in Mercies Air, enjoy Mercies Ordinances, I dare be bold to fay, you have heard more of Chriii within thefe four Years, than you have done for forty before. Ibid. p. 15.
Love carries Reftraint with it, leftens Difficulties, anfwers hard Queftions, removes Impediments ^ over- powers Fears, Cares, Doubts, Dangers, makes wafte way of all ^ nay, it waits, and ferves in Heats and Colds, as Jacob did for Rachel. Ibid. p. 27.
.. For the Prevention of that Inudation of Miftries, that, it may be, the Heavens are big with, ready to be delivered, if your Failings prove the Midwives. , Kings and Priefts are in the Text, and Rulers in the Chapter h but Kings here are none, and I hope no Priefts ^ there-
' fore I ftiall meddle with neither Crowns nor Mitres. Here are a Ring of Auditors, but ycu are the Diamonds.
N 2 Let
\
£2 ii Century of
Let me mind you what Jewels are a Glofs to your Co- ronets.
Will. Price's Faft Sermon before the Lords, Nov. #y. 1646. P. 30.
Oh ! what a Stoop is this in the Almighty, that he fhould be willing to be fet out, as having Hands and Feetj that fo Men may ftp a little of him.
Andrew Perne's Faft Sermon before the Commons, May 31. 1643. P. 8.
Shall we, like tame Fools, fuffer every one to wipe our Nofes of God. Ibid, p. 28.
Faith molt highly honours God, and God moft high- ly honours Faith, Faith clafps faft hold of Jefus Chrift, as its peculiar Object •, and comes into the Prefence of God with Chrift crucified in its Arms 5 urges his Perfon and Paffion as Sin's Propitiation.
Francis Roberts'* Faft Sermon before the Peers, Decem- ber 9. 1646. P. 16.
No wonder that a broken Heart is a Chrift-loving Heart. How then can a broken Heart chufe but be en- deared to Chrift > As the foaking April Showers make the Fields fend forth a fweet Smell, and as the bruifing of Camomile makes it more fragrantly odoriferous -, fo Chrift fbfrning and bruifing the Heart, makes the Heart exprefs a fweet Fragrancy and Love to him. Jb. p. 27.
The Wonders which the Prayers of God's People have wrought, no Time is furricient to tell. Prayer ufes to fetch in all things they need : Prayer is the Key of Heaven, the Conqueror of God himfelf, the Scourge of Satan, the Outgate from all DiftrefFes.
Marfnal^ Faft Sermon before the Lords, October 28* 1646. called, A Sword out of the Babes Mouths, to execute Vengeance upon the Enemy and the Avenger. P. 24.
Whenever the Children are come txfthe Birth, and there is no Strength to bring forth, all the World can't
fur-
Presbyterian Preachers. 93
furniih you yrift fiich another ■ Midwife as Prayer. Edward Reynolds's Fajl Sermon before the Commons, Ju- ly 27. 1642. P. 36.
Satan, Prelates, Papifts, Malignants, fliallbe Under- workmen, and Kitchen Servants to him, who hath his Fire in Zion, and his Furnace in Jeriifalem, to purify and refine the Veflels of Mercy for the Lord's Houfe.
Rutherford before the Commons, January 31. 1643. P. 9.
We believe that this differenceth Jehovah from all other Gods •, and therefore there is not an Arrow fteeped in Hell, and (hot againft the Church, but it comes out of God's Bow.
Rutherford's Faft Sermon before the Commons, Jan. 31. 1643. P. $2.
The Rife of the Golpel Sun, is like the prodigious Appearance of a new Comet, to the Woman that fitteth in many Waters 5 that Mother Rome planted as a Vine in Blood : The Lionefs Whores Whelps, Papifts and Prelates in Ireland and England, have learnt to catch the Prey 5 and this Comet prophefieth Woe to the Pope, King of the Bottomlefs Pit, and his bloody Lady Ba- bel Ibid. Pref.
We are all lor Time : We are for a Time-Court, a Time-Glory, a Time-Prince, a Time-Friend, a Time- Hufband, a Time-Brother, a Time-Heaven and Hap. pinefs, a Time-Deliverance in Trouble, Time-Riches, Time-Joy, and Time-Pleafure, Time-Triumphing, a Time-Life, &c. But we may find in the King of Ages, the fame good Things of another Nature, as we fificfjh God. Eternal-Court, Eternal-Glory, an Eternal-King, an Jtternal-Friend, an Eternal-Hufband, an Eternal- Brother, an Eternal-Happinefs, Eternal-Riches, Eternal Victory ^ in fum, Life Eternal. Ibid. p. 5:3.
Put the Church of Chrifr. in a Cup and drink her, but you will be lick when fhe is in your Belly 5 you had better drink many Quarts of Lead or Bra fs melted,
and
.£4 d "C-E'N T U R Y of
and coming hot out of a Furnace. Dr%ik who will, and. they (hall be lick and drunken, and vomit, fall and die m their Vomit, and never rife again. Pharaoh drank this Cup, but he was killed with it, and made F ifhes Meat. Ibid. p. 55,
Break up your Fallow Grounds, and fow not among Thorns ^ there muft not be a little railing, but a breaking 5 not a mere breaking, but a breaking up } and when that is done, there muft be a (owing too, but every lowing muft not ferve the Turn, it muft be fuch a fowing as may come to fbmething. The Field which I am at this time to Work upon, and go over, you fee is large, there is much more Ground in it than I can conveniently break up and fow 5 1 lhall though by God's Aihftance, who is the only breaker of Hearts, fet upon the whole Work 5 and he in tender Mercy fo accompany, and water, and profper his Truths at this Day, that all our Fallow Grcimcl may be broken up, and then fo gra- cioufly fown in Righteouf.iefs, that we and all the Land may ihortly reap in Mercy.
Obadiah Sedgewick's Fa ft Sermon before the Commons,
May 25. 1642. P. 4. Sirs, you muft break up this Ground, or it will break up our Land- there is not fuch a God-provoking Sin, a God-removing Sin,, a Church-difiblving Sin, a King- dom-breaking Sin, as Idolatry % down with it, down with it even to the Ground. Superftitioii is but a Bawd to grofs Idolatry. Ibid. p. 2$.
Break them up, if ever you will acquit your own Souls, and the Truft repofed in you b, it. ever you cfefign to gain Ground in. your publick Intention for good, for i\\z Lord's Sake break up thefe Fallow Grounds. Eut in the next place, go deep with your Plow, the deeper the better ; take care of Shadow-Work and Surface- Work. Ibid. p. 27.
Laftly, be as earned and aclive as you pofilbly can, to fend Labourers into the Field ; I mean, to plant all the Land with a Heart-breaking Mmiitry. Ibid. p. 28.
Go
Presbyterian Preachers. d-KJ
' Go on thus in your Breaking-work. And To I paTs from the Plow to the Seed • from the Plowing of Fallow Grounds to the fowing of them being broken. Ibuh p. 29.
The Soul of Man may be compared to a Clock • and the Faculties of that Soul to Wheels, and the Mercies of God to Plummets, which mould make every Wheel move with Thankfulnefs.
Ob. Sedgewick's Thankfgivzvg Sermon before the Com- mons, June 15. 1643. P. 26.
Salvation belongs unto the Lord *, Salvation belongs unto him •, Salvation in the Abftracl: belongs unto God ^ this grafps up all the Powers of Salvation, all the De- grees of Salvation, all the Caufes of Salvation, all the Methods of Salvation, and all theSeafons of Salvation :, all the Extents, Continuances and Progrefies of Salvati- on : Whatever you can fay of a Salvation ; whatever you can imagine to make up a Salvation, all of it be- longs unto God.
Ob. Sedgewick's Thanlf giving Sermon, April 9. 1644. before the Commons. P. 10.
God hath been the Salvation of the Parliament^ and in the Parliament, and for the Parliament : Salvation at Edgebill, Salvation at Reading and Caufam, Salvation at Gloucefter, Salvation at Newberry, Salvation in Che* (hire, Salvation in Pembroke flrire, Salvation in the North, Salvation from feveral Treacheries, and Salvation from open Hoftilities. lb. p. 21.
You are met here this Day, Right Honourable and Beloved, to do Angels Work. lb. p. 20.
Oh, Sirs ! an humbling Army, a praying Army, a God-trufting Army ^ that is the Army that is able, in fome Senfe, to overcome God 5 that is the Army the moft likely to overcome Men. lb. p. 23.
Anfwer all Objections by Knees of Prayer, and Eyes of Faith, lb. p. .28.
Give
96 ^ Century of
Give me that Fear which is a Servant to Faith, a Gale to Prayer, a Spur to Repentance, and an Edge to Prudence.
Ob. Sedgwick's Fafl Sermon before the Commons, Octo- ber 22. 1644. P. 17. Called, An Ark againft a Deluge.
Sometimes God is faid to fleep, and then his People awaken him ; fometimes to be flow or delay, and then we muft quicken him -, fometimes he feems to lofe his Mercies, and then his People muft find it for him. And here he feems to reft till he be difquieted by our Prayers.
Will. Sedgwick^ Fajf Sermon before the Commons, 1 642. P. 2.
Are there not gone forth Armies of Prayers, Reeled with Faith and bold Importunity ? Are there not Thou- fands that are refolved neither to reft themfelves, nor give God any Reft, till Chrift is upon his Throne, and his Enemies under his Feet ? lb. p. 16.
What muft we do to make God reftlefs ? Prayer works upon him, as an Engine ordained by himfelf to overcome himfelf 5 as a Cord to bind himfelf. Prayer will over-rule God to any Thing, that is for our Good ^ it will bow down his Ear, pull his Hand out of his Bo- fom. We have had Experience of the Power of it : It has ftrangely produced Means, qualified and fitted Means, wonderfully protected Means, united Means, profpered Means. lb. p. t^, 20.
Faith hath a ft range Faculty to knock at God's Door, vea at his Breaft • go into his Prefence, plead and rea- son with him •, require an Account of his Promife, Pow- er and Faith fulnefs 5 yea, to dive into his Bowels, and fearch into them. Faith will have a Finger of Dire- ction, and then doubts not of a Hand of Protection. lb. p. 23;
Let us break into God's Retirings, thruft our Petiti- ons into his Ears : Challenge Mercy frojn him 5 urge his Promifes, For God has warranted and allowed
Bold-
Presbyterian Preachers. 97
Boldnefs in Prayer. Ephef. 3. 12. Heb. 4. 16. And none fare better than fuch Beggars: God admits his People to a ftrange Sort of Boldnefs, to an Impudency, Luke 11. 8. Ibid. p. 28.
Fafting and Tears are like two Twins that cannot be feparated ^ like a Pair of mournful Doves, that always accompany together.
Spurftow's Fajl Sermon before both Honfes, July 21. 1649. P. 3.
The frefh Remembrance of Sin is like a Pea in an IfTue, that keeps it open, and makes it run, Ibid, p. 30.
The Graces of God's People are like the Honey in the Comb -, they had need to be wrung out by the heavy Hand of an Enemy fometimes. Eafe and Idlenefs emafculate the Vigor of Grace 3 whereas the Sight of •an Enemy provokes, and ftirs up the Strength thereof.
Srickland'j Fuji Sermon before the Commons, Dec. 27, J643. P. 7.
Honoured Patriots, I will hold you no longer in the Preface, but humbly intreat you to hoift up the Sails of pious Refolutions ^ or if up already, don't narrow them, much lefs take them quite down. For all the Prayers in the World worth the having are yours, and make up a full Gale to carry you on amain : You mall ride over all the Waves and Billows of Contradictions and Oppo-r. fitions whatfoever. Conflder, the godly Man-Child of Reformation is come nigh unto the Birth : It will be your Comfort and Honour unto Eternity, upon pious Principles to midwife it into a fafe Delivery.
Dr. Stanton's Faft Servian before the Commons, Apr. 24.
l644- .... .
God puts Believers into Chrift, as into the Clifts of.
a Rock. Our Rock is a Rock of Ages ^ all the Rocks
of Enemies are fandy, gravelly Rocks, foon wafhed
away. This Rock is folic!, and lafts to Eternity : This;,
O Reck
q% A C E N T XJ R y of
Rock is a Foundation Rock to Eternity, a Sheltering. Rock to Eternity, a AVatering Rock, a" Feeding Rock to Eternity. f$£ft p. *5.
He is a watering Rock and feeding Rock to the Soul. Only fpeak to the Rock by Prayer, and finite the Rock by Faith, and the Living Waters of Confolation will flow abundantly upon the Soul ; yea, fuck this Rock, lay thy Mouth clofe unto it, thou {halt fuck Honey out of it, even the fweeteft Graces and C.onfolations thy Soul can wifti for. Ibid. p. 21.
My hearty Prayer is, that when you fight in the Field, the Holy Ghoft may be as a two-edged Sword going from the Mouth of the Lord Jefus into the Ene- mies Hearts.
Epift* Bed. to Peter Sterry's Faft Sennon, November 26. 1645. I ■
Long did our Lord Jefus pine to us with the fweet Sounds of Peace, Plenty, and Pleafures 5 but we dan- ced not to the Mufick of his Love. Now he hath long wept to us, he comes forth clothed in pale Garments, riding upon the pale Horfe of Death in the midft of us.
Peter Sterry's Faft Sermon before the Peers, March 29,
1648. P. IT.
As this Sermon ( fach as it is) came \c the Birth by
your Authority, fb your Command now is the Midwifry
to bring it forth.
Hpift. Bed to Chr. Teafdales Faft Sermon before the
Common;, Auguft 28. 1644. called, Jerufalem, or
A Vifion of Peace.
Nowthat the great Argos, i.e. the Ship Royal of Church
and Commonwealth, is in Danger to daih upon the
Rocks, and be fwallowed by Quicklands, by an Evrocly-
don, the Malignity of crofs and contrary Winds 5 unlefs
thofe worthy Pilots that fit at Stern, by fome propitious
Gale from Heaven, be able to guide and conduct her to
the
Presbyterian Preachers. £Q
the fair Haven of Peace : Should we not all lend a helping Hand 5 fhould we not all have an Oar in this Boat, when we have all Adventures in it ? lb. p, 15. Every Cock-Boat can fail in a River, every Skull can live in a Calm 5 God hath emb rqfced you, worthy Pilots, in the Ship called, The ViSory^ this is the Victory that overcometh, even your Faith ; and you have by you the Anchor of Hope, the Sheet- Anchor that will hold, when all other Tackling fails. And therefore yoii may ride on, though the great Billow rolls toward yoii, even in the deep Water Floods your Spirits need not fail 5 but you may lift up the Creft, and bear up your Heads, you carry not C&far> but Chrift. Ibid, p. 29.
Caft Antichrift out of his Saddle, whereby he fat too fad amongft us • that Chriftians may better get up' into his Stirrup, to ride about conquering his Enemies.
Dr. Temple's Pajl Sermon before the Commons, Odober 16; 1642. P. 35.
Steal away Chrift, arid the Gofpel, and Religion from Us, we are loft, and all Bleihngs loft. Ibid. p. 40,
Is there any Reafon or Religion your Moderation fhould be ihewn to other Feftivities, not only becaufe of their Abufe, Superftition, and other £vils, but of their Increafe ? I would commend the Zealots of this Devo- tion to the Care of Rome Heathen. I haften to make mention of that ( which I know every one obferves, ) that the Providence of Heaven is become here Mode- rator, appointing the higher! Feftivity of all the Year to meet with our Monthly Faft, and be fubdued by it,
Tho. ThoroWgood's Faji Sermon upon Chriftmas-Da/, 1644. P. 16,
Fiddling jigs are n(0 out of Tune; fahen God hath turned our Harp into Mourning, and our Organ into1 the Voice of them that weep. Ycu may overhear Dd- vid's Enemies whifpering, that an evil D'ifeafe fo clave
O 2 ' &
ioo ^ Century 0/
to him, that now he was down, for certain he would never rife more : But then God was both Phyfician and Nurfe to him, making his Bed for him, when they ac- counted him Bed-rid. Thus they fet the Clock much too forward, but it haftned never the more holy Da- vid's Sun-Set.
Anthony Tuckney^ Fafi Sermon before the Commons, Auguft 30. 1643. P. 8. Called, The Balm of Gilead for the Wounds of Englajid.
God deals with us in a more thorough way, chufing rather to pinch us, then to prefs Corruption out of us 5 declares his Faithfulnefs to us, that he meaneth rather to heal than to fkin the Sore. Ibid. p. 16.
Oh ! Let every one of us break our Alabafter Box before the Lord this Day, our Hearts I mean, that the precious Ointment of his Graces may flow forth. lb, P. 18.
We may fuppofe Patience in the Soul, to be like the Town-Clerk of Ephefus, A3s 19. 35. who, when the City was in Confufion, appeafed the Multitude.
Tho. Valentine1* Faft Sermon before the Commons? December 28. 1642. P. 10.
Chrift in his Anfwer to the Love-fick Soul, will fay, I will be better to thee than Friends, Children, Plea- fures ^ 1 will ftay thee with Flaggons of Wine, and comfort thee with Apples •, I will refrelh thee with the beft Dainties that Heaven can afford. Ibid. p. 49.
The Church of England is now great, and we hope e're long, will be delivered of the goodlieft and faireft Child that ever {he brought forth $ and we had need to be put in a Pofture of Patience to wait God's Leifure, till he gives Strength to bring forth the Child of Re- formation, which lies ftruggling in the Womb. Ibid, P. $0.
Fe that through all the Pangs of the new Birth, &c, hat]-;, met the main Gulph, and hath landed in Chrift, fhall with more facility lay afide his lefTer Interefts for him. Rich-
Presbyterian Treacher*. jqi
Richard Vines'* Faft Sermon before the Commons, No- vember 30. 1642. P. 10. ^ He can only lay himfelf out for God, that can lay himfelf up in him. lb. p. 14.
And for God's Promifes to his People, they will eat their Way through all the Alp of Oppofition. God ' will be the Midwife of them, to deliver them of their Womb. lb. p. id.
The Lukewarm are more offenfive to Chrift's Sto- mach. Nor are they much better , who have had fome rare Sermons, moft what about Orders and Ceremonies, and fuch like Extrinficals, which have proved as a Thrum left in the Loom, to which our Crafts-Marters might more eafily tie their new Piece. And if in no other, yet in this Refpect deferve Caftigation. Ibid, p. 20, 21.
If our Churches be made Golden Candlefticks, let not Candle-Rufhes be fet up in them. lb. p. 2$.
Let Seedfmen be fent forth into all our Fields, that the People may be taken by the Confcience. lb. p. 34.
A Man of no filial Difpofition, may be God's Tool. lb. p. 36.
This Sermon was preached upon one of the Days of our folemn Approach. It was no Seafon to prefent you with Fancies drefled up in Cobweb-Lawn, or their No- tions clothed with thin Air.
Vines'* Faft Sermon before the Commons. Tan. 28. 164.T Epift. Ded.
The fecond of the Three Parts of the Text that is drawn from the golden Tackle, that couples the Two- Extremes of the Proportion, hath in it the Marrow of the Text.
Nath. Ward's Fafl Sermon before the Commons, March 26. 164?. P. ?•
The Diforder we complain of, was firft begotten be- tween the Ambition of great Men, and Unfaithfalnefi q^l Counfellors of State, brought forth by the tTnrighte-
ouf-
io2 A Century of Sec.
oufnefs and Bafenefs of the Judges -, nurfed up and got Strength by the Pride and Flattery of the Prelacy, and Prelatical Clergy i and by the Unworthinefs of ma- ny of the Mobility complying and fubferving. Ibid.
f- 39-
Lord, if we perifli, We will perrfh in believing : We will caft our felves into thy Anns h we will roll our felves upon thy Mercies.
1 Jer. Whitakef* Fajt Sermon[ before the Commons, Jan. 2$. 1642. P. 48.
All the Creatures in the World are God's Domeftick Servants : He keeps them, he finds them, he feeds them, he cloaths them. Oh! what a Houfekeeper here is ? How many Tables doth he fpread every Day ? How many Beds doth he make every Night ? How many Servants does he keep continually ?
Dr. Whincopp^ Fajt Sermon before the Commons, Jan.
29. 1644. P. 14.
The Text, that I may directly fall upon it, is, Chrifis Warning Piece t and this let off for Two Purpofes. Fra. Woodcock's Faji Sermon before the Commons, Ocl.
30. 1644. P. ii Called, Chrift's Warning Piece. Oh ! be perfuaded to keep your Garments, your
mourning Garments , your ftraiter Garments , your Church Garments, your State Garments, your fighting Garments, your Treating Garments. lb. p. Bi<
APPE
.
Va. JjX*. J-/L*. -U/^ J^^u. .u>Ct W** jjA* J»?'-.*. ju/ «. .uajl juAa J*A » .wd.J*i^ ^CSjv'^wtitJ
A P P E N D I
R. Calamy, in the Second Part of his Abridge- ment of Baxter's Life , having given us the Names of all, and the Characters of molt of thofe, who were eje&ed by the Bartholomew- AQt (as 'tis commonly calfd) in 1662. and telling us at the fame Time 5 a *J That to let the Memory of theft Men die, " would have been injurious to Pofterity, by depriving " them of what might contribute to promote their Stea- il dinefs to their Principles under Hardships and Seve- ic rities. And b that fome angry Perfons have taken " no final! Pleafure in befpattering thefe worthy Men, cc whofe Names deferve embalming. And that none l* has more fignalized his Rancour and Bitternefs in 111- " natur'd Refle&icns, than Mr. Anthony Wood, the Oxfrrl " Hiftoriographer^ who has been taken to Talk for other u Failures, while no one has been fo charitable to wipe " off the foul Afperiions he has cad upon the Diflenters y " who, to fay the lead, deferved better Treatment.3'
I have taken from him the fhort Characters of Thir- ty of this Century of Preachers ; all , I think, that he has characterized, who iurvived the Reftoration. Which the Reader is defired to compare with the oppofite Pat fages, as well as thofe cited before in this Collection : From whence, I prefiime, he may pretty well judge
a Frcf. to thcfeconcl Vol. of Dr. C>ilamy*s Abridgment. fc Ibid, p 8.
how
ij APPENDIX.
how far thefc Characters are true 5 or what Credit is to be given to a great Number of others in that Collecti- on. And tho5 1 Ihould be unwilling to enter into a Di- fpute with Dr. Calamy in any Cafe, where I was convin- ced the Truth would not fufFer by a total Silence ^ yet I hope he will excufe me, if I differ from him in my Opinion of the Perfons here characterized •, when I am willing to come into that juft Tribute of Praife which is due to him, for the Service he has lately done in De- fenfe of the common Caufe of Chriftianity : Having as a Prefident for fo doing, a very Worthy and Learned c Perfon, who has juftly merited the greater!: Applaufe from the Learned World upon all Accounts. And can't but think that Dr. Calamy will be fo far from taking it amifs, that he will give me Thanks for endeavouring to convince him and the World , That the Characters he has given of fome of his Bartholomew Martyrs are far from being juft, by confronting them with proper Evidence againft them, from their own Writings : And am willing to hope, that if his Abridgment comes to another ImprelTion, he will rectify thofe Characters, in which he is convinced of any Miftakes : And not over-do the Matter by dignifying and diftinguifhing thefe Men by the Title of the greateft of Saints •, fome of which (I am apt to believe) the World will elteeni no better than grofs Hypocrites, and the moft notorious of Sinners.
Simeon Ajh. €c Good old Simeon Ajh went feafonably u to Keai'en, at "the very Time when he was caft out CJ of the Church. He was buried the very Eve of Bar- tc tholomcw Day. He was a Chriftian of the d Trhnitive
c Dr. Watevlavas Second Vindication of (Thrift's Divinity, &c.
" I confefs, for my part, I can't expe£t a compleat Delive- rance from thefe OpprefTions, but by the Extirpation of that Frame [viz- Epifcopacy. ]
Aihe before the Commons, March 90. 1 642. P. 6l.
Blind Seers, dumb Dogs, idle Drones, fchifmat-ical Keretioks, fcandalous Men. Ibid.
*Sim*
APPENDIX. uj
* Shnplkity, and a Non-Conformift of the old Stamp. " He was eminent for a holy Life, a chearful Mind,
* and fluent Elegancy in Prayer. Dr. C^rdmyys Abridge merit i &c:V6l. 2. P. 1, 2. 2d Edit.
Matthew Barker " was one of confiderable Learn- " ing, great e Piety, and univerfal Candor and Me- " deration ♦, no lover of Controverfles, bur a hearty " promoter of Godlinefs. Abridgment , Vol. 2. P. 4?,.
William Bridges. u One to whom he was very well
* acquainted, gives this Account of him : That he " was no f mean Scholar, had a Library well furnifhed c with Fathers, Schoolmen, &c. That he was a very u hard Student, and many Souls heartily bleiTed God " for his Labours. Abridgment, Vol. 2. P. 479.
Thomas Brooks. " Was a very g affefting Preacher, u and ufeful to many 3 and though he ufed many
" home^
* In the Execution of Juftice, fear not the Power or Great- nefs of any. Take heed what you do, for you judge not for Man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the Judgment. Doth innocent Blood cry, and will you not hear what it f peaks, what it demands, whom it accufeth ? Blood cannot be buried in a .Grave of Oblivion'; for the Earth will difclofe its Blood, and no longer cover its Slain.
Matth. Barker' j Faji Sermon before the Commons, October 25. 1648. P. 37.
f Chrift loves that his People ffiou'd fit up for him, mould Watch and wait for him.
Bridges'* Fafl Sermon before the Commons, May 17. 16*48. P. 0.
God did not number fob in his Wallops, but when he was cold ; as we don't meafure Milk when it wallops and feeths, but when it is cold.
Bridges Fir ft and laft in fnfferin?, &c. ^.47.
[The Cathedrals are a Ned and Cage of unclean Birds, a Harbour of dumb Dogs, a Crew of Ale-ftrolling Singing-Men, eftering daily near the Holy Table the blind Whelps of an ig- norant Devotion.] Prelatical Hog-ftye. Bridges.
L'Eftrange'i Diffenters Sayings, Part I. p. 13.
5 Oh, Right Honourable, take glorious Refolutions to yovr felves. Though your Fathers may (land before you, and yo r Brerhren and Friends prefs about you ; tho' your Mother flic 1 d
iv A F F E N D I X.
*< homely Phrafes, yet he did more good to Souls, than " many of the exa&eft Compofers. And let the Wits cl of the Age pafs what Cenfures they pleafe , he that M winneth Souls is wife. Abridgment, Vol. 2. P. 27.
Anthony Burgefs '* of Sutton Coldfeld, continued the " painful and confcientious Exercife of his Miniftry, till 1 1 plundering and other Terrors of the Soldiers made him " take Sanauary at Coventry. He was generally re* <c fpeSed among the Afiembly of Divines^ was a Man of f? eminent Learning and h Piety. Abridg.vol. 2. p. 73 9,
Cornelius Burgefs, D. P. " was Member of the Aflem*. <• bly of Divines, a frequent Preacher before the long 6C Parliament 5 and yet he argued againft taking the * Covenanted refufed to take it, till he was fufpended. €c \ He laid out all he had in Bifhops Lands, which cc upon the King's Reftoration was entirely loft. He cc return'd afterwards, and lived privately at 7fratfordf " and was reduced to great Streights. Abridge Vol. 2. P. 586.
hang on you, I mean the neareft Relations, throw down the one, and break through the other, and trample upon the third, that your Souls may cleave to the Ways of God, to the Ways of Juftice and Rightecufnefs. You know the Rule is, Fiat Jufti- iicty 8? runt Mundus.
Brooks before the Commons , December zfi. 164.%. P. 15.
h Make no Frjendfhip with angry Men, much lefs with bloc >/ Men ; rather dye by th:m.
Anthony Burgefs before the Commons, November 5. 1^44. p. \%.
1 Dr. Corn, Burgefs came to the fame Conclufion with Dr. B.r.ckst, That it was utterly unlawful to convert the Endow- ments [of Bifhops, Deans, and Chapters] to the Ufe of any private Perfon ; tho' by the way, he afterwards laid out many Thoufand Ppunds in the Purchafe of thofe v^ry Cathedral Lands.
See Br. Walker'/ Attempt p. p.
Dr» Cornelius Burgefs, who was called Colonel for riding about to encourage the Work with his Cafe of Piftols, was fo officious as to aflilt plundering at the Globe Tavern in Holbom ; and there was not apelign but this Man had a Hand in its Attempt. p. 40.
Heylin'j lliji of Fresbyt. B. XIII. p. 43 1. "
APPENDIX. v
Richard Byfield cc Was a Man of great Piety and CJ Zeal •, he was eminent for the exemplary Holinefs of " his Converfation. Abridg. Vol. 2. P. 665.
Edmond Calamy " had a confiderable hand in k caufing " Things to return to their proper Channel -he preached i€ before the Parliament, the Day before they voted the % King home, and was one of thofe Divines fent over " unto him into Holland. Abridg* Vol. 2. P. J.
Thomas Cafe, " when his publick Miniftry was at an " End, he ceaftd not in private, to be doing all the " good he could : He was one of a quick and warm * Spirit, an open and plain hearted Man, a * hearty
" La-
k Is it riot a fad thing to fee the Head rent from its Mem- bers, and that that Head which mould be the Preferver of the Body, is by ill Counfel made a Deftroyer of his Body? Cala- my'j Fafi Sermon upon Chriftmas-day, 1644. P. 12.
Such as are falie-hearted, and have made their Peace at Ox- ford, build th€ir Houfes upon the Blood of Three Kingdoms. Thefe arc the Judas" % of England, and 'twere juft with God to give them their Portion with Judas. Ibid. p. 18.
Mr. Calamy, Baxter, &c. made this Loyal Speech to General Monk : " Sir, I hear a Report, that you have fOme Thoughts of *' calling back the King : But it is my Senfe, and the Senfe of €t thefe Gentlemen with me, that it is a thing you ought not to 11 do upon any Terms. For Prophanenefs is fo infeparable from " the Royal Family, that if ever ye bring back the King, the *' Power of Godlinefs will moft certainly depart from the Land.
Letter to Dr. Caiamy from Anonymus Londinenfls, in Vindication of Mr. Archdeacon EchardV Hlfiory of England, p. 27. Set his Speech at Guildhall, October \6. 1643. Ibid.
1 [Speaking of the Clergy.] They are idol, idle Shepherds* dumb Dogs that cannot bark, unlefs at the Flock of Chrift ; and fo they learned of their Mailers both to bite and bark : Greedy Dogs that could never have enough, that did tear out the Loins and Bowels of their own People for Gain: Swearing, Drunken* Unclean Prielb, that taught nothing but Rebellion in Ifraety and caufed People to abhor the Sacrifice of the Lord : Arminiany Pcpiih and vile Idolatrous Wretches, fuch as, had Job beeri alive, he won id not have fet with the Dogs of his Flock: A Ge- neration of Men that ha i never a Voce for Jeius Chrilt. Look into their Families, and they* were commonly the vileft of the
v) APPENDIX.
" Lover of God, Goodnefs, and all good Men : He w was a Scripture Preacher, a great Man in Prayer, * and one that brought home many Souls to God. Abridgment, Vol. 2. P. 12, 13.
.DdwVZ Cawdrey " was a confiderable Man, of emi- C£ nent Learning 5 when he was ejected, encouraging " all that came unto hiin in Piety and Holinefs.
Francis Chepel, D. D. " was a Man of confiderable « Learning, and great Abilities •, he loft a very valua- " ble Living for the fake of his Confcience ; he had a " publick Spirit, and was a m true Lover of his Coun- " try, and had as great an Intereft in it, and as enlar- tc ged a Heart for God, and promoting the Intereft of a the Gofpel, as any Man of the Age in which he ^ lived. Abridgment, Vol. 2. P. 675.
» Thomas Goodwin " was a celebrated Preacher, and <c an Inftrument in turning many to the Lord, and the *c Practice of ferious Religion : He was a very confide- " rable Scholar, an eminent Divine ^ and had a very €C happy Faculty in defcanting upon Scripture, fo as to €c bring forth furprizing Remarks. Abridg. Vol. 2. p. 60.
John Green u was a very ° holy Man : He died in
the very Week in which he was preparing to quit his
Diocefe, a very Neft of unclean Birds. In their Courts and Confiftories , you would have thought you had been in Caiaphas's Hall, where no Trade was driven, but the crucifying •Chrift in his Members. Cafe'j Sermon in Milkftreet, Sept. 30. 1043. f.45, 46, 47.
«» When the Kings of the Earth have given their Powers to the Beaft, thofe choice Soldiers will be fo faithful to the King of Kings, as to oppofe the Beaft, tho* armed with King-like Power. Cheynel'j Fajl Sermon before the Commons, May 31. 1643. -p. 10.
n See Collections of Pajfages before.
0 This Arrow [ Prayer ] will find a Joint in AhaUs Armour, Draw thy Arrow, as J-ehu did againft Jehoram, with your full Strength, and doubt not but in God's Time it will fmite our Romijb Jchcram at the Heart, (2 Kings 9. 24 ) and fink him in his Chariot and Chair of Pride.
Green, before the Commens, April 24. 1(544. %*• *7»
APPENDIX. v\)
" Living upon the Bartholomew Ad. Abridgment, Vol. 2. p. 437.
Mr. Greenbill " was a p worthy Man, much valued " for his great Learning and unwearied Labours. A- bridgment, Vol. 2. p. 47 T.
George Hughes of Plymouth, .a was mofl ftri£l and ex-- <c emplary in the Conduct of himfelf, the Religious " Management of his Family, his Obfervation of the "Lord's Day, and his Obfervation towards all Men: u q His ftrid Piety and Regard to God appear'd in his u whole Demeanor. Abridg. Vol. 2. p. 227.
William Joikyn. <c His Progrefs in Piety was as emi- " nent as in Learning. Whilft he was at St. Johns " College, Cambridge, he was made Minifter of Chrift- cc Church, and afterwards Le&urer of St. Anne Black " Friars, London : Which double Station he continued " to fill with great Diligence and Acceptance, till " upon the Deftrudtion of the Monarchy, he, with " others of his Brethren, refufed to obferve the publick " Thankfgivings appointed by the Parliament. For " this he was fufpended, and had his Benefice of Chrift- " Church fequeftred. He was fent to the Tower for " that which is commonly called, Love's Plot. Some
* Shew your felves a Parliament of Juftice. Let the World know it. Lay the Axe to the Root of Delinquency.
Greenhill, before the Commons, April 16. 1643. P. 34.
When Ejiber was advanced, ihe would not lofe her Opportuni- ties : She will in to the King altho' contrary to Law. She will have the Liberty of the People ; and Haman& Head off, and ven- ture her Life to accomolifh. it. JoJlaby Hezehah took their Op-* portunities, and made a thorough .Reformation in Judah. You. know what great Things Elijah did, Itifpiclente & relu&ante Rege. lb. p. 48.
«i See the Woe and Weal of States. Happy Land whofe King is ennobled by God : But woe to the State whofe King is a Child, or a Fool mall reign an Enemy to the Lord. And Princes luft- fill, gluttonous, and Jafcivious ; fuch as muft have a Breakfaft every Morning in Sin, mail freer by their Councils. Chrift is no Lawgiver there.
HughesV, before the Ccmwo?::, Miy 26. £647. P. -9.
r t£ 1iave
vii) A T P E N 2) 1 X.
" have cenfured him for the r Petition he prefented on <c thatOccafion for his Life to the Powers then in Be- " ing, wherein he acknowledged them under all thofe ic Titles they afliimed to themfelves, &c.
John Maynard " was an eminent and judicious Di- u vine \ and tho' at his Death he was a Benefactor to " Magdalen-Hall in Oxford, where he had Part of his 11 Education -5 yet Mr. Wood, the Oxford Hiftorian, has ** not s one good Word for him. Abridg. Vol. 2. p.684. James Nalton " was one of Primitive Sincerity, a good Linguift, a zealous excellent Preacher } com- monly called, the weeping Prophet, becaufe his Seriouf- ci nefs oft exprefTed it felt in Tears. Of a f moll blamelefs Life 5 tho5 learned, yet greatly averfe to Controverfies and Difputes. He was fo compofed of Piety, Humility, and Innocence, that no Enemy of
r The Parliament of the Commonwealth of England without the King, 165 1. were the fupreme Authority of the Nation* Jenkyns's Petition, OBoher 5. 165 1.
A Refufal to be fubje£t to this Authority, under the Pretence of upholding the Title of any one upon Earth ; is a Refufal to acquiefce in the righteous and wife Pleafure of God. Jenkyns's Petition.
Praifed be God, who has delivered us from the Impofition of Prelatical Innovations, Altar-Genu-flexions, Cringes and Crof- fings, and all that Popifh Train, and Trumpery. And truly I fpeak no more than what I have often thought and faid. ? [The Removal of thefe infupportable Burthens countervails for the Blood and Treafure, med and fpent in thefe late Diftraftions.] Jenkyns, before the Run?p, Sept. 24. 1656. P. 23.
s Thofe mine Enemies that would not that I mould reign over them, bring hither and flay them before me. Let me fee them executed ; Kings, Rulers, People , confpiring Rebellion againft the Lord, and againft^his Anointed. Maynard before the Conrmom, October 28. 1646. P. 15.
r BlefTed be the Lord who hath put it into the Hand of the Honourable Parliament, to purge out the Dregs of that Leaven, which the Lord hates in his very Heart ; and to pull down that proud opprefling Prelacy, and thofe Prelatical Popiih Innova- tions, which are the Props and Pillars of Idolatry. Nalton be* fore the Commons, April 20. 16415. P. IU
APPENDIX. \K
"God that knew him, durfl: almoft fay any thing
* againft him. Abridg. Vol. 2. p. 2. Matthew Newcomen " in his ordinary Converfe was pteafant and facetious, and of extraordinary Humi- lity, Affability, and Courtefy : His whole Converfa- tion was both u pious and amiable. Abridg. Vol. 2,
p. 294.
Dr. Owen u was a great Man, and generally refpedfc-
* ed as a Scholar, Gentleman, and Divine : He was a
* Man of univerfal Reading, and was eipecially con* " verfant in thofe Sciences that are ailiftant to Divini- u ty : He was reckoned the brighter!: Ornament of the *c Uni verfity of Oxford, and was for feveral Years
fucceffively Vice-Chancellor there : His Name will be x precious, when the Memory of the Wicked Ihall
cc (I
« rot.
William Reyrer " was an eminent Divine $ when he q quitted his Living, he had no vifible Subfiftance,
v Oh, into what an inextricable Labyrinth have rhefc Wretches brought our Prince! To perfuade him the Intentions of the Parliament are againft his Dignity and Prerogative^ The Lord rebuke them thatfo perfuade him ; yea, the Lord re- buke thee Satan. Newcomen before the Commons, Nov. 5. 1642.
x He that is entrufted with the Sword, and dares not do Juftice on every one that dares do Injuftice, is afraid of the Crea- ture, but makes very bold with his Creator, Owen to the Com- mans,- Jan. ^ 1 „ 16*48. P. 15.
When Kings command unrighteous Things, and People fuir them with willing Compliance, none doubts but the Dettruction of them both is juft and righteous. Ibid. f. 5.
Bifhop Bramhall ( in his Preface to his Vindication of him- felf from the Presbyterian Charge of Popery ) fays of Dr. Owen, 11 That he was a Perfon of fo pernicious a Temper, fo much " Infolence, of fuch a reftlefs and implacable Spirit, of fuch a " fworn and inveterate Hatred to the Government of Church *-* and State, that he ought without Ceremony or Fear of Inci- 44 vility, to have been purfued as the greateft Peft, and moft 44 dangerous Enemy of the Church and Commonwealth ; and 44 whoever wifh.es well to his Country, can never do it greater 44 Service, than by beating down the Iucercft and Reputation 44 of fuch Sons of BcIUi.
« and
x APPENDIX.
u and yet lived very chearfully afterwards, and was in 4< no want through the Care of divine Providence : He * left the World with a r general Reputation •, he was a *' Man of general Learning, and an eminent Hiftorian. Abridgment, Vol. 2. P. 666.
Lazarus Seaman, u as he came in mean Circumftances 4< to Emanuel College, fo he was forced foon to leave it , " fo that his Learning fprang from himfelf ^ and yet €C even the envious Wood owns him to be a z Learned " Man. Whilft he was Mafter of Peter Houfe in Cam* u bridge, he acquitted himfelf with abundant Ho- " nour • he was an excellent Cafuift, a dextrous Expo- " fitor, and both a judicious and moving Preacher. Abridgment, Vol. 2. P. 17.
William Sedgewick, " called Doomfday Sedgerpich Thofe " who knew him, will reprefent him as a a pious Man H. with a diforder'd Head. Abridg. Vol. 2. p. 117.
Wil-
J The Lord will not be out-braved by Man always, but will ftrike even through Kings in the Day of his Wrath. Reyner'j Fafi Sermon before the Commons*, Auguft 28. 1 644. E. 27.
z Mr. Charles Hothamy one of his Fellows, and one that Hands in this Catalogue of Dr. Calam/s, p. 413. and is there called an eminent Scholar, would not allow him to be a learned Man. See Corporations Vindicated, by Charles Hotham, in iz™°. P. 58^ 59. London- 165 1.
The Universities Complaint at that Time, upon his being made' Head of a College with others, " That the Knipperdollings of c* the Age reduced a glorious and renowned Univerfity alinoit «« to a meer Monfter. And did more in lefs than Three Years, 6i than the Apoftate J-ulian could efteft in all his Reign ; viz. *c Broke the Heart-firings of Learning, and all learned Men ; €< and thereby laxated all the Joints of Chriftiaiiity in theKing- <c dom ; infomuch that they fear'd not to appeal to any imparr " tial Judge, whether if the Goths and Va?:da!s , or even the *' Turks themfelves had over-run this Nation, they would have *< more abufed a flourifhing Univerfity, than thefe pretended ct Advancers of Religion hacl done. Querzl. Cantab» Pr*f. p. 26,
?■ Sometimes God isfaid to fleep, and then his People awaken. him : Sometimes to be flow and delay, and then we mutt quiclcen
him.
APPENDIX. *j
William Spurftow ( one of the Authors of ' Sme&ymmtus) u was a Man of great Humility and Meeknefs, and " great Charity both in giving arid forgiving. He al- a ways had an b innocent and grateful Chearfulnefs in <c his Converfe, which rendred it very acceptable, anA a Was of a very peaceable Difpofition. Abridg. V ol. 2,
P-47*.
Mr. John Strickland " preach'd often before the Long " Parliament. Wood fays he pray'd often «= Mafphe- " moufly : He might as well have faid, he came into " his Pulpit naked • for one is not more ridiculous than " the other to thofe who knew the Man. He was re- u ally a great Divine, well efteem'd and eminent for " expounding of Scripture. Abridg. Vol. 2. P-1S5. Dr. Edinond Stanton. " After the Adt of Uniformity difabled him, he retired to a little Village in Herij " ford/Irire, where he preach'd conftantly, being afraid " his Lord fhould come and find him idle. Mr. Mayoi u in his Life, among other things, tells us this remarka- " ble Story of him : That preaching once at Wdrbo- rough, not far from Oxford, one of the Congregation was fo affefted with his firft Prayer, that he ran to his Wife, and told her, that {he ftiould make ready ". and come to Church, for there was one in the Pul-
tt
him. Sometimes he feems to lofe his Mercy, and then his Peo- ple mud find it for him. And here he feems to reft till he be clifqmeted by our Prayers. William Sedgwick'/ Fajt Semen be- fore the Commons, 1 642. P. 2.
b The frefh Remembrance of Sin is like a Pea in an filue* that keeps it open, and makes it run. Spurftow; before the Tw6 iloHfcs, July 21. 1643. P. 30.
c Whether he was blafphemous in praying or not, I can't tell ; but I am fure he was fediticus in preaching. Witnefs the fol- lowing Paifagc :
Be not wanting in the Execution of Juftice. You know there is a Curfe pronounced againft them who do the Work of the Lord (tho'it be a bloody Work) negligently. 5trickland, before the Commons y December 17. 1643. ^* 32,
4 :■ &
xi) A F P E N 2) I
« pit that pray'd like an i Angel. The Woman haften'd * away with her Husband •, and God fo order'd it, that " that Sermon proved a Means of her Converfion, and " fhe prov'd afterwards a ferious eminent Chriftian, Abridg. Vol. 2. p, 64.
" Ths famous Fravch Taylor, Member of the Af- *c femblv of Divines, was well known by his e "Works. Abridg. Vol. 2. p. 374.
Dr. Anthony Tuchiey " hath left behind him the u Character of an f eminently pious and learned Man, a
T— ■"""■"■'■— ■■—" J».«J-"aTt.»t,;'- »^.iwn»i— .m.— *
4 I defire the Reader will judge from^the following Inftances, whether he did not llkeivife preach like an Angel.
God puts Believers into Chrift, as into the Clifts of a Rock. Our Rock is a Rock of Ages. All the Rocks of Enemies are fandy, gravelly Rocks, foon wafhed away. This Rock is folid, and lafts to Eternity i A flickering Rock to Eternity ; a fha- dowing Rock to Eternity ; a watering Rock to Eternity, a feed- ing Rock to Eternity. Stanton, before the Commonsy April 24,
1044. . F- i'i> 15-
He is a watering Rock, and feeding Rock to thy Soul : Only fpeak to the Rock by Prayer, and fmite the Rock by Acts of Faith, and the living Waters of Confolation will flow abun- dantly upon thy Soul. Yea, fuck this Rock , lay thy Mouth to this Rock, and thou lhalt fuck Honey out of it, in the fweeteft Graces and Confolations thy Soul can wiih for. lb. ji. 21.
Vhhwas h the Man that executes Judgment ; a Man unthought of for fuch Service. Hence obferve, that when God hath Work to do, he can find out Workmen ; A Phineas with a Zeal in his Heart, and a Javelin in his Hand, to thruit through the proud- eft Zimrfs and Cosbi's, the moft daring Sinners. Stanton, before the Commons, October 50. 1644. P. 9.
e Who gave this Power to our King, to raife an Army againft the Parliament ? To keep Malefactors from deferved PuniHir ment : To arm Papifts againft Protectants ; to bring the barba- rous Irifl) into the Kingdom to cut our Throats? Is this Power from God, or of Men ? If nor, we may jiifHy re'ift it, defend our felves and legal Privileges Fra. Taylor , ta the Commons* Prober 29. 164;. P. 19.
f Oh ! let every one of us break our Akbafter Box before Cod this Day. Our Hearts, I mean ; thst th& precious Oint- ment of his Graces may flew forth. Dr. Tuckney** Krj}- Sermoti before the Ccmmons, Aug. 3c. 164*'- cttlUd-, Balm of VAlviu for ~Ev~ gland's Wounds. P. 18.
? true
APPENDIX. xiij
* true Friend, and indefatigable Student; a candid " Difpntant, and an earneft Promoter of Truth and H Godlinefs. Abridg. Vol. 2. p. 81.
Thomas Valentine u was a very popular and g taking " Preacher. Abridg. Vol. 2. p. 104.
h H?wr)i JFilkinfon, D. D. £c was a noted Preacher in
* Oxford in 1658. Even Mr. 7/P00 J owns him to be a good " Scholar, a clofe Student, and an excellent Preacher ; u and it appears to have been fo much againfl the " Grain, when confpicuom Merit forced from him any " fuch Acknowledgment concerning a poor Non-con- " formift, that I think in fuch a Cafe v/e may take his " Word. Abridg* Vol. 2. p. 61,62.
s We may fuppofe Patience in the Soul to be like the Town- Clerk cf Ephefus, who, when the City was in an Uproar, ap- peafed the Multitude. Valentine'* Fafi Sermon before the Commons* December 28. 1642. P. 10.
Chrift in his Anfwer to the Love-fick Soul will lay, I will be better to thee than Friends, Children, Pleafures : I will flay thee with Flagons of Wine, and comfort thee with Apples. I will refrefn. thee with the bed Dainties that Heaven can afford. lb. p. 49.
h We are dealt withal by way of Treaty and friendly Ac- commodation ; Places of Meeting are propofed. And the Truth is, their Trains of Love are Trains of Powder to blow us up. Wilkinfon'j Faj} Sermon before the Commons. 1643. P. 1 5.
FINIS.
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BW5136.G84
A century of eminent Presbyterian
Princeton Theological Seminary-Speer Library
1 1012 00038 2889
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