Firſt, We ought to have a great care that we do no injury and harm to them, and no ways diſturb the Peace of them. In being required and enjoyned to pray for our Jeruſalem, for the Church of God, and for the good of our own Nation and People, we are hereby plainly forbid to do any Injury and Wrong to them. And it is our Saviour's command, that we ſhould be harmleſs and innocent in all reſpects. Mat. 10.16. Behold (ſaith he) I ſend you forth as ſheep in the midſt of Wolves; be ye therefore wiſe as Serpents, and harmleſs as Doves. And herein eſpecially are we to be ſo, in committing no publick Offences and Crimes againſt the Church, or good of the Nation. We are to be very cautious and circumſpect, that we do not wilfully offend againſt the common Good and Welfare of the Church or State; and to have a great care that we commit no wilful Acts of Violence and Wrong againſt them; and that we lend no helping hand to deſtroy and overthrow th • Proteſtant Church, and our Good Laws and well-eſtabliſht Go •••• m •• t. There is no doubt to me, but that the Proteſtant Church of England is a true and eminent part of the Church of Chriſt; and therefore every Man ought to have a very great care that he doth not any ways help to deſtroy and pull it down, and to introduce Popery in the room of it. The Proteſtant Religion is agreeable to the pure Word of God; but Popery is flat contrary to that ſacred Word in a multitude of places, as you may ſee in the Proteſtant's Letter, and the Book called, the Contrariety of Popery to the bleſſed Word of God; and every good Proteſtant then ought to chuſe rather to die at the Stake, than to help to make this change in Religion. And thoſe that do ſo, may juſtly expect the Woe and Curſe of God to come upon them for helping to deſtroy ſuch an eminent part of his Church. And we are to have a care that we offer no Wrong and Violence to any of the Members thereof; that we no ways annoy and injure the very meaneſt of them. Nor muſt we help to overthrow our laudable and good Laws and well Eſtabliſht Government, and to bring the Kingdom under the Popiſh Yoke and Bondage again. If we bear that good will that we ought to our Jeruſalem, and would obſerve this precept of the Devout and Royal Pſalmiſt, we muſt refrain from the doing of any of theſe things; and offer no Violence nor Injury to our beloved City, or any of the Members of it. And to deter us the more from doing any Acts of Violence and Wrong to the Church, or any of the faithful Members thereof, we may ſee that Woe and Miſery is threatned to ſuch, and like to come upon them. Our Saviour pronounceth a Woe againſt the Phariſees for obſtructing the Kingdom of Heaven, and hindering the progreſs of the Goſpel. Mat. 23.13. But woe unto you Scribes and Phariſees Hypocrites (ſaith he) for ye ſhut up the Kingdom of Heaven against Men: For ye neither go in your ſelves; neither ſuffer ye them that are entring, to go in. And ſaith he, Luc. 11.52. Wo unto you Lawyers; for ye have taken away the key of knowledge; ye entred not in your ſelves; and them that were entring in, ye hindred. This wo is denounced againſt them, for oppoſing the Kingdom of Heaven, and hindering the increaſe and advancement of the Church of God: And all thoſe that ſhall now help to deſtroy the true Church of Chriſt, or to do any wrong to any part thereof, may juſtly expect to fall under the laſh of ſuch a Woe and Curſe. And our Lord denounces a Woe againſt all ſuch as offend againſt his Church, or any of the ſmalleſt Members of it, and offer them any injury and wrong. Matth. 18.6—. But whoſo ſhall offend one of theſe little ones (ſaith he) which believe in me; It were better for him that a milſtone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea. Wo unto the world becauſe of offences; for it must needs be that offences come: but wo to that man, by whom the offence cometh. And to this purpoſe, Mar. 9.42. and Luk. 17.1. The Church is the Spouſe of Chriſt, and all the true and faithful Members thereof are dear to Almighty God; and whoſoever offereth any injury and violence to them, will fire the wrath of Almighty God againſt himſelf, and bring a Woe and Curſe upon his own head. When Saul breathed out threatnings and ſlaughter againſt the Church and Diſciples of our bleſſed Saviour, and went to Damaſcus to bring them bound from thence to Jeruſalem, to have them impriſoned and puniſhed; our Saviour told him, that in ſo doing he perſecuted him; and let him know, that he ſhould find ſharp ſervice in ſo doing, Acts 9.3—. And as he journeyed, he came near to Damaſcus, and ſuddenly there ſhined round about him a light from Heaven. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice ſaying unto him, Saul, Saul, why perſecuteſt thou me? And he ſaid, who art thou, Lord? And the Lord ſaid, I am Jeſus, whom thou perſecuteſt: It is hard for thee to kick againſt the pricks. This was the perſecuting of Chriſt himſelf, as we ſee it was reſented; and in ſuch high provocations we muſt expect to bring the wrath of God upon our ſelves. And ſaith St. Paul to the Galatians concerning thoſe that troubled their Church, Gal. 5.12; I would they were even cut off, which trouble you. This heavy wiſh doth he utter againſt ſuch as troubled and moleſted the Church of the Galatians. And ſaith he to the Theſſalonians, 2 Theſſ. 1.6; Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompence Tribulation to them that trouble you. This is like to be their Doom, that trouble the Church and are Enemies to it, and do any violence to it, or the faithful Members thereof. And we may ſee that Elymas the Sorcerer was ſtruck with blindneſs, for withſtanding the Apoſtles, and ſeeking to turn away the Deputy of Paphos from the faith, Acts 13.8—. By theſe and ſuch places we may ſee what a ſinful and evil thing it is to do any injury and harm to the Church of God, or to any of the faithful Servants of God: And what ſharp puniſhment they are to expect that do ſo. And according to our great Wickedneſs muſt we now expect to be puniſhed, if we help to deſtroy the Proteſtant Church and to ſet up Popery, or join with thoſe that do ſo, and give encouragement to ſuch an unrighteous and helliſh work. And we are not to expect to go unpuniſhed in our follies and ſinful ways if we go about to overthrow the good Government of our Kingdom, or any ways to diſturb the Peace and Quiet of it. All ſuch offences are of a publick and high nature; and thoſe that are guilty thereof, muſt expect to be dealt with accordingly.

And we are alſo to have a great care that we do not diſturb the Peace of our Jeruſalem by making any cauſleſs Diviſions and Schiſms in the Church to rent and tear it to pieces, and to deſtroy all the Peace and Quiet thereof. And we are to make no Factions and Parties in the Kingdom, to make any confuſion and diſorder therein. All cauſleſs Diviſions in the Church are very ſinful, and ſtrictly forbidden in ſeveral places in the Word of God. Rom. 16.17, ſaith the Apoſtle there; Now I beſeech you brethren, mark them which cauſe diviſions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them. With great earneſtneſs doth he diſſuade them from following all ſuch as make any cauſleſs Diviſions among them. And ſaith St. James 3.14—, But if ye have bitter envying and ſtrife in your hearts, glory not, and lye not against the Truth. This wiſdom deſcendeth not from above, but is earthly ſenſual deviliſh. For where envying and ſtrife is, there is confuſion and every evil work. Envying and ſtrife and diviſions are productive of nothing that is good; but of all confuſion and diſorder, and deſtroy all the Peace and Happineſs of the Church and Kingdom. And theſe bring ruin and deſtruction in the end, as our bleſſed Lord hath taught us. Mat. 12.25. And Jeſus knew their thoughts, and ſaid unto them; every Kingdom divided againſt it ſelf, is brought to deſolation: and every city or houſe divided against it ſelf, ſhall not ſtand. Hence we ſee a Land and Kingdom is like to be brought to deſolation and ruin. If we would ſtudy and ſeek the Peace of our Jeruſalem, our Church and Kingdom, we muſt create and promote no Diviſions and Factions therein.

And that we may be wholly innocent herein, and not inſtrumental in overthrowing and diſturbing the Peace and Happineſs of our Church and Nation, we are to have a care that we do not help to bring down the judgments of God upon them by our own ſins and wickedneſs: That we do not hereby help to cauſe the Light of the Goſpel to be taken away from us; and juſtly cauſe the Lord to viſit our Nation with the Sword or Peſtilence, or ſome other ſore and terrible judgment.

If we bear true Love to our Jeruſalem, to our own Church and Kingdom, and would ſeek the Good and Welfare of them, we are then to take great care that we our ſelves do no injury and harm to them, and no ways diſturb their Peace and Quiet: That we help not to deſtroy and overthrow them, and to bring in Popery and the Romiſh Yoke into this Nation: That we help not to bring diſquiet and miſery upon them, by creating and promoting of Diviſions and Factions therein: And that we help not to pull down the heavy judgments of God upon them by our ſins and wickedneſs.

If we are true Lovers of our Zion, we are carefully, in the firſt place, to avoid the doing of any injury and wrong thereto.

Secondly, We are to be highly concerned for our Jeruſalem, and to endeavour to prevent, and to keep off all the evil and harm that may befal our Church and Kingdom at any time, what we can in a good and lawful way; but things unlawful muſt not be attempted, ſuch as the taking up of Arms againſt Authority. That little Power that we have, we are to uſe to a good end, and to ſtand up for the good of the Church and Nation, to oppoſe all the violence and injuries that may be offered to them, what we can; and when we can do no more, to ſhew our diſlike of ſuch things as are evil and hurtful to them, and to have no hand in ſuch. Every one in his own Place and Station ſhould oppoſe, and withſtand all Corruptions and ſinful Innovations, and all things that tend any ways to the Ruin, or to diſturb the Peace and Weal of the Church and Kingdom; And eſpecially are we all to oppoſe and withſtand the Errors and Corruptions of the Church of Rome what we can, and to give no way for the introducing of them and the Popiſh Religion: For that Religion I apprehend now to be coming upon us; and we Proteſtants ſhall be notoriouſly ſinful, if we help to bring it in, and do not in a mild way oppoſe it. For the Faith and Truth of the Goſpel, and for the Conſtitutions and Liturgy of our own Church, and for our Laws and Government, ſo far as they are good and agreeable to the bleſſed Word of God, (by which we are all to be guided) are we to ſtrive and contend, and willingly to give way to nothing that ſhall tend ro the overthrowing of them. This the Apoſtle ſheweth, that we are to ſtrive for the Faith of the Goſpel and the pure Word of God. Phil. 1.27—, That ye ſtand faſt in one ſpirit, with one mind, ſtriving together for the faith of the Goſpel; And in nothing terrified by your adverſaries—. By no Terror of our Adverſaries are we to be moved to depart from the Faith of the Goſpel and the bleſſed Word of God. And ſaith St. Jude, ver. 3—, Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common ſalvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you, That ye ſhould earneſtly contend for the Faith, which was once d • livered to the Saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the Grace of God into laſciviouſneſs—. And ſuch there are now like to be, whoſe errors and corruptions are to be oppoſed and withſtood by all good and pious Men. And we may ſee that the Church of Pergamos is commended for ſtanding for the truth of the Goſpel, and not giving way to be ſeduced to Apoſtacy, though it were in a time of great danger. Rev. 2.13. I know thy works and where thou dwelleſt, even where Satan's ſeat is, and thou holdeſt faſt my Name, and haſt not denyed my faith, even in thoſe days, wherein Antipas was my faithful Martyr, who was ſlain among you, where Satan dwelleth. For the pure Word of God, and the Truth of the Goſpel are we at all times to ſtrive and contend what we can, and to ſtand againſt all errors and corruptions that are contrary thereto, though it ſhould be with great hazard of our Lives. And for the good Conſtitutions and Orders of our own Church, and for our own Laws and Government which are agreeable to the bleſſed Word of God, are we to ſhew ſome care and zeal, and not willingly to give way to have them ſubverted and overthrown, but mildly to oppoſe all alterations therein, that may be deſtructive to them, and to our Peace and Happineſs therein. The Rechabites are commended for obeying the commandments of Jonadab their Fore-father, who had ſet them certain Laws and Commands; and becauſe they would not depart from them; Jer. 35.6. And much more then ought we to be zealous for the good Orders and Conſtitutions of our own Church, and the Laws and Government of our own Nation; and in a good Chriſtian way to ſtand up for them; and to oppoſe all attempts that are made to overthrow them.

And that we may be the more ſerviceable to our Church and Kingdom, and endeavour to prevent all the evil that may befal them; we are to oppoſe the great ſins and iniquity of the times what we can, that hereby we may endeavour to prevent the Judgments of God from coming upon them: For Iniquity, when it is grown ripe, will be ſure to bring ſome Judgment or other. We are to ſtop the current of all wickedneſs what we can, and to endeavour to reclaim and draw all ſinners from their evil ways. This we are to do, both out of Chriſtian compaſſion to their own Souls, that we might help to ſave them, if it may be; and alſo to prevent ſuch evil and miſery as they will help to bring upon a place by their wickedneſs. By all good and lawful ways are we to endeavour to prevent and keep off all evil and miſery that may now, or at any time befal our Church and Nation.

Thirdly, We are to be grieved and to mourn for all the miſeries and calamities that befal our Jeruſalem, our Church and Kingdom. The true Proteſtant Church among us are we now to eſteem as our Jeruſalem, and to account it as dear to us as our very Lives; and for all the evils that befal it are we to be much troubled and perplexed. This ſhould be matter of great mourning and lamentation and weeping to us, to ſee our Church brought low and under a cloud, and in a deſolate and forſaken condition: To ſee the bleſſed Peace thereof to be removed and taken away, and her Enemies triumphing over her, this ſhould be ſorrow and grief of heart to all her faithful children. And now is the time come that all good Proteſtants are to fall to bitter mourning and weeping; For now is the time at hand, that the Gentiles are to tread under foot rhe holy City forty and two months; Rev. 11.2. Now is the time drawing near, that the Beaſt that aſcendeth out of the bottomleſs Pit, will make war againſt the witneſſes of God, and overcome them; Rev. 11.7: Now I apprehend the time to be at hand, that Popery ſhall prevail over the Proteſtant Church for three years and an half; and this ſhould call us all to great mourning and lamentation. Nor is it with dry eyes that I have drawn up theſe lines. And we are to know, that our ſins are the cauſe of this miſery that is coming upon us; and therefere we have the greater reaſon to mourn. We may ſee that the Jews wept in their Captivity, when they thought of the deſolate condition of their Jeruſalem, Pſal. 137.1. By the rivers of Babylon, there we ſat down, yea we wept when we remembred Zion. And the Prophets did much bewail the miſeries that befel the Church and People of God. Iſ. 22.4—. ſaith the Prophet; Therefore ſaid I, look away from me, I will weep bitterly, labor not to comfort me, becauſe of the ſpoiling of the daughter of my people: For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity by the Lord God of Hoſts in the valley of viſion, breaking down the walls, and crying to the mountains. And ſaith the Prophet Jeremiah 4.7, 8; The lyon is come up from his thicket, and the deſtroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make the land deſolate, and the cities ſhall be laid waſt without an inhabitant. For this gird you with ſackcloth, lament and howl: For the fierce anger of the Lord is not turned back from us. And Jer. 6.26, ſaith he; O daughter of my people, gird thee with ſackcloth and wallow thy ſ • lf in aſhes; make thee mourning, as for an only ſon, moſt bitter lamentation; for the ſpoiler ſhall ſuddenly come upon us. To mourning doth he call them upon the ſight of the evil that he ſaw coming upon them. And for the great wickedneſs of his people, and the Judgments of God that came upon them for it, doth the Prophet lament ſore. Jer. 9.1. Oh (ſaith he) that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the ſlain of the daughter of my people. O that I had in the wilderneſs a lodging place of wayfaring men, that I might leave my people, and go from them: For they be all adulterers, an aſſembly of treacherous men. And ſaith he, Jer. 13.16—; Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cauſe darkneſs, and before your feet ſtumble upon the dark mountains, and while ye look for light, he turn it into the ſhadow of death, and make it groſs darkneſs. But if ye will not hear it, my ſoul ſhall weep in ſecret places for your pride, and mine eyes ſhall weep ſore, and run down with tears, becauſe the Lord's flock is carried away captive. While there remained ſome time to provide for their peace and good, he exhorts them to a reformation and to give glory to God, before the time of darkneſs came fully upon them: But if they would not hear, he tells them that he would ſorely bewail their folly and the calamity and miſery that would come upon them. And this God ordered, that they ſhould mourn and weep for the miſery that was coming upon them. Jer. 9.17—. Thus ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, conſider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come, and let them make haſt, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eye-lids guſh out with waters. And ver. 21. For death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the ſtreets. And ſaith God to him, Jer. 14.17—. Therefore thou ſhalt ſay this word unto them; let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not ceaſe; for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow. If I go forth into the field, then behold the ſlain with the ſword; and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are ſick with famine, yea both the prophet and the prieſt go about into a land that they know not. Thus was he to weep before them for their miſeries. And the Prophet ſheweth how Jeruſalem wept for the miſeries and ſorrows that were come upon her. Lam. 1.2. She weepeth ſore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks; among all her lovers ſhe hath none to comfort her; all her friends have dealt treacherouſly with her; they are become her enemies. And I wiſh that the Sons of the Proteſtant Church would not now ſo deal with her, and become her enemies. And ver. 15—. The Lord hath troden under foot all my mighty men in the midſt of me; he hath called an aſſembly againſt me to cruſh my young men. The Lord hath troden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a wine preſs. For theſe things I weep, mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, becauſe the comforter that ſhould relieve my ſoul, is far from me: my children are deſolate, becauſe the enemy prevaileth. Zion ſpreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her; the Lord hath commanded concerning Jacob, that his adverſaries ſhould be round about him; Jeruſalem is as a menſtruous woman among them. Thus doth he bring in Jeruſalem bewailing her ſelf, and doth much lament her deſolate condition. And ſaith he, Lam. 2.11; Mine eyes do fail with tears; my bowels are troubled, my liver is poured upon the earth, for the deſtruction of the daughter of my people; becauſe the children and the ſucklings ſwoon in the ſtreets of the city. In this extraordinary manner was he troubled, and did ſorely weep for the great miſery that came upon them and their beloved Jeruſalem. And the Prophet Amos rebukes it as a crime in ſome of them, that they were not grieved for the affliction of the People of God. Amos, 6.1. Wo to them that are at eaſe in Zion; And ver. 6. That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themſelves with the chief ointments: But tbey are not grieved for the affliction of Joſeph. And our bleſſed Lord himſelf wept over Jeruſalem, for the miſery and deſtruction that was coming upon it. Lu. 19.41—. And when he was come near, he behold the city, and wept over it, ſaying, if thou hadſt known, even thou, at leaſt in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy Peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days ſhall come upon thee, that thine enemies ſhall caſt a trench about thee, and compaſs thee round, and keep thee in on every ſide, and ſhall lay thee even with the ground. Thus ſorrowful did our bleſſed Lord ſhew himſelf for the great miſery and deſtruction that was coming upon this City, for the great wickedneſs thereof; and did moſt earneſtly deſire that they would amend, and mind the things that belonged to their Peace before it was too late; and was greatly troubled at their carnal ſecurity, that they were ſo unconcerned in this weighty matter. By theſe and ſuch places we ſee, that it is our duty to be troubled, and to mourn and weep for all the publick Calamities and Miſeries that befal our Church and Nation. To ſee men to grow cold in their Zeal and Devotion towards Almighty G • d, and to have little or no heart towards their duty and ſe • vice towards him; To ſee the houſe of God to be deſerted and forſaken, and his Ordinances and Worſhip to be ſlighted and neglected; To ſee the Church rent and torn to pieces with ſchiſms and diviſions, and to ſee mens zeal all ſpent a wrong way in heats againſt one another; To underſtand that Popery is like to prevail over the Proteſtant Church for three years and an half, and that the Popiſh Gentiles are like to tread under foot the holy City the true Church of Chriſt for forty and two months; To ſee wickedneſs and impiety to abound every where in the Nation, and Love and Goodneſs to be withdrawn; to ſee the Kingdom divided into Factions and Parties, and to know, as our Lord hath told us, that a Kingdom ſo divided cannot ſtand; To ſee that our ſins and iniquities are grown great, and to know that wrath and judgments will be ſure to be the iſſue and conſequence of them; Theſe things muſt needs be matter of ſorrow and grief to all good men, and call them to lamentation and mourning, to ſee the Peace of our Church and Kingdom in ſuch a manner to lie a bleeding, and no likelihood that the wounds thereof ſhould be healed. And at this time the Church of Chriſt, and our Nation give us too great a cauſe of ſorrow in this reſpect.

Fourthly, We are to endeavour to procure all the good we can to our Jeruſalem, our Church and Kingdom in a lawful and Chriſtian way. We are to promote the peace and proſperity thereof, of all kinds, as much as in us lies: For it would be but vain to call upon God for his help and ſuccour for our Jeruſalem, if we are ſo little concerned for it, that we will not vouchſafe it our own help and aſſiſtance, ſo far as we have power. And the devout Pſalmiſt here doth reſolve upon this, that he would do what good he could to Jeruſalem. Pſ. 122.9. Becauſe of the houſe of the Lord our God, I will ſeek thy good. And the Apoſtle exhorteth us to ſeek the good of others: 1 Cor. 10.24. Let no man ſeek his own; but every man another's wealth: And much more then ought we to ſeek the good and welfare of the Church and Kingdom, which are of ſuch a general concern; and not to think much to beſtow both labor and coſt for the benefit of them. And it is our Lord's command that we ſhould ſeek the Kingdom of God, and ſeek it in the firſt place. Matt. 6.33. But ſeek ye firſt the Kingdom of God (ſaith he) and his righteouſneſs; and all theſe things ſhall be added unto you. The promoting of God's Kingdom and Righteouſneſs among men, is to be our firſt and chiefeſt • are; and to ſuch endeavours a bleſſing of earthly things is promiſed. And to promote the Goſpel, and the pure Religion thereof, is to promote the Kingdom of God, as St. Paul ſheweth; Col. 4.11. Theſe onely are my fellow workers unto the Kingdom of God. But not only the outward profeſſion of the Goſpel, but chiefly the inward reception of it, and the hearty belief of the Goſpel which produces obedience and makes a life conformable thereto, is the true Kingdom of God: And ſo our Saviour hath told us that the Kingdom of God is within us; Lu. 17.21. And not only the outward profeſſion of the Goſpel, but eſpecially the inward and hearty embracing thereof ſhould we endeavor to promote and advance what we can. And the Peace and Proſperity of our Church and Kingdom ſhould we advance as much as we can, that the Goſpel and Kingdom of God may be promoted therein as much as may be; and that God may be duely worſhipped and honoured therein, and that his worſhippers and ſervants may receive true benefit and comfort thereby. We are to endeavour by all mild and gentle ways to heal the breaches and diviſions that are in the Church, and to allay all bitterneſs and animoſities that are among us, and to draw all to union and concord, and to promote love and goodneſs among all, if it may be. And by all other lawful means ſhould we ſeek the good and welfare of our Church and Kingdom.

And herein eſpecially are we to be aſſiſting to the proſperity and happineſs of our Church and Nation, by leading of ha • mleſs and righteous and holy lives. Hereby ſhall we do the Church and Kingdom the greateſt ſervice of all. This will adorn our Church and Religion the moſt of all, when all that are of other perſuaſions ſhall take notice what innocent and pious lives the Sons of our Church lead, and how juſt and upright they are in all their ways. And hereby ſhall we help to procure the Bleſſing of Almighty God upon us, which is that which muſt complete and crown all our Peace and Happineſs in every reſpect, and make it firm and laſting, or elſe it will never be done. They are our ſins which withhold good things from us, and hinder the advancem • nt of our Peace and Happineſs, which we muſt remove, before we can procure good to our ſelves. This the Prophet ſhewe h, Jer. 5.25—; Your iniquities have turned away theſe things, and your ſins have withholden good things from you. For amon my people are found wicked men—. And King David doth ſhew, that the keeping of the Commandments of God was the way to enjoy the peaceable poſſeſſion of the Land of Canaan, and to leave it for an Inheritance to their Children. 1 Chr. 28.8.—Keep and ſeek for all the commandments of the Lord your God, that ye may poſſeſs this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever. And this muſt we do, if we would enjoy the Bleſſing of Peace our ſelves, and leave it for an inheritance to our Children after us. And ſaith the Prophet Jeremiah 22.3—, Thus ſaith the Lord, execute ye judgment and righteouſneſs, and deliver the ſpoiled out of the hand of the oppreſſor; and do no wrong, do no violence to the ſtranger, the fatherleſs, nor the widow; neither ſhed innocent blood in this place. For if ye do this thing indeed, then ſhall there enter in by the gates of this houſe Kings ſitting upon the throne of David—. But if ye will not hear theſe words, I ſwear by my ſelf, ſaith the Lord, that this houſe ſhall become a deſolation: And ſo it is like to be with our Jeruſalem. The doing of the works of righteouſneſs is the way to procure Peace and Happineſs to our ſelves; and herein alſo ſhall we be inſtrumental in procuring of Peace and Good to our Church and Nation.

Fifthly, We are to pray unto Almighty God for the Peace and Good of our Jeruſalem in every reſpect. This we are taught by the Text, and what hath been ſaid upon it. All our own endeavours will be but vain and fruitleſs without the divine help of Almighty God; and therefore we muſt addreſs our ſelves unto him in earneſt prayer, that he would be pleaſed to grant to us this bleſſing of Peace, who is the onely giver of it. For the peace and welfare of the whole Church of Chriſt upon earth are we to pray; That God would preſerve and keep it in perfect peace, that it might be no ways annoyed, and that the Gates of Hell (as our Saviour hath promiſed, Matt. 16.18.) might not prevail againſt it; but that the Kingdom of God might come (as our Lord hath taught us to pray) and might every where prevail, and be firmly rooted in men's hearts: That God would enlarge the Kingdom of his dear Son, and give him the Heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermoſt parts of the earth for his poſſeſſion, according to that promiſe, Pſal. 2.8.

But more eſpecially are we to pray for the good and welfare of our Church and Kingdom, that they may enjoy all manner of Peace and Happineſs. We are to make ſupplication to Almighty God for the preventing of all judgments and calamities that may at any time befal them; and to pray according to Solomon's form, 1 Kings 8.29; That his eyes may be open day and night upon them, and that he would watch over them, and preſerve them from all dangers and miſeries that threaten them, and us therein: That he would look down from Heaven (Pſal. 80.14.) and behold and viſit this vine, and the vineyard which his right hand hath planted; that it may not be cut down, and burnt up with fire: That he would ſet watchmen upon the walls of our Jeruſalem (Iſ. 62.6.) which ſhould never hold their peace day nor night; but always give warning at the approach of any evil, that it might be prevented; and to make ſupplication to the Lord, that he would defend our beloved City therefrom. And now are we earneſtly to pray unto Almighty God for the preventing, as much as may be, ſuch judgments and calamities as do now hang over our heads, and which we have juſtly deſerved: That our Candleſtick may not be totally removed, and that God may not ſend ſuch a famine upon us, as he threatens by the Prophet; Amos 8.11; Behold the days come, ſaith the Lord God, that I will ſend a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirſt for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: Such a ſpiritual famine of the word of God are we to pray to be delivered from; and that God would preſerve his pure Religion to us, and keep us from all idolatrous practices, and ſinful errors in Religion: That we may be delivered from the devouring Sword, and that our Land may not be turned into a field of blood, and a valley of ſlaughter: That we may not hear the ſound of the Trumpet and Alarm of war, and be commanded (as it is Joel 3.10.) to beat our plowſhares into ſwords, and our pruning hooks into ſpears: That our corn may not be given to be meat for our enemies; and the Sons of the ſtranger may not drink our wine, for which we have labored; but that they that have gathered it may eat it, and praiſe the Lord; Iſ. 62.8—: That we may not (as it is Iſ. 65.22—) build, and another inhabit; and plant, and another eat the fruit thereof; and that we may not labor in vain, and bring forth for trouble: That violence may not be heard in our Land (Iſ. 60.18.) waſting nor deſtruction within our borders; but that our walls might truly be called Salvation, and our gates Praiſe. To God are we to make ſupplication that he would not cauſe the Peſtilence to cleave unto us, nor ſmite us with any conſuming ſickneſs and diſeaſe: That he would not ſend a famine upon us, and cauſe us to be ſmitten with blaſting and mildew, and make the Heaven that is over our head as braſs, and the Earth that is under our feet as Iron; nor give our ſubſtance and labor to be conſumed by the locuſts and caterpillers and ſuch Armies of his: That our Church and Kingdom may be preſerved from theſe, and from all other Plagues and Judgments, that we have juſtly deſerved, are we to make ſupplication to Almighty God, that we may endeavour to prevent them as much as may be.

We are alſo to make our humble and hearty prayers to Almighty God for the removing and taking away of ſuch Calamities and Evils as our Church and Kingdom now do, or at any time hereafter ſhall ly under: That he who is the God and Father of mercies would at all times look down in mercy upon them, and in his good time deliver them from all their diſtreſs and miſery: That there may not be ſuch a time, when the children ſhall be come to the birth, and there ſhall not be ſtrength to bring forth, (2 Kings 19.3.) when we ſhall call upon God for ſuccour and help, and he will not hear us; but that (according to Solomon's prayer 1 Kings 8.52.) his eyes may be open unto the ſupplication of his ſervants, and of his people, to hearken unto them in all that they call for unto him: That his Church and Faithful Servants may be preſerved in this, and in all other fiery Tryals that ſhall befal them, and from falling away from him; and that they may not be ſwallowed up with overmuch ſorrow and miſery; but may find help and comfort from above, when they can meet with none here below: That God would remove from us all ſpiritual blindneſs and carnal ſecurity, that we may know and mind the things which belong to our Peace, before they are quite removed from our eyes, and it be too late: That we may not be like the Church of the Laodiceans, of whom it is ſaid, Rev. 3.17, Thou ſayeſt, I am rich, and increaſed with goods, and have need of nothing; and knoweſt not, that thou art wretched, and miſerable, and poor, and blind, and naked; that we may not be in ſuch an inſenſible and miſerable condition as this; but may ſee what great need we have to repent and amend: That God would do good, in his good pleaſure unto our Zion (Pſal. 51.18.) and build the walls of our Jeruſalem: That he would heal all our diſmal Breaches and Diviſions, and reconcile all our Diſſenſions, which ſo much diſturb our Peace, and threaten us with farther miſery: That he would not prepare more work for the greedy and devouring Sword; but that we may all ſtudy and practiſe his Goſpel of Peace and Love, and that every man may dwell ſafely under his vine, and under his Fig-tree, as it is ſaid that Judah and Iſrael did all the days of King Solomon, 1 Kings 4.25. For the removing of theſe, and all other afflictions and miſeries that we are ſenſible that our Church and Kingdom do now, or hereafter may ly under, are we to make ſupplication to Almighty God, and to intreat him that he would look down in mercy upon them, and heal all their wounds and maladies in his good time. And theſe things we are to pray for according to the Prophet's form, Jer. 14.7: O Lord, tho' our iniquities teſtify againſt us, do thou it for thy Name's ſake; for our back-ſlidings are many, we have ſinned againſt thee: And not for our own ſakes, but for his great mercy's • ake, and for his dear Son Chriſt Jeſus's ſake, are we to intreat him for the preventing of Judgments, and for the removing of ſuch miſeries and and ſufferings as do at any time befal our Church and Kingdom.

We are alſo to ſupplicate the divine Goodneſs of Almighty God for our Church and Kingdom that he would be pleaſed to continue to them ſuch Mercies as they enjoy; and that he would grant to them ſuch Bleſſings and good things as they want and ſtand in need off; That our Church and Kingdom may enjoy all manner of Peace and Proſperity in ſuch a full manner as I have before deſcribed: That God would make good to the Chriſtian Church that in the Prophet Iſaiah, 62.1—, That for Zion's ſake he would not hold his peace, and for Jeruſalem's ſake he would not reſt, until the righteouſneſs thereof go forth as brightneſs, and the ſalvation thereof as a lamp that burneth: That the Gentiles might ſee the righteouſneſs thereof, and all Kings it's glory: That it may be a Crown of Glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of our God: That as a young man marrieth a Virgin, ſo her Sons might marry her; and as a Bridegroom rejoyceth over the Bride, ſo her God might rejoyce over her: That God would create our Jeruſalem a rejoycing, and her people a joy; Iſ. 65.18—: That he would rejoyce in our Jeruſalem, and joy in his People; that the voice of weeping may no more be heard in her, nor the voice of crying: That (ver. 25.) the Wolf and the Lamb may feed together; and the Lion eat ſtraw like the Bullock, and duſt may be the Serpent's meat; that they may not hurt, nor deſtroy in all this holy Mountain: That ſuch univerſal Peace and Love may every where prevail, that men of the moſt perverſe ſpirits may be overcome by them, and lay aſide all their malignity: That the Lord of Hoſts (Zac. 1.14.) would be jealous for our Jeruſalem, and for our Zion with a great jealouſie: That God would be gracious to our Land, and cauſe the Goſpel to flouriſh amongſt us, and to take deep rooting in our hearts: That God would cloath the Prieſts of our Zion with Salvation (Pſal. 132.16.) and make her Saints to ſhout aloud for joy: That the mountain of the Lords houſe (Iſ. 2.2—.) might be eſtabliſhed in the top of the mountains, and be exalted above the hills: and that all nations may flow unto it: That there may be ſuch an univerſal willingneſs and readineſs in all to know and practiſe their duty, that they ſhall ſay, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the houſe of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: That our Miniſters and Paſtors may be orthodox and ſound in the Faith; true and faithful in the diſcharge of their offices; and of an upright life and converſation, and ſo adorn the Goſpel of the bleſſed Jeſus and that holy Religion which we profeſs: That God would abundantly bleſs the proviſion of our Zion (Pſal. 132.15.) and would ſatisfy her poor w •• h bread; and give us all kind of plenty and ſtore in our Land: That there may enter in by the gates of our City Kings ſitting upon the throne of their Anceſtors (Jer. 17.25.) and riding in Chariots and on Horſes; and Ruling in juſtice righteouſneſs and mercy: That he would fill our hearts with food and gladneſs, and grant us health and proſperity in our Land: That God would make our Zion an eternal excellency (Iſ. 60.15.) a joy of many generations: That our People alſo (ver. 21.) might be all righteous, and inherit the Land for ever, and that in all Peace and Quiet: That there may be heard in our Land (Jer. 33.11.) the voice of joy, and the voice of gladneſs; the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride; the voice of them that ſhall ſay, praiſe the Lord of Hoſts, for the Lord is good, for his mercy endureth for ever; and of them that ſhall bring the ſacrifice of praiſe into the houſe of the Lord: That our Land may be bleſſed with all manner of bleſſings; and that we may not be unmindful to return Almighty God, his due Laud and Praiſe for the ſame. Such promiſes have been made to, and ſuch petitions have been put up for Jeruſalem; and by ſuch may we be inſtructed how we are at all times to addreſs our ſelves to Almighty God in prayer for our Jeruſalem, for the Church of Chriſt in general, and more particularly for our own Church and Kingdom. But at this time we have great reaſon to make our earneſt prayers to Almighty God for the Proteſtant Church, eſpecially that part of it with us; and for our own Nation, that they may be preſerved from ſuch judgments and miſeries as now threaten them and us, and we have juſtly deſerved for our great wickedneſs and abuſe of mercies.

Sixthly, We are to rejoyce, and to take great pleaſure in the Peace and Proſperity of our Jeruſalem, when there is juſt cauſe for it; and to praiſe and magnify Almighty God for the mercies and benefits that he hath granted to her. The good and welfare of the whole Church, and eſpecially of our own Church and Kingdom ſhould be matter of great joy and gladneſs of heart to us; and ſtir us up to return God his due Laud and Praiſe for the ſame. And this is the Prophets exhortation. Iſ. 66.10. Rejoyce ye with Jeruſalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her, rejoyce for joy with her, all ye that mourned for her: That ye may ſuck, and be ſatiſfied with the breaſts of her conſolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. And with our Jeruſalem the true Proteſtant Church ſhould we rejoyce, when ſhe hath cauſe to do ſo; which when the days of darkneſs are over, I hope ſhe will have. And ſaith the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 106.4—, Remember me, O Lord, with the favour that thou beareſt unto thy people; O viſit me with thy ſalvation: That I may ſee the good of thy choſen; that I may rejoyce in the gladneſs of thy nation; that I may glory with thine inheritance. Like fellow-feeling members are we both to ſuffer, and to rejoyce with the Church, and all the true and faithful Members thereof. And ſaith the Pſalmiſt. Pſal. 126.1—, When the Lord turned again the Captivity of Zion, were like them t • at dream: Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with ſinging. And Pſal. 137.6, ſaith the Pſalmiſt there; If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I prefer not Jeruſalem above my chief joy. And at every thing that tended toward the good of Jeruſalem, and the pure worſhip and ſervice of Almighty God, did the Royal Pſalmiſt King David greatly rejoyce, as he ſheweth here. Pſal. 122.1. I was glad when they ſa d unto me let us go into the houſe of the Lord. Every advancement of God's Church and Worſhip did much delight and pleaſe him; and ſo it ſhould do us. And for all the Mercies and Bleſſings that Almighty God ſhall at any time vouchſafe to our Church and Nation are we to be truely thankful, and to make our hearty return of praiſe to him for the ſame. This the Pſalmiſt doth moſt paſſionately wiſh, and ſheweth that men are too negligent herein. Pſal. 107.8. O that men would praiſe the Lord for his goodneſs (ſaith he) and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And this the Pſalmiſt exhorteth Jeruſalem to do, to make a due return of praiſe for the Bleſſings that ſhe had received. Pſal. 147.12—. Praiſe the Lord O Jeruſalem (ſaith he) praiſe thy God, O Zion. For he hath ſtrengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath bleſſed thy children within thee. He maketh Peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the fineſt of the wheat. And this St. John ſheweth in that viſion of the Elders, that we are to praiſe and magnify Almighty God for all the mercies and deliverances that he vouchſafeth to his Church. Rev. 11.16, 17. And the four and twenty Elders (ſaith he) which ſat before God on their ſeats, fell upon their faces, and worſhipped God, ſaying, we give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and waſt, and art to come; becauſe thou haſt taken to thee thy great Power, and haſt Reigned: That is, becauſe in a wonderful and miraculous manner thou haſt preſerved and delivered thy Church and Servants, and defeated and deſtroyed their Enemies. For all the mercies and bleſſings that are vouchſafed to the chriſtian Church in general, or to that part of it wherein we are more nearly concerned, or to our own Land and Nation are we to be rruly thankful to Almighty God, and to Laud and Praiſe him for them. All the good that befals the Proteſtant Church and our Land and Nation is to be matter of thanksgiving and rejoycing to us. To ſee the Chriſtian Church enlarged and exalted on high, and what the Prophet ſaith of it fulfilled in an eminent manner; Mic. 4.1—: To ſee the Chriſtian Church thus exalted above all, and the Heathen world thus a flocking to it: To ſee an inclination and willingneſs in all men to become obedient to the Goſpel, and to practiſe the things that it requires: To ſee Kings to become the nurſing-Fathers of the Chriſtian Church (Iſ. 49.23.) and their Queens the nurſing Mothers thereof, and to bow down to her with their faces towards the earth, and to bring their riches and treaſures to her: To ſee the Light of God's countenance to ſhine upon the true Proteſtant Church, and to ſee that completed, which our Lord ſaith, Rev. 3.9, Behold I will make them of the ſynagogue of Satan, which ſay they are Jews, and are not, but do lye; behold I will make them to come, and worſhip before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee: To ſee the Proteſtant Church bleſt in ſuch a manner, and all the Enemies thereof aſhamed and confounded in all their enterprizes and deſigns againſt it; and inſtead of triumphing over it, to come and bow down before it: To ſee our Kingdom a peaceable and quiet Habitation, and diſturbed with no apprehenſions of dangers from without, nor with any contentions or diviſions within: To ſee Truth and Righteouſneſs to flouriſh therein; and to ſee it bleſt with health and plenty: To ſee all men to ſtudy Love and Peace; and to ſee us ſo happy as to be all joyned together in one Worſhip and Communion, that, as St. Paul ſaith, Rom. 15.6, That we may with one mind, and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt: To ſee theſe things fulfilled ſhould be great joy and gladneſs of heart to us, and fill our mouths with Songs of thankſgiving to Almighty God for the ſame. Theſe things ſhould be our earneſt deſires, and the ſubject of our hearty prayers to God; and it ſhould be great pleaſure and delight to us to ſee them in ſome good meaſure accompliſhed and fulfilled, That God may have his due Honour and Praiſe unanimouſly returned him every where throughout the whole Chriſtian Church.

Seventhly and laſtly, We are to ſuffer for the Good of our Jeruſalem the Chriſtian Church, when God ſhall require it of us, and call us thereto by his divine Providence, that ordereth all things, and over-ruleth all that is done here below. Though our bleſſed Lord hath ſuffered for us, and there is no need of any more Sacrifice to purge away our Sins, as if there were any inſufficiency in that; For (ſaith the Apoſtle Heb. 10.14) by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are ſanctified: Yet there remained ſomething of the ſufferings of Chriſt behind, which were to be undergone by the Apoſtles and pious Men afterwards for the ſake of the Church, in conformity to what our Bleſſed Lord had ſuffered for it. This the Apoſtle ſheweth, Col. 1.24; Who now rejoyce (ſaith he) in my ſufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my fleſh, for his body's ſake which is the Church—. For the ſake of the myſtical Body of Chriſt the Church doth he ſhew that he ſuffered. And ſaith he to the Corinthians, 2 Cor. 1.6; And whether we be afflicted, it is for your conſolation and ſalvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the ſame ſufferings which we alſo ſuffer—. And ſaith he to Timothy, 2 Tim. 2.10; Therefore I endure all things for the elects ſake, that they may alſo obtain the ſalvation which is in Chriſt Jeſus with eternal glory. And he ſheweth that he did not know but that he might be offered upon the ſervice of the Church of the Philippians. Phil. 2 17. Yea, and if I be offered upon the ſacrifice and ſervice of your faith (ſaith he) I joy and rejoyce with you all. So highly could he ſuffer for them, and do it too with joy and rejoycing. And he exhorts Timothy to be ready to undergo ſufferings for the ſake of the Goſpel and Church of God. 2 Tim. 1.8. Be not thou therefore aſhamed of the teſtimony of our Lord (ſaith he) nor of me his priſoner; but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Goſpel according to the power of God. And St. John tells us plainly, that ſeeing Chriſt hath laid down his Life for us, we ought alſo to lay down our Lives for the good of others, as Chriſt hath done for us, though not for an expiatory Sacrifice like his. 1 Jo. 3.16. Hereby (ſaith he) perceive we the love of God, becauſe he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. This great act of love and mercy to us, is to be an example to us, to teach us to ſhew ſuch to others, and to lay down our Lives for the good of others and of the Church of Chriſt, when it will be beneficial to them, and God ſhall require this ſervice at our hands. By theſe and ſuch places we may ſee that we are to ſuffer for our Jeruſalem the Church of Chriſt, when our ſufferings will be beneficial to it, if we will not be wanting in our love and duty towards it. The words of the Text do not fully declare this, but yet we ſee that other places of the Scriptures do.

If our hearts are ſo fully ſet upon our Jeruſalem the true Proteſtant Church as they ſhould; and if we do earneſtly deſire the Peace and Good and Welfare thereof, as we ought; Then are we to give what aſſiſtance we can towards them by theſe and ſuch lawful ways as theſe; And likewiſe towards the Peace and Proſperity of our Kingdom and Nation.