WEE are met together this day, Introducti­on from the to weepe over the bleeding country of our nativity: and in our weep­ing are forced to imitate banished Hagar in the holy History. Let us looke a little upon her example, Gen. 21.15, 16. and borrow thence a bucket or two to set our pumpes a going. It is said of her, And the water was spent in the bottle, and shee cast the Child under one of the shrubs, and she went and sate her downe over against him a good way off, as it were a bow-shoot: for shee said, Let me not see the death of the Child; and shee sate over against him, and wept. Loe there, a tender mother, weeping over her gasping child: here, forlorne Children, inforced to mourne over the dying mother: the bottle of all our helpes and hopes being quite ex­hausted. There Hagar had the sad priviledge to be neere her de­parting Ishmael if shee pleased, and shee went and sate her down over against him: But wretched we are driven off at the distance of some scores of miles, beyond the sight and cries of our dearest [Page 2] brethren. However, let us not suffer our selves to be deprived of that last priviledge, namely to lift up our voices and weepe.

To helpe us in this seasonable and necessary dutie, I confesse it cost me some time and labour to find out a sufficient Text: for I thought with my selfe that a single verse, nay some one parti­cular Chapter of lamentation, would bee too narrow a field and circuit, for a full discourse of our ample miseries; but it must needs bee a whole volume, some booke of sorrow, to make up a Text broad enough to take in all our notes, and so at last the choice was easie, namely, either out of the Lamentations of Jeremy, or out of this booke of Job: This latter I have chosen the rather, because it doth not onely hold forth the sore, but also the salve; it shewes us both the miserie of Job, and the issues thereof.

How aptly this Easterne historie, doth parallel our Westerne subject will easily appeare, if we consider either the Occasion, or Division of this Booke.

First, [...]ccasion and as for the occasion; some doe conceive that it was writ­ten by Moses, while he led the people of Israel in the wildernes, to teach them selfe-submission, and holy contentation, by setting before them the patience of Job, and the end of the Lord. And so S^t. [...]m 5.11. James doth apply this patterne, Behold we account them happy which endure. You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord: that the Lord is very pitifull, and of tender mercie. Thus Iobs patience may be our patterne, and that end of the Lord our incouragement. Others are of opinion that Moses did pen this holy poem (for such it is generally) in Midian, to cheer up his country-men, the Israelites, under the yoke of their Egyp­tian bondage. And thus also the whole book is a proper lesson for our selves, and Counties.

Or, Parts of this Booke, viz. if you consider the parts of this volume, its fitnesse for our use, will yet more evidently appeare, in that the whole book doth hold forth unto us the threefold condition of Iob, which is paral­lel to the three spirituall estates of every saint.

1 First, here is Jobs status constitutus, or institutus, (if I may so call it) his primitive condition, and that is very holy, very happy; It is expressed in the first five verses of the first Chapter. This is Jobs full-sea; and it may be compared to mankinds state of innocencie in paradise, which was in perfect holinesse, and perfect happinesse.

2 The Second is his status destitutus, his declining middle e­state of calamity. This is set forth from the fifth verse of the first Chapter to the last Chapter. Now was his ebbing-water; and it may be compared to the lapsed or fallen condition of man in Adam.

3 The Third is his status restitutus, his condition of reparation, more prosperous, and happy, then his beginning: throughout Chap. the last. Now it was spring-tyde, or the highest-water with him. And this is like to the sanctified and glorified e­state of the Saints in heaven. Our native West hath long injoy­ed the first of these, and is now suffering the second; why may it not like Iob arrive in the conclusion to the last, and best of all? O let us cry mightily for that Third condition this day.

The lot of my Text, and of our Countrie, at present are fallen a like, upon the second and saddest of those Three generalls: Coherence even upon Iobs destitute, afflicted, tormented estate, which is set downe very pathetically in this whole Chapter, from the beginning to my text. In the Chapter immediatly foregoing, Bildad the Shuite, and his fellow-physicians, doe draw a false conclusion against Iob, from true premisses: for (according to the common Logick of the vulgar) they doe therefore con­clude him wicked, because he was wretched.

In this Chapter the holy man doth labour to confute their inference, Analysis of the Chap­ter. as also to move his friends to a more charitable con­struction, and a more serious consideration of his extream suffer­ing, and to that end he doth spread before them, in this Chap­ter, an exact map of his present miseries and afflictions: As ship-wrackt men of old were wont to describe the whole figure of their wrack in a painted table, which they dayly shewed up and downe, to move compassion in the beholders. In this table of Iobs sufferings,

First he complaines that he is destitute of succours, 1. Com­plaint. and com­forts from God above, in that the Lord himselfe is against him, and doth overthrow, compasse, refuse, cross, strip, Job 19. v. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. and oppose him; and at last letteth loose (a proper word for our case and time) his troupes, to encampe round about his tabernacle.

Secondly, hee complaines, Second. that Civill and externall helpers doe forsake him; All relations did shrinke at once, brethren are [Page 4]removed, Vers. 13 14. and friends estranged, Kins-folk faile, and familiar friends have forsaken him. His owne familie doe alienate, and accompt him as a stranger; Vers 15.16.17.18. Prov. 18.24. more particularly, his servants, his wife, his children, are deafe, dumbe, and disdainfull.

Yet you will say, there is a bosome friend that sticks closer then a brother?

But his inward friends (or the men of his secrets) they ab­horred him: yet the spirit of a man will support his infirmities? Yea but, Vers. 19 Third. Thirdly, his very naturall and corporall abilities doe faile him too, his bones clave to the skin, and to his flesh, and hee is escaped only with the skin of his teeth; Vers. 20. That is, he hath nothing left but his lipps to moane and complaine with­all: and therefore suffer him to make use of these in this doubled out-crie, and lamentation.

The Text in 'its Easterne consideration, with particular re­spect to Iob himselfe, Division. may fitly be called, The plundred mans out-crie: But in 'its Westerne reading, with reference to us and our Countrie, let it be intituled, The petition of the West. In which observe,

First, the Petitioner, that is in the letter, Iob: once the richest, now the poorest; still the holiest man in the East. But in the antitype our desolate Countrie, Me.

Secondly, the Petitioned, they are Iobs three friends, of whom mention was made before, Now when Iobs three friends heard of all this evill which was come upon him, Iob [...]. they came every one from his owne place: Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuite, and Zophar the Naamathite, for they had made an appointment together to come to mourne with him, and to comfort him. Yee my friends.

Thirdly, the Prayer of the Petition: and thorow it I must lead you a little further, into two particulars therin contained, which are,

First, the matter prayed for, that is, Compassion, sympathie: Have pitie.

Secondly, the forme of the prayer; it is sharpned and quickned, both with an Interjection, which shewes that his tongue was too [Page 5]narrow for his heart, [O;] and with a double repetition, of the act, and of the object: Of the act, Pitie, Pitie; Of the object, Me, Me. The act is doubled, to shew that he had need of double pitie; The object, to shew that he had double need of that compassion.

Fourthly and finally, the ground of the whole Petition, in the last clause: for the hand of God hath touched me: where note

The author, or inflicter, God: which shewes his sorrow to be divine; and from above: and not so much a punishment for sin, as an affliction, and triall, but withall unavoydable.

Then the instrument, (if I may so call it) his hand, which signifieth the weight; one of his fingers being more heavie then the whole loynes of the greatest of men, especially, when that hand doth touch him, that is, touch him home, and to the quick: for so you may here understand that expression. The more full explanation of all these termes may bee given anon, when I shall againe fetch them about in my application. For present only thus much. As I was loath to set a whole loafe before you, and therfore have thus divided the Text: so I am as unwilling to crumble out all these particulars into severall Doctrines, which were the way Non plura faciunt, sed minutiora Quintil. not to make more matter of this verse, but lesse. I shall therefore take this one Observation from the whole; That

Doct. The deepe aflictions of friends doe call for double compassion.

This Observation is the expresse image of the Text. Only there may lie one objection against the latitude of my inference, which is this.

Object. Iobs case, and crie in the Text, were but particular, and per­sonall: this conclusion in the Doctrine seemes to be generall, and indefinite: and it is against the lawes of Logick to draw so broad an inference from so narrow premisses?

Answ. I shall therefore endeavour to bring a whole cloud of other witnesses to make out this truth, that so, if it be denied as an en­thimem, yet it shall be proved, and granted by an induction. Let us therefore looke abroad into other scriptures after two o­ther kinds of proofes; viz:

First, divine precepts from God.

Demon­strations, by Secondly, humane presidents from the Saints: both these doe strengthen my assertion.

First, Divine pre­cepts. Divine precepts; This booke of Job seemes to have recorded this same text more then once. To him that is afflicted, (or to him that melteth) pitie should be shewed from his friends. The former part of the verse seemeth to be the ground of the lat­ter, Iob 6.14. namely, because he is afflicted, therefore his friends should pitie him. And the neglecter of this dutie is charged with no lesse then want of the feare of God, in the close of the verse; but hee forsaketh the feare of the Lord. Hee, i.e. the man which omitteth this friendly office.

Next, to shew how received, and common a truth this is: the spirit of God speaking by the wisest of Kings doth turne it into a common proverbe, setting it downe among the rest, A friend (that is, as a friend) loveth (or ought to love) at all times, and a brother (whether naturall, Pro. 17.17. civill, or spirituall,) is borne for adversitie; So then, compassion in distresse is a principall both act, and duty of friendship. Nay the wise man hath a second pro­verbe to the same purpose, A man that hath friends (especially if distressed) must shew himselfe friendly, Prov. 18.24. (chiefly in compassion) and there is a friend that sticketh closer then a brother.

But this is specially a Gospell-precept; heare the Doctor of the Gentiles, Rom. 12.10. be kindly affectioned one to another, with brotherly love; (or in the love of brethren.) But this inward impression, must have its outward expression too, distributing to the necessities of the Saints, Vers. 13. that is, making things common, both good and evill, wants and fulnes: Vers. 15. Then it followes, reioyce with them that reioyce, and weepe with them that weepe; that is, hold a Christian sympathy with your brethren on both hands; in prosperity, with them that rejoyce; and in adversitie, with them that weepe.

Also see in the Epistle to the Hebrewes: Let brotherly love continue. Heb. 13.1, 2, 3 Be not forgetfull to entertain strangers. Remember them that are in bonds as bound with them; and them that suffer adversi­ty, as being your selves also in the body. It seemes this duty of sym­pathizing, is to mans nature like that of sanctifying the Sabbath; there is a speciall enmity against it, and oblivion of it, in the heart and mind of man, out of sight, out of mind: and therefore there was need of a Memento to be prefixed to both; Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day: And Remember them that are in bonds. 1 Pet. 3.8. For a close of this head, take in S^t. Peters finally; Fi­nally, be all of one mind, having compassion one of another: Love [Page 7]as brethren, (or, loving to the brethren) be pitifull, be courteous. All these are divine precepts from the Lord.

Secondly, Humane Presidents of the Saints; and here, in the mouthes of two or three witnesses, 2. Humane Presidents. viz. every word of this truth will be enough established; Let Ʋriah a noble Worthy, and a valiant Commander in Israel, (though by nation an Hittite) be the first: In Davids reigne the people of Israel were ingaged in a just of­fensive warre against Ammon, 1. Uriah. 2 Sam. 11. and Generall Joab with his army was now beleaguering Rabbath, the City of waters. In the time of this leaguer, noble Ʋriah upon occasion is sent to Jerusalem, the place where his wife and familie resided; and having dispat­ched his message to David, the King doth presently command and invite him to visite his owne house, Goe downe to thy house, Vers. 18. and wash thy feete, There is a command; And there followed him a messe of meate from the King, there is an invitation: Vers. 9. But he would not goe, but stept at the doore of the Kings house with all the servants of his Lord: He preferred a board, or bench, before a married bed for his lodging; and chooseth (suppose) the Kings guard for his bed-fellows, rather then his owne deare beautifull Bathsheba; And being demanded the reason of so strange and unsouldier-like an act of mortification, Verse 11. heare his an­swere, and consider it, And Uriah said unto David, The Arke, and Israel, and Iudah, abide in Tents, and my lord Ioab, and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields, shall I then go into my house to eate, and to drinke, and to lie with my wife? As thou livest, and as thy soule liveth, I will not doe this thing. Verse [...]3. [...]. The next day David inticeth him againe, making him to eate and to drinke in his presence; but he is still the same: O that the mortifi­cation of this stranger, this Hittite, in a time of a forraigne of­fensive war, might be our pattern; nay, might not rise up in judge­ment against us natives in these daies of our civill and defensive combustions!

Next, turn to the practice of honest Mephibosheth, being nphew in a direct line to King Saul; The Civill troubles of David, 2. Mephibo­sheth. by Absoloms insurrection, did seeme to open a way for this Prince toward the Crown; yet see his carriage during the time that David and the loyall partie were in a state of banishment: you may read in his outward garbe, his inward compassion to the persecuted partie, 2 Sam. 19.24 and Mephibosheth the Son (or Nephew) of [Page 8]Saul had neither dressed his feete, nor trimmed his beard, nor wash­ed his cloathes, from the day that the King departed, till the day that he came againe in peace. From toe to head you might have read (and almost have smelt) in his unwashen feet, untrimmed beard, and nastie cloathing, the present squallid condition of the publike.

But lastly and chiefly, among all Court examples, holding forth this truth to the life, Nehemiah chap 1.2. consider high, and holy Nehemiah; This man, of a Iewish Captive, was made a Babylonish Courtier, a me­niall servant, yea a Cup-bearer, to the then greatest of Emperours Artaxerxes Longimanus; Sufficient preferment, one would think, to have taken off his affections from the rubbish and ruines of desolate Iudah, and to have planted them in the Caldean soile; But yet his heart doth hang home-ward, and still stands West-ward, notwithstanding all this; He is ever and anon hearkening out what newes from the West, the distressed land of his nativity; Ha­nani one of my brethren came, Nehem. 1.2. hee and certaine men of Iudah, and I asked them concerning the Iewes that had escaped, which were left of the captivitie, Vers. 3. and concerning Ierusalem. And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the Captivitie there in the provinces, are in great affliction, and reproach: the wall of Ierusa­lem also is broken downe, and the gates therof are burnt with fire. Hereupon his eare affecteth his heart, and the sadnesse of his heart doth breake out into his sorrowfull face: he weareth in his sad countenance the mourning liverie of his slaughtered Countrie, and that so legibly, that heathenish Artaxerxes could not choose but reade it there. Nehem 2.2. Wherefore the King said unto me, Why is thy coun­tenance sad, seeing thou art not sick. This is nothing else but sor­row of heart. The time would faile me to speake of mournfull Ieremiah, Ier. 9.1. who wished that his head were waters, and his eyes fountaines of teares, that hee might weep day and night for the slaine of the daughter of his people. And afterward hee poured out his sorrow into a whole treatise of Lamentations, which is but as a cisterne from that fountain. Also of beloved Daniel, who though he were Vice-roy to the then greatest of Emperors, yet did still seek the welfare of his Westerne Countrie, by extraordi­narie prayer and supplication, Dan. 9.3 with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes, untill he obtained it. And at another time he doth hazzard his life to pray thrice a day toward his Countrie. Though he could [Page 9]not get home into those parts, yet he is ever and anon opening his window, or casement, to looke as farre Westward as he can, and to send his prayers (as that Romane did his booke) Westward: for so lay Ierusalem from Chaldea, as our Countrie doth now from London. But of these things wee may speake more in the closure of this whole discourse. So much at present for de­monstration.

Ʋse 1 This position, thus doubly fortified, doth first send out a Reproofe to Westerne. re­buke to all such as are wanting in tender compassions to their af­flicted brethren. These are the dayes in which the whole king­dome of England, but especially the Westerne parts thereof, are in the same condition with that poore traveller in the Gospel; Luke 10.30. A certaine man went downe from Ierusalem to Iericho, and fell among theeves, which stripped him of his rayment, and wounded him, leaving him halfe dead. All the cruelty mentioned in this verse, hath befallen our native West, namely, stripping of ray­ment, wounding deeply, and halfe killing; onely those following words which doe savour of some mercy, cannot be applyed unto us; the theeves are not yet departed, they have not left our Coun­try, though it be more then halfe dead. But now, to follow the parable, how many unmercifull Priests, Levits, and others, Vers. 31, 32. are there to be found, both at home and abroad, which when they have looked upon us, doe passe-by on the other side? yea and (some distressed persons have tryed it, that) there is more compassion to be found from some Samaritans (strangers and non-professors) then from many of those.

Beleeve it, brethren, those heathenish sinnes which S^t. Rom 1.31. [...]. Mat. 24.12. Paul calleth want of naturall affection, and unmercifulnesse; and those worst of times, in which (our Saviour saith) the love of many shall waxe cold, are fallen upon our present generation: Yea so it is, that by how-much the more the objects of pity and com­passion are increased and doe abound, by so-much the lesse is pity exercised, by so-much the more doth it decrease.

But because generalities doe neither convince the minde, nor pierce the heart, I shall therefore endeavour to divide this re­proofe, and levell it more particularly at severall sorts of offen­ders.

First, I shall but mention all cursing and cursed Edomits, who, instead of pitying, 1. Edomitish Enemies. doe rejoyce over the afflictions of their [Page 10] brethren; Such Edom [...]ts I meane, who in the day of Ierusalem, cryed, Psal. 17.7. Ob [...]d v. 11. R [...]e it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof. Who stood on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away cap­tive his brothers forces, Ver. 11. and forreiners entred into his gates. But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother (saith Oba­dia [...]) on the day that he became a stranger, neither shouldest thou have rejoyced over the Children of Iudah in the day of their de­struction: neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distresse.

As often as I read over that shortest Prophet me thinks, I see a­gain, before mine eyes, the sad march of Gods people out of the Ci­ties of Bristoll and Exon: and the march of our late army of Mar­tyrs out of Lestithell in Cornwall about August or September last: but many of those Edomitish enemies which then looked on, rejoyced, and spake proudly, (being since out off) have already answered for that fact before the great tribunall: and as for o­thers which did it through ignorance, I shall pray the Father of mercies to give them repentance, and to forgive them: onely let me tell them for present, [...]. that this sinne is more base then en­vie it selfe; and doth argue that men have put off both christi­anity and humanity; I shall therefore exhort them to read over both the threatning prayer, and the thundring prophecie of the Psalme and Chapter fore-mentioned; beseeching the Father of spirits to set them home upon their consciences.

But there are other two sorts of offenders remaining, to whom I did especially intend this reproofe, and those are such friends, and children, of the West, as doe want the bowels of brotherly compassion.

Secondly then to such friends; when I say friends, I take the word in as great a latitude, 2. Jobs-like Friends. as it hath in the Text, even for all such as ought to be friends to the West, that is, all true English pro­testant hearts, though borne or living Northward, Southward, Eastward: sure I am that we are all members of the same British body; 1 Cor 12.21, 12. neither can the Easterne head, or the Northerne, or South­erne armes, say to the Westerne feet, (call us so) we have no need of you. Then give me leave, O yee fellow members, to reason with you a little, concerning the sufferings of the West: I doubt not but you doe all know, that England hath a West; but have you ever seriously considred the vast extent, and the [Page 11] deep extremities of those Counties, which we call Westerne?

Have you ever been hitherto convinced, that there is now no sorrow in the whole land like unto their sorrow, Lamen [...]. 1.1 [...]. wherewith the Lord hath afflicted them in the day of his fierce anger? And doe you withall beleeve, that those people have been some of the first and deepest in suffering, but are some of the last and least in all revivings?

I have read of a people which every morning doe worship the rising sun towards the East, but at evening they doe dayly curse the setting sun towards the West. There is an allusion to that custome too generally practised in this land; some mens hearts and hopes, are touched from the North as a Needle with a load­stone, and they will stand and expect redemption no way but Northward, towards our justly honoured and succesfull brethren. (Oh but take heed of leaning with a full weight upon a walking staffe, though never so handsome and usefull.) Mr. Marshal at Mr. Pines Funerall Others doe lift up their eyes wholly to this City of refuge, this great Easterne moun­taine, from whence alone they conceive cometh their help:

But, alas, all this while the backs of all these are generally turned upon the deserted South-west: yea and too many are apt almost to curse that Country of the setting of the sun, as the most un­happy and unworthy part of the kingdome; Zech 8. [...]. and for the truth of this, I doe appeale to the memories, and consciences of many present. Let us come neerer; Brethren, have not the straights of other lesser parties, pettie Towns, and meer Parishes of the King­dome, affected the hearts, and filled the mouths of many in this place, with much sympathie, and loud complaints in their behalfe; when at the same time potent armies, spatious Countries, and very considerable places in the West, have fought, and cryed, and sunck, without any great pitie, noise, or notice, in these parts? Nay have not some of your selves observed, that the distresses of some garrison'd houses (in the name of Castles) beleagured. have been strongly ecchoed by many, both to the Lord in pray­ers, and to the high Court of Parliament in petitions; whilest some Westerne Cities, and City-like Townes, have for a long time together stretched out their hands, and lifted up their voices for helpe, but all in vaine? Here thou, poore Exon, labouring under a well-nigh foure moneths tedious siege, mightest seasonably aske, how many notes or bills were that while publikely put up [Page 12]for thee in the congregations in this place? I have heard of one young man that put up some two or three. And thou faithfull Plymouth, together with thy cordiall, and considerable Sisters, and Neighbours, Dartmouth, Barnstable, Lyme, Taunton, &c. mightest second this complaint with an outcry.

Alas, poore helplesse, and almost hopelesse West! And art thou alone, as one borne out of due time? Art thou the only speckled bird, the mountains of Gilboa, when other parts have the seaso­nable, comfortable dewes of help and pitie?

Brethren, pardon my just filiall affections? I shall endeavour to walke evenly in my complaint, betwixt impiety to my Coun­trie, and partialitie towards the truth: The sins of young Cham, and old Ely, are both alike abhominable in my account; and in this temper let us argue the matter yet a litle further, in answer­ing the charges laid against us.

Object. 1 The Westerne folke (will some say) are an unworthie peo­ple.

Answ. Beware of drawing sinfull inferences from sorrowfull premisses, by concluding that such a man, or people are wicked, because they are wretched, sinners because sufferers: This was the false so­phistry of Iobs three friends, for which the Lord doth as it were enjoyne them penance, Iob. 42.7, 8. and amerceth them, in the end of that book. Nay this was the barbarous Malta-logick of those Islanders, amongst whom S^t. Paul was cast ashoare at M [...]lita. And when the Barbarians saw the venemous beast hang on his hand, Acts 28.4.they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murtherer, whom (though he hath escaped the Sea, yet) vengance suffereth not to live.

But when he shook off the beast into the fire, Vers 5. they did as easily change their opinions to the other extreame: and indeed, none are more light and lavish in applauding, then those which are most rash and severe in censuring: But this fault (I find) may over­take the disciples themselves, [...]h. 9. [...], 2. When they saw a man that was blind from his birth, they asked Iesus, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Christs answer tel­leth us, that the Lord hath many other principall ends and causes for afflicting his people, besides their sins: as there, his end was that the works of the Lord should be made manifest; Vers 3. so in Iobs case, he meant to set up a paterne of patience, and of the reward thereof. And in that of Paul, he intended to honour the person [Page 13]and ministery of his servant, in the eyes and hearts of the Bar­barians.

Object. 2 But the Objector chargeth againe; telling us that Cowardise, and Covetousnesse, lost the West.

Answ. I might first answer generally, in the words of an Iraset q [...]an dona [...]e vilius conslat. Mart. acute Hea­then, that it is more cheape and easie to fall out with the distressed, then to relieve their distresses: But I will speake particularly to the severall charges of Cowardise, and Covetousnes.

First, to that of Cowardise, I could returne many answers, viz. 1. To the Charge of Cowardise.

1. Who is he (I pray you) that is the God of the spirits of all flesh, whose prerogative it is (especially in war-like actions) both to heighten the spirits of the faint, and to flatten the courage of the mighty? And when did the Lord so evidently and ordinarily exercise this his spirituall prerogative, as in the present warres of his peo­ple in this Land? Doubtlesse, brethren, it is not all Cowardise and treachery, which we doe commonly call so in these times, though (I confesse) there hath been too much of both sorts, al­most continually amongst us; and I could wish that the extraor­dinary finger of God, in this spirituall particular, might be more observed, and acknowledged.

2. Secondly, remember that those Westerne combustions did be­gin with the present generall and publike warres: So that it was then the very Tyrocinium of all our Souldiery; the first and sud­daine shooting of Guns in earnest; at which it is common, even for valiant men, a while to winke at the firing, and to startle at the report of an Ordnance: these and such-like allayes might be gi­ven. But

3. Thirdly, I doe answer by denying that charge of Cowardise, upon that At Minedip Hills in Som­merset about 30000. Com­mons appeared at once for the Parliament, in the be­ginning against the Gene­rallny of their Gentry. In Devon at 2. several times at least 10000. each time, all completely armed, and paid by the same County: And great forwardnes in the rest of the Counties, Cornwall it selfe not excepted. Country, as unjust: and for proof of that deniall, could easily bring forth a whole cloud of pub­like and reall witnesses, as the numerous frequent free appearances of great armies of common people u­pon slender summons, or rather upon bare leave to ap­peare; their willing tedious attendances at their own charges, and begging permission to fall on, &c. And all this amidst often and heavy discouragements; Some Counties going on against the streame of those which should have been their Leaders; but did destroy the way of their Pathes: Others had such Leaders, as [Page 14]as would have caused them to erre, Isai. 9.16. yea, as would have guided them, as that Prophet led the blind-fold Syrians into Samaria instead of Dotham: yet still the poore willing Commons, leaving both the Kings high-way, and their Malignant Gentry, continued appearing, waiting, marching, and fighting, though in many places like sheep without a shepheard, untill it hath pleased the Lord, out of his secret Counsell, and for our sins to give us up as a prey to the will of our enemies.

2. To the Charge of Covetous­nesse. Secondly, for answer to the charge of Covetousnesse; aske of others, and they shall tell you: Aske the publike and private Trea­surers for Ireland-subscriptions, (both gifts and adventures) for the Parliament Propositions, and for our own particular Westerne warres and fortifications; all these will abundantly certifie you.

But, as that proportionist did draw the whole stature of Her­cules by the print of his foot; so I could give you out of one of those five Shires (best knowne to my selfe) a guesse of the cor­diall munificence of the whole: 150000 [...]. out of Devon. & Exon. Beside their sufferings. If many scores of thousands have been laid out by one single County, then admire the vast ex­pences of all the five.

But it is still objected, Object. 3 Your enemies were few and contempti­ble at the first.

Alas, Answ. so were the enemies of the whole Kingdome at the be­ginning, perchance fewer then ours: remember the little cloud at Nottingham; and by that you may see. Secondly, that the race is not to the swift, Eccles. 9.11. nor the battell to the strong, but time and change happeneth to them all, (saith the wise Preacher) especially, (third­ly,) when the Lord of Hosts createth trouble to a sinfull people, and giveth commission to his revenging sword to passe through a Land; beleeve it, then they are not all your strength, and counsell, power, and policy, that can sheath up, or keep off, such an enemy?

But why did you lose so vast, Object. 4 so rich, so populous a Country so easily?

Answ. I answer First, 1. doubtlesse the meritorious causes were our sins; and the safest construction, and best application that we We­sterne exiles can make of our sufferings, will be to take up that of lamenting Jeremiah, Lament. 3.39. Wherefore doth a living man complain? (It is a mercy that we are men, and not beasts, that we are alive this day, and not fallen among the slaine) a man for the punish­ment of his sinnes? that is, the Lord hath done us no wrong; we [Page 15]doe suffer justly, yea mercifully for our trespasses.—Let us search and try our waies, and turne again to the Lord: That is, selfe exa­mination, and selfe-reformation, Verse 40. are our most proper and profi­table Lessons. But secondly, if you doe aske us [why we lost our Countrey?] with reference unto you of these parts, then I must further adde somthing negatively, 2. Negative­ly. somthing affirmatively to stop censures, and to give you instruction: Negatively thus, Think not yee that our dwellings have therfore cast us out, because wee were greater sinners then you; But as Christ said to those Inqui­sitous persons in the Gospel,—I tell you nay, Luke 13.12, 3, 5. Verse 6. but except yee re­pent, yee shall all likewise perish. And you know what immedi­ately followeth in the same chapter. It is the Parable of the Fig­tree, that had bin long time suffered in the vineyard, &c. So ne­gatively: But next I apply Affirmatively, Affirma­tively. Perhaps we are dri­ven hither from our Native Country for your sakes, that we might give an Alarum to some Thomases in these parts, which would not beleeve untill they could thrust their hands into the sides, and their fingers into the hands and feet, of their wounded brethren. Perhaps we are driven hither, that the Lord might give you a princely correction upon our skin, and might make us, (Mini­sters and people,) as it were your Ionases; that is, men, women, and children, sent, as out of the belly of hell, where the waters (of ungodlines and affliction) compassed us about, even to the soul, Ionah 1.5. the depth closed us round about, the weeds were wrapped about our heads—and all this that we might (still Jonah-like)—arise and goe to this great City, and preach unto it, Ionah 3.2.the preaching that be shall bidus: if so, then our Text shall be that of S^t. Paul in his Epistle to the Romans, with an easie mutation,—well: because of our sins we were broken off, and thou London standest by mercy; Rom 12.20. Be not high minded, but feare; And let our short application of it be this, to the severall sorts of people amongst you:

First, ôh yee blinded Malignants! beleeve in time, that the adverse party (called Cavaliers) are, Advice to Malig­nants. beyond all that you have heard, blasphemous, trecherous, and cruell, against God and man, enemies and friends, promiscuously; and do not refuse that instructi­on, which hath been dearly purchased for you, by the blood and estates of others.

Next, ôh yee Neuters, and carnall-compounders! beleeve in time, that God and men, both good and evill men, Neuters. yea very Sa­tan [Page 16]himselfe doth abhorre a Neuter; and that this kind of sinne, if it be found in a place, that place may expect the reward of Succoth and Penuel, Judges 8.6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17. even to be demolished, torne in pieces, and taught with briars and thornes; If in a person, that person may looke for the wages of Balaam, which had no recompence from Balak, and was slame by the sword of Israel. Finally, ôh yee se­cure and wanton Professors, Professors. which doe despise your old mannah, as light bread, and are growne dizzy by extraordinary light; rowl your selves in ashes, cry mightily, because of your new va­nities, and reforme without delay; or else be yee assured (by your neighbours experience) that God can bring upon you such a spi­rituall famine, as shall cause you to leape for a crust, for a bit of your old bread, and yet goe without it.

Brethren all at once, All. Luke 16 30. be ye not more deafe or stubborne, then the brethren of that rich man in the Gospel, for whom hee did undertake, that if one went unto them from the dead, they would repent. Behold, we Westerne exiles are as so many Monitors, bro­ken-loose from the grave: Let therefore our temporall losses and undoings, be your spirituall gaine and commodities. So much to the friends of the West, to all Iobs-like friends.

3. Forgetfull children. Such are, Thirdly, the reproofe of unmercifulnesse must be directed to the Children of the West, even to such as were hewen out of the Westerne hills and rockes, and were digged out of those pits and vallies. Some of you, I know, have been long since transplanted in­to this City, and other soyles, and thereby (perhaps) have lost somewhat of your Westerne sap and nature: others were more larely plucked up violently by the roots, and are at present but covered with earth enough to keep life in them, untill their re­plantation; I shall speak freely to both together, but especially to the latter sort, the exiled, scattered sons and daughters of the West.

How many are there amongst us, Amos 6.1. which doe justly fall under the reproofe and woe threatned by Amos? Woe to them, that are at ease (or secure) in Zion, &c. He goeth on through diverse verses, describing the unseasonable sins of that people; but the burthen and sting of all to them and us, lieth in the latter end; but they are not grieved for the affliction, Vers. 6. or breach of Ioseph. That expression [the breach of Ioseph] may have a double refe­rence: First, it may referre to the Patriarke Ioseph, who being in [Page 17] Aegypt imprisoned by Potiphar, did engage Pharaohs butler, Gen. 41.14, 15, 1 [...]. his fellow prisoner, by a courtesie, but was soon after forgotten of him; for when the man was set at libertie, and readvanced, he remembred not the kindnesse, and durance of Ioseph: so I feare, lest too many of our late Westerne sufferers, upon new preferment, may forget the old kindnesses of some that are now (perhaps) imprisoned. Next, Amos his expression [the affliction of Ioseph] may referre to the tribes of Ioseph, which were Ephraim, and Ma­nasses: these were miserably broken by the enemie, about the time of this prophecie; but were little pitied by the rest of the tribes their brethren. The application of that text is easie: our Country, and Countrie-men have lately been broken with a sore breach; yea they are continually broken with breach upon breach: One mans back is broken with taxes, anothers heart is broken with taunts, and a third sort have their necks broken by the Gibbet, at the pleasure of the enemie: and yet how unapt are wee to grieve constantly for all these breaches of Ioseph?

But these forgetfull ones, are of diverse sorts: As,

1. Delicate Exiles, in generall both sexes. First, all your delicate exiles, a strange contradiction to a serious, and sober eare! but such there are, and such there have been; as in the time of Amos 6.1. Amos (fore-mentioned) Let us look back upon that place once againe. Their generall charge was Securitie, they were secure or at ease, and did trust in the Mountain of Samaria; that is, themselves were in a strong hold, in a fortified City, and there­fore thought all well enough: hereupon the Lord sendeth them to other strong holds that were already demolished. Verse 2. Passe yee un­to Calnch and see, and from thence goe yee to Hemath the great; then goe down to Gath of the Philistins. That is, remember York that was lost in the North, (though it be since re-taken) consi­der Bristell and Exon, yea all Ireland, in the West. So in gene­rall. Next, he reproveth more particularly their delicacie; Verse 4. first in Lodgings, that lie upon beds of Ivory, and stretch themselves upon their Couches. 2 Sam. 11.9. How farre doth this differ from the Lodging of mortified Ʋriah? But Ʋriah slept at the doore of the Kings house, with all the servants of his lord, Vers. 11. and went not down to his house, because the Arke, and Israel, and Iudah, abide in Tents. Next, Amos reproveth their delicacie in Diet, both for meats and drinks: —and eate the lambs out of the flocke, and the calves out of the midst of the stall. It seems the muttons and beeves were [Page 18]too course and grosse for them; Amos 6.6. Dan. 10.3. and they drink wine in bowles, How farre is this also from the diet of Daniel, I eate no plea­sant bread (or bread of desires) neither came flesh, nor wine in my mouth &c? Lastly, for their clothing, and manner of living; they chaunt (or quaver) to the sound of the viol, Amos 6.5. and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David. How farre was this from the temper of Syons exiles, in the Psalmist, who being cal­led to sing, Psal. 137.3, 4. hanged their harps upon the willows, with this an­swer, How shall wee sing the Lords song in a strange land?

But now, to parallel this text of Amos, have we not too many, even amongst our exiles, who, in respect of apparell, rather weare upon their backs the foolish livery of delicate Agag; 1 Sam 15. then the mortified mourning weed of their dying Country? And as for the other particulars of diet, lodging, and other accommodations, they doe come up fully to the sinne of Israel, described, and threatned by the Prophet Isaiah: Isa. 23.7, 2. in the day (saith he) of flight and tumults, of fortifications and preparing for warre, even in that day, did the Lord God of hosts call to weeping, & to mourning, and to baldnesse, Verse 12, 13. and to girding with sackcloth. And behold, joy and gladnesse, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: But what is the issue? The Lord whispereth this sentence in the eare of his Prophet, Verse 14. Surely this iniquitie shall not be purged from you till yee die, saith the Lord God of hosts: And in the next verses Shebna (a sumptuous Treasurer) is made an examplary proofe of the truth of that sentence, Behold, the Lord (saith Isaiah) will carry thee away with a mighty captivi­tie, Vers. 15, 16, 17, 18. and will surely cover thee. He will surely violently turn & tosse thee like a ball into a large Countrie: there shalt thou die, &c. oh read and tremble, yee delicate exiles!

But let me speak this reproofe yet more particularly to all our delicate female exiles, More par­ticularly to women. 1 Pet. 1.1. because I find the scripture especially lesson­ing them against this sin: Thus S^t. Peter, directing his Epistle to the elect strangers scattered thoroughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappa­docia, Asia, and Bithynia, particularly chargeth the women that were amongst them, 1 Pet. 3. 1, 2, 3, 4. that their adorning be not that outward adorning, of plaiting the haire, and of wearing of gold, or of puting on of apparell: but let it be (saith he) the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible. There is first a negative; they must avoid the curious vanities in apparell, that were most [Page 19]fashionable in those times, and places.

And next the affirmative; they must look to the gracious habits of their minds, of which no enemie could strip and plunder them: and in both these the paterne proposed to them, by name, is Sarah (if I may so call her) the Patriarchesse, 1 Pet 36. who willingly fol­lowed her so-journing husband up and downe in strange Coun­tries: and the benefit proposed to such women, is preservation from womanish affrightments and amazements, unto which that sex is too prone, especially in cases of exile and banishment, and are not (shall not be) afraid with any amazement. This was a proper lesson (you see) for such strangers, 1 Pet. 2.11. and Pilgrims as they were.

Now as for you, beloved, see then that yee take heed, and be­ware of that great sin of many of your sex in these times, who do expend so much in discovering their owne nakednesse, as would suffice to cover the nakednesse of many. And, that you may take heed of this great offence, remember the heavy threatning of E­say, against the delicacy of women in such sad and breaking times: Isai. 3.1, 2. —When the Lord of Hostes doth take away the stay, and the staffe; The mighty man, and the man of war, the Judge, the Prophet, Verse 24. prudent and ancient, &c. then the delicate women may expect —in stead of sweet smell, a stinke; and in stead of a girdle, a rent; and in stead of well set haire, baldnesse; and in stead of a stomacher, a girding of sack-cloth; and burning, in stead of beauty. So much for the delicate exiles and children of the West, both Sons and Daughters.

2. Covetous exiles, and Secondly, let me speake to all such Covetous and ambitious exiles, as doe also forget the breach of their Brother Joseph. The first of these, namely, the Covetous ones, are sharply and largely reproved by S^t. James; Iames 1.1. who, writing to the twelve Tribes scatter­ed abroad, rebuketh them, especially for this sin of worldlinesse, Iames 4.1, 2. when he saith,—From whence come wars and sightings (or braw­lings) among you? come they not hence, even of your Lusts, that war in your members? What Lusts? Surely, the Lust of the eyes, (for so it followeth)—Yee lust, and have not: Ye kill, and desire to have, Verse 4. and cannot obtaine: And againe, Know you not, that the friend­ship of the world is enmity with God? And anon hee reproveth them which say (to day,) To day, or to morrow, Verse 13. we will goe into such a City, and continue there a yeere, and buy, and sell, and get [Page 20]gaine. Such confident Exchange-language as this, doth not be­come the mouthes of the Tribes which are scattered abroad, though it be the common sin of the dispersed Jewes in all places to this day. So much for an Item to the Covetous.

But next, Ambitious Exiles. let me speake more particularly and fully to all in­compassionate Ambitious exiles, which doe seeke great things for themselves in evill times. I will propound Baruch to be their warning-piece, and his chapter to be their Lesson: 'Tis recorded in the prophecie of Jerem. Ier. 15. per to­tum. 45. throughout. That little chapter, con­sisting but of five verses, was penned purposely (it seemes) for lit­tle Baruch, the son of Neriah; and prophetically for all others of his spirit, to the end of the world. Let us therefore view it a lit­tle. Ier. 45.1. Ier. 36 1, 2, 4, 5, &c. compared with let. 25.1, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. The whole is chiefely Reprehensory, an in it we may ob­serve, First, the Time: this word was spoken when Baruch had written these words in a booke at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth yeare of Jehoiakim the sonne of Josiah King of Judah; that is, so soone as Baruch had done his worke of transcribing the Roll, and reading it to the people; for which (like enough) hee expected some good piece of preferment: even in that same yeare, (being the fourth yeare of Jehoiakim) in stead of prefer­ment, hee meeteth with a Prophecie of utter desolation, and se­venty yeares captivity by Nebuchad-rezzar; as you may find by comparing those two places: There it is said, This whole land shall bee a desolation, and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the King of Babylon seventy yeares, &c. This is the Time of that Chapter. Next, observe the Faults reproved in Baruch; which were these: [...]er. 45.3. First, a dastardly sinking and despondency of mind; because (it seemes) his rising expectation was frustrate: Thou didst say, Woe is me now, for the Lordhath added griefe to my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest. Next, a vaine ambitious selfe-seeking: Verse 5. And seekest thou great things for thy selfe? These faults of his are evinced to be doubly sinfull, in these words, Verse 4. Thus saith the Lord, Behold, that which I have built, will I breake downe; and that which I have planted, I will pluck up, even this whole land. And therefore, (as if he had said) Thy sinne, O weake Baruch, the Amanuensis, or Scribe of Jere­miah, is both unreasonable and unseasonable at this time. What is more unreasonable, than for a man to imagine that his owne Cabine can bee safe, when the whole Ship is a sinking? that [Page 21]which I have built, will I breake downe. Or, what is more un­seasonable, than, when the axe is laid to the root of the tree, for a silly bird to begin then to build her nest upon the top branches, Verse 5. or to sit hatching therein? and that which I have planted will I pluck up, even this whole land. Nay, behold, (further saith the Lord) I will bring evill upon all flesh: and therefore it will bee well and faire for thee, to have thine owne life for a prey, Ier 39.16, 17, 18. Ier. 40.1, 2, &c. in all places whither thou goest; yea, that is as much as I have given to thy Master Jeremiah, and to his friend my servant Ebed-melech already.

And now, to apply this most seasonable Chapter: Alas, alas! How many such Baruchs (little men of great expectations) are there to be found, even amongst Exiles, in these dayes of break­ing downe and plucking up? Yea, this sinne is too neare (I feare) unto some of the sonnes and servants of the Prophets: There are too many Baruchs about the Ministery, as there are too many Gehazies in the Common-wealth. By Baruchs, I meane such who having beene lately destitute Levites, like Micha's Jonathan in the booke of Judges, Iudg. 17 7, 8, 9. so that they might have said every one of them as hee, I am a Levite, of Bethlehem Judah, and I goe to sojourne where I may find a place; yet after a little shelter and succour received, they are not content with a subsistence; but are shifting and clambring for more shekels, and higher prefer­ment; like the same Jonathan: to whom when the Danites sug­gested, Iudg. 18.19, 20. Is it better for thee to be a Priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a Priest unto a Tribe, and a Family in Is­rael? 'Tis said thereupon, The Priests heart was glad, — and hee went in the midst of the people.

These are our Baruchs, our Jonathans, in the Ministery: But (as I said) there are also too many Gehazies to bee found in the Common-wealth. Gehazi the servant of Elisha would needs make a hard shift, in an unseasonable time, [...] Kin. 5.20, 21. to gaine two talents of silver, and two changes of garments; but they cost him dear in the issue, when his Master reckoned with him: The conclusi­on is this; Is it a time (saith Elisha to him) to receive money, and to receive garments, and olive-yards, and vine-yards, and sheep, and oxen, and men-servants, and maid-servants? Vers. 26, 17. The Leprosie therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And hee went out from his presence a Leper [Page 22]as white as snow. Looke upon this Text, all yee that have beene servants, or of low degree, but are now risen, by these warres, to gainfull, eminent places, and offices. What! and are you now running after nothing but treasure and bravery? Doe you make it your plot and joy to multiply shekels, and change of rayment? to weare variety of State-gold upon your backs, when so many precious Saints doe want a little of it for their bellies? If so, I would but put Elisha's question unto you, Is this a time thus to receive money, and to receive garments? Doe yee mourne in gold and scarlet for our common Mother, great Britaine, that lyes a dying? Oh beware of entayling Gehazi's leprosie from your selves to posterity.

Finally, there are too many, even of the scattered Saints, that are infected, in these times, with this unseasonable sinne: too ma­ny there are of them that doe too well like of the places of their banishment, Math. 17.4. saying, as Peter in the Mount, It is good for us to bee here: Yea, they are apt to talke of buidling tabernacles in a strange place, both for themselves and for their friends; not considering how soone a Cloud may over-shadow them, Vers. 5 8. and put an end to their imaginary Paradise.

But as for you, Brethren, who are the scattered Children of the West, Jer. 35.2. &c. remember your selves to bee Christian Rechabites; and therefore see that yee doe Christianly imitate that mortified Fa­mily, who, in expectation of troublous times, did propare be­fore-hand, by accustoming themselves to drinke no wine all their dayes, they, their wives, their sonnes, nor their daughters: Nor to build houses to dwell in, Ver. 8, 9, 10. neither had they vineyard, nor field, nor seed; 1 Pet. 2.11.but dwelt in tents. So, my dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstaine from fleshly (and from ambitious) lusts, which warre against the soule: and remember that wee have here no continuing City. Let it therefore bee our care not to build houses, nor to plant vineyards in this place; but still to retaine (our animum revertendi,) our purpose to returne: yea, though wee are enforced for our present necessary subsistence to make some little plantation here a while; yet let it bee but like that plantation of the Gardiner, when hee doth set his Flowers in a Pot of earth, so that they may be easily removed from place to place, in change of weathers: in like manner let us so plant our selves and families in these Easterne parts, that wee may bee in a [Page 23]fit posture to be carried West-ward, Pots and all, so soon as the Lord shall be pleased to shine againe upon those Countries. So much concerning reproofe.

Ʋse. 2 In the second place, this Doctrine of pitie will afford us a patheticall exhortation: Exhortation to pity the West. In the beginning whereof I must tell you, though the Text and historie are altogether Easterne, yet this branch of application must be wholly Westerne; and therefore I would have you now to take the words, as the common cry of all the distressed Counties, Cities, Market-towns, Parishes, houses, and persons, of the Iob-like West this day. Suppose, brethren, that you heard all the well-affected of those Counties (and such I dare generally to call them still) on the one part, roaring to his Ma­jestie, as sometimes that mother did cry to the King of Israel, when shee had eaten her son for hunger, Help, my Lord O King: 2 Kings 6.26. And then imagine his Majestie answering them in the words of David, upon another occasion, I am this day weake, 2 Sam 3.39. though anointed King; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too hard for me (they were his sisters two sons, Ioab, and Abishai) Make that supposition upon the one side: But then, suppose them on the other part, crying, and yelling to us, and to all their scattered bre­thren, in the words of the Text, with addition, Oh yee Protestant, Christian, English hearts; Men, brethren, and friends, Have pitie upon us, have pitie upon us, for the hand of God hath touch­ed us.

But, I suppose, you are ready to meet this exhortation with an objection.

Object. Why, wee are all come together for this very end, to pity the West; it is the great desire of our bowels, and the onely businesse of this day, to pity them: But tell us now, how can we, how may we doe this worke effectually and to purpose?

Answ. Brethren, it was my chiefe intention, Helps to this dutie; which are, in appearing this day in this place; and hath been my principall endeavour in my prepa­rations, (such as they are) to help you in this great duty at pre­sent: I shall therefore desire your serious, and affectionate at­tention. My method, in the whole work, shall consist of two ge­nerall branches: I shall endeavour to spread before you, First, 1. the causes for which we ought really to pitie the West; and this Ge­nerall will afford us some excitations, and incentives to the duty.

2. Secondly, the meanes by which wee may pitie them indeed; and this generall shall yeeld us some instructions and directions, for that friendly service.

First, First, exci­tations to quicken us, to consider Viz. for our excitation and quickning, wee must consider what are the evils of those parts, because the object of pity is (Malum) Evill: Now their evils (and indeed all evils) are of two sorts:

1. Culpall evils, or the evils of sin; these are both the first and worst of all evils, and therefore are in the first and chiefe place to be lamented, Ier. 2.19. as saith Ieremiah, who was a man well skilled in lamentations: Know therefore and see, that it is an evill thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God.

2. Penal evils, or the evils of suffering; these are the fruits and effects of the former, 1 Cor. 15.56 as S^t. Paul saith; the sting of death is sin; that is, miserie without sin may buzze, hisse, and scratch a little, like a Hornet, or Adder, that hath lost his sting; but it cannot pierce, and poyson; as wee see in every meer affliction of the Saints: Sin alone putteth the venom, the deadlinesse into death it selfe.

1. First, then let us weep, and lament over the Countries of our nativitie: Westerne sins, search for these, because of their sins, and ours in them: Let us bewaile, principally, the greatest provocations that are, and nave been commited in those parts. When Iobs three friends are said to come every one from his owne place, for to mourne with him, and to comfort him: Iob 2.11. there is a word used for [to comfort] which signifieth likewise to mourne with the mournings of re­pentance; to shew, that if wee would pitie, and comfort our Countries, and our selves to purpose, this is the right end to begin at; namely, in the first place, to bewaile both their sins, and our own. Lam. 3.39. Man suffereth for his sin: And 'tis that alone which putteth all the mortall bitternesse into our cup of trembling. So Ieremiah once againe: Ier. 4.18. This is thy wickednesse, because it is bit­ter, because it reacheth unto thine heart. Or thus, this is from thy wickednesse, that he (meaning the enemie the Chaldean) is bit­ter, that he reacheth unto thine heart. And immediatly there fol­loweth an alarme, because of warres; my bowels, my bowels; be­cause thou hast heard, Verse 19. O my Soule, the sound of the trumpet, the alarme of warre. Whence wee learne, by the Lords methode in punishing, what must be our order in lamenting: First the sins, [Page 25]then the sorrows of a Countrie are to be mourned over. The want of this due order is charged against the false Prophets of Iudah, as one cause (I conceive) of her ruine. Thy Prophets have seen vaine and foolish things for thee. Why? Lam. 1.14. they have not disco­vered thine iniquitie. Why? What good could that discoverie doe her? To turne away thy captivitie. Labour wee therefore to turne away the Westerne Captivitie, by discovering, and be­wailing our Westerne iniquities.

Object. But how may this be done in a due measure, so as to avoid both the impietie of Cham, who discovered his fathers nakednesse; and the Partialitie of Ely, who was too indulgent to his owne familie?

Answ. I shall endeavour equally to decline both of these extreames, and yet to give you some speciall matter of humiliation; and to that end take these two hints, helps, or directories, for our more effectu­all inquiry after the sins of our Country:

• 1. Search after them by their effects, and
• 2. By their proportions.

1. By their Effects, w^ch are Banish­ing sins? First, you may be guided to find them out by their effects; Doe but aske the word of God, What provocations especially have an ejecting, exiling, banishing effect, that is, doe cause mens houses and Countries to cast them out? For I find that there is such a speciall sort of sins in Scripture, Jerem. 9.19. Because we have forsaken the land, because our dwellings have cast us out. Yea, I find in the word that divers sorts of sins have this effect. Let us put two or three Quaeres to the children of the West concerning these; every one shall be taken out of the word of God. I will onely put the que­stions, leaving to your selves the pressing of them upon your selves.

1. Quaere, luke warm­nesse, both Revel. 3.15.6. Brightman First Quaere concerning Luke-warmenesse: I find that sin noto­riously branded as an Ejector, as an Exiler, not only of Persons, but of whole Churches at once; I know thy works, saith God to Laodicea, (and England is by Expositors compared to that Church) that thou art neither cold nor hot; so then, because thou art luke­warme, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. There, Ejection is the punishment of Luke-warmenesse. But now we are to know further, that Luke-warmenesse hath two branches; Formalitie, and 2 T [...] 3 5. First, there is Luke-warmness in service to God, that is, Demi-cold­nesse in his worship; this is commonly called Formality, condem­ned by S^t Paul, Having a forme of godlines, but denying the pow­er [Page 26]thereof. Secondly, there is a Luke-warmeness in service for God, that is, Neutrali­tie. 1 Kings. 18.21. Demi-fervour in his cause; this is ordinarily termed Neu­trality, and it is censured by Eliah, How long halt yee betweene two opinions? Both these texts I have largely handled hereto­fore in those Countries, perhaps in the audience of some now present; and I fear that many which then heard me, are now feeling in those parts, the truth and weight of that word of God. Let us lie low before the Lord for this sin.

2. Quaere, Earthly­mindedness. Next Quaere, Concerning Coveteousnesse and Earthly-minded­nesse; Oh, that basest of sins! the abomination of Clay-worshiping! It did twice eject righteous Lot out of his beloved plaines of So­dom: His sin (as Divines conceive) was covetousnesse; in that he could find in his heart, to live amongst the prodigious wicked Sodo­mites, for the love of their fruitfull country: And the History it self seemes to hold forth as much; Gen. 13.10. for it is said, And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plaine of Jordan, that it was well watered e­very where—then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan: Verse 11.11, 13. and Lot journeyed East, and dwelt in the city of the plain: then immediate­ly it followeth; But the men of Sodom were wicked, and sinners be­fore the Lord exceedingly. Si [...] Iunius & aln ad loc. That is, worldly Lot was so baited with the commodity of the place, that, for love therof, he swallowes the hook of Sodomitical neighbour-hood & company. For this the Lord doth first suffer the Kings of the nations to plunder and captivate him; Gen 14.12. Verse 16. And it was well for him that his uncle Abraham (which had made a safer choice) did then rescue, and set him at liberty: But shortly after he doth relapse, and return to the same Sodom again, there planting himselfe as before; but now the Lord taketh a more through course with him, he doth smoak and fire him out of his beloved hole and nest, with brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; and it was Gods great mercy that he escaped with his life, leaving all his estate behind, and losing his wife by the way; and all this was done to warne all posterity, both persons and sexes, to take heed and beware of the ejecting sin of Coveteousnesse.

3. Quaere, Selfishnes. Third Quaere, Concerning Selfishnesse, or Selfe-love; I meane when men doe altogether seeke their own things before the things that are of (that is, from, and for,) Jesus Christ. The very Hea­then Historian hath left it upon record long since, that this sin of private selfishnes, did heretofore eject our forefathers, the anci­ent Britans, out of this good land, making way for the Romans [Page 27]into it— Olim regibus parebant, nunc per principes factionthus & sludiis tra­huntur: nec altud adversus validissi­mas gentes pro nobis vt [...]sius, quam quod in commune non consulunt. Rorus duabus tribus (que) civitatibus, ad propul­sandum commune periculum, conven­tus: (vel corsersas:) ita dum sia­guli pugnant, v [...]versi vincuntur. Cornel. Tacit in v [...]t Agr. c. & Tust. Lips. ad loc Graeciae Civiltates dum imperare sirgu­lae cupiunt, imp [...]rtu [...] [...]nes perdide­runt. Ex Justin. lib. 8. of Old (faith he) the Britans were under one Government, but now they are drawne in pieces by Factions and Parties; neither was there any one thing more advan­tagious for us now against those most vali­ant natious, then that they doe not consult to­gether in common. Seldome should you find two or three Townes agree together for re­pelling the publike danger; And so whilst every one did fight, all were overcome: that is, our British fore-fathers were Shire-bound, City-bound, Town-bound, Parish-bound, House-bound; & thus, whilst every man stood with a Bucket at his owne doore, to save his house, the whole Town was burned to ashes: whilst every man did looke to his own Chest, the common vessell was wrackt & sunke. Oh, 'tis a sad sym­ptome, and a wild infatuation, when men are so over-round for their owne private places, that they are flat for the publike. Nay, doubtlesse, a man may be a Malignant to the publike, by being too selfishly zealous for his owne particular Parish, Towne, or Coun­try. But now, we are to know further, that this sin (which I call selfishnesse) doth containe divers branches: 4. sorts of Selfe, viz. They may be divided according to the severall sorts of selfe, which are these:

1. Religious Selfe. First, there is a kind of Religious selfe, (to begin at top) that is, a selfe in matters of Religion. There may be a selfe in Duties, and a selfe in Opinions, although both should passe under the name and shew of piety, conscience, libertie, light; for if a man doth practise, or hold either of these out of selfe-love, or selfe-seeking, with an eye to selfe, as his end and Idol, that man must be called selfish: And his way of selfishnesse, oh how many Countries and places, hath this kind of Religious selfe, (the selfe of opi­nions) utterly undone? How many people and persons hath it ejected? Thus whilest Iohn of Leyden, and his Anabaptists at Munster, pretending Christ, and Christian light and libertie, did undermine and eject the Orthodox Protestant party there, at last, themselves being also cut off, way was made to bring in the old Bishop of Munster, and his rabble againe. So much for a touch concerning Religious selfe; let us search diligently after this.

2. Civill Selfe. Secondly, there is a Civill, or Morall-selfe; this comprehen­deth [Page 28]Vertues, Honours, Relations, &c. The love of which hath been the destruction and overthrow of many a flourishing City, Countrie, County. To instance but in relations; You know how disadvantagious it was to Nehemiahs building, that so many of his Nobles were of kin to Tobiah. Nehe. 6.17, 18, 19. It is said, It is said, There were many in Iudah sworn unto Tobiah, because he was the son-in-law to She­chaniah, the son of Arah, and his son Iohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam, the son of Berechiah: The mischievous fruits and effects of this affinitie of Nehemiahs friends with Tobiahs party, are said to be two; First continuall secret intelli­gence with the enemie,Verse 17.Moreover, the Nobles of Iudah sent many letters unto Tobiah, (or multiplied letters passing to Te­biah) and the letters of Tobiah came unto them. Secondly, interceding, or speaking a good word for the enemie: Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words (or matters) to him; and Tobiah sent letters to put me in feare. Oh these entangling names and relations of son-in-law, and father-in-law, of brother-in-law, and daughter-in-law! It was son Tobiah, and Father Shechaniah; Son Iohanan, and Father Meshullam: So that searce a Malignant in all Tobiahs party, but had some one or other to speak for him unto Nehemiah. Remember there­fore that this Civill selfe also hath been a great ejecting sin.

3. Naturall selfe. But, Thirdly, there is a Naturall selfe too, the selfe of parts, of minde, and body: every man loves the brats and issues of his owne brain, as of his owne loynes; his owne way, projects, and inventions, in the carriage of the publike businesse. Hushai and Achitophel had their severall projections, and the clashing of those lost the cause of Absalom. How many enterprises since the beginning of this warre would have been more succesfull, if men had not loved their owne counsells too well? Or if men of piety, wisdome, and valour, amongst us, had but learned that lesson of S^t. Phil. 2.3. Paul, Let nothing be done through strife or vain­glory; but, in lowlinesse of mind, let each esteeme others better then themselves? Or that resolution of Luther, Let the work be done by others, yea by any, so as it be done?

But I will contract: 4. Sinfull selfe. 1 Iohn 2.16. Fourthly and finally, there is a meer Sinfull, or Lustfull-selfe, that is, the selfe of sin and lust; and this is three­fold, according to the three Cardinall lusts, as they are reckoned up by S^t. Iohn: The lust of the flesh; this is pleasure: The lust of [Page 29]the eyes; that is profit: and the pride of life; this is pride it selfe. Every of these hath caused the dwellings of many Nations and Persons to cast them out. Take a short instance or two in each. First, in the Lusts of the flesh: Thus, that one foule act of unclean­nesse, committed and defended by the Gibeathites, did almost utterly root out the tribe of Benjamin. Iustin. H [...]st. Homer. Iliad. And the effeminacie of one Sardanapalus, and adultery of one Paris, did put an end to the famous Assyrian Monarchy, and to the Trojan kingdome. Next, in the Lusts of the eyes: Thus, the sacrilegious Covetousnes of one Achan did endanger the whole campe of Israel; and the niggardlinesse of the besieged Citizens of Constantinople lost that Easterne City and Empire to that barbarous Turkish Sultan. 2 Chron. 25.17, 18, &c Lastly, in the Pride of life: Thus (finally) King Amaziab, by his pride, lost both Ierusalem, and himselfe, and all the treasures of the Lords house, and of his owne: And arrogant Senacherib, by his proud blasphemie, lost one hundred eighty five thousand of his men in one night.

4. Quaere. Emulations &c. Fourthly and finally, Quaere, Concerning an evill spirit of Emu­lation, Distance, and Jealousie; I doe adde these in the last place, as the immediate fruits of the former evill of Selfe-love. Emulati­ons sometimes there are betwixt Commander and Commander, as that betwixt Ioab and Abner, which in fine lost the house of Saul, and did cost the lives of them both. The method was this, First, Abner takes distaste against Ishbosbeth, 2 Sam. 3.7, 8, 9. Verse 26, 27. because he reproved him for his uncleannesse; and, souldier like, he sweares to be re­venged upon him: which he doth, by revolting to David. Here­upon Ioab (Davids Generall) groweth jealous of Abners pre­ferment, and therefore stabs him: 2 Sam. 20 4, 9, 10. 1 Kings 2.31, 32, 33, 34. For this (and another like act of Emulation against Amasa) Ioab himselfe is at last cut off by the sword of Justice. Sometimes evill Emulations are betwixt Commanders, or Governours, and the Common people: Such was that evill spirit that was raised betwixt Abimelech and the men of Shechem: Iudg 9.22, 23. so that the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, and he cruelly with them: And thus there came out a fire from each other, which devoured them both; for, Verse 44, 45, 48, 49, 53. in conclu­sion, the City was beaten downe, and sowed with salt; the Castle or Tower burnt with fire, and a thousand in it, men and women; and afterward, The brains of Abimelech himselfe were beaten out with a milstone, from the hands of a woman. Thus Abimelech lost [Page 30]his military Idol, the Idol of honour; and they their townish Idol, the Idol of priviledges. All this, to shew us the mischiefes of Emulations, and sinfull jealousies. Nay, let me adde this one word more: I have some-where observed, that even the Emulations of the wives of eminent and active persons, have proved pernicious to the publike; especially in the criticall, and crasie times of refor­mation. Cambden in Apparat. ad Hister. Eli­zabeth. Thus, in the Raigne of King Edward the sixth, the wo­manish Emulation, betwixt the Queene Dowager, wife to the lord Admirall; and the Dutchesse of Somerset, wife to the lord Protector his brother (they falling out about place, and prece­dencie) did occasion, and cause the ruine of both their lords and husbands: first the Admirall lost his head, and then the Duke, to the unspeakable detriment of the common Protestant cause then in England. Beware therefore of party-makings in Armies, in Committies, in Counties, for the carrying on of private inter­ests and designes.

Thus I have hitherto endeavoured Theologically, by way of Quaeries, to direct and help you, and my selfe, in searching out our owne sins, and the sins of the Countrie, for which wee doe mourne this day.

There is another way that may help us in this worke, Other helps for the finding out of the sins of the which I may call Geographicall, that is, by travelling mentally over, and thorough those severall Shires, and Counties, and the principall parts, and places of them: there observing and surveying what things and places have had or given the greatest occasions of sin and provocation. You know, Brethren, that every one of the five Westerne Counties have their especiall fruits and commo­dities, which they send forth unto other parts: as, the Tinne of Cornwall; the Clothing of Devon; the Lead, Coale, and Cattle of Somerset; the flocks of Dorset; and the Corne of Wilts, are knowen, and famous.

So, severall Counties have their speciall sins, and occasions of sinning, T [...]t. 1.1 [...]. that are Epidemicall amongst them, and peculiar to them: as the Cretians had their speciall vices. And thus the sins of the Mines, and the sins of the Moores, are very considerable, and did run through diverse Counties in the West. Alas! those poore Creatures that laboured in the pits of Tinne, Lead, and Coale; how were their souls made more black, and rude with Ignorance and prophanenesse, then their bodies, with soot and oare? And [Page 31]yet who did pitie their condition? How few did looke after their salvation? And therefore now you see, those pits and places have been mines of men, and store-houses of fuell, bullets, fire, and souldiers, for the black and prophane cause of the enemie: All this is matter of Lamentation.

1. Danmonii Or if you will have it more particularly, let the exiled Danmo­nii (the people of Devon and Cornwall) cry out, and mourne for the contentious law-suits of Cornwall, and for that cruell good­lucke, (I thinke they call it) in which there was so much cruelty exercised upon poor ship-wrackt strangers; such as our selves are now become, in a strange City. But chiefly let us weep blood (if it were possible) for the vaile of blindnesse, errour, and excae­cation, that lieth at present upon multitudes in that Countrie.

2. Belgae of Somerset. Next, let us, the exiled Belgae of Somerset, sit downe, and mourne particularly for the sins of the Bath, and of the Bishop­ricke of that County. First I say of the Bath, for there the Lusts of those strangers that bathed, did often times out-boyle (with fire of Lust) the scalding waters of the Bath: And the Aire had in it a greater scum of oaths, then was that other scum which was found upon the waters. Oh the blasphemies, and uncleannesses, of thought, word, and action, that were committed against God and man, in that place at every spring and fall! A Patient could hardly go thither for a cure of his Body, but he came off with some disease or ulcer in his Soul and conscience. Let us mourn therfore for the sins of the Bath, and weep we also for the sins of that Bi­shopricke above many others; for, I doe not onely impute the to­tall demolishing of Lectures in that Countie to that present man of sin, which is said to have given God thanks, that he had now never a Lecture left in his Diocesse; but even to that Chire it selfe doe I especially impute all those Wakes, Revells, May-poles &c. that so much abounded in those parts.

Wilts. As for the other Belgae, those of Wilts, that are rich in Corne, let them search the Records of their hearts and memories, whe­ther that crying and cursing sinne of Corn-hoarding hath not been found amongst them; seeing the great commodity of their Coun­try did especially tempt them thereunto. And where they find that great act of oppression, let them lay to heart that terrible Proverb of the Wise-man, Hee, that is, Every one, Prov. 11.26. that with­holdeth Corne, that is, to raise the Market, the people shall curse [Page 32]him: and that curse must needs fall heavie which cometh from a multitude, by authority from the Lord. And so much for a hint to them.

3. Durotri­ges. Finally, as for (the Durotrîges) the people of Dorset that a­bound with Flocks, they may sit downe and make diligent search after the Sheep-Masters sinnes. I have not art enough to particu­larize; onely, if any thing out of that Quaere that is put to pasto­rall Reuben or Issachar may doe them good, let them heare and consider it; Judg. 5.16. that is, let them beware of abiding amongst the sheep­folds, to heare the bleatings of the flocks, now that there is so much blessing promised to such as doe offer themselves willingly, and that such bitter curses are flying against those that come not up to the Lords help. Thus have I shot mine arrowes every-way: (much at an adventure, I confesse) that by all meanes I might hit some. These are Geographicall hints and helps to search after our ejecting sinnes. And so much concerning such directions for hu­miliation, as are taken from the Effect of sin.

2. By the Pro­portions be­twixt sinne and punish­ment; in Mich. 6.9. Kind. Secondly, Wee may be directed in our sin-searching, by obser­ving the Proportions betwixt our sinnes and punishments. Punish­ment is the fruit and issue of sinne: and they are sometimes so well alike, that you may know the mother by the daughter; wee may see written upon the Rod, both by whom, and for what it is appointed. Now this Proportion 'twixt sinnes and punishments is manifold: There is sometimes a Proportion of Kind betwixt them; the wages are paid in the very same metall that the worke is made of. This Adonibezek, though an Heathen, could discerne, when hee said, Iudg. 1.7. Threescore and ten Kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited mee; for the Israelites had cut off both his thumbs and his great toes. Loe, there was a double proportion betwixt his sinne and punishment: First, of Kind; Cutting for Cutting; according to that other Scripture, All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword: Mat. 26.52. And next, of Parts; Thumb for Thumb, and Toe for Toe. Thus also King Da­vids sinnes were punished with the same Kind, though in higher degrees; his Adultery with Bathsheba, by the Incest of Amon; his Murther of Ʋriah, with the Fratricide of Absalom.

2. Time. Num. 14 34 Sometimes there is a Proportion of Time betwixt the sin and punishment: Thus murmuring Israels forty dayes search of [Page 33]the land of Cunaan, was paid home with forty yeares wandring in the wildernesse from that time.

Place. 3. Sometimes there is a Proportion of Place: Thus King Jo­rams Carcasse must be cast into the portion of Naboth the Jez­reelite; 2 Kin. 9.35, 36. and Jezabels bloud must bee licked by the dogs in the same field where they had licked Naboths before.

4. Finally, 1 Kin. 21.23. Measure. Rev. 18.6, 7. there is sometimes a Proportion of Measure and Degrees: So in the punishment of Romish Babylon; Reward her even as shee rewarded you, and double unto her double accor­ding to her workes: in the cup which shee hath filled, fill to her double. How much shee hath glorified herselfe, and lived delici­ously, so much torment and sorrow give her. All these Proporti­ons are so many hints to direct us in our search after the speciall provoking causes of our Countries miseries.

Shall I adventure upon an Application? Applicati­on of those Proporti­ons. Suppose that the peo­ple of one City, Corporation, or Parish, were too selfish and co­vetous; and that it was their great worke and sinne to endeavour to build their nests so high, that no hand should reach them; or so closely, that no eye should find their wealth; and there they sate brooding (suppose) upon their bags, till first their neigh­bours were lost, and then themselves, for want of money: And now the Lord, it may be, hath proportionably set a needy, greedy Horse-leach to raigne over them, which cryes nothing but, Give, give; and having met with the Booty, vaunteth himselfe in the language of that Assyrian Rod, Isai. 10.14. My hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth egges that are left, have I gathered all the earth, and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped. That is, hee had climbed the tree, hee had opened the thicke bushes, and so did search and find out the hidden nest of wealth and treasure; plucking thence the be­loved egges, and feathered young ones, as his prey and game, whilest the quondam owner (like the damme) was faine to fly a­way; or if hee stayed, yet durst not so much as to flutter, or to peep openly; but is forced to sit downe in silence, 2 Sam 3 15, 16. as Phaltiel the sonne of Laish was hush'd, when Abner the Commander car­ried away his wife before his eyes. Another Place, Person, or Town-ship, (peradventure) have stood too Townishly upon their Priviledges and Liberties; bearing themselves too high, because of Friends, Charters, and Worship; and therefore, it may be, the [Page 34]Lord hath proportionably set a Leopard to watch over them, [...] 5, 6. and their Cities; so that every one that goeth out thence is in danger to be torne in pieces: that is, their Patron is a Miscre­ant, one that delights in bloud and rapine. Or, to make but one Supposition more: You know, Brethren, that sinfull strangenesse, and neglect of Christian communion, hath been too great a fault amongst Westerne Professors. And now, behold, how proportio­nably doth the Lord punish us for this sinne, by forcing us thus together, as a Shepherd doth fetch in his stragling sheep with his dog? hee causeth him to bite one, and to lugge another, untill hee hath brought them into a close and compact body together. Some of us heretofore were scarcely well acquainted with our next­neighbour-professors; and therefore wee are now made next­neighbours to our Brethren of other Shires. And behold, this one Church doth containe at once the Exiled fragments of five spacious Counties, which are forced by one common calamity, to bee weeping Pew-neighbours this day. But now, if after all this constrained acquaintance, and forced communion, wee shall still retaine and cherish our old sinne of unchristian distance; then, be­leeve it, Brethren, beleeve it, the Lord will make us friends and familiars at dearer rates, and by some sharper meanes: Perhaps bee will imprison us next in the same Gaole; yea, fetter and ma­nacle us together with the same Irons; (remember my words) and so try whether or no one Dungeon, one Chaine, or one Fire, (as it was in Queene Maries dayes) will make us to associate, and grow acquainted: [...]is and Mo­ [...]u [...]ie [...]s. for so I have read, Doctor Ridley (a Con­formist) and Master Hooper (a Non-Conformist) both Bishops, were reconciled by Martyrdome.

Thus you see, that this help of finding sinnes by their Propor­tions with their punishments, is a quick and searching receipt. I should bee very loath to give gall and worm-wood to any place or person that is upon the Crosse; but I should bee as loath, on the other side, to neglect the giving of a wholesome (though bit­ter) potion of cleansing physicke, now that our soules are prepa­red and opened by afflictions: And this is the reason why I have gone so deep with these Probes. And now, to close up, let mee beseech and charge you, and my selfe, to make use of all these helps and hints in secret, betwixt God and our consciences. The Lord hath given us leasure more than enough to study our Country, and [Page 35]to read over our by-past dayes and actions: hee hath also added the provocatives of banishment and distresse. Afflictions must be In­structions. Times of afflictions are times of instructions: let it bee our care to make them such unto our selves. And to help us therein, let us know, that Af­fliction doth further Instruction two wayes: First, a remem­brancer of sinne that was before forgotten: Gen. 41 1 [...]. This wee see in Jo­sephs brethren, when hee had put them all together into ward three dayes in Egypt, They said one to another, Verse 21. Wee are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that wee saw the anguish of his soule when hee besought us, and wee would not heare: therefore is this distresse come upon us. Observe there, how the proportion of their punishment did bring their sinne to remembrance: Their fault was unbrotherly cruell dealing with Joseph, in selling him into Egypt; and this they doe now call to mind, by that harsh usage and imprisonment which themselves have met withall in the same Egypt. Thus Affliction is a tell-troth, a remembrancer of sinne. Next, it is also an humbler for sinne that had not been duly felt before: This wee see in Manasseh's case, who in the day of his prosperity puffed at God and his Prophets, 2 Ch [...]on. 33.11. Where­fore the Lord brought upon them the Captains of the hoste of the King of Assyria, which tooke Manasseh among the thornes, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. This was the way to take and tame such a wilde Asse of the wildernesse. First, the Lord drives him to the hedge, and makes him hide his head in a bush, among the thornes: next, hee doth fetter, and (as it were) crosse-fetter him, and so carryes him to the Pound; he bound him with chaines, and carried him to Babylon. This round usage breaks his spirit, and makes him fall to begging of mercy; And when hee was in affliction, hee besought the Lord his God, Verse 12. and humbled himselfe greatly before the God of his fathers. Let us in like manner accept of, and apply the punishment of our ini­quities; and with Daniel, in his exilement, Dan. 9.20. thus confesse our owne sinne, and the sinne of our people, presenting our supplica­tion before the Lord our God, for the holy Mountaine of our God. So much be spoken concerning the cause or matter of our Lamen­tation for our Country; namely, the evils of sinne which are found there. And in this generall I have beene the more large, because the mourning for sinne is the most spirituall and ingenu­ous of all sorrowes; and because this is that onely right way that [Page 36] our selves and our little ones must tread, if wee meane to returne and see our native Country againe.

Secondly, 2. Mourn for the suffer­ings of the West. Let us also lament and mourne over the Countries of our Nativity, because of their Penall evills; that is, the evills of suffering, which are the effects and punishments of those sinnes. The former consideration ought to move every Christian to pity the West, because of their sinnes; but this argument should pre­vaile with every one, that hath the bowels of humanity, to weep over them, even because of their sufferings. If there bee any quar­ter of this Land, that may at present be properly called, The Job­like part of great Britaine; then certainly the West hath great right to that Epithite: How great a right, I shall shew and prove in an ensuing Parallel. In which wee will endeavour to set the afflicted man Job of the East, and the afflicted Job-like Coun­try of the West over against each other; 1 Sam. 20.41. that so, like David and Jonathan, they may strive together in weeping, untill wee shall see which exceedeth.

The miseries of both those Jobs (that Man and this Country) have beene some-what Methodicall: A Parallel betwixt the miseries of Job and the West. viz. The same Satan, and his like Instruments, have kept well-nigh the same order in laying on tor­ments upon them both. The generall parts of their miseries may bee these two: First, the [Ʋnde] the top, station, or pinacle from which Satan and his Instruments have cast them downe both; that is, the very Zenith, or height of their happinesse.

Secondly, the [Quo] that is, the bottome, depth, and gulfe of calamity into which hee did degrade and thrust them: this is the very Nadar of their distresse and misery. 1. From whence they are cast down; Non Quo, sed Unde.

First, let us speake a litle of the [Ʋnde] or whence, that is the height of happinesse; from whence first Iob, and now our Coun­trie, have been cast down: because, Miserrimum est faisse seli­cem. Jobs Holi­nesse. Iob. 1.1, 2, 2, 4, 5. to an ingenuous spirit, this hath been the greatest aggravation of a fall: Iob was throwne downe from his primitive prosperous estate, as wee called it: 'tis shadowed in his first Chapter, at the beginning; there he is de­scribed by his holinesse, and happinesse: First by his holinesse; he was inwardly sincere towards God, and that man was perfect; and outwardly honest towards men, and upright: yea, he had a sound principle of both, one that feared God; and this principle was strong and generall, he eschewed evill. Before I give a par­allel to this branch, let me Apologize a litle in the words of that [Page 37]mourning Non sum ambiti [...]sus in malis &c. Quintil. Iob. 13.7. Oratour, when he praised his deceased sonne. Bre­thren, I am not (I hope) ambitious in and of our miserie; and I should be loath to tell a lie for God: but, on the other part, I would, in the worst of times, be just and pious toward my dy­ing Countrie; and therefore must now speake something to the praise of the pietie of the West: and that both Negatively, The West. and Positively.

For the first, let me say, Orthodox. Those parts were as free (I conceive) from Antichristian Papists on the left-hand extreame, and from uncatechised Sectaries on the right, as any proportionable tract of land in the Kingdome. The God of truth make all our now dispersed Professors in those parts, and our few garrisons at home, Revel. 16.15. still wise and watchfull to keepe their garments in these pilfering times, lest they walke naked, and they see their shame. Next, Positively, I might mention the wonderfull breaking forth of light in those parts of late, the Gospel going like the sun from East to West; the springing of Lectures, and the stout endea­vours to hold them up; together with a great multiplication of beleevers in diverse places of those Counties, all proving the great day-break of godliness in the West. Besides, in the last times, since these troubles began, the extraordinarie cryes to heaven, and seekings to God, publikely, privatly, with prayer, fasting, and teares, in many places were such, as would (I thinke) have for­ced the most adverse Anti-westerne spirit to confesse, that there was much of the feare of God in those places. But all this I shall passe, and would adde but one onely consideration; and that is, Multitudes banished. About 500 exiles from Devon and Exon alone are in these parts. the numerous armie of Martyres, (exiles I meane) which are now come off from those quarters, for that cause of God, and for the testimonie of Iesus. Such an armie and number they are, of men, women, and children, as I dare say cannot be parallel'd from any proportionable part of the land: And (which is yet more) these poore souls, generally, did not stay and linger untill the pal­pable Popery, and intolerable Tyranny of the enemie did thrust them out, as Lot and his wife came out of Sodom; but they came off in the beginning of the storm, before the paint of Iezebels face was wiped off, when few but thorow Christians could discerne the cause, or would adventure the whole for it: which proveth, (even to the face of Calumnie it selfe) that in the West there was many a man that was perfect and upright, that feared God, and [Page 38]eschewed evil. So much concerning the Parallel to Iobs holines. But

Secondly, Jobs, Hap­pines. Job 1, 2, 3. Iob was rich and happy, both in his children and goods; Of children, And there were borne unto him seven sons, and three daughters. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred shee-asses, and a very great houshold; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the East. And surely the West for populousnesse, The West. might well have borrowed that old title of the North; as it was called [officina hominum] the shop of men: It was the populous No of the kingdome, whose streets and fields were sowne with the seed of man, and the seed of beasts; as hath appeared too well since the beginning of these warres. And as for riches, those parts were justly called the West Indies of great Britaine. This is the [Ʋnde] the height and happinesse, whence both Iob and our Countrie are cast downe: that is, the privative part of their calamitie. So much concerning that first.

Secondly, but the greatest bulk and burthen of the miseries both of the Easterne and Westerne Iob, doth ly in that second part, 2. Whither they are cast downe. here, which I call the [Quo] the [whither] of their sufferings, containing all those positive afflictions and cruelties that were laid upon them: And this I shall still goe on to shew by a par­allel betwixt their afflictions, as (I promised.) The enemies of holy Iob were very Methodicall in their cruelties: They did not kill and crush him at one blow; No, that had been a Occidere, est vetarecupten­tom mori, Sen. kind of mercie to him: but they dealt with him, as the American Cani­bals are wont to handle their Prisoners: It is said of them, that when they take a prisoner, they doe feed upon him alive, and by degrees; for they cut off one piece of flesh from his arme (sup­pose) or thigh, or other brawny part to day, which they doe roast, and eate before his eyes, searing up the wounded place with a fire-brand, to stanch the blood; perhaps anon, or to morrow, they cut off another meale from him: thus carrying the poor wretch up and downe with them dying dayly, whilst he seeth himselfe eaten up by degrees; The seve­rall steps or degrees of [...] mise­ [...] which [...]. to the unutterable aggravation of his horrour and torment. So dealt Satan and his instruments with Iob: They did not devoure him at once, but did bite, and eate him up by parts and pieces.

1. For first, he is undone in his estate by rapine and plundring; and so rob'd of his temporall riches.

2. Hee is smitten in his body with sores and ulcers; and so stript of naturall comforts.

3. He is afflicted in his soule by false accusations, and by de­sertions; and so deprived of his spirituall treasures. So that in the whole, he is made miserable all over; in soule, body, and goods. This method of cruelty is well like unto that which the Prophet Micah doth charge upon the Tyrants in his time: Heare, M [...]cah 3.5, 2, 3, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, who hate the good, and love the evill, who plucke off the skinne from off them, and their flesh from off their bones. Who also eate the flesh of my people, and flay the skin from off them, and they break [...] their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the cauldron. Marke the accurate method of those Tyrants: First, they did not onely plucke off the fleece, but flayed off the skin, of their sheep which they should have fed: Who pluck off their skin from off them. This may be compared to the undoing of Iob in his estate by rapine, and plunder. When they had thus skinned them, then, Secondly, they fall upon their flesh, and doe feed upon that; and their flesh from off their bones. As the fleece and skin of the poor flock did serve to cloath them, so their flesh and bloud are made meate and drinke to feed them. This doth answer to the smiting of Iob with sores and ulcers in his body. Lastly, there being nothing now left but the bare bones, yet those worse then Ravens have not done with him, but will fetch something more out of those; and there­fore 'tis added, they breake their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot: That is, they doe first heat and beat them, to fetch out the marrow; and when they have gotten as much as will run out, at last they chop and boile them againe, to force out the utmost drops of fatnesse and moisture. And this last act of cruelty may run parallel with Satans afflicting of the soule of Iob by false ac­cusations, and spirituall calumnies. So much in generall.

But wee will now trace the steps of this cruelty towards Iob in 'its particulars, giving our Westerne parallels as wee goe.

The first step was the undoing of Iob in his outward estate, 1. He is un­done in his estate; by rapines and plundrings; the fleecing and flaying of his wooll and skin of temporalls. This is expressed in seven verses together, in which there is a second method, or subdivision of cruelty, Iob. 1.13. & [...]. 10. 20. ex­pressed with great varieties, both of Tyranny and Miseries: for, if wee look 1. upon the instruments of that Scene, there wee find [Page 40]Satan himselfe Commander in chiefe; and his forces are of two sorts: Some, naturall, and more ordinary instruments; as the Sa­beans and Caldeans: Others, supernaturall, and extraordinary; as the fire of God falling from heaven, and a great wind from the wildernesse. The Sabeans were (as most conclude) a people in­habiting Arabia-felix, neare the Country where Job dwelt; fa­mous for nothing but theft and robberies: They were, in two words, his plundering neighbours. The Caldeans were a people inhabiting Caldea; and are described by the Prophet Habak­kuk, [...]b. 1.6, 7, 8. to be a bitter and hasty nation, terrible and dreadfull; their horses are swifter then the Leopards, and are more fierce then the evening wolves: These lived farther off from Job; and were, in two words, more unmercifull strangers. As for the fire of God from heaven, and the great wind from the wildernesse, Satans de­signe in using those, was, to shake the foundations of Jobs confi­dence in his God, and to perswade him that the Lord himselfe was now become his Enemy, and did punish him as an hypocrite in his wrath: As if Satan should have said, Now Job, thou seest clearly that these evils doe not come out of the dust, but immediat­ly from God; they are not tryals, but judgements: thou seest the very Judgement of Sodom is come upon thee, (for the Judge­ment of Sodom was not so long before his time, nor so farre from this place, Gen. 19.14. but that Satan might now urge it,) even a fire from the Lord out of heaven; nay, and this fire is fallen upon thy sheep too, thy chiefe beasts for sacrifice; to shew, that thy very oblati­ons are abominable: and therefore, Curse God, and dye; or, at least, let goe thine integrity, and acknowledge thy selfe to bee a wretched dissembler. For thus these hints were afterwards taken up by Jobs Wife, Job 2.9. and his three Friends. So much concerning the Instruments.

2. If wee consider the Objects of this cruelty, upon which it was exercised, wee find them to be many; yea, all the substance of Job that was capable of plundering. Let us take a short Inven­tory of his temporall estate, and so crosse out every particular as it was lost. Job 1.3. with 14.15. Imprimis, Beasts for tillage and breeding; Hee had five hundred yoke of plowing oxen, and five hundred shee-affes, and a competent number of Hines attending them. Upon all these the Sabeans fell, Verse 16. and tooke them away; slaying all the servants (but one) with the edge of the sword. Next, for food and clothing; [Page 41]Hee had seven thousand sheep, with a competent number of Shep­herds watching over them. Upon these the fire of God fell from heaven, and burnt up both sheep and Shepherds, one onely ser­vant escaping to tell it. Thirdly, for carriage and labour; Verse 17. He had three thousand camels, and a competent number of Servants to keep them. Against these the Caldeans made out three bands, and rushed upon them, and carried them away; slaying all the Servants but one onely Messenger. Lastly, Hee had for his com­fort, yet remaining, seven sonnes, and three daughters, Vers. 18, 19 which were this day eating and drinking wine in their eldest brothers house; and behold, a great wind from the wildernesse over-tur­neth the house upon them all, and so both slew and buried them at once. So that of all his eleven thousand and five hundred Cat­tell, of all his very great houshold of Servants, of all his ten Chil­dren, not a Hoofe, not a Lad, not a Child is left, to feed, clothe, serve, or comfort him; but only foure miserable Messengers; besides, three censorious Friends, and a despairing Wife. So much concerning the Objects.

3. If wee observe together the order, the measure, and the ma­naging or marshalling of this cruelty, wee find it thus: First, for Time; Satan doth choose the Feasting day of Jobs Children, Job 1.13. both for his owne greater advantage, that hee might take them toge­ther; and for the greater aggravation of the stroke upon Job and them, by turning suddenly their great mirth into so great mourn­ing. Nay, perhaps, hee had a plot upon their soules too; ho­ping to take them in their sinnes, or unprepared: for wee read, that when the dayes of their feasting were gone about, Verse 5. Job was wont to send and sanctifie them, and to rise up early in the morn­ing and offer burnt-offerings, according to the number of them all; as fearing lest they had sinned. Therefore Satan chose this time; 2 Sam. 13.28, 29. dealing with them as Absalom did with his brother Am­non, Hee commanded his servants, saying, Mark yee now when Amnons heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon, then kill him, feare not. Thus dealt Satan with Jobs Children, that hee might kill soule and body together. Therefore the Time is remarkable: so also is the Manner, and Or­dering of this stroke very observable. The businesse is so con­trived, that there are severall Armies of Enemies levied; as Sa­beans and Caldeans: and those Armies doe afflict Job by seve­rall [Page 42] parties too: the Caldeans doe divide themselves into three Bands: besides, there was fire from heaven, and a wind from the wildernesse: And all this variety was thus marshalled by Satan, for the greater aggravation of Jobs afflictions.

Oh! Westerne Parallel. how easily might all these Instruments, Objects, Order, and Measure of holy Jobs Calamities, be amply parallel'd by our Westerne sufferings? With what facility could I here expatiate? Take but some few hints and sips.

1. Plundering by Neigh­bours. Psal. 55.12, 13, 14. 1. Was Job strip'd by Sabeans, who were his Plundering Neighbours? Alas! this is the common lot of all Gods people, in these warres; but especially in the poore West: There almost every Saint may cry out in the words of the oppressed Psalmist; For it was not mine enemy that reproached mee, then I could have borne it: neither was it hee that hated mee, that did magnifie himselfe against me, then I would have hid my selfe from him. But it was thou, a man, mine equall, my guide and mine acquain­tance. Wee took sweet counsell together, and walked to the house of God in company. Surely, many thousands of titular Christians in this Land, were, in times of peace, but as Wolves in a Cage, but as Lyons tamed by art; they wanted nothing but liberty and opportunity to shew their wolvish and worrying natures; which now these present commotions have discovered. Who could have imagined foure yeares agoe, when the people of this Kingdome walked, talked, visited, and dwelt peaceably and mer­rily together, as neighbours and friends; nay, as brethren and sisters; that they had carried such tongues in their heads, or such hearts in their brests, as doe now appeare? Such tongues, I say, as could have cryed, Round-heads, Rebells, Dogs, Devils, to their owne Protestant neighbours, friends, familiars, brethren? Such hearts as could close and joyn with armed Papists, and proclaim­ed Irish Rebels, against their owne chosen Protestant Parlia­ment, established by Act of Parliament? Surely, if a man could have prophesied these things, but for foure or five yeares since, none would have beleeved his report; but men would rather have questioned the crazinesse of his braines. Nay, if a Propheticall Minister should have setled his countenance stedfastly, seven years since, upon such or such a Gentleman, his neighbour, or (perhaps) Parishioner, 2 Kin. 8.11, 12. and should have wept over him, as Elisha did some­time over Hazael; and being asked (as hee) Why weepest thou? [Page 43]should have answered, Because I know the evill that thou wilt doe to the children of England: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their yong men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child: ‘that is, thou shalt joyn with Papists, and Irish Rebels, after they have massacred above an hundred thousand Protestants in Ireland; and shalt with them take up Armes against the English Protestant Parliament: Nay, thou shalt plunder and imprison thine owne neighbours and friends; besiege their townes, fire their houses; starve, slay, and hang up their sons; abuse their daughters:’ and all this with sport and rejoycing: Would not such a man have replyed in Hazaels words, But what! Is thy servant a dog, Verse 13. that hee should doe this great thing? What? would you make mee no Protestant, no Christian, no Man; but a Papist, a Heathen, a Monster; nay, worse than a Saevis inter se convenit ursis. Beare or a Tyger, that loveth and preserveth his owne kindred? Thus, doubtlesse, men would then have answered to such a Propheticall Elisha: Nay, they would have added that loud voyce of Festus unto Paul, Acts 26.24. Thou art beside thy selfe, Preacher, much learning hath made thee mad: the man hath lost his charity and his wits together; away with him to the Prison, to the Bedlam, for his sedition and distraction. Nay, did not some men charge Gods Ministers almost so high, when they did but fore-tell us of this very sword which now wee feele? Let this bee the first Parallel.

2. Againe, was Job plundered by Caldeans, which were mer­cilesse Strangers? Alas! 2. By Stran­gers. Hab. 1.6, 7, 8. what a valley of Jehoshaphat is England now made; to which, all the strange fowles of the aire are come together to devoure? Yea, doe not (in Habakkuks words) the bitter and hasty nations march through the breadth of the Land, to possesse the dwelling places that are not theirs? Are they not terrible and dreadfull, and their horses swifter than the Leopards, and more fierce than the evening Wolves? Are not their horse­men come from farre? doe they not fly as the Eagle that hasteth to eat? Doe they not come all for violence? Yea, Vers. 9,10 they will (I feare) scoffe at the Kings (in the end,) and the Princes shall be a scorne unto them, &c. But these fierce Strangers have especially abounded in the West, whose shores doe day and night lie open upon both sides, South and North, to receive both French and I­rish: who, together with High and Low-Germans, are let-in at [Page 44]those Posterne doores, to the funerals of Great Britaine, by her owne sonnes. Nay, and the Enemy tells us, that Moors and Turks shall bee called in too, rather than the Round-heads shall prevaile. Ah, miserable England, the common Mother of us all! and are thy Children now come to that Principle of professed selfe-destruction?

It is recorded in our Bakers Chro­ni [...]le, & al. i. Chronicles, as an inexpiable horrid im­piety in King John, that hee is said to have sent to Mirammuma­lim, King of Africk and Morocco, with offer of his Kingdome to him, upon condition that hee would come and aide him with his Barbarians against his owne people. And is it now growne lawfull, yea warrantable and necessary, not onely to arme our owne Papists, but to call in proscribed Irish Rebels, yea, Turks and Infidels, to kill and slay Christians, Protestants, Parliaments? The good Lord shake up the British Nation out of their spirituall sleeping sicknesse, Hos. 7.8, 9. and cause our England to see how shee hath mix­ed her selfe among the people, and is a Cake not turned: How strangers have devoured her strength, and shee knoweth it not: yea, gray haires are here and there upon her, yet shee knoweth it not. 3. Firings. I am perswaded that the Histories of these times will be so strange to after Ages, that though Truth herselfe be the Compiler, yet there will need the Sanction of some publike Act or Statute, to command incredulous posterity to beleeve them. That's a se­cond Parallel.

3. Againe, did the Enemy consume Jobs substance with fire? Alas poore West! thou maist compare heaps of ashes with most parts of the Land: Thou hast beene made the Land of fire and smoke in divers places: as the The Subu [...]bs of Exon, at every gate. City, the Bemmister, Axminster, Market Towns, &c. Townes, the Ilford-Combe, Stoke, &c. Pa­rishes, and divers stately and ancient Eight or nine stately Mansions burnt and pulled downe within five or six miles together, neare Lyme. Mansions doe testifie: some of them being cruelly turned to ashes by the Enemy; others ne­cessarily fired by our Friends, to burne out the Hornets that were gotten into them: and, by this meanes, hundreds of families have been turned out, like herds of cattell, into the open fields and woods; leaving dung-hils and heaps of ashes, in the places where their goods and dwellings did lately stand.

4. But did Satan labour also by those extraordinary plagues (the fire of God from Heaven, and a great Wind from the Wil­dernesse,) 4. False char­ges. to shake Jobs holy confidence, and to make him questi­on his owne integrity? Did Satan intitle the Lord to those judge­ments, [Page 45]as if God had been on his side against Job? Oh this! this hath been the great Engine and impudent designe of the Enemy, and it hath been very closely followed by them in the West; they have cunningly endeavoured by the (sometimes) prosperous out­ward successe of the wicked, and the extraordinary heavy afflicti­ons and defeats of the godly party in those Countries, to entitle the Lord to their side and cause, against his owne people and par­ty. But this stratagem is old, as old as Rabshakeh's himselfe, who (it seems) was their copy in like case: For when S [...]nnacherib, com­ing up against reforming Hez kiah, sent Rabshakeh, 2 Kin. 18. in a reviling message, to Ierusalem; we find that he doth especially insist upon two common places, which are the great engines of the Enemy now a daies; and therfore they are well worthy our perusall, viz. First, he doth asperse & charge Hezekiahs reformation with Sacriledge and Innovation: But if he say unto me, We trust in the Lord our God: Verse 22. Is not that he whose high places, and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Iudah and Ierusalem, Ye shall wor­ship before this altar in Jerusalem? As if he had said, Good peo­ple, looke about you, I am come purposely to undecerve you: This Hezekiah and his faction, under the name of Reformation, doe take away all the antiquity, glory, and beauty of your Religion. You see how he hath removed the high places of Gods good ser­vice, and divine worship; those places that were so venerable for their antiquity, that they have been continued through the raignes of twelve noble Kings before this time: So honourable for their institution, that they were erected by Solomon himselfe of most happy memory; the wisest and most glorious King that ever swayed the Scepter of David; and is Hezekiah now become wi­ser then Solomon? Or can yee hope for more blessed dayes then his Who made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, 1 Kin. 10.27.and Cedars made he to be as Sycamore trees, that are in the vale for abun­dance? Or what, had this young King, at twenty five yeares old, more understanding and devotion then all his grave and pious an­cestors? What, then Solomon, Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa, Iehosha­phat, Ioash, (and his Iehoiada) Ʋzziah, Jotham, and Ahaz his owne Father, that he makes such strange worke in the service of God? Nay further yet, good people, besides your high places, con­sider, your high Altars are also taken away, and yee are all con­fined, to your unspeakeable charge, trouble, and travell, to worship [Page 46]before this one Altar in Jerusalem. Secondly, he doth intitle the Lord unto his side against Hezekiah and the reformers, Am I now come up without the Lord against this place, 2 Kin. 18.25. to destroy it? The Lord said to me, Verse 20. Goe up against this place, and destroy it: As if he had said, O ye Rebels! (for so he had called them before) How durst yee to fight against your King, the great King of Assy­ria, and yet pretend that ye stand for God and for his Reforma­tion? Behold and see, we have an expresse command, a positive commission to fight against you; and here Rabshakeh might have cited some Text out of the Prophets, which doe seeme to licence and call in the Assyrians, as the Lords rod, against Israel for their sins; as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezechiel, Hosea, and others. You see then that it is no new thing for the most cruel enemies against reforma­tion, yea for Rabshakeh himselfe, to pretend and plead loudly, that the Lord is on their side, against his owne holy people. 'Tis no new thing for the theeves themselves to cry, Stop the theefe, upon those that are their lawfull pursuers. That is a fourth Parallel.

5. Successions of Enemies. 5. But farther yet, Did Satan send enemies upon enemies, and armies by severall parties, upon Iobs goods?

Alas, poor West! in this thing also canst thou compare too well: Have not the armies of thine enemies taken their successive turnes at thee? When a well-affected Towne or Parish had first been plowed by their owne Malignant Gentry and neighbours, (as by the Sabeans) with heavie fines and amercements; then come other forces, that were raised in Counties farther off, and they doe harrow them by weekly taxes, and free-quarter: when these are called away, then, thirdly, the French, Irish, and other Foreiners, a people of a strange Language, (like the Caldeans) are sent upon them; and these by their cruell plundrings doe, as it were, breake the clods by parties and degrees, as those Caldeans made out three bands: The first drives away the husband-mans cattle, which he may redeeme againe for a summe of money: that is no sooner done, but a second band cometh, and driveth them againe, requiring another ransome; which the poor owner hath no sooner made up by borrowing, pawning, and begging, but anon cometh the third band, and they doe finally sweep away all this thrice purchased stock and stuffe, there being no more abi­lity left to buy them againe a fourth time. And these severall bands of the enemie, are like those three swords of Hazael, Jehu, [Page 47]and Elisha, of which 'tis said, And it shall come to passe, 1 King 19.17. that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael (a stranger) shall Iehu slay: and him that escapeth the sword of Iehu (their King) shall Elisha (their Prophet) slay. Thus the first parallels doe run too evenly, which I called (the undoing of Iob in his temporals, by rapine and plundring.) I shall be shorter in the two following generalls. Remember all this was but the fleecing of Iob, but the plundring of his estate; and skin for skin, (as Satan truly urged) all that a man hath will he give for his life; that is, temporall afflictions are lighter then corporall. Let us therefore consider

Secondly, the Smiting of Iob in his body with sores and ulcers, 2. The smit­ing of Iob in his body. the stripping him of all Naturall comforts, which was called the plucking and eating the flesh from the bones; not onely his chil­dren (which were flesh of his flesh) even seven sons and three daughters, were smitten dead in one place at a blow amidst their feasting, and his wife is turned against him; but his owne body, skin and flesh, are lamentably afflicted and mangled. Satan ob­taineth a second commission; by which he hath power to lay any torment upon him on this side death, and he follows it to the purpose: So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord. Iob 2.7. The time is not long, you see, betwixt his commission, and the execu­tion thereof; and smote Iob, that is, both suddainly and vehement­ly with sore boyles, from the sole of his foot unto his crowne. Note there, (in the kind) they were boyles; Intensively, they were sore (or the worst sort of tormenting) boyles; and ex­tensively, they were from the sole of his foot unto his crowne; that is, he was all over-run with the worst kind of boyles: Verse 8. It is added, And he took him a potsheard to scrape himselfe withall, and he sate downe among the ashes. Mr. Caryl ad loc. There are (saith one) divers aggravations of his affliction in that verse; as first, if wee consider the Chirurgion; he could get, it seems, none to dresse him; nor wife, nor servants, nor friends would meddle with him, but himselfe is faine to be his owne Chirurgion: he took [him.] Se­condly, observe the toole, or dressing instrument which he doth use, it was a sheard, (as wee call it) either because he was loath to touch his loathsome flesh with his hand, or because his boyles did so over-spread his hands to the very nailes, that it was a paine to him to touch himselfe: he tooke a [potsheard.] Thirdly, the lodging or pallet he had to rest upon in this noisome grievous [Page 48]condition, he maketh his bed in the dust: And that either (Electi­vè) by choice, in token of his abasement; or (necessariò) out of meer necessitie, being enforced thus to doe by his povertie or loathsomnesse. Thus every circumstance and interpretation doth proclaime his extreame affliction. Parallels in For a Westerne parallel to all this map, or rather Anatomie of miseries, I will gather but some particulars of the corporall and naturall sufferings and torments of our Country and Country-men, in those things which doe afflict their Liberties, Livelihood, Lives.

The West is now generally become a kind of Turkey (to speak vulgarly) to all that are Christians indeed; 1. Slave­ries. the Ports that are in the enemies hand are as so many Algiers and Sallies, to all true protestant English Passengers; for not onely their goods, but their persons are there taken captives, and set at ransome. The In-land places, are like the maine of Barbarie; for the poor Country-men, Yeomandry, and Artificers, are taken prisoners from their fields and shops, at the pleasure of the nefarious and necessitous souldiers, and are driven by them as their Captives into the next garrison: Whence they are sold out againe at such prices and ransoms, as their Patrons are pleased to set upon them: Others, at the Tyrants pleasure, are pressed for their service; and of these, some are againe ransomed at the will of the petty Offi­cers; others, not able to buy their lives, are forced along to the assault or battaile, being coupled, and bound together with cords or match, like dogs for the game, or rather like oxen for the plough, or (which is worse, but more proper) like sheep for the slaughter: if they doe attempt an escape from this death, and are taken, they are sure of another at the next tree by hanging; their cords being removed from their armes to their necks: If they goe forward to the battaile or assault, they are forced on upon the Cannon, like the Turkish Asapi, in the front, the horsmen like their Iani­saries following them closely in the reare, with drawne swords, and pistols cock't, to prick them forward, or to shoot them tho­row; so that all the libertie that is now left them, is onely to choose from which party, and in which part they will receive their death; whether from the adverse party in their breasts, or from their owne side in their backs: Meane while the poor crea­tures, as amazed betwixt this choice of deaths, may well take up that Lamentation of the Ancient Britains (our Ancestors) in [Page 49]the downfall of Britaine, when thus they write, Aetio 111 Cos. Gemitus Bri­tanorum, Re­pellunt Bar­bar: ad mare, repellit mare ad Barbaros: Inter haec duo genera fune­rum aut jugu­lam [...], aut mergimur. Camden. [...] Gild [...]. To Aetius the Roman Consul, the gr [...]anes of Britains, The Barbarians drive us back to the sea, the sea againe putteth us back upon the Barbari­ans: Thus between two kinds of death, either our throats be cut, or wee are drowned. So much concerning slavery.

As for the cruell imprisonments that are exercised in the West, it doth strike a kind of horrour into mine heart to recount them. If you look to the loathsomnesse of prisons, I must tell you, there are such in the West as may compare with Ieremiahs dungeon, into which they let him downe with cords, and in the dungeon there was no water, but myre: so that Ieremiah sunke in the myre. If you look to straightnesse and severity, there is not onely the com­mon prison, but the prison of Peter, (as I may call it) where he stept betweene two souldiers, bound with two chaines, 2. Impri­sonments. Iere. 33.6. Acts. 5.18. Acts. 12.6. Acts. 16.2 [...]. Verse 23, 24. and the keepers before the doore keept the prison. Nay farther yet, there is the usage of Paul and Silas, even the renting of their clothes, and command to beate them. And when many stripes have been laid upon them, a charge is given to the Iaylours to keepe them safely, and thereupon they are thrust into the inner prison, and their feete made fast in the stockes. Where, somtimes they doe re­ceive death at their nostrils, by noysome stenches, and pestilent infections: sometimes at their eyes, which doe affect their hearts at the sight of their languishing fellow-members round about them: sometimes at their cares, by the blasphemous taunts, and direfull threatnings, and censures from the enemie: but chiefly at their mouthes, by cleannesse of teeth, by want of physicke, food, and moisture; for the supply of which, when money hath been openly sent unto them, it was seized; when secretly, yet it is soon exhausted by the great and high prices that small and low re­freshments are set at: and not onely some visiters have been de­nyed to speak with their languishing, dying, fettered husbands, Nonpanis, non baustus aqua, non ultimus ignis: Hi [...]sola haec duo sunt, exul, & exi­lium Vide Se­necdib de con­sol. ad Helv. in principio. children, brethren; but others have been imprisoned for relieving of prisoners. Let me present you but with one modell of the Westerne Prisons; it shall be that of Lidford, which is a little straight stonie tower, scituate in a barren desolate moore or wil­dernesse; the place is as farre from all fertilitie, as commerce; no harvest, no trading are there to be found, but the prison it selfe seemes to be banished and imprisoned. In short, the whole soyle of that moor is like the banished * stoicks Corsica, yeelding [Page 50]nor bread, nor water, no nor fire enough (saith he) for a funerall. In this prison, diverse debtors [...]ve been starved, and some were said to eate their owne flesh, even in those times of peace and plenty: Guesse yee then, what cries and yells for bread and water there are now to be heard amongst the many scores which at present are shut up in that straight prison? Yea the passengers doe heare the cries, ere they see the prison. For a close to this point of Imprisonments, take but this one word: It is a like diffi­cult thing to find amongst our enemies in the West, a wicked man in their prisons, or a godly man out of them.

3. Deaths. Lastly, if we look to varieties of Deaths and Banishments, there is stabbing, shooting, hanging, both by order, and at pleasure; besides, other multitudes of Saints doe die daily, by wandring up and downe in dons, and caves, and holes of the earth; yea some with their families have inhabited the woods, and clefts of the rocks, nay the tops of the ragged rocks; Sometimes leading their hungry little ones in their hands, and anon carrying them along in their armes, to goe and make their bed in the dust, and to seek their bread out of desolate places, Math. 2.18. all destitute, afflicted, tormen­ted. There you might see in the streets a Rachel, a mother weep­ing for her slaine children, Gen. 21.15, 16. and will not be comforted, because they are not: Here, in a wood, sits another Hagar-like, with a dry bottle, and a fainting sonne, and she lifts up her voice and weeps. Not farre off in an house, you may discover a third, like her of Za­rephath, [...] Kin. 17.12. dressing and baking up the last meale of the Barrell, with the utmost oyle of the Cruse, that she and her family may eate it and die. Yea, it hath beene a lot which Ladies of honourable Fa­milies have not escaped, viz. after they have bin deprived of their houses by fire, of their goods by plundring, of their lands by Se­questration, of their Sons (under yeares) by imprisonment, at last to escape to the next Garrison on foot (almost bare-footed) in borrowed shooes, leaving their wearing Garments in the hands of the Enemy. But what doe I multiply instances, seeing the bare Hi­story of Westerne sufferings of this kind, would seeme but meere Poetry to the multitude? 3. The Af­flicting of Job in his Soule.

The third and highest degree, or common place of the enemies cruelty upon Job, was afflicting of him in his soule with spirituall scourges and scorpions, by temptations, false accusations, and de­sertions: This was indeed like the breaking of the bones, and chop­ping [Page 51]of them in pieces as for the pot, and as flesh within the Caul­dron; Skin for skin, and all that a man hath will he give for his life, so said Satan when he compared Jobs goods with his body; but Christianity will tell us, life for life, and all that a man is, will he give for his soule: And againe, Prov 18.14. the spirit of man will support his infirmities, but a wounded spirit who can beare? In the last place therefore, the enemy doth set upon his soule by a strong tempta­tion, from the wife of his bosom: Then said his wife unto him, Iob 2.9. Wilt thou still retaine thine integrity? Curse God and die. In which words there is a scornefull exprobration, and a wicked di­rection, the exprobration in these words, Dost thou still retaine thine integrity? As if shee had said, what! art thou so senselesse, so sottish, as still to goe on in this course? What have all thy prayers, fastings, and sacrifices, profited thee? Where are the [...]arnings, what is the advantage of thine holinesse and singularity? And yet dost thou still retaine thine integrity? Away with these emptie shewes, and fruitless devotions; delude thy selfe no longer with dreaming of help and happinesse from thy Jehovah; but, seeing there is no hope of thy deliverance by his blessing, dispatch thy selfe with a curse; Curse God and die.

These bolts came from his wife; next what sharpe and keen charges doth he receive from his mistaking friends? Who, by their false accusations and conclusions against him, did endeavour to dispute him out of his innocency? Thus Eliphaz begins to charge him, Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, Iob 4.7. being inno­cent? or where were the righteous cut off? Then Bildad doth second him: Doth God pervert judgement? Iob 8.3. or doth the Almigh­ty pervert justice? And lastly, Iob 11.2, 3. Zophar the Naamathite is in the same straine: Should a man full of talke be justified? should thy lips make men hold their peace? These are the darts of his friends. But finally, the Lord himselfe doth strike him thorow with spi­rituall agonies and desertions; of which he complaineth in these words, The arrowes of the Almighty are within me, Iob 6.4. the poyson whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God doe set them­selves in array against me. The Caldeans and Sabeans, the losses of his goods and children, together with the ulcers of his body, the cruell mistakes of his friends, and the malignancy of his wife, were all as nothing to this spirituall battell-array.

Parallels. In my Westerne parallel to this affliction, I must double my La­mentations: [Page 52]Alas, alas, poore native Country! This last degree of Jobs misery is the highest and heaviest of all, so is it that wherein thou canst most aptly, and fully compare with this thy pattern: For,

Did Satan turne the mouth of Jobs owne Ordnance upon him­selfe, 1. Friends and kins­folks trea­cherous. Gen 10.25. making his friends to become miserable comforters? Did also the wife of his bosome turne Malignant? Surely, these our dayes are as the dayes of Peleg, in whose time the earth was divi­ded; they are the very times of division which were fore-told by our Saviour, when he sayes, There shall be five in one house divided, three against two, Luke 12.51, 52.53. com­pared with Matth. 10.34, 35, 36. and two against three, (it is like that the three were Malignants,) the father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daugh­ter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. Loe, there are the five, Stella ad loc. if you take the same woman to be both the mo­ther, (to her son) and the mother in law (to his wife:) But though a shower of stormy divisions hath over-spread the whole Land in generall, Luke 12.54 yet you see this cloud arising especially in the West; there is the father divided against the son, that is, many an old, wicked, ambitious, Machivillian Saul, is there to be found hating his sweet and faithfull son Ionathan, for cleaving to the just and holy cause of (David,) 1 Sam 20.30, 31. the men after Gods owne heart; yea, he is enkindled against him, railing at him, and calling him perverse Rebell, (a remarkeable Title) and telling him that he will confound himselfe, and the whole family by taking this side, &c. This is the father against the son. 2 Sam. 15, 16, 17 Chapters Next, there is also the son against the fa­ther, that is, many a bushie, bloody, ambitious Absalom is there to be found, which doth not stick to murther his owne brethren, to plunder and defile his fathers house, and to drive him (if he be a man after Gods own heart) weeping and bare-foot, both from his owne habitations, Filius ante diem, &c. and from the publike ordinances; and all this to get the inheritance unto himselfe before the time: this is the son against the father. As for mothers and daughters, &c. There you might see in every County many an unnaturall massacring Atha­liah, 2 King 11.1. that doth not sticke to swim to her own ends through a stream of guiltlesse bloud. 2 Chron. 22.10. And many an hollow complementall Orpah, which doth kisse, and weepe over the cause of God, and those which doe travaile for it, Ruth 1.14. but takes leave of them both at last. But what do I straighten my selfe with instances? There are and have [Page 53]beene revolts, treacheries, and false charges, practised, discovered, and laid on in those parts, by all sorts of friends and relations: In Families there are Nabal-like husbands, 1 Sam. 25.17 that doe hold under their wise and holy Abigails, so that they cannot speake unto them for this Cause: And contrariwise, 2 Sam. 6.16, 20. there are some Michal-like Wives too, that scoffe at their Davids for their zeale in this Service. Amongst Brethren, Gen. 4.8. there is many a Cain rising up a­gainst his righteous brother, and slaying him, because his owne workes are evill, and his brothers good: Yea, amongst Twinns there are Esaus, Gen. 32.6. that doe arme themselves against their brethren and their families, because God is with them. Amongst Profes­sors, and professed friends, there is many an Edomitish Doeg, 1 Sam. 22.9, 10. 1 Sam. 23.12 that ensnareth the Lords Ministers; yea, some Keilites, whole Pa­rishes, that have betrayed their Protectors. Amongst Servants and Clients, many a Ziba, delating his absent innocent Master, 2 Sam. 16.2, 3 to get his lands: Many a Sir Curson, (as I remem­ber) Speeds Chron. H 7. Popilius, Fabricius in Histor. Cicer. Mat. 26.14. 2 Sam. 4.7, 8. that begs a Commission to cut off the head of that Cicero which defended him: yea, many a Judas, that selleth his Lord for silver pieces. Amongst Comman­ders and Counsellors, there hath been many a Baanah and Rechab, that sold their Lords head for preferment: Many a subtil Renegado, that did not stick to wound himselfe, (like Synon) that he might thereby betray others; or to bee a proscribed and proclaimed Rebell amongst other men, (like that Knight in King Henry the seventh's time) that so hee might bee admitted freely to their Councell, and thereby give intelligence to the Enemy.

Brethren, I remember that the Hor. Apol. Niliac. in Hie­roglyph. lib. 1. numb. 66 Ni­chol. Caussino Interprete. Egyptians, in their Hierogly­phicks, did signifie the West by a Crocodile, which is a beast that doth ensnare (and so kill) Passengers by his teares: And I am perswaded, that our West hath been the greatest Country of ad­ventitious and (some) home-bred Crocodiles in the whole King­dome. So much concerning the mischiefes that did come from pretended friends, who were parallel to Jobs Wife, and his three miserable Comforters. But,

Did that Wife and those Friends of Job taunt and upbraid him with heart-piercing language? 2. Enemies Blasphe­mous. Did they tempt and cut him with blasphemies? Herein the poore Westerne suffering Saints can also compare. For I am perswaded (upon too good grounds) that the blasphemous insolencies, even of Pharaoh, Sennacherib, Rabshakeh, and that Apostate Julian himselfe, have been matched and equal­led [Page 54]by the Enemies in those parts. Pharaoh (you know) did say, I know not the Lord, neither will I obey his voyce, to let Israel goe. Sennacherib and Rabshakeh said, Let not Hezekiah deceive you. — Let not thy God in whom thou trustest deceive thee, &c. and Julian was wont, when he buffeted and tormented the Chri­stians, scoffingly to apply some Text of Scripture unto them, as, bidding them to turne the other cheeke also, &c.

Surely, many of our eares, eyes, and skins, have heard, seene, and felt, (horresco referrens) even as horrid things as these. We have heard (as a godly M^r. H. P. Minister, now with God, said with tears, as hee marched out of Exon) both all the Attributes, and all the Ordinances of God blasphemed over and over in one day; and that not by two or three, but by their whole Armies: Inso­much that my selfe have wondred to heare so much Scripture and Divinity from the mouthes of divers of the illiterate, ignorant, and fottish common Souldiers, as they have belched out in taunt­ing blasphemies; as, Where are now your long sanctified prayers by the Spirit? What is become of your holy Humiliations and Supplications? &c. But especially (mee thought) they did still fly in the face of our God, scoffing abundantly more at him than at any; yea, all his servants besides: as, Where is your God now, O yee Hypocrites? Where is your holy Cause, your Cause, and all your hopes? Now you shall see God will come downe from hea­ven! yes, by-and-by you shall see it! No, no, farewell heaven, hea­ven is gone, your God is asleep, &c. Oh, I am loath to beleeve mine owne eares; or, though I must doe it, yet I am afraid to re­peat with my mouth the studied blasphemies of that one day. Bre­thren, Mat. 27.26, 27, 28, 30, &c. you may looke over the harmony of the Evangelists, and especially Saint Matthew, and when you doe there read, how ‘the Souldiers did take Jesus (when hee was to bee crucified) into the common Hall, gathered unto him the whole Band, strip­ped him, put on him a scarlet robe, and a crowne of thornes upon his head, and a reed in his hand, then bowed the knee be­fore him, and mocked him, saying, Haile, King of the Jewes; then spit upon him, blind-folded him, and smote him on the head, Mat. 26.67, 68. saying, Prophesie unto us, thou Christ, who smote thee? and when hee was upon the Crosse, how they gave him vinegar to drink, mingled with gall, & parted his garments; also, how they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, saying, Thou [Page 55]savedst others, thy selfe thou canst not save; Thou that destroy­est the Temple, if thou be the Sonne of God, come down; See if Elias will come and take him down, &c.’ I say it sadly, when you doe read over this Chaine of amazing blasphemies, then con­sider, remember, and beleeve, that this whole Series may bee pa­ralleld by the taunts and blasphemies of the Westerne Enemies. But, besides these, there is another kind of blasphemies, by horrid Oaths, and execrable Curses: And in these also the Enemy is (like himselfe) out of measure blasphemous; for I dare challenge the Records of all Nations and Generations, to shew mee such af­fecting, studying, and buying of abominable, direfull, damning Oaths and Blasphemies, as is daily practised among them. Oh, the anatomizing of Jesus Christ limb by limb, by their horrid Swearing! Oh, the daring and mis-calling of the whole Trinity, by their Rhetoricall new-sought, new-bought Blasphemies! Oh, the dammings, rammings, and shooting into hell, that is used in their Execrations! Nay, this is one test or touch-stone, by which some of them are wont to try a suspected Round-head, Sweare, Dammee (say they,) and we shall beleeve thee that thou art a friend to the King. Oh, my friends! and is blasphemy now be­come the true character of loyalty? then let us not be troubled if these men doe call us Rebels. But this kind of hellishnesse is come to that height, that (the truth is) I hold it not fit to speake the whole truth in this Point: for there are such blasphemies a­mongst them, as are not so much as to be named among Christians. 1 Cor. 5.1. And now guesse yee, Brethren, in what condition are the poore Saints, which are forced to entertaine those Miscreants into their houses, and to bee continually within view and hearing of their Diabolicall lives and language? what Mesechs (thinke yee,) what Kedars are their owne houses unto them? Is not all this a hell upon earth to a gracious soule?

But I must goe yet higher, to other kinds of spirituall Scorpions, 3. Ordinances lost. to other Irons that doe enter into the soules of Gods people in those parts: What thinke yee, Brethren, of the losse of the Arke and Ordinances? 'Tis a sad death to dye for want of bodily food; but what thinke you of Amos his Famine? not a famine of bread, Amos 8.11. nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. This soule-dearth is come upon them (I beleeve) above all parts of the Land besides; for they doe, in a most literall sense, Verse 12. wander [Page 56]from sea to sea, and from the North even to the East; they doe run to and fro to seeke the word of the Lord, and cannot find it; but are forced to gather stubble in stead of straw: the multi­tude of their Teachers were long since driven into corners, Isai. 30.20. where their eyes could not behold them: and of the gleanings that stay­ed behind, some are imprisoned and dead, others condemned to dye, (two in Exon) by their Councell of Warre: so that there is scarce a conscientious preaching Pastour to be found in a whole County; onely, perhaps, here and there is left an old complying Prophet of Bethel; 1 K [...]n. 13. 11, 12, &c. who if hee hath some embers of grace in the nether-most corner of his heart, yet they doe lye hid under so much cold earth and policy, that his Ministery is not like to warm a soule in many yeares. But, the multitude of their Priests, in those parts, are of the vilest of the people, in all respects, and doe send out prophanenesse over all that Country; and to the ser­vants of God they are Wolves and Butchers, rather than Shep­herds. But now, oh how beautifull would be the face, yea, the feet of one of the least of their old Ministers? how sweet would be the weakest of those godly Sermons, which (perhaps) wanton hearers have sometimes despised? Have you ever observed, Bre­thren, an halfe-starved beggar, or prisoner, that picketh up a cast crust of bread in the street, how hastily, how heartily hee doth eat it down in a corner, without wiping it? Just so precious is the bread of life, amongst the halfe-starved soules in those Counties; if they can get but a stale fragment of some old Sermon-notes, a piece, a bit of a Doctrine or of an Use, oh! how sweetly doth it goe down upon the heart? there is honey come into it; for the Enemy doth martyr all the old Sermon-notes that hee can meet withall: and as for new Sermons there are very few; the Sanctu­ary is desolate, the Church-doores have been shut up in divers places, for many moneths together.

Object. Yea, but (may some say) there are many Churches still open, and doubtlesse there is some food to be pickt out of those Ordinan­ces, such as they are.

Answ. I grant it, that there are many such doores open; but, will you know what food those places doe afford? Surely, (1.) the peo­ple are fed with poyson in stead of nourishment; not only a stone, that is, a stroke is given them in stead of bread, but for fish they have a Scorpion, death it selfe is in the Pot; I mean, Doctrines [Page 57]of Libertinisme and Superstition. (2.) They are fed with snares; like that snare upon Mispeh, Hos. 5.1. and like that net which was spread upon Tabor: Not onely the Lords Table is made a Snare unto them, by Altaring and Worshipping of the elements, there used and enjoyned; but almost every other Ordinance is poysoned, and made a bait unto the Receivers. Shall I instance? First then, The solemne and extraordinary holy exercise of Prayer and Fast­ing is not onely denyed to the godly in private, Publike Fasting, in their owne fa­milies, upon perist of intolerable scoffes, riots, imprisonments; but even publike Humiliation also, though it be the Lords marking Ordinance, whereby hee doth marke out his mourners for preser­vation in evill times, Goe through the midst of the City, Ezek 9.4 and set a marke upon the fore-heads of the men that sigh and cry for all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof. Even this cho [...]ce Ordinance is denyed unto the Saints, and is now utterly put downe, though it were formerly set up by his Majesty him­selfe, with the consent of his Parliament: The Enemy will not give Gods people leave to weep and mourne for his sinnes, and for the sinnes of the Land. Neither are those adversaries of Re­ [...]entance content to over-turne that setled course of humiliation; [...]ut, which is yet worse, they doe imitate Jeroboam, who, when [...]ee had with-drawn the ten Tribes from the true God, and his [...]ight Ordinances, did set up two Calves in stead of the Temple- [...]orship, and new holy-dayes in stead of the Lords owne Feasts: [...]eroboam ordained a Feast in the eight moneth, 1 Ki [...]. 12.28, 29, 31, 32, &c. on the fifteenth lay of the moneth, like unto the Feast that is in Judah: So these [...]en, in his Majesties name, have set up an Anti-fast, (as well as an Anti-Parliament, and an Anti-Covenant) and, consequent­ly, an Anti-God against the God of the Round-heads: And all this is made as a Shibo [...]ch, for the discovery and entanglement of the upright in the Land. Thus the very Fastings of Gods people are turned into a Snare unto them. This cruell Decree is most severely executed in the West, Secondly. Hearing of the word preached. As for that onely or­dinary soule-saving Ordinance of Preaching, and other publike Exercises of the Congregations, those in the West are made to be as a bait and a traine to conshiracy and perjury; for the com­mon practice of the Enemy in those parts is this: Upon the Lords day, when there is a full Congregation met together, to seeke the publike food of their soules, (they being stript and plun­dered [Page 58]of all their outward and bodily comforts) then the Civill, and Military Magistrates and Commanders doe usually send their severe Warrants and Orders, requiring that first the Church-doores bee shut up, 4. Horrid Oaths en­forced. and strictly guarded by armed Souldiers, (onely the women and children are first let goe) then the cruell Officers are sent in to the people with a new Oath, which is ex­actly, in all points, contrary to our Covenant, and to that so­lemne Protestation which all those poore soules have taken alrea­dy in that place: And here the trembling wretched creatures are put to this miserable dilemma, or choyce, either to take that perjurious Oath, and so to sweare that they will fight against their Religion, Parliament, Lawes and Liberties, to their utmost; or else, to receive a brace of bullets from that Carbine, or Pistoll, which is there presented to their brests. Brethren, what think you of such a choyce as this? Doe not those men make the place of Gods publike worship (which themselves doe seeme so much to reverence) to become such another Shambles as Jehu made in the house of Baal? you know the History: King Jehu, by a strata­gem, 2 Kin. 10.25. (pretending a great sacrifice) did draw the Priests of Baal into Baals house, and having gotten them together, did cause them to be there sacrificed to their god; so turning the place of their worship into a slaughter-house. Such another butchering place of soules doe these men make of their Churches. Or, is not this act of theirs like that of a bloody Italian, of which I have heard? An Italian, studying an high degree of revenge against one that had offended him, did resolve upon this cruell stratagem; him­selfe being armed, way-laid his unarmed enemy in a solitary place where hee was to passe, and rising against him at an advantage, doth put him to this choyce, Either (saith hee) doe thou present­ly curse God, and abjure and blaspheme Jesus Christ, in these and these words, (high enough you may be sure) or else thou shalt dye immediatly by this sword; withall offering the point there­of unto his brest: The poore defendant thus helplesse, and fearing the face of sudden death, doth choose (wretched creature) the farre worset part, namely, to blaspheme his God, and forsweare his Saviour; which hee had no sooner done, but the witty bloudy assaylant doth immediatly thrust him through, with these words, Now will I kill soule and body together. Doth not the fore-men­tioned act, of the cruell Enemy in the West, come up full to this [Page 59]barbarisme? Is it not a killing of soule and body together, when they doe first enforce men, for feare of present death, to forswear themselves, and to abjure their God and Gospel, and then by ver­tue of that perjurious Oath doe immediatly require, and carry them away to the warres, where they are cut off in the midst of that perjury, whilst they are fighting against God and their owne con­sciences? And yet such is the terrour of present imminent death, (the King of feares) that divers godly persons, through infirmity, have entangled themselves, verbally, with that bloudy combina­tion: but, after the taking thereof, some of them have been distra­cted with the terrours of their clamorous consciences; others have lost their comfort and activity, the very wheeles of their soules, and doe lock up themselves in darknesse. Brethren, there are di­vers Hospitals in this City, for such souldiers as have been woun­ded and maimed in these warres, where there is provision of food, physicke, and Chirurgeons, made for their bodies; and doubtlesse that worke is an act of much equity, prudence, and mercy: But alas, alas! how many Savoys and Bartholomews, I mean, Hospi­tals and Spittles, shall wee need for wounded consciences, and maimed soules in the West? Surely, I am perswaded, that if ever the Lord doth turne our captivity, and brings us backe into those parts, wee shall meet with spirituall wounds, ulcers, and broken bones, of all sorts and degrees: there wee shall have one crying out, (like hopelesse Spiia) ‘I have denyed God before men, and now am I sure to be denyed of him before his Angels in heaven;’ the wound of mine Apostacy is incurable. Another roaring out because of his perjury, and saying, ‘Which side so­ever is in the right, I am certainly a forsworne man; because I have taken Oaths that were directly contrary: and therefore, I am marked out, like Cain, with a trembling conscience: I have sold Christ and his Cause, like Judas, for gaine and safety; and this my sin was committed both with knowledge and against it: yea, I have sinned presumptuously; and then the Scripture is cleare in my sentence,’ For, if wee sinne wilfully, Heb. 10.26, 27. after that wee have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sinne, but a certaine fearfull looking for of judge­ment, and fiery indignation, which shall devoure the adversaries. And, perhaps, a third man, that was once a Professor, Acts and Mo­numents. but last an eminent Actor for the Enemy, will, like that Judge Hales, (if I [Page 60]mistake not) lay violent hands upon his owne body, and become Executioner to himselfe, by drowning, burning, or hanging: Yea, some cryes and carriages of this kind, have been uttered and acted in those parts already. And they are but according to the desires of some of the Enemies, who are said to have wished, Oh that they could but kill the soule of a Round-head! This was the last and highest of Jobs three kinds of Affliction, namely, the plun­dering of him in Spirituals. And thus have I done with my Pa­rallels.

And now, if all these considerations both of Westerne sins and sufferings doe not lie heavie enough upon our hearts, to breake them before the Lord this day; then I have yet one talent of Lead more which I would cast in; and it may also be digged out of my Text, Some espe­ciall unhap­pinesses of the West; as in even out of this last clause, and close thereof: For the hand of God hath touched me; That is, the Lords speciall, peculiar, im­mediate afflicting hand was upon him, and against him; my mean­ing is (Brethren) to commend unto you, with reference to those words, this consideration, namely, that the especiall, immediate, and (me thinkes) extraordinary hand of God is against the poor West above other parts and quarters of the kingdome. I know that every Country and person is apt by nature to thinke 'its owne burthen to be the heaviest, but therefore I shall spread my reasons and arguments before you, that so your selves may consi­der of it, Iudg. 19.30. take advice, and speake your minds. Mine arguments to prove the singularity, and transcendency of the Westerne for­rows and sufferings; and to evince, that the hand of God is espe­cially against those Countries, above other parts, shall lie in these three following Considerations:

First, 1. The Rise of their de­struction. consider the rise and originall of our desolations. The West is in great part a kind of great promontory, or somwhat like a Peninsula; it is a Country partly hugg'd in the armes of the Ocean, upon the North; partly sleeved up by the narrow sea, upon the South; so that for people and scituation, it was like un­to that Aegyptian Alexandria, Nahum. 3.8. which is thus described by Na­hum: Art thou better then populous (or nourishnig) No, that was scituate among the rivers, that had the waters round about it, whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was from the sea? Our ships and Ocean were heretofore accounted (and too much gloried in) as the strength of great Britaine; and we were [Page 61]wont to say, that this Island had a wall of wood, and a moate of seas about her; but the West above other parts might have boast­ed of her greatest share in this defence; for it was a Country by scituation (as it were) cut out for safety and security; so that I have heard some wise Easterne men saying, that they did even en­vie our Geographicall happinesse, in the beginning of these troub­les; and indeed wee had litle cause to feare either any commotion from within, all the five Counties standing generally right at first; or any invader from without, Devon & Cornwall. two of these five Counties, and a part of the third Somerset being almost cut off from the whole kingdome, and onely a neck of land, litle more then from Lime to Bridge. water. twenty miles over, doth unite them as a Peninsula to the maine. Hence it was, that many of our people did stand studying which way 'twas possible for an enemie to come in, and over-run us; yea, and generally we of the West may now take up that of the lamenting Prophet in this point: Lamen. 2.12. All the inhabitants of the world would not have be­leeved, that the adversary and the enemie should have entred into the gates of [our] Ierusalem. And, to give glory to God, wee must all confesse, that this sea-confidence hath been one great sin of this kingdome: and as the whole land is now scourged for it, by a sword coming out of 'its owne bowels; so especially the Westerne parts, where a litle cloud like a mans hand, arising out of that unhappy Sherborn. castle, and meeting with many vaporing exha­lations in Cornwall, did in a short time darken our heaven, and anon was poured downe upon all those Counties in a shower of blood; in which, the garments of our miserable Country-men are lamentably rouled to this day; yea, and although wee did continually endeavour with our prayers, persons, purses, as with so many buckets, to draine and stanch our distressed Counties; yet did the waves still flow in and arise from the ancles to the knees, from the knees to the loynes, Ezek. 47.untill they became such a ri­ver as could not be passed. And thus hath our affliction arisen as it were out of the dust, our destruction (as the kingdomes) was (strangely) of our selves, Isai. 45.6, 7. and our casting downe from the midst of us: and all this is happened unto us, That men may know (saith God by his Prophet) from the rising of the Sunne, and from the West, that there is none besides me: I am the Lord, and there is none else. I forme the light, and create darkenesse: I make peace, and create evill: I the Lord doe all these things,

Secondly, 2. The pro­gresse of it; Lost labours in consider the growth and progresse of our ruine: Oh the great labours, both in doings and sufferings, that were laid out by the people of the West! Oh the vast treasures that were by them expended, for the defence of this cause and themselves! and yet, alas, all these labours (me thinks) have been (as the Prophet speaketh) but as labouring in the very fire: Hagga [...] 1.6. all those treasures have been put into a bag with holes, or a pierced bag; for wee have scarcely purchased, by all this, so much as a generall thorough per­swasion in the hearts of the well-affected of the East, that the West hath abundantly done, suffered, expended. Let us therefore now looke into this matter more fully; partly for the farther satisfacti­on of such as doe desire true information; but chiefly for our owne farther humiliation under that heavie hand of God, which hath extraordinarily touched us. 1. Fortifi­cations. First then, shall wee looke to our strong and labourious fortifications, and the succeslesnesse and losse of those, that therein wee may read (as our owne activitie, so) the Lords displeasure against us? Then give me leave shortly to view some of the works of the five Westerne Counties: Cornwall. And 1. as for lamentable Cornwall; I must say of that, at present, as sometimes Jacob of his lost Ioseph: Cornwall is not, though even that County was not lost without some hearty struglings of the honest party; and therefore I hope to see 'its rising againe, as life from the dead. Devon. 2. As for the greatest of all these five Counties, in it one large City, and foure great Townes, all accounted as mari­time, were strongly fortified and well defended; but that labour hath proved but a labouring in the fire, all those places being now lost, except one poor Plymouth onely. 3. In the third County, Somerset. Bristoll. Taunton & Bridgwa­ter. (which is the second in extent) there, that greatest City of the West, with other her two daughters, which are p [...]t­ty Cities also, were with great summes of money made garrisons; but every of them since that time, (as well mother as daugh­ters) have been taken, sack't, undone; though the Lord hath given us back the shell, the nest, I meane the dwelling houses or buildings of Taunton. Dorset. Poole. Wareham. Dorchester Weymouth, Lyme. one of those Townes againe; but alas the kernell, the birds, the substance are gone and flowen. 4. In the fourth County, (to proceed Geographically) five Townes neere the sea­coasts were made defensible and garrison'd; I might call them the Parliamentary Cinque ports of Dorset: but of these the greater number and the stronger have also been taken by the enemie, [Page 63]though God hath given them to us againe. 5. And finally, Marlebe­rough. as for the last of those Counties, 'its best defended, and the most fighting towne, is now made a principall quarter of the Enemie: So much concerning fortifications. Or secondly, shall we speake of faithfull and valiant endeavours of self-defence, for the Parliamentary cause, 2. Valiant selfe-de­fence, in sustaining of sieges. Exon. by sustaining of long sieges? even herein the West may compare (if comparisons be not odious) with most Cities, Townes, Castles, or houses in the land. Take an instance in every of those three: 1. Amongst City-sieges, remember that of Exon, which for the space of about fifteen weeks together, did faithfully conflict and struggle with a double disease: partly with a strong, crafty, pesti­lentiall enemie, encompassing her without; and partly with a Ma­lignant putrid fever in her owne blood within; and all this in the lowest and most hopelesse juncture of time, that ever this Par­liament did see, or I hope shall see, untill our perfect deliverance: Deut. 22.26, 27. and therefore that City, though it be now ravished by strangers, may truely be said to have kept her virgin-honour and Fidelis in aternum. motto still, because shee cryed out for help, though no man came to her rescue. Amongst Towne-sieges, I might say much concerning the stoutnesse and longanimity, of Poole and Dartmouth, and perhaps of some other places; but because I have promised but one instance in this particular, let our Chronicle of these times bid posterity to give the Crowne of perseverance to constant Plymouth; Plimouth. whose siege may beare almost the same (that is as long a) date as the present wars. It is now about two yeares since (as I remember) that the habituall Leaguer, or, rather, Plantation of the enemie before that towne did begin: and although there have been some inter­missions, yet I doe question, whether those (as the Lord disposed them) have made more for the greater reliefe or distresse of that place: And in all this time, both flatteries, treacheries, and vio­lence of all kinds were used; yea, and the presence of abused Ma­jesty it selfe, was brought to prove and crowne the wisedome, sin­cerity, courage of that Garrison. Finally, amongst Castle-Sieges, Warder Castle. that of Warder in Wilts will be famous to posterity, both for pas­sive and active valour, to the utmost. So much concerning length of Sieges.

But once more, Marle­borough. if you look to hot service and fiery stormings (as they call them) then take but two instances: First, in the tempest at Marleborough, that was admirably sustained, untill the defen­dants [Page 64]were over-power'd with lead, fire, and numbers. But chiefly in that great wonder of little Lyme in Dorset, Lime. which having in it but eleven hundred Souldiers, did not onely sustaine, but shame­fully repulsed a Leaguer of no lesse then (by their owne confession) sixe thousand Enemies; whose Demi-cannon, and other Ordnance played unceflantly upon their weake and thin line, for full 8. weeks together; whilst the Souldiery in the Towne, having digged pits, (or graves rather) for themselves, under their line, in the earth, to shelter themselves from the Ordnance, did there eate, and drinke, and lodge, and dwell in mire and clay to the end of that siege; So that not onely their owne judicious, The Lord Admirall. Maurice. and noble friend, (behol­ding that line of theirs after the siege) is said to have professed, that he never saw such paper-works defen [...]ed by men; but e­ven the repulsed Prince their enemie is said to have acknowledg­ed, that, had not the defendants been rebelis (as he miscalled them) every man of them did deserve to have Command. Many more particulars, with their instances, might be added, to shew the extraordinary endeavours of the West to preserve it selfe for King and Parliament. But that which ought to breake our hearts in all that hath been said, is to consider, that, notwithstanding all this labour, charge, courage, heartines, wee have spent our strength in vaine and for nought. Our fore did still run, and ceased not, untill wee were become (as at this day) the most miserable parts of the Kingdome; so that the West must necessarily and spe­cially cry out, The hand of God hath touched me. This was the se­cond Consideration.

3. The conti­nuance of the We­sterne deso­lations. Lastly, let us consider the continuance and settlement of our mi­series to this day, 2 Sam. 1. and that, for all this, the Lords wrath is not tur­ned away, but his hand is str [...]tched out still. Is not the West at pre­sent, nay, hath it not been for a long season, as the Mountaines of Gilboa, in comparison to other places? that is, the Country upon which especially neither dew of comforts, not raine of succour doth descend? Are not we alone as a people born out of due time? the utmost Eastern parts of the Kingdome have not at all seene and felt the present war: the No [...]th hath felt it indeed, but is in a man­ner now quite delivered: and as for the middle parts of the Land, though the shower be not as yet wholly blowne over; yet there is many a strong wind that is driving away the clouds, many a buck­et that is laving off the waters from them; I meane, there are ma­ny [Page 65]potent armies fighting valiantly in those Counties for their re­lief, onely the poor West that was the [primū moriens,] one of the first in this death, is like to be the [ultimum vivens] the very last in the resurrection, whensoever these troubles shall have an end, it be­ing to this day farthest from the fountains of help, viz. London, and the North; and neerest to the fountains of harme, viz. Ireland and France. I doe not quarrell with instruments, but shall leave them all to the Father of Spirits, and the Searcher of hearts; onely my desire is to affect mine owne heart and yours with the conside­ration of that hand of God that doth especially touch us; and in that sence I shall goe on to shew you this branch of Westerne un­happiness in these three cases: The last Branch of of the We­sterne un­happinesses, farther ag­gravated is 3. Cases. 1. Case. Iudg. 18.28. First, in case of petitioning and beg­ging help and reliefe for our Country. Me thinks, the Lords pro­vidence hath still way-laid us, and as it were hedged up our waies with thornes; God hath so ordered the frame of publike affaires, that little water (as they say) hath bin spared to our mill: some cause of this unhappiness may (perchance) bee the distant sci­tuation of our Country from these parts, and so it is like unto that Laish, of which 'tis said, And there was no deliverer, because it was farre from Sidon, and they had no businesse with any man. So the West perhaps hath seene the fewer deliverers, because it is farre from London, and hath now little businesse with the chil­dren of the East: It is necessary (I confesse) that the parts neerest the heart be first preserved, and it is ordinary (I find) for those poor people to be served last, which are farthest off from the doore. Another cause of this our unhappiness may be the more importu­nate interposition of other suitors, that, like Jacob, doe get away the blessing from us, whilst we are hunting for venison to procure it by; and so we and our Country are like that lame man in the Gos­pel, that lay neer the pool of Bethesda, expecting a good time for healing, who thus complaineth to our Saviour, Sir, Iohn 5.7. I have no man when the water is troubled to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. The text needeth no appli­cation; this is the first Case. But secondly, in case of obtaining, 2. Case. and procuring the help which was petitioned for, I meane when armies and treasures, have been procured, and sent for our reliefe; yet, even then, the Lord hath especially blowne upon them and us; sometimes by turning, and over-turning our Counsels, sometimes by frustrating our active endeavours: I will instance but in one [Page 66]most remarkable disappointment. You have not forgotten the time when his Excellencies army was sent for reliefe of the West: we might have said of that army untill that time, as much as David in his Funerall Elegy saith of valiant Saul and Ionathan, 1 Sam. 1.22. From the bloud of the slains, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jona­than turned not backe, and the sword of Saul returned not empty: To this both Keinton and Newbury, the first and second time, and all other Easterne, Northerne, and Southerne fields can witness: but when once this ever before-victorious army marched into the West, then behold (as if the fate of that unprosperous Country had wrought upon them) the Scene is changed, and we might also change our note, Ve [...]se [...]7. as David doth afterward in that same Song, How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of warre perished? That Virgin Army (as it was well called) had never its naked­nesse uncovered, in any other Field or County, but onely in the most Westerne Cornewall. 3. Case. This is the second Case. But thirdly, once more, in case of accepting and (for a time) enjoying the help obtained and procured, yet the West hath been the more un­happy: My meaning, in plaine English, is this; When some Ar­mies, Brigades, and Parties have been sent down for our reliefe and restauration, they have rather proved (by accident, and in e­vent) an occasion of our Countries greater miseries and bondage; for, upon their coming into those parts with help, and promises of continuance, the wel-affected have the more freely engaged themselves; that is, some men that had before walked so prudent­ly (yet honestly) that the Enemy had no great advantage upon them, did actively discover themselves: others, that had laine hid in woods and pits, or were fled to the next Garisons, came forth, and brought out with them all their treasure and provision, which they had hidden from the Midianites; and all these (you may suppose) doe now take the Covenant, doe draw in their friends to their Party, and, in a word, doe imbarque both their persons and whole remainder in the present Bottome: But loe, upon a sudden, (to follow the Metaphor) either the Vessell is split, and so they are wrackt; or the wind is turned, and so the Barque drives away; leaving them (as that wandring Aeneas left his Dido) to dispaire, cry out, and perish. Even thus have many of our intended helpers proved unto the wel-affected of the West but as an Egyptian reed, but as a piece of new cloth set upon an [Page 67]old garment, whereby the rent hath been made worse; or, (to speake but this once, though I can hardly speake sufficiently in this point) but as Gaal the sonne of Ebed proved unto the men of Shechem: Let us looke sadly upon that Example; It is said, Judg. 9.26, 27. And the men of Shechem put their confidence in him: And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry, — and cursed Abimelech. Why? what might be the cause of this great confidence and merriment? Sure­ly, Gaals boasting, and his promise of protection to them. Vers. 28, 29, 40, 41, 44, 45. And Gaal the sonne of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is She­chem, that wee should serve him? — And would to God this peo­ple were under my hand; then would I remove Abimelech. But what is the event both of his big words and their great hopes? It is this in short: first, Gaal is worsted, and so leaveth them; then cometh Abimelech with his Army, and ‘fights against the City, and takes it, and flayeth the people that were therein, and beateth down the City, and soweth it with salt, &c.’ Wee have divers such Shechems in the West; as thou forward Barnestaple art one witnesse: And though Taunton be lately relieved, (bles­sed bee God, and all that had a hand in that worke;) yet, even since that relieving, my native Chard is another sad witnesse of this truth.

Object. But some may object; Such miseries as these are the insepara­ble, unavoydable accidents of warre.

Answ. Yet give mee leave, even in those accidents, that is, acts of ex­traordinary providence, still to observe how the Lords especiall hand doth touch the West: And suffer mee to say with sorrow, that few other parts of the land have had so great a share in this kind of unhappy accidents, a [...] those five Counties towards the setting of the Sun. The last additionall aggrava­tion of espe­ciall We­stern un­happinesses, Losse of Pillars. Isat. 3.1, 2, 3.

Before I conclude this sad Point, concerning the singular unhap­pinesse of the Westerne parts, give mee leave to mind you but of one aggravation more; namely, That the hand of God hath been very heavie upon many of our excellent Westerne Leaders: Hee hath pluckt away divers of our Supporters from us, and hath smitten some of our Shepherds. Brethren, you know that dread­full commination against the Jewes, wherein the Lord threatned to take away from Jerusalem the mighty man, and the man of warre; the Judge, and the Prophet, and the prudent, and the an­cient; [Page 68]the Captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the Coun­sellor, and the cunning Artificer, and the eloquent Orator. I know not the losses of other parts of the Land; sure I am that the West hath been a deep loser in all these kinds. What City, what Town, nay, what Parish (almost) of eminency is there in those parts, in which there is not some one or more use full man dead? Some such persons have been shine by the sword; others have died of the diseases of the Armies; and a third sort have had their hearts broken by the Oppressors. Many other men are better acquain­ted with divers of the Westerne Townes than my selfe; and yet, even out of my little knowledge, I could reckon up some very eminent ones, which the Lord hath taken away from every of the five Western Counties but Dorset, — C [...]neri gloria sera venu. one, since this Parliament did be­gin. Why should wee deny honour to the dead? Why should wee neglect a powerfull meanes of humbling our owne hearts? First, give mee leave to remember you of our losses of Parliamen­tary State-pillars: 1. In Parlia­ment, What a precious paire (to begin at home) of excellent instruments hath Devon lost? Surely, the Jo. Upton Esquire. one of them was no lesse than [the stay and the staffe] of that County: and the Tho. Wise Esquire. other might justly be called, The prudent man; though in yeares hee was not the ancient: and both were taken away, by a kind of The small Pox. imperillous disease, in our times of greatest need. Next, what thinke you of the losse of that Sir Fran. Popham, Knight. greatest, and most cordiall Knight of Somerset? was not hee by an eminency [the ancient and the honourable?] And to him adde Sir Peter Wroth, Knight. another honest worthy Knight that served for the same County, who was likewise cal­led away in the midst of the worke: These two were (I take it) the onely paire of right Parliamentary Knights of that County. Also in Wilts wee may reckon Sir Henry Ludlow, Knight. another precious and worthy Knight, which the Lord hath snatched away from his Country. Nay, lastly, even Cornwall it selfe may complaine, that of her lit­tle handfull of good members, which doe hold fast to this Cause, shee hath lost a principall Sir Rich. Buller, Knt. finger: All these were Parliamentary Supporters of the West. And wee doe all know, that when the owner of an house doth pull away the posts and pillars thereof, it is a signe that hee doth intend either to build it better, or to demolish it.

2. In the As­sembly. But this is not all; wee have had a deplorable losse in Pro­phets too: Three of the five Westerne Counties had but five of [Page 69]their Ministers sitting in the Assembly of Divines; and [...], Mr Henry Painter, of Exon. Mr Peal, of Dorset. two of those five hath the Lord taken away from us in these parts: even a paire of workemen that were some of the charets and horsemen of the West; both of them were eminent for pie­ty and abilities: But give mee leave to mourne especially over that Mr Pain­ter, B.D. eldest pillar of fire, which did for so many years support and enlighten the true Religion in the West: give mee leave to call him [the mighty man and the Counsellor;] that is, the Champion, and the Oracle, of persecuted Ministers, and people in those parts; yea, the hammer of Schismaticks, and the salt of the most Western City; which did not onely preserve it (in great part) from the putrefaction of Prophanesse, but from the rawnesse of Novelties. In a word, hee was so publike a good, that for him that whole City hath cause to weare blacks. Thus the Lord hath taken away from us the Prophets. And now (to fill up our sorrowes) I could tell you, finally, of the losse of [the man of warre, and the Captaine of fifty;] that is, of some considerable Martiall pillars: 3. In the Ar­mies, Col. Wil. Gould. Lievt. Col. Martin. I could instance, upon knowledge, in that precious piece of activity, upon whose good name biting Envie may breake her teeth, but shee shall never be able to devoure it. And in that other pious Com­mander in the same Town, who having defended his Charge to the utmost, yet afterwards died with griefe, because hee could doe no more. But I forbeare to draw forth this threed any far­ther, because the clue is growne so big already. Thus have I done with the Causes for which wee ought really to pity our Western Brethren, with all those excitations and incentives to compassion, which that Generall did afford us. Secondly, Means and instructions to direct us in the duty of pitie, viz. 1. In gene­rall, from the example of Iobs 3. friends. In their visit, note,

Secondly, we come now to the meanes, by which we may pi­tie the West to purpose: And this Generall (as I promised) must yeeld us some instructions and directions in that brotherly, Christian duty. These instructions may be of two sorts: 1. Some more generall, and borrowed from the example of the friends of Iob, mentioned in this historie. 2. Others more particular, and as it were independent, taken onely from the subjects, or in­struments of our compassion.

First in generall: as we have already found in this book of Iob, a paterne, and parallel of miserie; so may wee fetch out from thence a Copie of compassion, even from the pitie of Iobs three friends; it is described Chap. 2. in three Verses, viz. Verse [Page 70]11, 12, 13. They doe containe the visit of Iobs friends: in which we may observe, 1. The occasion. 2. The ground 3. The end, and intendment of their coming.

The occasion of their visit, 1. The occa­sion. Verse 11. was the report of all the evill that was come upon Iob: Now when Iobs three friends heard of all the evill that was come upon him, then they came: This may hint unto us the duty of enquiring, and listning after our distressed friends and Country, which shall be the first branch of reall pitie.

The ground of this visit was a mutuall agreement, 2. The ground. or a volun­tarie compact made between them; for they had made an appoint­ment together to come, &c. This doth intimate unto us, the duty of assembling, and consulting together, for the good of our af­flicted brethren, which will be the second branch of friendly pitie.

The end, 3. The end, hence. and intendment of their visit, is expressed to be two­fold:

1. To communicate with him in his sorrows; to mourne with him.

2. To communicate to him their comforts; and to comfort him. Then their solemne mourning is expressed through the next verse, v. 12. and the cause thereof. ult. But these last two verses, I shall not touch upon: onely let us run thorow the former three bran­ches of reall compassion.

The first branch of reall pity, 1. Duty, Enquiry, &c. Iob. 2.11. is to hearken out, and make en­quiry after our distressed brethren. Thus Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, were induced to pitie Iob, by the hearing of their eares: When they heard of all this evill that was come upon him, then they came every one from his owne place, &c. Marke, the very hear-say, or report of the afflictions of friends ought both to take our eares, and to move our hearts. But, alas for the Adder-like deafenesse of multitudes now amongst us, that will not heare in that eare (as we say) for feare lest their hearts, and then their purses should be pickt open; for they doe interpret every sad relation, to be the preface to a petition: Yea, many men are (like the people neer the falls of Nylus) growne deafe by the continuall noise of dolefull reports: Surely the Lord will boare such eares at last. Others there are, which doe account it a cheaper and a wiser way, not to beleeve any sad reports at all but generally to cry them downe, as false [Page 71]and uncertaine pamphlets, rather then to be at the paine of letting them into their hearts; and these are like churlish Nabal, which did choose rather to call David a run-away, and to suspect the truth of his messengers, then to be at the charge of rewarding and relieving them. The sword may one day find out these men also.

But chiefly wee must observe from this duty of enquiry, that wee ought to have our eares open to receive, yea, our mouthes o­pen to enquire after all the evill that doth come upon our friends. Good Nehemiah did not only hearken what tidings from Ierusalem, but (so great a Courtier as he was) he made enquiry after newes: Nehem. 1.1, 2. And I asked them concerning the Jewes that had escaped, which were left of the captivitie, &c. It seemes he was both earnest and busy, in his interrogatories; for so you may read the words; I asked concerning the Jewes, concerning the rem­nant, concerning Jerusalem: Here is question upon question, and another upon that againe, concerning, concerning, concerning; just as your vehement inquisitors use to doe; yea, he doth enquire after every particular too, as the Jewes, the remnant, Jerusalem: Let this example shame the faces of all such Epicures, as cannot listen after the condition of their suffering fellow-members: Surely themselves are but as the belly in the publike body, Venter auribus caret. of which wee say, that it hath no eares; and I shall leave with them that just proverb of the holy Ghost: Prov. 21.13. Who so stoppeth his eares at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himselfe, but shall not be heard. But as for us, (my brethren) let us be like unto pious old Ely, who, although he had lost his eyes, yet doth use his eares to the utmost, in listning after the condition of the Arke, and Israel in the field: Ely sate upon a seat by the way side, watching: 1 Sam. 4.14, 15. Yet it is added; his eyes were dimme, that he could not see. A strange watchman that had no eyes; but it seems that he did watch with his eares, to heare what newes from the armies; so let us even pant with trembling hearts after the publike occurrences: And here I cannot but complaine, and grieve, to consider how much the stream of perfect and true intelligence (that should be to our dayly prayers, as water to the mill) is continually obstructed, defi­led, and broken in this great City, by manifold printed malignities, falsities, and mistakes. This was the first branch of the reall pitie, from the example of Iobs three friends. 2. Duty, as­sembling, &c.

The Second, was to assemble and consult together, for the good [Page 72]of our afflicted brethren: Thus Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, did make a mutuall appointment together to come, &c. Learne wee hence, the necessary lesson of voluntary meetings, for the benefit of our distressed absent brethren and Country.

Jobs friends were neither constrained nor called together, but their act was both free and unanimous. Let all our unsociable, untuneable Westerne exiles, consider this patterne; even all those that are backward to friendly consultations and deliberations for the good of their native Country; but too forward to censure and prejudicate all such as doe promote them: Surely, there were not more excuses made by those ungratefull guests, Luke 14.18, 19, 20. which were in­vited to that Gospel marriage feast, then may be heard from some of us, when we are invited to meet together for the publike good: the purchase, the oxen, the wife, pride, profit, and pleasure, doe all bring in their severall put-offs; ‘One man will tell you be­fore-hand, that the meeting will be to no purpose:’ Who made him a Prophet? but if thou art sure of that (O diviner,) then thou oughtest the rather to come thither, or at least to appoint some o­ther place, thereby to make up an effectuall meeting. Another man ‘takes exception, because such a one did appoint the consultation: But why hadst not thou prevented him? Besides, I thinke it is lawfull for any man to bestow his paines freely towards the dres­sing of a common field. A third man objecteth (pettishly) that he never heard of the meeting before, neither hath hee as yet been told the busines. Why, who was bound to be the beadle to give you notice? who is paid for that service? Me thinks thou might'st rather account it a mercy from God, and a courtesie from man, that thou doest by any meanes heare of any opportunity of doing good at any time; nay, (as I conceive) thy selfe art bound to aske and inquire, after such occasions of serving thy Country; and me thinks there is Scripture for it, Whatsoever thy hand find­eth to doe, Eccles. 9.10. doe it with thy might. Doth not [finding] imply and suppose a [seeking?] nay, is not the promise of finding made to seeking; Mat. 7.7. Seeke and yee shall find? A fourth person will not come together with others by appointment, because (forsooth) such a man will be there whom he hateth (perhaps as Ahab ha­ted Micaiah,) for his round dealing. A rod, a rod; have we not yet done with this old peevish Westerne humour? cannot all our Countries miseries, and our owne hitherto, nip this ranke­nesse [Page 73]of spirit? Will we needs have another whipping with scor­pions for this sin? Well, marke the issue, the Lord hath not as yet spent all his plagues upon us, but we shall find that if he loves us, he will not leave us, before he hath bowed or broken our pettish stomacks. Finally, the last sort of men, they cannot come, because of other private gainfull businesses of their owne, or perchance some hollow visit for pleasure: To this I answer, Ionah 4.6, 7, 8. Have we yet some Jonah's gourds left us, to shelter and delight our selves un­der them after our former wrack for those selfe same sins? Take heed, lest the Lord doth provide a worme in the heat of the day, to smite those gourds also untill they are withered, and, after the worme, some vehement blast to beat upon our heads till we faint againe.’ In a word, let me speak to all such Exiles in generall, in the language of Mordecai to his kinswoman Queen Hester, Hest. 4.14. If ye altogether neglect this duty at this time,—then shall there enlarge­ment and deliverance arise to the West from some other meanes, but yee and your fathers houses may be destroyed; and who knowes whether we are come to this City for such a time as this?

But as for you, my dearly beloved, who are willing to doe, to suffer, or to bee, any thing, or any where, so as the West may live againe; to you I would recommend, as a Legacy, that golden portion of the author to the Hebrews: Let us consider, Heb. 10.24. that is, with much prudence: One another, that is, the dispositions, gifts, experience, vertues, and faults of one another: To provoke unto love, and to good works; that is, striving who shall be first, and most in doing, and receiving of good: Verse 25. Not forsaking the as­sembling of our selves together; that is, both by Church-assem­blies, and Christian meetings, for the spirituall and civill good of our Country, our selves, others, soules, bodies: As the manner of some is: that is, of Schismaticks, Apostats, Cynicks: But ex­horting one another, (by word and example) and so much the more, as yee see the day approaching: that is, the day of generall and particular judgement, the day of publike and speciall tryall; and these dayes we ought to look unto, as at the doore, at all times, but especially then, when the plague is begun, 3. Duty, Communi­cation of good and e­vill. when one foot of it is over the threshold. This was the second branch of the reall pitie of Iobs friends: viz. their appointed meeting together to visit him.

The third branch of their friendly visit, is contained in the End thereof, and that is expressed in the Text (as I said) to be two-fold: [Page 74]

• 1. To communicate with him in his sorrows, To mourn with him.
• 2. To communicate to him their comforts, And to comfort him.

But these two, for brevities sake, we will twist together: they are indeed the both hands of reall friendship; the one is the giving hand, with which we doe freely strip our selves of any of our comforts, reaching them forth to our distressed friends; this is com­manded by the Apostle when he saith, Distributing to the necessity of the Saints: Rom. 12.13. The other is the receiving hand, with which we doe take off their burthens, laying them upon our own shoulders; and this also is enjoyned by the same Apostle, when he commandeth, Beare ye one anothers burthens, Gal. 6.2. and so fulfill ye the law of Christ. It is one great commandement, or law of Christ, that wee love one another: It is another, that wee doe to others, as wee would they should doe to us. Iohn 1 [...].34. Luke 6.31. Both these lawes doe bind us to both those duties of communicating: And indeed, as the lawes, so the example of Christ doth enforce the same thing; for with one hand he doth reach forth unto his Saints both his merit, and Spirit; and with the other hand he doth beare our iniquities, and takes upon him our infirmities. Let us therefore make him our Lord and patterne, in labouring to doe the offices of Christian friends to our distressed Country-men with both hands; not contenting our selves onely with stripping our selves of our owne comfort, and to give it unto them, 1 Sam. 18.4 as Ionathan (in token of friendship) stript himselfe of the robe that was upon him, and gave it unto David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle; but let us also make the sorrowes, and sufferings of our afflicted brethren, to be our owne. But of this kind of compassion, I have spoken somewhat already in my excitations: The rest that remaineth I shall bind up together and thresh out in the

2. [...] particu­lar, Second Generall which I promised, was called the more particu­lar means of reall pitie; & it may be amplified by the speciall mem­bers and weapons, by which our compassions are acted and ex­pressed. In few words then, would we perform the duty of friend­ly pitie in deed and in truth? Then we must do it, Corde, Ore, Ope­re; with our hearts, with our mouthes, with our hands or actions.

First, First, Cor­de. with our hearts: The heart is the fountaine of all reaso­nable living motions; and if any actions have not their rise from thence, they are artificiall, or but brutishly naturall: labour wee therefore to engrave a map of our miserable Country upon our [Page 75]hearts. ‘Queen Mary is reported to have said after the losse of Callice to the French, that whosoever should rip up her dead body, might find Callice in her heart; Her reason was, because that last footing of England in France was lost under her raigne and government.’ Brethren, our native Counties have been lost in our time, and partly also by our sins: Oh let us therfore carry the West continually in our hearts. Quest. What, carry it in our hearts you will say? What is that? How may it be done? Answ. I meane, Answ. let us carry in our thoughts and affections all those Cards of the five Westerne Counties, which I have drawne before your eyes already: but, because that draught is somewhat imperfect, I would onely adde unto it two or three termes of art in this place; they may be borrowed from Paul, in a verse of his to the Ephesians: where, la­bouring to expresse the great love of God in Christ, Ephes. 3.18. he giveth it se­verall dimensions, that ye may be able to comprehend with all Saints, what is the breadth, depth, & height of that love. There is the whole trina dimensio, (as they call it) all the three dimensions of misery to be observed in the present maps of the West: As namely, the [lati­tude] the [longitude] yea [the profundity] of their sufferings.

First, would you know [the breadth] of our Western miseries? Surely, 1. Latitude of the miseries of the West. Camden. Speed. they are as broad as a tract of land containing from East to West (as our Geographers doe measure the five Counties) above two hundred miles; and from North to South generally the whole continent betwixt the Northerne and Southerne seas: In which tract there are commonly accounted five Cities, Market-Tomnes one hundred thirty and one; diverse of which may compare with some of your Easterne, and Northerne Cities: Of Parishes, one thousand foure hundred nintey, and those also not (as in some o­ther Counties) narrow and thin, but generally very spatious, very populous. In short, the Westerne tract that is now so miserable, doth containe that whole kingdome of the West Saxons, ( Berks. Hamps. two Counties only excepted) which of old (like Moses his rod) did de­vour all the other six kingdoms of that Heptarchy; and I have cause to thinke, that at this day, could there be but a competent number of helpfull forces afforded unto that Country, (like a bucket of wa­ter that is poured into a drie pump to set it going) it would not onely be able to defend it selfe, but might send forth many com­fortable streams towards the refreshment of other parts of the kingdome. Sure I am by experience, that when the ill-affected of [Page 76]but one of those five Counties had over-flowne the Western banks, which for a long time did beate back their streams, they did in a short space turne the tide thorrow the whole kingdome. This is a touch concerning the latitude, or breadth of the Western miseries.

2. The Lon­gitude. Secondly, would you know what is the longitude, or length of this map of miserie? that is, how long time those parts have bin over-flowne? Surely, I must answer, that the calamities of the king­dome, and of the West, doe beare the same date; even from August in the yeare 1642. unto this present, hath the fire of warre been blown up and down in those Counties; and ever since about July in the yeare 1643. when the West received her deaths wound at the Devizes, hath the enemie been master of the field in that little kingdome: only I confesse some blood did run to the heart in Exon after that blow, and it was cherished to the utmost by that poor beleagured Citie; there being (I beleeve) scarcely an hired soul­dier behind of his pay so much as for one week, to the last day. Al­so there was a short seeming reviving in the field, but it proved but as a draught of cold water to a man in a fever, which did in­crease the after-fit: So that generally ever since that last blow, and at this present, the state of the West hath been, and is, after this manner: Note this present state of the West. First in Cornwall, which is a tract of land in length 60. miles, in breadth 40. containing 23. market-townes, and parish­es 161. there is not left us one yard of ground, wheron a known parliamentary friend can set his foot. In Devon, which is a tract of land in length 54. miles, in breadth 55. containing 40. market­townes, and parishes 394. onely one poor single Plymouh is left us, which standeth like a kid amidst a wildernesse full of wolves; for the whole Country beyond it Westward to the lands-end, being above 50. miles, and the Country upon this side of it Eastward, being full as many, is wholly possessed by the enemy; the constant Town standing alone, Hosea 4.16. amidst them all, as a lambe in a large place. In So­merset, which is a tract of land in length 55. miles, in breadth 40. miles, containing 29. Market-Townes, and Parishes 385. there is left but one poore single Taunton, that standeth like the burning bush amidst a Country full of firie flaming swords. In Wilts, a tract of land in length 39. miles, in breadth 29. containing 21. Mar­ket Towns, and Parishes 304. there remaineth, escaped out of the common wrack, one only Malmesbury (as I conceive.) Finally, Dorset, which is a tract of land in length 44. miles, in breadth [Page 77]24. containing 18. Market-Townes, and Parishes 248. hath in it the most remainders of all the five Counties, and in it there are foure Maritime Townes under the power and obedience of King and Parliament. ‘The totall in short is this, that seven Townes are yet left us in five Counties, of which, foure are scituate in one County, and the other three in foure Counties more. This is the longitude, or the length of Westerne miseries.’

3. The pro­fundity. Would we know the profundity or depth of our afflictions? Do but remember what hath been said already; doe but seriously call to mind all the forementioned methods of misery, as plundring of temporalls by cruell strangers, and unnaturall neighbours, both Caldeans and Sabeans by sword and fire; then the corporall smi­tings, in liberties, livelihoods, lives, by slavery, enforcements, or pressings, imprisonments, deaths; and lastly, spirituall tortures, by the losse, the corrupting and poisoning of ordinances, as fasting and the Ministery of the word, by inforcing of perjury, and so mur­thering both soule and body together, &c. And this very recapitu­lation will sufficiently shew the depth and profundity of our af­flictions, and this Map ought we to carry in our hearts.

We must pity our Countrymen with our mouthes too; that is, 2. Ore. in short, by speaking for them, by speaking to them, by speaking of them, as often and as opportunely as we may, speake [for them] especially to the Lord in prayer: Open thy window daily towards the West, as Daniel did; yea, plead with the Lord for those parts, as Abraham did plead for the Cities of the plaine, because he had a Cousin Lot and his family there inhabiting; Gen. 18. tell the Lord that there is many a thousand righteous to be found there, besides those that are banished thence, and aske him with teares, Whether he will de­stroy the righteous with the wicked; yea, give him no rest, untill thou bring downe his pardoning mercies from fifty to ten, as Abraham did. Besides, speak to men also, as Nehemiah did to his King and Master, plead for the place of thy fathers Sepulcher that lieth waste, but especially for the Sanctuary of the Lord which is desolate: speake as Hester did to her Soveraigne and husband, though with the hazzard of her life, and say, Hest. 7.3, 4. Let my life be given me at my peti­tion, and my people at my request; for we are sold to be destroyed, to be slaine, and to perish. This is to speake for them. Next, speake we [to them,] if possibly we may by mouth, at least by letters and messages: You know how sweet, how comfortable a messenger is, [Page 78]that cometh with glad tidings from farre: As cold water to a thir­sty soule, Irov. 25.25. so is good newes from a farre Country. We read (to our great benefit) what large letters some of the Apostles by inspiration did write to the absent scattered Churches and Saints in their dayes: Thus Paul did send forth no lesse then thirteen Epistles (besides that to the Hebrewes) some to severall Churches both in Europe and Asia; Others to severall persons, as to Timothy, Ti­tus, Philemon. Thus Iames indited an Epistle, consisting of divers seasonable instructions and consolations, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad; and Peter writeth a first and second Epistle generall, to the strangers that were scattered through five distinct Kingdomes and Provinces, somewhat answerable to our five Westerne Shires or Counties. Thus briefly Iohn the beloved disciple hath by the spirit left upon record, both his generall and particular Letters, which are inscribed to persons of severall ranks and sexes, even as high as the Elect Lady and her children, and as low as his host Gaius. By all which Epistles, and written messages, they being dead, doe yet speake unto us this duty of preaching unto our absent brethren, as often as conveniently wee may, by Epistles and Letters. Lastly, and at least, let us speake [of them] wheresoever we come; let us performe that cheap duty for them, which those captives in Babylon doe promise to their desolate Sion in the Psalmist, Psal. 137. [...]. If I doe not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roofe of my mouth, if I preferre not Ierusalem above my chiefe joy. When the City of Glocester was in distresse, it is said, that some of her friends here in London did usually stand at the doors of both Houses of Parliament, crying modestly to the Members as they pas­sed in and out, Remember Glocester, oh remember poor Glocester! and it pleased God that at that time poore Glocester was remem­bred and relieved. Oh how many Glocester Cities, and Glocester-Shires are there now perishing, yea, halfe perished in the Western Counties? Let us therefore uncessantly scatter our cryes up and downe in all places, to all persons, where there is any possibility of succour, and say, Remember the West, Oh remember the unpa­ralleld sufferings of the West! So much concerning verball or vo­call compassion, which is to pity them with our mouthes.

Let us pity our Westerne Country-men in deed and action; 3. Opere. this is the best proofe and perfection of both the former branches of compassion, as Saint James appositely telleth us; If a brother or [Page 79]a sister (saith hee) bee naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be you warmed and filled, James 2.15, 16. notwithstanding yee give them not those things that are needfull to the body, what doth it profit? Surely, nothing at all, either to the meere verball giver, or to the seeming receiver. Let us there­fore shew our pity by our workes; that is, let us cast in, if ne­cessary occasions doe require, even a part of the remaining dusts and drops of our meale in the Barrell, and of our oyle in the Cruse; 1 King 17.13, 14, 15, 16. and doubt wee not but the Lord will take care so to blesse the re­mainder, that there shall be a sufficiency for us and our family: yea, let us cast in the two last mites, even all that wee have, into that publike treasury, if need requires it, and so engage the Lord to maintaine us. There is, to this purpose, a famous Example of the Carthaginians, recorded in History, which hath come often into my mind, and it is this; Flor. lib. 2 c. 15. de Bel. Pu­nic. tert. Spe pa [...]is in­jecta traditam [...] volentibus classem, &c. When that people had sustained their first and second warre with the Romans, with honour and some good successe, at last the third and fatall warre begins; in which, when the Romans, pretending articles of peace, had treated away the Carthaginian Navie, which they speedily fired in the very face of the City, then offering them this onely condition, [Th at they must all depart their owne Country, leaving it and their estates wholly to the Enemies:] 'Tis said, that this proffer, for the horrid­nesse of it, so enraged them, that they would rather choose to ad­venture upon the utmost of extremities. Hereupon all the City doe generally call to Armes, not so much out of hope to defend them­selves, as because they had rather that their Country should be destroyed by the hands of the Enemy, than by their owne. And now the great worke to be done by them is to build a new Navie: For the making whereof, for want of timber, they doe pull down their owne houses; for want of iron to make bolts and nayles, they doe work up their gold and silver; and for want of cordage, the Matrons doe cut off their haire to make ropes and cables. Ah poore soules, yet gallant spirits, that could so freely cast in their last all to the honourable funerals of their deceased Country! Bre­thren, this is the third, and (I hope) the last and best conflict of the English (yea, British) Protestants with the Antichristian Romans: First, they did attempt against us by force, in 88. Next, by fraud, in their Gun-powder Treason: But, behold, now (and let us beware the third) in this last attempt, force and fraud are [Page 80]knit together; their Armies (in stead of their Armado) are com­bined, with their second Gun-powder Treason, to blow up this Parliament: I say, with their second Gun-powder Treason; which, for impudence, cruelty, and universality, doth exceed the first. Nay, (and to carry-on the application of my Punick Story) they have already treated-away some of our most considerable pieces, as Ireland, and the West of England. Let us now play the Carthaginians in hope, and to purpose: Let us not spare the reliques of our estates, treasures, persons; our houses, gold and silver, haire, heads and all, to redeeme all our temporall, naturall, spirituall goods againe. As for the issues, let them be wholly left to the good pleasure of our God; perchance it may please him to make good unto us, Western Exiles, that promise by Zephaniah, namely, Zeph. 3.12. To leave in the midst of the West an afflicted and poore people, and they shall trust in the Name of the Lord. Surely, such a mercy as this would be great, and precious to broken hearts: Or, perhaps (which seemeth sharper) hee hath in his secret pur­pose justly decreed, that unworthy wee, of this present genera­tion, shall not returne to conquer or see againe our native Coun­try; though, perchance, our children after us may obtaine that favour: But, though it be thus, yet let us labour to conquer our selves, and our own inordinate desires; ('tis as great a mercy to want drought, as to have drinke;) let us prepare to see the pleased face of Christ at last: And for present, strive we to attain to hearts like that of David, who, when hee was flying from his Jerusa­lem, from his Kingdome, yea, from Ordinances and all, yet could say unto Zadok, [...] Sam. 15.25, 26. Carry back the Arke of God into the City: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, hee will bring mee a­gaine, and shew me both it and his habitation: But if hee say thus, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him doe to mee as it seemeth good unto him. Such a depth of selfe-submission as this, is the highest step of selfe-advancement. However, so long as our remaining inch of Candle shall be burning, (whatsoever place may be our Candlestick) let us mightily, uncessantly, espe­cially, pray, study, act, FOR THE WEST, FOR THE WEST, FOR THE WEST.