Certaine considerations shewing the imminent danger of this city, together with the remedies. Humbly presented to the Right Honourable the Lord Major, the Right Worshipfull the Aldermen, and Common Councell-men. By the ministers of the citie.

Certaine Conſiderations ſhewing the imminent Danger of this City, together with the Remedies. Humbly preſented to the Right Honourable the Lord Major, the Right Worſhipfull the Aldermen, and Common Councell-men. By the Miniſters of the Citie. march 18 1644 MICHA 6.9.

The Lords voice crieth unto the Citie.

THe danger ſet forth, Theologically and Politically.

1. Theologically, in regard of our ſinnes; which are;

1. A generall ſlighting of the publike miniſterie of the Word. They mocked the Meſſengers of God, and deſpiſed his words, and miſuſed his Prophets, until the wrath of the Lord aroſe againſt his people, till there was no remedy. Therefore he brought upon them the King of the Chaldees, who ſlew their young men with the Sword. 2 Chron. 36.16, 17.

And thou Capernaum which art exalted unto heaven, ſhalt be brought down to hell, Mat. 11.23.

The time well come, when they will not endure ſound Doctrine, but after their own 〈◊〉 , ſhall they heap to themſelves teachers, having itching ears, and they ſhall turn away their ears from the truth, and ſhall be turned unto fables, 2 Tim. 4.3, 4.

2. A Decay of the power of godlineſſe under that great plenty and varietie of choice meanes, which no age heretofore hath afforded: I have ſomewhat againſt thee, becauſe thou haſt left thy firſt-love, Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the firſt works, or elſe I will come to thee quickly, and will remove thy Candle-ſtick, Revel. 2.4.5.

3. The many ſad breaches, and unnaturall Diviſions, that are amongſt us. Every Kingdom divided againſt it ſelf, is brought to deſolation, and every City or houſe divided againſt it ſelf, ſhall not ſtand, Mat. 12.25.

Wheras there is among you, envying, and ſtrife, and diviſions, are ye not carnall and walk as men? While one ſaith, I am of Paul, and another I am of Apollo, are ye not carnall? 1 Cor. 3.3, 4.

4. The great neglect of the Publike, and every one moſtly regarding his owne private Intereſts: Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ſieled houſes, and this houſe lye waſt? Ye looked for much, and loe it came to little. Why ſaith the Lord of Hoſts? becauſe of mine houſe that is waſt, and ye run every man to his own houſe, Hag. 1.4.-9.

For all ſeek their own, not the things which are Jeſus Chriſts, Phil. 2.21.

5. Incorrigibleneſſe under the heavie judgements of God, viz. The Peſtilence lately devouring at home, and the ſword ſtill abroad. I have ſent among you the peſtilence, after the manner of Egypt, your young men have I ſlain with the ſword,—Yet ye have not returned to me, ſaith the Lord, Amos 4.10.

The people turneth not to him that ſmiteth them, neither do they ſeek the Lord of Hoſts: therfore the Lord will cut off from Iſrael head and tail, branch and ruſh in one day. Iſaiah 9.13, 14— —I gave her ſpace to repent of her fornication, and ſhe repented not, Behold I will caſt her into a bed—Rev. 2.21, 22.

6. Inſenſibleneſſe of our Brethrens calamities:—But they are not grieved for the affliction of Joſeph, Amos 6.6, 7. Therfore now ſhall they go captive with the firſt that go captive, contrary to 1 Cor. 12.26.

7. Carnall ſecuritie, notwithſtanding the abundance of Soul-awakening Ordinances: And as it was in the dayes of Noah, ſo ſhall it be alſo in the dayes of the Sonne of man, they did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, untill the day that Noah entered into the Ark, and the floud came and deſtroyed them all,—Luk. 17.26, 27, 28, 29.

When they ſhall ſay peace and ſafetie, then ſudden deſtruction commeth upon them, as travell upon a woman with child, and they ſhall not eſcape. 1 Theſſ. 5.3. Vid. Judg. 18.27. Iſa. 28.15, 17.

8. The abounding of erroneous and hereticall opinions unſuppreſſed: Notwithſtanding I have a few things againſt thee, becauſe thou ſuffereſt the woman Jezabel, which calleth her ſelf a Propheteſs, to teach and to ſeduce my ſervants, to commit fornication, and to eat things ſacrificed to Idols,—Behold I will caſt her into a bed, and them that commit adulterie with her, into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds, Revel. 2.20, 22. —There were falſe Prophets alſo among the people, even as there ſhall be falſ-teachers among you, who ſhall bring in damnable hereſies.—2 Pet. 2.1, 2.

There are certain men crept in unawars,—turning the grace of God into laſciviouſneſse,—Jude v. 4.

9. Breach of our Covenants with God. I will bring a ſword upon you, that ſhall avenge the quarrell of my Covenant, Levit. 26.25.

Set the trumpet to thy mouth, he ſhall come as an Eagle againſt the houſe of the Lord, becauſe they have tranſgreſſed my Covenant,—Hoſ. 8.1.

Let your owne conſciences be Judges, how you can ſuffer all ſorts of Hereſies to paſſe unpuniſhed, the ſeeds of manifold Schiſmes to be ſpread abroad uncontrol'd, prophane erroneous opinions to be commonly broacht without reſtraint in that CITY, which hath ſo expreſly ingaged it ſelf in a moſt ſolemn and ſacred Covenant before Almighty God, to extirpate all errours, hereſies and ſchiſmes out of the houſe of God.

2. 〈◊〉 . E • cleſiarum Valla • . ad Sy • odum Londi • ienſem. Politically in regard of our ſelves, and in regard of our enemies. In regard of our ſelves. Firſt, the great diſtractions that are in our armies, which mightily weaken their hands, and utterly diſable them, from doing us that ſervice, that might otherwiſe be expected from them, by the bleſſing of God, upon their indeavors. 2. Our Brethren of Scotland, at a great diſtance, who if the ſtorme ſhould ſuddenly fall upon us, are not ready (as with hearts ſo) with hands to helpe the Lord againſt the mighty. 3. Our City forces much decayed and broken, whoſe courage and forwardneſſe in the Cauſe, hath formerly bin very advantageous, and chiefly ſuccesfull, for the preſervation of City and Kingdome, againſt the common Adverfarie.

In regard of our enemies, we only hint theſe conſiderations. 1. Their active Inſtruments abroad, to bring in forraign Forces. 2. Their union among themſelves at home. 3. Their ſtrong expectations, of great advantages, by our preſent diviſions. 4. Their induſtry, for the ſpeedy raiſing of a numerous Army. 5. Their grand deſigne, againſt the Parliament and City. 6. Their neceſſity of expediting that deſigne, 1. Becauſe many of their Quarters are not able any longer to maintain them. 2. Their parties much weakned, in ſeverall parts. 3. Their feare of the Scots advance.

The Remedies that we humbly offer, are likewiſe Theologicall and Politicall. Remedies Theologicall. Firſt, unfained Humiliation, in a deeper ſenſe of our preſent ſins and ſufferings, then hitherto hath bin manifeſted. Neh. 1.4. Nehemiah's faſting. Jerem. 9.1. Ieremiah's weeping. Ezek. 7.16 Ezekiels mourning. Hab. 3.16. Habbakuks trembling. 2 Cor. 11.29. Pauls burning in a godly zeal for the good of his brethren. How ſuitable would they be to ſuch times as theſe are. 2. A ſetled uniforme method of Worſhip, Diſcipline, and Government amongſt us, according to our late ſolemne Covenant, whereby all Achans may be removed from our Camps, and all that viſible profaneneſſe from the face of our Congregations, which the pure eyes of a holy God, cannot endure to look upon. Vid. Joſh. 7. Levit. 10. Hab. 1. 3. A holy Concord and Unanimity amongſt Brethren, eſpecially thoſe of the Miniſtry, All having the ſame love, All being of one Heart, and of one way, All perfectly joyned together in the ſame mind, and in the ſame Judgement, All endeavouring to keepe the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, All of publike ſpirits, not ſeeking great things for themſelves, but ſeriouſly intending the things of Jeſus Chriſt. Pſal. 133.1. Phil. 2.2. Ier. 32.39. 1 Cor. 1.10. Eph. 4.3. Ier. 45.5. Phil. 2.21. 4. A frequent publiſhing, preſſing, and urging of the late ſolemne League and Covenant, for a through Reformation, by the Miniſters in their ſeverall Charges, whereby our Davids, and our Ioſhua's, Superiours, Inferiours, Magiſtrates, Miniſters, All of all ſorts may be perſwaded, and incouraged to pay their vowes, and to goe one before another in the Example of a Reall, and not a verball Reformation. Pſal. 102.2. Ioſh. 24.15.

REMEDIES POLITICALL. 1. That as all Iſrael by Gods appointment in times of their emergent dangers, ſo LONDON, and the parts adjacent be every man and horſe, fit for ſervice, inſtantly prepared againſt the day of battell, the manner whereof, we referre to the wiſdome of the State, of which great Number by incouragements out of Gods Word, and exerciſe of Armes, the Spirit of Fortitude will doubtleſſe come upon multitudes, to fight Chriſts Battles againſt his Antichriſtian Adverſaries. Numb. 1.2. Prov. 21.31. Deut. 20.1. 2. That leaſt we be prevented herein, the Parliament be humbly and earneſtly petitioned, to expedite the compleating of the Army, according to their New Modell. 3. That ſome more effectuall courſe be taken then hath been heretofore, to purge the Citie of all treacherous Papiſts, dangerous malignants, whether ſtrangers or others, who are alwayes plotting miſchiefe againſt this Citie, and will then be ſure to ingratiate themſelves with the Adverſary, by putting their plots in execution, when they may be moſt pernitious and deſtructive.

We have given out theſe Advertiſements, that we might awaken the Citie out of their preſent deep ſecurity, unto a more then ordinary Activity, for the Parliaments, their owne, and the Kingdomes ſafety, for there is yet hope in this our Iſrael concerning this. Ezra 10.2.

Or that at leaſt, we may deliver our own ſoules from the guilt of bloud. Having uſed our utmoſt endeavours, to ſave life, and not to kill. Mark 3.4.

2 SAM. 10.12.

Be of good courage, and let us play the men, for our people, and for the Cities of our God, and the Lord doe that which ſeemeth Him good.