Foure speeches delivered in Guild-Hall on Friday the sixth of October, 1643. At a common-hall, vpon occasion of desiring the assistance of our brethren of Scotland in this warre. / Viz. the [brace] 1. by Mr. Solicitor. 2. by Mr. Edmund Calamy. 3. by Mr. Jeremiah Burroughes. 4. by Mr. Obadiah Sedgewick. Published according to order.

Foure speeches delivered in Guild-Hall on Friday the sixth of October, 1643. At a common-hall, vpon occasion of desiring the assistance of our brethren of Scotland in this warre. / Viz. the [brace] 1. by Mr. Solicitor. 2. by Mr. Edmund Calamy. 3. by Mr. Jeremiah Burroughes. 4. by Mr. Obadiah Sedgewick. Published according to order.

Table of contents

Title page

Mr. Solicitor his Speech at Guild-Hall, on Friday, October 6. 1643.

Mr. Edmond Calamy his speech in Guild-hall on Friday the sixt of October, 1643.

Mr. Jeremiah Burroughes his speech in Guild-hall on Friday the sixt of October, 1643.

Mr. Obadiah Sedgewick his speech in Guild-hall on Friday the sixt of October, 1643.

[Page] [Page] Foure SPEECHES Delivered In Guild-Hall, on Friday the sixth of October, 1643. At a Common-Hall.

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[Page] FOVRE SPEECHES Delivered in GVILD-HALL ON Friday the sixth of October, 1643.

At a COMMON-HALL, Vpon occasion of desiring the Assistance of our Brethren of SCOTLAND in this WARRE.

VIZ. The

1. by Mr. Solicitor.

2. by Mr. Edmund Calamy.

3. by Mr. Jeremiah Burroughes.

4. by Mr. Obadiah Sedgewick.

Published according to Order.

LONDON, Printed by R. Cotes, for Jo. Bellamie, and are to bee sold at his shop at the sign of the three Golden Lions in Cornhill, neer the Royall Exchange. 1646.

Mr. Solicitor his Speech at Guild-Hall, on Friday, October 6. 1643.

Worthy Aldermen, and Gentlemen, and Citizens of this Famous City of London,

THe cause of the calling of this Assembly of this Common-Hall, it was the businesse of Scotland, I thinke it is not unknowne to many of you, that about two months since both the Houses of Parliament did send a Committee into Scotland to desire the assistance of our brethren of Scotland in this Warre: the Committee hath from thence sent Propositions to both the Houses, whereby wee see their willingnesse to come to our assistance: but one part of it is, that without some supplyes of Money, they are not able at all [Page] to come into this assistance, The Houses considering the necessity of their comming in, and of speedy supplyes of Money to that purpose, they did send a Committee, and did desire that a Common-Councell might be called, which was done upon Munday last, and they did thither send a Committee, with desire that the Common-Councell would take that into consideration, that is, the necessity of their comming, and speedy supplies to bee raised. And for the effecting of this, not having any other means so neare at hand as that, they did desire that the Common-Councell would appoint a Committee out of themselves to consider of this businesse with the Committee of the House of Commons: These they met, and have been together these two dayes considering of it, that is, Wednesday and Thursday, and they did intend, and doe still, to send to divers of those that are able and rich of this City, to the intent that they might see, what they would lend to this businesse; and to tender to them such security, as they conceive to be very convenient and fitting for those that are willing to lend Money: but when they had entred upon the businesse, and▪ considering the speed, and the necessity that the supply should be expedited, they thought that would be too long a way, yet resolved to prosecute it still, but withall they did desire, that my Lord Major would be pleased to call a Court of Aldermen this morning, (which hee did) and likewise a Common-Hall, to the intent that the necessity of the raising of this money speedily might be declared to you, because the other would be a longer way; which though it be intended still to be prosecuted; yet when you are all here together, we may the better know your affections to this businesse, and that the Money may be speedily raised, though not the whole, yet it will be somewhat to the businesse, if some considerable summe might speedily be sent away.

I conceive there is no need to acquaint you with the benefits that will redound to this kingdome, and the advantages wee shall have by a nearer association with them, and by their comming in, to this purpose for our assistance; the benefits certainly when wee consider of them, are many. As first,

This great cause which is now in agitation, that by this means will be much secur'd; it will bee assur'd to us, that the event, and the successe of it (by Gods blessing) will bee made a great deale the [Page] certainer: If they do not come in, then we are to consider how we stand. Certainly, the Parties they are very equall in this businesse, and where the Parties are equall, the successe must needs bee dangerous, and very uncertain. Now we all of us see, that all ranks and degrees of men, even from the highest Lords, to the meanest Commoners, they are engaged on both sides; and if the advantage be of either side, it is in the other, because that the greater part of the Nobility and Gentry we know they are the other way. Likewise if we consider the Citi [...] and Townes of this kingdom, that there is Newcastle, that there is York-shire, that there is Shrewsbury, that there is Bristoll, that there is Chester, and that there is Exeter, and divers others Cities and great Townes in their custody.

If we goe through all the Counties of the Kingdome, wee see there the greatest parts of the Northerne parts possess'd wholly by the Earle of Newcastle, Northumberland, Cumberland, Westmerland, York-shire, and some other parts. So in the West, goe to other Counties, there is a mixture in all of them, that we cannot say there is any part of the Kingdome free; so that the mixture seemes to be of the people likewise, if not the greater party the other way.

If we consider likewise the events and successes; as we on the one side have taken Portsmouth, Chichester, and some other places, so they on the other side have taken Exeter, and Bristoll, and other places. If we consider the events of the Skirmishes, Fights, and Battailes that have been; we cannot say, that on any side hath been any compleat Victory; that at Edgehill, it pleased God to give us a deliverance, we finde it was no compleat Victory, by those things that followed; so this at Newbury lately no compleat victory, for had it been so, the Warre had been at an end, so that which way soever we looke, unlesse wee call them in to our assistance, certainly the Parties on both sides, are very equally engaged; and certainly when two men of equall strength doe wrestle, it is an even lay which of them will give the fall; as long as the ballances stand so even, it is very uncertain which way they will weigh down.

We are to consider, (that in respect that the danger is such, and the event of the Warre so uncertaine, without their comming in) [Page] what the cause is that is lost, in case the day should be theirs; certainly considering that the Papists in Ireland are wholly engaged, that the Papists in England are wholly engaged, that the Prelates and their Party are wholly engaged, that there are divers that are Neuters, and ill-disposed men, that they likewise encline that way: Considering that that Party is acted by Jesuiticall Counsells, for certainly they are behinde the Curtaine, though they are not so visible to us: I say, when this is considered, who are the Parties that shall get this day, it is very easie to prognosticate what the losse will be, no lesse then of Religion, and of our Lawes, and of our Liberties: In a word, if that that Party doe prevaile, I am affraid we have lost all; and therefore those other things, they will not be so considerable which I shall tell you of. Wee know the great Loanes and Contributions that have been made by the Worthy Citizens of this City, and by divers other well-affected persons throughout the Kingdome; the Money, the Plate, the Horses, and other things for this Warre too, they will bee lost: but not onely so, but certainly, that these have been lent to the Parliament for the maintaining of the Warre, against that Party, this will b [...]e good reason why they should take all away. The publike Faith likewise of both Houses of Parliament, and so the whole Kingdome, certainly that must be violated, and if that should bee so, if that we should be ove [...]born in this cause, it will easily be foreseene, whether any future Parliament will be enabled to stand up for the defence of Religion, and the Liberties of the People. Wee may adde to this the Charters and the Franchises of this great City, it will be easily foreseen, what will be the event of that, whether they wil be continued to you, yea or no, considering what affection you have born to this cause. Certainly in former time [...], the Charters and the priviledges of this City, they have been confirmed by Parliaments, as doth appear in King Johns time, in Henry the third, Richard second, & always after the ending of those great Wars, whe [...] in no doubt, the City (as hath been seen in that) did engage themselves, as now, in the Parliaments cause; therefore for their security, their Charters were alwayes confirmed; which wee need not doubt will be done in this cause; but in case the event should bee otherwise, what the losse will be in that way, you may easily see; so that all is at stake, and if we bring not them in to our assistance, [Page] for ought I know, we are at fairs to lose the game, as win [...] it, and if any mana estate here, stood upon the like c [...]su [...]lty, I believe hee would give some considerable summe to ensure it, in the office of Policies▪ Thus we stand in case they are no [...] called in the losse so great, that is the losse of all, the event so uncertaine.

In case they be called in, we are to consider then what alteration this is like to make▪ we are therefore to consider how it comes about that the Party comes to be so equall, that so many should engage themselves on the other Party, as we see they doe; certainly a great many of them doe it, being uncertaine in their judgements to which side to cleave. Another Party they doe it, because that they out of feare desire to keep their Estates, and stand Neuters. For the first of those, certainly both at home and abroad, those that are averse, they looke upon us as a Protestant Kingdom, but divided among our selves; they heare Protestations on both sides, that both Parties doe protest to maintaine the Protestant Religion, the Laws of the Kingdome, and the Liberty of the Subject; and they see and read the Declarations that goe out on both sides, and the matter of fact being that that makes the cause, they know not what to believe of that; for when they read the severall Declarations, they see that affirmed by one party, that is denyed of the other, so that indeed they know not which way to bend themselves to beleeve, (of the matter of fact, I meane:) But now a great many after the case hath been stated, as it hath been on both sides b [...] these Declarations, when they shall see that this Kingdome of Scotland, to which Declarations have been sent by both Parties, (for so they have, the King hath sent on his side, and the Parliament hath sent on their side also) when they shall see the Kingdome of [...]cotland hath sent a Committee into this Kingdom, to informe themselves of the businesse how it stood, to the intent they might know how to carry themselves between both Parties; I say, when after all this, they shall see a whole Protestant Kingdom, as one Man, a Protestant Kingdome that hath had differences heretofore, and those differences have beene setled, when they have beene in the same distractions as wee have, and so setled, as that it hath beene with a cleare Declaration of their innocencies, that they had just cause to doe, what they had dont, and went away as they did, with that full satisfaction [Page] they have given to the world: I say, when they shall see such men, as have for so long a time stood by as a third Party, and Spectators onely, and lookens on; when they shall see a Kingdome, that is altogether unbyass'd, that hath the same King▪ lives in the same Island, that hath the same Religion: I say, when they shall behold a whole Kingdome to declare for the one Party, that is, for our Party; when they shall see them not onely doe so, but enter into a League and Covenant, and that by oath with us, for the maintaining of this Religion: when they shall see them engaging their whole Kingdome as one man, in a War for the maintaining of this cause: I say, certainly that must bee a convincing, silencing argument to all these men, that this is the Party that doth maintain really, and in truth, the true Protestant Religion, the Laws of the Realme, and the Liberties of the Subject: That is for the first.

The second is, there is another Party, that are well enough satisfied in their judgements, but out of feare of their estates, and other sinister, by and base ends, (for so they may be called, for as this Covenant calls it a detestable Neutrality▪ so may wee) I say, when these Parties shall see such an addition of strength to the one side, their owne principles of feare will reach them to goe to that that is the stronger side. But admitting that men stood in their judgments, and in Neutrality, as they now doe, and that their comming in did not alter one man; yet we are to consider what the strength is that they doe bring in wi [...]h them, and what that is like to doe, admitting the parties to bee as equally engaged, as now they be; and that is by their owne Propositions, that when they come in, they intend to come in with 18000 Foot, with 1000▪ Dragoneers, and 2000 Horse, with 21000 Horse and Foot, with a Traine of Artillery proportionable and suitable to such an Army: Certainly, by the blessing of God, such a force to bee added to the one Party, that is now even, it cannot but in all likelihood cary down the scales, and alter the whole [...]ame, and the state of the businesse. Why? certainly two against one in all [...]usinesses, that makes oddes. If we have the addition of that whole Kingdome to this Party that is even with the other, or neare so, now wee may easily judge of the event. This is the first benefit I shall propound to you, wee are like to reap by their comming in, that [Page] is, the assuring of this great cause, that so much conc [...]nes us.

The second is this, which I shall propound to you, that is▪ that it will bee for our profit, that it will ease the Warre, that it will make the charge▪ and the burthen of it to [...] This doth arise partly out of what hath been said, that their comming in, it will shorten the Warre, for as long as the parties ar [...] equall, it must needes lengthen and protract the Warre; when two scales are almost equally ballanced, wee know for a great while it falls on the right hand, and on the left hand, and it is a great while before they stand still; so that if the War bee protracted and lengthened, that will bee spent in time, and a great deal more, then a good round summe will be in making a sudden conclusion of it; I think every Lessee, hee had rather pay a good round Fine, than for many [...]ers together, to sit upon a great Rent▪ this may bee our condition, if wee doe not bring them in, besides the losse of all at last; But the benefit will appear, by the shortning of the Warre, in this further:

By those miseries, and that poverty▪ and that calamity, which a long Warre must of necessity bring with it; The wealth of this Kingdome (I suppose▪) it arises out of the soyle, and the ground of the Kingdom, and it arises out of the M [...]nufactures, and out of the Trade of the Kingdom; These again do consist principally in Rents and in Debts; certainly Debtors by having their estates plundered, and wholly taken away from them, and the lives from many▪ debts will cease▪ there will bee no debts to bee paid; the same will bee likewise of Rents, when the Cattle shall bee killed up, and the Tenants plundered of all they have, there will bee no Rents paid: How will it bee like, if the Warres continue, that the Trade will bee continued? for the materialls of Trade by a long Warre, will bee wholly destroyed, and taken from us; The Sheep of the Kingdom that bring our Woall, and the Horses, and the Cattle, that bring our Leather and our Tallow; these three, the Wooll, Leather, and Tallow, and divers other things, wee know how many hundred Trades, even from the greatest Merchant, to the lowest Handicrafts-man, how many they imploy▪ these, they will bee destroyed, not onely by the consumption, which the Souldier makes, that is wastefull, but even the policy [Page] of Warre will require of the Enemy, (as wee see of late about Gloucester, in the Vale of Esum, the policy of War will cause, I say, one party) [...]o kill and destroy all Cattle, when the necessity of Warre r [...]qui [...] [...]t, to s [...]arve out the Enemy; Besides the daily losse of Towns and Cities, what a losse will that bee to Trading, and in particular to this City? I beleeve it is a sensible thing to many of you▪ the [...]aking o [...] [...]ter, the taking of Bris [...]o [...], and the Trade of Newcastle stopped, and some other Cities, what a great losse, even in point of debt, it hath been to many worthy Citizens, of this City; Besides, a long Warre it will consume, the very materialls of life, of food and rayment, wee shall neither have meat, drink, nor cloathing, if the War con [...]inue, considering the burnings and devastations that goe along with it▪ so that for my own part, I think it is a very clear case, that wee had better buy out with a round summe, a short War, then to have a long War continued, though it bee without any charge at all; If all our horse and foot, and trayn of Artillery, and Garrisons, were all paid to our hand, wee had better buy a short Peace, by bringing them in, than to have a long War without charge, because of that inevitable poverty, that a long War must needs bring to a Kingdom; this first thing that I have offered, is in point of time, the shortening of Warre, the Benefit and Profit that it will bee to the Kingdome.

Secondly, Wee all know this Warre hath contracted a great debt upon the Kingdom, and it will contract farre more; In case this shall bee hereafter to bee paid in sheere Money and Coyn, I am afraid the Kingdom is not able to pay it at once, (I beleeve that all men know) Suppose this then shall bee appointed to bee paid at certain yeers and times, what will bee the event of that? I am afraid the destruction of the Kingdom, for then the case will bee thus, the greatest part of the Lords and Gentry are ingaged in the other way, and here lies a great debt annually to bee paid by the Kingdom, and certainly this will disaffect people to all other Parliaments, when they shall yeerly bee under the payments of such mo [...]eys, that the Parliament hath contracted upon them; And then considering who it is will operate upon the other party▪ for there is another party that will not bee easily reconciled to the party that hath been on the other side, and so this other party [Page] striking in the other way, what this is like to produce, is very dangerous to mee; whereas on the other side, as long as the parties are equally engaged, as wee are, without their comming, I am afraid there will not bee that force on the one side, as to make the other side, (that is, the Papists, and the Prelates, and the other Malignants) out of their estates to pay these debts, which their comming in, in all likelihood will make us doe▪ which if these debts bee paid out of their estates and Lands▪ I know no inconvenience will come to the Kingdom by it; for here is the case, they that have it now in their hands, to imploy i [...] for the destruction of the Kingdom, it will bee onely putting it in their hands, that shew their good affections to the Kingdom; so that way I conceive the debt of the Kingdom, will bee no losse at all to the Kingdom.

The third benefit is, that even the present War it will bee made lesse chargeable to us▪ and that in this▪ They not being come in, wee have not Newcastle, there is Nottingh [...]mshire, York [...]ir [...], that great Country, a great part of L [...]olnshire, the Bishopri [...] of D [...]rham, Northumberland, Co [...]m [...]erland, W [...]merland, the great [...] part of the West, the richest part, I know, in this Kingdom, except this City▪ I say, in case they come not in, they are all under contribution▪ to the other side; their comming in gaines New [...]le, it gaines▪ as much, as the money to bring them in will cost [...] the very gaining of that Town; and likewise when they come in, it brings all those Countries under contribution; so that the very contribution▪ that those Northern Countries will yeeld, it will not only pay the Scotch Army, but is likely (as it is beleeved) it will make an addition for our other For [...]s, that wee shall have to spare for other Forces, by that which their comming in will gain of the con [...]ributions of those [...] so that I have now done with those [...] that will come [...]o you in point of Profit, and likewise the assuring of this great Cause.

The third is this, that [...] w [...] doe come to a peace, when Gods time is come that wee shall have one▪ yet their co [...] ming in▪ in all [...] i [...] will cause [...]s to have a better a surer▪ and b [...]tter g [...]dunded [...] then if they doe not [...]om [...] in▪ And likewise, what peace [...] that it will bee p [...]r [...]et and bee the sco [...] for us, [...] our posterity to reap the benefit [Page] of it: First, that their comming in will make our Peace, in all probability the better; I beseech you, without their comming in, what is it like to bee? The p [...]ties are equall, the partie that is against us, they consist of P [...]pi [...]s, and P [...]elates, &c. if wee come to compound this businesse, what is it like to bee? but that our composition will bee indeed the destruction of the Protestant Religion, and of our Liberties; I am afraid it is very like to bee the ending of that controversie between the two women for the Childe, who should bee the Mother of it, that is, that the Childe should bee divided; Wee know that our division must have caused death, I am afraid wee shall then come to bee half Protestants, and half Papists, and this neutrality of both, I am afraid it will bee the destruction of the one; If it prove not destructive, yet certainly it will prove very dangerous to us; In diseases, if Nature bee not able wholly to expell the malignity of the disease, it afterwards breakes out in botches, and one malady o [...] another: A sore not cured at bottome, it afterwards festers, and breaks out, and afterwards endangers the person, as much as before; If they come not in, considering the engagements on both sides, and considering the parties, who wee must compound with, I say, the cure is like to bee very imperfect, their comming in I hope will make it perfect; Besides, what ever the Peace is, if it bee good without their comming in, it is likely wee and our posterity shall reap the fruit of it, certainly, wee have had great experiences in the times of our Ancestors, that when divisions of this nature have been, as when the Statute of Magna Cha [...]a, was first obtained, which was with all the care the w [...]t of man could devise, there was the Oath of the King, and all the Nobility of the Kingdom, yet it was broken within twelve moneths after; In his Sons time twelve of the Nobility were appointed to see it kept, that would not doe the work, afterwards they appointed Gentlemen in every Countrey, that they should see to it▪ this did not the work, it broke out from time to time; But what should wee goe further? Those Lawes that have been made against Papists in our memories, are not the Laws full, that no Papist is to [...] how see wee that put in execution, and that two pa [...]t [...] of their [...]ates to bee seized▪ when wee see nothing at all hath been done [...]hat way. For the Petition of Right, in our memory, how was that kept? Again, our neighbours [Page] the Netherlanders, when they made that peace with the King of Spain, they called in this Kingdom and France, to bee witnesses to it; wee see how that calling us in, to bee witnesses, how that hath engaged both parties to that State at this time, and how wee have been assistant to them, and expresse [...] our desires to have them thrive; But how is it like to bee, when there shall not onely bee our own Kingdom, but a brother Kingdom, an entire Kingdom, one of the same Religion, with us, one that loves their Liberties, as well as wee, when they shall bee engaged in point of interest with us, when the same Law, the same Acts of Parliament that shall compose the differences, when if it hee broken on our parts, in any thing that concerns us, they cannot conceive but it may be their case the next day, because it all depends upon one Law, one and the same Title, and their interest is the same; So that it there were nothing else in it, but that wee were like to have the better Peace, and on the better termes, and what ever it bee; it is likely to bee kept the better, to us and our posterity, if nothing else were in it, that were much to our advantage surely, if by some considerable summe of money, wee might have them brought in, and have them at the end of this Peace, and interested in it as well as our selves; So that I have now done with those Benefits, I have offered to you, that wee shall have by their assistance and comming in; I make no doubt but that most of these things were known to you all before, and that this part hath been to very little purpose, that I have spoken▪ for when that both the Houses of Parliament, have seen the necessity and benefit of it, when it was propounded to the Common Councell, that they likewise saw the necessity of it, I know it will [...]ee bootlesse to use any further Arguments to you, that you may see the benefits that will redownd by their comming to us▪

But it will bee asked, notwithstanding wee may receive benefit by it, how may wee bee assured that they are willing? Truely, for that, by what hath been done▪ it will bee sufficiently clear; Both Houses sent a Committee to them, that in a little time did produce the Covenant there, approved of by their Assembly of Divines, and by the Convention of Estates, it is co [...] hither, it hath been agreed here, it hath been taken here by the House of Commons already, and by a great many of this City; A worthy Lord, [Page] my Lord Wharton (I may name him here) at a Common-Councell, he did declare to my Lord Major and Aldermen, that their House would in few dayes likewise take it; this Covenant shews their willingnesse (in the first place) for wee by that are bound to the mutuall defence of our Religion, and preservation of our civill Liberties, for by that we are bound to the preservation of the Liberties of Parliaments; and that Delinquents and Malignants may be brought to their just triall; so this is already done.

It was likewise declared by the Commissioners of Scotland, that they did not doubt, but by this time they were taking it in that Kingdome; and their Commissioners here they have taken it already; so that they have joyned themselves to us by oath, for the mutuall preservation of Religion and Lawes.

In the second place, they have shewed their consent by the Propositions they have sent to us, which are the termes upon which they are to come in; they have not stayed here but they have proceeded to action; they have named the Generall of their Army, which is my Lord Generall Lesley, which was their Generall when they came into this Kingdome.

And likewise they have granted Commissions into all the Shires of Scotland for the raising of Horse and Foot, and named their Colonells, Captaines, and other Officers, and listed them. There is a further progresse likewise, that is, that we have taken Berwicke already, for the facilitating of their comming in, which may bee a place of retreat for them, and a Magazine for their Ammunition and Victualls. And since this hath been taken by the Parliament, they have sent some Troops of Horse, and certain Foot for the securing of that Town: and if they had before knowne the consent of the Parliament for their having the use of Berwicke, they had put in their Ammunition and Victuall before this time into Berwicke, which before this time surely they d [...] know; and therefore we doubt not, but they have done the other.

Likewise further, when they come in, they intend to goe on in their march, though it be farre in the yeare, and not to sit downe in their quarters. Wee know my Lord of Newca [...]le did it [...]ast yeare, we know they are as farre Northern borne, they are both in a colder Cly [...]te▪ and therefore wee doubt not of it, and so [...] long, we hope to heare of the taking of Newcastle, which what [Page] reliefe it will be to this City in the point of Coales, and other Trade, you may easily see: Most of this to the Common-Councell was declared by two Worthy Commissioners that were sent out of Scotland, my Lord Mackland, and Mr. Henderson. But it may be said, if they be so willing, and so ready to come, and have all things ready, what is the reason wee heare not of their comming into the Kingdome? They have answered us by their Propositions, that it is impossible for them to doe it, without some sum of Money: and that this is no pretence, but that it is really so, we have it from our owne Committee there, wee have it from all hands there: and if we consider how they have been exhausted heretofore, I thinke we may easily believe it our selves: and that their Army that is in Ireland have been 14 moneths without any pay at all, they are saine to supply them with necessities, which hath been foure score thousand pound, else that Army must have starved. We know they had two years Warre, we promised them a brotherly assistance, and there is an act for it, but it is knowne by reason of the troubles we have here at home, we have not paid them that; so that considering the poverty of that Kingdome (without offence I thinke we may say so) I say, considering the poverty of that Kingdome, it is certaine, it is not a pretence of theirs, but it is really so. Neither indeed can we presume it, when as the Covenant and Oath they take, binde them as well as us, that they should come to our assistance; it binds them as much to our assistance, as that Oath binde our selves to our owne assistance, and therefore wee cannot presume, that they would (being dis-ingaged of an Oath, afterward) be willing to take that Oath, unlesse they did likewise know their owne necessity, that they could not come in without some summe of Money; and truly I suppose that they cannot come in without Money, (as hath been declared to you) and that we must ground upon and build upon, for wee are assured it on all hands.

It will be then said, what is that summe? Why truly the summe that they have sent in their Propositions, is 100000 l. I confesse a great summ [...], and that that I know not how to mention in this Assembly, considering how this City hath been exhausted formerly by those great Contribution [...], and by those aides that they have given in this case. But on the other side, though I cannot indeed [Page] tell how, when I consider the sumto presse it: yet when I doe consider the inevitable danger that follows, and the great advantages that we lose by every dayes delay in it. I say, when I consider them, I cannot on the other side but presse it. Let us therefore consider, in case this bee not within some convenient time raised, what an infinite disadvantage comes by it to us.

First of all, all those preparations they will bee in a manner lost, if that it be not presently raised, there will be no comming in this Winter, if there be no comming in this Winter, no gaining of Newcastle, if no gaining of Newcastle, no Coales, nor materials for Fewell. Nay, that is not all, but if they doe not come in now, and if wee doe not provide this Money, I shall despaire of their comming in at all, and that upon this ground, that if wee bee not able now to raise the summe of Money, the continuance of this Warre, it will more and more every day, and that sensible▪ dis-enable us to doe it at another time. If we cannot doe it now, wee shall be lesse able to doe it, a weeke, a moneth, a quarter of a yeare hence; for the Warre you see destroyes all Trade, (that hath been opened to you before) wee shall grow poorer, our Enemies stronger; if we be not able to bring them in now, we shall never bee able to bring them in at all.

It will be desired, if it bee possible to raise this great summe of Money, what is the security shall be given? for truly it was never desired of this city, that so much mony should be given to them, but it is desired it should be onely lent, for if they come not in in time, the businesse is as good as lost: they have therefore (considering this) already engaged the Publike Faith of that Kingdome, with the Publike faith of this Kingdome, for the raising of 200000 l. either by borrowing of it here, or in Forain parts. Therefore this is the first Security that is [...]endered to you now, that money is a borrowing in Parts beyond the Sea; that Mony that is so borrowed, shall goe on towards the repayment of this, what ever it is that shall be lent. But besides this Publike Faith, there are divers wayes visible how this Publike Faith will bee dis-engaged, that is, by the Sequestrations, for there is an Ordinance of both Houses for 30000 l. to be raised for them out of the Sequestrations. Now this shall not need to discourage any that so little hath bin raised out of the Sequestrations hitherto, for the Houses have [Page] been preparing the businesses a great while, and now Michaelmas is come, all the Rents are ready, within few weeks to bring it in; that is for so much.

Their comming in, it gaines Newcastle, the gaining of Newcastle gaines a great masse of Coales that are there ready already, when they come in; and out of that there will bee likewise an Annuall or a Monethly payment of the Coales, for the dis-engaging of those that shall lend this summe. Besides, when they come in, if they cleare those Countrys, wee know how full of Papists, & how full of Prelates, those Northern Countreys are, as York-shire, but especially the whole Bishoprick of Durham, a whole County, Northumberland, Cumberland, &c. full of Papists, full of those of the Prelaticall party, full of Malignants, when they come in, those parts are cleared, they will be free for three whole moneths, and ten dayes, for the dis-engaging of this, (which I forgot to tell you before what the Scots are to doe for this 100000 l.) for they are to bring in their Traine of Artillery, their 21000 Horse and Foot, they are to continue three moneths and ten dayes in your Service, after they come into your Kingdome, after the payment of this 100000 l. so that there is full three moneths and ten dayes for these Counties to lie open to the repayment of this Mony; for those three moneths they are to be without pay.

These are the principall things, that wee have yet thought upon for the dis-ingaging of us, that wee tender to you; there are divers others, which the Committee hath taken into consideration, which they see as much or more certainty in, than in any of these that hath been propounded; If it were no more than the Publique Faith of both Kingdoms, as long as the Kingdoms subsist, or the Cause thrives in the hands of one or other, this must bee dis-ingaged, so that at best it is but a Loan, and must bee paid if the Cause survive, truely, if it doe not survive, it being our Religion, I know not what reason wee have [...] desire to survive it, and if wee lose it, I am sure wee lose all.

Truly Gentlemen, thus, I have but one word more to say; The Cause it is Gods, if it bee not so, let us repent that ever wee medled with it; It is the Cause of our Countrey, if it bee not so, let us now say, wee repent, and leave it; It is the Cause of these three Kingdomes, England, Ireland, and Scotland, it is the Cause of Christendom, [Page] for if this Cause be carryed against us, certainly the Protestant Cause throughout all Europe, will fare the worse for it: this is the Cause, & this we all know to be the Cause. It hath pleased Almighty God out of his Providence to call even us poor creatures, to be the managers of this great cause of his, we have undertaken it, we have formerly by our Protestations engaged our selves to the maintaining of it, wee have all of us, both Parliament, City, and all well-affected Subjects, of this Kingdom, wee have put our shoulders to it, wee have of late manifested to God and all the world, that wee doe not repent of what wee have done, wee have entred into a Solemn League and Covenant; I think the solemnest that ever was seen in this Kingdom, Gentlemen thus, let our cheerfulnesse in this service shew, that wee have taken that Covenant, and doe affect this businesse, with our whole hearts; I have done, Pray God give his blessing.

Mr. Edmond Calamy his speech in Guild-hall on Friday the sixt of October, 1643.

Gentlemen,

YOU have heard a worthy Gentleman of the House of Commons, it is desired by this grave and Reverend Assembly of Ministers, that three of the Ministers of this Assembly, should likewise speak unto you concerning this great businesse, and notwithstanding my indisposition of body, being required by them, though that Gentleman of the House of Commons hath spoken so abundantly to the purpose, yet notwithstanding I am here come to speak something, the rather to declare my willingnesse to appear in this Cause, that is every way so just, and every way so honest, and so good, that I may truly say, as the Martyr did, that if I had as many lives, as I have haires on my head, I would bee willing to sacrifice all these lives in this Cause; You know the story of Craesus, that though hee never spake in his life, yet when hee saw his Father ready to bee killed, it untyed the strings of his tongue, and then hee cryed out, that they would not kill his Father; you are not ignorant that England and Ireland lye a dying, [Page] and though I never appeared in this place, yet I blesse God that hath given mee that health, this day, to speak something in this Cause, for the reviving of the dying condition of England, and Ireland; It is such a Cause as is able to make a very Infant eloquent, and a dumb man to speak that never spake in all his life; The matter I am desired to speak to, is, concerning the Contribution, to perswade you to bee liberall towards the bringing in of the Scots, to help us in this our great necessity; The truth is, it is a great shame that England should stand in need of another Nation, to help it to preserve its Religion and Liberties: That England, that hath been enriched with the Gospel of Peace, and the peace of the Gospel for so many yeers, that England, that hath been blessed with so many rare Ministers of God, so many precious, and powerfull servants, that have preached the Word of God in season and out of season; that England, that hath professed the Gospel with so much power and purity; that England should stand in need, of the help of their Brethren of Scotland, for to preserve that Gospel that they have professed so many yeers; I confesse to mee it seems a very strange Prodigie, and a strange wonder; but it hath pleased Almighty God for the sins of England, for our great unthankfulnesse, and for our unthankfulnesse under these means, and for the great blood-guiltinesse, and Idolatry, and Superstition of this Nation, it hath pleased God to suffer a great part of the Kingdom, to bee blinded, especially those parts, where the Word of God hath not been preached in a powerfull manner; and there are many in the Kingdom, that will not bee perswaded, that there is an intention to bring in Popery, and to bring in Slavery; Many of them (I say) think that though the Popish Army should prevaile, and the plundering Army should prevaile, yet they think all would goe well with Religion, and with their Liberties; I say, it hath pleased God to suffer abundance in the Kingdom, to bee blinded with this opinion, out of a just judgement to punish us for our unthankfulnesse, and for our ingratitude; and this is the reason that so many men stand Neuters, and that so many are Malignants, and disaffected to this great Cause, in so much that I am concluded under this, that there is little probability to finish this Cause, without the comming in of the Scots (as you heard so worthily by that Member of the House of Commons;) [Page] The sons of Zerviah are grown so strong, what through our fearfulnesse, what through our covetousnesse, what through our malignity, that there is little hope (I say) to finish this great Cause, or to bring it to a desired peace, without the help of another Nation, and by the assistance of God, by the help of another Nation it may be done; These are two mighty, two omnipotent Arguments, to prevaile with you to contribute your utmost aide and assistance to that Cause; since it cannot speedily bee done without their help, & by Gods blessing, it may speedily be don by their help.

What would the Kings party doe, if they could engage another Nation to their help? 21000. if they could engage them to our ruine; what would they not doe? How much more should wee be willing to contribute our greatest help to engage a Nation, that indeed is part of our own Nation, within the same Island, and our Brethren, so faithfull, and so well affected to this Cause, what should wee not bee willing to doe to ingage so great a party? I would intreat you to remember, that it is not many yeers agoe, since our Brethren of Scotland came hither into England, in a warlike manner, and yet with peaceable affections, and that you would reminde your selves, what good they did to you, when they were then in England, they were the chiefe Causes of this Parliament, that now wee doe enjoy, and of all the good that hath been reaped by this Parliament; (as you may well remember) By their comming in you know this Parliament was procured, and their second comming in (through Gods mercy) may bee a means to confirm this Parliament, and to establish it, and to uphold it in its dignity, and in the priviledges of it, and to keep it from being ruined; and if the Parliament bee ruined, you all well know that our Religion, and our Liberties are ruined, for the Parliament is the great Conservatour of Religion and Liberties; and I may truly say, as you know Caligula did once wish, that all Rome were one neck that hee might cut it off at one blow; They that intend to ruine the Parliament, they ruine your Religion and Liberties, & all England at one blow; Now (I say) as their first comming was a meanes to produce this Parliament, so their second comming in (through Gods blessing) may bee a means to establish it, and to confirme it▪ And when they were here, you know how faithfully they carryed themselves, and when they had [Page] done their work, how willingly they went away without doing any hurt, and I doubt not of the same faithfullnesse, nay, you ought all to beleeve, that they will likewise, when they have done the worke they are called too in England, they will likewise with the same faithfullnesse depart, for it is Religion that brings them here, and the same Religion will make them willingly leave us, and goe home to their owne Countrey, when they have done that worke for which they came. I am assured that the great hope at Oxford is, that they will never prevaile for the petting of Money for to bring them in; and if they once see the matter of Money effected, and if they once heare of the Scots comming in, it will worke such a terrour there, as I am assured, that it will (through Gods mercy) produce a notable complyance of that Party with the Parliament for an effectuall peace, such as all the godly of the Land shall blesse God for.

I foresee there are many Objections that may be brought to hinder this worke, many mountaines of opposition that will lye in the way: And likewise that the Malignants will bu [...] many things in your eares, if it be possible to put some great rub in the way, to hinder the effecting of this work, but I hope, the love you have to God, and to your Religion, and to the Gospel, and to yours wives and children, will swallow down all these objections, and conquer them all; Ile name some few objections, and give you some short answer.

Some it may bee, will put you in minde, to call in question the lawfulnesse of contributing towards the bringing in of the Scots to this Nation; But for this, Ile give you an easie answer, Certainly Gentlemen, it is as lawfull for the Parliament to call in our brethren of Scotland to their help, as it is lawfull for mee, when my house is on fire, and not able to quench it my self, to call in my neighbour to quench my house, that is ready to burn down; The Kingdom is all on fire, wee are not able with that speed to quench it, as wee wish, wee call in our brethren in Scotland to help us to quench the flames that are kindled among us; It is as lawfull as it is for the Master and Marriners of a Ship, when it is ready to sink through a mighty Tempest, to call in other Marriners to help to keep the Ship from sinking; It is the condition of our Kingdom now, it is ready to sink, and it is our desire that our [Page] brethren of Scotland would come in to our aide, to keep it from sinking.

Others it may be will object and say to you, it is rebellion, especially to call in another Nation to your helpe. But I beseech you give me leave to put you in minde, that when the Scots came last into England, there was a Proclamation out against them, wherein they were called Rebels, and there were prayers to bee said in our Churches (as you well remember) in which we were to pray against them as Rebells, and there was Money likewise contributed then, for to hinder their comming in, and to raise an Army to drive them out of the Kingdome, and I doubt not but you may remember, all the ill-affected did contribute Mony to keep them out of this Kingdom, and from tarrying in; but it pleased Almighty God through his great mercy, so to change and alter the state of things, that within a little while, the Nation of Scotland, even by Act of Parliament, they were proclaimed and made the true and loyall Subjects of the King, and in those Churches in which they were prayed against as Rebells, even in those very Churches, they were pronounced the good Subjects of the King; this I doubt not but you remember, & I doubt not, but through the mercy of God, the Lord raising up our hearts, I doubt not but the same effect, will come of their second comming into this Kingdom; and they that now tell you they are Rebels, and you do an act of Rebellion, in the contribution to the bringing of them in. I doubt not but you shall see an Act of Parliament to call them his Loyall Subjects, (wherein I hope our King will concurre with his Parliament) and likewise Prayers made; nay, a day of thanksgiving, as was after their first comming, a day of Thanksgiving for the mercy of God, in stirring up their hearts to be willing to come unto our help.

But it may be some others will object and say, why should we that are Ministers, engage our selves so much in this businesse? to see a Reverend Assembly of grave Ministers to appeare here in so great an Assembly. This it may be, will bee a mighty objection to some, but I beseech you give me leave to give you a short answer did I not think that that that shal be said this day, would mightily conduce to peace, for my part, I would not have been the month of the Assembly; did I thinke any other way to produce a solid and a setled peace, a Religious peace. I that am a Minister of peace, [Page] an Ambassador of peace; I would not have been a Trumpeter to this businesse this day: the truth is, if you would have peace with Popery, a Peace with slavery; if you would have a Judas peace, or a Joab his peace, you know the Story, he kiss'd Amasa, and then killed him; if you would have a peace that may bring a massacre with it, a French peace, if you would have such a peace, it may be had easily; but if you would have a peace that may continue the Gospel among you, and may bring in a Reformation, such as all the godly in the Kingdome doe desire, I am concluded under this, and am confident that such a peace cannot bee had without contribution towards the bringing in of the Scots, and that is the reason for the promoting of this peace, this blessed peace, that we have appeared here this day: and me thinks (Gentlemen) the very sight of these worthy Divines, me thinkes so many Divines, so many Orators, so many silent Orators to plead with you, to bee willing to engage your selves to the utmost to help forward the Nation of Scotland to come to our help. And likewise I would put you in mind of the 10▪ of Numbers, there you shal read that there were two silver Trumpets; and as there were Priests appointed for the convocation of their Assemblies, so there were Priests to sound the silver Trumpets to proclaime the Warre. And likewise in the 20. of Deuteronomy, you shall finde there, that when the children of Israel would goe out to Warre, the sonnes of Levi, one of the Priests, was to make a speech to encourage them. And certainly, if this were the way of God in the Old Testament, certainly much more in such a Cause as this, in which Cause Religion is so intwin'd, and indeed so interlac'd, that Religion and this Cause, they are like Hippocrates his twins, they must live and die together. And (Gentlemen) if Religion were not concerned in this Cause, and mightily concerned; and if Religion did not live and die with it, we had not appeared this day; And I hope this will be a sufficient answer unto this Objection.

But there is another Objection which I will answer, and then briefly give leave to my other Reverend Brethren, that likewise are prepared to speake here. The great Objection of all is this, that the City is already exhausted, and so much Money hath been lent already, that there is no hope of lending any more; this is the grand Objection, But truly (Gentlemen) for my part, this is one [Page] of the chiefe Arguments I have to perswade you to lend a little more, because you have lent so much: give me leave to put you in minde of that Story, in the 2 Kings 13. the Story of King Joash, that came to visit the Prophet Elisha, when he was ready to breath out his last, the Prophet Elisha gives him a bow and arrows, and bids him shoot, hee shootes, and bids him smite, hee smites the ground thrice, and then he ceased, the Prophet was exceeding angry with him, and tells him, you should have smote the ground 5 or 6 times, and then you should have utterly consumed the Assyrians, whereas now you shall smite them but three times. Give me leave to apply this, Gentlemen, you have smote the ground thrice, you have lent once, twice, and thrice, indeed you have been the fame of England, and the Repairers of England, and the Ornaments of England, you have lent much, but let mee tell you, you must smite the ground 5 or 6 times, if ever you look to consume the Assyrians, if ever you look to bring this Warre to a happy Peace, that your posterities may rejoyce in this Peace, you must shoot one arrow more, and then through Gods blessing, you may utterly consume these Enemies, that you and your posterity may rejoyce in a happy peace; It is a famous story of Johannes Eleemozinarius, that when hee had given even almost all hee had to the poore, his friends were exceeding angry with him, and told him hee had undone himself, what was his answer? O (saith hee) I have not yet shed my blood for Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ hee emptied himself of his Divinity, to make us rich, hee became poore, and shed his blood for you; You have not yet made your selves so poore as Jesus Christ was, that had no house to lodge in, and he did all this for your sakes; You have not yet shed your blood for the Cause of Christ; Wee read that Moses was willing to bee blotted out of the book of life, for the Cause of God; and wee read of Paul, that hee was willing to bee accursed, for the people of Israels sake; And will you not bee willing to venture your earthly provisions for so good a Cause as this is, which (I say) England was never engaged in the like.

Religion hath produced all the wealth you have, all your wealth is but the childe of Religion, wee have a saying, Religio peperit divitias, & divitiae devoravunt matrem; Religion hath begot wealth, and the Daughter hath devoured the Mother; & [...]lia devoravit [Page] matrem; but give mee leave, and I hope (through Gods blessing) you will invert this saying, Religion hath got you all the wealth you have, you Gentlemen, and I hope the Daughter now will preserve the Mother; I hope Riches will preserve Religion, and not destroy Religion. A famous example of Polan [...] Noli [...], that when hee had given all that hee had away, and being asked, why hee would give so much to the poor, hee gave this answer, Ʋ [...] levi [...] ascenderem s [...]alam Ja [...]c [...]i, that I might the easier get up Jacobs ladder; And let mee assure you, in the word of a Minister, the contributing to this Cause for Gods sake, and for the glory of God, and for the peace of the Gospel, (I say) will bee a means to make you the sooner ascend up Jacobs Ladder; not for the giving of the money, but for the evidence of your Faith, through the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ, by your giving of the money; And certainly that man will never get up Jacobs Ladder, that hath the [...]ust of his money to [...]ar witnesse against him, at the day of Judgement, especially at such a time as this. Give mee leave to put you in minde of one other story, and that is of one Bernardinu [...] [...] that was so liberall to the poore, that every penny that hee gave to the poore, hee would call it a holy penny, and a happy penny▪ and hee would blesse God▪ that hee had that penny to [...] indeed hee was a Papist, and his ordinary speech was, O happy penny, that hath purchased immortality to mee; indeed this speech was not good, for it is not our money that doth purchase heaven, that is an evidence of the truth of our Faith, that layes hold upon Christ for salvation; But let mee tell you, if ever (Gentlemen) you might use this speech, O happy penny; you may use it now, Happy money that will purchase my Gospel, happy money that will purchase Religion, and purchase a Reformation, to my posterity, O happy money, and blessed bee God that I have it to lend. And I count it the greatest opportunity that ever God did offer to the godly of this Kingdom, to give them some money to lend to this Cause; And I remember in this Ordinance of Parliament, you call it Advance money; It is called an Ordinance to advance money towards the maintaining of the Parliaments forces▪ and truly it is the highest advance of money, to make money an instrument to advance my Religion; the Lord give you hearts to beleeve this.

[Page] You shall have the Faiths of both Kingdoms ingaged in this Cause, the Kingdom of Scotland, and the Kingdom of England, and surely the Publique Faith of Scotland will secure the Publique Faith of England; I speak now of secondary causes▪ through Gods blessing. I am informed by the Commissioners of Scotland, that the Nation of Scotland are now taking the Covenant, (that wee took the last Lord [...] day in this City▪) And you know that a Scotch Covenanter is a terrible thing; you know what mighty things they did, by their last Covenant; you know that the name of a Covenanter, the very name of it, did doe wonders; And I am assured by them, that there is not one person in the Kingdom of Scotland, that is not a Covenanter, and there shall not one abide among them, that will not take this Covenant, and there shall not one of those 21000 that are to come over in this Cause, not one of them shall come, that will not take this Covenant, but they must take this Covenant before they come; O that the consideration of these things, might work up your hearts to a high degree of Charity, to a superlative degree, and that the Lord would make you more active and more liberall in this great Cause; For my part, I speak it in the name of my self, and in the name of these [...] Ministers, wee will not only speak to perswade you to contribute, but every one of us, that God hath given any estate to, wee will all to our utmost power, wee will not only say it [...], but v [...]ite, wee will not only speak to you to lend, but every one of us, as wee have already lent, so wee will lend to our utmost power, and blesse God that wee have it to lend; for indeed it is now a time of action, and not of speaking only, because it is an extraordinary businesse, therefore here is an extraordinary appearance of so many Ministers, to encourage you in this Cause, that you may see how reall the godly Ministery in England, is unto this Cause.

The Gospel it is called a Pearl of price, by our Saviour Christ, and I hope all you Merchants, will part with your goodly pearls to buy this pearl of price; You Tradesmen, the Gospel is called a Treasure hid in the field, so our Saviour Christ calls it, I hope you will bee willing to part with your earthly treasures, to preserve this blessed treasure, that is hid in the field; you have parted with some goodly pearls already, I hope you will part with your other [Page] goodly pearls: There is an excellent Story of one Nonlu [...] a Roman Senator, that had a pearl that hee did prize above his life, and when Anthony the Triumvir, one that was then in great power, when hee sent to N [...]nius to have the pearl, hee would not send it him, and hee told him, that if hee would banish him, hee would bee willingly banished, so hee might save his pearl, if hee would take away his life, hee would dye with his pearl; hee did not regard his Countrey, so hee might have his pearl▪ hee regarded nothing, so hee might have his pearl; but hee would not part with his pearl, what ever hee parted withall; This pearl it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that you have professed in this City, and I hope you have professed it with power; and certainly, you have the name of those that have professed the Gospel in the greatest purity of any under heaven; This pearl is this Gospel, I hope you will part with all willingly and cheerfully, rather than part with the Gospel, though you goe to prison, carry the Gospel with you, nay, though you lose your lives, [...]t shall bee with the Gospel, and for the Gospel; I hope so.

There is one Argument more, and then I have done, and that is from the inveterate hatred they have at Oxford, against the City of London, and against you for your good, because you have been so well-affected to this Cause. Gentlemen, I beseech you give mee leave (that am no Statesman, not acquainted with the affaires of policy, yet give mee leave) to put you in minde of this, that surely the plundering Army at Oxford conceive that they shall finde a great treasure here in the City, though many pretend they have no money; Though certainly you have done well, and lent much, yet the plundering Army give out, that if they get possession of the City, they shall finde a treasury to bee able to pay all they have been at: And if ever you should bee driven (which God forbid) to make your peace, it would cost you twenty times as much then to procure your peace, and such a peace it may bee, that would bee rather a Warre than a Peace, and a death better than that peace, which now you may have for a very little, a most happy Peace.

There is a famous story of Zelimus Emperour of Constantinople, that after hee had taken Aegypt, hee found a great deal of treasure there, and the Souldiers came to him, and asked him, what shall [Page] wee doe with the Citizens of Aegypt, for wee have found a great treasure among them, and wee have taken their Riches? O▪ (saith hee) hang them all up, for they are too rich to bee made slaves; and this was all the thanks they had for the riches they were spoyled of; And it may be [...], though some of you that stand neute [...], or some of you that are dis-affected to the Cause of the Parliament, may think that if the Lord for our sins, should give up this City unto the Army that is with the King, you may think that you shall escape, yet bee assured that youngoods will bee Roundheads, though you bee not, your goods will bee Gybalins, though you bee Gwel [...]s, as [...] is; Certainly, there will bee no distinction, in the plundering of your goods, between you and others; and therefore let mee beseech you, that as the Lord hath made you instruments to doe a great deal of good already, for indeed you are the preservers of our Religion, and you are the preservers of our Parliament, by your liberality, and by your former contributions, and by your assistance, and the Lord hath made you mighty instruments of our good, let mee beseech you, that you would persevere, and now wee are come to the Sheat Anchor, wee are now come to the last cast, I beseech you, you would persevere, and hold out; and O that my words might adde somewhat to help forward this contribution! It hath pleased God to make mee a setled Ministery in this City, and I have now been here almost five yeers in this City, and though I had never done any good in my place, I should now think it a great fr [...]ite of my comming to this City, if after five yeers unprofitablenesse, I might speak somewhat this afternoon, that might enlarge your hearts to a greater measure of liberality; All I will say is this: Wee Divines say, that Perseverance is the only grace that Crowns a Christian; Methushelah lived 999 yeers, if hee had fallen away from Grace, at the 999 yeers end, all the good that hee had done before, had been quite forgotten; I know that God will so uphold his children, that they shall never fall away, but I bring it as a supposition, that suppose that Methushelah had forsaken his righteousnesse, all hee had done before, had been quite forgotten; but God hath made a promise, never to forsake his Children, and that grace hee hath begun in them, hee will finish, and I doubt not but that God, that hath put it into your hearts to be [...] [Page] so liberall already, and to doe so much in this Cause, and to bee so cordiall, and so reall, and to exceed all other parts of the Kingdom, I hope that same God now will finish that good work hee hath begun, and will crown all his graces in you, with the Grace of Perseverance; and that God that hath been the Author of all the good you have done, I doubt not; but that God will bee the Finisher; And I beseech God to give a blessing to that hath been spoken.

Mr. Jeremiah Burroughes his speech in Guild-hall on Friday the sixt of October, 1643.

Gentlemen,

PRovidence hath cast this Assembly, met for such a weighty occasion (as indeed it is the weightiest, that hath concerned England in our age) to bee late, and so perhaps wearisome to many of you, but you may well bee content to stay a while, although you should bee deprived of a great part of your sleep this night, if this Evenings businesse may have the hoped successe of it, it may make you sleep quietly and securely many nights after. Things of present and absolute necessity, call for action, not deliberation; this work that you have been called unto, is such, as you must leave objecting against it, and rather fall a blessing God, that you may bee used in it; In the 1 of Chronicles 22. 14. When David and the people had come and offered of their estates freely, and bountifully; David hee humbles himself then, Who am I? and who are wee? It were happy if you come all with such an humble frame of spirit, to admire that God preserves your lives, and calls you at this time to such a work, so concerning his glory, and the good of three Kingdoms, yea of the Christian world; If ever you that have estates had cause to rejoyce in them, then now when God presents such a large opportunity for his service as hee loth; and wherein consills mans happinesse, but in being serviceable in his generation? In these dayes to bee acted by that poore, [...]ow principle, Qui bene lotuit, bene vixit; that is, let us keep [Page] our selves safe, and quiet, keep our estates, take heed of appearing too farre, wee know not which side may prevaile; this is an argument of a vile and a sordid spirit; let such a mans name bee writen in the earth; Unworthy is such a man to live in such a Generation as this, in which God is doing such great things, as might enliven the deadest heart, quicken the dullest spirit, raise the heaviest, and inlarge the straitest spirit living upon the earth; In former times indeed there was lesse charge called for, there was lesse trouble, but there was lesse service too, and what doe you think to bee the measure of a mans happinesse, either little trouble, or much service? A gratious heart thinks it as great a mercy to lay out for God, as to receive from God; God in these our dayes is risen on high in his administrations, and our hearts should rise together with him; Psalm 105. 4, 5. Thy mercy O Lord is above the heavens, and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds▪ what followes? bee thou then exalted, O Lord, above the Heavens, and let thy glory bee above all the earth; This day Gods name, Gods great works they are above the heavens, they are very high, wee behold them, let our hearts rise in a suitable way, as God rises in his workings, and all say, and doe as wee say, that God may bee exalted now above the heavens indeed.

God can doe his work without you, and doe it certainly hee will, howsoever, but seeing hee is now laying a foundation of the most glorious building, that it is like ever hath been in this world, if hee shall bee pleased to call you to bee helpfull in it, it will bee Gods mercy, and your glory; Were it that this one principle were raised in the hearts of people, that to doe publique service, it is not onely a duty, but a dignity, how ready, how abundant then would men bee in the Work of the Lord? There hath lately been the most blessed union of two Nations, as ever was in the world, lifting up their hands to the high God, swearing that they will amend their wayes, and seek to reform themselves according unto the Word, let us now reach forth our hands and hearts, unto our brethren in Scotland, let us come up fully unto this our engagement, and rejoyce in it, for certainly that Nation is a Nation that God doth love, a Nation that God doth honour, and by those many expressions of his love, shewed that hee doth intend to make them speciall instruments of the great things he hath [Page] to doe in this latter age of the world; It is a Nation that is united the most firmely of any people under heaven, Wee may truly call it a Philadelphia, and Brightman (that famous light in former times, 30 or 40 yeers since) did parallell the Church of Philadelphia with the Church of Scotland; Philadelphia signifies brotherly love; When was there ever a Nation, such a Church, that joyned together in such firm Covenants as they have done? had wee had the like union amongst us, O what great things had wee done long before this time?

A Nation it is that hath engaged it self to God in a higher way, in a more extraordinary way, than any Nation this day upon the face of the earth hath done; in the most solemn way Covenanting with the eternall God, powring forth their prayers, and their tears for joy, together with their Covenanting; A Nation that hath reformed their lives for so small a time more than ever any people that wee know of in the world have done, and a people that have risen up against Antichrist more in another way, than ever people have done, and that is the great Work of God in these times, and therefore God certainly hath a love unto them, because they breake the ice, and begin the work, and arise in such a way as they doe for the pulling down of that man of sin. A Nation that God hath honoured by giving as glorious successe unto, as ever he did unto any; whose low and meane beginnings hee hath raised to as great a height, as ever low beginnings in any Countrey were: How hath God dissipated and biasted the Counsells of their adversaries? how hath he discovered all their Treacheries? although they be in themselves (comparatively at least) a poor people, and of little strength, (as the Church of Philadelphia was) yet they have kept the word of Gods patience, and God hath kept them in the houre of temptation; God therefore is with them: (How happy should we bee, if we may have them in a neare union with us?) And a people that have carryed themselves with as great honour and faithfulnesse, with as great wisdome and order in the most difficult worke that ever a people did undertake, in those by and intricate paths that were before uncrodden. Certainly that they undertooke at the beginning of their wor [...]e, but a few years since, it could not but be looked upon with the eye of reason, as the most unlikely worke ever to have proceeded, as any work [...] [Page] hath ever done, and yet how hath the Lord been with them, and with what wisdome and graciousnesse have they carryed it? Was there ever such an example since the world began, of a people comming out of a poorer Countrey, into a fat and richer Countrey, and having those opportunities that they had to enrich themselves to goe away so as they did? (their greatest enemies they now admire at them.) A people they are that began to rise for their Liberties, when the generality of this people here, were ready basely to bow down their backs, and put their necks under the yoke: and had it not been that they had been willing to have endured the brunt, we had all been slaves (it is like) at this day. A people that are exceeding sensible of our condition, witnesse that when our Letters from the Reverend Assembly came unto them, they received them with teares, and much meltings of spirit, in their Generall Kirke Assembly; witnesse their readinesse and willingnesse to come now, though in winter season, in times that wee dare not venture our selves abroad; witnesse the temptations that they have had unto the contrary, and yet carryed through all.

They now desire 100000 l. what is this to 300000 l. in pay? what is this to five Counties? what is this to the plunder of a whole City? what reasonable termes doe they proffer to come among you? doe but give them 100000 l. advance, and they engage themselves for three moneths and ten dayes, and in the winter time to be in the Kingdome, not to have a foot of Land granted unto them, or assured them, but willing to depart againe without any more, when they have done their worke; this certainly cannot but satisfie any spirit that is never so malignant, at least it may stop his mouth. A Nation it is that wee are engaged unto likewise, that that now is desired of you, is no more indeed then is their due, it is due already to them, but they desire it not in that way. Wherefore shall such an opportunity as this is be lost for want of Money? God forbid; shall a people to whom God hath given such testimony of his acceptance, be rejected by us, when they would come in and help us? Their Liberties are setled, why they, though on the other side of Jordan, they are not therein satisfied, to sit still, but are willing to come themselves, and come into the brunt, and hazard themselves, for the setling of their brethren in the inheritance of the Lord likewise.

[Page] And it is not only the number of those that shal come in [...]1000 that is our advantage, but the great busines is, the ingagement of a kingdom, the incouragement of such a Kingdom, that God hath given such testimony to, that that Kingdom shall be by this everlastingly engaged in what is deare unto us, in our peace and our security, that is the advantage of all. And as the Lord hath a delight in this place, in this Nation, he hath no lesse surely in this renowned City; this City whom indeed our adversaries have found out nick-names for, and call it the rebellious City, (as formerly Rehum the Chancelor, and Shimsbai the Scribe, Ezra 4. called the City of Jerusalem) but God hath other names for you, it is the City of the Lord of Hosts, it is the faithfull City, and God hath much mercy certainly for this place. There is no City in the world, that hath such a cloud of incense of prayers goe daily up to heaven (I verily believe) as doth from this City. Yea, put all the Cities of the earth together, I scarce thinke that God is so much honoured in family duties in them all together, as he is in this place. A City that hath had the powerfull preaching of the Gospel, beyond all Cities upon the face of the earth; and the Ministers of it receiving more encouragement here, then they have done in any other parts of the world. A City that hath more of the power and life of godlinesse, then any place yet upon the face of the earth; surely God intendeth good to this City, and doth likewise delight in it, and he hath great things for this City to do, and great mercy to bestow upon them.

You have been the bulwark of that honourable Assembly in both Houses of Parliament, you have been their safety, you have been their assistance, their lives have been preserved by you, and God will remember it another day, and hee hath mercy in store for that labour of your love, and that hazard that you endured in that thing: You have been the refuge of the banished Ministers, and Saints of, God in most parts of this Kingdome, and in Ireland, and the blessing of those that are ready to perish, it is much upon this City night & day. Never did the Lord stir up so many young ones, as he hath done in this city at this time, that promises great mercy, that speaks aloud to us, that God intendeth to do great things by them. Never was there so many godly ones, or more, (to speak with modesty) together in place of power in this City, then there is at [Page] this day. You have the blessing of all the prayers of all the servants of God throughout this Kingdome, Parents shall teach their children to blesse God for London, as long as they live, yea for many generations, when they have any fruit by the Gospel, they shall teach their children to acknowledge it to the glory of God; children thanke God for London, thanke God that ever you heard of Christ, had it not been for the forwardnesse, the zeale, the activenesse of the Spirits of those in London, you had never come to enjoy these Liberties of the Gospel, as now you doe. And now shall this City withdraw themselves from such a noble and great work of God, as they are called unto at this time, and let it fall because of them? for it is in your power, either to raise it, or to let it fall, (that is the English of it) it is in your power now, either to save us, or to undoe us, and shall this be let fall now out of love of Mony? shall I say, Let the Mony of those men perish with them? No, I came not hither to threaten, but to perswade; consider that the mercies that you have from Christ, cost Christ more then money▪ they cost Christ his deare heart bloud: Who is it that raised your estates more then others? have not many of you come hither low, as Jacob, with your staffe to this City, and now behold these bands, this estate? who knows but that you are raised for such a time as this? Have not you engaged your selves many times in prayer to God, when first you entred into Covenant to God, did not you give up all your estate then to God, to bee employed in his Service, God cals for his due at this time from you? Oftentimes upon your sick beds, and death beds (in your apprehension of death, that they would have been death beds) you have then given up all again to God, and vowed that if God did raise you up, you would live to his service, you would employ your strength in his Service. God calls for all those vows, you have now an opportunity to fulfill all those vowes: And seeing providence hath cast it so, that a Reverend Assembly of Divines, hath appointed us to speake thus unto you, give us leave to speak in the name of God unto you, and to call upon you in the name of God; for the fulfilling of all the vows that you have made upon your sick beds, to give up your selves and your estates for the service of the Lord: And know that if you shall keep your estates otherwise then God would have you, it will be to you as the Manna was to the Israelites, they kept it [Page] longer than they should, and there was wormes in it; [...] that was preserved no longer than Gods time, was sweet, but that that was kept afterwards, it had wormes breeding in it; Your estates you have now, you must not think will alwayes bee so sweet as they have been unto you, if you preserve them longer than God would have you, there will wormes breed in them, yea the curse of God will bee in them.

Have not you s [...]nt up many prayers to God, for this great Cause, that God would blesse it? (I appeal to you) then you have engaged your selves to Heaven by all your prayers; therfore I beseech and intreat you now, by all the prayers you have made, (as before by your vowes, by all the prayers you have made) upon your Fasting dayes, that God would preserve his Cause, that you would now doe as much as in you lies, to maintain his Cause, otherwise how doe you trifle with the great God, and mock him in your prayers, that you seek to him to maintain it, and when there is an opportunity in your hands, you will not doe wh [...]t lies in you. It may bee you will say, w [...]e have done much already; Wee acknowledge it, and blessed bee God for it, but know the Cause is a great Cause, and it is a great God that you doe for; Philo Judaeus tells us, it was enough among some heathenish people, but to say to them, Libertas agitur, the businesse is your Liberty, that is afoot, enough to venture their estates and lives; It is not Liberty alone, but Religion (as you have heard:) But because some may perhaps cast such a scruple into your mindes, a [...] we have heard of it; That what warrant have wee to take up Armes to maintain Religion? that is not at present to bee discussed, but only this, to satisfie and stop all their mouths with one word:

Thus farre none can deny it, but it is lawfull to take up armes, to maintain that civill right wee have to our Religion, and this wee doe; For wee have not onely a right to our Religion, by the Law of God, but wee have a Civill right to this our Religion, that other Christians have not had, and therefore there can bee no scruple in this, to retard you in such a work as this, you have done much, but a gratious heart will ever think what hee hath done for God, it is but poore and low; That example is famous of David, that had done so much for preparing the Temple of God, in the 1 of Chronicles 22. 14. It was 1000000 talents of silver, and [Page] 1000 talents of gold; which some compute a matter of 33 Cart loads of silver, allowing 20000 li. to every Cart load, and 70 millions of French Crowns of gold, this David had done preparing but for the house of the Lord, and yet hee saith that out of his poverty hee had done all this; all this was but a poor and low thing for him to doe in comparison of the great God; why, have you done more then this? therefore seeing it is for the high God, you have done it, look upon what you have done, but as low, and still goe on in the work of the Lord; You have done much, and so have the adversaries too; Wee would have you to weigh this, that the adversary hath been at as much charge, as you have been, as bountifull and free as you have been; in the 46 of Isaiah 6. Wee read that the Idolaters did lavish out their gold upon their Idols, yea, they lavished their gold out of their bagges: Certainly, our adversary hath felt the burthen of this, and hath been at the charge of it, as much as you; You have done much, but yet you have not gone in a good work so farre as a Herod hath done; Josephus in his 15 Book of Antiquities, and about the 12 Chapter, tells us of Herod the King, that in the time of scarcity, hee sold away all his moveables, all the plate that was served to his table, and fetched corn from Aegypt, and bought it for the poor, and cloathed them, yea, and gave seed corn to the Assyrians his neighbours; Why now, in this our Kingdom, wee may see much Plate still at many Noble mens tables; yea, at many Gentlemens tables, a great deal of Plate reserved, they have not sold all their moveables, and Plate to give away; it is but a proportion of their estates, and but to lend upon so good security.

And take this one consideration further, your having done much, is a mighty preparation, to make your doing now to bee formidable to your adversaries; for what is the hope of your adversary? but that you are drawn dry; They triumph in this, and they tell the world, that there must bee such petty wayes, to seek to the City, to get petty summes of money, and all is even gone, and therefore wee shall have them to bee a prey ere long; but when they shall see, that after so much hath been expended here, that you have such free spirits, and to come out still abundantly with further treasure, this will more daunt their hearts; this 100000 li. will daunt their hearts more than 2000000 li. before hath done; If you say, why doe wee doe all? What if God will give the City, [Page] the speciall honour, yet the Countrey will bee required for a great part besides; but the Lords work now to bee done, it must bee done especially by his servants; and wee know in Ezra, when as the adversaries of Judah would have come and helped in the work, they would not suffer them to come and help in the work; I say not, wee should doe so; but onely to satisfie [...]s in this, that wee should not think it much, that God should especially honour us in such a work as this is; But yet besides know, that your interest in this businesse, it is more than the interest of other men; for other men care not what becomes of Religion, what care they for Reformation? they are willing to bee slaves to some, that they might have others slaves under them; But you desire Reformation, you therefore shall have the greatest share in the blessing of the issue of this work; and therefore if others doe not so much, yet you should bee willing to bee forward in the work you are now called to; and if you bee willing, it is like in a little while, you may get such power, that you may bring others to doe whatsoever may appear to bee just; If it shall bee said, I, but a great deal is done, but to little purpose all this while; O (my brethren) say not so, it is an unthankfull voyce, this, for much hath been done, there hath been a check given to the adversary, the stream of tyranny and slavery, it hath been stopped, your lives have all this while been preserved by what hath been done; If you think, but it is too late, and all will bee lost that wee doe; Say not so neither, this is below a Roman spirit, the Romans when Hannibal was at their gates, yet would sell their fields at as great a rate, and as great a consideration, as at any other time▪ Even the field where the Enemy was, found buyers, when it was put to sale, there were enow to buy that field; Your spirits would scarce rise so high to give a valuable consideration, for the field of your Enemy, to bee Fee simple to your selves; hee not discouraged, you have not only the Faith of both Kingdomes, (that hath been offered) but wee as Divines may offer you this day the Faith of Heaven, the Faith of the promises of Heaven, they are offered to you, and there is nothing will blast that work more than a discouraged heart; You know that the very thing that caused God to deprive the children of Israel of Canaan, when they were at the borders, it was, because they were discouraged, and said, There are children of Anak here, [Page] and let us not go; The Lord is bringing of us to a blessed [...] it is true, wee are in a wildernesse, but wee know God hath brought us into the wildernesse, and hee will speak comfortably to us in it; and let us not bee afraid of difficulties, lest wee bee deprived of that good Land that God is bringing us into; and little cause have wee to bee discouraged, for those wee have to deal with, their spirits are base and vile; why should wee fear those uncircumcised Philistines?

And wee see God hath been with us, in every thing that wee have undertaken; Wee have never shown our selves like men, but God hath shown himself to be like a God for us. If you say, Well, but were it not better wee bent all our forces to some Accommodation? To that wee answer you thus: You have to deal not only with his Majesty, but with a Popish party that are about him, and what security you can ever have of your peace, (as was worthily said before) except the Scottish Nation comes in for to fasten it, it is easie for any one to judge. I will tell you but one story about that, and because it is suitable unto you, I will therefore relate it here: It is a Story that I finde in the Chronicles, that in the dayes of King Edward the fixt, King Edward sends to this City for assistance against the Lords, and the Lords send to the City for their assistance likewise, against the Protectour, the Earl of Somerset; and the Common Councell was called, (I suppose in this place,) and there stands up, as the story saith, a wise discreet Citizen, in the Common Councell▪ and makes this speech unto them; First, hee acknowledges that the cause was right for the Lords, for the Kingdom, though it were against the will of the King, because the King would not then put in execution those Laws that should bee, but hindered them, but yet (saith hee) let mee reminde you of that that I have read in Fabians Chronicle, (it was one George Stadley that stood up, let mee reminde you of that) when there was a fight between the Lords and the King, the Lords send for assistance to the City, the City granted their assistance, the Lords prevailed, the King was taken, and his Son a Prisoner; afterwards they were both released upon Composition, and amongst other things, this was one, that howsoever the City should bee preserved, that the City should suffer nothing for what they had done; and this Composition was confirmed by Act of Parliament, but [Page] (saith this Citizen) what came of it? did the King forgive? No▪ nor forget, for afterwards all our Liberties were taken away, strangers were set over us, for our Heads and Governours; the bodies and the estates of the Citizens were given away, and one misery followed after another; and so wee were most miserably persecuted; and here was their Accommodation.

Wherefore then (to close all) you have heard before, that wee come not onely to perswade you, but to ingage our selves as well as to perswade you, and to doe that, that wee would have you doe: For our parts, as wee have in some proportionable manner done it already, so wee are ready to doe it further, and it beseemes us well to doe it; Wee read in the 3 of Nebemiah, that the first that did help to repair the City, it was the Priests of the City, and about the middle of the City, the Priests of the Plain; I suppose it is meant, the City Ministers, and the Countrey Ministers, and you shall finde in that Chapter, severall sorts of people were there, there were the Rulers these specially mentioned; I suppose their chief Rulers, as their Aldermen, &c. they were very forward in that work of the Lord; Yea, there were the Tradesmen, there you read much of the Goldsmiths, two severall times in that Chapter, you read of the Goldsmiths, more then others, and you read of the Apothecaries, that they were ready in their work; yea, and you read of the Daughters of men, how they forwarded their Parents; I would I had to speak to many young ones this day, I hope I should prevail much with them, to bee great forwarders of you that are more ancient, that you may doe this freely, which you are here exhorted to.

Have not many of you spent your blood in this Cause, yea, how many young ones in this City have lost their blood? Mee thinks a spirit of indignation should rise in you, to vindicate the losse of the blood of your Servants and Children▪ many precious ones, that might have lived many yeers, to have done good service for the Lord; Even the children of the City, they rise and cry, Hosanna, Hosanna, O blessed is [...]ee that commeth in the name of the Lord! O then l [...]t old Citizens bee forward, mee thinks Elders should [...]ee forward in this Cause▪ for [...]e thinks they should not think themselves men of this world, In the 17 of John, Christ speaks of himself, when hee was going out of the world, I am not in the World; [Page] and so should you going out of the world, even say, you are not in the world; and therefore let your close in going out of the world, be a happy close in such a blessed work as this is. And know there shall come a day, wherein you shall bee calling and crying to God for mercy; the successe of this evenings work will bee recorded against that day, when you shall cry for mercy. I conclude all with applying the words of Jotham to the men of Sechem, in the 9 of Judges 7. Hearken to me, that God may hearken to you: So (I say) hearken to that worthy Member of the House of Commons, unto that Reverend Divine before, and to him that shall come after: Hearken unto [...]s this day, that God may hearken unto you.

Mr. Obadiah Sedgewick his speech in Guild-hall on Friday the sixt of October, 1643.

Gentlemen,

I Am commanded by the Assembly of Divines, and they by a command from the House of Commons, to bee present at this solemne and publike meeting, and from them to move for that, which I confidently presume is granted already, a helping heart, and a helping hand, to preserve (O that we must be forced to say so, and yet blessed be God that we are alive to say so, to preserve!) our Religion, our lives, and the lives of ours. It is I confesse my happinesse, that I am not to speak unto such who have made our troubles, and that laugh at them, but unto them that see our distresses, & know how to compassionate them: the perswasion is the more hopeful, when the compassion is beforehand afoot: if that honorable Gentleman that spake first, had bin sent with fire to destroy your City, or others with Swords from that grave Senate, to have destroyed your lives, or with armed power to have compelled and plundered your estates; there I confesse a refusall, nay a contempt had been the most proper answer. But Sirs, their addresse unto you is paternall, it is humble and full of efficacy, it is but to request you to preserve your own lives, it is but to request you that you would not suffer your selves, your wives, your children, your [Page] City, your Religion to be destroyed. I confesse that I had prepared divers things to have worked on you; but they that have spoken before me, have scarce left me any new matter to say, but all (which I wish with all my heart were wrought in you, as well as in my selfe, nothing lest but) to doe.

The Religion that we have all our lives professed, if it bee not worth thy money, trample it under thy feet: Religion (brethren) is an invaluable thing, it is farre above our estates, farre above our lives, nay it is far above our soules. For our estates, the Heathen say so much, That our estates were not to be insisted on, when Religion was in danger, and therefore some of them have according to their imaginary Religion, (the strength of it) they have neglected their goods to preserve their Gods; nay they hare (as Alvinus did) neglect his owne wife and children, to take care of that vaine Deity that they sacrificed unto. It is (I confesse to mee) a most remarkable thing that Pliny reports, (and good Gentlemen, let not Heathens exceed Christians, in love either to their Country or Religion:) You know that Hanniball was a sore enemy to the Romans, and the Romans, when they to maintaine themselves against them had exhausted all their publique treasury▪ a Consull in the Senate bespake the people that they would all [...]ring out their personall estates, (something like what is this day moved unto you) it was so instantly, it was so universally relished, that all [...]orts of people brought in abundantly, and (might I give but a suggest unto the grave Senators, that) the Citizens, and [...] Senator in Rome, left not himselfe, (so prodigall was [...] for th [...] [...]fety of the publike, he left not unto himselfe) for to keep himselfe and houshold, above the value of 16 Crowns. O shal heathens be so prodigall to preserve themselves against a Hanniball▪ & shal not Christians be as carefull to preserve their Religion against Antichrist.

Well Sirs, as that which you are desired to expend something of your estates for is Religion, that is farre beyond all your estates, so it is that, that is farre beyond all your lives: For I beseech you what are all your lives for value unto Religion, what will your lives bee to you for comfort, when the Sunne is taken out of the Firmament, and the Gospel is removed out of this English horizon? if▪ you should outlive the Gospel, why (the Lord bee mercifull to you) what would your lives availe you? [Page] were it not better to make Religion and the Gospel your Executors, then to make Idolaters your Executors? were it not better to make Religion your Executors, then to make your selves, or your posterities heires of Idolatry? When Troy was taken, Anchises disdained to take his Sonnes counsell, to save his life: Away! live when Troy is taken? And truly (Friends) if there bee in any of you, (a [...] I perswade my selfe there is in all of you that heare me this da [...]) a sense of God, a sense of your soules, a sense of the Gospel of Christ, why you must acknowledge now, that all your comforts are lost, that all your hopes on earth are lost, and all your hopes in heaven are gone, if the Gospel, if that Religion bee gone. Nay, (as I said at the beginning) it is that, that no not your soules can stand in competition with; I confesse the soule of man is a precious thing, it is as the ring of Gold, yet if I doe not mistake my selfe) Religion is the most precious Diamond in that ring. The busines of Religion, why, it is the salvation of your souls, no lesse then your souls, and higher I cannot speak. And if this will not move you, at this time to lend out your strength, to preserve your lives, your estates, your Religion, that which preserves your soules to eternity, I can say nothing more. But then Sirs observe one thing, there is not onely this dignity in Religion that may challenge all that you are and have; but there is likewise an efficacy in Religion: It is one of the best Masters, and one of the best Fathers, true Religion is. What you lay out to preserve it, that one day will returne to preserve you. I have ever thought our Religion to be our shield; and as he said of his shield, so Religion will say to you, Defend me, and I will defend you. It is our shield, why, preserve your shield, you preserve your selfe: O that this large Auditory would but remember two or three things, that I will speake unto you. It is better (Friends) to keep your Religion with the expence of all you have, then to keep all you have with the losse of one dram of Religion; and if you should quit the preservation of Religion, you shall lose in the event, both Religion and your selves too. There will be a double losse; you may perhaps for the present be at a double cost to keep up Religion, but you shall be at a treble losse if you lose Religion; you shall lose your lives, you shall lose the estates that you keep, and you shall lose your soules too; and if any thing keeps you, it is Religion. [Page] For if any thing keeps God, that keeps all, it is the keeping of Religion. Now Sirs, a [...] this argument (besides al that [...] for in truth, they have left me almost naked, that I have nothing to say; as this argument)▪ may revive those affections that have been stirred up already, so methinkes, if you looke but upon the very condition of the Church this day, I professe unto you, it will break your hearts; and therefore may certainly open your purses this day: Why, (friends) if I am able, I may not deny, no, not one day, nor the second day, nor the third day, nor any time, I must not deny to help a poor Lazarus; I must not see Lazarus to starve and die at my doores, if that I am able to helpe a poore Christian: Why, if my bowells must extend themselves, i [...] [...] helpe must extend it selfe to one Christian, how shall I, how can I see, the Churches of Jesus Christ, for to▪gaspe and give up the Ghost at the feet of bloud? There are two sorts of bloud which will lye heavie upon my soule, if that I should suffer the guilt of them to be upon my soul▪ there is the bloud of Christ, and the bloud of the Churches of Christ: If Abel [...] bloud, the bloud of a single person, was so heavie upon [...]ain, what will the bloud of [...] Church, of all the Churches of Christ, let downe upon our fonts▪ if we should now falle to help the Churches of Christ▪ But if there were no other [...] with you▪ but onely something that might concerns your selves, I professe, as I am satisfied in my owns Spirit, so I am p [...]rswaded it were enough to perswade you. Why, (Friends) you have done already, (I speak not to flatter you, you [...] already) more then all the land hath done, even to the preservation of all the Land, nay more then all the Christian world hath done to preserve the Cause of Christ. And let me tell you, that God hath not been behinde hand with you, God hath looked upon you, as much (I meane this City▪ God hath looked upon this City, [...] if not more, then upon all the land besides. And [...]ruly, if you will cast east up all accounts betwixt God and your selves, though you have done very much, yet you are in arre [...]s ages still unto God; God is still beforehand with mercies▪ though in mercy he hath stirred up your hearts to doe thus.

These are three things methinks, wherein the Lord hath shewed himselfe to you, that may for ever engage your hearts, [Page] with all alacrity to spend, and to be spent for his cause: Why, the one is, he never would to this day suffer the destroyer, notwithstanding all their intentions, (he would never suffer the destroyer) to enter into this City; he hath still diverted them, as you have observed by some admirable acts of providence, when their resolutions have been to come to this place, (the Lord knowes in what condition you had been by this day, if providence had not (at one time especially) diverted them from it; but notwithstanding all this, God hath not suffered them to this day, to shoot one arrow into your City. But then there is another thing; as the Lord hath not to this day suffered them to come in a publike hostile way, so he hath from time to time discovered all the Treacheries, Plots, and designes against you. When the enemy could not destroy you above board, but thought to undermine your Lives and States, and all (I need not say much to revive your memories,) of late dayes, did God unknowne to you, deliver you from destruction, and should you now be backward to doe for this God, that hath preserved all that you have, and all that you are? Nay, consider one thing more; he hath in all the publike services; wherein indeed, if any people in the Land deserve our acknowledgements and honour, this City hath got it from the whole Land. But this is that I was saying, God hath in all the publike Services and Battails which have of late been fought in the land, God hath hanged the shield of salvation upon your shoulders, he hath been pleased to cast all the glory, not onely of preservation, but of the great successe, and honour, and victory, God hath cast it upon the people of London. And will you, that God hath defended all this while; will you that God hath preserved from secret treachery; will you, that God hath given hearts all this while to stand for God above all the people of the earth: will you that God hath done so much for in the times of battaile, more then for all the rest, wil you fail now to do for God? God forbid, I beseech you rather that your hearts may be doubled and trebled for that God that is so good to you. And not to trouble you long, because the truth is, I am confident there needs no more to be said, you long rather who should most shew his affection at this time to preserve all: Why, there is one thing more that might bee spoken too, that is, touching our brethren of Scotland: Why, so many [Page] things have been said already, that I can say nothing.

Our condition (worthy Sirs, our condition) of England, mee thinks it is so like the condition of that poore man, that went between Jericho and Jerusalem, there the Priest hee passes by on the one side, never so much as lookes upon him; Our Priests and Popish party; and another sordid party that cleaves to them, they doe not so much as consider the lamentable losse of this poore Kingdom of England; the Levite he came, and looked on indeed, but hee passes by: I pray God it [...]ee not laid to the charge of some Churches abroad, to whom wee have been helpfull, that they can have eares, to heare of our distresses, and wounds, but have not hands at all to help us, whether they have tongues to pity us, wee know not; Onely there is the Samaritan (Sirs, the Samaritan) that saw this wounded man, and that had compassion, and that went to him, and that bound up his wounds, and that powred in Oyle and Wine; Truly (Sirs) the Samaritans that wee finde on earth, (for our great Physitian in Heaven, wee blesse him still for looking upon us; but the Samaritans, the onely Samaritans that wee have on earth) they are our brethren in Scotland; O the tears that they have shed for poore England! O the Prayers that they have in solemn manner, from time to time, sent up to Heaven for poor England! O the Petitions that they unknown for a long time to us, did direct unto his Majesty, if it had been possible to take up all differences! and now yet again, as if their inward compassions, as if their prayings to Heaven, as if their petitionings to man were nothing, so sensible, so affectionate are they, to live with us, to dye with us, that they are ready to come in, to adventure their dearest lives, to save our lives; Why (Friends, why) what will move your hearts, if this doth not move your hearts? I doe professe it is the greatest equity under heaven, to lend our estates, some of our moneys to them, that are not unwilling to venture their lives for us.

I know many Objections might bee made; You have done much already, and the summe is great; I say no more, There is nothing great, to a minde that is great, and the Cause is great, and though the summe of money bee great, yet their love is greater, then all you can lay out to answer their love; And say not (grumbling) wee have done often and often; I say to you, as Christ said to [Page] him that asked him, How often must I forgive my brother▪ Why, 70 times 7 times; So will I say for this publique Cause, you must doe, and you must doe, and yet you must doe, and yet you must doe, as long as there is a penny in thy purse, as long as there is strength in thy hand, as long as there is breath in thy body, you must bee all Servants to Christ, and Servants to the Churches of Jesus Christ.

And so I beseech the God of Heaven, that what hath been delivered unto you this day, (and much hath been spoken, I think as much as possibly can unto men) that it may bee effectuall, to move your hearts, that what is done, may bee speedily done, and fully done, lest wee bee for ever undone; Nay, that wee may bee preserved, and not only wee, but all the Churches of God preserved. And the Lord of Heaven make impression upon your hearts.

Information about this book

Title statement

Foure speeches delivered in Guild-Hall on Friday the sixth of October, 1643. At a common-hall, vpon occasion of desiring the assistance of our brethren of Scotland in this warre. / Viz. the [brace] 1. by Mr. Solicitor. 2. by Mr. Edmund Calamy. 3. by Mr. Jeremiah Burroughes. 4. by Mr. Obadiah Sedgewick. Published according to order.

Edition statement

1646

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A84751

ID [STC]

Wing F1671

ID [STC]

Thomason E338_1

ID [STC]

ESTC R200837

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99861470

ID [PROQUEST]

99861470

ID [VID]

113607

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A84751)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 113607)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 55:E338[1])

Source

— Foure speeches delivered in Guild-Hall on Friday the sixth of October, 1643. At a common-hall, vpon occasion of desiring the assistance of our brethren of Scotland in this warre. / Viz. the [brace] 1. by Mr. Solicitor. 2. by Mr. Edmund Calamy. 3. by Mr. Jeremiah Burroughes. 4. by Mr. Obadiah Sedgewick. Published according to order., Gardiner, Thomas, Sir, 1591-1652., Calamy, Edmund, 1600-1666., Burroughs, Jeremiah, 1599-1646., Sedgwick, Obadiah, 1600?-1658..

Extent

[2], 44 p.

Printed by R. Cotes, for Jo. Bellamie, and are to bee sold at his shop at the sign of the three Golden Lions in Cornhill, neer the Royall Exchange.,. London, :: 1646.. (Mr. Solicitor = Sir Thomas Gardiner.) (The words "1. by Mr. Solicitor. .. Sedgewick." are bracketed together on the title page.) (Annotation on Thomason copy: May 23th.) (Reproduction of the original in the British Library.)

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