GOd never leaves Man untill Man firſt leaves God; Puniſhments are but the ſad Concommitants of ſinne, if every ſoule would avoid the cauſe, any ſoule needs not dread the effect. Sinne (my deare Countreymen) hath cauſed diſtraction, as a juſt revenge, to fall heavy on us. Let every one examine privately his owne heart, And I dare boldly ſay, it will evidently and manifeſtly appeare, that this Hell-poyſoning venome [Sinne] hath too much taunted his ſoule, and brought upon us this preſent evill: and hence comes it to paſſe, that as the ſhaddow attends the ſubſtance: ſo a deluge of miſeries waite upon a multitude of enormious ſins, crying, as it were, for Vengeance, Vengeance. Yet ſee, ſee beloved, and juſtly Ponder and Admire Heavens Sacred Mercy, though our Nation hath beene ſwift in ſinning, for theſe many yeares paſt: Yet our good GOD hath beene ſlow in puniſhing; Witneſſe thoſe Halcyon Daies, thoſe Neſtor Yeares, I had almoſt ſaid, even Heavenly ones, that we have many of us ſweetly enjoyed for theſe threeſcore yeares and upwards. I might adde more, under that Mirrour of Women kind, the ever truly Famous Queen ELIZABETH, under that renowned Monarch, King IAMES, of ever bleſſed memory: and in a word, under our moſt happy and Vnparalled example of all Princely and Heroique vertues, our Illuſtrious King CHARLES, untill theſe three laſt yeares of His preſent Raigne. And then, O then, and I feare, Woe ere long; me thought I perceived a blacke Cloude teeming in the North, in which were not darkely ſeene Armed men, of which I ſhould remember to expatiate my diſcourſe, but that I cannot, and ought not to forget, that there hath by Royall aſcent paſſed an Act of oblivion touching that unhappy buſineſſe. Only this, from the inward of my ſoule, I doe wiſh there never had beene ſuch a preſident, or being, That like Apes our Brittiſh had not too greedily perſued to ſoone to imitate them. Then ſhould I have had juſt cauſe to have held my peace in peace, and no way have had ſo undeſired a Subject to treat of, as is ſaid; unhappy diſtraction! of which, leaſt I might ſeeme too much to diſtract you with a bare Denomination of it onely, my ſubſequent Diſcourſe ſhall more fully and lively Portraiture it unto you.

Diſtraction is nothing elſe, but a ſtrange Metamorphoſis, or a ſad change of welcome joy, into unwelcome ſorrow; of ſmiling peace, into a frowning warre; or if you pleaſe, a drawing in of men into a maze of confuſion, if it preoccupate the underſtanding; it is enough to hazzard the utter confounding of it, if the republique ſubvert and ruinate it, if the minds of men do allienate them from their duty: and laſtly, if it have ſeized upon the heart of the ſubject, 'tis unfortunately all-ſufficiently able and powerfull to withdraw him from his due loyalty, yea even to ſoveraignty; and I feare it doth too many, yea too too many; in a word, 'tis a frenzy that ſo captivates poore man, that hee oft doth hee knowes not what, and leſſe cares, (more is the pitty) againſt hee knowes not, or will not at leaſt know, whom. And doth not our Britiſh Nation groane, groane, yea even to death almoſt, ſorely vext and miſerably tormented, withall the ſeverall ſpecies and kinds of diſtraction City, Countrey, Court, Nobles, Gentry, Poore men, Good men, Clergy men, Lawyers, Phyſitians. Finally, all ſorts of men are ſpiced with this diſtemper; ſome more, ſome leſſe, yet all in ſome, though in a different meaſure, no ſex, no age, but a taint of this malady. Goe into the City, and there you ſhall heare, a numberleſſe number of all ſorts of people lamenting at a dearth of Trading: Viſite the Countrey, and there you ſhall finde the abler Sort complaining that they cannot get money for their Commodities. Poore men they want monie to buy Commodities, and worke to gaine moneyes. Frequent the Court, and then you will there finde a world of Diſtractions cauſed, for that they cannot bee made Maſters of a world of Poſſeſsions. The Nobles, they emulate each the other, I wiſh I could juſtly ſay, not envy one another. The Gentry, are doubtfull they ſhall hazzard the loſſe of what they have. The poore man is as much perplexed, how to get wherewithall to ſubſiſt. Good men are diſtracted, for to ſee Vice ſo much promoted, Vertue contemned, and Clergy men, many of them, (God forbid) I ſhould thinke or ſay all) are more ſorely perplexed for feare of a diminution of their yearely revenues, then an alteration in Religion. Lawyers are moleſted for want of Clients, and Phyſicians enforced to have Patience inſtead of Patients. Finally, all ſorts of men, all Sexes are diſtempered ſorely, for feare of what will become of all: But what hath cauſed this Epidemicall diſeaſe. I ſhall not poſitively take upon me to afirme, but onely probably lay open unto your view, what my conjecture is, if I Augurate aright, you have cauſe to ſide with me; yea and to thanke me: If amiſſe, I pray excuſe me.

Undoubtly, This unfortunate diſtraction, or fraction, ſhall I call it; for it hath indeed broken already too many, ſince God in his juſtice hath permitted it to fall amongſt us; For that we have broken and fallen from his Commandements. I will not Commemorate at large, the crying ſinnes of our Nation, Pride, Envie, Whoredome, Drunkenneſſe, Ingratitude, and a Thouſand ſuch like Diabolicall vices. Nor will I particularize any mans frailety, onely this I muſt deale plainely with you, I cannot but with unſpeakable ſorrow of heart, condole abundantly, to ſee how our good and gracious God, as well as our pious and Religious King is leſſe gratiouſly treated with by many of us; then iuſtly beſeemeth ſuch, who carry the name of good Chriſtians, and loyall Subiects; Witneſſe our neglect of due obedience to Soveraigne power; Witneſſe our undervaluing of holy men and holy exerciſes, I meane ſuch, as efficaciouſly endeavour to invite and preſſe us to Feare God and Honour the King; Not ſuch, who however pleaſing to the times, or plauſible in outward ſhew in their Doctrine, vent little elſe but malice and Sedition, making it their inauſpicious emulation and ambition, to draw the hearts of men, rather to themſelves then to GOD, or their good King, Gods annointed, and the place where Divine Oracles ſhould bee enucleated, a place where Gods Word is wreſted to their owne ends, to maintaine that which I ſhould iniure Truth, and wrong my owne Iudgement, if I ſhould brand with any better appellation then Schiſme, Faction, yea down right Treaſon. Treaſon againſt God, Treaſon againſt the King. For Tell me, deare Soule who ere thou art. Art thou in holy Writ denominated to be a creature, made after Gods owne Image. Then let me tell thee, Gods owne command is, Honour thy Creator. Wouldſt thou gladly learne to honour Him, O then obey and put in practiſe his Coeleſtiall commands, Be ſubiect vnto thy Prince, for Kings are Gods Annoynted heere on earth: and not he that knowes the will of his heavenly Father, but he which doth it, ſhall receive the reward. I pray God direct all Chriſtian hearts to put in practiſe this, and all other their iuſt duties.

Then ſhall we have no grounded reaſon to take up Armes, and imbrue one anothers hands in each others bloud.

Then ſhall we have no hopeleſſe hope, either of our Kingdome, or our owne particular ſafety.

Then ſhall we have happy Teſtimonies, that if we will yet returne to God, by a contrite ſorrow for what is paſt, God out of the riches of his accuſtomed mercies, will cauſe Peace to be within our walles, and plenteouſ▪ within our Pallaces.

Laſtly, Then ſhall all the people vnanimouſly yeeld a due Loyalty to their Soveraigne Lord the King, and the good King like an indulgent father ſeeke all Auſpicious meanes dexterouſly to preſerve his people.

Thus breifely, and plainely, I have made apparent unto you one cauſe, and a great cauſe of our preſent diſtractions, intimating unto you, how originally it tooke its firſt breath, eſſence, and being from our neglect of duty both to God, and the King, in not awefully fearing the one, and readily, and cheerefully honouring and obeying the other. I have alſo preſcribed you a coeleſtiall Cordiall for the cure; let every one in Gods name make uſe of it: and I dare confidently affirme, that it will produce peace and plenty unto us; peace at home, and peace abroad, peace Temporall, and peace Spirituall, plenty of good workes, and plenty of good rewards. O then deare ſoule, haſt thou through negligence loſt yeſterday, yet through double diligence gaine tomorrow: 'tis never too late to mend, and never too ſoone to beginne. And thus much I recommend breifly unto you all, out of a Chriſtian deſire, prudently to direct; I dare at leaſt ſay, moſt ſafely to admoniſh you all. I ſhould now give a Period to this unpolliſhed peroration, but that mee thinkes, I heare ſome factious Rabby, a man too well knowne in this age, too much favoured, and indeed, famous onely for his infamous life and doctrine, who hath more piety in his tongue and outward ſhew, then in his heart; impudently beginnes to teach you another kind of leſſon.