Two reasons further yet cleare it.

First, The Church never yet enjoyed this pro­sperity. Christ as yet hath appeared in a meane and despicable way, as in his person, so in his Church: both have beene alway buryed, as it were under reproach and persecution: sufferings have hitherto beene the Churches portion, first, from the Jewes, then from Rome heathenish, and now from Rome antichristian. Or if the Church hath had some breathing times of peace in some parts, they were but short fits, of no continuance; and therefore not the prosperity here forespoken of, which is to be established, as a Sun that should never set, Isai. 60.20.

Secondly, The happinesse here promised must be both to Jewes and Gentiles, as appeares in the two former Chapters, or at least to the Gentiles by the calling of the Jewes. The Churches sprea­ding her light, may be a meanes of the Jewes con­version, but the Jews conversion shall perfect the Churches light and happinesse. Rom. 11.15. This is foretold What shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? It is true, the Church hath had some riches [Page 22]but it hath beene from the fall and diminishing of the Jewes, as vers. 12. But God hath reserved her perfect happinesse for the times of their restaura­tion, which compared with her condition now shall be as life from the dead. Amos prophecying of this happinesse, foretels it shall be then when he shall Raise up the Tabernacle of David that is fal­len,Ames. 9.11.12.i.e. bring in the Jewes: for then shall they pos­sesse the remnant of Edom, the Gentiles that yet lye out, and the Heathen that are called by my name, those that are already come in: and when these shall be possessed by the Jewes, then will God for altogether close up all breaches, and raise up all ruines, and so establish them together, the praise of the earth.

Thirdly, the Churches happinesse must succeed Antichrists ruine: as Babylon fals, so shall Zion rise, Dan. 7.21, 22. He prevailed against them till the an­cient of dayes came; and judgement was given to the Saints of the most High, and the time came that the Saints possessed the Kingdome. Antichrist now sits in the temple of God, and keepes out the Church, Christ must dispossesse him, before the Saints shall be possessed of the Kingdome. The whore is first judged, and then follow Halelujahs, Rev. 19.1. The first is yet to come, and so by consequence, the latter: so much power as he hath, so much misery the Church lyeth under.

Fourthly, Our fourth worke is to cleare that the time of this happinesse is now approaching, that that Sunne is arising, that shall not goe downe againe. Isa. 60.20. We doe not undertake determinately to [Page 23]demonstate any thing, Times and seasons are in the Fathers hands; but shall onely endevour to disco­ver some probable conjecturall grounds that God hath afforded for the quickning our faith, and the encouraging of our hope. As,

First, That abundance of the spirit of prayer, that God hath in these times powred out upon his people, much praying certainely prognosticates some speciall mercy: God doth not set his people to pray, but when he intends to give. When the 70. yeares were accomplished, and deliverance presently to be wrought, then he set Daniel on praying, Dan. 9.2, 3. He prayed before, but then he was set on to pray. And this was not the frame of Daniels spirit onely, but of all the people of God in those times, as God foretold by Jere­miah it should be, Jer. 29.12, 13. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall goe and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you; And ye shall seeke me and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Though they had prayed before, yet they should pray now as they had not done before, there should be somewhat peculiar in those prayers, they should goe, and doe it with all their hearts. And doe not the people of God in these times pray, as though they were even set on to it by God? Are there not gone forth Armies of prayers steeled with faith and bold importunity, that are not daunted with the greatest difficulties? Are there not thousands that are resolved, neither to rest themselves nor give God any rest, till Christ is upon the throne and his enemies under his feet? [Page 24]And therefore surely our bondage begins to ex­pire, when his people shake off the spirit of bon­dage, and having received the spirit of adoption, have learned to cry Abba, Father.

Secondly, The multitude and continuall en­crease of converts; a comfortable fore-runner of a rising condition, Act. 7.17. When the time of the promise drew nigh, the people grew and multiply­ed in Egypt. Cutting of stones, and hewing of timber is a signe God is about to build, not to pull downe. God doth not use to beget children to the murtherer, nor encrease his fold to fat the sword of his enemies. When God is framing judgements He takes away his people from the evill to come; Isa. 57.1. It is barrennesse presages destruction, but when he takes away their barrennesse, he takes away their shame, Isa. 54.2, 3, 4. When the Church hath many children, Psal. 127.5. she shall not be afraid of her enemies in the gate.

Thirdly, The multitude of active and publicke spirits, when God sets Watchmen upon the wals, he entends not his people for a prey to their ene­mies. It is not ordinary for God to raise up singu­lar meanes, and then to blast it, nor to set up Moses and Phineas in the gap to save his people, and then to trample upon them. Spirits zealously affecting the honour of God, and the good of his people, are too precious to be lost. There is good hope we are going out of Babylon, when the Hee-goates goe before the Floches; Ier. 50.8. men of publicke place and authority are active for reformation. When the Governours of Israel offer themselves wil­linglyIudg. 5.9.[Page 25]among the people, there is blessing at hand.

Fourthly, The lights encrease. This also is a signe of deliverance, Dan. 12.4. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be encreased: when the end should come, then this should be. There is much darkenesse remaines among us, but the light scatters, and daily more stanes appeare in our firmament, and the truth as readily embra­ced as it is dispersed. The morning beginnes to dawne, and we hope it will shine to perfect day.

Fifthly, We may read deliverance in the ene­mies rage, their wickednesse speakes the Chur­ches mercy: Their destruction and the Churches salvation ripen together with their sins. The de­vils rage when it is violent, it is not long, Apoc. 12.12. Rejoyce ye heavens, i.e. the Saints; Woe to the inhabitants of the Earth, and of the Sea, i. e. the wicked and ungodly: For the devill is come downe having great wrath. What? can this be matter of joy? Yes, because he hath but a short time. Men that resist the truth shall proceed no further, when their folly becomes manifest to all men, 2 Tim. 3.8, 9. When mens wickednesse makes them publicke fooles, it will not prevaile much longer. When mens wick­ednesse is so notorious that the world can point them out, then Gods judgement will quickly find them out. And such are there in our times: so hellish is their malice, their oathes, their blasphe­mies, that they are become an abhorring to men; and therefore surely God will ere long case him­selfe and his Church of them: doubtlesse the de­vill rides his servants so furiously, that they will [Page 26]quickely be at their journeyes end.

Sixthly, The shaking of the Germaine Empire, that great Bulwark of the beast, speakes the wrath of God bordering upon the man of sin. It is neer­er then a borderer: God hath powred out some wrath upon the very Throne of the Beast. Prela­cy is by some late and sound Expositours concei­ved to be that Throne; and we have seene it pul­led downe in Scotland; darkned in England. Yea, may not a strict observer see the beginnings of dissolution and breakings, in the very Kingdome of the beast it selfe? Dan. 2 41.42. Doe not the toes of the feet of the image discover themselves to be part iron and part clay? the clay, the people, wearyed and worne out with the weight, and hardnesse, and rough­nesse of the iron, i. e. papall tyranny and oppres­sion, beginne to unclose and crumble off from them.

Seventhly, Dan. 2.34 44.45. May we not see the stone cut off the mountaine without hands, i. e. the Kingdome of Christ, scorned and trampled on: but yet firme and strong, as a stone, growing bigger and bigger toward a mountaine? Thus hath Reformation both in England and Scotland hitherto proceeded. Its beginnings were at first contemptible, and knew no other name but sedition, faction, and re­bellion; yet, as it were without hands, by rare, in­visible, and unexpected providences, beyond what we were able to aske or thinke, they have stood, and prospered.

Now are not these the buds and tender leaves of the figures, whereby we may conclude the summer [Page 27]is nigh? May we not say with our Saviour, When you see all these things, know that it is neere even at the doores? Are not these hopefull signes, that the day of the Churches Redemption drawes nigh? May we not salute the Church as the Spirit doth, Cant. 6.10. Who is she that looketh forth as the mor­ning? Are not these the mornings of deliverance? Sure if our sins doe not blast these blossomes and Hinder good things from us, we shall soone reape the fruite of our prayers. We dare not limit the holy one of Israel: but though the children are come to their birth, he may delay the time of bringing forth, or make us pay deare for these mercies. We may suffer many throwes and pangs, but we will say as Joshuah, Numb. 14.8. If the Lord delight in us, he will bring us into this good land. If we were fit for it, we should now see Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

Our third point is, It is the duty of all that make mention of the Lord, to give him no rest till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. Which we pur­pose to handle by way of application to the for­mer point.

We see Zion hath right to glorious mercies; these mercies are reserved for these latter times. God hath not left us without some comfortable hopes, that the worke is now begun: these things have beene cleared to us.

The next thing will be seasonable to shew what God requires of us, what we must doe to obtaine these blessings: The Prophet tels us we must Give [Page 28]him no rest. For the handling this, we shall shew,

1. What we must doe to make God restlesse.

2. In what manner it must be done.

3. The subject of our worke, the things to be laboured for, which will make Jerusalem a praise in the earth, and so conclude.

1 What must we doe that God may have no rest?

First, We must pray earnestly, fervently, con­stantly. Prayer workes upon him, an engine or­dained by himselfe, to over-come himselfe, a cord to binde himselfe, a strength that he hath promi­sed to yeeld to, yea, an authority that he hath pro­mised to obey: Concerning the worke of my hands, command ye me, Esay 45.11. Prayer will over-rule God to any thing that is for our good: It will bow downe his eare, pull his hand out of his bo­some, his sword out of his sheath against his ene­mies, put up his sword when it is drawne against his people: The Lord is at the call of his peoples prayers, Nigh unto all them that call upon him, Psall 145.18. Yea, to doe for them what ever they aske, He will fulfill the desire of them that feare him, ver. 19. Ready to doe for them, and as large in doing, he will doe all, satisfie their desires.

Prayer is the worke of Gods Spirit in us, and therefore cannot be in vaine. Faithfull prayer was never lost, nor never shall while God is true. We have had experience of the power of it. It hath strangely produced meanes, qualifyed, and fitted [Page 29]meanes, wonderfully protected meanes, united meanes, prospered meanes, wrought through dif­ficulties, discovered and defeated designes. If we cease not begging, God will not cease giving. While Moses hands are held up Israel must prevaile. Therefore you that make mention of Gods name, eve­ry soule that professes the Lord Jesus, pray; you that have any interest in a God, improve it now; you that ever found the sweetnesse of prayer, pray now; if ever you seriously tooke the name of God into your mouthes, set to the worke now: pray for life, for liberties, for Religion, ordinances; for pretious peace, for establishing and perfecting mercies.

Difficulties are in the way; if we continue beg­ging, God must yeeld; if we be not weary of pray­ing, he must be weary of denying: Psal. 24.6. We hope there are many of Jacobs generation in this King­dome. Let us resolve to lay hold of God, to wrastle with him, and not to let him goe, till he hath given us the blessing. If we have Jacobs spi­rit, we shall have his successe, and amongst other mercies, enjoy this, See the face of our King, as the face of God, as Jacob saw the face of his brother. Gen. 33.10.

Secondly, As we must pray, so we must doe; worke in prayer, and worke with prayer. Our prayer must be [...], James 5.16. working prayer: We must Pray without ceasing, 1 Thess. 5.17. Semper or are, est semper operari. Aug. To pray alwayes, is to follow our prayers with our hands, and to be alwayes in our actions, what we are in our prayers: it is not all the sense of the place, but [Page 30]a good glosse. God loves to see our prayers live in our deeds. It is unbeleefe, base feare, or worse; hypocrisie, to say to God in private, what we will not act in publicke. We should shew more faith and sincerity in our petitions, if we would faith­fully endevour what we aske, and sooner obtaine an answer of our desires. And this is a way to give God no rest.

If God be bound to attend the prayers of his people, much more their actions and labours that are for him: For there is more of himselfe im­ployed and laid out in his servants paines, more faith, more zeale, more gifts, more wisdome, be­sides the hazard of their persons, estates, liberties, and lives, if the worke be (as they are common­ly) dangerous and difficult.

Therefore as we must watch unto prayer; so must we all, 1 Pet. 4.7. especially watchmen, men of publicke place, watch, labour, travaile, never hold their peace, consult, speake, write, doe all that their place gives them leave to doe, for the repai­ring of Zions breaches.

Davids counsell to Solomon is seasonable, 1 Chro. 22.16. Arise therefore and be doing, and the Lord be with thee, While we are working for him, he will not be absent, they may be sure of his pre­sence, and so of assistance, and successe, that set their hands to the worke of the Lord.

If yet any shall thinke that this branch of our instruction doth not naturally flow from the pre­cept of the Prophet here, Give him no rest; yet let him consider the former verse, which com­mands [Page 31]action: and withall, that he handle this, not onely as a distinct point, but as application of the former point: so the ingraffing this instructi­on, to doe, is reasonable, as I conceive, in the other respect, it is naturall.

Secondly, But how must we pray and worke, so as God may be affected and have no rest? Thats our second thing, and for our direction in it.

First, We must be such, whose persons are ac­cepted and qualified. Such the Prophet calls to the worke as make mention of the Lord, such they had need to be, men that make mention of the Lord in Truth, men of particular interest in God, Esa. 48.1. and speciall acquaintance with him. As for wick­ed men, their Prayers are an abomination, and so are all their services, God cares not for the helpe of his enemies. Such as are admirted to the pre­sent worke of the Lord, had need be holy, be­cause they will have often occasion to come into his presence for assistance, counsell, direction, in­couragement; and God will be sanctified of all those that draw neare to him. God smote Uzzah for lay­ing his hand upon the Arke, for want of a Leviti­call and ceremoniall holinesse: how much more displeasing will it be for men to intrude them­selses upon Gods worke without true and spiritu­all holinesse: you cannot worke for God, nor from God, except you be in God; not from di­vine strength, nor to divine ends; and so will want comfort and successe. You are to conflict [Page 32]with spirituall enemies, To wrastle with Principa­lities, Powers, the Rulers of the darknesse of this world, against spirituall wickednesses in high places, that I may allude to that of the Apostle, 2 Cor. 10.4. Ephe. 6.12. And therefore you had need of spirituall wea­pons. You are to helpe build a spirituall house, so the Church is called, 1 Pet. 2.5. And therefore need spirituall tooles. You have Church-worke, as well as Common-wealth-worke, to remove superstition as well as oppression; How can you tender the consciences of others, if your owne consciences be not tender? How will you pro­vide sincere milke of the word for poore babes, 1 Pet. 2.2.3. that cry to you, if you have not tasted that the Lord is gracious? You had need be as patriots of your Country, so friends of Christ, and children of the Kingdome.

Otherwise, if God should prosper the worke in your hands, and inable you to build up a mountaine, of holinesse, you would effect that, which when you have done, you could not affect. Or doe, as it is said of them that built Noahs Arke, that they perished in the flood; you may saye a poore King­dome from shipwracke, and perish in the condem­nation of the world. Grace is honourable, and fits men for the most honourable service. We may say of parts and learning, that they have done vertuously, Prov. 31.29. but Grace excelleth them all. This is the first, Men that will give him no rest, must be men that know him, and are knowne of him: he will receive petitions by hands of them in office to him, by servants and Secretaries.

Secondly, They that will give God no rest, must pray and worke in faith. Faith workes up­on his promise, and so prevailes with him. It is very powerfull, James 5.15. The prayer of Faith shall save the sicke. Faith hath a strange faculty to knocke at Gods doore, yea, at his breast, goe in­to his presence, plead, and reason with him, re­quire an account of his Promise, Power, and faith­fulnesse; Where is thy promise in which thou causedst me to trust? Yea, to dive into his bowels, and search into them; Where are thy bowels? Faith is as necessary in working as in praying. Faith is mighty, yea, can doe what God can doe. To be­leeve is difficult, but to him that beleeves, Matth. 17.20. nothing is impossible. If ye have faith as a graine of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountaine, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove. And nothing shall be unpossible unto you. Faith as a graine of Mu­stard-seed, parva, humilis, small, of no account; but it must be as Mustard-seed, acris, fervida; it must be lively, have acrimony and vivacity, and then it may remove mountaines. It is an Hyper­bole, and here is the summe of it; what ever may be to the glory of God, or the good of his Church, be it never so difficult, Faith will effect it. Yea, a little active faith shall doe great things, a graine remove a mountaine. Although things be as stout and unyeelding as mountaines, as strong and firme as mountaines, as ancient as the everlasting hils, yet faith may remove them, if they stand in the way of Gods glory. You may read of the nobleacts of Faith, Heb. 11. Amongst other won­ders [Page 34]in ver. 33. By Faith men overcame Kingdomes. If faith could conquer Kingdomes, can it not pre­serve Kingdomes, and reforme them? Faith workes by that power that accounts the Nations as a deep of a Bucket, Isa. 40.15.as the small dust of the ballance, and [...] take up the Isles as a very little thing. Therefore in all your great consultations act in faith.

Faith will keepe you to a rule, and so make you exact in justice: Faith will waite upon God for a command, and so will never be found in any un­warranted course. It saith as Moses to God, Exod. 33.15. If thy presence goe not with me, carry us not hence, Faith will have a finger of direction, and then doubts not of a hand of protection. It will have a word of precept, and then distrusts not an­other of promise.

Faith will goe forth in no strength but Gods; not in the strength of parts, policy, or multitude; as David went out against the Philistine, not with sword, speare, and shield, But (saith he) I come against thee in the name of the Lord of Hoastes. See now he couches himselfe under this name of God by Faith, when he was beset with dangers, Psal. 118.9, 10, 11, 12. It is better ta [...]ust in the Lord, then to put confidence in Princes. He makes a wise choyce. Princes may erre and faile, but Ile take part with God and his cause: being thus resolved for God rather then men, though Princes, he proposes his enemies, ver. 10. All Nations com­passed me about. No lesse then Nations against buth, yea all Nations, and they compassing him about. Well, let the [...], he knew whom he had be­leeved, [Page 35] In the name of the Lord will I destroy them. They come upon him againe with renewed strength, and malice, ver. 11. They compassed me about, yea, they compassed me about; he kept to his first strength, In the name of the Lord will I destroy them. His adversaries are more inraged, ver. 12. They compassed me about as Bees. Bees for multitude, winged with fury, armed with weapons, stings; yet they could not afright nor weary his faith: his old shield was sure, For in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. Faith would make us impreg­nable, invincible. Take therefore Davids reso­lution in another place, Psal. 44.67. I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us. Faith onely can furnish you with weapons fit for those you have to deale with. Your adversaries are Antichristian, they that will deale with such, must come armed with the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimo­ny, Apoc. 12.11. And faith onely knowes how to use these. You should carry the blood of the Lambe alwaies about you, weare it in your hearts, and thinke you have to doe with the enemies of that Christ that shed his blood for you, against those that trample that blood under their feet by their superstition and prophanenesse, such as are bloody enemies, that thirst for the blood of Saints.

Faith will strengthen your hearts by the Word of God, and assure you, that in all your paines, you worke in the belly of a promise, and what [Page 36]you doe is to make God faithfull; you are doing that which he hath promised to doe himselfe, ad­vance his Sonne, and pull downe his enemies. You want establishing mercies: If you will not beleeve, you shall not be established, Isay 7.9. You want con­quering mercies: This is the victory that overcom­meth the world, even your Faith. Nothing can stand against Faith, Resist the devill (stedfast in Faith) and he will flye from you. If God give more faith, we need not feare more difficulties. We may say as Paul, I can doe all things through Christ that strengtheneth me, Philip. 4.13. Dye under enemies, or live to conquer them. Therefore beleeve and you shall see the glory of God; Joh. 11.40. and Jera­salem a praise in the earth.

Thirdly, If you would give God no rest, you must in praying and doing quit your selves, and seeke the glory of God and the good of the Church.

First, you must not seeke your selves. Selfe is too base and low a thing to move a God with; as at all times, so now especially, selfe must be below your thoughts, and not worth your meanest con­siderations; You especially I speake to, whom God hath taken up into the mount, as Moses, to doe his businesse, and to bring to us just and righ­teous lawes; You must now doe as the Church is exhorted to doe, Psal. 45.10, 11. Forget thy Fa­thers house, thinke not of raising your estates, ad­vancing your selves or your posterity; So shall the King greatly desire thy beauty, The King of heaven [Page 37]will take pleasure in you, and he will make the King on earth delight in you. Would you over­come difficulties without? labour first to overcome your selves. You can doe nothing great and ho­nourable, so long as selfe hath any power in you. Selfe and sinister ends would blast and undermine your consultations, and divide you into as many wayes as you are men, (If every man should seeke his owne, and not the things of Iesus Christ:) which would be a mischeife that hell it selfe could not parallel; to speake our thoughts, we feare no treason but selfe. If you continue all to seeke the glory of God, you will be too strong for any power either to divide or breake. The first step of Israels deli­verance was Moses stepping out of him selfe: Heb. 11.24, 25, 26. He refused to be called the sonne of Pharaohs daughter. God would not imploy him till he had learned to refuse Court offers; Chusing ra­ther to suffer affliction with the people of God, then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. A good patterne for publike persons; rather be poore with honesty and a good cause, then rise by Apostasy. And had he not continued faithfull and constant in selfe-denyall, Israel had beene lost. Exod. 32.10. It was a hard pull. God was angry and would have consumed Israel; there was nothing lay in the way but Moses his sincerity and faithfulnesse to the cause. If he could be wrought off, the busi­nesse was at an end. God himselfe tries him, Let me alone, &c. and I will make of thee a great Na­tion. I will make thee great, and raise thy house to a Nation. But Moses is deafe to such offers, he [Page 38]will not be taken off so, he pursues his worke faith­fully, nothing will serve him but Israels delive­rance: such faithfulnesse to the cause of God had you need have. The Apostle tels us, 1 Tim. 6.9. They that will be rich, fall into temptation, and asnare, and into many foolish and hurtfull lusts, which drowne men in perdition and destruction. If you will be rich or great, you will have temptations, and fall and drowne too in perdition. You, and Cause, and Kingdome, and all will drowne and perish, if selfe-ends bias you. Saul went right a while, till faire Agag, and the fat of Amaleh lay in his way, till a rich booty turned him from his obedience, see the story 1 Sam. 15. and the dangerous conse­quence of it. What ever pretence he had for his sinne, in sparing those wicked enemies of the Church, that the people would have it, and it was for sacrifice; yet saith Samuel to him, ver. 26. Thou hast rejected the Word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being King over Israel. Nei­ther people, nor false piety, nor pity, can excuse neglect of Justice in Governours. If you would doe great things for God, Ier. 40.5. you must not now seeke great things for your selves. Indeed you must be a­bove the world and your selves. You had need be more then men, such as John Baptist was, your worke is like his, to pull downe mountaines, and ex­alt vallies, to make crooked things straight, and rough things smooth. And as he had, so you have to deale with a generation of Vipers. Now our Saviour shewes by way of question, what he was not, and what he was, Matth. 11.7, 8, 9. What went you [Page 39]out to see? a reed shaken with the wind? No, he was no light unstable man, that would fluctuate and vacillate at every wind of threatning greatnesse. What went you out to see? A man cloathed in soft ray­ment? No, such they are in Kings houses. John was no such man: he could not suite Herods humour, nor flatter his sinnes. He would not alter his habit of Camels haire, the Court could not change him. What then went you out to see? a Prophet? Yea, I say more then a Prophet. Such should you be, neither shaken with threatnings, nor won by softnesse, men stedfast in justice, yea Counsellers, and more then Counsellers.

As you may not seeke your selves, so you must seeke the honour of God: that's the way to be more then men in our actions, to be divine in our ends. All other ends are too low for the meanest man, much more for so great a Councell. This is the way to prevaile with God: [...]he readily im­braces any proposition this way. If any man have a designe to advance his name; what ever be the impediments, it must prosper: for you cannot have a thought this way, but God will second it. He can as soone desert himselfe, as those that worke for his glory. If you find any thing that may exalt his Majesty, and he give you a heart faithfully to desire it, be it what, or where it will, you need not despaire: though it lye under moun­taines of Kingdomes, you shall thresh them to dust: Isa. 41.15. though it be buryed under Nations, and Empires, customes; antiquities, he will drive the Nations u­sunder, scatter the everlasting hils, Hab. 3.6. nothing shall [Page 40]stand in his way: where ere he findes his glory, he will seise upon it; and if they yeeld not speedi­ly, it will cost them deare. For he hath said, Mine honour will I not give unto another.

Seeke the good of Zion, this is the next to his glory, yea his glory is in Zion, there hath he put his name. This is a sure way to move him: all that you can say or doe for his Church, is acceptable to him. What good designes come into your heads, are they for Irelands helpe, for the reliefe of his people, there or here? goe and present it to God first. See what his thoughts are Jer. 31.20. Is Ephraim my deare sonne? is he a pleasant childe? since I spake against him, I doe earnestly remember him still; therefore my bowels are troubled for him: I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord. Is it for my deare people in Ireland you pray and la­bour? for my pleasant children in England? I was angry, but I remember them still, you did well to put me in mind, come, I will doe any thing for them. Oh! carry the Churches miscries and distractions continually in your bosomes. That made the Prophet so earnest and claborate, v. 1. For Zions sake I will not hold my peace. We have an excellent patterne of a publicke spirit in Psalm. 137.5, 6. If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning: if I doe not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roofe of my mouth, if I pre­ferre not Jerusalem before my chiefe joy. If my right hand doe not act its utmost for the Church, let it never act more; if my tongue doe not speake what is for the good of the Church, may it cleave [Page 41]to the roofe of my mouth: may my estate waste and consume, my parts be blasted, my wisdome be turned to folly, my time be nothing but di­straction, if I doe not imploy all for the Chur­ches good. Looke above your selves to Gods glory, and his Churches good, and then God and you drive one designe: you shall be co-workers with God; when it is too hard for you, you may expect his helpe: doe you but what you can, it is his owne businesse, he will doe the rest.

Fourthly, If you would give God no rest, you must be bold, a bold begger will prevaile.

Let us breake in upon Gods retirings, thrust our petitions into his eares, challenge mercy from him, urge his promises. God himselfe hath war­ranted and allowed boldnesse in prayer, Ephe. 3.12 Heb. 4.16. And none fare better then such beggers. God admits his people to a strange height of boldnesse, to an impudency, [...], Luk. 11.8. some read it (and the word signifies so) propter improbitatem, as if we might be unmannerly with God in a holy affection to his glory and his Chur­ches good. Let me goe, saith God to Jacob, Jacob saith, no, Thou shalt not.

As we must be bold in prayer with God, so bold and couragious in our actions towards men. It is said of Joseph, that he was [...], An honourable Counseller; hewent in boldly to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And he did like an ho­nourable Counseller, that durst say and doe what he thought to be right and just: he hazarded all in a good cause when it was at worst: he would [Page 42]owne Christ crucifyed. What favour he shewed to him being a condemned person, the law would interpret a justifying of his crimes, and an oppo­sition to authority and Justice, and yet he boldly did it; and if he had not beene bold in it, he might have lost it. Courage hath an excellent power in it: it alone will doe great things, Act. 4.13. A company of Rulers were astonished by the zeale of the Apostles. The Text saies, When they saw the boldnesse of Peter and John, and that they were unlear­ned men, they marvelled, and tooke knowledge of them, that they had beene with Jesus: As if boldnesse had something of the image of Christ in it: and cer­tainely it hath a Majesty in it; the Rulers were at their wits end, ver. 16. What shall we doe to these men? zeale vanquishes where it comes, it is like the Sword of Jonathan and Saul, 2 Sam. 1.22.that returnes not empty. And without this, other gifts and vertues are uselesse. Feare disables us for what we might doe, robs us of the meanes we have, and is a trai­tor to all great designes. Therefore God com­mands courage in Joshua, Josh. 1.6. Be strong and of a good courage: charged upon him againe in ver. 9. and by the people, ver. 18. as if the weight of all Israel lay upon this one grace, Courage. I will leave the Counsell with you that Joab gave his brother Abishai, They had a just cause, and so true courage and valour will be imployed, Pet. Mar. Non ut inferantur, sed ut propul sentur injuriae, not to inflict but remove oppression. Be of good courage, let us play the men, for our people, and the Cities of our God, 2 Sam. 10.12. The argument is strong, it is for [Page 43] your people, and for the Cities of our God, for your people, as the Common-wealth, and Gods Cities as the Church, be valiant for both.

Fifthly, If you would give God no rest you must pray against denials, worke against discourage­ments, persevere in both. What ever difficulties you meete with, Give him no rest. Be constant in the duty what ever God saith, put by his deny­als, take no refusals; the more denyals he gives, the more strength you must get, Mat. 7.7. Aske and ye shall have: if that be too weake and doe not ob­taine, then Seeke, with more earnestnesse, and you shall find: if that faile, then Knocke, with more bold­nesse, and it shall be opened to you. This was the pra­ctise of that poore woman, Mat. 15.22. &c. Have mercy on me thou sonne of David, my Daughter is grievously vexed with a devill. He answered not aword. She cries after him: at last he said, I am not sent but to the lost sheepe of the house of Israel: she leaves out the Sonne of David, and now Lord onely, Lord helpe me. What a Lord, and can helpe none but Israel? a Lord, and thy power confined? He seemes angry, and answers, It is not meete to give the chil­drens bread to dogs. She rises higher, and lockes her selfe within his denyall; Truth Lord, yet the dogges eate of the crumbes which fall from their Ma­sters table. She pleads his truth and justice: if mer­cy will not serve, let thy words be true, I am a dogge, yet there is something for dogges, let me but have a dogges portion, crumbes, I crave no more.

So should we in praying and working: difficul­ties [Page 44]should raise our spirits: Gen. 32. Jacob wrastled in the night, that was one discouragement; he was a­lone, that was another; God was leaving of him, Let me goe; God staid to his losse, He smote his thigh, yet he wrastled upon one legge. So must you continue wrastling with difficulties; If in the night of some calamity, if alone in that night, if God should seeme to depart, yea, though he should strike and leave you maimed, halting, yet continue in the service. Your valour and judge­ments have beene tryed, now your constancy, and patience is aymed at. Christ saith; we must pray alwayes, Luk. 18.1. [...], non defatigari, faint not, non evadere [...], beginne well and end ill, begin in the spirit and end in the flesh. To urge you to con­stancy, I might urge your sufferings; it was Pauls argument to the Galatians, Gal. 3.4. Have you suf­fered so many things in vaine? if it be yet in vaine. If you should now be weary and faint, before you be established, you would lose all your sufferings, and the fruite of your long and great paines. As your owne sufferings, so let Gods mercy ingage you to constancy. It is the same Apostles argu­ment, 2 Cor. 4.1. Having received mercy, faint not: God hath preserved you, covered you under his wings, doe not therefore let your hearts sinke under your great burthens. Or may that argu­ment move with you, 1 Cor. 15.58. Be ye stedfast and unmoveable, alwayes abounding in the worke of the Lord, for as much as you know that your labour is not in vaine in the Lord. The good that you have done is not small, although not answerable to [Page 45]your desires: Preserving a Kingdome from ruine. We may say with the Prophet, Isa. 1.9. Except the Lord had left us such a remnant, we had beene as Sodome, and we should have beene like unto Gomorrah, swal­lowed up of sinne and misery. Besides the sprea­ding of the light, larger dispensing of the Word, freedome from innovations: All of these preti­ous mercies, and many more, have beene the fruite of your watchfull care and paines. If we had no gaine here, yet God would reward you hereafter: Therefore be stedfast and unmoveable, your labour is not in vaine in the Lord.

Constancy will conquer God and man. The Israelites overcame God, Judg. 10.10, 11. &c. they cryed to him when they were oppressed, he upbraided them with former mercies, said flatly, I will deliver you no more. Nay, which was worse, bids them Goe to their Gods whom they had served, let them deliver them. God that uses to give libe­rally and upbraid none, here he gives nothing but upbraidings. They are not beaten off by this, but reforme he more exactly, renew their supplica­tion, Doe what thou wilt with us, what seemes good unto thee, Onely deliver us this day. q d. What no more mercy? must we suffer? then doe what thou wilt: Let us suffer under thy hands, but de­liver us from these Ammonites: we never was un­der such cruell enemies as these, deliver us this day. In ver. 16. his Soule was grieved, he was wearyed, broken by their importunity. Goe on to seeke God, he cannot hold out long; prayers and importunities will breake his heart, extort, [Page 46]and force mercy from him: we have wearyed him by sinne, let us weary him by prayer: We have beene impudent in transgression, be impu­dent in seeking deliverance: We have beene bent to perpetuall backe-sliding, let us be as constant in suing for deliverance, and so we shall be as Jacob; As a Prince hast thou power with God, and with men, and hast prevailed, Gen. 32.28. If it prevailes with God, with men much more.

By this constancy of importunity, Dalilah over­came Sampson, Judg. 16. She desired to know where his strength lay; he deceived her, and mocked her divers times, at last shee urged him close, ver. 15. How canst thou say, I love thee, when thy heart is not with me? And she pressed him daily with her words, and his Soule was vexed unto death. ver. 16. Luke 11.8. Though he will not rise and give, because he is his friend, yet because of his impor­tunity he will rise,Amicus ille quod petebatur fecit, quia alter in petendo non defecit, Aug.and give as many as he needeth. Where neither love, nor reason, nor desert will gaine, importunity will make restlesse. Hold out Worthies; Jacob had his wages denyed ten times, God paid him at last largely; so will he you, if you continue, waite patiently, be sted­fast: The Kingdome is in a tottering condition, stedfastnesse must beginne in your breasts. Let me conclude this with Pauls words to the Thessa­lonians, 1 Thess. 3.8. England may use them to You, We live if you stand fast in the Lord.

Sixthly, If you would give God no rest, you must take none. The best way to make God rest­lesse, is to be restlesse in seeking, our activity [Page 47]workes upon God. Abraham had a hot service of it to quench the wrath of God kindled against Sodome, and he was early at it, Gen. 19.27. Da­vid when he had praying worke in hand, Early will I seeke thee, Psal. 63.1. When he had workes of justice in hand, he would dispatch it, I will ear­ly destroy all the wicked of the Land, that I may cut off all wicked doers from the City of the Lord, Psalm. 101.8. When he had Church-worke in hand, I will not give sleepe to mine eyes, nor slumber to mine eye-lids, untill I finde a place for the Lord, an ha­bitation for the mighty God of Jacob, Psalm. 132.4, 5. You must be restlesse till Jerusalem rest, and be established. We are sorry we must require such paines of you, but glad to see your chearefull and indefatigable travaile. God that cals you to it, makes you willing and able for it. Remember you are watchmen, and they must not hold their peace, night nor day. Your waking is our sleepe, your toyle, our ease, your trouble our peace.

You are like Gideons three hundred, Judg. 7.5. that lapped water with their tongues, as a dogge lap­peth, Tanquam canis è Nilo; carptim, cursim; so doe you, injoy your repasts as Jonathan pursuing his enemies, a little honey with the end of a rod, 1 Sam. 14.43. Goe on, Worthies, be yet more active, more heavenly, lesse earthy. If you want com­forts, looke up to God and behold him, saying, Well done good and faithfull servants. Let action be your rest, let it be your meate and drinke to doe the will of God: God cannot rest till you give over working, he will worke with you so long as you worke for him.

Seventhly, If you would give him no rest, you must aske and desire largely of him for his Church. God hath large thoughts toward Jeru­salem, Call unto me and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not Jer. 33.3. God will doe for his people abundant­ly above all that we can aske or thinke of, Ephes. 3.20 Beyond your prayers and thoughts, much more beyond your indevours. God hath given in more in some things then was aymed at, and is resol­ved to out-goe any that are imployed for his Church. Carve as largely as you will to Zion, God will adde as much more: he is resolved no Creature shall equall him in love to his Church.

Take heed of being low spirited for God, of haltings and halvings in Reformation: Wee have seene the mischiefes of such a way already; yea, many times we lose all, because we would be contented with some.

The Prophet was angry with Joash, that when he was to smite the Syrians, he smote but thrice, 2 King. 13.18, 19. God honours and prospers them that doe all his will: Jehu did much, was very zealous, but the Text sayes, He tooke not heed to walke in the Law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart; For he departed not from the sinne of Jeroboam, 2 King. 10.31. And the evill effect it had is noted in the next vers. 32. In those dayes the Lord began to cut Israel short. The same measure that you mete to him, he will mete to you; as you sow in spirituals, you shall reape in carnals; if you [Page 49]cut Reformation short, he will cut your priviled­ges and the Kingdomes peace short: It is safe and successefull to aime at great matters for God. We may thankefully imbrace what we can get, but seeke no lesse than perfection: Magna audent quo­niam magni sunt, & qua audent obtinent. Bern. They that are truely noble and magnanimous they will attempt great things for God, and what they doe attempt they shall obtaine. Thinke of no lesse then making Jerusalem a praise in the earth: de­spaire not to see her in all her beauty and bright­nesse. In outward things, use your discretion, be as moderate as you see cause, but in the cause of God, Moses his resolution is worth imitation, he would not leave a hoofe behinde him. In this case Jehoshophat gives good Counsell to his Jud­ges, the Lord write it in your hearts, 2 Chron. 19.6. Take heed what you doe, for you judge not for man, but for the Lord.

Thirdly, Wherein should this labour be im­ployed▪ I shall be your remembrance [...] onely for two things; Doe them, and God will doe the rest, To make Jerusalem a praise in the Earth.

First, You must set up light. This is (as you have heard, a chiefe pait of the Churches beau­ty; advance the light of powerfull Preaching, and that will advance the Truth, Religion, Peace, Christ, and all. The Hieroglyphicke of life a­mongst the Egyptians was light, a burning lampe: and though ignorance be the Mother of Romish devotion, such lampes are the life of Religion, powerfull Preaching.

It was the worke of some to doe all they could to put out the light, the most horrid, hellish, and unnaturall wickednesse that can be, to deny men the joy and comfort of our soules: the more ma­licious they were in suppressing of it, the more paines must be taken in freeing of it. You have done much this way, and intend more; our pray­ers shall joyne with your indevours, That the Word may runne and be glorified, 2 Thess. 3.1. That it may be said of England as it was of Antioch, Act. 13.49. The Word of the Lord was published through­out all the Region. Nothing so excellent, but [...] are displeased with it: The light is offensure to sore eyes.

Some complained of Prometheus for reaching the use of fire, as the Poets say, and many amongst us Preach against Preaching; But they that quar­rell with the light, Act. 13.48. quarrell with Christ himselfe, who is the Light of the Gentiles. Men complaine against the Seers; as Isay 30.10, 11. See not, pro­phesie not right things; But their anger is against him that sent them; let them speake out, and they say, Cause the holy One of Israel to cease from before us. The light it selfe stands in the light of their wicked wayes, as the Angell in Bal [...]ms way to his sinne, and that's the reason They hate the light, because their workes are evill.

Men father divisions upon the light, when as the present distractions and mistakes are, because it is but halfe day, the mist is not quite dispelled; Darkenesse causes divisions, and those most dan­gerous, as quarrels in the night: The more [...] ­stours [Page 51]and Teachers, and the Worke of the Ministery, the nearer we come to the unity of the Faith. Let light scatter, and it will pull downe the Kingdome of darknesse. You, and the Truth, and Christ have no such enemy as ignorance.

Secondly, Advance holinesse. This is another winning and prevailing blessing. Oh that Righte­ousnesse might be as waves of the Sea! And then our Peace will be as a River, Isay 48.18. Labor for holy Laws, holy worship, holy Sabbaths, holy families. For a holy Court, and then holinesse will be in fashion. For holy Universities, and then they will be filled, not with sonnes of Beliall, but with sons of the Prophets. But above all for a holy Mini­stry, From the Prophets of Jerusalem, is prophane­nesse gone forth into all the Land, Jer. 23.15. and from them must the people learne holinesse. And a holy Magistracy, if God would restore our Jud­ges as at first; Let us injoy faithfull Moseses, Joshua's, &c. Then should we be called the City of righteous­nesse, the faithfull City, Isay 1.26. Nothing but sinne can hurt us, and sinne will not onely make all your good purposes of Reformation abortive, but Gods too, Jer. 18.9, 10. At what instant I say concerning a Nation and Kingdome, to build and plant it, if it doe evill in my sight, that it obey not my voyce, then will I repent of the good wherewith I said I would benefit it.

Seeke first the Kingdome of God in light, and he­linesse, and then all other things shall be administred unto you. What ever difficulties hinder the exe­cution, let these be first in your intentions.

These directions God hath given you by me a weake creature, I hope you need not much to quicken you. Iudg. 5.9. We desire with Deborah to blesse the Lord that made the governours of Israel to offer themselves willingly. Remember the place God hath called you to: the Kingdome is in a broken and shatterd condition, you are our watchmen, we say to you as Moses to Hobab, Num. 10.31. in the Wildernesse, thou art to us instead of eyes: you are our eyes to see our dangers, and our hands to de­fend us from them. We cannot better expresse that trust that lies upon you then God himselfe hath done concerning Moses, Exod. 4.16. thou shalt be to him instead of a God.

Governours are stiled Gods in Scripture, but those best deserve it that are delivering rulers such was Moses, such to us instead of a God are you; and then thinke you what Wisdome, justice, firmnesse, and stability is required in you.

The trust is heavy, our expectations great, and the account will be dreadfull. If you were alone in this worke you would sinke under it, but God hath promised his presence, and God is in you of a truth. It is the sword of the Lord and the sword of Gideon: Gods people see it with comfort, his ene­mies shall feele it with shame. What the people observed of Ionathan, we may observe in you, 1 Sam. 14.45. he hath wrought with God this day; so you have, and so you will, we hope: and then Ga­maliels words will hold, Act. 5.39. if it be of God you cannot overthrow it.

You labor with God, and for God, because you labour for Zion; you travaile for her that travailed with you; For the Church that must stand and prosper, Christ hath promised, the gates of hell shall not prevayle against her; not the gate [...] in which was their strength; in the gates the elders sat, and so their polity as well as their strength was in the gates; yet both shall not prevayle against the Church.

God is gone before you travailing in the great­nesse of his strength, challenging countries, Isa. 63.1. and peo­ple, he saith, I will divide Shechem, mete out the val­ley of Succoth; Gilead is mine, over Edom will I cast out my shooe, &c. Psal. 60.6.7.8. And the prayers of Gods people are gone like the Arke before the campe of Israel, three dayes journey to seeke out a rest­ing place, Num. 10.33. they are before you, pre­paring your way, hewing downe difficulties: It is safe following such a conduct: And God hath made the people willing in the day of his power. Psal. 1 [...]0.3. That of the Psalmist is considerable, Psalm. 47.9. The Princes of the people are gathered together: the marginall lection is, the voluntary of the people, the generous of the people: God hath the hearts of all men in his hand; And the shields of the earth belong unto the Lord: The Militia of the world is his: And all these shall second them that seeke his glory and Zions Peace▪ Therefore proceed chearefully to make use of this sweete opportuni­ty, to honour God, and heale our breaches. Hea­ven we hope is bigge with blessings; The Ta­bernacle [Page 54]of God, is comming downe to dwell with men; what ever darke clouds appeare, let us continue praying, waiting, labouring, beleeving, God will at last establish, and make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.