The Mournful Note of the Dove

Die Mercurii, 25. Decemb. 1644.

IT is this day Ordered by the Commons House of Parliament, That Master Heveningham and Master Lisle, do from this House give thanks to Master Thorowgood and Master Langley, for the great pains they took in the Sermons they Preached this day, at the entreaty of this House at Saint Margaret's Westminster (it being the day of Public Humiliation,) and to desire them to Print their Sermons: And it is Ordered, that none shall presume to Print their, or either of their Sermons, without first obtaining liberty under their hand writing.

I do appoint Philemon Stephens to Print my Sermon.

To the Honorable House of COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT.

DIvine providence having singled me out by your call (though most unworthy) to be his Mouth to you, on the day of your Solemn Humiliation: The desire of my soul was to stir up your pure minds to a serious disquisition, and a privy search of those great and grievous provocations of ours, which caused the Dove to flutter up and down, not having a sure place to rest the sole of her foot on, being exposed to sundry dangers on all hands, and as yet denied the opening of a Window to let her into an Ark, where she might be safe and free from all Military fears.

I found the Dove degenerated and changed into a speckled Bird, leaving her Mate, the Lord Jesus, and following after other lovers. I found the Doves divided amongst themselves, and exercising deadly feude, like those Birds, the Siskin and the Miskin, of whom Plutarch reports, That they fight at every meeting, and when they are dead, their blood will not mingle, but runs apart.

Great are the distractions for the present, and unless God in great mercy put in and prevent, pugnent ipsique nepotes, Quarrels are like to be entailed and bound over to posterity, as the Wars against the Romans were, from Amilcar to his son Hannibal: And I would they were against the Romans: But Brethren contend and strive against Brethren, and that in the view of Infidels, desperately Heathenish Cavaliers, and at such a time when the Harpy and the Kite are like to sweep away all.

I endeavor'd to apply some remedies, insisting upon the Sovereign Panace or Catholicon of zealous Prayer and Devotion; the most successful infusion in every Recipe or Potion. Then amongst the brief suggestions hinted for the preservation of the Dove towards the close, execution of Justice, as not of the least importance, was presented to you.

Blessed Auditors, qui verba statim vertistis in opera, who were presently doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. How acceptable this Work was unto the Lord, I undertake not to prove from the vulgar observation of the Suns breaking forth in a gloomy day, with the greatest luster, immediately upon the stroke given to the Grand Impostor, and notorious Delinquent, though the very Heathen could say that Hesperus the bright Morning Star, in all its glory, is not arrayed as Astraea or Justice; but the acclamations sent in from Heaven presently after (for so I interpret the flowings in of so much good news from sundry parts of the Land) do abundantly declare: The croaking Frogs of Egypt will not henceforth take you for a Log that may be leapt on, and trifled with at pleasure, and you may put in your plea against black-mouthed obloquy.

Est Deus in nobis agitante calescimus illo.

You are a scourge of God on the back of fools, on better Principles and Grounds, and acted by an Higher and Nobler spirit, then he was who assumed this Title to himself.

The best way to stanch a dangerous bleeding, is to make a diversion, and to open a vein in another part of the Body: Like good Surgeons, by letting out the blood of some heinous Offenders, you have assayed the stanching and stopping of that unnatural bloody issue in the Land, which hath brought it very low. Quot vulnera, tot ora, So many Wounds as were in the Land, so many Mouthes were opened, as 'twere calling upon you for this necessary Phlebotomy; And so many Wounds seem so many Mouthes to praise God for you, who by this means have endeavored to heal and cure them all.

'It is observed, that the worst husbands in all the world, are found in Egypt, near Nile, that is a brave River, and doth inundate and over flow all the bordering grounds, and makes them very fruitful: Hence the people grow careless in the exercise of all points of good Husbandry. There is a River of sweetest Providence, that makes glad the City of our God in these sad times; yet blessed be God, you are not wanting in your good Husbandry, and necessary Cooperations with it. The Lord reward plentifully into your bosoms all your labors of love, all your layings out for the poor men wounded, between Jericho and Jerusalem, and left half dead, whom the Levite hath passed by, shall I say, without compassionating or relieving? nay, hath wounded and mangled, and done his worst to kill him out right.

The good will of him that dwelt in the Bush, bless you, overshadow you, and compass you about with his loving kindness forever:

A Sermon Preached before the Honorable House of COMMONS, Decemb. 25. 1644.

SOme grievous enemy was Prophesied of here, who should lie very heavy upon the bosom of the Church, and threaten an utter devastation and desolation of it, whether Nebuchadnezzar, or Antiochus, or whether the Roman Eagle, that should fasten her pounces on the Dove; or whether this Psalm respects all these (as some think) 'tis not clear: Jansen an ingenuous Papist, conceives, it specially relates to the persecution of Antiochus, and not to the desolation under the Roman Empire, or that under Nebuchadnezzar: not to the first, for the Jews were utterly excaecated, shut up under unbelief, and could not properly have been called the sheep of God's Pasture, verse. 1. nor paupers Dei, the poor of God, as in the Text: not to the second, for under Nebuchadnezzar, Israel had Prophets, which is denied to the State of the people at this time ver. 9. There is no more any Prophet. 'It is remarkable in Jansen, that he takes hold of this, That what was done against the Saints under Antiochus was a figure of the sufferings and persecutions that should follow under Mahomet and another Antichrist besides him.

The next doubt is touching the Author and first composer of the Psalm, the T •… le bears Maschil of Asaph: now who this Asaph should 〈◊〉 , whether he lived in David's time, or whether twere another of his order, or one of his family in succeeding times, we are at uncertainties. It is sufficient for us to rest in the first inditer, the Spirit of God, who made this mold and standard in the Church to be viewed and made use of by the Church, when an hour and power of darkness lay upon it; the word Maschil in the Title implies so much, which, as judicious Master Calvin observes, is very rarely set over a Psalm, but where God's Judgments and heavy calamities are mentioned, and implies that such a Psalm may give heavenly Instruction to people, how to carry themselves beseemingly under the Cross, and how to implore the mercy of God for the removal of it. Athanasius therefore proposed this Psalm to Marcellinus, as most useful, when the wrath of God did lie very heavy upon a land.

It is storied of Agamemnon, that when he went to the Trojan wars, he left certain grave Odes and Sonnets with his Queen, by the perusal of which she might be kept chaste till his return: the Spirit of God hath left Hymns and Songs of another nature and more noble strain, to keep the Dove of Christ his Church chaste, while she is absent from the Lord, that she may not make a defection from him, no though she should be smitten down into a place of Dragons. This Psalm, amongst the rest of this nature, is left upon record, wherein the Church panting hard and laboring for life under many heavy pressures, calls in for succors upon all the winning, endearing engagements that possibly she can think on.

As first her near relation, Sheep of pasture, Congregation of old.

Secondly, the cruelty and insolency of the enemy, but specially the horrid blasphemy against God himself uttered by him.

Thirdly, the power of God, exercised for the good of his people; seen in extraordinary acts, and that of old, in subduing Pharaoh and his host, 12, 13, 14, 15. v. as also in ordinary standing acts, put forth in a way of ordinary providence, 16. 17. v.

Some terms in the Text are to be opened and cleared.

Turtle Dove 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 so the modern interpreters read the Hebrew. Others 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the soul that praiseth thee. Some read 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the soul that loves thy Law. Others compound all these into one sense thus: O deliver not the soul or life of thy Turtle Dove that loves thy Law, and delights to praise thee, unto the multitude of beasts.

Another word is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which signifies both a multitude and wild beasts, Ainsworth therefore renders to the (wild crew) and we may well take the word for multitude of beasts, or a bestial multitude.

In the words,

• 1. The Church is here described.
• 2. The enemies of it are described.
  • 1. Figuratively, a Turtle Dove, and stands in a double relation,
    • 1. To God, 'tis very dear to him.
    • 2. To Man.
  • 2. Litterally, a Congregation of poor, and Turtle Doves is the same with it, but what is the number of them, a little flock, 12.32.
  • 1. For quality, cruel Beasts.
  • 2. For number, very great, the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifies it, and 'tis said, the dark places of the earth are full of them.
  • 3. A main cause of their cruelty set down; darkness, blindness, ignorance.

3. The best means or engine to be used against them, is fervent prayer. O deliver not: which must be mounted upon these advantages or motives.

1. Infirmity, 'tis a poor Turtle Dove, or Congregation of poor, with respect to the Potency of the Adversary: they are very numerous, cruel, and barbarous.

2. The Covenant that God hath made with them, the strongest enforcement of all.

1. The Church is resembled to a Dove.

A Dove is a low-prized creature, as appears by that allowance in the old Law, that they who could not compass a Lamb might offer up a pair of Turtle Doves; and yet by reason of the apparition of the Spirit of God in that likeness, and the Morrall significations God is pleased to put upon it in the Word, tis stamped with no small worth and valuation.

1. A Dove is an innocent creature, not armed with beak or talons to do harm, a bird without gall as some observe, therefore be innocent as Doves, is the advice of Christ to his Disciples.

2. Hence it follows, that tis weak and impotent to help itself against birds of prey.

3. The Turtle is very loving to her mate, very chaste, twill keep close to her still: so the good Christian will not leave Christ to turn to Idols. In the days of Julian, when Idols were set up in every corner of the Christians Temples, yet then they made a shift to turn their eyes from beholding vanity.

4. It is a cleanly bird, and feeds cleanly upon pure grain, Corn, or Pulse, or the like, so the good soul feeds upon the pure Word of God, cannot endure men's inventions or lying Legends.

5. The Dove hath a very mournful note, so the good Christian; Woe is me that I must dwell in Mesech, and have my habitation in the Tents of Kedar.

Now as the Metaphor stands in relation to God, Turtle Dove. Observe,

1. [Obser. 1] There is a most sweet soul-ravishing intimacy and bosom familiarity that passeth between Christ and his people.

2. Lay the Turtle Dove to the Congregation of poor, and then Note,

God's people are an harmless, [Obser. 2] innocent people, insufficient altogether to help themselves against their enemies, who are very numerous, cruel and barbarous.

3. [Obser. 3] Ignorance in spiritual matters makes men brutish and of a savage disposition.

1. Touching the first; There is a most sweet intimacy, &c.

The Song of Solomon proves it at large, such passages as these in special:

That book shows what sweet billings, flutterings and embracings do pass between them, what walks they do take together in the gallery, what refreshings in the Wine-cellar. Let his money perish with him that reckons all the gold in the world, worth one days society with Jesus Christ and his Spirit: it was the speech of Antonius Carractiola Marquess of Vico.

And as a passionate lover will pass through the fire and the water with his beloved, so doth Christ with the good soul, when thou art in the water I will be with thee, so he was with Jonah, by interpretation, a Dove in the water; so he was with Simon Ber-Jonah in the fire, in that fiery trial of his in the high Priests Hall.

The Dove cannot sigh, or groan, but presently he takes notice of it, and is at hand with her, my groaning is not hid from thee.

Lo I am with you always unto the end of the world, it is Christ's gracious promise to his Church, though the words principally respect the Apostles, yet they take in by their reach and complexure all good Christians, and an asterisk or quickening note of attention is set before the word, Lo I am with you always. The ground of this intimacy is Christ's own beauty, which reflects upon himself; which makes him so amorous out of measure. He casts beauty upon his Spouse, his Dove, and then huggs his own picture, even so far, that as Narcissus by a fiction is set out viewing his own image in a fountain, and lay over it gazing and catching after it, and kissing it, and could hardly be drawn from it; so Christ doth infinitely much more in deed and truth embrace and hug a gracious soul, and follow such an one with most tender affection: Hence, that joy unspeakable and glorious S. Peter speaks of, wherewith the soul is filled, hence those ravishments and springings of spirit sometimes in God's Children, as in master Glover at the stake, he cries out, He is come, he is come.

Woe be to him that is alone, [Use 1] who cannot address himself to Christ under the notion of a Turtle Dove, in sad times of affliction, temptation, or persecution, to moan to him and receive comfort from him; surely a Staphylus or a Spira could best set out the hell that such an one must needs carry about with him in his bosom.

What an unspeakable comfort and quickening virtue doth such a twining and pairing carry along with it, [Use 2] even joy and strength, and Spiritual boldness and contentation: the enemies of the truth, Priests and Sadducees, when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled, and they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus: the Turtle will carry away a sent and relish from her mate.

David was in a very sad plight at Ziklag, the city was burnt with fire by the Amalekites, his wives were taken prisoners by them, and the wives and friends of the people, and the people were ready to stone him, yet he encouraged himself in his God.

Yet notwithstanding though they be thus highly honored and graced by God as to be his Turtle, they are despised and persecuted in the world.

God's people are an harmless innocent people, [Obser. 2] altogether unable and insufficient to help themselves against their enemies, who are numerous, cruel, and barbarous.

Hence they are resembled to sheep, Doves; called in the word, fatherless, orphans, little ones, babes, poor, simple, needy.

They are men bound to their good behavior, may not harbor so much as a bad thought against any; are called to suffer, not to dowrong: Julian did jeer at them for this, he would strike them on the one cheek, and tell them that their Master taught them to turn the other; his soldiers would take away their cloaks, and mind them that they must part with their coats also.

Out of their own good dispositions they judge of others, therefore may easily be deceived and entrapped: thus Gedaliah, that sweet man, would not believe the relation of Johanan touching the conspiracy of that Crocodile Ishmael against him, nay, was even angry with him for his faithful dealing that way, and it cost him his life. That famous Admiral of France, Jasper Coligny, though he had information and intelligence from sundry parts beyond the Seas, that the Court did intend to mischief him, and that there was no security in their promises and agreements, though backed with oaths, thrust himself notwithstanding upon the Lyon, and was smoothed with one paw, and torn with the other: being such, they lie open to the rage of many adversaries.

Man, being in honor, had no understanding, but became like the beasts that perish.

Like the beast for

• 1. Stupidity.
• 2. Cruelty.

Nay beyond them for both.

The Ox knows his owner, the Ass his masters Crib, but Israel hath not known, my people have not understood.

The Stork in Heav •… knoweth her appointed time, and the Turtle, and the Crane, and the Swallow observe the time of their coming, but my people know not the judgments of the Lord.

For Cruelty, The resemblance of them is very ordinary to Lions, Bears, Tigers, Wolves.

The Wolf shall dwell with the Lamb, and the Leopard shall lie down with the Kid, &c.

Man is the great moral Behemoth: in Job you read of such a beast, the word signifies Beasts, because indeed he is so huge and vast of body, that he seems a compound and complication of many: all bestiality seems to have run into man, and to concenter in him. The nature of the beast is the vice of man; so that the beast, if it could speak, might say, The man is become like one of us, nay, one man like many of us. The four Monarchies are resembled and typified by four savage beasts; they were to oppress the people of God, and make havoc of them, especially the Roman Empire, it had great Iron teeth, it did rent and tear and did grind more than the rest; more Christians were slain under the ten bloody persecutions, than Paschal Lambs were offered up under the State of the Old Testament, as hath been observed.

But Rome Christian, or rather Antichristan, the great Antichrist puts down all the rest for bloody butchery and barbarous Tragedies, whence she hath the name of the Scarlet whore, and is set out as a Diversified monster, a compound of the rest prophesied of in Daniel, bodyed like a Leopard, footed like a Bear, mouthed like a Lyon: like a Leopard, that spotted Beast, for the variety and multiplicity of them that embrace that grand Imposture, the feet are like a Bears for dullness and stupidity, the mouth like a Lyon for horrid blasphemy and cruelty.

The Gloss in the Cannon Law applies a gentler title, and such as may seem more graceful unto them: the Oxen were plowing, the Asses were feeding besides them, twas in the relation of one of Jobs Messengers. By the Oxen we are to understand the laborious Clergy, by the Asses that were feeding besides them, we may understand the Laity.

The Oxen indeed have been ploughing a long time, and making long furrows on our backs; they have been ploughing, but with our heifer, to do us the greatest mischief; they have been ploughing, but to sow our fields, as Cadmus did, with Serpentine teeth, that they may rise up in armed men. And indeed they have endeavored, by laying unsupportable burdens on the Laity, to make good the odious term they have fastened on them. Our brave Gentry have been almost quite Cow'd by them, yet they have recovered, and reproved those by whom they were rid, and so much scorned; the Lord open their mouths and showed that they were the great Beast indeed, whose horns the Carpenters are now sawing off. 'Twould be an endless and needless task for me to treat of the cruel burdens, massacrees, and assossinations which this seven headed monster hath practiced in France, Germany, Bohemia, the Palatinate, Ireland, and England, in our own memories.

The thing with I will undertake to prove, is, that the cruelty of man, especially of these men, exceeds that of Beasts, in sundry respects.

Man hath a very shrewd sharp instrument or tool to imrpove his malice by, beyond the brute, whereby he can let out his rancorous venom in sundry mischievous methods and contrivances, viz. Reason, which being rightly employed, associates man with Angels; being abused, ranks him even with devils, the worst of creatures.

A serpent will sting the unwary travellour, if he can, lying in the way; if he cannot, he scands a way to save himself; man hath the venom and poison of a Serpent, is not so fearful as a Serpent, but daring and venturous beyond measure: that wretch Faux, when he could not act his bloody Tragedy, stood to it, being apprehended, and professed his grief that he was prevented therein, though he himself had been involved in the combustion, and blown up into mites in the air.

A Beast, a Lyon will give over a crouching prostrate man, but these beasts I speak of will tread and trample upon the meekest suppliants, as the Pope upon the neek of Frederick the second, Emperor.

A Beast will give over a man when it hath slain him, if buried, and removed out of sight, but Popish rage hath fallen foul upon the dust and Tombes of men. Pope Stephanus caused his predecessor Formosus, to be dig'd up, cut off his fingers, and cast him into the River Tiber, you know how they dealt with Wycliffe, and the wife of Peter Martyr.

Beasts if they be fast in a grate, [ 5] or tied up, a man may pass too and fro safely by them; But what bonds, or tyes, or fetters can hold these? what Oaths, or Covenants, or Articles can secure men against them? Faith is not to be kept with Heretics: they stick still fast to their old position.

Aurelius the Emperor coming near the City of Tyana, demanded a surrender of it to him; In case of refusal, he threatened he would not leave a dog in it, when he did storm and take it: He was withstood, and yet prevailed, and took the City: the first thing he did, he hanged up a Captain that betrayed it to him; and when the soldiers (whose fingers did itch to dive into the Citizens pockets and fall upon the plunder) minded him of the threat he had uttered against them. That he would not leave a dog there: so sweetly tempered and generous was the Emperor, that he bid them go and kill all the dogs if they would, but secured and spared the inhabitants. Paul who easily shook a viper off from his hand, doth not a little complain of Brasts of Ephesus; whom he interprets elsewhere to be unreasonable men, and destres the Church, with much earnestness, to pray that he might be delivered from such.

Wicked men, enemies of God's Church, his truth and his ways, are very many.

The Word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 shows it, which stands indifferently for beasts and multitudes, and 'tis said here, That the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty. They may be called Legion as their father the Devil, for they are many; many like Bees, Flies, Grashoppers, Locusts, Cankerwormes.

The Devils flock is very great, you have the full muster of them set down; the number of them is as the Sand of the Sea.

There are many Hawks and Kites and other Birds of prey to one Turtle; men of all ranks and all sorts are against the Dove, the second Psalm shows it; Princes and Rulers, and Common People, Jews, and Gentiles set themselves against Christ and his followers. This Psalm concerns the state of the Church now under the Gospel, for so it is applied to it by the Apostle: the watchmen that went about the City found me, and they smote me and wounded me.

Chief Rulers of the Church are meant, who should have watched over her for her good, and not persecuted and wounded her as they did.

Augustine, Bernard, and others, rank the many thus, Tyrants, Heretics, false brethren, and make the forest persecution to be raised by false brethren.

You shall be hated of all men for my sake, and you shall be betrayed both by Parents and kinsfolks and friends, and some of you they shall cause to be put to death. Those that have been bred in the same nest, and nurssed in the same family, that have tumbled in the same belly, shall fly upon the Doves and tear them.

The story of Diarius is one of the saddest that one shall likely read of (all circumstances well weighed) setting out the enmity of one brother against another. This man turned Protestant upon the conference which he heard at Ratisbone being before a Popish Spaniard; Alphonsus Diarius his brother, a Civillian in Italy, upon the fame of it, passed over to him in Germany, and labored with him, what with presenting dangers, what with proposing hopes of great preferment and promotion, to the utmost of his power to reduce him back again to Rome; when he could not prevail with him, he pretended an inclination in himself to his Religion, gave him money for the present, they parted both with weeping eyes, Alphonsus promising to visit him again within a while, so he did, he came about speedily, brings an Assassinate with him, who carried an Axe under his Cloak, stands at the stairs foot of his brothers Chamber, sends him up in a morning with a letter, as from him, his brother rose speedily as glad to hear from him, and let him in, whilst he was reading the letter, the bloody wretch, getting behind him, struck him in the head with all his might, beat him down, and left the Axesticking in his brains.

In the next place see the carrying of a Parent to his child: The Jesuits prevailed so far with Philip King of Spain, that. they caused him to give up the Prince his Son (who was Caca Avis an harmless innocent Dove) to be butchered, because he sighed and mourned for the unheard of tyranny and cruelty that was practiced on the Netherlands, and had other good things in him; touching which foul fact, Boskier the Jesuit vents this no less foul and abominable blasphemy, He spared not his own son but gave him up to death for us: and when his fatherly affection had a recourse, and discovered itself in some pangs of sorrow for the death of his son, they concluded he was somewhat tainted with the Lutheran Heresy as his son, and would not give him over till they had prevailed with him, to have a vein opened in his head, that the heretical blood might be let out.

They are very many beasts that set themselves against the Dove, witness the Augean stable that hath been so long in ridding by you, and yet increaseth upon your hands.

One would think these Turtles should rather win the love of all that come near them, then incur the hatred of any, for they are quiet and peaceable persons; in the mount of the Lord, there is no hurt done, yet notwithstanding, they are maligned by a world of people.

Because they are not like them.

Because they are not of their number.

Because their persons and their sacrifices are more accepted with God then the others.

Because they reprove them for their evil ways.

Because they are for the most part poor and mean, have no great forecast in worldly affairs, are no deep polititians, they are such as those Pauperes Lugdunensis, those poor men of Lions in France, therefore are exposed to beasts and Lions.

Because they mourn for sin in themselves and others, they quarrel with the Dove, even because of her mournful note, They will jeer at sighing sisters, and men that hang the head like a Bull-rush, yet seeing this Bull-rush cannot grow without mire and mud, why should it not hang the head?

Oh weigh this well, and with a religious heart, [Use.] and neither let Popery gain upon any of your Spirits, that will tell you, the multitude is a genuine infallible mark of the Church, nor Coelius secundus who hath writ a book, De Amplitudine regni Dei, touching the largeness, the amplitude of God's Kingdom, assigning a greater number of people to heaven then to hell; nor the carnal Gospeller, who makes the generality of the world, the rule of his life, but ever look for truth and goodness in the smallest number. Never think to find the golden Oare but in veins.

The main cause of all, why men are so brutish and cruel, [ 3] is set down in these words; The dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.

Some render the words thus; Obscuri terrae sunt pleris, domibus rapinae: Obscure and base fellows have invaded the fair demaines and possessions of those who are of better rank and quality; some apply it to the Turk, who outed the Chistians of their habitations; and this we see to our great grief, practiced in many parts of our Land at this day: the Doves are beat out of their Dove-coats, and Owls are perched there: Obscuris terrae, night-birds, ignoble, obscure persons, the base have behaved themselves proudly against the honorable.

— Veteres migrate coloni

Haec mea sunt — Hath been their high and insolent language.

Others understand the sense of the words thus, where God doth hide himself as it were, and doth not show himself by his judgments, there many are emboldened to practice tyranny, oppression, cruelty. Because sentence against an evil work is not presently executed, therefore the hearts of the sons of men are altogether set in them to do wickedness, as Solomon speaks.

But I take the word with Judicious Interpreters to import thus much, That blindness and ignorance of the will and ways of God and man's duty, did so reign everywhere, that men were grown very barbarous, cruel, and merciless in their carriage.

And have not we found the dark places of our land full of the habitations of cruelty? hath not our fallow ground where the spiritual plough was wanting, brought forth thorns and thistles in great abundance. Have not our Orcades here in England, for we have them here also to our cost, have not our dark places been full of the habitations of cruelty? who have more molested us than the Troglodites the mine-diggers, the workers under ground, who have seemed to have burried their souls and all humanity, in those pits they have dig'd. The Apostle described the most crimson sin of crucifying the Lord of life, to ignorance. And how comes it to pass that they have been so enraged against the people of God, Parliamentary proceedings, and against Christ himself upon the matter? surely tis out of deep ignorance, Why do the people rage? it must be resolved, They know not what they do.

Upon speech with an ingenious soldier, who came out of those Western parts, twas related to me, That enquiring of a woman in a Parish there, When they had a Sermon last, the answer was, That she remembered about two and twenty years ago they had one.

We have been grievously lashed with thongs cut out of our own leather; stung with Vipers that have sprung out of our own bowels; we are hurled and hampered as the blackbird with his own excretion; we have not been active to plant the Gospel, neither at the Northern, nor the Western point.

We have a little sister, and she hath no Breasts, what shall we do for our sister? the converted Jews are brought in, howing and taking thought for the Gentiles; She hath no Breasts: that is, wants the sincere milk of the Word, the knowledge of the true God and of Christ. We have been wanting in prayers, motions, solicitations and endeavors this way. This care came not so near our heart, as it should have done; What shall we do for our sister that hath no breasts? It was our great sin and now is our punishment, Ibi stagellum ubi peccatum.

Fiat Lux, Let there be light, was the first word that drew a well ordered world out of a confused Mass and Chaos. In a qualified sense (honorable) let it be your word under God, Fiat Lux: set up lights in every dark corner of the Kingdom, that beauty, and order, and peace may be recovered out of this great confusion.

A good means to recover persons out of the bodily frenzy is to keep them in the dark, but as for those that be spiritually mad, bring them to the light as much as ever you can, if you intend to relieve and restore them.

When Christ the light of the world, came into the world, there was a great hush, calm and peace throughout the world, that prophecy was fulfilled, that The Nations should break their swords into plow-shares, and their Speares into pruning books, and the other, The wolf shall dwell with the Lamb, the Leopard shall lie down with the Kid, and the Calf, and the young Lyon, and the fatling together. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the Sea.

When Christ comes into the heart of a man, he changeth it into a meek, quiet, sweet, peaceable temper.

The Gospel is that harp that will charm and expel any evil Spirit, twill tame the wildest beast, so that a little child shall lead him; as it follows in the eleventh of Isaiah.

A sinall thread will move a tun of timber, lying upon the water, because the Element on which it lies is stuid, and easily disposeth it to motion; so an heart wrought upon by the Word will easily bend this way or that way, because it hath a kind of con-naturality with the Word.

Give me a man never so impure and bestial, with some words out of this book, I will make him a mirror of chastity: give me a man never so furious and implicable, by the power of this word, I will make him as Gentle as a Lamb, much more there to this purpose.

A word of Christ upon the sea did still the tempest; the words of Christ, set on by his Spirit, in a faithful ministry, may still and compose the raging and mutinous lusts of men.

Pythagorus coming into a room where a wild crew were met, ruffling and revelling, quaffing and dancing, with garlands upon their heads; a company of Fiddlers casting oil upon their flame, he prevailed so far with those Fiddlers, that they played a Dorian dump, a very sad tune, whereupon the Ruffians were ashamed of the pickle they were in, grew demure and very solemn, yea cast the garlands off from their heads; but this was but a pang for the present, a good mood and fit that quickly vanished no doubt; but the word set on by the Spirit, as Scanderbags sword by the arm of Seanderbag, will make a deep impression, and unbottome a man quite of himself, and set up a Divine nature in him.

And here I cannot but bless God, who hath made you remember your fault in this day of your visitation, and hath put you upon the sending of able learned conscientious Ministers into the North. Those lights in the North I doubt not will boad you much good.

I know you would spread the heavenly fire to the Westalso, and how are you straightened till it burn?

In the mean time while you study to save their souls, it must be your renewed care and endeavor to guard and secure our bodies from the bushing of the beast; yea it must be the earnest endeavor of us all, to advance the great engine of most humble and assiduous prayer to this purpose with the best advantage. O deliver not — But a very useful note lies in my way, which cannot be balkt, and must be dispatched before I enter upon the handling of it.

The enemy cannot prevail against the Dove, nor hurt it, till God delivers up and gives her into his hands: O deliver not —

Hence was it that Balak kept such ado to disgratiate Israel, and to work them out of God's favor, for which purpose also Balaam cast the stumbling block before them, set fair women before them, that they might be ensnared.

God delivers not till man delivers himself. Thine own Country men have delivered thee unto me, faith Pilate to Christ, They are our own lusts, that are bred and fostered in us, that deliver us up to the enemy abroad. Therefore Libera me Domine ab homine malo, id est, a meipso was devout Bernard's prayer; and Chrysostom hath writ a little Treatise, to show that every man is only hurt and mischieft of himself.

The Lord did shave with a razor that was hired, the head and the hair of the feet of his people, the razor was the Assyrian, he was said to be hired, because their sins brought him on, and hired him as it were.

We have had many sharp razours and shrew'd shavers upon us of late, we may thank ourselves we hired them, giving them great wages, many, many heinous sins and provocations, and God set them on.

The Turtle Dove is delivered up in these three Cases;

When it proves a speckled bird, [ 1] changeth hue and nature, and her dependence on her mate, the Lord Christ who hath so highly dignified her: when the people of God change their glory, and forget their Ornament, whether in life, or worship, and cleave to vanity.

Mine heritage is to me as a speckled bird, 'though birds round about are against her; assemble all ye beasts of the field to devour.

When the people of the Jews would not be hived under Christ's wing (for he would have gathered them as an hen gathereth her chicken, and they would not) then the Roman Eagle was sent amongst them, who pounced and plumed them, tore and scattered them.

Titus Vespatian, acknowledged himself but the hand of God against them for their sins.

The Hottoman family sprang up in the world, just fifteen years after the Idol of the Mass was brought in.

And reverend Brightman hath observed, that the Popes worshipping of gods of gold and filter, brought the Turkish yoke upon Christendom; he stirred up the Princes of the earth to wage war against him, gave out Chrysadoes for their encouragement, and yet secretly put strength and vigor into him, by his foul Idolatries. We were Languishing and declining in this Kingdom a long time, but then we came to the height, shall I say, of our Fever, or Frenzie rather, when we began to catch Dotterills, and to comply with the Idolatrous Adversary in will worship, on a color to win them to us, and to make of bad Carholiques worse Proselytes, when we fell to cringing and •… mplementing in worship, stretching out a wing to their wing, a leg to their leg. Franciscus de Sancta Clara, was a very skillful man in this Art; a great Decoy-master, and stretched every Article in our Doctrinal body, as Procrastes racked the Limbs of men to make them equal with his bed) that it might suite and shut in with the Cannons of Trent, the bed of the Scarlet whore, wherein she rests.

Then we fell away apace, when this foul prevarication was not only suffered, but liked by many, yea much approved; and the Lord could endure us no longer, when we corrupted the very rule of faith.

When the Doves separate and divide, [ 2] they are often delivered up by God to the enemy.

When the Dove and the Pigeon were divided, a smoking furnace and a burning Lamp passed between them; when the Doves are divided, an hundred to one but they smoke for it.

Cyprian amongst other causes that he reckons up, of the inundation of Goths and Vandalls, a barbarous people, upon Africa, and the grievous persecution that lay upon the Church, takes in the Divisions that were found amongst the Christians for one; The Lord (saith he) let loose the dog that the sheep might run together.

Therefore I beseech Evodias, I beseech Syutyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord: Syntyche signifies one of the same scot and lot with another, one that hath gone through thick and thin with him: the brethren that be at difference now, have had their share in sufferings alike; the black Ox, I dare say, mentioned before, hath trod upon the toe of everyone of them, more or less.

Evodias signifies a good ways man, or traveler; the brethren agree in this too, they have all made a very good progress out of Babylon, they have cashered alike, all Romish trash and trumpery; pity 'tis they should fall out by the way, about the limits of the Inheritance and bequeathment of Christ. Let it be considered, How small a portion of this goodly Reformation, which by God's blessing is like to ensue, would have quieted our spirits, and fitted our hearts and mouths with the praises of our God.

The sight of a few Clusters of these Grapes from Canaan, would have over-joyed us. If but the three costly Cenemonies had been taken off (costly I call them, because they cost the Church the loss of their fruitful labors, of so many precious men, and them of their livelihoods) If these I say, and the clogging sub-scriptions had been removed, I am persuaded the Doves would have kept at home and not taken so great a flight as to the discoveries of Columbus, no not to Holland and other neighbouring Countries. Let us not then be so ungrateful to our gracious God, who hath done so great things for us, as to undervalue those precious truths we agree in, and to sleight those privileges we may cheerfully enjoy together, by growing impatient, and sundring in affection, like children of a divers family, because we cannot consent in opinions presented under the notion of new light; which to nomine, may very well be suspected, as unknown to former ages. Therefore I beseech Evodias, I beseech Synthyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

When the Dove flies too far from the Dove-coat, [ 3] even near the perch of the hawk, then she is sometimes delivered up.

A Christian woman that went to a Stage-play, was there bodily possessed of the Devil, and he gave this reason of his entry, Inveni cam in meo fundo, I met with her upon thine own ground, in my purlue. Certainly the Devils Commission is larger in some places then in other, and his h •… is greater, as at Theaters, Brothel-houses, Game houses, blindtipling places, &c. The Lord hath given his Angels charge 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 over Christians to keep them in all their ways, but not in their errors, by-paths, and deviations.

Take we notice here, that he delivers up his people to their enemies, sometimes by way of location, loan or letting; sometimes again by vendition, sale, or utter alienation.

By way of location, or loaning them out, so we shall read in the book of Judges, he did often let out his people to the Oppressor, for their sins; sometimes 8. years, sometimes 18. years, sometimes 20. years.

By way of vendition, or sale, he gives them up, when he passeth those two dismal words upon them, Lo-ruhamah, Lo-Ammi: I will no more have mercy upon them, & no more my people.

But we must distinguish here of a visible Church, and a faithful soul, a true member of the mystical Body, whereof Christ is the head.

A visible Church which hath been accounted Christ's pleasant plant, his vine, the place of his rest, his Dove; may degenerate, apostatize, may be utterly wasted and lost, in respect of the outward face of it. Lo-Ammi may pass upon it from the Lord, so it did upon Jerusalem and the famous Churches of Asia for their sins.

But then 'tis otherwise with the members of Christ's mystical body. They may be delivered up by way of location or loan to an enemy; for a time they may suffer many grievous things, but God will not take his mercy from them. They shall not be utterly alienated from him, nor lost unto him.

Truly (my Brethren) it cannot be denied, but that we have almost quite vapoured out the good spirits of a pleasant land, in a vain conversation; we have played the wantons in Gospel sun-shine.

Pitty we say tis that fair weather should do any harm, yet our Halcyonian calm, peaceable, Gospel days, have brought forth in us Spiders and Caterpillars and the like Vermin, even pride, luxury, profanes, Atheism, spirits averse from the power of godliness, and a sound reformation; now the Lord hath changed the weather, he hath raised up storms and tempests against us to sweep away the vermin yet in this our distress, many do provoke the Lord yet more; as the Arcadians are said to shoot up arrows against heaven when it thunders; and as Salvian complains of Treviers a city in France. Assiduit as illie calumitatum, augmentum vitiorumer as; the more it was stormed by the enemy, the more it rebelled against the Lord, and gathered more rust under the file.

Now then we confess we deserve not only to be loaned out or parcel'd to the enemy, but to be set out to whole sale. Our Kingdom deserves to be made an Holocaust to the just indignation of God, but yet he is pleased still to wave his golden Scepter to us, and gives us leave to put in a plea, and to petition for a poor, forfeited, almost-quite-lost State and Kingdom.

O deliver not ] No remedy is more Sovereign, none more frequently pressed upon men, none more difficult to be well managed, none wherein we are more apt to languish then this of holy devotion and intercession with God. You must be content to hear often of it, and pray against nauseousnesse and weariness when the point and practice comes so often about to you; that is never sufficiently taught, that is never sufficiently learned. This is the great wheel that sets all other motions going. It is the great Thaumaturgus -spoken of Heb. 11. By faith men stopped the mouths of Lions, by faith put the Armies of the Aliens to flight, by faith did this, did that, viz. by the virtue and efficacy of faithful prayer.

It will be a great encouragement to consider the returns that have been made to us, in this heavenly traffic and merchandise.

We owe it certainly to the gracious acceptance of our prayers through our Redeemer, that we had not been quite delivered up to the multitude of beasts, and that long ere this.

Nay, let me tell you, God was never sought by us in vain in any of our days of humiliation, and devotion, wherein our hearts were engaged, as well as our bodies.

It is a very true and sweet comfortable passage in devout Bernard, Solus Deus est qui munquam frustra quaritur, imo ne tunc cum inveniri non potest. God is never sought in vain, no not even then when we have fasted and have prayed, and have fallen before our enemies, or have turned our backs: or should we have gone out with huge Armies, glorious as the Sun, and afterwards have been clouded, and seemed to go forth into the field, only to break an egg: have achieved little, so that we have been ready to say within ourselves, Why have we fasted and thou regardest not? even then God hath done us more good then we were aware of, for Reformation hath gone on the better; for every blow and disappointment, hath put the godly upon new scrutinies and examinations of their ways, and the State of the Kingdom, and have put them upon Paul's temper, beaten off from his horse, to say Lord, what wilt thou that we do? and to crouch low, and cry out, Lord, put any yoke upon us, so it be thine; not Babylonish, not Spanish, not Cavelierish. We owe our Covenant to the low and shattered estate God was pleased to cast us into for our sins, and we make the more fruitful reviews of it: when we are pinched from abroad, then we are ready to cast wares out of one side of the ship, and luggage out of the other; anything then we will part with for a godly, quiet, and secure life. Out comes one good Ordinance, then another: Upon such a nip, here lies one rotten apple, there another, elsewhere more, which did all lie pretty fair before upon the heap: one ill humor rids this way, another scatters that way, upon the working of the Physic; and so the body Pollitick gathers strength upon a seeming kind of weakness. We pray that Reformation may go on, and the Lord will effect it, by giving up many places and persons utterly averse from it, to the rage and fury and oppression of an insolent enemy, that at length they may put a difference between the Lord's yoke, and theirs, and so be prepared for it.

We are exhausted and brought low, that we may be brought into a state of doing God faithful service. Keep thy servant low (said the Florentine Achitophel ) and he will do thee good service. So base and servile we are, that we must be held to duty, and even killed that we may be quickened.

It is good for us to wait • with patience, till God hath brought his ends together, and to expect without murmuring, till this great motion doth determine: many wheels are stirring, and they seem to be involved, wrapped one within another, as in the Vision of Ezekiel, but God hath an eye of Providence on every wheel, as there.

And one day I doubt not, we shall see that every wheel that hath seemed irregular in the motion, hath been guided by a supreme most skillful hand, to a good point and period; and each good prayer that hath seemed to have been cast away, hath been a good spoke in the wheel: therefore let us go on without fainting, and say, O deliver not.

The Lord doth promise to make Jerusalem a burthensome stone for all people, all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces; and much to the purpose, as you may read there at the tenth verse, the Prophet shows by what means it shall be effected. I will pour upon the house of David, and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of Grace and Supplications.

We have been much broken and exhausted in all those accomplishments, wherein our thoughts were like to pride it, and on which we did lean, that the Crown of our preservation might be set on the head of prayer. David must come on and take Rabbah, lest Joah should have the name •… d the honor; prayer must so strike in, that God may have the glory of our deliverance, lest strength should be oryed up, or man's wisdom deified; or money should be mentioned in the same day with it.

Ambrose hath a very good passage; There was a great drouth (saith he, speaking of the place where he lived) and when people were complaining for lack of rain, one amongst them said, The new of the Moon will bring it. I desired rain as well as they, said he, yet I wisht within myself it might not come then, lest men should ascribe it to the full of the Moon, and an ordinary course of nature, rather then to a special Providence of the Creator. The Lord in his most wise disepensation, may suffer us to run out almost all our worldly stock and our provision, to be wasted and brought very low before he give the great deliverance, that it may appear to be the issue and child of prayer, that it may come out with the name inscribed in the fore-head (Beg'd of God) and under that notion tis most likely, with Samuel, to be dedicated again to God, and prove the more comfortable and useful to ourselves.

The people of God are taught in this form of Supplication how to edge and keen their prayers, and make them vigorous, to wit, by disclaiming any ability or sufficiency in themselves; by styling themselves a Congregation of poor, filly, weak Doves, no way in case to encounter an Army of bestial, cunning, crafty, bloody, boisterous enemies. This plea the people of God make much use of; With thee the father less findeth mercy.

Lord tis nothing with thee to save, whether with many or with those that have no power, help us for we rest on thee, and in thy Name we go against this multitude: and good King Jehosaephat, We have no strength against this great company that come against us, neither know we what to do, but our eyes are towards thee.

The Lord smote the enemies of both for them. If a little child going alng with his father, should see an Adder in the way, or meet with a furious wild Bull, and the child should cry out, ô what shall I do, help, help father; would he not bestir himself thiuk you, to kill the one and to stave off the other: truly the bowels of the Lord infinitely surpass those of the tendrest mother. When an Hawk pursued a Sparrow so close that it flew into Xenocrates his bosom, Non opertet supplicem prodere, was his word; 'twere barbarous for one to betray a poor suppliant; and shall God give up his Turtle Dove that flies into his bosom for succor, most eagerly pursued by so many birds of prey.

The next motive, [ 2] Have respect unto the Covenant: This presseth the Lord more than the former, This is the close, grappling as 'twere with him in the words of Jacob, I will not let thee go, till thou hast blessed me. This is the throwing out of the greatest sacred Anchor in the tempest, for it lays hold on God's faithfulness and truth, and fatherly goodness; for what though men should plead with them that they are poor and weak and insufficient to withstand a potent enemy, yet if they be not in Covenant with God, it may be charged upon them; you have violated my holy Law, you have incensed my wrath against you, by your perverse ways, therefore I will be avenged of you, I will not help you, but give you up; but now the souls that be in Covenant with God, will not be put off so (be it spoken with holy Reverence) but will cry out, O Lord though our iniquities do testify against us, do thou it for thy Names sake, Jer. 14.7.

We have an excellent place, the God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God; and he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds, as the tender grass springing out of the earth, by clear shining after rain: Although my house be not so with God, yet he hath made with me an everlasting Covenant, ordered in all things and sure; for this is all my Salvation and desire, although he make it not to grow. The tenor on God's part to them is, that he will be a God to them, Exod. 6.7. as if he should say, I will own you for my people, and whatsoever I am, it shall be yours, my power, my wisdom, my strength, my providence, my goodness, which are all infinite and boundless; my All-sufficiency shall be for your good, your safety, your welfare, and preservation.

Now though God's Covenant is to be pleaded, and we are wholly to lean upon that in time of trouble, because it depends on his free love, tendered in a promise which is unchangeable, and not on our Covenant, wherein we are unstable off and on; yet we can never present God with that to our relief, unless we have some respect to our own, and make up with sincere aims what is defective touching real performances.

If I eucline my heart unto wickedness, the Lord will not here my prayer saith the Prophet.

The Loadstone will not draw if it be touched with Garlic, a rank unsavory distemper of heart will flat and dead any prayer, that it shall not derive any blessing from God; with what face can any one say, Lord have respect to thy Covenant, when as he casts his own Covenant behind his back, and cannot say with the Prophet David, I have a respect to all thy Commandment. How canst thou say, Deliver me not up to the many beasts without, when thou art not afraid to be delivered up to thy vile bestial lusts and affections that are within. Thou Hypocrite, first Labor the subduing of the monsters that are within thee, then a fair way will be open to have thine enemies subdued round about thee.

The worst Troopers that a good heart finds itself pestered with, are swarms of sinful lusts. These are a body of death to him, and he cries out under these, with the Apostle, Who shall deliver me?

Bafil the great, that holy man, was much troubled with the headache, he sued to God and was at length eased of it, afterwards he felt many bad motions, and sinful lusts stirring in him, then he prayed to God and earnestly desired that he should rather return the headach again to him, then suffer the Peace of his soul to be disquieted with those lusts.

Now as we must all pray, Deliver not thy Turtle Dove, so tis your calling (truly Honorable) and it must be your chief care, that it may not be delivered: you are the Noah's to whom the care of the Dove is committed: God hath shut you up in this City as in an Ark, while a deluge, not of water, but of blood, hath drowned many places of this Land. We acknowledge with all humble thankfulness to God first, and then to you, your indefatigable pains, your admirable fidelity. your matchless constancy, we acknowledge I say, with all thankfulness. Bene dormivi quia Antipater vigilauit. Twas the speech of Alexander the great, This night I slept sweetly and securely, because our trusty friend Antipater was upon the watch: The Doves in this City, and many other places, owe much good rest to your faithfulness, who have been so constant upon the watch.

Did I now suspect or suppose that any such Spirits did yet lurk amongst you, like those that went out from you, but were not of you, for if they had been of you, they would no doubt have continued with you, but they went out of you that they might be made manifest they were not of you: did I suspect that any such were amongst you, who have acted the part of Judas, and have falsified the great trust that was reposed in them; saying, what will you give us, and we will deliver the Dove unto you: I should a little in my great masters name expostulate with them: How hath God wearied you? Can you mend your condition? the more service you undergo for God, the more you are honored, the more hazards you run for him, the more glorious Crowns are prepared for you. Have you suffered so many things in vain? you have run well, who hath hindered you that you have not gone on, who hath bewitched you? what night-bird hath stolen away the Doves heart? What is become of the sheep left in the wilderness? Where are the Doves that sat sighing and wooing by the waters of Marah? Quintili Vari red Legiones, Quintili vari red legiones: how urgent and importunate was Caesar upon Quintilius Varo, when he had squandred away an huge Army of brave men, to give an account of it, Certainly God will have a most strict and exact account made to him of his Doves, and what a sad reckoning will it prove, when the Dove shall come in, and say, The watchmen found me, and smote me, and wounded me, as the Spouse complains. If Christ had a whip for those that sold Doves in the Temple, what Scorpions hath he prepared for those that have sold the Doves, which are the Temples of the Holy Ghost? If so be the Traditores Bibleorum in the Primitive times, those who delivered up the Bibles out of fear, frailty, and Cowardice to those Tyrants that required them to cast them into the fire and burn them, were so severely censured in the present Age afterwards, and were branded to all posterity with a mark of very great infamy and reproach, what shall become of those who have studiously and purposely betrayed the Dove, the Bible of God himself? what black marks and brands of foulest infamy shall lie upon them to all succeeing Generations.

As for you Noble Patriots, who have continued in the ship all this while during this storm, and do yet abide, as we must confess (unless you do continue in it we cannot in an ordinary way be saved, as Saint Paul said to those who were shuffling out) I must bespeak you, as he did those who had been long fasting, that you would take meat, for 'tis for your health, and that an hair shall not fall from the head of any of you, though I cannot speak to you as he did to them, by an immediate revelation from God, yet by good prognostics and signs drawn out of the book of God's Providence, I shall not only manifest more than a probability of the succeeding and prospering of this cause, but show good grounds of strong hopes, that you shall have also your lives given you for a prey, and may live to see peace upon Israel.

1. Let it be considered, that the great God who of small Acorn brings up huge Oaks, and usually hangs upon little wyres great weights, and promotes a day of small things to very great perfection, whereby he sets out to the view of all, the splendor of his omnipotent Agency) hath carried on things thus in this great motion: who would ever have thought the throwing of a stool in the Church, out of indignation by a godly woman, a zealot, at the first broaching of the English Mass at Edenbourough; I say who would have thought that the throwing of that stool, should have so mightily shaken the Popes chair. This I take to be a very great and good Omen.

2. You have been all carried on with Eagles wings, by the Lord, to fly nearer heaven, I dare say, then ever you imagined: It hath been with you as it was with Luther, he doth profess of himself, that he thought only to cry down the base nundination and sale of Indulgences and pardons, and God led him on as he did Ezekiel, from chamber to chamber, and showed him greater and greater abominations still, which he did cry down and writ against. I dare say you thought at first only to restrain the exorbitancy of the Bishops, and reform some faults of the Service-book, to rectify the irregularity of Civil Courts, and God hath discovered innumerable abominations unto you, and hath led you in paths not intended by you, but well-pleasing to himself.

This touching the cause: Now concerning your own preservation.

Although your main care and study should be like seeled Doves to mount upward, aiming right at the honor of God, and though in your most serious thoughts you might reckon it your highest perfection, if even your bodies should be sacrificed in this cause, so long as your souls ascending upward did wonderfully, as that Angel did, when he ascended in the smoke of Manoah's sacrifice; yet the Lord in the course of his Providence towards you, holds out strong prohabilities, that you shall out-live these storms, and shall be kept safe and inviolable in them, the Lord hath delivered you, and doth deliver, and we trust therefore he will deliver you.

Time was when the Dove-coat was searched, the Pistolls were cockt, the bloody birds were skirring about, then the Lord that gave the woman wings of an Eagle to fly into the wilderness for her safety, withdrew the Doves, and the word was then as you may remember (the birds are flown.) We have been signed, sealed, and delivered to destruction, so far as Jesuits, Priests and their busy Instruments could prevail, and there have not been wanting graceless post-masters, that have carried a worser packet then that which Paul did for the imprisonment of the Saints, yet we were not delivered to their fury, but graciously and miraculously delivered by the power, and goodness, and wisdom of our God.

Wonderful and manifold have been the pledges of God's love to his people; strange their preservations in these gloomy days, and yet as David against sundry sweet experiences, and the securing word he had from God, in his hast, said, I shall me day perish by the hand of King Saul; so they are ready to conceive upon some sad vicissitude and turn of things that the Cause and they shall at length perish together. But I must bespeak these in the sharp accent of Christ's language; O fools, and flow of heart to believe all that is written: Orght not judgment first to begin at the house of God, what then shall be the end of those that set themselves against Christ and his Gospel? This sickness is not unto death, this shaking is not to utter desolation, but that the trees of Paradise may root the better, and now the people of God may triumph through God, and say to their enemy, The Virgin daughter of Zion doth defy thee, the Turtle Dove that reforms, and intends to keep close to her mate, fears not but that a hand shall be put out to receive her, when a mighty deluge of God's wrath shall-sweep away the ungodly.

Honorable Senators, may you be pleased, before I close, to hear with patience an unworthy messenger of God in a few hints and addresses, humbly tendered to you for the preservation of the Turtle Dove.

[ 1] Imploy not those in the public service who like paralyticall Palsy members, or parts of the body, will fall on the left side, when they should fall on the right, tis the advice that Gerson gives to Pope Benedict.

[ 2] Commit not the Dove to the custody of an Harpy, let no Papist or Popishly affected, as near as you can, lurk in your Armies: I have heard it, with the rising of my spirit, and indignation, objected by the Malignants, I took it for a scandalous suggestion; yet the same hath been brought about by those that are cordially affected to the Cause, and fear God; for my part I know none such, and I am sure you have declared against them, and do utterly detest the entertainment of them. Non tali auxilio. —This Cause stands not in need of such rotten props and supporters.

Yet some such may slily creep in to do mischief, therefore be pleased to make some lustration of your Armies in this particular.

Pardon the double diligence of your poor watchman, if he cries out Lances and Speares, when as perhaps they be but Thistles, which was sometimes the mistake of the Burgundians.

[ 3] Touching the Officers of your Revenue, may it please you to take into your thoughts, that Doves may not suffer and be preyed on, under the name of Vultures, and that they may not prey at large. Falco domestica est rapacior sylvestri, sibi enim praedatur & Domino.

[ 4] Let not the Doves eyes faint when they wait for succor, being surrounded with preying Birds, let them not loose their feathers, and be shrewdly scratched and clawd, and left half dead, as the man that fell amongst thieves between Jericho and Jerusalem, before they be relieved. It is a very great disheartening when the condition of them shall be like to that Captains, who when he held the boat that was going away with one hand, and that was cut off, took hold with the other, and having lost that too, fastened with his teeth, pity tis they should not be relieved till the hold-fast is only by the teeth as 'twere.

When your gins and snares catch any of the bloody Birds, dally not with them, blood will have blood, contract not their blood-guiltiness upon your own souls, by an unwarranted clemency and mildness.

When Bishop Gardener was coop'd up in the Tower, in Edward the sixts days, Latimer said, That Wolf was reserved to devour him and others; which proved too true at length. If those that rob one single man are justly trussed up, why should they escape who have merchandized and set to sale whole Kingdoms.

To conclude, you that are Noah's, and carry tender affection to the Dove, who have seen the end of an old world, and the beginning of a new as he did; and have the principles and seeds, about you for a new Plantation as he had, who have followed Christ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in the Regeneration, Renovation, Reformation of all things, shall sit upon thrones and shall judge your adversaries in an higher Court. You shall read Ex. 24.10. That Moses and Aaron and 70. of the Elders saw the God of Israel, and there was under his feet as 'twere a paved work of Sapphire stone, Lyranus and Arrias Montanus render the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a Saphyr brick, whereby is signified that the bricks of his People, (with Allusion to Egypt ) that is, their Labors, and sorrows, and sufferings which they did undergo for God's sak, in his cause, and his work, should at length be turned into pure Saphyrs of Eternal Glory. This Comfort and encouragement I leave with you, and the Lord bless it unto you.

COurteous Reader, I request thee to take notice of these Errata, and pass by some other literal Syllabicall faults, which could not be avoided, by reason of my absence from the Press.

Page 3. Lines 14 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 15 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 16 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 20 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . Page 3. line 30. for 12. 32. read Luk. 12.32. p. 8. margent, r. citatura Gerrhardo, p. 9. l. 4. for open r. opened, l. 7. for burdens r. barbarous, p. 11. l. 17. for Diarius r. Diazius, l. 21. r. Diazius, p. 12. l. 1. for carrying r. carriage, l. 3, 4. for Caca Avis r. Rara Avis. p. 13. l. 4. for the multitude r. that multitude. l. 15. for pleris, r. pleui. p. 14. l. 12. for described r. ascribed, l 26. for hurled r. harl'd, l. 27. for have r. having, ibid. marg. for Pilluanalii r. Pelican & alii. p. 16. for Pythagorns r. Pythagorus, p. 21. l. 36. for quaritur, r. quaritur: p. 22. l. 3. for should r. when.

A CATALOGUE OF THE SERMONS That have been Printed by Order of both or either HOUSE of PARLIAMENT; Preached on days of Public Humiliation, either Monethly, or on particular occasions.

SERMONS Preached upon days of Public Thanksgiving, and other particular occasions: Printed by Order as aforesaid.

• At Administring the Sacrament to the House of COMMONS.
  • Nove. 29. 1640.
    • MAster Gawden, Zach. 8.19.
• For the Peace concluded between England and Scotland.
  • Septem. 7. 1640.
    • Mr. Marshall, Psalm 124.6, 7, 8.
    • Mr. Burroughs, Isai. 66.10.
  • Nove. 5. 1641.
    • Dr. Burgess, Psal. 76.10.
  • Nove. 5. 1642.
    • Mr. Newcomen, Nehe. 8.19.
• At the Thanksgiving for the discovery of the Plot, against the Parliament and City of London, 1643.
  • June 15. 1643. Before the Lord's,
    • Mr. Callamy, Josh. 24.15.
    • Mr. Herle, Psalm 95.
  • June 15. 1643. Before the Commons.
    • Mr. Marshall, Revel. 15.2, 3, 4.
    • Mr. Obad. Sedgwick, Esther 9.1.
• At the taking of the Covenant of the three Kingdoms.
  • September. 29.
    • Mr. Coleman, Jeremy 30.21.
  • October 26.
    • Mr. Carryl, Nehem. 9.38.
• At Master Pyms Funeral.
  • Decemb. 15.
    • Mr. Marshall, Micah 7.1, 2.
• At the Thanksgiving before the Parliament, and City of London.
  • Janu. 18. 1643.
    • Mr. Marshall, 1 Chron. 12.38, 39, 40.
• At Thanksgiving for the Victory given to our Forces, under Sir William Waller and Sir William Balfoor, over Sir Ralph Hoptons Army.
  • April 9. 1644.
    • Mr. Sedgwick, Psalm 3 8.
    • Mr. Case, Daniel 11.32.
• For the Victory obtained by the Lord Fairfax at Selby in Yorkshire.
  • April 23.
    • Mr. Carryl, Revel. 11.16, 17.
• At a Thanksgiving for the Victory over Prince Rupert, and the surrender of York.
  • July 28.
    • Mr. Vines, Isaiah 63.8.
    • Henderson, Matth. 14.21.
  • Novemb. 5. Before the Lord's,
    • Mr. Strickland, Psalm 46.7.
    • Mr. Spurstow, Ezra. 9.13.14.
  • Novemb. 5. Before the Commons.
    • Mr. Herle, 2 Sam. 21.16, 17.
    • Mr. Anthony Burgess, Revel. 19.2.