A profitable Expofition 2. Petition. bee found it in the flreete. Then would wee feele what it is to gouerne and to be aloft. Thenaffuredly would we honour ,magiflrares more, loue them more, obey them more and contend againft therm leffe, in a very true confcience to dealevn- kindely with a meanes ordained in heauen of fo much good to man. God giue vs eies, God giue vs hearts, and God giue vs the bleffing we fpeake of Hill. We!lyougot any further in this T etuion ? No indeed, this may fufficc for my briefe purpofe I hope , and therefore this onelywill I adde that which I told you of in the beginning , that as wee pray for thefe mercies when we fay theft words , fo pray we as effe&ually in fenfe againft All contrary the contraries of them. For if Gods kingdome come , then mull: be done away things to gods whatfoeuer let eyther hindereth or obfcureth the fame : Contrary to the vfe of K1'10' the words is that fearefull famine the Prophet fpeaketh of, contrary to godlyand in gqthisd profitable reading is barbarifine, ignorance and contempt or negletf of good Amos.8. letters, contrary to carefull hearing is that adderlilte flopping our cares again{{ the charmer contrary to the fweet melting motions of Gods holy fpirit in vs, hardneffe, dulnelfe, and vnfccliugneffe of heart , prophanenefle, andwhatfoeuer M,tb.t;. is the property of bad ground,contrary to preaching, dumbneffe, to plaineprea_ Rosn.8.tz, thing, vnprofitablecuriofltie, to painefull and often negligent and rare prea- ching. Contrary to a Magillracy is anarchy , to a godly,a wicked, to a bad, and to a faithful{ and carefull , a negligent and an Idle Magiflrate. And to conclude contrary to the kingdome of G O D in any of vs, is the diuell and all his worker, the vaine pompe and glory of the world with all couctous defires of the fame, and the carnall defires of the flefh to follow and to be lead by them. All thefe therefore we pray as heartly and truely againfl, as we doe for the other, when we fay , Thy Kingdomecame. And let all that heare mee confider of it, what wee fee to day, namely, thus much, that if wee ferle no true tefitmonies in our foules that we are the children of this kingdome, but enemies to it, hinderers, letters , and obfcurers of it by our workes, words, and thoughts, our owne tongues, and hearts, and all the tongues and hearts vnderheauen, praying this prayer, rife vp againflvs, and if we will not be reformed, defirc of the Lord that he will take vs away, confound vs and deflroyvs by his iudgements, that his kingdome may increafe and arife. And what fearefull thing is this? To our owne bps the Lord will grant the confufion of our felues, the prayer of one (hall be heard , of two or three by faithful{ promife , but the prayer of thoufands and ten thoufand thoufands , euen of all the Churches and chofen throughout the world, yea, of whatfoeuer millions in them that pray this prayer, what a fhrike maketh it in the heauens to the Lord, and how will he rufh vp in his iufl conceiued anger, Minders and accomplifli what they aske : Therefore with (baking hearts at fo great ape- tS!fl,C fit. nil, let vs confider ofit. Wee feeders and fathers (pitituall of the Lords people, let vs thinke vpon it, and enter into accounts how we doe, further we or hinder we the kingdome of the Lord, fpeake we or fpare we, found we or finne we, la- bour we or loyter we,forGods fake,what doe we?Woc to vs if we doe not worke, and bleflèd is that feruant whome his mailler commeth bee (hall finde fo doing. ,4.g'ftrates Magiflrates and powers confider of it, put you forward, or put you backward tcsnke oí it. Gods kingdome, fleepe you or wake you, are you nudes or none to the Church of Chrifl , to vertue and piety, and deftroyers diligent of finne and wickedneffe, iudge you the caufe of the affli&edand poore that you may profper, or doe you Privat perfons contrary, that you may perifh, what doe you ? Privat men fudge, and euery parti- thinkeoftt. cular petIots one by one confider ofit. What doe you ? ruleth God in you by Isis holy fpirit workingfatth to God and loue of men , with daily and fundry fruits of them both ? Doc you fee vp in your owne houles , places, and charges this holy kingdome as much as lieth in you by prillate admonitions, by vertuous examples, and by filch meanes as you may,or doe you plucke and pull downe, hinder and let by the contrariesgreatly ? As you loue your felues thinke of it , and then flail we each A frarEstll thing if we tlticke of it.
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