THE fore-mentioned point concerning the removing of Gods judgements doth now in particular, and after an especial manner concern us, *who are even in the flame of the fire of Gods wrath; and thereupon assembled together by fasting and prayer after a more then ordinary manner ⟨p. 10⟩to seek grace and favour of God; that so this day of humiliation may prove a day of reconciliation. For this end we are this day to enter into a solemn covenant with God: and as we desire to have this hot fire of the Plague or extinguished or at least slaked, so to remove the causes which have kindled the same, so far as we can find them out. When the Jews after the captivity on a day of fast entered into a new covenant with God, mthey put away their strange wives and children, because in taking them they sinned, and to hold them had been to continue in sin. In like manner, though we be wedded to our sins as to wives, and our sins be as dear as wives and children can be, yet must they be put away: else nor our persons, nor our prayers, nor any services that we perform, can be acceptable to God. Sins retained are as that nbitterness which was on the waters in Marah, which made them that they could not be drunken: and as that oheaviness on the axe head which made it sink in the water: and as that pthick cloud, whereof the Prophet thus saith, our prayer cannot pass through it. Yea as those qwild gourds which brought death into the pot. But faith and repentance are as the tree which was cast into the waters and made them sweet: as the stick which being cast into the water made the iron swim: as the wind which driveth away a thick cloud; and as the meal which made the pottage wholesome. Wherefore as 7we desire to have our persons, prayers, and other services acceptable to God, and the fierceness of this pestilence to assuage, yea this and other judgements to be removed, let us take away the cause of all: let us put away our sins. The cause being taken away, the effect will quickly follow.
THE fore-mentioned point concerning the removing of Gods judgements doth now in particular, and after an especiall manner concerne us, *who are even in the flame of the fire of Gods wrath; and thereupon assembled together by fasting and prayer after a more then ordinary manner ⟨p. 10⟩to seeke grace and favour of God; that so this day of humiliation may prove a day of reconciliation. For this end we are this day to enter into a solemne covenant with God: and as we desire to have this hot fire of the Plague or extinguished or at least slaked, so to remove the causes which have kindled the same, so farre as we can find them out. When the Iewes after the captivity on a day of fast entred into a new covenant with God, mthey put away their strange wives and children, because in taking them they sinned, and to hold them had beene to continue in sinne. In like manner, though we be wedded to our sinnes as to wives, and our sinnes be as deare as wives and children can be, yet must they be put away: els nor our persons, nor our prayers, nor any services that we performe, can be acceptable to God. Sinnes retained are as that nbitternesse which was on the waters in Marah, which made them that they could not be drunken: and as that oheavinesse on the axe head which made it sinke in the water: and as that pthick cloud, whereof the Prophet thus saith, our prayer cannot passe thorow it. Yea as those qwilde gourds which brought death into the pot. But faith and repentance are as the tree which was cast into the waters and made them sweet: as the stick which being cast into the water made the iron swimme: as the winde which driveth away a thick cloud; and as the meale which made the pottage wholesome. Wherefore as 7we desire to have our persons, prayers, and other services acceptable to God, and the fiercenesse of this pestilence to asswage, yea this and other judgements to be removed, let us take away the cause of all: let us put away our sinnes. The cause being taken away, the effect will quickly follow.
- *The second of July 1625 was the first day appointed for a public fast when there died in that week 405 of the Plague.The second of Iuly 1625 was the first day appointed for a publique fast when there died in that weeke 405 of the Plague.
- mEzr. 10. 3. Neh. 9. 2.
- nExo. 15. 23.
- o2 King. 6. 5.
- pLam. 3. 44.
- q2 King. 4. 39.
- 7Sanè ubi prorsus de medio actum suerit omne peccatum, causa qui dem omnino sublata, nec ipse quoque deinceps manebit effectus. Bernard, in Psal. 91. Serm 10.
