Heathen men have fought for their Country, shall not we sight for it? They have given their whole bodies, shall not we give our tears? They have laid down their lives, shall not we lay down our mirth? They have encountered all perils, shall not we endure the labour of mourning and lamentation? I call upon you in Jeremies words:1 Let your tears run down like a River day and night: give your selves no rest, let not the apple of your eyes cease. Arise, cry out in the night, in the beginning of the night watches, pour out your hearts like water before the face of the Lord, lift your hands towards him. If misery come, you will surely cry, when crying will avail but little; cry before it come with such a crying, as may prevent it. O, defer not to afford this Island another sea of tears for its safe-guard, and that a better too, then this wherewith it stands surrounded. The multitude are so metamorphosed into stones, that all words are cast away, which may be spent in calling them to sorrow, But if there be (as sure there ⟨image 108⟩is) in our Nation, any small remnant left, of those that have hearts of flesh, now let them witness their loves to their Country, in taking up a bitter lamentation against those crimes, that make a clamour in heaven against it. Cry aloud (I pray you) and out-cry the crying sins of England. God from Heaven hath spoken aloud by divers corrections; He, as a Father loth to strike, hath given us many a fair warning. Let us not show our selves to be wanton children, that will take no warning, that will not believe their parents threats, that will needs continue their untowardness, till the rod be held up over them, yea, till their skin begin to smart with stripes. There are many that mourn for crosses, penury draws tears from the eyes of many. We weep to no purpose, in weeping for such things. Let our hearts be filled with ruth, for the faults that fill this Kingdom: Let the Lord see, that some are fit to be spared, if for their sakes, perhaps, he may spare all. I pray thee, Reader, be a true friend unto thy native soil. Help her with thy humble requests and earnest lamentations. Intercede to God for her with a bended knee, and a broken heart, and moistened eyes. Not thy money, not thy toil, not thy fighting, not thine hazard, but thy sorrows are called for.
Heathen men haue fought for their Countrie, shall not we sight for it? They haue giuen their whole bodies, shall not wee giue our teares? They haue laid downe their liues, shall not wee lay downe our mirth? They haue encountred all perils, shall not we endure the labour of mourning and lamentation? I call vpon you in Ieremies words:1 Let your teares runne downe like a Riuer day and night: giue your selues no rest, let not the apple of your eyes cease. Arise, crie out in the night, in the beginning of the night watches, powre out your hearts like water before the face of the Lord, lift your hands towards him. If miserie come, you will surely crie, when crying will auaile but little; crie before it come with such a crying, as may preuent it. O, deferre not to afford this Iland another sea of teares for its safe-gard, and that a better too, then this wherewith it stands surrounded. The multitude are so metamorphosed into stones, that all words are cast away, which may be spent in calling them to sorrow, But if there be (as sure there ⟨image 108⟩is) in our Nation, any small remnant left, of those that haue hearts of flesh, now let them witnesse their loues to their Countrey, in taking vp a bitter lamentation against those crimes, that make a clamor in heauen against it. Crie aloude (I pray you) and out-crie the crying sinnes of England. God from Heauen hath spoken aloud by diuers corrections; He, as a Father loth to strike, hath giuen vs many a faire warning. Let vs not shew our selues to be wanton children, that will take no warning, that will not beleeue their parents threats, that will needs continue their vntowardnes, till the rod be held vp ouer them, yea, till their skin begin to smart with stripes. There are many that mourne for crosses, penurie drawes teares from the eyes of many. We weepe to no purpose, in weeping for such things. Let our hearts be filled with ruth, for the faults that fill this Kingdome: Let the Lord see, that some are fit to be spared, if for their sakes, perhaps, he may spare all. I pray thee, Reader, be a true friend vnto thy natiue soile. Helpe her with thy humble requests and earnest lamentations. Intercede to God for her with a beneded knee, and a broken heart, and moystned eyes. Not thy money, not thy toyle, not thy fighting, not thine hazard, but thy sorrowes are called for.
- 1Lam. 3.18, 19.
