A care-cloth

O, then how just both blame and shame must be cast upon us, that are nothing so regardful of our Countries welfare (the most of us) as were some Inhabitants of Heathen Rome and Athens! I would to God therefore, that I could inflame the souls of those, that shall read these few lines, with a far more fervent zeal to the prosperity of this our Church and Nation, then that they had before. If the fire of love did burn warmer and lighter in our hearts; it would not dry up the fountain of tears, to which the ⟨image 106⟩book following persuadeth, but would even melt and dissolve our now-frozen hearts into tears. Those that stand in places of eminency, may perform many good services for their Country: we shrubs that sit in the shade below, can do nothing worth the naming, but earnestly to pray for the bark, in which we sail, and to lament the things that we see, to threaten a miserable shipwreck thereof. He that will judge of things by appearance (and make carnal wisdom his only Loadestarre in judging) can hardly mistrust so much evil, as those, that make faith in Gods threatenings a counsellor to their forecast, must needs most evidently foresee now ready to come against us. The huge increase of vices amongst us, the noisome swarms of wicked men, and wicked deeds, do assure every one that believeth, there is a righteous Judge in Heaven (who thence beholdeth all the sons of men) that he will not long forbear to scourge us soundly, for our unthankfulness to him, and rebellion against him. Lay all things together, and I think, there neither is, nor ever was a Nation more beholding to the Divine Majesty. What peace? What plenty? What deliverances? What brightness of heavenly light have we enjoyed now for the space of more then threescore years? Again, lay all things together, and, I think, there neither is, nor ever was a Nation more wicked and ungrateful, and that did worse requite the loving kindness of God. What profaneness? What blasphemy? What contempt of God & his Word? What sins of all sorts do abound and reign amongst us? We seem to have entered into a contention with the Almighty, whether he shall be more merciful, or we more sinful; whether he shall be more constant in ⟨image 107⟩doing us good, or we more obstinate in sinning against him.

O, then how iust both blame and shame must be cast vpon vs, that are nothing so regardfull of our Countries welfare (the most of vs) as were some Inhabitants of Heathen Rome and Athens! I would to God therefore, that I could inflame the soules of those, that shall reade these few lines, with a farre more feruents zeale to the prosperitie of this our Church and Nation, then that they had before. If the fire of loue did burne warmer and lighter in our hearts; it would not drie up the fountaine of teares, to which the