Two sermons preached at Northampton at two several assizes there The one in the…Two sermons preached at Northampton at two severall assises there The one in the…

Scornful persecutors of GODs people, as ⟨p. 37⟩though they were the very filth of the world, and the of▪scouring of all things, the plagues of the times, and the troublers of Israel, whereas in truth the world is not worthy of them, they are the very chariot and horse-men of Israel; they are the only jewels, stars, Suns, Saints, Angels of the earth: for their sakes, and safety alone, the Sun holds out his glorious unwearied course; the earth springs, and is over-spread with such beauty and sweetness; the air inspires her lively and refreshing breath; that great and restless body of the Sea, keeps within her bounds; States and Kingdoms turn not into confusions of blood, in a word, the world stands. If their number were once made up, this goodly frame would flame about our ears. I speak not for any whited Tombs, supercilious Pharisees; but I say, such are very pestilent instruments to betray and expose a Kingdom to the ambitious rage of foreign Nations, and fury of their enemies, whether they vex and persecute GODs people by fire, faggot, sword, power, purse, policy in their hearts and affections, by their tongues, nay, brow-beating, a contracted fore-head, a sour countenance, and fleering face, and other scornful gestures,¹ are persecutions in GODs interpretation, and shall be paid home proportionably. The merciless encloser, besides beating the poor to pieces, and grinding their faces, plucking off their skins from of them, their flesh from off their bones, breaking their bones, and chopping them in pieces, as for the Pot, as it is, ⟨p. 38⟩Mica. 3.2, 3. He also robs the King of his honour, and the State of its strength, For in the multitude of people is the Kings honour, but in the want of people is the destruction of the Prince, Pro. 14.28.

Scornefull persecutors of GODs people, as ⟨p. 37⟩though they were the very filth of the world, and the of▪scouring of all things, the plagues of the times, and the troublers of Israel, whereas in truth the world is not worthy of them, they are the very chariot and horse-men of Israel; they are the onely jewels, starres, Sunnes, Saints, Angels of the earth: for their sakes, and safety alone, the Sun holds out his glorious unwearied course; the earth springs, and is over-spred with such beauty and sweetnesse; the ayre inspires her lively and refreshing breath; that great and restlesse body of the Sea, keeps within her bounds; States and Kingdomes turne not into confusions of blood, in a word, the world stands. If their number were once made up, this goodly frame would flame about our eares. I speake not for any whited Tombes, supercilious Pharisies; but I say, such are very pestilent instruments to betray and expose a Kingdome to the ambitious rage of forraine Nations, and fury of their enemies, whether they vexe and persecute GODs people by fire, faggot, sword, power, purse, pollicy in their hearts and affections, by their tongues, nay, brow-beating, a contracted fore-head, a soure coutenance, and fleering face, and other scornfull gestures,