A30235:96
The difficulty of and the encouragements to a reformation a sermon preached before the…
The difficulty of and the encouragements to a reformation a sermon preached before the honourable House of Commons at the public fast, Septem. 27, 1643 / by Mr. Anthony Burges ...The difficulty of and the encouragements to a reformation a sermon preached before the honourable House of Commons at the publick fast, Septem. 27, 1643 / by Mr. Anthony Burges ...
London: printed by R. Bishop for Thomas Underhill, 1643London: printed by R. Bishop for Thomas Vnderhill, 1643
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. That a Reformation doth not make these troubles, but sin. Do not murmur under Gods providence as is forbidden, 2 Cor. 10. The Jews, they murmured under Moses and Aaron, how many of them did God destroy? so again, the Corinthians, because Paul did urge strict Discipline about the incestuous person and other disorders, therefore they were prone to murmur: And thus people think that this Reformation is the cause of all this evil, and that Reformers are the troublers of England: but sure it is our sins and an unwillingness to be subjected to Christ that works us all this woe; and if we had more truth, we should have more peace.
1. That a Reformation doth not make these troubles, but sinne. Do not murmur under Gods providence as is forbidden, 2 Cor. 10. The Iewes, they murmured under Moses and Aaron, how many of them did God destroy? so again, the Corinthians, because Paul did urge strict Discipline about the incestuous person and other disorders, therefore they were prone to murmur: And thus people think that this Reformation is the cause of all this evill, and that Reformers are the troublers of England: but sure it is our sinnes and an unwillingnesse to bee subjected to Christ that works us all this woe; and if we had more truth, we should have more peace.
2 How slowly we prepare and fit our selves for mercies; Its true, speed is a great advantage in public works; The heavenly bodies convey their sweet influence, non quà calida, sed quà velocis ⟨p. 28⟩motus, as they are swift: but yet you are to take notice of it, that our slowness in fitting our selves for mercy is more to be blamed. Its your complaint, the Parliament is slow; Why not rather we reform our lives slowly, we prepare our selves slowly, and therefore it is that good things are kept off? Moses and Aaron were not the causes that the people were kept so long in the wilderness, but their own sins and rebellions against God; Let this therefore stop your mouths and do not discourage those who labour for your good, that is not profitable for you, as the Apostle speaks in the like case.