Our condition seems to parallel with theirs very much, we lately were under sore and cruel bondage, nothing was more dangerous then the worshipping God in his own way, we were under hard Task-masters, oppressing, undoing Courts; The Lord hath in a great measure delivered us, it is the unthankfulness, the sinful distemper of mens spirits that makes them say, what is done? it is as ill with us as ever it was; No, we have much ease, such liberties, as were our fore-fathers raised out of their graves to see, they would admire Gods goodness, and bless him with meltings of heart; but we spend that strength in siding, wrangling, contending, quarrelling, vexing, opposing one another, that we should spend in magnifying, blessing and praising the Name of God for that mercy we enjoy. We are a divided people, whose hearts are divided, and heads too, and hands too; peace and unity seems to be flown from us, and a spirit of contention and division is come upon us: King & Subjects are divided, Parl. is divided, Assembly is divided, Armies are divided, Church is divided, & State is divided, City is divided, Country is divided, Towns are divided, Families divided, godly people are divided, Ministers almost every where are divided; yea, and what heart almost is there at this time but is divided in it self? the thoughts, the counsels, contrivances, endeavours, ways of men, almost of all men, how are they divided? O blessed Saviour! are these the times thou speakest of, wherein five should be in one house divided, three against two, and two against three; the father against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother? Oh woe to us! we find it so amongst us, and yet there is found no healing; we are broken, and there is no binding up: It is with us as it was with ⟨p. 5⟩Ezek. 2. 6. Briars and thorns are with us, and we dwell among Scorpions. O Lord, what is this thy curse at this time upon England? Briers and thorns shall it bring forth: We are rending and tearing, and devouring one another, while the adversary stands before us ready to devour us: Ephraim is against Manasseh, and Manasseh against Ephraim. A fire is come out from Abimilech, and devours the men of Shechem; and fire comes from the men of Shechem, and devours Abimilech; yea, there is a fire kindled in our own bowels, it rises from our selves. Ezek. 19.
Our condition seems to parallel with theirs very much, we lately were under sore and cruell bondage, nothing was more dangerous then the worshipping God in his own way, wee were under hard Task-masters, oppressing, undoing Courts; The Lord hath in a great measure delivered us, it is the unthankfulness, the sinfull distemper of mens spirits that makes them say, what is done? it is as ill with us as ever it was; No, we have much ease, such liberties, as were our fore-fathers raised out of their graves to see, they would admire Gods goodness, and bless him with meltings of heart; but we spend that strength in siding, wrangling, contending, quarrelling, vexing, opposing one another, that we should spend in magnifying, blessing and praising the Name of God for that mercy we enjoy. We are a divided people, whose hearts are divided, and heads too, and hands too; peace and unity seems to be flown from us, and a spirit of contention and division is come upon us: King & Subjects are divided, Parl. is divided, Assembly is divided, Armies are divided, Church is divided, & State is divided, City is divided, Country is divided, Towns are divided, Families divided, godly people are divided, Ministers almost every where are divided; yea, and what heart almost is there at this time but is divided in it self? the thoughts, the counsels, contrivances, endeavours, ways of men, almost of all men, how are they divided? O blessed Saviour! are these the times thou speakest of, wherein five should be in one house divided, three against two, and two against three; the father against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother? Oh woe to us! wee find it so amongst us, and yet there is found no healing; we are broken, and there is no binding up: It is with us as it was with ⟨p. 5⟩Ezek. 2. 6. Briars and thorns are with us, and we dwell among Scorpions. O Lord, what is this thy curse at this time upon England? Bryers and thornes shall it bring forth: We are rending and tearing, and devouring one another, while the adversary stands before us ready to devour us: Ephraim is against Manasseh, and Manasseh against Ephraim. A fire is come out from Abimilech, and devours the men of Sechem; and fire comes from the men of Sechem, and devours Abimilech; yea, there is a fire kindled in our owne bowels, it rises from our selves. Ezek. 19.
