And he who hath wrought wonders for us in these our Civil concernments, can do the like for his Church, 1(the Interests whereof, are, of all things on the Earth, dearest unto him; and the ⟨image 5⟩welfare and happiness whereof, all the Earthquakes and Concussions, which have been amongst us, do call aloud unto you, to look after, and to be tender of.2 When the Lord shakes heaven and Earth, Churches and States, it is to make way for him who is the Desire of all Nations. If Christ, and the Glory of his holy Ordinances, and spiritual worship be not more exalted; If the sons of Levi be not purified, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness; 3if the House of God be not purged of corruptions; if pomp and splendour, and terrene interests be the things most passionately prosecuted, and the vitals and essentials of Religion, the great things of the Law, purity of Doctrine, spiritualness of Worship, power of Godliness but in the second place regarded: If we be zealous for mint and cummin, 4and phylacteries ⟨image 6⟩and precepts of men, 5and have not a proportionable fervour of zeal for the Magnalia Dei: 6Certainly God will yet reckon with us,7 and call us to an account for all the blood which hath been shed, for all the Treasure which hath been exhausted, for all the Judgements and mercies, for all the providences and wonders which have been expended upon us. I speak not this to accuse, but only to awaken; not to charge, but only to beseech you to consider, whether the Lord do not expect, That after such vicissitudes of wonders as we have seen, (especially having inclined the heart of our GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN unto moderate, healing, and Reforming Resolutions,) you should together with him take up the same purposes, to make the Church of Christ amongst us more holy and happy then ever it was before. For certainly never any Parliament ⟨image 6⟩had greater advantages to promote Religion, than you have. I shall conclude this Dedication and address unto you with the words of Azariah the Prophet unto Asa, 8The Lord is with you while you be with him, and if you seek him, he will be found of you, but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you. The Lord shine upon all your Counsels.
And he who hath wrought wonders for us in these our Civil concernments, can do the like for his Church, 1(the Interests whereof, are, of all things on the Earth, dearest unto him; and the ⟨image 5⟩welfare and happinesse whereof, all the Earthquakes and Concussions, which have beene amongst us, do call aloud unto you, to looke after, aad to be tender of.2 When the Lord shakes heaven and Earth, Churches and States, it is to make way for him who is the Desire of all Nations. If Christ, and the Glory of his holy Ordinances, and spiritual worship be not more exalted; If the sonnes of Levi be not purified, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousnesse; 3if the House of God be not purged of corruptions; if pompe and splendor, and terrene interests be the things most passionately prosecuted, and the vitals and essentials of Religion, the great things of the Law, purity of Doctrine, spiritualnesse of Worship, power of Godliness but in the second place regarded: If we be zealous for mint and cummin, 4and philacteries ⟨image 6⟩and precepts of men, 5and have not a proportionable fervour of zeale for the Magnalia Dei: 6Certainly God will yet reckon with us,7 and call us to an account for all the blood which hath been shed, for all the Treasure which hath been exhausted, for all the Judgements and mercies, for all the providences and wonders which have been expended upon us. I speak not this to accuse, but onely to awaken; not to charge, but onely to beseech you to consider, whether the Lord do not expect, That after such vicissitudes of wonders as we have seen, (especially having inclined the heart of our GRACIOUS SOVERAIGN unto moderate, healing, and Reforming Resolutions,) you should together with him take up the same purposes, to make the Church of Christ amongst us more holy and happy then ever it was before. For certainly never any Parliament ⟨image 6⟩
- 1Isa. 43. 4.
- 2Hag. 2. 6, 7.
- 3Mal. 3. 3.
- 4Luke 11. 42.
- 5Mat. 23. 5.
- 6Mat. 15. 9.
- 7Acts 2. 11.
- 82 Chron. […]. 1.2 Chron. 〈…〉. 1.
