The nail & the wheel the nail fastned by a hand from heaven, the wheel turned by a voyce from the throne of glory / both described in two severall sermons in the Green-yard at Norwich by John Carter, pastor of Great St. Peters. Carter, John, d. 1655. 1647 Approx. 234 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 55 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A34747 Wing C654A ESTC R34786 14709314 ocm 14709314 102714 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A34747) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 102714) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1566:17) The nail & the wheel the nail fastned by a hand from heaven, the wheel turned by a voyce from the throne of glory / both described in two severall sermons in the Green-yard at Norwich by John Carter, pastor of Great St. Peters. Carter, John, d. 1655. 108 [i.e. 106] p. : ill. Printed by J. Macock for M. Spark, and are to be sold by William Franklin ..., London : 1647. "The nail hit on the head, and driven into the city and cathedral wall of Norwich" and "The wheel turned by a voice from the throne of glory" each have special t.p. and continuous paging. Illustrated frontispiece for "The vvheel turned by a voice" on p. 52. Contains errors in paging. Reproduction of original in the Bodleian Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. 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Sermons, English -- 17th century. 2006-06 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-06 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-06 Ali Jakobson Sampled and proofread 2007-06 Ali Jakobson Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion The Nail & the VVheel . THE NAIL FASTNED by a Hand from Heaven . THE WHEEL TVRNED by a Voyce from the Throne of Glory . Both Described in two severall SERMONS In the Green-yard at NORWICH . By JOHN CARTER Pastor of Great St. PETERS . LONDON , Printed by J. Macock for M. Spark , and are to be sold by WILLIAM FRANKLIN at his shop in the Market-place in Norwich . 1647. TO the glory of her Sex ; The Right Honorable , both by the first and second Birth , the worthy and most religious Lady ; the Lady FRANCES HOBARTE . MADAM ! YOur Honor knows I have ever been afraid of the Press hitherto I have stood out against all importunity , and I was peremptorily resolved never to have published any thing in Print : but now I am inforced , whether I wil or no , to send abroad these two smal pieces . And since they must out , I humbly present them to your Ladyship : Not for any worth that is in them : Not for your Honors protection of them ; let them go forth at their own peril : nor yet for the subjects sake ; the matter of them in the general not so directly , and properly complying with your Ladyships condition : they are rather for the instruction of Magistrates : But I dedicate them to your Honor : because they are your due . Whatever I can perform in the service of God , and more by far then ever I am able to do , low to the gracious Lady Frances . To say truth , your Honor called for them , and here they are : take them with favorable acceptation . Something your Ladyship wil meet withal in both Sermons appliable and useful in regard of your self . The NAIL ( I mean the good Nail ) wil give your Honor a fresh sight of that Noble Gentleman , worthy Sir JOHN HOBARTE , your Honors lately deceased husband . He was a gallant Nail : by the grace of God wel filed from all rust and ruggedness : He was a bright Nail , as burnished gold , shining more and more every day he lived ( that I can testifie to the comfort of my soul ) by a godly conversation . He was a great and a strong Nail : His abilities were beyond the common pitch : He had a good head for wisdom and understanding : He had a good heart ; Faithful and zealous he was for God , for Religion , for his Country , for our Solemn Covenant : He was a fixed Nail not only in the Capitol , but also in the Sanctuary : his care and painful endeavors were layd out not only for the Common-wealth , but for the Church also : yea he himself was a little suncturary to the faithful Manisters of Jesus Christ . He was a stout Nail , steeled with Christian resolution and courage ; not counting his life dear if he might have sacrificed it ( as partly he did ) for the Kingdoms peace , his Countries safety and the Churches settlement . He was a Nail on which the Welfare and prosperity of our Sion did much depend . And for our sins God hath plucked out this useful Nail . We see this great Nail turned into a little Wheel : and he is now rolled into the House appointed for all the living . I wil not tel the world of your Ladiships immoderate sorrow , and how you sit disconsolate , sighing , sobbing , and mourning like a faithful Turtle bereaved of her mate : I wil rather guide my speech to your Honor , and direct your eye to the Wheel . Worthy Sir John Hobarte , he was a stately Wheel , he moved bravely in his time , and did much of Gods work with all alacrity ; yea he counted that life worse then death , when his motion was any whit stopped by infirmity of body , so as he could not be active in the Publick service as he desired . This Voluble , and swift Wheel , is now broken at the Cistern : and your heart Madam , was almost broken too . Oh! I beseech your Honor , look up to the throne of glory ; it is the voice of the Lord hath turned the Wheel : He hath spok●n , and hath done it . Submit , Submit with humility , patience , cheerfulness . Rejoyce rather : what a world of comforts may your Ladiship have in your loss ? He did worthily in his life , he dyed religiously : I saw him draw his last breath : but so much Majesty , and peace in a dying countenance I never saw . A stranger would have thought he had been only in some sweet-contenting sleep , or tasting the heavenly joys . What an Honorable name hath he left behind him ! Is it not as an oyntment powred forth , even as the fragrant spikenard ? The Nail is pulled out of this lower wall , but it is not lost : it 's only advanced , and set up higher . He is fastned in the wall of the New Jerusalem , he shines , and ever shal shine bright in glory . And we all ere long shal roul after him ; and then shal your Ladyship enjoy a better Communion with your husband then ever . Be content to waite , is it not a little while ? I intended a very short Epistle , but my pen begins to be free , and eager of its way . I can hardly hold it in : it would fain be dropping out something of your honors goodness . I wel know how little your Honor affects the praise of men ( your praise is in the Gospel ) and your Ladiship wel knows how much I abhorr base flattery . And God he knows , my design is not to make you proud by speaking your vertues to your face , but only this ; I would most gladly take occasion to publish something to the world of those eminent Graces , which the Lord hath wrought in your Honor by his holy spirit : that your Ladiships example may be propounded as a pattern to all Chr●stian women , which they may ever look upon , and follow . Elect Lady ! I could tel them , how I have ever found you walking in the truth , even in the most perilous and seducing times : with what obedience you have always heard the word , resigning up your wil to Gods Command : How your deportment was to your Noble yoke-fellow : the heart of your husband did safely trust in you : All that were but lookers on , did see t●e entireness of your heart , the intention of your love , your loyalty , and faithfulness , joyned with all diligence , and care . You made in your study and work , to do him good in regard of his body , in regard of his estate ; but especially , and above all in regard of his soul . I could take occasion by this my dedication to tel the world : That even whilest you are on earth , your conversation is in heaven . I can truly testify that your Ladiship is a widow indeed , continuing in fasting , and prayer , and reading , and meditation ; and that this is your work night and day in the temple , in your closet , in your family : That 's remarkable ; in your family you observe Davids houres . Every morning , every noon , and every night you have prayer , Scripture read and expounded ( and that by an able , and a called Minister of the Gospel ) besides repetitions of Sermons , singing of Psalms , and constant Catechising ( a most necessary work ) the Noble Olive-plant , your precious daughter answering with the first , with all readyness , and cheerfulness , to her immortal honor . I confess hearing the answers of young Mrs. Philip Hobarte , and the rest , I could not but think thus with my self : This day is that Prophesy fulfilled in mine eares . I wil powre out of my spirit uppon all flesh , and your sons , and your daughters shal Prophesy , and your young men shal see Visions ; and on my servants , and on my hand-maids wil I pour out of my spirit , and they shal Prophesy . Madam ! Wil not your honor be offended if I show my folly , and boast a little to the world ? You are my glory , my Crown , and my rejoycing : the comfortable Harvest , and precious Seal of my Ministry . And this is discerned by others , as wel as by my self . Your paralel is not to be found : or at the least , scarcely was ever any Christian seen , who did thrive , and grow so fast in Grace as your Honor hath done , especially of late years . Now , if either your Honor or any others that shal cast their eye on these my free expressions , and think me indiscreet in writing thus to your Honor : I Apologize for my self in the words of Christ when he prayed vocally , and loud at Lazarus his grave ; Not for your sake Madam ! but because of the people which stand by , I said it . I propound a pattern to other Christians , and other families : and my sole aim is , the glory of God , and the provoking of many to a holy emulation . The God of heaven and earth ; the God of my father bless your Honor , and your noble and hopeful daughter . I beg for you the upper and the nether springs . The God of all Grace perfect all Grace in you : be filled with the Spirit , with inward peace and joy of the Holy Ghost . Be the Lords darling . Beleeve me Gracious Lady ! The tongue shal cleave to the roof of my mouth , and my right hand shal forgets its skil : before I shal cease to bear your Honors name at my heart : and to present it unto the Lord as often as I appear at the throne of Grace . Be sure Madam ! I am Your Honors most humbly Devoted servant for ever . Thankful for your Superlative favour , bounty , and care . And As under God your Honor raised me from the grave . So ( if I can beleeve mine own heart ) I am your Honors faithful Pastor : who if God should call him to it , would willingly lay down his life to establish your Ladiship in the truth and grace of Jesus Christ , and to further your eternal Salvation . IOHN CARTER . To The whole World. O WORLD ! THou seest what Contradiction these poor weak Sermons have met withall ; how they have been , and are accused of falshood , envy , malice , peevishness : that the Magistrates are slandered in them ; and very lies uttered in the face of City , and Country . I am necessitated to appeal to God , and the World. O World ! I hold forth unto thy view faithfully all that was spoken , nothing omitted . I call unto thee , to be my true and impartial witness : and let the God of Truth be Judg ! THE Nail hit on the head : AND Driven into the City and Cathedral Wall of NORWICH . By JOHN CARTER Pastor of Great St. PETERS in that City . At the Greenyard June 17. 1644. Being a preparative to the Guyle-Solemnity the day following . EZRA 9. 8. Grace hath been shewed from the Lord our God , to leave us a remnant to escape , and to give us a nail in his holy place . depiction of nail THE NAIL : ESA. 22. 23. And I wil fasten him a nail in a sure place ; and he shal be for a glorious throne to his fathers house . THe business of this Text is nothing else but the driving and fastning of a nail . Wherein — 1. The Master-worker : who it is that fastens the nail . I. 2. The nail that 's fasten'd : what , or who is that ? Him. 3. Vbi ? Where is this nail fasten'd ? in loco fideli : in a sure place . 4. The end , use , and benefit of this nail so fastned : He shal be for a glorious throne to his fathers house . These are the parts and particulars of the Text. But I wil not tye my self strictly and punctually to these ; or , at least , I wil not fall upon them presently : but according to my plain and usual way , I shal , concerning this Text , dispatch these things . 1. I wil speak something of the sense and meaning of the words . 2. I wil give you the sum and substance of the whole verse in one general proposition of doctrine : to which also I shal make some general applycation . 3. And then in the third place I wil look over the particulars : I wil search , and examine them for such observations and instructions as may be for our profit and use , besides the main , and general doctrine . Of these in their order : And the Lord be with us Amen . 1. The Exposition And I ] and who is that ? it is ( as Solomon calls him ) the Master of the Assemblies that fastens the nail : in the 15. verse of this Chapter he is called the Lord of Hosts . Wil fasten , HIM ] Him ; this is the nail to be fastned : a living nayl : You have his name , and also his Character shortly , v. 20. Eliakim , so was his name : the servant of the Lord ; that 's his Character . He was a Courtier , a great man , a holy man , a good Patriot , faithful to his King , to his Country , to Religion , and Reformation : all which appears plainly by the current of this place , and also by other passages of sacred Scripture . And I wil fasten him as a Nail ] a nail is a pin , or peg . For the matter , some are made of brass , some of iron , some of wood . A nail is fastned ; when it 's knocked , beaten , and driven into a wall , beam , post , or pillar . The use of such a nail , orpeg , or spirkit is to hang thingsout of hand ; and such things especially as we would have ready for our use ; as garments , vessels , pots , instruments of musick , and the like . Such things as otherwise would ly scattered about the house , and be subject to miscarry . Metaphorically : to fasten a man as a nail ; is to confirm , and establish him in some place , or office in the Church , or Common-wealth , and to make him useful , and profitable for the Publique good . Here the Kingdom of Juda is compared to a wall , or post : Eliakim to a nail : and the Lord fastens him in the Kingdom : that is , puts him in place , and office , and confirms him in it Q. But what place ? what office was he settled in ? that must be known . A. I answer . There was another nail pul'd out , and he was put in , in the room . The other nail , viz. his predecessor was Shebna : he was deprived , and Eliakim substituted in his room : therefore let 's enquire what place Shebna was in , and then all wil be clear . Some of the Hebrew Doctors , and learned Hierom with them , conceive that Shebna was the high-priest . Lyra , Sanchez , Lapide , Pintus , Tirinus , and most of the Popish-writers are of the same opinion : Their arguments are principally . ” First , the authority of the old-Vulgar-latine translation of the 15. verse ( which with them is authentick ) Vade ad Sobnam praepositum templi . Go to Shebna the overseer of the temple : that is ( say they ) the high-priest . ” Again , from the 21. verse , where it is said ; and I wil cloth him with thy robe , and strengthen him with thy girdle : they conclude those garments , to be the Vestments of the high priest : according to that in the 20. of Num. v , 28. And Moses stripped Aron of his garments , and put them on Eleazar his son . But certainly , if we go to the fountain , this can never be made out , that Shebna was high-Priest , or any Priest of the second order . For , ” In the 15. verse it 's only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 super domum , not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 super domum dei . Over the house ; there 's not so much as a hint that it should be over the house of God. ” Again , v. 21. The robe , and girdle were ensigns of authority , and Magistracy : Job mentions the girdle of Kings . Baltheum regum dissolvit : Job 12. 18. He looseth the bond , or girdle of Kings , and thus did Pharaoh to Joseph , he arrayed him in royal robes , and put a golden chain , or girdle about him . Gen. 41. 42. So here : I wil cloth him with thy robe ; that is , that robe which thou didst wear when thou wert the great manat Court. ” Yet further , he was not capable of the office of Priest-hood . They which received the office of Priest-hood were all of the Children of Levi : but Shebna was of another stock , not so much as a Jew , but an Alian , a stranger . That is obliquely signifyed , and intimated , verse the 16. What hast thou here ? and whom hast thou here ? that thou hast hewed thee out a Sepulchre here &c. which is , as if he should have said : what business hast thou in this Land ? what kindred ? Why shouldest thou take up thy rest to live , and dye in the Lords land , and to be buried in Jerusalem , whereas thou art an Assyrian , or of some other strange Country ? ” To put all out of question . There was another high priest at the very same time ; Azariah by name : you shal read of him , 2. Chron. 31. 13. He was ruler of the house of God ; that is by the consent of all interpreters , the high priest : and therefore Shebna , what ever he were , could not be the high priest . What was he then ? Let 's gather up his titles of honor together , and by that time we have done , we shal understand his place certainl●y In the 15. verse he is called , first , the treasurer , and then Shebna Who is over the house : that is , over the Kings house . In the 37. Chapter of this Prophesy : verse the 2. and often other-where in scripture , he is stiled , the Scribe : not an ordinary , or Common Scribe , or notary ; but such an one as we call a Chancellor or Secretary . This is then the sum of all : Shebna was at that time the great favorite of the King : he had all the chief offices , the highest honors , and dignitys of the Kingdom conferred upon him . He was Lord treasurer : he was ruler , Governor , Controller of the Kings house ; he was the Lord Chancellor , and Secretary of state . In a word , he was the chief in Court , and Kingdom , and under the King , Lord President of the whole Country ; just as Joseph was under Pharaoh : Thou shalt ( says the King ) be over my house , and according to thy word shal all my people be ruled , only in the throne wil I be greater then thou . Thus was Shebna : Him God deposed , and put Eliakim into his place ; into the very same favour , dignity , honor , Authority , and Magistracy . The LXX renders it thus : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Constituam cum principem . I wil make him a great Prince in Juda . Eliakim is fastned as a nail : namely in the highest place of the Kingdom . And that , In a sure place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in loco fideli . The word is derived from truth : q. d. in a true and faithful place : that is in a firm , stable , permanent condition ; for where truth is , there is certainty , and stability . And here is an Antithesis , or opposition 'twixt Shebna , and Eliakim . Shebna was as a nail , but in a hollow , unsound , or rotten wall , and therefore shal fall out , he shal come down from his eminency . But as for this Eliakim , saith the Lord , I wil six him in a solid wall , a sound post , or strong pillar , out of which he cannot fall , nor be pluck'd out : that is plainly , I wil so confirm , and establish him in his place , that he shal never be deposed as Shebna was , but he shal stand sure , and immovable . And he shal be for a glorious throne to his fathers house ] A throne is a Kings seat full of Majesty , and glory . He shal be for a throne ; that is , for a glorious ornament to the King , to the Kingdom , and to his own stock , and family . He shal do worthily in Juda , and so carry himself in his place , authority , and Magistracy , he shal so administer , as shal be for the honor of the King , the glory , and prosperity of the whole Kingdom , and for the preferment of his fathers house : he shal advance his kindred , and make his whole family famous and renowned . For the meaning this may suffice . Now in the 2. place I am to give you the sum and substance of all in one general proposition . Good , and faithful Magistrates are nails fasten'd in the walls of Gods house , in the Church and Common-wealth . So are they called , Ezra 9. 8. And now for a little space , grace hath been shewed from the Lord our God , to leave us a remnant to escape , and to give us a nail in his holy place . What nail ? the Princes and the Priests that were left , a remnant of Godly Magistrates and Ministers . The very same expression you have in the Prophet , Zechariah Chap. the 10. the 3. and 4. verses . Where God promiseth to visit his flock , the house of Judah , and to give them all things that may make them safe , and happy . The words run thus . Out of him came forth the corner , out of him the nail , out of him the battel-bow , and out of him every appointer of tribute also . The corner ] i. the supream , the King , the chief Governor : who is like a foundation and corner-stone to bear and couple the building . The nail ] i. Princes , Magistrates , Governors , faithful Counselors , such as are in authority under the King. The battel-bow ] i. e. Commanders , Captains , Souldiers , Ammunition , and all things fit , and necessary for a warlike , and potent people . The appointer of tribute ] i. e. Officers to impose , exact , and collect tribute of all those forraign nations which they shal conquer . Shortly , they shal have all things to make them a blessed , and flourishing people : and as a principall thing they shal have the nail , viz. a good Magistrate . Reason ! But why are Magistrates called nails ? Not properly , but by way of similitude they are tanquam , as nails , very like nails : and that in regard of their end , and use . A nail , peg , or pin , is fastned in the wall , to hang loose pieces of houshold-stuff upon : as garments , vessels , instruments of musick , and other utensils ; which otherwise would lye scattered on the ground , or be to seek , or else be utterly lost . So Magistrates they are appointed of God , and established for the sustentation , and bearing up of things . All the affairs of Church , and Common-wealth , all publique businesses , the safety , and happiness of the people depend , and hang upon them : and without them all would fall , and miscarry . They are made to bear . Vnto us a child is born ( saith our Prophet ) and the burden of government shal lye upon his shoulder . Also of Eliakim it is said in the verse immediatly before my text , and the key of the house of David : that is , the highest authority in Court and Kingdom wil I lay upon his shoulder . Hence it is that Kings are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The props , and foundations of the people . The burden of the Church hangs upon this nail , the care of defending and cherishing the Church , and people of God ; of advancing true Religion , and the pure worship of God lyeth upon the Magistrate . They ( saith the Lord ) shal bring thy sons in their arms , and thy daughters shal be carried upon their shoulders : 23. And Kings shal be thy nursing fathers , and Queens thy nursing mothers . Thus shal Princes bear the Church in their arms . The Magistrate is Custos utriusque tabulae : both tables of the Law : or if you please : the Law , and Gospel , both hang upon this nail . Upon him hangs the care of the Scriptures : He must see it published in a known tongue that the Vulgar may be able to read , and reach it . He must appoint learning , and fit Ministers to open , interpret , and apply it . He is to compel those Ministers to do their duty , to protect , and encourage them doing wel , to correct , and depose them being unfaithful , and scandalous . He is to looke after Ecclesiastical Government , to settle Church discipline , by good decrees to provide for the peace , order , and decency of the Church , and worship of God. He is to call Counsails when necessity requires ; to compel people to attend the publique Ordinances : and to remove whatsoever may be an obstacle to sound doctrine , pure Religion , and the power of godliness . Also the burden of the Common-wealth depends on the Magistrate ; the peace , welfare , and prosperity of all the people hangs upon this nail . Saul seeing the people lament bitterly , said unto them : What ayleth this people that they weep ? That 's the office of a good Magistrate ; Videre ne quid sit populo quod sleat ; to wipe away tears from the subjects eyes . And therefore it is his duty to make good laws , and then to see them put in execution . To preserve the Kingdom , and people in peace , by defending them against the violent assaults , and invasions of forraign enemies ; and suppressing domestick rebellions , and insurrections . He is to preserve the persons , rights , goods , libertys , propertys of the subject to see that none dowrong to another : He is to discountenance vice , and promote vertue : he is for the punishment of evil doers , and for the praise of them that do wel . Thus was Eliakim a nail upon which did hang , as the next verse wil tel you , all the glory of his fathers house , the ofspring , and the issue , all vessels of smal quantity ; great flagons , and little cups , with all instruments of musique . That is , all persons of what rank , and quality soever , Summi , medij , infimi : high , and low , great and smal , the whole Church and Common-wealth : The fouls , bodys , estates , religion , liberty , peace , welfare of all depends on the good Magistrate . He is fixed as a nail , to note out this his end , use , and office . Thus you have the general proposition made out : but before I leave it , you must give me liberty to make some general application of the point . And it may serve for 1. Instruction . 2. Reprehension . 3. Exhortation . And here for Instruction . Observe : the weight of Magistracy . Government is a great burden . It 's a honour indeed , so sayes the Text : He shal be for a throne of glory : but note , the word there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that signifies glory , or honour : it is derived of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that signifies weight . Moses sate to judge the people , and the people stood about Moses from morning unto even : a heavy task : so sayes Jethro unto him , Thou weariest out thy selfe greatly , and the people that is with thee too : for the thing is too heavy for thee . Jotham intimates this in his Parable , says the Olive : If I be advanced above the trees , I shal lose my fatnesse : I shall wast my estate , consume my treasure : Magistracy is expensive . Says the Fig-tree : If I be preferred above the trees , I shall forsake my sweetnesse , and my good fruit : I must bid adieu to ease , and pleasures : Magistracy is laborious . Says the Vine : If I be exalted above the trees , I shal leave my wine , I must be debarred the free use of the creatures : I must be cut short in my meat , drink , and other creature-comforts . Magistrates , as wel as Ministers , are like the lamps of the Sanctuary that burn continually , and wast themselves for the common good . Their heads are full of cares , their hearts of grief , their eys sleeplesse , and their bodies restlesse . Hear and consider this , all you that ambitiously aspire to high places of dignity , and authority : you that underhand give bribes , make friends , engage the whole Stock , and Kinred to compasse an Office , or some great place of Magistracy ! Know you what you pursue ? Alas , alas , you look at nothing but the honour ! You see the Nayl is fastned aloft , but you consider not the burden that hangs on it ; if you did , you would not purchase so much care , and losse at so dear a rate . Some have thought the imperiall Robes scarce worth the taking up , because of the eares that are wrapped up in them . Trajan repented him of taking the Empire : and in that mind writing to the Senate , he used these words : The Sea , and the Empire are two pleasant things to look upon , but perilous to taste . Think then , I beseech you , before-hand not only of the height of the place , but poise also the weight of the burden . Of reprehension . And here our work must be to look round about our wals ; the wals of the Church , City , and Commonwealth , and to take notice of the Nails . There are Nayls of three ranks ; Highest , Nayl's . Middlh , Nayl's . Lowest , Nayl's . Let 's look them all over , and take notice how they are fixed , and what hangs on them . 1. The highest Nayls : they are the Magistrates , and Rulers . Ther 's a goodly row of them : but let 's see what service they do in their places : What hangs on then ? what burden do they bear ? Ther 's some of the greater sort of Nayls , look what hangs on them ? Truly scarce any thing , unlesse it be a scarlet gown , or the ensignes of authority , or a rich furnished table , bottles , and flagons , delicious dishes , and a deale of Kitchin-stuff . But what service do they as Magistrates ? Truly nothing at all , that I can discern , either for Church or Common-wealth . These are only a kind of embossed nayls , such as are driven into garments , collars , coaches , trappings of horses , chaires , and other things , only for state , and ornament : they have great and glorious bossed , and gilded heads , but a little ridiculous stalk , hardly enough to hold their own , or to keep them from falling out of their places : they are so close driven , that nothing can hang on them . There are other of the high Nayls hang very full of things : But of what ? Are they vessels of the Sanctuary ? Oh no such matter ; they bear up a deal of the Devils houshold-stuff . Upon one there hangs a company of drunken ale-houses , swearers , prophane persons , Sabbath-breakers , cheaters , and sharks , these are upheld , and born up bythem , when honest men are thrown down to the ground . Upon another hangs a knot of Anabaptists , Antinomians , Brownists , Independents , and others of the same bran , disturbers of Sions peace ; these are countenanced , and born up on high , whilest the Orthodox party are sleighted , cast off , and suffered to fall flat on the ground . Upon another depends a cluster of persons Popishly affected , Malignants . lignants , Incendiaries : such as these are born up , and born out too upon all occasions . Oh there 's too — too many such rotten , rusty , misimployed nails . 2. The middle nails : they are the Ministers of the word , the Clergy , as they call them ; wel what hangs upon the most of them ? What but a plurality of livings ? A black gown , or Canonical coat ? A service-book , or book of homilys ? There did hang a while agone abundance of Copes , Surplisses , Alters , Crucifixes , Images , and such trash , til they were taken down by a strong hand . But for powerful , and frequent preaching , prayer , and the weighty works of the Ministry , as strengthening the weak , healing the sick , binding up the broken , bringing again that which was driven away , and seeking that which was lost : there 's nothing of all these to be seen amongst them . Are these indeed for the glory of their fathers house ? 3. The lowest sort of nails ; they are the ordinary people , Gentry , and Commons . Oh! What abundance of empty nails do we see round about ? Nothing at all hangs upon them : only they take up a place in the wall . There is a generation of Gentlemen , and others , and wel parted men too , able to undergo good service : and yet live without any calling , any office , any imployment at all : as if they were born to no other end but only to spend , and scatter what their progenitors had scraped together , and left them : but they wil not put under their shoulder to bear any burden of profitable employment in Church or Commonwealth . See , see what commonly hangs upon them : bundles of hair , Sampsons locks , bushy periwigs , dogs , dice , drabs , cards , and tables , bottels of generous wine , and flagons of strong drink , red eyes , swollen bellys , and black souls : nothing else at all : Gentlemen ! are these things for the glory of your fathers house ? There are a company of idle Vagrants , and sturdy Rogues that wander up and down the streets , and lanes , and high-ways : ragged nails , that stick out almost every where , whethersoever we go , and are ready to catch our garments , and tear us almost in pieces : and there 's nothing hangs on them but the sweat of other mens brows , purses , and garments , and such things as they have torn from honest passengers . Others there are of all sorts , that indeed are cruelly loaden : there hangs upon them huge bundles of oaths , rapine , Blasphemies , Adulteries , Treasons , railings , filthy speeches , and all kind of sins : but they wil bear no burden of service in the Church , or Common-wealth . Whereto shal I liken this accursed generation ? They are like unto Ezekiels vine-tree ; of which he speaks thus . Son of man ! What cometh of the Vinetree above all other trees ? And of the Vine-branch which is amongst the trees of the Forrest ? Shal wood be taken thereof to do any work ? Or wil men make a pin thereof to hang a vessel thereon ? No , No , the Vine-stalk , if once cut up , wil not make a peg to hang a bottel on , it wil not be profitable for any thing . But what 's the end ? Behold it 's cast into the fire for fewel , the fire devoureth both the ends of it , and the midst of it is burnt ; is it meet for any work ? So shal it be with this unprofitable generation ; Therefore thus saith the Lord God : As the Vine-tree among the trees of the forrest , which I have given to the fire for fewel , so wil I give them ; and I wil set my face against them , they shal go out from one fire , and another fire shal devour them . Surely such nails as these shal not be suffered to stand long in the wall : if a man see a nail stick up in his house of no use , wil he not presently knock it out ? There were abundance of such nails as these in Juda , and God knocked them out , and threw them into Babylon . Christ himself passeth sentence upon all such . Cast that unprofitable servant into utter darkness , there shal be weeping and gnashing of teeth . Mat. 25. 30. Hear , and tremble all you useless nails ! You unprofitable burdens of the earth ! Be you men , or women , that take up places in the world : and do no service in the world , in the name of the Lord , I pass upon you Shebnas doome : ver . 25. In that day , saith the Lord of hosts ; shal the nail that is fastned in the sure place , be removed , and be cut down , and fall ; and the burden that was upon it shal be cut off : for the Lord hath spoken it . Of Exhortation , and that is manifold , and various , to divers sorts of persons , and to several dutys . I am to direct my word of exhortation , to 1. Magistrates . 2. People . The 1. Exhortation , to the Magistrates . You are all nails , some higher , some lower . Remember that you are not for ornament only , but chiefly , and principally for use . In the name of God let every one in his place do the office of a nail . Truly all things in the Church and Common-wealth lye disorderly at this time , or hang very dangerously , and ready to fall and miscarry . I beseech you let it be your care to uphold things ; let every nail bear something , yea though you weaken your selves for the common good . Take your charge in some particulars , and that very shortly : I speak to wise men : a word wil suffice . 1. Keep the peace . Magistrates ! know your office , you are all Commissioners for the peace : and this is that which we are enjoyned to pray for you in authority : That under you we may lead a quiet and a peaceable life in all godliness and honesty . The nail holds things together when they are hanged upon it , which lay scattered and sundred one from another before . Yes , upon one good pin they keep close . How are the people of this Kingdom at this time devided amongst themselves ! How are they scattered ! and scattered ? One here , another there ; one of this mind , another of another . Oh ye Rulers of the people ! Use your pains and skil to bring them together again into one mind , and one judgment , that they may hang upon you , as grapes upon the stalk , in one cluster . Endeavor with all your might the peace of the Church and Common-wealth . 2. Be ready at hand to do justice at all times . We knock up nails and pegs in our houses , that we may hang things upon them of common use ; things that we would have always at hand : as for things of lesser use , we lock them up in chests and cabbinets , and it matters not though they see the Sun but seldom . Magistrates must be ready at hand , at all times , to hear the grievances of the oppressed , to punish vice , to encourage vertue , to relieve the wronged , and oppressed , to help the fatherlesse , and the widow to their right , shortly to do justice readily and freely upon all occasions . The nayl easily receives at all times what ever is put upon it . Some Magistrates , I doubt , we have , that in this are like unto nayls , they will not in , without greasing , and knocking : you shal not get them to do their duty , except they be greased with a bribe , or beaten to it by fear . Otherwise , with Foelix , they are not at leasure to do justice . I pray remember a womans answer . She petitioned the King for justice : ( it was , I take it , Philip King of Macedon ) he told her , he was not now at leasure . Not at leasure , saith shee , to do justice ? Why then art thou at leasure to be a King ? If a nayl be not at leasure to bear vessels , knock it out ; why doth it trouble the wall ? Judgement ( saith the Prophet ) must run down like waters , and righteousnesse as a mighty stream . The Magistrate therefore must not be as a fountain sealed up ; but like a river which runs continually , and the people may resort to it at all times . Absalom , I confesse , had base ends , but yet his practise singular , and his example to be followed by all good and faithful Magistrates ; they should be ready to hear Israel at all times . 3. As you must be ready always to minister justice ; so to all persons , at all times , and to all commers . The nayl bears , not only the rich vessels , and ornaments ▪ the golden candlesticks , the pictures , and mus●cal instruments in the galleries , and banqueting houses : but it also sustains bottels , and knives , and g●idirons , plain instruments , and vessels of wood and iron in the Kitchin , yea , the homeliest utensils in the scullery . So the good Magistrate he must equally do justice to all ; to the poor , and to the rich ●oth alike . They shall hang upon Eliakim , the 24. verse tels you , not only the glory of his fathers house , the off-spring , and the issue , that is , those of the blood-royal : but they shal hang upon him also all the smal vessels , the little cups , and siddles : that is , the poorest , and most contemptible persons shal depend upon the Magistrate for justice , and protection . You shall do no unrighteousnesse in judgement , saith the Lord ; Thou shalt not respect the person of the po●r , nor honour the person of the mighty : But in righteousnesse shalt thou judge thy neighbour , that is , every one , for every one is thy neighbour . Do right to the poor and fatherlesse : do justice to the poore and needy : deliver the oppressed from him that is too strong for him ; favour not one above another . The use of a nail , peg , or pin , is to hang such things upon , quae infirmiora : which are most weak , and cannot stand by their own strength : Tables , and Trunks , and Chairs , and Stools , such great , and strong houshold-stuff can stand on their own feet , they need not any nail to hang upon , the rich , and mighty can stand alone : They are the little smal vessels , and instruments of musick that must be supported with a nail . The poor are ready at every turn to be trampled upon , and to be made a prey , and therefore you must have a special care of them . Uphold them that they may not fall . 4. Let every Magistrate be a nail , not only in the Capitol , or Senat , but also in the Sanctuary The care of the Church , and Religion lyeth on the Magistrate . Use therefore all your power to purge the Church of Idolatry , Popery , Superstition , and all false worship , and gross errors , to advance the pure and sincere worship of God , and the power of godliness . Bear up able , faithful , and Orthodox Ministers by giving them your countenance , and affording them comfortable maintenance . You have going before you in this care of Religion many godly Kings and Emperors : David , Jehoshaphat , Hezekiah , Josiah , Constantine , Theodosius &c. Follow their good example : be faithful nails to bear up pure Religion : always remembring what the Lord hath said . Those that honor me I wil honor , and they that despise me , shal be lightly esteemed . The 2. Exhortation is to the people . And we have to deal with divers sorts : and accordingly I am to press sundry kinds of duties : in the prosecution Whereof I shal direct Electors . Subjects . All. And 1. You that are Electors : To whom at any time shal belong the choice of Magistrates , or any kind of officers in Church or Common-wealth . Be careful , and circumspect in your choice . You are to look about for nails , on which to hang the weighty affairs of the Church , Common-wealth and City : see that you chuse such as may be serviceable in their places , wel-qualified nails . Take your charge ; and directions from Jethro , he wil advice you what kind of men to chuse into publique offices : Thou shalt provide , saith he to Moses . 1. Able men . 2. Such as fear God. 3. Men of truth . 4. Hating Covetousness . Suffer me a little to illustrate Jethro's Counsel . 1. You must chuse able and strong nails : They must have abilities of mind : You must pick out such nails as have good heads , and sharp points ; such as have good understanding , wisdom , and solidity , and also some acuteness of wit and pleasantness , amiableness of conversation . Be wise ye Kings , be learned you Judges , saith David : if they ought to be so , then it 's your duty to chuse none but such as appear so . There are a sort of nails ( spikins I think they call them ) they want heads : and so whatsoever is hang'd upon them slips of : Take heed of chusing Spikin Magistrates ; for if you hang the great affairs of the Common-wealth upon them , they wil certainly let them fall and miscarry because they want heads to hold them . They must also have abilities of body , and of estate : without competent bodily strength they wil never be able to endure watching ▪ and travailing , and long sitting on the bench : and beleeve me wealth is needful . Magistrates had need be able , rich men : They must carry out things with some pomp , and state , else they wil be contemn'd ; and their authority dis-regarded . Ad populum phaleras . Magistracy is expensive , and if you offer to hang these heavy costs and charges on weak nails , they wil quickly break , and then you must take them down , and keep them in the City purse . Yet further , to their strength and ability , it 's requisite that they be fixed , wel driven and fastned . Magistrates must be resolved , immoveable , and couragious , not sickle , and inconstant , turned about with every wind : they must be wel setled in Religion , inflexible , resolute in a good cause . I have seen some nails and pegs screwed into the wall and so long as they are not stirred you may hang what you wil on them : but if any man come with a strong hand he may easily wind and unscrue them , and then they soon grow loose , and off slips all the burden they were entrusted withall : and so I have seen many in authority , carry things very fair in Church and Common-wealth : very right they are as long as they are suffer'd to stand quietly : but alas if the hand of greatness do but touch them with the violence of a threatning , or the strength of fair promises ; of reward , honor , and preferment , it wil easily turn , and serue them any way ; and make them to betray Church and Common-wealth , Religion and Liberty , and whatever is precious . Be sure therefore to chuse nails steeled with Christian resolution : such as wil stand against all assaults , fixed , steady , and immoveable ; like to that Rom. in Fabritius , of whom it was said , that one might as wel stay the motion of the sun in the firmament , as to put him out of his way . Have your thoughts ever upon such : make choice of strong nails : stout , and able for understanding , wisdom , wit , strength , estate , courage , and resolution , Able men . 2. You must provide bright and shining nails : not of base iron , or wood , but of pure gold , wel burnished : Such , and only such would Solomon make use of in the Sanctuary . Ever chuse such as shine and glister with piety and holiness : men fearing God. Be wise ye Kings ( saith David ) be learned ye Judges of the earth : there 's strength and abilities required : but that 's not all : you must also serve the Lord with fear . There is nothing more destructive and dangerous to Church & Commonwealth , then eminent abilitys unsanctified . You shal oft observe great , stout , rusty , rugged-iron nails , to rent , and tear , and fret , and change the colour of whatsoever is hanged upon them : just so wicked men of eminent parts , and great power do bear up a deal of mischief : and by their countenance and example do taint and stain , and corrupt all the inferior people . As therefore David chose smooth stones to encounter the Philistin withall : So do you chuse smooth nails to strike through the temples of Sisera : nails of pure gold , filed from their rust and ruggedness ; shining bright with piety and holiness : provide such for the punishment of evil doers , and faithfully to bear the affairs of the Church , City and Common-wealth . 3. You must provide right , straight ; and sound nails . Men of truth : that is , just men ; ( so the Septuagint ) Truth and justice are so neer allyed , that ordinarily one is put for the other : seek out for such as follow after justice ; such as hate all violence and wrong , and flee from all kind of injustice : Such as cover themselves with justice , and put on judgment as a robe , and diadem . Job 29. 14. Provide men of truth , Clear from all hypocrisy . There are a company of guilded nails ; fairly guilded over , but within rusty , and rotten : they are too-too many who are glorious in outward profession , in outward appearance , lovers of justice , truth and godliness , but within they are ful of guile and deceipt , very hypocrites . Look wel about you , or else you may be couzen'd by the outward appearance . Pick out right , straight , and sound nails : true Nathaniels , Israelites indeed , such as in whom is no guile . 4. You must look at nails elevated . The nails which ly scattered on the ground are not in a fit posture to bear burdens . No , No , but only such as are fastned aloft in the top of the wal or pillar . Neither are such men fit for Magistracy whose thoughts lye groveling on the base earth : who mind the world , and therefore must you chuse men hating Covetousness . The covetous man for a gift wil wrest judgment , respect persons , sel justice , bear up all vice , and punish innocence it self . The nail that 's sit to bear burdens must be elevated , the head and body slanting upwards : a man fit to bear office , must have a mind above earth , a heart not greedy of filthy lucre : if the head of the nail bend downward , the scales of justice wil never hang sure upon it , but slip off immediatly . Now therefore my beloved brethren ! You that vote in elections ; be nice , curious , circumspect in the choice of nails ; let them be strong , and able , let them have heads , and points , let them be bright , and shining , let them be right , and straight ; and let them be such as have their heads , and hearts to heavenward . Amongst the Romans there was superstitious observation of the Nail . When the Common-wealth was in danger , or opprest with great evils and calamities , then did the Dictator fasten a great nail of iron , or brass in the wall of the Capitol with marvailous solemnity : And the fastning of such a nail , was esteemed a present remedy against all mischiefs , and a charm against the plague . And so conceited they were of this way , that oftentime a Dictator was created : Solius figendi clavi causa : only to knock in a nail , thereby to save the City . What reasons the ancient Romans had for this their custom , or what experience of the success thereof ; I cannot give an account ; but I cannot miss of application . You see how many evils are upon us , how great our dangers : would you remove all these ? Would you have the Church and Kingdom , and City flourish again ? Then fasten good nails within your walls : chuse , and establish able , and godly Magistrates : that 's a good , and ready way to free us of all our plagues . I have done with Electors . 2 I am next to speak a word of exhortation to Subjects : such as live under Authority . And here I am to admonish them of some duties which they owe to good Magistrates . These : 1. They must honor them . Fear God , saith St. Peter ; and Honor the King. They are nails : and God hath placed them aloft in the highest place of the wall ; he hath embossed them with honor and Authority , he hath put his own name upon them , I have said you are Gods , and all of you are Children of the most high . Psal . 82. 6. They bear a great burden for your sakes : on Eliakim hangs the weight and welfare of Israel . Give therefore to all their due : Honor to whom honor belongs : Look upwards to those nails with admiration and reverence . 2. They must preserve , and cherish them . Hath God fastened in the Church , and Common-wealth good , profitable , and serviceable nayls ? Then take heed you do not put them out . I tell you there is a company of base wayes to pluck out good nayls . Upon some you hang too great a burden : you lay such loads upon Magistrates , and upon Ministers too , that you quite break them . In this case , I say unto you , as Jethro to Moses , The thing that you do is not good : you will surely wear them away : for these things are too heavy for them , and they are not able to perform them their selves alone . Some nayls you loosen with knocks , first on one side , and then on the other side : and at last they fall out of themselves : many good Magistrates , and Ministers are so hang'd amongst you with injuries and reproaches , and scandals , and slanders , with contempt , and disrespect , that their very hearts are broken ; and they seek for all advantages to be gone from their stations . Some nayls are placed , in loco non fideli , in a rotten , hollow and deceitful wal , and so they fall out per-force , ther 's nothing to hold them : many Magistrates , and Ministers see , to their thinking , a fair wal before them ; the affections of the people , many fair promises , and comfortable convenants : hereupon they offer to fasten here ; but all proves rotten : love proves dissimulation , promises come to nothing ; covenants are broken ; and out-goes the Nayl . There 's a trick , clavum clavo pellere , to drive out one nayl with another . There 's a knock , a side made , they have a friend to bring into place for their own ends : I , but the place is full , there 's another nayl in ; Is there so ? That nayl that stands in the way shal soon be driven out with another new one ; and so oftentimes a golden nayl is put out , and an iron one , or a woodden one is driven in the roome . I beseech you have a care what you do . Are they able , useful nails ? let them alone in their places , till God kindly puls them out with the pincers of death : use all means to preserve and cherish them : love them , give them all assistance , and encouragement , and pray , pray , pray for them . I exhort you brethren that first of all prayers , and supplications , and intercessions be made for Kings , and all in authority , that under them we may lead a godly and peaceable life , in all godlinesse and honesty . It is your prayers must knock them in sure , and fasten them in their places . I would you would understand the danger of loosing a good nayl out of the wal : If such a peg be pulled out , down fals the great affairs of Church and State ; therefore preserve and cherish your good nayls . 3. They must obey them . Upon the nayl all the garments , and vessels do depend : and so must subjects depend upon the commands of their superiours , and submit to their power . Submit your selves to every ordinance of man ( saith Saint Peter ) for the Lord's sake , whether it be to the King as Supreame , or unto Governours , as unto them that are sent by him . And Saint Paul , You must needs be subject for conscience sake , Rom. 13. 5. Only with a limitation : Obey Governours , but in things lawfull , not otherwise . Obey the higher Powers , but yet still so as you do not disobey the highest of all . So long as Magistrates command with God , and for God , and not against God ; go along with them , obey them for conscience sake : But if once there be a clashing : The Magistrate commands one thing , and God commands the quite contrary ; then Saint Peter , and the rest of the Apostles , will teach you , That you ought to obey God rather then men : In this case , disobedience is the best obedience . So long as the nayl bears thee to heavenwards , depend upon it , but no longer . It was a resolute , and a pious answer , which a Prelat of ours , sent to Henry the first . Anselm Arch Bishop of Cant. being in Banishment because he would not obey the King in some things , nor observe some Laws and customs which Lanfranck his predecessor did observe . The King sent Letters to him , wherein he did express abundance of affection , and did invite him earnestly to come over into England again ; promised him that if he would observe the Laws and customs which Lanfranck did observe , and would obey the King as his predecessor did , no man should be more welcom and dear to him : and that he also should enjoy all the honors , dignities , and revenues which Lanfranck his predecessor did . To whom Anselm ( being convinced that he could not observe those Laws without sin ) returned answer . For your love and good wil , Oh King ! I give you thanks . To that which you say of your father , and Arch Bishop Lanfranck , I answer . That I did never promise , neither in my Baptism , nor in any ordination that I would keep the Laws , and customs of your father , or of Arch Bishop Lanfranck ; but in my Baptism , and often else , I have vowed to keep the law of my God. Wherefore if you please so to receive me , and to re-invest me , that I may live with you according to the law of God : I am ready to come again into England , and serve God , and you . Otherwise I chuse banishment . Such should be the resolution of all : Go with the Magistrate , while the Magistrate goeth with God. But if he command thee against God , fly , suffer , dye , any thing rather then obey him . 4. They must be thankful for them . They are no smal blessings . When God brings in a good Magistrate , or Minister , he fastens a nail , upon which hangs the welfare of Church and Common-wealth . ( They bear our burdens when we sleep , and should they not do so , all would fall and ruin , and come to nothing . All the sweet blessings that we enjoy hang upon this nail ; our peace , and all the benefits that peace brings with it . As namely , the conservation of humane society : That our wives are as fruitful vines by the sides of the house , our children like olive plants round about our tables . That our old men and old women dwel in the streets ; and every man his staff in his hand for very age ; that the streets of our City are ful of boys and girls playing in our streets : That we sit every one under our vine and figtree , enjoy our possessions , eate the labours of our hands , that we eate , and drink , and plant , and build , marry , and give in marriage : That we have here stil the thrones for judgment ; that Schools and Universities flourish , trading in our Cities continue , and the business of the field is yet performed : that our gramarys are ful , affording all manner of store : that our sheep do bring forth thousands , and ten thousands in our streets ; that our oxen are strong ●o labour : that there is no breaking in , nor going out , nor no complaining in our streets : But above all that Religion is maintained , the faith defended , the Gospel preached , and the voice of the turtle heard in our land . That we enjoy these , and a thousand blessings more , all is from peace , and our peace hangs upon this nail ; if that break , all falls to the ground . A good Magistracy is a sign of Gods love and presence . When a man hath made choice of his habitation , in the house where he delights to dwel ; there he knocks up nails and pegs upon every wall , and post , which may be for his use and convenience , upon which he may hang things off hand , and also know where to have them again : So doth the Lord also , in the place which he chuseth for his habitation ; of which he saith , this is my rest for ever , here wil I dwel , for I have a delight therein : In that place wil he fasten nails , he wil set up Magistrates and Ministers for the good and benefit of his people , This was the sign of his grace and favour to the poor remnant that escaped out of Babylon , and returned again to dwel in their own City : That the Lord gave them a nail in his holy place ; that is , Zerubbabel the Prince , and Joshua the Priest , and others of that order . Blessed be the Lord thy God ( saith the Queen of Sheba to Solomon that glorious King , under whom Israel flourished ) which loved thee , to set thee on the throne of Israel ; because the Lord loved Israel for ever , therefore he made thee King to do judgment and justice . These nails they are admirable benefits and blessings ; therefore bless , and praise God for them . The Subjects have had their charge . 3. Finally , in the last place I am to direct my exhortation to all : let every one in his place be a profitable nail . We have in a house variety of nails , and pins , and pegs , some of brass , some of iron , some of wood , some bigger , some lesser , some fastend in a higher , some in a lower place : upon one nail we hang one thing , upon another nail another thing , upon every one something according to their strength and fitness : So let it be in Church and Common-wealth : let every man ; every woman , every person be a serviceable nail in their place ; let them bear some burden or other for the benefit of the publique . Let Magistrates make laws , and see them kept and put in execution ; let them bear the burden of Government . Let Ministers study , and preach , and pray , and walk as a pattern to the flock , let them bear the burden of their office . Let every man in his trade and vocation be industrious and faithful , labour with his hands the thing that is good , that he may be able to uphold his family , to relieve the poor , and to be beneficial to the publique . Bear you one anothers burden , Saith St. Paul , and so fulfil the Law of Christ : Gal. 6. 2. Bear , every one of you , some of the Parliaments burden ; some of the Synods burden , some of your neighbours burdens , bear somewhat or other for the use of Church and Common-wealth . Either bear arms , if thou hast a person to fight , or bear a purse if thou hast an estate , or bear a burden of labour if thou hast a strong body : ride , run , spare no pains , plot , and project , give counsel if thou hast a head for it . However bear a good heart in thy breast to the cause of God , and thy Country : bear a good tongue in thy head for the praise of God , and the honor of our wrothys . And be sure by thy incessan prayers , help bear up al that 's ready to fall . And thus much for the meaning of the text : also for the generall Doctrine , and general Application . And now it 's time ( according to my ordinary method ) to return to the particulars . You have had the harvest , now for the gleanings : you have been at the feast , now let 's gather up the crums : you have had the substance of the nail , let 's search for the very filings . The particulars you may remember , were four . 1. The Master-worker , that fastens the nail . I. 2. The nail that 's fastned . Eliakim . 3. The Vbi . where the nail is fastned , in loco fideli . 4. The end , use , and benefit of this nail so fastned . Every one of these wil afford us some wholsom instruction . Now therefore Wee 'l cast our eye more diligently upon them all , and the Lord make all profitable , 1. And first for the principal Architect : who is it that fastens the nail ? Here the Doctrine is concerning the efficient cause of Magistracy . It is the Lord of hosts . God is the author of loveraignty , it is he that puls out , and puts in what nails he pleaseth . By me Kings raign , saith the Lord , and Princes decree justice . By me princes rule , and nobles , even all the judges of the earth . He changeth the times , and the seasons : he removeth Kings , and setteth up Kings . Dan. 2. 21. Nebuchadnczzar must know that the most high ruleth in the Kingdoms of men , and giveth them to whomsoever he wil. Dan. 4. 25. St. Paul gives us the proposition fully : There is no power but of God , the powers that be are ordained of God. Rom. 13. 1. Consider this all you whom the Lord hath fasten'd in high places of authority . Is it the Lord of hosts hath made you rulers ? Then take heed what you do : for you judg not for man , but for the Lord who is with you in the judgment . 2 Chron. 19. 6. Your power is not arbitrary but delegate . Look therefore to your Commission , to the word and wil of God. Judg as those that must give an account unto the righteous God : who at the last day wil judg all things over again . And in Ministring justice , ever have this in your minds : We are nails to bear the burden of Authority : who fasten'd us here ? Again , let godly Magistrates ( be they never so few in number , meet they with never so much opposition ) yet let them take comfort and courage , and go on boldly to do Gods work : to discountenance sin , to punish evil doers , to suppress Malignants , to encourage the good , to advance the cause of God , and to further the work of Reformation . Let them not fear the opposition , nor the malice , nor the rage , nor the power of man. It is God that hath exalted them , and fastned them in their high places with his own hand : and he wil preserve them , so long as they faithfully bear the burden which he hangs upon them . They shal stand sure in their places , and never be removed : for the Lord hath fasten'd them , and shal for ever establish them . Finally , let me give a word of direction to all . Would you have ? Would you keep good and serviceable nails ? Would you have able and faithful Magistrates and Ministers in your City , in the Kingdom ? See then what course you must take : Go to the Master of the assemblies , it is he that fastens these nails . Pray , pray , Represent unto God the sad condition of the Church and Common-wealth , for want of good and able nails : how few there be of such , how thin they stand in the City-wall , how thin in the Church-wall . How few godly Magistrates in a Country , how many miles a man may travail , through how many Parishes , and not see one good nail fastned , not one sound and painful preacher : and be earnest with God to pul , to pluck out , and to throw down all rotten and useless nails : and to put , and fasten good , and able , right , and straight , substantial , and serviceable ones in their room . We have seen who fastens the Nail ; proceed we to the 2 Particular , and let 's look upon the nail that 's fastned . What nail is it ? Or rather who is it ? For it 's a living nail . It is a man , and a good man : Eliakim , that 's his name : He was the servant of the Lord , that 's his goodness : And he it is that the Lord fastens in a sure place . And here the Doctrine wil teach us what kind of nails they be which God fastens : namely good nails , and none else . God establisheth only good men in high places of Authority . A base rotten nail may be driven into a wall , and stand a while , but not long : The Lord plucks wicked men out of their places , and preferrs his faithful servants into their room . He puts down the mighty , that is , the proud , and wicked great ones of the world : he puts them down from their seats , and exalteth them of low degree , the humble , and Godly ones . Luk. 1. 52. Haman was promoted by the King , advanced as a nail into a high place , his seat was above all the Princes ; but he was a rotten and scragged nail , tearing the people of God ; 't was wicked Haman . But the Lord soon plucked him out of his seat , threw him down , and fasten'd good Mordecai in his room . Hophni , and Phinehas , the young Priests , they were sons of Belial , they were exceeding wicked , and knew not the Lord : and what saith the Lord concerning them ? They shal be deposed from their office of Priesthood , in one day they shal dye both of them . Yea both of them , and Eli their father , and pluck'd out in one day . And saith the Lord , I wil raise me up a faithful Priest , that shal do according to that which is in mine heart , and in my mind : and I wil build him a sure house , and he shal walk before mine anointed for ever . Old Eli was pluck'd out as a rusty nail , and Zadok annointed high-priest in his room . God wil establish only good good men in their places . This point must not pass without some application , and it may be various . 1. For our instruction we may observe what shal be the end of good and evil Magistrates , and of all in eminent places : Princes and Rulers , the great men of the earth : Prophets and ministers of the Gospel . What shal their end be ? Solomon wil tel you : Such as walk in the way of good men , and keep the paths of the righteous , shal dwel in the land : they shal stand as a nail in a sure place : But the wicked , be they never so great , shal be cut of from the earth , and the transgressors shal be rooted out off it . Yes , this is an undoubted truth ; the wicked though they be placed never so high , and seem to stand so fast that they can never be moved : yet the Lord wil pluck them out at the last , and put better in their room . In the eye of the world , who could be faster rivetted in his high place , then Shebna ? He was the great favorite at Court , he had in his hand all the chief Offices , the highest Honours and dignities of the Kingdome ( as you have seen before : ) he did flow in wealth , and greatnesse , there was none above him in the Kingdom , save only he that sate upon the Throne . A grand Polititian he was ; which some of the learned in the holy tongue have gathered from one of his titles , verse 15. Go get thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ad the saura●ium , unto this Treasurer ; so it 's commonly turned : but the word seems to signifie another thing . It comes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies fovere , vel calefacere : to warm , cherish , and to favour . And then thus we must reade it , Go get thee to this favourer Shebna : that is , to him that cunningly doth favour , and cherish all parties ! I hinted you a while ago , that some thought Shebna to be the High Priest : I have disputed the point once ▪ and I wil meddle with it no more : but I am sure he had the very tricks of our High-priests now adayes . For ( as I have it from good Authors ) he kept in with all sides . Being favorite to Hezekiah King of Juda , he did seem to favour the King , he did flatter , and fawne , and use all his skill , to warm the Kings affection , and cherish his good opinion , and every way to endear him . Also , as an Arch-traytor , most perfidious to his good Master , he held fair correspondency with Sennacherib King of Assyria , Hezekiahs enemy : He was a Pentioner to the King of Assyria , he was his Intelligencer , he held a secret league , and confederacy with him ; and was by compact engaged unto Sennacherib , to betray the King his Master , and the City Jerusalem , and the Kingdom of Juda into his hands whensoever he came with his mighty host . And thus by his craft and policy , he thought to secure himselfe against all events , come what would come ; prevaile who would prevaile , he would stand sure : if Hezekiah prevailed against Sennacherib , then Shebna was well enough , he was the Kings favorite : if Sennacherib prevailed against Hezekiah , yet Shebna would do well enough ; for he was also the King of Assrria's servant , and did secretly make way for him to invade , and conquer . And now the proud ambitious Traytor growes to a height of confidence : he thinks he stands as a nayl that cannot be stirred nor plucked out of his place . And in this presumptuous confidence he erects a stately monument for himself in Jerusalem : as you may reade vers . 16. He hews himself out a Sepulchre on high , and grave 's a habitation for himself in a rock : Hee concludes his owne safety : that if Hezekiah prosper , he is his Favorite to his dying day : if Sennacherib conquer , he shal be his Deputy , or Viceroy as long as he lives . And at last , that he shal dye with honour at Jerusalem ; and all his pomp follow him , and his name be famous to all generations ; being written in marble , and brasse upon his Sepulchre . Thus , thus , silly man , he flatters himself . But now observe the end . As it was with proud Nebuchadnezzar , glorying in his great Babel , while the word was in his mouth , the Voice fell from heaven , saying ! The Kingdom is departed from thee : So commeth the word of the Lord to Shebna ; What hast thou here ? and whom hast thou here ? Why dost thou think thy self fastened here as a nayl that cannot be removed ? But that thou shalt live here , and dye here , and lay thy bones here ? Behold the Lord will pluck thee out ; and carry thee away with a mighty captivity . He will surely violently turn , and tosse thee like a ball into a large country , there shalt thou dye , and there the chariots of thy glory , shall be the shame of thy Lords house . And there 's an end of Shebna ! A paralel example we have of our own ; which because it doth so aptly agree with the former , I will insert . It is of Sir Thomas More , who bare the same office under the King of England , that Shebna did under the King of Judah ; he was Lord Chancellour of England under Henry the eight ; he was a bitter enemy of the Gospel , and persecuted the godly professors of it with fire and sword , and thought thereby to get him a name ; and needs must he have a monument of his cruelty and impiety . He therefore takes care , to have a sumptuous , and magnificent Sepulchre erected ; and upon it written Encomiastiques , the high praises of his vertue . He made his own Epitaph , and sent it to Basil , unto Erasmus , that he might get it curiously engraven . He sent also with it a stately ambling , or pasing horse , unto Erasmus for his reward ; that he might be so much the more carefull about the work . So greedy was he of glory and fame . Amongst the rest of his praises , this was the most famous ; and to be written in great letters ; Lutheranorum profliga●●r Maximus ; that is , The great persecuter of the godly . Wel , but what was the end ? After all this presumptuous confidence : The great Lord Chancellor was accused of treason , condemned , beheaded : Ita patibulum ei pro sepulchro fuit . At lost , the gibbet , or the fatall block was his monument . Such shalt the end be of all Tyrants , and ungodly Rulers ; a while they may stand on high , but shortly the Lord will pluck them out of their places , and put better men in their stead . Here learn the way to preferment , and how to sit sure in your places when you are advanced . Would you be exalted to honor ? Would you stand fast in your places of dignity ? This is your way . Be good , and you shal soon be great . Be the Lords servants , and he wil soon preferr you . Continue right , and straight , and sound , and sincere : and the Lord wil fasten you so , as you shal never be removed . You have the way of preferment chalked out . Psal . 112. The man that feareth the Lord , and dilighteth greatly in his Commandments , v. 1. The upright man , v. 4. The good man , v. 5. The merciful , and liberal , and righteous man , he shal abound with wealth and riches : and his horn shal be exalted with honor . v. 3. 9. God fastens none but Eliak●ms in high , and honorable places : Shebnas may clime up a great height , but the Lord wil soon throw them down again . Doth God fasten only such as be godly in a sure place ? Then I beseech you ! See upon whom you may most safely depend . We that are subjects , are as a company of infirm vessels : we must all hang upon some nail or other , or else we are lost upon the ground . Now our wisdom wil be to rely on sure , and sound nails . But you wil say perhaps , how may we know the best nails ? I wil tel you , there are now in the Kingdom two sorts of nails : Court-nails , and Parliament-nails . Both are exalted very high : now tel me which wil you chuse to depend upon ? Me thinks I hear some reply : what nail should we depend upon but that which the Lord hath fasten'd ? And is not the King that nail ? Hath not God set him upon the throne ? And must I not go along with him in every thing ? Give me leave to answer . We do acknowledg with all duty , and obedience : that the King is the highest Nail , that he is a precious Nail , that he is a nail chosen of God , and anointed : And the desire of our hearts is that the Lord would establish his throne , and fasten him so sure that he may never be removed . But that which makes our hearts sad ; it 's this , that he is not , in loco fideli , in a faithful place : That wall that 's made up of Papists , Irish Rebels , Delinquents , Malignants , and wicked Counsellors , must needs be a rotten wall ; and can a nial stand sure in such a place ? The Parliament is a sound wall , made up of worthy Eliakims , loyal Subjects , servants of the Lord , and faithful Patriots . Now the Lord bring the King into the midst of his Parliament again , then should he be indeed in loco fideli , and we might safely hang upon him . But in the mean time , his power and Authority is with his great Counsel . It is an undoubted Parliament by the Kings own act . But it cannot be a true Parliament without a King. Why then , he is with them vertually , thou he be not personally . The Parliament is all but one great nail . The King is the head , the houses are the body ; if you take the head off the nail , what can hang safely on it ? Therefore now I can easily shew you what nail to hang on : I thus describe it to you . King , and Parliament . There are two mighty Armys abroad , one against the other . Every one of us must depend upon one of those . We must take part with one against the other . In the name of God , see that you chuse the right nail . That 's the nail that God fastens , upon that you may safely depend . It is the extream folly of men , that they wil all chuse to hang upon the great nail , and the lesser nail they dare not trust to . They 'l joyn with the most numerous Army , with the greatest power . Who would not have hanged upon Shebna ( that had looked with a carnal eye ) and declined Eliakim ? Upon whom was the eye of all the Court but upon Shebna ? Shebna was a Vapouring Cavalier ; Eliakim sure , a despised Roundhead . Shebna had great Authority , and favour in the Court : Eliakim , and the rest were made Underlings , slighted , and disregarded . Shebna a great Polititian , held fair correspondence with forraign Princes ; Eliakim a plain faithful seruant to his Master that had never put on robe nor girdle . Yet you see he was the wisest man , and in the safest condition that took in with Eliakins . I wil give it you in a word . Look impartially : and mark , not which is the biggest , but which is the rightest and straightest nail , look upon that side where you see most of God : most zeal , most devotion , most piety ; and joyn with them . That nail that God hath fastned shal stand sure : let the Pope , and the Divil , and all the Malignant crew knock it , and hang the weight of persecution upon it ; they can never pluck it out , it stands in loco sideli , in a sure place , and all that depend upon it shal be safe . But on the other side , if you joyn with Idolaters Blasphemers , debauched drunkards , Atheists , prophane Divels . You hang upon a rotten nail , a nail that God hath never fastned ; and though it appear never so great , yet it wil deceive you : God wil certainly pluck it out , and then there is nothing but certain ruin to be expected : if the nail break , all that ever hangs on it falls down , and it is broken , and lost . For a close of this , I shal pass a doom upon all such rotten nails , and upon all that hang upon them . Even the sentence upon Shebna , ver . 25. In that day saith the Lord of hosts , shal the nail that is fastned in the sure place be removed , and be cut down , and fall : and the burden that was upon it shal be cut off , for the Lord hath spoken it . Therefore my beloved ! . I say again , if you love your own safety , hang upon the right nail . Here 's a pattern for all such as he in Authority . The Lord displaceth rotten and unprofitable nails , and sets up good and useful ones in their room : let them do so . I have already discovered unto you abundance of base nails , both in the City and Church-wall . Corrupt Magistrates , Masters of misrule ; blind , dumbe , useless , scandalous , covetous , drunken , debauched Ministers ; such as do no good , but a world of mischief in their places . Now give me leave to speak freely to you that are Magistrates . I cannot but say to you , as the son of God once to the Angel of Thyatira : I have a few things against thee ▪ that thou sufferest the Woman Jezabel , which calleth her self a Prophetess , to teach , and to deceive my servants to make them commit fornication . The same to our Rulers : you have suffered Malignants , and loose Magistrates , scandalous and superstitious , and factious , and error-teaching Ministers : verily this is a great fault amongst you . At last awake , and be followers of God. Use your power to pluck out , depose , and remove these rotten and useless nails , and set more comely , and serviceable ones in their room . Be unto those pests and plagues of our City , and Country like Jael's nail : Smite through their temples , and fasten them to the ground : mistake me not , I call not upon you to take away their lives , but to bring them lower , and restrain their power , and dispose of thier places better . Let your word be of every place in Church and Common-wealth , and concerning every preferment : Detur digniori . Follow the Counsel , and decree of the wise men of King Ahasuerus , Ester 1. 19. Let their royal estate be taken away from them , and give it unto others that are better then they . There are none but good Nails of Gods fastning . The 3. Particular follows , viz , the Vbi , where this nail is fastned : in loco sideli , in a sure place : that is , I wil establish him , he shal stand sure , he shal not be plucked out nor removed . He shal keep his station and never be removed , and this is promised as a blessing to Eliakim . And affords us this observation , that to dwel safely and sure in a fixed habitation , and setled condition , is a very great and a very sweet blessing . It was Shebnas curse and punishment , that he should be violently turned and tossed like a ball into a large Country : as it is , v. 18. His condition shal be like a tennis ball , struck with the hands of them that play from side to side , and from end to end , and at every bandy a hazard : or like about which is thrown in the alley , or in a plain or steep place , down-hill ; and then it runs , and runs , and rests not , til another hand takes it and throws it back again : Or like the stone of Silyphus , rolling up-hill , and down-hill continually ; such was the condition of Shebna . This the Lord threatned as a curse against Israel , that he would smite them as a reed shaken in the water , that he would root them out of the good land which he gave to their fathers , and scatter them beyond the river , because they made their groves , and provoked the Lord to anger . 1 Kings cap. 14. v. 15. It was the curse of Cain for his fratricide , his bloody murther : A fugitive , and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth . Gen. 4. 12. But on the other side , a fixed habitation , and a settled condition is ever promised as a blessing . Moreover , saith the Lord , ( when he wil do good to his people ) I wil appoint a place for my people Israel , and wil plant them , that they may dwel in a place of their own , and move no more . To enjoy a fixed station , in a land of peace , procureth blessing to the body , soul , estate . ” The body hath rest : The painful labourer , though he goeth forth unto his work , and to his labour ; yet it is but til the evening ; then the poor swain rests his weary limbs , refresheth himself with his plain company , and sings in his thatched cottage , and lays him down , and his sleep is sweet ; and in the morning he awakes , and ariseth as a man new created , and goeth lively about his business again . ” Further , such a fixed estate is very advantagious to the soul : In exile , when people are wandring up and down in forraign Countrys , they cannot enjoy the precious ordinances , they cannot perform the duties of publique worship , The Babylonians did but abuse , and jeer the Israelites when they required of them a song , and mirth : saying : Sing us one of the songs of Sion : and the poor Captives could return no other answer but this : How shal we sing the Lords song in a strange land ? They were now banished from the Sanctuary of the Lord , and so were deprived of their soul-comforts . But when the Lord gives a people rest round about , there they may build Synagogues , enjoy Church-assemblies , and holy meetings , and publique soul fatning ordinances , the pure worship of God , and true religion , and all the means of Grace . Therefore sayes David , Pray for the peace of Jerusalem : Say , Peace be within thy walls , and prosperity within thy palaces : And why ? Because of the house of the Lord our God , I will seek thy good . The peace of Jerusalem , and the setled condition thereof , is the means to advance religion , and the Publique worship . Blessed are they that dwell in thy house , Psal . 84. 4. They that have a setled habitation in a land where Gods worship is established : And why ? Because they will be still praising thee : they will ever be doing good to their own soules . Finally , A setled condition is a marvailous advantage to wealth ; and to the estates of men . The rolling stone never gathers mosse : An unsetled person will never be rich . Exile and banishment strips off all . The ancient beleevers wandered about in sheep-skins , and goat-skins , in deserts , and in mountains , in dens , and caves of the earth : And what estate had they ? They were altogether destitute ; afflicted , and tormented , Hebr. 11. 37 , 38. But in a setled course , wealth and riches are to be gotten : Upon a fixed nayl there hangs a load of wealth . England hath been a quiet , and setled Land for many years ; and hath it not grown a Magazine of wealth ? Doth it not abound with flourishing Cities , and fruitfull fields ? Silver and gold have been as the stones of the streets : It hath been a Land of coor , and all manner of fruits ; of sh●ep , and oxen , and all manner of cattell , a Land like Canaan , flowing with milk and honey : In a word , the glory of all Lands . And what hath made England so rich ? What but this . The Lord hath given England rest , and the inhabitants have been as fixed nayls in a sure place . To apply this shortly . Is a fixed and setled condition such a sweet blessing ? And is it so grievous to be driven from our habitations ? Then. Let us sympathize with our brethren , the poor servants of God , that in Germany , Ireland , and in the North and West of England , are plucked out of their pleasant places , and now are tossed as a ball from place to place ; and with Noahs Dove cannot find rest for the sole of their foot : Alas ! Alas ! for our poore brethren ! the deare servants of God! What miseries do they endure ? They wander up and down in the desert out of the way , and they find no dwelling place ; hungry and thirsty , and their soul faints within them . Or as Job , They flee into the wildernesse desolate , and waste : they cut up mallows by the bushes , and juniper roots for their meat ; the springs and fountains ( if at least they can meet with any ) are to quench their thirst . Oh let our bowels be troubled for them : Let 's relieve them to our power , and let us pray for them earnestly , and incessantly ; that the Lord would bring home his banished again , and restore them to their country , and to their habitation , and settle them as a naile in a sure place . And for our selves , learn we to esteem , and prize our own happinesse , in these associated Counties . We sit every man under his Vine , and under his Fig-tree , and none makes us afraid . We enjoy peace , and plentie , and libertie , and proprietie , and friends , and all in our own Land where we were born : And above all we have the adoption , and the glory , and the Covenants , and the Gospell , and the Service of God , and the promises , and the Communion of the faithfull . Oh let us praise the Lord for his goodnesse : Let us walk answerable to so great mercies : let us make use of our standing , and improve all our advantages to the glory of our bountifull God ; and let us pray unto the Lord incessantly , to fasten us still as a nayl in a sure place . The fourth and last particular now presents it self to your view , viz. The end , and use of this nayl : Erit in solium gloriae . He shal be for a glorious throne to his Fathers house . ] And concerning this , many things might be spoken : but because I have held you too long already , I shall only commend unto you , in a word this Observation : To what end we are fastened in our places , Let Magistrates , Ministers , and every one here present , duly consider wherefore they serve , namely , to bear burdens , for the honour of God , and for the glory of their Countrie and Citie , and fathers house . Joseph made his fathers house glorious , he enriched it with the wealth , with the treasures of Aegypt , and made it famous , and renowned through all the world , as it is to this day . Our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ : ( who is the Nayl spoken of Zach. 10. 4. ) He is the glory of his fathers house , even of the people Israel . I speak first to the chief Magistrate , and then to every one in his place . Know that you ought not to be for your base private ends , for your own honour , and wealth ; but you must be men of publique spirits : you must be for the good , and for the glory of your Citie , and your Countrie : of the Church and Common-wealth . You must endevour the publique good before your own . You must be content to bear any load of pains , or charge , to procure the wealth and prosperity of the Kingdom , that the reformation may be perfected , true Religion established , Popery , superstition , and the proud tyrannicall Hierarchy may be utterly extirpated ; the rights and priviledges of Parliement , and the liberties of the Kingdom preserved : That the Kings person , and authority in the preservation of true Religion may be defended : that the peace of the Kingdoms may be continued ; that delinquents may be brought to condigne punishment , that England may be made a sure place , a happie Nation , a famous Kingdom ▪ Know that you are set for a throne of glory : Be all of you for the honour of your Citie , for the glory of Norwich . Make it famous , and happie this year . Mind not your own things , but the publique benefit . The devise of Alphonsus King of Arragon , was this : A Pellican pecking her brest , and drawing out blood wherewith to feed her young : the word Pro lege , & pro grege . So should every good Magistrate , not count his blood dear , for the welfare of the people . The Motto of Aelius Adrianus the Emperour was , Non mihi sed populo . A man set in authority , should not be for himself , for his own profit , or ease , but all for advancing the common good . Abate of your excesse ; make lesse and fewer feasts , and do more good for the publique : Lay lesse upon your backs , and do more for the publique . I know what people are ready to say for themselves ; That if Mayors , and Sheriffes shall not make as great feasts at Sessions , and other times , as others before them , they should be disgraceed , and talked on all the Town over ; they should be counted covetous , and miserable , and people would say they knew not what doth belong to their office , and it would be a dishonour to the Citie . Alas , alas , my beloved ! Is it for the honour of your Citie to have Sodoms Character ? That pride , fulnesse of bread , and abundance of idlenesse is in her ? Gentlemen ! if any shall jeer you for not feasting as your predecessours , as if you knew not what belongs to your places : Answer them as once Themistocles did : who being at a sumptuons feast , and not singing with the rest of the jovial company , and meeting with some checks for his silence , he said unto them . I confess I have not learned to sing to the pipe at feasts , but I have learned rempublicam ex parva magnam facere : to raise a Common-wealth from a poor estate , to a flourishing condition : So do you answer all the world : You have not learned to squander away vast sums of money in rich clothing , sumptuous , and excessive feasts : but you have learned to lay out your money better , and to part with your estate freely , even to the utmost farthing for the publick safety and good . I beseech you be for a throne of glory ; be all for the honor of your City and Country . Usually you shal hear men boast much of their Country , City , Progenitors : and they brag that they were born in such a famous place , or that they are descended of such illustrious ancestors : as if that were such egregious , and singular nobility , which consists in the vertues , and noble acts of their forefathers . Such cracks as these the Poet rightly reprehendeth , and jerks : Stemmata quid faciunt &c. What is it to thee , if thy progenitors were Noble , Heroicall , Vertuous ? If thou in the mean time be un-deserving , unworthy , and base ? Let me therefore tel you : He hath the best nobility , and deserves the greatest praise , that first makes his fathers house glorious : that first begins a noble family : Be it your care to make your City , your Country , your familys ; and your fathers houses noble and glorious . I have observed it to be an ancient custom in this City upon the day of your solemnity , to present the new elect with some speeches : and withall with escouchions or shields , and in them some divises , which hang all the year in his parlour , to hint , and remember him of his duty . I have prepared you one out of my Text against to morrow : and with my speech , I present it to you out of the pulpit . It 's a very plain one , as you see , and not much charged . You see here the pillar in the middle hath many nails fastned in it : and every nail beareth somewhat ; upon some hanggarments , upon others the ensigns of your Authority : upon others vessels of gold , and silver , and iron , and brass , and earth , and wood , and all instruments of musick . This is your monitor : You must bear up all honest persons , and all just causes : You must bear even til you break again , and lay out all your power and strength for the glory of God , the honor , and safety of the City and Kingdom , the good of the Church , the advancement of Religion , and the pure worship of God. And thus going on the Lord wil establish you , as a nail in a sure place . And hereafter you shal be set higher . Ere long every nail shal be plucked out , and laid before the great Master of the assemblies , at the great and dreadful day of judgment : Then wil the Judg of all the world take a strict view of all the nails that ever he fastned in any place . And the great question at that severe day of examination shal be : what service have you done ? What burdens have you born in the Church and Common-wealth ? Then shal the empty , rusty , and unprofitable nails be put into the bag , and thrown down int● the pit of hell . But such as have been useful , and have born the burden , and heat of the day , and done good and acceptable service in their places : they shal be advanced and set up higher : they shal be fastned in the wall of the new-Jerusalem , the holy City , be overlaid with pure gold , and set with precious pearls , and shine in glory for evermore . Now the Lord God , the great Master of the assemblies make every one of us more profitable , and serviceable in our places and stations . Amen . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 PSAL. 84. 4. Blessed are they that dwel in thy house , they wil be stil praising thee . Selah . REVEL . 2. 10. Be thou faithful unto the death , and I wil give thee a Crown of life . The VVheel turned by a voice from the throne of GLORY . Described in a SERMON At the Green-yard in NORWICH , upon the Guild-day . Iune 22. 1647. By JOHN CARTER , Pastor of St. Peters of MANCROFT . LONDON , Printed by J. Macock for M. Spark , and are to be sold at the sign of the blue Bible in Green-Arbour . 1647 TO THE Right VVorshipfull Mr. John Vtting , Maior of the City of Norwich . IOHN CARTER Humbly Dedicates this poore and unworthy piece ; and as he preached the Sermon at his request ; so now he presents it to him for his use , with apprecation of all Grace , honour , happinesse , and good successe in his Government . 1 SAM . 2. 30. Them that honour mee I will honour : and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed . To those Magistrates in the City of Norwich , who were so highly offended , and exasperated at this Sermon . Galath . 4. 16. Am J therefore become your enemy , because J tell you the truth . THE WHEEL : EZEK . 10. 13. As for the wheels it was cryed unto them in my hearing , O Wheel ! THis is a voice , your ears can tel you so much ; yea and that a mighty voice , a great cry . Concerning it here are three things remarkable , the parts of the text . 1. They word which was cryed — O Wheel ! 2. To whom the word was cryed ; to the wheels : as for the wheels it was cryed to them . 3. The witness , in whose presence the word was cryed , in my hearing . These are the parts and particulars of the text . I wil not fall upon them presently ; I shal lay them aside a while , and according to my plain and usual way , I wil dispatch 3. things . 1. I wil speak something of the sence , and meaning of the text . 2. I wil give you the sum and substance of all in one general proposition of Doctrine : to which I shal make some general application . 3. And then in the third place , I wil return to the parts of the text , and handle them : I wil search the particulars more narrowly for such observations , and instructions as may be of further use : and then I wil conclude all with special application , to the time , place , persons , and present occasion . I am to speak , you see , of Wheels , and of a wheel : my discourse is like to run all the way upon wheels : Now the good spirit of God be upon us all , that we may drive prosperously , and all our motions may turn to the glory of God , the edification , and comfort of all our poor souls . Amen . 1. And first I am to expound and open the text . As for the Wheels ] When Ezekiel was among the Captives , in the Land of the Caldeans , by the River Chebar , walking up and down by the waters of Babylon ; he saw broad-waking , a glorious vision , wherein the Lord shewed to him the things which were shortly after to come to pass . And as Pharaohs dreams when he was asleep , so Ezekiels Visions when he was awake , were doubled , because the thing was established , and God hasted to perform it . He first sees the Vision by the River Chebar . Chap. 1. He sees it again , with some considerable alterations , additions , and amplifications in this 10. Chapter . To represent and set before your eyes the whole Vision , and exactly to describe every part , every apparition , every wonderful and dreadful sight which our Prophet beheld , would take up more time , and require more skil then falls to my share . I shal therefore only point to a few of the most general , and most remarkable things , which may serve to give some light to the text , and to let in the Doctrine . To our purpose . He saw ] in the firmament which was clear as the terrible chrystal : viz. above the starry heavens , he saw a glorious throne as it were a Saphire-stone , and upon the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man : the son of God sate above it . Chap. 1. v. 26. Under his feet there were four living creatures , so they were called in his first vision . Chap. 1. 5. here in this 10. is an interpretation , they are called Cherubins : they had faces , wings , hands , and feet . Below , by the feet of these Cherubins were wheels : four wheels in all , according to the number of the living creatures . These wheels were dreadful to behold by reason of their wonderful greatness , the height of their rings , the swiftness of their motion , the brightness of their colour , and the multitude of their eyes . This was the vision , but what was the signification ? That 's the material question . In general , this was to set forth the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. But more particularly : The man sitting above upon the throne , is the Lord Jesus Christ . The living creatures , or Cherubins they are Angels , good Angels , which are immediatly under the Command of Christ . But the wheels at the feet of the Cherubins , what are they ? A wheel is instrumentum volubile ; a round turning instrument : there are divers sorts of wheels , chariot-wheels , clock-wheels , bel-wheels , mil-wheels , and many others which perhaps we shal meet withal by and by . The wheels that appeared to Ezekiel are thought to be chariot-wheels . The general : conceipt is , that he saw a compleat chariot : and that the living creatures were the drawers , and movers , and the man on the throne the guider of it : and the word Synechdochical , rota pro●●●●u , the wheel for the whole Chariot . The wheel is an instrument of very great and frequent use . Many works are done by the turning of the wheel . The Chariot , Coach , and Cart are carried on their way by wheels . The husbandman plows , and thresheth , and grindeth beats out his corn with wheels . The huswife spins her thrid upon the wheel : and the work of justice ( as we shal hear more afterward ) is done by the wheel : A wise King scattereth the wicked , and bringeth the wheel over them . Prov. 20. 26. And by this time it is not hard to find out what is meant by the wheels ; namely , all instruments , and second causes by which God useth to work in the dispensation of his providence . The glorious Angels first , even they themselves are Gods great wheels . Then the round celestial orbs , and lights which are continually wheeling about , next the lower world , the elements , and all creatures in the aire , earth , and wide sea . But especially , we are to understand by the wheels reasonable creatures ; as Kingdoms , Common-wealths , Citys , Churches ; which are societies of men ; Kings , Princes , Magistrates , chief Captains , Armies , Ministers , preachers of the Gospel , and all people in their several places : who ever hath any employment under God is a wheel in the chariot of his providence : These are the wheels . Now it was cryed unto them ] From the throne above . The Lord Jehovah , that sate aloft upon the glorious throne : he Cryed ] that is , aloud , earnestly , with a mighty voice he called to them . O Wheel ] not simply 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wheel , but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oh Wheel ! This is demonstrative , and points to some special wheel . Though the voice be generally cryed to all the wheels , to every creature in heaven and earth : as if the son of God should say : O World ! Yet here we must conceive that it is directed in an especial manner to Jerusalem , and her wheels ; to the princes , priests , and Commons which were left there , and were not carried into Babylon , with the rest of the Captives . For this vision was shew'd to the Prophet for Jerusalems sake : to signify to him what was shortly to come to pass in the City : and it is as if the man upon the throne had said : O Jerusalem . O ] This O! is an adverb , or interjection of calling : God calls to all the wheels , and crys , O Wheel ! This is a word of Authority and Command , by which the Lord either drives the wheels on , excites them to do something : imp●ratum fuit ipsis ut volverentur , & converterentur , he spake to them to roul and turn about : he gave them some commands , which here are not expressed . Or else it 's a word of countermand , and he checks them for some irregular motions : and it is as if the son of God should say , O Wheell stop , turn your course the right way : obey . In a word , this is the word of Gods power , whereby the world , and all the creatures in it , all second causes , and all persons are over-awed , and their motions determined . You have the sence of the text : next I l'e give you the general doctrin . It is concerning the general , and particular providence of God : The voice of him that sits on the throne , commands , and over-aws all the wheels . So universal , and so particular is the providence of God , that it governs and rules all things in heaven and earth . The powerful providence of God doth dispose all second causes as he pleaseth , and orders all creatures in the world , and all motions in the world according to the counsell of his own will : if the Lord do but cry , O wheel ! all the wheels are at his beck , and turn as he bids them . There 's not the least motion of a Chariot wheel , but the Lord appoints it . This appears by Pharaohs Chariot wheels , The Lord took off their Chariot wheels , that they drave them heavily : He had said before , O wheel ! carry Pharaoh into the midst of the Sea : now he gives them a check , and cry's to them ; O wheel ! fly off from your axletrees ; and as the word comes from God , so do the wheels move and turn . Behold the power of God's word , and how his voyce commands all things Psalm . 29. vers . 3. The voice of the Lord commands it to thunder , or not to thunder : the voice of the Lord commandeth the waters to ebbe , or flow , to be rugged , or calme ; Vers . 5. The voice of the Lord commands the Cedars , he bids them grow , and they come up ; again , he speaks but to them , and they are broken down ; also when he pleaseth he makes them skip like a Calfe , or like a young Unicorn . Vers . 7. The voice of the Lord commands the fire ; he sayes to the watry cloud , divide ; and it breaks in sunder , and the lightning darts forth , and scattereth it self through-out our Haemisphere in the twinkling of an eye . Vers . 6. and 8. The voice of the Lord commands Lebanon and Cadesh ; at his word the mountains daunce , and the wildernesse tremble . Vers . 9. The voice of the Lord commands the wild beasts of the forrests ; he speaks to the Hinds , and they Calve : again he sayes the word , and they are barren . In the Forrest a leaf falls not from a tree , the woods are not made bare without his word . Vers . 10. The Lord sits upon the floud , yea , the Lord sitteth King for ever : his voice commands the sea ; he saith to it , hitherto shalt thou come , and no further , and here shalt thou stop thy proud waves : Yea , the voice of the Lord commands the sons of men ; and they move according to his word . For , in him we live , and move , Act. 17. 28. He orders all our steps , and goings , Prov. 20. 24. But what may be the reason , or ground of this ? That the voice of the Lord should thus command , and over-aw all the wheel's ? Yes good reason : What hand should turn the wheel , but the same that made it ? By the voice of the Lord all creatures were made : By the word of the Lord were the heavens made , and all the host of them , Psal . 33. 6. He did but say , Let there be light , and there was light : He did but say , Let there be a firmament , let there be sea , and dry land , let there be grasse , and trees in the earth , and lights in the heaven , and fishes in the sea ; and immediatly it was done , it was so . Yet further , his voice did not only command these wheels to be made ; the same word also preserves them , maintains them in being . He upholds all things by the word of his power , Hebr. 1. 3. God made all creatures , therefore of right he may dispose of them , and order all their motions as he pleaseth . He is the great Atlas , bears up heaven and earth , and all things upon the strong shoulders of his providence : and therefore he hath power to move all things as he listeth . He that bears a burden upon his back may carry it whither he will. The cunning Artificer who makes a clock , or curious pocket-watch ; he also disposeth , and ordereth every wheel , in what place it shall be , what motion it shall have , how long it shall go : So the Almighty , and infinitely wise God , he made the wheel's , and turns the wheels : he made the greatest , and the least creatures , and he causeth , and over-ruleth the greatest , and the least motions . To give you the whole doctrine in one Embleme . Ezekiel was an Aenigmaticall Prophet ; and me thinks he gives us ( that which was first shewed to him in a vision ) the most elegant , and significant Hieroglyphick of Divine providence that can be found out in the whole world : it is a Chariot . A Chariot commonly is drawn by four horses : by them at their feet are four wheels ; above , a seat wherein the man sits who guides the engin ; he with his reins and whip , and voice commands the beasts , the wheels , the whole Chariot , and all things in it , and they are moved , and turned as he pleaseth . Such is the Chariot of Providence , God sits in the seat , even above in heaven upon his glorious Throne , and by his word and power commands , guides , and moves all inferiour things . Next under God are the living creatures , the Angels they are ministring spirits immediatly moved by him that sits upon the Throne . The Angels they move the wheels : God governs inferiour things by the ministry of Angels : There are four living creatures , and four faces , and foure wheels , to represent the foure corners of the earth . The summe of all , is this in one word : The providence of God doth rule , and commaud , in all the four quarters of the world : God hath wheels every where , and he turns them all by his word of command ; O wheel ! You have the generall doctrine . To make some use of it . And here I might be large , and apply it variously . I might , first , for our instruction , gather this Corollary ; That there is no Contingency in the world ; nothing fals out by chance : Not a wheel stirs but it 's moved by Gods hand : Not a Sparrow fals to the ground , nor a haire from our heads without your Father : Not an ax-head flies off from the helve , but it 's thrown , and directed by God's hand . Indeed , in regard of us , and in relation to second causes , things may seem chanceable , and contingent ; because something fals out that was not like to happen at all , or else the thing was like to fall out quite otherwise then it doth , we being ignorant of the causes of such casualties . But in regard of God nothing is contingent : he is the first , and supream cause , the universall provisor , and moderator ; sitting on his Throne as a Judge , and a King ; taking notice , and taking care of the least things , of the smallest wheels in the Chariot : in respect of him , all things are necessary : He worketh all things according to the counsell of his will. Yet again , I might apply it by way of reprehension , and give a check to the heathenish language of many Christians , that speak Luck and Chance as familiarly as Heathens use to do , and attribute all things to Fortune . This was my fortune , this was my luck . What are these but Atheists , and such as deny Providence ? The iniquity of the house of Israel is exceeding great , and the City full of perversenesse , saith the Lord , because they say the Lord hath forsaken the earth , and the Lord seeth not : The eye of his providence is not abroad , the wheels move by chance . Oh that such would be humbled for their sin . Augustin writ Retractations , and the very first thing he corrects in himself , and bewail's , is , that ever he did use the word Chance , or the name of Fortune . But I let pass these : And I wil apply the doctrine only as St. Paul teacheth me , Rom. 15. 4. Whatsoever things were written were written for our learning that we through patience , and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope : So whatsoever hath been spoken , it hath therefore been spoken , That you might have Patience . Comfort . And so hope . The first use is of Exhortation ; and here I am to perswade you to patience . Is every wheel turned by the voice of the son of God ? No motion but by his appointment ? Learn then willing submission , and cheerful contentation in all conditions . What ? do not the wheels move to thy liking ? Art thou displeased at the motion of the King ? Or at the motion of the Parliament ? or at the motion of the Army ? ( those are the three great wheels of the Kingdom ) Bestil : they move as God bids them ! it was said unto them in my hearing , O Wheel ! The Kings heart , the Parliaments heart , the Armies heart are all in the hand of the Lord , as the rivers of water , and he turns them whethersoever he wil. Prov. 21. 1. Whatever hath been , or whatever shal be hereafter , peace or war , order or confusion , safety or ruin : what shal we say ? It is the Lord hath spoken , and he himself hath done it . Esa . 38. 15. To descend to lesser wheels : do not things go with thee according to thy desire ? I wil make thee the living creature , and thou hast thy wheels about thee : how do they move ? Thy yoke-fellow , thy children , thy dearest friends , thou wouldest have these sweetly to move with thee in a perpetual communion , but God turns them another way , they roul out of thy house and society into the grave ; and for this thou dost mourn , and art discontented . As for the world , thou would'st have it run in upon thee upon wheels : but God turns it another way , and it runs away from thee upon wheels : yea faster , it flies away : Riches certainly make themselves wings , they flee away as an Eagle towards heaven . Pro. 23. 5. thou growest into decay , and poor , and hereupon thou art troubled and discontented . The tongues of people , thou wouldest have them move rightly , and speak the truth , yea speak wel of thee : but the Malignant tongues of the world run upon wheels of fire , and clamour against thee , prate to thy disgrace , invent slanders , report vile things of thee , and hereupon thou art vexed and discontented . And what 's the reason of all this impatience ? Thou lookest only at second causes , and dost not consider that the voice of the Lord over-rules , and sets all the wheels on work . It was said in my hearing , O Wheel ! There is not the least motion of the least wheel without his special providence . Shemei curseth because God bids him curse . Be therefore patient in all changes , in all conditions , under all afflictions : murmure not , repine not , object not against the dispensations of Gods wise providence : but ever resolve with David , to be dumbe , not to open thy mouth , because the Lord it is that doth it . Psal . 39. 9. Again secondly , this may be applyed for the comfort of Jerusalem , for the consolation of the Church and people of God , and that many ways . 1. In the times of confusion , as it is with us this day : The Chariot-wheels of our Kingdom move strangely and dreadfully ; how are they hurried up and down , backward and forward , hither and thither ! and we are all in a maze , we know not what to think of things , nor what to do , nor whether to turn us , all is like to be overthrown and broken , and turned topsy-turvy . Truly we can see nothing by the wheeling of things , but ruin of all : of Religion , and Laws , and utter desolation of the whole Land. But here 's our comfort : it 's not a young rash Phaeton that sits in the coach-box , who wants both skil , and power to guide his fathers fiery steeds : No , No , it 's the Ancient of days that sits in the seat of glory , he commands the living creatures to draw the wheels which way he pleaseth , and that by his only word : and after all the wheelings , and crooked turnings of his providence , he knows the way to bring about a happy peace , and settlement in this Church and Kingdom : which the Lord of his mercy grant . O thou son of God that sittest between the Cherubins , drive on , drive on by thy wisdom and power , to thine own glory and the comfort of thy poor dejected people . 2. Again , doth the voice of the Lord command all wheels ? This then may comfort the Church and people of God against all potent enemys . Indeed the enemys of Jerusalem are commonly many and mighty , such as were the Babylonians and Assyrians ; these were the great , high , and terrible wheels which God was now bringing over Jerusalem to break it in pieces : they were now coming upon the City , the ratling of the wheels was heard , and they could not but come ; for it was cryed unto them from the Lord , O Wheel ! come and execute the fury of my wrath upon Jerusalem . Now the same powerful voice can give the wheels a check , and call them back again : this is the Churches comfort . Saul pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon : he and his numerous Army turned upon him as a dreadful wheel , and wheeled about the mountain to have crushed him in pieces : but when he was in his swiftest motion , it was cryed unto him from the Lord : O Wheel ! O Saul ! come back . There came a messenger unto Saul , saying ; haste thee , and come , for the Philistins have invaded the Land : So Saul returned from pursuing after David ; here the wheel was drawn off . Let the wheels run on never so furiously ; if God do but cry to them , they must come back : if he cry to the wind peace ! it ceaseth ; and if he say to the raging sea , be stil ! there 's presently a great calm : Marc. 4. 39. It is not hard for him to curb , and call in his creatures . Saul was a bloody persecutor , a restless wheel , running over the faithful servants of God : Act. 9. but v. 4. he had a check , it was cryed unto him from the son of God : Saul , Saul ! why persecutest thou me ? You have seen Princes , Prelates , Potentates moving fiercely against the Church , but the Lord in our hearing and sight hath given them a check , and cryed unto them , O Wheel ! go no further , and they have stood stil , or gone back . The wheels come not towards us by blind chance , but upon Gods call , they move not a hairs breadth further then God bids them , and when hepleaseth he calls them back by the word of his mouth : this is the Churches comfort . 3. And yet here 's a further comfort to Jerusalem : Doth the voice of the Lord command all wheels ? Then let not the Church , and people of God be troubled when they are at a low ebb ; when their dangers are great , their enemies many and mighty , and all succour fails and there 's none to help them : when they are without all strength , let them not dispair : God sits upon the throne , and commands the wheels , he can call in help from unexpected places . In the 2. book of the Kings , chap. the 6. God calls for a great wheel , even Benhadad King of Syria , with his mighty host to break Samaria ; and Samaria was brought into great straits , a potent enemy without , and a grievous famine within , and no help appeared , all seemed desperate : but Chap. 7. upon the prophets intercession ( as I conceive ) the Lord called in wheels to their help ; on earth all help failed , therefore the Lord relieves them from above : for he made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise in the aire of Chariot wheels , and a noise of horses , even the noise of a great host ; and these imaginary wheels in the heaven , which the voice of God called in to the rescue of Samaria , discomfited the Syrians , put them all to flight , they ran away as fast as they could : and now there is plenty , peace , and joy in the City . Thus the mighty Jehovah that sits above upon the throne , can bring order into the Church out of confusion ; he can make the most formidable enemies of the Church to go back , yea to fall backwards ; he can call in help to his Church when they are at their wits end , and all by the word of his mouth . Here is Jerusalems comfort . I have done with the general Doctrine . Now in the 3. place I return to the parts of my text , to handle them : I purpose to search , and examine every particular , and I doubt not but we shal find something as we go , that may be useful . You may remember the parts were three . 1. The word cryed . 2. To whom the word was cryed . 3. The witness , in whose presence the word was cryed . Of these strictly , and in their order . The Lord be with us . 1. The word cryed . O Wheel ! in the singular number , mark that . The prophet speaks in the plural , as of many : As for the wheels , says he ; but the man upon the throne crys out in the singular , as if there were but one wheel in all . What 's the reason of this ? It is because the wheels , though they be many and their motions different , yea contrary , yet all move to one and the same end , they all joyn as one in bringing about Gods work . In mans eye there are many , an innumerable company of wheels , but God accounts of them all , but as of one great engine to bring to pass his Counsel and decrees . Look up to the glorious heavens rouling over your heads . The primum mobile , the first moveable , or first mover , turns continually from East to West in 24. hours upon the poles of the world : the other inferior orbs , as so many cross wheels turn quite contrary from West to East upon the poles of the Zodiak , and finish their circle in different spaces of time : yet all these in respect of God , put the aire , and the bottles of rain , and the earth , and all to them , are but as one great wheel to do his work . See it plain in the 2. of Hosea v. 21. I wil hear , saith the Lord. I wil hear the heavens , and they shal hear the earth ; and the earth shal hear the corn , and the wine , and the oyle , and they shal hear Jezreel . Here you see are many wheels , many second causes , or means subordinate one to another , as it were a wheel in a wheel : but all joyn as one wheel to do Gods work ; viz. to feed , and sustein his Israel . The Lord of hosts hath abundunce of Souldiers under him , yet all but one great Army whereby he gets the victory . In a clock you see many wheels , some greater , some lesser ; some move one way , some the quite contrary way , some flower , some quicker , yet they are all one engine , serving for one and the same end , viz. to count the time , and point at the hours . There 's nothing more plain . Let us make some Use of this ; and learn how to judg rightly of Gods admirable providence . You must not take the work in pieces , nor six your eye too much upon some one special wheel , but you must take all together ; if you sever the wheels , and look upon some particular dispensations , you wil think the wheels move strangely . Consider Joseph , he was made as a wheel ; and if you mind only some particular turnings , you wil think he was turned strangely ; he was turned into the ditch , into a harlots house , into the prison ; and yet the best of all the brethren : other wheels also moved disorderly about him : The Ismaelites were moved by covetousness ; his brethren moved by envy , his Mris. turned by lust : strange spectacles , to look upon them severally : but now mark the whole work of Gods providence , and you shal see it good and comely , by the turning of these wheels , he brings about Josephs advancement , and Israels preservation . How many wheels , and contrary motions were there about the passion of Jesus Christ ! The Jews were moved with envy , if you look no further , that 's a strange sight : Judas was moved with covetousness , if you look no further that 's a strange sight : Pilate was moved with popular air , and that 's a strange sight : Christ was pierced , and by wicked hands crucified and slain ; and if you look upon that alone , oh ! it's a prodigious , and dismall sight : but take all the work of God's providence together , and you will behold it beautifull and glorious : by all these wheel's , the Lord works the redemption of man , the salvation of his Church , the destruction of death and hell , the conquest of the Devill , and the exaltation of his Son , and the glorification of his Saints . When you see Tyrants prevaile , and domineer , and exercise savage cruelty : When you see bloody Massacres of God's dear people , holy Martyrs go to prisons , slakes , and flames ; when you see the Prophets , and Ambassadors of the Lord slighted , contemn'd , silenced : If you look no further , these things will seem very sad , and amazing : but take all the whole work of God's providence together ; and you shall see it 's wise and good : The Church is sowen with the Martyrs blood , and made fruitfull : The destruction of the Churches enemies is ripened , the glory of the Saints hastned , and in all God is glorified . Consider therefore the motions of the wheels not by piece-meale , but wholly and entirely , part not one wheel from another . I say as S. Augustine , Atten ●e totum , lauda totum ; Mark all , and praise all . In all the confusions that our eyes behold , let this stay our minds ; though this wheel , and that wheel , and another wheel seem to us , to move dangerously , preposterously , and disorderly , threatning to crack , and overthrow all ; yet in Gods hand they are all but one wheel , and he will turn them so about , that in the long runne they shall work out his own glory , and his Churches good . You have heard the word cryed : Now let us hearken to The second part of the text . TO whom was this word cryed ? to the Wheels . And you have heard already what is signified by the wheels ; viz. The round world , and all the creatures that are therein , more especially the lower world , and all sublunary things , and here you may observe . The mutability of all things in the world . They are compared to wheels , subject to continuall turning and change . The condition of this world is , quasi versatio continua ; as if it did run continually upon wheels : here 's nothing firme , stable , or permanent . The celestiall Spheres they run their rounds every day , and the glorious lights of heaven are in continuall wheeling . The Sun comes forth out of his tabernacle in the morning like a bridegroome , and as a Gyant runs his race till he be mounted up to his meridian , and then declines towards evening , and sets commonly in a cloud . The Moon , sometimes it 's in the new , sometimes encreasing , sometimes in the full , sometimes waning ; and ever in the change . The Elements , the fire , the aire , the water are in continuall motion and transmutation : the earth which only is immoveable ; what is it but a stage of nothing , but changings and turnings ? Upon this Theater kingdoms , and common-wealths are turned up and down . How were the four great Monurchies ( those high , and dreadfull wheels ) rolled up and down from one to another , from the Babylonians to the Persians from the Persians to the Grecians , from the Grecians to the Romans . And so are all the Nations before the Lord , as the chaffe of the mountains before the wind , and like a rolling thing before the whirlewind , Esa . 17. 13. Upon this Theater of the earth , how is the Church of Christ wheeled , and hurried up and down ? Now shee is in Aegypt , by and by in Canaan , not long after in Babylon ; and often driven into the Wildernesse ; sometimes in prosperity , sometimes in persecution , and never long in one condition : You have her lively picture in the twelfth of the Revelation , the first verse : She is clothed with the Sun indeed ; but under her feet is the Moon , to shew that her way is in continuall change and turning , never long permanent in one condition . Upon this Theater of the earth , how do cities and Families wheel about ; Volvuntur , revolvuntur . Ziklag to day flourishing , to morrow in the ashes . Jerusalem a while the beauty of the whole earth , her towers , buildings and bulwarks , the worlds wonder ; and within a while not one stone left upon another . There 's one dayes difference , saith Sencca upon occasion of the burning of a stately City , betwixt the greatest City , and none . What should I speak of Families ? A few descents makes them ancient ; and a century or two of years wears them quite out ; they are like Jona's Gourd , flourish for an evening , and in the morning smitten , withered , forgotten , their names and stems worn out . One generation passeth , another cometh , none stayeth . Upon this Theater of the earth , how doth man act his part ? how neer is his exit to his entrance ? Man that is born of a woman , is of few dayes , and full of trouble . He cometh forth like a flower , and is cut down , he ●leeth also as a shaddow , and never continueth in one stay : now he is rich , presently poore : now in health , presently sick : now he is alive , and in a moment he is gone down to the grave . This mutability of all Mundane things the ancient Heathens were sensible of ; and did signifie by the name and posture of their Goddesse Fortune . She was called Vortuna , à Vorto , from turning ; and she was pictured sitting upon a wheel , to shew what her chief work was , viz. Ima summis , & summa imis commiscere : to bring in vicissitudes of all things , to raise a man to the top of honour , riches , happinesse , and then to turn him down again to the bottom of infamy , poverty , misery . The whole world what is it but a Sphere ? It consists , ex stante & moto , centro scilicet , & circumferentia ; of fixed , and moved , viz. of center , and circumference . The earth is fixed , and standeth fast ; and all other things move and turn round about it as a circle , or the ring of a wheel , which whirles about continually : that which is first is last , and that which is last is first , and nothing abides at a stay ; all things are unstable , and voluble . To make some application of this to our selves . And first : Are all things in the world , but as so many wheeles , so many rolling things ? Let the consideration of this serve to take down the pride of the great men of the world : Let not the rich man glory in his riches , nor the mighty man in his strength , nor the honourable man in his dignity , and preferment : Why ? because of the instability of all things . Rota erigendo cadit . The wheel whilest it lifts up it self , it falls . And he that 's highest of all now , may in a little space be low euough . Proud Nebuchadnezzar walks upon the battlements of the stately Palace of his Kingdom , and said : Is not this great Babel that I have built for the honour of my Majesty ? But while the word was in the Kings mouth , there fell a voice from heaven , which cryed O Wheel ! Oh King Nebuchadnezzar ! to thee it is spoken , Thy Kingdom is departed from thee : And he was presently brought low enough , to dwell with the beasts of the field , to eat grasse with the oxen , and to be wet with the dew of heaven . Fortunate Belisarius , the great Lord Generall under Justinian : He was honored , and feared of all nations ; Victorious in all his expeditions ; such a favorite of the Emperor , that in his Coin was stamped on the one side Justinian , on the other side Belisarius , and over Belisarius the Emperor put this inscriptione : Romanorum decus ; The Romans glory . So great a man , so triumphing upon the top of the wheel , through envy ( which ever follows vertue and eminency ) was quickly brought to the lowest ; his eys put out , and he compelled to beg his bread in the temple of Sophia day by day ; and this was his form of prayer : Panem Belisario date , quem virtus extulit , in vidia oppressit . Give a piece of bread to Belisarius , whom vertue advanced , envy oppressed . Thou therefore , that with Capernaum art even lift up to heaven , be not insolent ; thou knowest not how soon thou mayst be brought down to hel : Exalt not thy self over proudly above thy brethren . I meet with an ancient story , it commonly goeth along with Ezekiels wheels : I wil give it you shortly , and leave it to your selves to apply . Sesostris King of Aegypt , a potent , and victorious Prince : when he rid in triumph , he compelled four conquered Kings to draw his golden Chariot ; which they did patiently , because they could not avoid it . One of the four kings that drew , cast his eye continually upon the Chariot wheel ; and being demanded the reason by Sesostris , he made answer ; I see in this wheel the mutability of all worldly things . That part of the wheel which is neerest heaven is presently upon the earth . This made such an impression in Sesostris , that he would never afterwards suffer his Chariot to be drawn by Kings , nor yet by men , but carryed himself more humbly and gently . The application is easy , as I said at first , and therefore I leave it to you : I think within these few years we have seen amazing changes in the Crown , in the Mitre , in the Army , in the Church , in the State , and in the City . Let me speak on a little further , and make a second Use . Are all things in this world but turning wheels ? Instable , and rouling ? Then set not your heart on any thing here below . This I say brethren ; It remaineth that they that have wives be as though they had none , and they that weep as though they wept not , and they that rejoyce as though they rejoyced not , and they that buy as though they possessed not , and they that use this world as not abusing it ; because the fashion of this world passeth away . Where the world is compared to a ghost or apparation , that appears , and soon vanisheth ; or to a shew upon a stage : there 's a great pomp , every one acts their part , and on the suddain the play is done , ther 's and end of all . Set not your heart on that which is transitory ; not on the turning wheel , but upon him that moves the wheel , namely upon God. God made all things changeable , saith Augustine , that we might rest on him only , and in him , who is unchangeable , immutable . He is the father of lights with whom is no variableness , nor shadow of turning . Therefore is it rightly said , that God is mans proper place wherein he ought to rest , as in his center , and end . All things which are made , have their certain place and term . God created the heaven , and filled it with Angels : he created the earth , and filled it with beasts , and plants , and creeping things : he created the sea and filled it with fishes ; he created the aire , and filled it with flying fouls . What proper place is now left for man ? Or what wil God now give unto man wherein he may rest ? All other places are taken up , and ful already . Therefore when there was nothing else left to give to man , God gave himself to man : God himself would be mans inheritance and resting place . All other places are restless , and ful of change ; only God is immutable , and changeth not . I said , says the Psalmist , O my God! of old thou hast laid the foundation of the earth , and the heavens are the work of thy hands : They shal perish , but thou shalt endure ; yea all of them shal wax old like a garment : as a vesture shalt thou change them , and they shal be changed : But thou art the same , and thy years shal have no end . The earth is round like a tennis-ball , and the creatures in , and upon the earth are voluble as wheels , and all things under the Zodiaque , Variable and transitory : the refore aspire higher ; Pant after God , make him the portion of your inheritance , and dwel in him : Say unto the Lord Fecisti nos Domine ad te , & inquietum est cor nostrum donec quiescat in te . Thou Oh Lord hast created us to thy self , and our heart is restless , til it rests in thy self . Fix not here , but mount your thoughts upwards towards the new-Jerusalem , the City that hath foundations , where there is no volubility , nor vanity . Though you be on earth , yet dwel in heaven above the spheres , above the way of the year , and the sun , and all these lower turning wheels : Rest your souls upon the unchangeable God! I have done with the 2. part , and particular . The third , and last part of the text follows , viz. the witness , in whose presence the word was cryed . In my hearing . The question is , why should the son of God cry this word , O Wheel , in the Prophets hearing ? For the more ful answer to this demand , I wil first give you the Original Hebrew ; that wil make the business something more clear : It was cryed unto them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in auribus meis , in mine eare . To speak in ones eare , is more then to speak in ones hearing . A word may be spoken in a mans hearing that concerns him not at all : but no man directs his speech into the eare of another , but we conclude presently , it was a speech of some special concernment to him that was rounded in the eare . You know it 's our common expression : I wil speak a thing in your eare by and by : that is , some word that more neerly concerns you then others . So then , this word was not only spoken in Ezekiels hearing , but the Prophet was neerly concerned in it . And now in a word , I wil shew you the reason why God spake this word in the prophets eare . You have the reason : chapt . 3. v. 17. Son of man ! I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel : therefore hear the word at my mouth , and give them warning from me . The Observation is clear . What God speaks in the eare of his prophets , the prophets must speak in the eares of the people . Most likely God did not speak immediatly to the wheels , but God spake to the Prophet , that he might speak to the wheels in Gods name ; and every word which Gods messengers receive from the Lord , they must shew it unto the people clearly and faithfully . Whether it be a word of command ; the Prophet must shew the whole wil of God unto the people : So Exod. 19. 9. when God gave the Commandments on mount Sinai : the Lord said unto Moses ; Lo I come to thee in a thick cloud that the people may hear when I speak with thee , and beleeve thee for ever . Or if it be a word of promise , of grace and mercy ; the Prophet of the Lord must prononnce the favour and good wil of God. Ezek. 9. 4. The Lord said to the man clothed with linnen ; go through the midst of the City , even of Jerusalem , and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh , and cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof : and in the first verse , this was cryed in mine eares with a loud voice , saith the Prophet : why ? That he might comfort the mourners with these words . Or if it be a word of reproof and threatning , of cursing from mount Ebal : the Prophet of the Lord must denounce it unto the people ; in the 9. of Ezek. v. 5. The Lord said to the executioners of his justice and wrath , who had the slaughter-weapons in their hands : go through the City and smite , let not your eye spare , neither pity : and says the Prophet , this was said in my hearing , why ? that so he might warn the people . And this chiefly is intended in this text and Chapter : a word of reproof and threatning to Jerusalem . The vision concerns Jerusalem : Jerusalem had sinned grievously , and the Lord was now about to depart from Jerusalem : but before he goeth quite away , he cryeth aloud in the Prophets hearing , O Wheel ! thou movest disorderly , destruction is coming upon thee , and now the Prophet hearing this , must reprove the City , and admonish them of their danger . Cry aloud says the Lord ; spare not , lift up thy voice like a trumpet , and shew my people their transgressions , and the house of Jacob their sins . Esa . 58. 1. The Lord cryed in the eare of Elijah the Tishbite . 1. King. 21. 17. it was a word of threatning : and the Prophet went immediatly , and thundred it in the eares of King Ahab . Thus saith the Lord , hast thou killed , and also gotten possession ? Thus saith the Lord , in the place where the dogs licked the blood of Naboth , shal dogs lick even thy blood also . The Lord speaks in the eare of Nathan , and he thunders in the eares of David . 2 Sam. 12. The Prophets of the Lord must cry boldly to the greatest , and most dreadful wheels : they must reprove and threaten , and not spare : if the Lord speak in our hearing , we must cry it in their ears To make some application of this . And first of all to you that are Gods Prophets and Ministers : be faithful and bold . Doth God cry any word in your hearing ? Keep it not back from the wheels , shew it unto the people . That which the Lord hath set down in the holy Scriptures , he hath spoken in our hearing . He takes us as witnesses to what he speaks ; and we must depose , and testify for God before all men : before all the world . When God gives a word of command in our hearing , we must exhort : when God holds forth a promise in our hearing , we must comfort : and when God hath a controversy with a people in our hearing , we must rebuke sharply ; and shew the people their danger . Opposition we must look for . Behold I send thee , saith the Lord to Ezekiel , and to us also as wel as to him : I send thee to a rebellious nation , they wil not hear ; I send thee among briers and thornes , and scorpions : But whether they wil hear , or whether they wil forbear ; Son of man , be not afraid of them , neither he afraid of their words , neither be dismayed at their looks . Thou shalt speak my words to them , whether they wil hear , or whether they wil forbear . Behold I have made thy face strong against their faces , and thy forehead strong against their foreheads . Chap. 3. 8. 9. As an Adamant harder then flint , have I made thy forehead : Fear them not , neither be dismayed at their looks , though they be a rebellious house . The 2. Use , and that which is more proper to the time and occasion , is to all sorts of people , especially the great men of the earth , Princes and Governors , the rich and honorable . Must Gods Prophets and Ministers speak what they hear from God ? Then let all men whoever they be , hear patiently what the messengers of the Lord speak . For it may truly be said , it is the voice of God , and not of man. Mica . 6. 9. The voice of the Lord cryeth unto the City . But methinks I hear what some are ready to object . We are willing to hear the word from the Minister , if he would preach Christ more : if he would set down the dignitys of Christians , and leave urging their duties ; if he would cease reproving , and not be so bitter in his invectives : his salt is too quick , and we are not able to bear his reproachful words : he so reviles us , that he makes our cheeks to blush , and our very eares to tingle . I , there it , pincheth , the word of reproof cannot be born , especially by the Magistrates , and great ones : if these mountains be touched they wil smoke and fume . They hate him that rebukes in the gate , and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly . Amos 5. 10. It 's admirable to see how many ways , people , especially the great ones , have to take off the faithful Ministers from rebuking plainly . One project is by fawning , collogueing , and hypocritical slattery . They call the Ministers in a respective way , thy tel them they are learned men , Reverend men , holy men of God , what good their Ministry doth , and how they are respected in their places , so as never any had the like love before . And what of all this ? O here 's a baite ! They proceed . But you are too bitter against the Magistrates , always reproving the Magistrates , to bring them into contempt : if you destroy Magistracy it wil be the worse for you ; Magistrates and Ministers must stand or fall together . Therefore let us go hand in hand together . Forbear to reprove us ; or if you see any faults in us , come and tel us of them privately , and let not the world hear of them , and then we shal love you , and do any thing in the world for you . Here 's the voice of the inchanter . But what ? Must the Prophets tongue be charmed with fair words ? No , No flattering speeches must not put us by our duty . when God crys in our hearing ; when we are called to it , we must reprove and rattle the greatest wheels . Belshazzar the King came after this manner flamming to Daniel . The spirit of the holy Gods is in thee : wisdom , and knowledg , and understanding is in thee , thou canst make interpretations , and dissolve doubts . Now do but interpret the writing for me , and make it speak good to me , and thou shalt be clothed with scarlet , and have a chain of gold about thy neck , and thou shalt be the third ruler in the Kingdom . But what answers Daniel ? He said before the King. Let thy gifts he to thy self , and give thy rewards to another ; yet I wil read the writing unto the King ; I wil make known the interpretation , be it what it wil be : if it be MENE MENE , TEKEL VPHARSIN : then I wil tel the King plainly ; God hath numbred thy Kingdom , and finished it ; thou art weighed in the ballances , and art found wanting ; thy Kingdom is divided , and given to the Medes and Persians . And truly thus the Divel would have baffled Christ . Luk. 8. 27 , 28 , 29. There were Devils in a man , and when they saw Christ approaching , they feared he would rebuk them , and what did they to prevent it ? Oh they fell down , and carried themselves very mannerly to him , they cry out in his praise : We know , oh Jesus , who thou art ; thou art the Son of God most high , thou art the holy one of God! I beseech thee torment us not . And would Christ be put off so ? No , no ; Out Devill , out Devill , sayes he ; he spared him never the more for his flattery . And so must all faithfull Ministers deale with all those that go about to button up their mouths with sordid slattery , Out Devill , out Devill . Another engine that great men have to stop the mouths of Ministers , that they may not reprove them for their sins , is persecution , and violence . Doth Michaiah prophesie evill to wicked Ahab ? yea , though it be nothing but what God spake in his hearing ; what 's next ? Thus saith the King , put this man in the prison-house , and feed him with the bread of affliction , and with the water of affliction . Let Ministers with us cry out against the sins of the Citie , the prophanation of God day , the contempt of the Word , the luxury and excesse , the unmercifulnesse to the poore ; and the negligence of Magistrates in not endevouring reformation . And what 's the next ? They must look to be called to their Courts , to be censured and threatned , their means and livelyhood to be taken away . Just a year ago , upon this very day , and occasion ; the faithfull Minister of Christ , who by the providence of God then preached , he was but a little in reprehension , and presently summoned to the Court , and questioned , though none evill could be found in him , and he had spoken nothing but what was just and right . The very last week , on Thursday , a godly-brother-Minister ( at a Fast held in my Church ) did but reprove , ( and that with all humility and modesty ) the neglect of Magistrates , in suffering sish to be sold in the streets on the Sabbath day ; and presently he was sent for to the Court , and called in question as a delinquent . And wherefor● is all this ? Surely , to button up our mouths , to make us afraid to quest , or open against sin . And what ? Must we Ministers cowardly for fear , forbear to tell the people of their transgressions , and the house of Juda of their sins ? I am sure Michaiah did not so , when he was doomed to the prison till Ahab returned in peace ; Thou in peace ! sayes Michaiah ; if thou return in peace , the Lord hath not spoken by me : And he said more-over , Hearken all you people : It was a publique reproof , and threatning , in the eares of the whole multitude . But the common objection is : by thus doing you cry down Magistracy , and bring it into contempt , and so make a way to all confusion . I Answer : Cursed ; I , that 's the word comes first to hand , I cannot think of a more proper on the sudden , let it go for me : Cursed be the filthy dreamers that despise dominion , and speak evill of dignities . Those brethren in iniquity that under the pretext of Christian liberty , kick against the higher powers which are ordaind of God , strike at the root of all civill government , cry down Kings , Parliaments , all Magistrates and Magistracy ; who cast off Lawes , disturb Order , would lay all levell , and bring in an Anabaptisticall parity : O my soul come not thou into their secret . But tell me I pray ! doth the reproving the faults , and negligences of Magistrates , strike at the root of Magistracy ? Is that the way to bring it into contempt ? No , no ; this is the way to establish Magistracy , and make it glorious . As for the wheels of our curious clocks and watches : is it a prejudice to them to be filed when they are rusty , to be scoured when they are foule , to be oyled when they turn too sluggishly ? You are convinced , I dare say , that all this is for the good of the wheels , to make them shine more bright , move more nimbly , and do their office more faithfully . The application is easie : I leave it to your selves . I shall draw to a conclusion of this point . As for the wheels , be they little wheels , or be they great wheels , be they high , or be they low ; be they rich , or be they poore ; whatsoever is spoken from God , in our hearing , concerning them ; we must cry it again in their eares : if we that are set as watch-men , see their sin and danger , and for feare , or flattery shall forbear to warn them , how dreadfull is our doom ? Thus saith the Lord , Ezek. 3. 17. Son of man ! I have made thee a watch-man unto the house of Israel ; therefore hear the Word at my mouth , and give them warning from me . vers . 18. When I say to the wicked , thou shalt surely dye ; and thou givest him not warning , nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way to save his life ; the same wicked man shal dye in his iniquity : but his blood will I require at thine hand . vers . 19. Yet if thou warn the wicked , and he turn not from his wickednesse , nor from his wicked way , he shal dye in his iniquity ; but thou hast delivered thine own soul . This for us Ministers that shrink from our duty . Now hear O you wheels , great and smal ! you that kick at reproof , and hate him that shal search and dress your sores , and count those the only brave preachers that speak roses , and their lips ( like the whorish womans ) drop as an hony-comb . A word for you . Read Esa . 30. 8. Now go , write it before them in a table , and note it in a book , that it may be fore the time to come and for ever . 9. That this is a rebellious people , lying Children , Children that wil not hear the Law of the Lord. Why , what 's their special wickedness ? Mark ; v. 10. They say to the Seer's , see not , and to the Prophets , prophesy not unto us right things : speak unto us smooth things , prophesy deceipts . 11. Get you out of the way , oh you reproving preachers : cause the holy one of Israel to cease molesting us ; with such bold reprehenders . But now take in what follows , the punishment . 12. Wherefore thus saith the holy one of Israel , because you despise this word , and trust in oppression , and perversness , and stay thereon . 13. Therefore this iniquity shal be to you as a breach ready to fall , swelling out in a high wall , whose breaking cometh suddainly , and in an instant . 14. And he shal break it as the breaking of a potters vessel , that is broken in pieces , he shal not spare ; so that there shal not be found in the bursting of it , a sherd to take fire from the hearth , or to take water withall out of the pit . Behold , ye despisers , and wonder , and vanish away : the contempt of the word spoken of by the Prophet is the contempt of him that sits on the throne . He that despiseth you , says our Lord Jesus Christ , despiseth me . Luke 10. 16. It is the See'rs duty to cry , and to cry earnestly , to cry with an O O O! unto all the wheels : and wo be to us if we cry not . That which we cry , is nothing else but what was spoken in our hearing from the throne of glory . It is the Lords voice that cryeth unto the City ; and the man of wisdom wil hear the rod , and who hath appointed it : that is , he will humbly and patiently hear the Prophets of the Lord , when they cry , as wel as when they sing : when they reprove , as wel as when they comfort : when they preach the Law , as wel as when they publish the Gospel : he wil hearken to the doctrine that shews him his sins , and threatens the rod : but he that despiseth instruction and reproof is a fool . THE APPLICATION . Hitherto , Wel-beloved Christians ! you have had the Exposition of the text : the general doctrine and particular observations which grow out of the text : and all the way I have shewed you the Uses , what to do with those doctrines and observations , that they may be rendred profitable . Now one thing yet remains , and that is to make Application , to bring it home to the present time and occasion to the place and persons . It 's true , this word ; O Wheel ! is cryed to the whole world , and all things in it : as if he that sits upon the Throne should have said ; O world ! O heavens ! O earth ! oh Kingdoms of the world ! But yet it is most clear and certain to any one that minds the scope of the Chapter ; that this word O Wheel ! was in a more especial and peculiar manner cryed unto Jerusalem : The whole Vision concerned Jerusalem , it was to admonish Jerusalem : and to foreshew things that should shortly be accomplished in Jerusalem . Then thus : Jerusalem was the chariot : the Princes , Priests , and people were the Wheels . And these things are recorded for our instruction : what was then cryed to Jerusalem , is now cryed to Norwich : This City is the Chariot ; the Magistrates , the Ministers , and the Commons are the Wheels : to these it is cryed in my hearing , Oh Wheel ! O! ] This adverb or interjection O! makes the application plain ; and brings it close , and home . This O! is a servant to the passions ; and is useful to express various affections . It is ever Signum allocutionis ; a sign of the Vocative case , it speaks by calling loud unto another : and it principally signifieth and expresseth these following passions ; with their effects . 1. Indignation : So Act. 13. 9. Paul set his eyes on Elymas the Sorcerer with indignation ; and said , O! full of all subtilty and all mischief , thou child of the devil ! 2. Reprehension : the effect of indignation . So Math. 3. 7. John the Baptist : when he saw the Pharisees and Sadduces come to his Baptism : he said : O generation of Vipers ! 3. It expresseth anger , which is declared by threatning : So , Math. 23. 37 , 38. Jesus brake forth , Oh! Jerusalem , Jerusalem ! thou that killest the Prophets , and stonest them which are sent unto thee ! behold your house is left unto you desolate . 4. It discovers grief . So 2. Sam. 18. 33. David upon the news of his sons death ; burst out in passion : O my Son Absalom , my Son , my Son Absalom , would God I had dyed for thee , O Absalom my son , my Son ! 5. It 's ever a sign of calling : As Ruth 4. 1. Boaz called to the Kinsman , and said , Ho! such an one ! turn aside : sit down here ! 6. It shews vehement desire : As in David , 2. Sam. 23. 15. he longed and said , O that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem ! Thus is this adverb used in the Scriptures : and thus doubtless it must be applyed unto the Wheels . For brevity I wil put two together and pair them . O! with Indignation Reprehension . O! with Anger , Threatning Grief . O! Calling Desiring . O! hearken unto me whilst I apply all these to the Wheels . And first , this O! reprehends with indignation : Surely there was somewhat amiss about the Wheels : they were faulty . Why , what might the matter be ? Surely either they 1. Moved not at all . 2. Or they moved to no purpose . 3. Or they moved irregularly : 4. Or they stopped . Let 's look about a little , and see if there be not the same faults in our City Wheels . And first . Sure they did not move , or they did not move as they ought to do : The Wheel should turn over the wicked . But doth it so ? The Sabbaths of the Lord are prophaned : old men , and old women walk in the streets : and our streets are full of boys and girles playing in the streets on the Lords day : Fish hath been openly cryed , and sold in our streets on the Lords day : Ale-hous S ▪ the shops of the devil , and the nurseries of sin do abound : Beggars run up and down the streets clamoring after every passenger : and many distressed creatures overwhelmed with miseries , sit in their forlorn towers and dismal holes , and want bread ! The oppressed cry out for want of Justice . O Wheel ! O Wheels ! where are the Wheels all this while ? the great Wheels the Magistrates ? why do they not stir ? why do they not turn , and run more frequently and diligently into their several Wards ? what not one Wheel appear to scatter the open prophaners of the Lords day ? What I not one one Wheel to draw away the Fish on the Lords day ? What not one Wheel to break the brood of drunkards , and Ale-house-haunters ? What not one Wheel to draw off the beggars from our heels ? or to draw in necessary provision to he almost starved members of Jesus Christ : O Wheels ! Where are you ? why move you not ? why do you not turn in your Sphear ? It may be worth inquiring , what is the matter the Wheels move no better ? I doubt they are not round : it s the round sphaericall figure that is fittest for motion : if there be Angles and corners in a Wheel , t will never turn wel : corners are mischivous things , corners are dark , all the durt of the house is swept into the corner : I fear , here 's some cause our Wheels move no better : there 's too many corners amongst them : dark corners of ignorance : O let me speak plainly ; there 's too many sluttish corners , I meon , of Vice , as pride , covetousnes , luxury , and other sins , these hinder the motion ! O Wheel ! what ! art thou not round ! Or perhaps the Wheels may be too little . The Romans were wont to use very great wheels for little chariots : they found that the horses had less labor in drawing , and yet they drew greater burdens : Majores rotae , magisaptae ad rotationem ; the bigger the Wheels the more apt to roul and turn : what are our Wheels too little trow we ? have they too little substance , two little height ? Have they too little understanding to govern ? Too little ability ? Oh yee little wheeles ! look better to the choise of your great wheels ! Do they not want eyes ? These wheels in my text were full of eyes , as you may see verse 12. of this Chapter : round about the rings they were set with eyes , as the heaven with starres : What are about the rings of our wheels ? Nothing but great iron hobnayles ? No marvaile they move no better : They are not Oculati , they cannot see to move as they should do : they want that wisdom , and other gifts and graces should make them sit for government . Or it may bee the wheeles are not well shod ; they want a good Strake ; they have no courage , they are afraid of a checke , if they should be too active ; they should lose the favour of their friends , if they should be too strict in the execution of justice : They have an estate to lose , and they feare that : Truly , it is with the ballances of justice often-times , as with the ballance of the watch , or clocke , it never stirres , but when the Crown-wheele , or spurre-wheele makes it go : So you shall never see some men active any way , but as power and necessity compell them . O Wheele ! thy circumference should bee iron round about : thou shouldst be a man of courage , else thou wilt never move freely . Or , may not this bee the cause of their not moving ? the want of GODS Spirit dwelling in them ? the want of zeale for God ? The reason why these wheeles moved so nimbly , and majestically : Chapter 1. 20. was because the spirit of the living creature was in the Wheeles . They were not moved by any externall cause , no hand turned them : But they were moved by an inward principle : And it is the want of inward principles , that make our wheels stand still . Well , As for these standing wheels , it is cryed unto them in my hearing : O Wheel ! the Lord rebukes thee . 2. Let us looke about , to spy out the second fault of the wheeles : They moved perhaps : but to very little , or no purpuse : So I doubt too many of our wheels , both greater , and lesser Wheels , Magistrates , Ministers , and other ; they are enough in motion : but what do they ? either aliud , or male : either that that 's ill , or that that 's as ill as nothing , or worse . Their motion is just like that of the jack-wheels ; they turn and turn , but what do they turn ? nothing but a fly at the top , and a spit at the bottom : So too too many , and even of our great Wheels ; the fly plays and the spit goeth ; they eat , they drink , they feast , they play ; they are merry and laugh ; But for God , for the service of the publick ; for the furthering Religion and Reformation for the good of the City and particular Parishes and Congregations , they move not an inch . Perhaps sometimes they will roul to the Court of Justice : and what do they there ? truly that which the count-wheel doth in the Clock ; tell the hours : they sit turning their heads and looking about ; but move not their tongues , much less put forth their power for God and the publick good . As for these unserviceable wheels : it is cryed unto them in my hearing , O Wheel ! the Lord looks on thee with indignation , cast out the unprofitable servant . 3. A third faul that seems to be in the wheels , for which they lye under Gods indignation , is their irregular motion . As for Ezikiels wheels , chap. 1. 12. 17. their motion was even , constant , uniform ; as the living creatures which drew the chariot , went strait forward and they turned not when they went so the wheels they followed them ; when they went , they went upon their four sides , and they returned not when they went : their motion was very regular . But here in this tenth chapter , sure God sees some disorder in the motion of Jerusalems wheels : for which he gave them a check in the Prophets hearing , O Wheel ! And what disorderly motions are there in all our wheels , great and smal , high and low ? Magistrates , Ministers , and Commons they have not moved in an uniform and constant way . Truly the greatest part of our people have turned like weathercocks , to and again , this way and that way , and every way : they go forth one way , and presently return another way . As the times turn they turn : when Popish Innovations and Prelatical Tyranny brake in upon us as a ●●ood ; then all turned Eastward ; wheeled about in the house of God : now they were at the desk , by and by in the middle alley , anon bowing and cringing at the altar : How did the Priest and Clark take their turns and answer one another in Psalms and prayers , running out of one thing into another ! and all the people sometimes sitting , sometimes standing , sometimes kneeling , sometimes making courtsie ; and ever changing their postures ; and this way was cryed up by Baals Prieste for the beauty of holiness : it was countenanced by the scarlet robes , and magnified by the luke warm Protestants ; thus moved the wheels a great while : But now the times are turned and they are turned ; yea turned the quite contrary way : Separation is now grown into great request , and they that but the other day were driving on towards Rome as fast as they could ; have now altered their course and are hurrying towards Amsterdam ; they are gotten out of the Church of England already , and the superstitious Malignant hath given the right hand of fellowship to the Separatist . O wheel ! thou movest irregularly . According to the change of place and companies , they turn , and Proteus-like are any thing : amongst Papists they are Catholiques ; amongst Brownists they are Independents : In the Congregation they are seeming Saints : in the tavern with lewd company they change their behavior as if they were mad , their speech faulters , and their spittle runs down by their beards : to all these turning-temporizing Wheels , it is cryed in my hearing ; O Wheel ! the Lord abhorrs thee . But do we not see other irregulat motions ? oh how confusedly do wheels move before mine eyes ! How many gathered Churches or Congregations are there ? So many wheels they are ; and every wheel must move his own way : and no hand must touch them to turn them all the same way . Luther was of another mind : he determins that these wheels did signifie particular Churches : And the similitude of the wheels , they were all alike in colour , bigness , height , motion ; they turned all the same way , did represent the Uniformity of Churches ; that all the churches of Christ in the whole world have and must have fimilem incessum , the same goings in the sanctuary ; namely Uniformity in Religion , confession of faith , form of Church government , Worship , and Catechizing . But on the confusion of our newgathered Churches not two scarce of those wheels move in the same way . To these I cannot say , O wheel ! for they will not be all one Catholike Church made up of many particular congregations : but I must cry to them , Oh Wheels ! your motions are various , different , contrary , confused , irregular ; the Lord approves them not . Do you not see abundance of false prophets run up and down like wheels ? Seducers , that compasse sea and land , to make one of their own profession ; and when he is made , they make him two-fold more the child of hell , then they themselves ; these wheel about irregularly ; the spirit of Satan is in these wheels , and here 's a check for them : O seducers come back ; why do you turn the people of Christ out of the right way ? There are a generation of Seekers ( so they call themselves ) Saint Paul gives them their true charcter , Ever learning , and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth . These are wheels that turn strangely and preposlerously , out of one thing into another ; they are ever finding , and ever losing , they fasten upon no certain way , but ever seeking for something , and they know not what . The Poets fain that Ixion for his slander of Juno , was in hell fastened to a wheel , and perpetually turned about upon it : described thus by Ovid ; Volvitur Ixion , & se sequitur que fugitque : In English you may take it thus : Ixion's turn'd upon a wheel , an●●●ee Follows himself , and from himself doth flee . And are not these Seekers just so ? upon Ixion's wheel ever following the truth , and ever slying from the truth , and never catch it , or if they do , they let it go again : these move irregularity , and here they have a check : Oh wheel ! thy motion is tormenting , and the end of it will be the losse of truth , of Christ , of heaven . There are abundance of other wheels that move disorderly ; the drunkard reels , and turns round in the streets : the proud Phantastick gallant is ever turning out of one fashion into another ; but the most prodigious ! sight your eyes have yet seen , is a deformed monster , called Liberty of Conscience ; it is a spirit of confusion , which moves every wheel to turn according to the dictate of its private spirit as it lists . These Libertines must be left wholly to the freedom of their own consciences : Oh conscience , say they , is a tender thing , and therefore to impose a rule to regulate their motion , is no lesse then tyranny : Church-government , and a coercive power to restrain and check their motion , is no lesse then persecution . Every man must hold what opinion he will joyne to what Church he will , worship God as he will , and do what seems good in his own eyes . Oh prodigious O woful spectacle ! so many wheels and scarce two of them have the same motion : but they move like scattered feathers in a wind ; or as Pharaohs Chariot-wheels in the red sea ; smitten one from another , one this way , another that way . These wheels move irregularly : a good rule would guide them all the same way : they wil at last clash one against another , and break in pieces : in the mean time : it is cryed unto them in my hearing , from the God of Unity , peace and order , O Wheel ! thy motion and turning is as of the children of Belial that shake off the yoke . 4. A fourth and last thing which seems to be amiss in the wheels is this : They stop sometimes : A while they move prettily wel , and on the sudden they stand stock-stil : Oh what stoppings are there amongst our great Wheels ? Just this day twelve moneth my reverend brother performed the work which I do at this time ; in his Sermon he did exhort the people to do something to the utmost of their power which might conduce to the publick good and setlement of truth & peace : this was interpreted that the City would strike in with some petition tending to the Kingdoms peace , and wel-fare : To this purpose a Petition was drawn ( or a Remonstrance , if you please to call it so ) to back Londons Remonstrance then newly come forth ; which Petition or Remonstance , if it had taken effect , might , in all probability , have done much good , and the Kingdom not have been in those straits it is at this time : At the first proposal many were very forward for the Petition : the Wheels ratled and turned very nimbly ; all on the suddain there came a stop and all the business was crossed with much vehemency : A while , what zeal was there against the Devils free-schools and nurseries ? I mean , licentious , unlicenced alehouses : Oh how loud did some wheels crake ? how bitterly did they speak against them ? how did they threaten them ? if ever they came in place they would do , I that they would , great matters : at last power comes into their hands , and what is done then ? no new alehouses licenced at all ; but all the old ones suffered and connived at : and they encrease as fish in multitude ; and no noise against them : what 's the matter trow ? would not one think there had been some greasing of the Wheel , it is so quiet and still , on the suddain ? Rota arida stridet . About three or four years since ( as I am informed ) when the Kingdom was in great straites , and the City in dayly fears : the Magistrates then gave out many Warrants against Prophaners of GODS Day : which by the faithfulness of the Magistrates , punishing such as were presented , there was , as it were , a new face upon the City , and nothing so much Prophaness as formerly : here was a sweet ratling of the Wheels : But since that time it is observed that there hath been a remisness in the MAGISTRATES , Warrants have not been granted so frequently ; nor Officers encouraged in the Execution of such Warrants as have been granted , whereby the Prophanation of GODS Day encreaseth more and more : They stop ; the wheels stop . The Ministers of the City ( those few that desire to be faithful ) have with all humility , petitioned the Court of Aldermen that they would purge the City of scandalous Ministers , and cast out that unsavory salt , which hath been thrown out of the Country upon us : that they would perfect the Vnion of our Parishes : that they would raise competent maintenance , and bring some more godly and able Ministers into the City . At the first motion we find many with us , we have promises of assistance : oh the wheels come ratling bravely : on the suddain all are stop'd : there 's not one moves , except it be the wrong way , no good motion goes on . About six moneths since , or not much otherwise , there came a Letter from the worthy Speaker of the Honorable House of Commons directed to the Maior , and some other faithful ones of the Corporation : requiring them to divide the City into Classes : to return the names of such as were fit to be Elders : By the way , take notice all ye people : That Letter was no forged Letter . I speak it in the presence of God , and I wil make it out to all the world ; it was the Speakers own letter , and the superscription and direction was according to his COMMISSION . I say this Letter did not lie a year and three quarters in a box , and nothing done : but presently the Major called all , that were concerned in it , together : in one day we laid out the Classis ; we nominated the fittest men in the City ( I am confident of that ) for the Eldership ; that very night we returned what we had done to the Honorable Speaker : and we verily and justly expected , the next return , to have received thanks , and a ratification of our work , and the settling of Church-government in our City : O here the Wheels rattled gallantly and moved freely ; but on the suddain all stopped ; the whole work was at a stand , and so hath been ever since . In the name of God ; what makes this stopping ? Sure there 's some rusty wheel amongst the rest that will not stir , nor suffer the other wheels to stir ; or there is some ill-condition'd wheel . It 's a strange thing to see how one naughty wheel will carry another : The phusy-wheel of the watch , with its greatness carryeth all the lesser wheels as it pleaseth . The mil-wheel with its coggs turns about the upper milstone , the clack , and makes the hoppet serve them as they please : other wheels they have their teeth by which they stop or turn the rest . And that I doubt is the reason of our stoppings and contrary turnings : you shal see many good wheels , and in a fair motion , freely running on in a good way : and on the suddain they are stopped and turned . Why , how comes that about ? Oh there are some Malignant Wheels amongst the rest , that are contrived in the engine unseen : These by their greatness and power , or by their coggs and flattery , or by their teeth and threatnings they make them afraid to go on in any thing that tends to the publick good , and the advancement of Gods glory , and the Churches settlement . Oh that these rusty and ill-shaped wheels were filed , or oyled , or removed , and better put in their room . In the 10. Verse of this Chapter ; you shal see the appearance of the wheels was , as if one wheel had been in another wheel ; which most think was not comprehensively : as if a little wheel had been contained in a great wheel : no the wheels were all of a bigness . This therefore they conceive was transversly : one wheel turned right forth upon the ground , and then there was another wheel did cut that wheel in the very midst with right angles , in the similitude of a Sphaere , and moved with a cross and contrary motion : Ah! so it is with our Wheels ; there is ever a wheel in a wheel : one cross wheel in the midst that spoils the motion of all the rest . As for these Wheels ; it is cryed unto them from the Throne of Glory , in my hearing , O Wheel ! the Lord gives thee a check : mend thy motion , turn better , or else thou wilt break and destroy the Chariot of the Church , Commonwealth and City . I have done with the O! of Indignation and Reprehension . Now follows the second pair : namely the O! of Anger and Commination . Lamentation . Jerusalem was reproved sharply in the former O! but she reformed not : therefore now follows another O! more grievous and dreadful : viz. a threatning and a lamenting O! O Wheel thou shalt be broken ! Oh Jerusalem thou shalt suddainly be destroyed for thy wickedness and obstinacy . O! and alas for Jerusalem ! The very like sad expression you have from the mouth of Christ , in the 19. of Luke , ver . 41. When he was come neer , he beheld the City and wept over it ; saying , O! if thou hadst known , even thou at least in this thy day , the things which belong unto thy peace ; but now they are hid from thine eyes : For the days shal come upon thee thas thine enemies shal cast a trench about thee , and compass thee round and keep thee in on every side , and shal lay thee even with the ground , and thy children within thee , and they shal not leave in thee one stone upon another ; because thou knewest not the time of thy Visitation . And here it wil be seasonable to give you the sum and parts of the Chapter , and to shew you more clearly the coherence of the text . The Vision doth most neerly concern Jerusalem : in the 3. Vers . you shal see the Cherubins standing on the right side of the house : that is of the Temple of Jerusalem . The proper end of the Vision was to shew the certainty and the neer approach of the destruction of the Jews ; the living creatures , Gods Angels were armed with power from God to take vengeance on them ; they were winged , swift for execution , and Jerusalems wo came running upon wheels . There 's a tow-fold judgment threatned to Jerusalem ; which cuts the Chapter into two parts . 1. The Lord first shews to the Prophet that he wlll burn the City with fire , in the 7 first Verses . The Lord spake to the man clothed with linnen , and said , go in between the wheels , and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the Cherubims , and scatter them over the City : and he went in , in my sight , Ezekiel ; and took the fire accordingly , ver . 7. and went out , to do execution . 2. Then secondly : the Lord sheweth to the Prophet , and testifieth by his appearing in the Temple , that he is about to depart from the Temple , City and Nation : from the 8. Ver. to the end : most plainly in the 18. Ver. Then the glory of the Lord departed from off the threshold of the house . Now before the Lord goeth quite away , his voyce eries to the City : O Wheel ! O Jerusalem repent : or else O Jerusalem ! I will have no more to do with thee : I will depart , and suddain and fearful destruction shal come upon thee : The sum of all is , An O! of Commination ever follows an O! of Reprehension : if the Lord call to a people , and they be not humbled and reformed ; then the Lord will cry against them in his wrath ; even with the cry of a travailing woman , and quite forsake them , and utterly destroy them . Hear what the Lord saith concerning the Jews . Jer. 44. 4. I sent unto you all my servants the Prophets , rising early , and sending : saying , Oh do not this abominable thing that I hate . There 's an O! of Admonition and Reprehension . 5. But they hearkened not , nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness , to burn no incense unto other gods . 6. Wherefore my fury and mine anger was poured forth and was kindled in the Cities of Judah , and in the streets of Jerusalem : and they are wasted and desolate , as at this day . The Application will come close to Norwich , to England , to our selves : hear and tremble . As for the sins of Jerusalem and Judah , I am sure we are as deep as they : Had I time to gather a catalogue of sins out of Ezekiel : you would verily think that he had received his visions in our City : the very same sins are as rife with us as with the Jews . You shall find them accused ( if you read the Prophesie ) of abominable Idolatry : gross Superstition : Corruption in the worship and service of God : horrible contempt of the Word : despising , mocking , persecuting Gods Messengers : scorning at all goodness : perfidiousness , breaking their Covenants with God and man : Fearful prophanation of Gods holy Sabbaths : barbarous oppression : pride ; luxury : fulness of bread : abundance of idleness : hardness of heart , and unmercyfulness to the poor : there was then a strong Malignant party that with all their wit and strength opposed the Reformation endeavored by Jeremiah , Ezekiel , and others : and now what think you ? mutato nomine : change but the name : for Ierusalem read Norwich : for Iuda and Israel read England , and doth it not hold right ? are not those sins , and many more , ours ? When the Lord saw that their iniquity was great , and their sin very grievous , he cryed unto them with a mighty voyce , for it was in the Prophets hearing : the voyce came from the Throne over the Temple in Ierusalem , and Ezekiel was by the river Chebar in Babylon : a voyce indeed that could reach so far : So loud the Lord cryed O Wheel ! an O of Reprehension and admonition : O do not these abominations which my soul hateth : but they refnsed to hearken . I know you cannot miss applying of it : hath not the Lord cryed in our ears by his sons of thunder ? have not the faithful messengers of the Lord shewed the people their transgressions , and rebuked them sharply ? Have they not discovered their dangers , and called them to repentance , saying O do not these abominable things which the Lord hateth ? Mark how God proceeds with them , when he sees they continue thorns , and briers , and scorpions , and rebellious , and an obstinate people : then with a stretched out hand from heaven he reacheth forth to Ezekiel a roll of a book , and when it was spread before the Prophet , he saw that it was written within and without : and there was written therin , lamentations , and mourning , and wo : he threatens dreadful destruction : he cries out Chapter the 7. An end ! the end is come upon the four corners of the Land : an evil , an only evil shal suddainly come : and in this 10. Chap. The Execution is begun : the Angel scatters coals of fire about the City . I would to God the Application were not so manifest as that none can miss it . We have continued a stiff-necked people : we have walked stubbornly , kicked at reprehension , and we have hated to be reformed : and now the Lord hath scattered coals of fire about our Cities and Country : even the hot fire of war and contention , the coals of juniper blown up by the spirit of division : O the fire burns , the fire burns : poor England is consuming apace , and is like to be turned into ashes shortly . And here I cannot but set a hand to point at two remarkable Circumstances by the way . One is the Circumstance of the place whence the coals were taken : namely , from between the Cherubims in the Temple : to admonish that they were Temple-sins that kindled the fire of Gods wrath ; contempt of the Word and Ministers ; false Doctrine , Corruption in Gods Worship , Prophanation of the Sabbath , Sacriledg and Idolatry : nothing doth so much incense the Lord and provoke him to fury , as Temple-sins ; Corruption in Religion and Doctrine . The other Circumstance remarkable , is the person that takes and scatters the coals about Jerusalem : it 's the man clothed with linnen : who is described in the 9. Cap. ver . 2. & 4. to have a writers inkhorn by his side , whose office there was to set a mark upon the foreheads of them that mourn : which sure is none other but the Lord Jesus Christ : in the former Chapter you see him a protector , a Saviour : here in this Chapter he is a consumer , a destroyer : Christ first comes to seek and to save , to call sinners to repentance : but if they hearken not , then he changeth his work and he comes armed with flaming fire to execute vengeance upon all impenitent persons . O sad condition when Christs comes in anger against a people ! then is ruine dreadful and unavoydable ; when the Lord cries to us by his Ministers and calls us to repentance ; as long as we hearken to his voice , we have Christ to plead for us : but when our advocate becomes our enemy how deplorable is our condition ? I fear , I fear it is the man in white linnen , that is now scattering coals of fire about our City and Country ; and the Lord is departing from us . But yet before he departs from Jerusalem , he calls to it , O Wheel ! The Lords departure from Jerusalem is by degrees : he doth not fly away in an instant : no , no , the Lord leaves them , as if he were loth to depart : Observe a little his motions . In the former Chapter Verse 3. The glory of the God of Israel went up from the Cherub to the threshold of the house : that is from the Mercy-seat in the holy place to the door of the Sanctuary , ready to go out ; and there the Lord tatries a while before he depart . In this tenth Chapter , verse 18. he removes a little further . The glory of the Lord departed from off the threshold of the house , and stood over the Cherubims : That is , he went forward to the East gate of the great Court : on the top of that gate aloft were placed Cherubims , and there the Lord rested a while , before he went quite away . In the next Chapter , verse 23. he removes yet further ; The glory of the Lord went up from the middest of the City , and stood upon the mountain which is on the East-side of the City ; that is , Mount Olivet , and there he rests a while : But why doth he abide upon mount Olivet ? Truly , some are of opinion that the Lord stayed upon the mount , to see the burning of the City , and to triumph over it : As did Nero , when Rome was fired , he gate him up to the top of a hill , and there did sing , and rejoyce at the spectacle . The Lord had often called to Jerusalem , and they had refused , he had stretched out his hand , and none would regard ; therefore now he sits upon the Mount , and laughs at their destruction , and mocks at the comming of their fear . But I rather think , and hope , he staid a while upon the Mountain , to be called back again . Before he went out of the City he cryed to them , O Wheel ! Oh Jenusalem ! yet , yet seek me , and I will be found of you ; call to me , and I will return , and dwell with you . Neither here can you avoid the Application : Doth not the Lord seem to be departing from England ? But he hath not taken his slight all at once ; he hath with-drawn himself by degrees : In the time of the late prelaticall tyranny and persecution , when the worship of God was corrupted , the faithfull Ministers of the Gospell silenced , all manner of popish , superstitious innovations obtruded ; then God seemed to be gone to the threshold , ready to go out of England ; but departed not . When the Commotions , and concussions began between the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland , threatning the breaking of both . Then God seemed to be going still further from us ; from the threshold out of the door ; onward on his way from England , but yet he departed not . When the bloody intestine warre began between the King and his Parliament , then the Lord seemed to be departing quite away ; then was thè noise of a whip , and the noise of the ratling of the wheels , and of the praunsing horses , and of the jumping chariots : The horse-man lifted up both the bright sword , and the glittering spear , and there was a multitude of slain , and great number of carcasses , and the Lord seemed to sit aloft upon his holy Mountain , laughing at our destruction . But blessed be his holy Name , we find he is not quite gone ; there 's a little stay of his judgements : I hope , beloved Christians , the Lord stayes yet upon Mount Olivet , the Mountain of peace , and he expects when we should call him back again : Yet there is hope in Israel concerning this thing . The Voice of God from the Throne hath called to us a long time ; Oh Wheel ? Now let us call to Mount Olivet : O Lord our God , Depart not from us ; let us call him back with our true and hearty repentance , with our thorough reformation ; with our team and prayers : who can tell but God may yet repent and return , and turn away from his fierce anger , that we perish not ? Return , Oh Lord , to thy thousands in our Israel , and dwell amongst us again : Amen . 3. At the last , I come to the third and last Pair of O-s ; to wit , the O of Calling : Desiring . And here I am to speak in the Vocative case , and to call every one to their duty ; to set every wheel on turning , and that for prevention of the dreadfull ruine threatned ; and as I go along , I cannot but make it the desire of my heart , that the word of God may take good effect : O si ! ô ut inam ! And first in generall , I call to all the wheels ; what was spoken from the Throne of glory in my hearing , that I cry in the eares of every wheel , O Wheel ! Turn , turn : for this is a word of command : yea , turn to the Lord your God with all your heart , and with fasting and weeping , and with mourning : and rent your hearts , be humbled for all your irregular , and preposterous motions ; and turn to the Lord by unfamed repentance , a thorough reformation , a holy conversation , and newnesse of live : Let thy Spirit , Oh God , come upon all these Wheels : And O wheels roll , run Sion-ward : let your eyes , your spokes , your rings all turn heaven-ward : Oh that there were such a heart in them , that they would fear the Lord , and keep all his Commandments always that it might be well with them , and with their children for ever , Deut. 5. 29. In the next place , more especially I call to the great wheels , to the heads of the people , to the Magistrates . As for those wheels , it is cryed unto them from the Throne of Glory : O Wheels ! Turn regularly in your proper Sphaeres : Judg you the people with just judgment : Scatter the wicked , O let the great wheels turn over them : Let not swearers , and drunkards , and houses of drunkeness , and prophaners of Gods Sabbaths : Malignant Priests that begin to rake up their old Superstitions again : O Wheels have you not eyes ? Do you not see what abundance there are of these ? Why do you let them lie so quietly ? O Wheels ! turn over them : either mend them , or remove them , or break them . In the 77. Psa . ver . 18. says Asaph : the voyce of thy thunder was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in rota : in the wheel : so it is in the Hebrew : O wheels , let 's hear the voyce of thunder from you : thunder against this wicked crue . And oh Wheels ▪ accept not persons : do justice to the smal as well as to the great , Defend the poor and fatherless ; do justice to the afflicted and needy : deliver the poor and needy , rid them out of the hand of the wicked . Take heed what ye do , for ye judg not for man but for the Lord. I pray cast your eyes upon the Lords Throne : Dan. 7. 9. The ancient of days did sit ; his throne was like a fiery flame , and his wheels as burning fire . Gods Throne moves upon Wheels : What 's the meaning of that ? It signifieth to us that God is the great King and Judg of all the world : he sits above , and by his powerful providence governeth and judgeth all things : But how ? not immediately : he carryeth on his judgment by wheels : those wheels below the Throne , are Kings and Judges of the earth : by them God acts and executeth his judgments . O Magistrates ! remember you are the wheels of Gods Throne : Oh that these wheels were as burning fire ! that they would consume the wicked like dross , that their light might shine before men , that they would be hot & zealous for God : that they would move swiftly , turn with facility , count it a joy to do judgment : O si ! O utinam : would to God our Magistrates were all such . Finally , I come yet more close to the work of the day : and in the last place , I shal crave leave to speak the word to a particular wheel : the greatest of the wheels , the chief Magistrate new elected . I have observed of late years : the Preacher commonly hath directed his speech personally to the New-Elect ; and given him a charge , or rather a word of Exhortation : I shal follow former Presidents : and so much the rather because the chief Magistrate , to whom I am to speak , lives under my charge : and also because my Text calls me to call particularly O Wheel ! I will endeavor to dispatch all in a few particulars . O Wheel ! drive prosperously . Be not offended that I set the Wheel a going to day ; I hope it will turn the better all the year after . And first : O Wheel ! it is with you this day as it was with the Wheel under my hand : Chap. 1. 19. it was listed up from the earth , and so are you lifted up above your brethren ! Remember who it is that hath advanced you : even the Son of God that sits upon the Throne of Glory . For promotion cometh neither from the East , nor from the West , nor from the South : but GOD is the Judg , he putteth down one and setteth up another : Psa . 75. 6 , 7. Be not impatient then under the great burden of Government that is fallen upon your shoulders , at your election : it was the Lord that turned all the wheels , and he serued you up into this place of honor : do you submit to this dispensation : be thankful , and move swiftly , and zealously for that God who hath lift you up : be a wheel of burning fire . O Wheel ! be round , be round : Totus teres atque rotundus : a round is the embleme of perfection : as being every where equal and like it self : it is the fittest figure for motion , and the most capacious . The Sphaeres are round , the lights of heaven are round ; the heads of beasts indeed are long , and square , and corner'd : but the heads of men are round , and the wheels of Gods Chariot and Throne ought to be round : away , away with all unevenness : with all corners : every sin is as a corner , or a knob that will hinder the pleasant turning of the Wheel , be round O Wheel ! be round : be perfect as your heavenly Faaher is perfect . O Wheel ! move and turn as my wheel doth here : that is , in the Temple . The care of Religion lieth upon the Magistrate , therefore honor God with your authority : O Wheel ! with all your weight , turn over Idolaters , Hereticks , Blasphemers , Schismaticks , Sabbath-breakers ; suppress them , and make much of them that fear the Lord. Promote , to your utmost power , the service and worship of God : see that Gods poor be provided for ; and that Gods faithful Ministers may have countenance and maintenance . O Wheel ! O Wheel ! never leave turning , and turn all wheels to bring more faithful and able Ministers into the City . Oh it 's a sad thing , that there should be 36. Parishes within the Walls , and I think above half of them have no Ministers at all : and many of the rest have such Ministers as they had as good have none , perhaps better : Oh Wheel put on ; to settle Church-government , to settle the Union of Parishes , to procure Pastors for every stock ; to see the Sabbaths of the Lord sanctified : Honor God : for those that honor him he will honor . O Wheel lift up God , lift up Christ into his Throne , and the Lord will lift you up higher . O Wheel ! Be well shod : be couragious : how can the Wheel move long without shattring , except it have a good strake ? Fortitude , it is the strake of Gods Wheel . You are now Gods special instrument , by which he doth his work of Justice and Government : go on boldly : fear not the frown of any , regard not the favor of any : In the name of God move with your own proper motion : I do not mean according to the dictate of carnal reason , neither that you should consult with flesh and blood : but that motion which the Law of God commands , and the Spirit of God suggests that 's your proper motion : O Wheel ! let not any hand turn you the wrong way . V. 10. it 's said there was : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rota in medio rotae : a wheel in a wheel : a lesser wheel within , that turns the greater wheel as it pleaseth : and hath it not been so amongst our wheels ? Hath not this been a common word : whosoever be New-elect , we know who will be Maior ? O Wheel ! move with your proper motion : and fear not : the Lord wil be with you as he was with Joshua ; He will not fail you nor forsake you : only be thou strong , and very couragious , that thou mayst observe to do according to all the Law which God hath commanded thee : turn not from it to the right hand or to the left : that thou mayst prosper whithersoever thou goest . O Wheel move constantly : this is the description of the wheels , Chap. 1. 17. When they went , they went upon their four sides , and they returned not when they went : O Wheel run on in a good way and return not : commonly the motion of a Wheel is slow at first , and by degrees swifter and swifter : be you so : more and more active and zealous for the advancement of Gods glory and the publick good : grow better and better in your office : let your works be like the works of that Angel in the Revelation : more at the last then at the first . Oh what hopes have we had of many Magistrates at their first coming on ! in the beginning of their office how have the wheels ratled , how nimbly have they turned ! how forward and active have they been in reforming abuses , and doing for the good of the City ? but before their year hath come out , yea in a little time all our hopes have come to nothing : the wheels have flagged in their motion or turned the wrong way . — Amphora coepit Institui , currente rota , cur u●ceu● exit ? The potter , says the Poet , went about his work , as if he had intended to make a great and stately vessel : his wheel runs on and on ; at last out comes a paltry pitcher : why , what 's the reason of this ? Many promise great matters before they come into the highest seat of Magistracy , and after they come into the place , they perform nothing at all ▪ what 's the reason of this ? Surely ambition ; they aspire to the Honor and dignity , they consider not the work and burden . I observe in the wheel , the spokes that are behind rise up heaven-wards apace ; and as soon as ever they are at the top , then down again as fast towards the earth : and truly just so hath it been in the wheels of our City : our younger Aldermen that are behind , and but coming on ; oh they carry themselves plausibly , and seem to grow up heaven-wards , they make a great profession , and promise much : at last they get up to the top , to the seat of the chief Magistrate : and then down again as fast ; they are as ill as who is worst ? Oh Wheel ! go streight forth and return not : be constant : in a round ther 's neither beginning nor ending ; it 's every where and ever the same : be you so . Let it not , I beseech you , be said of you , as Paul sometimes said of his Galatians , Ye did run well , who did hinder you ? What made you stand still , or go back ? Begin well , go on better , and be careful to end best of all : Oh Wheel ! be constant in your motion . Above all , O Wheel ! labour for the Spirit of God , else there will never be any right , or good motion : Chapter 1. vers . 20. The wheels were lifted up stately , and moved gloriously : whence was that ? the spirit of the living creature , that is , the Spirit of the living God , was in the wheels . The Spirit of the Lord comes upon Saul , and presently he 's turned into another man ; he whose businesse was to look after Asses before , is now fit to be a King. The Spirit of the Lord , is the Spirit of wisdom and understanding , it is the Spirit of counsaile and might , it is the Spirit of knowledge , and of the fear of the Lord. Let this Spirit rest upon you , and do not you suffer the temples of your head to take any rest till you have obtained the Spirit ; be diligent in hearing the Word , that 's the way to get the Spirit : when God speaks , he breaths out his Spirit to his people ▪ Pray , oh pray for the Spirit , for your heavenly Father will give the ●oly Spir●● to them that ask him : Oh Wheel ! this is my desire , and 〈…〉 you , that God would fill you with his Spirit . O si ! o utinam ▪ To conclude : give me leave to speak to you all , O yee Magistrates ! in the singular , O wheel ! you are many wheels , yet be you all but as one great wheel . Endevour to keep the Vnity of the Spirit , in the bond of peace : Amongst Christians , especially amongst Christian Magistrates there ought to be so great concord , such a conjunction of minds , that they should be all as one soul , as one will , as one'man . The multitude of them that beleeved , were of one heart , and of one soul , Act. 4. 32. At least-wise let the whole Court of Alt ermen be but as one engine : and let one wheel continually set another a going ; quicken , encourage one another in love . Let all the lesser wheels joyn to the great wheel : All you inferiour Magistrates , joyn together as one , to assist and help the chief Magistrate in the great work of government . I have heard former Mayors complain of the want of assistance ! this spoiles all . A wheel , you know , if it be extreamly overpressed , it will squeak , and break ; if you lay too much weight upon the chief Magistrate , it will wear him out . When Jethro saw that Moses did sit alone to judge the people , he sayes to him ; Thou wilt surely wear away , both thou , and this people that is with thee ; for this thing is too heavy for thee , thou art not able to performe it thy selfe alone , Exod. 18. 18. I beseech you therefore joyn all as one . O that I could truly say to you all , be you never so many O Wheel ! Preserve Unity : which that you may do : remember it is the Unity of the Spirit : I tell you without the Spirit of grace you will never agree together . Behold Ezekiels Wheels : they have no axletree nor pin , and yet they joyn and keep orderly together , to bear and carry Gods Chariot : How comes that about ? the Spirit of God was in the Wheels , that held them together . If you will preserve Unity and love , labor to abound with the Spirit ; and with goodness : Alas if you have nothing but axletrees : I mean outward respects and relations to hold you together , you 'l quickly split : the respect of kindred is an axletree , it may hold some of you together a while : feasting one another is an axletree , it may maintain good fellowship among you for a while : perhaps you gain one by another , you are helpful one to another , you are of a disposition , and merry together many times , these are axletrees , and may keep you together 〈…〉 there 's no enduring unity , no lasting love but that which 〈…〉 the Spirit of Grace . In the second of the Acts : the holy Ghost fell upon them : Ver. 3 , & 4. and after that , they continued together with one accord , and they were all of one heart , and of one soul : Oh Wheels ! the Chariot of this City ; all the great affairs of this Commonwealth are to be carryed on by you : there , fore joyn together in love : keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace : be all as one Wheel for God and for Government : It is cryed unto you from the Throne of Glory , in my hearing , O Wheel ! That you may be thus is my hearty desire : for this I shall pray : O si ! O utinam . I was about to break off ; but let me not forget ; it 's a custom at this Solemnity , for those that make speeches , to present the newelect with an escouchion , or shield , and in it some device or other , some Embleme ; which may hang in the Magistrates house all the year , as a memento , to hint him of some good thing , as oft as he looks upon it . Now what shall I present ? Truly I had some thoughts to have taken my hieroglyphick out of the first book of the Kings , Chap. 7. Ver. 29 , 30 , 38. It is a Laver , or a great vessell of brasse holding much water , set upon a substantiall base of brasse four-square : and upon the borders of the base graven , Lions , Oxen , and Cherubims ; and four wheels under the base to remove the vessell from place to place upon every occasion . Such a thing is a good Magistrate : a Laver to cleanse and purge both Church and Common-wealth : he must have a firm base of brasse ; that signifieth the stability , courage , and fortitude requisite in a Magistrate , and he must have his four wheels , he must be apt to move from place to place ; to go , yea , readily to run circuite , for the administration of justice . But I will hang this aside , you may look upon it when you please in Gods book : I shall go no further then my text : out of that I present you with this Shield , or escouchion , the whole devise , a piece of Ezekiels Vision . The field is a Marble colour , because the appearance was by the Temple-wall , the matter whereof was marble : the charge a great wheel with twenty four spokes joyning together in one Nave , and bound about with one ring , and in the strake eyes in stead of nails : the colour of the wheel a sea-green , Verse 9. the appearance of the wheel was as the colour of a beril 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which was the colour of the sea . The crest ; the head of a Cherub with the Wings : and four faces : the face of a Man , the face of a Lion , the face of an Ox , and the face of an Eagle : and over the crest above : ( I dare not be so bold as to represent the Son of God sitting upon a throne but ) the name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 surrounded with glorious rayes : and from that glory a beame of light darting down to the wheel , and in it the word : O Wheel . By that which you have heard , he that runs may reade the meaning . For the Crest , that also speaks to Magistrates : the Cherub , or Angell with wings , minds them of a heavenly conversation , that they should be winged , and cheerfull in ministring justice , and doing the whole will of God : The four faces commends unto them four vertues requisite in Governours : The face of a man wisdome , the face of a Lion fortitude , the face of an Ox patience , and unwearied labour ; the face of an Eagle , swiftnesse of motion , and heavenly-mindednesse : by these creatures God doth his great and wonderfull works . And for the word , O Wheel ! I hope you can reade that : But I beseech you ; you , I say , whom God hath lifted up this day into the highest seat in this City : I beseech you mark whence the voice doth come : look upwards ; it comes from Jehova , it is the God above that gives the word of command to the Magistrate . Ever , ever in all your proceedings look upward , eye God , hearken to his word of command : what ever you do , have a word from God ; stir not , move not O Wheel ! except you have a word from the Throne of glory : and when God cryeth to you , stand not still , but turn , and be doing : and if you walk according to this rule , peace shal be upon you and mercy , and upon the Israel of God : The Lord hath honored you , lay out your self to honour God ; be faithfull , and then I promise you another O! an O of gratulation and exultation : At the great day of retribution , when the Son of God shall sit upon his Throne to judg the world , and to give to every one according to his work : Then shall the Lord say unto you ; O wheel ! thou hast turned very well , thou hast done worthily in thy place ? Well done O thou good and faithfull servant , thou hast been faithfull in a little , I wil make thee ruler over much , enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Oh Wheel ! thou didst turn painfully in my service . Now rest , and shine like the Berill stone for ever . I was even about to stop here : but let me remember my self : one word more , I beseech you , and then I cease . By wheels are chiefly meant reasonable creatures , that 's apparent . Then welbeloved Christians , we are all wheels , and then we must also al conceive , that the Word is cryed to every one of us in particular , from the Throne of glory , O Wheel ! To thee , and to me the Sonne of God cryes O Wheel ! turn , turn ! God hath appointed to every one of us that are here in his presence a severall motion , to one he hath appointed one work , to another , another work ; one wheel he placeth in the Church , another in the Common-Wealth : O let us all move in our severall Spheres according to the word of God. Not only Magistrates , those great wheels , in their places ; but let us Ministers in the orb of the Church move diligently and faithfully : Let us preach the Word , be instant in season , and out of season , let us reprove , rebuke and exhort , with all long-suffering and doctrine : let us watch in all things , endure asslictions , do the work of true Evangelists , and fulfill our Ministry : The Lord cryes to us , O Wheels ! Let all the people move in their severall orbs , with all diligence ! it's cryed to the least wheel : O Wheel ! turn , turn , turn , do the work of God in thy place ; What-ever thy hand fin●s to do , do it with all thy might : Let the Master do his duty in his sphere , let the servant do his duty in his orb , let the tradesman do his duty in his calling : Let every one be ever turning , rolling , and acting in the duties of his generall and particular calling . And let us not only do Gods work in our severall stations , but let us do it with readinesse , alacrity , and cheerfulnesse : Let 's be all round ; the sphericall bodies are most apt to turn ; lay a perfect round ball upon a plain , and the least touch will make it roll . O that with the Prophet I could hear the ratling of the wheels , and the noise of the clapping of the wings of the living creatures , which expresse their activity and zeale in the service of God. And let us be constant in our motion ; like the wheels let us run on , and not turn back till we have quite finished our course . The living creatures move , the Angels move , the wheels move swiftly , and shall we stand still ? To move us to this diligence and alacrity in the service of God , it is enough that we remember we are wheels : The Wheel as it must have a motion , so it must of necessity have an end of motion : God hath decreed just how long every wheel shall move : that is , from the day of our birth , to the day of our death ; but how long that shall be , or how short , none knows , but he that sits on the Throne of Glory , and with the hand of his providence turns every wheel . This is certain ; our motion still is neerer and neerer to the end : what a deal of our motion is spent since we came together into this place ? James the Apostle calls the progress of our life , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : the wheel of nature : our life runs upon wheels : and none can stop them till our bodies roll into the grave : It is but a very little while we have to move : therefore let us hearken to the voyce of the Apostle , Gal. 6. 10. While we have time and opportunity let us do good . Hieroms translation reads my Text , & rotas istas vocavit volubiles : the Lord called them swift-turning wheels : let us turn swiftly , for we have but a very little time to move . This is it which Solomon presseth , Eccles . 12. in the first Verse : he exhorteth to early turning : Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth : his argument from the brevity and uncertainty of mans life : the evil days will come shortly : the Sun , Moon and Starrs will be darkned : the keepers of the house shall tremble , and the strong men bow , and the grinders cease : man posteth to his long home : shortly the golden bowl shall be broken , and the pitcher shall be broken at the fountain : and Verse 6. The Wheel shall be broken at the Cistera : and what is the meaning of that ? I shall shortly tell you what I conceive , not condemning other mens judgments . The Stomack is the Cistern : All the parts and members of the body are the wheel : the blood , that ( as judicious Physitians tell me ) keeps a constant circular motion in the body , wheeling about continually , whilest a man liveth : as the wheel draweth water out of the well , so the several parts and members of the body draw nourishment from the stomach , which is conveyed by veins and arteries as by the rope and bucket : the wheel is broken at the cistern , when nature cea●eth to do her offices , and man dyeth . Oh then dearly beloved Christians ! oh wheels ! let us turn speedily to the Lord our God! let us abound in the work of the Lord with all zeal and alacrity : let us give all diligence to make our calling and election sure : for we cannot tell how soon the pitcher shal be broken at the fountain , and the wheel shal be broken at the cistern : Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was , and the Spirit unto GOD who gave it . FINIS . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A34747-e130 July 23. 1647. Notes for div A34747-e750 Eccles . 12. 11 Et f●gam illum paxillum . 2. Kings 19 2. Gen 41. 40. 45 , 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 et erit in solium gloriae . Doctr. Zach. 10. 4. Princeps est sustentaculum subditorum et infirmorum . Esa . 9. 6. Fnlera , seu fundamenta populi . Esa 49. 22. 1 Sam. ii . 5. 1 Pet. 2. 14. Vse 1. Corollaric . Grave esse . Exo. 18. 13. 18 Iudg. 9. 9 , 10 , 11 , &c. Vse 2. Vestimenta clavata . The instruments of a foolish shepard . Zach. 11. 15. Ezek. 34. 4. Fruges consumere na●i . Ezek. 15. 2. 3. &c. Ezek. 15. 6. 7. Vse 3 1 Pet. 2. 2. Act. 24. 26. Amos 5. 24. 2 Sam. 15. Deut 16 19. Levit. 19. 15. Psal . 82. 3. 1 Sam. 2. 30. Exod. 18 21. Clavus capitatus . Psal 2 ▪ 10. 2 Chron. 5. 9. Psal . 2. 10. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Peter 2. 17. Rom. 13 7. Exod. 18. 17. 18. 1 Tim 〈…〉 1 Pet. 2. 13. Act 4 19 Act 5. 29. Anselm . Epist . li. 3. Epist . 95. Psal . 128. Zach. 8. 4. Psal . 144 13. Psa . 123. 13. 14. Ezra . 9. 8. Ephes . 4. 28 , Doctr. Prov. 8. 15. 16. Applic. Ecclf. 12. 11. 2. Doctrine . Hester 3. 1. Hester 7. 6. 1 Sam. 2 12. 34. 35. 1 Sam 2 35. 1 Chron. 29. 22. Prov 2. 22. 23. Dan. 4. 31. Vers 16. Vse . 2. Vse . 3. Vse . 4. ●evel . 2. 20. Judic ● . 21. Doctr. 1 King. 14 15. ● Sam. ● . 10. Psal . 104. 23 Psal . 137. 3 4 Psal . 122. 6. 7. 9. Applic. Gen. 8. 9. Psal . 109. 5 , ● . Job 3● 3 , 4. Mica 4. Rom 9. 4. I●venal . Satyr . ● . Notes for div A34747-e8650 Gen. 41. 32. v. 1. c. r. 28. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jer. 18. 3. Esa . 28. 27. 28. Lavat . in loci Theod. Exod 14 25. Job 38. 11. Psal . 37 23. Reason . Gen. 1. Caelifer Atlas . Cap. 1. & 10. Mat. 10. 29 , 30 Plenus negotii Deus . Ephes . 1. 11. Vse . 1 2 Sam , 16 , 10 , Vse . 2. 2 Kings 6. 2 Kings 7. 6. Reas●● . Vse . Observ . 1 Sam. 30 3. Eccles 1. 4 Job 14 1 , 2. Vse 1. Dan. 4. 29. Vse . 2. 1 Cor , 7 , 29 , 30. 31. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Psal , 102 , ●5 , 26 , 27. Augustine . 3. Quest . Answ . Doctr. Vse . 1. Ezek. 8. Vse . 2. Dan. 5. 16. Lu●● 〈…〉 1 King. 22 27 Object . Answ . Jude 8. Mica 6 , 9. Prov. 15. 5. Indignandi . Dolcndi . Vocandi . Optandi . 1. Non volubiles . Prov. 20. 26. 〈…〉 . Sapientes . Matth. 23. 15. 2 Tim. 3. 7. Observ . Isa , 42. 14. Ezek , 2. 9 , 10 ☜ Ver. 2 , 3 , 7. Isa . 66. 15 , 16. 2 Thes , 1 , 8. Ezek , 9 , 3. Ezek. 11. 23. Prov. 1. 24. 26. Nah. 3 2. Ezra 10. 2. 1. Jocl 2 12 , 13. 2. Prov , 20 , 26. Psalm 82. 3. 1. 2. Mat. 5. ult . 3. 1 Sam. 2. 30. 4. Josh . 1. 5 , 7● 5. Rev , 2. 19. Gal , ● . 7. 6. 1 Sam. 10. 6. Esay 11. 2. 7. Ephes . 4 3. See Num , 11. 16 , 17. Gal 6 16. 2 Tim. 4. 2. Eccles . 9 , 10. Cap. 3. 12. 13. I am , 3 ,