Wee would haue cured Babylon .

COncerning which point & all the rest , we will not pursue the particular historicall matters : considering that the history of Babylons carying Israel captiue , of their vsage in their captiuity , of their forsaking Babylon & returning home againe , & lastly , of Gods iust vengeance and destruction of Babylon , are so notoriously knowen . Therefore we will passe by the story , and stand rather vpon matter of doctrine .

First therfore let vs obserue this generall doctrine , namely ; that a good man loues his very enemies , and not desireth onely but euen seeketh their good : this did the Church of Israel to their enemies & persecutors . For these Babylonians had done the greatest hurt to the Church and kingdome of Israel , that euer one nation did to another : for first they inuaded their land vniustly ; then they besieged & tooke Ierusalem , the ●ea●e of the kingdome , tooke and slew their kings , ouerthrew their Kingdom , ruinated their state , burnt their Temple , defaced their Religion , killed whom they would , caried captiue whom they would , and so left their land a heape of desolation a a Read for this purpose the last chapt . of this prophecy together with the ends of the books o● kings & Chronicles . : And yet worse then all this ; being their Captiues at Babylon . there they mockt them in their misery , and scoft at their Religion . Come , ( say they ) you that are these singers , and haue had your Kings to be singers b b 2. Sam. 23. 1. Dauid &c. : you that are these great Psalme-men , and haue had your Kings such base fooles , as some of them to bee Prophets , some Preachers c c Salomon . Ec. 1. 1. 2. ●2 . , some song-makers d d Dauid , Salomon , Hezekia . &c. : Come make vs mery with one of your Psalmes ; let vs haue part of your Hebrewe musicke : Sing vs one of your songes of Syon e e Psal. 137. 3. . Psalme 137. The least of these wrongs is heauie to be borne : but all put together , and especially , for a Christian after all these miseries to be mockt for his religion , and to see his God dishonored , oh how bitter is it to the spirit of a man . Yet , after all this what do Gods people ? not only pardon it and put it vp ; but further , doe both wish and seeke their good ; We would haue healed Babell .

Thus to doe is a marke of Gods childe , and a signe of a true Church . For to doe euill for euill , and good for good , is no more then nature ; euen the publicans , ( saith Christ ) doe so much a a Mat. 5. 46. : to recompence euill for good , is worse then nature ; it is malice , & peruerse corruption : and therefore ( saith Salomon ) ; Hee that doeth so , euill shall neuer depart from his house b b Prou. 17. 13. . But to doe good against euill ; that is aboue nature , it is grace , and a good euidence of Gods spirit : thus doing , saith Christ , you are the children of your heauenly father c c Mat. 5. 44. 45 .

Hereupon for the vse of this doctrine , we may see a comfortable euidence , that our Church is the true Church of God ; seeing that wee pray daily for the Church of Rome , which curseth vs : and it is very obseruable , that whereas the Pope , with all solemnity excommunicates & curseth vs all to hell , on the euening before good-Fryday d d See the Popes bull , set downe at large i● the first impression . ; we , for recompence , the next day morning in euery Church & chappel of this kingdom , & many places more , pray for the conuersion & saluation of him & all his sect e e See one of the prayers appointed by publike authoritie in the common prayer booke for good-Fryday . : and so by Gods prouidence it falleth out that our publike prayer for them , is the same or the next day , when they haue publikely cursed vs : and this is the facte of our whole Church in the publike liturgy , appointed of old , and stil confirmed by authority . Therfore if Christs argument be good , that priuate men , blessing their cursers , are the children of God ; then sure this is not ill : the Church that blesseth her cursers , is the Church of God . Let them therfore still go on in cursing , if they needs wil : but let them take heed , least as they loue cursing , so it come vnto them , & as they cloth themselues with cursing like a garment , so it come into their bowels like water & like oyle into their bones a a Psal. 109. 17. 18. : we , contrariwise , let vs not be weary of well doing : let vs follow that blessed Peter , whom they pretend to follow but doe not , ( vnlesse it be in denying Christ ) whose blessed counsell is ; Render not euill for their euil , nor curse for their curse ; but contrariwise blesse , knowing that we are therunto called , that we should be heires of blessing b b 1. Pet 3. 9. ; thus doing , we haue Peters owne testimony against them , that we are a Church of blessing , a blessed Church : and the Father of blessings , blesse it more and more , and all that seeke the peace of it , Amen .

Thus we see generally , they wished her well : But what is the particular good they wished her ? namely , her healing and conuersion . We would haue healed her● here many things might be pressed ; I will but point at them .

1. That it is the property of a holy man , to wish aboue al● things the spirituall good of them with whom he liues : the wicked man seekes the spirituall hurt of men ; the naturall man , the carnall good : but the holy man their spiritual & eternal good . Worldly matters haue their time & place in his thoughts : but that that takes vp , & possesseth his desires , is the spirituall good of them he loues , namely , their conuersion , their repentance , their saluation : these things be worthy their prayers , & pains . Herein Gods children are like to God their Father , who wishing good to his peo-people , crieth out : Oh that there were in them ( not the skill to rise in this world , and attaine the honours and ease of this life , but ) a heart to feare me , and keepe all my Commaundements , that so it might goe well with them and theirs c c Deut. 5. 25. . God wisheth no trifles to his children : But oh ( saith God ) that Israel were healed● and oh saith Israel that Babylon were healed ! Thus do God and good men accord in their wishes . Learne thou , here , thy duty , if thou be Gods : thou wishest for , and prayest for , and seekest for many things for thy children , and thy friends , thy wife and family . Thou clothest them , & feedest them , & prouidest for them ( else thou art worse then an infidell a a 1. Tim. 5. 8. and preferrest them , and much more : but all this is for the body . But , canst thou say , from a good conscience , I would haue healed their spirituall diseases : I haue heartily wished , and faithfully endeuoured their saluation . This is to be a true friend , a true father , a worthy husband , and a good wife : happie they that haue such friends neere them .

2. Obserue further , they seeke the saluation euen of their persecutors : so doth alwayes the holy man . Paul was put in prison , the gayler tormented his body , and Paul healed and saued his soule b b Act. 16. 24. to the 35. . Many a sinner , is made a happie man , by his prisoner : and the Martyrs oft times by their patience , their prayers and holy instructions , conuerted their executioners & tormentors . As in the former point , a holy man is like to God : so herein , to Christ ; who when Iudas and the Iewes were conspiring his destruction , the same houre was ordaining the holy sacrament , and establishing the meanes of their saluation c c 1. Cor. 11. 23. .

Thirdly , Israel liues in Babel , & would gladly haue her as holy as themselues ; we would haue healed her . It sheweth the excellency of the nature of holy things : they are fire ( not in the flint , hardly bet out ; but ) in the bosome , that will not be concealed . Pro● A man is not couetous of them : He is indeede greedy to gaine them ; but not to keepe them secret and to himselfe , as in worldly things wee are : nay he desires and ioyes to impart them to others ; and it is the ioy of his heart to see others as good or better then himselfe . Numb. 11. 29. Woulde God ( saith Moyses ) all Gods people were Prophets : and Paul wished from his heart , not Felix the president and Agrippa the king alone , but that all that heard him , were like him ; not a prisoner and in bonds , but in grace and goodness a a Act. 26. 29. . Hardly shall a man heare such voices in the world ; I wish others were as rich as I , as high as I , as learned as I , as much in credit and fauor as I. No : these things make men base and seruile , self-louers and priuately minded : but grace and holiness is of a royall and excellent nature , and inlargeth the heart wherein it is , with such loue to other men , as nothing more contents him that inioyeth it , then to make others as good as himselfe .

Lastly , where it is said , they would haue healed the Babylonians with whom they liued ; see what a good neighbour , a holy man is : he comes , he dwelles , he soiournes in no place , but hee seekes the good of it . Lot would gladly do good in Sodom : if hee can doe none , at least his righteous soule shal be vexed , for their sinnes b b 2. Pet. 2. 8. . Israel soiournes in Babel , and had rather be away ; yet while they be there , they will cure her if they can : and if she cannot , yet Babel shall thereby knowe that Israel was amongst them . Thus the whole shyre and parish shall fare the better by one good man dwelling among them . Hee comes no where but presently he considers what that people wants , what is their disease , what he may doe to heale them , or any way to helpe them : he comes no where but he leaues behind him signes of his goodnesse , monuments of his holinesse , and a sweet sauor of his vertues . Thus euery place is better for him where he comes : and when he is gone , his memory is blessed , Extinctus amabitur idem . his vertues praised , his name honored , & his person loued . Contrariwise , the wicked leaues behind him the stinke of his vngodliness , and monuments of his pride , his cruelty , his wantonness : Come ( say they ) let vs leaue som token of our pleasures in euery place a a Wisd. cap. 2. 9. . Thus euery place is worse for him , while he staies , & his memorie rots when he is gone . Let vs learne of Gods Church here , so to behaue ourselues in all places , where we liue , or where we come , that the good may be helped , & the euill healed by vs , that we may be able to say ; Them I found good , I encouraged : whom I found sinfull , I would haue healed . Thus shall we be honoured while wee are there , praysed when we are gone , and euer loued and blessed both of God and good men : and the mouth of wickednesse shall bee stopped . And thus we haue the particular good they wisht to Babylon ; namely , her curing , that is her conuersion and saluation .

Touching which healing of Babylon , there be three particular circumstances , implied in these words ; namely , who they would haue healed . how whom

The first is Who they be that would haue cured Babylon : the Text saith , We would , that is not the Prophets alone , or the people alone , or the princes alone , but Wee , that is altogether● the Prophets would , as we may see in Daniel and Ezekiel a a See their prophecies . : the Princes would , as we may see in SHIDRACH , MISAK : and ABEDNEGO b b Dan. cap. 3. , Noble yong Gentlemen of Israel : and the people would haue cured her , as is plaine both here , and in the 137. Psalme .

Where we may learne , that howsoeuer properly , and peculiarly , and more principally it is the office of the Minister : Yet it belongs also to euery Christian , to performe the duties of holy and spirituall edification , to them with whom he liues , for their spirituall good . Not onely the Prophets here would haue cured Babylon , but euen those three young gallants , being noble Courtiers , gaue a worthy example , to all of their age and ranke , of admirable courage and constancie in Gods cause , chusing rather to die , then deny their God and worship an Idoll , checking the Kings impietie , and condemning his idolatry to his face , rather like Prophets then Courtiers . Such were their speeches , and such their sufferings , their words so wise , their sufferings so valorous , and all for their God , that this alone had bene sufficient to haue cured Babell , had she not beene incurable . Oh happy kingdome where be such Nobles , and blessed that Court , that cherisheth such Courtiers : the diuell should neuer haue his Church , where God hath but his Chappell , if it were thus in Christian kingdomes . The people also had their hand in this good businesse , they ceased not in all the time of their captiuitie , to vse all the means they could to bring Babel from her gentilisme , and Idolatry ; and therfore here are bold to affirme when she is at the point of her destruction . We for our parts are no way guilty of it : nay , if she wold haue beene ruled by vs , she had neuer come to this ; for We would haue healed her .

But how would they haue healed her ( may some say ) what meanes vsed they ? it is soone sayde , Wee would : words are cheape . But gaue they Babell nothing but sweete wordes ? Certainely , they were carefull to vse all good meanes : which especially are these 3. Instruction , Example , Prayer .

1. By continuall instruction , laying open their errors , discouering their impieties , and laying before them the excellencie of true religion .

2. By their continuall example , practicing their own religion euen before their very faces , not fearing their scornes , and rebukes , no not the contrary lawes made purposely against them ; as we may see in the example of Daniels thrise a day praying to his God towards Ierusalem a a Dan. 6. 10. : the people also in midst of their mirth would weepe when they remembred Syon b b Psa. 137. 1. 2. , & would cast away their musicke and depriue themselues of all comforts , when they remembred the desolation of their religion . Which practices did no doubt amaze the Babylonians , & had bin sufficient to haue driuen them into deeper and better considerations ( had they not bin incurable ) and it is to be hoped that the sight hereof did good vpon some of them .

3. They endeuoured to heale them by their prayers , praying continually and desiring God to heale them : for as the Parent is said to blesse his childe , by praying to God to blesse him c c Gen. 27. per ●o●um . & 48. 15 &c. to 21. ; so one may be said to heale another , by praying that GOD may heale him . And that they did this dutie , is no question : for it was so commanded them by the Lord ; Seeke the prosperity of Babylon , & pray to the Lord for it a a Iere. 29. 7. . By these meanes , they endeuoured the curing of Babylon , tho they were no prophets : and by these means , may one priuate man further the saluation of another . Thus euery good man is as it were a litle pastor to his neighbour : & happy were it for the Church of God , if all priuate persons would performe these duties , one to another .

The third and last circumstance is , whom they would haue healed : the Text answereth ; Babel : where we obserue two points .

First , that the Israelites aymed not at the conuersion of the great ones , and men of State only , but euen at all the people of Babell . Whereby , it is apparant they sought not themselues : for then they would haue fisht for the great ones only or especially ( as doe the Iesuites , & craftier sort of Friers at this day b b See Watson in his Quodlibets often . ) ; but they sought the saluation of soules , which they knew to be all alike before God . For they had learned afore they came at Babel , that euery soule is Gods , the soule of the sonne , as well as of the father c c Exek. 18. 4. , and consequently of the subiect & seruant as well as of the king and commaunder , and the meanest mans as well as the mightiest : and therefore they endeuoured the conuersion of all .

The godly and conscionable Minister , must heere learne to haue care of the least & poorest soule in his parish , considering it is as deare and precious as the best . For , as good hands made it , as the best d d Pro. 22. 2. : as precious blood was shed to saue it , as for the greatest mans on earth a a Gal. 3. 28. 14 . Therefore , let them not bee like those proud spirits , & carnal minded men , that thinke ordinary parishes not worthy of them , and therefore will preach no where but at the Court , or in great & solemne assemblies : nor like those , who in their parish , will be acquainted with none , conuerse with none , conferre with none , visit none , but the rich and mighty ; but as for the poore , they may liue and die as they can , for them . Such men might remember the blessed apostle , who kept back nothing , but taught ( not in Courts and Palaces , and great houses only , but ) through euery house b b Act. 20. 20. vers. 31. vers. 26. , and that he ceased not to warn euery one , and stood vpon it boldly , that he was cleere from the blood of all men ( see : not some , but all ) : and in another place expounding himself saith , his continuall course is to witnesse Gods will both to small and great c c Act. 26. 22. . He that lookes for Pauls reward , at Gods hand , must thus behaue himselfe to Gods people , remembring his account is not for trifles , but for soules , and to that God who hath told vs afore hand , Euery soule is mine d d Ezek. 18. 4.

The good father of the family must learne here , not himselfe , & his wife onely , but to see that his children , & seruants & those not some of the chief , but all , euen the meanest may knowe and serue God . Such a man was Abraham , he was not carefull for Isaac alone , his deere sonne , the sonne of the beloued : but oh ( sayth he to God ) that euen Ishmael might liue in thy sight e e Gen 17. 18. : & therefore God becomes Abrahams surety , he giues his word for him ; I know Abraham that he will ( not looke to some of his principall officers , but ) command ( not this son or that daughter , but ) his sons & his family to keep the way of the Lord a a Gen. 18. 19 : & yet in Abrahams house were 318. persons borne & brought vp , &c. b b Gen. 14. 14 . More shame for the great men of this age , both in City and country ( who though they bee great , and daily plot to be greater , yet keepe they not so great houses and families as Abraham did ) : in whose families , many of their inferiour officers , and seruants , doe scarce euer come to Church : And much more shame to some parents , who being blessed of God with many children do partially respect some of them , and seeke their good of soule and body , & neglect others , who it may bee are more worthy : what would they do if they were profane and vndutifull Ishmaels , when they are so vnmindfull , and respectlesse euen of such as be holy , and dutifull Isaacs ? but let such children comfort themselues in this , that God their better father and best friend is no respecter of persons . These are the ordinary faults of fathers & mothers in these daies : but assuredly , those that be heires of Abrahams faith c c Gal. 3. 7. , will distribute their loue to euery one , & care for the soule of their meanest seruants , & take order in their families , that al their officers , euery day ( at lest in their course ) may go to church , & their very kitchin-boies , & hors-boyes , may learne to know the God of their saluation d d 1. Chr. 28. 9. ; that so he may be able to say with a good conscience , I found my family a confused Babel of disorder & profanenes , but I haue heartily endeuored to make it a little Church : & tho my family be great , yet there is not one whom I would not haue healed .

Thus they would haue healed all : but where began they ? whom did they desire to win first & principally ? certainly the greatest : as namely the K. & Counsellers of State . This course tooke Daniel , in whom ( more then in any one ) this prophecy was fulfilled : who after he had done the busines for which the king sent for him , them fell he to the busines of God , wherof is spoken in this Text , namely to see if hee could heale the king : ô King ( saith he ) thou art a king ; but there is a higher ; know , know , that the heauens beare rule . Wherefore ô King , let my counsell be acceptable vnto thee , breake off thy sinnes by repentance , &c. Lo , let there be a healing of thine error a a Dan. 4. 24. . Well knew Daniel , that if once the King would abandon his Idolatrie , and imbrace the truth , easily would the people be induced to follow him : So , whereeuer is true reformation either of errors in doctrine , or corruption in manners , it must begin at the highest ; els it will be to little purpose . To little effect , were it in the naturall body , to heale the hand & foot , when the head is deadly sick ; but heale the head first , and then more easily the body will bee cured : So in the spirituall body , how should Babel be healed , when the King will not ? how should they become Christian , when the king persists a heathen ? euen so in our State , how shal popery be extinguisht ? how shall vaine swearing , wantonness , profaning of the Sabboth , bribery , and other the sins of this age be reformed in the body of the people , if they be suffred to harbor in the Court , and to creepe into the Kings priuy Chamber ? Priuate persons will hardly bee brought to detest those sinnes , that are the common practices & recreations of great persons . Therefore we haue cause to blesse God for giuing vs such a King , as hath care of religion , and who in his owne person , is an enemie to poperie , a detester of wantonnesse , and iniustice , and many vile sinnes too commonly found in persons of his place . And let vs not cease to pray , that God would confirme him in all goodnesse , and that he may still go on with Dauid to reforme the sinnes of the greatest , and them that are neerest him : for when a King saith , No wicked person shall serue me , nor abide in my sight ; then all wicked workers will easily be destroyed out of the land x x Psa. III. see the whole psalme . . If this had beene in Babel , she had beene cured : but the want of this was the cause of that that followeth :