I Do call you out to a new Merchandize ; Many of you have been negotiating in most of the known Cities of the world ; but did ever any of you yet trade at Nineveh ? This is that which I desire may be your Empory , that ye would buy up her commodities , and set up an Exchange of her Wares : let others call upon you to mind your Traffique elswhere , I direct you to this City . Some of Nineveh's ashes , sackcloth , beasts in new skins , men with new lips , feet , and hands , would be more useful to you , than all the precious Rarities which the richest Marts upon earth can afford you . Nineveh is the place , the way is beaten out for you , I have chosen you out a good Leader , ( a Gentleman of intemerate fame , and unblemished reputation ) ; be not unwilling , nor ashamed to follow him . My intimacy hath been most with him , and I have been very privy to his worth , therefore let it be no mans displeasure , or regret , that I ( according to my acquaintance and affection , ) do single out him to stand in the front of this new Company to be erected . Though I love and honour him , yet I have an high opinion of many of you ; therefore I have made bold to summon forth Him , and You , to try if ye can by your joint inquiry find out the place , and strike up a bargain for that memorable merchandize ; be not offended to go together like Pilgrims , ye shall never repent you of the journey , for ye go to visit a renowned place , in whose ruines ye may find treasure enough to redeem you out of present hazards , and to prevent future miseries : Indeed I lay your Sandals before you , yet be not discouraged , ye shall go but like Merchant-Adventurers ; and if ye be industrious , and employ your time well , ye may drive a very advantageable trade ; if ye can but find out the place , and come home laden with the riches of the same , your City was never so happy as ye shall make it ; linger not in the journey , but set forth speedily , and make a quick return , and millions shall blesse you . Onely do not quarrell as ye go along , fall not out by the way , who shall go first , or who shall come after , but walk on peaceably , and God Almighty prosper you . Abraham when he went up to Moriah to sacrifice , he left the beasts at the bottom of the Mountain ; so do ye , all envy and emulation , when ye are going upon this noble design . Ye have more to think on , than the frivolous and superfluous cavils of nature . Apply your selves to the right work , and fall to right-down Christianity . Let him be the best man , which can be most vertuous and zealous in this religious service . It is an hard thing to build an City ; and it will be as hard a thing to preserve it . When a City is grown crazy with sins , they must be Master-workmen which can repair the decayes of it , or keep it from a downfall : if ye be never so well prepared , yet ye have a task which doth require almost an Angelicall purity and perfection to discharge it . Eye your duty , and look upon nothing else , and see what a great measure of remorse and reformation is expedient to keep a tottering City from an imminent casualty . Oh go not to Nineveh onely to look upon the City , for then this motion will take no impression upon you , and ye will never take off the charge of my impression , but these Books must go seek for entertainment in the Country , which will neither be for your honour , nor for my advantage ; but come ye home full fraught with Ninevehs qualifications , and I shall be happy , and ye blessed . Consider what ye are to do , to wring a speare out of the hand of the Almighty , to turn back an host of judgements upon their March ; appear in your compleat harnesse , and quit your selves like men . But by what Citizens shall this be performed ? by them which are truly religious , and are sensible of the sins , and do supplicate for the safety of the City . There are many which are called Citizens , and many that seem to be Religious ; but I must have such as have a sense , and can supplicate , which have the sins of the City smarting in their hearts , and the safety of the City ecchoing in their lips . Alex. ab Alex. l. 4. c. 17. Quam pulchras manus , & pulchra crura habes ; ventrem vero non habes ! Plut. in Philopaem . As of old , they which would honour the Altars of the Gods , did burn not frankincense , but Cedar and Citrine ; so , for this sacrifice , there must not be the vulgar Citizens , but those of the sweetest odour . Titus Quintius , derided Philopaemenes , because he had rare hands , and singular thighes , but no belly ; so , they are not the Citizens to be prized , which have onely hands to catch , or thighes to walk up and down in trading ; but such as have the Belly , the conscience to nourish the whole body . They which have narrow braynes , that can consult onely about their private interests , Suidas . are like Philocles the Comaedian , who was said to have a sharp head like a Lapwing . I take little pleasure in the hearing of any persons commended for particular excellencies , which are but outward , as that Alsus Son of Sigarus , Saxo Gram. l. 7. Sucton . King of Denmark , was praised for haire which glistered like silver ; and Tiberius , who had eyes so bright , that he could see in the night ; and Anthony Benzus , who at 34 years of age , had such plenty of milk in his brests , Cardan de subtil . l. 1. de nost. hom . Pliny l. 11. c. 37. Strabo . l. 15. that he was able to give suck to an Infant ; and Zancles the Samothracian , who had new teeth grew in his head at the age of 104 years ; and Darîus Longimanus , who had hand which could reach down to his knees ; and the Carmelitane Monke who so often , as he stirred his cowl about his head , Cardan de reb. var. l. 8. e. 48. Petrarch ex Treb. Saxo Gram. l. 8. Dan. hist. his hair was seen to sparkle like fire ; and Zenobia , Queen of the Palmirenes , who had teeth like bright gems ; and Suavilda , who was so incomparably fair , that when she was adjudged to be trampled to death under the horses feet , the bruit beasts started back , and by no violence could be compelled to injury her beautifull body ; No more do I take delight to hear Citizens commended onely for exteriour things , as that they dwell in the most gorgeous structures , wear the costliest array , have the largest warehouses , have Factours trading in every port of Italy , nay , in the bottom of the Streights , and in the furthest part of the Indies ; that they have so many leases in the City , so many purchases in the Country , and have matched their Children into the noblest families of the Nation ; that they sit upon the Bench , and shine in the Magistrates Robes ; no , I can hear an Elephant thus praised for his great Bosce , or a fat Bull of Basan for his well fleshed stanks : but they are the perfections of the mind , and eminent vertues , which I chiefly magnify in Citizens . Such are the conspicuous persons , which are perspicuous in graces , and the eyes that see them blesse them for their piety , whose chief mart is in Heaven , and trade for such riches as exceed all the treasures of Egypt , whose hearts are knit to the City , and whose tongues are solliciting for it , which weep over the sins of the City , and would even sacrifice themselves in expiatory duties to prevent judgements from it . Pardon me therefore , if I do not judge the City by Furs , and gold Chains , birth and bruit , port and portalls , means and merchandise ; no , not by wit and worship , sermons and services ; but by soft brests , sound vitalls , pure and operative spirits . Potency , priority , principality , presidency , here have no place , but onely the feeling conscience , and the fervent Soul . For those which are onely politick , or pragmaticall , or busied about their own ambitious designes , as they have no leisure to mind this subject , so they have no propensions to be intent upon this solemn work . I may send them to Biccius , and Malchiattus , who traded at Florence only to learn Philip the fair how to adulterate mettal , or to those Merchants which were so buried in their Warehouses , that they were called Sectores , Joh. villan . l. 8. c. 55. Sectores , aut s●quuto res , quia sequebantur suum . Asconius . because they followed only plots how to enhaunse their estates , or to those Aegyptian Traffikers , who were steined with so many blemishes in their callings , that they were commanded to give over their merchandisings by the space of ten years before they could be admitted to any office , of place of authority ; or to the Family of the Clodii in Rome , Alex. ab Alex. l. 4. c. 6 Suct in Tiber. who were all of them ( except P. Clodius ) so given to factions and seditions , to raise their own interests and Parties , that they were accounted the common Boutefeaus of the City , or to C. M. Coriolanus , who in the greatest necessity never tendered the welfare of the Inferiours , but looked onely to provide for his own greatnesse , and his great Ones ; and held the poorer Citizens to sad sufferings , lest being supplied with what they wanted , D. Halicarn . 1. 7. they might be enabled to call him , and the rest , to account for their injuries . Now what should I do with such Citizens ! they do but only live within the City , or live upon the City , they will not be drawn from their shops , and Countinghouses to venture a knee , or a tongue , that they might preserve the City at the greatest exigent . Send back therefore those souldiers , which how down upon their knees to lap water , they are not fit to he employed in Gedeons Army ; so , set apart those Citizens , which stoop down , and are even grovelong in their worldly contrivements , and projects , they are not fit to be called forth to seek for the Cities safety ; Having taken upon me then a kind of dolorous service , to whom should I rather apply my self , then to the true Mourners in Jerusalem ? Yes , there are sins in the City , and these sins do threaten judgement ; all ye then which do face the one , and fear the other , let me intreat you to sigh , and sacrifice with me , that the City being penitent , neither the perill , nor perishing of the City may be dreaded . To obtain this blessing , I confesse I have ( as I can ) sanctified my self with some solemn resolutions ; I desire you to enter into the Vow with me , not to desert the City with your repentance , and devotions , till a discharge may be brought out of Heaven , and the City setled in a condition to be Spared . I hear a lowd speech , What is not this City able to do ? I wish it may be able to examine , and to extricate her self . I cannot but love your City for her brest , that she proved such a kind Nourse to them , which had neither milk nor maintenance , when upon the death of their Mother they were as exposed children . All the gratitude which I can expresse , is to piety this Nourse upon her sick-Couch , and if I can , preserve her alive upon her bed of anguishing ; till there may be some signes of her recovery I shall not cease to visit her , and , ( if she will admit me ) he as a ghostly Father to her , that she may confesse her inward disease , and apply that spirituall remedy which will certainly , and can onely work her proper cure . I thought once to have called in all the Nobility , and Gentry of the Nation to joyn in this work ; for the Heralds office is in the City ; and why should not they which are comparable to fine gold , cast in their talent for the advance of this pious design ? Yes , they are too high , if they do not humble themselves to the earth for her , which all this while with a trusty hand hath kept their Pedegrees . I would have invited the Reverendest of the Clergy , to have assisted in this religious service , for Sancta Maria de Arcubus is in the City , & why should not they deprecate judgements from her , which hath retained for them a place , where they have received their first Consecration ; Aaron doth carry upon his brest plate the names of the Tribes of Israel , the Priests must not be absent from the Sacrifi●e , these must weep between the Porch and Altar : I would have drawn in all the Civill and common Lawyers to plead in Heaven for this City , for they having been so often retained in her Counsell , and learned all their honoured skill , here ( the Inns of Court being nigh to the body of the City , and Doctours Commons within the bowells of the City ) ; why should not they sollicit the highest Court for a release from her extremities ? I would have summoned-in all the Physitians to administer a soveraign potion to this City ; for their Colledge being within her walles , and they having raised vast estates out of their City practise , why should not they prepare an Elixir for her out of their suppled eyes , rent-heartstrings extracted consciences , to preserve her at an exigent ? yea , I thought once to have sent down to all the Cities in the Kingdome , to have repaired hither their selves , or to have sent their faithfull substitute , Proxey , their conversion , to officiate for the City in her greatest perill . For seeing this is the Metropolis , why should not all the Daughters do their duty to their Mother , and wait upon her with their prayers , and tears , and humiliation , and mortification ? yes , they here vending all their commodities , and buying here all their principall wares , it is convenient that they should blesse her with their repentance , which hath blessed them with revenue . But because the most proper cure is that which is personall ( people being able to prepare their Antidote ) therefore ye knowing both the malady , and the medicine , what need I trouble others , when ye are able ( if ye will ) to do the work your selves , and to be your own Physitians : And now that I have left you in your own hands , setting Life and Death before you , oh that I could speak to the City in generall , that as all Nineveh so all your City would be unaninous to unite their repentance to keep off a judgement . But I see such a complicated disease of bad opinions and such a cakexy of evill life amongst you , some onely magnfying the virtues of the City , others going on in an insensibility of any thing , that it is either sin or danger , that I despair to find the generality apprehensive , either of disease or cure . Acron could onely paint the Cypresse tree ; so there are some amongst you , Erasm . which can only draw the picture of their own self-grounds , and selfe-ends ; why then should these mens pensils be desired to delineate this piece ? no , I remember that Calcedon was called The Town of the blind , because they would not suffer an experienced Workman to build their houses ; Pliny . l. 5. c. ult. And so , such a blind City shall I leave you , if I set on work half-sighted Architects , which can neither see errours , nor foresee hazards . Therefore I set , by all the humourous and vicious amongst you , and apply my selfe onely to those which are truly religious , which have the most conscience to discover sin , and the most remorse to reconcile an offended God . It is a singular work , and there must be singular Agents engaged in it . It is that great City , and it must be that Great , or good Party , which must invert the state , and avert the judgement of the City . All ye then which are of mine own Religion , and repentance , be ye my Patrones out of affection , the Cities out of relation ; deny not your own City , nor me , for your Cities sake ; this shall be my engagement , and I hope not the Cities envy ; that I should desire you to do that for the City , which the City will not do for it selfe . I cannot expect you to be absolute Saints ; I my selfe am not innocent , but I desire to be penitent , and I besceech you let us both center together in this qualification . Make this subject , if ye can , your Altar , where ye may work an attonement ; or your Sanctuary , where ye may find refuge , howsoever make it your Crucifix , or Sepulchre , even to dye in mortifying exercises , to procure the Cities release , and rescue ; Ye have been often at the Pulpit , and learned much perhaps for information ; but one Sermon practised , is better then a thousand heard ; if ye have any Christianity in you , let the abridgement of it be found in repentance ; neither your soules nor your City , can be blessed by you with a virtue more beneficiall ; If ye had the understanding of Joseph , the knowledge of Daniel , the wisdome of Solomon , or the insight into all those secrets which were revealed unto St Paul in the third heavens , ye these were but glimmering speculations without repentance . To have the loyns girt up , and the lamps burning , is more then to divide the waters of Jordan , to fetch water out of the Rock , to command the Sun to stand still in the midst of heaven , to remove mountaines , or to raise the dead * * The Lady Capell of Oxted lay speechless a long time , & by fervent prayer was restored to speech , and dyed in a most ravishing manner . Mr. Gale in S. Johns street distracted , and despairing , by prayer recovered his senses , & dyed calmly , peaceablely , & Christianly . A Gentleman in Bishops Court in Grayes-Inn-lane , visited & assaulted by the Devil , by prayer within the space of three days was delivered from that Obsession Mr. Barmes in Fountain Alley in Holborn , having for halfe a year almost starch ( sometime hot , somtimes cold ) rained through his tiled house into his Kitchin , and nothing seen in the upper rooms or Planchers , but onely in the lower rooms , and that divers times under Pots , and other Vessels , where it was impossible in mans apprehension , that any thing should come , for the out-sides were untouched , which caused an high affrightment in the Housholders , that he and his family were ready to leave the house ; yet by prayer , in a short time this strange and unheard of accident ceased . I know a man which hath wrought some miracles in the world , but yet his conscience doth more rejoyce in his repentance , then in all the testimonies of Gods power , yea then in the finger of divine Omnipotency lent unto him to make him instrumental in admired events . Whatsoever your gifts , and endownments , characteristicall , or charismaticall priviledges be , yet feel it as your chief consolation , and write it down as your prime prerogative , that God hath caused the lips of them that were asleep to speak , that the eyes of the blind do see out of obscurity , that ye stand up from the dead , and have sorrowed to repentance . Rejoyce not in these things , but rejoyce that your names are written in heaven . Let others look to be Scient , but look ye to be Penitent . Lord , who am I , that I should go unto Pharoah , and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt ? Exod. 3.11 . So , who am I , that I should summon a whole City to repentance , and bring such vast numbers out of the bondage of their corruptions and destruction ? yet God hath given the motion , and he may by such a stammering tongue , make his message effectuall . Who knows , but that this Cake of barley bread may overthrow the tent of the Midianites ? that this lump of dry figs may heal the sore ? that this clay and spittle by the blessing of God , may open the eyes of the blind ? I venture therefore upon the work , and call forth you as my Assistants in the enterprize ; Bring forth your repentance , and what may not such an Hester appearing do to reverse a Decree ? God is not so offended with the City , but Repentance can yet end the distast . To assure you of this , I set before you Nineveh , not halfe so glorious in being a Potent , as in being a poenitent people ; they are poenitent , and God is instantly asswaged . Will ye observe the sum of the passage , if I do but lead you into the City ? there are very delectable things at the entrance , even between the Prophet and God . Do ye love a Prophet truly ? then here is Jonah active in his pertinent duty , a weighty errand ? Do ye honour God faithfull ? then here is God busied about his proper work , a work of mercy . What more consonant to the Prophet , then to impart his Masters mind ? What more congruous to God , then to interpret his own meaning ? Jonah doth denounce a judgement , God doth pronounce a pardon , the Prophet must not spare and yet God doth spare . The Prophet had threatned them into repentance , then God doth not threaten , but comfort ; not adjudge , and accurse , but accept and acquit . Repentance hath renewed the people , and revoked the sentence . It is true , the Prophet was very opposite to it , but God doth bring in very apposite reasons to satisfie his contradicting spirit . God doth plead for the City , and doth plead against his own Prophet . He doth shew him how the Prophet cannot be justified , without menacing an overthrow , and how God cannot be justified , without hindring this overthrow . This is the Dilemma how the Prophecie may stand , and the City may stand . The Prophecie is obeyed , and therefore there could be no overthrow ; there was repentance , and therefore there cannot be rejection , and revenge ; this is the middle way , which God doth make use of to answer the Dilemma . God will not approve of his Prophets , if they do not proclaim judgement : God will not listen to his Prophets , if they do declaim against repentance . Though the Prophets must thunder , yet God doth keep the thunder-bolt in his own hand . A sinfull people must be warned , a penitent people must not be destroyed . No , this is one of the Riddles of Gods mercy , which Jonah not being able to unfold , God doth expound it ; yea , the whole debate is about the resolving of this difficult demur . God doth shew to Jonah how he could prophesie no lesse , and yet how he himself could spare no lesse . Shouldst not thou thus cry ? Should not they thus reform ? Should not I thus spare ? God had taught Jonah many things , and now he doth reveal to him the aenigma of his mercifull justice ; how justice and mercy can meet together in the same subject without violation to either : The Prophet at first was in a great blindnesse concerning this secret , and the City had like to have paid dearly for his want of understanding . But God hath satisfied the doubt ; and saved the City . Nineveh hath repented , & Pergameae jam fas est parcere genti : It is requisite now that Nineveh should be spared . So that I trust neither Jonahs cry , nor Gods plea , the courage of the one , nor the compassion of the other , the message , nor the mercy , the Prophets scruple , or Gods scrutiny , the Prophets dark eye , or Gods bright mouth , Nineveh's sacrifice , or Nineveh's safety , Nineveh's repentance , or Nineveh's remedy ; the change of the City , or the change of the sentence , the compunction , or compassion , the threatning , or the sparing shall be displeasing subjects to you . No , be ye Patrones to this Riddle , the contestation of Jonah , the replication of God , the explication of the Problem . Oh that we could see such a Riddle in your City , and thus explained . Jonah doth cry , but is God believed ? the overthrow is proclaimed , but do men fly from is ? the City is warned , but is it humbled ? it is threatned , bu● shall it be spared ? Oh that the willfull impenitency of the City , after millions of cryes , should not be a greater riddle , how it can be spared ; than Gods inclination to mercy after serious repentance , is a Riddle fully expounded before , and half expounded now , that the City may be spared . As intelligent as this City doth seem to be , I wish it could answer one question . Is it Nineveh ? Is there expression ? or almost expectation of such humbling and cleansing ? For this end is this cry sent forth , and oh that the Prophet might onely cry , or the Prophet so cry , that he might cry up a Nineveh ! Be ye not deafe , and open the cares of others ; that ye may not be my Patrones only , but of the City ; not of her sinnes , but of her repentance . If ye fail in this work , the City is past remedy . Be ye your felves therefore as penitent as ye can , and diffuse your repentance to others ; have ye burthened consciences , and draw others to feel the weight of those guilts which may sink them into ruine . The City is in perill , what is the preservative ? Policy may invent many expedients for security , but I doe know none but that of repentance . To prevent a generall overthrow , shall we ever see a generall conversion ? What will men leave their seats of honour , and apply their selves to sack-cloth , ashes , fasting , mighty cryes , turning from their evill waies , and from the violence of their hands ? Oh that we could see such a beautifull City to honour our Nation , and blesse it selfe . But I am afraid that this is but a City of desires , and that it is not harder to build up Jerusalem againe in her first glory , than to raise up such a City amongst us ; every stone in this City may sooner be altered , and new laid , rather than mens mindes and consciences . I doubt whether penitent duties were ever truly intended amongst us , and I am very jealous whether ever or no we shall see them really expressed . Men can rather shoot the gulfe , climbe the Alpes , go a pilgrimage over the whole earth , than repent . Well , as it is my drift to propose , impose , and dispose , so let it be yours to explore at homt , and excite abroad ; Oh to incline God to plead with his judgements , saying , Should not I spare this great City , wherein are more then sixscore thousand persons , which cannot discern between their right hand , and their left hand , and also much cattel ? That the Citizens could first plead with their consciences , saying , Should not we turn to that great God , who hath invited us by more then sixscore thousand warnings , which cannot discern between pitty and forgivenesse , and also much forbearance ? Ye see now what a great task ye are to undertake , and that ye had need to lay to your whole strength to bring forth a right City . Is it an easie matter for your selves to speak this language , and to feel these brest-motions ? howsoever , is it so to open other mens lips , and to set omens hearts on working ? All the difficulties which ye ever met withall upon earth , are not like unto this streight . Yet to what end do ye wait upon the Lord , if ye will not do him this service ? Why are ye trees of righteousnesse , if ye will not bring forth this fruit ? I hope ye are alive to God your selves , ( yea , that there are some of the regenerate race , which doe stir quick in this City ) but how many dead carkasses doe ye walk amongst ? I trust that ye have brought iniquity to remembrance ; but are there not too too many that need their Monitours and Remembrancers , as if they had forgotten their selves , and their sins ? In what forwardnesse is the great work ? is not the first stone for the generality yet to be laid ? yes , it would astonish a man , that amongst so many celestiall shewes , there should be so little heaven ; and that the Devill should be lurking under so many Angelicall transformations . I confesse , here doth appear to be much Religion in the City , but what Repentance is there ? or if Repentance , is it that of Nineveh ? No , here are sins enough in the City to have it overthrown , but is there repentance enough in it to have it spared ? What people are , they may find out by examination , what they should be , they may find out by the Example . The earth never saw greater provocations but when shall it be said , that the heavens never saw greater propitiation ? People are much for patterns , but not for imitation ; wise men may devise formes , but where are the vertuous men , which will conforme to them ? No , as a beast neighed to Alexanders horse which was painted , but the spectators expressed no such respect to Alexanders Image it self whereupon Apelles said , That he had painted the Horse better then the Prince . Equus ( oh Rex ) melius expressus est , quàm Tu. Erasm . in Apoph . So Brutes will be more affectionate to those things which doe resemble their nature , then we to those things which should direct our manners . Xenophon wrote a rare Book , called Cyrus ; but where was there ever such a prince ? Plato set forth a singular Treatise , de Republica ; but when was there ever such a Common-wealth ? No , it is an easie matter to describe , but it is an hard mat●erto exhibit the like . Here is a choise Picture , Nineveh limmed out with tears & graces , and a frame made for it , even this record in holy Scripture ; but when shall we behold the parallel ? Oh Citizens , and Religious , though ye may have some skill in painting , yet can ye draw Nineveh to the life , in Orient colours amongst you ? No , were it to preserve the City from fire , and sword , yet wil ye readily be thus abased , and changed ? ye may be , but it will be with a great difficulty . For the present , what signs are there of such prostration , consternation , renovation ? No , they which have committed horrible sinnes , may rather have formes of seeking God to confirme themselves in their wickednesse , than many here which are liable to imminent dangers , have any evident expressions to fall to the earth , or to look up to heaven to avert vengeance . Can these bones live ? O Lord , thou knowest , Ezech. 37.3 . It were a miracle almost to see these dry and scattered pieces , though prophesied upon , to have a noise , and a shaking amongst them , and bone to come together to bone , and flesh , and sinewes , and skin , to grow upon them , and the spirit of life to enter into them . There is nothing impessible to God , but this is almost incredible to the present view . For I doe not see that men have learned Nineveh's initiating , much lesse then her compleating graces : They are not yet come to her dejections , trepidations , perculsions , astonishments , humi-cubations , macerations , syncopes of griefe , paroxisms of conflicts , gravitoned accents of prayer . No , people nourish the flesh , catch at the world , follow modes , temporise with changes , and leave perills to the venture , and judgments to the chance : Happen what wil , they have not so much as a wrimpled brow , or a trembling breast . A Stork will flie faster from a cold Country , or a beast from a naked sword , then these from plagues and punishments , Then , if they be not come to the disfigured face of repentance , how will they ever come to her transfigured spirit ? When shall we see the two essentiall parts of repentance amongst them , The turning from their evill waids , and from the violence of their hands ?

First , Their evill waies do seem to have a mist upon them , they have not eyes clear enough to see them , or hearts tender enough to lament them : Though they have strayed far enough from the prescript rule of obedience , & they find never a precept warranting their lawlesse paths ; yet , they do tread on , and consider not whither their feet do carry them ; the Ignis erraticus hath led them aside , and they do not lay to heart over what ditches , rocks , cliffs , and precipices they do passe : It is enough that they are in motion , but whether in regular , or erroneous courses , they do not apprehend . Oh that there should be such declinations , under the directing Ordinances ; or such foot-prints , amongst instructed Christians ! No man saith , What have I done ? Many a man saith , What may I not do ? but , No man saith , What have I done ? People do look upon their faces , but seldome upon their consciences ; this clasped book hath not been opened , to view every leafe ; nor this deep well searched to the bottom , these many years . Oh! how much hypocrisie , apostacy , bribery , flattery , blood , blasphemy , south-saying , sacrilege , have been past over without the least check , or fret ? Mens proper rights they can consider , but not their proper sins : no , If any sins come under their discovery , or disquisition , they are the sins of the age , or the sins which malignity have doomed sins , or the sins of Rome or Turky : but they have neither eyes , nor tongues , nor hearts , to spie out , speak out , or reflect upon their proper sins ; though they be as bitter as gall , as red as scarlet , as venomous as the poyson of the Aspes , as black as Sathan , comming forth with a steam out of the smoak of the bottomlesse pit ; yet , there is neither sensiblenesse , nor conscientiousnesse of them : they are their proper sins , and as they have given them conception and birth , so they will bestow upon them education and maintenance : They may have a street-cry , or a Pulpitnoise ( sometimes of them ) but the sound of them is gone , so soon as it is received : they deny them , conceal them , extenuate them , and justifie them ; yea , some are so impudent , as to deride them . Fooles make a mock of sin , though it be to dance before a Case of their melting , or to triumph over a captivated Sampson , or to quaffe in the Bowles of the Sanctuary , or to present John Baptist's head in a platter , or to cry Hail to the King of the Jewes , when he 〈◊〉 leading away to be crucified . These , and the like , are the expressions , which they do make to their sins , rather then to look agast upon them , loath them , bleed under them . How many sinners have ye yet seen , that though they have done things contrary to the Torch-light of Nature , the Sun-light of Scripture , the tenour of their own oaths , and the terrour of a Catholick Church condemning them , that have yet blushed , or sobbed , or wrung an hand , or bended a knee for them ? No , they have done them , and they stand up in the defence of them ; after production , they do bestow upon them protection : there is either silence or senslesnesse , speechlessenesse or remorslesnesse . Now if people will not discern their sins , how will they ever disclaim them ? if they will not look upon their evill wayes , how will they ever turn from their evill waies ? What little likelyhood , what small hopes of conversion and reformation ?

Secondly , The turning from the violence of the hands , is a thing as improhable ; for , are there any gentler , or juster times to be expected ? Will men pare their nails , soften their harsh palms ? No , I do not see so much as a sense of injury , or a shame of oppression ; not so much as an Adonibezek's remorse for cruelty , to confesse , Threescore and ten Kings , having their thumbs and toes cut off , gathered meat under my table , Judg. 1.7 . Nor an Ahab's fright upon a bloody fact , to be confounded so , that persons should rend their clothes , put on sackcloth , and go softly , 1 King . 21.27 . People do not so much as question their Estates , which they have gotten by forged cavillation , or ask forgivnesse for their wrongs , or make restitution for their ill gotten goods ; much lesse will they then desist from their damnifying courses . Tyranny doth flow in with an high rage , The earth is covered with violence , as it was in the daies of Noah , Gen. 6. 9. A man would think , that Aegypt's iron furnace , or Babylon's iron yoak were amongst us . Here is digging of pits , taking up all with the Angle , swallowing people alive as the grave , eating fruits without mony , breaking the armes of the fatherlesse , afflicting God's heritage , the Rulers being as roaring Lions , ( as the Scripture saith ) and the Judges as the Woolves of the evening , devouring with such fury , that they leave not the bones tiil the morrow . Some groping for bribes , with Felix ; some requiring mens right eyes , to condescend to a peace , with Naash ; some pronounting sentence of death , upon a framed information , with Jezabel's Judges ; yea , some not being ashamed , to run greedily after the errour of Balaam for reward . How many houses are built with crying stones , and cemented with bloody morter ? The Times are full of much fraud and force , invention and circumvention , domination and conculcation : Men enjoying preyes with as much inward satisfaction , as birth-rights , and possessing rifles with as quiet a conscience , as just earnings . Oh! when will the whip depart out of this City ? when will the wild beast's teeth fall out of their heads ? when will the hammers leave beating , or the mill-stones leave grinding ? when will repentance so reduce the City to equity , that there need neither Tribunall to rectifie injuries , or Pulpit , to touch conscience for extortion ? People in generall will scarce take notice of their cruelty , much lesse will they take away the crime ; they will scarce feel their rough hands , much lesse will they turn from the violence of their hands .