foedâ—rum inter reges formula ut câ—sdem sibi fore hostes amicos mutuo promittant Calvin they promised to have the same friends mutually and the same enemies Being in covenant with her he looks upon the Church as the mysticall body of Christ the least member whereof he will as surely defend as he did the least bone of his naturall body which he would not suffer to be broken as tender to him as the apple of a mans eye is to him Zach. 2.8 How did the Lord take poore mans part against all spirituall enemies when he ransomed his soule from the gates of death When Cyrus demanded of Tigranes who came to redeem his wife that had been brought into captivitie what ransome he would give for her he answered he would redeem her libertie with his own life So God having espoused the Church unto himselfe by covenant was willing to redeem her libertie with his own bloud Act. 20.28 Besides the generall covenant the Lord hath ingaged himselfe to take the Churches part by particular and speciall promises as Josh 1.5 Josh 1.5 I will not faile thee nor forsake thee though spoken to Joshua yet intended to every member of the Church of God and so applied Heb. 13.5 as also Isa 43.2 3. Thou art mine Isa 43.2 3. when thou passest thorough the waters I will be with thee and thorough the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest thorough the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee for I am the Lord thy God the holy One of Israel thy Saviour Whether the Prophet alludes unto the Israelites passage thorough the red Sea when Pharaoh and the Aegyptians pursued them and wherein God miraculously preserved and delivered his Church I know not sure I am water and fire are usuall though figurative expressions in Scripture of the Churches enemies persecutions wherein God promiseth to undertake for her Isa 59.19 as Isa 59.19 When the enemy shall come in like a floud the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a Standard against them He will raise up enough to oppose them he will as the Psalmist speaks give a banner that it may be displayed the Spirit of the Lord either the Spirit of prayer shall do it by bringing in reliefe from heaven or the Spirit of power whereby God will stretch out his own arme to fight against them when by the Spirit of prayer he hath stirred up his people to call upon him Vse 1 This calls upon us to behold the works of the Lord as ver following the text and to consider how comfortably God hath given us experience of this truth that we may more clearly see what grounds we have of rejoycing this day and so sing praises with understanding We shall find cause enough to say with David Psal 92.4 Psal 92.4 Thou Lord hast made us glad through thy works and we will triumph in the works of thy hands And againe to say with Moses Exod. 15. The Lord is our strength and our song and is become our salvation Who is like unto thee O Lord amongst the gods Who is like thee glorious in holinesse fearfull in praises doing wonders God hath opened unto us a treasury of mercies old and new Old mercies We have heard with our eares our fathers have told us what God hath done for us in their dayes in the times of old how he took our part when destruction was coming full saile against us in 88. and scattered the Armado proudly called Invincible The enemy said as Pharaoh Exod. 15.9 I will pursue Exod. 15 9. I will overtake I will divide the spoile my lust shall be satisfied upon them I will draw my sword my hand shall destroy them but the Lord blowed with his wind Ver. 10. ver 10. and disappointed them so that in saving us our Nation from that Spanish fury the Lord hath done great things for us whereof we rejoyce This day puts us in mind of another never to be forgotten deliverance from popish treachery more admirable then the former which was from open violence of which we may say as Hannibal was wont to say of two famous Romane Captains Magis se à non pugnante Fabio quam à pugnaÌ„te Marcello timere he fear'd more Fabius not fighting then fighting Marcellus our danger was the greater in the powder treason because secrecy made the blow more unavoidable and had not been discovered but by the eye of heaven it was a treachery that wants a name to expresse it unlesse you will call it as one doth by the name of a Catholique villaâ—y Learned endeavours have been made to finde a parallel in former Histories but this deliverance stands alone is a None-such The Text haÌ„dled in the morning Sermon Such a deliverance as you heard in the morning Ezra 9.13 14. Wee may therefore mutato nomine not onely make it our song this day but bequeath unto posteritie for a perpetuall Song of Englands praise that of Psal 124.1 2 3. Psal 124.1 2 3. If it had not been the Lord who was on our side now may England say if it had not been the Lord who was on our side when men rose up against us then they had swallowed us up quick but blessed be the Lord who hath not given us as a prey unto their teeth Our soule is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowler Ver. 6 7. the snare is broken and we are delivered New mercies Besides these ancient mercies which we have by descent from our ancestors God hath taken our part in these dayes of Jacobs trouble how many infernall conspiracies well-night as dark and deep as the Powder-treason have been lately defeated Which nothing but the eye of heaven could have seen nothing but the hand of heaven could have prevented Manifold deliverances with many glorious Victories have been given in upon all which we may write the King of Swedens Motto upon the Battell at Lipsich A Domino facta sunt ista my memory is not a sufficient Register nor were it fit for me at present if I were able to give you an account of particulars they are so many I will not therefore tell you of Edg-hill Newbury York c. which yet are to be accounted precious and lasting Monuments of the Lords being with us God hath given us in a bill of later providences for the Church in severall parts of the Kingdome â—on mouth New-Castle â—â—n mouth I ever poole â—aâ—en in about 〈◊〉 time by reducing severall garrisons by prevailing for us in the field in severall places God hath honoured this one day consecrated principally to the memory of Englands deliverance from the Powder-plot with such a coÌ„fluence of mercies as might justly require the separation of many dayes unto thanksgiving We had need to look that neither God be loser in his praise by giving in so much at once
us also rejoyce in your willingnesse among the people that are the Princes of our Tribes and the Governours of Israel that we may say Praise yee the Lord when we see you right Honorable doing what in you lies to keep God with us and that he may continue to take our part Three things to be doâ—â— by Maâ—istâ—ates to keep God 〈◊〉 ouâ— side to foward you therein amongst all your other pious endeavours let me exhort you to be carefull in a speciall manner of these three things viz. First Be zealous for God especially in those things that more immediately concerne him namely matters of Worship and Religion which God hath ranked in the first Table the highest forme of commandements and which our Saviour calls the first and great Commandement Mat. 22.38 These lie so neere his heart as I may say that if you be faithfull to him and tender of his honor in these you shall strongly ingage him for this cause and kingdom David upon a tender consideration laying to heart how meanly the Arke was provided for while he himselfe dwelt in a house of Cedar had but a purpose of building God an house and behold what a good influence this had upon his Kingdome the Lord ingageth himselfe thereupon for Israel 2 Sam. 7.2.10 2 Sam. 7.2.10 I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more neither shall the children of wickednesse afflict them any more as before time a David-like piety in you might have a like influence upon England at this day You have lately a By an humble Addresse from the Assembly heard what horrible blasphemies have been belched out against heaven and the glorious Name of our great God in some corner-Sermons You know what intrusions are made into the Ministery and what confusion is threatened by divisions and diversities of opinions lay these things to heart settle worship settle government speedily now that you are b Directory for Worship carried up to the House of Peeres called upon Secondly See that the Covenant be both taken and performed 'T is no lesse an honour to you that you are custodes foederis then that you are custodes utriusque tabulae It is the Covenant of the most high God who will be much provoked sure by the neglect of it since we find him angry with Zedekiah for breaking a private covenant between him and the King of Babylon Ezek. 17.16.18 So that the Lord will let him die in Babylon Ezek. 17.16.18 seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant when loe he had given his hand And he is well pleased with paying our vowes in way of thankfulnesse as may appear in Davids care therein Psal 116.14 You have holden forth a pious example in entring into our solemne League and Covenant for reformation like the much honoured Prince Josiah and that with the same sinceritie I hope with all your heart and with all your soule to perform the words of the Covenant 2 Chron. 34.31 32. O accompany that noble King one step farther in causing all in Jerusalem and Benjamin to make it and to stand to it when they have made it 2 Chron. 34.31 32. It is not more matter of joy to the Churches c See the Letter from the Churches of Wallacria to the Assembly lately printed abroad that you have brought forth such a covenant for the three Kingdoms to be united in then it may be matter of grief shame to us at home that it is so much neglected as it is many refuse to take it many that have taken it make no conscience at all of keeping it Thirdly Execute Judgement if the Lord see the want of judgement among us it will displease him Isa 59.15 By this Phinehas turned away wrath from Israel Isa 59.15 and who can tell what you may do for England if you be not wanting in this The Lord would have pardoned Jerusalem if he could have found but one man therein that had executed judgement Jer. 5.1 Jer. 5.1 As he took away the famine which he had brought for Saul and for his bloudy house when David wisely condescended to the Gibeonites and gave up seven men unto the hand of Justice for their cause 2 Sam. 21.14 2 Sam. 21.14 God was intreated for the Land as if the bloud of those delinquents had been a sacrifice to atone the Lord The executing of judgement is the Lords work and they shall be cursed that do it negligently Jer. 48.10 Jer. 48.10 And cursed shall they be that keep back their sword from bloud in this cause You know the Story of Gods Message by the Prophet unto Ahab for letting Benhadad goe upon composition 2 King 20.42 2 King 20.42 Because thou hast let goe out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction therefore thy life shall goe for his life and thy people for his people In all this I am a messenger of peace I plead not for the shedding of any mans bloud but as a Physician sometimes prescribes bloud-letting to prevent bleeding I plead for Justice upon those few that would destroy to prevent judgement upon all the kingdome Revive therefore noble Patriots those good Lawes which we have received from our fathers and honorably put them in execution upon those that would subvert them and so deprive us of our birth-right The Philosopher was wont to say that City was safe where the Citizens obeyed their Magistrates and the Magistrates obeyed their Lawes The Subjects of this Kingdome as they are zealous so they will be incouraged continue the more to obey you if they see you zealous to maintain their Laws in force which is the next priviledge of the Subject unto the freedome of their consciences and which would be a way to render this miserably wasted Kingdom happy Remember for what end the Lord put the sword of justice into your hands even to execute wrath upon them that doe evill and for the good of them that doe well Rom. 12.3 Rom. 12.3 4. 4. And hearken to the counsells of our righteous God who judgeth among you the gods of the earth The Aethiopian Judges were wont alwayes to leave the highest place upon their bench empty as a room for God we know Honored Lords you reserve a place emptie for the highest on earth and it is the griefe of honest English hearts this day that it is empty among you so we hope you reserve a place for the most high God in your counsels and that it is not emptie but he is among you to preside and govern all your consultations in the execution of justice for which wee shall ever pray Hitherto of the point observed from the words in their coherence and relation to the sixt verse 2. Point where the Lord shewed himself with the Church when her enemies rose up in rage to have consumed
Die Mercurii 6. Novemb. 1644. IT is this day Ordered by the Lords in Parliament Assembled That this House doth hereby returne thanks to Mr. Strickland for his great paines taken in the Sermon preached by him yesterday being the fift of November in the Abbey Church Westminster before their Lordships who is desired to print and publish the same And it is farther Ordered that none shall Print or reprint the said Sermon unlesse he be authorized under the hand of the said Mr. Strickland Jo Browne Cler Parliament I doe Authorize Mr Henry Overton to print this Sermon JOHN STRICKLAND IMMANVEL OR THE CHURCH TRIUMPHING IN GOD WITH US A Sermon preached before the Right Honorable House of LORDS in the Abbey of Westminster at their publique Thanksgiving November 5th 1644. By JOHN STRICKLAND B. D. Pastor of the Church at St EDMUNDS in NEVV SARUM A Member of the Assembly of Divines PSAL. 23.4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will feare no evill for thou art with me LONDON Printed by Matthew Simmons for Henry Overton at his Shop in Popes-head-Alley 1644. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE LORDS NOW ASSEMBLED IN PARLIAMENT AT WESTMINSTER MY LORDS BEsides your Appointment which carries the sacred authoritie of a command with me there are three things somewhat incline me to yeeld this Sermon to the Presse notwithstanding the just sense I have of mine own weaknesse and its unworthinesse First The birth-day of it allowed not sufficient time for a full delivery your Lordships great occasions after the Morning Sermon so straitned the time of your Evening-Sacrifice that by your late coming together I was compelled wholly to lay aside some parts and to deliver the rest by pieces Raptim as I could in such haste Now the Presse hath given me leave a little better to gather the materialls which then I scattered and to couple all into some better proportion by the sinewes of coherence that I may present you with the intire though yet unpolished body of my Meditations intended for you Secondly The matter which was suited to a day of Praises before your Loraships may be very usefull if not necessary at all times Even now * A Fast observed by both Houses of Parliament when You are putting on Your mourning-garments and when the whole Kingdome seems to be in a more sad posture then it was Novemb. 5 th Our praising God for his being with us in a thanksgiving-day may effectually admonish and prepare us to mourne after Gods presence in a day of humiliation with more affectionatenesse For as it is true Monendo laudat it is likewise true inverted Laudando monet Yea the paying of God his due tribute of praise for the great things he hath done is the way to ingage him to doe greater things for us in a future time of need if we doe it heartily it ministers courage and resolution in the cause and gives an unconquerable strength to our faith in expectation of a happy end Iehosaphat therefore made the praising of God a part of his preparation to battell when a dreadfull Army of enemies came against him 2 Chron. 20.21 2 Chron. 20.21 He appointed Singers unto the Lord that should praise the beautie of holinesse as they went out before the Army and to say Praise the Lord for his mercy indureth for ever And it was not in vaine their praising God prevailed as if it had been praying to him Ver. 22. for ver 22. When they began to Sing the Lord set Ambushments against the Children of Ammon and Moab and Mount-Seir and they were smitten Wee are behind with God in this above other duties Nature and self-love can prevaile with us to a kind of prayer in time of distresse because that is the ordinary knowne way to obtaine reliefe but praising God is a more refined and spirituall dutie above Nature and requires both puritie and strength of grace to be well performed 'T is not impossible but this plaine and home-spun Discourse may stirre up the endeavours of some in this neglected dutie one of ten to returne and give God praise and so contribute somewhat unto publique benefit Be not You guiltie of unthankfulnesse to God most Noble Peeres lest the Lord lose his end in bringing in publique mercies lest wee fare the worse and prevaile the lesse in a good cause yea lest you bring evill upon the Land as Hezekiah did by not rendring againe according to the benefit done unto him for therefore was wrath come upon him â— Chron. 32.25 and upon Iudah and Ierusalem 2 Chron. 32.25 Thirdly You are the Men my Lords with whom God will plead the Kingdomes cause and through whom in this great Controversie now on foot wee look for Gods presence with England by Gods being in your Counsells and by his blessing of your martiall affaires we all say The Lord of Hosts is with us It much concerns you it much concerns us all that You earnestly seek after and carefully keep God with you in your great imployments and that we all strive by prayer for Gods presence with You that God may stand and judge in the Assembly of our gods and therefore doe I thus humbly present this poore peice to Your Noble acceptance and patronage that it might happily put You in remembrance of your dutie if You cast your eye upon it or the people of theirs in praying for You that God may be with You in the great work of Church and State which is and shall be daily the prayer of The meanest of those that serve You in the Lord JOHN STRICKLAND IMMANUEL OR THE CHURCH TRIUMPHING IN GOD WITH US PSAL. 46.7 The Lord of Hosts is with us the God of Iacob is our refuge THE mention of the sonnes of Korah in the Title and of the earths removing and the mountaines shaking ver 2. 3. seems somewhat to countenance the opinion that the sonnes of Korah penned the Psalme upon their deliverance when the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up their father Numb 16.32 a Muscuâ—â—s Others conceive it penned by David or some other upon a notable deliverance of the Church from the Ammonites Moabites and Syrians in the dayes of David recorded 2 Sam. 10. But most probably the miraculous b 〈…〉 deliverance of the Church from the Assyrians in the time of Hezekiah when the Lord by the hand of an Angel from heaven slew in one night 185000. of the enemy as the History makes it appeare 2 King 19.35 This I say was probably the occasion but whether David or some other was the Penman of this Psalme as it is not determined so is it not materiall to our purpose However it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Psalme of praise or triumphall Song wherein the Church rejoyceth in the Lord giving him not onely the praise of her experience for a deliverance received but also the praise of her hope and confidence for the future setting him up
then the God of Jacob more then the God of Isaac shough it might suffice that the Spirit of God is pleased so to speake yet Mr Calvin gives this reason 〈…〉 â—r 〈…〉 is â—â—râ—â—â—pâ—â—uâ—â—â—â—ed magâ—â—â—oâ—â—◠〈…〉 of â—der is um Aâ—â—â—â—â—◠〈…〉 Calvin in Isaiam the covenant of grace was more solemnly made publickly ratified with Abraham and Jacob then it was with Isaac and therefore when he will be looked upon as a God in covenant with his people he holds forth himselfe more frequently by the name of the God of Abraham and the God of Jacob then of the God of Isaac albeit somtime he is pleased to take upon him that style also As a common name it carries in the compasse of it all the people of God in those times that were the children of Abraham Isa 14.1 The Lord will have mercy on Jacob and will yet choose Israel â—â—a 14.1 and set them in their owne land And by representation it is to be taken for the Church and people of God in all ages with her he is in covenant So that this phrase the God of Jacob doth import the neere interest that is between God and his Church by covenant which makes her thus triumph in him the God of Jacob. Our refuge Our refuge or strong hold where the Church as a Ship in quiet haven may anchor ride safe or it may be a metaphor from the dennes or burroughes where weaponlesse creatures find shelter when they are hunted and pursued by their enemies Pro. 30.26 as Prov. 30.26 The conies are but a feeble folk yet make they their houses in the rockes They are safe in the rock if they can get thither tho never so weak in themselves So the Church though pursued by bloudy enemies and though weak in her self if yet she get under the wing of the God of Jacob she may be fearlesse for she is safe there he is our refuge The sense of all together is briefly thus That God who by a Soveraigne power hath every creature at his command is effectually with us by a speciall presence of his providence whereby he will not onely ayd us in time of opposition and desend us in time of danger but fight for us and destroy our enemies And this he will not faile to doe for ever because he is ingaged to us by an everlasting covenant of his own free grace In the sense and experience of this the Church cannot choose but break out again and again in this joyfull ditty The Lord of hosts is with us the God of Jacob c. The words thus opened with relation to ver 6. where the church had experience of God with her when her enemies rose up in rage against her offer this point In times of opposition God sides with his Church Doct. 1 and takes part with his people against their enemies With assurance of this truth the Lord incouraged Israel to go out against their enemies to battell Deut. 20.3 4. Deut. 20.3 4. He appointed the Priest when they came nigh unto the battell to say Heare O Israel you approach this day unto battell against your enemies let not your hearts faint feare not and doe not tremble neither be yee terrified because of them for the Lord your God is he that goeth with you to fight for you against your enemies to save you Which promise though it was made to Israel only in the time of their warres concerned the Church in succeeding ages being hereditary to Israel in the mystery as well as to Israel in the letter As may appear in that David long after in his experieÌ„ce found this promise verified in Gods rising up with him against the enemies of the Church in his time that opposed his kingdome government whereby he was so much incouraged Psal 118. â— 7 Psal 118.6 7. The Lord is on my side I will not â—eare what can man doe unto me the Lord taketh my part with them that help me therefore shall I see my desire on them that â—ate me 〈…〉 Muâ—â—uâ—â—â— in loâ—â—â—â— He was I say so much herewith incouraged Ut de eo considentèr gloriatur fuerat enim id saepenumero â—e ipsa expertuâ— saith one He glorieth in it against all his enemies were they never so many and his helpers never so few This advantage of having God to take his part raised up his spirit above all the odds that were between him and the uncircumcised Goliah and it is notable to observe what a description of God David sets before the eye of his faith when he was to enter the lists with that Philistim 1 Sam. 17.45 1 Sam. 17.45 Thou comest to me with a sword and with a speare and with a shield but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts the God of the armies of Israel whom thou hast defied he sets God forth in his soveraigntie over all creatures whereby he commands and rules over enemies and in his relation to the Church whereby he stands ingaged to assist and maintain those that stand up in her cause which David looks upon as more then all those weapons * Pro istis omnâ—bus unuÌ„ tantum teâ—um habâ—o sed mâ—ximi pondâ—â—is nâ—me Doâ—â—i Peter Martyr that Goliah brought into the field against him for God will not faile to use both the one and the other as the Church in her need shall require he will bridle her enemies by divisioÌ„ if there be no other way to restrain them and he will send from heaven to keep them play if there want humane help to manage her cause against them See Calvin on place Of both which we may see an experiment when Cambyses became a Persian scourge unto the Church the Lord sends first a single Angel then Michael the Prince to divert him and in after-ages he raised up the Prince of Graecia to oppose the Persian lest he should have oppressed the Church with his might Dan. 10.13.20 21. Gods fiding with his Church appears in three things Dan. 10.13.20 21. And as this is a truth in it selfe so the Lord is pleased to manifest it by the Churches experience in three things First In that God upholds his Church and people from ruine in the middest of destructive miseries as the bush that burned and was not consumed and against the cruelties of men which are skilfull to destroy in whom many times there wants not either malice or power This the Church acknowledged with all thankfulnesse Ps 124.1 2 3. Psal 124.1 2 3. in reference unto those manifold insurrections which the heathen made against the Church not onely in the time of David If it had not been the Lord who was on our side now may Israel say if it had not been the Lord who was on our side when men rose up against us they had swallowed us up quick when their wrath was kindled against us Such were our enemies and such our
nor we surfet in being lifted up by abundance of mercy It is reported of Philip King of Macedon when he heard so much good newes at once as namely that Parmenio his Generall had got the victory over his enemies that his Son Alexander was borne and that his Chariots won the prize at Olympus all in one day he called upon fortune to spice his joyes with some bitternesse lest he should surfeit of them and forget himselfe wee had need to joyne with this King in our feare and our care that we doe not forget our selves nor the Lord our God now that we have received so much at once Let us therefore spice our joyes in the fruition of these mercies with a fixed observation and acknowledgement of Gods own hand in bringing about all these great things for us Three Characters that our victories and deliverances have bin generally brought about by a speciall hand of God and that God hath taken our part therein which in the dispensation of them may by an intelligent observer be discerned by three things that have commonly been evident in all our deliverances and victories viz. 1. They have not usually been given us till the creatures help and strength hath been brought to a non-plus at least we have seen the creature failing before God hath turned the day for us your Wisdomes observed how it was with us in the beginning of the day at Edg-hill at York to say no more Ut victoria quâ—madmodum à se daÌ„da erat it a a se etiam evidenter apparcret Peter Martyr in Judg. 7.2 the Lord in those days did by the hand of a few which all the army could not doe that it might more clearly appear that what was done was from God saith Peter Martyr even as Judg. 7.2 the Lord would rather give the Midianites into the hand of 300 men then Gideons whole Army Lest Israel vaunt themselves against me saith God saying Mine own hand hath saved me In middest of many humane helps God often loseth the honor of his help but when all others faile Gods help is glorious the Psalmist moves God to help his Church at a pinch when mans help could doe no good as being then the fittest time for God to do it Psal 60.11 Psal 60.11 Given us help in trouble for vaine is the help of man How clearly hath Gods hand been put forth in our victories when we were even upon the brink of an overthrow as Vaux of his giving fire Quantillum abfuit wee might say of our destructions from which GOD hath set us free 2. Our publick mercies have generally been brought us upon prayer and fasting duties that are sent out by the Church for Gods help power to her assistance and as we have held up in these more or lesse we have more or lesse prevailed against our enemies as Israel against Amalek Exod. 17.11 Exod. 17.11 while Moses held up his hands God hath broken the arrowes of the bow the shield the sword and the battell in our Churches as he did for his people in Salem Psal 76.2 3. Aelian Psal 76.2 3. because there we prevailed with God in wrestling as Jacob. The Tarentini had a feast which they called Jejunium in memoriall of that reliefe which the Rhegini spared upon every tenth dayes fast and sent them when they were besieged so though we sacrifice not nor ascribe to our fasting and prayers yet we might well set up a feast of thankfulness to God in memoriall of such publick favours as have evidently been the fruit of prayer and fasting And the rather because the honor of such mercies as come in that way is clearly cast upon God who hearing prayers doth whatsoever is done thereby in that prayer setteth God on work which was the ground of Luthers admirable confidence wherein he was wont to say when they had prayed together against the Churches enemies Vicimus we have overcome he knew God would not be wanting either to heare the prayers or by his power to fulfill the desires of the righteous 3. They have been given us in a way above humane probabilities and notwithstanding disadvantages when the enemy hath had the advantage of place and multitude At the former fight about Newbery in so much that they sometime triumphed over us before the victory whereby it hath appeared that victory was given us by him to whom nothing is difficult Thus Joshua reasons Josh 23.10 Josh 23.10 One of you shall chase a thousand because it is God that sighteth for you as he reasons from the cause to the effect we may all as well from the effect unto the cause thus it hath been with our armies therefore the Lord fought for us Yea so much have we seen of Gods going out with us alwayes into the field that the enemy was never yet knowne to prevaile against us but by our either treachery or negligence God hath never been wanting to us though we have been too much wanting to our selves Oh that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodnesse and for his wonderfull works to the children of men this is a day wherein praises should waite for the Lord Psal 65.1 Tibi silet laus Psal 65.1 as Pagnine renders it Praise is silent to thee O God in Sion Such a throng of praises and so great that they were unutterable and therefore silent-praise as they say of cares Leves loquuntur ingentes stupent Our praises of God for our late publique mercies should have three speciall properties yet though our praises should be more then we can expresse yet we should this day endeavour to expresse our praises unto God as much as we can and endeavour also that our praises should have these three following qualifications viz. 1. We should see that they be self-denying-praises creature-praising is the way to breed creature-considence and we have had too much of that already let us frame our praises to the tune of the Psalmist Psal 115.1 Psal 115.1 Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name give glory Not that any gallant Spirits should be deprived of the honor due unto them it is their honor that God will delight to use them as instruments for the good of his Church It was a notable custome among the Romans that when they had obtained a victory the Generall was wont to send Letters deckt with laurell to the Consulls to require them decernere supplicationes it seems they made account that they stood in need of prayers rather then of praises 2. Strive that our praises may be God-exalting praises we should boast of God as the Church doth Ps 44.7 8. Psal 44.7 8. Thou hast saved us from our enemies hast put them to shame that hated us in God we boast all the day long and will praise thy Name for ever We should not onely praise him with high praises with the best members that we have and highly
with him in behalf of the Church and thereupon he should be invincible Josh 1.5 Josh 1.5 There shall not any man he able to stand before thee all the dayes of thy life as I was with Moses so will I be with thee By vertue of this presence the instruments of the Churches help are instruments in Gods hand which puts upon them such a majestie and furnisheth them with such a power as that nothing dare or can stand in their way When God will use the poorest creature as an instrument in his hand either of mercy or justice it is exceedingly set up in esteem though otherwise in it self it be but contemptible and by making them so dreadfull the Lord powres out a spirit of feare and amazement upon the enemies of the Church who when they see the presence of God in and with his servants cannot stand before them Which made the Psalmist so earnest with the Lord by prayer to arise and shew himself Psal 68.1 2. Psal 68.1 2. Let God arise let his enemies be scattered let them also that hate him flee before him As smoak is driven away so drive them away as wax melteth before the sire so let the wicked perish at the presence of God So it was with the Aegyptians when once they perceived Gods presence with Israel they were presently routed and took it their best course to flee Exod. 14.25 Exod. 14.25 Let us flee from the face of Israel for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians So it was also with the enemies of the Church that ver 6. of this Psalme rose up in rage against her the Lord did no sooner declare himselfe to be for the Church by uttering his voyce but as wax melteth before the fire they melted the earth melted Vse 1 1. Hence they must needs be concluded enemies to the Church of England that would have bereaved her of such a precious priviledge in driving away Gods presence from her such a generation of men there were among us that by compliances with Idols and Idolatry went about to drive God away and yet bore up themselves as the onely friends and patrons of the Church of England What consistence can there be between the Ark and Dagon What concord between God and Idols By their cursed innovations the glory was even departing from our Israel and the Church of England made even like Jerusalem when the glory of the Lord was upon the threshold to depart Ezek. 9.3 Ezek. 9.3 The glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the Cherub whereupon he was to the threshold of the house a sad praeludium saith Calvin of his departure indeed for though it returned from the threshold of the house and stood over the Cherubims againe Ezek. 10.18 as loth to depart Ezek. 11.23 yet Ezek. 11.23 at length the glory of the Lord went not onely to the threshold of the house but unto the middest of the Citie and from the middest of the city to the tops of the mountains How far the state of our Church hath run parallel to those tragical dispensations in Jerusalem I leave to your wise observations but sure I am Gods presence both of grace in his Ordinances and of providence in our State-affaires which hath been heretofore the glory of our Land was not long since in a departing posture upon the threshold with us God was weary of our new Moons and Sabbaths and the calling of our Assemblies he could not smell in our solemn feasts our sacrifices were an abomination to him through the noysomness of those corruptions which Hophni and Phinehas superstitious and wicked men in the Priesthood mingled with them yea look what made the Lord forsake the Tabernacle of Shilo where he had placed his Named Psa 78.58 60. Psal 78.58 60. the same was found in the middest of us They provoked God to anger with their high places and moved him to jealousie with their graven Images whereby they have caused the Lord so far to forsake us that as the Prophet speaketh Here is a great forsaking in the midst of the land and the Church as a man in deliquio Isa 6.12 by the conflicts of truth and error is brought to that passe Ut nec morbum ferre potest nec remedium shee faints under our hands while you the Physicians of Church and State are about the cure and the spring of our present miseries in the Church was the late corruption and tyrannie of those in the Ministery that lorded it over Gods heritage their Popish setting up the power of nature and depressing the grace of God in matters of salvation formerly hath begotten a sleighting of all inherent sanctification and a scorning of all duties of obedience to the Law in these dayes under pretext of setting up the free grace of God their pressing men with such rigour to conformity hath begotten an humour of separation from all order and uniformity in our Church I might shew the like in other evills of errours and divisions now among us whereby confusion is threatned both to the Church and State and which and many mischieves of another kind have been occasioned by them Vse 2 2. Let us learn to improve this truth to the best advantage of our Church and State both by labouring to get God an interest of presence in our counsels and in our armies surely it will both secure us in time of danger and make the Church for ever invincible If God be with us saith the Apostle Rom. 8.31 who can be against us the danger of our times the malice of our enemies How the consideration of Gods presence with the Church may be improved at present to a fourfold advantage of our Church and the distractions of our selves call upon us earnestly to such indeavour and also by taking the advantage and opportunity of Gods presence with us to carry on the publike work of Church and Stage-reformation against all opposition with more life and cheerfulnesse for which purpose wee may make a fourfold advantage of Gods presence with us 1. It may incourage men to stand up and heighten their spirits in standing for the Churches cause that Gods presence with the Church makes her so impregnable if the Lord in former times did but lift up an ensign if he did but hisse the nations from far and they from the ends of the earth would come with speed swiftly to the work of the Lord Isa 5.26 how much more should a people that are not strangers Isa 5.29 be incouraged to come with speed swiftly to the work of the Lord when hee hath not only lift up an Ensign and given a Eanner to them that feare him that it might be displayed because of the truth Psal 60.4 but also hee himselfe stands up and having girded his sword upon his thigh Psal 60.4 with his glory and with his majesty will goe before them therein to be with to fight for them Gideon
desired no more encouragement to undertake the Churches cause then that hee might bee assured the Lord would be with him therein What great exploration he makes Judg. 6. Judg. 6. He questions vers 12 13. then he requires the signe of consuming his present in the nature of a Sacrifice vers 17. Then another signe by the dew upon the fleece and the ground dry And again by the dew on the ground and the fleece dry vers 36. And all this that he might but be sure the Lord would be with him in the Churches warres against the Midianites and that hee might but write this Motto upon his Ensigne The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon * Malus miles qui gemens Imperatorem sequitur What faint heart would not gather spirit to follow such a Leader cheerfully and that in such a cause as is unconquerable Luther did hearten himselfe and his followers in the work of Reformation even the same reformation that is now a doing that Christ was with them * Si nos ruemus ruet Christus und scilâ—cet regnator ille mundi Luther and that if the did sinke therein Christ also the governour of the world must sink with them It was wont to be the word of encouragement from God to his servants of old in any great undertaking Goe and I will be with you Let it be the encouragement of men at this day to shew themselves and to be really active in the great affaires of the Church and Kingdome 2. To support the hearts of Gods people that they may hold out in these discouraging times wherein apsition is great distractions are many and deliverances long a comming Gods presence with the Church is a sufficient pawne of a good issue at length to make faith patience hold out Deliverance shal come saith Mordecai though the Queen upon whom depends much of the Churches hope should be unfaithfull to the cause Est 4.14 Icrem 8.15 Est 4.14 The case of England at this day is much like the calamitous coÌ„dition of the Jews Jer. 8.15 We looked for peace but no good came and for a time of health and behold trouble We have passed through and beyond so many horizons of hope expecting the period of our trouble to have lien in their severall compasses as that such a battell will bring things toward an issue such a man and such an army will give a good stroke to the businesse by such and such a time wee shall see what will become of things this yeere and that Summer Verse 20. we hope will put an end to all and still have been deceived of our hopes as ver 20. The Harvest is past and the Summer is ended and yet wee are not saved so that now when wee would comfort our selves against sorrow Verse 18. ver 18. our hearts are faint in us Against these faintings of our hopes apply this truth now set before you Gods presence with the Church makes her for ever invincible and then with faithfull Abraham we may against hope believe in hope Rom. 4.18 though the vision be yet for an appointed time we may believe the Prophets word and therefore may follow the Prophets counsell Hab. 2.3 Hab. 2.3 At the end it shall speak and not lie though it tarry wait for it because it will surely come it will not tarry 3. To be a preservative against carnall fears which may sometimes surprize the hearts of people well affected to the cause and Church of God when the Church is brought low even under the power of an insulting enemy that would be as mercilesse as fire against water the Lord applies this his presence with the Church the assurance thereof as a present remedy in such a case Isa 43.1 2. Feare not Isa 43.1 2. for I will be with thee both in fire and water When the Prophet David considered his interest in God he is carried above all feares and expostulates as if it were unreasonable for a man to feare any man Psal 27.1 or any thing in opposition to God Psal 27.1 The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I feare The Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid It were to undervalue God if wee should feare the creatures when he is with us Antigonus when he over-heard his souldiers reckoning how many their enemies were hee steps in unto them suddenly demanding And how many do you reckon mee for so God may at once both shame and incourage our fearfull hearts when they are too much apaled at the multitude or strength of enemies if he should put us to the question how many we reckon the Lord for and whether he be not an over-match for all the enemies that the world can possibly muster against the Church Let us therefore improve Gods presence with his Church to stave off all carnall feares as Caleb and Joshua did incourage the Israelites who had been discouraged from looking after the land of Canaan by the former Spies that had told them the Inhabitants were sons of Anak and the cities in Canaan were walled up to heaven whereby the hearts of Israel were strongly possessed with carnall feare Caleb and Joshua strove by this truth to raise up their hearts Numb 14.9 saying Numb 14.9 Only rebell not yee against the Lord neither feare yee the people of the land for they are bread for us their defence is departed from them and the Lord is with us feare them not 4. To highten our praises his mercie endureth for ever as Gods presence is a Shield and Buckler to the Church against present danger whereby our liberties lives and religion which have been and still are at stake are preserved and the Kingdome not given up to desolation so is it a pledge of perpetuall safety the Church shal not need to fear that ever her enemies shall overcome and lay her waste it makes her for ever invincible the Prophet gives this as a reason why God is so greatly to be praised in the mountain of his holinesse Psal 48.1 because God will establish it for ever Psal 48 1. vers 48. It makes every publick mercie which the Church receives an everlasting mercy our deliverances everlasting deliverances our victories everlasting victories for though the Church may hereafter in her militant coÌ„dition suffer under the hands of cruel men for a time it shall be but for a time for she is like the wise mans house in the Gospell builded upon the Rock Mat. 7.24 25. even that Rock against which the gates of hell shall not prevaile the stormes may beat upon her but they cannot beat her downe she shall out-live all trouble through Gods presence with her and that shall give her rest as God promised Moses So our Psalmist concludes Vers 5 vers 5. God is in the midst of her shee shall not be moved God shall help her and that right early Praise yee the Lord. FINIS