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A89195 The churches troubles and deliverance, or, Certaine sermons tending to shew the reasons why the Lord doth sometimes bring his people into extremities, with the blessed issue and fruits thereof, on Gen. 22. 14. Also divers arguments giving good hope that yet God will be gracious to England, and not deliver us into our enemies hands. Also some things briefly on Rev. 11. 7. to 14. Bby Tho. Mocket, Mr. of Arts, and preacher of Gods word at Holt in Denbigh-shire. Mocket, Thomas, 1602-1670? 1642 (1642) Wing M2305; Thomason E110_18; ESTC R19617 74,158 93

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buty the Churches mercies and hopes in the ruines of destruction and that curse when they should blesse and blaspheme where they should set up monuments to perpetuate the praises of God and the remembrance of his mercies So especially doth that wicked Balaam of Rome by his Buls and Excommunications and his Abettou●s here Such are in a fearfull condition the good Lord open their eyes to see and consider and make use of that gracious and terrible speech of God comfortable to his people and terrible to their enemies Cursed be he that curseth you Gen 27.20 Num. 24.9 and blessed be he that blesseth you spoken indeed to Jacob but in him to all the Israel of God as it is applyed by him whose eyes were open and saw the vision of God Vse of Exhortation Secondly Whatsoever others doe or our selves have formerly done yet let us now be hence convinced of our failings be humbled for them and excited to our duty and that is 1. To give God the praise of all mercies and deliverances and of all his wondrous workes God gives deliverance to his people that he may fill their hearts and mouthes with Songs of praise and gives us a charge so to doe Call upon me in the time of trouble and I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me Sing unto him sing Psalmes unto him Isal 50.15.105 2. and talke of all his wondrous workes 2. To praise Gods due and our duty for all his goodnesse to us and his ioyne prayer to God for our selves and the Church that God would be pleased still to goe on to doe us good that God would accomplish his worke and doe good unto Zion and be favourable to Ierusalem ever watch over it preserve support comfort it and perfect his mercies and evermore mightily defend it that Ierusalem may be the praise of the whole Earth Cant 6.4 Comely as Titz●h in respect of pure order and ordinances and terrible as an Army with banners to the enemies in respect of d●●me blessing and protection To move us to thankfulnesse consider these Motives 1. The number Motives greatnesse variety sutablenesse and continuance of Gods mercies and deliverances both personall and nationall temporall and spirituall of which a touch hath bin given before And surely the more the greater and more excellent mercies are the more they will a fect and stirre the heart if there be but a principle of common honesty in it and any notice taken of them 2. Consider the affections of God the giver which is to be preferred before a Parents Never was a Father nor a Mothers love whose affections are usually more tender more to their child then Gods is to his chosen See Isa 49.15 It is therefore set downe by way of admiration God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Sonne Joh. 3.16 1 Joh. 3.1 and Behold what love the Father hath shewed unto us This consideration and perswasion is very needfull for unlesse we be perswaded and doe consider that what God doth for his people and for our selves in particular is not in wrath as he sometime gave Israel a King in his anger and Quailes to murmuring Israel but in mercy out of love and for our good we cannot be truely thankfull we are more thankfull for a small kindnesse from him whom we know loveth us then for a farre greater matter from him of whose good affection towards us we have just cause to doubt it is the perswasion of a kindnesse and love in a benefactour that stirres up to thankfulnesse and when these meet together that good turnes are great many sutable to our condition and desires durable and out of love and a man is perswaded of this then they affect the heart kindly 3. Consider all so the freenesse of God the giver that all mercies and deliverances are free and altogether undeserved He is not bound to us by way of desert and debt but of free promise Gen. 32.10 We are all as was Iacob lesse then the least of all his mercies all is of meere grace and free favour If we have but a bit of bread and cold water it is free mercy if more it is his bounty if nothing at all if he give nothing but take away all we have and punish us also for our sins he doth us no wrong we have no cause to complaine but to justifie the Lord. This is very considerable to move us to thankfulnesse 4. Consider our miserable condition without these mercies which we may know carendo magis quam fruendo best by the want of them Did we a while want health strength liberty meat drinke apparell or the like we should thinke our case ill Were we turmoyled a while with civill warre which God in mercy avert as in Germany and Ireland at this day where very many thousands are already slaine and they that survive most of them have their goods spoyled their houses burnt themselves turned out naked very many of them some have their husbands some their sonnes barbarously murdered before their eyes some their wives or daughters or both desloured shamefully abused and afterward butchered by rude Souldiers some women as I remember ript up alive some have their fruit drop from them as they hang on the gallowes some grievously mangled and many other miseries which they onely can best know that feele them or are eye and ear-witnesses of them But it is much worse where a soule lyes under an accusing condemning tormenting conscience wants and feeles the want of pardon of sinne and Gods favour this is the greatest misery Thinke then what a piteous case you should be in were it thus with us as undoubtedly it had bin before this if our proud enemies had prevailed as they hoped and believed they should doe and are yet confident yea if you want but outward mercies as liberty meat drinke c. but a few dayes and much more if you want pardon of sin for which a conscious sinner would give all the world and lye under a sore wounded conscience and let the consideration of the want of mercies make us truely thankfull for what we doe enjoy 5. Thinke also on the other-side what an happinesse it is to enjoy these m●r●rs and deliverances which we by the goodnesse of God and the wisedome and care of the Parliament doe enjoy Oh how happy would many a thousand in Germany and Ireland that are in extreame want ready to perish thinke themselves did they enjoy the plenty we doe or the fourth part of it if they had but bread enough though never so course to put into their bellies Or he that is extreame heart-sicke even ready to breathe out the last gaspe to have health I he poore wearied man with continuall frights fears alarums and great dangers to enjoy peace And so in other things all which by the indulgent goodness of God we doe yet enjoy We were happy if we had eyes to see our owne
what they should meet with in the way to Heaven and prepare for the worst Quest. You will say what is to be done that we may be prepared for troubles that whatsoever troubles may befall us we may be able with comfort to undergoe them Answ 1. First and above all get God to be thy friend Directions Rom 8 31. Isa 54.17 to be reconciled unto him and have interest in him For if God be with us saith the Apostle who can be against us what enemy what weapon can prevaile If a man be brought into the Mount into never so great troubles to the uttermost extremity that all meanes helps and hopes in the world faile him yet if he have assurance of Gods love and favour who is all sufficient and all i● all all outward troubles and wants will seem little or nothing to him Therefore here Abraham went as willingly into the Mount and did undergoe this great tryall with as composed and cheerfull a spirit and so hath many a faithfull servant of God formerly and of late yeares went to prison to the Pillory yea to the stake as cheerfull as many a man would goe to his owne house Therefore seeke unto God betimes make thy peace with him confesse and bewayle thy sinnes humble thy selfe before him intreat his favour in the Lord Jesus Act. 12. as the Sydonians did Herods favour by the meanes of Blastus the Kings Chamberlaine And this if we doe be at peace with him while we are in peace and prosperity he will know our souls in adversity and we shall alwayes have a rocke to sly unto in the greatest waves and surges of affliction and a sure way to save all Mat. 20.39 even then when we lose all in the world for his sake 2. Fore-cast the cost and charge of Religion and likewise the rewards and comforts Fore-thinke the worst that may come the greatest afflictions troubles persecution or other tryals that can befall And thinke also of the rich reward and comforts of well doing here and hereafter and then c●st up the accounts and see what a mighty disproportion there is betwixt the affliction and troubles here and glory hereafter As the Apostle did saith he I reckon Rom 8.18 that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us I reckon He cast up all before-hand In vulgata Edit Roberti Stepha●i The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies not as the vulgar translation renders it Existimo I thinke implying only a probable conjecture but a certaine weighing and concluding upon sound consideration As a man that casts up accounts reckons up all the small summes and layes the particulars together to see what the product or totall is so the Apostle casts up all the particular sufferings that he had or could suffer from the hands of God Men Devils or any other creatures or any way for righteousnesse sake and layes all together and then compares that with glory and upon sound judgement concludes I reckon that the sufferings And so must we doe if we would comfortably undergoe the worst condition as Paul did This good advise our Saviour gave to his followers when he saw great multitudes he turned to them and said Whosoever doth not beare his Crosse and come after me Luk. 14 27.28 ●9 30 31. he cannot be my Disciple Also more clearly in the Parables of bu●lding a Towes and making warre with another King therefore fore-cast the cost consider before-hand what you may s●ff●r and the great and incomparable reward of well-doing and suffering in a good cause 3. Settle in thy heart a full purpose and firme resolution in the Name of God to stand it out to undergoe the worst come what will come be it losse of credit in the world losse of liberty or wealth yea to dye and to part with all rather then Christ and his truth or betray the peace of the Land or doe any unrighteous action res●lve to suff●r rather then to sinne Such a resolution Paul ●ad when his friends told him that he must be bound at Jerusalem Act. 21 13. and be delivered into the hands of the Gentiles and besought him with teares not to goe up to Jerusalem saith he What doe ye meane to weep and to breake my heart I am ready not to be bound only but also to dye at Jerus●lem for the Name of the Lord J●●us C. 20. v. 23 24. Likewise Cap. 20. The Holy-Ghost witnesseth in every City saying That bonds and afflictions abide me but none of these things move me neither count I my life deare unto my selfe so that 〈◊〉 might finish my course with ioy and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus Resolution will carry a man on far and inable him to undergoe much 4 Labour for an habit of Self-denyall This will be of great use and help us much Therefore our Lord Christ when he exhorted any to follow him in taking up his Crosse i.e. by a willing submitting to suffer and undergoe all troubles they should meet with in the way to Heaven gives them this good counsell and commands them to observe it to deny themselves Mat. 16.24 If any man will come after me let him deny himselfe and take up his Crosse and follow me Marke the order of the words and then this will follow That he that will beare all afflictions and tryals comfortably and follow Christ sincerely must first deny himselfe When a thing is dead you may doe with it what you will pricke it or throw it into the fire it is not moved so it is with the man whose carnall will reason and affections are mortified when a man is dead to the world then whipping buffering or the fiery tryall of persecution which strips a man of all outward things troubles him not or very little Let us therefore labour to mortifie our lusts to deny our selves take off our hearts and affections from the world and the things of it and set them upon God Christ Heaven and Life eternall and so on the wayes and meanes that will bring us thither for he that hath learned to deny himselfe in any thing and hath his heart weaned from them will without trouble part with an Isaac with any thing at Gods command suffer the losse of all with joy as the faithfull Jewes did Heb. 10. and regard no bands afflictions Heb. 10.34 Rev 12.11 Act. 20.23 24. or sufferings They loved not their lives unto the death None of these things move me saith Paul a self-denying Christian neither count I my life deare unto me c. Oh this world is a mighty hinderance to suffering When God cals into the Mount these earthly comforts and contentments are like a great clog on our hearts and hinder us much We are wonderfull unwilling to part with a deare friend especially an Isaac a beloved sonne or husband or wife or our estates
preferment reputation in the world ease liberty or any carnall contentments we affect therefore get thy heart off from those deny thy selfe in those or whatsoever worldly thing is deare unto thee and then it will be an easie matter with Abraham to follow God into the Mount to doe or suffer any thing at his command and for his sake 5. That a man may undergoe with comfort greater tryals he must begin and exercise himselfe with smaller sufferings to beare them cheerfully He must doe as men doe for temporall skirmishes to sight with men First they learne in private Schooles and it may be with woodden swords or with blunted points that will doe little or no hurt They that will be victorious in set-battles doe first traine themselves at home and see how they can carry themselves learne their severall postures for every sadden emergent occasion shoot first with powder at marks c. So a Christian that would behave himselfe bravely in Christs field in Christs cause with Abraham Job c. must learne and exercise himselfe at home and before hand learne to suffer at home and beare the thrusts of woodden Swords the persecutions of Protestants the scoffes scorns reproaches and other vile carriages of carnall Protestants before he enter into the field to encounter the bloody perfections of Papists and their Adherents He that cannot indure the frownes disgraces threats and such like petty in juries from evill men prophane wretches though they be great persons in the world will never by any ordinary providence stand out to shed his blood in the cause of God for the Lord Christ and his Countries good So againe he that cannot beare petty losses crosses or troubles will hardly ever great tryals with more then ordinary assistance from God It is therefore good to begin betimes to accustome our selves to beare and slight all scoffes scornes and custome our selves to beare and slight all scoffes scornes and frownes of men cheerfully to undergoe all small losses and troubles sicitur ad magna and so we shall in time be inabled t undergoe great things with little alteration in our affection yea with much patience cheerfulnesse courage and constancy 6. Labour to have a strong well rooted and well grounded faith and love of God and Christ 1. Faith a well planted and well grounded faith this will enable to cleave unto God in the hardest times to cast our selves and rely wholy on his providence in hope above hope when all worldly means helps and hopes faile 2. Love Eph. 3.17 labour to be rooted and grounded in love as the Apostle speakes what is the reason that many fall away in evill times in times of suffering is it not because they have no true sincere love to Jesus Christ and his Truth Many waters are not able to quench Love neither can floods of water drowne it i. e. no afflictions Cant. 8.6 7. Rom. 8.37 38 his cause and waies but as he in the Story if one hand be cut off he will hold by the other if that also be cut off he will catch hold with his teeth He will resolve with Ruth for Christ and the cause of God and his Countries good Whither thou goest I will goe Ruth 1.16 17. and where thou lodgest I will lodge where thou diest I will die c. Therefore Beloved in the Lord labour for a well grounded faith and a sound unfained love to God to Jesus Christ and your Countries peace and welfare sound love I say not superficiall a lip-love but a deepe rooted and well grounded love The reason why the good seed that was sowne and sprang up quickly wither'd when the Sunne rose was because it had not sound rooting it wanted root be carefull therefore to have a well grounded love that hath good rooting root of judgement and root of affection to have such a love as Christ hath to us even to dye for us so doe you love him so as to be willing to part with an Isaac with any thing be it life it selfe for his sake Now treasure up faith and patience and love as Joseph did corne seeing a day of utterance will come a day of spending not of getting a day wherein all wee have may bee little enough 7. To adde one more for we cannot say too much we cannot be too well prepared for the evill day I say with the Apostle Tut on the whole Armour of God Eph. 6.11 12 13. that you may be able to withstand in the evill day and having done all to stand for we wrestle not with flesh and blood but against principalities and powers c. If a man be to fight with his enemy in the field he will put on his armour to defend himselfe in the best wise he can and great reason he should doe so his life is in danger In like manner should the true Christian doe we in our suff rings and tryals have to encounter not onely with outward troubles and inward corruptions but also with Satan who is not flesh and blood but a spirit mighty in power and policy therefore called Principalities Powers the Rulers of the darknesse of this world the god of this world c. and therefore we have great need to buckle about us all the peeces of our spirituall armour and be well skilled in the use of them and they are these 7. The 1. Pecce of the Christians spirituall Armour ver 14. is the girdle of Truth that is Vprightnesse Sincerity and single heartednesse to sticke to the Truth for the Truths sake to take Christ for himselfe Religion for Religions sake A girdle is for use and ornament it is comely and profitable and so is this it will be of great use for a Christian in evill times as a girdle was in those dayes when men wore long garments to bind them together that they might better apply themselves to their worke runne goe or doe any thing which a long loose garment would hinder Therefore buckle on this peece of Armour labour to be sincere upright hearted in all your wayes and dealings with God and men and to imbrace Christ the truth and Religion for themselves not for by-respects 2. The Breast-plate of Righteousnesse or Justice Ver. 14. Put on the Brest-plate of Righteousnesse saith the Apostle Righteousnesse or Justice I meane distributive Justice whereby a man doth carry himselfe righteously and justly in all his wayes toward God and men giving unto God that beliefe love feare honour praise and obedience that is due unto him and to men that love respect obedience c. that is due unto him I meane in respect of unfained desire and endeavour This is a Brest-plate what is the use of a Brest-plate to guard the heart liver and other vitall parts from darts arrowes shot and the thrusts of the enemies so doth Righteousnes guard a man against temptations in times of tryall Therfore labor to manifest the truth and power of godlines
by an hearty indeavour to walke in obedience to all the commands of God to give unto God that tribute of praise love c. that to him appertaineth and is due Render to God the things that are Gods 2 Cor. 1.12 The Apostle tels us the benefit of it when he saith This is our reioycing namely in times of affliction and trouble the testimony of our conscience that in simpl●city and godly sincerity we have had our conversation in the world this will comfort and cheere the spirit in evill times Psal 110 6. 〈◊〉 4 6 7 8. Then shall I not be ashamed said David when I have respect to all thy commandments So Paul I am now ready to be offered up i. e. to shed my blood for the Gospell and Christ hence-forth is laid up for me a crowne of Righteousnesse c. But how came he by this comfort and confidence that he could with such willingnesse shed his blood in the cause of Christ saith he J have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith the doctrine and grace of faith Oh what a comfort will it be to a man in evill times in all his troubles that he can truly say I have walked uprightly before God I have discharged a good conscience in all things I have lived in all good conscience towards God and towards man Ver. 15. A 3● Peece of spirituall armour are shooes of peace shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace i. e. when a man hath true peace of conscience and with God arising from the knowledge of the Gospell and what God and Christ hath done for him Likewise when he hath true Christian patience a patient spirit to suffer any thing for Christ and the Gospell This will prepare and arme the soule against all troubles a man shall meet with in the way to Heaven as shooes doe save the feet and arme them against the prickes and thornes If a man have no shooes though he may walke well on the smooth ground yet he cannot endure sharp gravell prickes and thornes but he that is well shod can tread upon them and make a sport of it So many can endure any reproaches c by reason of patience and inward peace Act. 5.41 Heb. 10.34 that is one maine reason why the Martyrs were not moved with persecution imprisonment yea rejoyced at the stake in the midst of the flames therefore labour to be shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace to be armed with peace and Christian patience This will arme a man against the prickes A 4h. Peece of spirituall armour is Eph. 6.16 The shield of faith Above all sayes the Apostle take the field of faith There is a double faith historicall and justifying First a man must have historicall faith which is an assent to the truth knowne A man must be soundly principled and informed in the grounds of the true Christian Religion otherwise he shall never be able to suffer for the Gospell of Christ till well grounded in the truth of Christ much lesse wholly cast himselfe upon the goodnesse of God and lay down his life for Christ He that would be able to s●ff●r for the Gospell must first know and be ●ss●red that that is the only true Religion and that the true reformed Protestant Religion which by the goodnesse of God we enjoy and professe is evidently grounded upon the Gospell of Christ A man will never suff●r for that he doth unlesse he hath good ground for what he suffers for what man will lay downe his life for he knowes not what An ignorant person is easily seduced and d●awne from the true Protestant Religion to Popery because he hath no good ground for his Religion though there be cleare ground enough for it in the word of G d. a Tim. 1.11 Paul did indeed valiantly stand to the truth of the Gospell For which cause I suffer these things Neverthelesse I am not ashamed marke his reason for I know whom I have beleeved So againe Rom. 1.16 I am not ashamed of the Gospell of Christ for sa●th he it is the power of God unto salvation therefore he was confident in it and most willing to suff●r for it Labour therefore to be well grounded in the knowledge of the truth that you may be able to answer the advers●ry when he shall aske you why will you run your selfe into danger why will you s●ff r remember your selfe life is sweet and the fire is terrible you may answer why should I not I know that it is the truth I can give you good reason of my faith from Gods owne word therefore doe your pleasure I will never deny it or shrinke from it 2. Saving or iustifying faith which we may properly call also divine faith which is a grace of God whereby a man doth rest himselfe on the promises of the Gospell waiting upon God for the accomplishing of them to himselfe in particular in Gods due time by which a man doth shrowd himselfe under the wing of Gods protection for help against all evill and evill ones and for strength in temptations and tryals This guards the soule as a shield and buckler doe the body It makes God our shield and buckler against all the fiery darts of the Devill our advers●ry who is most busie in times of affliction and tryals Above all take the shield of faith This will hold up the head in the midst of all s●fferings and tryals I had fainted said David unl sse I had beleeved to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the Land of the living P● 17 13. Heb. 10 37. H●b 2.4 The iust shall live by his faith saith the Apostle from the Prophet Habakkuk hee speaks of evill times when there is nothing to support but his faith in God as Abraham here This inables the true Christian to overcome the world 〈◊〉 J●h 5.4 in all temptations and allurements from the world and evill men This made Paul and the Apostles and all those worthies mentioned Heb. 11. so couragious in all afflictions and tryals therefore labour to have a firme faith in the undoubted accomplishment of all the gracious promises of God in due time 5. Hope The Helmet of salvation Eph. 6.17 Hope of Heaven and salvation arising f●om a true faith in Gods mercy through Christ This s●feguards a Christian against all assaults of Satan and tryals in affliction as an helmet safeguards the head Heb 10 34 11.35 against all darts and blowes of the adversary in the day of battell What will not a man doe or undergoe that hath some evidence and hope of s●lvation Therefore to faith joyne hope that as by faith we lay hold on eternall salvation so we may by hope patiently wait for it 6. The sword of the spirit which is the word of God When a man is well versed in the word and doth make that the rule of his life to be
spoyled at such a time c. So for publicke mercies and deliverances in which every one hath a share for the publicke good is every mans private benefit Was not England brought into the Mount to a very great exigent and was not God seene for Englands good in 88. in scattering and destroying that invincible Navy A●no 1588. as the Adversaries themselves stiled it In November 5. 1605. when there wanted but a very little time to be added to make our King that then was and He that now is 1605. the Queene Prince Nobles Commens in Parliment and many thousands more together with the Houses the Records of the Land and of every mans particular right yea the whole Kingdome our Religion Lawes Liberties and all to come to nothing and then God appeared and wrought a great salvation for us before we knew our selves to be in danger So when the Churches in Germany were brought to an exceeding low ebbe God raised up that renowned King of Sweden and others since that have done great things revived the dying hopes of Germany this was the mighty worke of God So God did wonderfully preserve Ireland especially the great City of that Kingdome giving very great and wonderfull deliverances and victories to a few over many very often God hath preserved and done great things for faithfull loyall Scotland sometimes pronounced and commonly called traytors though misunderstanding when they stood for the defence of Religion Lawes and Liberties against the publicke enemies of the Church when in the eye of earnall reason there was little or no hopes of enjoying either Againe for our selves at home 1639. 1640. did not the Lord strangely and wonderfully preserve this Nation from the Spanish Navy the other yeares and from imbruing our hands in our neighbours bloud who sought our welfare and destroying one another till none remaine or if we were conquered by them we must needs lose all and if we did conquer them we were sure that both the victory and our selves should be a prey to the malignant party for whom we fought We have had many great mercies and deliverances from many great and desperate designes so that we doe enjoy peace liberty and the Gospell to this very day notwithstanding all our feares and jealousies grounded upon most evident and imminent causes threatening destruction and losse of all broken our yoaks eased our shoulders and our consciences also in a great put-off of many grievous burdens The time would faile me to tell of all the great things that God hath done for us within these few yeares by-past and utter his mercies and our deliverances by while There is cause enough why we should stand even amazed with the Jewes in Babylon Psal 126.1 that after Proclamation of returning to Jerusalem were so affected with it and wondred at it that they were as men in an extasie like unto them that dreame they could scarce tell whether it were true which they heard and saw or but a dreame But beloved what thankfulnesse hath been returned to God for all these great mercies and deliverances Surely little and by too many in a manner none at all especially for common and ordinary mercies Many are like the ungratefull Tenant that enjoyes the Lands and Houses of a good Land-lord but will pay no Rent Like the Husbandman in the Gospell that did receive the fruits of the Vineyard but returne nothing Mat. 21.34 41. The truth is many are like the Swine that doe grouse up the Acorns that fall from the Tree but never looke up to the Tree whence they come so many daily taste of Gods blessings receive his mercies and deliverances and yet seldome or never lift up the heart in thankfulnesse to God the Authour and doner of them They were wont in the first Ages of the world to thinke they had good cause to praise God for the least mercies Deut 3● 13 as for the dew c. We too many of us can scarce find in our hearts to praise God for great mercies while fresh before our eyes so far are we from labouring to continue the remembrance of them 2 Others there are that thinke not of them though they take some notice of them and it may be are a little affected with some of them for the present yet quickly forget them even while the things themselves are in their hands and before their eyes Gen 49.23 or newly received as Pharaohs Butler forgat Joseph and as Israel did Gods goodnesse They remembred not his hand nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy Psal ●8 42.10 21. Ingratus est qui di●s●●nutat in gia ●or qui non redd ●●ng●a●● s●mus omni●i qui oblitus est S● de B●net They forgate God their Saviour that had done great things for them in Egypt There are saith one many sorts of unthankfull men Some deny they have received a benefit some dissemble it some requite not but most unthankfull are such as forget a kindnesse shame honesty and time may mend the former but what can amend the last sort who doe so willingly forget mercies 3. Others though they take some notice of and remember mercies and deliverances yet ascribe them to other things as the Heathens usually doe to their Idoll-gods Iudg 1623. 1 King 5.18 Jer 44.17 18. The Philistines ascribed their victories to Dagon The Syrians to their Idoll Rimmon and Remphan and Israel to the Queen and Host of heaven and too many Christians to second causes and instruments as wit strength policy vigilancy diligence c. yea to fortune and chance a heathenish conceit very unbeseeming Christians yea impious and dishonourable to God robbing him of his glory in those things most commonly in which his wisedome power and providence is most seen and giving that to the creature second causes and instruments or Idol-fortune chance or lucke that belongs to God only 4. Many doe sleight and undervalue mercies and deliverances accounting great mercies small and small none or not worth the taking notice of them 1 King 9 1● 13 Deu. 19.20 Psal ●6 24 as Hiram did the Cities which Salomon gave him and as Lot did Zoar and Israel the pleasant land and are often murmuring and repining because mercies are not so great and every way satisfying to our boundlesse unsatiable desires This is a great fault to undervalue and much more to repine and murmure at Gods mercies especially if great and extraordinary as many of ours of late have been 5. There are some that are worse then any of these who envy the mercies of Gods people repine at the goodnesse of the Church are grieved to se● such great things done as of late have bin done for England and that other Nation blessed be God and even gu●sh their teeth at it speake contemptuously of what God hath done by the great Councell of the Land yea oppose and hinder what they can seeke to undermine it and undoe all and