many were sore distressed herewith and cannot be ignorant but that our sinnes that had prouoked his wrath against us are many and great howe may wee account it any other then our bounden duety and plaine debt that this our fasting bee very throughly and kindely steeped in weeping and mourning and that wee stirre up our selves unto so unfeined and earnest sorrowe in both these respectes aforesaide that even our heartes might in some measure bee ready to rent or cleaue in sunder for the sorrowe that they conceave as not able to contein the same And this so much the rather as that we nów knowe much better then the Israelites could thén both what wrath is due unto sin in the justice of God and especially the great mercies of God and how ready he is to receave all such as do come unto him For we now see both those so plainly besides all other meanes which are infinite onely in the death and passion of Christ that as in respect of our offences and the judgements of God that are due vnto them which in the death of Christ the onely begotten Son of God we may see to be great we are strongly urged in most humble wise to seeke to him so in respect of his great mercies and his most prompt readines to be intreated of us which also we may see in the death of Christ a great deale more clearely then the light of the Sun when it shineth the clearest of all we may come with good hearts unto him and in full assurance for to obteine his gracious favor How beit we must know therwith all that the matter is very hard hard I say but yet not doubtfull So that although we may not doubt it yet must we make sure that we labour it earnestly with all our power all our strength even to the uttermost that we are able And so doing wé also may hope that notwithstanding this the Lorde will much rather leave us such meat-offring and drinke-offring as shall be needefull as also our selves shoulde take good heede that wee neuer withdrawe that from those to whome it is due no not in our owne distresse as h Deut. 2◠14 we may finde our selves directed in the lawe of the Lord. And whereas the Prophet requireth that both old yong sucklings also those that are but new-married shoulde come forth to this exercise we also might learn that it were needefull for us likewise to withdraw our selves for a time from our wonted delights worldly affaires and with one heart to assemble our selves together to seeke the Lord. Wherein as al are to stir up themselves to a godly an harty sorrow of what estate sexe or age soeuer they be so are the Ministers of the Lord especially to take so good a course therein as best may serve to stir vp themselves and others also soundly and thoroughly to doe what they haue in hand well to remember that being as they are the salt of the earth they make the same now to appeare especially in this But wheras that late scarcitie of ours the sicknes that now is the troubles that are doubted by diuers might well bee greevous unto us not onely in respect of our selves but much more for that the glory of God might be touched therby and our holy profession ill spoken of likewise although we may very well be touched with the sēse of our own necessities yet are we in any wise chiefly to respect the glory of God for that cause especially to desire the Lord to be favourable therein unto us that whereas hee hath vouchsafed us to be his people himself to be our God we may in such sort have his gracious help in al these matters that it may be seene that we haue a good a gracious God that he accounteth no otherwise of us though in our selves we can nothing deserve it but as of his peculiar entirely beloued people He that i Mat. 22 32. said that God is not a God of the dead but of the liuing upon our hearty repentance would soone procure that though our estate were so hard yet should it be so altred from worse to better from want to plēty frō sicknes to health frō troubles to godly peace that in our owne experiēce soone we should find that the father him self would accoūt it dishonorable to him that we his people shuld stil be miserable How to finde out what those sins were of which they had to repent them now as it were swallowed up with distresse 13 Those sins in particular that the people thē wer infected withal although this our Prophet doth not name thē as it semeth upō such reasō as before is declaerd yet both they may be easily gathred out of the historie of that time and it is good that we herein haue some eye unto them that so we may the more to our aedifying apply this call of the Prophet unto our selves And the historie of this praesent time is set foorth unto us sufficiently at least to this purpose both in the historie of the kings of Iudah and in certaine of the Prophets besides Out of the storie of the Kings But in the storie of the kings of Iudah there are but two of those their kings on whom we may relie for this matter which are Vzziah and Iotham his sonne To the time of Vzziah we haue recourse because it is found to be the time whereunto his prophecie doth chiefly belong as before is declared Sect. 2. to Iotham likewise not only because he succeeded next and so belongeth very much to that time likewise but because that he k 2. Chho 26 19. bare the sway in his fathers dayes after that once his father was stroken with leprosie In both which that wee may the better finde out the estate of the people in their dayes and so consequently what it was wherein they chiefly offended we are to consider of what disposition they were thēselves so shall we find in some reasonable maner the wayes of the people that were gouerned by them For besides that the Scripture doth not otherwise set downe unto us what their wayes were but very litle in this storie we see that experience doth commonly teach that such as the Prince is such also are the people generally Insomuch that if the Prince be religious the people doe so much the more imbrace religion if otherwise himselfe regarde not religion the people also make light of it and so do we euer for the most part see it not only in religion but also in all other thinges besides Vzziah First therefore to beginne with Vzziah who also l 2. Kings 14 21. is called Aziriah we are to see in what sort he is described unto us first as touching his inclination to Religion and then as touching his disposition in such thinges as belonged to his ciuil estate In his inclination to religion likewise
that the Priests had not f 1 9. where with to doe sacrifice unto the Lord nor Husbandmen g 1 12. wherewithall to relieve themselves That both these kinde of people were much strengthned with this famin it appeareth likewise in that which is to that purpose set down in either of them As touching the Priests how much théy were touched with it is set downe by h 1 9. these two things that the meate-offring and drink-offring was cut óf from the house of the Lord and that the Priests themselves the ministers of the Lord moorned to see the service of the Lord intermitted and them selves without reliefe As touching the Husbandmen both tillers of the ground and such as drest vines how much likewise they are streÌ„gthned with it is also set down both in the want that they haue of those things that shuld yeld theÌ„ reliefe in shewing how they are affected therwith The waÌ„t that they had in those things that shuld have yeelded theÌ„ reliefe is set down first as touching their fields then as touching their fruit-trees As touching i 1 10. â—â— their fields they are said to be wasted to moorn that corn wine oyle wheate barly the whole haruest is perished As touching their fruit-trees it is said that the k 1 12. vine the fig-tree the pomgranate the date the aple-tree al the trees of the field are withered How they were affected herewith is also declared because it is said first that they l 1 11. are confouÌ„ded and moorn then that all m 1 12. ioy such men as are woont to have at getting in their harvest or other fruits of the earth is withered away from the sons of men 8 And now to take out of this also How far we are toâ—ched with the like hand of God some part of the instruction unto our selves although first it cannot be denied but that the scarcity that of late we had and is not cleane finished yet is nothing like unto this other that the prophet here speaketh óf neither for the straungnes nor especially for the grievousnes of it yet notwithstanding was it not in either of those respects of so small importaunce but that we had and yet have good cause to enter into speciall consideration of it For although it came not in so strange maner as the other nor as some others that heretofore this land hath seene yet may wee finde it to bee such as sheweth it selfe to have come óf God proceeding as it did of so unseasonable weather and especially the season being so very wet both in seed time and haruest two yeeres together And although it did not strengthen ús so much as the other did them yet must it needes touch us neere also when as not only our corne failed so much as it did but our cattle also great and smale and that in a maner generally throughout the whole and in all parts of the Land whatsoever The like sort of people among us also are to be quick ned up unto the coÌ„sideration of it The same sort of people likewise whom the Prophet called on thén might well be called on at this present those that have lived in some speciall excesse and others likewise that have lived in pleasure in that aboundance that God hath given them For if they have lived in some special excesse then have they good cause to sorrow not only on behalfe of them selves that now were strengthned so much the more and for that they did so grievously offend thereby but also because that excesse of theirs was so great a cause of that scarcity since So likewise if they did no more but only enjoy their owne aboundance yet therein also they have good cause to lament partly for that many of them at the least were since much streightned of that liberall allowaunce that before they tooke to them selves but especially for that hereby they may finde that seeing they would neuer take up of them selves but still take their pleasure so much as they did they have so brought to passe that to their further reproach since God himselfe was fain in this sort to teach them to gather theÌ„ selves unto some better course of sobrietie That both these sorts also are to take one and the selse same lesson together with those others out of the Prophet it needeth so much the lesse to be doubted as we may very plainly see that all such disposition of theirs is ever void of all such affections and yet notwithstanding much doth neede them For first as touching those that give them selves to so great excesse as they doe never acquaint them selves with any kinde of godly sorrow so by the reason of the excesse that they doe use they are not so much as able in any good measure to hold up their eyes or to awake and yet were it good and needfull for them not only to stir up themselves and to awake that so they might the better see what case they are in before it be too late to amend it but also to give them selves to earnest sorrow both in respect of the waste they haue made and for the vengeance that is due to the same Then also as touching those that have not made so great excesse but bicause they had wherewithall have alwaies framed their portion accordingly and taken their pleasure of the aboundance that God hath given them because that use of aboundance and wealth doth easily make men to forget them selves and unable to beare in good and orderly maner a straighter allowance therefore are théy also so much the rather to stir up them selves from that their drowsie forgetfulnesse and to be sorie that they have so far disabled them selves to take in good part quietly to beare an harder estate Our sorrow also ought to be sound And bicause that so many waies we have so far provoked the wrath of God against us and especially both these sorts aforesaid therefore it is meete likewise that we never content ourselves with a slender sorrowing but that ever wee seeke to bring it to the measure that of them is required as before we have heard especially when the reasons that the Prophet there doth use doe come in a maner as neere unto us as they did to them For first as touching the thing it self although the good blessings of the earth were not altogether so much cut óf from us especially from those that now we speak óf bicause that they wil lightly have them when others do need them as they were from thém yet were they so far cut óf from ús also that very many were much distressed some among us utterly lost and those also that among ús had before so exceeded or els had but lived in that aboundance could since in no wise holde on that course nor come any thing neere it but that needs they must streighten the meaner sort so farre that they should make
them selves answerable for the distresse of those that were streightned or did miscarie Which our necessitie was in such sorte also sent unto us from the hand of God as that it coulde not have bene avoided of us but was unto us as a mighty people ouer-strong for us to deale withall and hath in a maner laide much of our land waste likewise not only for that our cattle died and our corn failed so much as they did but also for that by reason thereof even yet also many of our pastures are empty and no smale part of our land for a time unsowen for want of seede The like reasons with ús as with theÌ„ Then as touching those others that in such sort were touched therewith as that the same ought to be a reason to ús rather to sorrow for that hand of God upon us we may easily see that the same kinde of people also with us were in like sort touched as were those others For first to come to the Priests it is most evident that the service of the Lord not only was but yet also is so very much failed in many of our churches likewise that our ministery or ecclesiasticall estate hath good cause to moorn all the whole multitude of us for the want of Gods service in such measure as were to be wished many of us also for want of things needefull to this praesent life which not-withstanding cometh not so much of the scarcitie that now we speak óf for then it might be more easily born and were likely to be much sooner amended as it doth out of two other causes that are much stronger and make the sore almost incurable Whereof the one is that sort of Impropriations that hath altogether taken away many of our church-livings not only from the ministerie but also from al other ecclesiastical use the other that insatiable greedines of most of our Patrons that daily more and more convert to their own proper use either the whole or els some part of those that remain were coÌ„mitted of special trust unto their defence custody Our busbandmen likwise were so much distressed that they had not wherewithall to relieve their most just urgent necessities and their woonted joy in those matters also was parted from them and yet not only by the late scarcity that then they were in but by the hard dealing of their hard and unmercifull Land-lords that now of long since the daies of our peace by the uniting of the two hovses together in most places of this land have prayed upon theÌ„ daily do more more 9 But now to return to our Prophet again Having so far foorth praepared them unto it now he commendeth that Fast unto them when he hath so prepared all generally unto the exercise that he was desirous to commend unto them then doth he gather himselfe to that matter and a 1.13.20 commendeth a publik fast unto them And we therein are to consider first how he doth call upon these to whom it belonged for that matter then how himselfe doth further urge it In his calling on those to whom it belonged we are likewise to note who they are on whom he calleth and what it is that for this matter he requireth of them Those on whom hee calleth are â—â— 23 Calling on the Priests especially the Priests whom there also he calleth the Ministers of the altar and the Ministers of his God Whereby it appeareth that it was their parts to have an eye to such matters and when neede was to call on the Magistrates and on the people to join together in a publike fast That which for this matter he requireth of them doth partly concern them selves and partly others That which doth concern themselves Shewing theÌ„ what they shall doe is first to shew them what they are to doe and then for what cause they have to do it That which they are to do concerning themselves is to quicken up themselves to earnest sorrowing that so the better they they call upon others and themselves be leaders unto theÌ„ To this end it is required of theÌ„ not only that they doe the thing that is required that is that they p 1 13. gird themselves unto it and lament but also that they do it in earnest maner and therefore that they howl enter in and lie all night in sakcloth which in those countries was their maner in speciall moorning The reason why they were to doe it was because the q 1 13. meat-offring and drink-offring was taken away from the house of their God That which they were to doe coÌ„cerning others was most of al to get the church together unto this exercise then how to hold theÌ„ occupied when they came there To get the church together they were willed first to r 1 14. sanctifie a fast to proclaime or publish a day of ceasing froÌ„ usual labours otherwise called a solemn assemblie and so gather thereunto both the Elders al the inhabitants of the Land unto the house of the Lord their God When thus they had gathered all together then to holde them occupied there in such sort as was most convenient Å¿ 1 14. they are willed in the name of them all to crie unto the Lord. CoÌ„cerning the Prophets further urging them hereunto Strongly urging theÌ„ unto it I am to acknowledge herewithal that the same which I do take in that sense some others do take rather as the form of coÌ„plaint that they were to make unto the Lord which also is a good sense and may well agree with the text it selfe But in my judgment it lieth more likely to be the speach of the Prophet himselfe then to be appointed to them for the form of their complaint and therfore haue I so applied it here not praejudicing the judgment of any other Wherin first the Prophet laboreth those Priests and Ministers of the Lord to take that course that he hath called them unto then though they will not yet he professeth that he for his part will surely do it In this his labouring of others we are to note first that by likelyhood he espied them to be over heavie in this matter then in what maner thereupon he doth labour them If they were so heavie hereunto that the Prophet needed so to labour them then did the Prophet very well so much the more to put to the spur as he did see that the heavines of those did neede it In the maner of his labouring of them we are to note first that the Prophet him selfe doth lament that their distresse then how he sheweth verie good reason that so he may He lamenteth it t 1 15. in crying out Alas for this day Then coming to shew that he doth it not lightly but hath good reason so to do first he setteth down the reason it selfe and then he doth confirm the same By very good reason The reason it selfe that
he fel to idolatry many others it is not likely that the high places which among them were said to remain were any of those that belonged to idols but onely of those where the people were woont of old to worship the Lord which notwithstanding ought not to have bin after that once God himself had appointed the place where hee would be woorshipped For if these had bin of that other sort of high places that is of those that were ordeined to the use of idolatry then could not these Kinges that let them remain in any sense have had that coÌ„mendation that they did uprightly in the sight of the Lord c. Taking it therefore in the other sense their oversight or fault was this that they did not make the people to come to IerusaleÌ„ as the Lord had appointed to worship there but suffred theÌ„ to worship in divers other places that they had before inured themselves unto In which sense it doth challenge us also herein to be offendors with them that is that wee also have high places remaining wheresoever God is not worshiped as he hath appointed but onely after our owne custome For where so ever the maintenance of instruction is taken away to prophane uses and no other provision made for the needful reliefe of the people there of which sort there bee very many with us and those for the most part of the greatest congregations also there may we be sure is an high placé remaining there doe the people worship as they were woont but not in such sort as the Lord hath appointed And hove offensiue they are unto God Which also may be a very good cause why although the historie do give them so good commendation becáuse they did in their weake maner keepe to the Lord and turned not aside unto idols as others did yet the Prophets doe so roundly charge the people of that time as before we have heard and namely that the Lorde was nowe growne to a great hatred of their assemblies and utterly rejected both their oblations and them selves withall And it is very much to bee doubted of us likewise that God alreadie hath or else some may conceave such an hatred not only of those assemblies that yet dâ— worship in these high places of ours because that they obtrude unto him that which in no wise hee can accept of but also of all our other chiefe and highest assemblies likewise even the best that we have though there we worship him never so rightly onely because we doe but suffer those others to have naught else in effect but high places as yet â—ome of ús also somevvhat to far and others to short for lukers sake Those that were proper to either of them were but a couple for ech of them one Vzziah medled somewhat too farre in the Priests office and Iotham came as farre behind when as he entered not into the Temple And how soeuer it be that I doe not see how we are in danger of that fault of Vzziah unlesse that for matters of religion we take our direction otherwise then from the learneder and godlier sort of the Ministery which as I take it in some respects is much to be doubted yet in the other we may plainely see that we also are very great offendors divers of us absenting our selves from the Church of an inward hatred unto it and many moe for filthy luker pastime or ease nicenes or pride And diligent searchers I am perswaded might likewise find that whether it were the fault of Iotham or not that he would not enter into the Temple because his father might not thére doe what hee would yet that it might plainly be found in diuers of ús that there is no greater cause of the absence of many of us and that as Iotham that entered not into the Temple neuerthelesse bestowed cost on it so it might be founde among us that divers of those that in outwarde shewe beare a good countenance towardes the Gospell and doe somewhat for it yet neverthelesse when neede requireth are but dissembling and loose friends unto it In those things that are ciuill In matters that concerne our ciuill estate likewise it is very commendable that her Maiesty hath in so good readinesse such provision of men money and furniture as God be thanked she hath on behalfe of the state against the enimie especially seeing that their quarrel is against the Gospell and to set up Popery againe yet by the covetousnes of some fewe and to mainteine their excesse and riot the common souldier is oft times so much defrauded of his pay that himselfe is distressed others discouraged her Majesties service not a litle defeated thereby But if we come to those other vices therin may we finde our selves so plainely described Certaine speciall vices as it were so truly set out in our lively coulours that the Prophets therein may seem as much to have spoken before of ús as to have applied their speach unto theÌ„ Not so much here tofore For howsoever that the time heretofore hath been wheÌ„ those vices were not to be found so rife among us as they are now yet in these daies of ours they are grown to such head every where are so commonly found that now the Prophets may have those saynges of theirs as fully verified in us as at that time it may seeme that they were in theÌ„ When we were not only at variance among ourselves about the title of the Crowne betwixt the two houses of Yorke Lancaster untill that it pleased God of his goodnes to unite theÌ„ together in one but also in so miserable bondage to the Bishop of Rome that no body coulde have any comfortable fruitioÌ„ of lands or goods theÌ„ was there made lesse reckoning of them then might the meaner sort more quietly have theÌ„ theÌ„ were not our courts so pestred with daily complaints of oppression fraud nor the judges themselves to be so easily charged with delayes excessive charges respect of persons others such like But now very plainly But since the time that God hath vouchsafed us greater mercies that we may not onely have but also injoy in peaceable maner both lands goods without the fear of any coÌ„trary parts at home or of those Romish publicans froÌ„ abroad that so insatiably exacted of us what so ever we had now are we all generally so ready to take the advantage of this opportunity that though all doe scaÌ„ble help them selves so well as they can yet doe the mightier sort overlay the weaker daily do praevail against them more more And so prÄ™uailing what is it they do with that great immoderate wealth that they have What is it else but either that they make it a way or readier meane to attaine unto more or else to abound in such excesse as no words that these Prophets have used are sufficient to expresse the same nor former examples
on that course that before he had intended He may seeme to have respect unto the Prophet in that he saith m 3 12. Let them be wakened The Lord heareth and let all these nations come up into the vallie of Iehoshaphat for there will I sit to iudge all these nations round about or They shall be wakened and all these nations shall come up c but there will I sit c. For wheras the Prophet immediately before declared himselfe by that praier of his to be very carefull on behalfe of the people of God especially when as he heard that the Lord stirred up so many against theÌ„ and of the mightiest and willed them to be furnished also these words of the Lord are of that nature and doe so fitly answer the quaestion as that it may seeme that the Lord thereby did quiet and comfort the heart of the Prophet in that his carefulnes over the people letting him understand that he neede not to feare that they should so be gathered together for that it should be in the vallie of Iehoshaphat himself would there iudge them In the residue of his speach wherein he seemeth for to holde on his former course His iudgements against theÌ„ n 3 13-16 hed oâ—th not onely denounce his judgements against them but also o 3 17. foresheweth certaine speciall effectes that shoulde come thereby In denouncing his judgements against theÌ„ first p 3 13. he doth direct his speach to those that shall be the executioners of this his vengeance q 3 14 16. then he discourseth further thereof at large not directing his speach unto these specially but indifferently unto all In directing his speach unto those that were to execute his judgements first he willeth them so to doe then he giveth the reason why He willeth them to set in hand with the execution of those his judgements by a figurative speach compating the enemies first unto corn in the field theÌ„ unto grapes that are in the presse In respect that they are corn though many in number yet such as may be easily cut downe he willeth these his executioners r 3 13. to thrust in their sickles giveth a reason because that now the corne was ripe or the time of harvest was come In respect that they were as clusters of grapes in the presse f 3 13. he willeth those his executioners to come to their busines that is to tred these grapes the reasoÌ„ is because grapes did not only run nów of theÌ„ selves being so fully ripe but also ran forth in plentiful measure into the streetes The reason that he giveth why he would have such execution done upon them is because t 3 13. their wickednes was great In that part of his speach wherein he discourseth further of this matter not specially unto these but indifferently unto all v 3 14. first he speaketh of their slaughter in particular then x 3 15 16. of their great distresse generally Concerning their slaughter he sheweth that it shal be very great then doth note certaine circumstances of it He sheweth that it shall be very great both for that hee sheweth that there shall bee y 3 14. great multitudes of those that are slaine and for that hee thereupon calleth it the z 3 14. vallie of threshing or of chopping them in peeces The circumstances are two one of the time the other of the place For the time it is saide that then it shoulde bee when a 3 14. the day of the Lord which himselfe had appointed for this matter should be come For the place it is said likewise that it should be in the b 3 14. vallie of threshing or of chopping them in peeces Concerning their great distresse generally both the thing it selfe is described and a reason thereof is given In the description of it we have set downe unto us what it shall be and when it should come It should bee such as that unto them c 3 15. the Sun and the Moone should be darkened and the Stars should withdraw their light In the description of the time it is not onely declared d 3 16. that it should bee when the Lorde shoulde roare out of Zion c. but also they are taught whence that same distresse of theirs doth come that is from the roaring or displeasure of the Lord because that it is saide withall that e 3 16. the heavens and the earth are mooved by it The reason is because that f 3 16. the Lord is ever a refuge unto his people and the strength of the children of Israell The speciall effects that should come hereby are two g 3 17. one that they should know that he is the Lord their God dwelling in Zion his holy mountaine the other that Ierusalem shoulde bee holie and that strangers should passe through her no more 23 Out of which that our selves may take such instruction as to us apperteineth How litle we neede to feare them áll if we can repent and turne to the Lord. whereas first the Lord willeth that proclamation be made among the Gentiles to praepare them selves to the battaile and then to come and set in hand with their enterprise seeing that he doth so openly put them in mind of it and besides that doth so eg them unto it we neede not to doubt it to be so perillous and daungerous a matter if our enemies take up such a purpose amoÌ„g themselves nor though they be so bold as to attempt to bring to passe their wicked endevors On the other side rather if once they be known to beare an hostile mind against us for the Gospels sake and thereupon to lie in waite for some opportunitie to break in upon us to their best advantage out of this we may gather that we might well be so voide of all feare of them as that our selves might bid theÌ„ make hast and soone come foorth with the woorst that they could We ought to take heed that we never giue to the least of them al any just occasion of variance with us but if they maligne us for the Gospels sake which is all the quarrell that now they have with us and for that only cause do cast to annoy us we neede not doubt to care a fig for them all our selves may put theÌ„ in mind to be doing tell them we long sore to see the woorst they can doe In which respect it is not lightly to be passed over that the Lord so earnestly calleth on the best souldiers the most valiant warriors that were in the world and would have no fewer then áll of theÌ„ neither These would he have to incampe them selves about his people and to coÌ„passe them in on every side these would he have to be a document unto themselves and to al others that either then lived or where to come how litle able any power of man should
upon us and with all diligence to sort our selves to such a course as best may serve to take unto us those other mercies that now of long he hath offered unto us yet doth in so gracious maner But it may be In what maner it is deliuered that thou wilt thinke that I have over lightly passed over the Text of this Prophecie yeelding as it doth so manie good lessons so meete for our selves and for the daies wherein we live But my desire was but only to open the Prophet unto thee and that so briefly as I could that so being otherwise lesse incumbred thou mightest the better attend unto him For which cause also after everie chiefe principal division of the Text and the opening of the Methode or order of it I have briefly shewed howe we may apply the same to our selves Then also to the end that everie one may better perceive how far foorth he may account either of the sense that out of any part of the Text is gathered or of the Methode whereinto it is digested I have here set down the Text it selfe in such sort distributed or divided into such severall portions as it is aportioned handled in the Treatise it self noting also in the end of every portion in what Sections of the Treatise that portioÌ„ is handled A matter that many do litle need such as have the text already and can redily turn unto it yet may it be to good use to some others for that matter ease them of some part of their labour And the brieflier and plainlier that it is delivered unto thee the better shalt thou be able to see what it is that the Prophet doth call thee unto Which when thou perceavest then it remayneth that thou cast thee self to be in a redines to answere his cal Concerning this late publishing of it first Of the late publishing of it neverthelesse that yet also it cometh in seasen what was the cause of the stay with him to whoÌ„ the prin ting thereof was comitted who then did undertake the praesent dispatch of it I mee self am not able to say it was much against my wil considering that as at that praesent occasion had set me about that kinde of labour for the good of others so did it likewise not well accord with that needles delay that thereof was made when the time it selfe did so iustly require it Insomuch that to that verie end that is to give it so readie a course as to that season did appertain both my selfe of set purpose repayred to London and there tooke speciall order for the praesent imprinting of it Then that it is set foorth now although it may seeme to be sumwhat our of season in some respect because it relieth so much on the scarcity that then was which is in good part eased now yet the truâ—h is that the matter being better considered there is no cause why any man neede to thinke but that yet in that respect also it may well come not far out of season For though the yere that now is praesent hath brought with it God be thanked good store of come which the other wanted before yet did that other so far sinke the most mens substance at that praesent to get them graine to their needefulnesse that now they hardlier have wherewithall to get it than they had then though it bee cheaper And so consequently that scarcitie doth as yet remaine with verie many But howsoeâ—er that it is eased yet is there among us such a kinde of sickenesse at this praesent spread over all generally as that therein both by the sharpenes and strangenes of it we may plainely perceave that it is the hand of God and calleth us no doubt unto repentance Again as this our Prophet by occasion of a famin then called on the people to be effectually touched therwith with true repentance to turn to the Lord so because that this Admonition of mine hath likewise held the self same course the lesse that we have yet acknowledged that hand of God and the lesse that we thereupon did turn unto him by repentance as yet the more iâ—stly may it be demaunded of us and the more 〈◊〉 occasion hath this Admonition still to proceede and to hold on his former course Besides this whereas the prophet Ioel upon their repentance did assure them of greater mercies both a further propagation of the Gospeâ—â— and a notable deliuerance from their enimies who seeth not but that to this end also this Admonition may now very fitly come foorth when as all sorts have so much busines about the aduauncement of Religion and when as there is a generall doubt of enimies also and sufficiently knowne that for the gospel they are not a little incensed against us These reasons therfore moving I have thought good now to take some further order for the publishing of this Admonition and therewithall to shew thee what reasons moved me thereunto And now what remaineth but that VVhat benefit to take by the reading of it as the Prophet doth call upon us God himselfe hath notably provoked and our owne estate doth much require even so we addresse our selves to aunswere this gratious calling of his in stirring up our selves to a sensible feeling of that hand of God upon us and in turning our selves unto him in true repentance Of these things I thought good a little to forewarne thee gentle Reader leaving thee now at thy good pleasure to the Treatise it selfe and wishing thee to use it to the glory of him who so lovingly calleth and to the benefite of thy selfe whom he would in no wise have to miscary which that thou maist the better do I humbly beseeche God to vouchsafe thee his blessing and the direction of his holie spirite and so I bid thee well to fare in Iesus Christ The text of the Prophet Ioël in such sort distributed as it is handled in the Admonition following Sect. 1 2. 1 THE word of the Lorde that came to Ioel the sonne of Pethuel Sect. 3 8. 2 Hearke yee this ô Elders and hearken ye all inhabitants of the land whether such a thing hath beene in your dayes or yet in the daies of your fathers 3 Tell you your children of it and let your children shew to their children and their children to another generation 4 That which is left of the Palmerwoorm hath the Grashopper eaten and the residue of the grashopper hath the canker-woorm eaten the residue of the canker-woorme hath the caterpiller eaten 5 Awake ye drunkards and wepe and howle all ye drinkers of wine because of the new wine for it shall bee pulleà from your mouth 6 Yea a nation commeth upon my land mightie and without number whose teeth are like the teeth of a Lion and he hath the iawes of a great Lyon 7 He maketh my vine wast and pilleth of the barke of my fig-tree hee maketh it bare and casteth it
so sensibly touched with their present distresse and yet himselfe doth not recite any of those sinnes of theirs particularly belike for that he spake but of such as in those dayes were common among them and well inough knowen and such as the Prophets of that age had already sufficiently laide to their charge that we therefore may better be able to apply this instruction to óur use we are not onely to consider of those thinges that we haue in this our Prophet concerning that calamitie of theirs but also to enter into some farther knowledge of those sinnes of the people that wee may finde them to bee at that time infected withall Of their present calamitie whereof he would not haue them carelesse That which we haue in this our Prophet concerning that calamitie of theirs doth leade us no farther but onely to consider what it is whereunto he laboureth to bring them and then how earnestly he laboureth the same That whereunto he laboureth to bring them is that they would in no wise be careles concerning that hande of God uppon them but that they would stir up themselues unto so sensible a feeling thereof as that thereby they might growe to repentance and turne to the Lord. As touching which it shall be good more specially to consider how it may appear that the Prophet had that purpose wih him and then what it may seeme to be that did mooue him unto it That the Prophet had that purpose with him it is most euideÌ„t throughout the whole f 〈◊〉 2 â—â— first part of this his prophecie and almost in every member of whatsoeuer sentence or verse therein is contayned A thinge so euident euen at the first sight in the text it selfe that wee shall not neede to bestow any further labour about it That which may seeme to haue mooued him unto it I take to be partly that great security As by nature we al are that in all such cases by corruption of nature doth hang upon all and partly the carelesnesse that in this case of theirs hee founde in them at that present The security that in such cases by common corruption of nature doth hang upon all is so passing great and so many waies sheweth it selfe that it cannot be unknowne unto us Whereupon Salomon truely saith g Pro. 27 22 that the follie of the foolish is such as that although he were so beaten that hee might seeme to be brayed in a morter or beaten in peeces yet would his folly still remaine and he neuer grow to vnderstanding there by A speciall example of Dauid And Dauid his father a rare man for faith and godlinesse and many good graces that are of God yet notwithstanding in this point was farre ouerseene For h 2. Sam. 21 1 14. when on a time the Lord had sent a speciall famine upon that Land it had laine three yeeres thereon before that wee reade that euer he was so sensibly touched therewith as that he sought to the Lord about it But at length he sought him and thereby finding at the mouth of the Lord that it was for Saule and for his bloody house because he slew the Gibeonites although he could not be ignorant but that this would be ill interpreted of diuers especially of those that were towards the house of Saule as though it were no more in him but a worldly pollicie by such a deuice to take away those that remained of Sauls family to establish the Crown so much the better to him selfe for the time and after him to his line likewise yet finding the same to proceed of God the execution in it selfe to be iust he caused it to be done accordingly And they in this case of theirs vvere so found the Lord to be appeased towards theÌ„ againe The other cause that might seeme to mooue this Prophet to call upon theÌ„ for this matter was as I said the carelesnes of them that in this case of theirs hee found in them at that praesent For seeing that the other Prophets that doe apappertain to this compasse of time as afterwarde wee are more fully to see did plainely lay their sinnes before them in particular and denounced many grieuous iudgements of God against them if they would not repent but still goe on in their wonted wayes and this Prophet of ours entereth not into any recitall of their sinnes as the others doe nor of the iudgements that others denounce hence is it that it may probably seeme that God stirred up this óur Prophet but onely to this ende especially I meane for the matter that now we are in that whereas the others and whosoeuer they were besides whom God had then stirred up to speake unto them were so litle or nothing regarded therefore should he so call upon them to be better advised of those mattérs and of the hand of God upon them being belike in the time of that famine and hauing himselfe experience of it that was somewhat before denounced by others The application of it 4 To come to our selues we also are in great security in all such cases and at all times generally and besides that very sensles and careles at this present also Wee haue much forgotten our selues here to fore when as notwithstanding it is most certain that the like hand of God hath bene of late and in some measure upon us likewise Wee haue bene long since reasonably well pounded in the morter and yet our follie I feare remaineth It neede not be yet out of our remembraunce how the enimie raged with fire and swoord when he had the law in his hands we cannot bee ignoraunt of our daily perill by diuers abroade and some at home As Dauid in like case for a time did not seeke unto the Lord and yet notwithstanding had the rod so laide upon the whole Land that he might easily haue espied him selfe to be very iustly prouoked unto it so it is to be doubted or out of doubt rather that as yet we haue not truely sought unto him how much soeuer we haue bene so deepely prouoked unto it as that in no wise wee can bee ignoraunt but that effectually he hath called us thereunto At the length he sought the Lord and so escaped much of the famin that otherwise had tarried on them and the sooner that wé also shal seeke the Lord the better wil it be for our selves the sooner shal he withdraw his hand from us Hé being admonished what the cause was addressed himselfe to take away the cause of that hand of God upon them although that he could not so doe but that he should run into suspition thereby that he had some courser meaning neither is any whom it coÌ„cerneth to forsake the course of iust execution in any respect of credit or honour that privately might come thereby God also himselfe though he had taken away i â— Sam. 31 2 3 4 6. Saule before and his three sonnes wherof
people and not to give his heritage over in reproach unto the heathen In reproach to the heathen they might easilie be given even by their famin only both because that in this case they might easily be over runne of their enimies and because it was reproachfull to them being by profession the people of God to be notwithstanding in such distresse wheÌ„ the heathen had all things needfull in plentifull maner Their pleading he would haue to relie on the honor of God teaching them to say Wherfore should they say among the people where is their God Concérning the place where it should be done he would have it not at home or wheresoever els but onely in the Temple where g 1. king 8.37 9 3. God in this kind of distresse also promised to heare even Betweene the Porch and the Temple 12 Out of which likewise wee may take to our selves many good lessons to our instruction If théy were so heauie much to be doubted that weare not alwais so verie readie And first if théy were so heauy that the Prophet needed to call on them so oft for this matter and the Prophet thereupon stook not to bestowe all this labour upon them neither may we thinke that wee are easilie woon to a godlie sorrow especially when wee are to testifie the same in publique maner neither may anie to whome it belongeth thinke much to call on those that should do it again and again We also have cause to sorrow If that also were a just cause for them to blow the truÌ„pet in Zion to shout in his holy mountain for all the inhabitants of the land to tremble truely this also was as iust occasioÌ„ to ús to doe the like in ratable maner or in such measure as theÌ„ the haÌ„d of God was on ús or yet is in much like maner as it was on them For this also was a discomfortable darknes wheÌ„ as the poorer sort were so very much streightned as then they were yet are wheÌ„ their eye waxed dim for want of needful susteinaÌ„ce wheÌ„ as this cloud of darknes was spread so generally ouer the poorer sort over many of the mountaines themselues that it darkned much the light of our wonted comfort ioy haÌ„ging on vs still so much as it doth bodeth I know not what further distresse to be towards us also Or if we cast our eyes to that armie that was so fierce sore upon them we have no great cause to coÌ„ceave our selves to be freed from it wheÌ„ we may see that oùr land also being in a maner as the gardeÌ„ of Eden before hath since been so far wasted by this that in many parts of it it hath beene in the yeeld of things needful not far unlike to a wildernes also and that the same that hitherto was woont to helpe many others with all maner of graine was since fame to seeke far óf that which we wanted to our needfull relief and yet could not get it with all wee could doe But howsoeuer it hath pleased God to take away the force of that army from us yet still doth he threaten us with certain others such as would gladly pray upon us kindly doe it if once they might attaine vnto it If we doe not it is our fault it boadeth not that we have no such reason Insomuch that if our faces also bee not abashed thereat it is but oúr fault it is no argument that we were not then streightened so far as we speake of or that yet it is not euideÌ„t that God doth shake his rod against us But wheÌ„ as so many faces were pale for waÌ„t of needfull relief yet are partly by it and partly by the sickenes that is among us and when as we may plainely perceaue that it is the hand of God that is on vs it is a foul shame for vs if our countnaÌ„ce be not somthing appauled thereat a very ill token besides if neither that distres of so many nor our own sins that haue brought such a wrath upon us can so far worke with us as to be in some good measure abashed thereat For surely that necessity of ours did also ruÌ„ very stroÌ„gly against us prÄ™pared to the battel with great speed in good aray so strengthned besides by the haÌ„d of God that in no wise we could avoyde it and so did it breake into our cities it climed up into our howses it both spoiled and rifled all I can not say that the Heavens and the Earth were astonished at it that the Sunne and the Moone were darkned nor that the stars tooke their light God be thanked wee were not there yet our distres or scarcitie was not so great that in these creatures it might be said to appeare so much as that other in that sense that the Prophet doth mean it Neverthelesse it can not be denied but that by that praesent scarcitie we were so streightned that the â—eaveÌ„s by unseasonable wether for those two yeares and the earth by the small increase of corn that it hath yeelded both together by the losse of our cattell withall did pregnantly witnes the hand of God to have bene upon us and our scarcitie being such as it was those that were distressed thereby could have so litle comfort by those other creatures that to thém the Sun Moone and Stars after a sort and in some measure were darkned also in that sense that the Prophet meaneth Our spiritual famin And if we go further to that spiritual famin that not only was but yet also is among us in all those places where the meat offring and drink-offring is taken from the house of the Lorde therein may we see though in another sense but yet verie pregnant of great importance that the heavens no doubt are astonished and that the earth might verie well tremble to see the Sunne the Moone and the Starres the Truth it self the Church among us in all such places and our verie leaders themselves to bee so darkned as they are partly by their owne former ignorance and error and partly by the negligence and carelesnes of those that now should either amend themselves That we also should give our selves to our most sorrow or at least make sure that others did it And now that wee are in this case that we are what is there more seemely or convenient for us then to turne to the Lorde and to doe that in so heartie maner that neither such fasting nor weeping nor moorning as the Prophet requireth be wanting from us For what else doe these things teach us but to turn unto him and seeing that this hand of God that was on us did in some measure lie upon all though some were much more sharplie touched therewith then were some others how could we do better then to have the profession of our repentance publike also and whereas we doe plainely and dayly see that
to fear and addeth a reason that is more speciall but one part of it verie neere that is because the pastures even of the wildernes should be greene the other somewhat farther óf that is to say because the tree should beare her fruite the fig tree and vine should give their forcé Then comming to speake to the people themselves therein have we to consider who they are to whom he now speaketh so comfortably then what it is he saith unto thē Those to whom he speaketh so comfortably are a 2 23. the children of Zion or the repentant and faithful people That which he speaketh unto them doth most of all concerne his mercies towardes them for this praesent time but some part of it is of the extending foorth of the same to the time to come That which concerneth the praesent time resteth in two principall points first exhorting them to rejoice then shewing foorth divers good reasons why they shoulde so doe In that he exhorteth them to rejoice we are to note that he doth b 2 23. not onely will them to reioicé and be glad but also that hee praescribeth unto them the manner of it that is that it must be in the Lord. The reasons he addeth to tende to this ende to shewe howe notably he meaneth to refresh them first shewing that hee will give them victuals againe then also declaring in how plentifull manner he will doe it The better to confirme them in the former first he assureth them of seasonable weather then hee telleth them howe fruitfull those yeares shall bee thereby Concerning the weather he saith that he will give unto them c 2 23. raine and showers just in their season and so soone as ever neede requireth Concerning the other he sheweth that those yeres should be so fruitfull d 2 24. that their barnes shoulde be full of wheate and their presses runne over with wine and oile The better to shewe foorth in howe plentifull manner he will doe it hee telleth them that he will doe it so plentifully that them selves shall e 2 25. both be recompenced for the losse that they had by that great host of his of those noysome creatures and f 2 26. eating continually shall be satisfied and that in such sort that they shall praise the name of the Lord their God that dealt so marvelously with them In that which tendeth to shew how this his mercie is extended foorth to the time to come we are to consider first what it is that hee saith of that matter then how he repeateth some part of it againe That which he saith of that matter is g 2 26. first that his people shall never be ashamed then on the other side that h 2 27. they shall knowe that hee is in the middest of Israel that he is the Lord their God and that there is noné other That which he repeateth again is that i 2 27. his people shall never after be confounded again 17 Herein also to remember our selves The like affection of God towards ús first as touching that affection of God towards them it was in deede very great that he could put on the whole power of Ielousié on their behalfe and that in such sort as it doth apperteine unto his nature that is very fully or in the highest degree that can be Yet notwithstanding if we consider the great and singular blessinges that he hath alreadie in these daies of the Gospel bestowed upon us how many wais he hath already oft times declared his favour towards us both at home among ourselves and a broade a-against our enemies by sea and by land in peace and in warre in Religion and matters of State and how so ever else it ought no doubt to be so farre óf for any man to thinke it over bolde a part for us to account of the like favour of his towardes ús also if we truely turne unto him that rather we offende if wee doe it not and doe over much call into quaestion his goodnes towardes us when hee hath already so many waies so much declared the same And if he be so well inclined towards us we neede not doubt but that in these and al things els he wil be readie to deale with us accordingly Thē as touching the remooving of those evils that of late were or yet are hanging upon us as he did assure thém How likely it is that God will now deliver ús also from this hand of his upō us that so far as it concerned the releef of their bodies he would not only ease them of that extreame famine but also blesse them with great plenty so likewise we may cōceave that he may be induced in such sort to deale with us also upon our repentance not only because that he ever is very gracious to all that turne unto him but also because he hath already eased us of a good part of our scarcity for this yere that now cometh in he hath hitherto given his name be ever blessed therefore as great tokens of speciall plenty as at any time heretofore for these many yeres we have lightly had In like maner whereas he promised to deliver thém of that reproach for thát matter he is before-hand with us partly for that he hath holpen us so far alredy and our scarcity when it was at the worst yet was it not so extreme by any want that God hath sent us but only by the hardnes of greedy men as that any way it might turn us or our profession unto reproach and partly for that others of our neighbours that are about us and subject unto Popery yet from whom our reproach doth ever arise whēsoever they have any advantage against us were then yet are as it is said much more streightned by it thē we And as to the end that he might better lift up the harts of that people to the assurāce of these his promises he turneth his talk unto the earth to the creatures that are therin willing them no more to fear but to rejoice in respect of that plenty that now was towards them so may we see that already he hath in such sort spoken unto the earth on our behalf that wel it may rejoice our hearts now to behold it therby also doth so comfort cheere those creatures that ar therin that they also must needs be joiful to see the earth in that likelihood to be so well replenished with alsuch things as they do need But where as he promised them that he would make so clean a riddance of those noysome creatures that they should be scattred into all quarters far from them that their stinch should arise up unto heaven although we cannot see the same in this case of ours be cause our scarcitie did not come by such noysome creatures but onely by that immoderate moysture in seede time harvest yet may we see that in effect he
that wherein he directeth his talke to certain of them more specially What he saith unto some more specially we are to consider to whom he speaketh and what it is that he saith unto them Those to whom he speaketh are x 3 4. certaine enemies bordering on them two principall cities and an whole country besides Those principall cities were Tyrus and Zidon great Townes of Mart especially the former the Country was the Lande of Palestine bordering upon them That which he saith unto them is y 3 4 6. first concerning their fault wherewith hee doth charge them and z 3 7 8. then concerning the punishment of it The better to shew forth what their fault was First as touching their fault wherewith now he doth charge theÌ„ first he sheweth that they had no cause so to doe then what it is that they have done He sheweth that they had no cause so to doe because he will not allow them any such speaches as whereby they may seeme to impart that they were first provoked by him and further telleth them that if they should say so then would he take further order with them In that he wil not allow them such speaches we are to note first what those speaches were which for that cause he so rebuketh then of théir uttering of such like speaches What those speaches were we may best gather in that a 3 4. the Lord doth aske theÌ„ what they had to do with him and whether they would be avenged on him or as it were recompence him for some hurt that hé before had done them If they uttered such speaches as these as hereby it seemeth they did then did they declare themselves thereby both to take in ill part his former chastisement and now also to forget themselves very far His former chastisement they did take in ill part because they accounted it an hurt unto them and such as whereon they might justly looke to be avenged Now also they forget themselves very far both because they are so saw cie as in such sort to deale with the Lord and so foolish as to overmatch themselves so farre In that he would take further order with them we may likewise note both how offensiue such speaches or thoughts are unto him and what is the order that thereupon he taketh That such specahes are offensiue unto him he plainely declareth for that he sheweth that he will provide further punishment for them The order that hereupon he taketh is b 3 4. that he then will be further avenged on thém that both very swiftly and upon their heads That which they have done doth partly concerne the substance or wealth of the laÌ„d partly the people that dwelt therein Concerning the substance wealth of the land he chargeth them both with a wrongfull taking away at the first and with a foule abuse of it after That which they wrongfully tooke away c 3 5. was first by name silver and gold and then generally all precious or pleasant things besides The abuse of them after was that they d 3 5. carried them into their Temples as though they had got them by the power of their idols and offending in this also that they sought to advaunce the dignitie of their idols thereby Concerning the people that dwelt in the land he chargeth them likewise with e 3 6. double injury against them one that they did set them away and that to the Graecians an heathen people and far of the other that to this end they solde them to send them far from their own border Then as touching the punishment of it CoÌ„cerning their punishment for this fault we are to consider first what is the punishment that is denounced then how the certainty thereof is confirmed The punishment that is denounced consisteth in two pointes first that that which they had done should be undone againe then how their former doings to others should now be requited in them selves As touching the undoing of that which they had done f 3 7. he plainly saith that he will raise theÌ„ out of the place where they had sold them As touching the other that is howe their former doinges to others should now be requited in them selves first he setteth it downe generally then more specially Generally he saith that g 3 7. he will render their reward upon their own head More specially h 3 8. he telleth them both that hé would sell their sons their daughters into the hands of the children of Iudah and that they should sell them over againe unto the Sabaeans a farre óf The certainty of this their punishment is for that i 3 8. the Lord himselfe hath spoken it 21 And now to come to our selves again How we also may hope for the like against óur enemies and to search out what instruction or comfort may out of this arise unto us whereas in these daies we are not a litle molested by many on behalf of the Gospell or for our professions sake if the securitie and mighty protection that here is promised unto thém may also be derived to ús in such sort that wé likewise may be assured upon our repentance to have that safety from all our enemies that is a matter of such importance as that we must needes account it a speciall good blessing and aesteeme accordingly of it Whereas therfore God is ever one coÌ„tinually hath that care of his people that before he was woont to have and can as easily be kindled now against their enemies as heretofore at any time he hath beene there is no cause for us to doubt neither yet can there be any but that if truely either by this occasion or howsoever else we seeke unto him he also will be as readily found ofús and as easily intreated as he was woont to be of others especially now this age being part of the time that himselfe did promise to crowne with this kind of blessing and whereunto he did with so undoubted certaintie assure the same So that whatsoever hee is saide against the enemies of his people thén that also may be as touching the sense and meaning thereof as fitly translated to our enemies now so farre as they are in enmitie with us for the Gospell of Christ The vale of Iehoâ—haphat First therefore where as he saith that he will gather them all together into the vallie of Iehoshaphat and pleade with them there for his people and that especially when he bringeth againe the Captivitie of Iudah Ierusalem we also may hope that seeing that now he hath begun to bring backe againe our late captivitie he will in like manner vouchsafe ús that mercie that he will also gather our enemies together and into some vallie of Iehoshaphat also plead with them there on behalfe of his people now as he did with those others of old on behalfe of his then But there at that time
be to praevaile against the aeternall and the invincible Truth of God If they were but of the common sort of souldiers or if there were but fewe of them that they could not to their owne desire compasse in the other on every side the matter were lesse if they could not attaine to that they desiered and though they were foiled or clean overthrowen yet that also were short of that portion of honour and comfort that God in such case would have bestowed on so good cause and on those that sincerely stand in the same Nay unlesse he have them áll in so much that none be wanting even that also is more then he in such case can affoord unto them What cause is there then why we in these dayes when God is disposed as before wee have heard to bring againe our captivitie should be so afraide when we heare of any that in this cause professe enmitie towardes us being as they are farre short of áll and such as they are neither the best Warriours themselves nor yet so strong though all their forces were united together But he doth not onely call in their persons but putteth them in minde of their furniturealso and because their provision of weapons might be over scant when now they came all generally to the end that therin also they have no want he willeth them to frame their instruments of husbandry into weapōs also that so all may be provided therof to the uttermost of their owne desire And yet when they come with al this furniture thát also shall be but a seely poore help unto thē Goliah was a mighty man very well furnished for armour weapō an expert souldier besides and David on the other side but a simple thing to be in the fielde nothing at all furnished to such a purpose never trained up thereunto But so soone as they met that great beast was laid flat on the ground David went away with his head for all he could do Neither is it to be omitted that the Lord assureth of his successe though the odswere so great on our enimies part and the likelihood so faire that even the weaker sort among them in hope of the spoile would stir up themselves to goe to the field with the rest or at least wish that any way they might be able so to do For whatsoever likelihood there is that flesh blood may thinke to have found yet can there be no sooner a triall made but that it wil most plainely appeare that flesh blood was far deceaved Yet neverthelesse it is to good purpose a seemly a needefull exercise to us that with the Prophet we also should in all such gatherings of earthly forces lift up our eyes hearts unto heaven and there desire our most mighty and mercifull Father to send downe those greater forces of his to encounter with them Which if we shal do we may likewise hope to have that gracious and comfortable answere that all the sortes of óur enemies also shoulde be gathered together to that discomfortable and irckesome vallie of Iehoshaphat to their utter destruction discomfortable and irckesome I say to all the enemies of the people of God but unto those that professe the Truth and sincerely hold it a place of great honor and joy a crowne of glorie a mountaine of inaestimable high renowne and no vallie at all of grief or reproach As stalkes of corne and ripe grapes But when the Lord compareth them further to the corn of the field and the clusters of grapes in the presse whereof the one is so easily cut downe with a sieth or may well be gotten by whole handes-full at once with no more but a sickle the others being once come to that ripenes that they are meete to come to the presse breake in sunder and bleede of themselves without any treading who is there may doubt but that in such case even the best strength that they have is nothing else but miserable weakenes and their greatest glorie not one jote better then their open and aeternall shame especially when as their wickednes now is so very great and in open sight much greater by farre then can be matched in any other sort of people and when as the Lord alreadie hath begun so to roar out of Zion in such sort to give foorth his voice in Ierusalem that the heavens and earth are therewith mooved alreadie And what reason is there why it shoulde not be as seemely for his honour now to be in these daies both a refuge and a strength to his people as heretofore it hath beene on behalfe of others We our selves I graunt doe in no wise deserve it and no more did others that have beene before us if God should have entered into judgement with them but it is meete and very much to the honour of God that in these daies also he should be knowne to be a refuge and strength to his people as at any time heretofore it hath beene without exception If we therefore shall seeke unto him in such sort as we before directed there need to be no quaestion made nor doubt conceaved but that in these daies also the Lorde will so bring downe our enemies that now also it shall be made known unto all that the Lord is óur God likewise and that Ierusalem shal henceforward be kept undefiled from such corruption as heretofore was brought into it and that her enemies shall never hereafter so praevaile against it as they have done nor make it a thorough-fare for them to passe repasse at their pleasure as heretofore over-long they have done 24 Concerning the blessed estate of the other The blessed estate of the godly that is of the Church or people of God a 3 18. first it is set downe simply or in respect of it self alone b 3 19.21 In respect of it self then by comparison or in respect of certain others In that which is but simply set down or in respect of it selfe alone we are to consider first of the time wherein that blessed estate is promised then what is that blessed estate that thén is promised For the time there is relation had to that which c 3 ◠before was named when God would bring againe the captivitie of Iudah and of Ierusalem and therefore d 3 18. it is saide in that daie The blessed estate that then was promised was concerning the lande wherein they dwelt and first as touching the aboundance of fruites that it should then yeelde and then as touching the good watering of it As touching the fruites that then it should so aboundantly yeelde wee have sette downe both what partes of the Country they were that should be so fruitfull and then what should be the fruitfulnes of them Those partes of the Country that should be so fruitfull are the very e 3 18. mountaines and hilles which for the most part are nothing so fruitfull as the