rhetoricall and figurative expressions as First Here is an Apostophe though the speech bee intended to his people yet the Lord turnes himselfe to the Assyrians who were comming against them Associate your selves ye people harken all ye of far Countries Secondly It is laid down in the way of an Irony and of a Sarcasme a bitter scoffe the Prophet sets down this whole businesse by way of contempt of these enemies that were ingaged in the businesse as if hee should have said thus I know your devices you have concluded what you 'l doe against Ierusalem ingage you will well be doing goe on with your businesse point your rendezvouz carry your Troopes and Regiments compleat with you take an Oath of them all resolve what you 'l doe try your skill doe your utmost but it won't hold it won't doe you are too weak you 'l bee broken you 'l bee dashed Thus in a way of scorn the Lord is pleased to lay down this whole businesse and hee chuses this manner of expressing of it partly that hee might thereby upbraid the confidence of the Enemy who thought their businesse was so sure that no check much lesse checkmate should ever bee given them you thinke you are very sure of your businesse you make no question of carrying the day and partly in it hee would expresse likewise the holy confidence of the Prophet and with the Prophet of all the people of God when they have got a promise from God that they can under the Lords protection securely looke upon all the preparations that their enemies make against them for as it is the speach of God so it is the speech of the Church Immanuel God is with us therefore doe your worst against us wee feare you not this I take to be the summe and the meaning of the words Now out of the words many excellent instructions might bee learned I intend but one though I shall point at severall others as First From the conspiracy that was in all these people thus associating their persons their counsels their treasure their armes all for the ruine of the Church and people of God wee may observe the wonderfull consent that is found in the enemies of Zion to ruin and destroy it learn I say That there is a Concord Harmony and Vnity of Spirits and endeavors in the enemies of the Church to bring ruine and destruction upon it This is a truth that I shall not need to prove all the ages of the World have given sufficient proof of it Satan and his instruments have appear'd in many shapes sometime in the shape of a Lion sometimes of a great red Dragon sometimes of a subtle Fox sometimes in the shape of an innocent Lambe but what ever their shape bee their purpose and worke hath ever been to make warre against the woman and her seed to endeavour by all means possible the ruine of the people of God pursuing it with deadly fury and powring out flouds of malice and rage against it I know it could not be burthensome if I should a little open the severall wayes that they have taken some more spirituall some more carnall Some more spirituall one while indeavoring to corrupt their lives by drawing them to wickednesse sometimes to corrupt their faith by drawing them to blasphemies or heresies sometimes to corrupt their worship by tainting it with idolatry and superstition sometimes to break their union by interrupting them with schismes and divisions at other times to interrupt and breake their spirituall liberty by putting bonds and yokes upon them contrary to the Word and at other times by outward means by persecutions and open hostilities by all the terrors and threats whatsoever the hand and tongue and interest and power of the Devill and all his instruments could ever bring to passe they never have ceased to endeavour by all possible meanes to destroy Immanuels people this is a knowne truth The true ground is onely that inbred enmity and opposition that is in the heart of all the seed of the Serpent against the seed of the woman though no good reason at all can be given why it should be so yet non amote nec possum dicere quare they doe not love them they hate them they must endevour to destroy them there is an enmity against them but yet because no hatred found amongst rationall creatures is without at least some pretence of Reason know yee that the Reason of their hatred is grounded upon such things as these the one is That the Church of Christ is a terrible plague and vexation to all the rest of the World I say there is not such a plague to all the people of the world as the Church of Christ is and as Gods people are because the lawes and rules by which they walke doe threaten nothing but ruine and destruction to all those that walke in other wayes other people in the severall wayes they walke in if you let them alone in their wayes they will allow you to promise your selfe what you will in your wayes their religions and courses are good fellowes one to another they can beare with them in their principles but the people of God doe hold out that which must bee the onely rule and they tell all the world that if they walke not according to their rule onely they will be damned and destroyed eternally and so they vex them and therefore one notes well that when Tiberius the Emperour of Rome having heard of the miracles of Christ did propound to the Senate of Rome that Christ might bee worshipped as a God as well as their other Gods were the Senate upon serious consultation rejected it because they said if they entertain'd him they must cast out all the rest hee would suffer none to bee God but himself and therefore in stead of owning him to bee one of theirs they persecuted him and owned all the rest So it is the two witnesses you read of Revel. 11. vexed all the men that lived upon the earth by their Prophesies all the servants of God by their rules their faith their lives their worship c. Throw fire and brimstone in the faces of others and therefore no wonder though they bee so bitterly hated and opposed Againe another ground is That which Jesus Christ expresses hee hath chosen his people out of the World as out of a base vile and uncleane company and upon his thus choosing and calling they in their whole conversation and garbe doe leave the rest of the world as unclean vile and base and there can be nothing so odious to a people as to bee so left If there were some amongst our selves whose whole worke and endeavour should bee to leave England and carry away all that they have out of it as from a base people and unworthy to bee loved or dwels withall and should seek their welfare in another Country it were enough to turne the heart of all
Emmanuel A THANKSGIVING-SERMON PREACHED To the Honourable House OF COMMONS Upon their Solemn day of praising God for the victory obtained by the Parliaments Forces in SOUTHVVALES In the Church of Margarets Westminster May 17. 1648. By STEPHEN MARSHALL B. D. Minister of Gods Word at Finchingfield in Essex MICAH 4. 11 12 13. Now also many Nations are gathered against thee that say Let her be defiled and let our eye look upon Zion But they know not the thoughts of the Lord neither understand they his counsell for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor Arise and thresh O daughter of Zion Rom. 8. 31. If God be with us who can be against us London Printed by R. Câ—tes for Stephen Bowtell at the sign of the Bihle in Popes-head Alley 1648. Die Mercurii 17 Maii 1648. ORdered by the Commons assembled in Parliament That Sir John Trevour doe from this House give Thanks to Mr. Marshall for the great pains he took in his Sermon he preached this day at Margarets Westminster before the House of Commons it being a day of publick Thanksgiving for the Victory obtained by the Parliaments Forces in Southwales And that he be desired to Print his Sermon wherein he is to have the usuall priviledge in Printing thereof H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com. I doe appoint Stephen Bowtell to Print my Sermon STEPHEN MARSHALL To the Honourable THE House of Commons Assembled in PARLIAMENT IN obedience to your commands I here humbly present to publique view what you were pleased with ready affections lately to attend unto In it is cleared how vain the attempts of all men are against the people and Cause of God and these seasonable Mercies and Deliverances may help to confirm us in waiting for the full accomplishment of all these promises I confesse for our unworthy walking and little improving many like Mercies we continue still in a low condition and lye under many heavie pressures our times are like that day in Zach. 14. Neither clear nor dark not day nor night we are cast down but not forsaken of our God no not though our land be filled with sin against the holy One of Israel God sill appears in the mount of our difficulties Methinks this his gracious dealing shews how willing he is yet to heal our backslidings to take away our iniquities to doe us good and to preserve and establish us a people to himself O! that God would now in the end teach this Nation to leave struggling one against another for a curse and all to joyn together to wrastle with him for a blessing and seek him in his own Gospel-way O! that God would perswade such of this Nation who are engaged against the cause of God to leave plotting and contriving of Designes which shall not prosper and in stead thereof joyn hands with those who desire to see the prosperity of Zion And that all who are engaged in this Cause of God would labour to manage it in Gods own way That they would remember their Covenant what they have sworn and promised and by his grace study to make it good how abundantly should we finde the fruits of his loving kindnesses showred down upon us That this may be the study and endeavour of you all who represent the whole Commonalty of this Nation is the humble and earnest prayer of Your humble Servant in Christ STEPHâ—N MARSHALL A SERMON PREACHED Before the Honourable House of Commons at their Publick Thanksgiving May 17. 1648. Isaiah 8. 9 10. Associate your selves O ye people and ye shall be broken in pieces and give eare all ye of far Countries gird yourselves and ye shall be broken in pieces gird your selves and ye shall be broken in pieces take counsell together and it shall come to nought speak the word and it shall not stand for God is with us THis Chapter doth containe a threatning of two judgements One against the Kingdomes of Syria and the Kingdome of Israel or the ten Tribes that is in the foure first Verses and the summe of it is this The Prophet had a young son the Lord bids him at the Circumcision of his son name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz which signifies Make haste to the spoil make haste to the prey and the Lord gives the reason of it because before that child should bee able to call my Father my Mother before hee should bee able to say Dad or Mam The riches of Damascus and the spoile of Samaria shall bee taken away before the King of Assyria and it came to passe accordingly for this Prophesie was about the third yeer of King Ahaz and in the fourth yeer which was the yeer after a great part of Israel was plunder'd and spoiled and the Kingdome of Syria was wholly broken The second part of the chapter begins at the fifth verse and that containes a threatning of judgment against the Kingdome of Iudah and in it there are foure things remarkable First Here is the cause of this terrible judgement that God would bring upon the Kingdome of Iudah Secondly Here is laid down the judgement it self what it should be Thirdly Here is contained the deliverance of Gods people from the judgement and Fourthly Here is laid down the uses that God would have made of all this The cause of the judgement you have laid down in the sixt verse Forasmuch saith hee as this people refuseth or slights the waters of Shiloah which run slowly and rejoyce in Rezin and Remaliahs son because of this that is in one word because of their infidelity because they did not rest upon the Gospell promises made them in Immanuel that salvation which hee had promised to come from the house of David but slighted it because the house of David was now low and their neighbour Kingdomes of Syria and Israel were more pompous and stately then Davids throne therefore they regarded not the promises made to it but would bee glad to bee like those Kingdomes who overtopt them and to this end they made a confederacy with the King of Assyria that they might bee the better able to cope with Rezin the King of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah the King of Israel this the Prophet signifies in the words of refusing the waters of Shiloah that run softly and rejoycing in Rezin and Remaliahs son Shiloah was a little River which arose at the foot of Mount Sion whence ran slowly and in a crooked channell which some thinkes it 's called the Dragons Well Nehem. 2. 13. and this smooth stream was conveyed in some subterranean channells into that pool mentioned Iohn 9. 7. and was thence by pipes conveyed into the Kings Gardens and Orchards and was of use to the whole City yea and Temple of Ierusalem The same River of Shiloah is that which the Prophet mentions Psalm 46. There is a River the streames whereof make glad the City of God the holy place of the Tabernacle of the most High By
people Thus was it to Pharoah and his hoast thus was it to Sisera and his army thus was it to Oreb and Zeeb who perished at Endor and became like dung upon the face of the earth thus with Senacharib and his great Army thus with all the Nations who were gathered together to defile Zion and thus shall it be with all the enemies of the Church so let all thine enemies perish O Lord Could the time permit me I would a little further instruct you out of the word in the severall wayes how Jesus Christ uses to affect this which are all unexpected wayes unto his enemies they are such as these Sometimes the Lord doth make some diversion for them calls them off that they cannot goe on though they fully purpos'd it 2 Kings 19. 7 8. Sometimes the Lord doth infatuate their counsels that they goe a simple way to worke in a businesse that else might bee carried easily Esay 19. 20 12. Sometimes the Lord doth breed divisions amongst themselves that they who thought to destroy Gods people help to destroy one another 2. Chron. 20. Sometimes the Lord strikes into them a spirit of terror and amazement that they doe not know whence it is nor why it is and yet their courage is wholly gone and so God threatned it should be both to Niniveh and Babylon Esay 13. Sometimes the Lord stirres up other creatures to doe it the Wind the Sun the Stars nay it may be the very insecta animalia Exod. 8. 9 10. the Rats and Mice and Frogs and such poore creatures and so delivers his people as he did Ieremiah out of a dungeon by rotten rags Sometimes the Lord Jesus doth it by his own immediate hand as in my Text here the hand of the Lord doth it as with devouring fire So hee did against Senacharib the Angel of God sent a plague that in one night kil'd a matter of ninescore thousand Esay 9. 6. and Esay 1. 3. 7. Sometimes the Lord doth it by giving mighty strength unto a handfull of his own people to bee able to tread downe and to breake through huge hostes of them who made account to lick them up as the Oxe should lick up a little fodder Iudges 1. Kings 20. there are plentifull examples of all these such wayes as these doth Jesus Christ delight to turn the plots of all the enemies of the Church upon their owne hands and for his peoples deliverance the ground of it in one word is this It all comes from that infinite love that Jesus Christ beares to his people my Text hath it you must be broken to pieces for Immanuel it is Immanuels land it is Immanuels cause it is Immanuels people the tender love that Christ beares to his people is the cause of all this though they are altogether unworthy of it With an everlasting love have I loved thee in Ier. 31. 3. therefore with loving kindnesse will I thus draw thee and in the 43. of Isaiah Since thou wast pretious in mine eyes saith God that is since I set my heart upon thee I will give men for thee and people for thy life the Lord cares not to give a mighty Army of enemies for the ransome of them that are pretious in his eyes and in another place I 'le make them of the Synagogue of Satan fall at thy feet and they shall know that I have loved thee for their sakes is hee Immanuel for their sakes is al power in heaven and earth committed to him the Father judgeth no man that is the execution of all the Soveraigne authority of God is now put into the hands of Jesus Christ for this very end God hath given him to be the head over all things to the Church they are all to be subordinate for the good of the Church his onely work and design is the welfare of his Church upon the Church hee hath set his heart the Church he carries in his bosome his Church he hath writ upon the palmes of his hands and the tablet of his breast and hee being furnished with all the power of God and all the wisdome of God and all the righteousnesse of God it can bee no otherwise but that all designes and plots that are against the Church must bee dashed and come to nought according to that promise in the latter end of the 54. of Isaiah No weapon that is formed against thee can prosper but every tongue that riseth up against thee in judgement thou sholt condemn this is the heritage of all Gods people saith the Lord these things I know you are not unacquainted with I shall now wind it up with an Application in two or three uses and they are all of them such uses which the Lord teaches his people to make of it in this very Chapter the first is A word of Caution because all plots and conspiracies against the Church must come to nothing therefore say you not a confedracy with them that say a confederacy this use of Prophet makes of it in the 12. verse assoon as the Lord had made this promise He presently with a strong hand instructs him not to walk in the way of that people saying say not a confederacy with them that say a confederacy that is when others doe either out of ill will against Gods people or from base feare or any other principle whatever associate themselves with the churches enemies do not you joyn in that confederacy with them the same caution I give you let it bee a watch-word to all of you to beware how you have your hand in any designe that is against the cause and people of God for certainly in it you can contrive nothing but your owne ruine Ahitophel was a wise man and hee would joyne with Absalon possibly onely out of policy because hee saw Absalon was the rising star and the people were discontented with Davids government and factions were spread and this man was like to carry it and what became of this wise man God turned his counsell into foolishinesse hee twisted a halter to hang himself and that was all Thou maist by such plots kindle a fire to burn thy owne house thou maist furbish a sword to run into thy owne bosome but all thy contrivements and joynings with them how wise or cunning so ever they are must turn upon thy own head to thy ruin if thou have any thing to doe with them therefore as Pilates wife sent to him have thou nothing to doe against that just man so say I to you have you nothing to do against Gods Servants it is a dangerous and a wretched thing to be ingaged against them it 's a wretched thing to carry the devill in ones brain to be plotting mischief but to be unsuccessefull in attempts yea to advance and doe good to them whom men would destroy and themselves to perish for their labour this
before the foundations of the World were laid Nay I adde in the last place to strengthen you that as they work all of them the Lords work So The Lords work design is the good of his Church the calling the purging the preserving the building and nourishing and growth of the Church is all the work that Jesus Christ hath to doe when that is done the world ends and he resignes up the Kingdome into his Fathers hand now certainly if we can beleeve all these things may not our hearts rest quiet May not wee if wee be ingaged in a good cause may not wee I say with comfort and confidence put it into the Lords hand and let him doe what hee will I am perswaded the ground of all the diffidence and discouragement that is found amongst the people of God this day arises from their ignorance of the interest of Jesus Christ in these publick affaires and I know also that to those men that are but Politicians and carry carnall and worldly designes of their own such a lesson as this can be of no use nor stay to them for Jesus Christ is against them but for those that have a spirituall eye and would bee glad to have some prop to lean upon this may stay and quiet their hearts they may comfortably set down this conclusion their Adversary may have great power and strength but the Church hath Immanuel they have the wealth of the World the Church hath the wealth of Immanuel the wisdome care and goodnesse of Immanuel they have the whole world to joyn with them but we have Jesus Christ with us and that 's more non est consilium contra Dominum there is no counsell nor strength against the Lord therefore stay and quiet your hearts with these things especially this might stay us against our feares of having this tender plant of Reformation blasted and spoiled by the many enemies who oppose it it hath been Christs ordinary way to let his enemies set against his worke when it s but a tender plant when in all likelihood it may bee most easily spoil'd and he orders it so purposely to make men see and know that when they have vented their utmost rage and done their worst hee will carry it on in despight of them I conclude this use in the Prophets words in this place Sanctifie the Lord in your hearts fear not mens feare looke to Christ even though hee hide his face one word spoken by him can and will in due time quiet all these stormy waves and then Thirdly with which I will end This lesson is applyed here by the Prophet likewise For duty therefore saith hee Bind up the testimonie and seale up my Law amongst my Schollers and when any say to you seek to Witches or Wizzards or they that have familiar Spirits goe not after them but hold to Immanuels testimony the plain meaning of it is this that because the salvation and deliverance of the Church from all dangers comes onely from Immanuel therefore wee should bee carefull to ingage Immanuel to us hold close to his rules bind up Immanuels testimonies seale them up that is ratifie and confirme them let them onely be of authority among his schollers goe no 〈…〉 ayes of humane policies use not any devillish arts look not succour in any unlawfull way but hold you close to the rules of Christ that Immanuel may own you and you are well enough this is the last use I shall make of it because the Lord Jesus doth thus order all things for the welfare and good of his Church and people therefore if we would bee safe let us engage Jesus Christ closely let us hold him with us and wee are well enough and herein Honorable and beloved I more especially direct my speech to you that are called to be the great Councell of the Kingdome according to my poore understanding you never stood in more need of help then you doe at this day your enemies are very many and full of rage and fury and your friends truely they are but few and they divided amongst themselves they are jealous one of another and many of them jealous of you and what advice to give you so to steere your counsels and courses to give that satisfaction which I think you would bee glad to doe to honest men dissenting one from another the Lord knowes I cannot imagine what it should be it is a hard thing to say in these difficulties what you should doe in the wayes of humane wisdome to satisfie the people and to settle and save the Kingdome but I am sure my Text doth furnish mee with somewhat upon which I can pawn what ever is pretious to mee and venture my everlasting comfort upon it if the Lord direct you to take that course you may yet save your selves and this Kingdome that is hold Immanuel to you bind up Immanuels lawes and testimonies let Jesus Christ but be ingaged with you and he hath wayes to fetch all about again beyond what the heart of man can think of Truly the mercy which this day wee praise God for is a great pledge and 〈◊〉 to us how easily the Lord could doe it when with asmall handfull such a thing was done and at such a season able time when I am confident the Malignant enemies throughout the Kingdom had set and appointed to have had risings in every corner of the land which I conceive is the reason why they so cry it down as an untruth that they might hold up the spirits of them who run in the same way a little check to our Forces there would probably have made evill affected men in forty places of the Kingdome to have appear'd suddenly Now the Lord comming in thus unexpectedly and dashing them thus easily le ts us see how soone hee can turn the stream That you may therefore ingage Immanuel to own you I beseech you receive this humble advice which I give you in his Name doe you obey his will in it I dare promise you he will yet be with you and doe all your work for you Humble your selves deeply under that hand of God which is gone out against you God hath now layed you very low it 's true there was never Parliament of England upon which God hath powred so many favours so many deliverances and victories and it 's as true that there was never Parliament upon which God hath powred so much scorne the glory and honour of Parliamentary Authority seems now utterly lost and like the lost innocent state of man never more to be repaired but by an Immanuel none but Jesus Christ is able to repaire this dishonour and reproach scorn and hatred which is east upon the Parliament now if you expect any reparation from him you must put your mouth into the dust humble your souls acknowledg the Lord to be righteous in all the contempt that he hath powred upon you and that you have deserved far worse