by experience in deed that I remembring wel my couenant doe dwell amongest you neither will I euer depart away from you 1. King 8. But he doth not without cause make mention of his holy mountaine For albeit hee hath respect to the promises wherewith hee had adorned his temple yet hee doth wtall admonish them of their dutie that wee might vnderstand that God will then be present with vs if we cōsecrate our selues wholy vnto him and studie to reteine that holinesse which hee giueth vnto vs. These thinges therefore belong nothing at all to the hogges and dogges which by their vncleannesse and prophane contempt of God doe vtterly bereaue themselues of the fruite of the heauenly promises and euen of all good graces whatsoeuer as shall abundantly appeare also in that which followeth The happie condition of the Church For there followeth nowe a description of the most happy estate and condition which the Church should haue and enioye vnder Gods protectiō where in fiue members he comprehendeth whatsoeuer make to the true happinesse heereof The first is Ierusalem shal be holy and there shall no strangers goe through it any more In which wordes hee sayth two things at once namely that they should both be consecrated wholy vnto God and also that God woulde defende them from ass prophanation and defilement of enemies Neither are these two thinges ioyned together without great cause considering it is impossible that the one should bee deuided from the other For inasmuch as God hath cōsecrated vnto himself his Church Ephes 5. purged and purified in the blood of his sonne he will by no meanes haue the same stayned with the difilements of sinne neither alloweth hee any place vnto suche as are vncleane in it For these sayinges are well knowen Bee yee holy Leuit. 19. 20 Psal 15. for I the Lorde your God am holy Againe Who shall dwell in thy tabernacle Who shall rest in thy holy hill Hee that walketh vprightly and worketh righteousnesse c. And Christe also saide vnto Peter If I washe thee not Ioan. 13. thou shalt haue no parte with mee and there he giueth in charge that such as are washed by him should in like maner wash their feete As long therfore as the citizens of the church do obserue keep these things God is not absent from his promises neither suffereth hee them to bee subiect to the lust of their enemies And as ofte as that commeth to passe it is certaine and sure that it happeneth by our default as will easily appeare if wee examine the Ecclesiasticall histories For euen nowe from the beginning sinnes and enormities haue made way passage vnto persecutions which creepe also into the Churche it selfe when as abounding in peace and idlenesse it is occupied rather about earthly thinges then heauenly Eusebius testifieth this thing in diuers and sundry places but of all other most manifestly in the beginning of the eight booke when as he taketh in hand to describe set forth that horrible and cruel persecution which vnder Diocletian afflicted the Church by the space of whole ten yeeres togeather And if wee compare the persecutions of our time with the maners of those that glory in the profession of the Gospell wee shall soone see that we haue no cause at al to complaine of any seueritie in GOD. Wherefore let vs endeuour to offer our selues pure and vndefiled vnto God then will hee not suffer vs to bee troden vnder foote of the wicked neither to become a pray vnto them c. 2. Abundance of blessings Secondly he promiseth the abundance of Gods blessing and all kind of benefits saying And in that day shall the mountaines drop down new wine the hilles shall flow with milke c. These are hyperbolicall or excessiue speeches wherby is betokened the great and ouerflowing plentie of Gods gifts which the Prophet opposeth against the famine and scarcitie that went before And albeit God graunted this plentie vnto them vnder Ezechias and after Ephes 1. yet are these things truly fulfilled also in Christ in whō wee are enriched withall spirituall blessing Mat. 9. Luk. 5. as the Apostle witnesseth For in his kingdome floweth that most sweete new wine of the Gospel which being put into new vessels cheereth and gladdeth the hearts of men In the same is offered the sincere milke void of guilt as Peter saith which ministreth nourishment vnto the litle ones weake in faith 1. Pet. 2. The same watereth the whole field of his Church with riuers that is to say 1. Cor. 3.12 with diuers and sundry gifts of his spirite To be short Ioan. 4. in the selfesame is opened that most holsome and health bringing fountaine that washeth away sinnes quencheth the thirst and boyling heat of cōsciences and watereth the valley of Sittim Num. 25 This was in the borders of the Moabites as appeareth by Moses who writeth that in the place the Israelites cōmitted whoredom with the daughters of the Madianites Moabites were partakers of the Sacrifices of Baalpeor Whilest therefore the Prophete maketh mention of this hee teacheth the the grace of God shall flow also euen vnto forreigne nations and bee sufficient to washe away euen most greeuous and heynous sinnes These things as they bring comfort to afflicted consciences so doe they admonishe vs that being contented with Christ alone wee auoyde the superstitious inuentions of men which dare shew vs saluation any other where For who so followe those they leauing the fountaine of liuing water digge vnto themselues pittes Iere. 2. euen broken pittes that can holde no water yea and although they draw dayly and drinke thereof yet doe they alwayes thirste as Christe witnesseth in the Gospel Thirdly hee promiseth that they shal be safe and free from the feare of enemies 3 A sure safetie when he saith Egypt shall be wast and Edom shall bee a desolate wildernesse c. These were the auncient enemies of the Iewishe nation and the Idumeans forsooth being descended frō Esau burned as it were with a natiue and hereditarie hatred and the Egyptians mindefull of the departure which the Israelites had made from them neuer ceased to persecute them But vnder these hee comprehēdeth al other enemies which he saith shall bee so farre off from hurting heereafter that rather they shall bee cut off and together with their landes miserably perish The truth of this promise is auouched also in this worlde Psal 10◠when as Christe ruleth in the middest of his enemies and defendeth his people amongest their dayly and continuall afflictions and sheweth foorth horrible examples vpon his enemies but yet it shal be fully accomplished in heauen when as we beeing set free frō all gunshot shall reigne euerlastingly with Christ But wee haue to obserue why the Lorde threatneth destruction vnto these Namely because of the iniuries offered vnto the children of Israel and for they haue shedde
the authoritie of God him selfe for albeit for the present time they laugh it to scorne abuse it with their vnseemely scoffes and iestes yet notwithstanding in their season they fynde those thinges to bee true which they will nowe by no meanes beleeue and then beyng conuicted in their owne heartes they feele horrible boylinges in their consciences In the meane tyme wee are admonished that in the Churche whiche as Paule sayth is the house of the liuing GOD 1. Tim. 3. In the Church the word of God is only to bee taught there ought nothing to bee taught and set foorth but the woorde of God For if so bee this thynge were so diligently obserued of the Prophetes and Apostles whose calling GOD confirmed by infinite argumentes and testimonies howe much more then ought the same to bee regarded of those that are by no meanes comparable vnto them Detestable therefore is their boldenesse and unpudence whiche in these dayes thinke euery thing to bee lawefull for them and that which eyther they them selues haue deuised or else receyued from their most superstitions fathers they thrust into the Churche for vndoubted oracles As for vs let vs bee mindefull of Christ who sayth My sheepe heare my voyce and they followe mee a stranger will they not follow but will flie from him because they knowe not the voyce of strangers c. Iohn 10. In the beginning of this first Sermon hee procureth attention The procuring of attention whiche is verye needfull in conceiuing the worde of God And first he stirreth vp the Elders who as they are furnished with the experience of things and therfore more apt fit to giue iudgement so by authoritie of their example they may drawe the younger sort to folowe their steppes Notwithstanding least he might seeme to speake onely to the Elders he eftsoones calleth vpon all the inhabitantes of the lande of Israel and exhorteth them not so muche to a vayne and idle hearing as vnto a diligent consideration of those things which they had hitherto suffered and which they were like afterward to suffer yea he commandeth them to commend the same to their posterity to the ende they might serue for a perpetuall instruction vnto all Hearken ye saith he all the inhabitants of the land whether such a thing that is to say any thing like vnto this hath happened in your dayes or in the daies of your fathers Tel your childrē of it let your children shew their children c. The worde of God belongeth to the instruction of all 1. Cor. 2. Psal 119. Where wee are admonished first of all that the word of belongeth to the information of all sortes of men for in as much as by the fall of sinne wee haue all of vs lost that true light of reason whiche was in our first Parentes wee nowe stande all in neede of a newe light which God vseth to offer vnto vs by his worde And hitherto serueth it that hee willeth the Elders especially to giue their attendance whome wee saide euen nowe to goe before others in experience of thinges and in giuing of aduice For albeit we be neuer so diligētly instructed nor neuer so wel seene in the long vse and experience of things yet shall we nothing at all profit in the things belonging to Gods kingdome vnlesse wee bee inlightened from aboue and hearken to God speaking vnto vs by his worde Which is the cause that the Scriptures do euery where exhort vs to the studie of the word and also do reproue the insolencie of those that neglecting it will needes be wise of themselues and follow the swindge of their owne braine How we must be occupied in Gods worde Moreouer wee are taught howe and after what sort wee ought to bee conuersant in the worde of God so as wee may reape some fruite by the exercise thereof First it behoueth vs not onely to bee hearers of it but also to marke the singuler examples of Gods iudgements whereby he vseth to adde credite to his threatnings and oracles For vnlesse wee so doe we shall euermore flatter our selues and not thinke that those thinges will euer happen vnto vs which hee threatneth to the breakers and transgressours of his lawe As oft therefore as wee heare his threatninges whereby hee denounceth his indignation against Idolaters Fornicators Adulterers couetous persons mansleaers drunkardes c. Let vs withall consider what hee hath decreed in times past against suche and besides let vs marke howe euen in our dayes hee punisheth not a fewe that defile themselues with the saide enormities Further let vs not thinke it enough to holde these thinges our selues but let vs also commende the obseruation of them to our posteritie This thing our duetie requireth whereby God hath bounde vs vnto our children and the selfesame doeth the honour and glory of God require also which as it ought to bee most highly regarded of all men so can it no other way more bee inlarged and set foorth then by the diligent instruction and information of our posteritie Exod. 13. Dout. 6. Psal 78. There are extant as touching this matter peculiar preceptes and commandements of God in the Law and in the Psalmes whereas it is written howe GOD ordeyned amongest his people that fathers shoulde declare vnto their children his wonderous workes to the ende that they also might learne to put their truste in God and become obedient vnto him And for this cause it is that GOD commendeth Abrahams soundnesse and synceritie saying I know that hee will commaunde his sonnes Gene. 18. and his housholde after him that they keepe the way of the Lorde and doe righteousnesse and iudgement c. They therefore doe hyghlye deserue of Gods glory religion and publike welfare of men that eyther priuately instructe and bring vp their children in the knoweledge of gods workes or publikely lay before them the histories of their owne countrie or also of other nations to the intent that out of them their posteritie may fetch examples of Gods iudgements and bee admonished of theyr owne dueties But greatly is the wretchednesse of our tyme to bee lamented wherein the exercise of Gods word is of the most part neglected the iudgementes of God marked of very fewe histories corrupted through the peruerse affections of men and as for our children they eyther not regarded at all or els trayned vp in those thinges that it had beene muche better for them neuer to haue knowen This negligence of ours must God needes punishe to the end wee may learne to bee wise by our owne harmes that woulde not be warned by other mens He calleth to remembrance the euils Past But the Prophet goeth on and telleth them what the thinges are in the consideration whereof hee woulde haue them to bee so carefully occupied And hee recounteth vnto them diuers and sundrie calamities which had hitherto depriued them of the fruites and increase of the earth so as euen a blinde man might
theyr sinnes and are so farre from bewayling them that rather they glory in them like vnto Doeg the Idumean against whō Dauid for this cause inueigheth Psal 52. But least that any shoulde thinke repentāce to consist in outward weeping hee repeateth that wherein the substance of the whole matter standeth when hee addeth And rent your hearte and not your garments and turne to the Lord your God For they of the East countrie were wont to teare their garments if any thing had happened vnto them which seemed to bee intollerable But the hypocrites abused that gesture as though the whole order of repentance had cōsisted therein Hee auoucheth therefore that there is a farre other matter required namely that they should he broken in their hearts and vnfeignedly detest their sinnes and so vtterly retecting them returne vnto God from whome before they were departed For why God is not delighted with outwarde ceremonies but as wee saide in the beginning hee requireth the heart and the same contrite and humbled hee doth not despise as Dauid admonisheth Psal 51. And of outwarde matters there is no other vse but so farre foorth as both wee are stirred vp by them and the same serue to Gods glory and the edifiyng of others where againe they are reprooued which are wont to place all their repentance in most colde and frozen Ceremonies That our repentance is not vnprofitable But to this doctrine or exhortation hee annexeth reasons deriued from the person of God whereby hee teacheth that our repentance shall not bee vnprofitable or vnfruitefull For as in euery businesse our heartes doe faile vs if in case wee thinke that wee labour in vaine so heere in this especially For heereupon cōmeth eyther sodaine desperation or els an vnbrideled libertie of sinning which at length endeth in desperation Least therefore any such thing shoulde happen also vnto these hee assureth them of Gods grace and goodnes who will receiue them into fauour that turne vnto him And this hee prooueth by the selfe same titles or Epithets wherwith God describeth himselfe in Moses saying Exod. 34. For hee is gracious and mercifull slowe to anger and of great goodnes repenteth him of the euill First hee calleth him gracious or fauourable as hee that by nature is prone and ready to doe good rather then to punish Secondly hee attributeth vnto him mercy or rather if you consider the Hebrwe word the bowels of mercyes wherby are signified the naturall affections of parents towardes their children This Dauid declareth in the Psalmes saying Psal 103. As a father pitieth his children so doth the Lorde Pitie them that feare him For he knoweth whereof we bee made hee remembreth that wee are but dust c. Thirdly hee sayth that hee is slowe to anger that is to say long suffering and one that is not lightly prouoked Fourthly of great goodnesse or bountifulnesse For hee is the bottomelesse fountaine of all goodnesse who is delighted to doe good vnto vs sith for this cause especially hee created men that hee might haue some whom to make partakers of his benefits Fiftly and it repenteth him of the euil that is to say hee reuoketh the sentence of punishment alreadie pronounced when he seeth them to bee amended and conuerted vpon whom hee meant to execute the same Examples heereof are euerye where extant For hitherto belongeth the whole historie of the Israelites if wee consider what was done with them in the desert and afterwarde vnder their Iudges and Kinges To these are added the priuate examples of Dauid Peter and others whome wee reade to haue beene conuerted from many folde and most grèeuous sinnes and to haue returned into fauour with God againe Let these things serue to comfort vs least wee rashly despayre of Gods goodnesse For sith hee suffereth with much lenitie the vessels of wrath as Paule sayeth hee will muche more pardon their infirmities Rom. 9. that acknowledge him and long to bee reconciled vnto him In the meane season these verye thinges ought to stirre vs vp to repentance least wee abuse his goodnesse For theyr faulte is inexcuseable which refuse to come vnto God so willingly offering himselfe vnto them The faithfull speak modestly as touching the remission of Gods punishments Further wee haue diligently to obserue heere with what woordes the Prophet inferreth the conclusion wherein he putteth them in hope of pardon who knoweth sayth hee whether he will turne and repent and leaue behinde him a blessing euen a meate offering and drinke offering to the Lorde your God Which wordes are not so to bee taken as though they proceeded from one doubting of Gods grace and the remission of sinnes which we with constant faith must beleeue but first they resemble the nature and disposition of faith which although it sticketh with vndoubted trust to the promises of God yet is it modest and not malapert or importunate neither doth it rashly presume vpon God Secondly they ought to bee expounded rather of the punishment then of the remission of sinne For albeit wee bee sure and certaine of this neither in deede is it lawefull to doubt yet is there an other consideration to bee had of the punishments which God sendeth in the way of chastisemente neyther doth hee take them away before that hee seeth vs to bee amended and the pride of our fleshe to bee crushed and broken But heere is the obedience of faith needefull which both patiently submitteth it selfe to Gods will and euen then also hopeth well of his mercy when the tokens of his wrath seeme still to appeare And that hytherto also these thinges ought to bee referred it appeareth by the wordes following wherein he saith And leaue behinde him a blessing that is to say giue a plentifull increase of the earth so as wee may againe celebrate his Sacrifices which for want and necessitie haue for a time ceased Where againe appeareth the nature of faith which that it is chiefly carefull of Gods worship we haue often sayde alreadie For they craue the fruites of the earth not to guzzle and glutte themselues or to pamper theyr bodies with the pleasures of the fleshe but to the ende they might serue God and yeelde vnto him his due worship They are therfore a great way off from the nature and propertie of faith who so they may abound in delight is and ydlenes doe seldome or neuer bethinke themselues eyther of the conseruation or instauration of Gods worship and glory It shall bee our parts to acknowledge the goodnesse of God and forsaking our sinnes and errours to turne vnto him by fayth in Christ who both giueth vs repentance and also pardon and forgiuenes of sinnes To him bee giuen blessing honour glory and dominion for euer and euer Amen Sermon 7. 15 BLowe the trumpet in Sion sanctifie a fast The text call a solemne assemblie 16 Gather the people sanctifie the congregation gather the elders assemble she children and those that sucke the brestes
restored vs men vnto happines which we had lost by the fall of our first parentes To him therfore be giuen blessing honour glory and dominion for euer and euer Amen Sermon 9. The text 23 BE glad then yee children of Sion and reioyce in the Lorde your God for hee hath giuen you a teacher vnto righteousnes and he will cause to come downe vnto you the rayne euen the first rayne and the latter raine in the first moneth 24 And the barnes shall bee full of wheate and the presses shall abound with wine and oyle 25 And I will render you the yeeres that the Grashopper hath eaten the Canker worme and the Caterpiller and the Palmer worme my great hoast whiche I sent amongest you 29 So you shall eate and bee satisfyed and prayse the name of the Lorde your God that hath dealt maruellously with you my people shal neuer be ashamed 27. And you shall knowe that I am in the middest of Israel and that I am the Lorde your God and none other and my people shall neuer be ashamed The argumēt vse of this present place AS men that abounde in peace and ydlenes doe for the moste parte account all things to be cockesure vnto themselues neyther thinke they it euer likely that any aduersitie should happen vnto them So if at any time they perceyue Gods wrath to be kindled and that all thinges beginne to goe agaynst them then by and by casting away all hope they fall to trembling and can hardly bee perswaded with any comfortes This thing the Prophet Ioel did well perceiue and therefore to the doctrine of repentance he adioyneth manifolde matter of consolation wherby he confirmeth thē whom a little before by declaring the danger hee had made afrayd And of late forsooth hee descibed the zeale or ielousie of God who will so graciously receiue them into fauour that turne vnto him that the tokens of his goodnes may be seene euen in the brute beastes them selues and in the very earth But now he applieth all that matter vnto the people whom he doeth not onely comfort but also teach what it becommeth them to doe when by Gods benefite they are deliuered And so hee setteth foorth a generall doctrine what the godly haue to obserue when either they are exercised with aduersitie or finde Gods deliuerance towardes them He willeth the godly to reioyce for the promised deliuerance And first coupling this present place with that that went before he sayth Be glad thē ye children of Sion reioyce in the Lord your God c. As though he shoulde saye Seeing the earth it selfe is to reioyce and the beastes to cast off al feare how much more becōmeth it you to reioyce which are the childrē of Siō to wit of the church which God hath chosen as peculiar to himself for whose sake he blesseth the earth the rest of the creatures And thus he asswageth the sharpnes of the presēt dāger with the promise of ioy to come teacheth that such as are the childrē of the church haue a perpetual cause of reioycing albeit they be beset on euery side with dangers Where notwithstanding wee haue diligentlye to obserue what manner of ioye it is that he inioyneth vnto thē For in as much as he had promised abundance of fruites was to say yet more of that matter some might conceiue in their heartes a carnall ioy and by that occasion breake foorth into all licentiousnes which thing commonly is wont to be the cause of greater misery and mourning Hee sayth therefore Bee glad and reioyce in the Lord your God The godly ought to reioyce in the Lord. and so hee pointeth the cause and matter of their reioycement onely and alone in God whom they should finde fauorable and mercifull vnto them Hee putteth therefore a feate distinction betwixt men and beastes For these because they can conceiue no further he willed to reioyce in the happy forzon of the earth and in the abundance of fodder but men hee sendeth vnto God the fountaine and giuer of all goodnes After the same manner the Apostle willeth the faythful to reioyce in the Lord Phil. 3.4 which is diligently to be obserued if at any time we feele our prosperitie to encrease For then they that beeing mindefull of the Lord theyr God doe reioyce in him alone the same also doe compasse about their ioy with the feare and reuerence of God least it should breake forth into the libertie of the flesh yea they so much the more earnestlye giue themselues vnto godlynesse by howe much they feele the clearer testimonies of Gods goodnes towardes them As for the vngodly it is not so with them for they like brute beastes doe sticke onely in thinges present and filthily abuse the same with the losse of theyr saluation But the Prophet goeth on He declareth the causes of their ioye and declareth more diligently the causes of this holy reioycement The first is because he hath giuen you a teacher vnto righteousnesse The Hebrue word signifieth both a teacher and rayne For as it behooueth the earth to bee watered with rayne so is it necessarye that the riuers of heauenlye doctrine should flowe into the mindes of men being otherwise barren and out of kilter to the end they may be made fitte for those thinges that are prescribed vnto vs of the Lord. Whether it belongeth that God compareth his worde in Esay to the rayne Esay 55. But the Prophet vseth a doubtfull worde because he would allude to the calamitie of the present warre which like vnto a sodeine storme of rayne ouerflowed the whole land And he telleth them that this was sent from GOD not that they should perish but that they should be instructed hereby vnto righteousnes and bee made more ware and circumspecte heereafter For as we sayd in the beginning the Iewes vnder Ezechias a most excellent and godly prince sinned diuers wayes when as they both followed a most dissolute trade of life and also cleane contrary to the threatnings of the prophets trusted to the league of the Egyptians Therefore God sent vnto them the Assyrians to the intent that beeing by them driuen into extreeme hazard they might bee taught howe vayne and hurtfull and that confidence is which is reposed in the externall helpes The Prophet therefore biddeth them to reioyce for this very cause that God by such afflictions vouchsafed to instruct them whom hee might haue altogether destroyed if hee would haue vsed his owne aduantage These thinges teache vs what we ought to iudge of the afflictions wherewith God exerciseth vs. Afflictions are as teachers vnto righteousnes They are as Teachers which instruct vs vnto righteousnesse For when all thinges fall out as we would wish we become more careles in the things that concerne our dueties neyther also doe wee apply our mindes vnto those pointes that are taught vs by the woorde of God Wee haue neede therefore of
would haue the knowledge of saluation to bee common vnto alhis people therefore behooued the Apostles to be indued with the holy ghost that they might put vs in mind of the things that come to passe at this day in the Church c. The perillous estate of the â—â—ttâ—r time But least any man at the springing vp of Christes kingdome shoulde promise to himselfe all thinges ioyfull and prosperous Ioel consequently setteth downe what a huge masse of mischiefes and dangers shoulde euery where arise partly to the ende hee might remedie the offence of the crosse and that hee might commende and set foorth faith in Christe which alone is able to saue vs in these dangers and partly that by rehearsing of these thinges hee might terrifie and dismay those that shoulde come after least otherwise they should refuse the redeemer giuen vnto theÌ„ of God I will shew saith the Lord wonders in heauen and in earth blood fire and pillers of smoke The Sunne shal be turned into darkenesse and the Moone into blood before that great and terrible day of the Lorde come And because hee maketh mention of that greate day wherein Christe shall come to iudgement it is euident enough that hee comprehendeth all the time from Christes manifestatioÌ„ in the flesh euen to his last comming in which hee will accomplishe his kingdome in his elect and punish his enemies with the paines of eternall death and damnation And hee sheweth that there wil euery where appeare tokens of Gods wrath and that such shall bee the countenance of the whole worlde as that all the partes thereof might seeme to haue conspired together to the destruction of mankynde Heereunto agree those thinges that Christe foretelleth in the gospel of the later times Mat. 24. Mark 13. Luke 21. And they beganne to bee accoÌ„plished by and by after his ascention into heauen as touching the nation of the Iewes For there were seen wonders of al sortes after the which followed immediately the destruction both of their citie and nation But vnder the Romane Empyre whereunto the whole worlde was then subiect there raged in horrible wise seditions warres pestilences famines and all maner of mischiefes whatsoeuer and the histories are full stuffed with the rehearsall of straunge tokens These thinges haue continued euen vnto our time neither as yet are they come vnto an ende For who is ignoraunt of the Cometes and blasing starres of the Swoordes Speares and other like thinges which haue now certaine yeeres past beene seene in the skies As for Earthquakes and Inundations of waters wee haue seene very many And in some places great quantities of blood haue gushed out of the earth and els where it hath rayned blood from heauen I let passe the monstrous shapes and birthes which if I shoulde stande to recount the day woulde scarce bee sufficient And that these are no vaine scare-crowes the thing it selfe testifieth when as the wretched worlde is vexed and disquieted with warres famine pestilence other plagues innumerable The cause of the calamities of the latter time But some man may aske what the cause is of these calamities and why GOD seemeth nowe to bee more offended with all mankinde then hee was in times past before Christe was giuen vnto vs in the fleshe This question is not superfluous considering that in times past the enemies of the Christian faith tooke heereby occasion to slaunder it in that after the rising thereof they saide whole swarmes of mischiefes brake into the worlde And among the Christians there are not a fewe that are greatly troubled with the consideration heereof But if we coÌ„sider the thing it self it will appeare that the cause of these euils commeth not of the Christian faith or religion but proceedeth from the people For among these the greater part is of the wicked and vngodly who either as hogges of Epicures heard giue themselues to the lustes of the fleshe and despise all religion or els beeing superstitious and Idolaters doe dayly deuise and heape vp vnlawfull worshippinges And both these sortes hate and persecute the light of the truth so as notwithstanding that they followe diuers practises of life yet in this one thing they egregiously agree and by their wickednes it commeth to passe that there seemes no enormitie worthie of greater punishement then if any make a fyncere and free confession of the truth Is it therefore to be thought any maruell or a thing vn worthy if God punish the desperate boldnesse of these men with all kinde of plagues which wilfully refuse the saluation offered This doubtles is the cause for the which Christe himselfe foretold that the nation of the Iewes should bee rooted out Mat. 21.23 Luke 19. for which also the Romane Empire was manifoldly afflicted as Orosius in diuers places witnesseth But for so much as a number in these dayes followe and imitate the wickednesse of the Iewes and Emperours it is nieete and requisite that they shoulde suffer and abide the selfe same paines and punishments with them Where if so bee wee looke vpon those that haue giuen their names vnto Christe although they bee of a right iudgemente as touching faith and religion and also do refreine themselues from the grosser sins and superstitions yet concurre there many thinges in them which deserue the sharper kinde of discipline and chastizemente For some blinded with the loue of this worlde couet after honours and riches othersome hauing too good an opinion of themselues are made secure and carelesse others there be that become slaues to their affections and followe without measure their owne lustes and pleasures As therefore it is necessarie that these shoulde bee brydeled and prouoked to a more feruent desire of Godlinesse so the iustice of God requireth that in punishing the sins of the wicked worlde 1. Pet. 4. hee shoulde begin first with his owne house least hee might seeme to allow those things in his owne which hee so seuerely punisheth in others No man therefore hath any cause to complaine of GOD. For in as muche as the state and condition of the worlde will bee alwayes alike it is good reason also that the same should be vexed with the like punishments and afflictions vntill that great day of the Lorde appeare which as it wyll bee terrible to the wicked as the Prophete signifieth Luke 21.1 Thes 4 so will the same bee ioyfull to the Godly and bryng vnto them their full and perfect redemption Heereby are confuted the Chiliastes and as many as in these dayes doe restore againe their dotages whylest they promise to themselues a certayne golden worlde vpon earth And withall the goodnesse of GOD is to bee obserued The vse of strange tokeÌ„s who before hee bring foorth the punishments which wee haue deserued is accustomed to forwarne vs not onely by his worde but also to awake vs by signes and wonders Examples of this forte are extant in the histories of all ages and as
all faces shall gather blacknes 7 They shall runne like gyants or strong men and goe vp to the wall like men of warre and euery man shall goe forwarde in his wayes and shall not stay in their pathes 8 No man shall thrust his brother but euery one shal walke in his path and when they fall vpon the sworde they shall not be wounded 9 They shall runne to and fro in the citie they shall runne vppon the wall they shall clime vp vppon the houses and enter in at the windowes like a theefe 10 The earth shall tremble before him the heauens shall shake the Sunne and the Moone shall be darke and the Starres shall withdrawe their shining 11 And the Lorde shall vtter his voyce before his host for his armie is very great for hee is strong that doeth his woorke for the day of the Lorde is great and very terrible and who can abide it Sermon 5. The argumeÌ„t of the second Sermon IOel beginneth now his other Sermon wherein hee handleth the same that he did in the former but hee intreateth more largely and euidently of euery point adding also some things which are not there mentioned yet serue they excelleÌ„tly wel to the preseÌ„t treatise For he exhorteth them to repentance that were oppressed with a greeuous warre by the Assyrians And there are three partes of his discourse In the first hee agayne describeth the danger to the entent that they beeing wakened by the consideration therof might perceiue that they had neede of repentance In the seconde hee teacheth the maner of true repentance and sheweth in what pointes it consisteth In the last hee declareth the effectes or fruites thereof and by that occasion prophesieth of the happie state of the Godly and destruction of the enemies which finally is fulfilled in the kingdome of Christ Now these things are so to bee considered of vs that wee beeing distressed with aduersities and afflictions may from hence fetch those thinges that serue to our instruction and comforce at this time wee will onely examine the first part A Tragieaâ— beginning wherein chiefly he stirreth vp the Prophets The beginning of his Sermon is very tragicall and warlike wherein hee rouzeth vp the secure and carelesse that they might prepare themselues for the punishmentes nowe readye to light vppon them And because they were to bee punished with warre he alluding to afeate of warre willeth the watchmen or spies to sound out Alarum and proclaime the batteil For hee sayth Blow the trumpet in Sion and shout in my holy mountayne Hee maketh mention of Sion and of the holy hill or Temple partlye leaste they shoulde thinke themselues to hee safe for the holynesse of the place and partly that they might vnderstand this thing especiallye to bee enioyned to the. Prophetes whome GOD had appointed watchmen to his people Ezech. 3.33 as wee may read in Ezechiel He addeth Let all the inhabitantes of the lande tremble Hee nameth all leaste anye shoulde thinke him selfe to bee without faulte And he biddeth them tremble to the end they might perceiue God to deale in good earnest and therefore that they also must not dally Whereunto serueth the cause which he by and by addeth For the day of the Lord commeth that is the time is at hand which God hath nowe long since appointed for veÌ„geaÌ„ce which euen now also waiteth at your dores Heere commeth the goodnes of God to be noted of vs who like a kinde father first dealeth in woordes The goodnes of God in giuing warning before he punisheth before hee addeth stripes Neyther doubtlesse are suche prophesiynges in vayne or appointed to stirre vp a vayne feare or terrour For as many as beeing terryfied with them are conuerted to GOD doe escape the punishments as GOD himselfe promiseth in Ieremie But if in cace the number of the wicked doe preuayle Ieremie 18. vnto whom these thinges seeme but as toyes and trifles and therefore GOD cannot deferre the punishment yet doe the Godly receiue greate comforte hereby For when they call these prophesiynges to minde they vnderstande also that all these thinges are ordered by Gods gouernment who because hee is faythfull and loueth vs suffereth not his to be tempted aboue their strength but that for his mercies sake hee causeth that all thinges woorke for the best vnto them God vseth his ministers as watchmen Further wee haue to marke that God oftentimes by his Prophets and ministers of his woord doth foretell his punishments and that as before wee haue sayde hee ordeyned them to the ende that as watchmen they shoulde sounde the Trumpet and stirre vp the people committed to their charge vnto that spirituall fight which consisteth especially in the exercise of repentance and woorde of GOD and whiche alone is able to turne away the plagues imminent and at hand The consideration hereof admonisheth as well ministers as also the whole people and euery creature particularly of their dueties For it belongeth vnto them to attende vppon theyr flocke and to marke the state and condition of euery one and with all the dangers that eyther publikely or priuately â—ang ouer their heades Moreouer to reprooue and denounce the same so as euery man maye perceiue what hee ought to doe This did the holy Prophets in times past and the selfesame doeth Paule very grauelye require of the Ministers of the new Testament Actes 20. 2. Tim. 4. Mat. 24. and 25. And they that doe their duetie in this behalfe shall enter into the ioye of their Lorde But as many as are carelesse and negligent at their handes shall bee required the blood of them that perishe Againe it shall bee the parte of all those that will bee numbred amongest the people of GOD to tremble at the sound of Gods woorde Ezechi 33. and with speedie repentance to preuente the daye of the Lorde The Prophet admonisheth vs thereof when hee sayth it is at hande For by that threatning he putteth them in hope that they may as yet escape the punishmentes nowe ready to light vpon them if they will applye them selues vnto GOD giuing them warning These thinges were of vs to be considered O Brethren when as turmoylinges and dangers doe euery where arise And GOD truly for his parte executeth his office neither want there faythfull watchmen by him raysed vp whiche reprooue sinne and denounce the plagues hanging ouer vs. But in the meane time there want not such as are negligent also Esay 56. who eyther by diminishing Gods threatnings do fauoure and maynetayne wickednes or else by the lewde example of their life doe shamefully prostitute the authoritie of the woorde and ministerye This occasion euery lewde and wicked verlet catcheth holde of and heerevppon it commeth that the carelesse libertie of sinning doeth euerye where preuayle and the warninges of the faythfuller Ministers are wicke dly scoffed at and laughed to skorne But Gods iudgement shall not slacke who will rayse vppe most cruell enemies
that shall with their Alarum both terryfie those dumbe Dogges and also theyr partakers Nowe followeth a description of the vengeance which hee first propoundeth in generall A generall description of Gods vengeance to the intent hee might signifie how great and grieuous it was like to be A day of darkenes and blackenes a day of Cloudes and obscuritie By darkenesse and blackenes are vnderstood inextricable troubles and calamities which cause men to be vncertaine what to doe and euen at their wittes end Hee threatneth therefore that this also shall happen vnto them and addeth As the morning is spred vpon the mountaines By which similitude is betokened the vnauoydable necessitie and celeritie of an incredible vengeance and the sense is this That like as no man can forbid the morning but that she will rise and stretche forth her rosecoulered fingers as the Greeke Poets vse to speake sodenly to the very toppes of the mountaines and from thence with wonderfull swiftnesse throughout the whole earth so shall no man let God but that he will stretch his wreakefull hand vnto you whereby hee will sooner then can be told afflict and destroy all your whole land For there shal come namely coÌ„ducted by the Lord a mighty strong people the like wherof was neuer seene in the world before The power of the Assyrians incomparable neither shall be hereafter He meaneth the Assyrians who in continuance of gouernement in victories and puissance farre surmounted all peoples beside For their kingdome began in the hundreth and one and thirtith yeere after the floode Gene 10. which was from the creation of the world the seuenteene hundreth fourescore and nienth 2. King 14. There are reckoned from that time vnto the fourteenth yeere of Ezechias wherein this warre was made a thousand foure hundred and two and forty yeeres And although a little after the Babylonians began to reigne yet was not the Empire of the Assyrians ouerthrowne but rather the Kinges seate was remooued and the name of the Assyrians continued still vntill the Monarchie came to the Persians and Medes The Prophet therefore doeth not without a cause say that this people excelled all others Where wee haue especiallye to obserue howe hee sayeth that these shall bee the executours of Gods vengeance For heereby it appeareth that GOD will neuer wante such as by whose ayde hee maye punishe the wicked and vngodly when as hee can vse the most mighty nations and those that are furthest of from the knowledge of his name according to his owne good will and pleasure For that which is heere done commeth oftentimes to passe and there are examples euerye where in Hystories But more of this the Prophet him selfe will adde in the woordes following A particular declaration of the punishment For that which he propounded in generall hee declareth by a diligent and long rehearsall of all that they namely the Assyrians shoulde doe where it is not needefull to stande vppon the woordes sith they are plaine and euident of themselues but rather the matter it selfe is to bee considered For the ende and scope of all is this namely that he will shewe that nothing can possiblye let but that Gods vengeance shall proceede and therefore hee taketh from them all thinges wherein they might put any hope or confidence The chiefe among these were the fertilitie and plenteousnesse of the Lande the greate distance of places betweene Iudea and the countries of the Assyrians the harde passages throughe the mountaines a huge number of strong and valiant men together with moste strong townes and fortifications whiche seemed to be such as might easily stoppe the comming of the enemies But hee telleth them that none of all these thinges shall profit them For first of all the Assyrians shall come like a fire and shall so hideouslye waste and destroye all thinges that the Lande whiche nowe florisheth as a Paradise shall after theyr departure become like vnto a huge and desolate wilâ—ernesse Secondly they shall come verye cruell and swift and shall euen runne through the toppes of the Mountaynes where there seemed to bee scarce any place for Horsemen to passe Yea and looke howe soone the fire catcheth and deuoureth the stubble euen so soone shall they ouer runne the whole lande Thirdlye as touching men of warre all your warriours surdaunted onely with the fame and report of their enemies shall feare and tremble and shall with the palenesse of their faces testifie that they are afrayde on the other side your enemies shall runne hither and thither like Gyants they shall scale the walles they shall keepe their order with wonderfull diligence so as none shall bee a let vnto another Moreouer setting a parte the feare of death they shall rushe euen into the middest of the swoordes and yet shall not bee wounded Fourthly albeit strong Cities bee set against them yet shall they sodenly passe through them euen as through the open fieldes and hauing broken vp the gates or battered downe the walles they shall enter in at the very windowes Finally so great shal be the rage and astonishment of your people that the earth it selfe shall tremble the heauens shall mooue the Sunne and Moone shall be darkened and the Starres shall withdrawe their light And in these woordes his meaning is nothing else theÌ„ that in euery part of the worlde shall appeare tokens of Gods wrath and nothing shall bee any safegarde vnto them That these thinges were fulfilled wee may gather by the historie especially out of Esay chap. 10. Where it is declared what way Sennacharib came to Hierusalem And so GOD perfourmed in deede that which hee had threatned before in the Law to the wicked transgressours of his commandementes In the consideration heereof we haue so to bee occupied that wee bee not carried awaye with the confidence of our owne strength or munitions to rebell agaynst the Lorde For to let passe all olde examples wee haue in our time seene manye of this forte whiche maye teache vs howe vayne the Fortes and Defences are that men doe prouide against GOD c. Furthermore least any should attribute these thinges to the power or rage of the enemies hee teacheth expressely that God shall bee the Captayne of this Warre God the captayne Emperour of warre For hee sayeth The Lorde shall vtter his voyce before his hoaste That is all thinges shall come to passe by his conducte and assignemente hee shall encourage the Assyrians but shall terryfie you as I sayde euen nowe For Gods armye is exceeding greate and hee that executeth his commaundement namely the Assyrian is strong Terrible therefore and greate shall that day bee so as none shall Bee able to abyde it Wee haue heere to obserue and marke that hee calleth expressely the Hoast and Camp of the Assyrians Gods hoast and Campe and hee acknowledgeth the Tyrant Sennacharib to bee the executioner of his woorde and commaundement Esay 10. So in Esay hee calleth the
Ioel. For hee in the first part of this Sermon terrified the Iewes with a greeuous denuntiation of the punishmentes to the ende they might the better bee stirred vp to repentance Secondly he declared the true way and maner of repentaÌ„ce Wherunto nowe in the thirde place hee addeth a consolation whereby hee telleth them that they shall not looze their labour if they turne vnto God for why he is gracious and mercifull so as hee will heare their prayers and deliuer them out of danger The historie agreeth very well with the promise which testifieth that all this was perfourmed with singuler fidelitie These things ought to comfort us in temptations and therewithall to awaken vs least wee despise Gods goodnes wherthrough hee inuiteth vs no lesse in those dayâ—â— of repentance But it shall bee pâ—â—â—â—table to consider euery thing in oâ—der The cause of reconcilemâ—â— with god c. First hee sheweth the cause wherefore GOD woulde bee reconciled vnto them namely his free mercy and goodnes The Lorde saith hee will bee ielous ouer his laâ—de c. Nowe ielousie is that loue whereby the husbande through the secrete prouâ—cation of the spirite is so affected thâ—â—â—â—es his wife that he cannot abide that shee shoulde either bee subiect vnto other â—eâ— or iniuriously deaâ—â— withal of others This ielousie the Sâ—â—â—pture attributeth â—nto God not that any such affections or passions doe light vpon him but that it â—â—ght expresse the vehemencie of Gods â—oue towarde vs which is such so great Ephe. 5. that tooke what is doone to his Churche whereof hee accounteth as of his spoust hee deemeth done vnto himselfe which he hiâ—selfe witnesseth in Zacharie saying Zach. 2. Hee that toucheth you toucheth the apple of mine eye And hytherto maketh it that hee calleth the lande of the Iewes his land and the people his people namely that as he had made them his people so had he consecrated their laâ—de to himselfe to the ende is might bee aâ— yâ—t woulde say the certaine seate of his worship and religion according to that saying of the Psalme God is knowen in Iury c. Psal 7â— But if ye aske from whence that zeale or ielousie of God commeth and why hee chose the Iewes before other people Wee can render no other cause then his meere loue and free mercy whereof Moses Deut. 7.8.9 Ezech. 16. also oftentimes admonished them and himselfe in Ezechiel vnder the parable of a marriage expresly testifieth The Prophet therefore by the mention of ielousie sendeth them backe to Gods goodnesse least for the doctrines sake of repentance which hee had premised they shoulde attribute any thing to their owne merits But the self same is the state and condition of vs all For why if GOD did not with most feruent zeale maintaine and defende our saluation it were impossible among so many greeuous assaultes of the Deuil and of the worlde for any man to bee safe eyther in body or soule And haue wee deserued that hee shoulde burne with so greate zeale for vs No verily For what can they deserue Psal 51. that are conceiued and borne in sinne and that haue with themselues drawen the earth and euen this whole frame of the worlde into cursednesse Gene. 3. For albeit wee beeing wakened sometimes eyther by the admonitions of Gods word or by punishments doe conuert vnto him yet is there no merite or worthines of this conuersion before God sith hee himselfe is the authour and chiefe cause thereof in vs. It becommeth vs therefore to acknowledge the grace of GOD and to ascribe vnto this alone whatsoeuer good is in vs which is want to bee any furtherance to our saluation This thing serueth for our instruction that wee also may loue GOD againe and with no lesse zeale and feruencie propagate and set foorth his glory But especially heereupon ought a comforte to bee raysed in temptations in as muche as we heare that GOD keepeth still his zeale men towardes those and acknowledgeth them still for his people whome he afflicteth and punisheth for their sinnes For thereby it appeareth hewe that afflictions are in no wise the tokens of an enemilike â—unde in God but rather doe testifie of his fatherly good will towardes vs. For this doth the corruption of our nature require which cannot otherwise be brweled and tamed For why if hee teache vs by his worde wee vnderstand not the teacher If hee admonish vs we suppose this belongs not vnto vs. Pro. 3. If hee reprooue vs wee complaine that wee haue wrong offered vs. If he threaten vs wee scoffe and abuse his long sufferance Hee is inforced therefore to imitate trustie and faithful fathers who do vse to correct their stubborne disobedient children so much the more sharply and seuerely least they shoulde perishe and come to nought Let vs therefore patiently abide his hande and immediatly the thinges will further vs to saluatâ—â—â— that seemed 〈◊〉 the first to bee intollerable See Paule to the Heb. 12. and 1. Coâ—inth 11. The effects of our reconcilement with God Howheit vnto this promise hee adioyneth the effects or fruites of the saide reconciliation to the intent hee might proue in very deede that they should haue God fauourable vnto them And that the promise might bee the more certaine hee bringeth in God himselfe answering to the prayers and complaints of the people as wee hearde of late First Behold saith hee I will sende you corne and wine and oyle and you shall bee satisfied therewith These thinges are set against the penurie and hunger which they suffered in most greeâ—ous wise and in three fores hee comprehendeth all that belongeth to mans sustenance And the particle Beholde signifieth a sodaine and vnloâ—ked for plentie of thinges By which place we are admonished that sustenance and all the fruites of the earth are giuen vnto vs of God Genâ— 3. For although it â—ehoâ—eth the earth to bee tilled by the labours of mens handes yet shall it be tilled in vaine vnlesse God blesse both it and our labours For why 1. Cor. 3. neither is hee that planteth nor hee that watereth â—â—y thing saith Saint Paule but God that giueth the increase Let vs therefore acknowledge Gods grace and goodnesse and modestly and soberly vse the giftes that hee giueth vs. Againe let vs not despaire if at any time wee bee pinched with penurie and the perill of hunger hang ouer our heads Math. 6.10 Luke 12. Psal 147. For hee that by his liberalitie prouideth for the wilde beastes and foules of the ayre and feedeth the young Rauens that call vpon him wyll by no meanes neglect those whome hee hath bought with the blood of his own sonne The same GOD can also beyond all expectation helpe and suceour them vpon the sodaine that stande in need if it so seemeth good vnto him For why if you consider the thinges that are heere spoken I doubt not but they will seeme incredible to a great
number but that the matter fell so out in very deede wee may gather out of Esay also the whole discourse of the historie Esai 37. Hytherto maketh it that God nourished the Israelites forcie yeeres together after a wonderfull maner in the wildernesse to the ende hee myght teache vs by that example that weâ— liue not by bread onely Deut. 8. but by euery woorde that proceedeth out of his mouth And in the reigne of King Ioram wee reade howe that after a horrible and more then desperate scarcitie sodenly there was giuen an vnlooked for and most plentifull foyson of corne and vitaile 2. Kin. 8. Many examples like vnto these wee may see euery yeere both publikely and priuately of all which this ought to bee the vse vnto vs that wee may trust in GOD our father humbly obey his commaundements c. Secondly hee saith 2. Glory and honour I will no more make you a reproche among the Heathen For they had complained of this chiefly because his glory was in hazarde Hee promiseth therefore that they shall no more bee troubled with any such matter They therefore doe best prouide for theyr owne glory that make most of Gods glory so as they can preferre this before all maner of riches of their owne For this is Gods promise 1 Sam. 2. I will honour them that honour mee and againe contrariwise Whereby it appeareth what wee haue to doe in these dayes as well privately as publikely if in case wee desire to bee deliuered from reproches and â—â—aunders Let vs be inflamed with the zeale of gods glory and iâ—â—uour our seâ—â—eâ—â—â— aâ—uannce the same and euen foorthwith wee shall perceiue that God also will prouide for 〈◊〉 same and glory 3 Victorie against the enemie But forâ—omuch as the huge power of the Assyrians made them astonied so as they couâ—â— scarcely giue credite to these thinges hee telleth them in the third place what shall be come of that matter And hee calleth them the Northren armie for because the Assyrians haue their situation Northwar â—e from the Iewes I will driue saith hee this Northren armie farre away from you By the worde driue hee Theweth howe easily and with howe 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 he will dâ—ing this thing to pâ—â—â—e euen like as if a man with a â—â—â—â—â—lappe wouâ—â— driue away flyes or as the grasâ—â—â—â— vs are driuen away with the â—ittde which before ocâ—â—â—â—ed all places both farre neete Neither is there any cause why ye should thinke that there will bee no place lefte whither to driue him For I will driue him into desolate places so as one parte of so great an armie shall bee dispearsed euen to the East Sea and another part shall flie to the West And truly it is to hee thought that so many as eseaped from the slaughter made by the Angel being distressed with horrible feare and perpleritie were scattered by flight into diuers sundry places But he addeth And his stinck shall come vp c. Hee meaneth the infamous memorie of his name which onely and alone of so great attempts Sennacherib shoulde leaue behinde him The cause For that hee hath magnified himself to do this that is he hath proudly unpiously exalted himselfe as though hee woulde after his owne lust and liking ouer rule both God and men To the exposition of this place make those thinges Esai 10.36 The pride end of tyraÌ„ts that are recited at large in Esay as touching his outragious boasting But by this example is finely set out the pryde of Tyrants and the vnhappie ende of the same They are wont to conceâ—e mightie matters in their minds and can scarcely in the whole worlde finde any place fit to receiue them Yea and beeing aduanced aboue the cloudes in their conceites they promise to them selues euerlasting memorie vaunt forth theÌ„selues amongst men for some gods vpon earth But assone as they haue finished their course God euen in a moment scattereth their forces and enterprises so farre foorth that of all their glory and triumphes they conueigh ouer nothing els to their posteritie then a shameful remeÌ„braÌ„ce of their tyraÌ„ny which like vnto stinke rysing vp from a rotten carkasse filleth and infecteth the whole worlde Examples heereof wee haue in Histories euery where plentie For to this ranke belongeth the first authour of tyrannie Genc 10. Nimroth with all those that haue followed his steppes of which forte for the most part were all the Babylonian and Assyrian princes the Aegyptian Pharaos the Chananites Antiochusses Herodes Romayne Emperours Ezech. 32. and as many as beeing like vnto these haue caused their feare as the Prophet saith to be in the land of the liuing Let no man therefore bee afraide of their attemptes and threateninges but rather let vs feare GOD and then beeing safe vnder his protection wee shall leaue behind vs a holy and renowmed memorie of our names howesoeuer the wretched worlde deuise all kinde of reproch against vs. 4. The ioyfull restitution of the land and of the creatures But to the intent hee might prouide for their infirmitie whome the present danger held still in doubt and perpleritie he ampliâ—eth at large the happie condition of all thinges which by Gods reconcilement shoulde immediately followe And like as in the beginning hee had threatened that the sense and feeling of Gods wrath shoulde reache euen vnto the earth it selfe and bruite beasts also so nowe bee promiseth that GOD with his fauour will reioyce the earthe and likewise the beastes And hee vseth a feate figure whereby hee speaketh to the earthe and beastes as though they were endued with sense and reason Feare not O lande reioyce and bee gladde for the Lorde will doe greate thinges As though hee should say God seemeth nowe to lie along and sleepe seeing Sennacherib so proudly exalteth himselfe but euen foorthwith God wil cast him downe and shew forth his own power and restore a glad countenance to the earth And you O beasts whom famine compelleth as yet to wander about and mourne nowe lay aside all feare For the pastures of the deferr shall floorish and so shal al trees and Likewise the figtrees and vines shal bring foorth their fruite whereby foode shall be ministred both to you and vnto men And thus woulde he comforte the people and stirre vp the same to the consideration of Gods benefite that from thence foorth they might yeelde themselues thankefull and obedient vnto God For as we said of late a foule shame it is for men not to acknowledge the hande of God which euen the grosse earth and bruite beasts doe perceiue But more of this shal be saide in that which followeth It shall bee our partes in the meane time to awaken our selues by the consideration heereof and to giue thankes vnto God without eeasing Who hath giuen vs greater thinges then these in Christe Iesus who hath destroyed the power of the diuell defaced his kingdome and
affliction whiche as the Prophet sayth maye giue vs vnderstanding and prouoke vs to the dueties of godlines Esay 28. The Saintes do acknowledge this and say with Dauid Psal 119. It is good O Lord that thou hast humbled me Againe Thy rod and thy staffe comfort me For why Psal 23. they acknowledge the fatherly hand of God in chastising theÌ„ and therefore they reioyce in afflictions which they know will woorke for the best vnto them This thing is to bee obserued of vs when eyther we are tempted publikly with warres and famine or priuatelye with disseases and other aduersities For so being made partakers of Christ in bearing his crosse wee shall reigne for euer with him in glory Neuerthelesse least they might think that this afflictioÌ„ should alwaies last coÌ„tinue God testifieth his fauour by outward benesites he repeateth that which he had said of the fruitfulnes of the earth of the most pleÌ„tifull increase of corne victual which is another cause of reioysing in the Lord namely that they should acknowledge the fauoure of God by his externall benefites and euen in very deede haue experience thereof For hee sayth He will cause the rayne to come downe vnto you euen the first rayne and the latter rayne in the first moneth That is said to be the first rayne which in the moneth of September after seede time watereth the fieldes that the seedes may grow and take roote The latter rayne which when the Corne is now in riping causeth that the Graines in the Eares are not scorched with ouermuch heat but are made more plentifull And in these two kindes he comprehendeth all other influences of the heauens which make to the happy increase and foizon of the earth Neither doeth hee promise these onely but teâ—heth also that they shall be effectuall whâ—â— hee addeth And the barnes shall be filled with wheate and the presses shall abound with wine and oyle and I will render and make good vnto you the yeeres that is those yeerely fruites which the Grashoppers haue deuoured the Canker worme and the Caterpiller and the Palmer worme my great hoast which I sent amongest you Victuall and sustenance commeth only by the blessing of God Leuit. 26. Deut. 28. Psalm 104. 145.147 In which place wee are admonished that seasonable weather and the fruites of the earth doe come to passe onely and alone by Gods blessing There are extant as touching this matter promises in the law Dauid oftentimes maketh mention thereof in the Psalmes As ofte therefore as wee inioye those benefites let vs acknowledge them to bee testimonies of Gods grace and goodnes and vse the same soberly and with thankesgiuing 1. Tim. 4. For by this Paule witnesseth that our meates are sanctified But if wee be vnthankfull and intemperate then they turne vnto our destruction which ought to haue serued our necessitie and withall God taketh awaye his giftes and punisheth them with penury and hunger which would not acknowledge his goodnes and bountie Neither is this any harde matter for him to doe when as by most vile wormes hee can sodenly cutte shorte the whole hope of the yeere Neyther doeth he without cause cal these heere in this place his hoast or army For albeit these seely creatures seeme to bee most weake and feeble thinges yet doe they make huge swarmes wherby they destroy all that euer is both farre and neere in so much that a man may more easily defend the fieldes from the inuations of enemies then from them Examples are euery where extant in hystories Exod. 10. and wee haue seene some in our tune in the consideration whereof woulde GOD wee were more diligentlye occupied and then remembring our owne weakenesse wee should haue lesse cause to be proude against GOD who is able with most vile and wretched creatures to subdue euen the cruelest Tyrantes and fiercest nations that be Hitherto maketh that which hee addeth saying How Gods benefites ought to bee vsed And you shall eate and be satisfied and prayse the name of the Lord your God who hath dealt maruellously with you In which wordes he sheweth theÌ„ how they ought to vse peace and the plenty of things belonging to mans sustenance For God would that we should enioy theÌ„ be satisfied with theÌ„ But withall he will haue vs to be mindfull of him and to prayse his name that is his power and bountifulnes It was miraculous to behold the sodeine deliuerance felicitie which happened to the Iewes after the Assyrian war But no lesse admiration deserue the things that we daily haue experience of that al creatures are occupied about maÌ„s liuelihood welfare Therfore a more then beastly blockishnes it is if in case we being satisfied with Gods giftes doe neither acknowledge his liberalitie our selues nor prayse and commeÌ„d the same vnto others c. He promiseth the present ayde and protection of God Hereunto he addeth in way of coÌ„firmatioÌ„ And you shal know that I am in the middest of Israel that is to say so great and so notable shal your happines be that if you wil not beleeue my wordes yet shal you find by experience and indeed that I am conuersant amoÌ„gst you that I stand in defence for you with mine aide and how that I am your god that only alone Because I wil theÌ„ deliuer you wheÌ„ as beeing forsakeÌ„ of al men there shal no where appeare any hope of health or safetie To be short I wil bring to passe that my people shal neuer be coÌ„fouÌ„ded And so he sheweth theÌ„ that the fountaine of al good things consisteth in the free promise couenant of God For in that that God had chosen his dwelling place amongest them it was of no merit or desert of theirs but of his owne meere grace and fauour wherewith he embraced them being vnworthie and deseruing no such matter Exod. 16. Leuit. 26. as Moses himselfe more then in one place or two witnesseth But in that the Iewes are at this day horribly confounded made a laughing stocke to the whole worlde it derogateth nothing at al from Gods promise For why this is restrained to the people of god Therefore inasmuch as they ceassed to bee Gods people and are reiected by his iust iudgement the same belongeth no more vnto them In the meane season wee ought to apply these thinges to our instruction and comfort For as in times paste the Iewes Ephes 1. 2. Corin. 6. 1. Pet. 2. Ephes 1. 2. Corin. 15. Rom. 8. so hath God by grace chosen vs in Christ Iesus Who hath not onely redeemed vs by the merit of his death but also made vs a liuing temple vnto him selfe which he vouchsafeth to dwell in by his spirit and worde Yea and he hath engrauen his spirit in our heartes as a sure and certaine pledge of our saluation whereby we cry Abba Father Of which grace there appeare sufficient trials and cleare
vs because they suppose wee are neither regarded of God nor men But in the meane season they inuade and make hauocke of Gods people and of Gods inheritance then the which the whole vniuersall worlde hath nothing inâ—tâ—more excellent and glorious For why God maketh so great account of his elect and chosen 1. Pet. 1. Act. 20. that hee woulde purchase them vnto himselfe with the blood of his onely begotten sonne because there coulde no where bee founde any other price sufficient and further hauing purchased them Psal 2. Ephes 5. hee allotted them vnto his sonne for an inheritance yea he would haue them to be his spouse which he might make partaker of his heauenly kingdom of euerlasting happines They are iniurious therefore not against men but against God himselfe as many as lay violent handes vpon his Church and they shall vndoubtedly feele him to bee their iudge reueÌ„ger For the threatning of God is wel knowen speaking by Zachary Zach. 1. He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of mine eyet the saying of Christ Saule Saul why persecutest thou mee Act. 9. Which as they strike a terrour vnto the wicked so are they a comfort to the godly when they vnderstand that God will bee a reuenger of their cause He declareth the causes of the punishments But least God might seeme to haue taken any thing rashly in hande hee rehearseth in order what they had done against his people and against his inheritance First they haue scattered them among all nations For they had both led away the people and dispearsed them throughout their prouinces and also had brought of their own nation into the land of Israel to inhabite according as the sacred historie euidently testifieth of Salmanazar 2. King 17. and that Sennacherib the tyrant attempted the like it may appeare by the wordes of Rabsaketh wherewith hee sollicited them of Ierusalem to surrender their Citie Esay 36. And this doeth the Lorde obiect vnto them as a great and heynous crime when yet notwithstanding Sennacherib chiefly glorifieth heerein Esa 10. Act. 17. Deut. 32. that hee had remoued the boundes of kingdomes and nations And because it is plaine that God hath appointed to euery people their seuerall limites and borders they sin in like maner whosoeuer without great and vrgent cause inuade the countries and dominions of other Albeit the Prophete doth not heere onely accuse this kinde of iniustice and crueltie but also the vngodlines wherby they both prophaned the people consecrated vnto God and also the lande that was the seate of his worship Which selfe same thing in effect doe the persecutors in these dayes when as they compell the professours of Christe to deny the faith to set vp idolatrie in those places where the Gospel was taught before Moreouer they haue cast lottes for my people And so he betokeneth an extreeme contempt and that they accounted them for most vile whomsoeuer that tooke in that battaile Hee addeth And they haue giuen the childe for the harlot and haue solde the damosell for wine The former member may be taken two waies that wee may vnderstande them either to haue abused the children to their abhominable lust or els to haue giuen them for gifces to their harlots But in the latter member hee reprooueth their practise of gluttonie and drunkennesse and withall putteth the Iewes in minde howe iustly they had hitherto suffered extremities that had so carelesly neglected Gods glory For doubtlesse a fearefull thing it is if we coÌ„sider that these things hapned to gods people and inheritance and euen then happened too when God yet acknowledged theÌ„ for his owne people But the like thinges intimes past the Christians also suffered at this day in some places they are faine to suffer the selfe same Wee ought not therfore to bee offended but rather to consider of the faultes and corruptions of the Church which it behoueth by this meanes to bee corrected and resereined In the meane time heere also are expressed the maners and practises of the enemies and persecutors of the Church The maners and conditioÌ„s of the enimies of the church They will seeme as though they handled gods cause were desirous to preserue defend religion when commonly beeing giuen to most foule and filthie pleasures they run headlong through a desperate and insatiable libertie into all kinde of lust and villauie Such wee reade were in times past the Herodes the Neroes the Domitians and many other Such also in these dayes are seene to be the Romish Bishops togeather with their protectors and defenders and the whole rabble in a maner of the anointed and shauen crewe who when they burne with an vnquenchable practise of dice play venerie and gluttonie and are not eshamed of any enormitie whatsoeuer yet forsooth will bee counted the onely patrons and defenders of Gods glory and religion But euen they also shall feele at the length what it is to mocke God and the Church of Christe And these things bee spoken as touching the outwarde enemies He thretneth punishments to their domesticall and neighborlike enemies He passeth now to the neighbour nations of the Iewes which in the time of the Assyrian warre ioyned themselues with their enemies wheÌ„ before they were either their subiects or els by leagues lawes of friendship bound and vnited vnto them For it is euident that the Philistines were subdued by Dauid and that the Tyrians were confederate with Dauid and Salomon And they forsooth namely the Philistines thought they had nowe occasion giuen them wherby they mought reuenge their olde wronges but these other I meane the Tyrians be wrayed the lightnesse and inconstancy of their minds when as they became enimies vnto them in aduersitie whose partes they had taken before in prosperitie But they are an example or figure of the domestical home-bredde enemies of the Church who either against their willes or allured by the successe of happy conclusions doe for a time counterfet the loue of true religion but at last assoone as occasion is giuen bewray the priuie poyson of their stomackes Of which sort seeing there is nowe euery where a huge nuÌ„ber that ought diligently to bee marked that the Lorde denounceth heere vnto these Yea and what haue you to doe with mee saith hee O Tyre Sidon and all the coastes of Palestina As though hee shoulde say Goe to admit the Assyrians had some cause of warre against mee or at least coulde pretende some excuse that they beeing farre off from my lande were also voide and destitute of the knowledge of my lawes maner of my true worship But tell me what moued you to ioyne your selues vnto these and to bee drawen into the societie of the battaile What will yee render mee a recompence that is to say haue yee suffered any iniurie by me that might deserue such a recompence Certainely you can alleddge no such matter when rather yee owe thankes vnto
you shal neuer bring this to passe For albeit it may seem a thing impossible that they should euer returne to their owne country yet will I rayse them vp and gathering them together out of all places bring them backe againe And as for you I wil rewarde you according to your desertes and that vpon your owne heade For I wil sel your soones your daughters into the hand of the children of Iuda who shall also sell them to the Sabeans and to other nations a farre off Hee aâ—â—â—th by way of confirmation For the Lord himselfe hath spoken it But yet we neuer reade that the Tyrians and Sidonians and other the enemies of the Iewes were sold by the Iewes themselues Yet so the Lord speaketh that these thinges should happen vnto theÌ„ by reason of the disluyaltie and crueltie which they had vsed agaynst the Iewes The execution therfore of Gods iudgement is attributed to the Iewes for as much as God woulde sende it to reuenge the iniuries offred vnto his people But these thinges were fulfilled when the selfsame Assyrians Chaldeans which had afflicted the Iewes did also within a while after subdue and ouerrunne these nations togither with other the neare neighbours of the Iewes Esa 14. 32 Iere. 47. Ezech. 29.27.28 Ioan. 11. as we may see in the sermons of Esay Ieremie and Ezechiel Neuerthelesse these things ought chiefly to be referred to the times of Christ who as he hath gathered together in one the children of God which were before dispersed and solde vnder sinne so taketh hee most greeuous punishments vpon the wicked enemies of his church whereof the Iewes first of all tasted For when these had after a sort sold Christ and shamefully denied him before Pilate God solde them also into the handes of the Romanes and scattered them throughout the whole worlde so as the tokens of Gods wrath are euery where seene in them The like happened not long after to the Romanes whom God solde into the handes of the Gotthes Vandalles Herulians and other most cruell nations when they had once atmed theÌ„ selues against Christ neither is it to be doubted but that all they also are to tast of the selfe same cup in these dayes that are false and iniurious against the church And withall let theÌ„ also obserue this thing whosoeuer beside the cause of religion liue by oppression of the poore shedding of bloode and by rauine and extertion suche as are those that addicting themselues vnto mercenary warfare seeke their chiefe prayse in this if they may spoyle kill and destroy as manye as is possible Well God will one day punishe them wick euen dealing neither will Christ bee founde false Matt. 7. who sayde sometime With what measure yee mete with the selfesame shal others also mete vnto you Apoc. 13. Agayne Hee that leadeth into captiuitie goeth into captiuitie He that killeth with the sword shall perish with the sword These things are approued by the examples of all ages so as wee haue by no meanes to doubt of the truth of them c. The wicked and vngodly destroy themselues with fiting one against another But forsomuch as God punisheth the wickednes of the world with diuers and sundry penalties he now expressely sheweth what punishment he would vse against them namely warre which in maner of an herrault he deuounceth with many graue and weightie woordes to the intent hee might both awaken the carelesse contemners of Gods iudgementes and also minister hope and comfort to the godly who thought it would scarce euer come to passe that these natioÌ„s should be punished which as they were most mighty and puissant so also did they as stubbornely defend their superstitions against the church of God Hee publikely therfore denounceth warre vnto them whilest he raiseth vp al nations he sheweth it would come to passe that al the whole worlde shoulde be troubled and that they should fall by wounding one of another that had now conspired to the destructioÌ„ of Gods people Publish sayth he this among the Gentiles For god is the Lord of all nations â—â—nctifie prepare warret by which speech he signifieth that this warre should be accomplished by the furtherance and assistance of God albeit the prophane Gentiles vnderstood not so much withal he coÌ„mendeth vnto theÌ„ an earnest care endeuour to go through with it Wake vp also al the mightie valiant men let as many as are furnished with any martiall prowesse draw neere come vp Yea breake your plough shares into swordes your siethes into speares And thus he expresseth the incessaÌ„t practise of warring which should bring with it a forgetfulnes of husbandry and of all other businesses which are wonte to florishe in the time of peace For Esay by diuerse speeches expresseth the exercise of peace when prophesiyng of the kingdome of Christe hee sayeth They shall breake their swordes into mattockes and theyr speares into siethes c. Hereunto Ioel addeth Esay 2. Hee that is weake let him say I am a strong champion let him shew himself couragious in executing Gods iudgment What neede many wordes Assemble your selues and come together all ye heathen rounde about The cause For the Lord shall there namely in the sight of his Churche cast downe all the mightie men of the earth that haue hytherto afflicted her These things admonish vs how greatly God careth for his Church The Churche how much it is set by of God For as hee made all thinges for this and therefore prosecuteth all other creatures with his fauour that they might doe seruice vnto her So for the same his Churche hee meserueth kingdomes and common weales to the end they might minister thinges necessary thereunto and agayne ouerthroweth those nations and kingdomes which would haue his church banished and destroyed For example the Sodomites whom God preserued a long time for Lots sake and deliuered by Abraham from their enemies but the same heâ— strake with fire from heauen when Lot coulde no longer dwell amongest them in safetie Likewise vpon Egpyt God powred many benefites by Ioseph when as hee had appointed it the resting place of his Church but incontinently hee both most greeuously afflicted the land of the Egyptians and also destroyed their king with his whole traine of horsemen by a verye fearefull and terrible iudgement what time they began to persecute his Church In like maner dealt he with the Chananites with the Moabites with the Madianites with the Palestines Syrians Idumeans Babilonians Medians Persians Grecians and Romanes as the histories doe euery where tostifie And at this daye wee see the wicked runne together by the eares one vpon another and to turne the weapons to their owne destruction which they had prouided to oppresse the Church and so is it true in all ages that the verye earth that is to say earthly minded men and such as are giuen ouer to the worlde drinke up the floodes of water
which that olde Oragon the Diuell Apoc. 12. vomitech out against the Church Let these things serue for our comfort least wee dispaire at any time of Gods help Vnder the figure of Iudiciall processe he denounceth punishment to the enemies But the Lord goeth forward and vnder the figure of a iudicial processe threatneth the selfe same thing withall teacheth that he wil doe nothing cōtrary to right equity And hytherto maketh the very diligent rehearsall of the circumstances For first are summoned and ascited the guiltie whom it behooueth to stand forth to iudgement Secondly the iudge also is described Thē next he reciteth the sentēce at length declareth the horrible execution thereof As touching the first Let the heathen sayth he be wakened I As guiltie hee cyteth all the heathen and come vp to the valley of Iehosophat that is to the place of Gods iudgement where they may be punished for their wickednes Where wee are taught that the iudgments of God are extended to al nations neither can they be auoyded by any shiftes or forcible attemptes of men For so great is the force of Gods summoning or citation that the wicked doe euen willingly after a forte come forth when the time of vengeance is and no man compelling thē stand forth before God to be punished So Pharao willingly ran headlong into the bocome of the Sea in these dayes we see it no rare matter that the wicked desperately pluck perils vpon their owne pates wherin they miserably perish Let no man therefore either be deceiued by his owne securitie or dismaied by the successe and temerity of the vngodly Secōdly God bewraieth also the iudge to witee himselfe 2 God is iudge who elsewhere chalengeth to himselfe all iudgement and is said to be the iudge of the whole earth Deut. 1. Psalm 82. Genes 18. For I sayth he will sitte to iudge all nations round about As though hee shoulde saye This wil I do who hitherto might seeme as though I had neglected both mine owne cause and the cause of my people c. This thing is well to bee obserued of the wicked and euen of as many as are securely besotted in their sinnes They for the most part thinke that God regardeth not mortall mens matters and with those fooles say There is no God Psal 14.53 the Lorde seeth not neither doth the God of Iacob vnderstand c. But would to god the same woulde heare the Prophet making answere vnto thē Psal 94. Vnderstand ye vnwise amōg the people and O yee fooles when wil yee be wise He that planted the eare shal he not heare he that formed the eye shal he not see he that chastiseth the nations teacheth men wisedome shall hee not reproue you The Lorde knoweth the thoughts of men that they are but vaine c. And that these thinges are most truly spoken of the Prophet as well old as new and euen dayly examples doe so manifestly prooue that they are wittinglie and willingly beside themselues that dare call the same into question 3. The sentēce of the iudge is expressed by similitudes Thirdly he declareth the sentence or verdict of the Iudge by similitudes drawen from vintage and haruest whereby hee both sheweth the cause of the punishment and also the vprightnes of the iudgement For he compareth the wicked enemies of his kingdome to a fielde and vineyarde wherein the fruites of all kinde of sinne haue hither to growen which God as yet indeede through his wonderfull long sufferance hath borne withal but now he will reape cut thē downe because that beeing come vnto ripenes they had filled vp the measure of their iniquitie Therefore hee crieth Thrust in your siethes for the haruest is ripe come gette you downe for the wine presse is full c. And thus speaketh he vnto those whom he had now constituted executioners of his iudgement Apoc. 14. The selfesame parables Iohn heard aleadged of the Angel when he described the proceeding of the last iudgement But for our partes let us learne hereby howe dangerously they are deceiued that by the long sufferance of God promise to themselues an impunitie in sinning and in the meane season thinke not of Gods iustice who distributeth vnto euery thing his proper time and season The husbandman wayteth for the time of haruest and vintage neither gathereth he his fruites before they be ripe shall we thinke that God will rashly and vnaduisedly hasten his iudgments But although he sometimes deferre the punishmentes yet he forgetteth not the sinnes which if together with a setled and incurable libertie of sinning contempt of Gods worde they come vnto ripenes then by and by he displayeth his iudgement Wherby it commeth to passe that such as seemed of long time to haue committed most heynous transgressions without check or controlement at length by adding one sinne more haue prouoked Gods wrath against thē For as the haruest being already white one day or two bringeth it vnto ripenes as the measure filled vp to the brim one onely drop maketh it run ouer euen so the sinnes that seeme to be smal prouoke the iudgemēt of God if through an incurable malice prophane contempt of the word they be added to the former transgressions Let euery one obserue marke these things neither let thē looke onely vpon that which is presently cōmitted but call to minde also their sinnes past and examine their hearts least the wicked carelesse contēpt of god cause that to be pernitious vnto thē which vnto the godly to such as sinne of infirmitie is pardoned and forgiuen 4 The horrible execution of the diuine sentence But the prophet persisting in the parable describeth the horrible execution of Gods iudgement as though being rapt out of himselfe hee saw al things done before his face he exclauneth O multitude multitude cōe into the valley of threshing c. For this is peculiar to the prophets that being rapt rauished out of thēselues they looke vpon things to come as though they were present which thing the Poet obseruing bringeth in Sibyll crying out Warres O most fearefull warres I say And slaughters manifolde And Tyber foming froth of blood Great plentie I beholde And he calleth the place of Gods iudgmēt the valley of threshing As if he should say They would not hitherto acknowledge the iudgmēt of God deuise how to escape it but haue brought their sins vnto ripenes therfore they shal come into the valley of threshing and there be broken in pieces forthw t he addeth the cause For the day of the lord is nere in the valley of threshing He calleth the day of the lord the time of vēgeance which he expressed before by the nāes of haruest vintage And that he might be token the greeuousnes thereof he sayth that the Sun Moon with the rest of the starres shal forgo their brightnes insomuch that the tokēs