sentence neither of humanitie only but of duty for who caÌ„ lay his hand on the Lords anointed saith he be giltles At least if they would not be still as he was for conscience sake yet for feare they might be seeing that a foule of the aire shal cary the voice a bird shall declare the matter if they but speak euil of the king yea in their thought much more if they intend to doe him any evil And sure if they turne not if they whet their swords bend their bowes and make them ready getting theÌ„selues deadly weapons prepare their arrows for persecutors they haue travelled with lewdnesse and conceiued mischiefe to bring forth a lie into the pit that they haue digged they shall fall their mischiefe shall returne vpon their owne heads and on their â—…wne pates shall their crueltie light For God doth giue revengements vnto his anointed and sheweth mercy to his Queen advancing her aboue them who rise vp against her But whether they doe vse this benefit of God to their good or no let vs my deere brethren let vs our houses as Iosua said serue the Lord. And that not by acknowledging only Gods goodnesse in this and all his benefits the foremost steppe to thankfulnesse but the next also I meane by confessing of him among the Gentiles and singing to his name with yeelding him all glory for it For the Heathens theÌ„selues in that smal knowledge of God which sin left theÌ„ did acknow ledge him to be the worker autor of the coÌ„modities that they had In the Greeke Poets the Gods are surnamed by a coÌ„moÌ„ title the givers of good things The Captaines of the Romanes having conquered their enimies took part of the lawrel which they did beare in signe therof laid it in the lap of Iupiter The CaldaeaÌ„ king subdued divers nations took their holds spoiled their cities seazed on their wealth ascribing that his power force to his God But they did not glorifie God as they ought neither were thankfull They robbed him of his honour and gaue it vnto many Gods their owne Idols Images of mortal creatures Yea part of the lawrel they kept to theÌ„selues sacrificing to their nets burning incense to their yarne because by theÌ„ their portion was fat their meate plenteous The time of this ignorance is overpast brethreÌ„ the daies are come wherof it was prophecied that the earth should be ful of the knowledge of the Lord as waters cover the sea How much the more excuselesse shall our fowle ingratitude vngodlines be if we be no thankfuller to him then the Heathens theÌ„ the Greeks the Romans the Caldaeans were Chiefly sith beside the temporall benefit of the preservation of our Prince and vs wee haue received graces more excellent precious to endure for ever name ly the enioying of his Sonne Christ Iesus our wisdome our righteousnes our sanctificatioÌ„ our redeÌ„ptioÌ„ the Spirit of adoption whereby we haue boldnes to cry Abba father the peace of conscience tranquillity of mind contentednes of heart the inheritaÌ„ce immortal vndefiled that withereth not the coÌ„fort the protectioÌ„ the assuraÌ„ce of his loue in a word so many blessings both of this life of the life to come as never any natioÌ„ vnder heaveÌ„ greater Wherfore I beseech you by the mercies of God who spared not his own Son for our sakes but gaue him to the death the vile death of the crosse that we might liue through him let vs confesse him sincerely faithfully not only in words but in deeds confesse him among the Gentiles eveÌ„ those which are straÌ„gers alieÌ„s froÌ„ the faith that we may win theÌ„ to the Lord. Let our coÌ„versatioÌ„ be honest amoÌ„g theÌ„ that by our good works which they shall see they may glorifie God in the day of the visitatioÌ„ Let vs cast away profane songs of wantonnes of lightnes of vanity sing vnto his name vsing both our voice speech in al respects as it becoÌ„meth Saints To be short let vs shew let vs striue to shew by al parts of duty a thankfull acceptance of the great saluatioÌ„s that he hath wrought for vs zealous remeÌ„brance of the end wherto that we being deliuered out of the hand of our enimies should serue him without feare in holinesse righteousnes before him all the daies of our life The godly Prince Prophet whose vertuous example as in al the rest so in this specially should be a spurre vnto vs calling into mind how God had delivered his soule froÌ„ death his eies froÌ„ teares his feet from falling brake out into these words What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards me I will take c. Neither said he more therein theÌ„ he performed For when he had offered sacrifices of thanksgiuing he made a holy banket therewith vnto the people in remeÌ„brance of the manifold safeties deliuerances that hee had received He praised the Lord called vpon his name his Psalmes doe witnesse it to this day He promised that he would iudge righteously he did it He vowed to bring the arke into a place of rest he brought it How great cause we haue fathers brethreÌ„ to say as he said What shal we render so the Lord your selues do wel know How small care wee shew of doing as he did in praising God paying our vowes before his people the world doth see Our slacknes in frequeÌ„ting of sermons of praiers of celebrating the Lord supper taking the cup of the salvatioÌ„ of salvations I wish it were amended rather then reproved We haue made vowes and promises to God al of perpetual holines in baptisme some of special duties in their several callings And is it to be hoped that every one of vs though not with Davids zeale yet with some measure of it will pay them to the Lord Sure the greater hope thereof is to be had if that which hath been moved of order to be takeÌ„ for ordinary sermons preaching of the word on our Sabbath-daies in the afternoone not the forenoone only may be effected by the godly forwardnes of theÌ„ who should say And this will we doe if God permit The father of mercies God of al coÌ„fort who hath raised vnto vs a most glorious light placed a most gracious Princesse in the throne of government among vs sanctifie vs throughout with his holy spirit that we may offer vp the sacrifices of righteousnes the fruits of our lips of our harts of our hands to the glory of his name for all his benefits powred on vs And 〈◊〉 hath hitherto givâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deliuerances shewed mercy to his anointed so be 〈◊〉 we him for his Son our Saviors sake to do it stil. Saue her O Lord saue her out of the haÌ„d of al her enimies Let their
among the heathen arise and let vs arise vp against her in battel 2 Behold I haue made thee smal among the heathen thou art vtterly despised BEfore I come to the exposition of the Prophets words I thinke it convenient to shew vnto you the cause why leaving the epistle of Peter which I had in hand I haue taken vpon me to handle this Prophesie Saint Peter having testified that the Gospell of Christ was the truth of GOD preached to men for the salvation of their soules exho◅teth them that not withstanding the fury and malice of the wicked which had set themselues against the same they would per sist in the do◅trine and truth which they had learned to embrace the same fait◅fully and expresse the force and fruit thereof effectually in their life and conversa tion and that in generall to fly from evill a◅d follow that which was good and in particular towards GOD and man especially Subiects to honour their kings servants to obey their Masters wiues husbands children parents In all which that their endeavours might not be hindered by enemies he exhorteth them to patience and constancie And finally beseecheth the Elders Pa stors to feed the stocke of CHRIST committed to their charge as the principall meanes to bring thē to their duety and to establish them in grace vnto the ende Now in expounding these things I came to the dutie of subiects wherein I declared that the Princes received the sword and supremacie over all persons it followed that afterward I should shew that it was also in all causes But because since that time it pleased GOD to call me to proue it else where and to commit the same to writing it seemeth not so necessary to handle that point in this place As for the other points concerning the duties of servants wiues Parents for that there are very few such come hither least I shoulde preach to them that were absent I thought that part might conveniently be omitted Wherefore the last point remained which was concerning the enimies of the Church whom for that the LORD will most certainely destroy we must haue the greater patience to ◅ndure and continue in the stedfastnes of our profession For which cause also he exhorteth the Pastors diligently to feed and tend vpon their slocks Which matter being right necessary for vs to know and for that I hoped this doctrine would pierce the better into our hearts if we had the same handled out of some continued place I chose this Prophesie of OBADIAH where this thing is handled orderly iointly namely in the 16 first verses the destructiō of the enemies of the church in the fiue last the salvation therof by the ministerie of the Pastors whom in the last verse he calleth Saviours for that GOD by their Ministery worketh the salvation of his people And this also haue I the rather chosen because I may vse Peter as an Interpreter of the Proph◅t whereby comparing them togither the one may giue light to th' other that so being built on the doctrine of the Apostles Prophets we may grow vp into that building whereof Iesus Christ is the chiefe corner stone The Title The vision of OBADIAH Whence we gather the commodity and excellencie hereof by the Matter and Author 1 The matter is tearmed by the name of visiō which is a doctrine Revealed from GOD so called because GOD Revealed them so evidently and delivered them for such certainety as though they had presently seene before their eies the things which they foretold And the Lord not onely by visible sights as he did to Ezechiel Daniel c at sometimes but also very often by his word without visible signes is said to haue delivered these visions for so is he said to haue spoken to Abra ham in vision I am thy great reward The words which Esay saw c of this sort is this vision That is a doctrine Revealed from GOD no◅ by sight but by word only 2 The Author is supposed of some to be that O BADIAH who was governour of King Achabs house who hid the Prophets of the Lord. But by the circumstances especially by that in the 11. verse it seemeth not to be he seeing mention is made of the taking of Ierusalem which was 800 yeares after Achab. But whether it were the same or another of that name whether hee before in the spirit saw or afterwards spake by experience It sufficeth vs that he was the Minister of the Lord and servant as his name importeth and that these prophecies came not by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moued by the HOLY GHOST And for our parts though w◅ know not the earthen vessel wherein this treasure was enclosed yet let vs b◅ing faithfull and humble hearts to the receauing and imbracing of the same for he was but the messenger the message was the Lords Edom otherwise called Esau conceaued a deadly hate ag◅inst Iacob because he had got from him first the prerogatiue of the birthright then the blessings which rancor and hatred descended vnto the children and seed also of Esau so that when the Israelites their brethren would haue onely passed through their land they would not shew them such mercy but gainstood them and when the king of Babylon had taken Ierusalem spoiled it they set the worke forward by what meanes they could calling on them as it is in the Psa. Ra◅e it rase it even to the foundations Wherefore the Lord comforting his people with promise to execute his iudgement on such as had persecuted them nameth Edom as the chiefe amongst them Now where he saith I haue made thee small among the heathen Hee speaketh of a thing to come as though it were already past to signifie the vndoubted certainetie thereof and so it is expounded in the 10. verse Shame shall cover thee Now because the meanes hee would vse is warre raised against them by nations confederating together the Prophet openeth it as though it were in doing GOD hauing revealed it to his servant for here is an Ambassadour sent from one nation to another to stirre them vp against Edom and mention is here made of a full and perfect destruction Here note three things 1. Witnesses O◅ADIAH and the Prophets we haue heard c. 2. Meanes Heathen raising one another to warre 3 Event An vtter destruction of land and country One point which wee are to marke for our instruction is the ground which the Prophet layeth for our faith whereon the Church of God must rest which is this Thus saith the Lord. Which doctrine is first necessary for such as are teachers in the Church that the words which they must teach must bee wordes of the Lord that as Peter commandeth who so speaketh may speake as the words of GOD And thē is it needful for t◅e hearers that they beware how they receaue any thing for the ground of faith but
for our vse on whom the ends of the world are come that wee lust not as some of them lusted neither commit fornication neither Idolatry as some of them Even so these things wil serue vs for example for those are Israelites that are of the faith of Israel the Edomites are all the enimies of the Church Wherefore let vs assure our selues that as certainely as GOD threatned destruction to Edom so surely will he powre it on all our enimies The Papists are the Idumeans elder brethren as they say though they disdaine to be called our brethren yet are they our brethren as Edom was the Israelites And they haue dealt with vs even as the Idumeans dealt with the Israelites When that we would haue entred into the land of promise they haue withstood vs with all their might and hauing as they say the keyes of knowledge would neither enter them selues nor suffer others that would Againe when the Church was afflicted by the king of Babylō they were at hand to set the worke forward and to cry rase it rase it even to the foundations Now let vs remember the words of the Apostle that God can recompense to those that afflict vs sufficient recompense and if wee see it some way recompensed some measure of his iudgments fulfilled vpon them let vs blesse his name who revengeth the bloud of his servants assure our selues that he wil not cease from this work of his hands but as it is said in Amos that his people should possesse the Remnant of Edom as Peter also speaketh in the Acts so no doubt are there many among these children of Edom that shall inherit with the Lords people But they also must be destroyed or rather the errors must be destroyed that they may bee raised their heresies put to flight that they may be recalled and as the Lord hath promised to consume Antichrist so shall these heresies be destroyed by the breath of his mouth But bee not a f◅aid though heresies abound and though Iordan overflow in the midst of harvest for at his time Iordan shall retire and keepe himselfe within his bounds and in good time the Lord will destroy these Idumeans Concerning the witnesses they are the Prophets who received it from the Lord. Wherefore he saith we haue heard not naming himselfe alone but others With this we are to compare a place of Ieremy speaking of the same matter saying I haue heard This Ieremy spake before the destruction of Ierusalem OBADIAH after both agreeing not only in the same matter but even in the very words Which consent confirming the message is well worthy the noting I neede not here to stand on that point to shew vnto you the consent of the Prophets and Apostles togither vsing the very same words as of Amos and Iocl Micha and Isaiah Iudas and Peter c But I hartily wish that we would all learne to speake one thing that there may be in vs as the Prophet speaketh one heart one wa◅e At least that the Prophets would remember that by these ex amples of the Prophetes and messengers of the Lord they might say we haue heard a message from the Lord. For the time is come that wee had neede to cast our selues in a ringe and cleaue togither that we may bee the stronger against our enemies As touching the meanes it was battel raised of the heathen by mutual consent sending amb◅s from one to another to stirre them thereto So you see that to overthrow Edom a battel is necessary and ambassadours must be sent for when a strong man possesseth the house there is need of a stronger to cast him out Christ Iesus is our captaine generall and prince of the armie and all f◅thfull men are his souldiers The Prophet speaking of our battell which we are to fight vnder our captaine saith thy people shal be ready and willing in the day of battell al the servants of God shal be in a readines most willingly to sight the Lords battels But alas where is this readines where is this willingnesse which we are to shew having to fight dayly against not outward but inward enemies who hath put on that complete harnesse which the Apostle ministreth vnto him therewith to strine against spirituall wickednes even in high places The ambassadours who are to raise the souldiers to battell are the servants and ministers of the Lord. Now how can they preach vnlesse they bee sent They therefore are al sent that are his ambassadors The Apostle testifieth that there are ambassadours for Christ as though GOD did beseech vs through them they pray vs in Christs steed to be reconciled to GOD. This was indeed an ambassage of peace with him but consequently of battel with his enimies For the same covenant hath he made with vs that he made with Abraham namely that all his Friends should be ours and all his enimies ours Wherefore we must be at warre with Sathan and all his Angels Here let them who are called to this function remember to do his message and to raise vp his people against his and their enimies These ambassadours were sent to the heathē some to this nation congregation some to that having particular people allotted on whom they should call others there were sent in generall to every nation as were the Apostles and they as they most faithfully in their owne persons exercised this function so haue they exhorted vs to execute the same charge committed to vs with the same diligence and hereto belongeth that exhortation of Peter vnto the Elders for the feeding and instructing of Gods slocke But how farre are we from this care And how many either preach not neither feed not at all or feed not such to whom they are sent Ionah was sent by the Lord to preach at Niniveh but he prepared himselfe to go to Tarsus the ship wherein Ionah sailed was trou bled and he knew it was because of him Wherefore he bade them to cast him into the sea Tarsus was a famous Vniversity in Cil◅cia as Strabo writeth and for some respects preferred before Athens Ionah woulde not go to Niniveh but would go to Tarsus Yee see what I would say or rather what I would not say Are there not many that haue beene sent to Niniveh but would go to Tarsus The ship of our common wealth hath beene troubled and tossed with rebellions and conspiracies I may say truely that a great cause there of hath beene for that Ionah sent to Niniveh would needs go to Tarsus But would to God there had been in them that zeale of Ionah to haue beene touched in conscience with the remorse of their sinne and confessed the same and haue desired to haue beene cast in to the sea Yea happy were they if they were cast into the bottome of the sea never to rise vp againe
although at the first hee thought himselfe happy respecting the traine of men attendant on him the plate of gold and silver the gorgeous cloths the sweet perfumes the Viands most delicate all furniture rich and royall yet after seeing a sword hanging by a thread let downe over his head he could take no ioy of his entertainement nay he tooke greefe and desired earnestly to be dismissed from it How much lesse ioy should you take in your eating your drinking your pleasures with which as wordly baits the Prince of this world doth pamper your flesh against the day of slaughter sith there hangeth over your necks an axe of vengeance not that may perhaps but that will assuredly not kill your bodies only but both bodies and soules not with tem porall death but with everlasting into hell fire there shall bee weeping and ◅nashing of teeth O consider this yee that forget God! least he teare you in peeces and there be none that can deliuer you The warriour that spoileth the Idumeans shall honour him and he that watcheth over the Israelites to saue them shall see the salvatiō of God And thus much to thē who through want of will search not the secret things of Esau. As for the defect which this exploit suffereth through want of habilitie because such as should doe it are either not trained or not maintained to it in sufficient sort that is so much hurt fuller to vs then the former by how much the contagion of it spreadeth farder For souldiours ought to learne practise feates of warre as expert men haue noted before they deale in martial affaires with their enimies and as they should employ themselues to no businesse but to their service only so should they be allowed victuals other necessaries that they need not to doe it Wherevpon the Lord appointing Priests and Levites to serue him in this warfare as Moses tearmeth it and ministery allotted them offerings first fruits and tithes of all the land to liue by with Cities to dwell in and grounds annex ed therevnto and beside the convenience of their abode together in Ierusalem and other Cities that they might the better be trained from their infancie to skil of the priestly and Leviticall duties to teach the law of God and offer incense and Sacrifice there were also Colleges and companies of Prophets wherein the youn ger learn◅d vnder the elder as children vnder fathers to be men of God to praise his name teach his will These orders receaued by the Church of Israel should be followed by ours though not in all particulars yet in the generall equitie For as they who served about the holy things did eate of the temple they who waited at the Altar were partakers with the Altar so the Lord ordained too that they who preach the Gospell should liue of the Gospell And Tim◅thee who was chosen to serue in this warfare as a souldiour of Christ did not only knowe the Scriptures from his infancie but also was brought vp to the ministery by S. Paule whose doctrine and behauiour framed him vnto it In which consideration our Auncestours provided Houses Glebeland Tithes other profits for the commodious dwelling maintenance of Pastours and endowed Bishopricks Cathedral and Collegiat Churches as we call them with landes and revenewes that learned godly Teachers being placed there might instruct others by their doctrine and behaviour as S. Paul did Timothee For the fuller perfecting and finishing of whom to all the Lords worke they founded Vniversities and Colleges therein also But I would to God these nurseries of Pastours Teachers of the Church were husbanded in such sort to the Lords advantage that we need not feare his sentence of the vineyard that he will let it out to other husbandmen Then should not so many raw vntrained souldiours receiue the Lords pay who doe him smal service in the day of battell And yet there were lesse cause to complaine hereof if they who be trained were procured to serue him But the imprest money and wages due to them the livings I meane appointed for their maintenance are so impaired and minished that being not able therewith to find thēselues in souldiour-like state they refuse the calling or if they vndertake it they are distracted from it with cares how to supply their need Whereby it commeth to passe that the Levites flying each into his land for lack of their portions the house of God is for saken And to fill their rooms others are taken who will be hired for least not according to the proverbe Best is best cheape but to the common practise Best cheape is best Who though not to serue the calues of Dan and Bethel yet are made Priests as those by Ieroboam of peeces of the people not of the sons of Levi. Who if they had the grace should say I am no Prophet I am a husbandman and returne to the trade which their friends haue taught them Who are not endued with necessary gifts for the Prophets duty and therefore howsoever men haue cal led them to it God hath not called them For whom God calleth vnto any function thē endueth he with gifts to performe it as Bezaleel to make his tabernacle Ieremie to doe his message the Apostles to preach the Gospell So the slock of Christ is desolate of shepheards and his campe of souldiours while such haue the places as cannot strengthen the weake helpe the sick bind vp the broken nor destroy his enimies with the two edged sword and defend his subiects A great cause hereof are Patrons of Benefices For whereas the interest of choosing the Pastour belonging of old time to the Congregation is now conveyed to them because their predecessors did benefit the Church some way and therefore were put in trust as Patrones of it they a number of them doe deale with the matter as Polymest◅r did with Polydore that is as evill gardians doe with their wardes and turne their patronage into pillage The lust of their hearts hath defiled their hāds with the sacrilege of Acan to take gold and silver and Baby◅onish garments of the spoiles of Iericho consecrated to God Or if not with so soule sacrilege as his was because their Predecessours gaue some of it perhaps yet with the sacrilege of Ananias and Sapphira yea though themselues had given it If they thinke to cover their profane dealing with Acans conveyance by hiding the pray or to wash their hands with Pilates pretense that they are giltlesse of it they gaue the advowsons freely to friends or servants they deceiue themselues For God is not mooked And he will finde them out in a day when they looke not for him in an houre that they are not ware of and bring them to shame with more dreadful punishment then either he did ◅can or Ananias Sapphira Wherefore I hartily beseech the young Gentlemē that
that tary long at the wine to them that goe and seeke mixt wine Looke not thou vpon the wine when it is red and when it sheweth his colour in the cup or goeth downe pleasantly In the ende thereof it will bite like a serpent and hurt like a cockatrice Thine eies shall looke vpon strange women and thine heart shall speake lewd things And thou shalt be as one that sleeâ—…eth in the midst of the sea and as hee that sleepeth in the top of the mast They haue stricken me shalt thou say but I was not sicke they haue beaten me but I knew not when I awoke therefore will I seeke it yet still How excellently descrybeth he the evils and inconveniences that proceed from this intemperancie the woes sorrows coÌ„tentious wounds sores not only of the body but also of the soule to what filthinesse and grievous offences it prepareth vs how dangerous and perilous whose biting is like that of a serpent and cockatrice the senslesnesse of sinne or punishment with the indurance and continuing with hardnes of heart in the like wic kednesse Which yet were all the lesse if they were on ly temporall but they are also eternall the woe is continuall endlesse woe to them saith the Prophet that are mightie to drinke wine and to them that are strong to powre in strong drinke The Prophet in the wordes following describeth the woe as the flame of fire coÌ„sumeth the stubble as the chaffe is consumed of the flame so their root shall be as rottennesse and their bâ—…d shall rise vp 〈◊〉 diâ—…st Let vs therefore hence learne that our Prophet by the Metaphor of drinking representing the endlesse vnspeakeable troubles of the wicked commendeth vnto vs sobrietie and modestie in the vse of GODS creatures least that we draw vpon vs plagues spirituall corporall temporall and eternall Now leaving the words let vs consider the things themselues It is said here that the Iewes themselues should drinke to signifie that all the godly must suffâ—… tribulatioÌ„â—…all must drinke but in some measure Which thing also our Saviour taught his Disciples and that al so by this similitude yee shall drinke of the cup that I shall drinke and be baptised with the baptisme that I am baptised with whereby he signifieth that they should bee partakers of afflictioÌ„s with him The differeÌ„ce betwixt the sufferings of Christ and Christians is this that his were so infinitly great that ours compared to his are nothing and yet so great they are that although not for the same cause yet are we ready to say father if it be possible let this cup passe But it is not possible For as it behoved him first to suffer and then to enter into his glorie so must we through many tribulations enter into the kingdome of heaven What Prince more godly then Iosiah what Prophet then Ieremie yet were they not freed from afflictions Yea so was Ieremie therewithall humbled that he crieth out for the bitternesse thereof â—…o is me my mother that thou hast borne me a man of strife and with whom this whole land contendeth I haue not lent on vsurie nor haue men lent me yet every one doth curse me These are blessed times and like to those of Iosiah yet assure thy selfe that there is a measure of affliction for thee to abide Even they that lived vnder Iosiah were to goe in to captivity for a seasoÌ„ But eveÌ„ in BabyloÌ„ the Lord promiseth comfort peace vnto theÌ„ after 70. yeares returne to their own land Now these things were spoken also for vs that we might haue comfort and sure hope that there shall be an end of our tribulations It is written of Xerxes that when he beheld froÌ„ the top of a high mountaine his great and mightie host how he wept in recordation of their mortality for that of a huge number within the coÌ„passe of a few yeares there should not be one left aliue We may behold in spirit a great army of Christian souldiers throughout all Christendome whom when you remember you do I hope my selfe know that I reioice to remeÌ„ber that within these few yeares they shall all be delivered froÌ„ Babylon that is from all adversity and misery of this present life be brought to that heavenly Ierusalem where we shall rest in all ioic and safety It is when you shal haue drunke The godly then as we haue said must needs drinke and that more is they must drinke before the heathen For Iudgement must be gin at the house of God as Peter teacheth after that the Lord hath punished his people then will he visite the prowde heart of the king of Babel When Ierusalem must be destroied it must begin at the Sanctuary See how the Apostles in the Acts are first persecuted and afflicted when as yet the bitter potion was not given to the Iewes namely the sacking of Ierusalem and destruction of the people such is the lott of GODS servants not onely to be afflicted but also first and formost but herevnto is annexed a great comfort that they shall drinke but for a while not coÌ„tinually that they shall not swallow vp but drinke Both which the Apostle hath declared our light affliction which is but for a moment And in another place there hath no temptation taken you but such as appertaineth to man God is faith full which will not suffer you to tempted aboue that you bee able but will even giue the issue with the temptation that yee may be able to beare it On the other side the punishment of the vngodly is continuall as is here declared for it is said they shall drinke continually and swallow vp and bee as though they had not beene In the hand of the Lord saith the Prophet is a cup the wine is troubled and the wicked shall drinke the dregges thereof and sucke theÌ„ out The godly must drinke of this cup but they must drinke the vpper part the vngodly they must swallow downe the dregs and leâ—…s of it These dregges are the tormeÌ„ts everlasting endlesse punishments ordained for Sathan and his Angels in hel where the worme dyeth not the fire is not quenched On the wicked as it is in the Psalme will the Lordraigne snares and brimstone storme and â—…pest this shall bee the portion of their cup. They shal be as though they had not beene for their temporall punishment they shal bee worse then if they had not beene as was said of Iudah Here then is a lesson for all vngodly persons Papists infidels murâ—…erers whoâ—…e mongers c and all such as receiue not the truth but haue pleasure in vngodlynes namely that vnlesse they returne from their wicked waies they shall haue their portion in this cup and swallow the dregges of GODs heavie wrath and destruction In the Revelation it is said that all which receiue the marke of the beast shall drinke of the wine of the
but their goods were Guelphes and must pay for it The Gibellines of Papia could not foresee this our Catholikes by them may Let them leaue their brainsicke desires and divelish purposes of bringing a Faciâ—… Canis into their country least by experience they fâ—…le which God forbid that though themselues be Catholikes their goods may be Heretikes perhaps some Heretike-blood in their bodies also by contagion of ours The Lord take away this stony heart from them and giue them an heart of flesh a new spirit that wee may all iointly praise him for the deliverance of our gracious Queene pray for the continuance of her blessed governement to the honour of his name the furtherance of his gospell the welfare of his Church the peace and prosperity of our English Iuda the griefe disappointment of Popish Assyrians and the confusioÌ„ of Antichrist At Corpus Christi College in Oxford Octob. 24. 1586. PSAL. 18. VER 47 48 49 50 51. 47. The Lord liveth and my blessed strength therefore let the God of my salvation be exalted 48 The mighty God that giveth me revengements and bringeth people vnder me 49. That delivereth me from mine enemies yea thou hast exalted me aboue them that rose vp against me thou hast delivered me from the cruell man 50. Therefore will I confesse thee O Lord among the Gentilâ—… and I will sâ—…g vnto thy name 51. He giveth great deliverances to his king sheweth mercy to his annointed to David and to his seed for ever IT hath beene a godly custome of the faithful although not observed so customably alwaies as by the Rules of faith it ought that when they received any speciall benefit either in attaining to things commodious for them or 〈◊〉 avoiding of discommodities they lifted vp their voices to the authour of it the Father of mercies the God of all comfort and did honour him with giving speciall thankes for it Melchisedek king of Salem a man of power and credit in the land of Canaan had not so great cause to care for the state of Abram Lot two strangers in the land Yet when Abram had rescued Lot being taken and had spoiled the spoilers Melchisedek brake forth into his praise who gaue the victorie Blessed bee the high God which hath delivered thine enimies into thy hand The state of the Israelits touched Moses neerer how much the lesse is it to be marvelled at if he thought it his duty to magnifie the Lord for guiding them out of Egypt through the red Sea and drowning Pharaâ—… with his host Though that the childreÌ„ of Israel themselues an vnthankfull murmuring and stifâ—…ecked nation should ioine therein with Moses all both men and women it is a president worthy to be noted to the shame of ChristiaÌ„s if in greater measure of the grace of God we shew lesse gratitude for his graces The feasting ioy that the Iewes kept for their owne deliverance out of the snares of Haman and for his destruction with the partakers of his conspiracie might seeme to bee only a proâ—…ne reioycing as worldly â—…ded men câ—…monly doe vse at their good successes But that it was holy and seasoned with a sacrifice such a sacrifice as lawfully they might offer there where then they were dispersed the circumstance of sending parts vnto the poore with precepts and examples of daies in like sort kept holy to the Lord doth argue Wee are assembled at this present fathers and brethren beloued in the Lord to giue him most humble most harty thanks for his great and singular goodnesse shewed vnto vs in discovering the traiterous intent of graceles wretches who vilanously conspired to take away the life of our gracious Queene whom God long preserue to kindle flames of vprores through the realme to the vtter wasting of her faithfull subiects O that wee had the hearts to praise him for it with the like religious affection of spirit in zeale and sinceritie as Melchisedek did for Lot recovered by Abram as Moses and the Israelites for the Egyptian yoke broken as the Iewes for their safety and the destruction of their enimies Sure we hâ—…ue greater causes so to doe then any of them had For Lot was but one and that a meane man nor much indangered more then of losse of libertie Here a most excellent Princesse was in hazard not of libertie but of life with God knoweth how many righteous Lots besides And the bodily tâ—…s which the Israelites endured in Egypt vnder the taske-mastâ—…s that Pharaâ—… placed over them were nothing in comparison of the spirituall bondage of Antichristian tyrants to whom might these Egyptian impâ—… hâ—… had their wills we should it is likely hâ—…e beene most lamentably enthralled Neither hath the Lord so mercifully delivered vs out of the Lions mouth at this time onely but at sundry other heretofore often that the Iewes could not be so much beholding to him for that of Haman who did not liue to put them more then once in danger Wherefore that wee may accept the more thankfully and dutifully esteeme of his inestimable goodnesse in saving our gracious Queene and vs her subiects from so great so many so 〈◊〉 Mâ—…iefs I haue thought good to take for the ground of mine advertisement and exhortation these wordes which you haue heard written by the godly Prince and Prophet David in the eighteenth Psalme asoâ—…g of thanksgiving which he made when the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enimies out of the hand of Saul Forso is it noted in the title thereof and manifested farther by the course of the story iâ—… the second of Samuel where the same is wholly registred againe well-nigh word for word as a most worthy and memorable monument to bee thought vpon eftâ—…s of all posteritie that on like favour received of the Lord they might shew themselues alike gratefull to him In these words therefore compreheÌ„ding briefly the purport and 〈◊〉 of the whole Psalme by way of conclusion two things are recommâ—… to our considerations one is the benefite of God in delivering David from his enimies the other the thankfulnes of David vnto God for the deliverance The benefit of God in delivering David is signified by that he faith The Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 specâ—… of his being his everlasting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whâ—… sense notwithstanding be is said to liue and to â—…ly but in respect of his workes his effects to David ward in whose preservatioÌ„ he sheweth that he 〈◊〉 and saueth his and ruleth all things by his 〈◊〉 providence Which meaning David openeth in that hee adioineth and my blessed strength calling God his strength his fortresse his rocke his blessed strength and fortresse his rocke his blessed strength and fortresse because his life his safety his welfare is maintained by the might and mercy of the living God As in the beginning he testified also The Lord is my rocke and my fortresse and my