from the stroakes of God as the pestilence or the like yea from the furie of Satan and from the assaults of sinne All other towers are but poore weake cotages Let men dwell where they will whither can they goe but death wil finde them out They may flie from the Plague but God will pursue them for he is not an archer that hath but one arrow or such arrowes onelie as will reach those that are neere but though they should runne to the end of the world hee is able to shoote at them and the arrowes of his vengeance will finde them out No strength can defend them when he comes against them with his strength nay all the power of men is but a broken reede and all meanes of no force in themselues If wee onelie vse them in obedience they will bee as a staffe to leane vpon if wee rest on them they will be as a broken staffe that will deceiue vs and giue vs a fall Vers 56. Thou hast heard my voice stop not thine eares 57. Thou drewest neere c. Whence this doctrine ariseth Doct. 3 That Gods children in their prayers and seruices doe marke and know how they speed VVe must obserue how we speed in religious exercises so that they cannot onlie say I thanke God at such and such a time I prayed but O Lord thou diddest then heare my voice then diddest thou draw neere vnto mee at such a time I was put to it and thou deliueredst mee out of great danger This wee see in the spouse who when her beloued was departed from her saith In my bed night by night I sought him Cant. 3.1.2 whom my soule loueth and found him not Shee had not that ioy and refreshing as she was wont to haue from the vse of the priuate meanes and shee knew it and obserued it full well Then she went abroad and there found as little successe Afterwards shee comes to conferre with Gods Ministers how she might recouer her loue to Christ and the feeling of Christs loue vnto her and yet there shee had not that full successe as she expected Then she goes a little further that is as was before shewed waits patiently vpon God and then she found him whom her soule loued and tooke hold of him that is faster hold then euer she had done before She had paid so dearely for her negligence that she would be warie how she failed in her dutie any more So that when she sped well or ill she knew how it went with her This point is further proued vnto vs out of another verse of this Chapter of the Lamentation Lament 3.8 where these words are vsed VVhen I cry and shoute hee shutteth out my prayer Not but that God tooke notice of it and had a time to reward it but for the present he gaue them no answere They had hard hearts and God saw that one crie and shoute would not be sufficient to mollifie and soften them and therefore he lets them pray and cry againe and againe and yet still they had the repulse and they obserued to their great griefe Psal 66.18.19 Answerable to this is that in the Psalme where Dauid saith If I regard wickednesse in my heart the Lord will not heare me But God hath heard me and considered the voice of my prayer Reason And there is reason why as they did marke how they sped so should wee also For vnlesse wee doe so it is impossible that wee should euer bee thankfull for that wee receiue or lay vp any store of comfort against the time to come If wee speed ill wee shall goe away without any care or studie to grow better if wee speed well wee shall depart without any desire of glorifying God or of confirming our hearts for afterwards Whereas diligent obseruation how God deales with vs would worke in vs great experience both for our humiliation and consolation For sometimes Gods seruants haue a comfortable answere to their sutes and then they come away as fresh and nimble and ioyfull as if their hearts had beene made glad by sweet and pleasant wine Ps 109.15 At another time they come limping and fainting away as if they had beene strucke on the head So for the Sermon now and then they depart from it as from some notable feast so merrie and comfortable as if they had made the best bargaine that euer they did in their liues at some other times they come out of the church hanging downe their heads and full of pensiuenesse as if they had receiued the sentence of death What is the cause hereof Profane persons thinke they are the melancholiest and vnconstantest people in the world But will not they themselues looke heauilie on the matter when they are crossed in things that are most deere vnto them And why then should they blame Gods seruants if they be sometimes merrie and sometimes heauie according as they are crossed or comforted in the worde of life which is more deare vnto them then all the treasures of the earth Howsoeuer they may charge them to be vnconstant yet indeede they themselues are more vnconstant For let them haue to deale with some great Iudge about matters of their estate and let them be told this day that they are likely to haue good and fauourable hearing that the Iudge likes well of them and of their cause how ioyfull and iocund will they be How will they talke of it and in a sort boast of it But let them come to the Iudge themselues the next day and let him frowne vpon them and tell them I vnderstand you are a leaud fellow I know your practises well inough looke to your selfe and acquite you well lest I strip you of your lands and life together Will not such a salutation cast them into their dumps and make them looke heauie and sad as if they were halfe dead And if one should aske them why are you so variable They would wonder why he should make such a question Haue wee not iust cause to bee cast downe would they say when the Iudge that gaue mee such good hopes before doth now looke and speake so wrathfullie against mee And wherefore then will you finde fault with Gods seruants who deale with the King and Iudge of heauen and earth in the matter of their saluation whose fauor they esteeme more than all things in the world and whose displeasure they feare more then all the mens in the world yea then death it selfe Why I say doe you finde fault with them if their comforts ebbe and flow as matters goe better or worse betwixt God and them Vse 1 This is for cōfutation of carnall hearers who are affected at all times alike They haue heard many hundred sermons but they were neuer more comforted at one than at another They are none of these changelings but the same men still But let such know that hee that doth neuer feele himselfe sicke it is greatly to bee doubted hee
they here take and that which wee must take in the like distresse according to the measure of the affliction and as it is more publike or priuate so must be the measure of our lamentation To this there is a promise made in the prophesie of Isaiah c. That when our hands cannot help our selues nor our tongues preuaile with others yet then wee may relieue our selues by our prayers vnto God Isaiah 61. 12. c. for in that place the Lord vndertaketh that mourners shal be comforted c. God the Father sends his owne sonne and the Father and the Sonne doe send the holy Ghost that when men are mourning and seele their pouertie so as it breakes their hearts the spirit which is the comforter may minister comfort vnto them that when they feele their captiuitie and imprisonment as it were Christ Iesus may set them at libertie be they neuer so weake neuer so meane neuer so miserable neuer so sinfull if once they come thus to mourne they shall haue their hearts comforted though they bee couered with ashes God will giue them beautie for ashes and put on them the garment of gladnes for the spirit of heauines bestowing vpon them that which shall make them cheerefull euen the oyle of ioy not an earthly but an heauenly oyle And there is great cause why God should deale so with such kinde of persons for Reasons 1 1 Hee is full of pitie and compassion and therefore the prophet Ioel in his 2. Chap. vers 13. biddeth vs rent our hearts and not our garments Ioel. 2.13 that is bring inward sorrow that may crush and breake the heart and then turne vnto the Lord which if we doe wee shal be sure of reliefe and why the Lord is mercifull saith hee and our God is very readie to forgiue When wee see our children mourning and confessing their faults wee cannot but haue our bowels of compassion earning towards them If Iacob had stood by and heard his sonne Iosephs pitifull moane that in the anguish of his soule hee made vnto his brethren when they dealt so vnnaturallie with him would hee not haue pitied him and by strong hand haue rescued him from his cruell sonnes What shall wee then thinke of God he is farre more mercifull than Iacob was and wee are neerer vnto him than euer Ioseph was vnto his father And therefore when wee mourne in a holy manner certainely hee will arise and haue mercy vpon vs. Hee cannot slay when he sees our hearts full of sorrow and our eyes full of teares for the sighs and groanes of his people doe giue him no rest in heauen Secondly this godly mourning must needs be a speciall remedie in all manner of afflictions because it makes our prayers very forcible it sets an edge vpon our petitions and makes vs pray heartily feruently and strongly When Iacob wept in his prayer it was so effectuall that hee preuailed Genesis 32.11 When Gods people ioyned together to powre forth buckets full of teares drawne from the bottome of their hearts before the Lord they were marueilously helped 1. Sam. 7.6 for the great measure of their teares made their supplications more feruent and therefore it is said of Christ Iesus himselfe that in the dayes of his flesh hee did offer vp prayers with strong crying Heb. 5.7 and teares vnto him that was able to saue him from death When our Sauiour was about the principal point of his mediatorship then did he gather strength vnto himselfe by this meanes Thirdly this must needs be very effectuall because it is exceeding forcible against sinne for when sorrow comes into the heart sinne goes out it will not lodge there vnlesse it bee cockered and made much of When euery one laments his iniquitie and mournes ouer Christ Iesus whom hee hath pierced by his sinnes then there is a fountaine opened to wash them from all euen from sins that made a separation betwixt God and vs. Zacharie 12. 13. Seeing then that this godly and holy sorrow is a means to make God pitie vs to make vs call earnestly vpon him and to expell sinne which might hinder vs from preuailing with him it must needes follow that of all remedies in times of distresse this is the best and surest Vse 1 This serues for instruction vnto vs to vse all meanes and furtherances whereby wee may attaine vnto this There are many afflictions abroad many neerer home in our owne townes and families nay there are many things amisse in our owne hearts here is a medicine for euetie one of our maladies let vs get it and vse it and all arguments and helps that may continue and increase it as the Nineuites hauing direction by the spirit of God as many of them as were his did when Ionah threatned destruction against their citie within fortie dayes they abased themselues and fell to mourning and vsed fasting to helpe it onward the people must shew it in their countenances the lowing of the beasts and crying of the infants must further them to this holy remorse and griefe for their great and haynous transgressions They had grieued the Lord by their iniquities and therefore now they would grieue themselues with godly contrition for them Hence it was that Gods people amongst the Iewes vsed to weare sack-cloth to lie on the ground and to put dust vpon their heads which were then meanes to further them in the worke of humiliation Therefore now that wee feare danger is neere vs let vs betake our selues to this holy mourning if wee refuse to doe it and still continue to be hard-hearted if the pestilence come into our families wee are likelie to be taken away with the first and to haue not only our bodies but our soules in danger and that of Gods wrath and euerlasting displeasure Therefore let vs seeke to haue our hearts mollified by this excellent meanes of God and for this end consider of the blessings of God plentifully powred downe vpon our nation Nehemi 9. and vpon out selues in particular as they did in the day of their humiliation of whom Nehemiah maketh mention Let vs seriously recount how many mercies wee haue enioyed and how much they haue beene abused how many afflictions wee haue felt and how little wee haue beene bettered how many deliuerances wee haue found and yet how carelesse nay how rebellious we haue beene notwithstanding them all Let vs weigh with our selues what hurt our sins haue done vnto vs how many good thinges they haue turned from vs and how many euils they haue puld vpon vs and aboue all let vs remember what a huge weight and multitude of miseries they haue brought vpon our Sauiour namely debasement and humiliation sorrowes and sufferings assaults and temptations the heauie burden of our guiltines and the greeuous punishment due for our deserts the rage and violence of most malicious men and the wrath and displeasure of the most righteous God torments of bodie and terrors
of soule and death it selfe a painefull death a shamefull death and a cursed death Vse 2 Secondly hereby may those bee confuted that thinke it dangerous to meditate on such things as will discomfort them and bring them to desperation as they speake and therefore they would haue no man to tell them of their sinnes but let them heare of the mercies of God in Christ that they are likely to escape Gods hand when the pestilence comes neere them though others escape not but bee swept away on euery side of them beeing notwithstanding as good or better than themselues Farre bee it from vs that any here present should haue such thoughts or giue such eare to such carnall counsell There is no danger in Christian sorrow but the more of it the better And therefore the Apostle Iames saith Iam. 4.9 Suffer affliction or afflict your selues and sorrow and weepe and if any thing keepe you from mourning away with it let goe laughter and let carnall mirth be turned into mourning and your ioy into heauinesse O then you cannot cast downe your selues so lowe but God will raise you vp againe Obiection Obiect Oh but to weepe and lament it is not manhood it argues that men want courage and fortitude and is altogether vnbeseeming the person of a man they will trust in God they say and neuer mourne for the matter Solution Doth it argue want of courage to lament Nay it argues want of faith not to lament for sinne What doe they thinke of Iacob was he a coward They cannot say so for the holy Ghost giues him that commendation that he had strength and courage not onely to preuaile against men but with the Angell of the couenant And what was his conflict Hosea 12.3.4 Hee wept and prayed as the Prophet Hosea witnesseth Was this cowardlines Nothing lesse for the scripture commends it for notable strength And further what doe they thinke of Dauid was hee a coward they will not so disgrace that renowned king and worthy captaine of the Lords host as to lay vpon him the imputation of cowardise yet hee makes mention of his teares and that often Psal 6.6 Psal 9.136 as in the Psalmes where he saith that hee watered his couch with teares that his eves did gush forth with riuers of teares because men kept not Gods lawe and such like And what will they say to all Gods people of whom it is said Zacharie 12 that they should mourne as they did for Iosiah in the valley of Itadadrimmon where hee was slaine whose death all Israell did bitterly bewaile and as one mourneth for his first borne the only heire and hope of the familie What will they answere to this will they condemne all Gods people for a generation of cowards Nay this is so farre from bewraying want of fortitude that wee may boldly say that when men are fullest of such teares they are fullest of fortitude For what shall wee thinke of the Lord Iesus Christ had hee no heart was hee destitute of courage that could not possibly bee Nay when hee was to exercise the fulnesse of his power to vndertake such a worke as no creature durst attempt when hee was to offer vp himselfe to his father as a sacrifice for the sinnes of the Elect when hee was to encounter the Lords wrath and his iustice Sathan and death heil and damnation and all the power of darkenes that same time hee wept and that abundantly Heb. 5. And I hope none will say that then our Sauiours strength failed him notwithstanding his bitter teares and cries In trueth those that doe not weepe when there is cause they are without heart and vtterly voide of true fortitude subiect to marueilous feares and violent distempers which arise from a base minde for what is the reason they are so affraide of death but because they haue not mourned for their sinnes and so remoued the sting of death which if they had done they would triumph ouer death and say with S. Paul 1. Cor. 15. O Death where is thy sting their hearts would then stand fast as the strong mountaines and not bee affraide of any ill tidings Psal 112. Psal 91.6 Not not of the pestilence that walketh in the darke nor of the plague that destroyeth at noone day Vse 3 3 Thirdly this makes exceedingly for the comfort of those that are mourners in Sion they are in fauor with God and out of the reach of al danger so that nothing can befall them for hurt Blessed are those that mourne Math. 5.4 for they shall bee comforted more happie is the poore man that weepes for his sinne than the greatest potentate that reioyceth in the flesh Vers 18. For the destruction of the daughter of my people Here is the cause of their lamentation it was the ruines and calamities of Gods Church and poore distressed seruants whence this doctrine may be gathered Doct. 2. What afflictions doe go neerest the hearts of the Saints That the greatest affliction that shoulde touch the hearts of Gods people is the affliction of the Church as is euident out of this text For when Gods inheritance was spoiled some put to the sword others led captiue the temple of God razed and the exercises of religion abolished this made them to grieue exceedingly this was it that wrought vpon Ieremie and made him breake forth into those wishes Oh that mine head were full of water Ieremy 9.1 and that mine eyes were a fountaine of teares that I might weepe day and night for the slaine of the daughter of my people As if hee could not haue his fill nor weepe enough for the desolations of Sion and the miserable ouerthrow thereof which he foresawe This was it that went neere the heart of good Nehemiah who beeing in great prosperitie Nehem. 1.4 2.1.2.3 cup-bearer to the mightiest Monarch that was then in the world and in speciall fauour with him yet for the affliction and reproch wherein the Church of God was hee conceiued such inward sorrow that he was sad in the kings presence which yet was a thing that he must and would haue forborne if possibly hee could Moses goes further hee does not onely mourne but is content to lay downe his prosperitie and to expose his estate to a manifest ouerthrow so that hee might helpe forward the deliuerance of the afflicted Israelites Heb. 11.24.25.26 Act. 7. and saue them from the hands of their oppressors For he knew he could not be in fauor with Pharoah if he should ioyne with them whom hee so cruelly handled but hee chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to be called the sonne of Pharaohs daughter Hester seemes to goe somewhat beyond him for she resolues with her selfe for the cause of the Iewes who were then all destinated to slaughter to aduenture her life in going to the king in their behalfe Hester 4.16 I will goe saith shee though it be
these thoughts runne in his head while men sitte at his table This cost I might haue spared this would haue serued my familie all the weeke I had rather haue their roome than their companie that thus trouble and charge me And so his heart is euer full of discontentednesse Thus it is apparant that many haue their hearts sinfullie affected by meanes of their eye as Gods children haue them holily affected Vers 52. Mine enemie chased me sore By these similitudes here vsed it appeares how fierce they were and yet all was without cause as the text witnesseth Indeede God saw in them matter that deserued correction and affliction but their aduersaries had no occasion offered why they should behaue themselues so cruellie towards them Doct. 5. The innocēt molested Frō which this doctrine maybe collected That the more harmelesse men be Psal 35.12.13 c. the more they shal be molested This wee see in Dauid hee prayed and fasted and mourned for his enemies and yet they sought his woe and ruine Therefore hee saith in one Psalme the foundations must bee cast downe Psal 11.3 and what hath the righteous done there was great preparation and there must bee sore and mortall warres they would sweepe all away and not leaue a good man in the land but what hath the righteous done There must bee a great execution but where is the conuiction that is iust nothing Luk. 23.2 So they cryed against Christ Away with him away with him crucifie him crucifie him c. But what euill hath he done saies Pilate Oh Pilate must know that men so iust as they were would neuer haue deliuered him into his hāds except hee had beene a notorious offender whereas indeede hee was a lambe without spot and none iniquitie was found with him Agreeable to this is the saying of Dauid the wicked gnasheth his teeth against the righteous Psal 37.12 The more innocent and iust any one is the more hee shal be maligned and pursued And this stands with reason Reason 1 1 Because wicked men haue a quarrell against Gods image in the innocent as Satan their captaine hath and therefore will they be bitter against them This may be seene in Ieremie Jer. 15.10 hee had done them no wrong but brought vnto them the ministerie of saluation and yet euery one curseth him and cryeth out against him and why because God at that time shewed himselfe more cleerely in Ieremie that in any other Act. 7. Act. 22.22 The like violence they shewed against Steuen and Paul casting dust into the ayre and crying out vpon them that one would thinke them brutish creatures And why were they so full of rage against them but because they were full of grace and dealt faithfully in the worke that they were set about because they did helpe to raise vp the kingdome of Iesus Christ and to race the kingdome of Satan more than others But for Iesus Christ who was the ingrauen image of his father they had a greater quarrell against him than euer they had against any Young Bulls of Basan Psal 22. such as were full of might and malice Dogs and Lions such as were full of rage and furie did all beset and compasse him about their madnes was neuer so great against any as against him because none was euer so good as hee 2 An other reason may be because there is a contrarietie betwixt the good and euill though they be of the same countrey of the same towne of the same familie yea of the same parents yet are they not of the same world For so saith our Sauiour Christ to his disciples Iohn 15.19 yee are not of this world c. Esau and Iacob had the same parents and were both together in the same wombe and yet they contend one with another Rebecah their mother would faine know the cause of it the Lord tells her the cause Gē 26.22.23 Two nations are in thy wombe and two manner of people shal bee diuided out of thy bowels c The one the seede of the serpent the other the seede of the woman There is not so great enmitie betweene a man and an adder as there is betweene the righteous and the wicked and therefore no faulkener nor hunter no hawke nor hound are more desirous and greedie of the pray and game than the outragious enemies of the church are of the destruction of Gods seruants because they are possessed with the spirit of Satan and violently ouercaried with hellish fiercenesse 3 Thirdly the carriage of Gods children doth disgrace them and therefore they maligned them because they ran not to the same excesse of ryot with them 2. Pet. 4 4. therefore speake they euill of them For impious persons reason thus They goe to Gods house I goe to the Ale-house They carrie themselues soberly I carry my selfe intemperately They are esteemed I am contemned I know they like not of mee as I doe not of them and therefore what mischiefe I can doe them they shal be sure of it Vse 1 This point ministreth vnto vs matter of instruction that whosoeuer would walke in a godly course should looke for troubles and that sundry waies yea and to haue his very life strucke at by such as are enemies to the Gospell of Christ or if they cannot take away that let him be sure his name shall pay for it and be iniuriously and shamefullie traduced Whosoeuer resolues to liue godly in Christ Iesus must looke for persecution It is impossible that there should be so many fowlers and hunters and not labor to catch somewhat Indeede they wil bee fauourable enough to grosse adulterers theeues and other malefactors and if any be more forward to punish and redresse such Oh it is great crueltie they deale hardly and seuerely they would bee very loath that breed should be taken away But if they be religious persons that are to bee punished no torture is too great no death too grieuous for them therefore let those that are christians looke to it they shall haue great men against them Psal 69.12 as Dauid had princes They shall haue meane men against them as he had drunkards on the ale-house bench to make songs of him There they will vtter their merchandise false tales and vile reports Those that are further off wil bee against them those that are neighbours nay some that are of their owne familie wil bee against them no bands of ciuilitie no bands of kindnes no bands of nature will hold where the bands of Christianitie are wanting Obiection But if the case be so will some say were it not better to let religion alone that one may keepe himselfe quiet with out such disturbance Answere Nay that will not bee a sufficient reason nor a warrantable excuse neither neede any bee so farre discouraged For as Christ saith in the world yee shall haue trouble Joh. 16.33 So he promiseth that in him wee shall haue peace
guiltie soules though they haue beene full of boasting in the daies of their iolitie and haue vaunted what a notable faith they haue yet as Zephanie saith in that day the strong man shall cry bitterly Zeph. 1.14 Howsoeuer they imagine to put off these things yet let them know that their strength wil be found too weake and their skill too small to ward off the Lords blowes The thiefe that hath courage enough to rob and steale vpon the high-waies side yet hath hee little enough when his poore executioner is to deale with him euen so shall it bee with all wicked and proud men when the time of their execution doth approach their hearts shall faile them for the things that shall come vpon them and continue vpon them for euermore Vse 2 2 Secondly this doctrine offereth vnto the godly matter of great consolation albeit their case many times seeme vncomfortable yet they must not iudge according to that which they see for God many times laies such afflictions vpon them that their case is thought both by themselues and others to be desperate and vnrecouerable and yet indeede it is happie and blessed As it fared with Paul who had the sentence of death past vpon him 2. Cor. 4.11 and died dailie almost so that when hee went out in the morning hee was in danger to be slaine ere he returned home againe and yet God did vphold him and made him hereby more confidently and comfortably to rest and relie vpon him So the good Prophets wife thought all help was gone 2. Kings 4.1 c. her husband was gone her goods gone her labor gone her children like to be gone and she had no meanes in the world to relieue her selfe yet euen then when she was almost past hope God prouided a competent estate for her So Hezekiah concludes that hee was gone he should neuer goe to the temple any more Jsa 38.10 neuer see man more among the inhabitants of the world his webbe was cut off c. with many speeches to this effect and yet wee reade how God restored him againe and prolonged his life for many yeares Say then that one haue great discomforts in his soule great breaches in his estate grieuous and dangerous sicknesse vpon his body c. yet here is his comfort that God that raised vp others can and will in due time raise vp him Obiect Oh but my faith faileth me and is it not said according to your faith it shal be vnto you Answer True if you haue no faith you can looke for no mercie but if you haue any faith at all it shal be with you according therevnto but how farre beyond it God tels you not for hee doth for vs many times aboue that that wee can aske or thinke But you imagine you haue no more faith than you haue feeling whereas it is farre otherwise there may be much faith and little feeling faith may be strong and yet strongly assaulted comfort may be departed and yet not vtterlie lost wee may feare wee are cut off and yet not perish for Gods strength and perfection is seene in our weakenesse and imperfection though wee cannot beleeue yet God is still faithfull though children will not credit their parents yet they will relieue their necessities and so will God ours albeit through weakenes of faith wee cannot so fullie apprehend and apply his promises to our selues He sees it is not maliciousnesse nor grosse infidelitie in vs and therefore he will pitie vs and beare with vs rather than in seueritie proceede against vs. FINIS THE SECOND SERMON Lamentations chap. 3. vers 55. c. 55 I called vpon thy name O Lord out of the low dungeon 56 Thou hast heard my voice stoppe not thine eare from my sigh and from my crie 57 Thou drewest neere in the day that I called vpon thee thou saidst Feare not 58 O Lord thou hast maintained the cause of my soule and hast redeemed my life 59 O Lord thou hast seene my wrong iudge thou my cause 60 Thou hast seene all their vengeance and all their deuises against me 61 Thou hast heard their reproach O Lord and all their imaginations against me YOu heard in the words immediatly going before The connexion the wofull distresse that the children of God were driuen vnto how they were cast into the dungeon and stript of all outward and inward comforts Now here he shewes what remedie they vsed they cast their burden vpon the Lord and hoped for succour at his hands and the reasons that mooue them so to doe are set downe in the text to be two First The diuision and meaning of the words one is taken from their present behauiour towards God which was that they prayed and sighed and cryed vers 55.56 And that they might bee so much the more regarded they declare that it was not without cause that they were so earnest with God for they called vpon him out of the low dungeon vers 55. that is out of great and grieuous affliction And yet further mischiefe was intended and their aduersaries did speake and plot all crueltie against them vers 60. Thou hast seene all their vengeance and all their deuices against me 61. Thou hast heard their reproch c. And that this might appeare not to be a false imagination and conceite of their owne he saith Lord thou hast seene my wrong c. Thou hast seene all their rage 59. 60. They are all euident and apparant before thee how closely and couertly soeuer matters be caried in respect of men 2 The second reason is drawne from Gods former goodnes and gratious dealing towards them Hee had heard them and drawne neere vnto them he had considered of them and of their cause and they knew hee was still as good as he was wont to be and they vsed as good meanes as they were wont to doe and therefore they conclude that he that drew neere vnto them heretofore would now doe the like againe vers 57.58 These considerations doe reuiue their spirits and raise their hearts euen out of the pit of desperation And thus much for the meaning and order of the words Now let vs harken vnto such doctrines and instructions as are therein contained for our learning Vers 55. I called vpon thy name This is the speech of the whole Church who by reason that they are members of one bodie and temples of one spirit are brought in speaking throughout this whole booke as if they were but one person By low dungeon is meant desperate euils they were as it were shut vp in a dungeon where they had no hope of escaping yet out of the depth of miserie and anguish and horror they called vpon the Lord. Whence naturallie ariseth this doctrine Doct. 1. The faithfull can neuer be driUen from prayer That there is no distresse no breaking and crushing whatsoeuer that shall hinder Gods people from praying vnto him It may for a passion and a
of a happie issue out of all straites and difficulties as wee see in Dauid who hauing committed himselfe to God Psal 3. who was able and had promised to helpe him hee triumphs ouer all his enemies and saith he will not feare though ten thousand should compasse him round about That was some oddes and one would thinke he had little neede to vse such speeches but rather to runne away as fast as hee could at least hee should take little sleepe in the night so long as hee was in such danger or if hee did lie downe and sleepe hee should haue little hope to rise againe in the morning yet wee see vers 5. that hee laid him downe and slept and rose againe because the Lord sustained him and this he got by calling vpon God as it is vers 4. 2 Secondly if we would not be oppressed with feares labor to be righteous for wickednesse makes men dastardlie whereas righteousnesse makes men stout as Lyons 2. Righteousnes Pro. 28.1 that will not looke ouer the shoulder for the barking of euery dogge but walke on without all feare Indeede the child of God will not bee presumptuous neither will hee bee timorous though his enemies sinne Satan and the world bee strong yet hee knows God is stronger and that none euill can come vnto him without the Lord. Which if wee can thorowly meditate vpon and take this receite euerie morning to season our hearts with the feare of God and to wash our hearts and hands from vnrepented sins walke where wee will so it be in our waies nothing shall be able to hurt vs. Vers 58. Thou hast maintained the cause of my soule That is thou hast stood on my part and freed mee from death that was intended against mee For though my name and libertie and riches bee taken from mee yet my life is redeemed and that is thy mercie that bodie and soule are not yet parted Whence the doctrine is Doct. 8. God vpholds his Isa 44.23 That God is the maintainer and vpholder of his people Howsoeuer Kings and Princes bee nursing fathers vnto Gods Church yet that is not because hee needs them but because he would doe them a good turne in imploying them in his seruice And therefore may God be called the vpholder of his people because he saues them frō their firmes and from the punishments due to their sins which no man can doe He watches ouer them night and day and waters them euerie moment Jsa 27.3 and hee will contend with them that contend against his people This should strike a terror into the hearts of those that are iniurious vnto Gods seruants they are bold where the hedge is lowest euerie dwarfe aduentures to leape ouer But let them know that God is as a wall of fire about his Church and hee will maintaine the right of his children Indeede their props are and still haue beene so weake their enemies so strong the standers against them so shamefull and the oppositions so continuall that it is a miracle the Church stands to this day but God hath beene and euer will bee the vpholder of it and therefore it must needs goe ill with those that lift vp themselues against it Vse 2 Secondly here is a notable consolation for the afflicted people of God Howsoeuer they haue fewe meanes and few friends and where they should haue most helpe they haue least where they looked for comfort they finde discomfort and where they thought to bee enriched they are impouerished yet if they can pray all shall bee well If money and friends and large reuenues and the like had beene the vpholders of the Church it would haue gone to the ground long ere this But what saith the Church here O Lord thou hast maintained the cause of my soule There is our stay let vs bee sure wee haue a good cause and lay it before Gods iudgement seate and then though wee be ouerborne God will not bee ouerborne but hee will stand on our side euen hee that loues goodnesse and hates wickednesse and will be auenged on those that bend themselues and their endeuors to do mischiefe vnto his people Wee would willinglie haue him to bee our Iudge who is most iust who carries the greatest loue to vs and our cause and the hardest mind against our aduersaries such an one is God And therefore seeing we haue a good cause to stand in euen the matter of our saluation and enemies whom God hates with a deadly hatred the diuell the world and the flesh c. this should put life and heart into vs to goe vnto Christ Iesus our Iudge who hath so dearely loued vs as to lay downe his life for vs and for the destruction of all our enemies When wee are ouercharged with burdens and temptations let vs lay them vpon him and say Lord thou hast vndertaken to comfort thy children I am not able to vndergoe this that is vpon mee therefore doe thou maintaine my cause and helpe and deliuer mee from my miserie Vers 59. Thou hast seene my wrong From these words this doctrine may be collected Doct. 9. All vvrōgs knovvne to God That there is nothing done spoken or thought against any Christian but God takes knowledge of it there is not one practise slander or deuice of cruell beasts against the sheepe of Christ but God sees it and markes it And this must needs be so Reason 1 1 First because they are his flocke and therefore hee loues to looke vnto them especiallie sith hee hath paide so deerely for them 2 Secondly it is his nature to behold all things Psal 94. Eph. 4.6 For he that made the eye shall not he see c. He is aboue vs all and through vs all and in vs all Yea wee are as it were the apple of his eye Now it is a hard matter for one to come with thornes to put out anothers eye and he not take notice of it and 3 Thirdly God doth the rather obserue the indignities that are offered vnto his children because their profane aduersaries doe hate his image in them For when they were as bad as themselues they could liue with them twentie or thirtie yeares and be good friends with them but when once they renounce the seruice of Satan and of their owne lusts vnto which they are in bondage still then they oppose with might and maine against them Psal 69.7 and therefore it is said for thy sake haue we suffred rebuke shame hath couered our face 4 The fourth and last reason why God must needs take notice of the wrongs done vnto his seruants is because it belongs to him to reward euerie one according to their workes Reuel 20.12 Hee must and will giue them full pay and therefore hee keeps all vpon iust and due record As the workes of the righteous shall stand for them so shall the workes of reprobates be written in great capitall letters against them that all the world may take notice of them at the last day Vse This offers vnto vs matter of singular comfort Howsoeuer the aduersaries be busie and watchful to plot and procure the hurt of Gods Church they cannot be so vigilant for the hurt of it as God is watchfull for the good of it and therefore they may bee sure they shall haue a happie issue out of all their troubles if so be they can make their mone to God and waite patientlie for his mercie Obiection But what neede wee lay open our griefes before him seeing that hee knows them all before hand Answere Though he doe know them yet he would haue you to preferre your bill of complaint and that will be for the increase of your comfort and further experience of his loue and howsoeuer hee purpose to destroy the wicked yet would he haue you to go on in your suite against them still Neither is this to bee restrained onelie to corporall enemies but it holds much more strongly for spirituall enemies Say a man bee surcharged with sinne and Satan let him bemone his case before the Lord and it will be a marueilous ease vnto him If one of our children should but say father or mother I am exceeding sicke readie to saint vnder my paines c. hee neede say no more this would set their hearts and hands a worke to doe him good And is there not far more loue in our heauenly Father Yes surely and therefore in all such extremities let God be our refuge and let vs cast all our cares and sorrows vpon him who is able and willing to beare them and in due season to free vs from them and in the end to make vs gainers by them FINIS
contrarie to the Law and if I die I die But our Lord Iesus Christ goes beyond them all for when hee was in supreme excellencie hee was so affected with the wofull case of his Elect into which they had brought themselues by their owne rebellions against him that hee humbled himselfe Philip. 2.6.7 and tooke on him the state of a seruant and submitted himselfe to many sorrowes disgraces and sufferings not onely while hee liued but principallie when hee dyed as hath beene before in part declared that so he might deliuer his people from the wrath to come and from eternall death which they had deserued and must haue els indured Reasons 1 And there is great reason why the affliction of the Church should so affect vs and that first in regard of the communion that is betwixt God and them for they are called the Lords flocke his chiefe treasure vnder heauen his first borne yea the very apple of his eye and therefore being so deere vnto the Lord they should be deere vnto vs and we should haue a tender care of them and mourne in our hearts for any euill that befalls them as Ieremie did chap. 30. that the Lords flocke should goe into captiuitie Secondly we should be thus affected in regard of the communion that is betweene them and vs for they are our members yea neerer vnto vs then our bodilie members and wee should haue greater care of the whole Church than of our selues because it more concernes Gods glorie Howbeit indeede in caring for them wee care for our selues too labouring to preuent their afflictions wee preuent our owne and weeping for others miseries we get armor that will keepe off miserie from our selues And that there is no danger in dealing for the seruants of God may appeare in Exodus One would haue thought there had beene some great euill neere Moses and Aaron when they must fetch out of Egypt such a people from such a King not onely by petition but by command and threatning if hee would not yeeld wee would haue imagined that Pharaoh a proud man would neuer haue indured this at their handes and yet wee see they were in perill but of all others most safe 3 Thirdly the affliction of the church must needs work most vpon the hearts of Gods chosen because of the insultations and triumphs of the wicked against them when they cry out where is now there God Exod. 32.1 Numbers 1416. And that was it that Moses did vrge to moue God to spare his people when he threatned to destroy them for their Idolatry he intreats God to remember his great name and to spare them lost the Egyptians should say that hee had brought them out maliciously to slay them in the mountaines and to consume them from the earth or that hee was not able to bring them into the land of Canaan This is it that goes to the heart of the faithfull when they heare profane persons reuilling the hoast of the liuing God Oh these are your professors say they these are they which runne with their bibles to sermons these are they that were wont to brag that prayer would preuent or remoue Gods iudgements doe you not see that they are swept away by the pestilence as well as others that they were pinched with pouertie and necessitie as well as others that these and the like despitefull and bitter speeches and taunts doe wound the verie hearts of such as loue Gods glory and desire the prosperitie of his Saints and so cause them much to bewaile the tribulation of the Church Vse 1 Here are to be reproued all carelesse persons who so it goe well with themselues regard not the Church at all let it sinke or swimme all is one to them So they may bee free from the contagion and sitte quiet in their houses whatsoeuer becomes of their neighbours it skills not They drinke wine in bowles Amos. 6.6 and giue themselues to all excesse but no man is sorie for the affliction of Ioseph This is a great fault in these daies now many Christians are taken away and the sword of the Lord is stretched out still and many are smitten downe on euery side yet there is as much feasting and sporting and frequenting of wakes and that on the Lords sabboth as if all thinges went well with vs. Which argues strange infidelitie and is such a sinne as the Lord will pursue euen vnto death if it bee not reformed Isa 22.12.13.14 as the Prophet Isaiah threatneth In that day saith he did the Lord of hostes call vnto weeping and mourning and to baldnesse and girding with sackcloth and beholde ioy and gladnesse slaying Oxen and killing sheepe eating flesh and drinking wine eating and drinking for tomorrow we shall dye and it was declared in the eares of the Lord of hostes And what followes therevpon Surely this iniquitie shall not bee purged from you till yee die saith the Lord God of hostes Which being so it stands Magistrates vpon to vse their authoritie for the redresse of such things as are so dangerous to the whole state of the land But there is yet another greater fault amongst vs than this that hath beene named For many do not only walke securely in the affliction of their brethren but desire the continuance and increase of it in hope that they shall enlarge their possessions and better their estate by meanes thereof as if scarsitie of people did bring abundance of riches whereas in trueth it is quite contrarie But howsoeuer those that haue but a glimpse of Christianitie in them would rather haue the societie of others than liue alone in the middest of the earth 3 There is yet a third and worser sort than the former which come iustly vnder this reproofe Such I meane as long for sturs and mutinies and insurrections Poore men say they can get nothing but some fewe great ones carry away all and so they grow to murmuring and repining multiply speeches of discontentment grieuing and lamenting that at the taking away of the former Prince al things should bee so quiet and peaceable Downe say they with these Magistrates and with these Preachers this too much plentie yeelds vs nothing and therefore they could also bee glad of vnseasonable weather that through scarsitie of things there might arise some tumults and so they might get prouision from such as fall into their hands These haue bloudy hearts 4 Yet others there are that are worse than these who doe not onely wish for such troubles on the Church and Common-wealth before they come but reioyce at them when they are come And when others eyes are full of teares their mouths are ful of laughter as Ieremie chargeth the Moabites Hee magnified himselfe against the Lord Ieremie 48.26.27 Moab shall wallow in his vomit and hee also shal be in derision For diddest thou not deride Israell as if hee had beene found among theeues For when thou speakest of him thou art moued This was