names to be enrowled among his Souldiers and seruants swearing binding and oblieging our selues to reounce the seruice of the diuell the world and the flesh And this oath of resignation we haue renued so oft as wee haue communicated at his holy table whereof it is euident that they who haue giuen their names to Christ and yet liue licentiously walking after the flesh are forsworne Apostates guilty of perfidie and of foule Apostasie and desertion from Iesus Christ And thirdly Not onely are wee bought and sworne but we haue receiued wages and payment in hand Thirdly wee haue receiued wages before hand of seruices to be done which should make vs ashamed if wee haue so much as common honesty to refuse seruice to the Lord whose wages wee haue receiued already It may be sayd to euery one of vs as Malaciah in the name of the Lord spake to the Leuites of his time Mala. 1.10 Who among you shuts the dore of the Temple or kindles a fire vpon my Alter in vaine And who among vs can stand vp and say that he hath done seruice to the Lord for nought Consider it when you will for euery peece of seruice ye haue done to the Lord ye haue receiued wages more then ten times who hath called aright on his name and hath not beene heard who hath giuen thankes for benefits receiued and hath not found Gods benefits doubled vpon him who hath giuen almes in the name of the Lord and hath not found encrease I speake not of rewards which God hath promised I speake of that onely which we haue receiued already the least of all Gods mercies shewed vnto vs already doth farre exceed all the seruice that wee poore wretches haue done vnto him as therefore wee are content to receiue the Lords pay so let vs neuer refuse to giue the seruice of our bodies and spirits vnto him This is the couenant which wee haue made euery one of vs in our Baptisme and entrance into the Church of God before the presence of God and his Angels before the congregation and Church of God but alas we breake it dayly and haue no care nor consciēce to keepe it Well let vs know this for a certaine that the Lord will one day require our couenants vowes made vnto him for hee lookes wee should aswell keepe them as make them Well then wouldst thou bee loth to breake thy vow couenant or promise made to an honest mā especially it being in thine owne powre to keep it and such a promise as the keeping whereof may procure thee much peace liberty and happinesse I know you would Oh then let vs bee as carefull to keepe promise with God to renounce the world the diuell and our sinfull lusts so shall wee bring much honour to Almightie God and eeuerlasting good vnto our owne soules If the Lord himselfe had not bene on our side when men rose vp against vs c. We learne hence Publicke thankesgiuing after deliuerance required that it is the dutie of euery Christian man and woman to pray in publicke and priuate for the safetie and good estate of the Church So likewise it is our dutie publikely to render thankes vnto God for deliuerance bestowed vpon the same We must not be like the nine Leapers who haue wide mouthes to beg but no heart nor mouth to giue thankes for benefits receiued It hath euer beene the care and religious custome of Gods Church and people after great and notable deliuerances from apparant and common Iudgments to render heartie and earnest thankes vnto God in solemne and publike manner Gen. 8.20 When Noah and his Sonnes and family were newly deliuered from perishing in the flood he did the first thing builde an Altar offer sacrifice and call on the name of the Lord so Moses and the Children of Israel after their deliuerance out of Egypt when they were safe and their enemies drowned doe deuoutly and publikely sing praise and thankes vnto the Lord. Iudg. 5.1.2.3 Deborah and Barake doth the like And the Iewes being deliuered from Hamans treason Hcster 9.19 20. reioyce and keepe a solemne day to sing praise vnto the Lord. Well then let vs apply this vnto our selues we are by Gods blessing the true Church and people of God professing the Gospell of Iesus Christ truly hating all superstition and Idolatry and for this cause cannot want many enemies the Papists the most subtill cruell and malicious enemies of Gods Church haue often set vpon vs assaulted vs sought to haue inuaded our King and Countrey as in eightie eight by sundry treasons to kill our late Queene of famous and blessed memorie And to destroy our gracious King Queene and all his posteritie But amongst the rest and aboue all the rest none comparable to that last treason which was most close and cunningly wrought a long time in contriuing most bloudie and deuilish most barbarous and sauage threatning and seeking to destroy and roote out our King Councell Spirituall and Temporall Magistrates ayming at the vtter subuersion of our English Nation both Church and Common-wealth And surely if we consider well of it I doe not see in all the Bible the like deliuerance so wonderfull and admirable First being so long a time in hatching and contriuing with such secresie and concealement Secondly being vnder the ground in hell as it were in a place vnder the earth desiring darkenes more then light because the deede was euill Thirdly being brought so neare the execution of it and neuer knowne nor suspected before Fourthly being disclosed so strangely euen by one of the traytors themselues one of the chiefe Actors in the tragedie Being so generall so fearefull and so monstrous that it should not haue bin onely to the destruction of one or two but of the chiefe of the whole land King Queene Prince Iudges Bishops in a word the flowre of the whole kingdome the want of any one whereof were a blemish to a State and would bring a ruine to a kingdome Now doe as Ahashuerosh did Hest 6.1.2 cause the records to be read and chronicles to be searched ancient and moderne diuine or prophane amongst the Turkes or Painims yea if hell keepe any records search there and see if yee can patterne this conspiracy or match this danger But there is no councell against the Lord mans wisedome is foolishnesse vnto him his greatest strength but weakenesse his life but a breath and his honour but a blast So then we see we haue as great cause to render thankes vnto the Lord as any people or nation vnder heauen that fifth day of Nouember is a day to be remembred and neuer to bee forgotten a glad and ioyfull day and we ought euery one in publicke and priuate to stirre vp our hearts in thankesgiuing vnto the Lord For it was the Lords doing and it is maruelous in our eyes It is the day which the Lord hath made for the glory of his Name let vs reioyce
is the heritage of the Lords seruants and the portion of them that loue him for the Church is that Arke which mounts vp mounts vp higher as the water increaseth but cannot be ouerwhelmed Mat. 7.25 the bush which may burne but not be consumed the house built vpon a rocke which may be beaten with winde and raine but cannot bee ouerthrowne Besides all this it is not enough that wee are compassed about with firy walls that is with the sure custody the continuall watch and ward of the Angels but the Lord himselfe is our wall so that euery way wee are defended by the Lord against all dangers Therefore in our greatest mutations our hearts shold not be moued from confidence in God All which should learne vs in the greatest changes and alterations that fall out in the world to rest assured that the Lord will worke for the good of his Church though the earth should bee mooued and the Mountaines fall into the middest of the Sea yea though the waters there of rage and bee troubled yet there is a Riuer whose streames shall make glad the Cittie of God in the middest of it Yea if they who should bee the nourishing Fathers of the Church doe forsake her and become her enemies they shall most assuredly perish but Comfort Ioy and Deliuerance shall appeare vnto Gods people out of another place the Lord for awhile may put the bridle of bondage in the Philistians hands for to humble Israel for their sinnes but it shall bee taken away from them at the length then shall his Church with Ioy draw water out of the Well of Saluation and prayse the Lord their God saying Though thou wert now angry with mee yet thy wrath is turned away and thou comfortest me yea Sion shall cry out and shout for ioy for great is the holy one of Israel in the midst of her And therefore in our lowest humiliation let vs answer our enemies Reioyce not against mee O mine enemies though I fall I shall rise when I shall sit in darkenesse the Lord is a light vnto me I will beare the wrath of the Lord because I haue sinned against him vntill he pleade my cause and execute iudgement for mee hee will bring me forth to light and I shall see his righteousnesse then hee that is mine enemy shall looke vpon it and shame shall couer him who sayd to mee Where is the Lord thy God now shall hee bee troden vnder as the myre in the streets yea so let all thine enemies perish O Lord. The hilles stand ahout Ierusalem euen so standeth the Lord about his people Therefore seeing the Lord doth thus compasse the godly with such mercies O then labour to be godly men And such as trust in God to whom all these precious promises are made O how excellent is thy mercy therefore the children of men shall trust vnder the shadow of thy wings Here is a great comfort for the godly who haue no small securitie hence that whatsoeuer their outward estate is or may bee Gods mercy compasseth them as the hills compasse Ierusalem First if Sathan assalt vs on euery side wirh temptation to vexe and disquiet vs with inward feares hee shall not haue so nimble eyes to spy our weakenesse as the eye of the Lord to spye meanes to strengthen vs. Let him obiect the greatnesse and infinite number of our sinnes yet hee shall but amplifie the great mercy of God which is greater and more large then all the sinne and misery in the World Thus Moses comforteth Gods people Deu. 4.31 The Lord thy God is a mercifull God hee will not forsake nor destroy thee nor forget the couenant of thy fathers which hee sware vnto them 〈◊〉 118. â—â— Secondly if vnmercifull men compasse them and come about them like Bees and sharpen their stings yet the mercies of the Lord are neerer them then that they can hurt them Thus Dauid comforted himselfe Psal 86.14.15 O Lord the prowde are risen against mee but thou Lord art strong and mercifull gracious and long suffering and a pitifull God Thirdly if a man should conflict with Gods owne hand by inward temptations or outward tryals of sicknesse pouertie persecution if he were so beset as hee could see nothing but troubles without feares within now is the time to mound fence himself with this comfortable doctrine that euen now Gods Mercies doe guard and compasse him seeing he cannot deny himselfe nor faile of any of his promises Dauid when hee was to chuse of the three rods of God the Sword Famine or Plague he chose to fall into the hands of God because he is mercifull He may afflict and chasten vs a while 2. Sam. 24.14 Isai 45.7.10 Psal 103.8 and for a moment seeme to fosake vs But with great compassions he will gather vs for he chides not alwayes neither retaineth he his wrath for euer Fourthly if a man were in the hands of death and the messengers thereof had already taken hold on him as on Hezekiah Yet euen then he need feare none ill seeing Gods mecrcies compasse him This is euer our couer though wee cannot alway see it as Elisha his seruant saw not the great mercies of God compassing him and his Maister Euen then when wee know not Gods mercy is all about vs. There are still more with vs then against vs our mountaine is alway beset with heauenly warriors Was Ionas euer more compassed with mercies then when he was in his owne sence cast off and compassed with waues and weeds Was Israel euer more coÌ„past with mercy then when they were compassed with Mountaines Sea enemies Death and deadly things these our extremities are Gods oportunitie Nay fifthly suppose a man were in the house of death in the graue yet euen this separates not from Gods mercyes which being eternal leaues vs not in death but when we are most compassed with dust and corruption shall then bee most abundant and mightie for vs. Oh therefore let so many as trust in God flye in all their straights to this sanctuary which can make not onely deaths fore-runners but euen death it selfe welcome which depriues vs of all things else but this mercy into the full estate of which it setteth vs. Let vs therefore labour aboue all things in the world to get part in this mercy by getting assurance of the pardon of sinne get this and thou gettest a mercy reaching vp to heauen a crowne of blessings a plentifull redemption Our Prophet here calls it a compassing mercie for a godly man thinketh not himselfe compassed with mercy when hee is compassed onely with outward blessings when God hath hedged about his house and he hath wealth to tumble in though the world breath after nothing else but when he hath a voyce telling him that God in Christ is merciful to his sin and hath couered his iniquitie oh now thinkes Dauid himselfe compassed with mercy and not before although he was a king and had
the Almighty and to see the deepe things of the Lord. For tell mee I pray you is not hee a Conquerour yea more then a Conquerour that doth so subdue his enemies that they can no more rise vp against him A man may vanquish his enemie and beate him cleane out of the field yet afterward hee may gather a power against him againe and put him to the worst But heere Satan the world and all our enemies are so beaten downe and troden vnder foote by all such as suffer and dye for the truth that they can neuer assault them any more to stirre either tongue hand or foote against them to doe them any hurt for they goe immediately vpon that their death and passion to Heauen and vnto all that happinesse which is prouided there for them as Iohn doth shew Apo. 14.13 saying Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord euen so saith the spirit for they rest from their labours and their workes do follow them Christ a powerfull Sauiour stronger thē Samson yea then that strong one Iudges 16.1 O wonderfull worke Surely the weakenesse of God is stronger then man he is that strong one indeed stronger then Sampson when the Philistians thought they had him sure within the ports of Azzah Hee rose at midnight and tooke the doores of the gates of the Citty two Posts and carried them away with the bars thereof on his shoulders vp to the top of the mountaine which is before Hebron But our mighty Conqueror and deliuerer the Lord Iesus hath in a more excellent manner magnified his power for being closed in the Graue clasped in the bands of death and a stone roled to the mouth of the Graue the Sepulcher sealed and guarded with souldiers hee rose againe the third day before the rising of the Sunne hee carried like a victor the bars and Posts of death away as vpon his shoulders and vpon the mount of Oliues he ascended vpon high leading Captiuity captiue 2. King 18.35 Let Satan boast like Rabsecha that the Lord is not able to deliuer Ierusalem out of his hands Deut. 26.29 hee is a blasphemous lyer the Lord will rebuke him and will shortly tread Satan vnder our feet It is the curse of the wicked he shall bee oppressed and there shall bee none to deliuer him Psal 143.12 But blessed bee the Lord who hath prouided a strong deliuerer for vs who certainely shall set vs free glory therefore bee vnto him for euer It is good for vs to know this as also to thinke oftentimes vpon it for first by it we may learne to take heed we goe not about any thing which may be hurtfull or pernicious vnto Gods children for if we doe we see heere our labour shall bee in vaine wee shall not preuaile against them but they preuaile against vs. Hee is a very foole that will attempt a thing which he knowes for certaine hee cannot bring to passe and which hee is sure will bee his bane and destruction but wee know that wee cannot preuaile against the faithfull and wee are sure that our plots against them will turne to our ouerthrow and therefore let vs beware that wee lift not vp our selues against them at any time Againe from hence wee learne euen so many of vs as doe truely serue the Lord and feare him from our hearts that there is no cause vvhy wee should feare Man or vvhat hee can doe against vs. Oh wee may reioyce and be glad as it is required of vs in which places you may reade at your leasure feare not beloued bee of good comfort Zeph. 3.14 though that you haue enemies in euery Corner yet be not discouraged you shall haue the conquest And the Lord your God shall deliuer you 1. Pet. 3 14. out of all your troubles according to the saying of Dauid Psal 34 9 Great are ihe troubles of the righteous but ihe Lord deliuereth them out of them all he is wise he doth know how to do it and he is omnipotent he is able for to do it and as for his willingnesse he is ready at all times to accomplish it wherfore be I say of good comfort and feare not but trust in the Lord and commit your wayes vnto him and he shall bring all things to passe according to your hearts desire in the end he that deliuered Noah from the floud Lot from Sodome Iacob from Esau Ioseph from Potiphar Moses from Pharaoh Israel from Egypt the three Children from the Fire Peter from Herod Mordecay from Hamman and here Christ and Dauid from all sorts of enemies He euen he will deliuer you out of all trouble If you say that your enemies are many and that the whole world is against you I will say againe to you with Elisha the Prophet 2. Kin. 6.16 2. Chr. 32 7 and Hezechiah the King that there are more with vs then are against vs for God and all the Hoast of Heauen is for vs if you say againe that your enemies are wise and politicke and they are able to ouer-reach you by their craft and cunning considering that you are but simple and ignorant like Doues I will answere you with the Apostle 1. Cor. 1.25 That the foolishnesse of our God who is on our side is wiser then their best wisedome and that he will destroy their wisedome and bring their vnderstanding to naught to doe vs good If you say in the third place that your enemies haue hemmed you in and compassed you about that it is vnpossible for you to escape them I will answere you with the Angell Gabriel 1. Cor. 1.19 that with God nothing shall bee vnpossible and with the three Children Shadrach Meshach and Abednego that GOD both can and will deliuer you Dan. 3.17 when they say Behold our GOD wee serue is able to deliuer vs from the hot fierie Furnace and hee will deliuer vs out of thine hand O King If you say lastly that your Enemies haue already taken you and doe put you dayly vnto death I will answere you with Paul in Romanes the eight verse the seuen and thirtieth which place was touched before and with Iohn in the Reuelation the twenty two chapter the twelfth verse that by this meanes you do ouercome your enemies most of all For when you resist thus vnto bloud and dye for the truth you giue your enemies such an ouerthrow that they neuer rise vp against you any more and as for your selues you enter presently into Heauen the onely place which you striue for Euen as hee hath the victorie most in this vvorld who doth enter into the Cittie and take all the spoyle thereof and doth confound his aduersaries that they can neuer stirre any more against him In consideration of all which things cleaue fast vnto Christ I beseech you and feare no danger or perill but reioyce in the Lord and be glad alwaies fighting for the Crowne of righteousnesse which shall bee giuen
true diuinitie consisteth in vse and practise Wee are vexed on euerie side with wicked and peruerse scorners and others which hate the word of God and the doctrine which we professe Comfort when the godly are not esteemed of the wicked The men of this world esteeme Gods Children as the off-scowrings of the earth So Paul a chosen vessell of God yet not esteemed of men Let this confirme the godly against the contempt of men onely the Lord hath in his owne hand the ballance of Iustice which weigheth men aright according as they are but these are very trifles if wee compare them with those vexations which Sathan sinne and our owne infirmitie raise vp in our cōsciences we must learne therefore thus to iudge of all things that they are the rod or scepter of the wicked and to set the Lord against them reuealing his will here in his word and pronouncing that he will not suffer the scepter of the wicked to rest vpon the godly Since then the same Prince promiseth thus much vnto vs which hath all things in his hand what can we require more for the will of God is certaine that though he suffer vs to be afflicted yet will he not see vs troden vnder foote or perish What the rod signifieth in the Scriptures it is well knowne children when they are young are corrected with a rod and when they waxe bigger with a wand or a cudgell and if they will not amend then followeth the iron rod hereof it commeth that the rod signifieth all power and rule which is for the amendment and corrction of such as doe offend so it is taken in the 110. Psalme The Lord shall send forth the rod of thy power out of Sion That is to say Thy kingdome for here he signifieth such a rod whereby kingdomes and people are gouerned On this wise the Holy Ghost permitteth heere to the Wicked dominion and tyrannie ouer the Godly which they are compelled to suffer this dominion or tyrannie the Holy Ghost called the rodde of the Wicked and comforteth vs. That as the Lord liueth their tyrannie shall fall and shall not rest vpon the lot of the Godly The lot of the Iust is as much to say as the Portion that is the Number or Congregation of the lust like as Christ calleth them the little Flocke and Paul the poore Saints Ouer these sayth hee although the tyrants doe rule yet shall not their power endure although the persecutors of the Church doe oppresse the Faithfull yet shall they not doe so alwayes neyther shall their counsels haue that successe which they desire for they thinke to roote out this Doctrine for euer but that shall they neuer be able to doe Therefore albeit ye suffer in the meane time sayth the Holy Ghost yet know ye that my will is That they which beleeue in me shall neuer perish but shall be preserued to life euerlasting Here then haue ye whereunto ye may trust in all your tentations But behold the reason which the Holy Ghost heere vseth to proue the Scepter of the Wicked shall not rest vpon the Iust God is moued sayth he to helpe and defend the Iust For else it might so come to passe that God should haue no Church at all and the Iust should put forth their hands to wickednesse So we finde in Ieremy that before the people were deliuered into the hands of the Babylonians they had a promise that after seuentie yeares they should returne againe to Ierusalem because they should not bee brought into doubt of Gods mercy and so vtterly dispaire and falling away from God should turne to foolishnesse that is to say should blaspheme and become impatient this is the cause why God ioyneth the promise of the word with the execution and performance of the deede for else the godly should be driuen to desparation We see how many are cast downe with aduersitie by the losse of goods wife children other things which are deere vnto them except therefore their minds were raised vp againe and comforted first with the word and promise and then with the performance and execution of the same many would say there were no God therfore God must needs shew himselfe to be a God not onely in a word but also in deed Dauid had great promises of God 2. Sam. 15.30 and yet by his owne sonne was driuen out of his kingdome and so persecuted that hee was compelled to flye away bare head and bare foote this was a sore tentation wherefore the great and ample promises made vnto him could neuer haue raised him vp and comforted him againe except God had indeede deliuered him out of this great miserie and affliction euen so if we had no more but the promises of God to support vs against the Papists and aduersaries of the word yea if God did not indeede fight for vs and defend vs against their tyranny God therfore worketh both waies hee raiseth vp with the word and promise and deliuereth out of troubles and afflictions by the execution of the deed that according to the saying of Saint Paul the tentation should not be aboue our strength but should haue an end and wee learne by our owne experience that the first Commaundement I am the Lord thy GOD is most certaine and infailable therefore when he saith Least the iust should turne away from God and fall to gentilitie for GOD hath a double care ouer the faithfull first that they bee not ouercome but may ouercome the tentation And this he doth by the word and promise the second is that the tentation bee not perpetuall euen so must we be vndoubtedly perswaded that besides the infailable promises which we haue of the good will of God towards vs and in the end of euerlasting life wee shall also be deliuered and our aduersaries destroyed albeit wee can see no manner of way or possible meanes how that it may bee done But heere wee must beware that wee doe not appoint the time of this deliuerance for before that come God will haue vs tried to the vttermost and brought to that extremitie that all our hope and trust shall bee vtterly spent and we at the point of desparation Now when wee are brought into this case that wee can see nothing but desparation then euen then God sendeth comfort in death he sheweth life and euen in damnation he bringeth saluation Briefely of nothing hee maketh all things and when all hope of remedie is past then beginneth he to worke and frameth all anew againe in most perfect wise Thus cannot the God of this world doe this is the singular worke of God therefore when thou thinkest thy selfe cleane cast away and vtterly forsaken euen then thou shouldest be most sure and safe and most gloriously shine as the Day-starre in the Firmament These things are easily taught but by experience we finde and feele how farre they passe all reason and power of man and how hardly we can beleeue that God maketh all
297 Comfort See Crosse Affliction Temptation Trouble and Sinne. Confidence In our greatest Mutations we must put our confidence in God 162 Constancie The constancie of Gods Children 147 Consideration so necessarie that without it no state of our life can be well ordered 382 384 Contempt Comfort against contempt of Men. 84 353 Conuersation In our Christian conuersation there must be a continuall progresse 247 Conuersion A true signe of conuersion 256 Corruption See Flesh Couetousnesse Many walke in the ruggie way of Couetousnesse 247 Creator Euery Creature in their kind sends vs to the Creator 239 Creature It is a vaine thing to take pleasure in the Creature 240 Crosse How a sanctified Crosse is discerned 96 D. DAnger breedeth feare without measure 23. Past by dangers are to be cald to mind 44 Day how it should be spent 320 Death The godly need not feare it 168. It is a Victorie if we suffer for Christ 396. Life and it two Twinnes 397 Degrees See Psalmes Deliuerance Publique Thanksgiuing required after it 15. Application of this to our Times especially to the Powder-Treason 16 17 c. In what sort we should be thankfull for Deliuerance from it 20 c. Gods Deliuerances to be remembred 28. God still deliuers his 60 109 176. Depart How the wicked depart from God 233. Desire Our perfection stands rather in desire then deeds 222. God still giue vs more then we desire ibid. Determination an helpe to godly conuersation 382 384 Despaire Wee should not dispaire for our grieuous sinnes and falls 250 E. ELect No elect Child of God can finally perish or fall away 125. We must labour to be in the number of the Elect. 273 End The end of a Christian better then his beginning 30. See accomplish men Enemies We are vnable of our selues withstand them 27. The faithfull still preuaile against their enemies 47. God preserueth hiâ— from all enemies 60. Dauids enemies described 70 F. FAith Not to trust to that which the eye seeth but to that which the word offereth and promiseth is a matter of Faith 157. The nature of Faith 148 Faithfull No force can preuaile against them 58. God hath a double care of them 186. Their state but weak being left vnto themselues 228 Fauour In what fort we should remember Gods fauour to vs. 44 Fall The child of God cannot finally fal away 125. What to bee done in our fals 249. We must not lye still in them 250. and must beware of falling againe 251 Flesh There is fleshly corruption in the Christian Militant but he followes it not 107 Sathans darts may afflict the flesh but cannot surmount the Spirit 173. He that walketh after the flesh encountreth with death 379 Fruits See Heart and Tongue G. GEntiles The Gentiles being pertakers of the deliuerance from sinne and death do magnifie God for it as well as the Iewes 295. 296. 299. They and the Iewes are become one Church 300 Gifts See Trouble God There is all things in God fit to be in one on whom we are to place our trust 140 Godly What the wicked are to the godly 87. They are esteemed in a miserable case by the wicked 149. Comfort for them when the wicked esteeme them not 179. What their state is in this world 353 Godlinesse True godlinesse indureth great temptations 96. It is great gaine 141. We must go on in the waies thereof vnto the end of our liues 385 386 Gospel Wee should comfort our selues with the Gospel when Sathan terrifieth with the law 292. The inestimable benefit of the Gosp 302 Goodnesse We must not trust to our owne power and goodnesse 231 H. HEart Who are the good and true of heart 207. The marke of a sanctified heart 214. We must offer the first fruits of our heart to God euery morning 313 Humilitie How humilitie is wrought in the godly 71 Hurt No hurt befals them whom Gods loue 86 I. IEwes and Gentiles are become one Church 300 Ignorance Many walke in the blind waies of Ignorance 243 Impatience See Affliction Ioy. The Ioy of the godly for their deliuerances 26. Especially their redemption by Christ Iesus 263. 264 c. The worldling hath no true Ioy 374. The ioy which God hath reserued for vs in heauen we must not expect to haue on earth 374. Ioy oftentimes faileth the most faithfull 357. The godly haue only true ioy 365 Iudgements Vpon the wicked to be remembred and taken heed of 88. 89. The remembrance of them hastens repentance 92 Iustification How to proue our Iustification 254 K. KIng The godly haue free accesse to the King of heauen 322 Knowledge Speculation a naked knowledge without experience and practise 289 L. LAughter See Gospel and Ioy. Law The office of the law of God 286 302. Sathan terrifieth with it 288. An answer fit to be giuen Sathan when he terrifieth with the Law 291 Life Our life lies open to Sathans snares 99. Three profitable helpes for a godly life 381. An exhortation to a godly life 401. Wee must prepare our selues for the life to come 377 387. Life and Death two twins 397 Lot The lot of the righteous what it signifieth 182 Loue. The vice of selfe-loue hard to be cured 404 M. MAn There is no cause why we should feare man 59. Because men cannot hurt vs vnlesse God permit it 399 Meanes See Saluation Mercy God compasseth his with his mercies 165. What mercies the godly doe chiefely esteeme 170. Gods mercies is with his Children in the house of death 160 Morning See Heart and Prayer Mortall Man is vaine and Mortall 79 Mourning The causes of mourning without vs 370. and within vs 371. Hardnesse of heart hinders it in this age 369. Reasons moouing vs to Mourning 358. The godly subiect to it in this life 360. If we mourne not now we shall not reioyce hereafter 366. The scoffers of Mourning reproued 366. 367 Mutations See Confidence N. NAme Our onely Sanctuary is in the name of the Lord in all our afflictions 115. Comfort against such as seeke to take away our good name 342 Nets See Snares O. OBiection See Question Occasion Wee must be carefull to auoid all occasions of doing euill 249 Office What the intent and office of Gods Law is 287 P. PEnitent A true penitent man walkes cleane contrary to his former course 237 People See Beleeuers Permission Without the permission of God neither the deuill 398. nor men can hurt vs. 399 Perils See Danger and Snare Persecutors We should not be dismaied though we see the Persecutors come to the end of their enterprises 390 Perseuerance Arguments to prooue Christian perseuerance 126. Confutation of the Papists in this point 128. We are constantly to perseuer in a religious course 202 252 Pope See Traditions Powder See Treason Prayer The Spirit of Grace and Praye must be ioyned together in the faithfull 306. The excellency and necessitie of Prayer 407. c. We must not bee weary or faint-hearted in Prayer though God deferre to make
vs feele the fruit of it 400. Fiue godly Prayers 412 Preseruation Wee must remember the manner how God hath preserued vs in body soule 34. The end thereof to bee remembred in eight respects 35 c. Preaching Is a great blessing to them that enioy it 38 Presence See Trouble Preuaile See Enemies and Faithfull Pride Pride an horrible euill 70.71 A proud man his owne punishment 74. The miserable condition of a proud man 75. The difference betweene sinnes of pride and infirmity 77. Women exhorted to shun it 81 Professors Cold professors reproued 321 Promise We ought to be mindfull and credulous of Gods promises 41 c. Psalmes The Booke of Psalmes are an Epitome of the Bible 1. VVherefore these three expounded in this Booke are called Psalmes of Degrees 2. They are excellent Platformes of Prayer and Thankesgiuing 3. The Argument of the 124. Psalme 4. The Argument of the 125. Psalme 133. The Argument of of the 126. Psalme 258 Q. QVestion Three obiections or questions answered First what the reason is why the godly are neuer ouerthrowne 50. Secondly how it can be proued they still ouercome seeing they are often put to death by their persecutors 53. c. The third whether one that is elected may liue as he list 275 R. RAge See Church Reason Many walke crooked waies of humane reason 245 Redemption The reprobate hath no part in redemption 270. VVe must glorifie God continually for our redemption 276. The Meditation of our redemption is necessary in many respects 277. c. VVe must pray for our Redemption 306 Religion It is not in vaine to be religious 150. A true triall of Religion 25 Repentance Remembrance of Gods iudgements on others hastens it 92. As sinne is a falling so repentance is a rising 234. Repentance is a first death a first resurrection and first ascention 235. It is a worke of diuine power 236. It is no lesse miraculous then the raising of the dead 236 Reuolt See Backward S. SAluation The means apointed to attain saluation must be vsed of those that expect it 129 243 275. Mens folly herein 380 Sathan The prerogatiue of Sathan 309. Hee hath no power ouer vs but what God permits 398 Sauiour See Christ Seruice Seruice to God and Sinne diuersly performed by the godly 108. It is not in vaine to serue the Lord. 150 Sinne. Comfort for sinning after Repentance 205. It is dangerous to liue in knowne sinnes 217. Comfort for such as are grieued for their sinnes 219. Seruice to Sinne and God diuersly performed by the godly 108. In temptations to sinne what we must doe 123. A purpose not to sinne the marke of a sanctified heart 214. The secure sinner the greatest sinner 232. There is no rest for a sinner till hee returne to God 239. We are to shun occasions of sinne 249. We should not despaire for our sinne 250. We must beware of falling into sinne againe 251. Our manyfold sinnes are causes of inward mourning 371 Soule See Preseruation Snare The perils of the godly compared to a Snare 94. Our life lyes open to Sathans Snares from which God deliuers vs 99. and from the Snares of the vngodly 109 Speculation See Knowledge Spirit To the godly the Spirit of God is a Seale and Signet shewing they belong to God 103. The wicked doe not receiue the fruits of the Spirit ibid. Why the Lord in this life giues vs the first fruits of the Spirit and not the principall 104. Sathans darts may afflict the Flesh but cannot surmount the Spirit 173. The state of those that haue receiued the first fruits of the Spirit 306. The testimonie of it is not alwayes receiued in a like measure 311 Suffering Three things required to make our suffering a suffering with Christ 338 Superstition Many walke in the crosse wayes of superstition 244 Supplication an helpe to godly conuersation 382 384 T. TEares God is though men are not moued to mercy by teares 354 Temptations are Sathans snares laid to intrap vs 95. The godly endures great temptations 96. Comfort against Sathans temptations 165. Neither inward nor outward temptations can hurt the godly 166. God deliuers them from all temptations 183 184. yet they are subiect to many 324. which cause in them inward mourning 372. Wee must pray to God to helpe vs in them 373. the fruits of them 375 376. they last but a little time 355 Thanksgiuing Publique thanksgiuing after deliuerance required 15. Application of it to the Gun-powder Treason 16 17. In what sort wee should be thankefull for our deliuerance from that Treason 20. A godly prayer or thanksgiuing for our deliuerie from it 412 Time How time posts away 318. Time a most precious Iewell 319. How the time of the day should be spent 320 Tongue Miserable are those that bend their tongues against the godly 348. See Heart Traditions The traditions of the Pope are burthens to mens Consciences 301 Treason See Deliuerance and Thanksgiuing Triall Christs Members militant and triumphant not to be tryed by one Rule 106 Troubles The best triall of Religion 25. God deliuers his from all troubles 60 111. The godly glory in them 65. God the best helpe and first to be sought to in them 65 66. We see three things in them better then in prosperitie 98. God deliuers his out of them by his presence 113. and God preserues vs in them 196. The remembrance of Gods gifts a great comfort in them 269 Trust In God are all things fit to be in one on whom we are to place our trust 140. The happinesse of such as trust in God 136. To trust in him is the greatest seruice we can doe him 145. He compasseth such as trust in him in all their troubles 165 Truth Some walke in the detestable and damnable wayes of wilfull spurning against the truth 246 V. VIgilancie Gods vigilancie ouer his 172 Vngodly The state of the vngodly accursed 153 Vnmercifull God preserues his from being hurt of the vnmercifull 166 Voluptuousnesse Many walke in the filthie myrie wayes of voluptuousnesse c. 246 Vowes Solemne Vowes a Christian dutie 8 W. VVAyes Many by-wayes beaten by many 243 We must be carefull we keepe the right way 378 385 Wants Gods children should not be discouraged with the sense and feeling of their owne wants 100. No comfort belongs to the wicked in the feeling of their wants 101 Welfare Gods prouidence the cause of our welfare 39 99 Wicked What the wicked are to the godly 87. Gods Iudgements on the wicked to be remembred and taken heed of 88 89 Women See Pride Word They are happy that delight in Gods Word 388 Workes See Accomplishment Worldling Different courses of the Christian and Worldling worth noting 329 Wrath. What wee are to doe in temptations of Gods wrath 123 FINIS Faults escaped in Printing Page 26. line 20 read had p. 45. l. 14. r. can p. 193. l. 9. r. or p â—06 l 1. r all the dayes of Iehoâ—ada p. 258. l. 10. r. people p. 283. l. 15. r. so we p. 314. l. 4. r. prayer p. 325. l. 7. r. is p. 347. l. 15. r. purpose
and be glad in it Now it is not enough to keepe that day as an idle holy day to rest from labor and work to ring Bels and make Bonfiers to giue our selues to eating drinking and swilling to sports and pastimes for this is no honour to God But first our thankefulnesse must appeare in a most reuerent and thankefull commemoration and Remembrance of this so great and wonderfull a deliuerance wee must call it to mind thinke of the greatnesse of it wee must speake of it to our Children and Posterity and call vpon them to bee thankfull for the Child that is yet vnborne is bound to blesse God for it Exodus 12.6 Secondly we must sing Psalmes of praise and thanksegiuing vnto God in token of thankfulnesse and that publikely in the Church and Congregation of Gods people Thirdly we must come together into Gods house to heare his word and call vpon his name and that is a speciall part of our vnfained thankfulnesse Fourthly wee must testifie our thankfulnes in most hearty dutiful obedience which is the greatest and the best sacrifice 1. Sam. 15.22 And if this be wanting all that wee do is nothing worth Esay 29.13 so that for our generall deliuerance there should be a generall thanksegiuing in a generall reformation of Church and Commonwealth of our hearts and sinfull liues otherwise wee are indeed vnthankefull if still we liue in sin rebellion Then notwithstanding our keeping a day ringing of Bels sport and play if their follow no reformation of our liues wee may iustly feare a more dreadfull iudgement if not vtter ruine and destruction to follow Now alas where is this vse of Gods mercy and our deliuerance where doth the people reforme their liues reforme their wayes grow more religious conscionable and carefull to heare reade pray in their families it is but a wonder of nine dayes men make little or no vse of it but to talke of it and speake of it And lastly our thankefulnesse should beget in vs an earnest hatred of Popery and superstition so vilde faulse mischieuous bloody and cursed religion to abhorre it to haue nothing to do with it but to abandon it which that all estates and degrees of men may do the Lord grant for his mercy sake Amen Verse 1. They had swallowed vs vp quicke when they were so wrathfully displeased at vs. THis repitition is not in vaine for whiles we are in danger our feare is without measure but when it is once past wee imagine it to haue beene lesse then it was indeed and this is the delusion of Sathan to diminish and obscure the grace of God Dauid therefore with this repetition stirreth vp the people to a more thankefulnesse vnto God for his gracious deliuerance and implyteth the dangers which they had passed Whereby we are taught how to thinke of our troubles and afflictions past least the sence and feeling of Gods graces vanish out of our Minds And heere note how God dealeth with his people in their distresse who suffereth their enemies so farre to preuaile ouer them and deferreth his helpe so long till it seeme vnpossible for them to escape so that they are compelled to confesse and acknowledge that they must needes haue perished if the mighty hand of God had not deliuered them These two things then wee see the Israelites here to acknowlegde first that the Lord was on their side that is succoured and deliuered thē then also that it had not beene possible but they must vtterly haue perished if God had not preserued and defended them Dauid saith Psalm 129 1.2.3 that albeit he was persecuted and sore oppressed for his profession yet no troubles could make him swerue from the Testimonies of God Trouble is the best tryall of true Religion It is no great thing to cleaue vnto the Testimonies of God when none pursues them for it when authority allowes it when honour and prosperity followes it It is no great praise then to professe it When the Lord gloried of his Seruant Iob That he was an vpright man fearing God yet Sathan replyed Iob. 1. And what maruell doth Iob worship God for nothing he knew there were many hirelings temporizers in the world that worshipped not God sincerely and therefore would not continue it hee thought Iob to bee one of these lay now thine hand vpon all that he hath and hee shall blaspheme thee to thy face But he was deceiued for the more he was crossed the neerer did he cleaue vnto the Lord. Let vs remember as Saint Paul hath warned vs wee haue not yet resisted vnto blood neither that which S. Peter cals the fierie triall haue we endured and yet what a shame is it to see how many are become coulder in Religion an euident argument that they were neuer truly religious for if they cannot stand against offences how should they stand against oppressions and persecutions They haue swallowed vs vp quick in these words he expresseth not onely the strength and rage and cruelty of the enemies but also how weake and vnable the Isralites were to withstand them and here he vseth a similitude takē of fierce and outragious beasts whose property is when they haue taken their prey to swallow them aliue Likewise when wee would expresse the cruelty or malice of any towards vs we are wont to say he hateth mee so deadly that hee could finde in his heart to eate mee or swallow mee vp quicke the Prophet meaneth then that their enemies were so many and so mighty that they needed no armour or weapons to destroy them but were able like fierce and cruell beasts to swallow them vp aliue being so weake and so little a flocke let vs learne then to sing with Dauid If the Lord had not bin on our side whose mighty hand hath deliuered vs whose power alone hath preserued vs and although the world rage against vs though Sathan vexe vs neuer so sore they cannot hurt vs. Be of good comfort saith Christ our Sauiour For I haue ouercome the world Againe I giue vnto them euerlasting life and none shall take them out of my hands First this teacheth vs to remember and meditate of all such gracicious deliuerances which he shewed vnto vs either in general or particular from treasons trecheries conspiracies the like in regard wherof we had long since bin consumed had not God taken our parts against those that rose vp against vs whose purpose was to haue deuoured vs in regard of which treason we may truly say as Dauid now may England say If the Lord had not been on our side if the Lord himselfe had not bin on our side when men rose vp against vs viz. the Papists they had then swallowed vs vp quick when their wrath was kindled against vs c. Let vs againe remember how nere their purpose hath bin broght to passe ready euen to take effect as we haue spoken in the 1. verse yet their net is broken and wee are
deliuered This will make vs to hate and abandon all sinne which are the cause for the most part of al his punishments Lam. 3.39 this will make vs afraid to displease God by any one sin fearing lest he should iustly giue vs ouer vnto the wil of our aduersaries this will make vs to fly to him for help succor to depend vpon him to seek by all meanes to come into his loue and fauour Least his wrath be kindled and so wee perish from the right way in a word this will be a speciall meanes to quicken vs to the performance of all dutifull obedience vnto our good God who hath been so gracious and mercifull to vs thus to deliuer vs. Secondly we must call to minde often our perils by land by water by fire at home and abroade our danger in sickenesse and diseases how many wayes God could plague vs with strange and grieuous visitations as the stone and chollicke the frencie madnesse and manifold destructions frō all which the Lord hath graciously preserued vs. We must remember Gods mercy in preseruing of vs in our conception in our birth in our infancy youth middle age old age and how he hath continually prouided for vs all things necessary whereas hee might iustly for our sinnes haue sufferd vs to starue and and famish for want of foode infinite are Gods works in preseruing of vs which neuer ought to slip out of our mindes but to be treasured vp in faithfull memories acknowledging that God and none but he doth all things for vs and who therefore would abuse this bounty and goodnesse of God and not rather as the Apostle Paul sayth Be moued by these to forsake our sinnes and turne to God by true repentance Rom. 2.4.5 being led as it were by these to returne the more speedily vnto God Here first wee are to consider how great things God hath done for our soules how he hath kept vs from the spirituall famine in giuing vs his word to bee so plainely and plentifully taught how hee hath kept vs from the powre and snare of the diuell how hee hath pulled vs out of the dungeon of hell and hath deliuered vs from Sinne Death Hel and Condemnation how he hath made vs to know his Wil to vnderstand his Word how he hath inlightned our vnderstandings informed our Iudgements in Truth Psal 24.2 sanctifying our affections renewing our wils rectified our reasons pacified our troubled consciences asswaged the maledy of our minds how hee hath kept vs from the power and dominion of sinne of children of wrath he hath made vs heires of heauen he hath not onely giuen vs his Sonne to be our Sauiour but his spirit to assure vs and his Sacraments to seale the assurance of our saluation in our hearts he hath elected called iustified and sanctified vs and many gracious promises hath hee made from which he will neuer go back that vndoubtedly he will glorifie vs he gaue vs power ouer sin and Sathan in our conuersion he hath giuen vs strength from time to time to withstand the temptations of the world the flesh and the diuell so that wee may truely say What could the Lord haue done more for his Vineyard the Lord hath not dealt so with euery Nation neither had the Heathen such knowledge of his Lawes O that men would wisely consider these things it would make them leaue sinning moue them to exercise themselues meditating day and night to liue so and to please God O my people saith God What wrong haue I done vnto thee or wherein haue I wearied thee Micah 6.4 5 6 testifie against mee I haue deliuered thee redeemed thee and sent before thee Moses Aaron and Meriam i. Minister and Magistrate O my people remember now c. and this with Dauid this will make vs cry out and say Come and I will tell you what the Lord hath done for my soule Secondly we must remember the manner how God hath thus preserued vs both in body and soule and that hath beene extraordinarily for the most part on Gods part and vndeseruedly alwayes on our part extraordinary on Gods part as in those manifold treasons and treacheries beyond all expectation when there haue beene no way as we might thinke for vs to escape when they haue beene ready to put in execution their wicked deuises then hath God awaked as one out of sleepe to rescue and deliuer vs and that miraculously discouering their hidden treacheries as wee haue shewed before which the world knew not of Psal 107. O that men would therfore remember to praise the Lord for his goodnesse and declare his wondrous workes to the Children of men Againe all this is vndeserued on our parts for we haue deserued iustly to bee cast off from God for wee diserue nothing but damnation and when we haue done all wee can doe yet still wee are vnprofitable seruants Luke 17. and therefore with Dauid wee may iustly say not vnto vs Lord not vnto vs Psal 115.1 Rom. 5. but to thy name giue the praise for thy mercy and truths sake Yea when wee were enemies to GOD yet did he looke vpon vs all which as it aggrauateth our misery and Gods mercy so it should aggrauate our hatred to all sin and loue to God and goodnesse Thirdly wee must remember the end of our preseruation that is to leaue vs so much the more without excuse at the latter day if we remember not these things to make aright vse of them Secondly to make our punishment so much the greater hauing abused Gods mercy Thirdly that we may be moued by the sight and consideration of Gods great mercy to yeeld him all possible thanks and praise expressing the same by all dutifull obedience to his commandements Fourthly that wee may hereby see our owne inabilitie weakenesse and insufficiencie how soone wee might perish were not God our good God to helpe vs and do for vs. Fifthly to make vs depend vpon his fatherly prouidence in the vse of all meanes Lam. 3.38 for out of the mouth of the most high proceedeth both euill and good That is both prosperitie and aduersitie Sixthly to make vs humble suters to Almighty God for euery good we stand in need of If the Lord himselfe had not beene on our side they had then swallowed vs vp quick for it is only Hee who preserues vs and euery good and perfect gift comes from aboue Iam. 1.17 Seuenthly to attribute nothing to chance and fortune but all to Gods mercy in Christ Iesus Lastly to deny our selues with all that wee haue acknowledging that not for any merit in vs but only because God had a fauour vnto vs he hath shewed such wonderfull deliuerance vnto vs both in soule and body for had it not beene Gods endlesse mercy wee had long since beene swept away as the Prophet Esaiah hath it Esay 19 Except the Lord of of Hosts had left vs a small remnant we