Lord and that he only brought downe and subdued their enemies under them c. and yet they forget to acknowledge the Lords power and strength and to exâ—oll it and show it forth to all about c. such a people may justly expect other judgements then formerly they felt See Deut. 4.32 33 â—4 35 39 Againe he doth bring forth such strange plagues and such variety of c. that all the â—aâ—th may feare before him whose power is so mighty Eccles 3.14 that no creature is able to resist it For it is very usuall that when men after punishments be inflicted will not yet feare the glorious and fearefull Name Jehovah Deut. 28.58 59 ver 61. Lam. 1.12 See Ezek. 5. ver 5. to the end then the Lord will make the plagues of such people wonderfull even such as none before them ever felt and such as are not written in the Booke of the Law thus the Jewes were punished as the Lamenting Prophet complaines they felt that sorrow which none before them ever felt God punished them more severely then ever he did any before them their miseries were un-utterable and all this was because they feared not the Lord though formerly he had sent many judgements to call them to repentance such indignation he hath against those that no betteâ— take notice of his power to feare his great and excellent Name to humble themselves under his mighty hand and to tremble at his judgements when they are abroad in the world Now againe consider this and if you see any place or people who have heen corrected with heavy and sharpe afflictions and yet now that they are removed they feare not the Lord but goe as boldly on in their sins as formerly they did then may you conclude that he will againe be upon that people with more fearful and strange plagues then ever yet they felt And as he multiplieth plagues c. to cause men to fear before him so to beat downe the swelling pride of wicked Tyrants who vaunt and boast themselves of their strength and power against the Almighty Isa 37. ver 29. to 36. as did Senacharib with whom the Lord met after an unusuall manner and cut downe his pride at once to his shame if hee had not thus cut him short hee would have continued in his blasphemous opinion that the God of Israel could not deliver his people from his hand but I say to disappoint these proud boastings of his he brought downe his high lookes in a moment and sent him away without doing any harme to his people Morever he doth thus use variety of judgements and manner of workings to comfort his owne people who otherwayes because of many exigences they are brought into would not know which way to turne themselves to looke for safety for many times his Church and people are so beset about with enemies and cruell tyrants that there is not the least hope of deliverance left unto them to mans thinking but only that they trust in the Lord knowing that he is both able and knowes how to deliver them notwithstanding of all their foes In this distresse were the Israelites at the Red Sea which way to betake themselves they knew not to the sight of man there was no hope of safety for them Exod. 14.13 yet Moses who knew that God had more wayes then one to destroy their enemies and deliver them comforts them and bids them that they should not feare but that they should stand still and see the salvation of God For saith he The Lord shall fight for you Ver. 14. and you shall hold your peâ—ce And yet though he thus comforted them it is very likely that Moses himselfe at that instant knew not how the Lord would deliver them for while hee spake to them he cryed unto the Lord for deliverance Ver. 14. truâ—ting on his power for their safety and accordingly otherwayes then they expected God did shew forth his mighty poweâ— and destroyed their enemies with a judgement never before showne upon any people In such a case was Jehoshaphâ—â— when the children of Moah and Ammâ—n and others besides them raised an Army against him he was in such a condition that he had no might at all to withstand them all that he and his people could doe was to lift up their eyes to heaven weake strength to make resistance to such an army 2 Cro. 20.12 to any mans thinking knowing that the Lord was able and knew how to worke their deliverance though they knew not and so did God work for them and sent a Spirit of disâ—nity among their enemies whereby they destroyed one another 2 Chro. 20.23 24 25. and left no other service for them to perform then to gather the spoile so graciously working for their good by such meanes as they thought not of And not onely to comfort his people but to keep them in awfull reverence towards him for the dearest of Gods children would go neâ—r to forget him if he did not sometimes put them in minde of their duties by correcting them by sundry sorts of corrections Deut. 8.2 thus he dealt with the Israelites in the wildernesse they were afflicted with hunger and had no other bread but what the Lord gave them from Heaven Ver. 3. that they might know that man lived not by bread alone but by every word that proceeded out of the mouth of the Lord. Ver. 15. And hee led them through the by-pathes of the wildernesse into places where they knew not which way to take or whither to goe Ver. 16. and deprived them of water and affrighted them with fiery serpents c. and all this he did to humble them and to prove them and to keepe them in obedience to him who other wayes perhaps would have forgotten him and have attributed all to their own power and strength for this all men are prone to do and therefore doth he alwayes exercise them in afflictions that they may be ever more ready to under goe patiently what ever they shall endure and may in what state soever they bâ— learne to be content and that they may continâ—â—lly watch because they know not either in what houre or in what manner hee will send afflictions upon them Againe he uses variety of punishments that none may through any policy know which way to escape his hand man who is alwayes carefull to free himselfe from that whiâ—hiâ—e thinkes is troublesome See Gen 11.3 4 5 6 7 8 to this purpose invents many wayes and meanes to provide for his owne safety nature being alwayeâ— sâ—â—â—ions to preserve it self and therefore we see how to sedâ—â—â— themselves against the stratagems of War men have 〈◊〉 meanes whereby they remaine safe in the midst of â—angerâ— and sâ—â—e though the instruments of death surround them And likewise to â—ee themselves from infection by contagious diseases they have their cordiall preservatives pâ—esumes c. whâ—r by they
through Gods especiall favour towards us and the infaligable endeavours and unmatched valour of those against it that which so long had been an occasion of misery and mischiefe to the whole Countrey was surrendred and yeelded into the hands of our Commanders to be kept for the Countreys safety Since which time praised be God we have lived in comparison of our neighbours round about us in peace and tranquillity without the least feare of danger not being molested or troubled by unruly guests or affrighted by horrid Massachres nor disquieted in our houses by night or day not having our houses spoyled our corn destroyed our horses or cattle violently taken from us or molested with any other miseries that goe along with War but have all things so in peace as if it were generally proclaimed in our Kingdome And nor onely we enjoy this favour but now when in many places where the Sword hath played its part the plague of Pestilence followes consuming those the sword hath left wee still in these parts are freed from any contagious or infectious disease but enjoy freely our health wealth and liberty in a larger measure then any almost could expect in these troublesome times into which we are fallen All which favours we must acknowledge we receive from the Lord of his free mercy towards us and not for any amendment of life or humiliation that is seene in any of us more then our neighbours for truely I may speake it to our shame the corrections we have had have wrought very little humiliation in us for our formers * 2 Kings 13.3 4 5 6 7. Our câ—se is like theirs as they did so doe we wayes and now since his anger hath been removed we are turned againe to our old by as and have betaken our selves to our beds of security sleeping without feare in our sins putting the evill day far from us and resting our selves assured of peace by thinking no other miseries can come upon us any more quite forgetting to ascribe unto the Lord due thankfulnesse for his favours or to render unto him the praises due unto his Name Nay in stead of this we dare God even to his face again to punish us and even presume upon his favour dreaming of nor dreading any further evill that he hath to send against us I wish it were not thus with us but alas who is he though but halfe sighted in spiritual matters that sees not this and yet who is there that seeks a remedy Who would not be loath to feele the judgement of War againe upon us and yet who goes the right way to prevent it True it is indeed Isâ— 22.8 9 10.11 like the Jewes we prepare our weapons and build up our walls and uses all meanes that earnall policy can invent to save us but we never looke to doe what God commands hee calls for weeping and mourning baldnesse and girding with sackcloath But behold among us joy and gladnesse 12 13 killing oxen and slaying sheep c. Is this the way to enjoy peace Can we expect to have Gods favour shining upon us and doe thus Nay let us not deceive our selves this iniquity shall not be purged away till we dye if we thus hold on in our courses For what though no danger to our thinking is neere shall we therefore conclude that wee are free from danger as if God had no other judgements then those we have already felt or if he had not he is the same God he was and and therefore as able to bring them back again as he was at the first to bring them Oh Brethren let us take heed that wee perswade not our selves of peace and yet walke according to the imagination of our wicked hearts for then Gods wrath will flye out against us in a fearfull manner and the greater his favours have been towards us if we have not made good use of them the greater will his judgements be when they come And truely I say wee may justly feare that the Lord hath not yet done with us but that he hath a controversie still with us and one way or other will bring upon us some fearful jugdement Now therefore that security may not too far get into the hearts of men or other miseries or judgements come upon this Countrey before it have warning I have thought good to take a little paines to write and adventure to divulge this ensuing Treatise wherein you may see that the Lord hath more plagues then War to inflict upon rebellious and stubborne people and from that have laid downe many things which tend to stirre up men to repentance or to prepare against future Judgements To you deare Countrey-men I send it because first undertaken for your causes in hope that it may be to meanes to row seâ—up your dulnesse from that security which too much possesseth you It is not for any vain glorious end or to gaine applause in the world that I have writ it for there is no thing in it either for matter or manner that will relish with the worlds appetite But as I am assured in my selfe that I aâ—de at nothing more then Gods glory and you my Countrey-mens welfare so with more boldnesse doe I send it abroad as it is never doubting but that it will not onely finde friends but be kindly accepted of among honest-hearted and religious people for the censures or respects of Malignants wicked and godlesse men I regard not But if there shall be any who in stead of taking warning by this alarme sent abroad by me shall let loose their tongues against me to defame me with any manner of malicious idle or wicked speeches their words shall no further vex me then that they no more respect their owne safety in refusing warning because given by me for I have formerly taken notice of and yet doe see tempora et ingenia hominum ad invidiam proniora quam ad aequitatem and therefore have put on a resolution to undergoe what false imputations or slanders soever shall be raised of me without grieving or vexing my selfe for it But if this shall but work that for which I send it into the world it will rejoyce me exceedingly and cause me to thinke all my labour not onely well but happily bestowed and I shall be further incouraged to goe on in my Studies for the furtherance of my Countreys welfare Accept of it loving Countrey-men though not as a worke of eloquence and learning yet as a worke needfull as the case now stands with us and as a worke which in token of my good affection I dedicate unto you let it not I beseech you be in vaine unto you but as God hath hitherto graciously wrought for your deliverance from your enemies and hath been and is so favourable unto you that you enjoy such great tranquillity so likewise account it as a favour that now when security possesseth you he raises up still some to put you in minde of
4 5 6 7 8 9. yet the Lord threatned to set a plumbe line in the midst of them and then he would not passe by them any more so though there be some places which may escape this War I mean the miseries of it in the extreamest manner yet still let them feare for their sins retained a time will come when God will not passe by them any more What shall I say more let me beseech all in all places who as yet by Gods speciall favour towards them have not undergone these heavy burthens of sufferings which many of their brethren have suffered that they would consider the great kindnesse they thus long have enjoyed and endeavour to frame themselves to be unfainedly thankfull to the Lord for the same and strive to get themselves affected with a fellow-feeling of their brethrens calamities and miseries that with sorrow of heart they may grieve for them as their owne and with all manner of humble intercessions desire the Lord to remove his hand from these parts that are afflicted and still for his mercies sake divert and turne away the judgements that are on the Land from them that as hitherto they have so still they may enjoy his favour and if it shall please him to bring any other correction upon them that he would so stir them up to be prepared at all times that they may not murmur but take patiently all manner of afflictions and be made more ready to obey him calling upon them in what manner soever he speake unto them and withall while they enjoy this rest when their brethren are in troubles let them strive so to take warning by their sufferings that they doe what God calls for by afflictions the works of repentance and good works one towards another even so and as well as if they were afflicted this doing wil witnesse to themselves and the world that they are lowly and obedient children who tremble at the sight of the rod and therefore the Lord doth to them as in mercy he did to Iosiah for his tender-heartednesse even spare them that they may enjoy peace in their dayes the consideration of which may adde inward comfort to their outward tranquillity 2 Kiâ—g 22.18 19 20. and assure them that they are a peculiar people to the Lord. But on the contrary if this peace and immunity from punishments work in stead of repentance c. vaine security pride and an increase of evills and impieties they then may have cause to feare and all other may thinke without breach of charity that because they are suffered to have their swinge in pleasures and earthly contentments God hates them and that they are bastards and not sons Heb. 12.8 even men who are allotted to most fearfull punishments to their destruction I might goe on but so much shall suffice to have spoken concerning those who as yet have not suffered the miseries of this War Now to such as have by the strength of the Holds wherein they have remained been safe and free from those troubles which many of their brethren have undergone let this word of exhortation come and be acceptable beware of growing proud by your deliverance or to a cribe that to the instrument which is due to the Author think not because you were delivered that your strength preserved you but give glory to God and praise him for it was he that delivered you and likewise take heed you doe not againe provoke him to wrath for though you as yet have escaped though formerly your enemies durst not or could not meddle with you yet I say grow not secure for if he once send your foes against you though your holds seeme invincible Ezek. 28.8.9 yet will he deliver them and you both into your enemies hands if he but once say Sword goe against such a place it cannot be still untill it hath made it desolate therefore it is a dangerous thing to have God as an enemy to fight against a place for why he hath many wayes and meanes to bring down strong Fortifications yea the strongest that can be made Strong was the fort of Sion when it was held by the Jebusites against David they were so confident * Sam. 4.6 7 Willet ibid. Quest 6. takes that to be the meaning of the words of its strength that they thought the blinde the lame were sufficient to keep it against all Davids force for they thought David could not come thither yet notwithstanding of its strength it was delivered into Davids hands and the Lord tells the Inhabitants of Jerusalem which place while it was in prosperity all the Kings of the earth durst not looke at that though there should remain but wounded men of the Caldeans Army * Psal 48.5 6. Ier. 37.10 Isa 10.4 yet should they take it and burn it with fire so strong are weak armies sent and set a work by God against any place all the policy in the world cannot disappoint what God that is infinite in wisdome shall determine to be done upon a place for as many wayes as men have to build up so many and far more hath the Lord to pull downe Of mighty strength surely was populous No Nahum 3 8 9 that was scituate amongst the rivers that had the waters round about it whose Rampart was the sea and her walls was from the sea Ethiopia and Egypt was her strength and it was infinite c. Yet was she carried away Ver. 10. shee went into captivity her children were dashed in pieces at the tops of all the streets and they cast lots for her honourable men and all her great men were bound in chaines Now where among all those strong Holdâ— and Castles which hitherto have withstood the force of the enemy is there one stronger then populous No which you hear was thus destroyed why then should any place or people presume upon their strength or think they can feele no trouble because of it Alas you see there is no resistance where God will have his judgements to enter how strong soever your workes have been formerly if Gods wrath be against you they shall be but like Fig-trees with the first ripe figs Nahum 3.12 if they be shaken they shall even fall c. Observe the place even the strongest workes when the Lord shall shake them shall be but as ripe figs which the least touch causeth to fall downe moreover that none may put any confidence in men for their number or strength though Workes fall the Prophet tells them Ver. 13 14 15 c. That their people shall be as drunkenmen and as women and the gates shall be set wide open to their enemies and their bars shall be burned with fire Read the places in the Margent there you may see at large described how weak all strong holds are Obâ—d 3 4 5 6 c. Isa 26.5 6 27.10 to save men from the fierce anger of the Lord so that I say
them and a worse death more shamefull and ignominious hapned unto them then that from which they fled In a word there is no place free from dangers Ezek. 9.6 Vid. infrâ— or that can priviledge those whom God will have punished judgements oftentimes begin at the Lords Sanctuary and in those places where men think themselves safest they there meet with the most dangers so that by this likewise the point is more cleerely proved c. And as the inflicting punishments upon men in all places doth witnesse the Lords variety of punishments so doth his sending them upon all sorts of men the rich man is not spared for his wealth nor the poore man for his poverty nor the noble man for his honour nor the Magistrate for his authority c. but all sorts and all conditions if they offend are met with one way or other God can doe unto wicked men for their destruction as he did unto Job for his correction and you know what sundry meanes he had to make him poore though a very rich man and one whom men in the world might think almost a thing impossible to make poore he had the Sabebeans the Caldeans Job 1.15 16 17 18 19. a fire from Heaven and a great wind from the wildernesse to bring to passe what he had determined so that nothing could save Job from these judgements which though to him they were but fatherly corrections yet I say may shew us what severall sorts of puments he hath to meet with the richest man that is if hee walke otherwayes then he would have him Ahab's Army 1 King 22.30.31 nor his greatnesse nor his shifts could save him from that death which the Lord had threatned against him subtle indeed he was in that hee disguised himselfe and advised Jehoshaphat to goe like a King by that meanes in all likelihold he was like to escape seeing the Syrians were to sight with neither small nor great but onely with the King of Israel whom they might take as they did to be Jehoshaphat he being only in Kingly robes and yet for all this could not Ahab escape for an arrow sâ—â—t from a bow at a venture hiâ— him betwixt the joynts of his armour and slew him worthy is the story observation for it doth plainly set before our eyes how God to execure judgements upon offenders will use even strange and unknowne meanes to the admiration of the beholders and the setting forth his power and wisdome to all the world For thus wonderfully met he with the Tyrant Maximinus Euseb de vita Constantine Lib 1. cap. 51 who having lost the day in the Field threw from him his princely robe and thrust himselfe among the common Souldiers and after disguised himselfe in the habit of a servant and hid himselfe in Townes and villages But saith the story he could not hide himself from the watchfull eye of Divine providence for after hee thought himselfe in safety marke it he was strucke with a thunderbolt to the ground his body being so withered he could scarcely be knowne such strange judgements were sent upon Nabuchadnezzar Belshazzar Herod Pontius Pilate Dan. 4.31 32 5.30 Acts 12.23 Euseb Eccles Hist lib. 2. cap 7. Socrat. eccl Hist lib. 1 cap 38. Arius the Heriticke c. and many other which I could name who were punished with strange judgements which were not before heard of I could further inlarge this Chapter by other proofes and arguments to testifie the truth of the point in hand but I know it is needlesse and it may be will be accounted foolish by some that I have already or should heape up so many testimonies to prove an undenyable truth Therefore I conclude that God hath variety of judgements to punish obstinate and rebellious sinners withall CHAPTER II Shewing why and when the Lord uses variety of judgements c WHo can search into the unknown depths of the Lord for who ever hath been his counsellour Rom. 11.34 Deut. 29.29 yet those things that are revealed belong unto us and our children And as far as God hath been pleased to reveale himselfe so far may we lawfully search into to the comfort of the godly the terrour of the wicked and edification of all men in the way of truth And surely not in vaine hath the Loâ—d appointed such variety of judgements to take hold of and devoure those who walke stubbornly before him but hee sends abroad his unknowne plagues to the end to cause the glory of his power to shine the world over that every one may take notice of his unsearchable wisdome in providing judgements unavoydable for his enemies for this cause did hee send such strange and unheard of plagues among the Egyptians Exod. 10.2 that his power and mighty acts might be told to their posterity which should come after and that all the earth might know that he was the Lord and that none could do such wonders or produce such plagues as hee could doe for this through his many sorts of plagues he caus'd the Magicians to confesse when he tâ—â—â—ed their dust into lice which they could not doe but were forced to confesse that that was the finger of God Exod. 8.19 thus even against their wills acknowledging his power farre above the power of any creature and if that had not caus'd in them an acknowledgement of his power hee further would have made knowne his unspeakable strength to their terrour for the Lord alwayes punisheth those that will not worship him Euseb Eccles Hist lib. 4. cap. 13. more grievously then even wicked Tyrants can invent to punish those whom they hate as a Tyrant confessed for he will have it knowne that he is the Lord and that from the rising of the Sun and from the West there is none besides him Isa 45.5 6. that hee is the Lord and there is none else And therefore it is that hee doth many times many strange wonders and brings to passe without any meanes or at such times when as no other can be said to have any thing to do besides him even that all men may witnesse that he is God Isa 43.12 See Exod. 12.12 7.5 thus he threatned to bring many sorts of judgements against Gog as the Sword and the pestilence and Blond and overflowing Raine Hailestones Fire and Brimstone and why so Even to magnifie himself Ezek. 38.21.22 23. and sanctifie himselfe and that he might be knowne in the eyes f many Nations and that they might know that he is the Lord. So that you see how that one cause why God uses variety of judgements is that so his power and might may be knowne and confessed of all the world and therefore when God hath done many strange things for a people or nation when he hath wrought many strange deliverances Read Ezekiel Chap. 5. and note it well and exalted himselfe in their eyes and made it apparent before them that he is the
I know not but me thinkes the Churches affaires among us go very slowly forward one maine cause of our former miseries was the want and negligence of Pastours many places whose stipends were sufficient to have maintained able Ministers have through the covetousnesse of men formerly in authority beene deprived of all teaching which hath occasioned great inconveniencies And still this is no whit amended for those in authority can be content to looke over these things vvithout reforming them nay even to take the in-comes of such places and yet never looke to provide any to teach the people a fearfull neglect for I dare say untill people be better instructed vve shall finde our desires longer in performing then vve expect and if this be the vvay to instruct the ignorant it is a nevv one vvhich none of the faithfull ever knevv of and I beleeve good Nehemiah vvould have scorn'd to have done it for his chiefest care vvas to provide teachers for the people Neh. 13.10 11. and maintenance for them and for that contended vvith the Rulers and vvhy should not the like be done by us vvho pretend Reformation Besides the sloathfulnesse of Pastours vvould be looked too that they be not idle and negligent as formerly they vvere this vvas Josiahs care 2 Chron. 35. to stirre up the Priests and Levitee to the worke and this ought to be the care of men in authority but as yet it hath been carelesly neglected vvhich makes so many Ministers as yet continue in their former sloathfulnesse So likevvise hovv many prophane or ill-affected Ministers are removed have vve not still drunkards câ—rders swearers and all manner of levvd livers and scandalous persons in the Ministry though they vvallovv in impiety and by their lives and conversations might shame even honest Heathen men though by them the people can learne nothing except all manner of sinne and vvickednesse though their doings are so evill that they vvere more fit to be cast out from hearing then be set in the place of Teachers yet even such as these are still in the Ministry uncast out nay unreproved Againe those that have had a great stroake in raising these Tumults vvho have beene great sticklers in unholding the Popish Army vvho have adventered estates and lives vvith the adverse party I meane Malignants and Papists against the Gospell of Jesus Christ and those vvho have stood for it these are not onely admitted to have their liberty among us but to enter our Pulpits againe to sovv sedition among the people vvithout restraint or rebuke And as in restraining of these so in neglect of Church Discipline and the keyes for the correction of manners we are as greatly to blame every mans will is his law which makes our Assemblies full of disorders and scandalizeth our profession not a little and truely now when we have this opportunity nay and have bound our selves in a Covenant to doe it and still neglect it I know not what to thinke but truly we may justly feare that such doings will bring upon us other miseries besides these which we have already undergone for how can we but thinke that now when according to our desires the Lord hath granted us opportunity to reforme what is amisse or displeasant to him and yet we doe it not that againe he will send upon us such woefull times that if we would we cannot I wish it may not be so but I assure you we may have cause to feare it * To this adde our breach of our Covenant which we have so solemnly taken almost I thinke I may say altogether in every point the fearefulnes of which may appear by these and the like places Isa 24.1 to the 13. 33 8 9. See the Addition to the faithfull Scout Moreover with these sins already named we may put in our prophanation of the Lords-Day as a sin which unrepented of will bring other of Gods judgements upon us it is the opinion of many good men in this Kingdome that the prophanation of that Day hath beene one of the chiefest causes of our miseries and indeed to prevent this I see our Nehemiahs hath taken care * In the Directory for publike Worship Neh. 13.17.18 Si unquam futurum sit ut haec Domini nostri in externo ministerio suo praesentia auferatur id accidat propier mundi istam ingratituaâ—uem Rol in Joh. p. 579 Isa 30.9 10 11 12 13 14. but that as yet hath taken small effect among us for we as much prophane it as ever even in times of greatest liberty by drinking playing revelling riding talking of earthly affaires and doing our owne pleasures upon it c. To these parts I le say no more then Nehemiah did to the inhabitants of Jerusalem What evill thing is this that you doe and prophane the Sabbath day did not you fathers thus and our God brought all this evill upon us and upon this part of the Countrey yet ye will bring more wrath upon us by prophaning the Sabbath And as the prophaning the Sabbath so the contemning of the Word preached will help to bring forward more wrath upon us we do not secretly whisper but even openly speake against the Ministers of the Gospell despising them that are sent of the Lord and the Word preached by them carelesly refusing to heare it as if it nought concerned us hence come our seldome Lectures dayes of humiliation or Thankesgivings our sloathfulnesse at Sermons and desires to have them over c. these do testifie we contemn Gods Word and our security and loathing to heare of any thing against our pleasures proclaime that we desire not the knowledge of the Lord or any thing that may bee good for us but rather that our teachers should sooth us up in our vilde courses and speake unto us smooth things and prophecie unto us deceits c. like those stubborne and rebellious Jewes whom Isaiah speakes of against whom for that sin very fearefull judgements are threatned and without doubt this now will provoke the Lord against us for there is scarcely any sin which doth so much displease him as to have his Word and Messengers despised as I could show by many examples of his wrath executed upon divers places for this sin but I have writ of this at large in another Treatise * Called Brittaines Hicrophanta Part. 4. Chap. 21. which I purpose God assisting me to send abroad when I have a fitting time to it therefore I refer you Neither are we free from Pride which alwayes cryes loud for vengeanee for pride alwayes goes not long before destruction and the efoâ—e what wee may expect let any judge Pro. 16.18 who still carry our selves as haughtily as ever especially in those places who as yet have not felt the rage of the enemy men and women of all sorts doe there behave themselves so prou lly towards their neighbours Isa 3.16 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 as if it were pleasant
to the Lord to behold their actions the women of Jerusalem were never more haughty then ours are still compare their ornaments with the fashion of our Countrey and see if we doe not surpasse them in all manner of bravery fearfull were the judgements that the Lord threatned against them and let us not be high-minded but feare for he that is alwayes the same hath the like or worse still in store for us Againe the consideration of which may make us to tremble we are not as yet convinced for our oathes and vaine idle and wicked swearing and blaspheming and taking the Lords Name in vaine walke the streetes and without listening you may heare most horrid oathes and curses on every side and do we thinke the Lords Word is in vaine who saith He will not hold those guiltlesse that take his name in vaine And who knowes but for swearing formerly our Land was caus'd to mourne Ieâ— 23.10 and if still we continue in the same sâ—n we must needs looke for the same or the like punishment but many thinke they take not Gods name in vaine when they sweare by their faith troth by light or by bread c. but let not such deceive themselves for the◠〈…〉 God 's name in vaine and fearfully too as our Saviour tells us Mat. 5.34 35. Iam. 5.12 See Mr. Boltons Treatise call'd the Saents solfe-inriching examination Pag. 245 Ier. 5.7 Deus ostendit se quadem necessitate constringi ut tam severas poenas exigat de Iudeis c. Cal. praelect in Ier for they should not sweare at all neither by heaven nor by earth nor by Jerusalem nor by their heads c. for all these oathes are displeasant to God yea and to sweare by false gods or idolatrous things as the Masse c. is more abominable and displeasant to him and a sin which he will hardly pardon without inflicting punishments upon the offenders How shall saith the Lord I pardon thee for this thy children hath forsaken me and sworne by them that are no Gods as if he should have said There is a necessity laid upon me to punish you for should I not I should suffer my glory to be exposed to be a laughing stock to all men c. and therefore while thus we sin we may fear every moment some plague or other to be sent upon us To conclude in few words because it were too much to name all these sins that as yet are practised among us if we make but a slender search we may finde us in these parts guilty of so many crying abominations and so little true humiliation wrought in any among us that if the Lord hath variety of judgements to send among wicked and ungodly men we may conclude and thinke with our selves that he hath them in store for us for we are as yet of that number and cannot say we are free from those sinnes for which the Lord doth alwayes send sharpe and fearfull plagues CHAP. IIII. We cannot expect any Peace or Tranquillity or to be free from Gods judgements or plagues as long as we continue in our sinnes Objections answered many fearefull plagues discovered YOu have heard in what a slate and condition we are how that as yet it cannot be said that by the former corrections we have had we have any thing at all amended our wayes or humbled our selves before the Lord and that therefore we may thinke of our selves no better then to be in the number of wicked men for whom the Lord hath variety of judgements in store and not without cause may we thinke so seeing it is in vaine for wicked men to expect peace because the Spirit of God hath proclaimed openly that there is no peace to the wicked true it is it is the nature of wicked men to perswade themselves of peace though they walke according to the imaginations of their wicked wayes but that arises out of a false and ungrounded conceit that God will spare them because of some gracious promises which he hath made unto his people which presumptuously and falsly they apply unto themselves but the Lord observing this hypocrisie to be in men Deut. 29.19 denounces very fearfull judgements against them for it and saith That if there shall he such a man Ver. 20. that shall blesse himselfe in his iniquity and thinke he shall have peace though he walke c. He will not spare such a man but his anger and jealousie shall smoake against him and all the curses that are written in the bocke of the Law shall come against him and lie on him and his name shall be blotted out from under heaven Observe the place I beseech you for it concernâ— all men that are buried in security as I feare too many in these parts are who blesse themselves oftner in their iniquity then they doe God for his benefits and puts farre from them the evill day as if for ever they should enjoy peace never looking into their owne wayes or perceiving that sin hath been is and will be the cause of their disquietnesse and misery nay they so behave themselves as if God were bound to continue this peace unto them or how ever as if there could be no warre or further trouble and because there is no appearance of danger therefore they feed themselves with foolish hopes of perpetuall tranquillity as if all judgements threatned against sinners were but in jest or as if men might goe on in their folly without controlment and in their sins without punishment But I would have such to consider what they doe and be not too presumptuous or secure for in a day when perhaps they little dreame of it will Gods judgements thunder about their eares to their terrour for sin cannot escape unpunished by one judgement or another Iob. 37.12 if men will not obey the Lord They shall perish by the sword and dye without knowledge saith Elibu but I know our people are fearelesse because as they suppose all danger is past nay but that will not serve to deliver them for so long as they sin so long may they expect punishments Isa 1.20 If they refuse and rebell they shall be devoured by the sword for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it saith the Prophet Ezek. 38.22 Psal 91.5 â— Ier. 14.18 But what though the feare of the sword should be gone yet be hath pestilence to plead against men withall which walketh in darknesse and is an arrow that hilleth at nome-day Nay and if they shall escape both sword and pestilence yet he hath famine that killeth many thousands where it enters and if they by any meanes escape all these he hath still in store feare pit and share if they seeke to fly from the feare Ier. 48.43 44 they shall fall into the pit and if they get out of the pit they shall be taken in the snare while they thinke to escape one judgement they run into * Incidit
Rom. 2.11 For God is no respecter of persons I Objection but will some say shall the Papists flourish againe among us Nay surely that they shall never doe for God hath threatned a finall overthrow to them which is in part executed against them in this part and if they doe not againe make head against us no other can harme us This Objection is a branch of the former Answer but we will answer it particularly at large because I finde in discoursing with men many too much addicted to thinke that as long as we can keep the Papists in subjection there is no feare nor danger of further misery as if God could or would punish us by none but them they I know hitherto have been the onely instruments of our miseries and indeed if they should continue among us in any power they would be so still but yet to thinke that God cannot or will not punish us by any other meanes then by them were presumption intollerable and yet why may not the Lord give them power over us againe because of our abominable sins and cause them againe to triumph this he may doe and yet have decreed their fall neverthelesse and I wish we doe not so far provoke him as cause him to do it the Lord had determined the fall of the Canaanites and yet gave them victory over his people more then once Though the Benjamites were to be destroyed by Gods owne command yet two dayes together they prospered in battle and slew the Israelites Judg. 20. and so it may be with us if we offend our God But though he should bring them downe every day more and more and suffer them no more to insult yet can he bring judgements upon us by other meanes he may let us pray he doe not cause disunity to arise among our selves which may breede us much misery he may bring in enemies by Sea upon us where a more fitting place in all the Kingdome considering our security nakednesse of weapons and unpreparednesse and withall the many open secret and unknowne enemies and disaffected ones and hollow-hearted luke-warme and men not earing which way things goe that are among us nay in authority and place ready to take part with any be they French Spanish Turks or Divels incarnate or what they will so they but oppose the Parliament they would be for them and these I say may work our ruine before ever we dream of them make our part o' th Countrey the seat of a more fearfull bloudy and destroying Warre then ever as yet either we or the Kingdome in any part have felt God in his mercy divert such judgements from us But if none of these punishments by War come upon us let us but call to mind the point we have in hand viz. That God hath variety of judgements c. and then continuing in our sins we can have but small hope to escape without punishment and the consideration of that may likewise answer that other objection namely that the maturity of our enemies sins as blasphemies c. may assure us of their destruction and so of our peace for we must know the Lord can both destroy them and us if we be wicked yea though them by us yet may we be destroyed by other meanes for in that we are made instruments to bring them to ruine it is no ground or signe that we shall not be destroyed Isa 10.12 See that place in the Margent But againe many say The Lord is a mercifull God and will not deale with us after our deserts Objection though we by our sins have and doe still provoke his incomprehenble Majesty and so deserve no other favours then continuall miseries yet for his Names sake and Covenants sake c. he will spare us and suffer us still to enjoy peace and quietnesse Answer Passim caelebratur paterna ejus bonitas voluntas ad benesicientiam proclivis sed exempla traduntur severitatis quae justum scelerum ullo rem esse ostenâ—â—nt praesertim ubi tolerantia-sua contra obstinatos nihil proficit Cal. Inst lib. 1. cap. 10 Sect. 1. Isa 48.11 That God is a mercifull God this Kingdoms experience may at large testifie and that he spares and will spare men deserving wrath for his owne sake the Scripture doth * witnesse as likewise that he is a just God a true God a God that will not suffer the least sinne to goe unpunished especially when men continue in sin and yet expect favour such men will suddenly cause the Lords patience to be out of date for he cannot endure that they should commit ill and expect that hee should patronage them for their ill by such meanes he is inforced to strike when he would not otherwayes he would be accounted as one of * them or such a one as they are ever Psal 50.21 co-partners with them in sin I could wish he had not the like cause to strike in this Countrey but I feare we by our sins have so far stir'd up his wrath that there is almost no remedy but that his ever-loving mercy must give place to justice in that the time of mercy hath not wrought those effects that he expects for it is alwayes expected that patience and long-sufferance should lead men to repentance which seeing we have altogether in a maner neglected not onely so but by his long-forbearance are lull'd asleep in security and in a strange manner because God hath formerly beene mercifull unto us perswade our selves that therefore he can or will be no otherwayes thus heaping up more sinnes in and by the same meanes which should draw us to repentance these our doings therefore I say duely marked may rather cause us feare that there is wrath laid up for us and that it shall suddenly be revealed against us then that the Lord will any longer continue his mercy and loving kindnesse unto us to spare us by diverting those plagues from us that he hath not only in store but in part executed upon many of our brethren who though their offences to mans sight seemed lesse then ours have already suffered more then we have done and therefore while we now see wrath against them notwithstanding of their former sufferings let us never flatter our selves with hope of immunity seeing we are in as great if not greater fault I le say no more but that I would have every one to know that God is mercifull but yet let them know that it is to such as hate or at least have a desire to hate and leave off sinning which when I see but in some reasonable manner practis'd among us I will then hope to see the Lords mercy not onely continued but encreased to us in the meane while I will trust in Gods mercy and hope the best but I will prepare and advise all I can to prepare to be ready at all times to undergoe what ever it shall please God to inflict upon
silver and his gold and his wives Ver. 4. and his children c. were his and Ahab sent him word they were so upon which he grew so shamefull audacious Ver. 5. and out of measure proud that he sent another messenger to tell him That he would not onely have his silver and his gold c. but he would send his servants to take what they liked from him Ver. 6. and from whom they would but what followed this braving domineering covetousnesse of his presently hee was brought low and was forced to crouch for his life to him whom formerly he had so scornefully used The like became of Nahash the Ammonite who in a proud manner 1 Sam 11.2 11. 2 Sam. 13.17 18 19. c. domineered over the men of Jabesh-Gilead and of the Philistims for their spoyling Israel in such a boasting and lordly manner And in the height of their bravery that Army which falsly beares the name of the Kings and those of that party were thus domineeringly proud and covetous over and of the estates and persons of those whom they had in their powers Who knowes not that in the time of the Siege of Kingston upon Hull we in those parts were for that in Ahabs condition and they as proud and covetous and Benhadab all we had was theirs what they would command we were forced to grant and not onely so but they came into our houses and tooke what they liked without leave but shortly their pride being at the height they were cast downe to their shame and confusion These examples are for our learning and happy are they that can take warning by other mens harmes let us therefore take heed we doe not after this manner least we feele as they have felt in some sort or other but if else such doings in a manner be found among us let us feare I have said Eighthly the pride security and sinfulnesse of our Armies they are not to be excus'd their faults are great and worse they are made by casting out honest civill and religious men and entertaining deceitfull deboyst and prophane persons they are full of Achans of drunkards of what not the scarcest of good men We heare daily their boasting of strength of victories obtained without thankfulnesse to God who gave them they are full of pride and vaine security and therefore what followed Benadabs security the like we may feare 1 Kin. 20.16 Judg. 5.30 remember Sisera who was deviding the spoyle before he got the victory if there be such in our Armies as I fear one by a slender search might finde many it prognosticates no good Other symptomes there are which might be named which betoken wrath in some sort against us because in other places where they have appeared some judgements have speedily followed but these already named at this time shall suffice and let them be noted so that we either by repentance take them away that they be not found among us or else by preparation and patience we provide to undergoe what ever they may foreshew or follow after them what that may be I say I know not nor how soon or how long it may be I know not that time that may seem long to us is but short to God and therefore perhaps when we little thinke of any harme approaching then will such bee upon us as wee cannot escape But if God doth spare us and still suffer us to enjoy peace and prosperity notwithstanding that these forenamed signes doe show or seeme to show to the contrary let us not for that grow proud but with Niniveh set us repent at the hearing or seeing the signes of wrath If we doe not Quum Deus nonstatim no punit ut meriti sumus hae illius benigniiate tolerantia ac lenitate moveri debemus ut mature absque ulteriori mora recipiscamus ne benignitatem Dei contemnentes peceata sicute accumulantes accumelamus quoque nobis justam Dei iram poenam gravissimam Deus enim tarditatem supplicei gravitate compensat Piscator in Rom. 2. though for a while God may stay before he punish yet assuredly he will recompence his long stay with more grievous punishments CHAP. VI. The folly of those who thinke to escape Gods judgements by departing for the present to any other place or that thinke they shall not at all suffer because they have escaped some dangers THat the Lord hath not onely some judgements in store but that it is near approaching the signes forementioned may cause us to feare yet perhaps many will flatter themselves either by some hope they may have of some unexpected safety or strange deliverance or at worst escaping from dangers by flying into some places of refuge where nothing can harme them c. Now therefore it remaines we speake somewhat to beat men off from having any confidence in such an uncertaine and weake foundation for if they prepare no better to prevent or escape his judgements if they onely think to fly from them and not from sin that brings them they may hope but yet have small cause to expect safety Mr. Bolton in his Treâ—tise of the Saints-soule exalting humâ—â—iation Pag. 164. for as Gods wrath is against nothing but sin it being as one observes the only object of Gods extreamest hatred so it is not any place that can free men from that hatred if they continue in their sins how strong or how free from danger soever it may be thought for no Fortification can keepe out Gods wrath his devouring Angel strikes in any place no place is priviledged there is no hiding place for him all the corners of the earth are open before him nay even hell is naked before him Iob 26.6 and destruction hath no covering which made the Psalmist to cry out Whither shall I fly from the presence of the Lord Psal 139.7 8 9 10 11 12. if I ascond up into heaven thou art there if I make my bed in hell behold thou art there if I take the wings of the morning and fly unto the uttermost parts of the earth even there shall thy hand lead me and thy right hand finde me out If I say behold darknesse shall cover me even the night shall be light about me c. And shall we thinke that that God who thus as the Psalmist confesseth could in every corner finde him out is not the same that formerly he was nay Heb. 13.8 let us not deceive our selves he that is I AM the same yersterday to day and for ever doth behold men now Praecipue considerare oportet quorsum vide at Deus nempe ut tandem vocet ad judicium quaeâ—unque geruatur ab hominibus Cal. Jer cap. 23. Ver. 24. as well as formerly and that not with a bare idle speculation but with noting narrowly their wayes to punish or reward as he sees cause foolishly therefore doe they thinke to escape Gods judgements by departing from
and scorned by the Lord our God And the rather we ought to doe so because we are so continually warned there is not one day wherein we hear not of some affliction oâ— misery which in one place or other our brethren doe suffer all which are as so many exhortations to stir us up to duty of preparation shall God give us so many warnings and shall we still be carelesse shall he let us see so many objects of his fierce wrath and shall we not feare shall the lion roare â—ound about us and yet we not tremble shall he let us see how hardly afflictions goe with other places for want of due preparation and shall not we prepare let us beware of this otherwayes our miseries shall be greater and so harder to bee borne then ever hitherto by any have beene suffered For alwayes it is ordinary not to pity those who might have prevented by their owne industry what through their negligence comes upon them so for us who have time to fly unto the Lord before the flouds of great water encompasse us if we do not in the time of affliction what pity can we expect therefore that our neighbours round about us may not have cause to laugh at our folly let us prepare to meet our God either by repentance to prevent or else by patience to endure what it shall please him to inflict upon us this will not onely be usefull and great comfort to our selves but pleasant to God and exemplary to our neighbours to stir them up to doe the like and likewise of great joy to the people of God and our brethren who will rejoyce to see us with patience undergoe the Lords afflictions thus rejoyced the Apostle Paul that the Hebrewes could with such patience under goe the spoyling of their goods Heb. 10.34 c and this would be of excceding great comfort to all those whose eyes are now upon us to see how vve vvould behave our selves in afflictions and let us the rather remember to doe this because there is no hope of escaping when once the flouds of afflictions doe encompasse us God will not be entreated to spare us after the time of mercy be once over and we shall finde patience if not formerly sought for hard to obtaine in the midst of misery let this therefore stir us up to prepare if nothing else will that we may with Eli say It is the Lord let him due what seemeth him good and vvith patient Job though the Lord kill us yet will we trust in him that come vvhat vvill nothing may be able to separate us from God but that vve may cleave close to him in the midst of affliction and make a sanctified uâ—e of all his corrections to our comfort in this and the world to come CHAP. IX How to prepare against particular affliction as Warre Pestilence c. to undeâ—gâ—e them patiently WHat afflictions the Lord may lay upon us we know not no how soone we know not therefore as I have before said it stands us in hand to prepare our selves for all conditions and because perhaps some would and cannot others can and will not to instruct the one and leave the other without excuse I will breifly lay down how and after what manner men may prepare themselves for all estates and conditions whatever And first to undergo patiently the burthen and misery of warre which for ought we know the Lord may againe bring upon us It is necessary that we repent us of and forsake all our sins which formely have Insium et tenaâ—em propositi virum non civium ardor prava jubentium nâ—n vultus instantis tyranai mâ—â—â—e quatit sâ—lidâ—â— c. Hâ—râ— lib. 3. Od. 3. or againe may provoke the Lords wrath against us and alwayes remember that this must be a principall generall rule in preparing against all other afflictions that so though our enemies should rise in a tumult against us yet they may not be aided against us by the Lord as set a worke by him to punish and destroy us but onely fatherly to chastice us and we being reconciled unto God through Christ haveing that inward peace of conscience may by such corrections be rather made better then worse for an outward war is never grievous to a man that hath inward peace as long as men are reconciled to God and at peace with him an earthly enemy may hardly entreat them but cannot utterly dismay them for they fear not them that can but onely kill the body but him that can cast both soule and body into hell So I say if we doe but truely repent what afflictions soever come they will not be as punishments to take * Psa 1 19.12 vengeance on us for sin but as fatherly chastisements to warn us from sin which will not seem intolerable and hard but light and easie to be borne and instead of making us murmure against God we shall say with holy * There is in afflictions vindicta divina castigatio paterua Vindicta divina est poena qua Deus ulciscetur peccata improborum eos destruet Castigatio paterna est poena qun Deus electos proprer peccata corripit ut cos ad resipiscentiam excitat corrigat cautiores tardioresque ad peccandum in postâ—rum reddat utquesiceos â—rudiat ne cum hoc mundo condemnentur Afflictions to the godly are not timoriai but paideiai not Revengements but Inftructions Polan Sintag lib. 6. cap. 4. pag. 340. col 2. Calvin Instit lib. 3. cap. 4. Sect. 31 32.33 34. Where you may reade of this at large David It is good for us that we have been afflicted when on the contrary the judgement of Warre comming upon men in their sins and so at enmity with God will be a heavy judgment and so will cause them to fret and repine and murmure against God to the further hardning of their hearts to their destruction for they are so farre from being amended by afflictions or taking any profit by them that rather by such beginnings they are prepared for hell which at length abideth for them saith Master * Instit lib. 3. cap. 4. sect 32. Calvin Secondly if men will be prepared against War c. let them get themselves disingaged from earthly pleasures profits c. for while their hearts are set upon such things they never can without a great deale of grief and inward trouble think of the comming of such times wherein they must loose them all a man with patience will never undergoe any hardship as long as he hath any way to free himselfe from it nor can one ever thinke of affliction as long as he hath all delights about him and to such as have placed their delights in temporall transitory things will the besome of destruction which sweeps all away seeme trouble some Isa 14.23 how hard would it goe with a man whose delight is in wealth and worldly riches to have them before
and in great distresse along time before he enjoyed it and after he had possessed it was banished for a while by his owne Son and brought into great straits And so when captivity was threatned to Hezechiah he was so patient that he said no more Isa 39.8 but good is the Word of the Lord for he knew there was no resisting the Lord and did not his owne people I mean the Israelites suffer captivity threescore and ten yeares in Babylon what shall I more say have there not been many of the deare children of God of whom the world was not worthy that have â—andred in deserts and in mountaines and in dens and in caves of the earth having no constant habitation Heb. 11.38 1 Cor. 4.11 but tossed from place to place from one Kingdome to another why therefore should we be affraid to suffer in this kind but rather let their examples stir us up patiently to heare of and abide what ever in this case shall be inflicted Lastly to comfort us let us assuredly know that though we be tossed from place to place and be deprived of those things which now we enjoy and strangers possesse what we have laboured for so that we have not where to lay our heads Rom. 8.17 c. yet let this comfort us if we doe truly beleeve in Christ that we are heires apparant to a kingdome that far suspasseth all the kingdomes in the world Psal 145.13 for it is an everlasting kingdome a kingdom that hath no end which cannot be taken from us by any Heb. 11.9 10 14 15 16. This is that kingdom which the fathers sought for which they endured so many afflictions even with joy because they knew that this momentary affliction which they suffered Rom. 8.19 was not worthy to be compared with the glory which they should receive in that kingdome The consideration of this Phil. 3.8 caus'd the Apostle to count all earthly things as dung in comparison of it and even willingly to suffer the losse of all things to obtaine it and no marvell seeing to have it is to have an assurance of all things that are good as our Saviour himselfe testifies Mat. 6.33 What neede we then take such care though we be destitute of dwelling seeing God himselfe is our dwelling place our rocke of defence and place of hiding Psal 90.1 though our cities be destroyed we have a city above of which we are Citizens though other get our treasure and wealth we have treasure in heaven which iâ— safe being without the reach of all our earthly enemies the consideration of which I say ought to make us patiently endure the losse of all things seeing we have an assured title to heavenly things which are better and more enduring substances Againe if God shall give us over to be oppressed by tyrants many or few domesticke or forraigne whether they tyrannize over us in our estate persons or consciences whether by heavy and grievous taxations or by bondage and slavery or by forbidding or hindring us in the practice of religious and holy duties the meanes to be used to prepare to suffer such afflictions patiently are First to reflect upon our selves and lay the blame on our owne sins which have provoked God thus to punish us by * See Judg. 2.13 14. 3.12 4.1 Isa 10.5 6. Neh. 9.26 27. oppressours our owne actions are alwayes the causes of our miseries why should we then murmur at that which our selves procure but rather patiently endure it and confesse we are punished lesse Ezra 9.13 then our iniquities deserve untill we doe thus we can never patiently suffer afflictions but there will be in us a fretting and a murmuring while we suffer when we are chastised We shall be like a bullocke unaccustomed to the yoake as Ephraim was Ier. 31.18 19. untill he beheld and considered the cause and end of his sufferings and then he was instructed and smote upon his thigh So if we but duly consider what we have done and how we have provoked God we shall be willing to suffer what ever he shall send upon us because we have deserved farre more then we endure Magna solet jucunditas esse quae manat ex optima conscientia Secondly if we be oppressed it will mightily strengthen our patience under oppression if we have so carried our selves towards all men of what degree or place what ever that we have given no just occasion of offence to any or cause to them to deale so rigorously with us a good conscience is an excellent companion in affliction such a conscience as is void of offence Acts 24.16 aproscopon suneidesin 1 Pet. 2.20 Mat. 5.11 that can testifie that wee have done harme to no man or wronged any man if we have such a testimony within our selves we shall even rejoyce with exceeding great joy that we should be accounted worthy to suffer after that manner This was Davids comfort when he was oppressed by Saul and wicked and bloudy men Neque iniquitas mea fuit in causa neque peccatum meum quare me persequeretur Raâ—er Snoyg paraphras in Psal 59.3 Rom. 13.7 that what they did it was without cause though they laid wait for his soule and gathered themselves against him yet his conscience told him that it was not for his transgression or his sin it was not for any fault that he had committed against them c. even so let us endeavour to give no offence either to one or other in any thing but render to every one what is their dâ—le Tribute to whom Tribute is due custome to whom custome feare to whom fear honour to whom honour and then if we be still oppressed it will be without cause and then as I said we shall be comforted which will encrease our patience to endure oppressions Againe See these places Iudg. 2.15 3.12 4.3 6.1.2 3 4 5 6. Ver 11. thirdly in this likewise let us consider that we are not alone how oft were the Israelites given into the hands of cruell oppressours even many yeares * Iudg. 13.1 1 Sam. 13.19 together and sometimes were in such bondage and feare that they were forced to hide themselves in holes of rocks and caves c. and forced to hide what they had in any place where they could to save it yea in such servitude that they had not a Smith among them And so likewise by taxations they were so oppressed that sometimes they were forced to take the hallowed things of the Temple 2 Kin. 12.18 17.3 Socrat. Eccles Hist lib. 3. cap. 12. and pay them to their oppressours to the end to pacifie them thus were the Christians in the time of Julian the Apostate taxed exceedingly this hath beene a common oppression among wicked men and if we be with others in such a condition let us endeavour to beare it patiently as others have done Or if we be