so sensibly touched with their present distresse and yet himselfe doth not recite any of those sinnes of theirs particularly belike for that he spake but of such as in those dayes were common among them and well inough knowen and such as the Prophets of that age had already sufficiently laide to their charge that we therefore may better be able to apply this instruction to óur use we are not onely to consider of those thinges that we haue in this our Prophet concerning that calamitie of theirs but also to enter into some farther knowledge of those sinnes of the people that wee may finde them to bee at that time infected withall Of their present calamitie whereof he would not haue them carelesse That which we haue in this our Prophet concerning that calamitie of theirs doth leade us no farther but onely to consider what it is whereunto he laboureth to bring them and then how earnestly he laboureth the same That whereunto he laboureth to bring them is that they would in no wise be careles concerning that hande of God uppon them but that they would stir up themselues unto so sensible a feeling thereof as that thereby they might growe to repentance and turne to the Lord. As touching which it shall be good more specially to consider how it may appear that the Prophet had that purpose wih him and then what it may seeme to be that did mooue him unto it That the Prophet had that purpose with him it is most euideÌ„t throughout the whole f 〈◊〉 2 â—â— first part of this his prophecie and almost in every member of whatsoeuer sentence or verse therein is contayned A thinge so euident euen at the first sight in the text it selfe that wee shall not neede to bestow any further labour about it That which may seeme to haue mooued him unto it I take to be partly that great security As by nature we al are that in all such cases by corruption of nature doth hang upon all and partly the carelesnesse that in this case of theirs hee founde in them at that present The security that in such cases by common corruption of nature doth hang upon all is so passing great and so many waies sheweth it selfe that it cannot be unknowne unto us Whereupon Salomon truely saith g Pro. 27 22 that the follie of the foolish is such as that although he were so beaten that hee might seeme to be brayed in a morter or beaten in peeces yet would his folly still remaine and he neuer grow to vnderstanding there by A speciall example of Dauid And Dauid his father a rare man for faith and godlinesse and many good graces that are of God yet notwithstanding in this point was farre ouerseene For h 2. Sam. 21 1 14. when on a time the Lord had sent a speciall famine upon that Land it had laine three yeeres thereon before that wee reade that euer he was so sensibly touched therewith as that he sought to the Lord about it But at length he sought him and thereby finding at the mouth of the Lord that it was for Saule and for his bloody house because he slew the Gibeonites although he could not be ignorant but that this would be ill interpreted of diuers especially of those that were towards the house of Saule as though it were no more in him but a worldly pollicie by such a deuice to take away those that remained of Sauls family to establish the Crown so much the better to him selfe for the time and after him to his line likewise yet finding the same to proceed of God the execution in it selfe to be iust he caused it to be done accordingly And they in this case of theirs vvere so found the Lord to be appeased towards theÌ„ againe The other cause that might seeme to mooue this Prophet to call upon theÌ„ for this matter was as I said the carelesnes of them that in this case of theirs hee found in them at that praesent For seeing that the other Prophets that doe apappertain to this compasse of time as afterwarde wee are more fully to see did plainely lay their sinnes before them in particular and denounced many grieuous iudgements of God against them if they would not repent but still goe on in their wonted wayes and this Prophet of ours entereth not into any recitall of their sinnes as the others doe nor of the iudgements that others denounce hence is it that it may probably seeme that God stirred up this óur Prophet but onely to this ende especially I meane for the matter that now we are in that whereas the others and whosoeuer they were besides whom God had then stirred up to speake unto them were so litle or nothing regarded therefore should he so call upon them to be better advised of those mattérs and of the hand of God upon them being belike in the time of that famine and hauing himselfe experience of it that was somewhat before denounced by others The application of it 4 To come to our selues we also are in great security in all such cases and at all times generally and besides that very sensles and careles at this present also Wee haue much forgotten our selues here to fore when as notwithstanding it is most certain that the like hand of God hath bene of late and in some measure upon us likewise Wee haue bene long since reasonably well pounded in the morter and yet our follie I feare remaineth It neede not be yet out of our remembraunce how the enimie raged with fire and swoord when he had the law in his hands we cannot bee ignoraunt of our daily perill by diuers abroade and some at home As Dauid in like case for a time did not seeke unto the Lord and yet notwithstanding had the rod so laide upon the whole Land that he might easily haue espied him selfe to be very iustly prouoked unto it so it is to be doubted or out of doubt rather that as yet we haue not truely sought unto him how much soeuer we haue bene so deepely prouoked unto it as that in no wise wee can bee ignoraunt but that effectually he hath called us thereunto At the length he sought the Lord and so escaped much of the famin that otherwise had tarried on them and the sooner that wé also shal seeke the Lord the better wil it be for our selves the sooner shal he withdraw his hand from us Hé being admonished what the cause was addressed himselfe to take away the cause of that hand of God upon them although that he could not so doe but that he should run into suspition thereby that he had some courser meaning neither is any whom it coÌ„cerneth to forsake the course of iust execution in any respect of credit or honour that privately might come thereby God also himselfe though he had taken away i â— Sam. 31 2 3 4 6. Saule before and his three sonnes wherof
downe therein resteth in two principall points that the matter following in all this Prophecie came from the Lord and was deliuered vnto the people by the ministerie of Ioel. In that it came from the Lorde wee are to esteeme of it accordingly and in that it pleaseth God to vouchsafe us such treasure in earthly vessels those whom hee useth to such a purpose though they bee but seely things in them selues yet ought they to be for this cause and in this respect so much the more welcome and deater unto us That which is not expressed there is concerning the time wherein he prophecied which notwithstanding is to be gathered of us so well as we may because that otherwise the sense of the Prophet must needes bee harder unto us as also it is sufficientlie knowen that thát hath giuen a great part of the occasion that the Interpreters haue varied so much in their iudgements thereon First therefore to examine The time vvhen hee prophecied Which is gathered what the time was wherein he prophecied it seemeth to mee that the iudgent of those is clearely the best that are of opinion that he prophecied in the daies of Uzziah otherwise called a 2. king 14 21. Azariah the king of Iudah or at least of Iotham his soon and so consequently apperteineth to that cōpasse of time when b Hos 1 1. Hoseah prophecied unto the Israelites and c Isa 1 2◠2 1. Isaiah beganne first among the Iewes d Amos 2 1 3. Amos and e Mic. 1 1. Micah likewise unto the Israelites Iewes together And the warrant that we haue for this opinion resteth on two principal grounds the placing of it First by the placing of it and the matter therein contained As touching the placing of it it is no more but this that seeing that of old it is placed among those that by good testimonie of the text it selfe belong to that time as Hoseah Amos and Micah doe therefore is it the most likeliest that it appertaineth to that time also partly for that the scriptures are ever lightly in that maner digested and partly for that f Hier. in Ioel. 1. Ierom himselfe by this argument also was so perswaded The Septuagint I graunt did g Idem in Proemio in Ioel. Otherwise place it but it seemeth they vsed the rule of Lesbos placing it so as they thought the interpretation thereof would require and not easily yeelding that the sense shoulde bee such as the place that long before them it had should seeme to import Otherwise it is somewhat strange that they should so alter the placing of it considering that it is taken for h Idem in Praef. in 12. Prophetas a rule among the learned that when there is no time noted of any of the Prophets then doth that Prophet belong to the time of the Prophet that goeth before Then by the matter therein conteined As touching the matter therein contained it doth so fitly accord vnto that compasse of time that in my iudgement we may rather maruaile that diuers there be of very good account in the Church of God and worthily too that did not see it then that our selues neede to stand in doubt thereof For not only the whole matter doth fitly agree to that which was propounded by others that doe vndoubtedly belong to that very time but diuers speciall things there are besides that doe sufficiently warrant that so it did Concerning the whole because that there can bee no iudgement thereof til the matter it selfe be unfolded therefore the credite of it is to await the ende of the treatise and then either to stand or to fall in the iudgement of the indifferent Reader By comparing this our Prophet and Isaiah together without any further urging of it Those speciall things that are besides I chiefly gather out of the comparing of this Prophet of ours and Isaiah together and that in the first fiue Chapters only which are most likely by i 1 1. and 6.1 Isaiah himselfe to appertaine to the time that wee speake of For seeing that the second time of his prophecying beginneth in the yeare that Vzziah died as in the beginning of the sixt Chapter it is recorded and yet in the beginning of the first Chapter it is plainely set downe that some part of his prophecie was uttered in the daies of Vzziah while yet he liued therefore may those first Chapters of that his prophecie be safely taken of us if not as undoubtedly appertaining to that time for k Calu. in Isa 6.1 some haue beene of their minde not thinking that the first fiue Chapters did appertaine to a former time in respect of that which in the beginning of the sixt Chapter is noted but that in those fiue Chapters going before is set downe howe he beganne to prophecie and then the time more specially noted in the beginning of the sixt yet as the most likely because it is the iudgement of most of the learned and the opinion of those others hath no such warrant by the text it selfe but rather is thereby reprooued And that which we finde in these fiue first Chapters of Isaiah so fitly agreeing to this Prophet of ours doth partly he in those things that they utter of the iudgementes of God and partly in that which they doe both set downe as touching his mercy or fauoure towards them First in those things that they utter of the iudgments of God Those things that they utter out of the iudgments of God against them are two first a famine then also an armie Concerning the famine they doe not onely both speake of it but also doe it in much like maner For where as this Prophet doth altogether beate upon it and more specially telleth them that the famine should be so great that l 1 4. what the Palmer woorme had left the Grashopper had eaten what the Grashopper had left the Canker worme had eaten and what the Cankerworme had left the Catterpiller had eaten 〈◊〉 that m 1 10. the fielde is wasted the Lande moorneth the Corne is destroyed the vine is dried up and the oyle is decayed that n 1 17. the seede is rotten under their clots that o 2 3. whereas the Lande was as the garden of Eden before it was after this as a desolate wildernes◠and that p 1 19 20. 2 3. the fire devoured the pastures of the wildernesse the flamb brunt up the trees of the fielde and the Riuers them selues were dried up Isaiah likewise in much like maner telleth them that q 3 1. the stay and the strength of breade and water should be taken from them that the chiefe principall sort of them should be as * 5 13. famished and plainely confesse r 3 7. that they had neither breade nor clothing that ſ 5 10. ten akers of vines should yeelde but fiue gallons and the seede that was sown
that by occasion hereof might otherwise come may be so much and so very great that hardly may any man think to find out or to reckon the same insomuch that the Apostle himselfe doth account it the roote of all ill But if we may find that such things as the Prophets as before was alleaged did lay to the charge of that people and of that time may justly bee imputed to this then shall that course bee sufficient for us and we shall not neede to force any more upon it For if the defect of religion that those Prophets doe charge them withall and those other vices may be found to be of that nature that they might proceed of this then is it no wroÌ„g so to conceave of such inclination of theirs and the matter that now we have in hand will be sufficiently cleared likewise Coldnes in religion First therefore as touching that defect of theirs in religion without al quaestion Ãt might easily come of thÃs For wheresoever there is such a love of priuate wealth a nature disposed so busily to imploy it selfe about those inferior earthly matters there is religion soone let downe or thriueth but ill though after a sort as yet it stand Hard dealing with others But then if we come to those other vices hard dealing with others and excesse in them selves those are of such nature as that euery one may plainely see how they may very kindely proceede of such disposition of those as before is described For as for their hard dealing with others when the Princes themselves get into their handes those fields and vineyeards and had such pastures and were such husbands for corne cattle and wines what others were there in all that country that had ability that would not soone attempt the like when as the Princes example had first set them on and gave them besides so good hope of protection for the time to come And surely it is not unlikely but that al generally especially the greater sort of them did so follow on this naughty course so ill begun that it is no marvel though Isaiah complaine so earnestly both of joyning house to house land to land and besides that that when such things come in quaestion and the weaker sort were faine to seeke to the Magistrate for helpe their oppression notwithstanding was litle eased and still they had just cause to complaine Mo marvel neither though Micah do so grievously charge them to be full of crueltie to lie in wait for blood to hunt their neighbors to take away from them their grounds houses to oppresse a man and his heritagé to spoil theÌ„ of their garments in time of peacé to spare neither sexe nor age to pull of their skins to chop them in peeces unto the pot and that the best of them all are so infected with his corruption that although they deal much more moderatély in respect of the others yet they also are in truth no better in this kinde of dealing then briurs and thornes So likewise Excesse in themselves for their excesse in themselves it is as we know most commonly seene that when men are come to immoderate wealth then doe they soone waxe wantons withall And then no marvell that Isaiah doth so complaine of the high looks of that people that they were so haughtie loftie that they were so giveÌ„ to feasting drinking musicke to make theÌ„selves mery yet that in all this they nothing regarded the worke of the Lord. No marvell neither that the women of that time were grown now to such a fashion as that he is forced so to complaine both of their attire and of their behaviour And these thinges considered it is no marvell that Amos is so bolde as to looke into the bed-chambers also of the wealthier sort and thence to bring us worde that even in Zion they live at ease and take their pleasure and that none of them all either is sorie for the affliction of Ioseph or else regardeth the threatnings of God 15 But to leave them and to come to our selves first as touching Religion there is no quaestion That we also may finde the selfe same faults among ús likewise In Religion a godly and a commendable care to be found in ús but that wee are deepely much beholding to God for that which we have alreadie among us as any such people in these our dayes is or heretofore to our knowledge hath beene since the world began For of óur Superiors likewise it may I trust as truely be said that they have done uprightly and directed their waies aright in the sight of the Lord and both with Vzziah doe more specially seeke the Lorde sometimes and with Iotham likewise have repaired that high gate to the house of the Lorde and made a readie way for all to come unto it that will For whereas religion was corrupted before and both superstition and idolatrie also were commonly taken for the true worship of God they have laide the word of God before them and made reformatioÌ„ according to the level thereof and besides this generall reformation for all somtimes besides they have more specially sought the Lorde when some speciall cause hath so required and when they have had concurring withal the direction of such as have dealt sincerely with them in the name of the Lord. Likewise it is very cleare that they have repaired againe that high and chiefe and principall gate of the Temple even Iesus Christ who said himselfe that he was the gate or dore to the house of the Lord and have not onely made a ready way for all to enter into the house of the Lorde but also have beene at speciall charges in repairing the rúines of the buildings themselves that are to that use But the like corruption to be founde likewise But then it is to be doubted withall that the infirmitie corruption that was in them doth cleave ouer fast to us likewise so consequently that it is not done with a perfect heart but rather as some Amaziah hath done that is gone before us High places remayning with ús also For first as touching that fault that was common to them both that is that the high places did still remaine and that the people did sacrifice and burne incense there that same fault may certainely be found overmuch with us to this praesent day that now we are in if wee can rightly distinguish of those high places that are most likely here to be meant For whereas they were all places of worship but some of them tended to the worship of the ttue God though not in such sort as his worde required in which sense Gibeon also where the Tabernacle was for a time i 2. Chro. 1 3. is termed an high place others againe to the worship of jdols as k 1. King 11 7 8. those places are termed that SalomoÌ„ builded to certain idols after that once
he fel to idolatry many others it is not likely that the high places which among them were said to remain were any of those that belonged to idols but onely of those where the people were woont of old to worship the Lord which notwithstanding ought not to have bin after that once God himself had appointed the place where hee would be woorshipped For if these had bin of that other sort of high places that is of those that were ordeined to the use of idolatry then could not these Kinges that let them remain in any sense have had that coÌ„mendation that they did uprightly in the sight of the Lord c. Taking it therefore in the other sense their oversight or fault was this that they did not make the people to come to IerusaleÌ„ as the Lord had appointed to worship there but suffred theÌ„ to worship in divers other places that they had before inured themselves unto In which sense it doth challenge us also herein to be offendors with them that is that wee also have high places remaining wheresoever God is not worshiped as he hath appointed but onely after our owne custome For where so ever the maintenance of instruction is taken away to prophane uses and no other provision made for the needful reliefe of the people there of which sort there bee very many with us and those for the most part of the greatest congregations also there may we be sure is an high placé remaining there doe the people worship as they were woont but not in such sort as the Lord hath appointed And hove offensiue they are unto God Which also may be a very good cause why although the historie do give them so good commendation becáuse they did in their weake maner keepe to the Lord and turned not aside unto idols as others did yet the Prophets doe so roundly charge the people of that time as before we have heard and namely that the Lorde was nowe growne to a great hatred of their assemblies and utterly rejected both their oblations and them selves withall And it is very much to bee doubted of us likewise that God alreadie hath or else some may conceave such an hatred not only of those assemblies that yet dâ— worship in these high places of ours because that they obtrude unto him that which in no wise hee can accept of but also of all our other chiefe and highest assemblies likewise even the best that we have though there we worship him never so rightly onely because we doe but suffer those others to have naught else in effect but high places as yet â—ome of ús also somevvhat to far and others to short for lukers sake Those that were proper to either of them were but a couple for ech of them one Vzziah medled somewhat too farre in the Priests office and Iotham came as farre behind when as he entered not into the Temple And how soeuer it be that I doe not see how we are in danger of that fault of Vzziah unlesse that for matters of religion we take our direction otherwise then from the learneder and godlier sort of the Ministery which as I take it in some respects is much to be doubted yet in the other we may plainely see that we also are very great offendors divers of us absenting our selves from the Church of an inward hatred unto it and many moe for filthy luker pastime or ease nicenes or pride And diligent searchers I am perswaded might likewise find that whether it were the fault of Iotham or not that he would not enter into the Temple because his father might not thére doe what hee would yet that it might plainly be found in diuers of ús that there is no greater cause of the absence of many of us and that as Iotham that entered not into the Temple neuerthelesse bestowed cost on it so it might be founde among us that divers of those that in outwarde shewe beare a good countenance towardes the Gospell and doe somewhat for it yet neverthelesse when neede requireth are but dissembling and loose friends unto it In those things that are ciuill In matters that concerne our ciuill estate likewise it is very commendable that her Maiesty hath in so good readinesse such provision of men money and furniture as God be thanked she hath on behalfe of the state against the enimie especially seeing that their quarrel is against the Gospell and to set up Popery againe yet by the covetousnes of some fewe and to mainteine their excesse and riot the common souldier is oft times so much defrauded of his pay that himselfe is distressed others discouraged her Majesties service not a litle defeated thereby But if we come to those other vices therin may we finde our selves so plainely described Certaine speciall vices as it were so truly set out in our lively coulours that the Prophets therein may seem as much to have spoken before of ús as to have applied their speach unto theÌ„ Not so much here tofore For howsoever that the time heretofore hath been wheÌ„ those vices were not to be found so rife among us as they are now yet in these daies of ours they are grown to such head every where are so commonly found that now the Prophets may have those saynges of theirs as fully verified in us as at that time it may seeme that they were in theÌ„ When we were not only at variance among ourselves about the title of the Crowne betwixt the two houses of Yorke Lancaster untill that it pleased God of his goodnes to unite theÌ„ together in one but also in so miserable bondage to the Bishop of Rome that no body coulde have any comfortable fruitioÌ„ of lands or goods theÌ„ was there made lesse reckoning of them then might the meaner sort more quietly have theÌ„ theÌ„ were not our courts so pestred with daily complaints of oppression fraud nor the judges themselves to be so easily charged with delayes excessive charges respect of persons others such like But now very plainly But since the time that God hath vouchsafed us greater mercies that we may not onely have but also injoy in peaceable maner both lands goods without the fear of any coÌ„trary parts at home or of those Romish publicans froÌ„ abroad that so insatiably exacted of us what so ever we had now are we all generally so ready to take the advantage of this opportunity that though all doe scaÌ„ble help them selves so well as they can yet doe the mightier sort overlay the weaker daily do praevail against them more more And so prÄ™uailing what is it they do with that great immoderate wealth that they have What is it else but either that they make it a way or readier meane to attaine unto more or else to abound in such excesse as no words that these Prophets have used are sufficient to expresse the same nor former examples
to fear and addeth a reason that is more speciall but one part of it verie neere that is because the pastures even of the wildernes should be greene the other somewhat farther óf that is to say because the tree should beare her fruite the fig tree and vine should give their forcé Then comming to speake to the people themselves therein have we to consider who they are to whom he now speaketh so comfortably then what it is he saith unto thē Those to whom he speaketh so comfortably are a 2 23. the children of Zion or the repentant and faithful people That which he speaketh unto them doth most of all concerne his mercies towardes them for this praesent time but some part of it is of the extending foorth of the same to the time to come That which concerneth the praesent time resteth in two principall points first exhorting them to rejoice then shewing foorth divers good reasons why they shoulde so doe In that he exhorteth them to rejoice we are to note that he doth b 2 23. not onely will them to reioicé and be glad but also that hee praescribeth unto them the manner of it that is that it must be in the Lord. The reasons he addeth to tende to this ende to shewe howe notably he meaneth to refresh them first shewing that hee will give them victuals againe then also declaring in how plentifull manner he will doe it The better to confirme them in the former first he assureth them of seasonable weather then hee telleth them howe fruitfull those yeares shall bee thereby Concerning the weather he saith that he will give unto them c 2 23. raine and showers just in their season and so soone as ever neede requireth Concerning the other he sheweth that those yeres should be so fruitfull d 2 24. that their barnes shoulde be full of wheate and their presses runne over with wine and oile The better to shewe foorth in howe plentifull manner he will doe it hee telleth them that he will doe it so plentifully that them selves shall e 2 25. both be recompenced for the losse that they had by that great host of his of those noysome creatures and f 2 26. eating continually shall be satisfied and that in such sort that they shall praise the name of the Lord their God that dealt so marvelously with them In that which tendeth to shew how this his mercie is extended foorth to the time to come we are to consider first what it is that hee saith of that matter then how he repeateth some part of it againe That which he saith of that matter is g 2 26. first that his people shall never be ashamed then on the other side that h 2 27. they shall knowe that hee is in the middest of Israel that he is the Lord their God and that there is noné other That which he repeateth again is that i 2 27. his people shall never after be confounded again 17 Herein also to remember our selves The like affection of God towards ús first as touching that affection of God towards them it was in deede very great that he could put on the whole power of Ielousié on their behalfe and that in such sort as it doth apperteine unto his nature that is very fully or in the highest degree that can be Yet notwithstanding if we consider the great and singular blessinges that he hath alreadie in these daies of the Gospel bestowed upon us how many wais he hath already oft times declared his favour towards us both at home among ourselves and a broade a-against our enemies by sea and by land in peace and in warre in Religion and matters of State and how so ever else it ought no doubt to be so farre óf for any man to thinke it over bolde a part for us to account of the like favour of his towardes ús also if we truely turne unto him that rather we offende if wee doe it not and doe over much call into quaestion his goodnes towardes us when hee hath already so many waies so much declared the same And if he be so well inclined towards us we neede not doubt but that in these and al things els he wil be readie to deale with us accordingly Thē as touching the remooving of those evils that of late were or yet are hanging upon us as he did assure thém How likely it is that God will now deliver ús also from this hand of his upō us that so far as it concerned the releef of their bodies he would not only ease them of that extreame famine but also blesse them with great plenty so likewise we may cōceave that he may be induced in such sort to deale with us also upon our repentance not only because that he ever is very gracious to all that turne unto him but also because he hath already eased us of a good part of our scarcity for this yere that now cometh in he hath hitherto given his name be ever blessed therefore as great tokens of speciall plenty as at any time heretofore for these many yeres we have lightly had In like maner whereas he promised to deliver thém of that reproach for thát matter he is before-hand with us partly for that he hath holpen us so far alredy and our scarcity when it was at the worst yet was it not so extreme by any want that God hath sent us but only by the hardnes of greedy men as that any way it might turn us or our profession unto reproach and partly for that others of our neighbours that are about us and subject unto Popery yet from whom our reproach doth ever arise whēsoever they have any advantage against us were then yet are as it is said much more streightned by it thē we And as to the end that he might better lift up the harts of that people to the assurāce of these his promises he turneth his talk unto the earth to the creatures that are therin willing them no more to fear but to rejoice in respect of that plenty that now was towards them so may we see that already he hath in such sort spoken unto the earth on our behalf that wel it may rejoice our hearts now to behold it therby also doth so comfort cheere those creatures that ar therin that they also must needs be joiful to see the earth in that likelihood to be so well replenished with alsuch things as they do need But where as he promised them that he would make so clean a riddance of those noysome creatures that they should be scattred into all quarters far from them that their stinch should arise up unto heaven although we cannot see the same in this case of ours be cause our scarcitie did not come by such noysome creatures but onely by that immoderate moysture in seede time harvest yet may we see that in effect he
he so ordered the matter that falling at variance among themselves two parts of them fell on the third when they had utterly destroyed thém then fell they each one on the other also and so made a cleane riddance of all and left the victorie and spoile together to the people of God without any stroke as they were but comming towardes them and with instruments and voice praising the Lord. And seeing the Lord calleth this but pleadings and yet appointeth the place of hearing to be in the vallie of so famous an execution as hereby he gave them to understand that their cause was so naught that it should no sooner come to hearing but that a sharpe execution thereupon should bee done so we also finding the cause of these so bad as it is may very well hope that it shall no sooner come to the hearing before the Lord but that they also shall be cast have execution accordingly done as also in these daies if we looke about us we may easily finde many things that are of that nature and do plainly witnes the same For the reason that held with thém doth in like maner hold with these likewise How iniurious they have beene to us likewise For who seeth not that they also have scattered the people of God among the nations and have parted their land among them selves Scattering us abroad They have scattered the people among the nations partly by the broiles that they have made whereby they have so afflicted Christendome and tost it up and downe like a foot-bale at their pleasure but especially because that by the corruption of doctrine that they have brought into the Church they have dispersed the people of God almost into all the errors of the heathen that have beene about us And that they have parted the lande of the people of God among them it appeareth also very plainely in that they had so much consumed them from the face of the earth and placed them selves in their roomes insomuch that of a woorthy and honourable assemblie of many good and godly people in the Church of God they had nowe of late brought it to a disordered multitude of such a people as most notoriously of all others did utterly abandon in Religion and life what so ever is good and in them both betooke them selves most impotently to that which is ill Having us in vile contempt But as for that vile contempt that those enemies had of the people of GOD when as they gave the boy of an harlot and the girle for a cup of wine that may we finde to be very farre out matched by these For it is no straunge nor great matter to speake of among souldiers when they have conquered others and taken the spoile of them at their pleasure and come laden home with the pray to give such captives as they taken for very trifles if they have many when they come so easily by them they can be content oft times to affoorde a good peniwoorth of them especially those that are the looser and the more prodigall sort that are amonge them But these were the pillers and staies of the people they were their leaders and guides in their pilgrimage they were their spirituall Pastors and Fathers and had them of trust and with speciall charge committed unto them And yet have these also made so light of the people of God The boy for an harlot the girle for a cup of wine of whom they had this speciall charge whom they tooke unto their gouernement that for the accomplishment of their foul and shameful lust and for their bellies they have freely parted not onely with the boyes girles the smallest and meanest of the people of God but with men and women also the aged and honourable and greatest of all nor that onely at some speciall time or done but of some few of them but it was the generall course of them all and such as standeth with the substance of their profession and is commonly found with them all even from the highest unto the lowest Taking froÌ„ us all â—ich and pleasant things Out of that likewise wherein he directeth his speach more specially to certain of them we also may note that these our Tyrians Sidomians and Philistins have done as fondly as did those others and daily yet doe and yet have no better cause of this their doing then had those others For these also have taken away out of the Church the citie of the great king and from among the people of God their silver and gold and all precious things and that not onely in the literall or neerest sense but much more if we goe to a further meaning Both the maintenance of the ministerie For even in the literall or neerest sense they had spoiled all Christendome and yet do where they may be allowed of a great part of their treasure silver and gold and of all such things as were most precious or of greatest aestimation among them Insomuch that they have not spared the Church-livings them selves which were all that the people had and were like to have to maintaine instruction among them to the glory of God and their own salvation And that worse is these things have they not only taken away from the people of God but have imployed them to the use of jdolatry and that so grosse as seldome at any time coulde bee overmatched among the gentiles And all our treasures in Christ himselfe If we go to a further sense theÌ„ must we charge them that they haue not onely spoiled us of our earthly treasures which notwithstanding is no small injury besides the griefe that doth justly arise to them abused so far as they are but that they have spoiled us also almost of al those our spirituall treasures or graces that we had in Christ of his Word and Sacraments that should have directed and comforted us here and of the force of the merits and passion of Christ that were to bring us to the kingdome of God And whatsoever there was that apperteined to true holines or to our redemption in Christ the greatest riches that ever were and the inaestimable treasure of the church of God that have they either altogether taken away from the Church or in such sort corrupted and defiled the same one way or other that they have bereaved the people of God of the comfort and use thereof And as those others sold away the children of Iudah unto the Graecians Selling uâ— far away for bondslaves to send them farre from their owne country so have those also solde away the people of God to palpable darkenes and all to get them farre from the Truth that they might never be able to espie the same and so to returne to their country again Neither have they onely so done heretofore but to this day also they labour it stil and ever hold on the self same course wheresoever they may labouring also
of him Much rather if we come to those spirituall graces that are promised here In spirituall graces we may then assure our selves that in the Church or kingdome of Christ they are in so great and plentifull manner that every where they doe abound and that the meanest Churches or persons therein doe more abound in these matters then else-where any others of what estate experience or learning so ever they be As also when he commeth to shewe how this land that he doth speake of is watered as he telleth us that the rivers shall be ful of water and of a fountaine that should water the vallie of Cedars so he addeth withall that they are but the rivers of Iudah that he doth speak of and that the fountaine did likewise proceede from the House of the Lorde and in truth the faithfull have such sufficiency and fulnes and most plentifull abundance in Iesus Christ in his holy word and continually are so refreshed so replenished with that fountaine proceeding from the house of the Lord that not onely all the rivers of Iudah are ever full of water even to the brinkes but even those great and mighty Cedars also of that rich and fruitfull vallie are all watered even to the full Otherwise with our enemies But on the other side if we cast our eyes to any of our unneighbourly Aegypts or Edoms such countries or states as take part with Aegypt in their idolatries and superstitions or with Edom in continuall hostilitie to the people of God though we may finde them for a time to flourish and sometimes to getunder the people of God for a season yet is it sure and sealed up in the irrevocable judgements of God that they shall be made wast and become inhabitable or as a wildernes without any to dwell therein in comparison of that which otherwise they might attaine unto with the residue of those that in spirit and truth do call upon God And howsoever they may seeme to flourish for the time and thereby to hinder the course of the Gospell yet may they be sure that it shall not be só with theÌ„ still but that needes they must come to judgement for with-holding the Truth â—n unrighteousnes so long as alreadie they have done For áll flesh is grasse and the glorie thereof but even as the flower of the field and though now they flourish as greene as the bay-tree yet he that now passing by theÌ„ in that case doth leave theÌ„ may at his returne not be able to finde the place where they were though he make good hast and doe not tarrie For in them is found innocent blood and iniurie done to the people of GOD beyonde all measure Wherein though others also have their parts yet of all others that Whore of Babylon that long since hath beene drunken with the bloode of Saints must needes beare the bell wheresoever she cometh WheÌ„ théy are wasted Ierusalem standeth in good case And as these must be laid wast so Ierusalem and all Iudah must stand for ever that when the enemies have doone what they can to overlay them to put all to the swoorde and to abolish the very name or memoriall of them from the face of the earth yet must they finde in the ende that they were in no wise able to performe their desire and that the more they have sought to bring them downe the more hath God opposed himself against their attempts set theÌ„ up Of which his goodnes because we have had so large pleÌ„tiful experieÌ„ce in these daies of ours so many waies in so great matters as we have had so much the more may we assure our selves that these are the daies wherin we shal see by the goodnes of God the ful performance of these his mercies unto his people We are our selves I graunt unworthy and that may be denied by none but he telleth us also that hé will clense the blood of those that are his By which his clensing it may well come to passe that we may be so highly in the favour of God by him that clenseth us Iesus Christ that he may well even in his justice after that once he hath affoorded us that way to his mercy vouchsafe to establish and to uphold us as here is promised especially when as he telleth us further that himselfe will dwell among us Exod. 32-34 For as on a time when the children of Israell had greevously sinned against the Lord he withdrewe himselfe from their company till upon their repentance their sinne was done away but when they repented and the Lord by the intercession of Moses had forgiven their sinne he then adjoined himself unto their tents againe and was content to keepe company with them in all their journeies untill they came to the land of promise so in this case likewise how so ever the Lord hath heretofore estraunged himself from us because of our sinne yet if it so be that now we repeÌ„t us of those our sins we may be sure that by the intercession of our Moses Iesus Christ the onely Mediatour of the New and last covenant he also will so for give us our sinnes and so circumcise our hearts withall or clense our blood that the lover of men will not account it unseemely his honour to dwell among us And because that his dwelling or continuall aboade requireth likewise a dwelling-house and that the same be ever mainteined therefore so soone as it doth appeare that the holy Ghost hath built is upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Iesus Christ being the Head-corner-stone and so hath made us Temples to him we also may assure our selves that he wil not suffer us to miscarry Houses are sometimes overthrowne by outward force sometimes againe they decay of themselves but this House or Temple of his wil he both defend against the force of all his enemies and uphold likewise against such decayes An exhortation unto such repentance as herein is required as otherwise of it selfe would grow upon it 26 Now therefore to draw to an end whereas it is cleare that we also may find our selves to be touched with the self same hande of God that was cast upon them though not in so large plentifull measure what were more seemely or meeter for us then sensibly to be touched therewith and to acknowledge it as in deed it is can be none other the speciall hand of God upon us Let the Heathen thinke that knowe not God that such thinges come by chaunce or fortune Because we may see this to be the haÌ„d of God let us acknowledge and undoubtedly perswade our selves that it is of the Lord that he for some speciall cause hath sent it unto us And if it be his doing or come froÌ„ hÃm may wé make so light of it as not to suffer the same to take any holde of us Or may we so easily passe it over as not so much as in
them selves answerable for the distresse of those that were streightned or did miscarie Which our necessitie was in such sorte also sent unto us from the hand of God as that it coulde not have bene avoided of us but was unto us as a mighty people ouer-strong for us to deale withall and hath in a maner laide much of our land waste likewise not only for that our cattle died and our corn failed so much as they did but also for that by reason thereof even yet also many of our pastures are empty and no smale part of our land for a time unsowen for want of seede The like reasons with ús as with theÌ„ Then as touching those others that in such sort were touched therewith as that the same ought to be a reason to ús rather to sorrow for that hand of God upon us we may easily see that the same kinde of people also with us were in like sort touched as were those others For first to come to the Priests it is most evident that the service of the Lord not only was but yet also is so very much failed in many of our churches likewise that our ministery or ecclesiasticall estate hath good cause to moorn all the whole multitude of us for the want of Gods service in such measure as were to be wished many of us also for want of things needefull to this praesent life which not-withstanding cometh not so much of the scarcitie that now we speak óf for then it might be more easily born and were likely to be much sooner amended as it doth out of two other causes that are much stronger and make the sore almost incurable Whereof the one is that sort of Impropriations that hath altogether taken away many of our church-livings not only from the ministerie but also from al other ecclesiastical use the other that insatiable greedines of most of our Patrons that daily more and more convert to their own proper use either the whole or els some part of those that remain were coÌ„mitted of special trust unto their defence custody Our busbandmen likwise were so much distressed that they had not wherewithall to relieve their most just urgent necessities and their woonted joy in those matters also was parted from them and yet not only by the late scarcity that then they were in but by the hard dealing of their hard and unmercifull Land-lords that now of long since the daies of our peace by the uniting of the two hovses together in most places of this land have prayed upon theÌ„ daily do more more 9 But now to return to our Prophet again Having so far foorth praepared them unto it now he commendeth that Fast unto them when he hath so prepared all generally unto the exercise that he was desirous to commend unto them then doth he gather himselfe to that matter and a 1.13.20 commendeth a publik fast unto them And we therein are to consider first how he doth call upon these to whom it belonged for that matter then how himselfe doth further urge it In his calling on those to whom it belonged we are likewise to note who they are on whom he calleth and what it is that for this matter he requireth of them Those on whom hee calleth are â—â— 23 Calling on the Priests especially the Priests whom there also he calleth the Ministers of the altar and the Ministers of his God Whereby it appeareth that it was their parts to have an eye to such matters and when neede was to call on the Magistrates and on the people to join together in a publike fast That which for this matter he requireth of them doth partly concern them selves and partly others That which doth concern themselves Shewing theÌ„ what they shall doe is first to shew them what they are to doe and then for what cause they have to do it That which they are to do concerning themselves is to quicken up themselves to earnest sorrowing that so the better they they call upon others and themselves be leaders unto theÌ„ To this end it is required of theÌ„ not only that they doe the thing that is required that is that they p 1 13. gird themselves unto it and lament but also that they do it in earnest maner and therefore that they howl enter in and lie all night in sakcloth which in those countries was their maner in speciall moorning The reason why they were to doe it was because the q 1 13. meat-offring and drink-offring was taken away from the house of their God That which they were to doe coÌ„cerning others was most of al to get the church together unto this exercise then how to hold theÌ„ occupied when they came there To get the church together they were willed first to r 1 14. sanctifie a fast to proclaime or publish a day of ceasing froÌ„ usual labours otherwise called a solemn assemblie and so gather thereunto both the Elders al the inhabitants of the Land unto the house of the Lord their God When thus they had gathered all together then to holde them occupied there in such sort as was most convenient Å¿ 1 14. they are willed in the name of them all to crie unto the Lord. CoÌ„cerning the Prophets further urging them hereunto Strongly urging theÌ„ unto it I am to acknowledge herewithal that the same which I do take in that sense some others do take rather as the form of coÌ„plaint that they were to make unto the Lord which also is a good sense and may well agree with the text it selfe But in my judgment it lieth more likely to be the speach of the Prophet himselfe then to be appointed to them for the form of their complaint and therfore haue I so applied it here not praejudicing the judgment of any other Wherin first the Prophet laboreth those Priests and Ministers of the Lord to take that course that he hath called them unto then though they will not yet he professeth that he for his part will surely do it In this his labouring of others we are to note first that by likelyhood he espied them to be over heavie in this matter then in what maner thereupon he doth labour them If they were so heavie hereunto that the Prophet needed so to labour them then did the Prophet very well so much the more to put to the spur as he did see that the heavines of those did neede it In the maner of his labouring of them we are to note first that the Prophet him selfe doth lament that their distresse then how he sheweth verie good reason that so he may He lamenteth it t 1 15. in crying out Alas for this day Then coming to shew that he doth it not lightly but hath good reason so to do first he setteth down the reason it selfe and then he doth confirm the same By very good reason The reason it selfe that
our selves alreadie have some experience of it For now also may we in some measure see that such as are disobedient unto this mercifull calling of God are altogether in darkenes and stand amased and many waies pull downe upon them the fearefull but just judgements of God And because that by their incredulitie and hardnes of heart the Sun it selfe is darkenes with them why should not the Moone be turned into blood likewise It is not meete that such as so wilfully resist the known and manifest truth should have any light to them derived by such meanes as God hath provided to that purpose but much rather in steede thereof should have naught else but manifest tokens of fearefull judgements To whom therefore by their owne infidelitie the Sun is darkened to those is it meete in the justice of God that the Moone should be turned into blood likewise And because that already wee see in some measure this is done as it is to the glorie of God that the contempt of his Truth is so avenged before that great and fearefull day so is it to the strengthening of the weake likewise that thereby perceave that there is a God whose throne is in heaven and whose eyes consider the children of men and that he with cheerefull countenance beholdeth the just and raineth on others snares and tempests and many other tokens of his displeasure to be unto them a portion to drinke But that the faithfull in all these daungers are still praeserved that must needes very soone appeare to be a great and a speciall blessing both in respect of that safety that them selves enjoy and in respect of the daunger that others are in For it is no small thing to be exempted from such perils and to bee withdrawne from so heavie a wrath of God but when we consider howe those others are overtaken therein and howe fast they are as it were chained up unto perdition then is the safety of the faithfull so much the more an evident testimonie of the goodnesse of GOD towardes them and so much more comfortable vnto them selves that see what a difference GOD hath put put betwixt them and others In which place also it is good to take it unto our selves that to call on the name of the Lord is by the Prophet here set downe as a marke of those that shall be safe and that otherwise the privileges of the place and outwarde calling are to litle purpose because the Prophet doth joine or couple them so neere together In somuch that we also may see who they are unto whom this safetie is due and that neither our Zion nor Ierusalem neither nor yet our outwarde or common calling as we are ChristiaÌ„s or Catholicks rather as some have better delight to speake are to any purpose to procure us this kind of safetie but so far as we finde that inward truth concurring with all that we are of the number of those that put by all others and in all our necessities euer call on the name of the Lord. The privileges of Zion and of Ierusalem were very great and it was no small matter to haue beene an Israelite or a Iewe by lineal descent but yet notwithstanding they came to no proofe without that other and without which they deceaved them selves and ever had their greatest glorie redounding backe upon them with double shame 20 As touching the other blessing A notable protection against their enemies that is that protection of theirs against their enemies he followeth on that in all the third Chapter and to the end he may better declare it he setteth downe as it were in their right and proper colours both the h 3 1-17 wretched estate of the one the i 3 18-21 The wretched estate of the enemie blessed estate of the other Concerning the wretched estate of the enemie k 3 1.8 first he setteth it down plaine in speach l 3 9â—17 afterward hee doth more fully expresse and illustrate the same by a figure of great dignitie In that which he speaketh plainely of them first he speaketh m 3 1-3 of all generally then he directeth his talke to n 3 4-8 certaine of them more specially In that which he speaketh of all generally What he saith of all their enemies for this matter generally first he setteth downe what he will doe then he sheweth what is the cause why he wil so doe That which he will doe he describeth unto us both by the nature or substance of the thing it selfe and by certaine circumstances thereunto appertaining The thing it selfe that he will doe as touching the substance or nature of it resteth in two points that o 3 2. he will gather all nations together and plead with them for his people and for his heritage the children of Israel The circumstances hereunto apperteining are two the one of the time the other of the place The time In the circumstance of the time he sheweth that it must be p 3 1. in those daies when he would poure foorth his Spirit as before he declared and in that time when he would bring againe the captivitie of Iudah and Ierusalem For first there was to come on that people a time of wrath because of their sinnes in which they were to be possessed by the hand of their enemies but afterward by the goodnes of God they were to be brought home againe which is the time that now he doth speake of Concerning the circuÌ„stance of the place The place it is set downe that this shall be done in r 3 2. the vale of Iehoshaphat whereby may be noted that the Lord would so deal with the enemies of his people both before the faces of theÌ„ to their greater comfort in wonderful triumphaÌ„t maner It may note that he woulde execute his judgements on theÌ„ even before the face of his people because that this vale of Iehoshaphat was before the citie Ierusalem the mount of Zion that before he spake of It may likewise note that he would do it in wonderful triuÌ„phant maner be cause that the storie whence that vallie tooke his name importeth such a matter very plainly as the Å¿ a. Chro. 20 â—-28 text it self recordeth For there Iehoshaphat triumphed over the Ammonites Moabites IdumaeaÌ„s without any conflict but only in praising the name of the Lord and the spoile besides was so great that it held them occupied three daies to gather it The cause why The cause why he woulde so doe is because they have done such wrong to the people of God made so light accouÌ„t of them Wrong they had done them because they t 3 2. had both scattered his people among the nations and besides had parted their land among them They made light of them likewise v 3 3. both because they cast lots for them and gave them for naught a boy for an harlot and a girle for a cup of wine In