force of the streame is easily plucked vp and carried away such was the people of Israel in Dauids time being compared to the Gentiles round about them such is the Church at this day compared to the Aduersaries such is euery one of vs in respect of the force and power of the malignant Spirits we are like a withered leafe soone blown from the Tree and he like a mighty winde or tempest not only blowing downe leaues but plucking vp and ouerthrowing trees and all what are we then poore wretches able to doe of our poure and strength for our defence we must learne therefore by faith wholy to rest vpon God for what is our victory but euen our faith let this be then our assured trust let this be the rock of our safety helpe and succour that God will be our defender and keeper that the great flouds and mighty waters carry vs not away Teaching vs thus much that though we haue many enemies sore aduersaries as Dauid Christ had yet they shall not preuaile against vs but wee shall preuaile against them do they what they can as Dauid and Christ did Israel in Egypt was cruelly handled but yet the more the Egyptians did vexe them the more they multiplied grew as it is in Exodus 3.12 And when they had done all the spite that they could against them yet at the last they were deliuered out of their hands they themselues being oftentimes plagued by the Almighty for their sakes in the end most fearefully drowned in the red Sea as it is most apparant in the 14 chapter of the same booke Mention is made of a great battell fought betweene Christ and the Deuill Reâ—el â—â— 7 their Armies but if you marke the sequell thereof you shall finde that Christ and his side had the victory for as it is witnessed of the Dragon who is the Diuell and his Angels who are his souldiers that they preuailed not neither was there plague found any more in Heauen in the 8. verse of this chapter so it is recorded to the glory and comfort of all those that take Christs part that they ouercome the Deuil the accuser of Gods children by the bloud of the Lambe and the word of their testimony in the eleuenth verse therof but to omit other Testimonies and examples whereof the holy Scripture is full and frequent in this case let the words of our Sauiour Christ suffice vs at this time Mat. 16.18 he tels vs that the gates of Hell whereby is meant all the power and force thereof shall not ouercome his Church c. or be able to ouerthrow such as doe depend vpon him by a true and iustifying faith In the seuenth Chapter of the same Booke Mat. 7.25 towards the latter end thereof he doth shew the stablenesse of them that belong vnto the Lord and haue care both to heare the Word of the Lord and doe it by a notable comparison whereby hee doth resemble them to an House which is built vpon a Rocke which cannot be cast downe by any tempest of weather whatsoeuer but doth stand alwayes still and cannot fall a thing neuer to be thought of enough it is so full of comfort and consolation vnto euery godly soule chiefely vnto him that is afflicted heere in this world Obiection But what may the reason thereof be may a man say that thus the godly should alwayes preuaile and be neuer ouerthrown by their enemies but ouercome them rather experience doth teach vs that they are fewer in number then the wicked are that they are weaker for power and strength that they are more simple for wit and pollicie and that they are more carelesse for diligence and watchfulnesse then their Aduersaries bee how then comes it to passe that they haue the vpper hand Answere The Prophet Esay doth declare it vnto vs in the 8. chapter of his Prophesie and the 10. verse thereof it is in few words because the Lord is with them and for them For first he is stronger then all being able to resist all power that is deuised against him and his and to doe whatsoeuer he wil both in heauen and in earth 2. He is wiser then all knowing how to preuent them in all their wayes also how to bring matters to passe for the good of his people 3. Hee is diligenter then all to stand as it were vpon his watch and to take his Aduantage when it is offered him Psal 121.4 for Hee that keepeth Israel doth neither slumber nor sleepe Lastly he is happier then all to haue good successe in all his enterprises for hee doth prosper still in all things which hee doth take in hand and none can resist a thought of his yea the very word that goeth out his mouth Esa 55.11 doth accomplish that which he will prosper in the thing whereunto hee doth send it In warre all these foure things are respected in a Captaine that will still ouercome first that he be strong secondly that he be wise thirdly that he be diligent and lastly that he be fortunate for the victory goeth not alwaies with the strong nor alwayes with the wise nor alwayes with the diligent nor alwayes with the fortunate but sometimes with the one of them and sometimes with the other but looke wher all fowre doe concure together there is allwayes the victory and therefore seeing all of them are in God it is no maruell though those whose battels he doth fight do alwayes ouercome and get the victory Obiection But mee thinks I heare some obiecting against that which hath beene said saying that it is not true that Gods children doe alwaies preuaile against their enemies but that their enemies often preuaile against them for wee see that they are murdred and put to death mention is made thereof in the booke of the Reuelation and in other of the holy Scriptures besides and a thousand examples euery where doe demonstrate the same dayly vnto vs for wee doe behold still with our owne eyes and heare with our owne eares that the godly haue the worst end of the staffe and that the wicked do beare sway and dominion ouer them how then is it true which hath beene spoken that do the vngodly what they can yet the righteous shall still preuaile against them as heere Dauid and Christ did Answere The answere hereunto may easily bee collected out of Pauls words in the eighth of the Romans the latter end of the chapter which was touched before where hee doth declare that though wee bee killed all the day long and bee accounted as Sheepe for the Slaughter yet wee bee notwithstanding that euen then and therein Conquerours yea more then Conquerours through him that loueth vs Howsoeuer that this may seeme a Paradoxe to flesh and bloud and bee as a Riddle vnto some of GODS owne Children themselues yet it is true in Diuinity and a cleere poynt to them whose eyes are opened to behold the mysteries of
them not to bee outwardly adorned with plaited hayre and wearing of gold or putting on gorgeous apparel but let it be the hid man of the heart in that which is not corruptible euen the ornament of a meeke and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price 1. Pet. 3.3 4 5. for after this manner the holy women in olde time were adorned c. Let women and men also marke that place well but women especially as being most giuen to pride and it being properly spoken to them where we see pride in apparrell flatly forbidden by the Word of God howsoeuer my words may seeme vnsauory to the wicked and I dare say to no other but such as beare a proud minde And thus I conclude from that which hath beene sayd that the proud vnlesse they will forsake their abominable pride for then they shall haue mercy shall be as certainely damned Pro. 28.13 as God hath appointed a Iudgement day Esay 14.15 and proud Lucifer shall be brought downe to hell Mat. 11.23 and thou Capernam which art exalted vnto heauen shalt bee brought downe to hell Verse 5. But praysed bee the Lord which hath not giuen vs ouer for a prey vnto their teeth FRom the meditation of his enemies malice hee returnes againe to the meditation of Gods mercy and so it is expedient for vs to doe lest the number and greatnesse and malitiousnesse of our enemies make vs to faint When we looke vpon them it is good that we should cast our eyes vpward to the Lord then shall we see they are not so neere to hurt vs No enemy so neere to hurt vs as God is neere to helpe vs. as the Lord our God is neere to helpe vs and that there is no euill in them which wee haue cause to feare but wee shall finde in our God a contrary good sufficient to preserue vs. Comfort against the contempt of men And truely it should greatly comfort all the godly to remember that such as are their enemies are Gods enemies also sith they are farre from the obedience of Gods Law what maruell then if they be also farre from that dutie of loue which they owe vnto vs it may content vs to want that comfort in men which otherwise we might would haue when we consider that God wants his glory in them let this susteine vs when we see that godlesse men are enemies vnto vs. Comfortable examples thereof Otherwise we could not endure if when Satan his instruments come neere to persue vs the Lord were not neer to protect vs. Comfortable is it Gen. 31.24 that when Laban with great fury followed Iacob the Lord stepped in betweene them and commanded Laban not to hurt him and when Sathan many a time intended to destroy Iob he found that hee could not Iob. 1 10. because the Lord was a hedge and defence vnto him This is of GODS maruellous working that wee being in the middest of the wicked who like so many rauenning Woolues thirst for our bloud and before the mouth of that great roaring Lyon that seeketh to destroy vs wee should still bee preserued for the which wee may giue thanks with Dauid Praysed bee the Lord which hath not giuen vs ouer for a prey vnto their teeth Hee exhorteth the faithfull to bee thankfull for their deliuerance and expresseth vnto them how and as it were with what words they should declare their thankfulnesse wherein hee setteth foorth yet further by another similitude that it could not bee but they must vtterly haue perished if God had not miraculously defended them but praysed be the Lord which would not suffer vs so to perish Hee saith not Which deliuered vs albeit he did indeed mightily deliuer them but which hath not giuen vs as a prey for this is it which here specially the holy Ghost setteth foorth that the wicked cannot hurt the godly be they neuer so many mighty furious cruell and terrible like to raging and violent waters like to cruell and outragious beasts falling vpon them with open mouth except the Lord giue them into their hands Let vs therefore with Dauid sing prayses vnto the Lord our God which keepeth and defendeth vs. Let this bee then our assured trust let this bee the rocke of our safetie helpe and succour that God will be our defender and keeper that the great flouds and mightie waters carry vs not away The godly liue in this world like sheepe among wolues What the wicked are to the godly Euery wicked man in whom Sathan ruleth is like a Cananite to an Israelite a thorne in our eye a pricke in our side yea and as a dart of Sathan shot at vs to driue vs away from the feare of God if so wee can take them it should greatly strengthen vs to indure all troubles that can come from them There wil neuer bee peace among them betweene whom the Lord himselfe in Paradise proclaimed enmitie and howsoeuer to strengthen themselues in an euill cause the wicked goe together by bands and companies yet shall it not auaile them nor hurt vs. Babels builders Moab Ammon and Edom conspiring in one may tell vs though hand ioyne in hand the wicked shal not escape vnpunished the wicked are like thorns before the fire their multitude may well imbolden it but cannot resist it not one of theÌ„ shall escape the strokes of God though for a time he deferre his iudgements First this teacheth vs to remember the iudgements of God vpon the wicked that so seeing Gods dealing with them we may better rified by their example to take heede of the like sinnes that wee may preuent the lâ—ke iudgements This is a notable means against sin often enioyned vs in holy Scripture both generally and specially Generally O come and see the works of God Psal 66.5 how terrible hee is in his doing towards the children of men Psal 105.5 Vers 7. Remember the maruellous works that hee hath done his wonders and the iudgements of his mouth Hee is the Lord our God his iudgements are in all the earth And we are not onely to remember them but in remembrance of them to talke of them Praysed bee the Lord which hath not giuen vs ouer for a prey vnto their teeth publishing and declaring them vnto others that so they also may be kept froÌ„ the like escape the like punishments as Dauid did With my lips haue I declared all the iudgements of thy mouth Psal 119.13 Dauids practise was to meditate of the iudgemeÌ„ts of God in so much that he laid the iudgemeÌ„ts of God before him I remembred thy iudgements of old and comforted my selfe Psal 119.30 Vers 52. Specially we are commanded to remember Gods particular iudgements and this also is a speciall meanes to keepe vs from sinne First let vs remember his Iudgements on the wicked Angels 2. Pet. 2.4 for God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast
them as wee may see most apparently Where it is sayd Mat. 25.32 that he will gather all nations before him and that he will separate them one from another as a Sheapheard separates the sheepe from the Goates sending some to hell and carrying others with him into heauen Let vs then neuer feare in any perill or danger whatsoeuer whether of war famine plague or the like lest wee should perish with the wicked hand ouer head we see he hath a care of his own and what he will doe he can doe if it be good for vs to escape these worldly woes we are assured wee shall as we are sure we liue And if otherwise it please him to wrap vs with others in the outward punishment yet shall we euer bee sure to be distinguished from them in the eternall payne and those outward griefes shall bee but meanes to leade vs to euerlasting ioyes Now therefore saith he like as mount Sion or our holy city Ierusalem is neuer moued but remaineth sure and safe by the mighty protection of the Lord in all extremities so he that trusteth in the Lord shall be defended against the furious rage of the world and the gates of hell for euer pronouncing this to bee chiefest anchor of our saluation onely to hope and trust in the Lord To hope and trust in the Lord is the greatest seruice that we can doe to him and that is the greatest seruice that wee can doe vnto God for this is the nature of God as I haue sayd to create all things of nothing therefore hee createth and bringeth forth in death life in darknes light this to beleeue is the very nature and most speciall property of faith when God then seeth such a one as agreeth with his owne nature that is which beleeueth to finde in danger helpe in pouerty riches in sinne righteousnesse and that for Gods owne mercies sake in Iesus Christ alone The nature of faith him can God neither hate nor forsake for he worshippeth God truely which putteth his whole trust in the mercy of God With this seruice God is highly pleased because he delighteth of nothing to make something so hee made the world of nothing so hee raysed the dead who so then consenteth to Gods nature and obeyeth his will there hoping for something where nothing is he it is that pleaseth God and shall neuer be remoued That is they shall neuer be remoued from Gods fauour they shall neuer bee remoued from the constant graces of the spirit in their soules or hurtfully in the way of a curse frō outward good estate nor vnseasonably bee cut off from the earth Now because some of these iudgments seeme sometimes to fall on some righteous persons who for a season being separated from the comfortable sight of Gods kindnes and fauor towards them and their estate in appearence is wholly ruinated Therfore the word doth well beare it agreeing with that of Salomon that the righteous shall not be remoued for euer though they seeme to be cast downe for a time yet they shall be restored againe Therfore godly men must needs be in safety because they be Gods childrē whō he in Christ hath begotten to himself by the immortall seed of the word Wee see here the constancy of Gods children The constancy of Gods children no winde of tempration can remoue or ouerthrow them they are like rockes in the sea enduring euery waue like trees planted by the riuer side Gods owne plantation they may be shaken but not ouerturned they abide rooted and stablished by the Lord such is the nature of faith that it carryeth vs out of our selues into the Lord and makes vs leane vpon him rest in him and liue in him They who abide in themselues resting in any thing that is in them either wisedome strength or merits shall be found to haue built their house on the sand which will not continue but such as goe out of themselues and trust in the Lord haue built their house on the rocke that shall neuer faile them Therfore cleaue ye fast vnto him and feare not be of good comfort though others be cursed yet you shal be blessed for you see the difference of being religious and being prophane of louing Christ loathing him this difference here will make a fearefull difference in the world to come when no man can helpe it had he the treasures of all the earth to purchase his ease with all and therefore remember your selues betimes turne to the Lord with all your hearts serue him in holines righteousnes all the dayes of your liues that so you may be blessed both here in this world and in the world to come First this may seeme to reproue that cursed yet common opinion of the world namely that of all men the godly man is most miserable We see here the Lord himselfe doth proclaime from heauen that he accounteth the godly man and him that trusts in the Lord a blessed and happy man but yet the world that is the wicked men in the world iudge and deeme the godly man wretched and miserable such a man as truely feareth God hates all iniquitie disliketh lewd company makes conscience of good duties as to pray in his family to instruct his seruants and children is diligent and carefull to frequent Sermons this man is an Owle among Birds whooted at and poynted at and of all men he most contemned But as Paul sayth thus it must bee We are brought vpon the Stage wee are made a gazing-stocke to wicked men and accounted as dung for Christs sake Secondly this may serue to stop their mouthes that say and thinke it is in vaine to serue the Lord that it is lost labour to bee religious that there is no good got by hearing of Sermons and leading of a godly life it is and euer hath beene the cursed thoughts of mans heart to thinke so as in the time of the Prophet Malachy Mal. 3.14 It is lost labour to serue the Lord and what good comes there by seruing of God So in these dayes it is cleare men thinke it is in vayne to bee religious to liue godly and in all thinges to labour to keepe fayth and a good conscience before God and men But it is manifest here that it is not in vaine to serue God nay it is that alone that bringeth a man to happinesse and true comfort here and eternall measure of glory in the world to come withall this may serue to cōfort euery child of God against all the discouragements of the world by Satan his cursed instruments Namely that whatsoeuer thy estate be Heb. 11.24.12.23 Psal 125. verse 1. neuer so poore in this world and subiect to neuer so many afflictions yet if thou be a godly man certainely then thou art blessed thou that art in Gods fauor thou that art reconciled to God in Iesus Christ and hast thy sins pardoned eternall life belongs vnto