raigne and 61. of his age Being dead his people fell to spoile all he had and left himnaked 6. Richard 1. sonne to Henry 2. having in his fathers life 1189. Iul. 6. vowed a journy to the Holy Land had his kingdome in his absence usurped by Iohn his younger brother Much trouble thence arose in England On notice thereof Richard hasted home but in the way he was taken prisoner by the Duke of Austria Whence though he were after 17 moneths imprisonment with a great ransome released and restored to the Crowne yet both he and his hingdome were in continuall trouble As he was besieging a castle which would have yeelded unto him if onely their lives might be saved but he would not accept it on any condition he was shot with a poisoned arrow and thereof died in the 10. yeare of his raigne and 45. of his age and was buried at his fathers feet whom he confessed he had betrayed 7. Iohn younger brother to the foresaid Richard notwithstanding 1199. Apr. 6. Arthur sonne to his elder brother and true heire to the Crowne by might got the Kingdome But himselfe and his subjects either with others or among themselves were in continuall broiles and had many unsuccessefull warres with French Scots and Welch He was opposed by his Lords deposed by the Pope poysoned by a Monke in the 18. yeare of his raigne and 51. of his age 8. Henry 3. eldest son of the foresaid Iohn began his 1216. Oct. 19. raigne when he was not full 10 yeares old and the State very troublesome The miseries of his raigne were almost infinite by Invasions Rebellions Exactions and the sundry calamities that follow such disasters Lewis the French King entred the land many of the Barons tooke part with him On both sides very many were slaine The King himselfe by his Barons with his brother Richard King of Almain and his sonne Prince Edward taken prisoners There were then slaine 4500. He died in the 57. yeare of his raigne and 67. of his age 9. Edward 1. was enbroiled in war against the Sarazens when his father died There he received three wounds 1272. Nov. 16 with a poisoned knife by a treacherous Assasine but by the daily licking of his ranckling wounds with the tongue of lady Elenor his wife he is said to be cured With much glory he returned home and was victorious against the Scots and Welch Yet those victories were not atchieved without the expence of much English bloud He died as he was going with a mighty host against the Scots in the 35. yeare of his raigne and 68. of his age 10. Edward 2. son to Edward 1. was one of the most miserable Kings that have raigned in England The 1307. Iul. 7. Northerne parts were over-run and harried by the Scots In the battell which was called the white battell 3000 Yorkshire men were slaine by the Scots Rob. Bruse King of Scots invading England burned all the country before him He had much civill warre with his Barons and much bloud was shed on both sides He was at length himselfe imprisoned and deposed in the 20. yeare of his raigne and 42. of his age and about 8 moneths after cruelly broached to death withan hot iron spit 11. Edward 3. son of Edward 2. came to the Crowne in 1326. Ian. 25. his fathers life-time by his fathers forced resignation thereof His raigne was indeed glorious by forraigne victories but the Kingdome was much exhausted of men and mony thorow sundry expeditions into Scotland France and Spaine which occasioned great complaints of his Subjects In his time Southampton was burnt by Pirates and Carlile with other places by the Scots to the losse and vexation of many Subjects At the time of his death all of all sorts forsooke him Onely one Priest is said to be with him when he gave up the ghost in the 51. yeare of his raigne and 65. of his age 12. Richard 2. grand-child of Edward 3. came young to 1377. Iun. 21. the Crowne and by ill counsell and ill courses occasioned many Invasions Oppressions Insurrections Rebellions and last the deposition of himselfe and untimely death Wherupon ensued that fatall division betwixt the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster in pursuit of which quarrell were 13. maine battells fought three a a a Henry 6. Edward 5. Richard 3. Kings besides himselfe b b b Hen. 6. his son Edw 5 his brother two Princes heires apparent 12 Dukes one Marquesse 18 Earles one Viscount 23 Barons besides Knights and Gentlemen innumerable were slaine Richard 2. was deposed in the 23. yeare of his raigne and murdered about five moneths after in the 34. of his age 13. Henry 4. as he got the Crowne by violence so he held it by force not without continuall feare having all his 1399. Sept. 29. raigne either warres abroad or conspiracies and insurrections at home which cost the lives of many Nobles and Commons He died in the 14. yeare of his raigne and 46 of his age 14. Henry 5. sonne to Henry 4. spent most of the time of 1412. Mar. 20. his raigne in warres in France Very victorious he was therein but hastened his death thereby and in the 10. yeare of his raigne and 34. of his age leaving his crowne to an infant What followed thereupon is now to be shewed 15. Henry 6. sonne of Henry 5. was crowned in the first 1422. Aug. 31. yeare of his age with the Crownes of two Kingdomes but that of France which his father wonne was soone lost and this of England was twice pluckt from his head in his life time Many bloudy battels were fought in England betwixt the two great factions of Yorke and Lancaster wherein many thousand subjects perished This King at length was taken and imprisoned the Queene his wife exiled his sonne and heire kild his Counsellours slaine the Crowne conferred on his corrivall in the 39. yeare of his raigne and he himselfe murdered in the 50. of his age 16. Edward 4. being of the house of Yorke obtained the Crowne with much bloud there being in one battell slaine 1460. Mar. 4. 36776 English men There were civill warres almost all his raigne He was taken and imprisoned whence escaping he was forced to fly the land but returning with much hazard to his person and death of many subjects recovered the Crowne but so as his children had little joy thereof On a sudden after a sort he died in the 23. yeare of his raigne and 41. of his age 17. Edward 5. Sonne of Edward 4. was for the space of two moneths and 16 dayes accounted King but never 1483. Apr. 9. crowned For he was murthered in the Tower in the first yeare of his raigne and 12. of his age 18. Richard 3. brother to Edward 4. a bloudy tyrant usurped the Crowne caused his Nephew then King together 1483. Iun. 22. with his brother to be murthered many of his Nobles and others
are conferred upon many of your sex 2. The excellency of your parts which enable you with judgement to read such treatises as are published to the view of all 3. The correspondency of your disposition to the most principall points of this treatise This treatise is of famine and of means to remove it or restraine it and keep it from excesse Piety towards him that causeth plenty and scarcity Prudence in well ordering present abundance Providence for the future Compassion in times of want Liberality to such as need Contentment in that whereunto God calleth Patience in all judgements Diligence in searching after the causes thereof Conscience in using the meanes warranted and sanctified for averting judgements Confidence in greatest necessities are principall points handled in this treatise The naming of the particulars is enough to give evidence of the sutablenesse of your disposition thereunto The present necessity of the times wherein bread the staffe of mans life is so scarce have drawne my thoughts to meditate on the subject matter handled in this treatise which is in one word FAMINE that I might stirre up my selfe and others to take notice of the beginning of Gods judgement that wisely we may seek the Lord betimes and use all good means for moderating and removing this instant dearth and for preventing the like or any other heavier judgment for the future So as I cannot think such a subject at such a time to be unseasonable if at least the Composer of the Treatise were able answerably to handle it But as it is I have made bold to dedicate it to your patronage whom for the reasons before rendred and many other like to them I judge to be as fit thereto as the treatise it selfe is fit for the present time In all greatefulnes it is presented unto you With all kindnes let it be accepted of you As for recompence To him that is ready graciously to accept and able plenteously to reward all goodnesse done for his sake to any of his knees are humbly bowed at the Throne of his Grace by Black Friers London 1. Ian. 1630. Your Worships Remembrancer WILLIAM GOVGE A Table of the principall Points handled in DEARTHS DEATH on II SAM XXI I. § 1. OF the meaning of the text 129 § 2. Of the resolution and observations of the text 133 § 3. Of famine a judgement 134 § 4. Of the effects of famine 135 § 5. Of preventing famine by procuring plenty 138 § 6. Of the sinnes which cause famine 139 § 7. Of moderating a famine 141 § 8. Of removing famine 143 § 9. Of promises for succour in famine 145 § 10. Of instances of Gods preserving in famine and removing famine 146 § 11. Of famine in a pious polity 147 § 12. Of the causes of judgements under good Gouernors 147 § 13. Of punishing predecessours sinnes in their successours time 148 § 14. Of mis-judging a profession by outward judgments 150 § 15. Of duties which judgements under pious Princes require 151 § 16. Of long continued famine 152 § 17. Of duties by reason of long famine 153 § 18. Of searching out causes of judgements 154 § 19. Of Governours care in publique judgements 155 § 20. Of seeking to God for removing judgements 157 § 21. Of Gods causing famine 157 § 22. Of the meanes of famine ordered by God 158 § 23. Of enquiring of God in and by his Word 161 § 24. Of the extremity of famine in the last siege of Ierusalem 163 § 25. Of extremity of famine where were no invasions of enemies nor sieges but immediately from Gods hand 168 § 26. Of famines in England 170 § 27. Of uses to be made of the terriblenesse of famine 171 DEARTHS DEATH OR A Removall of Famine gathered out of II SAM XXI I. §. 1. Of the meaning of this text 2 SAM 21. 1. Then there was a famine in the dayes of David three yeares yeare after yeare and David enquired of the Lord. A Remedy for a famine is here set before us Such a remedy as removed the famine where it was used For it is said a Verse 14. After that God was entreated for the land that is such satisfaction being made for the sin which provoked Gods wrath and brought the famine upon the land Gods wrath was appeased and thereupon the famine removed b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exoratus The word translated entreated signifieth by entreaty to be moved to do what is desired Now David besought the Lord to remove that famine and God granted his desire c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The first particle is a copulative particle and properly signifieth and yet is it oft used as a conjunction of time especially when it coupleth histories together Therefore not unfitly is it here translated then But great question is moved about the time when this famine In what yeare of David the famine began should be Whether after all the forementioned histories of Absaloms rebellion and Shebaes defection or before them That which hath given occasion to this question is a computation of time set downe for the beginning of Absaloms rebellion thus And it came to passe after forty yeares that 2 Sam. 15. 7. Absalom said c. Those forty yeares are supposed to be the forty yeares of Davids raigne Which if it be granted this famine can neither follow after Absaloms rebellion nor be about that time For David raigned but forty yeares and this famine continued three yeares To take away all question some say that this and other histories following to the end of this booke are not set downe in just order of time but as memorable matters are e Per 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pet. Mart. Comment in hunc loc Tremel Iunius an notat in 2 Sam. 24 1. utraque haec historia aempe de Fame Peste per 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 temporum ultimoloco penitur added after the former histories that depended one upon another It cannot be denied but that the Scripture sometimes so transposeth histories Neither will I much contend about the transposing of these histories No great inconvenience will follow thereupon Yet the ground of all seemeth not to be very sound For by many arguments it may be evinced that those forty yeares before mentioned are not to be accounted the forty yeares of Davids raigne For first beside that there is no mention of Davids raigne in that place the phrase is thus expressed in the originall f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a fine 40 annorū From the end of forty yeares Now it s more probable that David ended his raigne rather within the forty yeares then beyond them Because both in sacred Scripture and other writings the yeare wherein a King dieth is computed in the yeares of his raigne so as if David had raigned full forty yeares and entred into another yeare he would in a round reckoning have beene said to have raigned one and forty yeares Now if Absalom began
bello Iud. l. 7. c. 8. Fame tantopere invalescente homines victus ratioxe mutata in aegritudines inciderunt Niceph. Eccl. Hist l. 15. c. 10. Pestilentia semper famem penuriam sequitur Hier. Com. in Ezek. 16. l. 4 Majorem habet poen am languor diuturnus quam citissimuus exitus Aug. Epist 122 ad Victorian Quidam pallidi summe macilenti perinde atq simulachra quaedam rerum omnium egeni hinc inde oberrantes proni in trivijs ipsis concidebant Niceph. Ecclesiast Hist l. 7. c. 28. flesh Zac. 11. 9. and not to spare the nearest and dearest they have For it causeth husbands to eate the flesh of their wives wives of their husbands parents of their children tender mothers of their children new borne Deut. 28. 54 55 56 57. There is an expresse instance of this kinde of inhumanity in the siege of Samaria 2 King 6. 29. Read also Lam. 2. 20. 9. It moveth men to eate their owne flesh Isa 9. 20. Eccl. 4. 5. This hath beene oft observed of such as have beene hanged alive in chaines 10. It procureth sundry diseases Among other sicknesses the infectious and mortall and most uncomfortable sicknesse the pestilence followeth most commonly on famine Experience of all ages hath given evidence to the truth hereof 11. It causeth the most miserable death that can be It first taketh away all the glory and beauty of a creature it maketh the flesh to pine all away and the skin to cleave to the bones Then commeth on a lingring death more intolerable then any speedy torture The Prophet thus with much passion and compassion sets it out The Nazarites were purer then snow they were whiter then milke they were more ruddy in body then rubies their polishing was of saphire Their visage is blacker then a cole they are not knowne in the streets their skin cleaveth to their bones it is withered it is become like a stick Lam. 4. 7 8. And againe Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine Lam. 5. 10. Hence he maketh this inference They that are slaine with the sword are better then they that are slaine with hunger for these pine away c. Lam. 4. 9. Our Ecclesiasticall histories also relate that in time of famine men being pale and extremely leane even as very images destitute of all things wandred up and downe fell groveling in the streets c. §. 5. Of preventing famine by procuring plenty FAmine being a judgement and as by the fore-named effects thereof is evident a fearefull judgement it will be our wisdome to do what in us lieth to prevent it or to * Sec § 7. moderate it or to * Sec §. 8. remove it For preventing Famine we must 1. Observe such duties as procure plenty Plenty how procured 2. Avoid such sinnes as cause famine For procuring and continuing plenty a Col 1. 10. Walke worthy of the Lord unto all well pleasing being fruitfull in every good worke Thus the Lord finding thee to be a fertile soile he will sow all manner of needfull seed plentifully in thee To this worthy walking is in particular required 1. An acknowledgement that the plenty which thou hast commeth from God Hereof we have a worthy patterne in him who said to the Lord b Psal 145. 15 16. The eyes of all waite upon thee and thou givest them their meate in due season thou openest thine hand and satisfiest the desire of every living thing 2. Thanksgiving to God for what thou hast and for the refreshing and benefit thou reapest thereby c Deut. 8. 10. This is expresly commanded to this end 3. An using of what thou hast to the glory of God accorcording to this Apostolicall direction d 1 Cor. 10. 31. Whether you eate or drinke or whatsoever you do do all to the glory of God Gods creatures are used to his glory when besides the fore-mentioned acknowledgement of Gods providence in giving them and blessing him for them we endeavour in the use and strength of them to be the better enabled to do that worke which God appointeth us to do And when we bestow some of that which God bestoweth on us upon pious uses which after a peculiar manner tend to the honour of his name To this tendeth Salomons advice e Prov. 3. 9. Honour the Lord with thy substance f 10. Mal. â— 10. Plenty is expressely promised hereunto 4. Charity to the poore Thus thou sowest such seed as will bring forth a plentifull crop To this kind of seed the Apostle applieth this proverbe g 2 Cor. 9. 6. He that soweth bountifully shall reape bountifully Somewhat more directly saith the Wiseman h Prov. 11. 25. The liberall soule shal be made fat and he that watereth shal be also watered himselfe 5. Providence in laying up against a deare yeare Thus Vir justus providet multo antea quo futurae penuriae succurri possit Chrys Hom 64 in Gen. 41. may the abundance of one yeare make supply of scarcity in another yeare and future want be prevented By such a provident care in summer Bees Ants and other like unreasonable creatures have abundance in winter i Pro 6. 6. To such creatures we are sent for instruction k Gen. 41. 48 54. Ioseph by such a provident care brought it to passe that when a dearth was in all lands there was bread in all the land of Egypt And if the famine had not continued so long as it did the store which Ioseph laid up might have made plenty notwithstanding a yeares famine or more §. 6. Of the sinnes which cause famine 2. THe sinnes which cause famine are in generall a Lev. 26. 26. Deu. 28. 23 38 Peccata gravia nec nitra nec herba bovis dâ—lui possunt sed gravioribus tormen lis indigent Hier. Com. lib. 1. in Hier. 2. all such notorious publique crying sinnes as so farre incense the wrath of God as thereby he is provoked to execute some publique and heavy judgement whereof famine is one and not one of the least as hath beene b § 3. 4. before shewed These sinnes are c Sec A Plaister for the Plague on Num. 16. 46 § 45. Dei beneficia ad i'los referunt qui cultorum suorum animas perdiderunt Hier. Comment lib 1. in Os. 2. elsewhere reckoned up The particular sinnes which the Holy Ghost noteth in speciall manner to be fore-runners and causes of famine are these that follow and such like 1. Superstitious attributing of plenty to other authors then to the onely God from whom all plenty commeth So did the Iewes that said d Ier. 44. 17. When we burnt incense and powred out drinke offerings to the Queene of heaven we had plenty of victuals Hereupon e 26 27. the Lord sware that they should die of famine So where Israel said f Hos 2. 5. My lovers gave me my bread and my water my
rest she reserved covered Presently came the seditious smelling the sent of that execrable meat threatning presently to kill her except she forthwith brought some of that unto them which she had prepared Then she answered that she had reserved a good portion thereof for them and presently uncovered that part of her sonne which she had left uneaten at which sight they trembled and a horrour fell upon them But the woman said this is truly my sonne and my doing eat you of it for I my selfe have eaten thereof Be not more effeminate then a woman nor more mercifull then a mother If Religion make you refuse this my sacrifice I have already eaten of it and will eate the rest Then the seditious departed hereat onely trembling and scarcely permitting this meate to the mother Presently the report of this hainous crime was bruited all about the City and every man having before his eyes this excerable fact trembled as though himselfe had done it And now all that were vexed with this famine Chrys advers vitup vitae monast l. 1. Euseb Hist Eccles l. 3. c. 6. Niceph. Hist Eccles l 3 c 7. hastned their owne deaths and he was accounted happy that died before he felt this famine This history of a mothers eating her own child is related also by Chrysostome Eusebius Nicephorus and other ancients §. 25. Of extremity of famine where were no invasions of enemies nor sieges but immediately from Gods hand TO the fore-mentioned extremity of famine caused in Ierusalem by reason of enemies blocking them up it will not be unseasonable to adde a relation out of our Ecclesiasticall histories of extreme famine where were no enemies that we who perhaps do by reason of our long continued peace thinke our selves secure enough from feare of enemies may notwithstanding feare Gods more immediate revenging hand even by famine now beginning after that the plague is mitigated The history is this The inhabitants of the cities of Maximinus sore pined away with famine and pestilence so that one measure of Euseb Eccles Hist l 9. c. 8. Niceph. Eccles Hist l. 7. c 28. Famine and Plague together wheat was sold for two thousand and fifty Attiques An infinite number died throughout the Cities but more throughout the countries and villages so that now the sundry and ancient demaines of husbandmen were in a manner quite done away for that all suddenly through want of food and grievous malady of the Pestilence were perished Many therefore sought to sell unto the wealthier sort for most Dearest things sold for slender food slender food the dearest things they enjoyed Others selling their possessions by peeces fell at length into the miserable perill of extreme poverty others gnawing the small shreded tops of greene grasse and withall confusedly feeding on certaine venomous herbes used them for food whereby Vnwholsome things eaten Noble women forced to beg the healthy constitution of the body was perished and turned to poison Diverse noble women throughout the cities driven to extreme need and necessity went a begging into the country shewing forth by their reverend countenance and more gorgeous apparell an example of that ancient and free manner of feeding Certaine others whose strength was dried up tottering to and fro nodding and sliding much like carved pictures without life being not able to stand sell downe flat in the midst of the streets groveling upon the ground with their faces upward and stretched out armes making humble supplication that some one would reach them a little peece of bread and thus lying in extremity ready to yeeld up the ghost cried out that they were hungry Cries of the starved being onely able to utter these words Others which seemed to be of the wealthier sort amazed at the multitude of beggers after they had distributed infinitely they put on an unmercifull Famine makes unmercifull and sturdy mind fearing least they should shortly suffer the like need with them that craved Wherefore in Dead lie in streets the midst of the market place and throughout narrow lanes the dead and bare carcasses lay many dayes unburied and cast along which yeelded a miserable spectacle to the beholders Yea many became food unto dogs for which cause chiefly Men food for dogs such as lived turned themselves to kill dogs fearing least they should become mad and turne themselves to teare in peeces and devoure men And no lesse truly did the plague Plague kils such as are kept from famine spoile every house and age but specially devouring them whom famine through want of food could not destroy Therefore the rich the Princes the Presidents and many of the Magistrates as fit people for a pestilent disease because they were not pinched with penury suffered a sharpe and most swift death All sounded of lamentation throughout every narrow lane the market places and streets There was nothing to be seene but weeping together with their wonted pipes and the rest of Minstress noise Death after this waging battell with double armour to wit with famine and pestilence destroyed in short space whole families §. 26. Of famines in England TO other instances of great famines let me adde such as have hapned in England that therby we may the better discern what we in this our owne country are subject unto In King William the Conquerours daies there was such a Stow in his generall Chrō of Engl. In the 5. yeare of W. Conq. 1069. dearth thorow all England especially thorow Northumberland and the countries next adjoyning that men were faine to eate horse-flesh cats dogs and mans flesh For all the land that lay betwixt Durham and Yorke lay waste without Inhabitants and people to till the ground for the space of nine yeares except onely the territory of Beverlake In King Henry the thirds raigne was a great dearth and pestilence so that many poore folks died for want of victuals Ibid. H. 3. 18. 1234. Vermine in corne hoorded up in time of dearth and the rich men were striken with covetousnesse that they would not relieve them Amongst these is to be noted Walter Grey Arch-Bishop of Yorke whose corne being five yeares old doubting the same to be destroyed by vermine he commanded to deliver it to the husbandmen that dwelt in his mannours upon condition to pay as much new corne after harvest and would give none to the poore for Gods sake But when men came to a great stack of corne nigh to the towne of Ripon belonging to the said Arch-bishop there appeared in the sheaves all over the heads of wormes serpents and toads And the Bailiffes were forced to build an high wall round about the corne and then to set it on fire least the venomous wormes should have gone out and poysoned the corne in other places In King Edward the second his daies a great dearth increased Ibid. Edw. 2. 9. 1315. Dearth thorow abundance of raine in harvest Horses dogs children men eaten through the abundance
to be put to death so as all his raigne death and slaughter never ceased till himselfe was slaine and brought like an hog all bare on an horses backe to his grave in the 3. yeare of his raigne and about the 40. of his age 19. Henry 7 the next living heire of the house of Lancaster having vanquished Richard 3. obtained the Crowne 2485. Aug. 22. maried Elizabeth the heire of the house of Yorke and therby united those two distracted houses Yet was not his raigne without troubles The Crowne being gotten with hazard and much bloud he was maligned by the Dutches of Burgundy who set up first a Lambert then a Perkin Warbeck to disquiet him Warres he had in France Insurrections there were in the North Rebellions in Cornwall besides many grievances which his Subjects complained of He died in the 24. yeare of his raigne and 52. of his age 20. Henry 8. sonne of Henry 7. by a just title came to a 1509. Apr. 22. setled throne He that will read Sir Walter Raleighs preface to his history shall see enough if not too much of the tronbles of this Kings times He ended his reigne and life in the 38. yeare of his raigne and 56. of his age 21. Edward 6. sonne of Henry 8. in his childhood came 1546. Ian. 28. to the crowne yet in his daies the brightnesse of the Gospell shined forth but so as there wanted not clouds of troubles The Kingdome being engaged in warre with France and Scotland the country troubled with insurrections in Norfolke and Devonshire and the Court and Counsell distracted into faction whereby the Kings two uncles the Lord Protector and Lord Admirall came to violent deaths which hastened or hindred not the Kings and that in the 7. yeare of his raigne and 17. of his age 22. Mary eldest daughter to Henry 8. came with much 1553. Iul. 6. difficulty to the Crowne Another Queene was first proclaimed at London But that storme lasted not long for 9 dayes after at London also was Mary proclaimed Queene As for the continuance of her raigne some may remember most have heard and all may read how dangerous and dolefull those smoaky daies were Many hundreds were burnt then for the Gospell sake many more were forced to fly their country and exile themselves Callis that for very many yeares before had appertained to the English was lost which losse is thought to make so dead a wound in her heart as it could never be healed In the last period of Queene Maries daies many imprisoned and adjudged to the fire for the cause aforesaid were released by her departure out of this world in the 6. yeare of her raigne and 43. of her age Though God were pleased to cause the light of his Gospell to appeare in King Edwards daies yet for a surer setling of it he suffers it to be sealed by the bloud of many worthy Martyrs in Queene Maries daies Since which time to the immortall glory of God and the eternall salvation of many thousand soules it hath beene continued among us 63. yeares So Lord let it continue till the comming of thy Sonne unto judgement By this briefe narration of the troubles of former times let any indifferent Reader judge if God have not reserved us to the best times that ever England had both in regard of the Gospell of peace so long enjoyed and also in regard of the peace of the land so long continued The benefit wherof followeth next to be declared §. 96. Of peace and the benefits thereof * * * See §. 88. The last conclusion which as a just consequence I inferre from the evills of warre is this VI. PEace is a good thing Warre and Peace are contrary each to other As many evills arise from warre so many benefits from peace Good therefore it is as in the kind of it so in the effects that arise from it By peace lands are freely tilled orchards gardens vineyards and other like fruitfull places tended all manner of cattell encreased all kind of trading followed inheritances and what els of right appertaineth to men quietly possessed by the true owners thereof children well educated old men well nourished Schooles and Vniversities maintained The Gospell with free liberty preached all Gods ordinances observed good lawes duly executed wrong doers suppressed men respected according to their places and dignities opportunity afforded for exercising such abilities as God bestoweth on any mutuall communion made of such good gifts as God in any kind conferreth on severall persons poore men set to worke and relieved plenty procured meanes for sicknesse and all manner of maladies afforded decent buriall performed and many other like benefits obtained of all which by warre men are very oft spoiled and deprived Peace is the maine end of just and lawfull warre All the benefits * * * § 17. before noted to arise from warre are enjoyed in peace and are therefore attributed to war as effects thereof because by warre peace is procured and secured No marvell then that Christians are so much called upon a a a Rom 12. 18. If it be possible and as much as in them lieth to have peace with all men And that b b b Mat. 5. 9. the peacemakers are pronounced blessed And c c c Pro. 12. 20. joy is to the counsellours of peace And it is an usuall blessing to say d d d 1 Sam. 25. 6. 1 Chro. 12. 18. Peace be to you Yea e e e Deut. 20 10. Pax concordia omnibus hominibus amantur omnibus hominibus sunt necessariae Bern de modo benè viv Serm. 7. God would have peace proclaimed to enemies before they were invaded by warre Peace is it that is loved of all and is necessary for all Peace as an especiall blessing of God hath in all ages beene promised by God to his Church Lev. 26. 6. 1 Chro. 22. 9. 2 King 22. 20. Isa 26. 12. Prophets have thereupon incited Gods people to pray for peace as for a blessing Psal 122. 6 7. Ier. 29. 7. Yea Angels do desire peace on earth Luk. 2. 34. Peace according to Gods owne promise and his peoples prayers hath as a blessing beene given them Iud. 3. 11 30. 1 King 4. 24. 2 Chro. 17. 10. Saints have answerably been thankfull unto God for peace as for a great blessing Psal 29. 11. 55. 18. 147. 14. On the contrary God hath threatned as a judgement to the wicked that they shall have no peace Ier. 12. 1◠30. 5. Rev. 6. 4. And as a judgement peace hath been taken away from people Ier. 16. 5. Such is the excellency of peace as the high and great Lord is stiled f f f Rom 15. 33. the God of peace g g g 2 Thess 3. 16. the Lord of peace and his Sonne h h h Luke 10. 6. the Sonne of peace i i i Isa 9 6. a Prince of peace
will we shall live and do this or that This is not to be taken as if we should to every sentence that we utter adde this clause If God will but that we should be so well instructed in the divine Providence as to know nothing can be done without the will of God and thereupon ever to have in our minds that reservation If the Lord will Thus by submitting our wills to Gods will we shal be sure both to have our wills effected yea also that to be effected which is the best Gods will will we nill we shal be accomplished If then we will nothing but that which may stand with Gods will in the effecting of Gods will our will must needs be effected And because Gods will ordereth and disposeth all things to the best on the same ground that which we will must needs fall out to the best But suppose our will should wish any thing that God would not have what skilleth it We may know what we would have but God knoweth what we should and shall have It is therefore much better that our purpose and desire be crossed if at least it be contrary to Gods then effected If Gods counsell and determination be accomplished as accomplished it shal be it is enough My will therefore shall take the pattern of our Saviours for her guide and in all cases say as he did in a most extreme case O my Father not as I will but as thou wilt Mat. 26. 39. O how impious sacrilegious and blasphemous yea atheisticall and Luciferian was that speech of a Pope who being forbid by his Physitian a meat that he liked replied that Iulius 3. he would have it in despite of God Such are the thoughts if not the speeches of many presumptuous spirits §. 11. Of Contentednesse VII * * * See §. 5. COntentednesse is requisite in all estates The extent of Gods Providence giving evidence to Gods disposing and ordering all estates if men rest not content in their estate they manifest a discontent at his Providence Surely he had an eye on Gods Providence ordering his estate who in his great affliction said a a a Psal 39 9. I was dumbe and opened not my mouth because thou Lord diast it And he who having heard a judgement denounced against him which would make a mans eare to tingle againe replied b b b 1 Sam. 3. 18. It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good In like manner c c c 2 Sam. 15. 26. 16. 11. David d d d Iob 1. 21. Iob e e e Isa 39. 8. Hezekiah and others manifested great contentednes in great extremities But most pertinent to our purpose is this of S. Paul f f f Phil. 4 11 12. I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and to suffer need g g g 1 Tim. 6. 10. Heb. 13 5. To this contentednesse we are all exhorted by him that had so well learned it himselfe Well it beseemeth the sonnes of God children that have so high and heavenly so potent so prudent so provident a Father whose Providence extends it selfe as to all creatures not the least excepted so to every thing that appertaineth to them seeme it never so small as to their haire the number and colour thereof and to the just pitch of their stature well I say it beseemeth children that have such a Father to rest contented with that estate wherein he setteth them Whatsoever the present estate of Saints is God hath set them therein On this ground as when we are in high and honourable places when we abound in wealth when we have good health when we enjoy peace or any manner of prosperity we ought to be perswaded that these are good for us so on the other side when we are in meane places when we are pinched with poverty when we are visited with sicknesse when we are molested with sundry troubles when we are pressed with all manner of adversity to be perswaded that even these latter estates are best for us at that time when and so long as we are in them For our estate of what kind or condition soever it be is disposed by our Father before mentioned and he knoweth what is fitter for us then we can know Therfore the Lord here in this text speaking of the extent of the divine Providence putteth them in mind of this Father saying A sparrow shall not fall to the ground without YOVR FATHER Faith herein will make us thankfull for all manner of prosperity as proportioned out unto us in wisdome and love by this our Father and patient under all manner of adversity as laid upon us in like wisdome and love by the very same Father This is rightly and truly to be * * * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 praesentibus content with things present or with such things as for the present we have or with the estate wherein for the time we are §. 13. Of ascribing the glory of all deliverances to God VIII * * * See §. 5. THe glory of all deliverances is to be ascribed to God For by that Providence which extends it selfe to all things deliverances from enemies from dangers from distresses from all manner of evils are obtained But that is the Providence of God To whom then if not to him shall the glory thereof be ascribed Hereof we have spoken * * * The Churches Conquest on Exo. 17. 15. §. 77. before Onely here learne we to apply this generall point to such particular deliverances as God hath given unto us Considering therefore that this our land which hath now for many yeares enjoyed the bright pure comforting sanctifying and saving light of the Gospell lay for many hundred yeares together in the dismall and damnable darknesse of Popery we are oft to call to mind and duly to meditate on the means and times whereby and wherein the divine providence hath brought into our land this light to discover and drive away that worse then Egyptian darknesse of Popery For instances take these 1. Iohn Wickliffe about the yeare 1371 in the raigne of Edward 3. even in the midst of popish darknesse held out the light of the Gospell wherewith many in those dayes were enlightned This fire by the abundance of ashes which the Romish Clergy heaped upon it lay after the death of Iohn Wickliffe smothered up yet were those ashes raked away about 40 yeares after by Iohn Hus and the sparkes of that fire so blowne up as dazled the eyes of the Papists and made them mad againe against those that laboured to bring out those sparks 2. Henry 8. disanulling the Popes usurped authority in England had by Act of Parliament the title of Supreme An. Dom. 1534 Head of the
27. Of using warrantable meanes to pacifie Gods wrath II. * See §. 25. SVch means must be used to pacifie Gods wrath as by Gods Word are warranted Of old before Gods will was so fully revealed and recorded as now it is Saints were wont to seeke extraordinary direction of God As a Gen. 25. 22. Rebekah when she felt children strugling together within her and b Ios. 7. 6. Ioshua when Israel fled before the men of Ai and c Iudg. 20. 28. the other Tribes that fought against the Benjamites and d 2 Sam 21. 1. David when there was a famine in his land and others on other like occasions The ordinary course under the Law was as this here prescribed by Moses in this particular case for which there was e Lev. 16. 12. before a more generall Law so burnt offerings in which respect David gave this advice to Saul f 1 Sam. 26. 19. If the Lord have stirred thee up against me let him smell an offering g Gen. 8. 20 21 Noah therefore after that great evidence of Gods wrath the flood offered burnt offerings and it is said that The Lord smelled a sweet savour So h 2 Sam. 24. 25. David and that by the advice of a Prophet to pacifie the wrath of God manifested by a fierce Plague offered burnt offerings What burnt offerings set forth As the incense was a type of the intercession of Christ so burnt offerings of the satisfactory expiatory and propitiatory sacrifice of Christ Iesus Yea they were also visible demonstrations of mans guiltinesse For the beast laid on the altar there lay in his stead that brought it and shewed what he had deserved namely not onely to be consumed here in materiall fire but also for ever to be tormented in infernall fire and the penitents bringing of his offering was a profession of his owne guiltinesse This by the way concerning the end of those offerings which were used to pacifie Gods wrath As for the generall point that meanes used to pacifie God must be such as are warranted in two especiall respects it appeares to be most equall 1. In regard of God who is to be pacified 2. In regard of man who is to pacifie him Gods will till he himselfe reveale it is secret his counsell unsearchable For Rom. 11. 34. who hath knowne the mind of the Lord or who hath beene his counseller None therefore can tell what may please or appease him till he make it knowne of himselfe As for men Rom. 1. 21. They are vaine in their imaginations and their foolish heart is darkened How then can they of themselves invent or conceive what may be well-pleasing to the most wise God Take a view of all humane inventions whether of heathens or others and you shall find them all to be very toyes much unbeseeming Gods excellent Majesty yea such as give no satisfaction to wise men that duly observe them no nor to the inventers themselves and therefore they are still thinking of adding altering and taking away By mans inventions Gods wrath is more incensed then appeased In vaine saith the Lord Mat. 15. 9. do they worship me teaching for doctrines the commandements of men §. 28. Of sacrificing humane bloud to pacifie God In Navigat Hispan sub Car. 5. Imper. in insula Carolina mactatio hominum legitur Carthaginenses Saturno excellentiores è filijs suis sacrificabaÌ„t Diodor. Sic. lib 20. WHo can sufficiently wonder at the vaine and foolish wit of men in inventing such meanes and courses to pacifie Gods wrath as are so farre from being agreeable to his will and warrantable by his word as they are cleane contrary thereunto and in that respect must needs incense his wrath more and more The Heathen of old were wont to sacrifice children virgins men and such like kinds of humane bloud which the Iewes giving themselves over to all Heathenish idolatry learned of them For where * 2 King 16. 3. the Heathen gave their children to Molech a 1 King 11. 7. the Idoll of the Ammonites which is supposed to be Saturne b Ier. 31. 35. the Iewes also did so not withstanding that c Lev. 18. 21. the Lord had expresly forbid them so to do and d Lev. 20. 2. Pater silium tradebat sacerdotibus qui faciebant dues rogos magnos inter hos puerum traducebant Et quidam moriebantur quidam superpius manebant Si pater unum ex si ijs traduceret reli quos sire salvos patrem in om nibus oe icem putabant made a capitall law against all that should so do As for the Heathen they had their Oracles at which they used to aske counsell and take advice in all their weighty exploits and in all their difficulties and distresses as e Num. 27. 21. Iudg 20. 18. the people of God were wont to aske counsell of the Lord. The Heathen supposed that God gave counsell at those Oracles but it was the Devill himselfe who most egregiously seduced them For the Holy Ghost calleth false gods f Deut. 32. 17. 2 Chro. 11. 15. Psal 10â— 37. 1 Cor. 10. 20 Rev 9. â—0 Devils Now g Joh 8. 44. â—â—ge Euripidis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cicero Offic. lib 3. the Devill hath beene a murtherer from the beginning and ever thirsted after mans bloud No marvell then that the counsell and advice of these oracles was that for appeasing wrath or removing calamities mans bloud should be sacrificed As of old when the Grecians were to depart after they had burnt Troy but were hindred by crosse and boisterous winds their Priest told them that their Kings daughter must be sacrificed which thereupon the foolish King suffered to be done a Ovid. Metam lib 13 sab 2. Polyxena also the daughter of Priamus and Hecuba is said to be sacrificed to appease the Ghost of Achilles b Victima vel Phabo sacra mâ—cteris ad 〈◊〉 Quam tulit à sae vo Theudalus hoste necem Ovid. in Ibin Theudatus or Theodatus King of the Bactrians is recorded to be sacrificed by Arsace King of Persia to Apollo after he had overcome him in battell c Frater ut Ancae quo sanguine debuit aras Tinxit c. Ibid. Pigmalion is said usually to sacrifice men to the gods d Vt qui Bistaniae templo caecidere Minervae Ibid The Bistans a people of Thrace made a law to sacrifice strangers to their gods e Quique Theonteae Taurica sacra Doae Ibid. Taurica Chersonesus a country in the North part of Europe now by some called Tartarica the lesse had inhabitants that also were wont to sacrifice strangers to Diana f Aut te devoveat certis Ahdera diebus Saxâ—â— devotum grandme plura petant Ibid. The men of Abdera a city of Thrace had a custome every first day of the yeare to stone a man to death and to sacrifice him to the
gods for a prosperous successe of that yeare g Hered lib. 4. The Seythians are reported to sacrifice every hundreth man of the captives that they tooke h Plutatch Paral 38. Dosith lib. 3. rer Sicut It is recorded that a Plague was raised in Syracuse for incest committed by a father with his daughter and that counsell being asked of the Oracle answer was made that both Father and Daughter must be sacrificed to the Gods i Many more like instances to like purpose may be given but these are sufficient to discover the blindnesse and sottishnesse of the Heathen in seeking to pacifie God with such things as could not but much incense him §. 29. Of Popish toyes to pacifie God PApists also go two farre in using unwarrantable meanes such as cannot but kindle and inflame the fire of Gods wrath to pacifie the same as mens and womens whipping of themselves wearing shirts of haire going barefoot so many miles creeping up and downe to this and that place on their bare knees going long journies on pilgrimage to reliques and images of Saints to the holy land and if they be not inhabitants of Rome even thither also to visit it giving up their lands if they have any yea and leaving their callings to enter into and abide in some religious house as Monastry Fryery Nunnery Hermitage or the like going up and downe to beg living on almes offering such and such summes of money at such and such religious places forbearing such and such meates mumbling over so and so many times the Creed Pater noster and Ave-Maria and to do what els their Ghostly Father shall enjoyne them by way of pennance though it be to murther Kings or other persons Yea further wherein they go in inhumane cruelty beyond the Heathen in persecuting with fire and sword such as refuse to be subject to their Devilish devices a Neque vero securior ulla via in Ecclesia Dei unquam existimata fuit ad amovendam imminentem à Domino poenam quam ut haec paenitentiae opera homines cum vero animi dolore frequentent Concil Trid Sess 14. cap. 8 9. The Councill of Trent saith of some of these and other like workes of penitency as it cals them that never any safer way to avert the vengeance of God was found out in the Church b Haec ipsa opero quatenus quoad certum modum in particulari divinitus mandata non sunt grata sunt Deo sancta vtilia Bellarm. de Poenit. lib 4. cap. 6. Et paulo ante satisfactoria esse affirmat And her great Champion though he confesse that they are not commanded of God onely he thus minceth the matter after a certaine manner in particular not commanded yet he boldly avoucheth that they are acceptable to God and holy and profitable yea and satisfactory What Gods vengeance to be turned away by humane inventions Humane inventions to satisfie Divine justice Nor the excellency of the Divine Majesty will admit nor the vanity of humane apprehensions can invent any such satisfactions any such meanes as to avert such wrath The least that can be said of the best of the fore-said meanes of satisfaction is that of the Prophet c Isa 1. 12. who hath required them They may have d Col. 2. 23. a shew of wisdome in will-worship and humility and neglecting of the body not in any honour For they are vile and abominable in Gods sight §. 30. Of performing things warrantable with due circumstances III. * See § 25. THings warrantable in their substance must be performed with warrantable circumstances The many circumstances which God prescribed for doing the things which he enjoyned give proofe hereof For why should the Divine wisdome be so carefull in prescribing circumstances if man might be carelesse in observing them Where the Lord enjoyneth the celebration of the Passeover he thus expresseth it a Num. 9. 3. In the foureteenth day of this moneth at even ye shall keepe it in his appointed season according to all the rites of it and according to all the ceremonies thereof shall ye keepe it If men failed in circumstances they were punished as if they had neglected the circumstance Instance b Lev. 10. 1. Nadab and Abihu that offered incense with strange fire and David and the Priests in his time that c 2 Sam. 6. 3. caried the Arke in a cart which d Num. 7. 9. Exo. 25. 14. Num. 4. 15. Deut. 10. 8. Ios 3. 3. should have beene caried on mens shoulders Wherefore David being better instructed by the visible evidence of Gods displeasure on Vzzah saith afterwards e 1 Chro. 15. 13 The Lord made a breach upon us for that we sought him not after the due order c. God having prescribed circumstances as well as substances to neglect the one or the other is to crosse his sacred will Yea to do things otherwise then he hath appointed when he hath appointed the rites and manner of doing any thing is to make our selves wiser then God Papists failings in mateall circumstances In this respect we have just cause to separate from the Remish Church though it be granted that for substance they hold many of Christs ordinances They have the Word read and prayers in their Churches but in an unknowne tongue which takes away the benefit thereof They acknowledge Christ their Mediatour High-Priest Head and Prophet but in that they joyne Saints in heaven as Mediatours men on earth as true proper sacrificing Priests their Pope a Spirituall head over the whole Church and give him power to coine new articles of faith they over-throw the forenamed Orthodoxall substances by these hereticall circumstances So the substance of Baptisme which they retaine they impeach by their additions of creame spittle and other like foolish inventions and by their false positions about the absolute necessity and operative efficacy of the externall worke The like might be exemplified in other ordinances What warrant have they for creeping to images prostrating their bodies before them offering to them going on pilgrimages wearing haire-shirts going barefoot whipping themselves mewing themselves up in cloisters caves Hermitages with an infinite number of their owne inventions Is God pacified with these Can such things appease his wrath What then can be expected for the performance of their ordinances but this doome of the high Indge Mat. 159. In vaine they do worship me teaching for doctrines the commandements of men And this Isa 1. 12. who hath required this of your hand Gospellers failings in mate riall circumstances I would to God there were no occasion among us given to feare the like doome True it is that we have by the Divine providence more and better light then Papists have whereby the vanity of their unwarrantable additions to Gods ordinances are discovered and abandoned yet many offer up their incense without fetching fire from the Lords altar For some
creature Quest. What may be thought of stratagems used in warre such as g g g Gen. 14 15. Abrahams setting upon his enemies by night h h h Ios 8 3 c. Ioshuaes sending men by night to lie in wait against Ai and when the men of warre were drawne out of it to set the city on fire i i i Iudg 1. 24. The house of Iosephs inticing of a man of Luz to shew them the way into the city where he dwelt whereby they had opportunity to smire the city k k k 3 21. Cum justum bellum susciperit utrum apertâ pugnâ utrum in sidijs vincat ni hil ad justitiam interest Aug. Quaest super Ios l. 6. c. 10. Prudentiâ— fortitudinis est vel decipere vel supe rare adversarium uâ—cunque potueris Hier. Comment l. 5. in Ezech. c. 17 Ehuds sudden and secret thrusting of his dagger into Eglons belly and other like warlike wiles what may be thought of these are they to be reckoned in the number of base advantages Answ No if they have any speciall direction from God or inward motion of his Spirit as Ioshua and Ehud had or if at least the warre be just and no falshood envy malice cruelty or inhumanity be mixed with the wiles that are used For these are the things that make advantages to be base The mind of him that takes such advantages is a base mind he hath no respect to points of honour and honesty as was before noted § 4. a a a Nemo qui fortitudinis gloriam consecutus est insidijs maliciâ laudeÌ„ est adeptus Cic. Offic. l 1. No man no not among the Heathen that got the glory of valour got praise by treacheries and malice They hated treacherie and all base advantages If any of the adverse part offered to act a perfidious part such was the true valorous mind of some of them as they would returne the perfidious person to his owne Lord and Master of him to receive condigne punishment Among others memorable is the patterne of Curius in this point b b b Dux Romano rum cum ad cum adversarij regis medicus advenisset pollicens daturum se regi venenum vinctuÌ„ cuÌ„ ad ho steÌ„ remisit Amb. Offic. l. 3. c. 14. That Romane Captaine when the Physitian of the adverse King came to him and promised to poyson his Lord he sent him bound back again to the enemy As memorable is the practice of the whole Senate of Rome in that kind For when Camillus the Consul encamped against the Falcisci a traiterous Schoole master who had most of the Noble-mens children committed to his tuition under pretence of carying them forth to walke brought them into the enemies Flor Histor Rom l. 1. c. 12. tents that his countrimen might thereupon bee drawne to yeeld to the enemy But the Senate of Rome so detested that treachery as they stripped the treacherous pedant naked gave rods to the boyes that they might whip him backe againe to the city which he would have betrayed Many other like instances might be given whereby generous Generals have shewed that undertaking a triall of Qui virtutis certamen susceperat nollet fraude vincere Non enim in victoriâ honestatem ponebat sed ipsam nisi honestate quaesitam victoriam turpem pronunciabat Amb loc citat vertue and valour they would not get the victory by fraud For they did not place honour and honesty simply in victory but accounted victory base unlesse it were obtained by honesty This mischievous mind of malicious enemies gives just occasion to those that have such enemies as all true Professors of the true Religion have to be the more prudent circumspect in keeping themselves from their snares and ginnes On this ground doth Christ give this expresse charge Be wise as serpents Mat. 10. 16. Many of Salomons proverbs tend to this purpose We have worthy patternes hereof in David 1 Sam. 20 c. who wisely avoided Sauls snares and in the Iewes Ezr. 4. 3. that returned from the captivity in Zerubbabels time and in p Nehemiahs Neh. 4. 9 c. and sundry other true servants of God Now because by all the wisdome that we have we cannot avoid all their wilie and subtill plots we must ever depend upon the Lord and call on him as David did to turne their counsell into foolishnesse 2 Sam. 15. 31. And to Keepe us from the snares that they lay for us and from the grins of the workers of iniquity Psal 141. 9. Or if we be over-taken then to pull us out of the net that they have laid for us Psal 31. 4. Thus if we make God our refuge and hiding place we may be sure to be safe For they are safe whom the Lord doth keepe §. 9. Of the interpretation and observations of Moses his charge to Ioshua EXOD. XVII IX And Moses said unto Ioshua Choose us out men and go out fight with Amalek c. THe relation of the * * * § 1. Defence which was made against Moyses de aquâ nomen accepit Amb Hexaem lib cap. 2. Verum nomen significat ex aquâ servatum Moysen Nam aquam Aegyptij Moy vocant Flav. Ioseph cont Apion l 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 servare liberare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iehosua Num 13. 16. Nati nomina à parentibus accipiebant non quidem ex se sed à Deo mente impellebantur Qui antequam fiant praeseij suturorum quales post crementum aetatis suae futuri essent posteriori tempore vegeti in nominibus Hebr. designabantur Cypr. Tract de Sinâ Sion Amaleks assault here beginneth Wherein the Externall Means as they are laid downe in a charge are first expressed and that so as both the Persons giving and receiving the charge and also the matter given in charge are mentioned The Person that gave the charge was Moses And Moses said a a a Act 7. 35. Moses at that time was the Prince and chiefe Governour over Israel b b b Exo 2. 10. He was called Moses because he was drawne out of the waters For the * * * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 axit Hebrew root signifieth to draw out Iosephus the Iew rendreth another reason of the name Moyses For saith he the Egyptians call water moy The Person to whom the charge was given was Ioshua Moses said to Ioshua The word whence Ioshua or Iehoshua is derived according to the proper notation thereof signifieth to save or deliver Certainly by divine instinct this name was given to the man that is here meant For children of old received names from their parents by divine instinct They having knowledge of things to come before they were by Hebrew significant names declared to future ages what they should be after some increase of age For this particular person Ioshua here in this place he was the Generall of that army whereby Israel
was saved and delivered from the Amalakites And after Moses death he was the chiefe Governour and Generall that saued Israel from the Canaanites and other nations that were rooted out by him Wherein he was a type of Iesus whose name if it were written in Hebrew would be the very same namely Iehoshua The Greeks therefore for Ioshua or Iehoshua write Iesus Acts 7. 45. Hebr. 4. 8. At this time when Moses gave this charge Ioshua was none of the chiefe Princes of the Tribes For the chiefe Prince of Ephraim of which Tribe Ioshua was was e e e Num 1. 10. Elishama Indeed f f f 13 2 3 8. Ioshua is reckoned among those that were sent to search the land of Canaan who are called Rulers and Heads but they were not the chiefe Rulers and Heads but g g g Exo. 18. 21 25 such as are mentioned to be made by Iethroes advice Heads over the people Rulers of thousands Rulers of Hundreds c. As for Ioshua he was after this Moses his Minister Exo. 24. 13. Numb 11. 28. Yet at this time was he appointed the Generall of the Lords army partly because of his valour and partly because of that high calling whereunto he was to be deputed to conquer the Canaanites Ob. After this Ioshua is stiled a young man Exod. 33. 11. Numb 11. 28. Answ 1. The latter place may word for word be thus translated Ioshua the sonne of Nun the servant of Moses from his youth that is who had served Moses from his youth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à juvenlute suâ Trem Iun. Ita etiam Chald. Paraphr 2. Senior is aetatis servuli dicuneur pueri à Dominis non aetatem exprimentes sed conditionem Amb. de Abr. l. 1. c. 9. 2. Servants of elder age are called lads or youths or young men as some of the Lord Majors servants are called So as this title doth oft signifie rather the condition of men then their age The Matter of the charge containeth in it words of preparation Choose us out men and execution Go out fight with Amalek The first word of the preparation * * * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 choose implieth a carefull and diligent choice upon good triall and proofe i i i Isa 48. 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Where God saith * * * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have chosen or proved thee in the fornace of affliction this word is used as also k k k 2 Sam. 6. 1. where it is said that David gathered together all the * * * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chosen or choice or chiefe men of Israel This particle l l l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 us is an usuall redundancy in the Hebrew tongue Yet is it not without an Emphasis implying thus much choose for us for our use for our good for the better successe to us The last word of the preparation * * * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 plurali numero ponitur pro 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 See the Dignity of Chivalry §. 3. men importeth the kind of men that were to be chosen namely such as might truly be called MEN Valiant and valorous men The Charge for execution consisteth of two clauses The first go out He meaneth out from the congregation of the Israelites or from the camp where they were into the open field where the enemies were Two weighty reasons may be given hereof 1. To prevent the enemy and to keepe him from entring in among all the people 2. To pitch where Moses that intended to pray for them might the better see them that so by sight of them his spirit might be the more quickned and his prayer the more sharpned The last clause of the execution fight with Amalek sheweth the maine action to be done fight and the object or person with whom with Amalek The action is expressed in the very same word that was * * * § 4. before applied to the enemy but the circumstances give evidence that there it is used in one respect here in another 1. There for assault here for defence 2. There for offering wrong here for maintaining right 3. There for an effect of malice here of justice 4. There for an action without good warrant here with the best warrant that can be Divine precept Thus the same thing for substance may be done lawfully or unlawfully Warre may lawfully be waged and warre may unlawfully be waged Circumstances make much to the goodnesse or badnesse of an action Who are comprised under this last word Amalek hath beene shewed * * * §. 2. before The maine scope and drift of this charge is to use fit means for preventing that mischiefe which Amalek yet further intended against them The means was to send out a well furnished army against him This Charge then commendeth to us seven observations I. Princes must provide for their peoples protection Moses said So did Moses whom God made a Ruler over Israel he provided temporall and spirituall meanes He sent forth an army and he himselfe lift up his hands for Israels protection to Ioshua II. Men deputed to weighty works ought to be prepared thereto before hand Ioshua was to be the man that should conquer the Canaanites He therefore is here made Generall forty yeares before Choose us out men III. Military men must be choice men The charge here given for choosing men importeth as much And go out IIII. Enemies must as much as may be be kept out The charge here given is to go out namely to meet the enemy before he enter Fight V. Warre is warrantable It is here commanded by him that ordered his commands by speciall warrant from God with Amalek VI. Violence with violence may be resisted Amalek with open hostility fought against Israel Israel therefore is commanded with open hostility to fight against Amalek VII Approved means are to be used for attaining our desired ends This is a generall doctrine arising from the principall intent of this charge whereunto all the fore-named particulars do tend Moses here desiring to have the Israelites freed from these mischievous Amalakites giveth order for using the best ordinary meanes which was by force of armes to vanquish them §. 10. Of Princes protecting their people Sicut obedientes oportet esse qui reguntur sic etiam Rectores Principes vigilantes esse decet Chrys Hom. 34. in Heb. 13. I. PRinces must provide for their peoples protection As they who are under government must be subject so it becommeth Governours and Princes to be watchfull for the good of those that are under their charge So was Moses here and so all good Kings Princes Iudges and other supreme Rulers and Governours have beene from time to time Many have put their owne safety in hazzard to save their people Instance those who in their owne persons have gone to warre and beene Generals