good as it When the world was buried in a graue of waters Noah and his houshold went safely into the Arke Genes 7.1 and God set not Sodome on fire till hee had deliuered iust Lot Genes 19.16.22 2. Pet. 2.7 when the Lord terribly plagued the Aegyptians his enemies he mercifully spared Goshen where his people were Exodus 8.21.22 and 9.6.26 and 10.23 and 11.5.6.7 and when Ierusalem was taken Exod. 12.23 Ieremie was prouided for Iere. 39.11.12.18 So God dealt very mercifully with Daniel and his fellowes in the captiuitie Dan. 1.19 And when the Lord sent fiue men that is Angels in the shape of men to destroy the carelesse Citie He sent a sixt with a writers ink-borne by his side to set a marke of passeouer or speciall deliuerance vpon all those who mourned for the abomination Ezech. 9.4.6 And what hath he done lesse for his godly seruants in any age The reasons Reason 1 The righteous haue a speciall priuiledge or commoditie that common persons haue not and he that is the generall God of the world is the sauing God of his people Luke 1.68 He shewed his word to Iacob But did hee deale so with euery nation Psal 147.19.20 Reason 2 Secondly it is the glorie of the Lord to deliuer the righteous as it is the maisters credit to do for those that faithfully serue him Or if he should not honour those with deliuerances who honour him with affections the heathen or those without might say where is now their God Psal 115.2 Thirdly He numbreth their haires Math. 10.30 and will hee Reason 3 not regard their bloud Or if he will haue them will he not deliuer them Obiect But many godly haue bene taken away in the common destruction Obiect Answ Indeed Answ for these outward euils that come none can chalenge such a freedome from them as that they shall not enter into them at all and it is not denied but that the best hauing sin in them are in subiection to them and greatly deserue them Yet either they shall not come or they shall not come to hurt them as they do the wicked or they fall not so ordinarily to the share of the godly as they crush the vnrighteous and besides they feare not in them as do sinners that haue no hope For they haue faith in God from whose loue nothing can seuer them Rom. 8.39 and are not as the wicked who put all their faith in changeable things with the losse of which they loose God and all A comfort to the godly in the mortalitie of thousands seeing Vse 1 they know in whom they beleeue and for what for they shall not perish though neuer so many perish that haue faith in other things And this doctrine is now necessarie euen in our dayes of health for these good dayes may weare away the Pestilence may raigne as it did and another triall may come and then will it bee needfull to be well seene in these and such like mercifull promises that our faith may not faile vs nor our hearts faint within vâ— when the euill day cometh Neither would this be remembred onely in the case and dayes of Plague then to be armed with that faith and true boldnesse that putteth feare out of doores but it would bee remembred further in all other changes and troubles of our mortall life that God onely may be our feare and we may put all to him with full assurance in the wauerings of many As in the dayes of famine if there should come such a want of bread that thousands must pine to death yet that must not so discomfort any child of God as to make him to doubt how it can be true that in the day of famine he shall he fed Psal 37.19 For though God do not make windowes in the heauen 2. King 7.2 he can feede him When our handfull of meale is gone his truth remaineth who can feede without bread or with it miraculously 1. Kings 19.8.17.12.14 Ioh. 6.7.13 The like may be said of the miseries of warre and of all miseries and Plagues earthly For whatsoeuer temptations there are betweene heauen and earth from the flesh world or diuell as diseases of bodie rebellion of children losse of goods and of good name crosses in husbands wiues seruants with all other vexations and crosses of mind or bodie from the least to the greatest from the paine of the little finger to the pangs of death in all these though the vngodly know not what to do the godly haue hope and though the wicked fall by thousands the righteous are not shaken Is there not comfort to the righteous in all this And do they serue God for nought to whom the Lord maketh such precious promises Vse 2 An instruction therefore so to serue God in all our life with faith and repentance that when thousands fall we may stand fast For this light is sowne for the righteous Psal 97.11 But the light of the wicked shall be put out Prou. 13.9 that is this safetie is proper and belonging onely to godly and religious persons whose priuiledge it is when thousands fall not to stagger where the wicked contrarily because they will bee the children of darknesse by sinne shall be sure with the putting out of their candle to inherite the blacknesse of darknesse with sinners That it is the peculiar lot of those that loue God and follow his truth thus to be established Salomon is witnesse who speaking of a sinner that doth euill an hundred times that is doth sinne much and long saith that though God prolong his dayes or deferre his punishment yet he shall be as a shadow and what is more vncertaine then a shadow because he feareth not before God where it shall be well with them that feare the Lord that is where they that haue bene religious in their life shall be happie in their end and neuer be remoued Eccles 8.12.13 God maketh his Sunne to shine vpon the inst and vniust yet the shine of his fauour is vpon those that do reuerence before him and where the outward excellencie of the vngodly hath a speedie end as a light quickly blowne out the light of the righteous reioyceth Prou. 13.9 to wit as the Sunne to runne his course Psal 19.5 or is stedfast with increase as the light of the same Sunne That shineth more and more vnto the perfect day Prou. 4.18 A reproose of those who in a time of mortalitie feare vnseasonably Vse 3 when two or three die How would they haue feared if they had bene dwellers at London in the last great mortalitie when three thousand and a halfe died of the Plague in one weeke Anno 1603 and 1604. and for some weekes together not many fewer There is a profitable and sober feare in Gods children which is the feare of sinne and of these dayes of sinne but this carnall feare of worldlings who haue drawne little or no power from religion is rather the feare of death then of sinne
by regeneration Vse 2 But is all honour from God then they that receiue their honour otherwise that is by practising for it or by rising to it but not vpon the ladder of the meanes by which men may clime warrantably to preferment cannot be said to be honoured by God but to haue honoured themselues Such are theeues of Gods honour and great by vsurpation holding their honour in a wrong Tenor and not as the Lords pawne for their honour to come He that offered to Christ the honours of the world hath giuen them to these Mat. 4.8.9 and they haue bowed to him in all diuelish practises for a few vaine titles and a little vaine-glorie which shall not credit them but one day turne to their greater shame before God and his mighty Angels The like may bee said of all great Persons that honour not God in his word and righteous Commandements their honour is not sealed in heauen hauing not learned of Christ to receiue and giue honour Iohn 8.49.54 they haue stained their promotion to the pit of hell and they shall receiue the meete recompence of their errour that is for their short glorie shame endlesse Againe is all honour and degrees of place from God then Vse 3 they sinne against God who any way violate these in Noble Persons and Princes which both confuteth all Anabaptisticall confusion and teacheth how iniurious Papists are to those whom the Lord will honour for they make it an Article of their Faith to submit to Kings no longer then it shall please the Pope to let them haue their honour or to take it from them by dethronization But what hath that Antichrist to do with the honour which hee neuer gaue and with the authority which is by the Lords grant onely for all authority and consequently honour is of God Rom. 13.1 chiefly that which is kingly as all waters come from the sea specially the great riuers Dauid trembled to violate the skirt of Sauls garment 1 Sam 24.6 these prophane the blood of Kings and touch them as farre as their liues by their cruell Ministers as in the two French Henries and our English King Iohn and thinke they may lawfully and meritoriously so doe And therefore the late d In his answer to certaine scandalous Papers Earle of Saluburie said well speaking of Rome that she would play so long with the temporall Soueraignety of Kings that it would bee the glorious worke of Kings to breake downe her walles and strongest defence and let me adde to burne the Whore with fire The fourth promise followeth VERSE 16. With long life will I satisfie him c. A Fourth promise made to the righteous is that when it shall be good for him he shall be filled with dayes and liue to old age As Gedeon was buried in a good age Iudg. 8.32 and Dauid dyed full of dayes 1. Chro. 29.28 and Iob very old after he had seene his sonnes and his sonnes sonnes for foure generations Iob 42.16.17 It is like the Lord made this promise to the Faithfull at what time the Angel cut downe so many in Israel with the sword of Pestilence for the godly might then feare themselues very much that they also should returne to their dust in so great a mortalitie but the Lord healeth that feare with his promise of a long life to those that feare him and with faith call vpon him as if he had said ye shall not onely liue at this timer but when old age shall be a blessing to you liue long and goe to your graues in a ripe and good age your head being deckt with gray haires and your heart filled with righteousnesse This is spoken of the godly such as excell in goodnesse And therefore the doctrine is Doct. long life is a great blessing where it is garnished with grace not made vile by sinfulnesse So olde age was promised to Abraham for a blessing Thou shalt goe to thy fathers in peace and be burted in a good age Gen. 15.15 That is thou shalt be satisfied with the multitude of many and good dayes and liue long and comfortably here When Salomon exhorteth Wisedomes scholler to heare and receiue his words that is to heare them with fruit and diligence he perswadeth it with no other promise then of a long life and comfortable estate in the yeeres of age and peace Prou. 3.1 2. and 4.10 And the Apostle by the promise of the life present 1. Tim. 4.8 must needes meane the promise of long life as the best being as is intended set in the best and most excellent way Obiect Obiect You will say then and why doe good men so commonly liue in trouble and die in youth as they doe Answ The obedience of the best is but in part Answ and what maruaile then if in part onely they be made partakers of outward things as of a long and confortable life and such other promises here Besides such promises are not absolutly but conditionally made to the righteous as if God see it fit and if it be good for them and necessary for the Church that God prolong their dayes otherwise what is wanting in length of dayes is made vp with the immortalitie of ioyfull dayes in heauen And though they liue but a short time yet haue they length of dayes in a sort euery day being a whole Summers day vnto them by the Sunne of Gods fauour that shineth vpon their soules more and more without any going downe Thus it is prooued that long life not abused is a blessing of God and may further appeare The Reasons Reason 1 Old Christians are old Seruitors in Gods family and a good old seruant is preferred before a new by a good master also such hauing liued righteously long must needes be stored with great knowledge and experience which will make them to bring forth more fruit in their age And is not olde age then which is a meanes of this a blessing Secondly length of dayes or long life considered in it selfe Reason 2 is a blessing Prou. 3.16 how much greater where age and goodnesse meet the worme would not die and they gladly would liue longer that liue miserably Yea the godly who of all others haue the greatest preferment by death are loth to lay downe this tabernacle And wherefore all this surely because life is sweet and to flie from death is naturall to man and beast Now if life be so sweet thus fraught with troubles how good and sweet is long life filled with the ioy of the righteous and flowing with riuers of peace Thirdly who weareth a more honourable ornament then he Reason 3 that hath a a Phile. 9. gray head crowned with vertue Christian graces and who is more richly clad then he that is clad in siluer haires of age with robes of innocencie and righteousnesse Esa 3.5 If the one be a blessing that is to weare a crowne and gorgeous cloathing the other is a double blessing that is to be apparrelled
seas and runne from the Creator to creatures fixing all their senses vpon them and confidence in them for ease and remedie in such cases forgetting that great God who sheweth himselfe strong with all those whose hearts are found to him 2 Chron. 16.9 Psal 7.10 By this we learne what to iudge of wretched worldlings whose harts are earthly and affections on earthly things for where the faithfull come to God by faith in their afflictions and make his bosome their place of refuge from them such make not God their strength in aduersitie but trust in Man or in the arme of Man for helpe when any thing grieues them and rather complaine of God then to God in the day of euill But Gods defence is not onely our refuge in trouble but our continuall and permanent refuge and they that giue themselues to him to be kept are preserued by him not for some short time but for euer He is a shadow and continuall shadow other shadowes faile like the gourd ouer Ionah's head Ionah 4.6.8 but this abideth constant and sure or vnmoueable as God himselfe From whence learne Doct. that Gods defence neuer faileth his children for it is no slitting tent but standing castle to them This is shewed in the Psalme which is called Moses Psalme for there the Lord is said to haue beene the habitation or standing house of his people for euer euen from generation to generation that is from the beginning of the world to that day And Dauid saith that this is the blessing of the righteous the Lord will compasse him or goe round about him with his fauour and bee his shield before and behind against all assailants and at all times for else how should they that trust in him reioyce for euer if they should not be protected alwaies by him for whose continuall saluation they continually are glad Psal 5.11 for this cause the spirit is said by Christ to abide in the faithfull as in his standing house not where he Inneth but where he dwelleth Ioh. 14.16 To hypocrites he comes and goes to true beleeuers he comes and taries not for some short time but for euer for he dwelleth with them and is euer in them verse 17. The reasons of the doctrine the workes and calling of God are Reason 1 without repentance Rom. 11.29 and whom hee once loueth vnto the end he loueth them Iohn 13.1 Secondly He whose name is I am Exod. 3.14 and nature Reason 2 I change not Mal 3.6 doth his things by counsell and all things in good order and therefore whom He deliuereth He deliuereth without repentance or change Thirdly if earthly fathers will neuer Reason 3 forsake their childrens defence shall we thinke our heauenly Father will Or if a kinde Host will protect those that come vnder his roofe Genes 19.18 Iudg. 19.23 will God leaue those to spoile who come to his house and take Sanctuarie in the castle of his helpe Vse 1 A reproofe of those who hauing the meanes of peace and health are confident but would be at their wits end if warre should be proclaimed or fearefull sicknesses should come For what is this but to call into question and doubt Gods immutable counsell concerning the protection of his children whom hee neuer forsaketh In all rumours of Pestilence and warre men are distracted as if God had no prouidence and feare shadowes because they make not God their shadow who hath promised to be their abiding place and who if they would trust him with their liues should see his saluation But because with Ionah they set more by the gourd of some present though fading shadow Iona. 4.10 then by the sauing shadow of the Almighty therefore doth the Sunne smite them and they wish rather to dye then to liue Iona. 4.8 being forsaken of all but of grieuous and despairfull sorrowes that will neuer leaue them Vse 2 A comfort to Gods seruants in all alterations for in a time of scarcity and when God taketh away their sustinance so that men cannot helpe them with the barne or with the wine-presse 2. Kin. 6.27 The Lord himselfe will be their all-sufficient feeder and from the store-house of his prouidence will send vnto them Psal 37.19 Exod. 33.19 If he be with them his prouision goeth with them and though they lacke bread hauing him in place who giueth the vertue of nourishment to all their bread Deut. 8.3 how can they but be fed So in a time of Pestilence though we haue no place of refuge nor shadow abroad in the Countrie such as the richer sort haue against that burning Sun of the plague that destroieth at noone day we need not to be troubled hauing in the Almighties protection a better shadow then those Ionahs haue of their gourd For then the Sunne shall not smite vs by day nor the Moone by night Psal 121.6 In times of perill whithersoeuer wee goe not going from God Gods shadow goeth with vs in prison to be our libertie in banishment our Countrie in warre our shield in necessitie our abundance in despaire our hope in death our life and that a long life for euer and euer So much for the proposition of the Psalme the confirmation of it followeth VER 2. I say In the Lord is my place of suretie THe Proposition spoken of is confirmed by the Prophets words to v. 14. and more properly as was said by the Lords owne words from thence to the end of the Psalme the Prophets words are in his owne example in this verse or by application to others in the rest In this Verse hauing in his owne person found the Lord his speciall Protector he speaketh thankfully of the same the rather to establish others by his experience in the like saluation of God as if he had sayd as I haue beleeued and found so I will speake in my heart before God and with lippes before men Rom 10.10 The Lord is my refuge and shall be my fortresse in whom I will trust to whom I will flye in all my troubles The word that is here translated his succour or place of suretie signifieth a couer or place of defence in some great tempest where his meaning is that when hee was wet or like to be washed with great showres of trouble at hand or in doing he retired himselfe to the Lord in his prouidence against all that tyrannous and stormy tempest of his cruell persecution Iob. 24.8 Esa 25.4 By fortresse the Prophet vnderstandeth a place of retire or some strong fort in warres As if he had sayd as it was sayd of Ioseph Gen. 49.23 When the Archers grieued him and shot against him the Lord being his Tower and strong Castle his bowe abode strong and the hands of his armes were strengthened by the hands of the mightie God of Iacob ver 24. But further where he sayth My God in whom I will trust He speaketh that plainly which before he spake darkly or lispingly in a figure and sayth that hee will set none
Pestilence is here called a Snare or Net as giuing no warning more then the net doth when it is suddenly cast ouer the birds which it taketh The Doctrine that ariseth from hence is this as Christians ought in all their life to prepare for death so specially then when God sendeth so short warning to prepare for it in his Snare of Pestilence or some other peremptory visitation Hezekiah was at all times to expect death in a well ordered soule but then specially he was to put and keepe good order in it when he was sicke vnto death or so as he must die and not liue Esay 38.1 And if we must remember our Creator before the euill day come Eccles 12.1 much more must we so doe when it is come this euill day is the vncomfortable day and houre of some deadly sicknesse that we must in our good consciences bee readie for before it threaten vs how much more when it worketh and hath entred vpon vs In the booke of Prouerbs this is made the sure note of a Prudent man that he seeth the Plague that is seeth it by the eye of prouidence in a watchfull and well reformed life and hideth himselfe from it vnder the wings of the Almighty by a liuely faith And that which our Sauiour exhorteth vnto speaking of the last day shall be well thought of in our sicknesse and before our last houre that that day come not on vs vnawares or suddenly as the snare vpon the bird Luke 21.34 35. The reasons then as you would say the graue is readie for vs Reason 1 and the shroud wherein we are to be wound presented to vs and if it be intolerable that a childe should be wanton at any time it is vnseemely that he should be so vnder the rod or if wee should at all times watch the theefe should we be carelesse when he is broken in Mat. 24.43 we are sure of our life at no time for the Master will come in a day that we thinke not Mat. 24.50 and is there any certainty of it when death is in the pot 2 King 440. and the holds of life are shaken Secondly if we be not armed with repentance when God sendeth Reason 2 the Pestilence or other visitation we frustrate Gods ends of sending them and may well be called a naked people Exod. 32.25 for his purpose in sending these is by them to c 1 Cor. 11 32. cloth vs with repentance that sinne be not our destruction and that the forgetfulnesse of death may not bring eternall death But he peremptorily citeth vs when he sendeth the Pestilence so immediately and presently before him and shall we in such a case and at such a time tarrie till a contempt come and be serued vpon vs despising that terrible processe the quickest and smartest that his court sendeth or can send forth against our naturall life or life here if we will not come to the supper with the last Messenger when will we come Luke 14.17 if we will being in the middest of the sea sleepe in the top of the Mast Prou. 23.34 that is if we be careles when our danger is so neere and so great when will we be carefull and if wee sleep then when will we watch Vse 1 And now come wee to an issue should wee be prepared for death at all times and then specially when it worketh fearefully before vs in some generall Plague and mortallity of men it first conuinceth the carelesse in life and carnall in profession who at such a time vse to say let vs eate and drinke when considering the season they should rather say let vs fast and pray and repent for to morrow wee shall die 1 Cor. 15.32 So of Ierusalem horribly plagued it is said shee remembred not her last end that is neuer thought what might come and therfore she came down wōderfully Lam. 1.9 her glorious heauen of all pleasant things was turned into the darkest skie or night of bitter affliction that euer was heard of which is therefore put in a book of Lamentations And what did we but pamper flesh who should haue sacrificed flesh when God set our last end before vs in those desolate funeralls that the deuouring Pestilence had caused made so many and so grieuous in Townes and Cities some few yeeres since What did wee I say but minde our pleasures when wee should haue minded our end and turne after vanity when we should haue turned to God So did the Iewes not long before they were to bee carried out of their owne Land in the chaine of the King of Babel Esay 22.12 13. but this was in the eares of the Lord of Hoasts and the iniquitie could not be purged from them but by death verse 14. I pray God we haue not left as much also vpon the score by our impenitencie since the last great mortality wherein God spared not our soules from death and gaue our life to the Pestilence Psal 78. 50. Since that time we haue made some recknings with the Lord by sundry strange and deare yeeres but Lord deliuer not thy power into captiuitie nor thy beauty into the enemies hand verse 61. Giue vs repentance for our senslesnesse then and security now that thy people be not giuen to the sword and thou be angry and wroth with thine inheritance verse 62. Then secondly let vs here learne a good and readie way to Vse 2 free vs from the snares of death and to preuent all those compassings with which it deceiueth where it is not looked for before it come To hide our heads in our owne shifts and carnall fetches is as we haue heard a vaine labour and rather to runne vpon the snare then to auoide it To prepare for it by the change of our liues from euill to good and from sinne to righteousnesse is to breake the snares of it by faith and thus to be readie for it is to get the better of it and to make it faiths captiue that otherwise is the worlds conqueror for then either it shall not come to vs in the fierie Pestilence or it shall not come to hurt vs and where others flee for feare wee shall not neede to flee or feare then it hath neither sting to wound vs nor poison to infect vs nor power to condemne vs and then preuenting it not preuented by it it shall but send vs thither whither but by it we cannot come Also where the wicked say to death as the Diuels to Christ art thou come to torment vs Matth. 8.29 wee shall say to death wounded to death by the power of the death of Christ ô death where is thy sting 1 Cor. 15.55 Let the wicked feare death that cannot leaue sinne let vs cease to sinand we shall not feare the second death Let them say with Ichoram is it peace 2 King 9.22 not knowing if it be we knowing that it is and that the welcome day of death in our godly death prophecieth not euill but good to
to the earthly Ierusalem the house in which the publick Minister and people praise God together or by thy preferment in death to haue thy soule carried vp to the Ierusalem aboue where thou shalt praise him without ceasing perfectly in his owne presence with Angels and Saints innumerable Though men forsake thee God will tarrie with thee by his comforts in thy flesh and by his spirit in thy heart Iohn 14.23 when thy house is shut vp God that cannot be shut vp will prouide a large walke for thee in the pleasant gallery of thy good conscience when men write Lord haue mercy on the doore he will shew mercy within doores when men keepe thee darke he will giue thee light when they close vp the windowes of thy chamber he will set open the windowes of his Kingdome and when they go from thee he will come vnto thee sup with thee Apoc. 3.20 When God restraineth the fruits of the earth by keeping in his raine or by giuing it in excess with the breaking open of the flood-gates of his waters he hath his Boaz of secret prouidence as long agoe for godly Ruth Ruth 2.8 9. so still for his faithfull children that they may eate and their soules may liue And when the wicked who haue not God for their hiding place shall vpon the bruite of euery calamitie and crosse comming runne hither and thither as men without hope or distracted thou knowing in whom thou hast beleeued maiest hide thee with the feathers of Gods truth and faithfulnesse and goe to thy Father Luke 15.18 the words that follow are in effect the same that the words are which we lastly heard and the repetition is safe for vs Philip. 3.1 for therefore doth God speake twice that we might heare him once and because through our imperfect state of faith we come fearefully as vpon the waters with Peter to Christ in long and great troubles Mat. 14.29 30. therefore are the words doubled that we might haue the stronger consolation So much for the first of the meanes by which God will deliuer his people in affliction The second and more principall followeth His truth shall be thy shield and buckler BY the truth of God is meant the truth and faithfulnesse that is in all his promises or the truth of his promise and truth in his word He that hath promised is faithfull but if I would know how much he hath promised to whom and vnder what termes I must bring all my considerations to his word as to his onely or best seale and standard By it al his truth is allowed as vnder seale and measured truly as at a iust standard and this truth is one with the word or with Gods truth in his word Iohn 17.17 Also this truth is called the godly mans shield buckler because it is as a shield buckler vnto him against al the arrowe-heads thrusts of affliction so wardeth the blowes of those crosses that come in the Pestilence in sicknesses in malicious enemies in other troubles of bodie or minde that they shall not strike him to death or turne him to hurt taking in his defence by faith the promise and truth of God for his shield and buckler So the meaning is they that keepe within the compasse of Doct. 1 Gods sure word can neuer take hurt And it teacheth that the truth of God b Lam. 3.22 cannot faile and what he hath promised shall bee done Blinde Balaam in his Parable could say shewing how true God is alway of his word hath he said it and shall hee not doe it as if he had said may it be that Gods words and deedes should not meete or will any beleeue that he cau say one thing and doe another or if he lack not will doth he want power to doe as he saith for hath he spoken and shall he not accomplish it shall any thing hinder his purpose or weaken his power So where by Hosea the Lord saith I am God and not man Hosea 11.9 what can his meaning be but that being God hee changeth not like one of vs and repenteth not like man In Malachi he putteth himselfe to the triall asking the sonnes of Iacob if it were not so for he saith I change not and yee sonnes of Iacob are not consumed Malac. 3.6 as if he had said I promised not to consume you and you can tell I haue kept promise with you for ye are not consumed to this day so I change not your selues being iudges Now as God repenteth not so his gifts and calling that is the peculiar endowments of his elect linked together vnseparably in their saluation are without repentance that is are neuer taken from them Rom. 11.29 And he that hath promised is faithfull I. Cor. 10 13. saith the Apostle his meaning is that he is not at times but alway so or alway iust in word and euer faithfull Mens promises are yea and nay his promises are yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1.20 when it is said it is done if he speake the word but wee say and vn-say and so say and doe not The reasons Reason 1 It is sealed that God is true and Christ speaking of himselfe as God saith I am truth Iohn 3.33 and Iohn 14.6 that is to be true or rather to be truth is of his being and therefore to denie his word is to denie himselfe but God cannot denie himselfe and therefore God cannot but keepe his word Reason 2 Secondly God cannot breake by vnfaithfulnesse Rom. 3.3 for he is righteous nor be hindred by weaknesse for he is Almighty 1. Ruth 21. Apoc. 1.8 He promised the land of Canaan to Abraham and all the rebellions of his children could not make him to falsifie his word but at the time appointed they received the promises and inherited the land so he promised Israels deliuerance from Aegypt and returne from Babylon and hee brake not an houre with them and when the fulnesse of time came that God should send his sonne he sent him Gal. 4.4 and when it was time he should come he came as he kept touch with Abraham for a sonne Genes 21.1 so hee kept his word truly with vs for the sending of his owne sonne Reason 3 Thirdly God when he sweareth sweareth by himselfe not only cause he hath no greater to sweare by but because hee changeth not as an oath is immutable Heb. 6.18 An admonition not to distrust God any way where hee hath Vse 1 giuen his word for our safetie and welfare for if it be intollerable to discredit an honest man in his word how intollerable is it to call Gods truth into question If then God haue promised to those that feare him that nothing shall bee wanting vnto them Psal 34.9 let not such doubt in the wants of many to bee prouided for In the wildernesse he plowed the heauens for his children and fed them with the bread of heauen Psal 78.24 so they that followed Christ were fed by miracle in
and least thought of death euen then this infectious arrow pierced to the heart The summe of all is When God sends the Pestilence or any other iudgement in some haste to a land or priuate place it cometh as an arrow out of a bow Where we learne that Gods messengers and seruants sent in Doct. 1 this deadly sicknesse or any other visitation for sinne are swift and vnresistable For the Pestilence our selues do know how soone it is taken how small a matter brings it with how little a winde it comes and how suddenly it passeth to the head and pierceth to the heart Seuentie thousand in lesse then three dayes and in a land not very large died of it 2. Sam. 24.15 So Exod. 12.29 when God would shew his power by death vpon the great armie of the King of Ashur he smote by an Angell in one night an hundred fourescore and fiue thousand Esay 37.36 At another time he slue three and twenty thousand in one day 1. Cor. 10.8 And because Herod would not giue glory to God he was presently smitten by an Angell in all his glorie Acts 12.23 The reasons He that so quickly made man of the dust Genes 2.7 can as Reason 1 quickly turne man vnto dust and for the Pestilence or any other destruction if he speake but the word and how soone is a word spoken it presently comes He is the Centurion of this great hoast of all the creatures If he say to one go he goeth and to another come he cometh Math. 8.9 Psal 105.16.31.34 Secondly he can send by his Angels that swiftly execute his Reason 2 commandements and as it were flie about them Psal 103.20 or he can command the diuels who in an instant commanded by him can as well corrupt the aire with Pestilence as the riuers with bloud Psal 78.44.49.50 Thirdly God hath power and may command and commanding Reason 3 lackes not authoritie and will be heard An admonition speedily to turne to God who is able so speedily Vse 1 to turne vs to destruction Ioel 2.12 For should we not meete him with an armie of prayers who can come against vs so quickly and so strong with armies of death in the Pestilence and other innumerable diseases Luke 14.32 He can send to vs by flying messengers and shall we not seeke him by speedie repentance Amos 5.6 It is not long since his arrowes flew among vs and he yet hath his quiuer full of them to trouble our aires againe and with a fresh charge to shoote at vs by the contagious Pestilence in Towne and Countrie should we not therefore dread to make God our aduersarie or being made our aduersarie by sinne should we not agree with him quickly Mat. 5.25 who can so quickly destroy vs if we stand out proudly against him If he finde disorder and impenitencie in our houses or selues he can visit for it with flying arrowes and punish it when he is disposed with present death and should not this constraine vs to expell sinne and iniquity euery priuate person out of himselfe and euery faithfull publick person out of his familie and gouernment should it not moue the Christian housholder christianly to order both himself and others vnder him whether children or seruants by the word bringing them to Sermons more carefully and more orderly to prayers at home for how soone God can take vs away wee haue heard how quickly he will we know not also should it not perswade the publick Magistrates with the sword of his office not lightly to pare away but vtterly to cut off all proud and rotten sinnes that abound yea soundly to correct to a reformation all publick and grosse both enormities and offendors as swearers drunkards fornicators prophaners of the Sabbath disobedient to Parents and authority with such like seeing he beareth not the sword in vaine Rom. 13.4 Vse 2 A terrour to those who haue no hope but in long life for death may come they know not how soon and it commeth suddenly to many and when it is come it will not be answered with an I pray thee haue mee excused Luke 14.18 If we be not ready it will take vs as we be and when it knocketh if we will not open it will cast vs open The godly preuent this hardning by liuing so that is so repentantly and holily during their short time here that when the flying arrow of death sent from the hand of their supreame Lord shall make toward them they are euer in fit state to meete their Sauiour To such present death is prepared death as it was to Simeon and Anna who waited for Christ in the Temple Luke 1 25.36.3â— and they cannot dye suddenly that dye so Contrarily the carelesse and they that put off death by turning these flying into creeping arrowes can haue no such hope in their death which commeth as a theefe to their house Matth. 24.43 and not as a Messenger to bid them to the Supper of the great King Luke 14.17 They will not vnclaspe with the comforts of their deare life for the toilesome life of mortification and precisenesse in Gods seruice for they are lustie and strong Therefore their death cannot be good nor comfortable but irkesome and violent of which they are ouercome not yeelding to it as the Saints but mastered by it as they who say with Iulian Galilean thou hast preuailed so hee spake of Christ and so speake they of God when they find he is stronger then they A reproofe of those who when God shoots the infectious Vse 3 arrow of Pestilence at a Towne or City promise to themselues safetie because they dwell farre off because that part in which they inhabit is free or because they dwell in the Countrie and not in the Towne For cannot God reach them wheresoeuer they dwell in the East or West Is his arme shortened Doth any arrow misse that he shoots and he that went progresse from Dan to Bersheba in a running plague and in lesse time then three dayes can hee not in few houres goe a little way and visite further from a Towne then fiue sixe or seuen miles where is their safetie then in such a case but in turning to him that threatneth them And how can they auoide this arrow but by watching still the fall of it in their penitent liues Neither is this only true in the arrow of the Pestilence but in euery arrow of his quiuer if he shoot at vs by enemies by mortalitie of men by murraine of cattell or by cleannesse of teeth and leannesse in all our quarters what can ward any of these arrowes but repentance and our turning to God He that will auoide an arrow must turne the face and not the backe vnto it and hee must looke toward God and not from him by impenitencie that will reconcile him A further description of the Pestilence followeth Verse 6. Nor for the Pestilence that walketh in the darknes VVEe haue in this Verse two effects more whereby this
part of his glorie if he were not Doct. 2 able assoone as a sinner shall do euill to his dishonour to punish him for that cōtempt For were it not an indignity intolerable for a potent Monarch not to be able presently to set downe a Rebel in his owne Dominions yea to passe publike iustice vpon him to the taking away of his head But he that cast Adam out of Paradise as soone as he had sinned Gen. 3.24 lacketh not power to turne sinners into hell with all that forget God Psal 50.22 A conuiction of all notorious sinners who blesse that is flatter Vse 1 themselues in their talke saying They shall haue peace though they walke in the stubbornnesse of their heart adding drunkennesse to thirst Deut. 29.19 These would seeme to make question whether God be of any such strength or be able to bring any such troupes into the field against them or if he be whether he will vse them according to his threatnings in his word to their deserued ouerthrow sinning so against him These make falshood their refuge and haue their part in the drunken peace of that hypocrite who sayd My Master doth deferre his comming Math. 24.48 that is he will not come these many yeeres if he come at all either to account with sinners or to visit for sinne And what shall I say of these men but that they incourage themselues in an abominable thing promising peace where there is none Ier. 6.14 But if any dye of the Pestilence let such looke to be first and if any goe into captiuitie to be first that shall go captiue and if leannesse enter into any to haue it enter into them as soone as into any Indeed they often-times escape with life in such difficulties and straits of time when their betters do not yet they liue but to fill vp the iust measure of their certaine damnation that no torment may bee wanting to them when they shall suddenly and when they least thinke of death chop into hell Vse 2 But doth God set his plagues as his strong watch to obserue vs at all times night or day when we do euill then when we see his watch charged sometimes in the night-pestilence sometimes in the noone-plague sometimes in vnseasonable yeares by no raine or by raine in excesse sometimes in great scarcities of graine and fodder Let vs humble our selues in prayer and repentance standing with these in the gappe and breach that Gods hand hath made or may make by such calamities sent among vs for sinne and for iniquitie And let such Repentance and Prayer stand as Aaron with his holy Censer as in the case of Plague So the Lord may be intreated and his Iudgements may leaue vs. But for such as seeke no reliefe in the armory of these Christian exercises against the changes that come but behaue themselues in daies of mourning as when God maketh the hearts of men merrie with his chearefull countenance Let them goe whither they will Vengeance looketh for them at euerie doore the Plague by day and the Pestilence by night is ready for them day and night they are enuironed with feares at their tables and vpon their beds snares vpon their meate a curse vpon their sleepe and Gods anger in all their wayes And here let vs take heed how we prouoke the Lord by our stubbornenesse vnder his other roddes to bring the Plague againe I meane of Pestilence which while it kept some order among vs as his watch by night and ward by day how can it bee forgotten how many not by hundreds but by thousands a weeke in England it committed close prisoners to wormes and darknesse in the earth or if we haue forgotten that let those that go about their sinne closely remember the Pestilence that walketh in darknesse and such as sinne openly not forget the destruction that wasteth at noone day A reproofe of those who when this sicknesse is in a towne Vse 3 runne from it into the countrie as if God were impotent there as soone as the fire begins a little to burne in the deaths or infection of two or three they presently runne away by the light of it in their vnchanged liues as if they would giue more to their owne carnall forecasts then to Gods sweete prouidence But this hath bene spoken of and I adde that all going aside as hath bene said is not vnlawfull so these conditions in remouing be obserued First that the euill it selse be looked vpon as a messenger sent from God and messenger that is not auoyded by the change of the place simply without some other change Secondly that they remoue not with a doubtfull conscience but with good warrant to depart Thirdly that in such departure they breake not the bonds which should bee betweene man and wife the parents and their children Christian housholders and their Christian families And fourthly that they haue no publicke calling in the place from which they remoue as of Magistrates or Pastors For then they cannot depart with good conscience nor forsake their standings without sinne Thus farre hath the Pestilence bene described by some effects now the godly mans safelie in it and in other troubles comprehended vnder it followeth VER 7. A thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand c. GOds deliuerance of his children and their great safetie in such troubles as haue bene spoken of is propounded in this verse repeated in the tenth The first is affirmed simply here further proued in the two next verses as by a vehement asseueration verse 8. and infallible euidence verse 9. In the first there is a Prolepsis or preuenting answer to an obiection For some might say how can I bee deliuered when so many thousands are not who on euery hand of me fall vpon the edge of the Plague that destroyeth without mercie in darkenesse and at noone day To this the Prophet maketh answer saying Though thousands that is great numbers and ten thousands that is numbers without number so fall being cut downe with it or other diuers diseases and sundry kinds of death on the left hand and on the right of his seruants yet he can deliuer them For with him it is no more to saue his people when thousands die then when two and when tenne thousands perish then when ten onely are cut downe for the graue In a time of Pestilence he is able to passe by the houses of the faithfull as well when a whole towne is visited that is when no streete or lane is free as when a few houses are shut vp and as well if three hundred should die in a weeke as if onely three Now as God is able to do this so to aduance the credit of his power in the faith of his children he performeth it oftentimes in their outward safetie alwaies in their saluation which is best of all From whence wee learne Doct. that when the wicked are plagued Gods children shall haue deliuerance or comforts as
in them at such times to helpe it with prayer or to relieue it with victuals and haue esteemed it their best policie and part to keepe their people and markets from it Such behold the Plague of a Towne as Dauids flatterers beheld his trouble who beheld it a farre off Vse 2 An instruction as at all times to put on large bowels of nature and tender of compassion so especially when our neighbours miseries require the same We must at all times pray one for another but specially in trouble and one member helpe another but chiefly in that members need So when the Lord visiteth with Pestilence a Towne or Citie in that case of sicknesse and restraint of trades the rich whose store God hath blessed should in an odour of liberality to the poore there offer that Sacrifice to God which the Apostle sayth was offered to the Lord in him by Epaphroditus An Odour that smelleth sweete a Sacrifice acceptable and pleasant to God Phil. 4.18 And to prouoke them the rather to this duety let them remember that it is the exhortation of the Holy Ghost by the same Apostle While ye haue opportunitie doe good vnto all Gal. 6.10 Now is the time and they that haue this worlds goods haue the fit time of doing it or what can they tell if God wil euer put such an occasion into their hands againe neglecting this So much for the Prophets earnest affirmation the euidence spoken of followeth VERSE 9. Seeing thou hast made the Lord which is my refuge Euen the most High thy habitation THe euidence for further proofe of the secure estate of the Righteous casting themselues vpon God is in the Prophet himself who out of his owne triall assureth it calling the Lord his Refuge As if he had sayd because thou hast done as I did who ran to the bosome of the Almightie in times of temptation thou hast as good an euidence or the same for thy safetie that I euer had which is that God will bee their refuge who make him their refuge in trouble and will deliuer them This is his meaning and to trust in God is not to say so onely but by faith and with the amendment of our wayes by his word to do so Doct. 1 The Doctrine from hence is He that maketh the Lord his deliuerer by putting trust in him and by beleeuing his word shall be deliuered Asa did so as we heard when an hoste of ten hundred thousand came against him and the Lord tooke him to Sanctuarie and put them to slaughter 2. Chron. 14.11 12. The Apostle Saint Paul notwithstanding that he was enuironed and begirt with many and long afflictions on all sides yet safely passed through them as his Master through the multitude who had brought him to the edge of an hill to haue cast him downe Luk. 4. 29.30 for he had committed himself to a good keeper who neuer suffered him to take shame seeing he beleeued him 2 Tim. 1.12 or as here made him his habitation God himselfe saith by Samuel them that honour me I will honour 1 Sam. 2.30 that is them that honour him with trust he will honour with safety and Dauid prayeth with assurance not to bee confounded seeing hee trusted in him Psal 25.2 So the three seruants of God could say to the King the God whom we serue or in whom wee trust is able and will deliuer vs Dan. 3.17 viz from the fiery fornace and out of thy hand O King as if they had said we serue God or we beleeue God and therefore shall most certainely bee deliuered from the fornace by miracle or from thy power by death verse 18. the Scriptures are plentifull in this matter I say then them that trust the Lord mercy shall compasse on euery side The reasons Where God is trusted he setteth store by his credit to do for Reason 1 those that trust in him for to such he hath promised large redemption and hee cannot denie himselfe or suffer his truth to faile Secondly they that trust in God and make him their confidence Reason 2 will giue him this honour with the obedience that is better then sacrifice 1. Sam. 15.22 and more then all burnt offerings Hos 6.6 If God haue deliuered them from one fornace or kind of death by Plague or otherwise they will shine in a better life like pure gold to the glory of God their owner hauing praise in their mouth and not sinne in their right hand they will make a penitent song with Hezekiah Esay 38. and a confessing Psalme with Dauid Psal 116. and hauing bene carelesse of the word before become afterward carefull both hearers and doers of it To be short they will set themselues to serue God by that same word hauing receiued those gracious fauours as it were wages for their seruice and being resolued thus to turne vnto God and thus to put trust in his mercie how can he denie them How can he turne from them and leaue them besides they cannot truly trust in him that cannot comfortably with repentance do so and what contrite sinner was euer reiected by him Psal 51.17 and who euer was confounded that so put trust in him Reason 3 Thirdly if earthly fathers will not cast those children off that fully and altogether rest on them by promise for protection much lesse will he that is our Father in heauen forsake them or the defence of them who haue like confidence in him for their helpe in trouble and wholly rest on his promise when others go from him to second causes as to other Gods But if a child in the extreamitie of sicknesse shall chuse rather to endure any hardnesse and paine then not to content his father who will say but it must needes moue a good father the more to seeke and what he may to provide for the ease and recouery of such a child So for Gods children that so submit to him that they will patiently beare the the sorest gripes and pulles of the crosse rather then prouoke so good a Father and who so watch all their wayes that they are vnwilling to giue him the least matter of offence or his spirit of griefe by an impatience or rude moode how can they but obtaine both pitie and deliuerance at such a fathers hands and who can thinke that the Father of mercies will deale otherwise then mercifully with such children Vse 1 An instruction more to rest on God then on the greatest earthly safetie For oftentimes mans helpe proueth vaine where Gods helpe neuer faileth Man may haue mens good wills and be neuer the better but he that with repentance trusteth in God is sure to bee deliuered Dauid therefore in danger and Christ in death commended their spirit into Gods hands Psal 31.5 Luke 23.46 So the godly do not build towers to themselues but make the Lord their tower of defence This tower is on high farre aboue all troubles and Plagues and they that rest in this highly mounted castle of
gorgeously with the new man in newnesse of life All old age then cannot be called happie nor all happie that Vse 1 come to gray haires in the life of old men and women for some by their sinnes of youth and age turne the blessing of olde age into a troublesome curse of many griefes aches and other paines in their bones and some haue nothing to commend them but that their yeares haue beene many and that all of their time are gone but the white haires of such are as so many shames of their age for what credit is it to be able to say I haue liued thus long for my selfe and thus little for God or I am old in time and an infant in knowledge b Esa 65.20 full of dayes and emptie of grace knowing many in my time and neuer knowing God or my selfe to this day Is not the blessing here turned into a curse and haue such attained to that age which Salomon calleth the crowne of glory being found in the way of righteousnesse Prou. 16.31 A terrour to vicious old men that haue nothing but the haires Vse 2 of age wanting the vertue that maketh it honorable For such if they loose their reuerence loose but that which they are not worthy of Hauing the signe without the thing signified Also they shall answer to God for a long time where the wicked that dye yong haue lesse to answer for And they crosse the commandement that saith Rise vp before the hoare head Leuit. 19.32 For they discharge the reuerence of yong men toward them by growing in yeares of sinne Or would they haue yong men to honour gray haires wherein is nothing but contumely and dishonour So where God hath annexed honour they vntie it where he hath bound they vndoe Which is not spoken to animate yong men to contemne gray haires in any though neuer so vicious For age deserues honour by Gods ordinance in the worst not that they are worthy but because it deserueth regard as doth the calling in a bad-liu'd Minister Honour therefore they must haue though not the double honour due to those who are old and godly and who haue liued long and long good The last promise followeth And shew him my * Or make him see it saluation TO see Gods Saluation in the Prophets phrase is to know by experience how great it is in our owne Saluation and therefore some reade I will offer him my saluation giuing the meaning rather then the words Here we see it darkely as in a glasse 1. Cor. 13.12 Hereafter we shall see it as it is Here wee see it by faith and Christ with it by the b Gospel also by feeling when we perceiue the power of Christ Ioh. 8.31 32 and spirit which Christ sendeth to worke mortification in vs and true holinesse Ephes 3. Phil. 3.10 And these two sights of saluation are offered to the inward spirituall eye here hereafter we shall see more further God calleth this saluation His because he is author of it and giueth it Or because it is from Him and by his gift only But first this shew of saluation in the eyes of our minde shining brightly to vs through the darke cloud of troubles doth in this life much cheare vs vp in afflictions and this meditation of the life to come is as Sugar in our cup to sweeten them with The Doctrine is that the consideration of eternall life which by hope we waite for Doctr. and by faith are possessed of here is a present remedie in afflictions or like the tree which God shewed Moses where with he sweetned the waters of Marah that is the waters which for their bitternesse were called so Exod. 15.23.25 for the tree of life cast into these bitter crosses of our troublesome times here doth very much alter these waters of Marah and make them pleasant that is sweete to our minde and spirituall â—aste with this confidence Dauid layd vp his flesh in hope Psal 16.9 that is thinking to dye was comforted much in death and had great security in his flesh knowing that it should stand before God and that the same Lord that watched ouer him for the present would guide him to immortalitie This taste of the promises was in his minde and would not goe out of his hope and therefore doubted not the saluation that God had shewed him with the like resolution Moses spiced the rebukes of Christ to the taste of his soule and endured the crosse patiently because he knew by faith that better riches were prepared for him then the treasures of Egypt Heb. 11.24 25 26 27. The text sayth Hee sawe him that was inuisible or God had shewed him his saluation This was it that staied all quiuerings of flesh in those notable worthies spoken of in the eleuenth to the Hebrews they knew that they so rested in the hands of God that no death could pull them from him and they had an eye to the recompence of reward thus they comfortably digested their crosses by feelin the life of saluation The reasons They knew that God did call them by such troubles as by the Reason 1 common way of Christians Act. 14.22 to his rest and that for short afflictions they should haue long life in his presence 2 Cor. 4.17 or they considered that all troubles temporall were to them in mercie but as worme-wood or some bitter thing to waine them from the brest of the world that they should not minde earthly things too much which rightly considered could not but carie their loue to better things prepared for them in another world and louing their other life what would they not endure to come vnto it Secondly the best were most miserable if they had hope onely Reason 2 in this life 1 Cor. 15.19 but because their hope is led forward by better promises in matters which they see with spirituall eyes therefore they faint not in afflictions 2 Cor. 4.16 Thirdly the prise incourageth those that runne so to runne Reason 3 that they may obtaine and yet this is but of a corruptible crowne we runne in afflictions and not vncertainely nor for a corruptible crowne but for an vncorruptible of glorie and shall not a better prise or the wager of better things to come swallow all paines that we can take in comming to Christ it is the Apostles owne comparison 1 Cor. 9.24 Vse 1 An instruction to be well acquainted with this blessed sight of Gods saluation in our daies of peace and before troubles come so shall we better and with more joy and patience endure them when they come when God brings vnto vs the cup of affliction if we haue this sugar of the meditation of heauenly life to sweeten it with what can offend vs If Pestilence be sent if sharpe sicknesses for our triall if death threaten vs we haue a remedie set by vs that will cure all these and that is the saluation that wee waite for for by it we know that
the worst that these or any other troubles like these can doe is to preferre vs to our inheritance and liberty where here wee serue but a ward-ship and are incumbred daily These make our way for vs to saluation and when we duly consider this how can we be moued Vse 2 A confutation of that enuious Doctrine in Poperie which because it would haue the common people in the point of saluation to rest in an infolded faith beleeuing as the Church beleeueth that is contingently but not with knowledge nor certainty must needs breed dangerous offences in temptation for if wee shall stand suspitious of that which must bee our greatest comfort in troubles and which we haue vnder the seale of Gods promise what shall stay vs in the afflictions and crosses of our mortall life when the remedie is denied what shall cure vs and when wee see death and no saluation that is no assurance of it after death what comfort can wee haue to suffer here and hereafter for cuer Vse 3 A terrour to worldly minded men whose portion is in this life They neuer thinke of nor care for heauen but haue their hearts buried in the graue of worldly things what wil such do and whither will they turne them when affliction and anguish shall come vpon them Prou. 1.27 and their end draw neere the sight of saluation cannot comfort them for that cannot comfor them that they cannot expect and the feare of damnation must needs trouble them for that cannot but torment them that they must needs inherit as their portion for euer Doct. 2 Lastly it is called Gods saluation Mine saith the Lord that is that which is originally only from Me. Where we learne that that eternall life is the gift of God or his only worke and gift therefore is it called by Esay as here His saluation Esa 25.9 and of the Lord he saith He will saue vs Esa 33.22 hee and no other The most blessed Virgin calles him her Sauiour Let the Papists note that she must haue a Sauiour and this must be and be no other then God her Sauiour It is that grace of God that bringeth saluation saith Saint Paul Tit. 2.11 that is It is God who by grace or the doctrine of grace in the Gospel bringeth it And to spare further labour in a matter wherein both the Testaments are so plentifull the very words of the doctrine are the same Apostles owne words The gift of God is eternall life through Iesus Christ Rom. 6.23 where hee sheweth that saluation is a gift and what is freer then gift and giuen of God for Christ that is a gift whereof the authour is God and the purchaser Christ the Sonne of God The Reasons For when Adam was once falne from Gods image in Paradise and being driuen by guilty conscience had fledde to the weake succour of leaues and bushes for a hiding place against him and the storme of his iustice the good Angels could not but abhorre vs and the other creatures how could they but become enemies to vs and therefore no will in them to haue saued vs if they could onely the fountaine of mercy God the Father of Christ and our Father in Christ looked toward vs and his eye onely pittied vs in this blood of our pollution Ezech. 16.5.6 then he made his couenant of Saluation with vs in the seed of the woman by a person that should come of woman that blessed seed that should breake the Serpents head Gen. 3.15 That is Christ that should destroy the deuill and hath already destroyed him In all this what haue the creatures done Nay what could they doe Secondly he onely is giuer of life that can raise from death to Doct. 2 life this can no creature Angel or other doe that is doe by his owne Name and power Acts 3.12.16 Acts 9.34.40 or hee that will giue life must deliuer from death but none can saue from death but he that hath the keyes of hell and death Apoc. 1.18 this is no creature Also none can saue from death but hee that can deliuer from sinne that causeth death But what creature can so doe what creature 〈◊〉 can deliuer from an infinite sinne Doct. 3 Thirdly if God onely did not giue life the Scriptures which speake of a Sauiour would not as they doe speake of him onely but of helpers with him in the point of saluation But the Scripture speakes of no Sauiour but the Lord nor Giuer of life but Him Esai 43.11 61.10 12.2 3. Ioh. 10.28 Act. 4.12 And surely if he did not saue vs who onely is the Sauiour our dayes would be short and cut off quickly for the torments of hell Satan and our owne corruption swaying vs thither but the the arme of Gods salvation able and only able to ouer-master Satan and our owne vnruly old-Man doth both stay vs from destruction and keepe vs in the path of life Vse 1 A confutation of that doctrine of the Papists which in the grace of life will haue godly men to bee takers with God or ioynt-purchasers making him but a Sauiour in part and them partly their owne Sauiours but is this because he is weake to saue by himselfe Zacharie in his Canticle calleth him the horne of Saluation in the house of Dauid Luke 1.69 That is the strong and mighty Sauiour in that house But they make Zedekijahs hornes 1. Kin. 22.11 hornes of iron and instruments of vanitie to ioyne them for the batterie of the Kingdome of Satan with this horne of our saluation To his good will they ioyne their free-will and their good workes to his great worke and to his intercession the intercession of Angels and Saints departed and set their posts by his posts Ezech. 43.8 putting their old cloth in his new garment wherein is no breach nor defect But hee that made this wedding dinner is a King Math. 22.2 3. And what want is there at a Kings Feast specially at the marriage of his elder sonne and what shot doe Kings take of their seruants when they haue feasted them therefore they pay nothing that sit downe at this Supper Esai 55.1 Apoc. 22.17 neither bring any dish vnto it that is dish of halfe purchase Eternall life as hath beene said euery part and whit of it is the gift of God Vse 2 But is saluation Gods and the gift of eternall life Gods gift then Christians must walke so and so behaue themselues that they may comfortably with their last breath expect this gift of eternall life being in the way of the same by a godly life and holy death For God doth not giue his saluation to those who neither care to liue in obedience nor prepare to die in faith And to lose saluation is to be in worse case at our death then the beasts that perish For when they die their misery ends with them but when reprobate man dies his misery begins that shall neuer haue end For hee hath millions of yeares without