labour An idle Pastor that gives up the paines of his calling is like a yong mother that wold faine have children without paines and sorrow in bringing forth 2 To love dearely persons wonne to the faith For he that knowes the sorrow of winning and begetting any to Christ cannot but love them as his owne children And therefore hath Gods providence annexed much sorrow to the birth that the child might bee so much more tendred and loved of the Mother as she hath dearely bought it And so in this spirituall birth it is true And a spirituall Father may rebuke and sharply reproove his children begotten by his paines for just faults and this is fatherly love but he that shall reproach the whole seed of Christ and nip and blast goodnesse in them and the more they prosper in grace the more spitefully shall ordinaryly disgrace them I doubt whether such a one be the Father of any of their soules How doth a Mother yea a tender nurse rejoyce in the health and prosperitie of the child and grieve even unto death if the Child thrive not nor prosper And who wold abide a nurse whom nothing so much grieveth as the thriving and growth of the child Fourthly The comfort of a faithfull Minister Howsoever his sorrowes and paines be as sure and inevitable as the sorrowes of a woman in travell yea and as sharp too Yet 1 The are also short as theirs a little while will put an end to their paines 2 They are in the end sweet and turned into joy as theirs Joh. 16 21. A woman as soone as she is delivered remembreth no more the paine because a man-child is borne Their labour and paine passeth away and is quite and quickly forgotten but the joy is lasting and eternall and none can take it away Wee must consider that if we be rejected of men so was the chiefe builder and the Master builders the Apostles themselves If we speake words of truth and wisedome out of the booke of God in the name of God out of the place of God some dare say we will lie as fast as a dog will runne If our innocency were as bright as the sunne some dog will barke against us The servant is not above his Master Our Master as innocent as he was some few said he was a good man but many that he was a Devill and was a very vile man Well this is the comfort of faith it shall breake out of all clouds and darknesse and shine in the faces of all adversaries one day For as it frets the enemie that he cannot withhold Gods gracious blessing from his faithfull servants here So much more shall it breake their hearts that they cannot resist the glorious light of it hereafter And secondly to the people of God to be willing to submit themselves to the sorrowes of the new birth No infant can avoid the difficulties of birth nor no child of God can shunne this Quest. What are these sorrowes 1 Resolve therefore of sorrowes from within to undertake the paines of true repentāce sound sorrow for sinne mortification selfe-deniall renounce the pleasures of sinne which are but for a season As Moses as that of Christ If any will be a Disciple let him deny himselfe Is not here a paines and difficulty to renounce the wisedome of the flesh a mans owne corrupt will his affections and passions which must be stockt up roote and branches his owne naturall inclinations which are nearer to him then his skin his owne habits and bosome sinnes of long maintenance to cut off hands and put out eyes 2 Resolve of sorrowes from without 2 Tim. 1. 8 be partakers of the affliction of the Gospell Take up the crosse daily and after one still expect another Christ and his crosse are inseparable God might have severed affliction from the gospell as he might if he had pleased severed paine and sorrow from the birth of a child but would not For First his wisdome foresaw it stood more with his glory to erect himselfe a Church in the world in despight of Satan and all wicked instruments In no naturall thing is Gods power more seene then in the birth of an infant in grace the hazard and opposition is but the manifestation of his power Secondly The Lord would stop Satans mouth who would accuse the Saints as Iob as if we served God for nought when we are ready for Christ to endure all hazards and deadly dangers Thirdly The Lord tries the truth of his childrens graces while they abide with him in affliction Now we must resolve to goe through the paines of new birth to difference our selves from 1 Carnall gospellers that like not the gospel because it teacheth selfe-deniall 2 Wicked men because the power of it crosseth their whole course 3 Polititians who renounce it because it requires a change and they can endure no change though for the better 3 Resolve of paines and labour in the meanes of grace in hearing reading praying watching fasting and spirituall combate for God brings forward his image in his owne meanes Consider for encouragement 1 The discription of Saints Rev. 7. 19. those are they that come out of great tribulation Wicked are ever going into great affliction as jolly as they are and as free as they seeme to be but the Saints are ever comming forth 2 The worth of grace for which thou sufferest The least is worth all thy sufferings Is knowledge worth nothing Is the light of the sunne so worthlesse a thing wouldest thou suffer any hard labour and peril for money and a small summe of silver and wilt thou be at no paines for faith more pretious thē gold for hope nor for peace of conscience are these worth no paines 3 The happy estate into which thou comest by suffering Thou art borne to blessednesse Blessed are they that mourn All thy paine in suffering is not cōparable to the gaine of suffering The momentany afflictions of this life are not worthy the glory in the life to come looke not on the losse but on the gaine Thou loosest friends but hast God and Christ and his Angels neare thee Loosest libertie of body but hast libertie and joy of Conscience Hazardest outward peace but hast peace with God thy self and all creatures so farre as they cannot hurt thee See our Saviours argument Mark 10. 29. And there appeared another wonder in Heaven Now we come to the description of the Churches adversarie and opposite enemie under the name and tipe of a Dragon To which description is set a preface as before the description of the woman Of which having spoken in the 1. ver we here omit it onely remember that by heaven is meant the Church of God militant for what hath the dragon to doe in heaven in proper acceptation The description of the Dragon is by two arguments 1 His adjuncts being five 2 His effects which are two His adjuncts in the text are 1 Magnitude
and with him all the fruits and graces of the Spirit Christ covers none with his robe of righteousnesse but he deckes and adornes that soule with his holinesse Never thinke thou puttest on Christ till thou hast put on the new man created after God and hast attained a new suite and habit and art changed in thy course 5 The grace of hope and expectation Earnestly desiring to be perfectly covered and decked with Christ. 2 Cor. 5. 4. wee desire to bee clothed upon Wee are already cloathed with the justice of Christ and in part and imperfectly with his holinesse but yet much nakednesse and filth is with us and much frailty and sorrow attends us Now there is another garment the garment of glory and immortality which wee long and sigh after to be cloathed withall For if the tast of Christ be so sweet what a happinesse is it to be filled with Christ If in his absence he be so sweet how sweet is he in his immediate presence and fellowship None can have the joy of his Lord enter into him here but he will wish and long to enter into the joy of his Lord hereafter For if in our prison we can so happily enjoy him what shall wee in our palace Thus by 1. mortification 2 justification 3 invocation 4 sanctification 5 joyfull hope and expectation the woman comes to bee clothed with the Sunne Having expounded the severall things in this application of the garment we come to the observations Where we will handle three maine duties of the Church and of Christians The first dutie is Every Christian in sence of his owne nakedness must labour to put on this garment Rom. 13. 14. but put yee on the Lord Iesus Christ. Considering 1 The necessity in that we the of-spring of Adam are as naked in our nature as ever Adam was And as the naked infant is exposed to all injuries and death it selfe unlesse the parents take it from the birth and wrappe it in cloathes so were we till it pleased our heavenly Father to provide us a cover for our soules nakednesse Wee must not therefore suffer this cloathing to lie in Gods wardrobe but we must put it on partly by faithfull application grounding our confidence on the onely merit and righteousnesse of Christ who is the matter of our righteousnesse and partly by imitation of his holy vertues growing in daily sanctification 2 The excellent properties and benefits of this garment should stirre up our diligence to make our selves sure of it which properties and benefits are of two sorts 1 in saving us from evils 2 in procuring us all good 1 In saving us from evils in that 1 It alone covereth all guilt being a long white robe not as the garments of Davids servants cut off by Hanun which hid all but their shame 2 It covers from all danger as well as from shame Isa. 4. 6. It alone armes the beleever with safety and protection It is a commodious garment for al seasons for summer and winter fit to keepe out heats and colds winde and weather It is commodious for all estates prosperity adversity sickenesse health peace or warre to beare off blowes or shot called both a wedding garment for peace and an armour of proofe for warre Eph 6. Wouldst thou know what to doe to be safe in time of plague famine warre sicknesse persecution thou must put on Christ and walke safely in all dangers Dwell under the shadow of the almighty Ruth fearing injurious dealing gate her softly and secretly to Boaz saying Cover me with the lap of thy garment chap. 3. So get thou to Christ and now let dangers insue and death make an assault upon thee and take thee away it shall doe thee no more hurt then it did Christ himself it shall onely lift thee up as it it did him to his glory This garment shall be sure never to shrinke in the wetting neither shall he that weares it Wouldest thou know what to doe in the buffetings and temptations of Satan here is a sufficient cover and strength against all temptations Satan will object Thou art a sinner hateful to God Answ. In my selfe I am so but in this garment my sinne is hid Ob. But no sinner can come to heaven Answ. No unlesse he have the wedding garment which I have by faith and this brings me into the Bride Chamber Ob. But thou art unworthy of any thing but damnation Answ. In my person I am but in this garment I have a worthinesse imputed to me Rev. 3. 4. Ob. But sinne drives thee from GOD and GOD from thee how darest thou pray or hope to speede An. If I came to GOD in my owne name I were hopelesse but I am clothed with Christ in the sight of GOD and present his merit in my behalfe By fastning on me this garment I am one and the same person with Christ and GOD can no more deny me then him Wouldest thou know what to doe against accusations and cold feares and terros of Conscience This garment put on keepes the heart warme and comfortable as if a man walked in the warme sunne â—f a man were clothed with the sunne how could he be cold It is one of the curses of the Law to put on clothes and not be warme but this garment removes all curse never was any clothed herewith exposed to the curse Never came Christ any where but if he found not joy he left joy behind him as in Lazarus Zacheus the Iaylor c. 2 In procuring us all good which it doth 1 In bringing us into acceptance with God Ioseph might not come in his prison garments before Pharaoh but must change his garments Gen. 41. 14. So there is no accesse or acceptance with God in our owne old forlorne garments till we change them casting off our foule and filthy garments and adorne our selves with this second vestiment figured in the beautifull and holy garments of Aaron without which upon painy of death he might not appeare before the Lord 2. In procuring grace and blessing In this garment only we become heires of blessing For as Iacob could not have got the blessing from his Father had not his Father smelled the sweet smell of his brothers garment so no more could wee if we were not wrapped in this garment of our elder Brother Being in this garment the Lord pronounceth of us as Isaac of his sonne The smell of my sonne is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed Gen. 27. 27. Touch but the hemme of this garment and vertue comes forth Weare it and hide thy selfe in it and thou hast got blessednesse Psal. 32. 1. Blessed is that man whose iniquitie is hid and whose sinne is covered Ob. But have we not all put on Christ already and are baptized into his name How can we still put him on Answ. 1 The putting on of Christ is a continued act of the whole life For the understanding
to thy humanity Ob. 2 But he is an holy head and the righteous God but I want righteousnesse and holinesse How unfit to be contracted to him An. 1 Christ marries not his Church because she is holy but to make her so It is not the condition to marrie her if she be pure or holy but that the may be so Eph 1. 4. 2 Thy righteousnesse is much lesse a cause of this contract but this contract a cause of thy righteousnesse for he decks thee with a glorious robe in sense of thy nakednesse Ob. 3 But alas my desire is not to him as it should how can he then desire or affect me I desire every thing else every thing more An. 1 He seekes and wooeth and chuseth us and not we him 2 Labour thou to know his excellency more by which thou mayest preferre him before al loves and lovers as surpassing them al in true worthines goodnesse and perfection This is a part of the Covenant Ier 31. 34. Ob. 4. But I am base and poore despised among meane men and worthily and how can he affect mee Answ. Be yet more base in thy owne eyes also and say as David 1 Sam. 18 18. What am I that I should be the sonne in Law to the King Hee chuseth none but the abject and calleth himselfe the God of the abject He chuseth the Apostles who were the of-scouring of all things Secondly it answereth all Objections for the discontinuance of our happinesse Ob. 1 From the presence of sinne My sinne may separate betweene him and me Answ. 1 If it could not hinder the contract much lesse the continuance now the guilt is removed 2 Every sinne offends him but every sinne separates not 3 The spouse may sinne of infirmity not of wilful stubbornnesse and therefore may fall but not fall away Ob. 2 The desert of sinne is eternall separation Answ. 1 Hee hath taken the desert on Himselfe 2 Hee punisheth not with bitternesse and extremity who hath commanded husbands not to be bitter to their wives but passeth by many pardons all covers all cures all in his spouse Ier. 31. 34. Isai. 54. 10. Ob. 3. Grace is weake and my sense of righteousnesse little and small if any An. Grace in the elect is weake but perpetuall because the covenant is everlasting Floods of corruption shall not quench this small sparke Cant. 8. 7 Ob. 4 But hee may depart in displeasure Cant. 5. 6. An. 1 For a time and for her good but she finds him againe 2 A man must leave father and mother and cleave to his wife and much more will this Lawgiver There can be no desertion on his part Ob. 5 But though he be faithfull I am unfaithful and may depart from him An 1 Neither on her part For she is confirmed in grace which hath a priviledge above that in innocency That was in a possiblity of not sinning but this in a not-possibility of sinning to death 2 He that with his life purchased her happinesse will now by his glorious power preserve it Ob. 6. But outward force and violence may dissolve this marriage at least death may An. 1 The gates of hell cannot prevaile to dissolve this marriage 2 Whom God hath thus inseparably joyned none can put asunder 3 Death which dissolves all other marriages is here overcome and neither party can dye any more the death of Saints being but a going home to their husbands house Vse 1. In afflictions remember thy happinesse is stable 2 In temptation to sin remember thy honor and advancement Cloathed with the Sunne Having described and discovered the person wee come to the properties by which she is described and these are foure The first property is that she is cloathed with the Sunne In which 1 the garment the Sunne 2 the application she is cloathed therewith By Sun is meant Iesus Christ who not seldome is so called in the Scriptures As Psa. 84 11. The Lord is the Sunne and shield Mal. 4. 3. To you that feare my name shall the Sunne of righteousnesse arise Quest Why is Christ resembled by the sunne or wherein is he so An. In two respects 1 in his affects and properties within it 2 in his effects and actions without 1 The effects within it are five 1 Vnity There is but one Sunne in the world and but one Sunne of righteousnesse in the Church he is the only begotten Sonne of the Father Ioh 1. 14. No sonne else begotten of the substance of the Father no name else c. 2 Light The sunne is not onely an heavenly light but the fountaine of light and in it selfe a body of most shining and surpassing light So Iesus Christ is light in his essence a light which none can reach an heavenly light the light of the world and in him is no darkenesse Rev 1. 16. his face shineth as the Sunne in his brightnesse 3 Purity The Sunne is a pure creature which lookes upon all inferiour creatures and none can hide them from the sight of this great eye of the world and though it looke upon all filthinesse it contracts none Even so Iesus Christ is purity it self whose all-seeing eye none can avoid for all things are naked to him with whom we are to deale The Aegyptians were wont to call the sunne many-eyed But our Lord disperceth from himselfe on all sides infinite beames of light as so many eyes on all creatures the which if they cannot avoid the view of the sunne of the world much lesse of this Sunne of heaven And yet so pure is this Sunne that living and conversing among sinners he contracted no staine of sinne Although he was borne of sinners living with sinners dyed with and for sinners and as a sinner yet no man could justly accuse him of sin but he remained purer then the sunne 4 Power The sunne is a powerfull creature for though the body of it be in heaven yet the warme and comfortable beames of it reach to the extreame parts of al the earth Even so althogh Iesus Christ be in heavē bodily as being ascēded thither in his flesh yet by his spirit and grace he is present with his Church in all parts of the world to the end of it And as the sunne rising comes forth like a Giant to runne his course and makes haste in his way and no created force can hinder him So this powerful Sun of the Church makes hast in his way to his Church as a mighty Giant cannot be hindred from her by all created power of men and angells united together 5 Participation The sunne is a communicative creature dispersing all his light and comfort to others not onely to terrene Creatures below upon the earth but even to the heavenly and celestiall bodies themselves for all the starres the Moone borrow their light from the sunne Even so Iesus Christ enlighteneth every one comming into the world Ioh.
stead of the Sunne she put on and arrayed her selfe with purple and scarlet and set the Moone above her head affecting admiring and aspiring after earthly wealth and dignitie and in stead of twelve starres in her Crowne shee decked her crowne with gold and pearles and precious stones Then she became the harlot sitting on the scarlet coloured Beast and the mother of whordomes and abominatiōs of the whole earth Rev. 17. 3 4 5. They are deceived that suppose the glory of Christs true Church consisteth in scarlet and purple in gold and silver in pompe and externall honor in princely Lordship and Popedome Let the whore of Babylon decke her selfe with these enticing trickes But the spoule of Christ is knowne by her crowne of starres and that inward simple and native beauty and glory which useth to draw not the worlds admiration but contempt upon it Ver. 2. And she was with child and cryed travelling c. Now followeth the fourth propertie in the description of this woman namely her pregnācy and fruitfulnesse in travelling and bearing of children In the verse are two generall parts I. Her conception and carrying of her child in that she was with child ready to be delivered II. Her painefull travell and birth that she was pained and cryed to be delivered In the meaning are three questions to be resolved 1 What is meant by this conception and being with child of this woman An. It is no new or strange thing in the Scriptures to finde the Church compared to a woman with child Isa. 54. 1. Reioyce thou barren c. The Church of the Gentiles which before was barren but now hath more children then the married wife that is the Jewes who came of Sarah opposed to Agar The reason is because of the similitude and agreemēt between the bringing forth of children to God in grace and that to man in nature The resemblance stands especially in five things 1 As wee had two parents saith Augustine who begat us to death Adam and Eve so must wee have two parēts to beget us unto life Christ his Church and these two must be one flesh by the bond of marriage 2 As a woman becomes a mother by meanes of her marriage and company with her husband so doth the Church by her marriage and conjunction with Christ bring forth many Children to God For had she not beene the spouse of Christ and the Lambes wife she had beene for ever barren Sarah was a type of this bride Therefore as Sarah was of a barren wombe and unfit for conception but by the word and promise of God brought forth Isaac who was therefore called the sonne of the promise So the Church was of a fruitles and barren wombe and had never brought forth children to Christ were it not for the covenant and promise of God by which all the faithfull are formed in her wombe who are therefore also called children of the promise Rom 9. 8. The children of the promise are the seed 3 When Jesus Christ the father the second Adam and quickning spirit 1 Cor. 15. 45. soweth the seed of grace and spiritual generation partly externally by the preaching of the word which is called the immortall seed of Gods word that endures for ever which therefore carryeth life and quickning with it as being the power of God to salvation Rom. 1. 16 and partly in wardly by the Spirit of God a powerfull agent without whose mighty operation all would proove but a false conception The Church as a Mother receiveth conceiveth it in the wombe of faithfull and pure hearts So Mary pondred all things in her heart And Heb. 4. 2. the word must be mingled with faith or else it profiteth not to this conception 4 As a Woman having conceived brings not forth presently but keepeth her moneths and seasons appointed by God till her very houre come so the Church brings not children to God at her owne pleasure and will but when she hath gone out the full time moneths appointed by God for the new birth of every one of them which is finished by degrees and in due season this is in the text 5 As a mother come to the full moneths of birth bringeth her child into the light So doth the Church bring her children into the light by two meanes partly by profession of the doctrine of grace and partly by the practise of the gifts of grace Then doth she nurse her new-borne babes with the syncere milke of Gods word drawne out of her owne two breasts the Testaments of holy Scripture whereby they out-grow their infancy and come to their age in Christ. 2 Why is this woman said now to be with child and ready to be delivered What was she barren ever before this time An. No. For first she had beene very fruitfull before as ver 17. there is mention of the remnant of her seed Secondly all the sonnes and children of God in all ages were children of this woman Thirdly this vision being to be referred to the times after the Apostles before and about the times of the tyrannicall Heathen Emperors both Scriptures and stories record that there was a wonderfull increase of Christians almost all the world over so as the Tyrants were still kept in worke though they slew them by tenne thousands and hundred thousands Therefore wee must distinguish of the Churches travell This travell is either 1 Generall in the bringing forth of faithfull men to Christ in generall and this is not directly aymed at here Or 2 Speciall and particular of some speciall Childbirth which now she was payned for and cryed to the Lord with ardent prayers for and which was shortly to be borne and brought forth This seemes plaine in the fift verse For what she was with child with that she brought forth and that was a particular manchild of whom we will enquire in the place 3 Why she is said to cry in paine ready to be delivered An. For two reasons 1 To hold the resemblance For as God hath by his inevitable sentence for the sinne of man annexed sharpe sorrow to the birth of every Child Gen. 3. 16. In sorrow shalt thou conceive and bring forth so the text implyeth not a little sorrow in bearing and bringing forth children to God 2 For a more speciall reason in the text which in a word was this The Church being now in and under cruell persecutions and lamentable oppressions and being in her selfe as Woman weake and helplesse exposed to all tyranny and unjust vexation seeth the want of a protector and powerfull defender of the Christian faith and Christian people And therefore as earnestly desires by some of her owne Sonnes deliverance from those paines and oppressions as a woman in travell doth desire riddance from her paines and sorrowes 1. The Church of God is a fruitfull Mother daily bringing forth children to Jesus Christ. Psa. 87. 5. Of Sion shall be said
the woman drunke with blood of the Saints That religion which is so fiery and fierce must be from the Devill a man-slayer from the beginning unknowne of Christ and his Apostles and all their true Disciples and followers 4 A fourth note of this woman is her Marriage A good way to know one by is the head and how can wee know the Church better then by her head Jesus Christ whose wife she is of whom all the Children of the Church are begotten by vertue of the eternall Covenant of grace as in Lawfull wedlocke Our Mother scornes to be the Popes Concubine she hath betaken herselfe onely to Christ and professeth of him Cant. 2. 16. My welbâ—loved is mine and I am his Christ is he whom her soule loveth and is in her eyes the chiefe of ten thousand Cant. 5. 10. To him she hath plighted her troth and cleaves onely and undividedly unto him in life and in death The whore of Rome holds not Christ the head For 1 By Image-worshiping and many other Idolatries they are fallen from Christ this is plaine in Colossians 2. 18. 19. 2 They set up the Pope in Christs place Bellarmine on the 1 Pet. 2. 8. by the stone understandeth the Pope And Catharinus by head mentioned in Colos. 2. 19. will have the Pope to be meant Ob. But they professe Jesus Christ. An. Union is either Sacramentall so they are joyned by profession or Mysticall so they are not joyned The fift marke of the true Mother is her carriage and behaviour First to her husband to whom in all her behaviour shee expresseth foure vertues As 1 She is chast and faithfull unto him she keepes herselfe onely to her husband and preserves the marriage band She forgets not the guide of her youth nor the commandement of her God nor playeth false with any other lover any secondary head or Vicar generall she thinkes it strange that an husband should have a Vicar She abhorres that foule and spirituall adultery by grosse Idolatry and false worship which the whore of Rome impudently acteth and defendeth Neither Angels nor men nor merits nor Saints nor Images doth she bow unto nor any other alluring harlot can unsettle her from him whom her soule loveth 2 She is subject to her husband in all things content to be tryed and ruled in all cases by his will and word in the Scriptures What will we say to a woman that laies claime to a man to be her husband but rejecteth and disgraceth his directions and cleaveth wholly to her owne will and to other mens counsels and decrees Who will not suspect and conclude her to be an harlot But so doth the apostaticall Romish Synagogue 3 She depends onely on her husband and no other for the meanes of her welfare and all needfull supplies She scornes to seeke to any other Advocates or mediators whether Saints or Angels either for redemption or intercession her husband that can supply the greater can the lesser much more She cares for no pardons nor merits but her Lords She scornes to marry one and seeke maintenance of another 4 Shee honors her husband onely and will give his honor to none other If she did derogate from his glory in the worke of redemption by the doctrine of free-will justification by workes humane satisfactions she were an arrant strumpet and no wife But our Church ascribes all the worke of salvation to God onely from first to last Teaching that we are wholly dead in trespasses and sinnes till he quicken us and that good workes are the way to the kingdome not the cause of it and follow a person justified but goe not before to justifie him and are necessary by a necessitie of presence not by a necessity of efficiency Thus men and Angels are excluded from any part of Gods honor Secondly her behaviour to her children 1 She nurseth them at her owne breasts puts them not forth to suck strange milke of traditions Councels Decretals 2 She instructs them and teacheth her children The vertuous woman opens her mouth with wisdome Prov. 31. 26. Eunica taught Timothy the scriptures of a child 3 She provides for her children as the vertuous woman for all her family Prov. 31. 15. The Church upholds the meanes of salvation to keepe the beleevers in good state She is not the naturall Mother that starves her children that shuts up the breasts from them that hideth the Scriptures and counts it heresie to reade them that corrupteth the Sacraments that a man can see nothing lesse then the institution in them But Popery leadeth her children directly to perdition whatsoever shewes they make to the contrary For 1 They runne after it whose names are not written in the booke of life 2 All the children of that mother are without comfort in life and death because they are the sons of Agar and not of the true Mother and therfore no inheritance belongeth unto them II. Having found out the true Mother in herselfe we are now to enquire how or by what markes we may find this Mother to be our Mother and our selves her children A man may know himselfe the sonne of this Mother by sundrie notes 1 As a child borne comes into a new world and findes a marveilous change in the estate of it So a sonne borne of this mother comes into a new estate is separated from the world and the corruptions of it brought out of the corruption of nature and practise as out of the waste and wombe of the world and set into a new condition in grace and is in all things contrary to himselfe in his old nativity The change especially appeareth in five things 1 Thou wast borne of flesh and after the will of the flesh but now thou art borne of God This is called a birth of water and the holy Ghost because in this the spirit supplies the office of water in washing away corruptions and defilements of flesh 2 In thy old nativity thou wast borne in sinne now being borne againe thou sinnest not 1 Joh. 3. 9. because the seed of God is in thee thou canst not sinne raigning sinne wholly and finally thou hast now a new or renewed nature 3 In thy old nativity thou wast borne dead in sin Eph. 2. 1. but now borne of this mother thou art quickned with a new life of grace called the life of God Now thou livest not but Christ liveth in thee Now maiest thou say as Christ himselfe said Rev. 1 18. I was dead but now I am alive 4 In thy old nativity thou wast as a dead man bound hand and foot without all motion of grace nay all thy motion was downeward for nature with contempt of grace But now a new motion in spirituall things attends spirituall life Now thou movest upward towards heaven according to the command of grace whereto thou wast before an open enemie 5 In thy old
great care and provident eye over his Church by whose almighty power this small flock of sheep is safe amongst a drove of wolves Lions and a whole foxest of foxes and dragons Take notice of the perpetuall condition of the Church and her dangerous estate that wee may not marvaile or take offence at the tumults and hostile forces raised against the Church at this day 1 Let not the might and power of the enemies gathereed against her dismay us nor their great and puissant armies and Captaines nor that royall and imperiall forces are raised against this poore Woman utterly to destroy her this is no new thing that mighty hornes and the highest of all humane power should lift up themselves against her she hath from the beginning beene acquainted with such tryals Nor let us startle at the multitudes of enemies Princes and armies that stand about her it is not the first time that ten hornes at once have assaulted and pushed her nay seldome shall yee see this Woman but in the midst of these ten hornes al ready to make a present spoile of her Neither let the fiercenesse and savage disposition of them against her be strange to us seeing they are the dragons hornes dragons are guided by no law but by their owne fierce and truculent nature flying upon their prey without all pity but no cruell and truculent beast or dragon is so fierce against men as wicked men are against the Woman no law of nature or nations no bond or tye no respect of sex or age stoppeth them but pitilesly without all mercy the dragons seize upon young and old male and female high and low nocents or innocents if they fall in their way whosoever professe the feare of God and true religion against them they are gathered See it in one example Haman because Mordecai will not bow to him because he was of another religion getteth to the King enformeth against all the Jewes as having a law and religion of their owne contrary to the Kings and it was not for the Kings profit to suffer thē presently without any course of law no man being heard nay no man complaining but Haman privatly slaundering the King delivereth the whole nation men women and children some 2. or 3. thousand persons to death and bloody buchery al in a day but that God prevented it a thiefe or guilty fellon shal have a due course of law shal not be condemned unheard sometimes pity spareth a seditious and rebellious multitude that have deserved death because they are many After warre and hot blood the most furious enemies will spare such as are overcome though they would have spoyled and not spared them in hot blood In sacking and taking cities the Conqueror often in humanity spareth women children when their lives are in their hands But in this cause of Religion these horned dragons put off all humanity cloath themselves with barbarous more then brutish cruelty no humanity nor humility no intreaty nor sex no age nor place can plead for one drop of pity As in plentifull examples both old and new might be proved namely the French Massacre 1572. and our owne powder Treason Quest. But what shall the Church be devoured by so many and potent horns how can a silly weak woman be safe among them Ans. No this Woman was never yet overcome by them nor shall be she may be tyred terrified pusht wounded by them but not overcome For 1 The dragons great power is but limited and restrained as Satan must not touch Iobs wise and Laban against his owne evill intention is commanded Gen. 31. 24. Take heed thou speake nought to Iacob save good So can they doe nothing against Iacob which is not good or shall not be turned to good Though their power be great yet there is a greater and over-ruling power which curbeth them both in the attempting proceeding and ending of their intentions Herod Pontius Pilate and the Gentiles can attempt nothing against Christ but what the hand and counsaile of God hath before determined to be done Act. 4. 27. In the executiō this over-ruling power can blunt their hornes at his pleasure If Esau be come forth with a band of men to revēge on Iacob this power can turne their hearts to favour his brother in the end they are over-ruled for wheras they would make no end of pushing and goaring he will have them go no further then he please And the rod of the wicked shall not alway lie on the lot of the godly 2 The hornes of the dragon have great power but being set all against God his Saints it cannot prosper Job 9. 4. Who was ever fierce against God and prospered their power shall never effect all their wils being so contrary to the will and counsaile of the Almighty their will is to destroy and roote out the Saints of the most High but his will and counsaile is onely to chasten them their will is not onely to destroy the person but the faith also fortitude but they can doe neither for though they may prevaile against the persons of some members yet never against the person of the Woman the whole Church and those that are overcome of them in respect of life are never in respect of faith the gates of hell cannot prevaile against that so as though they be slaine they are never overcome 3 Although mighty hornes are raised up against the Woman yet hath God raised up for her a more mighty horne of salvation Luk. ◠69. Even the horne of David stronger then they all the greatest enemie of the Church is but as Antiochus a little horne to him Ob. But here are ten hornes what is one horne to so many Answ. Christ our Lord and head wants not a sufficient number of hornes to encounter the dragons ten hornes Rev. 5. 6 the Lambe hath 7. hornes though the dragon seeme to exceed in number yet doth not for the number of 7 is a number of perfection and argueth in Christ perfection of power which is not in the number of ten whether it be taken definitly or indefinitly in the dragon and there is not one of these 7. but is stronger then all the dragons ten And besides whereas the dragons hornes are confined to his heads which they exalt and carry aloft our Lord Jesus hath many hornes comming out of his hands Hab. 3. 4. that is Omnipotent in all his works especially in his battailes against the dragons ten horns for he hath atchieved an admirable victorie over principalities and powers and made show of them openly as a triumphant Conqueror on the Chariot of his Crosse and at his ascension professed that all power in heaven and earth was given to him 4 Although the dragon hath his hornes and agents every where so as the Dove of Christ knoweth not where to set her foot to rest safe from them for there be 4. hornes which scatter
flesh but to the eye of faith which is patience in afflictions and constancy in faith this is her victory 1. Joh. 5. 4. 3 The greatest splendor of the Church is not that which the world can afford her but that which she hath froÌ„ Christ in which she is likest unto Christ who had small rest or reputation in the world Fulget Ecclesia non sua luce sed Christi lumine splendorem sibi accescit de Sole justitiae As the Moone shineth from the Sunne Ambr. Hexam Lib. 4. cap. 8. Christ himselfe had neither forme nor beauty externall to be desired and the Church his Spouse is glorious but within and the eye of faith can espy glory in ignominy Christ crowned on the Crosse and a glorious shining and victory of faith through the bolts and chaines of beleevers Not to disesteeme the Church and Kingdome of Christ as if shee were under hatches or inferiour to those crowned enemies which rise against her or disabled to make her party good against them Here consider the Church 1. in her person 2. head 3. estate 1. The Dragon hath seven crownes on his heads but yet a Dragon still but this Woman is a crowned Queene as wee have heard ver 1. not of noble only but of divine descent and crowned not by men with a crowne of Gold and Pearles for so high is her estate as shee treadeth all such trash under her feet but by God himselfe with a crowne of twelve Starres the doctrine of the twelve Apostles which is more durable precious glorious and invincible then all the crownes and kingdomes of the world 1. They be crownes corruptible and fading This is unwithering 2. In them much unrighteousnesse in getting and holding This a crown of righteousnes 3. they are dead or dying crownes This is a crowne of life Revel 2. 10. which no death commeth neare which all the kingdomes in the world cannot put off for one day 2. Consider the Church in her head and there we shall see her farre more victorious then the dragon for all his 7. crownes indeed the dragon is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luke 11. 21. but in the next verse Christ is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a stronger then he And be it that this strong maÌ„ hath a streÌ„gth above all men as namely of all the wicked angels yet it is but strength created the woman hath in her head a creating strength for Esay 9. 6. the Prophet calleth him â—ll Gibbor the strong God The dragon is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lord and Prince of the world but Jesus Christ our head is above and beyond him in infinite degrees for hee is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lord of all and heire of all things Rev. 18. the dragon is potent but our Lord is omnipotent The dragon hath many crownes and kingdomes but they are all shaking and shall bee shaken to pieces one of them prevaileth against another and one of them is eaten of another but on Christ his crowne shall ever flourish his kingdome is unshaking an everlasting kingdome all the crownes on earth and all the gates of hell cannot prevaile against the happines neither of the head nor least member 3. Consider her in her lowest and most afflicted estate which is most questionable even in that she is more than a conquerour Rom. 8. 37. Looke at her at worst and then she is crowned what if with a crowne of thornes a crowne of persecution and Martyrdome as Iob called his suffering his crowne 1. What other crowne can the Saints expect seeing their Lord Christ wore no other and yet even then was he overcome 2. God is more graciously present with them as their crowne and they are now more glorious than if they had a crowne of gold If a man had seene the three children walking in the fiery furnace and a fourth walking with them like the Sonne of God was not this a more glorious sight then to gaze upon Nebuchadnezzars golden crowne faith can see the faith of the Saints conquering and tormenting the tyrants while they torment them as Christ on the crosse tormented the devils while they tormented and crucified him 3 The consolations of Gods Spirit are never so neare warme and sensible to the Saints as in their sharpest trials for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth on them crowneth them with mercy and sustaineth their hearts with such cordials and comforts as all other crownes cannot procure 4. The conquest and victory even in Martyrdome and suffering is a most glorious crowne while by faith and patience they triumph over all adversities and overcome most when they seeme most overcome now Christ hath crowned their graces by their fiery trials crowned his owne victory in them and also their persons lifting them up to sit with himselfe in his owne Chariot of triumph A ground of patience and contentment establishing the godly minde whether it looke without or within it self 1 Without it self while it beholdeth the prosperity and advancement of wicked men that their wicked designes prosper for a time and prevaile and that mischief is so nimble quicke marvaile not seeing it hath all the power of hel and the world to put it forward many hands make light worke Psal. 37. 7. Fret not thyselfe for him that prospereth in his way c. If a man would compact with the dragoÌ„ as they do hee might thrive in the world and be preferred as they Every corporation preferreth his own citizens and were they of the world the world would love hir owne Neither let godly men be discouraged to see the increase of the wicked never was the dragon so victorious numbers fall to Atheisme numbers to Popery multitudes to carnall policy and selfe-seeking God suffereth the dragon to crowne all his heads and prevaile against those whose names are not written in the booke of life 2. Within the godly minde beholding his owne abasement and opposition in the world how little of Gods worke he can doe how little thanke he hath for that he doth what reproaches and wrongs hee must pocket and put up for doing his duty might make him weary and faint if he did not apprehend the true cause of all namely that hee must strive against many crowned adversaries principalities and spirituall wickednesses wicked Princes and worldly Potentates and wicked persons who commonly can get the edge of the lawes of the sword directly bent against the kingdome of Christ and his members It were hard if some of these seven crownes could not fetch in a godly man for of the innocent Sonne of God himself the Jewes could say We have a law and by that law he must die John 19. 7. If they can finde none it is easie for crowned dragons to make one as against Daniel and Haman against the Jewes and Pharaoh against the Israelites And the Saints must not be discouraged though they are to
dreadfull and severe against such revolters Was cast out The second thing to be observed in the overthrow of the dragon is the manner of it namely Sathans dejection or rather ejection out of the Church Quest. What ejection is here meant Answ. 1. Not that after his fall for that was not by warre as this but a just sentence and punishment that was because hee stood not in the truth this because heestood against it 2. Nor that finall ejection in the day of judgement for after that hee never assaults the woman but after this hee doth after that he is cast into hell but here into the earth 3. Therefore Satan is cast out of heaven these two wayes 1. By the head of the Church 2. By the members Christ our head hath obtained a perfect victory over him two wayes 1. By the power and merit of his death by which he encountred the devills and conquered them spoiling principalities and powers Col. 2. 15. So as the Dragons erecting a crosse for Christ set up a gibbet for themselves as Haman and for Christ a chariot of tryumph 2. By the vertue and efficacie of it daily applyed to the elect through the power of his resurrection ascention and sending of the holy Ghost into the hearts of the faithfull by whose grace as by a stronger then himselfe Sathan the strong man is ejected and can keepe possession no longer This is when faith apprehends the merit of his death and the efficacie both of his resurrection ascension and sitting at the right hand of God whence hee sendeth the Spirit But this ejection by the head is not properly meant for it was done before Iohns prophecie but this was after This ejection of Sathan then is properly by the members three wayes 1. By casting out and resisting Paganisme idolatry blasphemie impiety and all injustice and immanity against God and man in which the Dragon ruled and raigned as the god of the world 2. By the preaching and promulgation of the Gospell which is the hammer of the dragons kingdome and the utter overthrow and eversion of his whole power Luk. 10. 18. The Disciples in their ministery saw Satan fall downe like lightening 3. By open profession and maintenance of the faith and truth of the Gospell and lifting up the name and glory of Christ there where formerly Satans throne was This secondary ejection here meant and aimed at seemeth to be when after the daies of the Romish tyranny by the heathen Emperours the great and unlimited power of the old Roman Monarchie in which the Dragon had ruled and overspread the earth with all idolatry and blasphemie and had poisoned and corrupted the whole knowne world was now broken and throwne downe the maintenance of Christian faith and profession was restored and liberty given unto Christians by the manchild afore-mentioned Now was the devill cast out his idolatries detected the deceivablenesse of heathenish error discovered and his whole power so broken as hee could no longer either hinder the preaching of the Gospell or the propagation of Christian religion nor keepe the nations longer from the truth of the Gospell as he had long before done by his tyranny This I take to be the ejection of the dragon out of the Church aimed at in this text The note is that till Christ and his Gospell came the Dragon was not ejected Wheresoever Christ is not there the dragon stands in full state and strength Matt. 12. 29. the strong man keepes the house till a stronger come to dispossesse him This house is the uncleane world the whole world that lyeth in wickednesse 1. Iohn 5. 19. Whole mankinde in the first Adam all unregenerate men for so the world is taken Rom. 5. 12. By one man sinne entred into the world that is the whole world out of Christ or the whole world not chosen out of the world 2. Tim. 2. ult Before men come to the knowledge of the truth namely of Christ they are all in the divels snare taken of him at his will These snares are errours of judgment lusts of life depravation of manners or some raigning sinne or sinnes by which Satan holds them under his vassallage as a fowler can hold the bird by one foot or by one twig and snare as well as by the whole body or net For first as sinne hath given him possession of all mankinde as in Iudas his heart so hee never goeth out of himselfe nay hee is loath to be cast out and when he is it is not without extraordinary reluctation molestation Mark 1. 26. The uncleane spirit departs not without tearing and vexing and throwing him in the midst of them saith Luke all signes of extreme impatience Secondly none can cast him out but Christ for onely Christ is stronger then hee men cannot cast him out no not holy men as that man said Master wee came to thy Disciples but they could not cast him out Angels cannot cast him out for they cannot satisfie sinne onely the seed of the woman breakes the serpents head Gen. 3. 15. Christ onely is that Angell which Iohn saw Revel 10. 1. descending from heaven by his incarnation having the key of the bottomlesse pit that is power over hell and death as Revel 1. 18. and a great chaine in his hand the strong chaine of his omnipotence which chaine hath many linkes 1. The strong linke of his passion and death upon the crosse which had more strength in it then the lives of all men and Angels 2. That invincible linke of his resurrection for it was impossible for him to bee held under death The Jewes could devise to put him to death but not to hold him in the grave but by his mighty power hee opened his owne grave and all the graves of the Saints 3. That mighty linke of his ascension by which he opened heaven for his Church when the devill would for ever have barred it up against us 4. That mighty linke of sending out the holy Ghost and sending out the Apostles and Pastors with a mighty and unresistable commission for the conversion of the world But what was the end of this mighty chaine of so many strong linkes Even to binde up Satan the Dragon described here and there in the same words a thousand yeares The power of Christs death published in the ministery of the Gospell bound up the devill by destroying Paganisme and converting the nations to the faith as fast as ever any Conquerer bound his enemy in chaines and restraines him from the execution of his mischievous will against him for had not the Dragon beene bound Christianity could not have conquered the world as it did but now saith Christ Iohn 12. 22. speaking of his death is the prince of this world cast out though not wholly and fully as in the last day Thirdly the wicked world is so farre from impeaching the state and power of the Dragon that it strengtheneth and establisheth it
to keepe him under for ever but yet the third day he arose gloriously so there is a third day for his members wherein they shall rise from under all the infamies and reproachfull slaunders of evill men as out of the graves For if the Head be risen so are the members Secondly the spouse of Christ cannot be cast into such a deepe but he whom her soule loveth hath his hand under her head Cant. 2. 6. so as the Lord never suffers his servants to be so farre cast downe but his hād under thē at lēgth shal lift up their heads Let what floods and waves of reproches and persecutions rise against them they cannot sink Christ is with them in the shippe he will seasonably rebuke the waves still the windes stay the blustring stormes cleare the heavens and make a calme for them 3. So it shall be in regard of the godly whose graces and holinesse must bee exercised but not extinct whose glory and happinesse may a while bee suspended and obscured but not prevented or hindred The Sunne of the world may bee set with clouds covered shut in and hid for many dayes Acts 27. 20. but yet clouds will bee dispersed and the darke mists and fogs will be scattered and the Sunne will recover his shine and strength even so the shine of grace and innocency may bee clouded and darkned many dayes but when God hath exercised his Church a while he will over-blow the tempest againe the Sunne of grace shall rise and disperse these blacke clouds and cause them to vanish unto nothing After darknesse saith Iob I shall see light And suppose the Saints walke in blacke a while yea all the while they are here below yet they shall walke in white Rev. 3. 4. when their mourning garments shall bee taken from them and they clothed with whitenesse of holinesse and glory 4. It shall so bee in respect of the wicked accusers who must not alwayes have their will and force their rod must not lye alwayes on the lot of the godly but when the Lord hath by them whipped and corrected his Children they must be cast into the fire as Ashur was Object But wee see the godly haled to death and destruction by false accusation as Naboth as Christ himselfe as the Christians and Martyrs in all ages executed as traitors heretikes and wicked men Besides how goe the godly hanging down their heads as men onely despised and carying the scorne of the times as men onely worthy of hatred and thus they goe heavily to their graves and their innocency is buryed with them Answ. All this impeacheth not this truth For First this promise is made good so farre as the Lord seeth good for his servants Secondly often in this life the innocency of those who die as guilty is restored them as Naboth whose innocency is recorded to all posterity and the Martyrs in the ten persecutions after-ages honoured their memory and sufferings though they dyed as the greatest malefactors and the poore Christians in Queene Maries dayes who were cursed to hell and burned in the flames for most accursed heretikes and traitors God stirred up Master Fox to cleare their innocency to honour their memory and cause all ages to glorifie GOD in their grace and constancy Thirdly many wrongs must bee reserved for the brightnesse of the great day to reveale and some things perhaps never come to light in this world but then the Saints committing their cause and names in well-doing unto the Lord hee will keepe faithfully that which they commit unto him and for his owne name is jealous of theirs Fourthly in the Courts of men the day goeth against truth and innocency so high as from which in earth is no appeale and so the matter must rest yet there is a day and an high Court of heaven which is without corruption of Judge or witnesse this shall right all errours of inferiour Courts there innocency and innocents shall stand in tryall and the righteous shall there shine as the Sunne in the firmament Mat. 13. 43. if not in the kingdome of the world in the Kingdome of the Father And for the godly whose grace and innocency appeareth not here nor themselves in this strange Countrey are knowne what they are When Christ who is our life shall appeare then shall wee also appeare with him in glory and if Christ be contented to bee obscured here so may we also This doctrine serves to terrifie the enemies of the Church whose tongues are now their owne none may controll them they priviledge themselves to devise and disperse what lyes they list But they must know First that the mouth of wickednesse shall bee stopped Secondly that truth is strongest and will prevaile though they may outface and smother it for a while Could they hinder Christ from rising can they hinder the day from dawning or the Sunne from his rising or course no more can they bury innocency and grace so low but it will rise againe Thirdly they must bee called to reckoning for all wicked speeches and false accusations of the Saints when they would esteeme it their happinesse to lie ever in the darke cave of their rottennesse but they must be fetcht in to carry the shame and perpetuall reproach which they would have cast upon innocency Againe this may comfort the Saints who heare there is a day when their righteousnesse shall bee brought forth they shall have their desire As falsehood and darknesse feares nothing but to bee discovered so truth and light feare nothing but to be hid Now they rejoyce in the day of manifestations of things rolled in darknesse Now shall their innocency triumph when shame shal cover the faces of all accusers as they did Hamans before his hanging In that day shall men and angels see that they were not seditious factious rebellious proud hypocrites and worst of all men but humble peaceable obedient to the good lawes of God and men sober fruitfull sincere gracious and holy Oh how sweete and honourable shall that sentence of absolution from Christs owne mouth be after all the unjust sentences of wicked men 3. This teacheth us a rule of wisedome to judge not according to outward appearance but with righteous judgement Iohn 7. 24. Judge of persons as of coyne by the touchstone not by heare-say We judge of a great heire not as hee is in minority but according to his livelihood and future great estate Labour to esteeme of Saints not as they are here besmeared but as they shall appeare like Christ in glory Seest thou one for Christ made like unto Christ in reproaches and suffering ignominy and rejection now conclude this man must bee like him in glory though the world cast a sea of shame upon him 2 Tim. 2. 12. If wee suffer with him wee shall also raigne with him 4. This is a ground of patience and constancy in wel-doing and suffering evils Grieve not to see the darke night shut
Note the reason why Satan and Antichrist are such enemies to the Word and Scriptures of God namely because it is the hammer of his kingdome and the meanes of the Saints victory against them They know well that nothing can conquer errour but the truth and nothing can chase away darknesse but light And their owne experience by Gods blessing upon the meanes at this day tells them how sound doctrine hath and doth winne ground and victory over their Antichrist whose armed Princes cannot long support him against it Truth is strongest and shall prevaile Marvell not that our Country-Papists hate to death sound and faithfull Preachers while they can indure wel enough frothy and loose doctrine they have reason they feele these by the sound application of the Word shaking their tottering kingdome so doe not the other Marvell not if they maligne and scorne zealous Professors but formall Protestants that hover as meteors in their religion they brooke well enough for those hold out the word of life and light which is the ensigne of victory over them so doe not the other 5. Seeing the Word is so powerfull a meanes of victory let it bee the word of our Testimony and let us learne to give testimony to it First in word and profession speake boldly for the truth and that in the day and where thou maist bee heard not as Nicodemus in the night Secondly in holy life and conversation see it bee a counterpaine of holy doctrine Thirdly in passion and suffering for it whatsoever awaites so holy a doctrine Consider hereunto 1. Christ himselfe was a faithfull witnesse of the truth shall not the servant stand where the Lord stands 2. The end of every Christians comming into the world must bee the same with the end of Christ comming into it but that was to beare witnesse unto the truth Ioh. 18. 37. 3. Consider the dignity of truth it is Gods own therefore the Apostle was not ashamed of it And the truth of God is the Pillar and stud of the world 1 Tim. 3. 15. Not to uphold this Pillar is to let the world fall to confusion 4. The impudency of men against the truth Esa. 3. 9. they are not ashamed to invent and abet lies and open injustice against the Word and bringers of it and are wee ashamed to testifie to the truth 5. Christ will confesse such hereafter as confesse him here Mat. 10. 32. but will bee ashamed of them that are now ashamed of him when the unbeleevers and fearefull shall bee cast into the lake Rev. 21. 8. 6. It is the honourable office of the Spirit of God Iohn 15. 26. He shall testifie of mee and yee shall witnesse also And they loved not their lives to the death This is the second instrumentall or adjuvant cause of the conquest of the Saints namely their constancy and valorous Martyrdome Where to open the meaning we have many questions to resolve Quest. 1. Whether may not a Christian lawfully love his life Answ. The love of a mans life must be considered 1. Simply 2. Comparatively In the former respect it is simply lawfull for a man to love his life for First it is a naturall instinct which God hath put in all creatures for their own preservation and it is an unnaturall sin for a man to sinne against his owne life Secondly the law of God which bindes us not to kill our selves or others bindes us also to preserve our lives and the lives of others And the same law that bindes us to preserve the life of our enemies beast bindes us much more to preserve our owne lives Thirdly in the Gospell the Apostle saith No man ever hated his owne flesh but nourisheth and cherisheth it Eph. 5. 29. and even the body is a member of Christ and a temple of the Holy Ghost But in comparison it is not lawfull as to love a mans life more than God or the truth of God or above Christ and the faith and religion of Christ to love the naturall life and meanes of it above the spirituall and heavenly this is sinfull for First we must buy the truth but not sell it at any rate all the lives of men and Angels are not to bee valued with God and his truth Secondly the wise merchant sels all for the Pearle that is for Christ and his Gospell and goeth away rejoycing Thirdly in this comparison not to hate father and mother and wife and Children yea and his owne life is to renounce Christ Luke 14. 26. but this hatred is not single but comparative and respective In which comparison our Saviour saith Hee that saveth his life loseth it and hee that loseth it saveth it as he that spareth his seed loseth it and hee that soweth it saveth it And thus are the words here to be meant that the Saints preferred the faith truth of Christ before their owne lives and loved death more than their lives when by it they could more glorifie Christ For so the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is put for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is they fleighted contemned yea despised their lives and rather exposed them to hazzard and losse then to bee removed from their holy profession Thus are they said not to love their lives that love Christ and his truth more Quest. 2. Can none overcome but Martyrs and those that die for Christ Ans. Many that give not their lives for Christ overcome and conquer for God calls not all to that honour and service of Martyrdome but even in such as give not their lives to the death for Christ must be three things First preparation and disposition they must bee ready to give their lives for Christ if hee please to call them to it as those that prize Christ and his grace above their lives and in way of thanfulnesse to him that gave his life for them do sacrifice theirs to him Secondly affection of which our Text speakes They loved not their lives to the death The love of their lives must bee subordinate under Christ. This will follow the former where Christ is prized hee will beeloved and victory which alwayes implies not the action of Martyrdome implyeth ever the affection rather to die than deny the Lord Jesus Thirdly expectation to bee Martyrs in action as wel as in affection if the Lord please so to imploy us Rom. 8. 35. All day long are wee counted as sheepe for the slaughter Where these three are the Lord who esteemes of men not by events but affection and the ready minde accounts of them as Martyrs as Aquila and Priscilla are said to lay downe their neckes for Christ Rom. 16. 4. their readinesse is reckoned for the deed Quest. 3 It seemes then a man may not flye in persecution May he Answ. Yes some flight in persecution is lawfull For First Christ himselfe alloweth his Disciples to flee Mat. 10. 23. If they persecute you in one City flee into another Secondly we have good examples of
hence the dragon in this verse is said to be cast downe into the earth where he was before but into a farre lower condition 3 Because the Saints by holy profession and godly conversation testifie the glory of God as the heavens do Psal. 19. 1. and therefore as their house and inheritance is there so are their cogitations and conversation 4 They have a tast of heaven and beginning of heavenly joy and gladnesse for the victory and salvation which in part they have already obtained by Christ against enemies spirituall and temporall which is pointed at in this text For as in heaven is a perfect and unmixed joy for a full deliverance and perfect salvation so here is a tast and resemblance for a deliverance in part None are called to rejoyce in Scripture but onely godly men who are said here to dwell in heaven Psal. 32. 11. Be glad ye righteous and Psal. 40. 16. Let them that seeke the Lord rejoyce Now by joy I meane not any naturall joy arising from things pleasing to nature which wicked men and reprobates yea the beasts have in abundance but that heavenly and spirituall joy which is called the joy of the Spirit both because it is wrought by the Spirit of God and also hath spirituall and heavenly things for the obiect of it as 1 The ioy of reconciliation with God and remission of sins 2 Joy of heavenly graces faith love c. called ioy of faith Phil. 1. 25. 3 Joy of heavenly glory held in certaine hope this is called ioy unspeakable and glorious 1 Pet. 1 8. and joy of salvation Psal. 51. 12. This ioy is limited in Scripture to the faithfull and therefore is called the joy of Gods people and all other are barred out from it Prov. 14. 10. The stranger entreth not into his joy 1 The godly are only qualified persons and fitted for holy reioycing For First they onely have Christ who merited this ioy and therefore it is called His joy Ioh. 15. 11. 2 They onely have the Spirit the immediate worker and preserver of sound ioy whence it is called a fruit of the spirit Gal. 5. 22. and the oyle of ioy because it flowes from that anoynting 3 They onely have faith which is not of all men and therefore they onely have joy of beleeving having with Christ gotten all things they have purchased the field and goe away reioycing Simeon reioyced when his faith had got Christ into his armes 4 They onely are such as mourne and onely such are called to ioy Mat. 5. 4. It ariseth out of sound sorrow and a broken heart as the Lute is tuned to sweet musicke by wresting the strings as if wee would breake them to pieces 5 They onely have attained victory in part over enemies and are delivered from the dragons power As Israel having escaped the sea and mountaines and Egyptians so the Israel of God being set free frō hell sinne sinners and the curse of sinne have iust cause of ioy and gladnesse and all but they want it 6 They onely are in heavenly state and condition and have taste of the ioyes of heaven which differ not in kinde from those they expect in heaven but only in degree 2 Wicked men are never bidden to reioyce nor are capable of this ioy He never enters into it nor it into him for First he is at warre with God a stranger to the covenant without Christ without the Spirit What joy where is no life what joy can man dead in sinne have separate from Christ the fountaine of life and wanting the quickning Spirit Secondly what joy can hee have on whom sentence of condemnation is passed and hee going on to execution If such a man laugh every one will thinke hee hath little cause It is a laughter in the face not in the heart Thirdly what true joy can hee have who neither hath the Well nor can abide the Bucket by which he should draw out of the Wels of salvation and consolation Esa. 12. 3. Gods Word which onely hath the joyfull tydings of salvation hee hath no part in it is a bill of indictemēt to him The Sacraments to him are Seales set to blankes seale nothing to him His prayers are abominable he hath no joy in any service all the duties of his calling are sinne to him Hee rejoyceth indeed in the creatures of God but as a theefe in a true mans purse and that joy which ariseth out of the creature perisheth with it Fourthly wicked men need not bee bidden rejoyce for 1. What hindereth or pincheth such his sinne troubleth him not it is his delight Temptations of the devill vexe him not hee runnes out to meet the Tempter His conscience troubleth him not that is brawned up The world vexeth him not but dandles him as her darling 2. They are surfetted already with carnall joy and are called from such joy to mourning and howling Iam 5. 1. and Luke 6. 25. Note hereby what a miserable estate a wicked man is in who cannot finde one syllable in all the Scripture to ground any comfort in and so hath no warrant nor cause to reioyce in any thing For God hath covenanted nothing but woe and wrath with them Esa. 65. 13. My servants shall rejoyce and yee shall be ashamed my servants shal sing for joy of heart and ye shal cry for sorrow of heart and howle for vexation of spirit Consider a little 1 What good thing is there in heaven or earth good as in it selfe so to thee that art an impenitent person Looke at God the chiefe good he is thine enemie a consuming fire what ioy hath stubble and chaffe in the fire Looke at Christ the Saviour of his body and he is thy Judge and he whom thou hast pierced In stead of the sweet Comforter thou hast the spirit of bondage and feare a sound of feare is ever in thine eares Iob. 15. 21. Looke on thy selfe thou art a man in the divells fetters ruled at his will and within thee a wicked conscience eyther following thee with hue and cryes vexing and accusing thee or else dead and benummed which hath given thee over to all sinne to swallow it with senslesnesse and greedinesse Looke without thee thou swimmest in a streame of outward contents and fulnesse and herein thou reioycest too much but thou hast thy portion here and to the impure all is uncleane thy table meat drinke wife children all are a snare to thee all upheapeth thy sin and vengeance thou hast nothing out of Gods love because thou hast nothing in the Sonne of his love Looke beyond thy self the presēt what hast thou to ioy in what hope hath the wicked in death when God takes away his soule A few mooveables God sends thee away with but the inheritance is reserved for the sons of the free-woman 2 As thou hast no cause of ioy so thou hast no hold of thy ioy who hast grounded it in perishing things Well
the earth For First this was Christs commandement Goe teach all nations Mat. 28. Secondly the Apostles obeyed this commandement and fulfilled it Col. 1. 6 13. The Gospell is come unto you as it is unto all the world Thirdly the incredible swiftnesse and power of the Gospell shewes the divinity of it in that before the destruction of Jerusalem or within thirty yeares it was spred into all the inhabited world as many Fathers hold And therefore if any barbarous nation or new-found land bewray utter ignorance of Christ either they were not inhabited or they have had some sound of the Gospell but have suffered it quite to die and bee lost 3. The detection of Antichrist is so plaine and manifest in this fifteenth age past as children can point at him 2 Thess. 2. 3. 4. Horrible persecutions wasting the Church not onely by heathen Emperours but ever since by fiercenesse of Antichrist the Apollyon of Rome foretold in Mat. 24. 6. 5. Generall defection from the faith foretold in 2 Thess. 2. 3. through the spreading of the leaven of Popery which drove the woman into the wildernesse 6. Universall corruption of manners and obstinacy against the truth see Luke 17. 26. and 2 Tim. 3. 1. By all which signes Satan knowes that the last day which is the time of his torment is not farre off For the third Quest. What use makes Satan of this knowledge Answ. Knowing that hee shall shortly bee cast and confined into hell hee recompenseth the shortnesse of his time with cruelty of wrath This knowledge of his damnation doth but whet up his malice against mankinde and seeing that the sentence passed against him hasteneth upon him hee is so much the more busie to pull as many as possibly he can into his owne ruine and damnation a manifest signe of furious and desperate wickednesse Certaine things are hence to bee collected and observed I. There is a determinate time of Satans rage and of the Churches conflict against him The warre lasts not alwayes And why 1. There is an houre for the power of darknesle and but an houre that is a certaine and determinate time in which by Gods permission he may put forth his malice in the world but beyond it hee cannot passe Luke 22 53. 2. As it was with the Head so also with the members There was a time when Christ was assaulted and tempted in the wildernesse and a time when the Devill left him not willingly but because hee could stay no longer the date of his Commission being expired So there is a time when his members and disciples in the ship of the Church shall be tossed and almost covered with waves and a time when there shall bee a great calme Mat. 8. 26. 3. The wickeds rod must not alwayes lie in the lot of the righteous Psal. 125 3. Our mercifull God seeth our weaknesse and need of breathings and refreshings and so mingleth his cup according to our health and strength and as wee are able to beare Whereas were Satan and his Impes left to themselves they would never cease smiting and afflicting 4. Our experience sealeth the truth of the promises who after a storme meet with a calme after a weary hill a sweet dale and after darknesse see light And it assureth of the maine promise of all that after a good fight fought there is a crowne of righteousnesse to bee given by the righteous Judge Which incourageth us with constancy and patience to stand out a little while in this fight Re. 3. 10. there is but an houre of temptation and cannot wee watch one houre are wee sure of victory if wee stand to it but one houre more and shall wee faint Heb. 10. 37. Yet a very little while and hee that will come shall come therefore cast not away your confidence but care a while and be ever safe Behold the field is even almost wonne the battell even at an end and wee are in the last houre of conflict a few stragling enemies are to be rooted out and therefore let us renew our courage and strength as those that are not at leasure either to feare or feele the blowes seeing victory is in our hands already Also it may comfort us in all the assaults and troubles of this life in ward and out ward seeing God hath determined them all and hee that hath appointed the beginning hath appointed the end also The try all is but a storme or cloud and it will vanish And if Satans rage bee limited to a time to a short time so is the wickednesse of his instruments and this time they shall not passe And if now bee the season in which the Lord useth them justly as rods to afflict his children yet ere long these rods must be cast into the fire 2. Note here that the sharper the aslault of the dragon is so much the shorter it is the fiercer the wrath the lesse time it lasteth For why 1. The harder a man worketh the sooner will his worke be done the more busie and violent Satan is the sooner will his measure be full the sooner shall the Elect bee tryed and purged and chased to heaven and the sooner will hee bring destruction on the wicked whom he gallops to hel and hastens to swift damnation 2. Violent things cannot bee lasting or perpetuall and extremes are nearean end It is true that wicked spirits and men are in their affection endlesse and perpetuall in their violence against God and all good things and persons and therefore according to this affection their plagues are endlesse but actually violent they cannot alwayes be First because themselves cannot long subsist but must give place to death and hell Secondly if themselves would never end yet would God put an end to their violences as Matth. 24. unlesse God had put an end and measure to those miserable dayes of Jerusalems destruction no Jew had beene left but for a few Elect God shortened them Which greatly comforteth Gods people in the midst of the great confusions and tumults now stirring in the world 1. Doe wee see iniquity abound and sinne more shamelesse than in former times Is the Sunne in the heavens a witnesse against the earth of such contempt of the Gospell and despight of the grace of GOD the bringers and messengers of it and professors of the grace of God as former times of the Gospell cannot parallel Doe wee see envy cove tousnesse idlenesse and scorne of godlinesse in Ministers see we the raigne of drunkennesse adultery pride blasphemy obstinacy and desperate impenitency in people such as is wonder the earth openeth not her mouth as hell to swallow up her inhabitants so highly sinning against such a light Now hence wee must conclude that the devill is come downe in this age with more than ordinary wrath and in more tyrannous manner than in former dayes And in this outrage of sinne see the outrage of Satans wrath and