the lame 1 Sam. 5.6 might keepe them against all forces of men yet when the Lord is away are nothing but a lye Psal 20.8 Some trust in Charets and some in Horses But we will remember the LORD our GOD from him is our deliverance And therefore in dayes of danger Let every man here learne what to say to God O LORD deliver my soul from the wicked with thy Svvord The thing he desires GOD to deliver here it is his soule that is his life for the soul is the cause of our life Also by the soul here may be understood the soul properly and that the LORD would deliver it from danger either in doing or suffering for when a man doth evill he endangereth his soul or when a man is persecuted his soul also is not without danger If he live except God save and sanctifie him his soul will fret impatiently or will be enflamed with revenge 1 Sam. 25 13 as David was against Nabal for his churlishnesse Or if at the running out of his last sand he die in battell the bloudy sword in the hand except the Lord deliver his soul he cannot be but in great danger The 3 use The third use Let us make good use of these words Deliver my soul they are good for dayes of trouble either for life or for death when it like a ster ne Serjant shall come to arrest our bodyes in the grave By this prayer our life is guarded against the rage of men and by this prayer the Soule is fenced from the danger of damnation In these wordes is advantage both in life and death these words should at all times be in all mens mouthes both at our rysing and at our lying downe in sicknesse and in health But above all let all men of warre in their greatest dangers arme themselves with this ejaculatory prayer LORD delâ—ver my Soul these aâ—e words which every Christian must take with him while he goeth to the battell But because God heareth not the prayers of sinners and this time of trouble is a time of prayer let us endeavour by all meanes with all haste to bee reconciled unto God Truely the best of us may say that we have a huge bottome of sinne to unravell by repentance which we have beene many yeares winding up by our great disobedience the worke is great the time is short wee know not but this warre may make an end of us all Let us therefore no more hazard our salvation upon a may bee we live unto another yeare I confesse that no man should dispaire of GODS mercie at any time but this is as true that no man should presume of it at any time One hath observed this well There was one theese at his lives end saved to take away desparation and but one so saved to take away presumption These from whom David heere prayeth to be delivered are called the wicked Such were the enemies that sought his life The doctrine Observe here that it is no new thing that GODS servants are troubled by the wicked This controversie began very earely For Cain the wicked killed the righteous Abel Gen. 4.8 He had no quarrell against him but because he was more sincere in Gods service then he A thief hateth the light as Ahab hated Micaiah 1 King 22 8 because by the torch of the word he shined upon his workes of darknesse The use The use As long as wicked men are in the world let Gods children look for dangers to their souls There is nothing that will content wicked men but the souls or lives of Gods servants King Ahab was sick ay untill Naboth was dead but as soone as the poor man was dead the wicked King arose up in health 1 King 21 16 and went down to the poor mans vineyard to take possession of it it is health for the wicked to destroy the children of God They are like the Divel it is their meat and their drink to do evill Let this teach us to pray continually that God would deliver our soule from the vvicked Againe whereas the wicked heere according to some interpretation is called Gods Sword Let us learne here when the wicked persecute us not to look so much to them who are the rod Sword or stafe as unto the hand of God in which the rod sword or staffe are it is but for beasts as dogges to bite the staffe when they are stricken but Gods children must fixe their eye upon the hand When wicked Shimei railed upon David and cast stones at him calling him a bloody murderer David would not suffer Abishai to touch him for hee had his eye upon GOD. The LORD 2 Sam. 16 10 said hee hath said unto him curse David who then shall say wherefore hast thou done so This is a great argument of patience for Gods children when they are afflicted or persecuted by the wicked for all the wicked while thâ—y afflict us are but a rod or staffe in the hand of GOD Isa 10.15 If we can get Gods favour we need no more be afraid for the wicked then for a Staffe or Svvord lying upon the ground they should once see this our Captaine with his Sword in his hand they should all fall down as dead-men at his feet when Captaine Gideon went out against the Midianites hee cryed Judg. 7.20 THE SWORD OF THE LORD AND OF GIDEON After that not a man had either heart or hand to fight against Gods people The use The use Let us by all meanes endeavoure by a good life to please GOD that this great Captaine with his sword may be on our side in these dayes of warre the Papists idoll is nothing Hos 8.5 thy Calf O Samaria hath cast thee off But O the LORD will never cast us off If he bee with us wee need not fear who be against us Lappers of water Judg. 7.5 any bodie though both few and weak will prevail easily Luk. 12.32 if GODS Sword be in the Battell Feare not little flock said Christ stand still said Moses to his six hundreth thousand fighting men ye need not draw a Sword the Lord shall fight for you Exod. 14.13 Onely stand still and yee shall see what GOD can doe Yee shall see the Salvation of the LORD Psal 68.21 Who shall wound the head and breake the hairie scalp of all these that in their pride shall rise up against us We shall bee able to stand against all weathers and stormes whatsoever What ever our dangers be the LORD shall give us a riddance We shall be in Covenant with the Stones of the Earth and the Starres of Heaven who as in the day of Sisera shall fight in their courses against all our enemies Judg. 5.20 In the day of Battell the Lord shall breake the Horse hooves of our enemies Judg. 5.22 by the meanes of the pransings the pransings that is tramplings or plungings of
bosome Psal 73.6 because they prosper therefore pride compasseth them about as a chaine violence covereth them as a garment Note All their joy is without and not within because they want a good conscience the Bird of the Bosome which sings most sweetly in the day of trouble they are rocked in securitie and often live in outward ease untill the end come then doth the Lord cast them down to destruction As a dreame vvhen one avvaketh he will despise their image Psal 73.20 that is their shadowes their transitorie estate the moment of their fugitive folies and fadding pleasures He that hath beene in the Sanctuary a Scholler of God will never envie their prosperitie No not let them keep still their honours and their rents and their riches and their glory and all their good things I leave them in their pestilent path unto him who is the righteous Lord who is preparing for them Tophet a pit Isa 30.33 a lake of fire eternall flames streames of brimstone and gnashing of teeth hell it self is groaning for them My chief earand in this psalme is to seeke out wisedome for to teach the godly what to do in the dayes of their distresse the text is most fit for this purpose it sends you away from men to seeâ— the help of God Give us helâ— from trouble for vaine is the helâ— of man through GOD vve shaâ— do valiantly c. These are word most fitting for a Commander when with his troupes he marcheth to the Battell THE SWORD OF THE LORD AND OF GIDEON are the matter of mâ— Text. Of the Title of the Psalme BEfore I come to the words will first illustrate unto yoâ— the title or inscription of thâ— psalme whereby ye may the beâ—ter understand the nature the occasion and subject of the whole the inscription is in these words To the chief Musician upon shâ— shan-eduth Michtam of David to teach vvhen he stroâ— vvith Aram Naharaim and vvith Aram-Zobah vvhen Joab returned and smot of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand 1. Shushan BY Shushan here some understand a six stringed instrument upon which the chief Musician was ordained to play the praises of God contained in this psalme we have the like title prefixed to the fourtie five psalme To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim that is a six stringed instrument so called from the Hebrew word Shesh which signifieth six 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 others not without good reason think that this psalme be so called for its beautie because it is pleasant and of a good savour like a Lillie who for its six leaves is in the Canticles called Shoshan Cant. 2.1 I am the Rose of Sharon and the Lillie of the Valleyes Dearly Beloved this day have brought for yoâ—â— comfort this most pleasant Lillâ—â— from the Garden of God 2. Eduth SEcondly it is called Eduth thâ—â— is the testimonie this declaretâ— the Psalme to be a testimonie oâ— Davids faith in the day of troublâ— wherein both through God anâ— for God he did most valiantly or it may be called Eduth the testâ—monie because it was ordaineâ— to be sung by the Priests befoâ—â— the Arke Exod. 40.5 which was called Aron-Eduth the Arke of the testâ—monie because it was a Testimonie or witnesse of Gods presenâ— among his people 3. Michtam of David to teach THirdly the Psalme is calleâ— Michtam of David to teacâ— that is a golden Psalme full of â—olden doctrine to teach chiefly â—en of warre on whom to reâ—â—y in a day of Battell The Heâ—rew word Michtam is from that other word Cethem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signiâ—ieth most fine gold the Spouse â—n her Song giveth this word to Christs head My beloved said â—he is white and rudy Cant. 5 10 the fairest â—mong ten thousand his head is Cethem as the most fine gold Massa auri vel auram obrizum Such â—s this Psalme well in the margent â—f your Bibles called a Golden Psalme there be great riches I â—ring unto you this rich propine â—rom God a most excellent treaâ—ure and offer it unto you this day The thieves the men of warre may steele or spoile you of your Gold as the Danites did to Miâ—ah when they bereaved him of his Silver-images Judg. 18.18 but if ye get this gold ye shall live and die rich â—n despight of all the world I think that there was Silver and Gold in great aboundance iâ— Laodicea whose words were sâ— rich Rev. 3.17 I have need of nothing but because that Church had verâ— little of this Gold Christ Jesuâ— proclaimed her a begger misâ—rable and poore If ye consider this most finâ— gold this land of all lands is thâ— most rich in Gold mines there 〈◊〉 no such plenty of Gods word under the cope of heaven as by hâ— favour we have this day Goâ— word is our gold for this golâ— we must all be ready to lay dowâ— our lives Rev. 3.11 It was Gods counseâ— to Philadelphia Hold fast thâ— which thou hast that no man taâ—â— thy crown let us do so with thâ— gold of GODS word let nâ— man take it from us This gold is better then anâ— gold of the earth the earth golâ— is both dumb and dead it can saâ— nothing for the comfort of itâ— owner in the terrours of death but this gold is a teacher it is heer called Michtam of David for to teach This is not the gold of Papists idols Elilim teachers of vanities So called from Elil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lev. 26.1 that is nothing these golden nothings with their golden beards have mouthes and speake not eyes and see not eares and heare not Behold a great plague these that make them are like unto them Psal 135.18 so is every one that trusteth in them or maketh any religious use of them It is no wonder that Papists can not easily be drawne from their idolatrie the reason is this there is a fearfull curse upon them they are by GOD in his wrath stupified and made deaf like their golden idols Blessed be the Lord our Bibles are Michtams jewels of gold for to teach souls what to do in such terrible dayes as are these wherein we live therein we have comforts both in life anâ— death 4. When he strove withâ— Aram Naharaim and with Aram-Zobah when Joab returned and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelvâ— thousand THe occasion and Subject oâ— this Psalme were many enemies Syrians and Edomites gathered in Battell against David whâ— fought against them and by thâ— power of GOD ouercame them The enemies who were Syrianâ— are here called Aram Naharaiâ— and Aram-Zobah the Syrianâ— are called Aramites from Aram the Son of Shem the Son Noah Shem had Elam and Ashur and Aram and Arphaxad the Assyrians came of Ashur and the Syrians of Aram Gen. 10.22 and the Israeliteâ— came of Arphaxad for Arphaxad begat Salah and Salah begat Heber from whom GODS people were first
if such temporisers keep fast their earthly good things Luk. 16.25 their cursed bagges with holes they care not for crownes in heaven Hag. 1.9 their earthly ease is To sweet that they purpose not to passe thorow the pikes for to have need of this prayer Give us helpe from trouble what ever side is strongest they minde to laugh with these like our swallowes who forsake us in winter In terras apricas for to flie most swiftly unâ—o lands warmed with a hoter Sunne If our ship go well before the winde they will saile with us they will make up a navie and goe in companie but as soone as they finde the winde blow another way they follow the blast and set their sailes according to the weather being fully resolved never to run hazard so but that they may ever have one foot loose the fear of troubles so nettles their nature which is of such a cowardly constitution that they can not want their ease Let such know that by the doome of divine wisdome a great woe is denunced against all their ease and pleasures which shall soone come to an end whetheâ— they be Nobles or Church-men or Gentlemen or of the Common sort that will not quite theiâ— ease for to follow Christ with a Crosse at the houre of death they shall all finde that they have been but fooles After that thesâ— Nobles or Gentlemen havâ— in their worldly pleasures scoured the plaines with their horses and the fields and woods witâ— their hounds and the heauens witâ— their hawkes and have enjoyeâ— heere what their heartes coulâ— wish the short gleame of their glory shall passe in a moment â—hen death shall cry to these fools soaked in ease and vanitie Alight from your horses and goe to the dungeons of stinke As for Church men who are cowards behinde whereas they should be Captaines before like the seven Priests with their seven trumpets Josh 6.4 for to encourage the men of war to fight Gods battels they shall be greatly disappointed like a poore man in a golden dreame or a hungrie man at a feast in his sleepe behold when they are wakened there is nothing but poverty and emptinesse Of all that sort of whatsoever ranke they be that are not zealous for God truely may be said they are lovers of pleasures more then of God 2 Tim. 3.4 they may have â—ome forme of godlinesse but â—eeing they deny the power thereof the Apostles counsell is that we turne away from such leâ— them be untill their day comâ— when GOD shall let loose thâ— cordes of their conscience upoâ— their bed of death so that in manner they shall bee strangle with the horrours of hell anâ— damned above the ground wormes scorpions feare fire furies wormewood and gall shall be the last portion of thesâ— fearfull Rev. 21.8 who have no couragâ— for the trueth while it is iâ— any danger 2. The reason For vaine is the help of man WEE have heard of the petition Give us help from trouble now let us heare hiâ— reason it is in these wordes foâ— vaine is the help of man as if he had said to God O Lord we depend upon thine help alone and not upon the strength of our armie which without thee is but a vaine thing David had learned this when he fought against armed Goliah having nothing but a scrip and a sling If David had not known that an armed man had beene a vaine thing he durst never have looked Goliah in the face It is written that when the Israelites armie saw the man 1 Sam. 17 24 they fled from him and were sore afraid vers 25 and the men of Israel said one to another Have yee seen this man that is come up as if they had said we never saw such a man as this But David who had the Lord with him cared not for him for he saw him but a vaine man and that all the help that he could make for the Philistines should be nothing but a vaine help for aâ— is heere said vaine is the helâ— of man whether mans help bâ— for us or against us this remaines sure and true Vaine iâ— the help of man the Hebrew word Shave signifieth a lie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rash false vaine idle of nâ— vertue or worth Observe here what are these most mighty armies that men can make either for to help us The doctrine or to hurt us they are but men the Scriptures say What is man He is but flesh Psal 8.4 and all flesh is grasse 1 Pet. 1.24 what are his bones theâ— pillars and master timber of his tabernacle how easily are they broken and bruised into powder I said Hezekiah reckoned till morning Isa 38.13 that as a Lion so will he breake all my bones the most valiant Captaines the bravest souldiers if the Lords strength sinew not their armes and leggs are all but a deceiving lie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a lie â—ntill it be known seemes to be some thing whether it be to â—ejoice us or to affright us but as soone as it is known either â—he joy or the fear it brought unto us perish away like smoak If we see a great armie for us if Gods help be not with us mens help will be but a lie even a staffe of a broken reede Isa 36.6 whereon if a man leane it will goe into his hand and pierce it Men without God have neither hearts nor hands to fight Behold said Nahum thy people in the midst of thee are women that is Nah. 3.13 fearfull and faint hearted bodies when Israel went out with their armie against the Philistines having the Arke of God with them they thought that the victorie was certaine and therefore they all shouted with a great shout so that the earth rang againe 1 Sam. 4.5 but because God was not at thâ— battell with them all their coâ—rage and force was found to bâ— but a lie All the Captaines oâ— Israel were that day like the greaâ— grassehoppers Nah. 3.17 which camp in thâ— hedges in the cold day but wheâ— the Sunne ariseth they flee away and the place is not known wherâ— they are likewise on Gilboaâ— where Saul and Jonathan werâ— slaine in the Battell all the captaines that day were found to be but a lie How 2 Sam. 1.25 said David are thâ— mighty fallen in the midst oâ— the battell When Israel wenâ— to battell against the Benjamites for the quarrell of the Levites concubine that ruefull spectacle they understood not this part of my text vaine is the help of man they knew not that mans strength and courage was but a lie and therefore relying upon the strength of men they resolved to bring to the battell against Benjamin the tenth man of the land wee Jud. 20.10 said they will take men of an hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel and an hundred of a thousand and a thousand
without him they can do nothing for these ends Christ would sleepe in the ship in time of tempest Mat. 8.25 when all was in greatest danger to perish The use The use If when we are in calamitie either private or pubâ—icke the Lord seeme to delay his help and to neglect us let us not despare of his mercy but let us cry the more earnestly help O Lord though he seeme to our weake judgement to be sleeping he is not like Baal of whom by way of scorn Elijah said to his Priests crying a loud to him in their prayers 1 King 18 27 Cry a loud for he is a God either he is talken or he is pursueing or hee is in a journey or peradventure he sleepeth and must be awaked our GOD sleepeth not he that keepeth Israel will not slumber Psal 121.3 hee never lieth down he is never wearied in waiting upon us for to doe us good there is no need of a drumme of five houre bell to waken him in the morning Againe whereas the servant of God here in his fear crieth to the Lord Arise I observâ— that there is weaknesse in thâ— best of Gods servants they often in their troubles have basâ— thoughts of God it is a very base thing to thinke that Goâ— is wearied or that he is lyeâ— down to rest him or that hâ— hath not will to arise untill wâ— rouse him up by our cries Seâ— we not these great bodies of thâ— heavens turned about both nighâ— and day with an unspeakablâ— swiftnesse it is Gods arme thaâ— turneth them all about the greaâ— bodie of the earth hath no other ground-stone but his Almighty power what I pray you hath still so constantly borne up that great masse these so many thousand yeares onely Gods arme and yet he is not wearied he seeketh not our help to turne about these heavenly wheeles or to ease him under the burden of the whole earth it is but a very base thought to think that the Lord is lyen downe to rest him that afterward he may arise The use The use Let us learn to have great thoughts of God concerning his power and good will What is unpossible to him who is able to make a Camel to passe thorow a needles eye Mark 10 25 what will he not doe for us who gave his own Sonne to the death for us when we pray we may be sure that he will hear To him we may well say LORD thou can if thou wilt nay Lord thou both can and wilt if it be for thy glory and our well if wee thinke otherwise we may well say this is our infirmitie The second Petition Disappoint him AFter that the Prophet hatâ— desired the Lord to arise which is the first degree of his deâ—liverance he requireth that thâ— Lord would disappoint King Saul and all the rest of his enemies Sauls Doegs and dogges whom hâ— includeth all under the word hiâ— and that because they were joine all together like one man in the malice against David the servanâ— of the Lord. The doctrine First whereas here he calletâ— all his enemies him as one man foâ— their banding together I observâ— the great policie of the Divel who by all meanes possible enâ—deavoures to keepe his servants iâ— unitie that they may all doe eviâ— together as it were with one shoulâ—der for he knoweth that if hiâ— Kingdome were divided it could not stand I read in Scripture oâ— Michael and his angels Rev. 12.7 fighting â—gainst the Divel and his angels but â— can not read in any part of one Divel fighting against another â—hey are all guided by one Spirit â—nd have all their mindes one way â—ent to doe evill though they may bee called legion for their â—udge great number for the way â—o Hell hath great store of passenâ—ers yet they all agree and goe â—s it were one Divel ready with â—oth hands to doe a mischief The use The use Let us by the practise of the wicked learne to abide together and to be all as it were â—ne man it is GODS will Judg. 20.8 it is Gods commandement that we love one another Joh. 15.17 Silurus a little before his death called all his children and offered unto them a sheafe of arrowes knit together desireing any of them to breake them which when they could not he divided the arrowes and gave unto them one after another to be broken which they brake easily After that hee said unto them So shall it be with you if yee abide together in unitie none shall be able to overcome you but if yee be divided yee shall easily be overthrowne Now let us consider what the Prophet here requires it is that God would disappoint his enemies Antevertere anticipare The Hebrew word is Kiddam which properly signifieth to prevent or disappoint for he that is prevented is also disappointed All Sauls designes were how to trap David for to kill him Davids prayer heere is that the Lord would disappoint him or according as it is in the Hebrew Kaddemah panau The doctrine that he would prevent his face Observe here that great men may intend great matters against Gods servants but there is a great God in heaven who can easily disappoint them whiles by wisedome and whiles by strength As for his wisedome Dan. 2.22 he understandeth all things Daniel saith that the light dwelleth with him he is infinitly wise to prevent or avert perill or to rid us out of danger When King Saul intended to kill David in his bed the Lord by his wisedome delivered him by directing Michal his wife to lay an image in his bed 1 Sam. 19 13 having a pillow of goates haire for his bolster so when Sauls servants came to take him they were disappointed they found nothing in the bed but a Teraphim an image with a pillow of goats haire As by wisedome so the LORD can by strength disappoint his enemies when the Philistines called for Samson to make them sport Jud. 16.25 the Lord put a new strength in that blinde man whereby he drew downe the house upon his enemies who got death for their sport and so were disappointed In this land at home we have proofes sufficient of God disappointing our enemies In the eightie eight year there was nothing in Spaine to be heard but a glorious victorie against Britaine Have they not sped Jud. 5.30 have they not divided the prey to every man a damosell or two said the Spanish Ladies with the mother of Sisera All our possessions were appointed for that barbarous and cruell nation but God disappointed them All their bragging was at last turned into bâ—gging the Lord made them beggars in our land After that deliverance the Papists intended with six and thirtie barrels of powder under the Parliament house to blow up all the Royall Blood with the flowre of all our Nobilitie and Counsellours and after that MISSA massa
this For after that he had spoken of the great povver of God in breaking his most mighty enemies vvith a barre of yron as though they vvere the vessels of a potter he cryed out this notable vvatch-vvord Psal 2.10 Bee wise therefore O yee Kings c. Serve the LORD with feare Kisse the Son lest hee bee angry If ye doe it not yee shall all perish from the way by the sharpened keene edge of his justice when his wrath is kindled but a little All things would he say shall then turne enemies to you All the creatures both Angels and Men shall hate you the Divels shall accuse you and Christ shall judge you O then may be said Anselm Heu miser sic deprehensus quo fugias latere erit impossibile apparere in tolerabile O wretch whither wilt thou flee while thou art thus surprised for neither may thou lurke neither darre thou appeare This is said to thee who in great pompe marchest with thy traine a proude enemie of God and his Gospel For a time the LORD may suffer thee in thy caroch to be gloriously whirled through the streets but tarry a little and God at last shall make of thee a foot-boy to run before a promoted Mordâ—cai The 2 use The second use Let this serve for comfort to Gods children when they are threatned with death by mighty Monarches because like Shadrach and his fellowes they will not worship an idoll like that which was by King Nebuchadnezzar Dan. 3.1 set up in the field of Durah Let us remember well what these children Dan. 3.28 who changed the Kings word and yeelded their bodies said to that King threatning them with death if they would not worship his idoll Our God whom wee serve Dan. 3.17 said they is able to deliver us without his permission all the potentates of the earth can not make a haire to fall from our head though for a time they trouble us at last the Lord shall come and cast them downe Yea and drowne them in a whirle-poole of his wrath where no corke shall bee able to beare them aloft were they Kings if they persecute Gods Saints at last the Lord shall cast them downe So at last 1 Sam. 31 4. 1 King 22 35. Dan. 5.6 he cast downe King Saul upon Gilboah and he cast downe King Ahab in his bloody charet and he cast downe King Bellhazzar fitting among his whoores hee cast downe that great Alexander that vaine man Dan. 12.13 that could not with Daniel rest and stand in the lot content with his station but whined for lack of elbow roome because there was not another world The LORD made a short coffin to containe him whom a whole world could not content Behold all the Emperours in Nebuchadnezzars image which hee saw in his sleep Behold there the golden head of the Caldeans the silver breast of the Persians the brasen belly of the Grecians and the yron legs of the Romanes But O again behold a little stone cut out of the quarrey of heaven without hand even Christ Iesus the great Captaine of Salvation Heb. 2.10 who smote that image on the feet so that all these Emperoures with their Crownes and Scepters Dan. 1.22 became like the chaffe of the Summer threshing floores Neither their Scepters nor their Crownes nor their Guards nor their Armies can uphold them when the LORD commeth to cast them downe All their armies become like these keepers about Christs grave who for fear at his resurrection Mat. 28.4 became as dead men The Lord God is against them to justle with them in his wrath and therefore they cary hel even a trembling heart in their bosome and the brand of vengeance in their foreheads the shrewde wages of their wickednesse Let these observations stand for our comfort The third use The 3 use Seeing the Lord is so powerfull to cast downe Princes and Potentates let this serve for reproofe to these who can not trust in God but tremble like aspen leaves when they see the great forces of men or heare of them Such are not fit for Christs wars they gladly would dwell on Tabor with him sitting betweene Moses and Elias but forsake him at Calvarie hanging between two Thieves they like well his robbes of glory but abhorre his ragges of povertie Hosanna hath a sweet sound in their eares but anone they shrink back at these bitter bloody cryes of Crucifie Crucifie Israel had never conquered Canaan if they had been fearfully affraid of the sons of Anak Away with men that will not believe except they touch and see Such mens understandings are led by their senses they give more trust to their eyes Plus oculo quam oraculo then to the word of promise if we could rightly fear God if we had but the least graine of faith we would never fear things that have their breath in their nostrils Isa 2.22 What is man that he should be feared what can he do though he had permission to do all that is in his power he can but kill the body and so send us home to our Lord If men kill us not a fever or a fluxe or a Cancer as well as a Canon or one of a thousand diseases will come and take away our life If we did truely fear God the terrours of men would not trouble us much But because we are negligent in prayer and in prying into the heavens for to know what store of joy and contentments are there therefore when a word of death or danger is heard we are like that Pashur whom Jeremie called Magor-Missabib that is fear round about Jer. 20.3 ly upon us that any thing should be able to affright us unto whom the Lord hath made so fair promises that he will be unto us a shield and a shadow a Sconce a strong tower and a fortresse a hedge a wall of fire and of brasse Is any man stronger then God If any Prince can be found that can cast downe God let us tremble and shake If any other God can be found to whom a man may say in the words of may text Arise O LORD disappoint him cast him down then let us tremble and goe with Zedekiah from chamber to chamber for to hide our selves But this God of my text is the onely true GOD He is the God of gods when he is angry he casteth down the gods as he threw downe the Philistines Dagon 1 Sam. 5.13 and did execute judgement against all the gods of Egypt Exo. 12.12 this our Lord at last shall bring a black day upon all the wicked the enemies of his Church their groanes in hell shall honour his justice so well as the songs in Heaven shall glorifie his mercy Now their conscience is like a clocke when the poise is downe the wheeles are without motion all is quyet there is no noise in the heart but O as soone as the LORD