A SERMON OF Gods Omnipotencie and Prouidence PSAL. 95. 3. The Lord is a great God and a great King aboue all gods Printed by C. L. And are to be sold by Matthew Law in Pauls Churchyard at the signe of the Foxe 1615. To the Reader CHristian Reader It may seeme meere presumption and vain ostentation for one of my yeeres to commit so vnworthy labours to the 〈…〉 sse especially when so many aged and re 〈…〉 end Diuines of excellent learning pro 〈…〉 nd iudgement and continued experience 〈…〉 silent in this kinde My apologie for my 〈…〉 is the common plea I meane importu 〈…〉 of freinds and for mine owne part I 〈…〉 not in conscience deny so religious a re 〈…〉 of my Christian auditors God that 〈…〉 es the secrets of all hearts knows it that 〈…〉 and selfe loue were neuer the spurres 〈…〉 cke mee on to this bolde attempt onely 〈…〉 hath beene the height of my desires the goâ—d of Sion the benefit of Gods Church 〈…〉 people if therefore thou repeast any pro 〈…〉 from these my paynes I haue attained to the toppe of my wishes Howsoeuer here I present them to thy fauourable censure In the mean time I commend both thee and thy grouth in grace to the helpe and furtherance â—â— Almightie God Canham Thine in Christ Iesus BEZALEEL CARTER A SERMON OF Gods power and providence PSAL. 135. 6. Whatsoeuer pleased the Lord that did hee in heauen in the earth in the sea and in all deepes Right Honourable Worsh and Welbeloued THe Scripture is infinitely large The Lord omnipotent for foure reasons in setting forth vnto vs the power of God I know saith Dauid in the verse foregoing that the Lord is great and that our Lord is aboue all Gods 1. The Lord is mightie for hee does whatsoeuer hee pleases Gen. 18. 14. 2. Hee is mightie because he works by no meanes Iob. 26. 2. 3. Psal 148. 5. 3. Hee is mightie for hee workes by weake meanes Exod. 8. 6. Acts. 12. 25. Lastly hee is mightie because he can doe more then euer hee did from the beginning or will doe to the worlds end Mat. 26. 52. Now his power in doing whatsoeuer he pleases is laid down to vs in this text Whatsoeuer pleased the Lord c. At this time I resolue to reade it in the present tense Whatsoeuer pleases the Lord that doth hee c. and I hope I shall offer no violence to my text for God is one and same God yesterday and to day and the same for euer his arme is not shortened nor his power diminished it hath beene alike from the beginning and shall continue alike till time shall be no more Whatsoeuer pleases the Lord c. Now for my method take it thus 1. I will shew you that God doth what he pleaseth 1. In heauen 2. In the earth Diuision 3. In the seas 4. In all deepes 2. I will come to vse and application 1. In heauen By heauen I vnderstand whatsoeuer is aboue the earth Paul I remember makes 1. Particular mentioÌ„ of three heauens a first a second a third heauens like Noahs Arke that was contriued with a first second and third roome The first reaches from the earth to the moone The second from the moone to the third heauen which by the learned is called coelum empyreium comprehending the seauen planets the firmament which is the receptacle of all the fixed starres And the last is that which Paul calleth the highest heauens the Paradise of god and the seate of the blessed I might take occasion to shew you that God doth what hee pleases 1. In the first heauens 2. In the second heauens 3. In the third heauens But least I should seeme rather curious then profitable I will handle this point generally that God doth what he pleases in heauen The heauen is the Lords throne 1. King 8. 27. the Angels at his command as diligent as the seruants of the Centurion Matth. 8. 9. if hee saith to one goe he goeth to another come he comes to a third doe this he doth it If to destroy Sodome readie to destroy if to preserue Lot they can doe nothing til Lot be come out of Sodom Knowest thou not said Christ to him that smot off the high Priests seruants ear that I could pray to my father and hee would giue me more then twelue legions of Angels Matth. 26. The sunne and the moone and the starres the orbs and arches of heauen obey his voyce hee caused the sunne and moone to stand stil till Ioshua preuailed ouer his enemies Iosh 10. 13. and the starres from heauen to fight against Sisera Iudg. 5. 20. Hee commands the winds and storms and the winds and stormes obey him Mark 4. 36. The thunders and they are obedient to him Hee sent thunder to plague the hard hearted Egyptians Exod. 9. 23. Hee sent thunder at the prayer of Samuel 1. Sam. 12. 18. The winds were his seruants to bring in quayles to the Israelites Numb 11. 31. And when Ionah fled from the presence of the Lord to Tarshish he raysed vp a mighty tempest Ion. 1. 4. The swift and speedie lightnings are his attendants When he came to deliuer the law to Moses he came in a terrible manner with lightnings Exod. 19 16. Hee couereth the heauens with clouds and prepareth raine Psal 147. 8. In the time of Noah the Lord opens the windows of heauen and commanded the clouds to raine and then the earth was couered with water Gen. 7. 19. Againe he commanded that it should not raine for the space of three yeers and vpwards in the time of Eliah 1. King 17. 1. and then the windowes of heauen were shut vp and the riuers were dried vp 1. kin 17. 7. He giues snow like wooll scattereth the hoare frost ashes Psal 147. 16. Hee tames the birds of the ayre euen the wilde rauens the wild rauens fed the Prophet Eliiah 1. Kin. 17. 6. In a word all things in heauen obey him the Angels the Sunne the moone the starres stormes tempests thunders lightnings raine snow hayle Hee giues by his voyce the multitude of waters in the heauens hee causes his clouds to ascend from the ends of the earth hee turnes his lightnings to raine and brings forth the wind out of his treasure Ierem. 10. 13. Whatsoeuer pleaseth the Lord that doth hee in heauen In the earth As he ruleth all things in heauen so he 2. Particulâ— ruleth all things in earth mooueable and immooueable man and beast hee ruleth all men yea the very steppes of a man are ruled by the Lord Prou. 20. 24. he fashions the heart of euery man and vnderstands their works Psal 33. 15. by him Kings reigne and Princes decree iustice by him Princes rule and all the Iudges and Nobles of the earth Prou. 8. 15. It is hee that giueth deliuerance vnto Kings and rescueth his seruants from the hurtfull sword Psal 144. 10. he pulleth down
Princes and raiseth vp Princes according to his pleasure He chased the Amorites Exod. 34. 11. he fought for Israel Ios 10. 42. he gaue Hezekiah victorie 2. King 19. 34. hee giues the victorie he giues the ouerthrow in a word he rules all men the mightie of the earth Emperours and Kings The heart of the King is in the hand of the Lord Prou. 21. 1. and not only so but whatsoeuer is in the earth besides with life or without life * euen â—en and â—attel â—â— 8. 8. from the lion to the creeping thing he caused a lyon to destroy the disobedient prophet 1. King 13. 24. so he gaue Samson victory ouer a lyon Iudg. 14. 12 and likewise Dauid victory ouer a lyon 1. Sam. 17. 34. He sent two be 〈…〉 stroy the fortie two children that 〈…〉 ked the Prophet Elisha 2. King 2. 〈◊〉 Frogs flies lice and grashoppers are tâ—â— Lords mightie armie he spake the word and they mustred themselues vp against Pharaoh and made war against the wicked Egyptians Exod. 8. 5. 9. 1. 10. 28. The wormes likewise obey the voice of God he sent a worme to destroy Ionah his gourd Ion. 4. 7. and so doe the serpents for he sent fierie serpents amongst the children of Israel that stang them so as many died Numb 21. 6. The Lord is he that causeth 〈◊〉 trees of the earth to flourish euen th◠〈…〉 Cedars of Lebanon and the tree 〈…〉 earth to wither like the wild figg◠〈…〉 â—atâ—â— 21. 19. he raised vp a wild gourd â—â— comfort Ionah and the next morning he caused it to die away Ion. 4. 7. Hee causeth the earth to bring forth the bud of â—he herb that seedeth seede according â—â— his kind Gen. 1. 11. he I say ruleth the earth men beasts trees plants The earth is the Lords and all that therein is the round world and they that dwel therein Psal 24. 1. Whatsoeuer pleaseth the Lord that doth hee in 〈…〉 in earth In the seas Thirdly God doth that which hee pleaseth in the sea The sea is his and he made it and his hands prepared the drie land Psal 95. 5. he diuided the red sea so as the Israelites passed through vpon dry land Exo. 14. 23. He commands the sea yea the fishes of the sea are commanded of God from the greatest to the least He caused a whale to swallow vp Ionah and the same whale to cast him vp againe vpon the drie land Ion. 2. 10. and when Simon had gone a fishing all night and could catch nothing â— at length Christ caused him to lau◠〈…〉 to the deepe and then he encloas◠〈…〉 â—ole multitude of fishes Luk. 5. 〈…〉 God saith Dauid rulest the raging of the sea when the waues thereof arise thou stillest theÌ„ Psa 89. 9. his wayes in the sea and his pathes in the great waters and his footsteps are not knowne Psâ— 77. 19. When Israel came out of Egypt and the house of Iacob from the barbarous people the sea saw it and fled Iordan was turned backward Psalm 117. Thou hast faith the Psalmist placed the earth vpon her foundations thou couerest it with the deepe as with a garment the waters would stand aboue the mountaines but at thy rebuke they flie Psal 104. 5. as if he had said If thou O God didst not curbe in and bridle the raging of the sea it were impossible but that the whole world should be ouerwhelmed with water the waters would stand aboue the mouÌ„tains but at thy rebuke they flie and Psal 33. 7. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as vpon an heape and layeth vp the deepes in his treasure and yet in another Psalme The voice of God is vpon the waters he fittes vpon the floods and remaines king for euer and euer Psal 29. 10. Whatsoeuer pleases the Lord that doth he in heauen in the earth and in the sea And in all deepes First in the deepes of the sea and thus 4. Particular he deliuered Ionah beeing incompassed with the deepes Ion. 1. 2. hee makes the deepes to boile like a pot Iob. 41. 22. Secondly in the deepes of the earth The graue is naked before him Iob 26. 6. There is nothing hidden no not in the bottome of the earth but he seeth it Thirdly in the deepe of all deepes in the bottomlesse pit Reu. 20. his power is deeper then hel Iob 11. 8. hell and destruction are before the Lord Pro. 15. 11. 4. But the meaning of the place is this God ruleth not only the seas and salt waters but all fresh riuers ponds and lakes euen the deepes that spring out of the vallies and mountaines Deu. 8. 7. Oh God saith Dauid Let not the wicked haue their desire Oh cast them into the deepe pits that they rise not Psal 104. 10 Hee claue the rockes in the wildernesse and gaue the children of Israel drinke as out of the great deepes Psal 78. 15. Hee spake the word and the fountaines of the great deepe were broken vp Gen. 8. 11. The riuers of Egypt hee turned into blood Exod. 7. 17. and caused the auncient riuer the riuer Kishon to sweepe away Sisera with his mightie hoast Iudg. 5. 21. Hee turnes the floodes into a wildernesse and springs of water into drynesse againe he turnes the wildernesse into pooles of water and the drie land into water springs Psal 107. 33. Whatsoeuer pleases the Lord that doth hee in heauen in earth in the sea and in all deepes Whatsoeuer pleases the Lord that he doth The limitation of this doctrine c. Yet this must be vnderstood with limitation for som things there are which God cannot doe God cannot lie Tit. 1. 2. God cannot deceiue God cannot sin God cannot deny himselfe c. here then arises the difficulty how can it be said that God doth whatsoeuer hee pleases since you haue named particulars that he cannot effect nor bring to passe God cannot sinne God cannot cause that which is done to be vndone c. and therfore God is not omnipotent neither doth hee whatsoeuer hee wills But the answer is easie First God doth whatsoeuer hee pleases but to sinne to lie c. these are not pleasing to his Maiestie Secondly these are opera non potentiae sed impotentiae to sinne to die c. these proceed from weaknesse and infirmitie and therefore if God were subiect to these he were not Almightie for to sinne is a token of imperfection yea of slauery know you not saith Paul that his seruants you are whom you obey Ioh. 8. 34. If God could be ouercome by sinne hee should be the seruant of sinne and if hee could subiect himselfe to the bondage and slauerie and seruice and dominion of sinne and be vanquished and ouercome by it hee were not Almighty for this would derogate from his omnipotency because it implies a contradiction to be omnipotent and yet to yeeld to the conquest of sinne and therefore here rather appeares the mighty power of God that
hee is not subiect to these infirmities it is the great power of God that hee cannot lie and so for sinne in generall therefore it is not in God because he is Almighty and omnipotent But I leaue the doctrines and hasten to the vse I will first deliuer one vse in generall and so wee will come to more particular application Since God rules all things in heauen The generall vse and earth c. therefore nothing comes to passe without his speciall notice and prouidence nothing comes by accident nor nothing comes by chance The lot is cast into the lappe but the whole disposition is of the Lord Prou. 16. 33. who saith a thing comes to passe the Lord hath not done it out of the mouth of the most High proceeds euil and good Lam. 3. 37. The Lord saueth man and beast Psal 36. 6. God careth for the birds of heauen and feeds them Matth. 6. 26. and hee numbers our hayres Matth. 10. 30. Nay takes notice of euery teare that is shedde by the faithfull and puts them in a bottell Psal 56. 8. Nay his prouidence extends to the lilies of the field and to the birds of heauen euen to the little sparrow The Lord giueth and the Lord taketh away as it pleaseth the Lord so come things to passe Iob. 1. 21. Indeede ordinarily we ascribe whatsoeuer betides vs to fortune and chance and to the influences of the starres as if God were not the disposer and ruler of all his workes there can be no euill in the citie saith Amos but the Lord hath done it Amos. 3. 6. plagues come from God punishments from God crosses from God the couetous man imputeth his losses to fortune his encrease to fortune generally vntimely deaths burnings blastings c. these are imputed to accident chance when indeed sinne is the cause and God is the author of punishment Man suffers for sinne Lam. 3. 39. our sinnes are the cables and cartropes that hurries down Gods vengeance vpon vs. I kill saith God and I giue life I wound and I make whole Deut. 32. 39. I forme the light I create darkenesse I make peace and I create euill I the Lord doe all these things Isai 45. 7. This in generall Now in particular this doctrine may serue First for terror to the wicked Secondly for comfort to the elect Terror to the wicked 1. In regard of this life 2. In regard of a better life Consolation to the elect 1. for this life 2. for a better life Vse 1 How can a wicked and a godlesse person harbour any quiet in his breast since God rules in all places how can they promise themselues any safety since God doth whatsoeuer hee pleaseth in heauen in the earth in the sea and in all deepes how can they promise peace to themselues when the Lord of heauen is able to muster vp al his heauenly powers and set legions of heauenly and celestiall soldiers in battell array against them nay how can they euer thinke to be saued since God is the Lord of the heauens that excludeth and admitteth whomsoehe pleases how can they thinke to prosper vpon the earth or to be safe vpon the sea since God rules in both these when his power reaches higher then the heauen deeper then hell since the measure of it is longer then the earth and broader then the sea Iob. 11. 8. If they looke vp to heauen the mighty God of heauen their enemy Christ their enemie archangels and Angels the orbs and arches of heauen the starres and the planets all things in heauen ready at Gods command to bandy against theÌ„ nay the gates of heauen bard vp against them as it was against the fiue foolish virgins Math. 25. 12. If they looke downe to the earth the earth is weary of bearing so vile a burthen if they flie to the sea that swells and rages against them if they flie to the East God is there if to the West God is there if to the North hee workes in the North if to the South hee hides himselfe in the South Iob. 23. 8. So as the estate of a wicked man is like the estate of him that the Prophet Amos speakes of that flew from a lion and a bare met him Amos 5. 19. Or like Plinies flying fish which beeing in the sea is chased by the fishes and flying into the ayre is pursued by the birds which way soeuer they go they runne headlong to their destruction if they take the wings of the morning and flie to the sea God commands the sea and that makes warre against them as it did against the Egyptians Exod. 14. 28. If they returne to the earth the earth shal be cursed to them as it was to Cain Gen. 4. 12. If they looke vp to heauen they flie from a lion to a beare God likewise ready to execute vengeance vpon them for their wicked courses And therfore truly said the Deuil to Saul Doest thou aske counsell of mee and God is thine enemy 1. Sam. 28. 16. It is vaine to consult or aske counsell if God opposes if God takes in against vs it is a vaine thing to trust in charrets or horses woe to the rebellious children saith the Prophet that strengthen theÌ„selues with the strength of Pharaoh and trust in the shadow of Egypt for the strength of Pharaoh shall be their shame and the trust in the shadow of Egypt their confusion Isai 30. 1. 2. Though hand ioyne in hand saith Dauid nation ioyne with nation kingdome with kingdoms though hand ioyne in hand yet shall not the wicked escape vnpunished I kil saith God neither is there any that can deliuer out of my hands Deu. 32. 39. Though they dig downe to hell thence shall mine hand take them though they climbe vp to heauen thence I will bring them downe though they hide themselues in the top of Carmel I will search and take them thence and though they be hidden in the bottome of the sea I will command the serpent and he shall bite them Amos 9. 2. 3. This then is the estate of a wicked man but I purpose to handle this point more particularly First God doth what hee pleaseth in In heauen the heauen and therefore in what a dangerous in an vncertaine and slipperie estate is euery wicked person that stands not in good grace tearmes with God but stands in the estate of rebellion and is out of his fauour which way soeuer hee turnes encompassed about with as many enemies as God hath creatures For euen as Princes out of their absolute authoritie leauie vp forces in the court in the citie in the countrie amongst their subiects superiour and inferiour So I say the Lord hath as the earth and sea at his command so likewise all his celestiall courtiers the Angels as it were his Nobles whereof one is able to ouerthrow an hundred fourescore and fiue thousand 2. King 19. 39. and as he hath his noâ—â—es so hath hee his
commission to his creatures the winds broke forth and made warre vpon Ionah Ion. 1. 4. the waters encountered with the winds and made warre vpon Ionah nay the fish the whale opened his mouth and lay wayting to deuoure Ionah the marriners that were to land him safely in Tarshish conspired to cast him into the sea nay if God but set against vs then shall we euen like Iudas set against our selues Mat. 27. 5. Ionah did not in this extremitie plead for but against himselfe Take me saith he and cast me into the sea and so shall the sea be calme vnto you Ion. 1. 12. how can wicked persons hope for the least safetie vpon the sea if the Lord but command the stormes and winds they obey him and these shall worke their ouerthrow if hee but command the sea the ship the pirats vpon the sea the rocks these shall worke their destruction But suppose that neither heauen nor earth nor sea sets against them yet hath In the deeps the Lord an other army and when hee armes himselfe to vengeance euen the sweet waters and delightfull springs shal runne vpon the world as it were with drawne swords and hath not the Lord infinitely fought against vs with his watrie armie witnes our late floods and inundations breaking downe banks carriyng away mils bridges c. the Lord armed these fresh water soldiers with such strength and power that nothing was able to resist them and therefore still see the miserable estate of an vnsanctified man if hee escapes one euill he meeteth with an other if he escape a first he meeteth with a second for the Lords quiuer is full of arrowes and his thunderbolts are neuer spent if neither heauen nor earth nor sea yet shal the deepes reuenge Gods quarrell vpon them euen thus miserable are they in this life euen as Ionah in the whales belly was compassed with waters so are these with enemies aboue beneath and round about them And yet behold this is but their miserable The 2. vse ◠the 1. part f◠terror to th◠wicked estate in regard of this world see againe their miserable estate in regard of a better life Is it possible that an vnclean person should euer thinke to dwell with God so long as God rules in heauen consider this point in the name of God and let it be a doctrine to worke terrour and amazement in vs. God hath said it in his word that neither buggerers fornicators nor adulterers shal inherit the kingdome of heauen Eph. 5. 5. God that hath the keyes of heauen and hath the keyes of hell this God hath spoken it and how canst thou then that runnest to the harlots house and makest thy selfe a slaue to vncleannesse how canst thou euer thinke to dwell with God that euer abhorred vncleannesse and so for couetous persons that forsake the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof to surfet vpon filthie Mammon how can they ouer thinke to dwell with that God that euer abhorred couetous persons malicious persons drunkards swearers liars how can they euer hope to dwel with that God that abhors malice abhors excesse abhors swearers and liars how can such deuillish and damned persons euer thinke to bee saued since the heauen of heauens is the Lords Deut. 10. 14. God he is holy God he is righteous God he is pure how canst thou then thou that art vnholy thou that art vnpure thou that art vnrighteous how canst thou euer think to set thy foot within the gates of the new Ierusalem a stinking carkasse stinkes not more vilely in the nostrils of man then an abhominable sinner stinkes odiously in the nostrils of God Let all sinnefull wretches know this that God is their mortall enemie hee will wound the head of his enemies execute vengeance vpon his enemies Deut. 32. 41. we loath not a toad nor a scorpion worse then the Lord hateth them we hate not the deuill nor the deuill hateth not man worse then God hateth them and therefore questionles the Lord will neuer admit them into his holy kingdome neither couetous earth-wormes beastly drūkards hellish blasphemers extorting vsurers God will neuer receiue these into his sacred presence but shal send them packing with the wicked and the reprobate into euerlasting damnation whosoeuer worketh abomination and lyes shal haue no part in the kingdome of heauen Reu. 21. 27. the frogs of Egypt stanke not more rankely in the Egyptians noses Ex. 8. 14. then these smell rankely in Gods nosthrils and therefore I say God will stop his nose against them and giue them their portion with hypocrites All the fearefull all the vnbeleeuing and abhominable murderers whoremongers sorcerers idolaters and liars shall haue their part in the lake that burnes with fire and brimstone Reu. 21. 8. And therefore now The conclusion of the vse in generall to drawe to a conclusion as Peter saith humble your selues vnder the mighty hand of God 1. Pet. 5. 6. so say I humble your selues vnder the mightie hand of God God he is a mighty God able to worke your ruine vpon earth and to cast both bodie and soule into hel fire humble your selues therfore before the thron of his grace for it is a fearefull thing to fall into the hands of the liuing God Thou drunkard that destroiest the temple of God and the good creatures of God by thine intemperancy and runnest into all manner of enormities that thy drunken humour hurries thee into that makest streets and townes ring of thine vnrulines thou that art mighty to drinke wine and strong drinke how darest thou rise early and goe to bed late to follow drunkennes since God hath denounced a woe against drunkards Isa 5. 11. and that God that hath denounced a woe against thee is able to cast both body and soule into hell fire Thou couetous earthworme that makest a god of thy goods that diggest downe to hell for riches and eatest the poore as men eat bread that art choaked with the loue of the world thou greedie catterpiller how darest thou continue in this sinne since God hath said it That neither theeues nor railers nor couetous persons shall inherite the kingdome of God 1. Cor. 6. 10. and this God is able to cast both bodie and soule into hell fire Thou blasphemer of the name of God that rentest and tearest the name of God in peices and spewest forth blacke and feareful and damnable oaths and makest swearing and cursing and deuillish speaking thy best language how darest thou take the name of the Lord in vaine since God hath said it that he wil not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine Exod. 20. 7. and this God is able to cast both bodie and soule into hel fire Dares a sonne offend his father durst Pilate offend Caesar Ioh. 19. 13. dares the borrower offend the lender no man will willingly offend him that is able to worke him an inconuenience and thinke wee then that it is a safe thing to
offend the liuing Lord of heauen and earth that is able doubly and redoubly and trebly to requite vs and to render vengeance to those that know him not If you wil not be reformed saith the Lord to the obstinate Iewes but walke stubbornly against me then will I also walke stubbornely against you and I wil smite you yet seuen times for your sinnes Leuit. 26. 24. I remember what I read in the 2. Sam. 16. 6. concerning Dauid Shemei when Dauid went downe the winde and the people encreased with Absalom then indeed Shemei cared not for Dauid but railed on him and curst him cast stones at him Dauid preuailed against Absalom then he hasts to Dauid with his thousand people trembled and quaked before him O saith he let not my Lord impute wickednesse vnto me I knowe that I haue done amisse I know that I haue offended c. so truely if God had not an ouerruling hand if he were not able to recompence euill to his aduersaries then there were some reason that we should be secure and carelesse of his maiestie but since his might is so boundlesse that it reacheth from heauen to the earth from the earth to the lowest hel so as hee is able to destroy the mightiest euen with the breath of his nosthrils oh therefore let vs humble our selues before his Maiestie let vs cry out with the poore Publican Lord be mercifull to me a sinner Luk. 18. 9. or with the prodigall sonne Father I haue sinned against heauen and against thee and am no more worthy to be called thy sonne Luk. 15. 21. let vs cry out with Paul O wretched man that I am who shal deliuer me from this body of death Act. 7. 24. let vs with the Nineuits flie to God with prayer and fasting Ion. 3. 5. let vs with Manasseh humble our selues greatly before God 2. Chr. 33. 12. with Daniel confesse our sinnes and seek the Lord Dan. 9. 3. with Peter let vs weepe bitterly Matth. 26. 75. let teares runne downe our cheeks like a riuer let vs take no rest neither let the apple of our eyes cease Lam. 2. 18. vntill wee haue recouered the fauour of God and found rest to our soules Mat. 11. 29. What man dares presume to mooue the wrath of a King The wrath of a King is as the messengers of death Prou. 16. 14. or as the roaring of a lyon Prou. 20. 2. Indeede there are many court claw-backs and Parasites to humour and flatter a king to crie out vpon euery occasion as Herods auditors did The voice of God and not of man Act. 12. 22. ready to bowe to him and adore him like a God but who dares come to him as Eliiah did to Ahab and confront him to his face 2. King 18. 1. and how then should we dare to offend the king of kings whose lordship is heauen and earth and sea and hel for hee filleth all places Ier. 23. 24. the landlord of the whole world the God of gods Lord of lords Isa 41. 2. whose face is as a flame of fire his voice as the roaring of many waters that hath charets innumerable and rides vpon the wings of the wind that measures the waters in his fist that compts heauen with his span coÌ„prehends the dust of the earth in a measure and weighs the mountaines in a weight and the hils in a ballance Isa 40. 12. If we dare not offend a King whose breath is in his nosthrils that shall die like a man nay if he do wickedly shal perish like a beast Psal 49. 12. be cast into the burning Topheth which is prepared for the king Isa 30. how then should wee dare to sinne against the almightie God of heauen and earth which hath his way in the whirlwind that as it was said of the monster Leuiathan esteems iron as straw and brasse as rotten wood Iob 41. 18. that puts his hands to the rocks and ouerthrowes the mountains Iob 28. 9. Before whom the earth trembles and the mountaines melt Iudg. 5. 5. Oh let vs cast our selues downe before this God for hee is a great God and a great king aboue all gods This of the first vse 2. This doctrine of Gods omnipotency The 2. vse foâ— consolation to the godlâ— may serue for the comfort of the Elect for since God rules all things therfore they may be assured that none of all Gods creatures shal hurt them what saith the spirit of God concerning the righteous they shall laugh at destruction and death and shall not be afraid of the beast of the earth The stones of the field shall be in league with them and the beast of the field shall be in league with him Iob. 5. 22. First God rules in heauen this may administer In heauen infinite comfort For by this they may be assured that none of all Gods creatures in heauen shall hurt them The winde shall not blow vpon them nor a cloud shall not rise but for their good a droppe of raine falls nor stormes nor winds nor lightnings happen not but by the appointment of God and therefore hee is said to make the chambers in his clouds and to ride vpon the wings of the winde and to breake the bottles of raine Iob. 38. 38. to haue his treasures of haile and his treasares of snow Iob. â—8 22. He causes the sweete influences of the Pleyades and looses the bands of Orion he brings forth Mazaroth in their time and guides Arcturus with his sonnes Iob. 38. 32. If then as it is said in an higher sense if God be on our side who can be against vs so if God the generall of the armie be on our side which of all his creatures can be against vs no if he be with vs he shall open his treasures of snow he shall coÌ„mand his clouds to poure down their â—â—rst raine and their latter raine and the grasse shall grow vpon the mountaines Psal 147. 8. the elementarie regions the starres and the planets shal fight for vs The Sunne shall stand stil in Gibeon and the moone in the valley of Aylon Iosh 10. 12. the sunne and moone stood still at the prayer of Ioshua the sunne in Gibeon and the moone in the vally of Aylon the sunne shall forsake her wonted race and the moone shall cease from her course for the good and benefit of Gods Church people Nay the Angels Gods domesticall seruants in the check roule that weare Gods liuerie after a speciall manner these shal attend vpon the elect The Angels of the Lord pitch round about them that feare him and deliuereth them Psal 34. 7. and the writer to the Hebrewes Are they not all ministring spirits sent foorth to minister for their sakes which are heires of saluation Heb. 1. 14. nay they are not only guarded by Angels but by armies of angels an hoast of Angels met with Iacob Gen. 32. 2. an army of Angels with chariots of fire were ready to protect
inferiour officers the sunâ—â— the moone all the planets and starres whereby he can and doth astonish and amaze wicked and godlesse and rebellious people He binds the waters in the cloud and the cloud is not broken vnder 〈◊〉 The pillers of heauen tremble and quake at his reproofe hee hath garnished the heauens framed the crooked serpent Iob. 26. 11. 12. 13. Hee commands the sunne and it riseth not â—e closes vp the starres as vnder a signeâ— hee maketh the starres Arcturus Pleyades Orion and the starres of the South Iob. 9. 7. 8. 9. He commaunds the pillars of heauen the sphearâ—â— and constellations the planets and starres Arcturus Pleyades and Orion all these are readie to obey the voyce of God and if hee please to commaund them to plague the vngodly and there is not the least of the Lords army not the least Angel starre not the least meteor but is able if God but speake the word to destroy I say not an Egypt an Asia or a world but ten thousand worlds Surely it is a wonder that any wicked man should dare to sleep vpon his bedde that they should giue sleepe to their eyes or number to their eyelidds Prov. 6. 4. beeing so infinitly beset with millions of enemies how miserably was the poore seruant of Elisha affrighted when hee saw that an hoast of men had incompassed the 〈◊〉 and cried out to Elisha alasse master what shall we do 2. king 6. 15. And how feareful were the children of Israel when they departed Egypt and were pursued by their enemies they were sore afraid saith the text and cried to the Lord Exod 14. 10. A â— so I say it is a wonder of wonders that men should be so secure that they should not tremble euen as Belthazar trembled when hee saw the hand writing vpon the playster of the wall Dan. 5. 5. that their hearts should not faile them that dismaiednes and fearâ—â—ould not swallowe them vp When â—mies not of Egyptians but Angels â—ursue them nay when as all things created from the earth to circumference of heauen the lion the beare the great beare the lesser beare the crooked serpent Pleyades and Orion all â—ods heauenly hoast bidde them battell and set themselues continually in battell array against them Secondly how can they thinke to be In earth safe vpon the earth or to prosper vpon the earth since God is the ruler of the earth methinkes euerie vngodly wretch should bee of Cains minde that feared least euery man hee met with were appointed for his executioner Gen. 4. 14. May they not iustly feare that the earth will take part with her Lord and maker and swallowe them vp as it did Korah Dathan and Abiram Numb 16. 1 2 3. yea that the least worme and creeping thing should be made strong enough to destroy them thus proud Herod was worried with wormes Act. 12. 23. and so we reade in Ioel that the Lord plagued the nation of the Iewes with most contemptible creatures grashoppers cankerwormes catterpillars and palmer-wormes Ioel 2. 25. Pope Adrian was slaine by a gnat others with the stone of a raison some with an hair in their broth some one way some an other and methinkes then that euery vile person should feare the vilest and basest of Gods creatures euen frogs flies and lice least these should be appointed for their destruction that they should feare to walk in the aire for feare of infection or yet to remaine in their houses for feare least their houses should reuenge Gods quarrell vpon them may they not feare that euery morsell they eate should bee their bane and euery droppe of liquor they drinke should be their poyson but what saith Salomon Sentence against euill is deferred and therefore the heart is fully bent to doe wickedly Eccles 8. 11. God doth not open the sluces and floodgates of heauen vpon vs as he did vpon the old world Gen. 7. 17. the earth doth not open her mouth to deuoure as in the time of Moses Numb 16. 1. God raineth not downe vpon vs fire and brimstone as he did vpon Sodom and Gomorrah Gen. 19. 24. We see many an old sinner many an olde adulterer many an old swearer many an old drunkard and therefore men draw on sinne with cords of vanitie Isa 5. 18. and commit all manner of wickednesse with all greedinesse these let them know though God bee patient waiting for their conuersion yet as he is patient so he is iust and therefore though he forbeares long as he is slow to anger Exo. 34. 6. yet euen as a streame beeing stopt carries all before it or as wet wood being once kindled burns the faster so though his wrath hath beene a long time kept in with the floodgates of his mercy yet in the ende his furie shall breake out like a violent streame to the vtter destruction of the wicked Long did hee beare with the olde world long did his spirit striue with man Gen. 6. 3. but in the ende hee turned the whole world into an Ocean Gen. 7. 17. long did he striue with Ierusalem but at length she was made a prey to the teeth of her enemies Psal 124. 6. not one stone left vpon another long may the Lord beare with the wicked but as sure as God is iust so assuredly in the ende his wrath and iealousie shall smoake against them Deut. 19. 20. how then can they sooth vp themselues and flesh vp themselues in their sinnes how can they think to be safe vpon the earth since the righteous Iudge of the whole world Gen. 18. 25. is Lord ouer the earth or how can they think to thriue and prosper vpon the earth since the earth is the Lords and the plentie of the earth Psal 24. 1. Gold is mine saith God and siluer is mine saith the Lord of hostes Hag 2. 9. Except the Lord builds the house they labour in vaine that build it except the Lord keepeth the city the keeper watcheth in vaine Psal 127. 1. what a madnes is this in a besotted worldling to carke and to care and to digge and ditch and delue and beat his braines and rise early and goe to bed late Psal 127. 2. as if they would command the earth in despight of heauen I tel thee whosoeuer thou art if God but command the heauens aboue shall be as yron and the earth as hard as brasse your land shall not giue her encrease nor your trees their fruit Leu. 26 19. and therefore cease from your immoderate labour and sue for Gods blessing for without it you sow much but bring in but little and put all your earnings into a broken bagge Hag. 1. 4. Thirdly how can a reprobate thinke In the sea to bee safe vpon the sea since God likewise rules the seas I remember what I read of Ionah When Ionah fled from the presence of the Lord to Tarshish he betooke him to the sea Ion. 1. 3. but as soon as euer God gaue
blessed in the city and blessed in the field or that in the Psalmist blessed in thy going out comming in Ps 121. 8. Lo surely thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord Psal 128. 4. abroad at home by sea and by land Thus God dealt by the Israelites when they trauailed by land he guides them when they came to the sea he diuided the red sea and ledde them through it Psal 78. 13. when they did trauell in the day time he led them with a cloud and when they went in the night he led them with a pillar of fire v. 14. whē they were thirstie hee gaue them water out of the hard rocke v. 16. When they were hungrie he sent them Manna from heauen and rained downe flesh vpon them like dust vers 27. Thus the Lord dwels with his seruants Ioh. 14. and not only so but he followes them wheresoe-they goe Ios 1. 9. The Lord is their keeper the Lord is their shaddow at their right hand so as the sunne shal not smite them by day nor the moone by night Psal 121. 5. 6. 7. Lastly God rules the deepes therfore In the deeps shall hee likewise curbe the fresh waters that they shal not ouerflow thee Iob. 21. 11. Let Sisera oppose himselfe against the Church and the riuer Kishon shall sweepe away Sisera that auncient riuer the riuer Kishon Iud. 5. 21. And the waters of Marah though neuer so bitter yet at the prayer of Moses shal the waters of Marah be made sweete to the Israelites Exod. 15. 25. Nay they shall but only drinke of the waters of Marah no let Moses smite on the rock Horeb and the waters of Massah and Meriboth shall flow forth like a riuer Ps 105. 41. Is Naaman the Assyrian a leprous the riuer Iordan shall cure him 2. King 5. 15. Are the waters of Iericho neuer so deadly the Prophet Elisha shall heale them for euer 2. King 21. 12. And are the vngodly for their sinnes neuer so much visited with the common plagues of floods and ouerflowings and invndations yet notwithstanding we may stil say of the righteous as Dauid in another sense Surely in the floods of many waters they shall not come neere him Psalm 32. 6. Thus heauen and earth and sea and deepes are attendants vpon the Saints But behold a greater comfort then any of these God is the God of heauen and therefore euery Christian soule may be certenly assured of his owne saluation for there can be no condemnation to those which are in Christ Iesus which walk not after the flesh but after the spirit Rom. 8. 1. This then is the blessed estate of a righteous man the angels pitch their tents about them here and they shall liue an angels life after death Matth. 22. 30. The sunne shall not hurt them in the day time nor the moone by night after death they shall shine like the sunne in the glory of the father the stars and the planets shall fight for them in their courses and after death they shall glitter like the starrs for euer Dan. 12. 3. God hath spoken it in his word God that is able to performe his promise Rom. 4. 21. And I am verily perswaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any thing shal be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus Rom. 8. 38. 39. God hath promised it he that neuer promised more then he was able to performe nor neuer performed lesse then he promised I saith Christ giue eternall life to my sheep and they shall neuer perish and none shall pluck them out of my hands for my father that gaue them is greater then any and no man is able to pluck thē out of my fathers hand Ioh. 10. 29. Christ reasons here from the omnipotency mighty power of God so boundlesse and infinite and endlesse that those which repose their confidence in him need neuer be afraid If God giue eternall life to his sheepe who is able to take them out of his hand If God write our names in the booke of life who is able to raze them out againe if he iustifie who can condemne Rom. 8. 34. if God be on our side who shall dare to lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen no I am verily perswaded that neither principallities nor powers neither Belzebub nor Belial nor all the deuills in hell shall be able to seperate vs from the loue of God in Christ Iesus The deuil may goe about like a roaring Lion seeking to deuoure but God hath the Deuill in a chaine and greater is hee that is in vs then hee which is in the world Ioh. 4. 4. Trust in God and the gates of hell shall neuer bee able to preuaile against vs. Matth. 16. 18. FINIS