THE SEA-MANS DIRECTION IN TIME OF STORME Delivered in a Sermon upon occasion of a strong stormie Wind lately happening By IER. BURROUGHS MATTH. 8. 27. The Winds and the Sea obey him LONDON Printed by T. Paine and M. Simmons 1640. To the Reader IT hath been the way of God in speaking to men and drawing their hearts to him to apply himselfe to them in those things they have skill of and are acquainted with When Christ was revealed to the Wise men that came from the East it was by a Star they were Astronomers and conversed much in the contemplation of the Starres and God speakes to them accordingly When our Saviour called Fishermen to follow him he tels them Hee will make them Fishers of men hee expresseth himselfe unto them in their owne way Wherefore it being my lot to live where multitudes of Mariners especially of mine owne Countrey-men daily come and my Auditors being in great part of such I was willing to take the opportunity of that great worke of God that sore and grievous tempest that was lately so terrible as made the hearts of many to shake to adde the word sutable to Gods worke to labour to conveigh some spirituall truth by the advantage of that impression that was then upon their hearts little thinking then that such present thoughts hinted by such an occasion should ever be more publike then in mine owne Congregation but knowing what need Mariners have of Sermons and considering how few they heare because I could not preach to them where their chiefe businesse lies upon the Seas I was willing to send this Sermon to them that they might have it by them many Sabbaths they spend hearing none seldome hearing any It may be the sutablenesse of this subject may invite them to reade especially it being the desires of many of them who heard it and found some worke of God upon their hearts by it to have it by them at first I was unwilling to let such sudden things appeare so publike but after considering that some poore Saylors boy at least might get some good by them I yeelded I publish not this Sermon because I conceit any speciall excellency in it that cannot be expected it is the same for the frame and substance of it that was preached the next day after the occasion Some things are added and enlarged especially concerning the nature of the Winds But because I know nothing of this subiect published and some way it may be usefull and a little good is worth much of my time and labour who knowes what a truth what a hint fitted to the apprehensions of people in their owne way may doe therefore here you have it and the Lord prosper it to you Yours in Christ I. B. Imprimatur Jo. Hansley Octob. 14. 1640. THE SEA-MANS DIRECTION IN TIME OF STORME Psal. 148. 8. Stormy Wind fulfilling his word A Word spoken in season how good is it it is like Apples of Gold with pictures of Silver Silver pictures doe set out the golden Apples and the golden Apples doe grace the Silver pictures so words that are gracious fitted to their circumstances they are graced each by other A good word spoken at any time is a golden Apple it hath worth in it but fitted to circumstances it hath beauty added to it and not onely beauty but efficacie too for so it is in the Originall words upon their wheeles when they are rightly fitted to their circumstances being spoken in due season then they goe upon their wheeles and passe along like a triumphant Chariot whereas if these bee omitted they are drawne out as a Cart is drawne on without wheeles like Pharoahs Chariots when God tooke off their wheeles they drave heavily As Saint Augustine said of the outward element in the Sacrament let the word come to the element and it is made a Sacrament so I may say of Gods workes let the word be added to Gods workes and they are instructions great helpes to Godlinesse There is a great threat against those who regard not the workes of God Because they regard not the workes of the Lord nor the operation of his hands hee shall destroy them and not build them up Psal. 28. 5. That such a curse may not befall us for our regardlesnesse of this worke of the Lord in this dreadfull stormy wind I have chose this Scripture that as Job heard the Lord speaking out of the whirle-wind so you this day by this Scripture may heare the Lord speaking to you out of that stormy tempestuous wind that but yesterday was so terrible to you Sensitive things move much yet the impression of them holds not long it is good therefore to take the advantage of your hearts and that presently The title of this Psalme is Hallelujah praise ye the Lord it is a Psalme of praise by way of excellency above others it begins and ends with Praise ye the Lord all sorts of creatures in heaven and earth ayre and seas are called to joyne in this worke but especially man of all creatures in the world God expects his praise from man in a speciall manner the wayes of God towards man being the most glorious above that they are towards any of his other workes towards him his name indeede is excellent above the earth or heavens God will have active and passive praises from man and amongst men above all from his owne people his Church whom hee hath chosen to be a people neere unto him the high praises of God are to be in their mouthes Psal. 49. 6. They are not onely to rejoyce in their God and in his glorious workes but to bee joyfull in a glorious manner to rejoyce in glory not onely to sing the praises of the Lord but to sing aloud upon their beds vers. 5. God himselfe is the praise of his Saints as we have it in the 16. verse of this 148. Psalme not onely the workes of God but God himselfe hee is their praise both actively and passively he is their praise their glory their excellencie and he even he himselfe is the subject of their praise Gods people are his glory and God is the glory of his people They are his glory Psal. 78. 61. hee delivered his strength into captivity and his glory into their enemies hand God is their glory Psal. 3. 3. Thou art my glory and the lifter up of my head and thus God and his people glory one in another every where the Name of God is great but God is knowne in Judah and his Name is great in Israel Psal. 76. In his Temple every man speakes of his glory Psal. 29. 9. wherefore to him be glory in the Church Eph. 3. 21. The glory that God hath from his people from his Church is another manner of glory then hee hath from all the world besides wherefore let not us faile of giving God the glory of his great workes of this his mighty worke Our subject then at this time is
the praise of God in one of his great workes of Nature the worke of God in the wind the stormy wind fulfilling his word Wherein we have these two things 1. What it is wherein God is to bee praised the subject of his praise the stormy wind 2 The reason why from the effect Fulfilling his Word For the first Stormy wind the Wind of storme or tempest so the words are the tempestuous Wind the word is sometimes used for a whirl-wind Dan. 11. 40. The Wind especially when it is in its strength tempestuous and stormy hath much in it to set out the glory of God God is to be praised in this great work of his God glories much in this creature The Scripture makes much use of it to set out the greatnesse and Majesty of God by it as 1. God challenges his propriety in this he calls it his Wind Psal. 147 18. Hee causeth his wind to blow it is Gods Wind and therefore the glory of it is peculiar to him hee it is that is to bee acknovvledged in it vvee are to rise higher then the naturall causes of it It is said of the earth that God hath given it to the children of men Psal. 15. 16. but he keepes the propriety of the Windes in his ovvne hand they move in the Heavens and depend upon the Heavens so that the Heavens vvith all that in them is are the Lords in a speciall manner but the earth hath hee given to man to subdue unto himselfe for his use this vvay or that way as he pleaseth he hath not given any such power over any thing in the Heavens nor over the wind them he reserves in his owne hands 2 The Wind is one of the wonders of the Lord in which his Name is wonderfull Psal. 107. 24. 25. they that goe downe to the Sea see the workes of the Lord and his wonders in the deepe what wonders he commandeth and raiseth the stormy wind Although something may be knowne of this creature in the naturall causes of it yet it is a wonder above all that we can know of it 3 Hee is said to walke upon the wings of the Wind Psal. 104. 3. and this is made one expression wherein God appeares very great clothed with honour and Majesty 4. God is said to ride upon the wings of the Wind 2 Sam. 22. 11. and to flye upon the wings of the Wind Psal. 18. 10. this is spoken after the manner of men to shew his glorying in this creature although God moves not from one place to another much lesse hath need of any thing to move upon or to further any motion In that it is said hee rode upon the Cherub some thinkes it implies Gods governing of the force of the Winds by the Angels for the Angels are represented by the figure of Cherubins as Gen. 3. 24. God placed Cherubins to keep the way of the tree of life Besides he is said to ride upon the Cherub alluding unto the Arke of the Covenant where Gods speciall presence with his people in covenant with him was where there were two Cherubins covering the Mercy seat which was the place where God promised to meet with his people and to commune with them Exod. 25. 20 21 22. So that this expression here in the Psalme is to declare that that God which appeares so glorious in the Wind is the same God that sits upon the Cherubins upon the Mercy-seate that God that is in covenant with his people to be their God and to doe them good for ever it is a very usefull note to consider of when the people of God see his glory in his great workes and particularly in this of the Wind they should looke higher then other people and see more of God in it then others can doe others can see and acknowledge God to bee the supreme cause of it but those who are godly should looke upon God as their God betweene the Cherubins upon the Mercy-seate this power this glory is the power and the glory of that God that is in covenant with me my reconciled Father in Jesus Christ here would be a comfortable beholding God in the winds indeed And further here in a Song of praise in the day when David was delivered from the hands of all his enemies God is said to ride upon the Cherub and to flye upon the wings of the Wind to shew the readinesse and the swiftnesse of Gods working for the helpe of his people he rides upon his chariot yea he flyes swiftly to their deliverance our motion is dull and heavie in our duty towards God but God is lively and swift in his wayes of mercy to us Hence we have that notable expression Isa. 31. 5. As Birds flying so will the Lord of Hosts defend Jerusalem defending also hee will deliver it As a Bird that sees her young one in danger flyes hastily to deliver it So the Lord hasteth to defend Jerusalem Againe he rides upon the Cherub this notes the worke of God governing them this way or that way as one riding in a Chariot thus the Heathens feigned their God Aeolus to bridle the windes and bring them up and downe whither he would 5. He holds the Winds in his fists Prov. 30. 4. The glory of God Isay 40. 12. is set out by measuring the waters in the hollow of his hand and meting out the Heavens with his span it is as great in this that hee holds the Winds in his fist for what is more uncapable of holding then the Wind yet so powerfull and mighty is the hand of God that hee holds the Winds themselves as it were in his fist The Seventie translate the words in his bosome and this is sutable to a sixth impression the Scripture hath to set out the glory of God in the Wind. 6. He brings the Winds out of his treasuries Psal. 135. 7. He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth hee maketh Lightning for the Raine hee bringeth the Wind out of his Treasuries That which wee treasure up is of some worth and wee therefore treasure it because wee would keepe it sure and secret Thus the Wind is a creature in which there is much excellencie much of God in it of great use as wee shall further heare and God keeps it sure although nothing seemes to be more uncertaine then the Wind yet God hath every blast locked up in his treasury and it cannot stirre without him and the nature and the motions of the Wind are very secret and hidden things All the workes of Nature are in Gods treasury God hath a treasury of Nature as well as a treasury of grace The snow and the haile are said to come out of Gods treasuries Job 38. 22. Hast thou seene the treasures of the snow or hast thou seene the treasures of the haile which I have reserved against the time of trouble The Lord promises in the 28. of Deut. 22. to them that obey him
the Cedars in Lebanon not onely literally but metaphorically the highest and loftiest spirit that is How dreadfull then is the power of God himselfe which hath nothing in it but infinite and so much as no addition can be made of many of the weakest things in the world hath such an amazing strength then that which is so great as no addition can be made and all in it infinite oh how full of glory and Majesty is that power The naturall cause of the power of the Winds that men give is from the kind of vapour of which they are the more earthy vapors are and hot the stronger the Winds Hence many times Summer Winds are exceeding strong and many times in hot countries because the earth is more open and the Sun having power to draw up more grosse earthy vapors there are mighty tempestuous Winds exceeding strong whirle-winds according to that Job 37. 11. Out of the South commeth the whirle-wind the southerne parts are hot 4. God is to be praised in the variety of the motions of the Winds Eccles. 1. 6. The Wind goeth toward the South and turneth about unto the North it whirleth about continually and returneth againe according to its circuits It hath its various circuits appointed by God which way it shall turne although their motion seemes exceeding unsteady and changeable up and downe without any certaine rule yet they observe their circuits wherein they runne their compasse as God appoints them In some places of the World their motions are steady and constant which Mariners call their Trade Wind. 5. God is to be praised in the use of the Winds God hath made them to be of great use in the World Seneca calls them a mighty benefit of Nature although many times much hurt comes by them as hee sayes De Caesare majore it was wont to bee said of him and hee brings in Livy for an Author that it was uncertaine whether it had beene more profitable for the Common-wealth that ever he was borne or that he had not beene borne so saith he of the Winds in regard of that harme comes by them it may be questioned whether the good or the hurt be the greater but hee meanes principally the hurt that comes by the abuse of them in Navigation for instead of furthering men to passe up and downe into one anothers countrey they carry them to warre one with another God gave the Wind that the good of Countries might bee made common not to carry Armies Horsmen weapons pernitious to Nations thus he but howsoever as himselfe saith we must not account those things to be good which by ill use turne to hurt it is true of this worke of God as in all other creatures they are of speciall use many wayes as great blessings to us as 1. For purging the ayre much infection of the ayre is driven away by them the ayre is cleansed and kept sweet with the motions of thē which otherwise would corrupt as the standing Waters do Job 37. 21. The wind passeth and cleanseth so Jer. 4. 11. A dryed wind toward the daughter of my people not to fan nor to cleanse God threatens afflictions to come in wrath not as the Wind comes to fan and cleanse the ayre but as a whirlewind to destroy 2. For the scattering of the clouds here and there up and downe in the World by them God shakes as it were his Waterpots by which he waters the Garden of the Earth as Job 37. 11. Also by watering hee wearieth the thicke cloud he scattereth his bright cloud and it is turned round about by his counsels and this is done by the breath of God as it is vers. 10. 3. For altering of seasons for bringing in cold or heare as Job 37. 9 10. Out of the South commeth the whirlewind and cold out of the North by the breath of God frost is given and vers. 17. He quieteth the earth by the South wind he brings warmth that way 4. For Navigation in vvhich Art there is much of the Wisdome of God seene and if it bee rightly used the goodnesse of God to mankind is very great in it In the 28. of Esa. from the 24. v to the end the Lord challenges to himself the glory of teaching the Plow-man the art of plowing the ground and threshing out the corne his God saith the Text vers. 26. doth instruct him to discretion and doth teach him and vers. 29 This also commeth forth from the Lord of Hosts which is wonderfull in councell and excellent in working Now if this art be from the Lord and if God shewes himselfe wonderfull in counsell and excellent in working of this how much more is that excellent Art of Navigation whereby men come even to subdue the Seas to themselves to finde out and draw forth the riches of them whereby they passe up and downe over the whole World to see the wayes of God and the riches of God throughout the Earth whereby the severall parts of the world are knowne each to other and communicate each to other the wonderfull blessings of God surely it is God that instructs men in this it is he that gives them understanding and in this much more is the Lord wonderfull in counsell and excellent in working How little of God in the great workes of Nature should we know and enjoy were it not for the Art of Navigation but what were mans skill or industry therein if God did not further it by the use of the Winds the worke of God is very observable in these two workes of Nature The one in scattering of Springs and currents of waters up and down in secret veines and in open passages of the earth to make fit for habitation and the other in appointing the various motion of the Winds to work up and downe upon the Seas to make them fit for Navigation 5. That use that we have here mentioned in the Text Fulfilling his word of which in the next point 6. A great worke of God appeares in stilling the Winds and calming them as hee pleaseth no man knowes whither they goe when Christ rebuked the Winds and bad them be still Mark 4. 39. The Wind ceased and there was a great calme Isa. 27. 8. Hee stayeth the rough Wind Many times when it is most rough and boisterous he staies it on a sudden so as Mariners may see much of the hand of God in it towards them in which God is much to be praised for by this the Lord ruleth the raging of the Sea when the waves thereof arise hee stilleth them and marke how the Psalmist magnifies God in this worke Psal. 89. 8 9. O Lord God of Hosts who is a strong Lord like unto thee or to thy faithfulnesse round about thee Thou rulest the raging of the Sea when the waves thereof arise thou stillest them How soever naturall causes may be used by God for this yet we must acknowledge God in them and his worke above them in stilling
the Winds and seas The naturall causes that are given are the spending the vapors or the vanishing of those clouds that beate them downe or the consuming of those vapors they meet with that kept them From falling or constringing the earth that no more arise something there is in these Hence raine often asswages the Winds by condensing and pressing downe those vapors that before moved collaterally but let God still bee praised and have the glory above these For Application first If God be so glorious in this creature hence those are justly rebuked who heare and feele yea and see in the effect of it so much of God and yet doe not give him the glory of it they doe not praise him in the stormy Wind they can speake of it and tell you how it was how suddenly it came how strong it blew how it rent their sailes and split their Masts and tore their Cables and burst their Anchors how it smote upon their houses and made their beds shake under them how dreadfull the noise of it was with what violence it came as if the house would have falne upon them how their hearts did even shake within them for feare but not a word of God in all this they say not in their heart Let us now feare this God that raiseth continueth calmeth these Winds let us now feare him howsoever heretofore wee did not feare him although heretofore we were prophane and vile and have lived without God in the World yet let us now feare this God who is great in power glorious and excellent in his workings in the Heavens and Earth and Seas when doth there any word come from men to put one another on to the feare of God upon this Brethren God is to bee honoured in the least of his workes much more in those that have power and majesty in them wee take Gods name in vaine if when he appeares in his great workes wee adore him not we feare him not wee magnifie him not we praise him not in them wee are much led by sense and if we take not notice of his glory to have our hearts wrought upon when hee comes to our senses and that in such a powerfull and glorious way it is a signe that our hearts are exceedingly stupid that they are much estranged from God Those workes that we see the second causes of wee scarce minde God in them at all although God should not be the lesse minded because of second causes seeing all the work all the power and efficacie of the second cause is in the vertue of the first as it hath no being but by it so it is not able to stirre without it but now as for this creature the stormy Wind wee know but very little scarce any thing of the second causes and therefore if God bee not acknowledged and praised in this in what shall he be acknowledged and praised workes that are ordinary wee little minde God in them which is a great evill in us hence the Lord because he would be minded by us hee comes many times in strange and terrible waies to us in his creatures raising them higher then ordinary putting more Majesty and terrour in them then ordinary as he hath done in this and shall he not be magnified and praised in this It is the lowest honour that wee can give to God to be moved by such workes wherein his glory comes apparently and powerfully to sense there are other manner of things of the glory of God that appeares to raised reason were it that the eye of reason were cleare and but elevated in a naturall way to that height it is capable of yea to that height it might be were it not so much drowned in sense as it is there were high and glorious things of God to be seen by it that might make us fall downe upon our faces and adore him But how great then are the things that appeare to the eye of Faith those are things to take up the heart indeed to fill the heart with astonishment to draw it up with ravishment to over-power it with the glory and divine lustre of them to satisfie it with admirable infinite contentment those are things fit for Angels to pry into for the most spirituall raised heart to contemplate in for the most enlarged spirit to fill it selfe with for by them the Saints are filled with all the fulnesse of God as the Scripture speakes Ephes. 3. 19. In those things especially a Christian should be exercised The glory of God in these creatures is for the lowest the meanest the dullest of all for children for those who are not out of the Schoole of Nature yea for those who are in the lowest forme of Natures Schoole and therefore it is a good observation of Jerome upon that place Mat. 8. when Christ rebuked the winds and calmed them the Text saith the men were afraid The men saith Jerome that is the Mariners and others which were in the Ship not the Disciples or if any shall contend and think they were the Disciples yet they are called the men because yet they knew not our Saviour The Workes of God have a voyce as well as his Words as Exod. 4. 8. If they will not hearken to the voyce of the first signe they will hearken to the voyce of the latter God speakes by this voyce to these who are the most dull of hearing God hath another voyce to speake to his Saints by the voyce of his Word yea a more inward secret voyce the voyce of his Spirit although hee speakes to them likewise by his other voyce wherefore not to heare the voice of his works this argues a heart desperately sottish and even altogether living as without a God in the World Those who are exercised in the highest things of God should not neglect these but they must be spirituall in beholding the glory of God in them in a higher way then others are or can be they should fill their hearts with spirituall Meditations raised from them they should looke upon the power and glory of God in them as the power and glory of that God in whom their soules have speciall interest the power and glory of their Father as Psal. 48. 14. This God is our God for ever and ever the beginning of the Psalme is Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised and amongst other subjects of his praises vers. 7. he instances in this Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an East wind and his conclusion is this God is our God for ever and ever This power is that which is engaged to work all the good that God intends or hath promised unto his people this glory is that which shall put glory upon his Saints for ever all contained in this This God is our God for ever Quest But how are wee to praise God in this stormy Wind Answ. The Name of God is great in it and therefore surely hee is greatly to be praised
have said except the Wind had turned at such a time I had beene lost we had certainely been all cast away and if you had beene cast away then where had you beene now it may bee from those dreadfull waters you might have sunke into the lake of unquenchable fire you might have beene swallowed up of that infinit ocean of Gods eternal wrath but God hath preserved you you are alive and yet enjoy the day of grace the goodnesse of the Lord hath beene to you that which he promised I say 32. 2. A hiding place from the Wind and â— covert from the tempest It was the free grace of God towards you onely his goodnesse that hath beene your safety for what could you doe to helpe yourselfe it may be you cryed and prayed to God but what could your prayers doe who wert and it may be still art a prophane wretched creature the course of whose life is a way of enmity against the great God of the whole World It is reported of Bias the Philosopher who sayling among a company of rude Mariners they being in danger by a storme the Mariners fell on praying and crying out to their gods Bias calls to them to hold their peace lest the gods should heare them and so they should all fare the worse for their sakes The worst that is in such dangers will cry out and sometimes fall on praying but how should that prayer be accepted that comes out of that mouth out of which so many oathes came a while since which is defiled with so many blasphemies and not yet purged by repentance wherfore whensoever thou hast been delivered and others have perished admire at the free grace of God towards thee give him the glory of it and let God bee thus praised in the Stormie Wind. 5. Give God the glory of this work of his by seeking him for the raising ordering and stilling the Wind according as thy occasion is I have read of a people who erected an Altar to the Winds and once a yeer spent a whole night in their devotions to the Winds to seeke calme winds because of the great hurt they often suffered by them but wee have learned otherwise namely to looke beyond the Winds to seeke God acknowledge him the raiser and orderer of them this is part of that divine worship that is due to God that he should be acknowledged and sought in these things although it be but a common worke of his providence yet hee expects to bee sought to in it prayer hath shut the Heavens and opened them prayer hath power over Heaven and Earth and Ayre and Seas and Winds it hath power to prevail with God much more power over any creature whatsoever We reade 1 Sam. 7. 9 10. when Samuel offered to God but a sucking Lambe presently a grievous storme arose The Lord thundred with thunder upon the Philistines And Revel. 8. 4 5. The smoake of the incense came with the prayers of the Saints ascending before God then the Angel tooke the censer and filled it with the fire of the Altar and cast it into the earth and there were voyces and thundrings and lightnings All the Devils in Hell have not that power over the Winds that the prayers of the Saints have We have a famous story of the power of the prayers of the Christian Souldiers in Marcus Aurelius his Army recorded by Eusebius who praying to God in time of great drought when the Army was like to perish for thirst they procured a great tempest against the enemies which put them to flight and overthrew them and a refreshing raine to their owne Armie whereupon they were called the Lightning Legion upon which Aurclius was much moved and favoured the Christians much after it and wrote in their behalfe acknowledging it the hand of God as a fruit of their prayers If prayers have power over the raine over thundring and lightning then surely over the stormy Wind If therefore you seeke not God in this if you thinke it is nothing that prayer can doe you are more heathenish and fuller of Atheisme then the most rude heathen Matth. 8. 24 25. When a tempest arose Christ was awaked When a storme ariseth God must be sought 6. Consider if stormes and tempests in the aire be so terrible what then are the stormes and tempests of Gods anger in the execution of dreadfull judgements upon Nations and Kingdomes and how terrible are Stormes and Tempests raised and raging in mens consciences For the first Isa. 28. 1 2. the Lord pronounceth a woe against the Drunkards of Ephraim whose glorious beauty is as a fading flower Behold the Lord hath a mighty strong tempest A destroying storme and a floud of mighty waters The clouds gather apace and hang exceeding blacke and dreadfull over many places as if God had reserved us to fearefull stormy dayes Gods way hath beene in the sweet calme of peace for a long time in the sweet Sun-shine of his Mercies but Nahum 1. 3. The Lord hath his way in the Whirl wind and in the storme Yea even that God that is slow to anger yet hath his way in the storm and in that way God is seeming now to come Eliah could foresee a great raine by a cloud no bigger then a mans hand we may fore-see not onely raine but the great storme and tempest of Gods displeasure gathering neere by clouds that arise which are bigger then a mans hand for behold even the Heavens are blacke wee have feared the gathering them often but because they have bin dispelled wee have promised peace to our selves God hath his times so to our selves God hath his times so to gather them that they shall not be scattered untill they have fulfilled his Word The prudent man fore-seeth the evill and hideth himselfe Pro. 22. 3. Evill men understand not judgement but they that seeke the Lord understand all things What are the thoughts the feares of those who doe most seeke the Lord observe what they doe if they understand any thing of Gods minde then a storme is comming It is observed of the Bees that before a storme you may see them come apace to their Hives what are the Hives of the Saints but the publike Temples of God These have the promise of God to be a place of refuge a covert from storme Isai. 4. 6. These are the chambers that God now calls his Saints into Isa. 26. 20. Come my people enter into your chambers shut your doores about you hide your selvss as it were for a little moment untill the indignation be overpast for behold the Lord commeth out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity the earth shall disclose her bloud and shall no more cover her slaine These are the Pellaes to which God calls you if you think your selves so setled in your places as that you cannot stir take heed lest the storm be to you as it is threatned Job 27. 21. The
East Wind carrieth him away and a storme hurleth him out of his place You know the speech of Eliah to Ahab when he see the clouds arise make haste lest the raine prevent you 1 King 18. 44. so I to you make haste lest the storme prevent you when an enemy takes in a Towne by storme it is very terrible Oh how dreadfull then will it bee to that people whom the Lord shall come against as an enemy and after many offers of conditions of peace rejected he shall take them in by storm It is the pride of mens hearts that is the cause they feare not this wherefore my prayer shall be according to that of the Psalmist Psal. 83. 15. Lord make them afraid of thy storme I doe not I will not pray as in the former part of the verse Lord persecute them with thy tempest Oh no if it may bee the Lord keep it from them neither doe I pray Lord make them afraid with thy storme but Lord make them afraid of thy storme For the second how terrible are stormes raised and raging in mens consciences When the wrath of God in a mans soule shall persecute him as the Wind as Job complaines chap. 30. 15. Terrors are turned upon mee they pursue my soule as the Wind and chap. 9. 17. Hee breaketh me with a tempest When God shall say to Conscience goe persecute them with thy tempest and make them afraid with thy storme after great calmes there useth to arise grievous stormes many of you have had a long calme of peace and prosperity you may expect a storme a comming God who is said Psal. 107. 29. to make the storme a calme can as soone make thy calme a storme the vapors that cause the tempest arise insensibly but when they grow to a tempest they have mighty power so sinnes are committed and multiplyed insensibly they lie by heaps in the conscience you feele nothing of them now but at last if you looke not to it they will cause a dreadfull tempest and especially when the hearts of men are most swelling with pride Mariners observe that usually before great tempests there are great swellings at Sea it is so usually before great Conscience-tempests the more swelling any wicked mans heart is the neerer the more dreadfull is the tempest like to be Many of you have in your time beene in most fearefull tempests that have made your hearts to ake within you but you must looke for another manner a more dreadfull tempest when not vapors in the ayre but the wrath of an infinite God in the Conscience shall shake and rend your hearts the terrors of the Lord following you will cause another manner of rage in the heart then ever stormy wind caused in the mighty waters Psal. 11. 6. Vpon the wicked he shall raine snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest this is the portion of their cup It is called the portion of their cup saith Saint Augustine upon the place because of the just measure and proportion Gods Justice observes in the dealing out punishment to sinners as we heard before God is said to have a weight for the winds so for this storme and tempest that comes upon the wicked the Lord weighes it it comes upon them proportionable to their sinne were you ever strucke with feare when you have seen the huge flouds of waters rowling and ranging in the Seas being driven by mighty winds what fear then will possesse your hearts when you shall see the flouds of ungodnesse comes in upon you how will the terrors even of Hell then compasse you about it is an expression of David Psal. 18. 4 5. The sorrowes of death compassed mee and the flouds of ungodlinesse made me afraid So Arias Montanus turnes it howsoever hee may meane of ungodly men yet the word bearing the other reading we may also apply it to the ungodlinesse of men then the sorrowes of Hell compassed me The Lord give you a heart to foresee this storme and to prevent it Wee read Exod. 9. 20. when God threatned to send upon Egypt a fearefull storme of haile those who feared the Word of the Lord made their servants and Cattle to flee into their houses so this day you heare from the Lord a storme threatned let every soule that feareth the Word of the Lord seeke to flee into a shelter there is no other shelter that can keepe it off but onely the Lord Jesus Christ that which is said Isa. 32. 2. is true of him a man shall be a hiding place from the Wind and a covert from the tempest 7. Let us yet rise higher in praising God in the stormy Wind by considering in our hearts if God be so dreadfull now in this one creature how dreadfull then will he be when he shall appeare in all his power in all his wrath his Iustice and holinesse what shall the glory of the great God be hereafter of which the Scripture speaks so much when he shall cloath himselfe in glory and majesty in the full brightnesse of them when the Heavens shall depart like a scrowle and the elements melt with fervent heat when all the World shall be on fire about him the voyce of the Lord hath shaken the earth but he saith yet once more I shake not the earth onely but also Heaven that will be a dreadfull day indeed when the starres of Heaven shall fall unto the earth as a Fig-tree casteth her untimely Figges when shee is shaken of by a mighty Wind when every Mountaine and Iland shall be moved out of their places when the Kings of the earth and the great and mighty men shall hide themselves in the Dennes and in the Rockes and Mountaines Revel. 6 13 14 15. A stormy Wind that shakes off the fruit of trees here wee account great but such as shall shake the Heavens and cause the starres to fall as the fruit the untimely fruit of a Fig-tree how dreadfull must that needes be beyond all apprehension and yet in such a stormy Wind will God one day appeare in his glory when not onely children and women and a few fearefull people shal be afraid but the Kings the Captaines and the great ones of the earth shall tremble and hide themselves and wish the Mountaines to fall upon them and the hills to cover them from the Wrath of the Lord Thus I have endeavoured to shew you how you should glorifie God in his worke to be moved with it in a sensitive way that is no more then the bruit beasts are the swine will runne up and down and cry in a stormy wind yea when it is comming being sensible of it before you are but Job 35. 11. God teacheth us more then the beasts of the earth and maketh us wiser then the foules of heaven therefore God lookes for another manner of glory from us men then from them and more from us Christians then from men God hath given to the reasonable creature to
search out the causes of things wee must take heed we doe not stay â—ill wee arise to the supreme the highest cause Philosophers dispute of the inferiour causes It is devillish knowledge that in the contemplation of nature holds us in nature and keepes us from God saith Calvin upon the 29. Psalme and further he hath this expression If one desires to know a man hee neglects the looking upon his face and fastens his eyes upon his nayles his folly is to bee derided so saith he while men wholly mind the inferiour causes of things as workes of nature onely neglecting God the highest cause of all And in this our giving glory to God we must labour to be as spirituall as wee can then the worke will abide upon our hearts but if we be onely moved in a sensitive way the impression of all will soone vanish and come to nothing The second point followes Fulfilling his word Doct. Whensoever God sends a stormy Wind he sends it to fulfill his word The Winds you heard before were Gods messengers this is evermore their errand to fulfill his word There is a foure-fold word of God that they are sent to fulfill 1. The word of his decree what he hath purposed determined to bring to passe this is one creature the Lord calls forth out of his treasure to fulfill this and therefore it shall come at that time in that place and worke in that power and abide that time that shal be fittest for the accomplishment of this word of his Decree 2. The word of his command if God calls for it it must come if God speakes to it it shall goe and prosper to that he sends it for it is one of Gods Hosts at the beck of this great Lord of Hosts and for the fulfilling this and the other word the Winds are called for out of his treasure of Wisdome and power 3. The word of his threat what soever ill God hath threatned against sinners that comes under the power of this creature to be an executioner of it fulfils Hence Jer. 51. 1. it is called a destroying Wind and Ezek. 13. 13. a stormy Wind in my fury If there bee any threat against any man in a shippe or any that have interest in it the Lord many times sends his Winds to fulfill that word of his When Jonah sinned against God in flying from his presence the Lord raised a tempestuous Wind to follow after him as a Pursevant that would never downe untill it had arrested him and made him to know what it was to sinne against the Word of the Lord that Wind and tempest that is now up may be a fruit of Gods displeasure for such or such a sinne of thine it may be committed long since and so it comes out of the treasury of Gods wrath 4. His word of promise to convey a blessing and thus they come out of the treasury of Gods mercy to fulfill that word of promise All things shall worke together for good to them that love God Godlinesse hath the promise of this life and that which is to come When God enters into covenant with his people all second causes are linked together to work good unto to them as Hos. 2. 21 22. I will heare the Heavens and they shall hear the earth and so it is true of all others that which is said of the clouds driven about by the Winds is also true of the Winds themselves Job 37. 13. He causeth it to come whether for correction or for mercy sometimes for correction and sometimes for mercie For use and that first more generally 1. Here wee may learne to have high and honourable thoughts of the word of the Lord seeing God hath such glorious wayes for the fulfilling of it where the Word of the Lord is there is power Heaven and earth shall passe away but not one jot or tittle of his Word God prizeth every tittle of his Word above Heaven and Earth hee had rather lose Heaven and Earth then any part of his Word howsoever thou prizest it at a low rate and art not willing to lose a base lust the least outward advantage for the Word God will shake the Heavens and Earth for the fulfilling his Word yea rather dissolve them and bring them into nothing rather then he will not fulfill every particle of it If God hath made these his glorious worke to bee subservient for the preservation and accomplishing his Word then surely his Word is above them wherefore although much of Gods Name bee in these yet there is more of his name in his Word Hence is that excellent place Psal. 138. 2. Thou hast magnified thy Word above all thy Name Gods worke is honourable and glorious Psal. 111. 3. But his Word is in a speciall manner the very glasse of his holinesse and glory in which we behold his glory with open face and so as we are changed into the same image from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3. 18. and if Gods name be more in his word then in his works a gracious heart will see God more there and feare God as appearing there more then in any thing else as we read of Eliah 1 King 19 11 12 although the mighty wind and fire passed by yet his heart was not taken with feare so much as when the still voyce came because the Text faith God was there although the voyce was a still voyce yet because God was there more then in the other therefore Eliah feared more this place of Scripture is abused by many who bring it against Ministers preaching the Law in a zealous manner making God to appeare terrible to sinners they say God was not in the fire nor in the whirlewind but in the still voyce but it is cleare there can bee no such inference gathered from thence as many seeke to gather for even in this still voyce God came with a message of most fearefull wrath against the people Goe saith hee and anoint Hazael Jehu and Elisha that hee that escapeth the sword of Hazael Jehu may slay and him that escapeth the sword of Jehu Elisha shall slay See what a terrible threat was this that came from God appearing in that still voyce and Elias himselfe after Gods appearing thus in the still voyce was no lesse terrible in his Ministry then before for in the 2 of Kings 1. see how severe and fiery he was hee prayeth for fire to come downe from Heaven to destroy the Captaine and his fifty and againe the second time for fire from Heaven to destroy the second Captaine and his fifty he ceased not untill the third came in a way of submission and indeed that manner of Gods appearing to Elias first in the mighty wind then in the earthquake then in the fire and at last in the still voyce was to shew Elias how he would have him to appeare in his Ministry namely first in terrour and then more mildly and in that it is said that
God was not in the wind nor in the earthquake nor in the fire but in the still voyce it was to shew you that Elias and so other Ministers of God should be to the people as that mighty wind as the earthquake and fire till God appeares in them and when they see God in them then to be as a still voyce unto them but this by the way for the clearing this Scripture from the abuse of it Vse 2. If the Winds be for the fulfilling Gods Word and that in those severall wayes Hence let us learne that when any great Winds and Tempests arise it is not for nothing that they arise there is some speciall reason that God hath for the raising and continuing of them God hath alwayes some speciall aime in them for the fulfilling of some word or other of his many people when they heare of and feele grievous tempests boisterous violent Winds they thinke and say there is conjuring abroad and that is all the use they make of them God is neglected hee is not so much as once mentioned by them I finde a Canon in a Councell above 1000. yeeres agoe made against such as shall attribute tempests thundrings and lightnings to the Devill as if he caused them whosoever beleeves this saith the Councell as Priscillianus did let him be Anathema It is true if God will permit the Devill he hath much power over corporall things to make great changes in them to doe great things by them as we know what he did by Gods permission against Job and when his children were feasting there came saith the Text Job 1. 19. a great Wind and smote the foure corners of the House It is observed by some there was a speciall worke of the Devill in drawing the Wind round about the house how could one Wind else take the foure corners of the house Origen thinkes those Winds were onely the Devils themselves cluttering about the house and striving who should doe mischiefe soonest the same word in the Hebrew that signifies the Wind signifies also a spirit Certaine it is if God should let him loose hee were able to overturne our houses every day and suddenly to destroy us all but howsoever God may permit him sometimes as his executioner yet the supreme cause of raising and ordering is God for speciall ends which the Devill is forced against his will to further and there is not the least vapour or any of the most contemptible creature that he hath any power over but by permission and therefore neither Angel nor Devill nor any power in Heaven and Earth can raise or continue any Wind but as an instrument of God When God hath some worke to doe for the fulfilling his Word it were a great shame for any who professe godlinesse to bee afraid of the Devill in this kinde The Devill saith Tertullian hath no power over Swine much lesse over Gods Sheepe what God hath to doe in that proportion he raiseth the Wind according to that expression you had before that God had weights for the Wind adde to this that place Psal. 78. 50. Hee weighed out a path for his anger for so are the words in your Bookes it is onely hee made a way to his anger but consider then these two places together thus God first weighes a path for his anger how much hee intends to execute and then he weighs the means that is the Winds according to the former expression in Job just enough for the execution of so much anger and no more and so proportion them and this beyond all second causes makes the Winds greater or lesse continuing longer or shorter time which few thinke of But thus much for the application more generally but more particularly from these foure considerations of that word they come to fulfil from the first the word of his Decree 1. Hence wee learne the certainty of the fulfilling of all Gods Decrees all creatures worke for this end wee may purpose and decree things but every little thing is enough to hinder but the word of Gods Decree shall stand for ever Heaven and Earth and Ayre and Seas and all creatures must worke and give forth all their power and efficacie for this therefore certainely none can faile 2. Whatsoever falls out by the Wind take notice of it as the fulfilling of the word of Gods Decree and make use of it accordingly doe not thinke it came by ill hap or chance or onely through unskilfulnesse or neglect of such or such so as to thinke if these things be taken heed of another time there need be no feare that such things will fall out againe yes if this came to fulfill the word of Gods Decree howsoever such and such meanes furthered it although they had not beene God could have have had many other wayes to have made these winds to have fulfilled this word of his and so may do some other time when such meanes shall not fall out From the second the Word of his command 1. Here learne the Soveraignty and greatnesse of God that hath these creatures at his command Who is this said the Mariners concerning Christ whom the wind and Seas obey so let us say who is this Lord how great is his command who are you then that dare resist the command of this God Shall Heaven and Earth Seas and Winds fulfill Gods word and art thou he that darest stand out against it to resist it to rebell against it Job 38. 1 2 it is said that God spake to Job out of the whirle-wind and said Who is this that darkneth counsell Now the Lord speake to your hearts out of every stormy Wind who is this that dares stand out against my command great things have yeelded and doe daily yeeld to Gods word as Psal. 29. 5 6 7. It breaketh the Cedars it divideth the flames of fire What a heart then hast thou that darest that canst stand out against it 2. Seeing the boisterous Winds obey the word of command when thou feelest boisterous raging lusts in thy heart looke up to this God cry to him to give out a powerfull word of command to still them Likewise O Lord thou who rulest the raging Sea and tempestuous Winds and they are still O that thou wouldest rebuke these raging distempers of my heart which raise a grievous tempest in my soule that they may be still Chrysostome upon the 8. of Matthew speaking of those winds that raised tempest upon the Seas which endangered the Shippe wherein Christ and his Disciples were makes use of an Allegoricall sense comparing the Ship to the Church and those winds to the Devils that raise tempests to endanger the Church certainly the lusts of a mans heart are more dangerous winds they raise a tempest more dangerous then all the Devils in Hell are able to raise but the Lord that is able to still the one is able to still also the other Psal. 65. 7. These two are put together The stilling the