He will carry on His work and make His Kingdom come and make all this contribute unto that end We see what desolation Zephaniah is threatning against Ierusalem and the rest of the Cities of Iudah for their great sins Cbap. 3. 1 to 7. And thereafter Vers 8. he inferreth and presseth on them that would minde the duty of the day a waiting in Faith and Hop upon the Lord saying Therefore waite ye upon me saith the Lord until the day that I rise up to the prey c. And then followeth Vers. 9 10. For then will I turn to the people a pure language that they may call upon the Name of the Lord to serve Him with one consent from beyond the Rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants the Daughter of my dispersed shall bring mine offering They should wait in faith for the accomplishment of all the great and precious promises made to the Church notwithstanding of all these sad interveening Dispensations This was the resolution of the Prophet Esai Chap. 8. 17. in an evil day when many should stumble and fall and be broken and be snared and taken Vers 15. And I will said he wait upon the Lord that hideth his face from the House of Iacob and I will look for him But it will be said what shall the righteous do in the day when God is so angrie at the whole Land that He will cut off the righteous with the wicked and to this end shall draw His Sword forth out of His Sheath against all Flesh from the South to the North as it is Ezek. 21 3 4 5 For Answer I grant such a dispensation may be expected when all Flesh have corrupted their wayes and even the righteous who have not gone the length of others in Defection and Apostasie yet have not been valiant for the Lord and for His oppressed truth nor so faithful and zealous for the Lord of Hosts in their Generation as became them It is then to be feared that even many of them shall be sweeped away with the common calamity as they have been in part tainted with the common sin procuring it And in that case it is their part to minde these duties following 1. To be preparing to meet the Lord with ropes about their necks acknowledging their sin giving glory unto the Lord as just and righteous in proceeding thus against them with the rest They should prepare to meet their God thus coming in His holy displeasure to glorifie His justice as the Prophet adviseth Israel to do Amos 4 12. 2. They should be busie to get their peace made with God in time through Jesus Christ that when God shall get glory on their carcases in the sight of others they may get their souls for a prey They should be mourning as doves in the valleyes every one for his iniquity that their sin may be blotted out and their souls washen in the bloud of Iesus 3. They should be amending through the help of the Lord what hath been amisse and seeking to Him and seeking righteousness meekness upon a may be of being hid in the day of the Lords anger this is the exhortation of Zephaniah Chap. 2 3. Even to the Godly Seek ye the Lord all ye meek of the earth which have wrought his judgment seek righteousness seek meekness it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lords anger 4. If they should not be hid but the judgment should overtake them as well as others then let them sweetly submit and lye under the rod and humble themselves under the mighty Hand of God Iam. 4 10. 1 Pet. 5 6. and say with good old Eli when sad things were denounced against his house and it was told him that God would judge his house forever and that the Lord had sworn unto the house of Eli that the iniquity thereof should not be purged with Sacrifice nor offering for ever It is the Lord let Him do what seemeth Him good 1 Sam. 3. 12 13 14 18. He saw it was Jehovah who could do no wrong and therefore he was quiet and acquiesced to all that He would do how sad so ever it was He saw Him the righteous Governour and Iudge and said His holy Will be done 5. They should accept of this punishment of their iniquity Levit. 26 ver 41. giving Glory to Gods Iustice and have a complacency for so the word will import in that stroke as being a stroke of Iustice and a stroke whereby God will be glorified in His Iustice Righteousness and holy Severity Thus should they kisse the rod and contentedly welcome the Sword of Justice and kisse its point when pierceing their heart because of their sins 6. Thus should they say with good Hezekiah when sad things were denounced against his Family Esai 39 vers 6 7. Good is the Word of the Lord. Vers 8. It is Iehovah's Word I have nothing to say against it holy and righteous is He and his Judgments are righteous His Threatnings are good And thus should they with the Church Micah 7 vers 9. Bear the Indignation of the Lord because they have finned against Him AMEN A TABLE Of the CONTENTS THE Introduction Pag. 1. Seven Considerations handled at more length in the first Part briefly resumed Pag. 2 3 4. Consid. VIII It is the decreed will of God Pag. 5. How trouble is decreed of God in Seven Particulars 8 to 13. How the Consideration of this calmeth the heart in Six cases 15. to 23. How it helpeth under affliction in Eight particulars 23 to 27. How this Consideration is set home in Three particulars 28 to 32. Consid. IX It is the commanding Will of God 32. That suffering sometimes is the Will of God cleared in 8. particulars 34 to 37. The season wherein People are called to suffer cleared 37 to 39. How we shall know if we be called to suffer 39 to 52. How this Consideration is to be improved in 10. particulars 52 to 61. Consid. X. God overruleth afflictions 62. God hath an hand in Afflictions cleared from 6. Grounds 64 to 71. The way hereof cleared in 14. particulars 71 to 82. How this Consideration should be improven in 8. particulars 83 to 101. Consid. XI Christ himself had a suffering life 102 Twelve particulars concerning Christ ' sufferings considerable 104 to 113. How this is to be improved in 7. particulars 114 to 125. Consid. XII Our sufferings not comparable to Christs 127. The disproportion cleared in 6. particulars 127 to 133. How this is to be improved in 7. particulars 134 to 138. Consid. XIII Sufferings the lot of the Church 140 Ten particulars concerning the sufferings of the Church considerable 141 to 146. How this ought to be improved in reference to the Church 147 to 152. How in reference to our selves in 6. particulars 152 to 154 Consid. XIV Other beleevers have been afflicted 145 Six particulars to be considered by such as are afflicted 156 to 159. Ten particulars wherein possibly others have
His end The King of Assyria had it in his heart to destroy and cut off Nations not a few But God had another end in raising him up to be a scourge and therefore suffered him not to do all he would Esai 10 6 7 12. Upon this ground it is that he debateth with his people in measure when he sendeth forth his rod and stayeth his rough winde in the day of his east winde Esai 27. 8. 5. The Season and time of the affliction and trial is likewise determined of the Lord which is another Circumstance sometime very considerable and weighty He hath determined the minute of time when it shall beginne and with what occasion it shall be trysted He determined the precise time when the Messiah should be cut off after threescore and two weeks Dan. 9 vers 26. 6. The Duration of the Trial is also determined by the unchangable decree of God to a day yea to an houre and a minute He decreed the length and duration of the affliction that was to come upon the posterity of Abraham four hundereth and thirtie Years Gen. 15 13. Exod. 12. vers 13. And at the end of these Years even the self same day it came to passe that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the Land of Egypt where these Years of servitude were to end So he determined seventy Years for the captivity of Iudah in Babylon Ier. 25 12. and 29 10. Dan. 9. vers 2. 7. He hath also determined who shall be the Instruments of the trouble He said he would hisse for the flie that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt and for the bee that is in the Land of Assyria Esai 7 18. He appointed the ruine of Iudah to be by the Babylonians or Caldeans He determined to raise evil against David out of his own house 2 Sam. 12 11. These particulars might have been further enlairged and confirmed but because I suppose the truth herein will not be denied or questioned by the Lords people it will be much more useful to speak a few things concerning the right use making of this Truth That there is a Decree past in heaven from all Eternity touching our Sufferings and all the Ingredients and Circumstances thereof concerning the manner and way of our troubles the time when and how long the Instruments by whom and all the other particulars considerable in the same all are fixed by a peremptour and unalterable Determination Now the faith and beleeving Consideration of this would still and calme the risings of our proud spirits and the insolent stirrings of our corruptions when the Affliction that is bitter and unpleasant to the flesh is lying on and make us patiently endure all and sweetly submit to all saying the will of the Lord be done Let him do what seemeth him good as good old Eli said when he heard the determination of the Lord concerning him and his family wherein were many sad and bitter ingredients as may beseen 1 Sam. 2. and 3. Chapters and goâ—…d is the â—…rd of the Lord as good Hezekiah said when he heard by Esaias that the Lord had determined that all that was in his house and all which his fathers had laid up in store untill that day should be carried to Babilon nothing should be left and of his sones that should issue from him which he should beget should they take away and should be Eunuchs in the palace of the King of Babylon Esai 39. vers 6 7 8. Whether 1. Our thoughts be troubled at the kind of the Cross or Affliction which is upon us so as we are ready to say had the Lord sent any other rod or affliction upon us than this wherewith we are exercised we could better have born it Had he visited me will one say with Poverty and not with Disgrace I could have born it and another had my affliction been any other than just what it is I could have comported with it but the consideration of this that God hath decreed that that even that same crosse should be thy cross and no other will make the Soul sit down and say seing the Lord hath from all eternity appointed and shapen-out this even this and none else for me I must bear it and submit to his will who is wiser than I am and seeth further than I do and knoweth what is good and best for me better than I my self do His holy will be done This is a grief and I must bear it saith Ieremiah Ch. 10 19. 2. If our heart be troubled and vexed at the Consideration and thoughts of the particular Ingredients in and Parts of our mixed and compounded cup of affliction whereof every one seemeth more bitter than another and we be saying we are compassed with evils on all hands trouble of Body is upon us and trouble of Mind also we are wrestling with paines inward and outward with poverty with disgrace with perils and hardships and all at once This will compose our spirits if we call to mind that God hath willed and decreed all this He thought good to have it so He hath ordered as a wise Physician all the Ingredients of our bitter cup and what have we to say against him Iob we know had many a bitter ingredient in his cup and this compesceth the tumultuatings of his spirit Iob 23 13 14. But he is in one mind who can turn him And what his soul desireth even that he doth For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me and many such things are with him As if he had said what He will do He will do none can turne him or make him change his mind He performeth what He hath appointed and decreed for me and He can do much more yet and what know I but he shall do much more against me than he hath done This did so far put him from quarrelling at what was done that he was troubled and afraid at the thoughts of the Majesty and Soveraignity of this great King who doth what he will and so might adde yet moe ingredients in his cup as long as he was left breathing and thereby make his case worse 3. If the thoughts of the exceeding great weight and measure of the Trouble vex us this may counter-work that and calme us if we should suppose that God doth not measure-out our calamitie by drachmes and unces but by pounds and ston weights and thereupon cry out that our Trouble is greater than we can bear and give way to sinful murmurings and complainings we should do well in that case to call this to mind That all the doses are weighed and appointed for us from eternity He hath measured every scruple or graine weight thereof and what he hath appointed for us we must have He knoweth best what dose or measure of such or such a simple and what weight or quantity of all together will worke best on our humors and this will helpe to calme our spirits knowing
8. We are troubled on every side yet not distressed we are perplexed but not in despair persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroyed 4. Their Impatience is likewise occasioned by considering that their Trouble and Affliction is still growing when they supposed that it should have decreased But the right Improvement of this Truth would frame the Soul for patience notwithstanding hereof because the beleever would see ground to say grow as it will the hand of the Lord is about it it will grow to no greater height than he seeth good let Enemies blow at the fire as fast and with as great earnestness as they will the furnace shall be no hoter than the Supream Master and Over-ruler of all seeth fit for the ends He intendeth He knoweth the nature of the mettall and how hote a fire will serve the turn to purge it 5. This also raiseth impatient thoughts in their heart That they can see no appearance of an outgate all doores are so shut that no hope appeareth thus was it with Iob therefore hath he many such expressions as Chap. 7. vers 6. My daies are swifter than a weavers shuttle and are spent without hope Vers. 7. Mine eye shall no more see good Vers. 8. The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more But this Impatience would evanish if this were beleeved That the Lord's hand were in and about the affliction making a faire way to a saife escape and at length in his own due time putting a period to the Trouble when his work is finished the end He designed attained and if it were firmly beleeved that let Enemies make all as sure as they can and rage as they will they shall not be able to keep them longer under their yron harrowes than He seeth good no not one day nor an houre 3. The right improvement of this Consideration would help unto an holy and sweet Submission and cause us say with David Psal. 39. vers 9. I was dumb not opening my mouth because thou didst it When Aaron met with a sad dispensation two of his prime sones Nadab and Abihu were taken away in the fiour of their age and that in a very terrible manner by fire from heaven for their rashness and when Moses told him Levit. 10. vers 3. That this was it which the Lord spoke saying I will be sanctified of all them that come neer me it is said of him And Aaron held his peace A sight of the hand of God though in a terrible manner in that dispensation made him lay his hand upon his mouth and sit silent in the dust He had not one word to say So that a sight of the hand of God in the dispensation ordering all things in it would help them unto a Christian yea unto a cheerful Submission It would not be patience by force but an hearty willing cheerful choosing bearing and embracing of that lot because bound on their back by the hand of God Shall we not drink would they say this potion with delight that God hath prepared and carefully made up for us He knoweth what is best for us Shall we not willingly lye under the crosse that God hath tyed upon us when He knoweth what He is doing and what we must not want and will not sufler us to be temâ—…ted above what we are able When His good time is come there will be an end and all the power of Enemies shall not obstruct our Delivery The Church Micah 7. vers 9. could sweetly sit down and bear the indignation of the Lord when by faith she could say Rejoice not against me O mine Enemie when I fall I shall arise when I sit in darkness the Lord shall be alight unto me He will bring me forth to the light and I shall behold his righteousness V. 8 9. 4. The beleeving improvment of this would keep the beleever from fainting and sincking through discouragment many thoughts come into the minde while affliction is lying on their loines and Satan can suggest many things at that time to cause the poor man succumb while under the load but the faith of God's Soveraigne and Absolute O dering of all things in and about the Trouble according to his own mind would keep up their head and preserve them from a sinful and shamful fainting They look too much to instruments and pore too much upon their Nature Disposition Activity Power Wisdom Wickedness Maliciousness Rage Cruelty and Indefatigableness and forget that they are but under agents and can do nothing but as the Supream God Willeth Ordert he Disposeth and Permitteth and that He alone Over-ruleth all Moderateth and Ordereth all according to His own mind and for His own holy ends So that they cannot do any thing whether as to the Substance or as to the Circumstances of the affliction but as He who is the Supream Master of work is pleased to suffer and give way unto 5. The beleeving thoughts of this Truth would keep the Soul from that dreadful sin of Murmuring against the Lord upon occasion of any Trouble or Distress he meeteth with It is the Lord would the Soul say and who am I that I should quarrel with Him He is ordering disposing and moderating all that under agents and lixes are doing so that all things are done as He will and shall I yet be displeased and quarrelsome Enemies cannot get their will They are over-ruled in all their Consultations Projects Contrivances bloudy Resolutions and cruel Executions matters go not as they will but as He will who is over them and why then should I murmure and repine against Him 6. This would also airth the Eyes of the soul towards the right object in a day of Trouble They would not with Heathens look to chance or fortune as ruling and ordering all nor would they with the carnal multitude fâ—…x their eye upon the instruments and run with the dog to the stone that is cast at him but would see another more noble object of their sight to wit the Principal Agent Mover and Orderer of all in whose hand the wicked are as the ax and saw in the hand of the workman and as the rod in the hand of the father and this sight would help unto a Spiritual Christian frame of Godly fear Subjection of Soul and would put the soul in case to observe the Wisdom Soveraignity and absolute Dominion of God doing what He will frustrating the toakens of the liars and disappointing the craftie devices of wicked men as also this sight would minde the man of Christian duties of searching his wayes repenting of his sinnes and turning againe to the Lord for he would see it was the Lord with whom he had to do He would look for his Outgate and Salvation from God alone so that his Faith his Hope and his Confidence would be in the Lord alone His eye being fixed on this object he would not see cause of troublâ—…ng himself much about-Enemies
the body of this death 7. We think it also strange that they should have so little rest from Satan and from his inward hellish Injections tending to Atheisme Infidelity Blasphemy and all Profanity Seemeth not that dispensation somewhat crooked that Paul met with after he was taken up to the third heaven 2 Cor. 12 7 8. It seemeth many times uncouth to us that His people have so many sad and bitter houres that they are so far from enjoying Comfort Joy and Delight from that life of rejoyceing in the Lord continually which is allowed to them and they are called to that their life is nothing almost but a continual complaint sometimes compleaining of the Hardness of their heart Blindness Weakness Impotency Treachery c. sometimes of the weight of Duties and of their Failings and Shortcomings sometimes of the prevailing of Corruption and of the power of Temptation c. These and the like dispensations of the Lord in and about his Saints seem to themselves to others sometimes crooked and very unstraight and as they wish it were otherwayes so they suppose it would be more glorious and honourable to the Lord if it were otherwise Thus it appeareth how many things God hath made crooked to our apprehensions But now who shall who can make these crooked things straight This is the Second Particular in the words That what God hath made crooked no man can make straight with all his Wisdome or Power or by all the meanes he can use or devise for that which is crooked cannot be made straight Eccles. 1 15. I know said the wise man Eccles. 3 14. that whatsoever God doth it shall be for ever nothing can be put to it nor any thing taken from it When He giveth quietness said Elihu Iob 34 29. who then can make trouble when He hideth his face who then can behold him Whether against a Nation or a Man only And the reason is manifest because 1. He is Unchangeable and hath fixed all upon Eternal and Immutable Purposes He is the Lord he changeth not Mal. 3â—… v. 6. With him is no variablness nor shadow of turning Iam. 1 17. He doth all things after the Counsel of His owne will Ephes. 1. 11. taking Counsel of none Rom. 11 v. 34. Esai 40 13 14. His Counsel hath an immutability Heb. 6 17. 2. He is Almighty and who can justle with Him and put Him to take new Resolutions He is in one minde said Iob Ch. 23. 13. and who can turn Him And what His Soul desireth that doth He. So Psal 115 v. 6. He hath done whatsoever he pleased I know said the Psalmist Psal. 135 5 6. that Iehovah is great and that our Iehovah is above all Gods whatsoever the Lord pleaseth that did He in heaven and in earth in the seas and all deep places So Iob tels us Chap 9. 4. He is wise in heart and mighty in strength who hath hardened himself against him hath prospered So vers 12. Behold he taketh away who can hinder him Who will say unto him what dost thou 3. He is Absolute and Soveraigne to do what he will as the Potter is absolute over the clay Ier. 18 6. Rom. 9 10. Esai 45 9. And he is uncontrollable Who can call him to an account Who can say unto him what dost thou Iob. 9 12. He giveth not account of any of his matters Iob. 33 vers 13. For he is greater then man vers 12. 4. All his wayes are done in Wisdom and all his works Psal. 104 24. 136 5. And there is no wisdome against the Lord Prov. 21 30. He hath established the world by His wisdom Ier. 10 12. 51 v. 15. He is mighty in strength and wisdom Iob 36 5. And what then can foolish man that is like a wilde asses colt do With the Ancient is wisdom said Iob Chap. 12 12 13 14. c. and in length of dayes understanding With him is wisdom and strength he hath Counsel understanding and thence inferreth Behold he breaketh down and it cannot be built againe he shuteth up a man there can be no opening c. See further to the end of that Chap. 5. All his works are perfect Psal. 18 vers 30. And then what can be added to them or taken from them to amende them What is perfect cannot be made better or amended one way or other What we then think and account to be crooked is Perfect Straight and Even and contributeth to make up this compleat perfection of the whole 6. There are Depths and unseen Mysteries in the work and wayes of the Lord that we cannot search and ignorance of which causeth the sinstruous Apprehensions that we have of them And how shall we think to amende that which we do not understand His works are great sought out of all them that have pleasure therein His works are honourable glorious wonderful Psal. 111 2 3 4. Then I beheld said the wise man Eccles. 8 ver 17. all the work of God that a man cannot finde out the work that is done under the sun Because though a man labour to seek it out yea further though a wise man seek to know it yet shall he not be able to finde it And againe Chap. 11 v. 5. As thou knowest not what is the way of the Spirit nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with childe even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all The consideration of which should first cause us sorrow and mourne before the Lord for our seeking to amend God's work as if we could make straight what God hath made crooked and set all things in a righter posture than God hath done Concerning which we would 1. Take notice of some of these wayes whereby we are attempting this vaine work And 2. Take notice of the evil of this sin As to the First We are seeking to make straight what God hath made crooked when 1. We are in a quarrelling humore Disputing with God and Condemning him in our minds for what he is doing and Justifying ourselves in our Anger and Displeasure against the Dispensations and Wayes of the Lord as did Ionah who was displeased exceedingly very angry that the Lord spared Ninive Chap. 3 v. 10. with 4 v. 1. And when the Lord said unto him Chap. 4 vers 4. Doest thou well to be angry was not for all that satisfied and againe vers 9. when the gourd was withered and the East winde blew and the sun beat upon his head he fell againe in this distemper and when the Lord said unto him the second time doest thou well to be angry he answered I do well to be angry even unto death 2. When our vaine Ratiocinations are engaged against the wayes of the Lord in one particular or other and we have this or that to object against that course which the Lord taketh as if we would impute iniquity unto our Maker and