them in the Quiet they enjoy This God designs it for and requires and expects a due Improvment of Mercies at our hands as a suitable and proper expression of gratitude unto him When God sent Moses to Phoroah King of Egypt to send Israel forth it was always for this work to servo him God saith Exod. 3.12 This shall be a token unto thee that I have sent thee when thou hast brought forth the People out of Egypt ye shall serve God in this Mountain This was his errand verse 18. Let us go that we may Sacrifice to the Lord our God. Exod. 4.23 God saith Let my son go that he may serve me and at all times when Moses goeth to Pharoah this was his business as Chap. 5.1 2 3 c. Chap. 7.16 Chap. 8. 1 8 20 25 26 27 28. Chap. 9.1 13. Chap. 10.3 7 8 9 10 11 24 25.26 Cap. 12.31 c. So when God gave the Law Exod. 20. he saith Hear O Israel I am the Lord that brought thee out of the House of Servants thou shalt have no other Gods before me c. He makes the Deliverance which he had wrought the Motive to their Obedience Solomon's Rest 1 King 5.4 was that he might build the Temple We are Delivered by Christ that we might serve God Luke 1.74 75. That he would grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hands of our Enemies might serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness c. In nothing more doth the Holiness of God appear against Sin then in the way of our Deliverance and Redemption by his pouring forth his Wrath to the uttermost on his only begotten Son. when made a Propitiation for us and therefore requires that every one that nameth the name of Christ do depart from Iniquity and this improvement of the Quiet which God giveth we have an instance of Acts 9 31. Then had the Churches Rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria and were Edifyed and walking in the fear of the Lord and comfort of the Holy Ghost were multiplyed So that this God designeth the Quiet for which he giveth that it may be thus used and when it is so Improved it is a sign that it was given of God for such have a right to it But it is too apparent that we have not duly Improved the Liberty we have Enjoyed and have cause to fear and suspect our selves that we have not the Qualifications of a People to whom God's Quiet is given in a way of Promise but are obliged to seek after them as we value the Quiet which God giveth Secondly The Second thing we are to Enquire into about the Subject of this Quiet is the manner of its being Produced which is of God. and 1st It is by his Own Presence in and with a People Exod. 33.14 God saith My Presence shall go with thee and I will give thee Rest So it is said in Joshuah God gave them Rest which was by his Presence among them Fighting for them Guiding of them c. And this Presence of God with a People is the greatest Dignity and Benefit a People can Enjoy The Beatyfical Vision consists in being ever with the Lord in his Presence God saith the Nations shall say What People is there like to this Nation that hath God so nigh to them as the Lord is in all you call upon him for Deut. 4.6 7. Again The Lord doth often give Quiet by mean and contemptable means as by Gideon Jeptath Samuel c. that the Power of God may appear thereby when out of the Months of Babes he ordaineth Strength yet always by Righteous Ways for He is a Holy God he is Almighty therefore needs no base means Infinitely Holy therefore abhors all Unjust Wayes some he excludes from his Service Again Thirdly The Peace which God giveth may be seen by a view of its Nature and Properties as 1st 'T is Noble Liberal Free and Full and in all respects a none such James 1.5 If any of you lack Wisdom let him ask of God that giveth to all men Liberally and upbraideth not 'T is Liberally Free and Noble no Base Conditions but is upon honourable terms And upbraideth not doth not twit them of it as some oft Repeat one Favour but he giveth Innumerable that pass by us unthought of Prov. 10.22 The Blessing of the Lord it maketh Rich and he addeth no Sorrow with it and Peace is his Blessing Psalm 29.11 He will Bless his People with Peace So that 't is Unmixed more Pure and Universal then other Quiet 't is Peace round about on every side as Solomon saith 1 King 5.4 The Lord hath given me rest on every side there is neither Adversary nor Evil Occurrent And thus it continued till he left God and so then he raised him an Adversary So in Joshuah's time there was not a man left to stand against them but when they turned to Idolatry the Book of Judges gives a large account of the Lords Selling them into the hands of their Enemies Judg 2.12.13.14 However till they Sinned they had a compleat quiet So of the Deliverance by Moses Exod. 10.26 Our Cattle also shall go with us there shall not an hoof be left behind the like to David 2 Sam. 7.1 To Israel Josh 21.44 To Asa 2 Chron. 14.6.7 Peace on every side as he maketh Sinners a Magor Misabib a Terror round about so he giveth Peace round about is a wall of Fire round about for Defence to them whose quiet he gives Lastly 'T is durable none can remove it but he that gave it as it was in Joshua's time till God sent them trouble for their sins none could trouble them And this leads us to the Predicate of the first Question to wit That none can cause Trouble First Wherein none can cause Trouble is evident to wit in that kind that the quiet is of When God giveth Quiet from War none can raise War till he sendeth it And therefore 2ly We shall enquire Wherefore none can cause trouble to such whom God giveth quiet unto and this is for two Reasons First Because all trouble is God's Creature he is the Author of it but not of Sin for he is holy When the Creation was finished all things were good and there was no trouble till Sin entred then death entred by sin in the day thou catest c. thou shalt die And when Cain slew his Brother the Ground was cursed for his sake When the World sinned the Flood overflowed it and though God hath promised he will not again drown the World and given his Bow in the Cloud for a Sign of his Covenant yet he is the same Holy Sin-Avenging God that ever he was So when Sodom sinned through Pride Idleness and Fulness of Bread which is too visibly our Frame then Fire came from Heaven and destroyed them So that God hath the Distribution and Ordering of it in his own hands and 't is Infinite Wisdom so to do
London Mr. Parkhurst I Order you to Print this Sermon Preached before me by Mr. Warner the last of September Grocers-Hall Octob. 2. 1688. John Eyles Mayor דרך ×œ×©×œ×•× ×©×œ×•× ×‘×¦×•×§ ×”×¢×ª×™× OR THE Surest Way to the Safest Peace in Troublous Times Delivered in a SERMON Preached before The Right Honourable Sr. John Eyles Kt. Then Lord Mayor of the City of London On SEPTEMBER 30. 1688. By JAMES WARNER a Protestant LONDON Printed for Thomas Parkhurst at the Sign of the Three Crowns and Bible in Cheapside near Mercers-Chappel 1688. TO THE Right HONOURABLE Sr. John Eyles Kt. Lord Mayor of the City of LONDON My Lord I Here present Your Lordship with the Sermon which I Preached before You being Requested by Your Lordship to Print the same And that I might choose the most suitable Subject that I could in so short a time allowed me I considered the great Consternation and Amasement that is fallen upon all People at the Appearance of the sore Troubles and Impending Judgments that seem near approaching and are taking hold of us I knew all would be for avoiding of them because 't is natural to us to shun whatever we apprehend may do us hurt But herein I saw would be our Misery That we should be too prone to struggle against God as the Prophet saith Israel did Isa 51.20 Like a wild Bull in a Net The more we strive to avoid Trouble the more we are encompassed with it until we repent This has been a practise fatal to all ages The Israelites when besieged repaired the Breach when made by the Enemy but looked not to the Maker of it the Lord of Hosts Isa 22.8 9 10 11. who was the Hand that moved those Instruments of Trouble Instances of this indiscreet acting we have given of Ahaz and others and indeed the Scripture History abounds with many of them for upon surprising trouble we start from dangers approaching faster oft-times than the well informed Judgment can move From hence arise the many Rash and Precipitate Actions in a fright many whereof are Ridiculous some fatal to People in their Direful Effects Now to inform the Judgments and Convince the Consciences of all Men in such a Juncture as this present Season is of these two things First What the Efficient and First Moving Cause of all their Trouble is which if but removed the Effect must needs cease And Secondly What are the Effectual Means Efficaciously to remove the Cause of our Trouble to all intents and purposes so as not to hurt us hic labor hoc opus est This is our present and Principal Work and Business I beseech God to give us all Grace that we may successfully attend thereunto And according to my Ability and Opportunity I have demonstrated in the following Discourse these two things among others in Answer to those before mentioned First That the Reins of all Trouble and all the Instruments of it are intirely held in the Hands of the Great and Holy God who ordereth and disposeth of them for his own Glory and that they go at his bidding for the punishing of Evil Doers and the praise of them that do well And Secondly That an Unfeigned Repentance attended with a thorough Reformation and fervent Supplication for Pardon and Forgiveness are effectual means for the compleat Removal of all the Troubles we feel or fear will befall us If this be first well done then we may on good grounds expect a blessing from God on all our Endeavours and on those prudent and likely Measures which as Christians and as Reasonable Creatures we may be guided unto as lawful useful and necessary Mediums to remove what we seek to avoid But if this work of Repentance Reformation and Uncessant Seeking of God and his Favour at whose disposal we stand or fall be not speedily and resolvedly set about in the strength of the Grace of God we are undone and all other attempts will prove abortive and fruitless and all our hopes and expectations from any other Counsels or Designs will come to nothing Nothing less than the Infinite Unaccountable Free and Sovereign Grace of God can save an Impenitent and Unreformed People I pray God to Pity Pardon Spare and Save this sinful City and Nation for his own Name and Glory sake and for his Word and Promise sake that the set time to favour Sion may now come and then we shall certainly be delivered Psal 102.13 14 15. But sure I am nothing else can help us without Repentance Luke 13.3 And if God should for his own Name sake save us as he did Israel yet the Impenitent and Unreformed are not like to be the better for it unless the goodness of God lead them to Repentance by it Rom. 2.4 and to fear him for it Jer. 33.9 Hos 3.9 For there is no peace to the wicked saith the Lord and when he saveth the Righteous out of Trouble then he bringeth the wicked in their stead 2 Pet. 2.9 When the one rejoyce the other shall mourn Isa 65.13 So that we must repent and reform first or last we ought to begin 't is best so to do God grant we may accordingly And to prevail on this City and Nation to Consider their ways to Repent and Reform and and seek the Favour of God alone is the design and endeavour of this Undertaking and the Purport and Intent of the following Discourse And therefore it is dressed in a plain and homely stile to reach the meanest capacity not to please the over-curious and nice Palates of too dainty Hearers but to reach the Heart Inform the Judgment and convince the Conscience as most suitable to such a subject rather than to humour the fancy In a Storm none desires the Pilot to give his directions in a gilded Oration but to tell quickly and speak plainly what is most necessary to be done And what Ovid saith of his Book de Tristibus Vade sed incultus qualem decet exsulis esse Infelix habitum temporis hujus habe The same may be said of the present Season Nor indeed would the time allotted me admit it being so very short that constrained me to thrust it forth courser than I desire to present the Publick withall I shall not further detain you Lordship but with a Tender of my Thankful Acknowledgment of your former Favours to me which though I cannot requite yet do not forget And also humbly to manifest my Grateful Sence of the kind Acceptance my poor Labours found with your Worthy Brethren the Aldermen who were pleased to vouchsafe the hearing the following Discourse And Lastly To express my joy at the News of the Restauration of the Rights and Priviledges of the City things which I have publickly expressed the high value I had for them formerly to my cost which I do not repent of it being the Duty of an English Man and a Christian on all occasions to own and esteem them And I am satisfied your Lordship doth so as well as
whereby godliness hath the Promise of this Life as well as that to come and Sinners a Punishment here that they may know there is a Judgment Now this disposal of trouble God hath assumed to himself Isa 45.7 I Form Light I Create Darkness I make Peace I Create Evil viz. of trouble I the Lord do all these things Job 5.6 Although Affliction cometh not forth of the dust neither doth Trouble spring out of the ground c. Amos 3.6 Shall there be evil in a City and the Lord hath not done it So that God ordereth trouble by his own hand and therefore where he giveth Quiet none can cause Trouble because none hath the disposal of it but himself Again Secondly As he hath all trouble it self in his own hands so he hath all the Instruments of Trouble at his own ordering nothing can move without him without his Power and Permission All Instruments of Trouble may be reduced to these Heads either 1st Persons or 2ly Things 1st Persons and these are either 1st Evil Angels 2ly Evil Men. First Evil Angels Satan is called ho Ecthros the Enemy Apollion and Abaddon the Destroyer who goeth about as a Roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devour 1 Pet. 5.8 Now the Malice and Motion of Satan to hurt us is under the Special Restraint of God hence it is said in Job Satan saith Thou hast set an Hedge about him Job 1.10 And in seducing Ahab to go to Ramoth Gilead the Evil Spirit doth first get leave to seduce him 1 Kings 22.22 23. The Devils could not enter into the herd of Swine until that Christ gave them leave so to do Mat. 8.31 32. Christ saith unto Peter Simon Satan hath desired to have thee that he might winnow thee as Wheat but I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not Luk. 22.31 And that God ordereth these things doth further appear if we consider what God permits Satan to Assault us for if we are Proud to Humble us if Secure to Awaken us to Prayer and Watchings he is Conquered by Christ and reserved in Chains to the Judgment of the Great Day Jude 6. Now if God speak Peace Satan cannot cause trouble because much of the trouble he is permitted to cause is upon God's Controversie with us for God will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able but will with the Temptation also make way to escape 1 Cor. 10.13 God knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations c. 2 Pet. 2.9 And as Satan himself cannot hurt us without permission So 2ly The worst of wicked men those who give themselves to the Devil that they may do mischief viz. Wizards and Witches cannot harm us as we see in the instance of Balaam Num. 23.23 There is no inchantment against Jacob nor Divination against Israel Balaam loved the Wages of Unrighteousness and would have cursed Israel but God made him say I have not beheld Iniquity in Jacob nor seen Perverseness in Israel the Lord his God is with him and the shout of a King is among them Num. 23.21 This God bids them remember what Balack King of Mohab consulted and Balam answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal that they might know the righteousness of God Mica 6.5 Again as men are Instruments of Trouble they are so either 1st By their Heads and Counsels or 2ly By their Hands and Power or 3ly By their Hearts Inclinations and Affections Now all these are ordered and disposed by the Lord and cannot move against him First The Heads and Counsels of Men it is certain that much of the safety of a Nation depends upon the Consultation for its good and much of its Trouble depends upon the Conspiracies of Men for its hurt Now There is no Wisdom nor Counsel nor Device against the Lord Prov. 21.30 He bringeth the Devises of the Heathen to nought the Counsel of the Lord standeth for ever the thoughts of his heart to all generations Psal 33.10 11. His Counsel shall stand and he will do all his pleasure Isa 46.10 He over-ruleth all the Counsels that are in the World and hath brought to nothing the devices of the Crafty Job 5.12 When Absalom rebelled against David and Achitopel was with him who was esteemed an Oracle of God for Counsel David prayeth to God to turn his Counsel back to defeat it which he did accordingly answer him in by the Counterpoise of Hushi 2 Sam. 15.31 Chap. 17.14 So of the Enemies of the Jews Neh. 4.15 Of the Wicked Job 5.13 Chap. 10.3 The Heathen Psal 33.10 Of Syria Aephraim Isa 7 5 7. Chap. 8.10 Of Egypt Isa 19.3 11. Now God hath many ways to bring the Counsels of men to nought as he did Hamans against Mordecai Esther 6. Chap. 7.9 10 ult The King of Syria against the Prophet Elisha 2 Kings 6.12 13 to 20. The Jews against Paul Acts 23.12 16. Jacobs Sons against Joseph Gen. 37.20 Pharaobs against Israel when he said let us deal wisely Exod. 1.10 and that was to destroy them but he was destroyed thereby So Haman the Gallows built for Mordecai he first hanselled Ester 7.9 10 ult The Pit they dig for others takes their own feet and they fall therein So God defeated the Philistines Plot against Sampson Saul defeated in his designs again David sometimes by strife as Jehosaphats Enemies 2 Chron. 20. Cross Interests arise Great Men who are as wheels in the Work die and all their Thoughts and Designs perish with them Secondly As their Heads so their Hands and Power is ordered by the Lord. So that when he giveth Quiet there 's no Hand can cause Trouble For the Sword is at the disposal of the Lord Job 5.12 He disappointeth the devices of the Crafty so that their hands cannot find their Enterprise Isa 54.17 ult No weapon that is formen against Sion shall prosper and every tongue that riseth up in Judgment against her God will condemn Psal 46.9 10. He maketh Wars to cease unto the ends of the Earth he breaketh the Bow and cutteth the Spear in sunder and burns the Chariots with Fire and saith Be still and know that I am God For 't is he that bendeth the Bow the Sword is his Weapon and goeth at his bidding Job 19.29 ult Be afraid of the Sword for wrath bringeth the punishment of the Sword that ye may know there is a Judgment Judg. 5.8 They chose new Gods then was War in the Gates Dout. 32.41 If I whet my Glittering Sword and my hand take hold on Judgment Isai 34.5 6. The Sword of the Lord is bathed in Heaven and it shall come down upon Idumea and the People of his curse to Judgement Isa 66.16 By Fire and Sword will the Lord plead with all Flesh and the slain of the Lord shall be many Jer. 12.12 The Spoilers are come upon all high places through the Wilderness for the Sword of the Lord shall devour from one end of the Land even to the other end of the Land no
Flesh shall have peace Jer. 47.6 7 ult O thou Sword of the Lord How long will it be ere thou be quiet Put up thy Self into thy Scabbard rest and be still How can it be quiet seeing the Lord hath givin it a charge against Ashkelon and against the Sea shore There hath he appointed it So that the Sword is his Servant he hisseth for the Flie and the Bee of Assyria and Egypt he is Jehovah of Hosts he stirreth up the Spirits and strengthneth the hands of those that do his Work. Again When he giveth quiet then he saith Nation shall not lift up Sword against Nation nor learn war any more Isa 2.4 And when he will discomfit power he hath various ways to bring it to pass He sets the Philistins against one another before Jonathan 1 Sam. 14.20 The Egyptians against the Egyptians Isa 19.2 Jehosaphats Enemies against each other 2 Chron. 20.27 Judas slayeth himself so doth Ahitophel Abimeleck Saul c. rather than want an Executioner when God is displeased Thirdly As he hath the Hands so he hath the Hearts of all in his Hands Prov. 21.1 The Kings Heart is in the Hand of the Lord as the Rivers of Water he turneth it whithersoever he will. Isa 10.5 6 7 8 c. Thus was Esaus heart turned to Jacob Gen. 27 41. compared with Chap. 33. 4. Saul among the Prophets when he came to destroy David 1 Sam. 19.20 21 22 23 24. so Prov. 16.7 When a mans ways please God he maketh his Enemies at Peace with him Fourthly And as he hath all Persons at his Disposal so likewise hath he all Things at his Ordering Job 5.19 20 21 22 23. He shall deliver thee in six troubles yea in seven there shall no evil touch thee verse 20. In Famine he shall redeem thee from Death and in War from the Power of the Sward verse 21. Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the Tongue neither shall thou be afraid of Destruction when it cometh Verse 22. At Destruction and Famine thou shalt laugh neither shalt thou be afraid of the Beasts of the Earth Verse 23. For thou shalt be in League with the Stones of the Field and the Beasts of the Field shall be at Peace with thee c. See more Psal 91. Thus have we demonstrated the truth of the first Proposition When he causeth Peace none can cause Trouble because all trouble is ordered by the all wise disposal of a Holy God and all the Instruments of it are under his Government both as to Persons or Things The Malice of Satan and men given up to him the Craft and Cruelty the Policy and Power of VVicked Men is over-ruled by the Lord their Hearts are turned as he pleaseth and all things are at his Command and under his Power So that we may Conclude this first Position and infer from the Premises if When God causeth Quiet none can cause Trouble Then. First It 's our great concern for our Selves and the Nation to make Peace with God in the first place above all things Iob. 22.21 Acquaint thy self now with him and be at Peace so shall good come unto thee and this can only be done by Faith in Jesus Christ he that believeth shall be saved 'T is Life Eternal to know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent John 17.2 3. For he will come in Flaming Fire taking vengeance on all that know not God and that obey not the Gospel 2 Thes 1.8 And as Faith in Christ for Justification gives peace with God so the Grace of God in sanctifying of us enjoyeth the blessing of Quiet and Peace from God And this Quiet of God we may be induced to seek above any thing else by a view of its Value and Excellent Properties 't is Free Noble Holy and Righteous we need not be ashamed of it it hath no dishonourable Terms 't is full and firm we may safely lean upon it though on nothing else Jer. 17.7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is Verse 8. For he shall be as a Tree planted by the River of Waters whose Leaf shall be green and he shall not bease from yielding Fruit c. But be sure try our Peace first that it be indeed of God for Jer. 17.9 The Heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it And we are too prone to flatter and deceive our selves through too much self-love But God will not be mocked therefore let us be faithful in searching our ways as we love our Souls and their safety and then we shall find to our Comfort that when he causeth Quietness none can cause Trouble The second Question in the Text is this When he hideth his Face who can behold him From whence we take our second General Observation That when God hideth his Face none can behold him Wherein we have First The Subject concerning God's hiding his Face Secondly The Predicate that then none can behold him First The Subject concerning God's hiding his Face about which we have these three Enquiries First Into those special Sins and Provocations against God which do engage him to hide his Face from a People that where-ever they are found God doth or will hide his Face from such a People Secondly The manner of God's hiding his Face from a People And Thirdly The Nature of it First Then there are these Provocations among many others which when found among any People do provoke the Holy God to hide his Face from a People which being too visible among us must be reformed or we shall be destroyed The one is this When a People leave God and turn to Idolatry let such have Peace from God never so firm this Sin will provoke God to remove it So Joshuah told Israel Joshua 24.19 20. He is a Holy God he is a Jealous God if ye forsake the Lord and serve strange gods then he will turn and do you hurt and consume you after that he hath done you good And the whole Book of Judges is but an Historical Relation of God's constant punishing of an Idolatrous People for their Idolatry as you may see there at large Judg. 2.12 13 14 15 16. c. The Children of Israel forsook the Lord and served other Gods Baalim and Ashtaroth c. and provoked the Lord to Anger and he delivered them into the Hands of the Spoilers that spoiled them and sold them into the hands of their Enemies round about So that they could not any longer stand before their Enemies Whithersoever they went the Hand of the Lord was against them for Evil. Judges 5.8 They chose New Gods then was War in the Gates And indeed this God will never bear withal for he hath said I am Jehovah that is my Name and my Glory will I not give to another nor my Praise to Graven Images Isa 42.8 48.11 Secondly Open Profaneness is a Provocation that will remove God's
overtake them unawares for as a Snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole Earth Luke 21.34 35 36 c. And as it was in the days of Lot they did eat and drink and plant c. but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained Fire and Brimstone from Heaven even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is Revealed Luke 17.28 29 30. Such peace and carnal security is but a Fools Paradise a preludium to War and doth but help to aggravate our Misery by reason of the surprize of suddain trouble coming upon great quiet And to demonstrate further the uncertainty of all other Peace besides that which God giveth we must consider the uncertainty and unconstancy of the Instruments of it and also that it is but a partial Peace while we avoid one trouble we fall into many 1st The uncertainty of the Instruments of it all men are mortal and when they die all that depends upon them falleth to the ground their Love and their Hatred and all their Thoughts perish with them Therefore cease ye from man whose breath is in his Nostrils for wherein is he to be accounted of Isai 2.22 ult 2ly As mans being and abode here is uncertain so is his Mind while he is here First The Intentions and Mind of Man only God who searcheth the hearts knoweth and truth is Gods property not mans Rom. 3. 4. Let God be true and every man a liar we are bound to be true but he only to be trusted and depended upon with all the heart 3ly Also when mens Intentions which God only knoweth are right for us yet forasmuch as that they are moved by various Principles of Self-interest c. as the apprehensions of Interest doth vary so doth our Intentions and Affections as the Wind and this is one great piece of Humane Frailty 4ly As the Uncertainty and Unconstancy of the Instruments so likewise the defective shortness of the Peace its self doth discover its uncertainty when to avoid one trouble we fall into a greater as was seen in the case of Ahaz 2 Kings 16.7 compared with 2 Chron. 28. from 1 to 20 c. The Kings of Stria and Israel came against him the King of Israel slew 120000 in one day and took 200000 Women and Children captive Upon this disafter he sends much Gold c. which he could ill spare to the King of Assyria and he came but distressed and strengthned him not Thus when under Gods displeasure we fly from the Lyon and fall into the Paw of the Bear such Quiet saith Safety is not in me So that it appears plainly that all quietness is uncertain except that only which God causeth Hence we may infer that it is our Great and Important Duty to look well to the quiet on which we lean and not deceive our own Souls by sinful trusting in Creatures Jer. 17 5. Thus saith the Lord Cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh Flesh his Arm and whose heart departeth from the Lord. And having discovered the Uncertainty that is in Creatures we are led thereby to seek for it only in God where alone it is to be found and this leads to that which is expressed in the first Proposition which is That when God causeth Quietness none can cause Trouble In the orderly Prosecution of which Proposition we are to consider First The Subject Gods giving Quietness Secondly The Predicate that then none can cause Trouble First The Subject concerning the Quietness which God giveth we are to consider three things 1. The Qualifications of the Subjects of it the People whom God doth favour with this Quietness 2. The manner of giving of it and the Instruments of it 3. The Nature and Properties of the Quiet which is the Gift of God. 1. Then for the Qualifications of the People that are the Subjects of this Quiet they are these among others which do in especial manner concern us to Examin our selves whether we are endowed with them or not As First When past trouble hath been so Sanctifyed to us as that we have been humbled before the Lord in the sight of our Sins all the world doth know that God hath had a Controversie with his People and they know likewise that we have deserved it at his hands all men have seen our Covetousness Lukewarmness Indifferency in the things of God Formality c. And 't is fit they should see our Humiliation and Repentance for unless ye Repent ye shall likewise Perish Luke 13. Now where a People have been Humbled under their Afflictions the Peace then which they enjoy is the effect of Gods Promise and therefore a mark of his Favour Levit. 26. v. 40 41 42 43. If they shall confess their Iniquity c. v. 41. If then their Vncircumcised hearts be Humbled and they then accept of the Punishment of their Iniquity v. 42. Then will I Remember my Covenant with Abraham c. and I will remember the Land. But it is greatly to be lamented that there is no appearance of this Repentance and Humiliation to be seen publickly amongst us as the matter calls for because He that being often Reproved hardeneth his Neck shall suddenly be destroyed and that without Remedy Prov. 29.1 as shall be more demonstrated in its proper place again 2. As Quiet is promised to Repentance so likewise to servent Prayer for it and this he requires of us if we would have it in his way Ezek. 36.37 Thus saith the Lord God I will yet for this be enquired of by the House of Israel to do it for them He hath declared himself to be a God hearing Prayer and according unto this duty Solomon 1 King 8.33 saith When thy People Israel be smitten down before the Enemy because they have Sinned against thee and shall turn again to thee and confess thy name and Pray and make Supplication unto thee in this House Then hear thou in Heaven and forgive and bring them again unto the Land which thou gavest unto their Fathers This the Lord promised to do accordingly now when our Quiet is come in answer to Fervent Prayer 't is a sign 't is God's Gift so saith Hannah 1 Sam. 1.27 For this Child I Prayed and the Lord hath given me my Petition c. But where is the Spirit of Prayer Nothing of this kind hath been visible amongst us which is greatly to be lamented we are not like to have quiet from God until from a sence of the value and worth of it we go to him alone for it nor are we likely to use it for him when we do not seek it from him Hannah saith The Lord hath given me my Petition therefore I have lent him to the Lord Which leads to the third Qualification Thirdly Another Qalification of the People whose Peace God is the Author of is this That they do thankfully Use and diligently Improve the mercy vouchsased to
of thine anger even according to thy Fear so is thy Wrath. Nahum 1.6 Who can stand before his Indignation Prov. 18.14 A wounded Spirit who can bear Job 6.2 3. Oh that my Grief were weighed it would be heavier than the Sand of the Sea. Psal 88.15 While I suffer thy Terrors I am distracted It is intollerable because all strength and ability to bear any burden or difficulty cometh only from that God who in judgment witholds it from us when he cometh forth against us Ezek. 22.14 Can thine Heart endure or can thine Hands be strong in the days that I shall deal with thee saith the Lord for God hath said it that strength belongs unto God Psal 62.11 How then can we be able to stand before his Indignation Again It is Intollerable because it is Eternal For God who executeth Anger ever liveth so to do and also continueth us in our being for ever to abide under it Deut. 32.39 40 41. I am he saith God and there is no God with me I kill and I make alive neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand for I lift up my hand to Heaven and say I live for ever He ever liveth a Holy Sin-Avenging God and our Worm never dieth nor is the fire ever quenched Mark 9.48 Then who can dwell with Everlasting Burnings Isa 33.14 So that 't is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God for our God is a Consuming Fire even the Lord to whom vengeance doth belong Heb. 10.30 31. Chap. 12.29 ult And this the very Heathen by the conviction of a Natural Conscience have dreadful Apprehonsions of my Name saith God is dreadful among the Heathen Mal. 1.11 14 ult And the Apostle saith Rom. 2.15 Their Consciences Excusing and Accusing one another For Conscience is the Judgment that Reasonable Creatures do make and cannot but make of their Moral Actions with respect to the future Judgment of God for we cannot but know we did not make our selves and could not be by Accident or Chance but must have one First Cause who is God and then must be accountable unto him alone for our Being and all we Enjoy Every one of us must give account of himself to God Rom. 14.12 Chap. 2.6 2 Cor. 5.10 according to that Rule by which we must be judged the Word of God The Word saith Christ that I have spoke the same shall judge you in the last day John 12.48 Which alone by its self-evidencing-power and purity Jer. 23.28 29. Manifesteth it self to be of God a Rule of Obedience to us Isa 8.20 And seeing God hath therein appointed Jesus Christ in whom alone his Favour for ever is to be revealed Act. 4.12 and set him to be the Great Master of the House Luk. 13.23 24 25 26 27. Into whose hands he hath put the Eternal Doom of all mankind for by him He will judge the World Acts 17.31 We must to day hear his voice Heb. 3.7 15. For when the Door is shut and the prefent day of Salvation and Grace which now by the Gospel is offered us from God is once over we are remedilesly miserable for ever Luke 13.23 24 25 26 27 28 29. There remaineth no more sacrifice for sin but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery Indignation which shall devour the Adversary Heb. 10.26 27. Wo unto us when God counts us for his Enemies in this respect also it may well be said When he hideth his Face who can behold him None can Thus we have fully Demonstrated these two Propositions First When God causeth Quietness then none can cause Trouble Secondly When God hideth his Face then none can behold him The Conclusion from the Premises for Application is this Then let us not lose the Favour or Incur the Displeasure of God to obtain the Favour or to avoid the Displeasure of any or all the Creatures in the World. Fix this Perswasion in your minds from the Premises that God's favour is the greatest good His Loving Kindness is better than Life Psal 63.3 Therefore first to be sought and most to be valued Psal 4.6 7. and that his Displeasure is most dreadful and worse than Death the greatest Disaster that can befall us Mat. 10.28 and therefore first to be avoided and most to be shunned And I shall conclude this Exercise with this Exhortation First That we seek God and his Favour by Faith in Jesus Christ in a constant Holy Conformity of of Heart and Life unto his Holy Will all the days of our Lives And Secondly That we fly from the Wrath to come that we hide our selves Isa 26.20 From the Impending Judgments e'er it be too late by Unfeigned Repentance Reformation and a speedy seeking of God for Pardon and Forgiveness that his displeasure being removed then the effects of his Anger viz. the approaching troubles may be removed also thereby Because When he giveth Quietness who then can cause Trouble And when be hideth his Face who then can behold him whether it be done against a Nation or a man only FINIS