Aegypt so we at the administration of the other might remember Christ by whom we are saved from our enemies and from the hands of all that hate us This Supper is not onely a representing a sealing and a conveying signe but a commemorative signe Do this in remembrance of me saith Christ There is no Gospell-ordinance whether prayer reading or hearing of the Word but there is such mention made of Christ as we ought to remember him But this ordinance of the Supper hath this signall note of excellency stamped upon it above all a speciall charge from Christ to remember him when that is administred Do this in remembrance of me for as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye shew that is ye make a commenoration of the Lords death till he come Sometimes that we may come to the subject matter intended God appointed Records and Registers of his mercies Histories and Journalls of the noble acts and loving kindnesses of the Lord to his people to be kept and conveyed to posterity that the generations to come might know them even the children that should be born who should arise and declare them to their children Thus the Lord commanded that the History of Amalek should be written in a Book their malice and Gods mercy their war and overthrow and it must be rehearsed to posterity that it might never be forgotten What this Book was we shall not much enquire Some say it was the Book of Jasher mentioned Josh chap. 10. which was a Chronicle of the acts of the people of the Lord which is lost Some say it was the Book of the Judges Some say it was a Book of the Battails of the Lord mentioned Numb 21. 14. Others and that most probably that it was no other but this Book of Exodus Junius and Calvin But why this History must be written in a Book is more worthy of our inquiry and more sutable to our purpose And the reasons may be these two 1. That a thankfull remembrance of so great a deliverance from so malicious an enemy might be continued in the generations following 2. That the people of God knowing what sentence was denounced against Amalek which should be executed in due time as it was in the Reign of Saul might be the better encouraged to fight against them and through faith expect the victory over them And thus in this Chapter God would have the Journals of the people of Israel from Aegypt to the Land of Canaan recorded that the great things God had done for them by the way might not be forgotten for so it is said in the Text. Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandement of the Lord. In this Chapter two parts are observable 1. An Israelitish Journall is recorded from vers 1 to v. 50. 2. A direction is given them concerning their proceedings in and with the Land of Canaan Which is threefold 1. That they should cast out the inhabitants v. 52 53. 2. That they should destroy their idols v. 52. 3. That they should divide the Land amongst them by lot v. 54. The two former whereof are seconded with a most sharp threatning that if they did not punctually observe Gods command therein 1. For the present that people should prove a continuall snare unto them 2. For the future what God had intended to these their enemies should fall upon their own heads all this to the end of the ch In the Israelitish Journall two things are to be considered 1. The duty is in generall propounded v. 1 2. 2. You have an Historicall enumeration of their severall Journeys in v. 2. In which three things are to be noted 1. The matter that stands upon record and that is their journeys according to their goings out 2. The Scribe that recorded them and that was Moses Moses wrote c. 3. The authority by which he did it and that was the commandement of the Lord he had very good warrant for what he did The first of these namely the matter that stands upon record their journeys is that which I shall principally take notice of In which Journall this is observable That there is not onely a particular relation of the place from which and the place to which they journeyed as from Rameses to Succoth c. but also a singular mention is made of all the great passages of Gods good hand of providence over them together with their murmurings and rebellions by which they provoked him All which are in this ch implyed and some particulars are expressed as you may finde v. 9 14 38 40. This ch being but a short Epitome or abridgement of the whole History So that in the Israelitish Journall you shall finde how here God gave them bread from heaven there water out of the rock in one place he delivered them from the violence of the mighty waters in another from the fury of their potent enemies Now he saved them from the cruelty of the Aegyptians at another time from the malice of the Amalekites and soon after from the sting of the fiery Serpents To day he gives them Manna and Quails good food for their hungry bodies to morrow he delivers them his Law with many divine ordinances and statutes for the good of their souls In all their goings out he afforded them plentifull pledges of his care of them bounty to them and patience towards them Who notwithstanding the many grievous sins by which they provoked him being full of compassion forgave their iniquities and destroyed them not yea many a time he turned away his anger and did not stir up all his wrath for he remembred that they were but flesh c. By this time we are come to the Observation that is intended and may hence be collected and that is this To keep a Journall or Diary by us especially of all Gods gracious dealings with us is a work for a Christian of singular use I say of Gods gracious dealings with us in a more especiall manner because it is good also to observe and keep a good account of the severall occurrences of the Times we meet with as they have reference to the Countrey and Nation we live in It is good to keep an History a Register a Diary an Annales not onely of the places in which we have lived but of the mercies that have been bestowed on us continued to us all our dayes This was the practice of David the Servant of the Lord who made a Psalm and Song in the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul Moses writes his Book called Deuteronomy which is nothing else but a repetition of the Journeys of the people of Israel and the great things God had done for them in their goings out to that day There was scarce any thing in Israel but was typicall their Meats their Drinks their Mannâ— their water out of
mighty Gâ—ant But if Goliah will go out against Dâ—vid with a sword and a spear trusting onelâ— to his own strength he shall fall Moses hâ— a great charge to go to Pharaoh and to brinâ— the people of Israel out of the Land of Aegâ— and how oft doth he through unbelief cavâ— at that call as unfit for that service sevâ— or eight times he replyes upon God as unwilling because unfit to go But througâ— Gods most gracious assistance he finished thâ— work to the glory of God the comfort 〈◊〉 his people and the shame of that proâ— enemy aad this is recorded I have fougâ— the fight saith St. Paul I have finished 〈◊〉 course I have kept the faith and this is wriâ—ten down in a book Secondly assistance in withstanding viâ—lent temptations in undergoing heavy buâ— thens and conflicting with sundry evilâ— should not be forgotten There is a timâ— when Kings go not forth to War but no â—ime wherein Christians have not some comâ—ate with temptations but God either preâ—ants them or assists us in them and makes â—s victors over them and gainers by them It is written of St. Augustine that after his conversion to the Faith he was much vexed with inward conflicts and after long strugâ—ing with them in the use of means and not prevailing as he desired he heard a voyce saying to him In te stas non stas whereby apprehending that the way to fall was to stand in his owne strength by faith in prayer he did fly unto God in Christ and his tree grace and so obtained victory At my first answer saith St. Paul no man stood by me all forsook me I pray God it be not laid to their charge But God stood by me and strengthned me and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion And indeed at such a time a gracious heart can better bear Gods stroke then endure his absence St. Paul makes speciall mention of this Faith is the gift of God and amongst many singular benefits that we have by that grace this is not the least It hath a singular dexterity in helping the heart at a sudden pinch in mustering up spirituall and those present forces against an unexpected temptation A lively faith is the best leaver at a dead lift See it in the case of Joseph fiercely and unexpectedly assaulted by his beastly Mistris Many arguments are brought in of a sudden by which he is fenced so impregnably against her sollicitations that he comes off more then a conqueror 1. It is a sin saith he against the great â—rust my Master hath in me He hath committed all into my hand c. 2. It is a sin against my place and dignity There is none greater in the house then I. 3. It is a sin against my Masters interest You are his wife 4. It is a wickednesse a great wickednesse against God The like you shall read of David who when he was reviled by Shimei with those words Come out thou bloody man thou man of Belial c. which so far provoked Abisha and edged his spirit against him that he could hardly hold his hands yet bare all patiently being armed against such an assault Three arguments are suddenly mustred up by Faith by which he comes off with victory 1. My Son rebels and he is more violent against me My Servant takes away my good name my Son would not only take the crown from my head but my head from my shoulders 2. The Lord hath bidden him curse me and therefore let him alone 3. The Lord will look on me and not onely do me good by this but for this affliction It is good to set down every affliction we have met with in our time and to observe Gods carriage towards us in them with the benefit we receive from them 3. Remember and for that end put into your Journal all deliverances from dangers vouchsafed to you or yours And indeed what is our whole life but a continued deliverance We are daily delivered either from the violence of the creature or the rage of men or the treachery of our own hearts either our houses are freed from firing or goods from plundering or our bodies from danger or our names from reproaches or our souls from snares This being the difference betwixt a gracious and a gracelesse heart a godly man is delivered a wicked man is but reserved God knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be punished Jacob is delivered from the treachery of his Uncle Laban at one time and from the fury of his Brother at another both are remembred David is delivered from the paw of the Bear and the mouth of a Lion both of them are mentioned before Saul Jeremiah cannot forget the dungeon out of which he was saved nor Daniel the Lions den out of which he escaped nor Jonah the Whales belly out of which he was delivered Read their Prophesies and you shal finde the stories Mr. Beza in his last Will bequeaths thanks unto God that being infected with the plague at Lusanna and aspersed by his enemies with grievous calumnies God delivered him from both 2. That being tossed up and down in the first Civill wars of France for many moneths God had preserved him from six hundred dangers Our deliverances are more then we can number greater then we can value Who so is wise and will observe them even they shall understand the loving kindnesse of the Lord. Every night God setteth his watch about us and every day he commands his Angels to pitch their tents for our safeguard And alas what is all our care and prudence without his watchful eye of providence over us Except the Lord keep the City the watchman waketh but in vain When Noah and all his train went into the Ark it is said the Lord shut him in It is good to open the dore in the morning and to shut the dore in the evening by prayer pray when we open them that God would dwel with us and when we lock up our dores that God would shut us in otherwise we cannot be safe Take but a little notice of the preservation of our children nay but of one childe and you will say that all our care is nothing without his watchfull eye I will give you a memorable instance of a Childes deliverance who whilest divers in the family with many other friends were met together to fast and pray went out to a pond very much frozen for it was in an hard cold Winter either to slide or to whip his top I remember not which where two holes were made in the ice for the safety of the fish and the taking up of water into one of these he fell up to the arm-holes the childe was soon mist and search being made he was found there Had the hole been wider or he not spread out his arms or he not
in a mercy â—an never be truely thankfull Check your â—elves therefore often for this neglect as this â—acob did who when in his journey to Labanâ—e â—e had in a vision a sight of a Ladder whose â—oot stood on the earth and whose top did â—each to heaven and the Angels of God were â—scending descending upon it and the Lord â—ood above it All which was a lively discoâ—ery of Gods provident care of him said God was in this place and I knew it not So â—â—y you God was in this friend that relieved â—e in this ordinance that refreshed me â—n this creature that comforted me and I observed him not There are none of the wayes of God wherein he useth either thâ— ministery of Angels or the wisdome of meâ— or the strength of any creature but God is 〈◊〉 the top of the Ladder and orders all though we observe him not We may by an eye of reason see a man is his works though his person be not presentâ— As when we see a piece of ground well ploughed the fences well made the cattle well ordered we say Here is a good Huâ—band though we do not see the Farmer When we see a house built very well and every room well contrived we say Here iâ— a good Work-man though we do not see the Carpenter And may we not as well by an eye of faith behold the wisdome goodnesse and power of God in his works though he be invisible Say you therefore Here is so much of the prudence of a Pâ—â—nce so much of the policy of a State so much of the valour and faithfulnesse of a Governour but how much do you observe of God who rules the hearts and wayes of all men Here is so much of the cost of a Father so much of the affection of a Mother so much of the faithfulnesse of a Friend but how much of the mercy and wisdome of God A great Cardinall that I have read of writing down in his Diary what such a Lord did for him how far such a Prince favoured him what incouragement he had from such a King and how such a Pope preferr'd him but not a word of God one â—eading of it said This man remembred â—is friends but forgat God Like another Haman who when he told his friends and â—eresh his Wife of the glory of his riches â—nd the multitude of his children and all the things wherein the King had proâ—oted him who had advanced him above â—ll the Princes and Servants at the Court â—nd what honor Queen Esther did him who â—nvited him onely with the King to the banâ—uet never made any mention of God Do â—ou rather as David who when he had â—old King Saul how he had slain the Lion and the Bear said moreover The Lord that â—elivered me c. He comes over with it aâ—ain rather then not mention the Name of the Lord and let Saul know he observed Gods great power in that victory All the letters in the Alphabet without a â—owel will not make one word nor all the â—ars in the firmament without the Sun will make a day nor all the world the profits of it or pleasures in it can make a man happy without God The Jews some say when they read the Book of Esther let the book fall on the ground and they give this reason for that â—eremony though they esteem it a Canonitall piece of Scripture yet they somewhat undervalue it because the word of God is not found in all the Story Though a man have as much health strength and beauty as Nature can afford him and to that aâ— much wealth honor and friends as thâ— world can bring him and to all these aâ— much learning as Tutors can put into him yet if he be a man without God he falls in the thoughts and estimation of such as are spirituall and can discern him though they may acknowledge him a very discerning man 2. Labour by faith to see and observe all these good things in God For as omnia malâ— may be seen in summo malo All evils in the world may be seen in sin the chief evill as blindnesse nakednesse poverty death hell for he that is ignorant is blind indeed he that is without God is naked indeed he that hath no grace is very poor he that is dead in sins and trespasses is truely dead he that is under the power of sin and given up wholly to his hearts lusts is in an heâ—l above ground So omnia bona are in summâ— bono all good things are in God the chiefest good All creatures may be seen in the Creator as all the stars may be seen in the sun So the Apostle thought who called God the God of all comfort Honor is not the God of comfort nor liberty nor health or wealth nor hath honor the comfort of liberty nor liberty the comfort of health nor health the comfort of children or wealth c. But the comfort of all these may be found in God Hence he is called our Son He will be a Sun and a shield to those that walk uprightly The light and comâ—ort of all these things may be found in God 〈◊〉 the light of all the stars may be seen in â—he Sun As a Sun he gives all the light so 〈◊〉 a shield he gives all the protection to all â—en and means of our good The shield in â—ncient times to which the holy Ghost â—eems as some think to allude was made â—o big as it covered the whole man and all â—is armour as appears by that speech of Ajax to or of Vlysses when he contended â—im about the armour of Achilles Opposui molem clypei texique jacentem â—n his flight he came to me and I covered â—im with my shield and so saved his life So I say as a Sun and shield all comfort is from him Hence he that can call the Lord his God may call God any thing that at any time he stands in need of As David sometimes did whilest compassed about with many enemies The Lord is my rock and my fortresse my deliverer my high tower my buckler and why so He is my God and in that all If he be my God saith a believer he is my Father and no father like him for affection if my God 〈◊〉 my Friend and no friend like him for faithfulnesse my Physician and none like him for skill nay my Bed-maker and none can make my bed so easie as he So that if we lose the comfort of any creature as the comfort of a wife by death of health by sicknesse of liberty by a prison of wealth by poverty they may all be found in a God who is health in sicknesse liberty in prison yea all things in the want of all He that is the Alpha and Omega hath said it He that overcometh shall inherit all things But how shall that be I will be saith the Lord his God and he shall be my
totalis of all our comforts The Grecians set the summa totalis of their bills of accompt in the top of the page as we do in the bottome Christ and riches Christ and honors Christ and liberty is the totall sum of all we enjoy Let us make Jesus Christ our Generalissimo Commander in chief Primate Supreme All in all set him above all 1. Above all comforts and outward contents Like those brave Germane Ladies in a fiege who when the Emperor at the surrender of the Town gave them liberty to carry with them what they could but excepted the men who were to stand to his mercy left all their gold and silver with their rich jewels and took up their Husbands and carryed them out with them Let us leave all so we may enjoy Christ Let Ziba have all saith Mephibosheth to David so that the King return Let the men of the world have all the wealth though we be impoverished let them have all the honour and friends though we be disgraced and forsaken so Jesus Christ may rule in us and rejoyce over us and be all in all to us 2. Set Jesus Christ above all the men and means of any good Men are apt to make idols of such as have been instruments of their outward peace and happinesse Christ will admit of no corrivals he will be all or none When Tiberius the Emperour of Rome sent to the Senate and required that the Image of Christ might be set up in the Capitoll they returned this answer from their Priests that if he were set up all the other Images of their gods must down if Jesus Christ be set up all our Idols must fall our Dagons will fall before the Ark. 3. Set Jesus Christ above all your duties parts gifts and abilities Your selfishnesse proves often your greatest prejudice Like the viper in Paul's bundle of sticks which he brought in to make a fire and warm his fingers with would sting you to death did not God in mercy prevent the mischief If you compose your selves with such sparks you shall lie down in sorrow if God be not more gracious to you In all your duties therefore it is best to do as Joaâ— did when he had won Rabbuh he sent to David to take the Crown and good reason for all the men and means the money and ammunition were David's So here all your sufficiency is from Christ you can do all things through Christ that strengthens you Let him therefore go away with the Crown Be not like proud Haman whom nothing could content but the royall apparell the royall horse and crown Christ will part with any thing to you but his crown but his glory take heed of usurping that What part or member of the body soever is used in getting the victory by the consent of all the head is crowned However you speed let Christ have the crown When Caesar and Bibulus were Consuls Caesar did all Bibulus did nothing being over-awed by Caesar whereupon the Wits of Rome would in jest subscribe their Letters Julio Caesare consulibus Do you so if through the grace of Christ you can bear afflictions patiently perform duties fruitfully pray with heart confesse with sorrow beg with life hear with fruit say we can do all things by Jesus Christ assisting us â— Observe how all good things are 〈◊〉 upon you continued to you by the Promise certainly All providences to a grâ—cious heart are but as so many fulfillings of promises Carnall men have nothing but by common providence but whatever this man hath he enjoys by speciall promise so that his peace is the peace of promise his liberty the liberty of promise his deliverance the deliverance of promise Labour therefore to see every comfort you have 〈◊〉 in your Journal conveyed to you in and by a promise Thus did Joshua who when the people were setled in the Land of 〈◊〉 told them that they knew in their 〈◊〉 and souls that not one thing had failed of all the good things which the Lord their God had spake concerning them all was come to passe It is good to observe how Gods judgements are executed upon transgressors according to his Word and to say as Jehu did when the fiercenesse of Gods wrath was poured out upon Ahab and Jiâ—â—hel This is the burthen that the Lord laid upon him and this is the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah the Tishbitâ— When we see Adâ—ltâ—rers brought to shame and a morsel of â—â—â—ad say This is according to the Word of thâ— Lord who hath said Whoremongers 〈◊〉 adulterers God will judge When ye see swearers and blasphemers and perjured persons punished with a stroke from heaven say This day is this Scripture fulfilled in our eyes God will not hold them guiltlesse that take his name â—vain But it is far more comfortable to see all good things bestowed according to a promise and to be able to say as David Thou hast dealt well with thy servant O Lord according to thy Word So did Solomon when he sate upon the throne of his Father David Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who hath fulfilled with his hand that which he spake with his mouth And again in the same prayer The Lord hath performed his word that he hath spoken for I am risen up in the room of my Father David and am set on the throne of Israel as the Lord hath promised We talk much of Providences and indeed we are apt to make Providences to serve our turns as Jonah though a Prophet and a good man when he was sent to Nineveh and not willing to go upon that Embassage but to Joppa and finding a ship going to Tarshish Oh surely thought he here 's a providence God would have me now go rather to Tarshish so providence leads me and indeed this is a great part of the Religion of our time here was a providence and there was a providence yea a continned series of providentiall actings but no man asks Where is the Precept requiring or the Promise encouraging He that walks by common providence without a speciall Precept to guide him or singular Promise to comfort him walks by a dark 〈◊〉 and will finde that his successes will prove but pitfalls in the conclusion and will â—â—ll short of an happy issue according to that saying Careat successibus opto Quisquis ab eventu facta notanda putat But let every wise man observe how his successefull proceedings are fruits of a Promise So did the Virgin Mary God hath holpen his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy as he spoke to our Forefathers Abraham and his seed for ever So did Zachariah God hath raised up for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 born of salvation in the house of his servant David as he spake by the mouth of his holy 〈◊〉 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hands of all that hate