escape from the face of Saul therefore Saul and his men in the form of a Crown compassed David and his men that they might take them And that is a good note of Grotius on it i It a saepe hosi is externus malis civilibus adfert spiramenti aliquid Exempla apud Livium multa many a time a forreign Enemy gives some respit to civil broils Hence that place where David was delivered had its name Sela Hammahlekoth so called it 's probable by David to perpetuate the memory of that seasonable deliverance an Act not so much of Saul's pity as of Gods k Quod ibidem Domius quasi mâ—raculo Saulem a Davide diviâ—â—â—jet abstraxisset Os Providence This was Deus ex Machinâ God appearing seasonably Where humane help failed Divine came in unto which may be applied Psal 57. 3. which Psalm it 's thought he penned in Engedi whither he fled from this place Thus also God diverted Senacherib or Rabshakeh his General from the siege of Jerusalem by a report of Tirhakah King of Ethiopia coming out to fight against him 2 King 19. 7 8 9. Regnum Assyriorum invadit saith Sulpitius he invaded the Assyrian Kingdom or he went to fight against Senacherib lying against Libnah or against Rabshakeh besieging Jerusalem as Drusius Thus he diverted Jultan from his purposed persecution by the Parthian warr and Charles the Emperour the 5. of Germany from persecuting the Protestants by the Turks breaking into Hungary This Charles the fifth set at Liberty his Prisoner Francis King of France upon this condition among others that they should joyn their Forces and do their utmost to suppress and root out the Lutheran Heresie as they called it out of both their Dominions but soon after they fell at variance again between themselves the Pope blowing the Bellows whereby the Church had her Halcyon days l Scult Annal. James the Fifth King of Scotland by the instigation of the Bishops was a great Persecutor of the Truth which then brake forth in that Kingdom giving Commission to Sir James Hamilion his Treasurer to convene all persons suspected of Heresie and to inflict the punishment which after Tryal they should be found to deserve but this lasted not long for Sir James Hamilton was accused of a practice against the King's Life for which he was shortly after executed and the King by warrs with England together with some night visions which he had was withdrawn from those Extremities which the Clergy had put him upon Sometimes he even tires the Enemie with his own cruelty and seeing his unsuccesfulness causeth him to lay down his rage in a pet Alas how many even weary themselves in these evil courses in the greatness of their way great pains they take to small purpose and then sit down in discontent Thus Dioclesian the Emperour Author of the Tenth persecution went both subtilly and cruelly to work to root out Christianity using all politick waies to make the Christians in his army renounce their Faith then by Proclamation commanded their Churches to be beaten down their Bibles to be burnt or torn in pieces that all Christians that bare office should be deposed that bondmen that would forsake their profession should be made free But when after all his subtility and cruelty he saw that the number of Christians still increased he gave up the Empire Some also report some such thing to have influenced Charles the fith in laying down his greatness resigning the Empire to his Brother and Kingdoms to his Son Ecclesiastical History will furnish with sundry instances of those that have even tired themselves with their cruelties to the poor ones of God Sometimes he wonderfully supports and carries his through the cruel torments of Persecutors as if they felt nothing of pain or trouble Mr. Saunders Martyr told a person that lay in the same bed with him in Prison That in the time of his Examination before Stephen Gardner he was wonderfully comforted not only in Spirit but even in body receiving a certain taste of the holy communion of Saints whilst a most pleasant refreshing did issue from every part and member of the Body to the seat of the heart and from thence did flow to and fro unto all the parts again Yea Lawrence a Deacon of the Chureh was first scourged then buffeted pinched with fiery Tongs and at last cast on a Grate of Iron red hot upon which when he had been long pressed down with Fire-Forks in the mighty Spirit of God he spake thus to the Tyrant This side is now roasted enough Turn up O Tyrant great Essay whether roasted or raw Thou think'st the better meat Thomas Tomkins had his hand by Bonner held directly over the flame of a wax Taper till the Veins shrunk and the Sinews burst and the water out of them spurted into Harpsfields Face as he stood by yet Tomkins affirmed afterward to some Friends that during this cruel burning his Spirit was so rapt that he felt no pain The like did Edmund Tyrell to a Daughter of Father Munts holding the Candle cross-wise under the back of her hand continuing it so long till her Sinews crackt asunder he still saying why Whore wilt thou not cry The said Maid told a Friend that at first she felt some pain but afterward little or nothing at all James Bainham at the stake in the midst of the burning Fire his Legs and Arms being half consumed said Ye look for miracles lo here ye may see one for in this Fire I feel no more pain than if I were in a bed of down and it is to me as a bed of Roses Henry Voes and John Esch when they came to be burnt for the Truth of the Gospel joyfully embraced the stake continuing singing Psalms and when the Fire was kindled at their feet one of them said Methinks you do strew Roses under my feet Sometimes propagating the Truth by the sufferings of the Professors of it Blood is found the most enriching dressing for the truth of God the Blood of the Martyr the seed of the Church Persecution at Jerusalem and taking off Stephen spread the Disciples abroad preaching the Gospel Act. 8. 1. Dorothous reporteth that when Stephen was stoned there were 2000 other believers put to death the same day And our Martyrologist acquaints us that after Mr. Rogers had broke the Ice under Q. Mary there suffered in like-sort one Arch-Bishop 4 Bishops 21 Divines 8 Gentlemen 84 Artificers 100 Husbandmen Servants and Labourers 26 Wives 20 Widows 9 Virgins 2 Boys and two Infants in all 277 some say a great many more Yea though though Truth be supprest in one place it breaks out in another to the Churches great advantage which like the Sea what ground it loseth in one part it getteth in another Thus at Melda in France Ten Miles from Paris the Bishop thereof desirous of a Reformation put away the Monks and called in the help of divers Godly Ministers but he
many Lambs Such as was Lambert and the rest of the Martyrs who to words of scorn and petulanciâ— return'd Isaak's apology to his Brother Ishmael patience and silence in so much that the Persecutors said that they were possessed with a dumb Devil Whereas others in their sufferings rave and rage against God Cluverus an Author of good credit reports from eye-witnesses this sad story That in the year 1632. there lived in the borders of Muscovia a Nobleman a gatherer of Tribute by Name Albertus Pericoscius whose manner was when poor men could not presently pay their Taxes to distrain upon their Cattle and drive them to his own home It happened that this man lost all or most of what he had in one night which when the wretch heard he * Sâ—e this Example in Clark ' s Exampl Part. I. Chap. II. § 29. pag. 49. raged and discharged his Gun against Heaven breaking forth into these blasphemous speeches Let him that killed my Cattle devour them If thou wouldst not let me eat them eat them thy self Upon these furious barkings against God there fell some drops of Blood and this wretched man was turned into a black Dog and howling he ran to the dead Cattle and began to feed upon them Thirdly not offensive or injurious to others though they learn to suffer evil yet not to do evil no not to their Persecutors rendring evil for evil nor reviling for reviling but contrarywise blessing The new nature hath armed them with defensive not with offensive armour Saints are not Bears nor Lions nor Bulls but Sheep who take much do no wrong They have taken out that lesson from their Master Mat. 5. 44. Love Enemies bless do good pray for them Thus Christ melted over Jerusalem the slaughter-house of himself and his Saints He called Judas Friend and not Devil and prayed Father forgive them c. And for deeds he healed Malchus's Ear washt Judas's Feet c. His people in all ages have in some sort resembled him in this property Abraham rescueth his Nephew Lot that had dealt so discourteously with him Isaak expostulateth the wrong done him by Abimelech and his Servants and forgiveth and feasteth them Jacob was faithful to Laban who changed his wayes ten times and ever for the worse Joseph entertained his malicious Brethren at his house and whereas their malicious hearts misgave them that he rolled himself upon them thereby Gen. 43. 18. i. e. took the advantage against them to crush them he feasted them on purpose to be reconciled to them Moses stands up in the gap for those that had so soon forgotten him Joshuah marcheth all night and fighteth all day for the Gibeonites who had deceived him Samuel prayeth and God forbid he should do otherwise for an ungrateful people that had rejected him David put on Sack-cloth he wept and fasted when his Enemies were afflicted he spared Sauls Life and afterward Shimei's when Abishai's â—inger even itched to be taking off their heads Elisha set bread and Water before the Syrians that came to surprize him and provided a Table for them that had provided a Grave for him The Disciples were sollicitous of the Salvation of the Pharisees that had accused them to their Master Stephen prayed heartily for his Persecutors and prevailed as Augustine thinketh for Pauls conversion Fourthly Not wrathful or revengeful Peter must put up his Sword if he mean to be Christs Disciple Christians must not so much as grudge one against another Ja. 5. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to groan as they that have a great burden so render'd 2 Cor. 5. 4. unless they will be condemned for the Judge standeth at the door as ready to right them as if they retaliate they leave him nothing to do unless it be to turn his wrath from their Enemies on whom they have been avenged already upon themselves for their sin of self-revenge Rom. 12. 19. is full Avenge not your selves but rather keep the Kings peace and so give place to wrath i. e. to the wrath of God ready to seize upon thine adversaries if thou prevent not by an over-hasty revenge of the wrongs done thee for it 's written vengeance is mine mine Office and Royalty Is it safe to invade his part to justle the Chief-Justice out of his seat Nothing less Valentinian the Emperour on his Death-bed said of all his victories one comforted him that he had overcome his worst Enemy his naughty and passionate heart Joseph accused by his lewd Mistress either pleads not or is not heard He knew that though he suffered for a Season God would find a time to clear his innocency and he was not deceived Moses complained not but was silent when wronged by Aaron and Miriam God therefore struck in for him and struck Miriam with Leprosie Aaron escaped by his Repentance They have Christ an Ensample 1 Pet. 2. 23. when he suffered he threatned not c. to give * Convitium convitio regerere quid aliud est quam lutum luâ—â—o purgarâ— Cart. reviling for reviling what is it but to wash away dirt with dirt In revenge of injuries he is the loser that gets the better Hence the Apostle disgraceth it 1 Cor. 6. 7. with a d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 word that signifies disgrace or loss When any one provokes us we use to say we will be even with him There is a way whereby we may not only be even with him but above him viz. forgive him feed him Rom. 12. 20. the e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 word is feed indulgently as Birds their young or the Nurse her little Child or as a man his Friend at Table carving to him of the best Ah this is a noble way of revenge indeed Fifthly Not peevish and fretful but of a mild and placid temper A morose frame is unsuitable to a Christian who is commanded to be kind and courteous following his Master who was affable in his carriage and deportment 1 Pet. 3. 8. courteous f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qui sapit amica the word signifies affable easy to be intreated and fit for converse who studies to do things friendly and acceptable unto others This the Apostle saies is true Heavenly wisdom Ja. 3. 17. tractable docile not as an Horse and Mule that must be ruled with rigour not with reason Christianity is no Enemy to courtesie as some would perswade us but includes it see the practice of holy ones this way in Abraham and the Hittites Gen. 23. Boaz and his reapers Ruth 2. the Angels and the Apostles salutations the Primitive Christians in their sweet and engaging carriage by which they drew the Observation and admiration even of their Enemies A pleasant open and free Conversation is much more winning and prevailing than a morose reserved froward frame Reflections Many Professors may here see their spots so as to be convinced For the proud Professor of and humbled for them How
themselves by so much the more excellent and Divine Preachers by how much the more immethodically and rambling they are Besides others who from the Holy Gospel read only Lectures of Morality yea and would perswade the World there is nothing in sanctifying Grace beyond this Some have started up of late daies who first have discharged Solomon's works from the said Canon under pretence of over-zeal against his Apostasies to Adulteries and Idolatries and at length are not farr from casting off the whole Canon as being but a dispensation fit only for those times and not comporting with our high attainments The tertium Evangelium so long since but talkt off in Germany is now currant in England and Ireland and they branded as Sons of reason only as so of ruine who subject not all to these Dictates But O my Soul that is a safe word believe not every Spirit but try the Spirits Now if ever false ones are abounding in these parts of the World So much the more need is there of heedfulness and care That is good advice of the Apostle Rom. 12. 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that too 1 Cor. 4. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not be wise upon what is written Are the Scriptures of truth such refreshing and strengthening For the unprofitable hearer and reader of the Scriptures pastures how little have they been such to me have I not continued poor and lean under all the means of growth and fattening which I have enjoyed what cause have I to cry out my leanness my leanness Isa 24. 16. yea may I not say in reference to my Soul what Job spake of his body chap. 16. 8. my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face testifieth against me my rottenness that I am not sound within because of the non-improvement of the means of thriving afforded me How can I read or hear that story of Pharaoh's dream Gen. 41. 2 3 4. with vers 21. and not to be confounded in my self The lean as well as fat kine came up out of the River viz. Nile which causeth the fruitfulness of Egypt and they devoured the fat and yet were still ill favoured a fit Hieroglyphick of my sad state others are fat and grown in knowledge and in obedience by the same means which to me are of none advantage nor profit at all yea when I have devoured all I continue in my former state ill favoured still It must sure be some more than ordinary distemper interposing that must hinder my growth and profit thus To hear the word and not grow thereby is a sad sign how little appetite I have to it to receive showers from Heaven in the Doctrines of the Gospel and yet to bring forth nought but Briars and Thorns shews me neer unto cursing O my Soul awake out of this dead sleep away with this spiritual sloth labour to have purged out these obstructions that hinder thy profiting lest that be to thee the savour of death which to others is of peace and life What cause of joy have I can I but clear up my Relation to the For the humble profiting hearer Lord If the Lord be my Shepherd I shall not want he will provide pastures of budding grass for me The Sheep care not for his leas troubles not himself where he shall get it that is the Shepherds care let me but secure and continue my Relation and mercy shall follow me all my days Christ's Sheep shall lack no good thing they shall go in and out and find pasture He that reckons meamong his gains will see to it that I have what may keep me up that I may be more useful and serviceable to him Only O my Soul take this hint with thee thou must lie down in those pastures What do the Sheep when they lie down they chew the cud and thereby turn all they eat into nourishment so must thou do on the word heard or read ruminate on it this will turn it into nourishment to thee And if thy delight be in the Law of thy Lord Thou wilt meditate in it day and night CHAP. IV. From Sun and storms the Shepherd saves his Sheep In persecution's storms Christ doth his keep Observation THE Expression of making to lye down in green pastures speaks something more than bare feeding yea than feeding liberally and to the full 'T is an expression suited to those Eastern hotter Countries where the Sun having great power the Sheep were apt to be annoied with the fervency of the heat thereof especially about the middle of the day wherefore one great piece of the Shepherds care was to provide at that time of the day some suitable shelter there against and to drive together and cause their Flocks to rest in some shady place which might allay that heat of the Sun g Solent pastores in calidis istis locis meridie iuxta fontes rivos aut dumeta suas oves continere in umbrâ donec sol deservescat Menoch Unto which is an allusion Ezek. 34. 14 15. and plainly Cant. 1. 7. we in these our Northern Countries find how the Sheep in the heat of the day will lie panting seeking to cool themselves in paths c. and hiding themselves from the scorching heat under Banks Hedges and Bushes But the Shelter in our cold countries are mostly from the storms and winds the driving of the Snow and beating of the Rain against which the shelter of a good Hedge or the lee of a rising hill we find of what singular use it is under which the poor Cattle will creep and there preserve themselves from the fury of the weather Application Now of what are these scorching blasts and beating storms significative in reference to our purpose but the rage of persecution which the wrath of men is apt to raise against to destroy if it were possible the poor ones of God For the heat of the Sun-shine ye have Christ's interpretation Mat. 13. 6 with 21. and for the storms of wind and weather the Scriptures especially the Prophets are full see Isa 29. 6. Amos. 1. 14. hence tossed with Tempests Tempests for much afflicted and persecuted Isa 54. 11. from or in these doth Christ preserve his Flock Sometimes he keeps them from persecution When the rage of men hath even swallowed them up in their imaginations when it flows down upon them like a torrent threatning to carry all before it God by some Providence or other diverts the Enemie and so creats peace for his Thus when David and his men were compassed round about by Saul and were even as devoured in their apprehensions the Philistines invade the Land which diverts Saul from his pursuit 1 Sam. 23. 26 27 28. The Vul. Lat. reads vers 26. fully to our sense h Porro David desperahat se posse evadere a facie Saul itaque Saul viri ejus in modum coronae cingebant David viros ejus ut caperent eos David despaired that he could
being persecuted by the Sorbonists soon fell off from the profession of the Truth and those good Ministers Faber Farrel Ruffus and others were driven into divers other places of France where they planted several Churches the destruction of one being the edification of many Trucidabantur multiplicabantur Aug. Plures efficimur quoties metimur Tertul. Ecclesia totum mundum sanguine oratione convertit Luth. So true is that promise of the Churches Lord and Husband and fulfilled to her Mat. 16. 18. The Gates c. that is the power and policy the craft and cruelty of Satan and his Instruments shall not prevail to her utter ruine if they lop the branches in one place they shall break forth in another Lastly by all God both purgeth out the Corruptions and exerciseth the Graces of his People Isa 27. 9. by this i. e. by their being carried Captive to Babylon As one Poyson is antidotary to another so is affliction to sin Crosses are Leeches to suck the noxious blood flails to thresh off their husks c. and they are files too to brighten their Graces When there was a consulation held at Rome whether Carthage should be demolished or no Scipio perswaded the Senatours to let it stand lest the People of Rome should want an occasion or object whereon to exercise their valour So God could soon destory all the persecuting enemies of his Church But he rather suffers them to live that they may be for the Exercise of his Peoples Wisdom Faith Zeal Constancy Courage Patience and the whole panoply of Grace in them The Christians had enjoyed much rest and peace for many years after the Persecution of Aurelianus with which rest and tranquillity the Discipline of the Church came to be corrupted and fervent Devotion began to wax cold much envy and contention rising up between the Bishops and Pastors for which cause God did justly suffer the Persecution under Dioclesian in which the patience and constancy of the persecuted was wonderful In the dayes of King Edward the 6 th the Bishops Ridley and Hooper could not agree about some small matters of forms c. but when in Q. Mary's daies they were clapt up together they could better accord Christians lose nothing by their persecutions but their corruptions David found it good for him that he had been afflicted to bring him in from his stray-going that he might keep more closely to and walk more closely with his God The Church hath found her bitter Aloes useful to purge her Christ being a sign spoken against discovers the thoughts of many hearts Luk. 2. 35. as they are also now in these discriminating shedding times Affliction tryeth men who are Crocodiles Spunges Camelions c. Before these daies came said Mr. Bradford Martyr how many thought of themselves that they had been in Gods bosom and so were taken and would be taken in the World But now we see whose they are for to whom we obey his Servants c. In the Palatinate upon the return of Popish cruelty scarce one in twenty stood out but fell to Popery as fast as leaves fall in Autumn These daies also have discovered the falsness of some men's hearts the Gold is no lesser by parting with its dross nor the body by being cured of Wens Tetters c. nor Christ's Churches to have their rotten boughs fall off Reflections If any shall read or hear these lines whose heart riseth against For the Persecutor the waies truths or People of God methinks he may bespeak himself in some such Language as this And what get I by all this rage and fury against these poor ones Why beat I my head in divising and weary my self in executing violence against them Alas all is but a vain thing for a storm to beat against a Flock that hath excellent shelter to what purpose They are dearly beloved of God as Daniel highly favoured in Heaven as Mary darlings to the Almighty as David fair to God as Moses Gods first-born his Heirs Co-heirs with Christ and were it the part of a wise man to fall out with the Kings Favourite To lowre upon his Son and Heirs to deface his picture to tread on his Jewels to spit upon his Royal robe or imperial Diadem How was Cain Schooled but for scowling on Abel And Laban threatned but for following Jacob And Abimelech plagued but for an unwilling abuse to Abraham How was Balaam slain by the Lord for but wishing evil to his Israel Goliah for but defying his Host Nabal for reviling his David c. Consider O my Soul hath not truth it self said it Isa 54. 17. Every such Weapon shall be as the Poets seign of Ajax's Sword which so long as he used against men his Enemies served for help and defence but after he began to abuse it to the hurt of hurtless Creatures it turned into his own bowels The Tongue that riseth up against thee will I condemn God by his judgments hath extorted confessions of his Saints innocency and condemnation of their own wickedness from the Mouths even of Enemies Ralph Lardin the betrayer of George Eagles was himfelf arraigned and hanged as he stood at the Barr he said publickly This is justly fallen upon me for betraying the blood of that good and just man George Eagles who through my means was condemned and I sold his Life for a little money One of the Sheriffs men at Bury when Ja. Abbes was burned bad the People not to hearken to Abbes for he was a Mad-man and out of his wits Assoon as the Fire was kindled to the Martyr that wretch in all the Peoples sight fell distracted and in a furious manner pulling off his clothes he cried out Ja. Abbes was the true Servant of God and is saved but I am damned and thus he continued till he died Not to mention or but to mention the righteous judgment of God on Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury who had silenced many faithful Ministers of Christ and by God's just Judgment had his Tongue swoln so bigg in his Mouth that he could neither Eat Drink nor Speak for many daies and so died of hunger after he had starved many a poor Christian Soul and burned the Bodies of many to Ashes Stephen Gardner's Tongue also hung out of his Mouth swoln and black with which he had reproached and blasphemed the Truths and Servants of the living God Were it not best therefore O my Soul to consider how thou dost not prevail and to take Gamaliel's counsel Act. 5. 35 38. Take heed to your selves c. refrain from these men c. Be wise now therefore O my Soul and be instructed learn by the Example of others to cast away thine enmity a gainst Christ and his waies Kiss the Son lest he be angry and thou perish God is a Sun and a shiled a Sun for comfort and a shield sor defence Christ is prophesied of as the shadow of a great Rock Isa 32. 2. As he is piorum