generation and full of deadly poyson extreamly cruell where they can preuaile and yet by the Iustice of God breeding their owne bane when their sinne is full euen bursting a sunder with the poyson thereof and iustly confounded with their owne malice So is the Spider Yea as the Spiders Webbe is cunningly Wouen and quickly broken so are and shal be the deuises of our aduersaries they shall not be established by their iniquitie but their owne cunning hath and shall be their confusion And let this satisfie you concerning the Title As for the plainenesse and rudenesse of the matter if you doe duly consider the rule of my direction I trust you will acknowledge that the power of the spirit is best seene in weaknes and that plaine lines doe best answer a straight and euen leuell the euidence of the spirit is best seene in plainenesse You see I haue informed my selfe in these meditations by the most perfect Paterne a Psalme of that Princely Prophet Dauid that man of afflictions when his life was indangered by the subtiltie and violence of his close and trecherous enemies To be deliuered from these he flies vnto his God in prayer and the rather to preuaile he layes before the Lord the desperate practises of his enemies thereby implying that vnlesse the Lord stood vnto him hee iustly feared that they would swallow him vp This feare of his is the rather confirmed because he saw them soddaine and fearelesse in their mischieuous practises And why they should be thus fearlesse he discouers in the next words because they did by many sorts of incouragements meet with this feare And here begin our meditatioÌ„s deriued as you see froÌ„ this pure fountaine and watered all along with the streames therof If this heauenly treasure hath so shined in this earthen ves sell that the excellencie of that power may appeare to be of God and not of vs giue God the glory in the treasure and be humbled in respect of the vessell If the vessell hath receiued that honour from this beauenly treasure as not to haue handled it craftily and deceitfully but in declaration of the truth shal be approued to euery mans conscience in the sight of God Then if our Gospell be hid it is hid to them th 〈…〉 〈…〉 ish But I perswade myselfe better things of you euen su 〈…〉 〈…〉 company saluation And let this be your triall that you are contented to heare the same things againe So accepting these paines according to the entent thereof you shall happily ease yourselues of the Mother and the Daughter forgetfulnesse and vnthankfulnesse and burthen me willingly with further paines for the further building of you vp in Iesus Christ. To whose protection I commit you I pray you to beare with the faults escaped in the printing and correct the grosser of them as followeth Pag. 19. lin 11. for rest read cost ead lin 21. for that may read that we may ead lin 1. for we read he ead lin 29. for bloudie execution read for the bloudie execution pag. 22. lin 30. for Rhamaes read Pharaoes pag. 23. lin 5. for perpetuall read externall ead lin 8. for framing read foaming ead lin 30. for so Satan read superstition pag. 29. lin 30. for thing read change pag. 34. lin 28. for saue read some pag. 35. lin 24. for life restored read life are restored pag. 43. lin 28. for meane read mayne pag. 44. lin 28. for the read these THE Romish Spider THE FIRST PART The weauing of the Webbe Psal. 64. Vers. 5. They encourage themselues in a wicked purpose they coÌ„mune togeather to lay snares priuily and say who shall see them 6. They haue sought out iniquities they haue accomplished that which they sought out euen euery one in his secret thought and the depth of his heart THe holy Ghost hauing in the latter end of the former verse set out the desperate resolution of the wicked in their attempts against the Lords Annointed by two Circumstances The one That they are suddain in execution implying their desperatenesse The other That they feare not arguing their boldnesse and confidence in their proceedings doth in the two next verses yeeld a reason for this their desperate confidence by discouering their diuelish policie in the maner of their practising as also in the varietie and secrecie thereof For whereas of all other sinnes the sinne of treason hath cause most to affright the heart of man not onely in regard of the maiestie of the Prince who carries the Image of God full of terror and astonishment to the wicked but also in respect of the haynous punishment that attends the same not to omit the racking of the conscience in the horrour of the sinne may it not therefore seeme strange that wretches should not feare to commit so great a sinne that Subiects should runne of boldly and desperately to lay hands vppon the Lords annointed The Prophet Dauid was so affected when hee had but cut off the lappe of Saules garment a wicked and reprobate King that his heart smote him with conscience of some great euill in lifting vp his handagainst the Lords Annointed And when the Amalekite brought newes vnto Dauid that he had slaine his enemy Saule hoping to receiue some great reward the good King was so farre from delighting in the death of his enemie as that rather remembring him to bee the Annointed of the Lord hee not onely bewailes his death with a great lamentation but further reprooues the Amalekite with this seuere checke How wast thou not affraide to life vp thy hand against the Annointed of the Lord and rewards him with such wages as so haynous a murther did require To feare then in attempting against the liâ—e of a Prince as there is great reason in regard of the haynousnesse of the sinne and the Maiestie of the person against whome it is committed so there had neede be great policie vsed to banish this feare What this policie was the holy Ghost proceedes to relate vnto vs in these two verses following leading vs to the consideration of diuers notable points of policie in the practises of these Traytours against their Soueraigne to make them confident and secure therein that so they may bee taken in the pit which they haue digged for others The first whereof respecteth the manner of their plotting and it is here set out vnto vs to be two-fold First saith the spirit They encourage themselues in a wicked purpose they commune together wherein the meaning of the holy Ghost is to lead vs to a policie verie vsuall in great and desperate attempts that they are vndertaken and prosecuted by combination of all sorts of strength as so many helps to further the accomplishment thereof Secondly whereas close carriage conueyance is an especiall helpe to further dangerous designes therefore the holy Ghost addeth that the speciall matter of their counsell was how they might lay snares priuily signifying therein that they
The first occasion to the snares was the euill spirit as no maruaile if the Diuell be the beginner of all mischiefe And behold the notable cunning of Satan in laying a snare in the calling and profession of Dauid that whereas hee was skilfull to play vppon the Harpe and therefore was required of Saul to alay the furie of his torment comming into Sauls presence to ease him of his anguish he might be exposed to the rage and malice of his enemie and verie hardly did he many times auoide this snare Secondly his wife was intended a snare vnto him and her dowrie also was layd as a snare that the hand of the Philistines might bee against him These secret snares being broken then follow open practises and here was malice as endlesse as it was causelesse How was the poore seruant of God hunted vp and downe as a Partridge vpon the mountaines being neuer in safetie of his life till his enemie was depriued of his Thus was Dauid followed with manifold snares by his enemie Saul and so was Dauids Lord by Satan and his most malicious instruments Marke I pray you how Satan sets vpon him First he layes a snare of distrust perswading him to make bread of stones as if God were not otherwise able to prouide for him in the wildernes WheÌ„ that would not serue he laies a contraria snare of presamption wishing him To cast himselfe downe from the pinnacle of the Temple that so hee might exclude himselfe out of Gods protection When this would not preuaile yet hee layes a third snare of worldly pompe and glorie moouing him thereby to fall downe and worship him that so hee might robbe God of the glorie that was due vnto his name And as was the father so were also the children euen the nation of the Iewes whose saluation he laboured Their malice did not cease against him so long as hee was capable of it and for the acting thereof they wanted not store of mischiefes when they could not preuaile by smiting him with the tongue then they fell to stone him with stones when they could not draw him within the compas of rebellion against the state then they accused him of blasphemie against God when themselues durst not openly bee seene for feare of the people then they corrupted one of his owne house to bring him to his end sometimes they made vproares against him that he might be oppressed of the people sometimes they accused him of compacting with Satan that so they might make him odious and abhominable to the people sometimes they propounded curious question to entrappe him in his words other while they would wrest and peruert his gracious speeches And when they had caught him their malice was yet vnsatiable Buffeting would not serue but further they must whippe him and to greeue his righteous soule the more he must be clothed in purple to bee scorned and derided of them This will not serue but he must be crowned with thornes that so his torment might bee yet encreased yea further yet to lengthen out their malice and his paines behold they deuised a lingting and yet most shamefull torture to bring him to his end Nayled must he be on the crosse to encrease his paine and yet to lengthen out his life and he must be hanged betweene two theeues and accounted among euill doers that so together with his bodie his good name might be killed Thus was our head Christ Iesus persecuted by his owne And thus must all his members looke to be dealt withall Not to trouble you with rehearsâ—ll of forraine stories neither to seeke furthâ—r in our owne than what is fresh in our memories how did the enemies of the Gospell multiplie their snares against vs in this late practise for the restoring of their Kingdome To take away the life of the King this was but an entrance Nay we must cut off root and braunches too if we shall make sure worke was this all Nay the estaâ—es of the Land they must also be cut off that so strength and councell being remooued and the heads being cut off the Conquest might be the easier and the confusion the greater Is this yet all Nay the life of the Kingdome true Religion must be extinguished and all the Professors thereof vtterly rooted out that so Idolatrie may take sure footing againe And to make vp the measure of their mischiefe the execution of all this practise must bee layd vpon true Religion that herein their malice might reach to heauen and in some measure insult and triumph ouer God himselfe Behold heere the trauaile of the wicked which is to bring forth mischiefe behold the fruitfulnesse of malice which can deuise store of snares see the propertie of the wicked they are restlesse in commiting euill and neuer wearie of practising against the Saints of God They cannot sleepe except they haue done euill and their sleepe departeth except they cause some to fall Nay they will spare their sleepe that they may imagine mischiefe on their beds and when the morning is light they practise it Euen as the wilde Asse vsed to the wildernesse that shuffeth vp the winde by occasion at her pleasure who can turne her backe So the wicked runne on without controwlement in the multitude of ther mischiefes and it is their sport and pastime to commit sinne with greedinesse Let vs therefore trie our selues by this propertie of the wicked To commit sinne is an infirmitie incident to the most regenerate but to make it our studie and delight to commit sinne with greedinesse and to continue therein this cannot stand with a sanctifyed nature I delight in the Law of the Lord concerning the inward man saith that chosen Vessell Saint Paul and therfore if I doe that which I would not it is no more I but sinne that dwelleth in me Ohlet vs howsoeuer we cannot choose but sinne yet notwithstanding delight in the law of the Lord that so our sinne may not be imputed vnto vs. Once haue I spoken saith holy Iob but I will answere no more yea twise but I will proceede no further If we haue once oftended let vs doe so no more lest otherwise a worse thing happen vnio vs. And if so be the wicked are so fruitfull in mischiefe and vnwearied in euill to gaine hell therby oh let vs neuer bee wearie of well doing let vs bee plentifull in good workes seeing if we faint not wee shall certainely reape an euerlastâ—ng reward in heauen Lastly seeing the enemies of the Gospell are neuer wearie of mischiefe but still are deuising and practising against the Iust. Oh let vs not be secure of them nor hope to winne them by gentlenesse seeing conniuencie at their wickednesse is but a spurre to further mischiefe as giuing them respite and oportunitie to commit the same If we shall wisely stand vpon the guard and keepe this enemie at the
and bin compelled to acknowledge his power therein if they haue abhorred disclaimed the same outwardly with an vtter detestation nay if God haue so opened some of their eies hereby that in the glasse of this iniquity they haue seene the Mistery of Popery and so either for Feare as sometimes did the heathen vpon a like occasion or for conscience haue seene the trueth and imbrace it Certenly these shal one day rise vp in iudgement against vs if we shall eyther bury in forgetfulnesse or depraue in malice or in enuie diminish if either we shall for feare conceale or in policie suppresse this great power of God Nay if wee shall not be confirmed in the trueth by such wonderfull mercies of God if these shall not be meanes to make 〈◊〉 detest popery and no longer to glose with it which are thus able to turne the hearts of our enemies let vs looke that they shal depriue vs of the benefit of this deliuerance and reape the haruâ—st which God hath sowed for vs well let thus teach vs not to come short of an Atheist least otherwise he goe before vs in the kingdome of heauen If the Lord exalt his wonderfull workes vpon vs let vs be lifted vp in the name of God to a due contemplation of them that so beholding the mercie and Iustice of God in the same our eies may be messengers vnto the the mouth to speake of the wonderfull workes of GOD. Certenly if the eye hath effectually conueyed the obiect to the heart to affect it therewith the heart like a full vessell which cannot hold out of it aboundant apprehension will informe the mouth to declare vnto others the wonderfull workes of God and as Andrew when hee had seene his Sauiour could not holde his peace but hee must needes goe tell Simon that he had seene the Messiah that he also might be partaker of him so shall the thorough view of such mercies which the Lord hath bestowed vpon thee open thy mouth to declare them vn to others that they also may come and see how gratious the Lord is and together with thee may bee partakers of his mercies For so it followeth And declare the worke of God Behold heere a second effect of great deliuerances they shall open mens mouthes to speake thereof And that for two endes both that the righteous confessing and acknowledging the worke of God might hereby performe some parte of thankefulnesse for the same the reprobate being thus compelled to acknowledg the greatnesse of Gods mercy vnto his Church might the more be conuinced in that they will not be reconciled to the same so saith the holy Ghost concerning the poore man that is deliuered They shall looke vppon him and runne to him and their faces shall not to ashamed saying a This poore man cried and the Lord heard him and saued him out of all his troubles by the contemplation of Gods mercy vnto his seruant they shall now bee encouraged to come vnto him who before stood a farre of for feare of his plague and now ioying with the redeemed of the Lord they shall concurre with him in acknowledging the mercies of the Lord yea saith the spirit they shal not now be ashamed and confounded as if he had beene deuoured they might haue had cause but one the contrary they shal be confirmed in their calling by the experience of this deliuery of his seruant and be comforted by the same euen in the like occasion of their owne that they shal be partaker of the like mercies So when the righteous shall see the vengaunce thus inflicted vpon the wicked and shall see himselfe escaped thus out of the snare and the wicked falne thereunto he shall say verily their is a reward for the righteous that is not one but all the righteous shal be recompensed by the Lord yea hee shall collect from the experience of this deliueraunce in hand that their is a reward for the righteous yet in store a full deliuerance out of all troubles So with the Apostle Paul in the like case wheÌ„ he had witnessed how the Lord had deliuered him in the 17. ver that he concludes in the 18. And the Lord shall deliuer mee from euery euil worke and will preserue me vnto his heauenly kingdome And as the righteous shall say thus for the comfort of his soule so shall he further say to the glory of his God doubtlesse their is a God that Iudgeth the earth out of question the iudge of all the world will doe right in deliuering the soules of his seruants and clothing his enemies with perpetuall shame and confusion Thus shall the mercies of God open the mouthes of his children to giue him the glory and to comfort themselues in the meditation thereof And thus also shall the mouthes of Atheists be opened by the same that their mouthes may be for euer stopped and confounded thereby at that great day so witnesseth the spirit concerning the deliueraunce of the Iewes out of the captiuity that the verie Heathen spake thereof and said the Lord had donne great thinges for them to their iust confusion who yet refused to ioyne with them so haue the Aduersaries beene compelled to confesse that the Lord hath Fought for vs to their greater confusion who yet afterward would fight against God Nay behold here a further meanes to the confusion of the wicked When the Lord had deliuered his seruant Daniell from the iawes of the Lyons the sight of so wonderfull a worke did so affect that heathen Monarch as that hee not onely proclaimes the power of God but further also enioynes by a solemne edist that the GOD of Daniel shall be reuerenced and acknowledged and yet all this to his further condemnation because Idolatry was yet continued and maintayned And so no doubt haue our aduersaries abroad and enimies at home beene enforced to speake of Gods wonderfull mercies towards vs. And yet behold a further meanes herein for the condemnation of the wicked When Saul obserued the admirable prouidence of God not onely in deliuering his seruant Dauid out of his hands but in deliuering him to be a prey euen to him that was persecuted his mouth was further opened to his iust condemnation loe he is inforced to iustifie the seruant of God and to condemne himselfe Thus said hee vnto Dauid thou art more righteous then 〈◊〉 for thou hast rendred me Good I haue rendred thee euil oh what a coÌ„fort is it here to the seruaÌ„ts of God that wisdome shall not onely be iustified of her children but euen of her enemies our very aduersaries shall giue testimony vnto the goodnesse of our cause oh what a terror is this vnto the wicked that they shall thus desperately fight against the light of their owne consciences that when they see that the Lord doth maintaine his owne cause and when they haue beene compelled to
acknowledge that our cause is Gods yet they shall continue their malice against so good a cause yet they shall thus desperately fight against heauen and prouoke the holy one of Israel to their iust confusion And yet behold the Lord will open their mouthes further to their fearefull condemnation euen by the gratious deliuerances that he performeth vnto his children It was much that Saul should iustifie the innocencie of Dauid wonderfull was the Lord herein to wring from a reprobate the approbation of his seruant and very holy herein was the Iustice of God in discouering this wilfull obstinacy of a cast-away that so hee might prepare him thereby to his further condemnation But all this while innocency though it were praised yet it went a begging Dauid might be promised a kingdome yet was not sure of his life Nay for the safegard of it he is driueÌ„ to a narrow shift euen in a sort to venture his innocency it selfe So are Gods children to seeke of that which is theirs in hope that God may haue the glory of what they do enioy so doth the Lord prepare his to the obtaining of a blessing that comming vnto it at so hard a rate they might more highly prize it when they shall obtaine But did not the Lord heere giue his seruant some token that hee would recompence him according to his innocency yea surely the Lord that opened the mouth of his enemy to giue testimony vnto the one hee also opened the same to be a Prophet of the other HarkeÌ„ my beloued woÌ„der at the prouidence of God I know saith Saule that thou shalt be King and that the kingdome of Israel shal be established in thy hand Loe here Saule is amonge the Prophets to declare glad tidings to the Saints to speak feareful things against themselues Harken howe the wife of Haman becomes a prophetesse vnto her husband of the deliuerance of the Church and a swift witnesse of the destruction of the enemies thereof If Mordecay saith she be of the seede of the Iewes before whom thou hast begunne to fall thou shalt not preuaile against him but shalt surely fall before him Marke I pray you the ground of this prophecye the wicked haue begunne to fall before the righteous nation some vpper hand haue they had against their enemies what doth this infidell collect herevpon surely the wicked shall fall more and more before the righteous till at lenght the righteous shal haue dominion ouer them in the morning Wouldst thou then haue a token that thine enemies shal be confounded consider then howe from time to time they haue fallen before thee certeÌ„ly if thou be of the seed of the Iewes and of that royall generation thou shalt one day haue all thine enemies thy footstoole Wouldst thou haue a further euidence to confirme this vnto thee behold the Lord shall open the mouth of thine enemie to bewray their fainting spirits that so thou maist be comforted as Gideons Souldiers were by this testimony of thine enemies that the Lord shal giue them vp into thy hands and thou shalt make a ful end of them Oh but thou wilt say how can these things stand together Saul tells Dauid he shall certenly be King and yet hee continues persecuting him to take away his life from him May not this be a policy to make him secure that he may the more easily seaze vpon him I see indeed will the weake Christian say that God hath deliuered his church from time to time I heare euen the enemie giuing ouer for a time as confessing with the Pharesie Behold we preuaile nothing against him for all the world runneth after him and yet I see the aduersaries are in hope stil I see they are stil practising and plotting against the soules of the righteous what may I conceaue hereof may I not iustly feare with Dauid that I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul that at length these aduersaries shall obtaine their desire against the church and therevpon resolue rather vpon some indirect course to corrupt my conscience or abate of my sincerity that so glosing with them I might finde fauour in their sight Oh stay here whosoeuer thou art that shalt be thus affected giue mee the hearing a while to satisfie thee herein Tell me I pray thee why doth Sathan our maine aduersary so violently and incessantly persecute the Church of GOD doth not the spirit giue thee the reason because his time is short if thou therefore seest the instruments of Satan still to rage more fiercely against the spouse of Christ know thou for a certenty that their time is but short and that thou maist not want a prophesie to confirme thee herein consider but what their desperate practises doe speake vnto thee If they were not affraid to loose their kingdome if they had not a presage in their conscience that Christs Kingdome would one day preuaile surely they would be still and follow their flesh potts they would not so persecute and plot as they doe they would not thus spend their goods and venture their liues and all against the poore Church of God Alas it is not for Christs kingdome what pretence soeuer they haue for they haue said plainelie We will not haue this man to raigne ouer vs. But the trueth is to holde their own Here is the matter the Iewes had this Oracle from their Father the Deuill that if they let Christ alone the Romanes would come and take away their Kingdome And therefore they resolue that Christ must bee persecuted his death must be the life of their vsurped power their conscience told them that they were but vsurpers the very life and holy conuersation of Christ was a manifest conuiction and condemnation of them so that their conscience told them that Christ Iesus was that holy one whom they ought to haue obeyed and yet their hypocrysie replyed if wee giue him honour wee shall loose ours and so their deuilish policy concluded to their owne confusion better one perish then our whole Kingdome goe downe faine would they haue done him homage so he would haue serued their turne to Daube vp their hypocrisie and vnderproppe their toâ—tering Kingdome but yet because they saw his course to bee cleane contrary a sharpe reprouer of their hipocrisie and a mayne beaterdowne of their carnall pompe and vanity hereupon against their conscience they followed their persuite against him and doe you marke herein how their Father deceiued them their practises against the sonne of God made way to his Glory and the redemption of mankind and so proued the occasion of the ouerthrow of their kingdome So doth the Lord Confound the wisdome of the wise and turneth their malice vpon their owne pates In like sort the aduersaries of the Church haue carried themselues A kingdome they haue vsurped vpon by the power of Sathan and through his Subtilty and violence they haue seazed vpon the Lords
punishment of what we haue committed Thus when Nero had set fire on the City of Rome he laid all the blame vpon the Christians Thus when any calamitie befell the Empire presently the fault was layd vppon the Christians they cried to the rack to the fire to the mynes with the Christians this is longe of them And thus had these deadly enemies purposed if their plot had taken effect which God forbid to haue fathered it vpon those who endeauour to serue the Lord with a pure heart But blessed be God who is good vnto Israel euen vnto those that are pure in heart And blessed be the name of his Maiestie for euer who hath preserued his Annointed and his seede from these fatall engines and hath iustified the innocencie of his seruants in the sight of their enemies And let this now be the subiect of our ordinary meditations great deliueraÌ„ces giueth he vnto Dauid his king to his seed for euer As for these policies of our enemies in laying their snares priuily as this may teach vs to iudge them by their workes and manner thereof They hate the light and therefore their workes are euill that wee may not be bewitched with their abhominations so let vs learne not to be affraide of their snares howsoeuer they be cunningly and secretly conueyed Certainely howsoeuer they may hide them from the eye of man yet our God who watcheth ouer vs for good and them to disappoint them he beholdeth their practises and his secret is with the righteous to bring to nought the deuises of our enemies and to hide his seruants in the secret place of his pauilion from the pride of men He that would not hide from Abraham what concerned the destruction of the wicked that so his brother Lot might escape the danger hee will not hide from his children such dangers as are comming towards them but will open their eyes to see the plague that so they may hide themselues vnder the shadow of his wings Onely let vs not wilfully shut our eyes by presumption or securitie lest hereby we betray our selues wilfully vnto the subtiltie of our enemies Let not foolish pity or policie bleare vs in seeing these snares or iudging slightly of them Let not loosenesse in our selues take away courage from vs that so wee may not dare to take notice of the practises of the wicked lest the conscience vpon this knowledge be amated and deiected and so possessed with a fearefull expectation of theÌ„ Let vs not depriue our selues of that true light which may informe the conscience herein lest otherwise we bee giuen vp to be blinded by the enemies Let vs not imitate the wicked heerein either seeking for the darkenesse to commit sinne more securely or in vsing any carnal cloakes to hide the same lest our secrecie in sinne giue power to their secrecie in plotting such punishments as are due to the same Let vs not presume of impunitie though wee haue committed sinne secretly seeing what we haue done couertly the lord wil opeÌ„ly discouer to our greater shame and when man ceaseth to punish then the Lord himselfe will awake to execute vengeance If we may haue a cloake for sinne to carrie it clenly if authoritie may out-face or money buy it out if wit will defend it or impudencie denie it if example may colour or custome extenuate Oh let vs not be deceiued by any of these cloakes seeing there is nothing so hidden which shall not be reuealed and the more we haue cloaked our sinne the more wee shall inherite shame and confusion when it shall be discouered yea the very cloakes which we vsed to hide our sinne shall one day be meanes to lay open the same and the rust of that riches which we haue vsed wrongfully shall at the day of iudgment giue in euidence against vs and be a means to consume vs with fire Oh consider this you that forget God and say in your hearts the Lord seeth not Behold your owne iniquities shall finde you out and such weapons of vnrighteousnesse wherewith you haue fought against the Lord they shall now prooue his weapons to be auenged of you Remember that â—he Babilonians with whom Israel plaide the harlot were the scourge of God appointed to strippe her naked and fearefully to spoyle her who while she was faithfull with her God was a terrour to all our enemies Oh let vs therefore take heede of daubing with our enemies take wee heed in any case of buying our peace by committing abhomination with them lest it come to passe that as we haue serued our selues of them by taking part in their filthinesse so they shall serue themselues of vs by making a spoile of vs. And the Lord shal serue himselfe of vs both purging vs by them of such dregs as remaine hardning them by vs to their final confusion Oh let vs therfore cleaue vnto our God that he may stil keep the city and preserue his Church among vs then vndoubtedly though many snares be laid for vs yet the lord wil awake to discouer theÌ„ vnto vs yea this blessing shal a faithfull king receiue at the hand of God that his hand shal find out all his enemies and his right hand shal find out theÌ„ that hate him So it pleased his Maiestie to direct the heart of our Annointed to apprehend this mischiefe and principally out of the Letter contrarie to all graÌ„maticall or reasonable constructioÌ„ to scan the same yea though the snares might happily take hold vpon vs yet wil the Lord arise to deliuer him that is snared the snare shall be broken and we deliuered As for our enemies that haue thus secretly layd these snares Behold the Lord will raine snares vpon them and so take them in the pit which they haue digged for others onely let vs trust in God and wait vpon him so when the iniquitie of our enemies shal be discouered and disappointed there shall our righteousnesse all come foorth as the light and our wel doing as the noone day that the Lord may bee glorified in the iustifying of his children and wee comforted in the experience of his protection It followeth And they say who shall see them That is They say in effect that none shall see them and so they doe put out the eie of Gods prouidence and thereupon conclude indeed that there is no God Such was the grouÌ„d of Rhamaes oppressioÌ„ Who is the Lord that I should heare his voice and let Israel goe Such was the ground of the Idolatrie of the Iewes they say the Lord seeth vs not the Lord hath forsaken the earth Such was the ground of the persecution of the wicked that he not only thinketh alwayes There is no God but further also he contemneth God and saith God hath forgotten he hideth away his face and will neuer see And this doth the holy Ghost yeeld to be the reason why the Gentiles
were giuen vp into a reprobate minde whereby they became full of vnrighteousnesse euen because they regarded not to acknowledge God And surely as the professioÌ„ of Poperie is a flat deniall of the power of God as being a voluntarie and perpetuall worship plausible to the sence and agreeable to reason so the practise thereof is nothing else but a maine Sea of impietie framing out iustly it owne shame and confusion Thus hath their spirituall fornication against God and his ordinance brought forth that fruitfull sinne of carnall Fornications and vncleannesses of all sorts And thus hath their desperate rebellion against the Lord against his Annointed exalting themselues aboue all that is called God brought forth that cursed Monster of treason and rebellion against Gods Lieutenant vpon earth It being a certaine consequent that they do not loue God whome they haue not seene who hate their brother whom they see dayly It being a righteous thing with God that their sinne of treason against his Maiestie should be knowne discouered by their treason against the Magistrate that how the Magistrate may bee iustly prouoked to fight against the beast both for the safetie of their estates and for the glorie of God vtterly to destroy the Kingdome of Antichrist Who so is wise let him consider this and in this glasse of Rebellion let him obserue an heart of Atheisme And if this Atheisme be so easily to be discerned in her brood as wee may not looke for grapes of thornes or figges of thistles any better fruit from so cursed a tree so let vs in the name of God disclaime that so Satan which in the root and fruit fights against God and man And discerne wee wisely the truth of that Religion which ioyning God and man so graciously together doth teach vs not to separate those whome God hath ioyned but to maintaine this holy Vnitie euen with the losse of our deerest blood and in the feare of God cleaue we vnspeakably vnto that holy truth which teacheth vs to giue vnto not to take from Caesar the things that are Caesars and vnto God the things that are Gods that so honouring Caesar aright in giuing him his due vnder God wee may vnder Caesar liue a quiet and peaceable life in all godlynesse and honestie And seing there is not a more effectual meanes to prouoke vs to obedience than that the eye of God is continually vpon vs As this was a spurre vnto our aduersaries for their treason against the Lords Annointed that God should not see them so let it bee a continuall motiue of our conscionable obedience vnto God and man namely that the Lord our God looketh continually vpon vs. And that we may not want a liuely euidence for the same let vs onely consider how the Lord watched ouer vs in this deliuerance that if he had been on our side and watched ouer vs when these snares were priuily layd against vs surely they had swallowed vs vp quick when their wrath was kindled against vs. Yea the waters had drowned vs and the streame had gone ouer our soules Oh that this deliueuerance may for euer stoppe the mouth of Athiesme and roote out that cursed brood which exalts it selfe against the Lord. Certainely if the defeature of such mischiefes shall not now open our mouths to acknowledge the power and mercie of God vnto his Church the practise wherof hath opened the mouthes of the wicked to say there is no God Let vs looke that as the Lord hath iustified himselfe against them by deliuering vs out of their hands so will he also iustifie himselfe against vs in laying further punishments vpon vs euen by exposing his people as a pray vnto their enemies that they may learne to giue him the honour that is due vnto his name If the feare of his rodde will not cause vs to depart from euill we shall feele the smart of his holy indignation and the shaking of the rodde shall not serue the turne if by it we haue not returned vnto the Lord our God Oh Lord it is not in man to walke and to direct his steps Turne thou vs vnto thee and then wee shall bee turned For why should the wicked say Where is now our God Why should thy Children complaine that thou hast forsaken them Oh Lord thou art our God from euerlasting and world without end thou hast magnified thy selfe in the sight of our enemies and put to confusion those that hate vs Oh let vs therefore draw nere vnto the Lord our God let vs renew our couenant with thy Maiestie to the finall confusion of our enemies and to the preuenting of all such further mischiefes that they shall practise against vs. It followeth They haue sought out iniquities That is they haue studied and inuented diuers sorts of mischiefes to accomplish thereby more certainely their desires Behold here a third policie of the wicked to supply that which may bee wanting in their former deuise of secrecy that though one plot be discouered another might take place and still another might bee one foote though a former were preuented A verie desperate and most effectuall policie to bring their purposes to passe not only in that this varietie of stratagems tyres out policie and carnall wisedome and puts it to a Non plus in preuenting so many mischiefes but further also great terrour and distraction ceaseth on the hearts of weake ones in regard of such strange and manifold snares yea by this meanes those whom God hath giuen vp to these snares are heere appalled with wofull despaire and so hereby lye open to the snares as hauing giuen ouer all hope to auoide the same We may finde some steps of this corruption euen in the Saints of God When Dauid saw that there was no end of Sauls malice but stil he was followed with new pursuits the holy Ghost signifieth that it wrought this effect in him that he sayd in his feare as des 〈…〉 airing of deliuerance I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul and thereupon beâ—ooke himselfe to a most desperate course euen to flye for succour vnto the enemies of God For where feare doth possesse vs that malâ—ce is endlesse and her mischiefes so many that they cannot be auoided there care will faile vs for the preuenting of them as thinking our labout lost against such vnauoydable snares And so being carelesse in the danger we lye open thereunto and are either betrayed by desperate securitie in the end vnto the same or else seeking to auoide them by vile and impious courses we doe hereby exclude our selues from the protection of the Lord and so cause the malice of our enemy to light more heauily vpon vs. It hath been no new thing with the enemies of God thus to multiply their snares against the seruants of the Most High Infinite was the malice of Saul against the Annointed of the Lord and as was his malice so were his snares accordingly
though on the other side we shal not be able to meet with all as who is able to search the heart of man and indeede when the leaders shall be cut off it stands many times with policie and agrees with clemencie to let the rest escape yet neither let the wicked hereby flatter themselues that the bitternesse of death is past neither let the Children of God distrust but that all their enemies in time shall be confounded For though Dauid may spare Shimei when reuenge is not fit yet the Lord will haue a time to meet with that rayling enemie and to snare him in the ginne that his owne mouth hath layd And though the aduersaries of the truth may happily in some part for a time escape as it is necessarie sōe should still remaine that the faithfull be tryed yet let thē know that their destruction sleepeth not Though Ioab may escape while the Sonnes of Zeruiah are to stronge for the Kingdome and his sinne not yet breake out to ripenesse and perfection yet the time shall come when Salomon shall be stronge ynough for him and the guilt of his former bloodinesse shall driue him forward to receiue the wages of bloud by causing him in the end to breake out into apparant Rebellion Oh consider this you that embrew your hands in blood and for the time goe vncontrolled because power is in your hands Behold the blood that you haue shedde doth crie for vengeance and in the appointed time the Lord will giue you vp to such a thirst of blood as that none but the blood of the mightie will quench the same that so your sinne now meeting with a power able to match it may receiue the wages due vnto the same Certainly whosoeuer makes not conscience to spill the blood of those who are deare in the sight of God ouer whom he may haue power he shall in the end make conscience of shedding no blood that so at the length hee may meete with his match to shedde his owne blood Would God our oppressors and blood-suckers would consider this and in the Booke of this prouidence read their owne successe And though happily there may bee a pardon for the first offence though the clemencie of the Prince may remit the first fact as the heart of the King is in the hands of the Lord it is the glory of a man to passe by an offēce yet surely where there doth not follow a thorough reformation of life there wil certainely bee a relapse into the same sinnes that so at length vngeance may meet with them Adomiah may escape once though hee prooue Traitor to his Lord yet his sinne is restlesse and at length will finde him out and in the end hee shall bee caught in the bonds of his former iniquitie Oh consider this you that abuse the patience of gouernement to the hardning of your hearts and multiplying of your iniquities euen with greedinesse against your Soueraigne certainely the Lord which awaketh for the preseruation of his children who preseueth his Annointed and maintaineth his owne cause he euen he will giue you vp to such desperatenesse of iniquitie in the end that it shall pay you in due time the shame it oweth you to the glorie of God and your iust confusion Euen so oh Lord hasten the confusion of thine enemies or conuert them speedily for the accomplishment of the elect It followeth Shall shoot an arrow at them suddenly Behold now the admirable wisedome and powers of God in this effectuall maner of defeating his enemies by confounding their poliyes in their seuerall practices with his contrary iudgments answearable thervnto And first consider wee how deliberate consultation is here confounded with the suddennes of the vengeance that they which tooke such time laysure to bring their purposes to passe they which so aduisedly consulted to do mischeife vnto others shall now haue no time or leasure to consult their owne deliuerance because the hand of the Lord shall come suddenly vpon them So doth the Lord threaten Babel that rod of his indignation that he will come vpon her suddenly with many plagues So doth the holy Ghost prophecie of that spirituall Babell that not onely in one daie but euen in one hower she shal be ouerthrowne Yea her iudgment shall come vpon her as the casting of a great milstone into the middest of the Sea so sudden violent shal be her distruction So do the seruants of God poynt out vnto vs the distruction of the wicked that it shal be suddaine and fearfull which cannot be auoided A most holy and righteous course of Gods proceeding against the wicked whether wee consider the affection of the Lord in laying theise punishments vpon them or the end which he aymeth at in confounding them in this life or lastly the vse that he entendeth in regard of others Concerning the affection of the Lord in the punishments of the wicked as the Lord chasteneth his children in loue and of verie faithfullnes causeth them to be afflicted so on the contrary doth hee consume the wicked in his wrath and sore displeasure And therefore as he giues warning vnto the one to witnes his loue vnto them that so they might be prepared to meet the Lord so on the other side doth he ouer take the wicked with his suddaine iudgments that being vnprepared therevnto they might be ouer-whelmed with the fury of his speedy indignation And this also doth the end of their afflictions manyfestly declare For whereas the Lord in these temporall plagues entendes to giue them a tast of eternall vengeance therfore doth he lay them suddenly vpon the wicked that so confounding them by this suddenes and driuing them to their wits endes their harts might not onely bee hardned and so enraged against the Lord but further also this confusion of their wisedome driuing thē to dispayre they shal be possed with the fearfull expection of the vengeance to come And surely seeing God doth turne all things to the good of the elect therfore also doth he make the punishmentes of the wicked profitable vnto them and that especially by the consideration of the suddennes of them For hereby the saints of God are forewarned of security lest a sudden iudgment do ouertake them hereby they are admonished to serue the Lord in feare in that he deales so roundly and suddenly against the wicked hereby also they gather comfort in all their crosses troubles that the Lord maketh a difference betweene them and the wicked euen in that which seemeth to be alike vnto both Oh that our carelesse impes would consider this who spend their dayes in wealth and put the euill day farre from them that so they may more securely approach the sea of iniquity that they would remēber this suddaine reckoning and lay vnto their harts this course of Gods iustice euen to take sinne napping and suddenly to surprise it That
the Church might finally be extinguished as hauing neither Nurse nor Milke nor Babe remaining Oh consider the depth of this diuellish malice and magnifie the depth of Gods mercie in thy wonderfull deliuerance Remember if euer any danger was like vnto this which the Lord thy gracious God hath pluckt thee out off that so thy heart may bee inlarged to giue him due praises for the same And yet that thy heart may bee further inlarged herevnto as thou hast hetherto vnderstood the greatnesse of the danger in auoyding so many euils So consider in the second place in thy wonderfull recouerie what plentie of blessings the Lord hath conferred vpon thee And that thou mayest not mistake the nature of a deliueraâ—nce behould the Spirite leades thee to a true discerning thereof for speaking of the deliuerance which the Lord would performe vnto his Church that the memorie thereof might for euer bee continued hee saith This shal be written for the generations to come that this faithfull record might preuent forgetfulnesse And further that wee might learne to iudge rightly of a deliueraunce hee addeth And the people which shal be created shall praise the Lord meaning that a deliueraunce from so great a danger was to bee accounted no lesse then a new creation that is of nothing euen raysing vp a creature and a new giuing of such blessinges as hee is furnished withall Wouldest thou therefore vnderstand aright what God hath done for thee in this great deliueraunce Surely if thou doest not accompt as nothing whatsoeuer thou wast or hadest heretofore if thou doest not esteeme thy selfe and whatsoeuer thou art to bee a new gest euen newly created and restored of nothing thou doest yet conceiue nothing to the trueth and worth of this blessing and shalt in no sort bee able to make good vse thereof But if so bee that thou shalt acknowledge that all thinges are become new that whatsoeuer thou art or hast thou must not reckon it from thy birth but from this wonderful deliuerance consider what singular profite shall arise vnto thee hereby There is not any thing thou enioyest but shall remember this deliuerance vnto thee that so thou maiest bee prouoked to magnifie the deliuerer Nay this renuing vnto thee of whatsoeuer thou hast shall prouoke thee to concecrate the same anew vnto thy God that so thy deliuerance working that holy thinge in thee wheâ— by thou shalt be renued in the Spâ—rit of thy minde and bee cloathed with some good measure of holinesse and righteousnesse thou maiest sing the new song of praise vnto thy GOD which becometh the righteous onely to performe for so it followeth But the righteous shall reioyce in the Lord. Behold here a further dutie in the intertainment of this great deliuerance and that limited vnto the righteous namely that they shall reioyce in the Lord for the same Not that they shall not behold declare or vnderstand as well as others what God hath done for them for these are good furtherances to the dutie of thankfulnesse but that though they doe these things yet they shall not stay heere as the wicked doe but shall proceed further to reioyce in the Lord for the same by celebrating the praises of the Lord according to his benefits A dutie verie fitly appropriated to the righteous For they onely haue right in this ioy and therefore if the Lord haue done great things for them they may safelie reioyce therein and they onely know how to vse this ioy aright and therefore may with greater libertie enlarge themselues therein they onely haue true cause of ioy euen the testimonie of their consciences they onely by this ioy doe sanctifie the blessing vnto them and so procure the continuance of it And they onely shall haue no end of theirioy and therefore may not feare the ouerthrow thereof And indeede what greater outward pledge can wee haue of the fauour of GOD then that hee doth not suffer our enemyes to triumphe ouer vs And what greater cause of ioy can wee haue then this that the fauour of GOD shineth vpon vs And if the experience of Gods former deliuerances bee warrants vnto vs of his future mercies If because the Lorde hath deliuered vs from the Lyon and the Beare therefore wee can safely say that Goliah shall bee as one of these And because the Lorde hath deliuered vs and doth deliuer vs therefore wee can say further that hee will deliuer vs finally out of all our trouble this must needs enlarge our hearts with vnspeakable ioy as beeing a part of that earnest of ioy whereof one day wee shall bee full Surely as it is a righteous thing with GOD to recompence sorrowe vnto these who haue reioyced in the afflictions of the Saints So it is appointed of GOD that they which haue sowen in teares and manifolde afflictions should in due time Reape in ioye the fruite of all their troubles in the wayes of God And seeing there is a time for all things and an appointed time to reioyce as there is to mourne Therefore howsoeuer in the day of affliction wee must consider and enter into the house of moorning yet in the day of mirth and deliuerance wee must bee of good comfort and to expresse our ioy wee must sing prayses vnto our God So hath the Lord himselfe appointed this time I will deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie mee So haue the Saints imployed this time So reioyced Moses and Miriam with their seuerall companies for their delirance out of Egypt So did Debora and Barak exercise the people for their deliuerance from the Cananites So did Dauid imploy himselfe for his deliuerances from time to time from his enemies So did the Church reioyce for her deliuerance from that cruell conspiracie of Haman And as when a iudgement hath beene eyther threatned or inflicted vpon the seruants of God they haue set a part dayes of humiliation the better to fitte themselues to meete the Lord by true repentance as did the Niniuites Iehosophat and diuers others in the like case So when the Lord hath remooued the iudgement from them and hath giuen them a gratious and happy deliuerance that they might neuer forget such mercies and be fully inlarged in thankfulnes for the same they haue also seperated certaine dayes to be imployed principally in the expressing their ioy by such meanes as may fitte and further the same Such were those dayes of feasting and thanksgiuing instituted from time to time by the godly Magistrates to remember the blessings that the Lord had bestowed vpon them and to giue him speciall prayses on such dayes for the same So did Mordochie and Hester institute the dayes of Purim for that wonderful deliuerance from Hamons intended massaker which were so called from the occasion because Hamon by Lot was incouraged to that deuillish interprize of destroying the Iewes and therefore to magnifie
that wee do not wilfully shut our eyes or blindfold Gods workes 4 Nor Imitate this policy in our secret cariage of our owne sinne VVhatsoeuer cloaks we may haue for the same Seeing they will deceiue vs. Luk. 8. 17. Ia. 5. 2. Ezech. 8. 12. As did the Babilonians the Iewes Ezech. 23. Rather let vs make God our hiding place by true repentance Psa. 127. Psa. 21. So shall he either discouer or deliuer vs out of the secret snares of our enemies Psal. 11. Exod. 5. Ezech. 8. 12. Psa. 10. 3. 1. Ioh. 2. 1. Tim. 2. Psal. 124. 2. 3. A third policie of multiplying snares And that very dangerous 1. Sam. 27. This is roâ—eâ— policâ—e bâ—t vsed of ola by the wiâ—ked against the godly As by Saul against Dauid 1. Sam. 16. 14 23. 1. Sam. 18. 11 17. 1. Sam. 24. 24 By Satan and his instrumeÌ„ts against Dauids Lord. Math. 4. 5. Math. 6. 15. Ioh. 10. 31. Math. 22. 17. Math. 27. Math. 26. Math. 12. Math. 22. Luk. 22. Math. 27. Ioh. 19. And by our adversaries against vs in this conspiracie Esay 9. VVhat doth this teach vs. 1. The nature of the wicked fruiâ—full and restlesse in sin Prou. 4. 16. Mich. 2. 1. Ierem. 2. 2. To trie our selues whither this nature be changed in vs. 1. Ioh. 1. 8. Psa. 103. 3. 4. Eph. 19. Rom 7. 22. 20. vers Iob. 39. 38. 3. To be plentifull in good workes not to bee wearie of well doing Psa. 37. 15. Psa. 9. 15. The fourth policie of the wiâ—ked namely 〈◊〉 confidence and pâ—esumâ—t on of good sâ—ccesse and why So did Dauids enemies Psal. 35. Psal. 41. Psal. 71. Psal. 14. 6. Ps. 22. 8. So did Senacharib Esay 36. So did the mother of Sisera Iudges 5. So haue our aduersaries been confident as by The like Practizes in 1588. Aâ—d their practizes at this time appeareth Theâ—r insolencie before the day Preparations as if theâ—r mischiefe râ—eâ—e aâ—complished The reasons of this theâ—r confidence Resolution of conscienâ—e 2 ApprehensioÌ„ of the cause 3 ApprobatioÌ„ of it from their holy Father 4 The notable contriuing of their mischeifes in such strength secrecie and variety 5 Aboue all iustice of God iu giuing them vp to this confidence to their more fearefull confusion 2. Sam. 17. 2â— And therefore let vs not be amated at this confidence of the wicked But admire the power and wisedome of God herein And learne we hereby to trie our standine in grace To be confi dent in wel-doing Heb. 10. 32. Ioel. 3. 13. To looke for the confusion of the wicked when we see them thus confident 2. King 6. 17. Exod. 14. As being a certaine token offered vnto vs by the Lord to discerne the confusion of our enemies Prou. 16 8. This is the second part of the Scripture describing vnto vs the defeature of their practises and confounding of the enemies First from the Author hereof almightie God Rom. 13. 4. Prou. 21. 30. Hence haue Kings a notable comfort that God will maintaine his owne calling Psa 30. 1. Psa. 75. 7. Psal. 144. And are hereby taught that they are vnder God And being excluded his protection are subiect to the malice of the meanest And therefore should learne to kisse the sonne to keepe themwithin Gods protection And to vse their authoritie vnder God to the punishmen of sinne And then shall they be sure vnder shadow of his wings And their enemies shall in due time be met withall VVhen their finne is ripe 1. Kin. 2. 34. in the time of vengeance Let Oppressors and all blood suckers read their successe in the Booke of this prouidenee Prou. 21. 1. Let all male-contents and presumptuous opposites take heed how they abuse the patience and clemencie of gouernement The second circumstance in the defeature of the eenemie leading vs to the wisedome and power of God in the manner of defeature As first by sounding their warie and long hatched treasons with his sunaeden geance As he hath done of old And why Heb. 12. 8. 1. To shew that he punisheth the wicked in anger Psa. 2. 5. 2. To pledge vnto the wicked in temporal Plagues eternall punishments Heb. 10. 27. 3. For the good of the elect Rom. 8. 29. In whome securitie is preuented and comfort giuen in their troubles by this difference betwixt the godly the wicked herein 1 Here 's a lesson for careles and presumtuous sinâ—â—rs to feare asuddain surprizall To remember suddaine coming of Christ. 2 Here we may learne 1 Not to feare suddaine iudgments if we be prepared 2 Not to put of our repen tance till death 3 To wish that we may see the plague before it cometh Confidence in sinne makes euerie Iudgement sudden and feare of sinne makes no Iudgement suddaine 1. Thes. 3. 5. A second circumstance describing the maner of Gods wisedome in the defeature of the enemie Namely meting with their manifold practises with one blow or stroake of his vengeance 1. To confound their policie herem 2. And to destroy them more fearfully So hath the Lord threatned And so hath he executed 1 Nah. 12. And so especially hath he met with this sin of treason In Cora Dathan and Abiram Num. 16 29. Ver. 32. Absalon 2 Sam. 18. 19. 14. 1 King 2. 27. Let Traytors thinke hereaf in the pride of their manifold practices Psa. 14. That so they may regaine Gods fauour in their obedience to his ordinance Lest the Lord confound theÌ„ in the things they most trust in A third degree of Gods iustice against the wicked confounding their secrecie from their owne mouths Prou. 11. 8. Pro. 11. 8. So doth the Lord threateÌ„ â—sa 7. And so hath he executed Hesth 7. Sam. 1. 17. And thus shall the Lord make away to his further acknowledgment Psa. 9. 16. And the wickeds further confusion So dealt he against the late conspiâ—ators Confess VVinteâ— Lo here the equity of Gods iustice Eccle. 10. 13. Let malecontents take heed of the secret thoughts or practices against the King seing their owne tongues shall discouer them Let Athiests learne that there tongues are not their owne but that their is a God that oâ—erâ—rules them Ier. 3. vers 25. vers 23. Let Papists hate the darknes that hath thâ—s deceiued them As for the Saâ—nts of God let them not fearethe secret policies of the wicked Nor close with them But resist them And then they shall fall euen with their owne waight A fourth meanes of the wisedome of God in confounding the leagues and confederacies of the wicked by scattering and dispersing them Not onely the Actors in the mischiefe but the spectators also So hath it been in former time Iosu. 5. 1. 1. Sam. 15. 51 So hath the holy Ghost witnessed of Egypt Rome Ashur c. Ezek. 31. Reuel 18. Esay 13. 14. And that iustly because they labour the dissoluing of the Communion of Saints Learne wee hence that no confederacie can preuaile against God Pro. 1. But to delight in the Lord in his