There shall be a crie as midnight the Bridegroome cometh Math. 25.6 at mid-day it would be fearefull it will be more fearefull at midnight the time when commonly all are asleepe but the godly shall be deliuered from these cries of the night at least from all the feares of them and of the night it selfe For the Pestilence it selfe is fearefull and the night maketh it more to bee feared From whence we may learne two things Doct. 1 First that the worke of this grieuous sicknesse is dreadfull but this hath bene proued before and shewed already Doct. 2 And secondly that the night considered in it selfe is a time of feare The places before alledged out of Exodus and Mathew proue the same and the godly are exempted from it For the Lord promiseth such that they shall sleepe viz. without feare Leuit. 26.6 and Dauid by this priuiledge of Gods children lies downe in hope and dwels in safetie Psal 4.8 Iob saith that then the godly shall not feare or that they shall sleepe without feare but the wicked shall so feare that their eyes shall faile and their hope be as the giuing vp of the Ghost or as a puffe that suddenly vanisheth Iob 11.19 20. And why should Salomon tell the Schollers of wisedome that if they slept they should not feare or be made to feare and that their sleepe should be sweete Prou. 3.24 if the night were not fearefull and the godly were not sure to be freed from the feare of the night or why should the godly man binde the commandement vpon his heart when he goes to bed that it may watch for him when he is in bed Prou. 6.22 If there were not feares by night or feares of the night that without such a watch about him might hurt his sleepes and hazard his soule To be short for this the wicked are said to lie downe in sorrow Esay 50.11 as the righteous lie downe in peace Psal 4.8 But the godly haue bene troubled and much shaken with terrours by night Obiect for euen Iob himselfe was feared with dreames and astonied with visions Iob 7.14 I answer where the godly are said to be exempt from the feare of the night Answ it is not spoken to exempt them from all feare but to free them from all cause of feare or inconuenience by such feare For it is not said in the text that they shall not feare but they shall not be frighted or made to feare by any such terrours and the meaning is that that feare shall not preuaile against them as it doth against the wicked who from the darknesse of the night passe to vtter darknesse or it may correct their mistrust in God but not ouerwhelme them with an horrible dread as it doth the vnrighteous The reasons of the doctrine are First the text calleth it the feare of the night or the night that Reason 1 causeth feare Secondly experience which is a sure teacher manifests as Reason 2 much both in men and women who ordinarily feare more by night then by day Thirdly then our enemies and euill persons are most readie to Reason 3 annoy vs and wee most vnfit and vnreadie to saue our selues from hurt An instruction at night before we go to bed by humble and Vse 1 faithfull prayer to commit our selues to God soules and bodies depending vpon the watch of his prouidence for their safetie For where are such feares there should be great care had for the hauing of his munition against them Psal 55.17 and what greater securitie then to sleepe in the armes that is keeping of our faithfull Creator 1. Pet. 4.19 but if the Lord keepe not the Citie and euery roome and person in it all other keepers and watchmen watch vainely Psal 127.1 If he watch not the bodie who shall keepe it and if he leaue the soule who shall giue good thoughts vnto it Let vs therefore in the day by well doing in the night by prayer commend our selues carefully to God for his protection and we shall haue good Angels for our keepers good rest for our bodies and Gods good Spirit for the guest of our soules Without this we shall sleepe in Satans bosome and become Satans husbandrie for execrable lusts Math. 13.25.26 For the watchman being departed the enemie will come into our field by night and sow tares of vncleane affections where that watchman had sowed good desires as it were good seedes in vs for the haruest of life A reproofe of those who for want of prayer leaue the field of Vse 2 the heart to the diuels husbandrie Such do little consider what feares the night bringeth with it that God may giue leaue to Satan and his vncleane spirits to haunt their chambers and sleeping roomes being kept with no better watch that theeues may come and robbers by night and kill them Obad. 5 that their dreames may fright them and their owne beds be raâ—kes vnto them that fire may take into the rafters of their very bed-roomes and burne them their house goods and dearest children with them to destruction That darknesse is clad with feare and that such feare is much strengthened with the priuatenesse of the night they little consider these dangers and a thousand more in which they sleepe who take not their sleepe at Gods hands by prayer for their safetie nor deliuer the key of the house to him onely who onely keepeth Israel If such complaine that they haue broken sleepes and much vnquiet rest where others sleepe soundly and without feare what maruell seeing by such brutish forgetfulnesse of God and neglect of themselues they sleepe not in his fauour who giueth his beloued sleepe Psal 127.2 Acts 12.6 7. Sometimes the best may find their sleepes vnquiet and dreames fearefull but in these outward discomforts they haue that peace that the wicked know not the light of Gods countenance is vpon them and they haue much ioy of heart where the other lie in darknesse and sorrow and can neither find rest in their beds nor comfort in their waies God being their enemie and themselues out with themselues Lo then the blessed fruit of those that get leaue of God by faith in his prouidence to vse his blâ—ssings in respect of their wofull estate who taking them in the nature of vsurpers without prayer lie downe in no peace Another description of the Pestilence followeth Nor for the arrow that flyeth by day THis sicknesse is further spoken of by comparing it with a flying arrow or arrow shot by the hand of a strong Archer which cometh speedily and pierceth deepely sometimes it killeth presently and commonly before it be seene So Gods swift arrow in this kind of death as it destroyeth terribly and without mercie so it killeth suddenly and without warning For some it hath taken away in the middest of their sports as they haue bene playing at the tables as they haue walked in the streets as they haue passed by the way and when some said peace 1. Thes 5 3.
her wings and this similitude our Sauiour himselfe vseth speaking of the like affection to his people Math. 23.37 the meaning is that God is to his Church as a Hen to her chickens when any danger is neare For then he spreadeth the feathers of his fauour ouer her and then he carrieth his tender Church on high vpon the wing of his prouidence from troubles at hand Deuter. 32.11.12 Esay 46.3.4 The Hen when any danger is toward her yong brood by some sharpe tempest or aires or deuouring birds of the aire casteth her wings abroad for their preseruation So when any thing is threatned to Gods little ones by the tempests of the time by boisterous aires and by Satans outrage in wicked persons those impure not fowles of the aire but beasts of the earth God very presently and most graciously draweth them into a secret couer as it were some broad wing of safetie from all iniuries of men and diuels And this he doth by an extraordinarie worke or ordinarily by his word in the mouth of his seruants which is the wing that hee spreadeth ouer them and call by which he clocketh them to himselfe in this world The Doctrine that ariseth from hence is God still watcheth his Church to hide her in his prouidence against all troubles and harmes Doct. And what can the raine and flouds do against her whom hee hath builded vpon himselfe Math. 7.24.25 But the people that trust in Iehouah are so builded and he attendeth them with his eyes Psal 32.8 and at euery turne helpeth their wandrings He goeth in and out before them himselfe and knoweth all his owne by name Ioh. 10.3.4 He hath grauen them vpon the palme of his hands that is he can no more forget them then a man can forget that which he hath continually in hand and their walls are euer in his sight Esay 49.16 that is he alwaies looks vpon them to remember them with some turnes of his fauour and how can they be better watched or surer kept Men that watch a Citie must sometimes sleepe But hee that keepeth Israel will neither stumber nor sleepe Psal 121.4 The Reasons Reason 1 If birds can do this to their yong much more God if they that haue but receiued this tendernesse much more God that gaue it Or is not God nearer to vs then yong ones are to their damme We being members of his owne bodie and the apple of his owne eye Zachr 2.8 Reason 2 Secondly this text that compareth the prouidence of God I meane that by which he watcheth ouer his Church and peculiar people to the eye and wings of the Hen that are euer readie to succour her young doth proue that as his care is alway watchfull for their safetie so his power doth neuer sleepe while their safetie is in question Vse 1 A reproofe of fearefull persons who crie out and faint in light troubles as if they had no helper and who tye the prouidence of God to the things they see drowning their best eye sight in floods of vnbeliefe because they see not their hope The little finger of that heauy hand that was vpon Iob in the top of Gods fauour and losse of all outward things doâ—h more wring them and more vnsettle them then the whole did him who yet yeelded to God when the storme was at the worst saying though he kill me I will trust in him Iob. 13.15 that is in God who hath broken me almost vnto death Some binde the helpe of God so to one friend that if they loose him they count all lost with him some so limit his stoâ—e to one yeeres crop that failing of that they fare and take on as if his whole store-house were emptied some so rest in these vncertaine things of health beauty riches worldly credit and fauour this and that childe which thy loue rather aboue God then in him that if he take away one or more as they be affected to one or many they dispairefully giue vp all and neuer looke for merry houre againe and some if God cast them downe by sicknesse that hee may take them vp by his gift of health fret and charge God as if there were no heauen hereafter These and the like fearefull and vnbeleeuers both discredit Gods prouidence and falsifie his truth for how can they that be thus minded beleeue that God hath a continuall eye of care ouer them and large wing of defence for them when changes come A comfort to good Christians teaching them to expell distrustfull Vse 2 feare in all alterations though their enemies bee neuer so mighty yet he who is their defence on their right hand is mightier and they shall stand inuinsible against all men and diuels that would hurt them Mat. 16.18 Wisdome hath builded her house vpon so many and sure pillers of Gods defence that the whole and euery stone in it standeth as mount Zion Prou. 9.1 Psal 125.1 that is euery Christian as well as the whole Church of Christians is partaker of the safeties of Sion Euery true Christian is a liuing stone in this house 1 Pet. 2.5 and therefore if any such Christian as it were stone should be pulled downe the whole would come after Quest You will say but they are wronged Quest and sore thrust at and sometimes slaine Answ To which I answer first for their wronges Answ that it is not meant that no man should wrong them but that no mans wrongs should quell them and for assaults it is certaine they haue been and shall be assaulted daily but God will put vnder his strong hand that they shall not be ouercome 2 Cor. 4.8 9. and Christ denieth not but Men may kill their bodies yet the comfort is they that kill their bodies cannot damne their soules when they haue gone so farre they can goe no farther Mat. 10.28 Wisedome foresaw all this and therefore did she build her Castle so strong Prou. 9.1 If then the world be thy enemie because thou shewest thy selfe in a good cause feare it not nor all that it can make against thee for he that is in thee is greater then he that is in the world 1 Ioh. 4 4. his power is alwaies exercised for thy preseruation hee that set thee on worke will helpe thee and who is so mighty as the Almighty If God send sicknesse say it bee that of the Pestilence which is alwaies fearefull and for the most part deadly and if this sicknesse so sent light vpon thee thou hast no reason to cast away thy confidence in the greatest terrors of it for if with Dauid when by Absalom his rebellious sonne he was banished from the Arke and Tabernacle thereof at Ierusalem thou resigne vp all into Gods hands thy life or death as pleaseth him 2 Sam. 15.25 26. thou haft as good assurance as may be being kept by that visitation as by a chaine from the Arke of the publick Ministerie and from the Tabernacle thereof the great congregation either to bee restored
good as it When the world was buried in a graue of waters Noah and his houshold went safely into the Arke Genes 7.1 and God set not Sodome on fire till hee had deliuered iust Lot Genes 19.16.22 2. Pet. 2.7 when the Lord terribly plagued the Aegyptians his enemies he mercifully spared Goshen where his people were Exodus 8.21.22 and 9.6.26 and 10.23 and 11.5.6.7 and when Ierusalem was taken Exod. 12.23 Ieremie was prouided for Iere. 39.11.12.18 So God dealt very mercifully with Daniel and his fellowes in the captiuitie Dan. 1.19 And when the Lord sent fiue men that is Angels in the shape of men to destroy the carelesse Citie He sent a sixt with a writers ink-borne by his side to set a marke of passeouer or speciall deliuerance vpon all those who mourned for the abomination Ezech. 9.4.6 And what hath he done lesse for his godly seruants in any age The reasons Reason 1 The righteous haue a speciall priuiledge or commoditie that common persons haue not and he that is the generall God of the world is the sauing God of his people Luke 1.68 He shewed his word to Iacob But did hee deale so with euery nation Psal 147.19.20 Reason 2 Secondly it is the glorie of the Lord to deliuer the righteous as it is the maisters credit to do for those that faithfully serue him Or if he should not honour those with deliuerances who honour him with affections the heathen or those without might say where is now their God Psal 115.2 Thirdly He numbreth their haires Math. 10.30 and will hee Reason 3 not regard their bloud Or if he will haue them will he not deliuer them Obiect But many godly haue bene taken away in the common destruction Obiect Answ Indeed Answ for these outward euils that come none can chalenge such a freedome from them as that they shall not enter into them at all and it is not denied but that the best hauing sin in them are in subiection to them and greatly deserue them Yet either they shall not come or they shall not come to hurt them as they do the wicked or they fall not so ordinarily to the share of the godly as they crush the vnrighteous and besides they feare not in them as do sinners that haue no hope For they haue faith in God from whose loue nothing can seuer them Rom. 8.39 and are not as the wicked who put all their faith in changeable things with the losse of which they loose God and all A comfort to the godly in the mortalitie of thousands seeing Vse 1 they know in whom they beleeue and for what for they shall not perish though neuer so many perish that haue faith in other things And this doctrine is now necessarie euen in our dayes of health for these good dayes may weare away the Pestilence may raigne as it did and another triall may come and then will it bee needfull to be well seene in these and such like mercifull promises that our faith may not faile vs nor our hearts faint within vâ— when the euill day cometh Neither would this be remembred onely in the case and dayes of Plague then to be armed with that faith and true boldnesse that putteth feare out of doores but it would bee remembred further in all other changes and troubles of our mortall life that God onely may be our feare and we may put all to him with full assurance in the wauerings of many As in the dayes of famine if there should come such a want of bread that thousands must pine to death yet that must not so discomfort any child of God as to make him to doubt how it can be true that in the day of famine he shall he fed Psal 37.19 For though God do not make windowes in the heauen 2. King 7.2 he can feede him When our handfull of meale is gone his truth remaineth who can feede without bread or with it miraculously 1. Kings 19.8.17.12.14 Ioh. 6.7.13 The like may be said of the miseries of warre and of all miseries and Plagues earthly For whatsoeuer temptations there are betweene heauen and earth from the flesh world or diuell as diseases of bodie rebellion of children losse of goods and of good name crosses in husbands wiues seruants with all other vexations and crosses of mind or bodie from the least to the greatest from the paine of the little finger to the pangs of death in all these though the vngodly know not what to do the godly haue hope and though the wicked fall by thousands the righteous are not shaken Is there not comfort to the righteous in all this And do they serue God for nought to whom the Lord maketh such precious promises Vse 2 An instruction therefore so to serue God in all our life with faith and repentance that when thousands fall we may stand fast For this light is sowne for the righteous Psal 97.11 But the light of the wicked shall be put out Prou. 13.9 that is this safetie is proper and belonging onely to godly and religious persons whose priuiledge it is when thousands fall not to stagger where the wicked contrarily because they will bee the children of darknesse by sinne shall be sure with the putting out of their candle to inherite the blacknesse of darknesse with sinners That it is the peculiar lot of those that loue God and follow his truth thus to be established Salomon is witnesse who speaking of a sinner that doth euill an hundred times that is doth sinne much and long saith that though God prolong his dayes or deferre his punishment yet he shall be as a shadow and what is more vncertaine then a shadow because he feareth not before God where it shall be well with them that feare the Lord that is where they that haue bene religious in their life shall be happie in their end and neuer be remoued Eccles 8.12.13 God maketh his Sunne to shine vpon the inst and vniust yet the shine of his fauour is vpon those that do reuerence before him and where the outward excellencie of the vngodly hath a speedie end as a light quickly blowne out the light of the righteous reioyceth Prou. 13.9 to wit as the Sunne to runne his course Psal 19.5 or is stedfast with increase as the light of the same Sunne That shineth more and more vnto the perfect day Prou. 4.18 A reproose of those who in a time of mortalitie feare vnseasonably Vse 3 when two or three die How would they haue feared if they had bene dwellers at London in the last great mortalitie when three thousand and a halfe died of the Plague in one weeke Anno 1603 and 1604. and for some weekes together not many fewer There is a profitable and sober feare in Gods children which is the feare of sinne and of these dayes of sinne but this carnall feare of worldlings who haue drawne little or no power from religion is rather the feare of death then of sinne
that caused it Rom. 6.23 but this hath bene spoken 〈◊〉 This is the deliuerance propounded the same further proued followeth VER 8. Doubtlesse or onely with thine eyes shalt thou behold c. WHat was before propounded is here earnestly affirmed concerning the deliuerances of Gods people in daies of trouble when thousands fall For the Prophet saith Thou shalt behold these Plagues vpon others to wit with eyes of faith and seeing or God will lay them before thee and not vpon thee prouided that thou feare before his anger and loue his goodnesse And he speaks of seeing because the experience bringeth peace vnto the godly and many good things but then they must haue eyes to see his iudgements and an eye of faith to obserue his loue his iudgements vpon the wicked his loue to them Where the Doctrine is Gods children must not passe ouer Gods iudgements vpon others Doct. 1 with a carelesse eye nor be without eyes to behold his goodnesse vpon themselues When they meete with such an experience by day or night they must haue their day-booke and night-watches for a remembrance of it So Dauid marked diligently as it were with a Selah Gods proceedings in mercie to him and his Church Psal 32.4.5.7 for where he had done any notable thing for his people or for his King he as it were foulded downe a leafe at it and committed it to tables of memorie Neither lost he by the hand nay the obseruation was gainefull to him for it ministred great courage to him against that brauing monster Goliah 1. Sam. 17.37 Abraham also was comforted in God by the same obseruation of Gods former wayes when out of him he could haue but small comfort to offer to death his best sonne Isaac in whose bloud the whole world might seeme then to haue bene drowned Genes 22.3.8 Further it was the practise of that excellent Author of 119. Psalme who in like case of Gods speciall doings meditated in his precepts and considered his wayes that is carefully considered them or wrote them downe The flesh is dull in these matters therefore Dauid summons his soule vnto them saying O my soule praise the Lord and forget not all his benefits Or let no benefit of his be forgotten Psal 103.2 as if he had said write them vp in thy memorie and let not thy forgetfull sense keepe the booke of them or trust not thy senses with them but write them in thy heart In another Psalme the same Prophet for he was a great obseruer of things in his time doth not onely penne these mercies of God as in a booke for his owne memorie but calls others to the meditation as if hee would helpe their remembrance also by reading these things out of his booke to them and therefore saith Come and behold the workes of the Lord Psal 46.8 as if he should haue said I haue noted them and do you obserue them As if one of vs should say to another Come and see what times haue bene and how they be changed what sicknesse raigned once and what health raigneth now what want of fruites at some times and what abundance at other This yeare great stormes of trouble and the next a great calme of peace v. 9. The reasons Reason 1 Gods children must be thankfull for Gods benefits which cannot be long if they forget them nor longer then they be remembred therefore God hath commanded that his high Acts should not be forgotten as where he hath beene extraordinarily good to his people or seuerely sharpe to his peoples enemies Deut. 6.12 and 25.17.19 Reason 2 Secondly the Lord doth these great things that they might be remembred Psal 111.4 and shall we by our neglect of them frustrate his ends Reason 3 Thirdly if men threaten vs we remember our danger and count it a dishonestie if they do vs good to forget their loue and shall Gods threatnings not moue vs nor his loues make vs thankfull Shall a heathen Monarch keepe a Chronicle or day-booke of good turnes done to him by his subiects Hest 6.1.2 And shall Christians keepe no memoriall of so wonderfull things done to them by the soueraigne Lord of all worlds Lastly the faithfull consideration of Gods iudgements vpon Reason 4 others mercies to vs will make vs to feare his anger and to loue his goodnesse Habac. 3.2 Exod. 14.31 Iudg. 5.1 Psal 78.35.40.42 A reproofe of the slumbring multitude that passe no obseruation Vse 1 vpon Gods doings let him be angrie or pleased they are one kind of men still and neuer care to draw any thing from his anger or kindnesse for their amendment Let him thunder maruellously with his voice Iob 37.5 it is but a voyce that passeth by and when the earth is moued they are not moued If hee bring the sea out of his place as lately he did to punish our disorder what great thing doth he worthy noting His iustice in punishing with so long and fearefull a Plague is not in our minds and wee haue forgotten his maruellous goodnesse in the discouerie of the Powder-plot which is past as if God had done nothing The earth hath trembled vnder vs the heauens haue bene vnquiet and much distempered ouer vs our houses haue bene tossed and shaken with winds the staffe of our bread hath bene broken the enemie hath threatned vs at our doores and God hath taken away the wise man and the Counsellour yea the righteous perish and who hath considered Esay 57.1 Hath the Lord done any thing to wit in our opinion in all this or have we learned ought by it more then if nothing had bene done Haue not his wonderfull works lately done deserued the pen of a readie writer in euery of our hearts but we haue prepared them not as bookes of remembrance but as graues to burie his kindnesse An admonition to Gods faithfull Ministers the louder God Vse 2 is in his iudgements the louder to sound the trumpet of exhortation in their preachings Our admonitions must not runne alwaies in one tenour but haue the point put vpon them as the Lord is more or lesse prouoked Esay 58.1 For he hath placed vs in the watch-tower of his Church that wee might haue an eye to his iudgements The like admonition to all the faithfull to obserue Gods doings and to vse the eyes that he hath giuen them to see his workes and not to behold vanitie It hath beene said of the righteous that they see the Plague that is as they thankfully score vp blessings when they come so they dolefully record the curse when it commeth Prou. 22.3 Neither do they see it onely but hide themselues from it in a pure heart and innocent life where the wicked not fearing the shot of God neither the artillerie of his iudgements go on still to wit after one fashion and in their old way of impenitencie and hardnesse till they be destroyed Good men will deepely imprint Gods doings and be sure to haue an arke of prouidence builded by
words cōparatiuely to the Plague of Pestilence meaning that the godly shall preuaile against it though in the nature of it it deuoure like a Lion and bite deadly as an Aspe or Adder yea though it bee fierce and rage fiercely like a young Lion and kill by a kind of tearing as Dragons doe But I take the Prophets drift to bee here in an hyperbole or superlatiue speech to shew that the righteous are not onely secured from all harmes which may come by the Pestilence whereof this Psalme doth specially intreat or any other cuil be it open meant by the Lion and yong Lion or secret resembled by the Dragon and Aspe but that they shall tread downe to confusion by the Angels that is by their ministeries euery power and enmitie that is against them whether of Satan or Satans members None of them shal hurt or destroy in all the mountaine of Gods holinesse Isai 11.9 and they that seeke the destruction of the righteous shall themselues goe into destruction The Doctrine from hence is Doct. All hurtfull things and creatures are by God in the hand of his Angels made subiect to the faithfull and put vnder their feet be they Men wilde Beasts or diuels Christ hath broken the head of Satan Gen. 3.15 that is hath quite destroied his power and spoiled him in that part where his life was And now he is but as a vanquished enemy to all true Christians who in their head haue and shall daily trample him vnder feet Rom. 16.20 A young Lion roared at Sampson and he rent him as one would haue rent a Kidde hauing nothing in his hand ludg 14.6 The Text sayth that the spirit came vpon him that is that by it he did it in the ministery of the Angels that made his hands to doe it This did Sampson a figure of Christ and they shall do more then this that are in Christ For as the Seuenty returning with ioy sayd to Christ euen the Diuels are subiect to vs through thy name Luc. 10.17 So the godly through that name haue euen the Diuels in subiection to them which is more then to haue power ouer one Lion or all the Lions of the wildernes This was prophecied of by Hosea Hos 2.18 and promised by Christ Marc. 16.17 18. and Ezechiel speaking of the protection of the godly from wild beasts sayth they shall dwell safely in the wildernesse and sleepe in the woods Eze. 34.25 that is when others are tossed as vpon an vnquiet Sea their Soule shall dwell at ease Psal 25.13 And Daniel was without hurt among the Lions when they that loued not God and hated him had not one bone whole nor member vn-torne after the Lions once had caught them Dan. 6.22 23 24. How did Elisha being but one weake and vnarmed Man lead a whole weapned-band of Aramites blinde to Samaria 2. King 6.18 19. They could not resist him or the Angels that were with him And so one godly man had power ouer a whole hoste of sinners The reasons God sayth it shall be so and therefore it is for what he sayth is done though yet to doe or hath he sayd and shall he not do it Nam 23.19 Secondly all the creatures before the fall all saue the good Angels were vnder the dominion of man and became hurtfull by sinne But the sinnes of the Faithfull are all pardoned in mercie and a Heb 1.3 purged in Christ the b Hos 2.18 couenant is renued with them the soueraignty they lost restored to them and man reconciled to God in Christ is as hee was when hee was first made good holy and righteous Then he is adopted by God and becommeth the heire and lawfull Lord of all the creatures For his renuing of the couenant with vs is a renuing of the Couenant betweene the creatures and vs and when they are in couenant with vs what hurt can they doe vs and when wee are in couenant with God what seruice can they deny vs Vse 3 Thirdly they are all subiect to Christ and therefore in subiection to all that are Christs Heb. 2.8.1 Cor. 3.22 23. Vse 1 An instruction how to reconcile the hurt which is in the creatures and to recouer the dominion which we lost of the creatures The way is to turne from our sins and to be reconciled to God to labour to haue the Couenant renued to vs and to get againe in Christ what we lost in Adam For till the Lord renue the writing which wee haue blotted by our sinnes and hewe out as it were two other tables Exod. 34.1 for those that wee haue broken Exod. 32.19 All the creatures are our enemies ready when God will giue them leaue to reuenge his dishonour vpon vs the fire by burning the water by drowning the earth by burying vs aliue as it did those wicked men who gathered themselues together at the dore of the Tabernacle against Moses and against Aaron whom God sent Num. 16.3.22 If warre be threatned though it be a good thing to prepare our men yet it is a better thing and more safe first to prepare for peace by our peace with God For then either we shall haue peace or a prosperous war either no enemies or none to hurt vs and they that rise vp against vs shall fall downe before vs. If wee would auoide the spoiles and losses that may come by fire or water by hurtfull serpents and vnseasonable yeares by ouer-much raine or by want thereof we must deale faithfully with their Lord and ours submit to him and they will take vp with vs serue him and they will not hurt vs. If wee would tread downe that roaring Lion that goeth about seeking whom hee may deuoure 1. Pet. 5.8 or walke vpon him and go ouer him as men doe ouer the graues of the dead wee must by the new man in Christ get our part as in his temptations so in his ouer-commings or we must be followers of Christ in his patience if wee will be followers of him to his victories and vanquish the diuell Hee that will raigne with Christ must liue like a Christian and warre as he did that meanes to triumph as he doth Further wouldst thou haue dominion cuer the creatures specially ouer those that may do hurt Labour to rise by sound repentance from that first fall by which they haue gotten aboue thee and hold thee vnder so they that now subdue thee shall be subdued vnto thee This is the Priuiledge of the Faithfull a priuiledge proper to true Christians though enclosed from them by some Popes to whom it no way belongeth and namely by Alexander the third of that name who treading on the Emperour his Master Anuo 1174. Frederick Barbarossa and spurning at him blasphemously alleadged this very Scripture for his wretched deed A reproofe of those Christians who feare too much as some Vse 2 do too little at the approach of euils and who in the controuersie that is betweene their conscience and the
hee that praiseth a little will in that kinde praise much and accept all Vse 1 A comfort to the poore that can offer but a little in Gods seruice For if there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that he hath not 2. Cor. 8.12 If we doe what we are able though it be small that wee are able to doe it is welcome to God Deut. 16.17 Two yong Pigeons Leuit. 12.8 And two small mites are as good an offering where there is no more and as well accepted as richer matters from richer persons Some may offer a Lambe to the Altar and the poorest whose heart God hath made willing cannot want a mite or the worth of a yong Pidgeon to offer to it that is thou must helpe forward the seruice of God if not with the purse yet with the mite of doing somewhat toward it some other way and thy worke will be accepted All the members in this body haue their necessarie vse and can doe something the poore as well as the rich The head cannot say to the feet I haue no need of you 1. Cor. 12.21 Let Papists and Pharises then praise and onely praise rich almes Christ makes more account of the Widowes two mites then of all that they giue O therefore what a comfort is heere to a poore if true Christian seeing that euen the poorest hee that is such cannot be vnfruitfull altogether or without vse in the worke of the Lord and that God rich in mercy rewardeth euen in a poore soule weake loue and poore doings where a heart is not wanting to doe better and to loue more earnestly if he were able This may comfort him in the euill day when it comes and it may come hee cannot tell how soone For if Pestilence should be sent if some other destroying sicknesse should come or if troubles should arise for the Gospel which he professeth herein he may dwell safely that he hath not been wanting to his power in any furtherance that he could giue the Gospel or to the Professors and teachers of it for Gods sake who will not forget his worke and seruice that he hath done and and who giueth the full cup of life for a cup of cold water A terrour to those who being able to doe much in the seruice Vse 2 of God loue neuer a whit or coldly though a little be accepted done willingly in that respect and with a good minde Remember this ye that forget God hee may bring you downe in trouble though now ye be aloft in a flourishing estate of wealth peace Suddenly ye may be made poore or if your riches remaine with you you may beare this voice a voice very dolefull and bitter to all that are rich in their Mammon and not rich in God O foole this night thy soule shall be required of thee Luke 12.20 or this night that is very shortly and terribly they will fetch thy soule Then what griefe will it be and death to remember what good ye might haue done which yee neglected to doe in your wealthy and healthy dayes They that turne many to righteousnesse shall shine as the Starres Dan. 12.3 Now whether is better to shine as Starres in heauen or to burne as brands in hell Yee therefore that could haue spent hundred by your yeerely comming in and haue spent some vainely and not one nor neere one in all your life to the furtherance of Gods seruice by doing something toward the Arke of a teaching Minister in the place where your chiefe house stood and family did continue Yee that by your countenance and place might haue turned many to righteousnes and yet loued so hotely for your selues and coldly for God that the winning of soules was none of your care but rather the gathering of riches and friends and yee who hauing Tenants and followers might haue constrained them by a wise eye to haue kept the way with your selues to Gods house and good order in Gods house being assembled there had rather goe with a few then with your traine thither and rather leaue them that were in the assembly to their owne foolish wayes then watch ouer them for the wayes and duty of reuerend worshippers at Church during all the time of prayer and preachings then yee that haue thus neglected to doe good or gloried to doe euill being therefore not louers of God but rather haters of him What will ye doe or say when the day or houre commeth that ye must goe from house to graue Psal 49.14 and leaue your riches to others verse 10. Surely a good conscience in those matters will be more worth then all the goods Mannors or Lordships yee had or desired more then the loue of God in which onely is true happinenesse and peace Ye haue refused to serue him that giueth the best wages and did choose rather to serue for trifles then for an inheritance and for corruptible things then for eternall therefore God gaue you these small things dealing with you as Abraham with the sonnes of his Concubines who gaue them certaine gifts or moueables and sent them away Gen. 25.6 For so these and these onely are your portion hold them if you can the inheritance is Isaacs part and the right of the sonnes And now what will ye doe when ye can liue no longer to dishonour God and to honour your selues your children or kindred aboue him your hope cannot be in him whom you loued so little and coldly and who is a most bountifull Master to all his followers and louers giuing them here for their spirituall repast the royall feast of a good conscience and in heauen Kingdomes for their seruice for imperfect obedience perfect glory and for short troubles long life but now as Elisha a Prophet in Israel said to Iehoram the King of Israel Get thee to the Prophets of thy father and to the Prophets of thy mother 2 Kin. 3.13 so in times of Pestilence and in the houre of death yee must goe for comfort to your lands and Lordships and large heapes in which ye trusted or to your drunken cups fellowship companions and such Prophets of your fathers house the Diuell God will not looke to ward you nor see that is know you in that houre verse 14. But doth God thus remember euery little thing that is done to Vse 3 him in his seruice The vnthankfull among vs then are taxed who remember no benefit bestowed vpon them or good done for them though neuer so great The best we can doe to God or for him deserueth the pay of shame and no better recompence Luk. 17.80 and yet God reiecteth not our weakest loue Men may deserue much at our hands and sometimes doe when neuerthelesse wee reward their good with euill for their friendship become their enemies and fight against them without a cause Psal 109 4 5. We should do good for euill and pray for them that hurt vs Mat. 5.44
come and glorified which is seene in foure things as supplications prayers intercessions and giuing of thankes 1 Tim. 2.1 By supplication is meant that kinde of prayer or thing in prayer whereby we craue the turning away of euill things from vs. Prayer or obsecration is that wherein wee desire all good things necessarie for vs. Intercession that by which wee pray louingly for our friends and charitably for our enemies and giuing of thankes that which vpon the receit of a fauour goeth with praise in our prayers to him that gaue it Now he that wil see the saluation of God must do all this In all these he must talke with God as did Mâ—ses and hee may talke with him as with a friend bringing good affections to the words of his prayer In the 50. Psalme and 15. verse God promised deliuerance to his children in the day of their trouble but with the condition of Prayer as here Call vpon me as if he had said if ye will haue my helpe or if ye will haue me to helpe you pray So Christ our Sauiour promising ease that is deliuerance to all who for his sake are laden with troubles and labour of wrongs bids them to come to him as if hee had bidden them to call vpon him if they will be cased Math. 11.28 And the Lord will be found but it is of those that seeke him with prayer Math. 7.7 Iehoshaphat so sought him and found his helpe against the children of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir 2. Chron. 20.10.22 23 24. And Salomon in the Dedication of the Temple desireth God to incline to his people in their distresse that is when in perill and terrour they confesse their sinnes and make their supplications to him his prayer is that hee would deliuer them but it is with condition as before 1. King 10.31.33.35 38 c. For there is no such meanes of accesse to God as prayer neither doth he answer out of the heauen to any thing that we preferre to him so directly as to prayer and he delighteth in the soule of his sacrifice more then in all burnt-offerings If the great waters burst in it is prayer that must cast vp a bank of stop vnto them Psa 32.6 Many times God deliuereth without prayer which should make vs more thankefull but not lesse diligent to vse the exercise hereafter but prayer is Gods owne ordinance that bindeth him to deliuer vs. By it he giueth vs his earnest or somewhat in hand to confirme vnto vs the light of his saluation in this mid-vale of darknesse By it wee haue a sanctified right to the creatures 1. Tim. 4.5 By it we receiue the key that opens Gods treasures and puls downe his mercies vpon vs. Math. 7.7 By it we come into the Presence and haue speech with him that is greater then all Princes Gen. 18.22 23 24 c. By it if God bee ready to strike wee hold him backe as it were that he cannot execute his iudgements Exod. 32.10 and by it we confesse that we receiue and seeke all good things at Gods hands running to him in our wants and reioycing in him for our welfare If then wee looke to be deliuered in trouble in trouble wee must pray to the Lord our deliuerer The reasons Reason 1 God looketh when deliuerance commeth that wee both acknowledge him to be the giuer and thanke him for the benefit which we cannot doe but by prayer For so in obsecration wee seeke vnto God and in thankesgiuing praise him Wee goe out of our selues for helpe to him and being holpen we say Not vnto vs Lord not vnto vs but to thy Name be glory Psal 1 15.1 Secondly it is of the Commandement and Ordinance of God that we should pray that is call on him in our troubles Mat. 6.9 And what good Christian will not make conscience of Gods Commandements to keepe them and Ordinances to doe them we make conscience or should of killing and stealing because the Law saith Thou shalt not kill Thou shalt not steale So it is Gods Commandement that we pray in our troubles and shall we be troubled and not call vpon God that is pray vnto him as we are commanded Thirdly prayer is a part of his seruice Psal 50.23 and the Reason 3 wicked that doe him no seruice are said not to pray Psal 14.4 Now is prayer a part of his seruice and shall wee refuse in our troubles to serue him that is in them to pray vnto him and to call vpon his Name And as it is a part of his seruice so it is a meane of our saluation Ioel 2.32 I say then desire we to be saued or if we long not to be damned let vs pray Fourthly a benefit is worth the asking and we make suite to Reason 4 those that can doe vs pleasure Is not deliuerance in troubles a benefit and shall wee thinke much to aske it or doe wee make such suit for a worldly pleasure and shall we giue no attendance about his Courts that giueth vs the pleasures that are for euer An admonition therefore to be frequent in this duty which Vse 1 so much concernes vs and brings so much good vnto vs. It is the tower of the faithfull and in all aduersities the godly flie vnto it It is Gods seale vpon our hearts Cant. 6.8 and the earnest of his Spirit left in our hands 2. Cor. 1.22 for which we read in Zacharie of a Spirit of grace and supplications Zach. 12.10 from it atiseth that friendly exchange that is betweene God and vs wee sending vp ou prayers to him and hee sending downe his blessings to vs. It maketh the righteous in calamitie to goe vpon other feet then the feet of Daniels image which were partly clay partly yron Dan. 2.33 for they walke not staggeringly vpon their doubts but vpon fast ground knowing that hee is faithfull that hath promised Nay if they be to fight for life and death being cunning at this weapon of prayer they neither care for the deuils malice nor distrust Gods louing kindnes but then beleeue most when they see least and shew greatest courage when there is greatest cause In a danger otherwise incurable and when worldly wise men know not what to doe and when all their cunning is gone the godly that giue themselues to prayer know both what to doe and where to finde succour for they continue calling vpon God till those raging and vntamed floods of trouble be gone and God send deliuerance from his holy habitation in heauen Vse 2 A terrour to those who neither speake to God for blessings not runne to him in trouble Such beside the brand of Atheisme that they beare in their mouthes full of the dishonour of God and emptie of his reuerence haue no promise to be deliuered out of any aduersitie and stand in state of damnation with all that call not vpon God They cannot say with the three children of God in the fierie ouen Our God whom we serue
set the Lord alway before him Psal 16.8 that is committed his wayes in all matters to him or made him Arbiter of his pathes and his reason was he was at his right hand or his readie hand who alway hedged him in with his power against present euils and dangers to come When they that were humbled for their rebellion against the words of the Lord cryed with faith to him in their affliction they were instantly deliuered from their distresse Psal 107.12 13. God was within call and so neare that if they had in that case but sighed to him which is a lesser matter then to cry hee could not but haue heard of whom the Prophet saith My sighing is not hid from thee Psal 38.9 And when the three seruants of God were in the fierie furnace God was with them in it to preserue them Dan. 3.25 and in the Kings heart to bring them foorth for the King spake and said Shadrach Meshak and Abednego the seruants of the high God goe foorth and come hither Verse 26. Thus God as a partner in sort communicateth with the righteous in their troubles being at hand to saue them from all aduersitie The Reasons Where God is said to be with them in trouble Reason it is spoken of God in Christ who by that spirituall vnion that is betweene him the Head and them his Bodie is said to be afflicted when they are in affliction Zach. 2.8 Acts 9.4.5 Zach. 12.10 Secondly when such are in trouble he remembreth that they Reason 2 are his children whom he cannot forsake and his weake children whom if he forsake he should leaue to perdition in their slipperie wayes And if the childes trouble be his fathers crosse how can we be in trouble and God our Father not troubled Psal 27.10 Esa 49.15 Thirdly the contrary would too much discomfort his people Reason 3 and comfort his peoples enemies but God will not doe so who will not break the bruised reed Esa 42.33 That is further grieue those that are much afflicted already A reproofe of the fearefull in religion who dare not be seene Vse 1 in a good cause though their conscience subscribe vnto it lest they should purchase trouble and get enemies for their forwardnesse that way Therefore that will not goe downe with them that will not go downe the narrow throat of the state and times in which they liue Acts 18.17 But what if thou be troubled for thy well guided conscience in good matters hath not God promised his presence in such troubles or will hee promise to be in place and faile thee and if hee come to thy helpe is not his goodnesse infinitely greater then mans malice and his arme stronger to saue then mans to destroy Many whom I cannot call ill men are vnreasonably afraid when God sendeth the Plague of Pestilence or a plague of raine and waters but who hath power in these Plagues and who hath promised to the righteous his comfortable presence in them Therefore put trust in God walke with him in thy good life and shrinke not from his Commandements and if Pestilence come feare it not for if â—â—ou miscarrie in it God will miscarrie with thee and if a Famine pinch the land care not for it for thou shalt bee fed or God will want power to feed thee Psal 37.3 Vse 2 A comfort to the righteous seeing that they are not singled out or exposed in troubles but haue God in company in all that they suffer suffering for his sake or by his will Such haue no cause to feare but rather they who in wronging them prouoke that God to his face who will put vp no contempt at any mans hands loseth the collar of Kings Iob 12.18 He hath builded his house strong as vpon seuen Pillars Prou. 9.1 that is the godly whom the wicked would pull downe are surely and strongly founded in his prouidence and so safely kept in his hand that none can pluck them from thence Iob 10.29 And as the righteous shall most certainly be deliuered so all that vexe them shall perish for looke what safety is to this house and them that be in it the like perill is to this hous's enemies and all that come against it God being as a wall of defence about his people so a wall of fire against all that molest them Zach. 2.5 When the Disciples were in the ship there was a great tempest in the Sea but Christ being with them in the tempest and ship immediately there followed a great calme Math. 8.26 So whatsoeuer tempests or seas of trouble come as long as Christ is with vs in them wee need not despaire of any calme of deliuerance be it from Famine Pestilence the sword of the enemy or any other noisome Plague I say so long as Christ is with vs and we deuoutly with him in the ship of our Church-assemblies calling vpon him and doing reuerence to his name But let vs be sure as he is with vs in trouble so to be with him by faith and holinesse in all our troubles he to deliuer vs we to serue him This sheweth that the best shall haue troubles yea great troubles Vse 3 for here a promise is made to the righteous of deliuerance in troubles not of freedome from them Many and great many times are the troubles of the righteous saith Dauid Psal 34.19 And how can they but feele trouble that haue many troubles Now what Dauid said that same said Dauids Lord for Christ speaking to and of his said in the world yee shall haue afflictions Ioh. 16.33 as if he had said this world is a sea and they whom my Father hath giuen me out of the world Ioh. 17.6 are as so many sloting Barkes or Boats tossed vpon huge waues of trouble hauing windes and sea against them till they put into harbour or there is no end of troubles till ye enter into the rest of God Also this that Christ said saith the faithfull witnesse of Christ Saint Paul All that will liue godly in Christ Iesus shall suffer persecution 2. Tim. 3.12 he saith all excepting none And if we shall but point to the opening of the fist seale and in the vnsealing of that mystesterie take a short view of the infinite number of the soules of them that were killed for the word of God and which therefore lye behinde the Altar crying night and day to God with the voice of the blood of Abel that hee would require all that blood at their hands that shed it Apoc. 6.9 10. how can wee be ignorant that it hath alwayes been the portion and lot of those that truely loued God through much tribulation to enter into his Kingdome Act. 14.22 If therefore being professors of the truth we haue not suffered some troubles and rubs for the same it is not sealed vnto vs that we are right professors and our profession is but as a Deed vnsubscribed For true godlinesse draweth troubles to it as the loadstone doth iron and
the worst that these or any other troubles like these can doe is to preferre vs to our inheritance and liberty where here wee serue but a ward-ship and are incumbred daily These make our way for vs to saluation and when we duly consider this how can we be moued Vse 2 A confutation of that enuious Doctrine in Poperie which because it would haue the common people in the point of saluation to rest in an infolded faith beleeuing as the Church beleeueth that is contingently but not with knowledge nor certainty must needs breed dangerous offences in temptation for if wee shall stand suspitious of that which must bee our greatest comfort in troubles and which we haue vnder the seale of Gods promise what shall stay vs in the afflictions and crosses of our mortall life when the remedie is denied what shall cure vs and when wee see death and no saluation that is no assurance of it after death what comfort can wee haue to suffer here and hereafter for cuer Vse 3 A terrour to worldly minded men whose portion is in this life They neuer thinke of nor care for heauen but haue their hearts buried in the graue of worldly things what wil such do and whither will they turne them when affliction and anguish shall come vpon them Prou. 1.27 and their end draw neere the sight of saluation cannot comfort them for that cannot comfor them that they cannot expect and the feare of damnation must needs trouble them for that cannot but torment them that they must needs inherit as their portion for euer Doct. 2 Lastly it is called Gods saluation Mine saith the Lord that is that which is originally only from Me. Where we learne that that eternall life is the gift of God or his only worke and gift therefore is it called by Esay as here His saluation Esa 25.9 and of the Lord he saith He will saue vs Esa 33.22 hee and no other The most blessed Virgin calles him her Sauiour Let the Papists note that she must haue a Sauiour and this must be and be no other then God her Sauiour It is that grace of God that bringeth saluation saith Saint Paul Tit. 2.11 that is It is God who by grace or the doctrine of grace in the Gospel bringeth it And to spare further labour in a matter wherein both the Testaments are so plentifull the very words of the doctrine are the same Apostles owne words The gift of God is eternall life through Iesus Christ Rom. 6.23 where hee sheweth that saluation is a gift and what is freer then gift and giuen of God for Christ that is a gift whereof the authour is God and the purchaser Christ the Sonne of God The Reasons For when Adam was once falne from Gods image in Paradise and being driuen by guilty conscience had fledde to the weake succour of leaues and bushes for a hiding place against him and the storme of his iustice the good Angels could not but abhorre vs and the other creatures how could they but become enemies to vs and therefore no will in them to haue saued vs if they could onely the fountaine of mercy God the Father of Christ and our Father in Christ looked toward vs and his eye onely pittied vs in this blood of our pollution Ezech. 16.5.6 then he made his couenant of Saluation with vs in the seed of the woman by a person that should come of woman that blessed seed that should breake the Serpents head Gen. 3.15 That is Christ that should destroy the deuill and hath already destroyed him In all this what haue the creatures done Nay what could they doe Secondly he onely is giuer of life that can raise from death to Doct. 2 life this can no creature Angel or other doe that is doe by his owne Name and power Acts 3.12.16 Acts 9.34.40 or hee that will giue life must deliuer from death but none can saue from death but he that hath the keyes of hell and death Apoc. 1.18 this is no creature Also none can saue from death but hee that can deliuer from sinne that causeth death But what creature can so doe what creature 〈◊〉 can deliuer from an infinite sinne Doct. 3 Thirdly if God onely did not giue life the Scriptures which speake of a Sauiour would not as they doe speake of him onely but of helpers with him in the point of saluation But the Scripture speakes of no Sauiour but the Lord nor Giuer of life but Him Esai 43.11 61.10 12.2 3. Ioh. 10.28 Act. 4.12 And surely if he did not saue vs who onely is the Sauiour our dayes would be short and cut off quickly for the torments of hell Satan and our owne corruption swaying vs thither but the the arme of Gods salvation able and only able to ouer-master Satan and our owne vnruly old-Man doth both stay vs from destruction and keepe vs in the path of life Vse 1 A confutation of that doctrine of the Papists which in the grace of life will haue godly men to bee takers with God or ioynt-purchasers making him but a Sauiour in part and them partly their owne Sauiours but is this because he is weake to saue by himselfe Zacharie in his Canticle calleth him the horne of Saluation in the house of Dauid Luke 1.69 That is the strong and mighty Sauiour in that house But they make Zedekijahs hornes 1. Kin. 22.11 hornes of iron and instruments of vanitie to ioyne them for the batterie of the Kingdome of Satan with this horne of our saluation To his good will they ioyne their free-will and their good workes to his great worke and to his intercession the intercession of Angels and Saints departed and set their posts by his posts Ezech. 43.8 putting their old cloth in his new garment wherein is no breach nor defect But hee that made this wedding dinner is a King Math. 22.2 3. And what want is there at a Kings Feast specially at the marriage of his elder sonne and what shot doe Kings take of their seruants when they haue feasted them therefore they pay nothing that sit downe at this Supper Esai 55.1 Apoc. 22.17 neither bring any dish vnto it that is dish of halfe purchase Eternall life as hath beene said euery part and whit of it is the gift of God Vse 2 But is saluation Gods and the gift of eternall life Gods gift then Christians must walke so and so behaue themselues that they may comfortably with their last breath expect this gift of eternall life being in the way of the same by a godly life and holy death For God doth not giue his saluation to those who neither care to liue in obedience nor prepare to die in faith And to lose saluation is to be in worse case at our death then the beasts that perish For when they die their misery ends with them but when reprobate man dies his misery begins that shall neuer haue end For hee hath millions of yeares without