midst of all persecutions that they meet with they are animated unto the like stedfastness and to resolution in adhering fixedly to the truth such examples will make even a timorous man wax bold and the exemplary carriage of sufferers is very encouraging and comfortable wherefore the Apostle saith 2 Cor. 1 6. whether we be afflicted it is for your Consolation Therefore these Sufferings are much for the advantage of the Church 6. Hereby is the Church awakened from security and made to look out for a suffering lot when thus it is done to the green tree they are made to take Warning Such a dispensation is as the sounding of the trumpet for an alarme and this is no small advantage when she is raised to her feet and put in a postour and made ready for the battel then she needeth not fear a surprisal but hath time to prepare and make ready for the storme In order to the Improvement of this Consideration we would 1. Beware to conclude that all is gone when we hear or see Christs eminent Servants put to sad sufferings We are ready to wonder why the Lord should suffer such and such things to be done why He should suffer such sad things to befall His eminent and useful Servants who cannot well be missed one whereof is worth an hundered so that the Death or Imprisonment of one such threatneth more destruction to the Church than the loss of many But we know not the thoughts of the Lord we know not what He is designing and what He mindeth to effectuat thereby And if we beleeved that even such a dispensation as this could do no harme to the Church how little would we be troubled at it If we saw what an effectual way this were in the steady unerring Hand of God to bring about the spiritual advantage of the Church how would we lay our hands upon our mouth and be silent And though we can not see in particular what advantage the Church is like to get by the taking away of such as were as Pillars of the Church Yet we should by faith rest assured that the Head and Husband of the Church would not suffer such a Dispensation to come if He knew not how to bring good and advantage out of it and that thereby good seed was sowen which though accompanied with teares and bloud yet should yeeld full sheaves at length which should be brought home with Joy 2. We would do well to search ourselves at such a time to see if we as particular members of the Church be reaping any advantage by what we hear and see of the Sufferings of Christs eminent Servants as for example see if thereby the truth of the Gospel become more riveted in our souls we becometh more rooted in the faith and assurance thereof and more fixed in our Resolution to adhere thereunto See if Truth becometh lovely desireable to us upon this account See if grace be growing more within and if our hearts and affections be loosed more and more from the things of a world and we be prepared more to quite all for Christ and His Cause See if by the example of others we be more animated and encouraged to avow and abide by the truth cost what it will See if these newes be raising us out of our bed and making us prepare for the battel and make ready for the approaching storme if we finde any such advantage thereby let us blesse Him who is giving us meat out of the eater and doing us good by the dear cost and charges of others 3. This should comfort such as are called forth to suffer for the Name of Jesus they need not trouble themselves with thoughts what shall become of the Church and Interest of Christ but leave that upon the Lord and beleeve that He shall make it contribute to the furtherance of the Gospel and to the enlairgment of His Kingdom Ministers called to suffer may possibly think Oh what shall become of the poor people we cannot get preached unto them as formerly but what if God make their stedfastness in suffering more advantagious than their preachings would have been What if that edifie more than many preachings did or would do Ought not they upon this Consideration rejoice in their Lot and suffer cheerfully that Christs Interest may prosper more thereby What know they what influence their Christian carriage may have on all On-lookers yea and on Enemies and Persecuters themselves beside what confirmation friends may have thereby CONSIDERATION XVII The Lord Reigneth in Zion BEleevers are not like unto the Subjects of Kings here on earth who may be dethroned and their Crowns may fall from their Heads and the Scepters be taken out of their hands and they may lose all the Ensignes of Royalty and when it falleth out so as is done many a time Subjects have but cold Comfort in looking to the Throne when it hath forsaken him that sat thereon But Beleevers have a King who liveth and reigneth for ever and ever and whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom It cannot then but be strange that when Men who have all their temporal happiness hanging upon the standing of Kings of Clay can rejoyce in adversity when they have any hope of their King 's recovering of his lost Throne and Kingdome though the grounds of their Hop be most disputable and uncertaine that the Children of God in the day of their Adversity can draw so little Comfort from the sure and certaine Grounds of Hope which they have to look to If Christs Crown and Throne were not surer than the fading and perishing Regalia of Men what would beleevers do Whither could they go for consolation in the day of their Distress and Anguish But now seing their King is not like the Kings of the Earth why are they so heartless in the day of their extremity Sure the Reason must be because they beleeve not that He is such a King as He is indeed or they know not how to improve to any spiritual Advantage such a noble Ground of Consolation as this is Wherefore it may be useful to speak a little unto this And so we shall first lay down some Propositions clearing up this Truth and next some Conclusions pointing out the improvement that may be made thereof First As for the Propositions take these following 1. The Lord standeth under the Relation of a King to His Church and People He hath taken to himself that Name and Title and accordingly we finde them eyeing this in the day of their Distress So David Psal. 5 vers 2. and 84 v. 2. embraceth Him crying My King and my God and he comforteth himself with this Ps. 10. v. 16. The Lord is King for ever and ever And the Church crieth out Psal. 74 v. 2. God is my King of old and comforteth herself with this Esai 33 v. 22. The Lord is our judge the Lord is our Lawgiver the Lord is our King He will save us So
I wil raise up evil against thee out of thine own house and I will take thy wives before thine eyes and give them unto thy Neighbour and he shall lye with thy wives in the sight of this sun for thou didst this secretly but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun And this accordingly was done by that wicked wretch Absalom 2. Sam. 16. vers 22. And because of the high holy and soveraigne hand which God had in this sore aâ—…iction He saith by Nathan the Prophet that He would do it 3. We finde in the Scriptures that the wicked Enemies in following prosecuting their malicious designes against the People of God are held forth and spoken of as God's Instruments in that work As Esai 10. vers 5. Where the Assyrian is called the rod of God's anger and the staff in their hand is said to be His indignation So Vers. 15. They are compared to an aâ—… in the hand of him that heweth therewith and to a saw to a rod and to a staff all which we know can do nothing but as moved and ordered by the principal Actor To the same sense are they compared to a rasour wherewith God will shave the head and the haire of the feet and the beard Esa. 7. vers 20. Thus is Babylon called a golden cup in the hand of the Lord Ier. 51. vers 7. Likewise the Enemies are compared to a net which God will spread over his people Hos. 7. v. 12. and to a snare Ezek. 12. vers 13. They are likewise called God's sword Psal. 17. vers 13. and His hand vers 14. All which and the like expressions show That God hath a principal hand in the afflictions which his people meet with at the hands of wicked Instruments and that the wicked are but as so many Instruments and Lixes imployed by him for that effect howbeit they minde no such thing but drive on their own designes to satisfie their own wicked lusts 4. The Scripture speaketh of the Lord as raising up these wicked Instruments as leavying them and sending them to execute his will So Esai 5. vers 26. And He will lift up an Ensigne to the Nations from far and will hisse unto them from the end of the earth and behold they shall come with speed swiftlâ—… So Esai 7. vers 18. And it shall come to passe in that day that the Lord shall hisse for the flie that is in the uttermost parts of the rivers of Aegypt and for the bee that is in the Land of Assyria By which we understand that as these Enemies cannot stir notwithstanding of all their malice rage and anger against the Lord's people till God send for them and hisse for them and as it were subscribe and seal their commission so they are wholly at his disposal as the armie is at the disposal of the General or of him who leavyeth them and employeth them In like manner we read 1 Chron. 5. vers 26. that the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul King of Assyria against the Reubenits the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh So it is said Psal. 105. vers 25. That God turned the heart of the Egyptians to hate his people and to deal subtilly with his servants And 2 Cbron. 21. vers 16. that he stirred up against Iehoram the spirit of the Philistines and of the Arabians that were neer the Ethiophians 5. We finde the Lord said frequently to deliver up his people into the hands of these Enemies and to sell them unto them as it were to give them wholly up to their devotion and disposal see Iudg. 3 8. and 4. vers 2. and 6. vers 1. and 10 7. Dan. 1 2. 2 King 17. vers 20. Thereby showing that these Enemies could do nothing against the people of God untill the Lord had permitted the same and given way thereto and had as it were withdrawn his protection and taken away his hedge of defence and so left them naked and exposed unto the rage and cruelty of their brutish Enemies 6. This is also manifest from the grand and noble Purposes and Designes which the Lord bringeth about by those meanes far diffâ—…rent from what these wicked Instruments intend as we see Gen 45. and 50 Ioseph's Brethren meaned evil against him but God meaned it for good So Esai 10. vers 7. The Assyrian meaneth not so as God doth neither doth his heart think so but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few but the Lord hath another work upon mount Zion and on Ierusalem Vers. 12. to wit to punish them only by his smiting with a rod and lifting up his staff after the manner of Egypt V. 24. or as it is Esai 27 9. to purge away the iniquity of Jacob and to take away sin Wherefore seing the Lord hath such soveraigne ends as the chastisement and trial of his people the exercise of their graces c. to bring about He cannot but have a special hand in and about the meanes which serve to bring about these ends This being sufficient to cleare up what was first to be spoken to we come Secondly to speak a little of the manner and way how the hand of the Lord is to be observed in and about the sharpe afflictions of his people by the hand of wicked persons who are active therein And in speaking to this we shall wave all subtile debates concerning God's Decreeing the event of sin His Predetermination and His Concourse with second causes in those Actions which are sinful and shall onely pitch upon some particulars which are more plaine and undeniable and also more useful to the point in hand As 1 There is the Lord 's holy permission giving way to and not restraining the furie and rage of Enemies when He hath a mind to make use of them for a scourge He must loose as it were the chaine with which they are bound and restrained and take away the hedge of protection wherewith he guardeth and protecteth his people and all that belongs to them Satan could do nothing against Iob nor stirre so much as one lambs tail that belonged to him untill the Lord for holy and wise ends gave way thereunto therefore he said unto the Lord Iob 1. vers 10. Hast not thou made an hedge about him and about his house and about all that he hath on every side This is also imported in the Lords giving up his people into the hands of Enemies and selling them and delivering them as a judge doth a Malefactor into the hand of the Executioner Yet we must not conceive of this Permission as if it were in all things like unto the bare naked permissions of men but as sutable to him who is a most pure and simple Act 2. There is herein considerable the Lord's Commission to speak so not that He will warrand and approve of them in their wickedness or give them any moral Authoritie or
that their case called â—…or it otherwayes he had not exercised them thus 9. So the hand of the Lord is manifest in making the affliction answerable to their strength A potion may be fit for and suitable to the disease yet may be too strong for the weak patient and more readily kill than cure therefore a wise and tender Physician will take good notice of the patients present strength So the Lord who is tender of His peoples welfare will proportion the Physick of affliction unto their strength Hence we hear it said 1 Cor. 10. vers 13. But God is faithfal who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able Accordingly Ieremiah prayeth Chap. 10. v. 24. O Lord correct me but with judgement not in thine anger lest thou bring me to nothing The Lord s way is to correct his people in measure Iâ—…r 30. vers 1â—… and 46. vers 28. And as a father pitieth them that fear him for he knoweth our frame he remembereth we are dust Psaâ—… 103. vers 13 14. He knoweth that their strength iâ—… not the strength of stones nor are their bones of brass and so he knoweth they are not able to bear many blowes Thus we see the Lord measures the affliction to their strength It is true Paul saith 2 Cor. 1. vers 8. That he and his companions were pressed out of measure and above strength which would seem to contradict what is said But this seeming contradiction will be taken away by what we shall next adde 10. When the affliction and distress is such as would undo and presse the poor Beleever out of measure if he gote not some new supply of strength to stand under that burden the Lord's hand appeareth in fitting the Beleever for the stroke and in enabling him to bear it so that he is not killed thereby nor overwhelmed therewith by giving cordials he fortifieth the man against the violence of Temptations which otherwise would prevail against him Paul and his Company 2 Cor. 1. vers 8 9. were pressed with trouble in Asia out of measure above strength so much that they despaired even of life yea and had the sentence of death in themselves such a storme was it that they could not ride it out if fresh supplies of strength and courage had not been granted by God who raiseth the dead unto them and if the Lord had not thus delivered them from so great a death they had perished but how was this done See Vers. 4 5. The God of all comfort comforted them in all their tribulations and as the sufferings of Christ abounded in them so their consolation also abounded by Christ And thus the Lord fitted them for the stroke when the stroke was too sore for them So this same Apostle when assaulted with a messenger of Satan that buffeted him 2 Cor. 12. vers 7. Was strengthened by the grace of God Vers. 9. to stand out against that temptation which otherwise had overcome him as his praying thrice that it might depart from him Vers. 8. would import Thus the Lord keepeth the head of his poor people above water by making his power to rest upon them and by making perfect his strength in their weakness Vers. 9. Thus also are they strong when weak Vers. 10. 11. The Lord 's good hand of Providence appeareth in this matter in disappointing the Enemies of their malicious designes They are busie plotting and contriving the ruine and destruction of His people but the more they seek to destroy them the more they grow and thrive the more they multiply and the stronger they become It is almost incredible what multitudes of Christians through the whole Empire the bloody persecuting Emperours destroyed and put to death in the primitive times but the more they were massacred the more they grew the bloud of the saints and martyres was the seed of the Church Daniel's adversaries thought to have gote him destroyed but their enmity and rage against him tended to his further exaltation and establishment So was it with David the more that Saul did persecute him the more his bow abode in strength 12. The Lord's hand mightily appeareth in the afflictions of his people in that He powerfully and Infallibly carrieth on and bringeth to passe His own Purposes and Designes countermining and counter working the designes and wicked projects of the Enemies yea in effectuating His own ends even by what the Enemies are doing purposely to carry on their Ends. When the Enemies are blowing with all their might to make the furnace burn hot that the mettal as they suppose and intend may be wholly consumed the Lord by that same meanes is infallibly bringing about His Ends and accomplishing His designes to wit to purge the mettal and take away the drosse By what the Assyrian was doing in prosecution of his Ends to wit to destroy and cut off nations not a few Esai 10. vers 7. The Lord was performing his whole work upon mount Zion and Ierusalem Vers. 12. and what was this but to purge away iniquity and to take away sin Esai 27. vers 9 to chasten and punish for correction and amendement Ier. 30 11. and 46 28. 13. Herein also appeareth the Lord's over-ruling hand that while possibly the trouble is in its greatest strength and Enemies are swelling in their pride and thinking their contrivances cannot fail their plots and designes are laid so deep and so sure that they cannot misgive even then the Lord will make a door of outgate appear unto his people and give some foreruning tokens of the dawning of a fair day even then He will make a way for an escape that they may be able to bear it 1 Cor. 10. vers 13. 14. Lastly His hand appeareth herein that in due time He putteth a period to the trial and trouble by delivering his people out of them all Psal. 34. vers 7 17 19. He will not suffer the rod of the wicked to rest alwayes on the back of the righteous Psal. 125. vers 3. He will not contend for ever lest the spirits should fail before him and the souls which he hath made Esai 57. vers 16. He will keep His people no longer under Physick than He seeth necessary and therefore it is but for a season that his people are in heaviness 1 Pet. 1. vers 6. Enemies think to keep the people of God at under for ever but the Lord 's supream over-ruling hand appeareth here that He hath limited the duration of the trial and trouble to Ten dayes Revel 2. vers 10. He hath limited the rage of Enemies to an hour a day a moneth and a year Revel 9. vers 15. And the treading of the holy city under foot to 42 moneths Revel 11 2. And when the Lord's time cometh all the power and malice of the Enemies will not be able to hinder the delivery and how little so ever His own people look for it yet He will work it so that though there be scarce faith
8. We are troubled on every side yet not distressed we are perplexed but not in despair persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroyed 4. Their Impatience is likewise occasioned by considering that their Trouble and Affliction is still growing when they supposed that it should have decreased But the right Improvement of this Truth would frame the Soul for patience notwithstanding hereof because the beleever would see ground to say grow as it will the hand of the Lord is about it it will grow to no greater height than he seeth good let Enemies blow at the fire as fast and with as great earnestness as they will the furnace shall be no hoter than the Supream Master and Over-ruler of all seeth fit for the ends He intendeth He knoweth the nature of the mettall and how hote a fire will serve the turn to purge it 5. This also raiseth impatient thoughts in their heart That they can see no appearance of an outgate all doores are so shut that no hope appeareth thus was it with Iob therefore hath he many such expressions as Chap. 7. vers 6. My daies are swifter than a weavers shuttle and are spent without hope Vers. 7. Mine eye shall no more see good Vers. 8. The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more But this Impatience would evanish if this were beleeved That the Lord's hand were in and about the affliction making a faire way to a saife escape and at length in his own due time putting a period to the Trouble when his work is finished the end He designed attained and if it were firmly beleeved that let Enemies make all as sure as they can and rage as they will they shall not be able to keep them longer under their yron harrowes than He seeth good no not one day nor an houre 3. The right improvement of this Consideration would help unto an holy and sweet Submission and cause us say with David Psal. 39. vers 9. I was dumb not opening my mouth because thou didst it When Aaron met with a sad dispensation two of his prime sones Nadab and Abihu were taken away in the fiour of their age and that in a very terrible manner by fire from heaven for their rashness and when Moses told him Levit. 10. vers 3. That this was it which the Lord spoke saying I will be sanctified of all them that come neer me it is said of him And Aaron held his peace A sight of the hand of God though in a terrible manner in that dispensation made him lay his hand upon his mouth and sit silent in the dust He had not one word to say So that a sight of the hand of God in the dispensation ordering all things in it would help them unto a Christian yea unto a cheerful Submission It would not be patience by force but an hearty willing cheerful choosing bearing and embracing of that lot because bound on their back by the hand of God Shall we not drink would they say this potion with delight that God hath prepared and carefully made up for us He knoweth what is best for us Shall we not willingly lye under the crosse that God hath tyed upon us when He knoweth what He is doing and what we must not want and will not sufler us to be temâ—…ted above what we are able When His good time is come there will be an end and all the power of Enemies shall not obstruct our Delivery The Church Micah 7. vers 9. could sweetly sit down and bear the indignation of the Lord when by faith she could say Rejoice not against me O mine Enemie when I fall I shall arise when I sit in darkness the Lord shall be alight unto me He will bring me forth to the light and I shall behold his righteousness V. 8 9. 4. The beleeving improvment of this would keep the beleever from fainting and sincking through discouragment many thoughts come into the minde while affliction is lying on their loines and Satan can suggest many things at that time to cause the poor man succumb while under the load but the faith of God's Soveraigne and Absolute O dering of all things in and about the Trouble according to his own mind would keep up their head and preserve them from a sinful and shamful fainting They look too much to instruments and pore too much upon their Nature Disposition Activity Power Wisdom Wickedness Maliciousness Rage Cruelty and Indefatigableness and forget that they are but under agents and can do nothing but as the Supream God Willeth Ordert he Disposeth and Permitteth and that He alone Over-ruleth all Moderateth and Ordereth all according to His own mind and for His own holy ends So that they cannot do any thing whether as to the Substance or as to the Circumstances of the affliction but as He who is the Supream Master of work is pleased to suffer and give way unto 5. The beleeving thoughts of this Truth would keep the Soul from that dreadful sin of Murmuring against the Lord upon occasion of any Trouble or Distress he meeteth with It is the Lord would the Soul say and who am I that I should quarrel with Him He is ordering disposing and moderating all that under agents and lixes are doing so that all things are done as He will and shall I yet be displeased and quarrelsome Enemies cannot get their will They are over-ruled in all their Consultations Projects Contrivances bloudy Resolutions and cruel Executions matters go not as they will but as He will who is over them and why then should I murmure and repine against Him 6. This would also airth the Eyes of the soul towards the right object in a day of Trouble They would not with Heathens look to chance or fortune as ruling and ordering all nor would they with the carnal multitude fâ—…x their eye upon the instruments and run with the dog to the stone that is cast at him but would see another more noble object of their sight to wit the Principal Agent Mover and Orderer of all in whose hand the wicked are as the ax and saw in the hand of the workman and as the rod in the hand of the father and this sight would help unto a Spiritual Christian frame of Godly fear Subjection of Soul and would put the soul in case to observe the Wisdom Soveraignity and absolute Dominion of God doing what He will frustrating the toakens of the liars and disappointing the craftie devices of wicked men as also this sight would minde the man of Christian duties of searching his wayes repenting of his sinnes and turning againe to the Lord for he would see it was the Lord with whom he had to do He would look for his Outgate and Salvation from God alone so that his Faith his Hope and his Confidence would be in the Lord alone His eye being fixed on this object he would not see cause of troublâ—…ng himself much about-Enemies
doth the Lord make a sweet promise of this for the Comfort of His people Hos. 13 v. 10. I will be thy King Whereby we see that there is such a relation betwixt God and His People that will yeeld Comfort in an evil day 2. He is not a King that is far off but is neer at hand in the midst of His Kingdome and People And this is also comfortable Kingdomes may have a King and yet be little the better of Him he may be far away and unable to help them in the day of their greatest necessity But it is not so with Zions King He is alwayes at hand in the middest of His People He is established King in Zion Psal. 2 v. 6. Yet I have set my King saith the Father of His Son the Mediator upon my holy hill Zion His whole Kingdome is as it were his Throne and there He sitteth as King on his Throne and He is placed and fixed there by a sure and unchangable Decree That question of Ieremiah Chap. 8 v. 19. putteth the matter out of question Is not the Lord in Zion Is not her King in her So Ps. 99 2. The Lord is great in Zion Zions King then is a great King in the midst of her 3. Zions King is a King actually reigning upon His Throne and exercising His Kingly Office not like a King imprisoned or put out of a capacity of helping or releiving his distressed Subjects for He reigneth Psal. 93 v. 1. and 97 1. and 99 v. 1. It is the bringing of good tidings the publishing of Peace the bringing of good tidings of good the publishing of Salvation to say unto Zion Thy God reigneth Esai 52 v. 7. Zions King is not a King outted and dethroned but actually reigning and sweying His Scepter exerceing His Kingly Office and Government 4. Zions King is an everlasting King He shall reigne for ever and ever He cannot be dethroned He must reigne until all His Enemies be made His footstool 1 Cor. 15 v. 25. for He is settled on His throne by an everlasting and unchangable decree Ps. 2 v. 6 7. And therefore He is called the King eternal 1 Tim. 1 17. That is a sweet and comfortable Word of Promise Ps. 146 v. 10. The Lord shall reigne for ever even thy God O Zion unto all generations Micah 4 7. And the Lord shall reigne over them in mount Zion from hence forth even for ever Psal. 10 v. 6. The Lord is King for ever and ever And Psal. 45 6. Thy Throne ô God is for ever ever Ier. 10 10. The Lord is an everlasting King and so His Kingdome is an everlasting Kingdom for it is said Luk. 1 33. He shall reigne over the House of Iacob for ever and of His Kingdome there shall be no end So Revel 11 15. And the Seventh Angel sounded and there were great voices in Heaven saying the Kingdomes of this world are become the Kingdomes of the Lord and of his Christ and He shall reigne for ever and ever 5. Not onely doth this King reigne in the midst of Zion His Kingdome and Throne but He ruleth in the midst of His Enemies Psal. 110 2. This is advantagious and comfortable For He can reach them a blow when He will And all their Consultations and Cabinet Counsels are well known to Him He ruleth in the midst of them and over-ruleth all their Plots and Actions as He seeth good is working out His own holy ends and designes by what they are doing Hence it followeth ver 5 6. That He shall strike thorow Kings in the day of His wrath He shall judge among the Heathen He shall fill the places with the dead bodies He shall wound the heads over many Countries Other Kings must make use of Spies and Intelligencers to know the purposes and motions of their Enemies and after all their paines remaine ignorant or if they come to some knowledge thereof be unable to prevent the mischiefe designed But this King ruleth as Commander in chiefe among the very Enemies though they know it not 6. This King of Zion is a mighty and great King He is excellent in Power Majesty and therefore is stiled King of Kings Revel 17 14. He is the blessed and only Potentat the King of Kings and Lord of Lords 1 Tim. 6 15. He hath on His thigh and on his Vesture a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revel 19 16. And therefore by Him Princes rule and all the Iudges of the earth vers 16. He is a King therefore endued with Supream Power and Authority higher than the Kings of the earth whose petty Soveraignity is as nothing compared with His. 7. As He is a Mighty and Powerful King so is He a Righteous and just King He shall reigne in righteousness Esai 32 1. The scepter of His Kingdome is a right scepter Psal. 45 6. He loveth righteousness and hateth wickedness vers 7. just and true are all His wayes who is King of Saints Revel 15 3. Righteousness and judgment are the habitation of His throne Psal. 97 2. Yea the King's strength loveth judgment He establisheth equity He executeth judgment and equity in Iacob Psal. 99 4. His strength and Power needeth not be terrible unto his Subjects for His throne is a throne of judgement and His scepter is a scepter of Righteousness All His Regalia have this engraven on them to the great comfort of His Subjects 8. He is a King that is clothed with Majestie and Terrour and so is able to affright and strike terrour in the heart of the greatest proudest Adversaries The Lord reigneth and He is clothed with Majesty Psal 93 1. This mighty one girdeth His sword on His thigh marcheth with Glory and Majesty and in Majesty he rideth prosperously Psal 45 3 4 5. The Lord is great in Zion and He is high above all people and His name is great and terrible Psal. 99 2 3. Clouds and darkness are round about Him a fire goeth before Him His lightnings enlightned the world the earth saw and trembled the hils melted like wax at the presence of the Lord at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth Psal. 97 vers 2 3 4 5. What Enemie then is able to withstand or resist this Potentat 9. He is a King thorowly fournished with all Enduements and necessarie Qualifications for the Exercise of this His Government Grace is poured into his lips and He is anoynted with the oile of gladness above His fellowes Psal. 45 2 7. In Him are hid all the treasurers of wisdom and knowledge yea in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily Col. 2 3 9. He is then a Compleet King fully able to administrate this Kingly Office and to performe all Acts belonging thereunto in truth and faithfulness and in due season 10. As he is a King terrible unto the Kings of the earth Psal. 76 12. and is clothed with Majestie and Power so is He a King
46 5. It is promised Mic. 4 7. That the Lord shall reigne over them in mount Zion and what followeth And thou ô Toure of the Flock vers 8. the strong hold of the Daughter of Zion unto thee shall it come even the first Dominion the Kingdome shall come to the Daughter of Ierusalem 5. Though it frequently come to passe that God's people are brought low and Enemies get the upper hand yet Zion's King liveth and therefore He will Assemble her that halteth and will gather her that is driven out and her that have been afflicted and make her that halteth a remnant her that was cast off a strong Nation Mica 4 6 7. Because He liveth His members must live also Seing the Churches Head is above the water she cannot drown Wherefore upon this very ground that Zions King liveth and reigneth His Church and People even while low and under the feet of Enemies may lift up their head in hop and be sure that their day of redemption draweth neer and they may conclude with the Church Esai 33 22. The Lord is our judge the Lord is our King He will save us Seing He is King He can command deliverance Psal. 44. 4. and work Salvation Psal. 74 12. Upon this ground David inferreth a Delivery and a Victory Psal. 10 v. 16. The Lord is King for ever and ever the heathen are perished out of his land Enemies will not be able to stand long in Immanuel's Land It is His work as King to deliver and defend His Subjects and they may be sure He will not deny Himself He will answere â—…is Title and Relation 6. When His people see that all their Strength is gone and that there is none shut up or left they are ready to conclude that all is gone But what cannot this King in Zion soon leavy an Army How easie is it for Him to speak to dry bones and make them armed men Ezek. 37. When mention was made of this Ruler in Israel whose goings forth were from of old and who should stand and feed in the strength of the Lord in the Majesty of the Name of the Lord His God Micah 5 4. It is added This man shall be the peace when the Assyrian shall come into our Land and when he shall trade in our Palaces then shall we raise against him Seven shepherds and eight Principal men and they shall waste the Land of Assyria with the sword and the Land of Nimrod in the entrance thereof Thus shall He deliver us from the Assyrian when he cometh into our Land and treadeth within our borders And the remnant of Iacob shall be among the Gentils in the midst of many people as a Lion among the beasts of the forest as the young Lion among the Flocks of sheep Thine hand shall be lift up upon thine Adversaries and all thine enemies shall be cut off vers 5 6 7 8 9. When His people are brought very low so that in all probability they shall not be able to raise up themselves then this King can help the business He can raise up an invincible army out of lame sick souldiers He can make Ierusalem a cup of trembling and a burdensome stone for all people Zech. 12 2 3. He can make the Governours of Iudah like on hearth of fire among the wood and like a toarch of fire in a sheaf and they shall devoure all the people round about on the right hand on the left ver 5. He can make Him that is feeble among them like David and the house of David as God as an Angel of the Lord before them v. 8. Out of Him cometh the corner out of Him cometh the nail out of him the battel bow and He can make them to be as mighty men which tread down as the mire of the street in the battel and He can strengthen the house of Iudah Zech 10 4 5 6. He can bend Iudah for himself and fill the bow with Ephraim raise up Zions sones against their Enemies Zech. 9 13 He can make poor worm Iacob a new sharp threshing Instrument having teeth and say to them thou shalt thresh the mountains and beat them small and shall make the hils as chaff c. Esai 41 14 15. 7. This Consideration speaketh dread and terrour unto Enemies for He is a King that is terrible to the Kings of the earth He maketh the Earth and the heavens to tremble the hils melt and quake before him what then can weak man do What will they be in the hands of the Almighty who shaketh Nations The Lord reigneth Let the earth tremble He sitteth between the Cherubims Let the earth be moved Psal. 99 1. At the wrath of this everlasting King the earth shall tremble and the Nations shall not be able to abide his Indignation Ier. 10 10. Where then shall His Enemies stand in the day of His Indignation We are oft afraid of the terrour of Enemies but saw we Him who is our King we would see that our Enemies had more cause to be afraid of Him who is clothed with Majestie there goeth a smoak out of his nostrils and fire out of His mouth devoureth and coals are kindled by it Psal. 18 vers 8. Read what followeth 8. When we are thinking on the Wit Skil and Activity of the Adversaries let us call to mind that our King is infinitly beyond them He searcheth the heart and tryeth the reines He knoweth the thoughts afar off He is privie to all the motions of Adversaries He knoweth when they march and when and where they halt Esai 10 28 29. See what is said of our King Esai 11 2 3. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the Spirit of Wisdom Understanding the Spirit of Counsel and Might the Spirit of Knowledge and of the Fear of the Lord and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord. Though the Adversaries should soon out-wit us yet they will not be able to out-wit Him who is our King for the treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge are in Him So that it is an easie business for Him to countermine all their Plots and Machinations He hath formed all their hearts and so He knoweth what is in their hearts Nothing can be hid from Him His very eye-lids try the Children of Men Psal. 11 4. Wherefore when we are at a non-plus and know not what to do this may comfort us and compose our Spirits our King knoweth very well how to carry on his own Contrivances glorious Projects So that when we are blinde we are to look to Him who knoweth what to do when we know not what to do and let Him alone with His own work 9. It is sad when the Children of God are wronged and cannot get faire Justice wickedness is to be seen in the place of judgment and iniquity in the place of righteousness Eccles. 3 v. 16. judgment is turned away backward and Justice standeth afar off for truth
with their mouth smooth words smoother than butter and softer than oile when war is in their heart drawn swords Psal. 55 21. would not appear But when the Lord hideth himself and goeth out of sight then they say as it is Psal. 71 11. God hath forsaken him persecute and take him for there is none to deliver Because they say in their heart God hath forgotten he hideth his face he will never see therefore their mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud under their tongue is mischiefe and vanity they sit in the lurking places of the villages in the secret places do they murder the innocent their eyes are privily set against the poor c. Psalm 10 vers 8 9 10 11. 2. The Lord maketh choise of this manner of way of appearing and working for His people that Enemies may be judicially hardened in their wicked course of opposition to His Interest and People so fitted for the fatal blow of God's Justice As it was with Pharaoh when the plagues were taken off and God's terrour removed out of sight he became alwayes thereupon more hardened in his wickedness against God and His people and thereafter when he saw that the people of Israel were ensnared betwixt mountains and the sea and so judged that God had left them or could not helpe them then his heart was hardened unto a peremptory resolution to pursue and take them even through the red sea and there the wrath of God fell upon him and all his army 3. The Lord carrieth on His work thus that the ruine of the enemies may be the more signal and remarkable and the hand of God manifestly seen therein when they are puft up with pride and think no hand can reach them they are beyond all hazard no appearance is there of any thing that can put the least demurre unto their wicked proceedings The blow becometh the more remarkable them ore surprizing and unexpected that it is Such was that fatal blow that came on Pharaoh and his hoste and on Belshazzar when ravelling with his Nobles Wives and Concubines and profaning the holy vessels of the house of the Lord Dan. 5. 4. The Lord thinketh good to follow this way That He may the more observably fill the faces of his Enemies with shame and confusion therefore he he will suffer them to carry on their designes to lay their mines close to prepare all so that nothing may seem to remaine but putting fire to the traine that they may blow up the Interest and People of God in a moment and when they think all is ready give them a fearful disappointment and withal let them see that He who is the watchman of Israel hath seen what they have been doing all that time in secret and hath been counter-working their devices and undermineing their mines when he shall cause their mine spring back upon themselves and thus cover their faces with shame and confusion when they shall see that it is the hand of God that hath done it defeating their plots and devices which were laid and carried-on with such secrecy and with such providential foresight and rational security that nothing but the immediat hand of God could frustrat and defeate them Was it not so with Hamans device and bloody plot to cut off all the Iewes And how shamfully came he off Thus the Lord destroyeth the wisdom of the wise Esai 29 14. 5. The Lord taketh this way to the end He may shame if it can be those enemies from their wicked atheistical thoughts concerning Him that they may know that there is a God that ruleth in the earth a God that careth for His people watcheth over his Inheritance or else they may be rendered the more inexcusable in the day of their appearance before God Thus the Lord will consume such as belch out with their mouth have swords in their lips and say who doth hear That they may know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of Earth Psal. 59 7 13. An eminent place for this we have Esai 49. The Lord hid Himself so that his people became a prey and were captives yet saith the Lord vers 24 25 26. Shall the prey be taken from the mighty or the lawful captive delivered But thus saith the Lord even the Captives of the mighty shall be taken away and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered c. And what then And all flesh shall know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer the mighty one of Iacoh 6. The Lord thinketh fit to follow this way that hypocrites and such as are not heart friends to Him His cause may be discovered may fall off and so appear to be what indeed they are If the Lord were alwayes appearing for His people when ever they began to be in a straite and visibly making bare His arme in their behalfe many hollow hearted false friends would take part with them and stay among them and seem to love and favoure them Therefore that they may be made manifest the Lord hideth himself and appeareth not so openly for his friends but suffereth them to fall under the feet of enemies who oppress them and all that take their part which occasioneth their stepping aside turning away from the Truth as not being reconciled with the crosse nor loving Christ and his People so as to take a share with them in the Affliction and Bondage How many who appeared zealous in a faire day will turn about and side with wicked and evil doers to be free of the crosse and when they see no foot-steps more of the Lords appearing for his Work and Interest On the other hand in the third place the Lord thinks good to follow this way for some good ends in reference to His own people As 1. The Lord doth thus that he may discover the hid Corruption that lurketh in His own people which in a fair day when He is upon their head marching through the host of the Enemie and tradeing them under foot who oppressed His people and keept them at under will lye at the bottome and not appear As 1. Vnbeleefe when the arme of the Lord is revealed they cannot then but beleeve That He is the Lord and the God of his people they cannot then have the least doubt about this But many Doubts Questions Scruples and Hesitations will arise in their soul when the Lord's face is hid and He appeareth not in behalfe of His Afflicted People and Interest The Disciples did openly enough professe their faith in Christ as the Messiah the Son of the living God while was with them He working miracles before their eyes but when once he was crucified dead and buried Thomas would not beleeve no not though the other Disciples had told him that they had seen the Lord nor would he beleeve as he said expresly himself unless he should see in his hand the print of the nails and put his finger in the
thus hate Him and corrupt His Ordinances This was also given as a cause of the destruction that came on this People 2 Chron. 36 v. 14. They polluted the House of the Lord which He had hallowed in Jerusalem So Ezek. 5 vers 11. it was threatned Wherefore as I live saith the Lord God surely because thou hast defiled my Sanctuary with all thy detestable things and with all thine abominations therefore will I also diminish thee neither shall mine eye sparer neither will I have pity See also the following Verses where the dreadfulness of the blow is laid forth yea saith he Vers 13. thus shall mine anger be accomplished and I will cause my fury to rest upon them and I will be comforted And all is sealed in end Vers 17. with this I the Lord have spoken it So Ezek. 7 vers 20. As for the beauty of his Ornament he set it in Majesty But they made the Images of their Abominations and of their detestable things therein This was their sin and what followeth Therefore have I set it far from them or made it unto them an unclean thing And further in the following Verses He threatneth to give it into the hands of strangers for a prey and to robbers who shall defile it c. See likewise Chapt. 8. throughout and Chap. 23 vers 38 39 So Jerem. 9 vers 12 13 c. The Land was perishing and was burnt up like a Wilderness that none passeth thorow And wherefore was this Because saith the Lord they have forsaken my law which I set before them and have not obeyed my voice neither walked therein but have walked after the imagination of their own heart and after Baalim which their Fathers taught them c. 4. When a land or Church maketh defection from God apostatizeth breaketh wedlock renounceth their Covenant relation then a sword is to be expected wherewith the Lord shall avenge the quarrel of His Covenant Levit 26 25. there is ground to fear that judgment shall inevitably overtake such sinners For thus was it with this people of Judah Ier. 2 9 10. 11 12 13. So Ier. 4 16 17 18. They had forsaken God and rebelled against Him and therefore came destruction upon destruction v. 28. and Ier. 11 10. Because they brake God's Covenant which He had made with their Fathers Therefore v. 11. He threatned to bring evil upon them which they should not be able to escape and that He would not Hearken though they should cry unto Him And then followeth vers 14. Therefore pray not thou for this people c. So Ier. 22 6 7. The Lord threatned to make them a wilderness and Cities not inhabited in so much that Nations shall be astonished and enquire what can be the cause of this And the answere they shall receive is this v. 9. Because they â—…ave forsaken the Covenant of the Lord their God and wâ—…rshipped other Gods srved them And in this same place Ier. 15 6. it is said Thou hast forsaken me saith the Lord thou art gone backward therefore will I stretch out mine hand against thee destroy thee I am weary with repenting See what was threatned for breach of Covenant Ier. 34 v. 17 18 19 20. The Lord said He would proclame a liberty to the sword to the pestilence and to the famine and would make them to be removed into all the Kingdomes of the earth and give all ranks among them into the hands of their Enemies and give their dead bodies to be meat unto the fowls of heaven and to the beasts of the earth We see Ezek. 16. how the Lord deduceth along process against them and proveth them to have plaid the harlot and that in a most impudent manner And how therefore he saith that He will judge her as a woman that breaketh wedlock v. 38. make his fury towards them to rest and his jealousie shall depart and He will be quiet vers 42. and againe v. 59. He saith I will even deal with thee as thou hast done which hast despised the oath in breaking the Covenant See the like charged upon Israel as the ground of their desolation Hos. 4 12 13 14. 5 4 5 6 7. 8 1 2 9 1 2 3. 13 16. 5. When this Defection and Apostasie from God in the matter of Religion is accompanied with gross immoralities fearful sins against the Second table of the Law which the very light of Nature condemneth then may the guilty fear an unavoidable stroke a blow of justice that shall not be evited for the Lord will not have it said or supposed by strangers that He will bear with gross impieties in His own professed people and suffer them to exceed the heathen in wickedness without control or punishment We see this people of Judah upon whom inevitable ruine was coming were charged likewise with many gross and hainous impieties Ier. 5 26 27 28 29. There vvere among them wicked men they did lay waite as such as laid snares they set a trap they watched men their houses were full of deceit yea they did overpasse the deeds of the wicked thereupon it followeth v. 29 Shall I not visite for these things saith the Lord Shall not my soul be avenged of such a Nation as this So Ier. 9 1. They were all adulterers an assembly of treacherous men they bend their tongues for lies like bowes they did proceed from evil to evil they taught their tongues to speak lies and deceived their Neighbours they spoke peacably but in heart they did lay wait Therefore it is added v. 9. Shall I not visite them for these things c. So Jer. 21 12. O house of David thus saiâ—…h the Lord execute judgement in the morning and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressour lâ—…st my fury go out like fire and burn that none can quench it because of the evil of your doings These things were neglected by them and therefore wrath came upon them at length and there was no remedie Jer. 22 3 4 5 6. And the Prophet Ezekiel hath the same charge against this people Chap. 5 5 6. They changed Gods judgments into wickedness more than the Nations and his statutes more than the Countreys And therefore the Lord threatned v. 8 9 10. to execute judgment in the midst of them and to do that unto them which He had not done before and the like whereof He would not do any more He would bring on them an unexemplified stroke and a stroke that should not have a parallel And againe Chap. 9 9 10. The iniquity of the house of Israel and of Judah is exceeding great and the Land is full of blood and the city full of perversness And therefore it is added mine eye shall not spare neither will I have pity but I will recompense their way upon their head Therefore was it that commission was given to the Lord's executioners to go thorow and slay Old and young
and through Him expect to be accepted of the Father in the discharge of the duty CONSIDERATION X. Afflictions are all ruled and over-ruled by a good hand of Providence which is alwayes in and about them MAny a time the Beleever when swiming thorow a sea of trouble and afflic tion and finding no sensible in-come of reliefe or mitigation of the calamity cryeth out with the Church Esai 49. vers 14. The Lord hath forsaken me and my God bath forgotten me And as it is Esai 40. v 27. My way is hid from the Lord. He hath left me alone in this sea of trouble as forgetting that I am into this wrestling and fighting postoure He hath turned his back upon me and seemeth unconcerned with all that is come upon me and yet is lying heavy on me He considereth neither my weakness nor the strength and violence of the Temptation under which I am and which is like to overwhelme me Hence he crieth out with David Psal. 31. vers 12. I am forgotten as a dead man out of minde And againe Psal. 42. vers 9. Why hast thou forgotten me It is certaine such sad complaints are not altogether justifiable as they proceed from men in whom is so much corruption and unbeleef though in our blessed Lord while on the cross such a sentence as My God my God why hast thou forsaken me was free of all mud or unbelief for though they express the ardencie of their desires to have the Lord smiling upon them yet there is some admixture of dross in them and they hint at least that they apprehend God is at a distance taking little notice of them or of their present condition but withdrawing his helping hand or delaying to send reliefe as not careing how great their Affliction be or how their Enemies trade them under foot Hence we see what corruptions are ready to stirre and work in the beleever at such a time And the faith of God's being alwayes present with them while under the trial and ordering all things in the dispensation with a fatherly care and tenderness would comfort them and ease their mind in the saddest of their distress It may therefore be of use to speak a little unto this Consideration In order therefore to the clearing-up of this Consideration for the end intended we shall 1. Show that the Lord indeed hath an high and holy hand in all such dispensations as prove sad and grievous afflictions unto the godly 2. We shall endeavoure to explaine and clear how and what way the hand of the Lord is in and about these afflictions only with an eye to our present designe 3. We shall briefly pointe-out the way how this Consideration should be improven in the time of Affliction and Tribulation As to the first That God hath an holy and high over ruling hand in and over the afflictions and crosses that his people meet with This is past all doubt and disput as to some of them such as poverty through God's immediat hand blasting mens labours and endeavours or taking away their goods by sea or by fire or destroying their cattel by death and sickness upon their bodies or death of friends and relations and the like In such every one will grant that God hath an hand and every wise Christian will look upon them as the Centurion that great Beleever did Mat. 8. vers 8 9. as God's Servants and Souldiers under his command and Authority to go and return as He enjoineth But as to other afflictions brought about by the Instruments and Under-agents of Satan maliciously set to persecute the Godly in their Name Liberty Goods Life or Conscience though none of Gods Children when they are in their right mindes at themselves will deny the Soveraigne over ruling hand of Providence yet while under Temptation wrestling with the calamity they will be found too ready to think and speak that which is not very consistent with the lively faith and perswasion of this Soveraigne Truth we shall therefore in a few words confirme it from the Scriptures 1. We finde that the Godly have looked on these sad afflictions brought about by wicked hands out of wicked purposes and designes as coming from God principally and have eyed God as having a principal holy hand in the same The affliction that Ioseph met with was sad when he was sold by his own Brethren though it was they that had sold him that out of wickedness and maice yet he saith Gen. 45 8. to them It was not you that sent me hither but God He saw the Lord to be the principal disposer of all therefore saith Gen. 45 5. God sent me before you to preserve life And againe Gen. 50. vers 26. But as for you ye thought evil against me God meant it unto God to bring to passe as it is this day to save much people alive It was likewise a great affliction to David to be scourged with the tratorous tongue of Shimei railing upon him when he was flying from the face of his Son Absalom and calling him a Man of blood a Man of Belial and saying to him the Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul in whose stead thou hast reigned And behold thou art taken to thy mischiefe because thou art a bloody man 2. Sam. 16 5 6 7 8. Yet holy David observed an higher hand in all this and therefore said Vers. 10. Solet him curse because the Lord hath said unto him curse David Who shall then say wherefore hast thou done so And Vers. 11. againe Let him alone and let him curse for the Lord hath bidden him He taketh up God's hand in the business as principally ordering the matter So Iob when the Sabeans and Caldeans had robbed him of his goods said nevertheless Iob 1. vers 21. Naked came I out of my Mothers womb and naked shall I return thither the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the name of the Lord He looketh over Instruments and seeth above them an higher hand over-ruling all and ordering all according to His soveraigne will and pleasure See also Ps. 44. v. 11 12. and 89 39. 2. The Lord himself by his Prophets signifieth so much and as it were looketh upon the deed of these wicked Instruments as His own because of His principal holy hand therein ordering all to His own holy ends Thus he saith by Amos 3 6. Shall there be evil in the city and the Lord hath not done it So Esai 45. vers 7. I forme light and creat darkness I make peace and creat evil I the Lord do all these things Darkness then and evil and sad dispensations are from the Lord Creator He formeth and maketh these things according to his own mind Likwise Ier. 18 11. Thus saith the Lord behold I frame evil against you and devise a devise against you A remarkable passage we have 2. Sam. 12 vers 11 12. Thus saith the Lord behold
Power thereunto but that in his active providence He hath such a soveraigne and supream hand and all these wicked agents do so depend upon Him as they cannot stirr or move till he give as it were the signe and a Providential call and commission as souldiers can not set upon a Citie or the Enemie or give an assault or charge untill the General give the word of command Thus the Lord behoved to say to Satan ere he could trouble Iob Behold all that he hath is in thy power and againe Behold he is in thy hand Iob 1. vers 12. and 2. vers 6. This is it which David's words concerning Shimei import when he said The Lord hath said unto him curse David The lying Spirit in the mouth of Ahab's false Prophets could not go forth to deceive Ahab that he might fall at Ramoth Gilead till the Lord had said Thou shalt perswade him and prevail also go forth and do so 1 King 22 22. 3. There is the Lord 's fitting as it were and qualifying them for the work by so ordering things in his Holy and Soveraigne Providence that they are enabled to carry on their purposes and to do what they are imployed in and to performe the work they are set about Absalom could not have been such a crosse and plague to his father David as to chase him from his Throne and Kingdom unless he had gote the power of the Countrey upon his side and such a numerous army to back him and whence was this but from the Lord in his holy Justice and Soveraignity Nebuchadnezar could not have been the hammer of the earth if the Lord in his holy Providence had not given him great power and might for that end Hence Christ said to Pilat Ioh. 19. vers 11. Thou couldest have no power at all against me except it were given thee from above Pilat was boasting of his power and place and supposed that he could do what he pleased and that he had full power over Christ to crucifie him or to set him at liberty as he pleased but he boasted of that which he was not Master of for Christ â—…els him whence his power came and that he had no more than the Supream Lord and Governour the absolute Disposer of all things was pleased to grant 4. There is the Lord 's ordering and fixing the Beginning of the Trouble which neceâ—…sarily followeth upon the foregoing Acts so as the Enemies for all their heat and rage cannot touch one hair of God's Children nor work them the least trouble before the time come that the Lord hath appointed and that He as it were appoint them to beginne and give the signe The wicked are as so many rampant and devouring lions longing earnestly for their prey but God hath them so chained and muzzled that they can neither bark nor bite till He give way Early did Herod beginne to seek the life of our Lord Jesus while He was but a childe in the swedling clothes and oft did his Enemies attempt his hurt and seek advantage against Him but all in vaine for his houre was not yet come Hence it was that when the Pharisees told him that Herod was seeking his life He answered Luk. 13. vers 32 33. Go tell that fox behold I cast out Devils and do cures to day and to morrow and the third day I shall â—…e perfected Nevertheless I must walk to day and to morrow and the day following for it cannot be that a Prophet perish out of Ierusalem Jesus Christ the angel that ascended in vision to Iohn Revel 7. vers 2 3. from the East having the sâ—…al of the livâ—…ng God cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was given to hurt the Earth and the Sea sâ—…ying hurt not the earth neither the sea nor the trees till wâ—… have sealed the servants of our God So that there is a restraining power keeping up from hurting untill the set time come 5. There is the Lord 's determining and specifying the nature and kinde of the Trouble with which His people must be exercised and herein His determining and ordering Providence appeareth The Enemie would be at death and no less will satisfie them but He will order it so that they shall not get their will therefore will suffer them to do no more than to cast the man in prison or confine him or fine him and spoile him of his goods The Devil would have been at no less than Iob's life when he said Iob 2. vers 4. Skin for skin yea all that a man hath will â—…e give for his life But the Lord would not grant this but said save his life Vers. 6. And suffered him only to smite him with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown 6. There is the Lord 's careful Providential measuring-out the quantity of the Trouble like a faithful and painful Physician who will himself measure the quantity of the physick he is to prescribe unto his dear Son or Daughter and will not commit it unto the Apothecary who possibly may more consult his own advantage than the good of the patient Our Lord weigheth the affliction in his own just ballances Enemies may think to ruine and undo all but our God who setteth bounds to the sea limiteth their rage and will suffer them to do no more than He thinketh good The plowers plow and make long their furrowes upon the back of God's People and many a time they afflict them yet they prevail not against them why the Lord cuts asunder the cords of the wicked Psal. 129 1 2 3 4. 7. The Lord's hand of Providence appeareth in mixing together the several ingredients that make up their cup of affliction Mâ—…ny a time the Lords people have a complicated crosse as we see in Ioâ—… David Heman and others and it is the Lord who weaveth and warpeth these crosses together Satan and his Instruments are but His drudges blowing at the furnace and therefore tâ—…e Godly fixe their eye mainly upon God as knowing that He ordereth all to his own mind and no one ingredient more can be put into their cup than He will 8. The hand of the Lord appeareth in his suiting the Trouble or Calamity unto their case and necessity As a wise Physician considereth the Temper and Constitution of the patient and taketh special notice of the nature of the disease and accordingly frameth the Medicine So the Lord considereth the caâ—…e of his people and what humores and corruptions are most predominant in their souls and accordingly ordereth and prepareth such medicinal afflictions as are fittest to purge-out these peccant humores and hence there is a necessity for such sharpe Medicines as the Lord maketh use of 1 Pet. 1. vers 6 Wherein â—…egreatly rejoice though now for a season if need be ye are in â—…eaviness through manifold temptations Heaviness or Sadness through temptations and manifold temptations was necessary to their condition The Lord saw
upon the Earth yet He will come and perfect what He hath intended We come now to speak a little to the 3 particular to wit To shew how this Consideration may and ought to be improven to advantage in a time of affliction And 1. The faith and right thoughts of this Truth That the Lord ruleth and over-ruleth all that the wicked are devising and executing according to their own lust and rage to afflict persecute and destroy His people according to His own mind would yeeld comfort and encouragment unto His people be their trouble what it would In a time of Trouble there are several thoughts that come in the minde of His people which occasion Discouragment and Sorrow all which this Consideration of God's over-ruling hand if rightly improven would either prevent or keep them from the hurt of so that notwithstanding of these they were in case to rejoice and to sing as 1. When they think upon the Instruments of their calamitie they are ready to pore too much on them and to look upon them as if there were none above them to marshal and order them to command and over-rule them as people are terrified by souldiers that are under no Command or Discipline and expect no pity or favour from them But the faith of God's being above their heads to over-see and over-awe them would free the Child of God from this discouragment He would not be so cast down and affrighted if he beleeved that God hath all these wicked Instruments more under his command than the best disciplin'd souldiers are under the Command of the most strick and awfull General that ever was These Instruments cannot move a finger without God Souldiers when out of the sight of their Commanders may do much mischiefe and their Commanders cannot hinder it because they know not of it But neither Devils nor the most wicked of his Instruments can move one haire of God's people till the Lord give way and permit it to be done He must first loose the raignes or they cannot move a foot because they are chained hand foot in the chaines of his Providence yea their very tongue is chained that they cannot so much as curse or reproach any of His people untill the Lord loose their tongues and say as it were go curse and raile upon such an one 2. When they observe the Confusion Irregularity Brutishness and Unreasonableness of these Enemies in their way and actions they are ready to think that God hath forsaken the earth and is unconcerned with what these wretches were doing and upon this they cannot but be much fainted and discouraged But the faith of this that God is working hitherto Ioh. 5. vers 17. and that these wicked Instruments of their calamity were under his eye would free them of this misapprehension Nay they would beleeve and by faith see a divine Order and Regularity in the midst of the greatest Confusions brutish Maâ—…sacres that ever were if they beleeved that God had a principal hand in all these Actions Moving Ruling Ordering and Over-ruling all according to His own mind 3. The consideration of the Activity Diligence Malice Restlesness and Malicious wickedness of the Enemies troubleth them and maketh them fear that ere ever they be aware they shall be swallowed up But this discouragment would evanish if they remembered and beleeved that the timing of their affliction is not in the hand of their Enemies They cannot stirre till their commission be as it were subscribed and the houre and minute appointed come when they must beginne He who is Supreame determineth the season and the time and over-ruleth all so that were the hunger and desire of these ravenous wolves never so great they cannot attempt any distruction till the minute appointed come 4. When they consider the exceeding great Rage and Cruelty of their Enemies they are ready to think that sure they will make havock of all they will destroy utterly and make an end of all But how terrible so ever this thought be yet its terrour is weakened when the beleever calleth this to minde That it will not be as these enraged and merciless Beasts intend but as God will who is the Soveraigne Disposer of all and Supream Master of work they are but under-Agents and the Instrument in His hand They are no Master of themselves in this matter but as the ax and saw in the hand of the workman that cannot cut but as he ordereth it The child will not be afraid of a sword or of an ax when he seeth it is in the hand of his father Their threatnings are not much to be regairded They have said come and let us out them off from being a nation that the Name of Israel may be no more in remembrance as it is Psal. 83. vers 4. But they have not yet gotten it done They intend Destruction and therefore breath-forth nothing but cruelty but God who is above them intendeth but Correction and some Chastisement and will suffer them to do no more than may contribute to that end 5. The thoughts of the strength and liveliness of the Enemies create also terrour and fear they see their power decayeth not but groweth rather and their number increaseth and thence they art ready to inferre There shall be no outgate But a sight of God as neer as David prayeth when he took such a look of his Enemies Psal. â—…8 vers 19 21. saying But miâ—…e Enemies are lively they are strong and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied Forsake me not O Lord O my God be not far from me would help in this case the Beleever would not be much cast down for all this for he would be in case to say They must be keeped up so long as God hath work for them as a man will keep his ax and his saw sharpe and clear so long as he mindeth to make use of them but all their strength saith not that there shall be no outâ—…ate when the Lord hath finished his work in Zim he will punish the fruite of the stout hâ—…art of the King of Assyria and the glory of his high looks And the Lord of hosts will send among his fat ones leanness and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire Esai 10. vers 12 16. And for as strong as they are the Lord can raise up a scourge against them as Esai 10 26. yea and make the light of Israel for a fire and his holy one for a flame and it shall burne and devoure their thornes and their briers in one day and shall consume the glory of their forest and fruitful field c. as Esai 10. vers 17 18 6. But even this proveth sometimes fainting and discouraging unto his people That it is not man that they have to do with but with God principally whoever be the Instruments and that upon several accounts as because He is a God of Might of Power and of Terrour and it
is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God and withall He is just and they are conscious to themselves of much guilt But yet notwithstanding of this the thoughts of Gods having a principal hand in all these afflictions may keep from fainting because 1. He is not intending their destruction as Enemies do but their Good their Amendement their Repentance and Returning unto the Lord c. 2. He measureth not out their aâ—…lliction according to his strength and almighty Power else He should soon crush them and bring them to nothing Will He plead against me said Iob Chap. 23. vers 6. with his great power No but He will put strength in me 3. Nor according to strick Justice and pure Wrath. In plenty of justice He will not afflict as the words of Elihu Iob 37. vers 23. may be read He will not stir up all his wrath Psal. 78. vers 38. 4. Nor according to their deservings for that word of Zophar holdeth true Iob 11. vers 6. God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth And Psal. 103. vers 10. He hath not dealt with us according to our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities 5. Nor doth the Lord deal with them as Enemies the difference is great betwixt his dealing with the one and with the other Esai 17 vers 7. Hath He smitten him as He smote those that smote him is he slaine according to the slaughter of them that are slain by him But on the contrary He dealeth with them according to a rule of Mercy and fatherly Compassion for as a Father pitieth his Children and only chasteneth them so doth the Lord deal with them He knoweth what they can bear and layeth no more upon them than they are able to bear The wise Prophet tels us Prov. 12. vers 10. That the righteous man regairdcth the life of his beast and therefore will not overcharge him with a load heavier than he can bear And will not the righteous Lord regaird the life of his own servants Are they not of much more value than many beasts Sure then He will not overcharge them 1. Cor. 10. vers 13 2. The beleeving and right consideration of this Truth That God over-ruleth and disposeth of and ordereth afflictions as He seeth good would much help unto the life of Patience which is so commendable Iam. 5. vers 11. Being a piece of the honour and badge of Saints Revel 13 10. and 14. vers 12. and so much taken notice of by God Revel 2. vers 2 19. Yea and profitable having its perfect work Iam. 1. vers 4. and bringing happiness with it Iam. 5 11. This Consideration I say rightly Improven may help hereunto for it will fortifie the soul of the Beleever against those thoughts which usually occasion impatience as 1. When the man is poreing upon the uncouthness of the Affliction wherewith he is exercised and saying with the Church Lam. 1. vers 12. Behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger he is ready to give way unto impatience But when he considereth who hath prepared this potion for him that it was no unskilful Apothecary it was not the malignant Enemie that intended his death and destruction but the only Wise and Supream God who was seeking his good his life and health and who knew that no other potion would suite his distemper and purge out his peccant humores this will help him to lye under the workings of that physick with patience Though the potion of physick be bitter and work something hard yet a wise man will have patience when he considereth that the Physician who did appoint it was both well skilled and his special friend and therefore perswadeth himself that no less would do him good So when the beleever considereth that it is His God and Father who hath prepared that potion for him and that He saw his distemper called for it and when he considereth that God with his own hands did make and prepare it weighed all the doses with great carefulness and mixed in nothing but what was most necessary he will drink it though bitter with the better will and albeit it work hard and make him sick yet he will not be impatient and cry out why am I so and so handled doth every one get such paining sickning physick as this but rather say because every one needeth not such strong physick I must be dealt with in a special manner I have other corruptions than ordinary and therefore must have patience and be content to be otherwise dealt with than others usually are 2. The person in affliction when he seeth himself compassed about with evils and that he is not visited with one or two rodes but with many at once and that innumerable evils compass him about as said David Psal. 40. vers 12. which in part occasioned his adding therefore my heart faileth me or forsaketh me then he is ready to say how can I while thus invironed with evils have patience But if he would call to mind God's hand in the matter as Iob did he would with him bless the name of the Lord for then he would see that God himself had ordered all and that not one of all these multifarious evils came without the Lord 's special and active Permission and Providential Ordination Appointment and Commission and that God alone had ordered that mixture and combination of troubles and trials 3. The impatience of Gods people is oft occasioned by their imagining that the trouble is greater than they can bear as we see in Iob Chap. 6. vers 11 12. What is my strength that I should hope And what is mine end that I should prolong my dayes Is my strength the strength of stones Or is my flesh of brasse And againe Chap. 7. vers 11 12. Therefore I will not refraine my mouth I will speak in the anguish of my spirit I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. Am I a sea or a whale that thou settest a watch over me But would they consider and beleeve that God knoweth what they are able to bear and is proportioning the load to their strength which He knoweth better than they do or when He seeth it fit to presse them above measure that they may despaire in themselves and not trust in themselves that then He under proppeth and supporteth the weak back and conveyethin secret strength enabling them to stand under the load and thus never layeth more on than they are able to bear If I say they were calling this to mind they would see no cause of Impatience but rather cause of crying out when we are weak then are we strong and therefore we will glory in our infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon us 2 Cor. 12. â—…ers 9 10. And they would through faith be in case to say with Paul 2 Cor. 4. vers
or how he might procure their favour and so would be keeped from Temptations to any sinful compliance or accommodation So would he be preserved from temptations to the using of unlawful meanes for an outgate Thus we see how advantagious this eyeing of the Lord in the day of Trouble is unto the afflicted and the faith and improvement of this Consideration cannot but airth the souls eye unto this object 7. The right improving of this Truth would free the beleever from many carnal disquâ—…eting distracting and perplexing feares He is ready to say oh I cannot ride out this storme I shall one day fall by the hand of Saul the next blast of temptation shall blow me over I cannot but at length faint and succumb and the Enemie shall have matter of joy and all God's people shall be made to mourn for were it beleeved that God Ordered Disposed and Over-ruled all the beleever would see no ground for these feares for he would see that no blast could blow but as He would no storme could come sooner than He thought good nor continue longer than He saw convenient nor be more violent and strong let Enemies threaten and rage as they pleased than He saw good He would see the hand of God measuring out all so as he needed not fear to be over-charged or if the trouble were indeed greater than he could well stand under he might see the Lord fitting him by secret strength for it 8. Finally the faith of this and the right improvement of it would preserve the soul from a dead and senseless stupidity under the rod or stoical frame as unconcerned with what befalleth them which hath no affinity with but is utterly repugnant to a Christian frame and to Christian valour and undaunted courage This looketh liker to the frame of an Atheist than of a Child of God who trembleth and feareth when he seeth the rod in his Fathers hand and dar not despise the chastening of the Lord. Now a sight of God's hand in all Ordering Timeing and Seasoning Mixing and Compounding Limiting and Bounding Qualifying and Restricking Terminating and Ending Directing and Over-ruling would perserve the soul from a dead Temper and cause him mark and observe the footsteps of Royal Soveraignity Majesty Wisdom Power Goodness Care and Tenderness CONSIDERATION XI Christ himself had a suffering life WHen the Leaders and Commanders of an Army are to bring the Infantrie thorow some deep water they use to alight off their horses and walk on foot that they may take a share of the same lot with the souldiers that thereby they may the more encourage them to wade with cheerfulness thorow the water and it proveth indeed some matter of Encouragment to souldiers to follow their Leaders be the way never so uneasie Our Lord Jesus in like manner who is called the Captaine of our Salvation Hebr. 2. vers 10. knowing that his followers had both fire and water to go thorow Esai 43. vers 2. the more to encourage them to endure that hard lot would come down off his Throne of Majestie and State and take a share of the lot himself yea and go before them to break the ice Therefore it cannot but be most advantagious for the souldiers of Christ. who have a mind to run the race that is set before them to be looking in the time of their affliction upon this Captain according to the advice which the Apostle giveth unto the afflicted and persecuted Hebrews Chap. 12. vers 2. Looking unto Iesus the Author and finisher of faith who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross and despised the shame 3. Consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself lest ye be wearied and fainte in your mindes For this same end and purpose do we finde the Apostle Peter proposing this example for the encouragment of a number of poor scattered and afflicted saints 1 Petr. 2. vers 21. For even hereunto were ye called because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps And againe Chap. 3. vers 17 18. For it is better if the will of God be so that ye suffer for wel doing than for evil doing for Christ also hath once suffered the just fâ—…r the unjust that He might bring us to God It will then be of no small advantage to afflicted persons to have this Copie and Example laid before them if He would help us to speak unto it in any measure to edification It will not be necessary to speak of this subject of Christ's Sufferings in the full latitude but it will be sufficient to speak of them only in reference to the end proposed as an Encouraging Example and in order to this we shall only do these Two things 1. We shall mention and propose some particulars considerable in the sufferings of Christ which may be sutable matter for the thoughts of a Child of God in affliction to dwell upon 2. Speak some things to the advantagious improvement of the same in a day of Trouble As to the first we shall onely mention these particulars considerable 1. The Person who was put to all these Sufferings was no ordinary person we think more of the sufferings of a Noble-man Prince King or great Potentate than of the Sufferings of a mean poor man What shall we then think of the Sufferings of Christ who was higher than the Princes of the earth who was King of Kings and Lord of Lords He was in the form of God having the same Essential Divine form with the Father He thought it not robbery to be equal with God having the same Divine Nature and Properties Phil. 2. vers 6. And yet for all this He made himself of no reputation and took upon him the forme of a servant And being found in the fashion of a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross vers 7 8. Even He who was the Ancient of dayes who was set up from everlasting from the beginning ere ever the earth was Prov. 8. vers 23. Even He was put to end his dayes in paine and sorrow He whose goings forth have been from of old from everlasting Mica 5 2. Who wasthe Creator of the ends of the earth who was with God by whom all things were made and without whom was not any thing made that was madâ—… Ioh. 1. vers 1 2 3. Even He it was who was put to all this suffering What a wonder is this That the everlasting Father the Prince of peace the mighty God as He is called Esai 9. vers 6. should become a man of sorrowes and acquanted with griefe Esai 53 3. That the High and holy one who inhabiteth eternity and whose perfections and vertues are past finding out should be found in the fashion of a suffering Man That God should be thus manifest in the flesh 1 Tim 3. vers 16 This is a subject worthy of our thoughts That He who was
faith be acting on God through Christ and resting upon the promises of outgate and of an everlasting recompence and of throw-bearing and the other objects of faith necessary to be eyed in such a day for if this be not even the beleever may fainte and fall backward as we see in Peter Now this present acting of faith being the gift of God through His grace and influences it is manifest that Christian suffering unto which this is requisite must be also His gift 3. Hope is also requisite unto a Christian suffering for hereby must the sufferers head be born-up when he is swimeing thorow the sea of Persecution it is the Souls anchor which must not be wanting in a storme it is his helmet and must not be a missing in the day of battel Now this hope being the special gift of God and his work 1 Pet. 1 3. 2 Thes. 2. vers 13. it is manifest that Christian suffering unto which this hope is so necessary must be His special gift 4. Patience is likewise hereunto requisite for without it there will be nothing but wearying fainting fretting repineing and sinful longing to be from under the Crosse hence there is so great need of patience Heb. 10. vers 36. Luk. 21. vers 19. Iam. 1. vers 4. 2 Pet. 1. vers 6. And it is so much pressed Iam. 5. v. 10 11. 1 Tim. 6 11. And commended 1 Thes. 1. vers 3. 2 Thes. 1. vers 4. Revel 2 2 9. Now this patience is not the work of nature but His work who is the God of all patience Rom. 15. vers 5. And therefore Christian suffering must be His work and gift also 5. Humble submission and calmness of spirit is also requisite unto a right way of suffering for a proud haughty unquiet and undaunted spirit will never take a right lift of the crosse and this must also be wrought by the free and powerful grace of God and must be of Him from whom every good gift and every perfect gift cometh down even of the Father of lights Iam. 1 17. And therefore Christian suffering unto which this is so requisite must be of Him also 6. Such as will suffer Christianly for Christ must have Courage Boldness and Christian Resolution as accounting it their glory and honour to suffer for His sake and as remembering that as on the one hand their cheerful couragious and valiant suffering for the Interest of Jesus is no small encouragment to others to adhere to Him and to His cause so upon the other hand to suffer discouragedly and with a fainting heart is no small disadvantage to the cause Enemies being thereby more hardened and friends discouraged And this Courage and fixed Resolution must only be had from God Nature will not fournish this They must be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might Ephes. 6. vers 10. And as this is from the Lord alone so must the grace of Suffering Christianly be 7. He who would suffer as a Christian must have his Conscience sprinkled God must be pacified all quarrels must be taken out of the way for the sense and apprehension of an angrie God and sin and guilt looking the man in the face will much dash discourage and fainte him in his sufferings Now it is unquestionable that God's manifesting himself satisfied and well pleased with the man is His own free gift it is His proper work to sprinkle consciences from dead works and so must this Christian suffering be from Him which dependeth hereupon 8. When one is questioned for the Cause of Christ before learned and able States-men and Politicians or before learned Church-men he will have need of something wherewith to answere his Accusers and so be in case to give a glorious Testimony to the Truth and the cause of Christ otherwise the adversaries will think they have cause to triumph when he is made speachless though that Christian Martyr-woman who said she could not disput for Christ but she could burn for Him did sufficiently refell all the Arguments of her Adversaries which were but meer Sophismes especially if the maine crime be coloured-over with some alleiged personal fault In this or the like cases it is necessary that the accused have pertinent clear and pungent reasons of his actions in readiness whether to refell what is falsely alleiged or to defend what is just and righteous Now whence shall this be had or from whom is it to be expected but from Him who hath promised that it shall be given them in that hour Mat. 10. vers 19. But when they deliver you up take no thought how or what ye shall speak for it shall be given you in that same houre what ye shall speak And therefore Christian suffering unto which this is so necessary must be given of God also 9. Such as are suffering for Christ's sake had need to be very fixed stayed and stedfast in adhereing to their Principles as unshaken with any winde of temptation for cedeing and yeelding in matters of a Testimony dishonoureth the Lord whose truth is questioned encourageth and confirmeth Enemies and stumbleth and marreth the confidence of others therefore such as would suffer aright must stand to the truth and not yeeld in an hoofe nor sell or give away the least point of truth And this fixed and stedfast adhereing to the truth is of God alone He who stablisheth us in Christ is God 2 Cor. 1 vers 21. And when Paul is pressing the Thessalonians to stand fast 2 Thes. 2. vers 15. He addeth Vers. 16 17. Now our Lord Iesus Christ himself and God even our father Comfort your hearts and stablish you in every good word and work And therefore so must the Christian suffering be of Him alone 10. A Christian sufferer for Christ must have a Christian love to Christ for it is this that maketh the sufferers not count their life dear to the death for Christ and maketh them hazard all for Him they love him better than they love Father or Mother or any thing else in a world and therefore are content to lose all for Him and His sake Now love is of God who is love 1 Ioh. 4. vers 7 8. And it is one of the fruites of the Spirit Gal. 5. vers 22. And must be from the God of all grace for we love Him because He first loved us 1 Ioh. 4. vers 19. And therefore so must this right suffering be from Him 11. Before one can suffer aright for Christ and His cause he must be dead and mortified to this world and to all the Riches Honours and Pleasurs to the lust of the eye to the lust of the flesh and to the pride of life as Iohn speaketh 1 Ioh. 2 16. Yea he must be dead to himself and to his own life otherwayes these will hang as weights upon him and hinder his swimeing through the sea of affliction and persecution Now this self denial being the singular gift of God suffering unto