and the Parliaments vigilancy discovered prevented and disappointed in a great part that all hath turned to their dis-advantage and the good of the Church and furtherance of the worke of God that is upon the wheeles and the whole carriage of all things through Gods great goodnesse seemes to me to give great ground of comfort to his people blessed be God And therefore Brethren be not discouraged doe not feare suffer not your hearts to be cast downe whatsoever the present dangers seeme to threaten But looke up unto God and depend upon him It is a great fault for a Christian to let goe his hold when dangers are great and imminent though we be too too apt to doe so upon all occasions yet we should not David did so but when he had recollected his thoughts he did much blame himselfe for it Why art thou cast downe ô my soule and why art thou disquieted in me Ps 43 5. And therefore plucke up your spirits prepare for the worst yet looke beyond the cloud and behold with an eye of Faith Gods great power wisdome goodnesse faithfulnesse and the like and thinke upon what he hath done for his Church formerly and of late yeares for our selves in particular how he hath still discovered the Papists plots and designes and preserved his people and then thinke of what Manoahs wife said to her distrustfull timor us husband Jud. 13.22 23. If the Lord were pleased to kill us he would not then have received a burnt-offering and a meat-offering at our hands neither would he have shewed us all these things nor would at this time have told us such things as these So if the Lord had a purpose to destroy this Nation or give us up into the hand of our enemies he would not have done thus and thus for us as he hath done for though the Lord doth not or very rarely worke miracles now yet he works wonders and is as able and willing to doe as great things as ever he was yea and doth so too when there is the like occasion and hath often within these few years last past done very great things However let us doe our duty look up unto God and depend upon him and resolve every one of us with Ioh Though the Lord slay mee yet Job 13.15 will I trust in him I will not deny but risings may be and some bloud be shed God will surely repay blood with blood and if not by the Sword yet at least by the execution of Justice on such as have shed the blood of his Saints and bin the grand enemies of his Church but I cannot conceive our trouble will be much or long I hope but a brunt Indeed when I looke upon our many great crying sins Gods Justice Purity and Holines and the unwillingnes of many to be healed yea obstinacy in their evill wayes c. I can look for no mercy but rather wonder we were not destroyed long agoe but when again I look upon the considerations above mentioned the whole course of Gods providence all along to this day laying open persons and things discovering and preventing most dangerous plots and designes and bringing on his worke still notwithstanding yea by the adversaries plots though full sore against their minds and when I also looke upon the intolerable insolency impiety blasphemies and confidence of victory in many of that party I cannot conceive they shall go on long or doe much hurt Is not I will onely move the Question but determine nothing Is not or may not this be thought to be the time when the witnâ—sses the godly Ministers slaine by the Prelacy and their procuring in respect of their office thrust out of their livings and calling wherein they might have bin usefull in the Church of God and so dead in respect of office are risen againe from the dead restored to their Ministery to the wonder of all that see it and knew what havocke was made of them when fifty able and godly Ministers within two yeares space were excommunicated deprived silenced and suspended by one man but the other day Aâ—tiâ—les agaist B Wrâ—n and so upward for divers yeares together Observe what is said by Saint John of the witnesses v. 12. And they ascended up to Heaven in a cloud Rev. 11.12 13 and their enemies beheld them of the Churches enemies v. 13. And the same houre was there a great earthquake and the tenth part of the City fell and in the earthquake were slaine of men seven thousand and the remnant were affrighted and gave glory to the God of Heaven At the same houre marke it namely when the faithfull witnesses were raised up restored to life to their offices and places in the ministery againe there was a great earthquake i.e. a great alteration and change in the Church and it must needs be here from the worse to the better and a tenth part of the City fell By City some understand Rome it self which say some is but a tenth part of that which once was others rather of the Romane Hierarchy and power of Antichrist in his Adherents Abettors and Supporters and in the earthquake were slaine of men 7000. of men in the Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not of men but of the names of men Names are sometimes taken for Titles and Offices were slaine viz. in this earthquake alteration and reformation of the Church Now if there be found about 7000 of the Prelates Chancellors Arch-Deacons Officials with an Et caetera suppose what may be the issue of this earthquake that now shakes in these Kingdomes of his Majesty especially in this of England But the thing I chiefly note this place for is this to shew as I conceive that our troubles cannot be long nor great in respect of the downfall of our adversaries the enemies of the Church and who can tell whether the Lord will not by such a way take occasion to single out the enemies of his Church which hee hath appointed to be the objects of justice which otherwise could not be so obnoxious to justice as by such a way they may be But I affirme nothing positively times and meanes are in Gods hand but doe assure my selfe that the issue whensoever it be will be the Churches greater good and the enemies downefall That is the first case of extreame want or danger Secondly In case of losse as it was with the worthies Heb 11. that suffered the losse of all and the faithfull Jewes Heb. 10 34. 1 Sam. 30.6 that tooke ioyfully the spoyling of their goods and David who when all was gone and the people also talked of stoning of him he comforted himselfe in God and Moses Heb. 11.24 25 26. who refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter chusing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God then to enioy the pleasures of sinne that last but for a season You know also how it was with Job he lost all he had
guided and governed by it in all things and doth answer all temptations carnall friends and their reasonings as our Saviour did Satan with a Scriptum est It is written thou shalt not doe this or that This will first backe temptations to evill as a sword held to the breast of a theefe will if any thing will keep him from doing that mischiefe he intends 2. It serves to direct a man in all conditions how to carry himselfe Psal 119. Thy word is a light unto my paths and a lanthorne unto my feet Ps 119.105 99.104 it giveth understanding to the simple c. 3. It comforteth the upright with it's most gracious and most sweet promises so it did David In the multitude of my thoughts within me Ps 94.19 thy comforts delight my soule When David was cast downe with manifold straits and troubles on every side that he knew not what to doe the word afforded him sweet comfort Againe Ps 119 92. Vnlesse thy Law had been my delight I should have perished in mine afflictions Againe Though I walke in the vallâ—y of the shadow of death I will feare none evill for thy rod and thy staffe they comfort me The rod and stâ—ffâ— is the word of God especialâ—y the promises that are as a stâ—ffe to trust upon It is of singular use as alwayes so especially in evill times to a gracious heart therefore take to you this weapon also labour to have the word of God dwell in you richly i. e. plentifully to be well skilled and versed in it Col. 3.16 that you may have it ready upon all occasions to make use of it 7. To thâ—â—â—st adde Prayer 〈…〉 Praying saith the Apostle alâ—ayâ—◠〈◊〉 We â—â—y not at any time much lesse in times of tryall 〈…〉 boâ—tomes râ—lye on our owne strength but 〈…〉 he will inable us to undergoe all suff rings and 〈…〉 â—â—nnot see how the Martyr could possibly endâ—re 〈…〉 â—â—ous flames if they had not often and earnestly bâ—sought 〈◊〉 to prepare them for evill times and inable them to undergoe them to his glory and with comfort to themselves and others therefore labour to get and buckle on all those peeces of spirituall armour and to use them and that with prayer for to have this spirituall armour and not to use it is like the foole in the Proverbs Pâ— â—â— 17.16 that hath a price in his hand but hath not the wit or an heart to use it to have a sword and not draw it when his enemy assaults him Yet so it is that many Christians who have this rich and precious armour that is more precious then gold as is said particularly of faith doe for want of a right use of it 2 Pet. 1.1 live uncomfortably and carry themselves unevenly in evill times are well nigh overwhelmed sometimes therefore I beseech you be carefull to get and use these graces and peeces of spirituall armour that you may be able to stand and with comfort to hold up your heads in evill dayes That is the second use we should make of this point to prepare for the Mount for evill and hard times Thirdly Vse 3. This point should teach us not to marvell much lesse murmure if great afflictions and troubles doe come whether personall or Nationall Thinke it not strange saith the Apostle concerning the fiery tryall which is to try you as though some strange thing hâ—ppened unto you Though a man should be brought to this exigent That either he must part with his liberty goods reputâ— in the world life and all or deny the truth and disobey God yet he should not thinke it strange much lesse murmure but cheerfully undergoe it It is no strange thing to be brought into straits and troubles to be afflicted yea sometimes to be brouâ—ht into great extremity It is ordinary it hath often been so with the Church of God in all ages as well as with particular persons as all those instances above mentioned and this Nation can witnesse by often experience by reason of the many malicious designes of malignant and bloud-thirsty Papists who of all enemies the Christian Church hath are the most cruell bloudy inhumane and barbarous as bad or worse then the Heathens and Pagans ever were to the Jewes under the old or Christians under the New Testament Therefore let not us or any wonder at it as if a strange thing happened to us such as never or rarely fals out to any much lesse faint under it and murmure or repiue but with cheerfulnesse courage and constancy undergoe it Motives not to murmure but cheerfully undergoe afflictions and tryals Ioh 16.33 1 Thes 3.3 2 Tim. 3.12 Therefore consider 1. That afflictions and troubles are the lot of the godly Psal 125.3 The rod i.e. affliction troubles persecutions of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous lest the righteous put forth their hands to iniquity In the world ye shall have tribulation said our Saviour That no man be moved by these afflictions for you your selves know that we are appointed thereunto All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution if not of the hand yet of the tongues of evill men and sometimes great straits and extremities It is the common lot of all his people There is no temptation hath befallen you 1 Cor. 10.13 but such as is common to man saith the Apostle even the Prophets themselves those extraordinary servants of God Abraham Gods faithfull servant friend and favourite likewise Jacob Job Daniel David and others David though a King was the Song of the drunkards and Job the greatest and godliest man in the East was laughed to scorne Jeremy was had in derision daily So the Apostles those immediate followers and speciall Embassadors of the Lord Jesus and if they suffered such things and were subject to the rage of most malignant and impetuous enemies such as Pharaoh Nebuchadnezzar Rabshecah Haman and their adherents shall we thinke it strange marvell much lesse murmure if the like condition from the like enemies befall us or if we suffer other grievous tryals from the hand of our wise and good God Yea the Lord Jesus the beloved of the Father the first borne of God the first borne of all his sonnes and the first borne of all creatures the glory of the Father escaped not he dranke of the cup of affliction he tooke not a sippe but dranke deep deeper then ever any of his did not of mans simply but of Gods divine wrath not for himselfe but for us not by constraint but willingly Joh. 18.11 Shall I not drinke said he of the cup my Father hath given me He suffered the vials of Gods wrath the extremity of his fuâ—y Lam. 1.12 never any suffâ—ring like his and should we thinke it a strange thing to suâ—fer Should not the Souldiers follow their Captaine and Leader Is it not well that we fare no worse then our Lord and Saviour
God doth helpe and deliver his people God is seene in the Mount Now Secondly How God is seene in the Mount how he shewes himselfe in their extremities and that is two wayes 1. In supporting them in the Mount And 2. In delivering them out of the Mount 1. God is seene in supporting his people in their troubles and extremities they sinke not under them but hold up their heads and resolve to cleave unto him and wait upon him as he did Iob who resolved Though the Lord slay me yet will I trust in him Iob 13.15 Ps 37.17 14. The Lord upholdeth the righteous though he fall viz. into great teâ—tations and troubles he shall not be utterly cast downe for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand Even in spirituall desertions there is still a secret hand of God which doth uphold them that they doe not wickedly depart from him nor frowardly behave themselves in his Covenant but there is still a generall recumbency and relying upon God till be have mercy upon them and deliver them And sometimes the Lord fils their hearts fullest of inward comfort when their outward condition is most grievous as was to be seene in the Martyrs 2. God is seene in the Mount of extremity in delivering his people out of their troubles and straits and that divers wayes I shall mention the most and principall of them and they are these 1. By weakening strong means against his Church or people God delivers them and that especially 5. wayes 1. By striking suddain feares and dreadfull apprehensions into them like that into the Canaanites The terrour of you is fallen upon us said Rahab and the Inhabitants of the Land faint because of you Josh 2.9.11 Assoone as we heard of these things our hearts did melt neither did there remaine any more courage in any man because of you So the Midianites by a casuall dreame of one of their company Jud. 7.13 17. were so frighted that though an innumerable Army yet they were not able to stand before 300. unarmed men So the Moabites were strangely overcome and Israel delivered from their designes 2 Kin. 3.22 â—3 by reason of the seeming colour of blood on the water occasioned by the reflection of the Sunne beames shining upon it And thus he dealt with the Duke of Ireland and his Army Relation of the Parl. begun at Westâ—min 1386 p. 17. when with the forces raised in Lancashire Cheshire and Wales he came up towards London against the Parliament their great spirits were so benummed discouraged and amazed at the sight of the Appellants Army that when they should give the assault God not suffering the effusion of blood they stood still making no shew of resisting but without any fighting slung downe their armes and yeelded themselves to the mercy of the Lords Appellant This is one way Secondly God sometimes weakens the Adversaries power and delivers his people Exod. 14.25 by spoyling them of their instruments which are very helpefull to them So God tooke off the wheeles of Pharaohs Chariots and made them drive heavily so that they could not follow after Israel to hurt them Thirdly sometimes by infatuating them and their counsels a grievous judgement and sad signe of their destruction approaching when God smites men in their wits So he dealt with Pharaoh king of Aegypt Isa 19.11 13. The Princes of Zoan are become â—ooles the councell of the wise Counsellours of Pharaoh is become brutish how say you unto Pharaoh I am the sonne of the wise the sonnâ— of ancient Kings The Princes of Zoan are become fooles the Princes of Noph are deceived they have also seduced Aegypt even they that are i.e. should be the stay of the Tribes thereof They told him a faire tale and so miserably deluded him to the destruction of Aegypt 2 Sam 17 7 14 So God turned Ahitophels politick counsell that would have been very prejudiciall to David and his men into foolishnesse 2 Chro. 10. and Absalom to reject it and follow the counsell of Hushai to his owne destruction And Rehoboam to follow the advise of the young men that were brought up with him and to reject the counsell of the grave men to his owne great dammage and dishonour Thus God sometimes by infatuating the counsels of the Adversaries of his people and smiting them in their wits doth disable them to pursue their designes against his people and so delivers them as David from Absolom and petitioning Israel from Rehoboams intended cruelty and so make their owne counsels and designes their own over-throw and fall and the rise of his people Fourthly sometimes by taking away from the enemies of the Church part of their strength in which they trust as he did from Rehoboam by rending ten Tribes the farre greater part of his Dominion from him 2 Chr. 10.13 when he would not be disswaded from going on to oppresse his petitioning Subjects Fifthly sometimes by restraining their malice when it comes to the upshot and turning their hearts towards his people and enclining them to peace Gen. 32.6 with 33.4 10. as when Esau came against Iacob with 400. men God over-power'd his spirit and turned his heart to his brother Iacob That Jacob saw his face as the face of an Angell of God 31.24 â—9 So he did restraine Laban and encline him to peace that he had not an evill word to say against Iacob when he over-tooke him And this is the first way by which God doth deliver his people namely by weakening strong meanes against them that the Adversaries cannot or will not hurt them Thus the Lord hâ—th the hearts even of Kings in his hands Pâ—â—â— 21.1 and turnes them as the rivers of waters whithersoever he pleasâ—th First by putting courage and strength into his people making the weake and feeble strong and the faint-hearted valiant So he did a 1 Sam. 11.4 5 6. Saul to deliver Israel out of the hands of the Philistines b Cap â—4 v. 6. Jonathan to slay many of them and route their army c 2 Chron 13 1â— 15 16 17. Abijah and the men of Judah to slay 500000. of their enemies d 14 9. Acts and Mâ—â—â—â—ents p. 207 col â— 208. col 1 l 70. Asia and his men to destroy and route Zerah the Aethyoptan with an army of a thousand thousand foot and three hundred horse So he put a * Relation of the Parliament begun at West-â—enster Anno 1â—86 p 4 5 â— 7. 12. spirit of valour and magnanimity into the Waldenses to defend themselves and the true Religion against the Duke of Savoy that sought to suppresse and root out the Protestant Religion to doe wonderfully even to admiration Likewise into the Protestants in France to defend theâ—â—selves and Religion against them that would destroy both Likewise into the Appellants The Duke of Glocester the Earles of Arundell and Warwicke in the raigne of King Richard the second to preserve the
will deliver his people in their extremity that his people may have an experimentall knowledge of him both to support themselves in evill times and be the better inabled to comfort others and support the feeble-minded It is a great comfort and will help much in evill times when a man can looke backe and say Such a time I was brought to such a straite and the Lord delivered me into such an extreame want and God provided for me into such diseases and weaknesse that all friends and Physitians forsooke me and gave me over for a dead man yet then the Lord did raise me up againe beyond all expectation into such and such a trouble and the Lord carried me through or delivered me when there was no hope as a 1 Sam. 17.34 c. David and b 2 Cor. 1.9 10 Paul did and so c 2 Cor. 1.4 might be able to help others also The godly know by faith that God is the supporter and helper of the Saints The word saith it and they beleeve it but when God doth indeed bring them into the Mount into some great trouble extremity or other doth awhile leave them there yet dâ—th support them in it or deliver them out of it then they see and know God by experience to be such That is observable to this purpose in 2 Câ—ron Then Manasses knew that the Lord he was God 2 Chr. 32.13 â— i.e. then he knâ—w it by experience in himself 5. The Lord will be seen in the Mount and then help and deliver his people that they may be truly thankfull more affected with his goodnesse prize mercy more and be more thankfull for it O! how welcome is the Haven to a weather-beaten Mariner that every moment looked to be shipwrackt bread to an hungry man that is even ready to perish pardon to a condemned wretch that is upon the Gallowes ready to be turned of the ladder how will he prize such a mercy how thankfully will he accept it but let the Mariner be safely batboured so soone as the storme begins to arise or the hungry man have meate so soone as his appetite craves it or the malefactor have his pardon given him as soone as he is apprehended or imprisoned it will be sleighted he cannot be so affected with it and thankfull for it as otherwise he would How greatly Abraham here was â—ffâ—cted with this mercy and thankfull for it when God appeared to him in the Mount this Chapter doth testifie and this verse is a divine record of it He called the name of the place Jehovahâ—â—ch 6. And lastly The Lord will be seen in the Mount help and deliver his people that their faith faile not and they behave themselves untowardly and uncomely in his Covenant If God bring his people into the Mount into great extremity and they wait and wait still and no help come the feeble Christians faith will be apt to faile and he to faint and behave himselfe uncomely shame himselfe staine his profession and dishonour God discourage others and open the mouthes of evill men against the truth and wayes of God Now the Lord will not breake a bruised reed nor quench the smoaking flaxe Isa 42.3 1 Cor. 10.13 Isa 57.16 not suffer a poore weake Christian to faint and therefore will help in due time that he may not quench the smoaking flaxe nor breake the bruised reed not quench but increase grace not destroy but build un faith I will not contend for ever sayes God neither will I be alwayes wroth for the Spirit should faile before me and the soules which I have made And these be the Reasons why the Lord will be seen in the Mount help and deliver his people in their extremities and so we come to application And first behold here this truth verified in our dayes Vsâ— 1. and in these Realmes of his Majesty Was not God seen in the Mount to Scotiand our neighbour-Nation given them a wounderfull deliverance and a happy peace 1639. 1640. when nothing was before their eyes but ruine and destruction intended and threatened against them by the publike enemies of both Kingdomes who thought to raise and settle themselves by their ruine Did not God appeare in the Mount to poore Ireland 1641 Octo. â—3 in saving the head-City of the Kingdome and consequently the Kingdome the very night before it should have been surprized Was not this Nation broâ—â—ht into the Mount and did not God wonderfully deliver it in 88 from the Spanish Armado â—â—8◠〈…〉 5. stiled invincible by the adversâ—â—es themselves in their vaine boast of it In the yeare 1605. from the Gun-powder treason that transcendent and most horrid villany a few houres before it should have taken effect In the yeare 1639. from the Spanish Navy 1639. too little heeded and too much forgotten by us And many late desperate designes of the enemies of Christ and his people and particularly of this Church and State in which we still live by the goodnesse of the same God who shewed mercy to Abraham and Israel and Judah in their extremities and delivered them out of the hands of their enemies Pharaoh Senacherib Haman and others Secondly Vse 2. if God be seen in the Mount help and deliver his people in their extremities then hence by considering withall Gods usuall dealings and carriage towards his and their enemies when he delivers his people we may inferre That God will destroy his and their enemies the present and future enemies of the Church of Christ See a few instances when God delivered Israel out of Egypt Exod 1â— â—9 14.23 15.1 he at the same time to make the more for their delivery and security he destroyed first all the first borne of Egypt beside the other destructions that before did befall their cattle corne fish c and then Pharaoh himselfe and all his Princes and army in the Red Sea So when God brought Israâ—l out of Babylon â—er 25.12 he first by the Grecians destroyed the Babylonians Monarchy that had wasted and grievously oppressed his people 2 Câ—r 13 14.14 11. When he delivered Abâ—…ah and Judah he destroyed of their enemies 500000. When he delivered Asa and his people he destroyed Zerah the Ethyopian and many of his great army 20.10 22. When he saved Jehosaphat Judah and Jerusalem he destroyed the Moabites Ammonites and the inhabitants of Mount Seir. 32.1 21 When he saved Hezekiah he destroyed 185000 of Senacheribs numerous army When he saved the Jewes he destroyed Haman the Jewes enemy Hâ—st c 7. 9. and his sonnes and all those that rose up against them Likewise often when he delivered Israel under the Judges and in the time of the Kings he destroyed or grievously punished the proud enemies of his people For God useth wicked men but as rods to correct his children and when they are corrected and bettered that he will use that rod no more then he throwes the rod
into the fire The sacred Scriptures are cleare and full to this purpose and abundant in examples of this kind And assuredly he is still the same God as powerfull as wise as loving and good as ever to his people as faithfull in his promises and as just and full of indignation against his and their enemies as ever he was and therefore will still shew himselfe for his people and against their enemies as much as ever heretofore So that the Turke the great enemy of the Christians and Antichrist the grand enemy of the true Church of Christ must downe and fall and perish It is prophesied long agoe in Saint Johns time and by him Rev. 18.2 Babylon the great viz. mysticall Babylon Rome is fallen is fallen and in truth also in part already and is declining in number wealth greatnesse power glory and credit every day more and more It remarkeably began to fall when Luther that renowned servant of God did so publickely set up the standard of the Gospell and so many thousands did resort unto it and many thousands fell off from the Pope to Christ in Germany France the Low-Countries in England and Scotland And it was no small wound to the Antichristian beast that that Nation gave to it the other yeare And surely beloved the downefall of Antichrist the Pope that Man of sinne and his Adherents the Papacy and Romane Hierarchy cannot I conceive be far off if not very near at hand Thirdly this may be of good use to suport and comfort us for the present and in future times against all extremities and troubles whatsoever God will be as good still to his servants all that walke in the steps of the faith and obedience of Abraham as to the faithfull in former ages For our greater comfort let us instance in 5. cases namely in case of extremity of want or danger of losse of violent temptations of Gods seeming not to heare prayer and of spirituall desertion 1. In case of extreame want or danger we should seeke unto God and depend upon him the al-sufficient and faithfull God as Abraham did here He will be seen in the Mount As for instance suppose thy ease should be like Elijahs or Sampsons that was ready to perish with thirst or the poore Widow that had only a little oyle in a cruse and a little meale in a barrell that thou shouldst be in want have nothing to keep soule and body together and maintaine life no money in the purse no bread in the enâ—bord no meale in the barrell no friend in the world that thou knowest of and it may be greatly in debt also that thou seaâ—se darest shew thy face for feare of an Arrest as was the poore widow 2 â—ing â— 1. All is gone saith she and the Creditour is come to take unto him my two sonnes to be bondmen All is gone nothing left to preserve life nor affoard me comfort but my two sonnes and now the Creditor is come to deprive me of that also Here is a sad complaint â— King 17.6 yet God did provide for Elijah bread and flesh in the Morning and bread and flesh in the Evening by a Raven which in reason would rather have robbed then relieved him Iudg. 15. â—8 Naâ—â—â— 20.7 8 11. 2 Kin. 4.3 4 7. He provided drinke for Sampson even out of the jaw-bone of an Affâ— for Israel out of the stony rocke and the poore widow increased her oyle whereby she was inabled both to live comfortably and pay her debts so if thou canst by faith looke up unto God and depend upon him in the moderate use of lawfull meanes if any be he is able and will surely provide and doe that which shall be best for thee Therefore resolve with faithfull Habakkuk in the person of the Church Hab. 3.17 Although the fig-tree shall not blossome neither shall fruit be in the vines the labour of the Olive shall faile and the field shall beare no meat the flocke shall be cut off from the field and there shall be no herd in the stalles yet will reioyce in the Lord I will ioy in the God of my salvation The Lord God is my strength Againe suppose thou be in any great danger as sometimes was David 1 Sam 23. Act. 27.18 â— Cor. 1.8 9 10 Jonas or Paul when the ship was broken and when he and the rest of his brethren with him were pressed out of measure above strength insomuch that they despaired of life and had the sentence of death in themselves that they should not trust in themselves but in God God did deliver them from so great a death Though I say it be thy ease yet despaire not be not discouraged why shouldst not thou hope in God as well as they did Oh! out they were most eminent persons for faith humility c. but I am a poore vile wretch full of unbeleefe pride c. Well be it so Yet know that God though he expect and command us to grow in grace yet he lookes not in the hearing of prayer at the measure of grace in the petitioner but to the truth of grace and the sincerity of the heart Yea the rather will God help because thou art a poore weake soule that canst not wait long or beare much Isa 60.2 To him will I looke saith God even to him that is poore and of a contrite spirit to such a soule as sees nothing in himself but abundance of sinne and emptinesse of God 32.3 He will not quench the smoaking flaxe nor breake the bruised reed saith the Prophet Isay Thus in respect of private so also in respect of the publicke troubles and straits of the Church abroad in Germany in Ireland and here at home whatsoever or how evill soever our condition seeme to be yet let not any fathfull soule be discouraged God will not destroy his people he will not deliver them up into the hands of their enemies but will be seen in the Mount and will help and deliver them when it comes to the point when outward meanes faile 1. All the former examples and many more upon record both in divine and humane Histories which might be mentioned of Gods goodnesse towards his people in their straits are encouragements to us Rom. 15.4 For whatsoever was written afore time was written for our instruction that we through patience and comfort of the Scripture might have hope And therefore why should we be discouraged humbled for our owne and others sinnes and Gods dishonour indeed we should be but not discouraged hang downe the head as men without hope Therefore 2 Weigh also those 5. Reasons which doe over-power my spirit dispell such feares and carry it on high as it were above the Sun 1. God spared England when it was at the worst when Religion Lawes and all went downe the winde and sâ—â—â—se a man durst publickely shew his face for God when prophanenesse superstition and idolatry increased greatly without
controule and no thoughts of Reformation and therefore much more will he spare it now Reformation is begun If God should now suffer the enemies to prevails now England begins to reforme then it wâ—â—â— be to his great dishonour the enemies of the Church would impute it to the Reformation and blasphemously say That because â—â—e goe about to reforme things amisse in the Church and remove evâ—ls therefore God is angry with us and hath giâ—â—n us up into their hands and so impute our destruction to reformation which is Gods worke as the procuring cause of our â—â—â—sery and overthrow and their victory and triumph in our ruines to their Popish prayers and Idoll-Saints but God will not part with his glory which he hath purchased with a strong hand See a notable promise and an example to this purpose 1. A notable instance to this purpose in Jehosaphats dayes 2 Chron. 19. he seeing things greatly amisse in the Church and Civill State set upon the worke of Reformation purged the house of God and reformed much in the Church and Common-wealth presently upon that came the Moabites Cap 20. v. 10 11 12. Ver. 25. the Ammonites and the inhabitants of Mount Seir against him with so great an army that he professed there was no might in him and his people to withstand them and that they knew not what to doe yet the enemies of Judah had a mighty overthrow and why because Jehosaphat had put himselfe and his people into a good posture of defence in respect of their spirituall state towards God by their humiliation and reformation they were returned againe to the Lord and sought him and therefore God would not now leave them when they had most need of his help Ionah 3.10 Yea when Pagan Niniveh did begin to reforme and turne away from their evill wayes God did not destroy them as he had threatened and otherwise had undoubtedly done and yet their reformation is generally supposed to be but outward and hypocriticall not inward of the heart and sincere much lesse will God destroy a Christian Nation when we begin to reforme and turne to him 2. See also a notable promise to this purpose Jer. 18. saith God At what instant I shall speake concerning a Nation Ier. 18.7 8. and concerning a Kingdome to plucke up to pull downe and destroy it If that Nation against whom I have pronounced turne from their evill I will repent of the evill thought to doe unto them God threatens destruction to England England begins to reforme her evill wayes and pâ—â—â— away her whoredomes and abominations and therefore surely God will spare not destroy England whatsoever dangers seem to threaten us 3. God hath many mourners in England that sigh and groane because of the abominations and sinnes of the land and doe strive against them and thirst after a pure state of the Church with longing desire Yea the Parliament the representative body of this Kingdome hath ever in these declining times bin against the evils declared themselves against them and laboured what in them lay to redresse evils and purge the Church and God doth not use to destroy a Nation or give them up into the hands of their enemies so long as the Lots Jobs Samuels Daniels remaine in it and stand in the gap much lesse when the whole kingdome as the Parliament is by representation and deputation stand in the gap and seeke to turne away wrath from the people So much is clearly implyed in that speech of God Ezek 22.30 I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before me for the land that I should not destroy it but I found none This Argument hath given good hopes to many even when things were at worst and no Parliament thought of that God would yet be gracious to England 4. England fals to Fasting and Pryaing throughout the Land and God hath put a mighty spirit of prayer into the hearts of his people generally throughout the Kingdome every good mans heart is inlarged towards God for the peace of Jerusalem even children in yeares and young persons have eyes to see that things are amisse and their hearts open to goe to the throne of grace for mercy and favour for England and have their dayes of humiliation and prayer yea scarce any that hath the face of a Christian or principle of common honesty in him but doth as well as he can pray for Englands peace and happinesse And we doe not any where reade of any people whom God destroyed when they fell generally throughout the Land to Fasting and Prayer but ever that God spared them Ion. 3.5 Israel and Judah often yea and some out of the Church as the Ninevites and very often when they have bin brought to a very low condition yet when they sought unto God in their trouble he delivered them See one place instead of many namely Psal 107. especially v. 6 13 19 28 Then they cryed unto the Lord in their trouble and he delivered them out of their distresses I will trouble you with one publike instance 〈◊〉 that is in Hester Host 2.4.7 3 and two instances in particular persons in Hesters time the Church of the Iews was brought into a very low condition and a most desperate strait nothing was before them in the eye of humane reason but death and utter destruction the Deerbe was sealed never to be reversed and the Postes hasted to publish it every where that all their enemies might be ready at the day appointed to destroy them the Jewes fell to Fasting and Prayer and God delivered them For particular instances one is in Nebuchadnezzar he was brought so low that a man would have thought Dan. 4.31 it had been impossible for him ever to have been restored he had lost his Kingdome and wits also which are as a learned man said the onely way to bring a man in againe he had lost all his beauty and was become as a Beast of the field Ver. 34. not in substance but in condition and carriage yet when be looked up to Heaven God heard him and restored him to his senses kingdome and honour againe and so he did Ionah when a man in all reason would have thought it impossible Jon â— 2.1 being then in the middle of the Sea covered over with waters and in the Whales belly a creature whose stomack can digest any thing 4. And surely this also hath weight in it and is a good argument of hope and comfort that God hath set up many worthy lights and put many faithfull painfull and profitable labourers into his Vineyard very lately and many especially young people come in aâ—pâ—ce and submit to the Gospell and beginne to shew forth the power of Godlinesse in their lives 5. Also it is very remarkable and comfortable consider that all the plots designes and indeavours of the enemies have hitherto been so timely through Gods goodnesse
Lyons mouthes with the 3. children in the fiery furnace to restraine the force of the fire that it hurt them not and so with others in their troubles and tryals Isa 43 2. and hath promised to be with all his When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee and when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt Iosh 1 5 8. Heb. 13.5 neither shall the flame kindle upon thee I will never leave thee nor forsake thee In what condition or extremity soever thou be yet still wait patiently upon God he will help in the most seasonable time Oh but my sinnes are great I am a vile unworthy creature he will not regard such a vile wretch as I am beside all outward meanes faile Answ But take heed doe not limit the Holy One of Israel neither for the thing time manner nor meanes he is al-sufficient his mercies are great and free and he knowes the fittest time therefore feare not but relye wholly on God trust perfectly in him There is in many a trusting in God but 〈◊〉 is imperfect they seeke to and trust in other things with God yea without God in themselves friends and other things and meanes This ought not to be so we should trust wâ—â—â—â—y and only in God and wait patiently on him he will be sâ—en in due time Consider the Husbandman I am 5.7 8. he waiteth for the fruit of the earth and hath long patience for it be ye also patient stablish your heart saith James If the Husbandman doe with patience undergoe all weathers and casualties and wait long for the fruit that he may have a joyfull harvest then much more ought they to wait that sow seed in Heaven gracious and precious seed teares and prayers and doubtlesse they shall reap in due time we have Gods owne word for it Psal 137.7 8. They that sow in teares shall reap in ioy Secondly as it may and ought to teach and encourage all to goe on and rest perfectly and patiently on God so particularly to You the Worthies of Israel who are now imployed by God the King and Countrey in the great service of the Kingdome You have a great worke before you mighty Adversaries and great opposition the Devill the Pope that Balaam of Rome that curseth the people that will not adhere to him and all the rabble of popish and prophane wretches who are digging as deep as hell to undermine you and your honourable proceedings and blow all up their continuall desperate designes and hell bred treasons and bloudy threatenings witnesse to all the world the extreame height of their malice and your dangers You seeme to be now even in the very top of the Mount of extreame dangers and the whole Kingdome our Religion Lawes liberties and free Courts of Justice with you are upon the verticall point yet be not discouraged much honoured Patriots God will be seen in the Mount doe you continue daily to seeke unto God wholly deny your selves and depend upon him walke with him and seeke him and the publicke good in all your undertakings and be assured God will ever protect direct preserve and deliver you Hath he not preserved directed and protected you hitherto even to admiration when there was but a step but a word betwixt you and death and he will ever protect and in due time deliver his Majesty and the Kingdowe with you if you still walke with him God will be seen in the Mount when it comes to the very point when the enemies of Sion thinke to strike the fatall blow But when God shewes himself in the Mount helps and delivery you and the Kingdome with you in our extremities and treâ—â—s the enemies under the foot of justice then beware you doe no forget to returne all possible praise and thankfulnesse to God for so great a mercy but with Abraham here erect a Monument to perpetuate the memory of such divine mercies to posterity And in the meane time you must set up your Eâ—en-ezer â— Sam 7.12 Hitherto hath God helped us as Samuel and all Israel did And so I come to the third and last point observed in these words which is this That mercies and deliverances in our extremity or great troubles Dect 3. ought especially to be noted and the remembrance of them continued Here Abraham in memory of so great a mercy that so eminent a passage of divine providence might never be forgotten he as it were sets up a pillar or Monument to all posterity with this inscription Jehovah-jirah the Lord will see and provide with this proverbiall speech also In the Mount of the Lord it shall be seen All the while Abraham was busied in making the Altar laying on the wod c. God saw but was not seen did not shew himselfe but when it came to the act of striking the fatall stroake which was even falling downe then God was seene i.e. did manifest his gracious pleasure in preserving Isaac and therefore Abraham labours to perpetuate the memory of this great mercy in the name of the place He called the name of the place Iehovah-jirah And so should we doe of speciall mercies and deliverances Indeed we should be thankfull for all even for the least mercy and deliverance even nature common honesty and equity require that where we receive a benefit Nihil est aequè Deo gratu a â—â—q grati esse anime Chrysost Orat. 2. ad Cor. 1. we should returne thanks beside it is a most excellent duty more displeasing to the Devill but more acceptable to God then prayer for prayer argues want and misery which the Devill desireth and rejoyceth at but thankfulnesse argues plenty at least a comfortable condition which the Divell envies Invitat al magna qui gratanter suâ—â—â—pâ—â— mudica Caâ—siod in Psal Grav ssimum vâ—tâ—um 〈◊〉 homine indigâ—um it doth more argue sincerity of the heart then prayer doth and shall continue when prayer shall cease It is very advantagious to our selves it conciliates favour with God is as I may say an encouragement to our heavenly Father to go on to do us good and to bestow better and greateâ— mercies and deliverances But unthankfulnesse is a grievous fault in the opinion even of the very Heathens displeasing * Spiritus gratiae contumeliam sâ—â—â—t qui bâ—ne ficium dantis gratâ— mente non suscipit Ber. Ex. 17.14 to God and seldome goes unpunished in this world God takes notice of it though against man much more if against himselfe records it to their infamy instance in Pharaohs chiefe Butlers forgetfulnesse of Joseph it hinders good things from us shuts up the fountaine of Gods goodnesse causeth him to take away or blast what he hath already given a people and often brings down judgement upon the head of the unthankfull as the Scripture witnesseth But especially hould we be thankfull for take speciall notice of and
spoyled at such a time c. So for publicke mercies and deliverances in which every one hath a share for the publicke good is every mans private benefit Was not England brought into the Mount to a very great exigent and was not God seene for Englands good in 88. in scattering and destroying that invincible Navy Aâ—no 1588. as the Adversaries themselves stiled it In November 5. 1605. when there wanted but a very little time to be added to make our King that then was and He that now is 1605. the Queene Prince Nobles Commens in Parliment and many thousands more together with the Houses the Records of the Land and of every mans particular right yea the whole Kingdome our Religion Lawes Liberties and all to come to nothing and then God appeared and wrought a great salvation for us before we knew our selves to be in danger So when the Churches in Germany were brought to an exceeding low ebbe God raised up that renowned King of Sweden and others since that have done great things revived the dying hopes of Germany this was the mighty worke of God So God did wonderfully preserve Ireland especially the great City of that Kingdome giving very great and wonderfull deliverances and victories to a few over many very often God hath preserved and done great things for faithfull loyall Scotland sometimes pronounced and commonly called traytors though misunderstanding when they stood for the defence of Religion Lawes and Liberties against the publicke enemies of the Church when in the eye of earnall reason there was little or no hopes of enjoying either Againe for our selves at home 1639. 1640. did not the Lord strangely and wonderfully preserve this Nation from the Spanish Navy the other yeares and from imbruing our hands in our neighbours bloud who sought our welfare and destroying one another till none remaine or if we were conquered by them we must needs lose all and if we did conquer them we were sure that both the victory and our selves should be a prey to the malignant party for whom we fought We have had many great mercies and deliverances from many great and desperate designes so that we doe enjoy peace liberty and the Gospell to this very day notwithstanding all our feares and jealousies grounded upon most evident and imminent causes threatening destruction and losse of all broken our yoaks eased our shoulders and our consciences also in a great put-off of many grievous burdens The time would faile me to tell of all the great things that God hath done for us within these few yeares by-past and utter his mercies and our deliverances by while There is cause enough why we should stand even amazed with the Jewes in Babylon Psal 126.1 that after Proclamation of returning to Jerusalem were so affected with it and wondred at it that they were as men in an extasie like unto them that dreame they could scarce tell whether it were true which they heard and saw or but a dreame But beloved what thankfulnesse hath been returned to God for all these great mercies and deliverances Surely little and by too many in a manner none at all especially for common and ordinary mercies Many are like the ungratefull Tenant that enjoyes the Lands and Houses of a good Land-lord but will pay no Rent Like the Husbandman in the Gospell that did receive the fruits of the Vineyard but returne nothing Mat. 21.34 41. The truth is many are like the Swine that doe grouse up the Acorns that fall from the Tree but never looke up to the Tree whence they come so many daily taste of Gods blessings receive his mercies and deliverances and yet seldome or never lift up the heart in thankfulnesse to God the Authour and doner of them They were wont in the first Ages of the world to thinke they had good cause to praise God for the least mercies Deut 3â— 13 as for the dew c. We too many of us can scarce find in our hearts to praise God for great mercies while fresh before our eyes so far are we from labouring to continue the remembrance of them 2 Others there are that thinke not of them though they take some notice of them and it may be are a little affected with some of them for the present yet quickly forget them even while the things themselves are in their hands and before their eyes Gen 49.23 or newly received as Pharaohs Butler forgat Joseph and as Israel did Gods goodnesse They remembred not his hand nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy Psal â—8 42.10 21. Ingratus est qui diâ—sâ—â—nutat in gia â—or qui non redd â—â—ngâ—aâ—â— sâ—mus omniâ—i qui oblitus est Sâ— de Bâ—net They forgate God their Saviour that had done great things for them in Egypt There are saith one many sorts of unthankfull men Some deny they have received a benefit some dissemble it some requite not but most unthankfull are such as forget a kindnesse shame honesty and time may mend the former but what can amend the last sort who doe so willingly forget mercies 3. Others though they take some notice of and remember mercies and deliverances yet ascribe them to other things as the Heathens usually doe to their Idoll-gods Iudg 1623. 1 King 5.18 Jer 44.17 18. The Philistines ascribed their victories to Dagon The Syrians to their Idoll Rimmon and Remphan and Israel to the Queen and Host of heaven and too many Christians to second causes and instruments as wit strength policy vigilancy diligence c. yea to fortune and chance a heathenish conceit very unbeseeming Christians yea impious and dishonourable to God robbing him of his glory in those things most commonly in which his wisedome power and providence is most seen and giving that to the creature second causes and instruments or Idol-fortune chance or lucke that belongs to God only 4. Many doe sleight and undervalue mercies and deliverances accounting great mercies small and small none or not worth the taking notice of them 1 King 9 1â— 13 Deu. 19.20 Psal â—6 24 as Hiram did the Cities which Salomon gave him and as Lot did Zoar and Israel the pleasant land and are often murmuring and repining because mercies are not so great and every way satisfying to our boundlesse unsatiable desires This is a great fault to undervalue and much more to repine and murmure at Gods mercies especially if great and extraordinary as many of ours of late have been 5. There are some that are worse then any of these who envy the mercies of Gods people repine at the goodnesse of the Church are grieved to seâ— such great things done as of late have bin done for England and that other Nation blessed be God and even guâ—sh their teeth at it speake contemptuously of what God hath done by the great Councell of the Land yea oppose and hinder what they can seeke to undermine it and undoe all and