fearfull hand of God vpon them shal be roused hereby out of his former security and seeing his owne sinne in the glasse of their vengeance shall feare the rod which lights so heauily vpon them and fly for his life to auoid the same So do the iudgments of God scatter the deuises of the wicked So do they also awake and terrifie others that are subiect to like notorious sinnes Thus when the Captain of the host of Israell had executed the wrath of God vpon some part of those accursed Canaanites the holy Ghost witnesseth that the feare of him fell vpon all the nations round about who being guilty of the same sins did therefore expect the like iudgments and so in a desperate manner exposed them selues therevnto So when the Champion of the Philistines was cut of by the Lords warriour the holy Ghost witnesseth that the Philistines fled and were dispersed And this to haue been the effect of great iudgments vpon the enemies of God the holy Ghost witnesseth in their seuerall coÌ„fusions Yea thus haue the iudgments of God from time inflicted vpon malefactors been the meanes to awake others and so to terrifie them that haue been guilty of the same sinnes that by some token or other either by flying or blushing by complaining or pytying by iustifying or such like they haue verie wonderfully betrayd them selues and so haue exposed them selues to the like iudgments So were the companies of these rebells scattered when once the head of their treason was broken so did they further each other to their iust confusion A most wise righteous course of Gods proceeding against the wicked that they which wil not be ioined with God but say let vs breake his bandes and cast away his cords from vs should not haue any durable socyety among theÌ„selues that they which abuse society to fight against God and his church might want the comfort of society when they haue most neede thereof and be scattered from each other for their more speedy apprehension confusion who haue labored to dissolue the coÌ„munion of the saints Euen so oh Lord let all the enemies be scattered that such as belong to thee being thus disapoynted in their carnall fellowship may seeke to be members of that body of thy sonne which no malice of Satan shall euer be able to seperate Obserue wee here first the wonderfull power of God by confounding the strength of the wicked in this banding and combining of them selues against the godly and learne we that their is no councell nor confederacy against the Lord Nay though the wicked shall make a league with death and be at an agreemont with hell it selfe though Satan and all his legions should conspire with them against his little flocke yet when the Lord shall lay iudgment to the rule righteousnes to the ballance their conuenient with death shal be dissolued and their agreement with hell shall not stand Let vs not therefore be seduced to cast in our lot with the wicked let it not encouradge vs to sinne because many go the broade way seeing as multitude of offenders doth increase the sin so doth it further the punishment due thervnto as prouoking so many instruments to the executioÌ„ of vengeaÌ„ce as there are miserable partakers in the greeuousnes of the sinne If we desire to haue comfort in societie let vs haue fellowshipp with our God by the obedience of faith let our delight be in the saints that are on earth So when the wicked fly are scattered fearefully we shall see the vengeance that hath iustly ouertaken theÌ„ yea this righteous hand of God in dispersing the wicked shall be the meanes to confirme knitt vs comfortably together that we may go vp into the house of the Lord to sing prayses vnto his name Thus when the Lord shal be beneficiall vnto me then saith the prophet the righteous shall resort vnto my company who before stood a farre of for feare of my plague Yea when the Lord shall returne the captiuitie of Sion this shall further be a means of the encrease of the church Then saith the spirit shall ten men take hold out of all languages euen take hold of the skirt of him that is a Iew and say we will go with you for wee haue heard that God is with you Thus as the confounding of the practices of the wicked shal be a meanes to scatter and disolue their confideracies so the deliuerance of the church shal be a furtherance to the gathering againe of the dispersed of Israell that they may behold and conferre of what the Lord hath done for them and so be prouoked to ioyne together in due thankfullnes vnto his Maiesty for the same For so it followeth The third part of the Treatise conteining the vse of these workes 9 All men shall see it and declare the worke of God and they shall vnderstand what he hath wrought 10 But the righteous shall be glad in the Lord and trust in him and all that are vpright of heart shall reioyce WHich two verses being the conclusion of the Psalme doe lead vs to diuers vses which are to be made of such wonderfull Deliuerances which the Lord performeth vnto his seruants all tending to expresse true thankfulnesse vnto God for the same The first whereof is All men shall see it That is first whereas the eyes of men were blinded in the knowledge of God now this wonderfull deliuerance shall open the eies of all not onlie the carnall eyes of the wicked to see God in these workes but further also the spirituall eye of his Saints and deerest seruants which being much dimned and dâ—rkened with such clouds of afflictions as haue lien heauily vpon them and growne hereby euen to doubt of the eye of God prouidence ouer them as if he had forsaken and vtterly reiected them Now being deliuered and pluckt out of the snare the eye of their faith is hereby cleared the eye of their iudgement more setled in the assurance of Gods protectioÌ„ And as men rauished with the strangnesse of the deliuerance their eyes are set and fastned thervpon that so their faith may be more strongely rooted in God yea they doe euen feed their eyes with the contemplation thereof that so their faith may be nourished thereby yea they can neuer satisfie themselues in beholding so wonderfull a mercy that so the minde being thoroughly possessed therewith they may neuer satisfie themselues in thankefulnesse for the same which as it is the end and vse of all Gods mercies euen to take vp the cup of saluation and to giue thanks unto the name of the Lord for the same So shal we find this beholding of Gods wonderfull mercies to be a most effectuall meanes to further the same whether we consider those temptations that doe hinder thankefulnesse vnto God or such meanes as doe vsually further the accomplishment thereof The temptations that doe hinder
punishment of what we haue committed Thus when Nero had set fire on the City of Rome he laid all the blame vpon the Christians Thus when any calamitie befell the Empire presently the fault was layd vppon the Christians they cried to the rack to the fire to the mynes with the Christians this is longe of them And thus had these deadly enemies purposed if their plot had taken effect which God forbid to haue fathered it vpon those who endeauour to serue the Lord with a pure heart But blessed be God who is good vnto Israel euen vnto those that are pure in heart And blessed be the name of his Maiestie for euer who hath preserued his Annointed and his seede from these fatall engines and hath iustified the innocencie of his seruants in the sight of their enemies And let this now be the subiect of our ordinary meditations great deliueraÌ„ces giueth he vnto Dauid his king to his seed for euer As for these policies of our enemies in laying their snares priuily as this may teach vs to iudge them by their workes and manner thereof They hate the light and therefore their workes are euill that wee may not be bewitched with their abhominations so let vs learne not to be affraide of their snares howsoeuer they be cunningly and secretly conueyed Certainely howsoeuer they may hide them from the eye of man yet our God who watcheth ouer vs for good and them to disappoint them he beholdeth their practises and his secret is with the righteous to bring to nought the deuises of our enemies and to hide his seruants in the secret place of his pauilion from the pride of men He that would not hide from Abraham what concerned the destruction of the wicked that so his brother Lot might escape the danger hee will not hide from his children such dangers as are comming towards them but will open their eyes to see the plague that so they may hide themselues vnder the shadow of his wings Onely let vs not wilfully shut our eyes by presumption or securitie lest hereby we betray our selues wilfully vnto the subtiltie of our enemies Let not foolish pity or policie bleare vs in seeing these snares or iudging slightly of them Let not loosenesse in our selues take away courage from vs that so wee may not dare to take notice of the practises of the wicked lest the conscience vpon this knowledge be amated and deiected and so possessed with a fearefull expectation of theÌ„ Let vs not depriue our selues of that true light which may informe the conscience herein lest otherwise we bee giuen vp to be blinded by the enemies Let vs not imitate the wicked heerein either seeking for the darkenesse to commit sinne more securely or in vsing any carnal cloakes to hide the same lest our secrecie in sinne giue power to their secrecie in plotting such punishments as are due to the same Let vs not presume of impunitie though wee haue committed sinne secretly seeing what we haue done couertly the lord wil opeÌ„ly discouer to our greater shame and when man ceaseth to punish then the Lord himselfe will awake to execute vengeance If we may haue a cloake for sinne to carrie it clenly if authoritie may out-face or money buy it out if wit will defend it or impudencie denie it if example may colour or custome extenuate Oh let vs not be deceiued by any of these cloakes seeing there is nothing so hidden which shall not be reuealed and the more we haue cloaked our sinne the more wee shall inherite shame and confusion when it shall be discouered yea the very cloakes which we vsed to hide our sinne shall one day be meanes to lay open the same and the rust of that riches which we haue vsed wrongfully shall at the day of iudgment giue in euidence against vs and be a means to consume vs with fire Oh consider this you that forget God and say in your hearts the Lord seeth not Behold your owne iniquities shall finde you out and such weapons of vnrighteousnesse wherewith you haue fought against the Lord they shall now prooue his weapons to be auenged of you Remember that â—he Babilonians with whom Israel plaide the harlot were the scourge of God appointed to strippe her naked and fearefully to spoyle her who while she was faithfull with her God was a terrour to all our enemies Oh let vs therefore take heede of daubing with our enemies take wee heed in any case of buying our peace by committing abhomination with them lest it come to passe that as we haue serued our selues of them by taking part in their filthinesse so they shall serue themselues of vs by making a spoile of vs. And the Lord shal serue himselfe of vs both purging vs by them of such dregs as remaine hardning them by vs to their final confusion Oh let vs therfore cleaue vnto our God that he may stil keep the city and preserue his Church among vs then vndoubtedly though many snares be laid for vs yet the lord wil awake to discouer theÌ„ vnto vs yea this blessing shal a faithfull king receiue at the hand of God that his hand shal find out all his enemies and his right hand shal find out theÌ„ that hate him So it pleased his Maiestie to direct the heart of our Annointed to apprehend this mischiefe and principally out of the Letter contrarie to all graÌ„maticall or reasonable constructioÌ„ to scan the same yea though the snares might happily take hold vpon vs yet wil the Lord arise to deliuer him that is snared the snare shall be broken and we deliuered As for our enemies that haue thus secretly layd these snares Behold the Lord will raine snares vpon them and so take them in the pit which they haue digged for others onely let vs trust in God and wait vpon him so when the iniquitie of our enemies shal be discouered and disappointed there shall our righteousnesse all come foorth as the light and our wel doing as the noone day that the Lord may bee glorified in the iustifying of his children and wee comforted in the experience of his protection It followeth And they say who shall see them That is They say in effect that none shall see them and so they doe put out the eie of Gods prouidence and thereupon conclude indeed that there is no God Such was the grouÌ„d of Rhamaes oppressioÌ„ Who is the Lord that I should heare his voice and let Israel goe Such was the ground of the Idolatrie of the Iewes they say the Lord seeth vs not the Lord hath forsaken the earth Such was the ground of the persecution of the wicked that he not only thinketh alwayes There is no God but further also he contemneth God and saith God hath forgotten he hideth away his face and will neuer see And this doth the holy Ghost yeeld to be the reason why the Gentiles
were giuen vp into a reprobate minde whereby they became full of vnrighteousnesse euen because they regarded not to acknowledge God And surely as the professioÌ„ of Poperie is a flat deniall of the power of God as being a voluntarie and perpetuall worship plausible to the sence and agreeable to reason so the practise thereof is nothing else but a maine Sea of impietie framing out iustly it owne shame and confusion Thus hath their spirituall fornication against God and his ordinance brought forth that fruitfull sinne of carnall Fornications and vncleannesses of all sorts And thus hath their desperate rebellion against the Lord against his Annointed exalting themselues aboue all that is called God brought forth that cursed Monster of treason and rebellion against Gods Lieutenant vpon earth It being a certaine consequent that they do not loue God whome they haue not seene who hate their brother whom they see dayly It being a righteous thing with God that their sinne of treason against his Maiestie should be knowne discouered by their treason against the Magistrate that how the Magistrate may bee iustly prouoked to fight against the beast both for the safetie of their estates and for the glorie of God vtterly to destroy the Kingdome of Antichrist Who so is wise let him consider this and in this glasse of Rebellion let him obserue an heart of Atheisme And if this Atheisme be so easily to be discerned in her brood as wee may not looke for grapes of thornes or figges of thistles any better fruit from so cursed a tree so let vs in the name of God disclaime that so Satan which in the root and fruit fights against God and man And discerne wee wisely the truth of that Religion which ioyning God and man so graciously together doth teach vs not to separate those whome God hath ioyned but to maintaine this holy Vnitie euen with the losse of our deerest blood and in the feare of God cleaue we vnspeakably vnto that holy truth which teacheth vs to giue vnto not to take from Caesar the things that are Caesars and vnto God the things that are Gods that so honouring Caesar aright in giuing him his due vnder God wee may vnder Caesar liue a quiet and peaceable life in all godlynesse and honestie And seing there is not a more effectual meanes to prouoke vs to obedience than that the eye of God is continually vpon vs As this was a spurre vnto our aduersaries for their treason against the Lords Annointed that God should not see them so let it bee a continuall motiue of our conscionable obedience vnto God and man namely that the Lord our God looketh continually vpon vs. And that we may not want a liuely euidence for the same let vs onely consider how the Lord watched ouer vs in this deliuerance that if he had been on our side and watched ouer vs when these snares were priuily layd against vs surely they had swallowed vs vp quick when their wrath was kindled against vs. Yea the waters had drowned vs and the streame had gone ouer our soules Oh that this deliueuerance may for euer stoppe the mouth of Athiesme and roote out that cursed brood which exalts it selfe against the Lord. Certainely if the defeature of such mischiefes shall not now open our mouths to acknowledge the power and mercie of God vnto his Church the practise wherof hath opened the mouthes of the wicked to say there is no God Let vs looke that as the Lord hath iustified himselfe against them by deliuering vs out of their hands so will he also iustifie himselfe against vs in laying further punishments vpon vs euen by exposing his people as a pray vnto their enemies that they may learne to giue him the honour that is due vnto his name If the feare of his rodde will not cause vs to depart from euill we shall feele the smart of his holy indignation and the shaking of the rodde shall not serue the turne if by it we haue not returned vnto the Lord our God Oh Lord it is not in man to walke and to direct his steps Turne thou vs vnto thee and then wee shall bee turned For why should the wicked say Where is now our God Why should thy Children complaine that thou hast forsaken them Oh Lord thou art our God from euerlasting and world without end thou hast magnified thy selfe in the sight of our enemies and put to confusion those that hate vs Oh let vs therefore draw nere vnto the Lord our God let vs renew our couenant with thy Maiestie to the finall confusion of our enemies and to the preuenting of all such further mischiefes that they shall practise against vs. It followeth They haue sought out iniquities That is they haue studied and inuented diuers sorts of mischiefes to accomplish thereby more certainely their desires Behold here a third policie of the wicked to supply that which may bee wanting in their former deuise of secrecy that though one plot be discouered another might take place and still another might bee one foote though a former were preuented A verie desperate and most effectuall policie to bring their purposes to passe not only in that this varietie of stratagems tyres out policie and carnall wisedome and puts it to a Non plus in preuenting so many mischiefes but further also great terrour and distraction ceaseth on the hearts of weake ones in regard of such strange and manifold snares yea by this meanes those whom God hath giuen vp to these snares are heere appalled with wofull despaire and so hereby lye open to the snares as hauing giuen ouer all hope to auoide the same We may finde some steps of this corruption euen in the Saints of God When Dauid saw that there was no end of Sauls malice but stil he was followed with new pursuits the holy Ghost signifieth that it wrought this effect in him that he sayd in his feare as des 〈…〉 airing of deliuerance I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul and thereupon beâ—ooke himselfe to a most desperate course euen to flye for succour vnto the enemies of God For where feare doth possesse vs that malâ—ce is endlesse and her mischiefes so many that they cannot be auoided there care will faile vs for the preuenting of them as thinking our labout lost against such vnauoydable snares And so being carelesse in the danger we lye open thereunto and are either betrayed by desperate securitie in the end vnto the same or else seeking to auoide them by vile and impious courses we doe hereby exclude our selues from the protection of the Lord and so cause the malice of our enemy to light more heauily vpon vs. It hath been no new thing with the enemies of God thus to multiply their snares against the seruants of the Most High Infinite was the malice of Saul against the Annointed of the Lord and as was his malice so were his snares accordingly
to their bodyes but euen to their soules to make their fall such as they shall not be able to rise againe doth therefore in his wisedome let them alone so farre in these their diuelish practices that hauing brought them in a manner to ripenes and perfection as they could wish they might herevpon be lifted vp with pride and confidence in the good successe thereof that by the suddaine defaiture of these practices afterward their confusion might be the greater both to body soule not onely to the body in such punishments which doe attend them but especially into their soules and consciences either breeding in them an obstinate allowance of their diuelish practices when they shall see their expectation so deceiued their wisedome confounded Oh this will make Ahitophell euen to hang himselfe this is it that will strike dispaire in the harts of these rebells and make them euen desperatly runne vpon their owne swords Maruaile not we therefore if we see the wicked puffed vp with confidence in their mischeifes for it is the cheefest portion that they haue of al their iniquity this is al the poore comfort they find theirin namely to flatter them selues in the good successe thereof yea this is the strōgest band wherby Satan doth hold them Rather admire wee the wonderfull wisedome of the Lord who prepares thē by this carnall confidence to their greater confusion and makes the pride of their wisedome to be the break-neck thereof And seeing it is no shame to learne good euen of our enemyes seeing confidence in euill is a messenger of their distruction let vs trie our standing in grace by our feare in sinne Certainly as the feare of offending God is a meanes to preuent sin so feare in the sence of our owne vnworthynes in regard of our sinnes working repentance not to be repented of is the meanes to restore vnto vs the ioy of Gods saluation which before we had lost than so we may either auoyde or sanctifie such iudgments as are due vnto our sinnes And if the wicked are so confident in euill purposes Oh let vs not cast away our confidence couradge in well-doing which hath so greatre compence of reward Lastly seeing confidence in sinne is a note of ripenes and when the measure is full the vessels shall be emptied Let vs not be cast downe when we see the wicked insolent that especially in the confidence of their wickednesse neither let their presumtion in their mischiefs be any matter to hinder vs in the wayes of our callings but rather let vs patiently waite vpon the Lord and commit our selues into his hands in wel-doing as into the hands of our faithfull Creator vpon an vndoubted assurance that the malice of the wicked is hastening to an end when wee shall see it swolne and puffed vp with pride of good successe Though we may say in our infirmitie vpon view of their power and malice as Elishaes seruant did Alas how shall we doe we are but dead men yet let vs here see by faith and not by sence and then vndoutedly wee shall haue Elishaes eyes to see more with vs than those that are against vs yea if wee can bee still and behold the saluation of the Lord our enemies whome wee see this day wee shall see them no more And if wee would desire that the Lord would shew vs some token for good whereby we may see the confusion of our enemies neere at hand we cannot haue any more euident than this that before destruction the minde is haughtie Our enemies are secure and confident in the accomplishment of their practises For so it followeth in the next words THE SECOND PART The Webbe broken Psal. 64. Vers. 7. But God shall shoot an arrow at them suddenly their stroakes shal be at once 8. They shall cause their owne tongues to fall vpon them and whosoeuer shall see them shall fly away WHere in the holy Ghost vsing a borrowed speech from Archers and their shooting doth heereby signifie thus much vnto vs that as the arrow flyes swiftly wee knowe not from whome and suddenly hits we know not when so shall the Iudgements of God come vpon the wicked when they are least looked for and suddenly surprise them to their greater confusion Wherein first it is worthy our obseruation that the holy Ghost ascribes this notable defeature and ouerthrow of the enemie to the proper office and worke of God God shall shoote For what can be a greater terrour to Traytors and Rebels than to know that as they in resisting power resist God so they shall haue God to fight against them before whome they shall not be able to stand Against whom no power nor wisedome nor counsell shal be able to preuaile What greater comfort can there be vnto Princes than this that whereas it is God that exalteth them and not they themselues it is he also that will maintaine his owne calling and institution and rescue his seruants from the hurtfull sword Certainely though Magistrates are so exalted that they are aboue all others yet by this they may learne that the Lord is aboue them that so they may be humbled in the sence of their greatnesse yea though they are so high in regard of their callings that all humane power is subiect vnto them yet this herein may humble them much more that they are placed in such mutable and slipperie places that if the Lord withdraw his protection from them they shall be subiect to the power of the meanest creatures Oh that Princes would learne hence to establish their thrones by kissing the sonne and aduauncing his kingdome oh that they would learne to bound themselues within the compasse of Gods protection by seruing the Lord in feare and reioycing before him in reuerence So should the Lord establish their Kingdomes for euer and their enemies should be cloathed with perpetuall shame so should their earthly honour bee a pledge vnto them of euerlasting glorie and this that they gouerned faithfully ouer men vnder God should be a meanes to further them to raigne with God for euer Onely let them take heede that they tempt not the Lord that because the Lord will finde out their enemies and auenge their cause therefore they shall bee secure and carelesse in obseruing their practises and meeting with their wickednesse by lawfull authority vpon pretence of leauing the matter vnto God and to gaine an opinion of vnseasonable clemencie For as it is presumption to be our owne caruers in vengeance when our priuate callings will not warrant vs therein so to keepe the sword in the scabberd when it is put in our hands and not drawe it forth for the cutting off of the wicked as this is a betraying of that power which is committed vnto vs so it is the meanes to exclude vs Gods protection and thereby to expose vs to the malice of our enemies And
though on the other side we shal not be able to meet with all as who is able to search the heart of man and indeede when the leaders shall be cut off it stands many times with policie and agrees with clemencie to let the rest escape yet neither let the wicked hereby flatter themselues that the bitternesse of death is past neither let the Children of God distrust but that all their enemies in time shall be confounded For though Dauid may spare Shimei when reuenge is not fit yet the Lord will haue a time to meet with that rayling enemie and to snare him in the ginne that his owne mouth hath layd And though the aduersaries of the truth may happily in some part for a time escape as it is necessarie sōe should still remaine that the faithfull be tryed yet let thē know that their destruction sleepeth not Though Ioab may escape while the Sonnes of Zeruiah are to stronge for the Kingdome and his sinne not yet breake out to ripenesse and perfection yet the time shall come when Salomon shall be stronge ynough for him and the guilt of his former bloodinesse shall driue him forward to receiue the wages of bloud by causing him in the end to breake out into apparant Rebellion Oh consider this you that embrew your hands in blood and for the time goe vncontrolled because power is in your hands Behold the blood that you haue shedde doth crie for vengeance and in the appointed time the Lord will giue you vp to such a thirst of blood as that none but the blood of the mightie will quench the same that so your sinne now meeting with a power able to match it may receiue the wages due vnto the same Certainly whosoeuer makes not conscience to spill the blood of those who are deare in the sight of God ouer whom he may haue power he shall in the end make conscience of shedding no blood that so at the length hee may meete with his match to shedde his owne blood Would God our oppressors and blood-suckers would consider this and in the Booke of this prouidence read their owne successe And though happily there may bee a pardon for the first offence though the clemencie of the Prince may remit the first fact as the heart of the King is in the hands of the Lord it is the glory of a man to passe by an offēce yet surely where there doth not follow a thorough reformation of life there wil certainely bee a relapse into the same sinnes that so at length vngeance may meet with them Adomiah may escape once though hee prooue Traitor to his Lord yet his sinne is restlesse and at length will finde him out and in the end hee shall bee caught in the bonds of his former iniquitie Oh consider this you that abuse the patience of gouernement to the hardning of your hearts and multiplying of your iniquities euen with greedinesse against your Soueraigne certainely the Lord which awaketh for the preseruation of his children who preseueth his Annointed and maintaineth his owne cause he euen he will giue you vp to such desperatenesse of iniquitie in the end that it shall pay you in due time the shame it oweth you to the glorie of God and your iust confusion Euen so oh Lord hasten the confusion of thine enemies or conuert them speedily for the accomplishment of the elect It followeth Shall shoot an arrow at them suddenly Behold now the admirable wisedome and powers of God in this effectuall maner of defeating his enemies by confounding their poliyes in their seuerall practices with his contrary iudgments answearable thervnto And first consider wee how deliberate consultation is here confounded with the suddennes of the vengeance that they which tooke such time laysure to bring their purposes to passe they which so aduisedly consulted to do mischeife vnto others shall now haue no time or leasure to consult their owne deliuerance because the hand of the Lord shall come suddenly vpon them So doth the Lord threaten Babel that rod of his indignation that he will come vpon her suddenly with many plagues So doth the holy Ghost prophecie of that spirituall Babell that not onely in one daie but euen in one hower she shal be ouerthrowne Yea her iudgment shall come vpon her as the casting of a great milstone into the middest of the Sea so sudden violent shal be her distruction So do the seruants of God poynt out vnto vs the distruction of the wicked that it shal be suddaine and fearfull which cannot be auoided A most holy and righteous course of Gods proceeding against the wicked whether wee consider the affection of the Lord in laying theise punishments vpon them or the end which he aymeth at in confounding them in this life or lastly the vse that he entendeth in regard of others Concerning the affection of the Lord in the punishments of the wicked as the Lord chasteneth his children in loue and of verie faithfullnes causeth them to be afflicted so on the contrary doth hee consume the wicked in his wrath and sore displeasure And therefore as he giues warning vnto the one to witnes his loue vnto them that so they might be prepared to meet the Lord so on the other side doth he ouer take the wicked with his suddaine iudgments that being vnprepared therevnto they might be ouer-whelmed with the fury of his speedy indignation And this also doth the end of their afflictions manyfestly declare For whereas the Lord in these temporall plagues entendes to giue them a tast of eternall vengeance therfore doth he lay them suddenly vpon the wicked that so confounding them by this suddenes and driuing them to their wits endes their harts might not onely bee hardned and so enraged against the Lord but further also this confusion of their wisedome driuing thē to dispayre they shal be possed with the fearfull expection of the vengeance to come And surely seeing God doth turne all things to the good of the elect therfore also doth he make the punishmentes of the wicked profitable vnto them and that especially by the consideration of the suddennes of them For hereby the saints of God are forewarned of security lest a sudden iudgment do ouertake them hereby they are admonished to serue the Lord in feare in that he deales so roundly and suddenly against the wicked hereby also they gather comfort in all their crosses troubles that the Lord maketh a difference betweene them and the wicked euen in that which seemeth to be alike vnto both Oh that our carelesse impes would consider this who spend their dayes in wealth and put the euill day farre from them that so they may more securely approach the sea of iniquity that they would remēber this suddaine reckoning and lay vnto their harts this course of Gods iustice euen to take sinne napping and suddenly to surprise it That
inheritance and exalted themselues in the temple of God aboue all that is called God so that a man would thinke they neede feare no downefall as hauing with Tyrus built their nâ—sts so high Oh but al this honour is nothing vnto them so long as Mordakie wil not bowe vnto them there is a little flocke which is a great â—oâ—â— in their eye as being founded vpon that stone â—â—wen out without hands which as the Lord hath prophesied so their consciences are conuinced withall That it shall breake in peeces whatsoeuer exalteth it selfe against God If Mordakie would bowe to Hamon and the Saints of God worship their God Mauzzim if the corner stone would endure their hay and stubble and such like trumpery then happily it should not bee pushed at And yet by your leaue there is no trusting to them in this case if eyther their be any Opposition against their ambition or their hope of spoile and pillage therby heere the goods of Papists are a like hereticall as those of Hugunots and the most deuoted popelings soonest made their prey so litâ—le do they esteeme religion in respect of their lusts so easily may we may perceiue the cause of all their quarrells And yet that they may not want a visor to deceiue themselues and others religion must be the colour the crosse must be the standard and the Church and Saints of God must goe downe because they are not profitable an aduantage vnto them Thus because the spouse of Christ cannot indure the wages and habite of the harlot because there is no halting betwixt two opinions but wee must stand for God and him alone seeing Dagon cannot stand before the Arke of God and the Kingdome of Christ will certenly confound the purple Strumpet Therefore doeth shee band her selfe with the Kings of the earth against the Lord and against his annointed makes continual war with the Saints of God But wil you see with what Issue Certenly to the exceeding good profit of the church which is continually Watred with the blood of the Martyrs and by these daily afflictions prepared vnto her bridgrome and to the hastening of their own most woeful and vnavoydable destruction For as the blood of the Saints on the one side crying for vengeance hasteneth the wrath of god vpon theÌ„ so the increase of their malice adding to the measure of their sinne doth at the length bring the same to ripenesse that so the sickle of Gods vengeance might bee put in accordingly Maruaile not therefore if the aduersary increaseth his rage against the Saints of GOD for wot you what his kingdome hath receiued his deaths wound and now the only hope is euen desperate wickednesse And shall I now be cast downe when I see them so desperate No saith our Sauiour when you see these things then lift vp your heads for your redemption draweth neere I need no truer a prophet of the destruction of Popery then to obserue how it breaketh out into desperate and most barbarous courses for the maintenance thereof neither neede I other weapons to vphold a righteous cause then what the malice of mine enemie shall minister vnto me Onely let vs bee wise to make this vse of these weapons as Hezakiahs did of the letters of Rabshacks let vs not answere these fooles according to their foolishnesse let vs not feare their feare nor fret against their mallice but let vs in the name of God commend the cause vnto God let vs bee sure that for his sake wee suffer these reproches that for him it is we are appointed as sheepe for the slaughter let vs not cast a way our confidence which hath so greate hope of reward but in patience possesse our soules reseruing vengeance for the Lord and committing our selues in well dying into the handes of our faithfull creator and then let vs looke vndoubtedly that hee that is comming will come in the needefull time the snare shal be broken and wee deliuered and our enemies shall full into the pit which they haue digged for vs. Let vs now in a word examine our selues by this second effect of Gods wonderful mercies namely that all men shal declare the worke of God We haue heard how they do open the mouthes of the wicked not onely to acknowledge the greatnesse of the worke but to giue testimony also vnto the power of the workeman yea further to approue the innocency of the saints and lastly to prophecy of the deliuerance of the rightrous and their owne confusion wee haue also heard howe they doe open the mouthes of the saints not onely to cheare vp one another in the worship of GOD and to be confirmed in the sincerity thereof but further to acknowledge the righteous power of God and to prophecy vnto themselues the continuance of Gods mercie for the time to come Uerily there is a reward for the righteous that is the Lord hath stored vp a full recompence for them in that great day Let vs by this make triall howe our mouthes haue beene opened with this greate deliueraunce which GOD hath bestowed vpon vs that so hereby wee may haue matter to discerne our estate surely this worke of God hath beene so wonderfull that if wee should bould our peace the very stones would speake thereof and therefore it is to bee feaâ—ed that the stones one day will rise vp in Iudgement against many whose mouthes haue either beene shut vp as being confounded therewith or opened blasphemously to the dishonour of God so did that bloudie monster open his mouth indeed but it was to the high dishonour of the Almightie when he said that it was not God but the deuill that disclosed so desperate a treason as thinking that God would not hinder so good a worke I pray God he haue not many fellowes thus desperately blinded If any such Athiests or Rebels shall thus open their mouthes against heauen for the discouery of this mischiefe as if their God had deceiued them and so now they will no longer stay vpon him I wish if they belong not vnto the Lord my heartie prayer is that they may bee so deceiued still that that God whom they will not honor in their obedience to his substitute may be honoured in their iust confusion from his presence for euer If any common discourses shall be put into new matter hereby to fill vp the newes at a Table or else where to get himselfe credit and giue others contentment I enuie him not neither doe I forbid him whether it be of enuie or strife vaine glory or vanitie whether of pretence sincerely that this worke be spoken of therein I ioy and therein I will ioy as knowing it shall redound to Gods glory and the good of such whom it doth concerne And I doe wish that all men may speake of this wonderfull worke of God that so God may haue the glory in that all gâ—ue testimonie therevnto and
wonderfull workes of God And whosoeuer shall duely obserue these great workes of God and shall giue him the reuerence that is due vnto his name for the execution of so great iudgments his mouth shal be opened to declare the worke of God he cannot be silent in a day of so good tydings nay he shall not onely speake of what is done but his vnderstanding shal be convinced that it was not the arme of flesh but the Lords owne doing nay he shall further vnderstand the greatnesse of the deliuerance he shall vnderstand sayth the holy Ghost what God hath done And this vse shall euerie one make of great deliuerances But the righteous who onely hath true interest therein when he hath apprehended in his iudgement the greatnesse of this mercie when hee hath attained in some measure to a large knowledge thereof then shall his heart bee enlarged to reioyce-therein and finding it to be the Lords doing which is maruailous in his eyes this shall bee a meanes to make him trust in God and thereby finding his heart vpright vnto the Lord his God hee shall againe reioyce in the greatnesse of his mercie Thus shall the righteous doe whose hearts are vpright in the Lord. Thus shall a great deliuerance bee entertained by them Now that wee may approoue our selues to bee of the number of these hauing thus briefly deliuered the sum of the Scripture let vs turne backe againe and consider the seuerall lessons therein contained that so we may lay them vnto our hearts as they lye in order and make further applicatiō of them to our building vp in Christ Iesus And first let vs consider the policies whereby Rebels and desperat persons so animate themselues in their traiterous practises that they are fearelesse and exceeding presumptuous in the deuising and prosecuting thereof They encourage them selues c. saith the holy Ghost in a wicked purpose That is they vse all outward and carnall meanes to strengthen and confirme them selues therein that so they may not be daunted driuen from their purposes A policie very vsuall among the wicked in plotting of desperate attempts and indeede uery necessary to the effecting thereof For where the conscience of so great euill must needs disharten them there all outward encouragements will proue litle ynough And herein doth appeare the wisedome of the world that what is wanting in the inward approbation shall outwardly be supplied by carnall comforts But aboue all the cunning of Satan is heere most liuely discouered who purposing to bring thē to confusion by these desperate practises doth therefore oppose these outward encouragements to the inward checkes and discouragements of the conscience that so the checks of the conscience might in some sort be counteruailed and therby neglected and the hart being by this meanes hardned and so in the end made past feeling the wicked may break out more desperately in their attempts as being now possessed with a deadly securitie whereby hauing made vp the measure of their sin when they shall say peace and securitie and feare no euill then shall a suddaine destruction come vpon them and they shall not be able to auoide it Loe heare the wisedome of the wicked in this encouraging of themselues and yet behold a further depth of their wisedome in the meanes and manner of this encouragement and yet all tending to their further confusion These meanes I haue obserued to be of two sorts The first are carnall seruing onely to satisfie the flesh but the second are spirituall pretended to satisfie the minde in these lawlesse and monstrous actions and so to giue colour of iustifying the same The Carnall furtherances to these desperate attempts are of diuers sorts First a combining and vniting of forces together by leagues and associations and that for diuers ends First to giue credite vnto their attempts in regard of the multitude secondly to breed terrour of their purposes as proceeding frō so many lastly that what cannot be don secretly may by force openly be maintained So did the nations of the earth band thēselues against the Lord and against his Annointed So did the Tabernacles of Edom cōspire with the Israelites Moab with the Ammonites Gebal Amelech the Philistines and the rest when they sayd Come let vs cut them off frō being a nation let the name of Israel be no more in remembrance So did the enemies of God combine themselues in that vnholy League euen in our age for the rooting out of the poore Church of God And so did that viperous brood thus incourage it selfe by secret leagues and associations at home and abroad to ruinate and destroy vtterly the most excellent estate of the blood Royall the Church and Common wealth And shall the wicked be thus wise in their generation to strengthen themselues in their mischiefes against God and his Church by combining their forces together and shall not wee which are the children of light much more be knit together in the bond of peace that wee may ioyntly bend our strength against the common enemie shall the the shadowes separate vs when the substance is endangered It was a comfortable speech of Iudah vnto Simeon his brother Come vp with me into my lot that wee may fight against the Canaanites and I likewise will goe vp with thee vnto thy lot so saith the spirit Simeon went vp with him So should brethren ioyne together Brethren against the common enemie that his force may be weakned Oh that Simeon and Iudah would thus ioine together for good as Simeon and Leui are brethren in euill Onely let vs be carefull that we be not yoaked vnequally that so our cōiunction being in the Lord it may be blessed of him A second carnall meanes whereby the wicked are encouraged in euill purposes is a gift in the bosome some present pay before hand wherby they are not onely blinded in the true iudgement of their sinne but in regard thereof they are also drawn on to aduenture such punishments as may befall the same So was Balaam attempted to curse the people of God So was Iudas hyred to betray his master So was Lopas enduced to poyson his mistresse so hath the forrain gold deceiued many of our Italianated Diuels Oh that we could be as bountifull to good purposes as these are to bad that wee could be as willing to employ our treasure for the good of the Church as these are open handed for the spoyle thereof that we could be as forward in aduenturing for the sauing of soules as these Pharisies are compassing Land and Sea sparing no paines neither thinking any cost too much to make one of their profession though when hee is made they make him two-fold more the child of hell than they themselues Certainly if we be not the thirtie peeces of siluer shall one day condemne vs and the earings bracelets of the people which
The first occasion to the snares was the euill spirit as no maruaile if the Diuell be the beginner of all mischiefe And behold the notable cunning of Satan in laying a snare in the calling and profession of Dauid that whereas hee was skilfull to play vppon the Harpe and therefore was required of Saul to alay the furie of his torment comming into Sauls presence to ease him of his anguish he might be exposed to the rage and malice of his enemie and verie hardly did he many times auoide this snare Secondly his wife was intended a snare vnto him and her dowrie also was layd as a snare that the hand of the Philistines might bee against him These secret snares being broken then follow open practises and here was malice as endlesse as it was causelesse How was the poore seruant of God hunted vp and downe as a Partridge vpon the mountaines being neuer in safetie of his life till his enemie was depriued of his Thus was Dauid followed with manifold snares by his enemie Saul and so was Dauids Lord by Satan and his most malicious instruments Marke I pray you how Satan sets vpon him First he layes a snare of distrust perswading him to make bread of stones as if God were not otherwise able to prouide for him in the wildernes WheÌ„ that would not serue he laies a contraria snare of presamption wishing him To cast himselfe downe from the pinnacle of the Temple that so hee might exclude himselfe out of Gods protection When this would not preuaile yet hee layes a third snare of worldly pompe and glorie moouing him thereby to fall downe and worship him that so hee might robbe God of the glorie that was due vnto his name And as was the father so were also the children euen the nation of the Iewes whose saluation he laboured Their malice did not cease against him so long as hee was capable of it and for the acting thereof they wanted not store of mischiefes when they could not preuaile by smiting him with the tongue then they fell to stone him with stones when they could not draw him within the compas of rebellion against the state then they accused him of blasphemie against God when themselues durst not openly bee seene for feare of the people then they corrupted one of his owne house to bring him to his end sometimes they made vproares against him that he might be oppressed of the people sometimes they accused him of compacting with Satan that so they might make him odious and abhominable to the people sometimes they propounded curious question to entrappe him in his words other while they would wrest and peruert his gracious speeches And when they had caught him their malice was yet vnsatiable Buffeting would not serue but further they must whippe him and to greeue his righteous soule the more he must be clothed in purple to bee scorned and derided of them This will not serue but he must be crowned with thornes that so his torment might bee yet encreased yea further yet to lengthen out their malice and his paines behold they deuised a lingting and yet most shamefull torture to bring him to his end Nayled must he be on the crosse to encrease his paine and yet to lengthen out his life and he must be hanged betweene two theeues and accounted among euill doers that so together with his bodie his good name might be killed Thus was our head Christ Iesus persecuted by his owne And thus must all his members looke to be dealt withall Not to trouble you with rehearsâ—ll of forraine stories neither to seeke furthâ—r in our owne than what is fresh in our memories how did the enemies of the Gospell multiplie their snares against vs in this late practise for the restoring of their Kingdome To take away the life of the King this was but an entrance Nay we must cut off root and braunches too if we shall make sure worke was this all Nay the estaâ—es of the Land they must also be cut off that so strength and councell being remooued and the heads being cut off the Conquest might be the easier and the confusion the greater Is this yet all Nay the life of the Kingdome true Religion must be extinguished and all the Professors thereof vtterly rooted out that so Idolatrie may take sure footing againe And to make vp the measure of their mischiefe the execution of all this practise must bee layd vpon true Religion that herein their malice might reach to heauen and in some measure insult and triumph ouer God himselfe Behold heere the trauaile of the wicked which is to bring forth mischiefe behold the fruitfulnesse of malice which can deuise store of snares see the propertie of the wicked they are restlesse in commiting euill and neuer wearie of practising against the Saints of God They cannot sleepe except they haue done euill and their sleepe departeth except they cause some to fall Nay they will spare their sleepe that they may imagine mischiefe on their beds and when the morning is light they practise it Euen as the wilde Asse vsed to the wildernesse that shuffeth vp the winde by occasion at her pleasure who can turne her backe So the wicked runne on without controwlement in the multitude of ther mischiefes and it is their sport and pastime to commit sinne with greedinesse Let vs therefore trie our selues by this propertie of the wicked To commit sinne is an infirmitie incident to the most regenerate but to make it our studie and delight to commit sinne with greedinesse and to continue therein this cannot stand with a sanctifyed nature I delight in the Law of the Lord concerning the inward man saith that chosen Vessell Saint Paul and therfore if I doe that which I would not it is no more I but sinne that dwelleth in me Ohlet vs howsoeuer we cannot choose but sinne yet notwithstanding delight in the law of the Lord that so our sinne may not be imputed vnto vs. Once haue I spoken saith holy Iob but I will answere no more yea twise but I will proceede no further If we haue once oftended let vs doe so no more lest otherwise a worse thing happen vnio vs. And if so be the wicked are so fruitfull in mischiefe and vnwearied in euill to gaine hell therby oh let vs neuer bee wearie of well doing let vs bee plentifull in good workes seeing if we faint not wee shall certainely reape an euerlastâ—ng reward in heauen Lastly seeing the enemies of the Gospell are neuer wearie of mischiefe but still are deuising and practising against the Iust. Oh let vs not be secure of them nor hope to winne them by gentlenesse seeing conniuencie at their wickednesse is but a spurre to further mischiefe as giuing them respite and oportunitie to commit the same If we shall wisely stand vpon the guard and keepe this enemie at the
staues end though happily his malice might hereby bee encreased yet seeing his sinne is by this meanes ripened when the Haruest is ripe the sickle shal be put in his practises shal be so 〈◊〉 from preuailing against vs as that the pit which hee hath digged hee shall fall into himselfe his owne sâ—ord shall enter into his owne heart and his bowe shall bee broken and in the sâ—are which hee priuily layes for vs shall his owne foote bee taken It followeth And they haue accoÌ„plished that which they sâ—ught for c. The meaning is that they are perswaded secretly in their soules that what they haue deuised shall surely take effect Noting vnto vs their presumptâ—ous confidence and building vpon these their plots pâ—lices A thing verie vsuall in the practices of the wicked to proâ—ise theÌ„ selues vndoubtedly good successe therein not onely in regard of their naturall corruption whereby they are apt to conceaue highly of their owne deuises especially caried in such stroâ—g and yet secret manner but principally the iustice of God is seen herein who giuing them vp to this resolute coÌ„fidence doth thereby prepare the way to their more fearefull confusion So did the enemie secure themselus against the Lords Annoynted that they had already deuoured him as hauing so hemd him in with their secret and manifold snares that he could not possible escape yea for the further confirming themselues in this confidence because his onely protection was from God therefore so farre did they proceed in this presumption that measuring the fauour of God by outward prosperity they concluded herevpon falsely vpon some light affliction that did befall him A mischeife is light vpon him he that lieth shall no more rise and their reason is God hath forsaken him wherevpon they encouradge themselues in most confident manner come let vs pursue and take him for their is none to deliuer him Yea so blasphemously confident grow they herein as building vpon the strength and effectuallnes of their snares that they euen make a mocke at the counsell of the poore because the Lord is his refuge and as if so be god were not able to deliuer out of their hands they deryde his confidence in the Lord his God saying he trusted in God let him deliuer him let him saue him seeing hee loueth him Implying thereby most impiously that they had him so sure that his confidence in God should not deliuer him out of their hands Thus did Senacharib open his mouth against heauen when he sent his messenger vnto Hezechiah saying Let not thy God deceaue thee in whime thou trustest c. Imploying that the Lord could not deliuer him out of his hands Thus did the mother of Sisera flatter her selfe when shee looked out of the window and sayd why is his chariot so long a coÌ„ming why tarie the wheeles of his chariot expecting indoubtedly her sons returne with victorie and thus did her wise Ladyes answeare her with owne wordes haue they not gotten and they diuide the spoyle c. shewing also their confidence in the good successe of the battaile And surely if we shall consider the hopes of our enemies concerning the good successe of their desperate attempts as their micheifes haue not been short of any so their confidence also hath been with the best For was not the Nauie which was sent against vs in 88. entitled the Inuincible Armadoe as if no force were able to scatter it And did not their Friars tauntingly and most blasphemously preach that they had Pope and Diuell and all to fight for them but the Hugnenots and Lutherans had none but God to stand on their fide as if hee were no bodie to withstand them had they not diuided the spoyle in conceit before they sawe the shoare which should haue been gayned had they not brought whips and other instruments of torture to execute their crueltie vpon vs as if they made account to be maisters of the field And surely consider wee the practises at this time and we shall see their confidence to haue been encreased with their malice and their mouths euen desparately opened against heauen for the confirming them more assuredly in their bloody expectation If we shall remeÌ„ber the exceeding insolency and pride of these enemyes for some few moneths before the entended execution of their practices a thing not neglected by carefull heads what did it speake vnto vs but their confidence in the successe thereof Was it not written to that honorable Lord that it was decreed by God men to punish the iniquitie of the time therein both making the Lord a party in this their damnable enterprice also thereby building so certainly vpon the accomplishment theirof as if it were the decree of God himselfe What preparacions they had made for the aduancement of themselues execution of the faithfull after the terrible blowe should be giueÌ„ their sumptuous apparell store of bloody weapons proclamations and such like all in a readynes as if the thing were done did it not most liuely dâ—scouer their confidence that they had accomplisht that which they sought for If we would know what might bee the reason of such presumption and desperate confidence let vs consider the resolution of their conscience which though erronious yet hereby the stroÌ„glier conâ—eited the more obstinatly presumptuous in the successe of it owne apprehension Let vs remember their apprehension of the cause for which they take the quarrell in hand which being in their deceiued iudgments so iust yea meritorious must needs puffe theÌ„ vp with confident hope of good successe therein Adde we herevnto the approbation of this fact not onely by the conscience at home but by the Lord of their conscience abroad whose oracles they esteme as the oracles of God yea whome they worshipe aboue all that is called God therefore no maruaile if they match his decrees with the decrees of the most high and say it is decreed by God and men And hauing so sure a warrant as they thinke for the attempting of their mischiefs is it any wonder if they promise exceeding good successe vnto themselues therein Were it onely the policy which they haue vsed in the managing of their practices their encouragmeÌ„ts to strengthen their secrery to entrapp their manifold snares to wearie out surely these so notable policyes concurring thus together must needs giue spirit to their hopes and confidence to their practices That seing they are so strong that none is able to match them how can it bee but they should preuaile seeing so secret that none can see them how can it be that any should auoyd them seing they are neuer wearie in deuising of mischiefes how should any at length not be ouer wearied by them But aboue all the wisedome and power of God is here in most euident who meaning to giue his enemies a terrible blow not only
that wee do not wilfully shut our eyes or blindfold Gods workes 4 Nor Imitate this policy in our secret cariage of our owne sinne VVhatsoeuer cloaks we may haue for the same Seeing they will deceiue vs. Luk. 8. 17. Ia. 5. 2. Ezech. 8. 12. As did the Babilonians the Iewes Ezech. 23. Rather let vs make God our hiding place by true repentance Psa. 127. Psa. 21. So shall he either discouer or deliuer vs out of the secret snares of our enemies Psal. 11. Exod. 5. Ezech. 8. 12. Psa. 10. 3. 1. Ioh. 2. 1. Tim. 2. Psal. 124. 2. 3. A third policie of multiplying snares And that very dangerous 1. Sam. 27. This is roâ—eâ— policâ—e bâ—t vsed of ola by the wiâ—ked against the godly As by Saul against Dauid 1. Sam. 16. 14 23. 1. Sam. 18. 11 17. 1. Sam. 24. 24 By Satan and his instrumeÌ„ts against Dauids Lord. Math. 4. 5. Math. 6. 15. Ioh. 10. 31. Math. 22. 17. Math. 27. Math. 26. Math. 12. Math. 22. Luk. 22. Math. 27. Ioh. 19. And by our adversaries against vs in this conspiracie Esay 9. VVhat doth this teach vs. 1. The nature of the wicked fruiâ—full and restlesse in sin Prou. 4. 16. Mich. 2. 1. Ierem. 2. 2. To trie our selues whither this nature be changed in vs. 1. Ioh. 1. 8. Psa. 103. 3. 4. Eph. 19. Rom 7. 22. 20. vers Iob. 39. 38. 3. To be plentifull in good workes not to bee wearie of well doing Psa. 37. 15. Psa. 9. 15. The fourth policie of the wiâ—ked namely 〈◊〉 confidence and pâ—esumâ—t on of good sâ—ccesse and why So did Dauids enemies Psal. 35. Psal. 41. Psal. 71. Psal. 14. 6. Ps. 22. 8. So did Senacharib Esay 36. So did the mother of Sisera Iudges 5. So haue our aduersaries been confident as by The like Practizes in 1588. Aâ—d their practizes at this time appeareth Theâ—r insolencie before the day Preparations as if theâ—r mischiefe râ—eâ—e aâ—complished The reasons of this theâ—r confidence Resolution of conscienâ—e 2 ApprehensioÌ„ of the cause 3 ApprobatioÌ„ of it from their holy Father 4 The notable contriuing of their mischeifes in such strength secrecie and variety 5 Aboue all iustice of God iu giuing them vp to this confidence to their more fearefull confusion 2. Sam. 17. 2â— And therefore let vs not be amated at this confidence of the wicked But admire the power and wisedome of God herein And learne we hereby to trie our standine in grace To be confi dent in wel-doing Heb. 10. 32. Ioel. 3. 13. To looke for the confusion of the wicked when we see them thus confident 2. King 6. 17. Exod. 14. As being a certaine token offered vnto vs by the Lord to discerne the confusion of our enemies Prou. 16 8. This is the second part of the Scripture describing vnto vs the defeature of their practises and confounding of the enemies First from the Author hereof almightie God Rom. 13. 4. Prou. 21. 30. Hence haue Kings a notable comfort that God will maintaine his owne calling Psa 30. 1. Psa. 75. 7. Psal. 144. And are hereby taught that they are vnder God And being excluded his protection are subiect to the malice of the meanest And therefore should learne to kisse the sonne to keepe themwithin Gods protection And to vse their authoritie vnder God to the punishmen of sinne And then shall they be sure vnder shadow of his wings And their enemies shall in due time be met withall VVhen their finne is ripe 1. Kin. 2. 34. in the time of vengeance Let Oppressors and all blood suckers read their successe in the Booke of this prouidenee Prou. 21. 1. Let all male-contents and presumptuous opposites take heed how they abuse the patience and clemencie of gouernement The second circumstance in the defeature of the eenemie leading vs to the wisedome and power of God in the manner of defeature As first by sounding their warie and long hatched treasons with his sunaeden geance As he hath done of old And why Heb. 12. 8. 1. To shew that he punisheth the wicked in anger Psa. 2. 5. 2. To pledge vnto the wicked in temporal Plagues eternall punishments Heb. 10. 27. 3. For the good of the elect Rom. 8. 29. In whome securitie is preuented and comfort giuen in their troubles by this difference betwixt the godly the wicked herein 1 Here 's a lesson for careles and presumtuous sinâ—â—rs to feare asuddain surprizall To remember suddaine coming of Christ. 2 Here we may learne 1 Not to feare suddaine iudgments if we be prepared 2 Not to put of our repen tance till death 3 To wish that we may see the plague before it cometh Confidence in sinne makes euerie Iudgement sudden and feare of sinne makes no Iudgement suddaine 1. Thes. 3. 5. A second circumstance describing the maner of Gods wisedome in the defeature of the enemie Namely meting with their manifold practises with one blow or stroake of his vengeance 1. To confound their policie herem 2. And to destroy them more fearfully So hath the Lord threatned And so hath he executed 1 Nah. 12. And so especially hath he met with this sin of treason In Cora Dathan and Abiram Num. 16 29. Ver. 32. Absalon 2 Sam. 18. 19. 14. 1 King 2. 27. Let Traytors thinke hereaf in the pride of their manifold practices Psa. 14. That so they may regaine Gods fauour in their obedience to his ordinance Lest the Lord confound theÌ„ in the things they most trust in A third degree of Gods iustice against the wicked confounding their secrecie from their owne mouths Prou. 11. 8. Pro. 11. 8. So doth the Lord threateÌ„ â—sa 7. And so hath he executed Hesth 7. Sam. 1. 17. And thus shall the Lord make away to his further acknowledgment Psa. 9. 16. And the wickeds further confusion So dealt he against the late conspiâ—ators Confess VVinteâ— Lo here the equity of Gods iustice Eccle. 10. 13. Let malecontents take heed of the secret thoughts or practices against the King seing their owne tongues shall discouer them Let Athiests learne that there tongues are not their owne but that their is a God that oâ—erâ—rules them Ier. 3. vers 25. vers 23. Let Papists hate the darknes that hath thâ—s deceiued them As for the Saâ—nts of God let them not fearethe secret policies of the wicked Nor close with them But resist them And then they shall fall euen with their owne waight A fourth meanes of the wisedome of God in confounding the leagues and confederacies of the wicked by scattering and dispersing them Not onely the Actors in the mischiefe but the spectators also So hath it been in former time Iosu. 5. 1. 1. Sam. 15. 51 So hath the holy Ghost witnessed of Egypt Rome Ashur c. Ezek. 31. Reuel 18. Esay 13. 14. And that iustly because they labour the dissoluing of the Communion of Saints Learne wee hence that no confederacie can preuaile against God Pro. 1. But to delight in the Lord in his
saints Psa. 142. 7. Psa. 38. 11. a Here beginneth the vse that is to he made of great Deliueranâ—es b First they shall open the eyes of all men c Euen of Carnallmen d And of the Saâ—nts much more whose eye of fâ—â—th dimmed by afflictions e is now cleared by this Deliuerance a As remouing such temptations as do hinder it whâ—ch are Psal. 106. 7. b I want of vnderstanding what God hath done for vs misunderstanding in the c nature or d measure of the blessing Psal. 49. 20. e VVe may be discouered not to vnderstand what God hath done for vs by these symptomes 1. by saying wherein 1. Mal. 4. 2. By seing only with the lest eye Gen. 25. 30. Psa. 4. 6. f This a common disease of Carnal Ghospellers g And a fearefull iudgement Psa. 73. 6. h 3. Token of noâ— vnderstanding is forgotfulnes Psa. 78. 11. Lame 3. 23. i The daunger thereof a Two-fold 1. VVe shall not be able to make any good vse of the blessings we obtaine Ierm 17. 6. b Math. 25. 28. 2. VVe shal haue them taken away from vs insteed of them shal be recompenced with Gods righteous Vengeance Esa. 26. 10. Pal. 94 1. Gen. 15. 2. c To preuent these euills wee must not cease beholding of what the Lord hath done for vs. a and therather Because this beholding Psal. 11 1. 4 b VVill requite our paines aboundantly as c 1. Teaching vs to know God Rom. 〈◊〉 19. Psal. 145. 8. d 2. To acknowledge him the giuer of them e 3. To acknowledge our selues vnworthy receauers f 4 That wee may giue him the glory in â—â—asing our selues g 5. And so aduaunce our selues to further blessings Psal. 4. 1. h 6 Yea tâ—see by faith the greatest blessings 2. Pet. 1. 8. 1. Ion. 50. 1. Cor. 2. 1â— 1. Cor. 15. i And thus we shal in the greatnes of Gods mercies so appreheÌ„d our vnworthynes as Aba 3. Y. a Thus acknowledging our selues vnworthy of the Least blessings we Luk. 76. b Shal ouercome the second euill of misunderstanding the works of God c 〈◊〉 that they are not ours by merit but of srce mercie Dan. 9. 7. e 2. That the measure which thou hast is fitest for thee as that which God hath allotted vnto thee Psa. 37. f By this the things thou hast being sanctified g 1. Shalbe continued 2. and be Pledges of further blessings Ioh. 13. 1. Phi 6. a As for the wicked which haue their eyes opened to behold these blessings b Their ignorance and Atheisme shal be conuinced hereby c Yea their secrecie in continuing of their plots shall further be confouÌ„dea in that their wickednes shall be apparant vnto all men Fzech 8. 12. psa 84. Iob. 22. 1. Zeph. 1â— 3. Zeph. 5. 2. Sam. 12 Psa. 14. 1. Tim. 1. 18. a And so they shal be without excuse Esay 5. b And yet if they continue practising against the iust Reue. 1 c Let them besure of veÌ„geance in due time Math. 24. d As for vs that haue ben partakers of this great deliuerance let vs take heede that the Atheist do not condemne vs. 2. Sam. 20. 12. Hesh 8. 17. a 1. If wee labour not our vtmost that this worke may be sâ—ene b 2 If we be not confirmed in the truth of religion and 1. Ioh. 41. d A second effect of great deliuerances c If throughly wee shall behold this admirable work it will prouoke vs to speake thereof 〈◊〉 vayleable to thankefulnes in the Godly to make the wicked without excuse Psal. 116. 12. b So doth the spirit prophesie Psa. 34. 6. So haue the Saints martyrd Psal. 58. Psal 34. d And thereby confirmed themselues for the time to come c So haue the saints practiced Psa. 58. 9. 10. 2. Tim. 4. a And giuen glory to God b Yea the mouthes of the wicked shal be opened also Psa. 126. 4. c To acknowledg the greatnes of the worke d 2. To coÌ„sesse God therein and prescribe worship vnto him Dan. 6. 1. Sam 24. 18. e 3. To iustifie the Innocency of his seruants 4. To prophecie foretell in some sort the deliuerance of gods Children and their owne confusion 1. Sam. 27. 2. 〈◊〉 Sam. 24. 19. VVhich they do hasten by persecuting the Saints Ioh. 12. 19. And therefore though we may be troubled and distracted by this encrease of the wickeds rage 1 Sam 27. 1. Yet is it a certaine taken vnto vs that their time is but short 12. Reu. 12. And their dâ—sperate do practises prophecy vnto vs that they feare the losse of their kingdome Iho. 11. 47. 48. As appeareth by the like in the Iewes VVho dealt thus against our sauioâ—r Christ. To the hastening of his glory and their owne confusion Act. 2. 22. So doth GOD confound the wisdome of the wise Our aduersaries in like sort deale against the flock of Christ. Because it threatens the ouerthrow of their carnall and ambitious kingdom Dan. 2. VVhich in deed is the true cause of al their quareles how soeuer they may pretend conscience and religion As appeareth by their spoyling of Papists as wel as Protestants But with as good successe as the Iewes And therefore let vs not marvayle that the wickèd take this Course for the maintenance of their kingdomâ— Math. 24. Neither let their desperate rage cast vs downe but rather be meanes iustly to comfort vs â—n that it is a certen token of their imminent destruction Esa. 37. 14 Esay 37. 14. Only let vs commend the cause to God and not doubet with these enemies Andin due time the Lord will accomplish his worke Hebr. 10. 37. 38 Psa. 58. 10. Trie wee our selues how this present deliuerance hath opened our mouths Some mens mouthes haue bene shut vp Some opened hereby to blaspheme God If they belong vnto the liuing God that it mâ—y be an occasion to make them renounce their Idolatry Some opened in vanitie to spend time in discoursing hereof Aâ—d yet all shall turne to Gods glory Only labour wee to sound the depth of this practise Math. 24. 1. That all mens mouthes may be openâ—d in destation thereof 2. To giue glory vnto God 3. To iustitie the saints and so to ioyne with them Ioh. 4. 42. 4. that now we may speake out of our owne experience soatatine the true vnder standing thereof VVithout which neither to behold them Nor to declare them shall further vs. Psal. 118. 23. To true thankfullnes But by vnderstanding the work we shal be able to measure our thankefulnes according As hereby apprehending the goodnes of a blessing By Particular knowledge of the same Rom. 14. 3. Eph. 18. And to this end the word hepeth excedingly 2. Tim. 3. 16. 17. To vnderstand the greatnes of a deliuerance VVhich implyeth 1. some greate daunger 2. a recouerie out of it The danger seen 〈◊〉 the weaknes of the meanes to resist 2. in the power of the meanes that threatens 3. in the impossiâ—ilitie of any