Poeticall Fictions as farre as they exceed the Truth Their Tenet is that the Bread is transubstantiate◠into the body of Christ No marvaile if they who crash their Saviour betweene their teeth make no bones to crush their Soveraigne No marvaile if those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 GOD-eaters that make and bake their GOD and champe him when they haue done prooue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 MAN-eaters worse then Cannibals STATE-devourers What may they not doe to advance the Catholike Cause I shall not need to aggravate their Crueltie Trecherie their owne Acts proclaime it to the World Store of this Coyne is dayly Minted at ROME New proiects are daily forged on the Anvills of the Iesuites braines So iust is it with GOD to giue them over that their owne tongues and handes should be the chiefe Heralds to blazon the barbarous and savage disposition of these Blood-suckers to the whole World Thus doe they paint themselues in such Orient colours that no Oratour can more liuely set them out whose Mercy is Crueltie Pietie Butchery Religion Vide Acts of Parliam Witnesse Garnet and others who being iustly executed for Traytors in England are Canonized for Saints at Rome Faction Devotion Sedition whose Zeale is Fire Prayers Powder Teares Death Martyrs Traytors Saints Devils Incarnate But my lines swell I must breake off though abruptly least the garment proue too wide for the bodie least the Preamble exceed the Treatise Iudge 〈…〉 THE TRIVMPH OF THE CHVRCH OVER FIRE AND WATER ISAIAH 43.2 When thou passest through the Waters I will be with thee and through the Rivers they shall not overflow thee When thou walkest through the Fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle vpon thee IN this Chapter wee receiue some Sermon-notes the Preacher was Isaiah the Hearers the Inhabitants of Iudah and Ierusalem The Sermon is worthy such a Teacher for descent of the blood-royall for Oratory he goes beyond all the Prophets of his time in elegancy of stile His discourse begins as learned Iunius obserues at the two and fortieth Chapter and reaches to the foureteene Verse of this Chapter which howsoever vniustly out and dismembred from the former must be redintigrated and added to the precedent Chapter to make vp a full and entire discourse The maine passages of his speech may be reduced to three Heads A Propheticall Prediction A sharpe Reprehension A sweete Consolation In his Prediction this Evangelicall Prophet and Propheticall Evangelist not vnworthily so stiled by some of the Antients as having the Honor of all that ever went before him in his cleare Revelations seeming rather Histories of what was already past then Prophesies of such things which after many Centuries of yeares were to be accomplished giues a liuely and excellent description of the Messias from the last Verse of the fortie-two Chapter to the seaventeenth of this Chapter 1. His Qualification in the administration of his office Verses 1.2.3.4 2. His Commission to warrant the execution of his office grounded on the vocation of his father from the fifth to the ninth verse 3. The reciprocall office of the Church towards Christ breaking forth into Songs and Hymnes of prayse and thanks-giuing verses 10.11.12 4. The effect of all in respect of the Church and the enemies of the Church which are layd downe inner so ordine The last first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Touching his enemies their Confusion is threatned in a high Rhetoricall straine vers 13.14.15 Touching the Church her Conversion is promised in a Metaphoricall allusion vers 16.17.18 Then he fals very appositly by way of interrogation into a sharpe Commination his second maine passge laying downe the sinne first the blindnesse and heedlesnesse of those carelesse and secure both Priests and people who profited nought neither by the mercies nor iudgements of the Lord ver 19.20.21 The iudgements next which for the further aggravation of their sinne and punishment are amplified first from the Greatnesse of them in many phrases very Emphaticall they were robbed spoyled snared made a prey vers 22. the wrath of God poured vpon them like water consumed them like fire vers 25. Secondly from their senselesse stupiditie they could not reade the indignation of God in those desolations so much is intimated in the question propounded vers 24. Who gaue Iacob to a spoyle So much is expressed in the reason annexed vers 25. He set him on fire round about yet he knew it not and it burned him yet he layd it not to heart Now least the children of God should be discouraged and frighted too much with those blowes that were dealt so thicke among the wicked hee hastens with all speede to strengthen the heart of the righteous and reacheth them this Cordiall to reviue their drooping spirits But now sayth the Lord c. The Prophet to approue himself a wise workeman giueth mercy to whom mercy iudgement to whom iudgement belongs and as hee had shewed himselfe a right Bonoarges a Sonne of thunder so now hee will approue himselfe a true Barnabas a Sonne of consolation He was not so terrible in his Commination but hee will be as sweete in his Consolation This Consolation is deliuered by way of Iniunction feare not Then the reason is annexed or certaine grounds propounded why we should not feare from verse the 2. to the 14. verse The reasons are drawne partly from The Nature of God His Workes From his Nature he is Iehovah constant to himselfe euer as good as his word From his workes Past Future Past he instances in three great and grand workes of Creation Redemption Vocation Future of Direction he would guide them through the Water Future of Protection he would guard them in the Fire All this Summarily propounded in the first and second verses The Iniunction or inhibition is repeated v. 5. The Arguments of confirmation they also are againe and againe vrged by former experiences and proofes of the power providence and goodnes of God v. 3.4.5.6.7 c. Notable it is to consider how these promises are pressed iterated inculcated such is the diffidence of our nature that in our extreamities wee are apt to reiect all comfort and therefore the Lord by his Prophet labours to force them on vs. I haue dwelt too long in the confines and borders now let vs draw neare to the body of my Text Consider briefly the scope and parts of it These wordes carry in them a promise of Protection an engagement royall where in the Great Lord of Lords King of Kings the High Mighty Monarch of Heaven and Earth giues a safe convoye to his Spouse passing through the Arabian desert the vast and roaring wildernes of this world that notwithstanding all oppositions and encounters of fire and water he would set her safe in the Heavenly Canaan This is the sum The parts into which the sentence naturally breakes it selfe as the principall branches are two Behold here the wrastling of Iacob the Conquest of Iacob after
with vs striken a firme League Hee hath taken vs for his people Hosca 1.10 wee chalenge him for our God Let vs but keepe to him he will not start from vs. Let the Church of God euer magnifie the riches of his super abundant grace that ladeth vs with his blessings and not onely cherisheth vs with the remembrance of old fauours but doubles the Benefits by giuing them as pledges of future and greater As the first fruites promised a plentifull crop and as the earnest though small assureth vs of the whole bargaine so the least mercy is great in this that it is but the first fruites but a beginning but an earnest a pledge of more and greater Thus may we in generall in particular if the fault be not our owne from that wee haue already receiued promise to our selues farre greater matters for the time to come But what doe I staying so long in the skirtes let vs now as Moses ascended Mount Nebo Deut. 32.4 so climbe this Mount in my Text and there take a double prospect first we may looke backward and there view the Israel of God now passing through the Red Sea now stung with fiery Serpents in the wildernes of this World wee may then looke forward and see them victorious ouer fire and water in their heauēly Canaan like their Lord and Master as here crowned with thornes so there crowned with victory and glory It seemes good to their heauenly Father to entertaine them wit stormes first and after they haue runne some dangerous hazards to bring a gracious calme The affliction of Ioseph is not nakedly propounded but notably amplyfied from the certainty the variety the extremity of it The certainty is intimated this the Lord takes for granted that his Spouse must through fire and water When thou passest c. As if the Lord had expressed his minde in other tearmes Mistake me not I neuer entended to secure my chosen wholy from danger or to set them out of the reach of affliction that the water should not touch them nor they touch the water at the fire should not come neare them nor they come neare the fire but to get my selfe a name and glory to magnifie my power and pitty by securing them in the water that the flouds shall not over-flow them by securing them in the fire that the flame shall not kindle vpon them The Saintes must haue their Purgatory on earth that of water to wash off the filth and soile contracted by sinne that other of fire to purge out the drosse of corruption The Conclusion standes as firme as Heaven and Earth The Church Militant while shee remaines in this vaile of teares and valley of misery is not priviledged from miseries and calamities Let her be the Darling of Heaven the favorite of the great King the worke of his hand his Redeemed his adopted his Beloved one no bonds no entirenes with God can plead an exemption Shee is the Lords Shippe his Marchant-royall and therefore must expect stormes while shee Sailes on the tempestuous Sea of this world His Lilly and therefore must grow in the midst of thornes his Rose and therefore must be enuironed with prickles his Gold and therefore must be cast ever and anon into the fiery furnace his Campe-royall and therefore must be ever skirmishing his vine and therefore ever and anon must be pruned This is the place of her Labour no rest from her labour till her worke be at an end no end of her worke till an end be put to these dayes of sinne Blessed are they that die in the Lord Rev. 14.13 for they shall rest from their labours So much was shadowed out and typified by the Riding of Noahs Arke on the Waters by the smoaking fire-brands Gen. 7.17 Gen. 15.17 presented to Abram by the wrastling of Iacob Gen 32.24 Exod. 3.2 by the Burning Bush presented to Moses so much is plainly expressed by our Saviour In the world you shall haue trouble Ioh. 16.33 He that will be my Disciple must take vp his crosse and follow we The ground hereof may be drawne partly from the appointment of God partly from the malice of Satan partly from that correspondence which should ever be maintained betweene the Head and the Members First It is that Decree enacted by the High Court of Parliament in Heaven a Statute more firme then the Lawes of the Medes and Persians that the way to Heaven shall be strawed with crosses that every one that will liue godly in Christ Iesus 2 Tim. 3.12 shall suffer persecution This is that thorny path which is chalked out as the common Rhode leading to Glory No man must expect two Heavens one here another hereafter Would you know the ground of this Sanction though his Will be a Law Sic volo sic iubeo stet pro ratione voluntas Eccles 8.4 though it be a saucinesse to say to the King much more to the King of Kinges What doest thou Yet sith the wise God is pleased to condescend so farre vnto our weakenes as to yeeld an account of his actions know it tends much to his glory and the good of the Saints It tends to the Glory of his wisedome that fetcheth light out of darknes life out of death Heaven out of Hell to the glory of his power that brings strength out of weaknes So the Oracle to Paul 2 Cor. 12.9 My grace is sufficient for thee My power is made perfect through weaknesse It turnes to the good of the Saints who are corrected with his children that they might not be condemned with the world Prov. 3.12 Heb. 12.6 Revel 3.19 Prov. 22.15 Whom the Lord loues he chastens There is much folly bound in the heart of the childe as that Mirror of wisedom giues out in his select divine Aphorismes but the rod of correction will fetch it out Blessed is the Man whom thou chastisest O Lord and teachest thy Law so David the Father of so wise a Sonne These Nocumenta are Documenta his Corrections are Instructions Wee see by experience these Starres shine brightest in the darkest night these sheepe thriue best in the saltest Marshes and tread surest in the roughest way Vide Christians soveraign Salue for euery Soare these Diamonds glitter most in the night this corne is purest from chaffe when vnder the staile these torches blaze most when they are most beaten Abrams faith Iobs patience Davids Repentance Salomons Recantation Manassehs humiliation all these with thousand more giue evident demonstration that the graces of the Spirit like the Arabian Spices never yeeld a more fragrant smell then when they are punned and bruzed together in the Morter of Affliction This is the first reason God hath appointed it and that for his glory and our good Deus enim adeo bonus est vt nihil mali sineret nisi etiam adeo esset potens vt ex quolibet malo possit elicere bonum Thus Austin Such is the
Goodnesse of God that he would permit no euill vnlesse he knew his Power to be such as he could draw good out of euill Adde to this in the second place the envy of Satan and his Instruments The Devill will at least make vs haue a wet seede-time if he cannot hinder our ioyfull harvest he will be sure to make vs liue discomfortably in earth if he cannot hinder vs from raigning gloriously in Heaven he will bruise our heele if he cannot breake our head His instruments carried with the spleene of their father the Devill will trouble vs though they cannot hurt vs with Midianitish wiles they will vexe the Israel of GOD whom they cannot Conquer these snarling bauling Curres will barke and snatch at the Moone though they cannot stay her course If wee doe but set our faces towardes Ierusalem if wee but steale a looke to Heaven-ward these Samaritans will be straight on our backes Heb. 5.7.8 The last Reason stands with equitie that wee might be made conformable to our High-Priest who was consecrated by afflictions The Head was a Man of sorrow and shall the body know no sorrow The head was crowned with thornes and all goare blood tota cicatrix shall the body be decked with Roses Ioh. 13 16. Shall the servant looke to fare better then his master Luk. 24.26 if they called me Beel-zebub how much more those of my family as the Lord fore-warnes his Disciples If that hold Opertet Christum pati then much more Oportet Christianum pati so one of the Ancients Must Christ suffer is there not the same Must for euery Christian Whence another of the Fathers descants on the name Christianus quasi Crucianus Vse 1 Let this checke those fond Christians whether lazy Protestants or ignorant Papists the former wish it were the latter affirme it that ease peace calmes and faire-weather are the markes and badges of a true Church which they set out of the reach of persecution which they make to be blessed with a perpetuated succession of an vninterrupted peace plentie and tranquilitie as if they onely contrary to the ordinary course must be carried to heaven on a feather-bed as if it were possible to saile through the tempestuous Seas of this world and never meete with a storme as if all crosses to them were turned into roses and rushes as if the servant should be more cockered then the Son Austin put this out of doubt Vnicum filium habuit sine peccato neminem habuit sine flagello God had one Sonne that knew no sinne never any that felt no smart What is if this be not repugnant to the plain Text and strong current of holy Writ Which prophesies not of peace but of warre not of securitie but of calamitie not of sleeping in a whole skinne but of bearing in our bodies the wounds or the Lord Iesus not of a smooth gale but of many crosse nay adverse blasts It is given a note rather of that Whore of Babylon to sit as a Queene a Lady Revel 18.7 having her mountaine so strongly founded so rarely assaulted that shee never dreames of a change When the Daughters of Sion hang their Harpes vpon the Willowes and sit weeping at the waters of Babel It is for Moab rather to be setled on her lees Iere. 48.11 because shee is not shaken from vessell to vessell When the Israel of God are tossed from post to pillar Psal 129.1.2 from my youth vp haue they afflicted me will Israel say from my youth vp c. It is for the Generation of Esau to carry the world before them in a continued line of succession Duke vpon Duke Twelue Dukes were found in Edom when the children of Iacob were labouring at the Brick-kils in Egypt Luk. 12.19.20 It is for the foole in the Gospel to sing a lullaby to his Soule Soule take thine ease c. Who had his Paradise his Consolation here Wee that expect that Glory to come must not looke for an Heaven vpon earth Vse 2 Let this lesson those holy Ones what to expect in this world even that which they haue ever found fire and water Oppositions troubles and persecutions God will allow no peace to the wicked the wicked will afford no peace to the godly In the midst of our discomforts let this be our comfort it is the common Lot of the Saints why should we shrug at it When so many haue broken the ice before vs since it is no new thing why should we thinke it a strange thing to heare or feele the fiery tryalls Since it is the will of God beare it patiently since it makes for the Glory of God glory in it exceedingly sith the Good will be our owne take it thankefully so shall your Crosse bee your Crowne so shall you be as glorious in your greatest misery as the wicked are miserable in their greatest glory I haue done now with the Afflictions of Ioseph and yet I haue not done neither giue me leaue to recall my selfe the Spirit puls me backe this is not all The Spouse is not subject to affliction onely this is but the beginning of sorrow but to many and great afflictions Many for varietie great for extremitie Shee must through fire and water Both these streames runne into one and the same fountaine the matter will be Co-incident that wee may not enter fiere let vs wrappe both in one and giue you the Doctrine in the words of the Kingly Prophet Doct. 2 Many are the Troubles of the righteous that is many and great Multa c magna so much the Originall word doth intimate Psal 34.19 For their number many for their measure great for their nature weightie Take the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 first that it is so and then the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 why it is so as they speake in the Schooles To begin with my Text here is not fire onely but water too not water onely but fire too fire and water comprehend all sorts of tryals there is the varietie Againe here is fire and water those two mercilesse Elements good servants but cruell Masters which comprehends the greatest danger the extremest misery that can befall a man When the tender Father in the Gospell seeking the cure of his possessed sonne would stirre vp the bowels of our Saviour to commiserate the distressed Daemoniaks how doth he paynt out the crueltie and tyranny of the Devill delivers it to the full in these emphaticall termes Loe Mat. 17.15 He casts him sometime into the fire sometimes into the water and not able to hold any longer he bursts out into tears Lord take pittie on my Sonne Yet to adde to the heape of their misery here is not water mentioned onely but waters rivers flouds of water not fire onely some few sparkles but flames of fire there is the extremitie To this of Isaiah answereth that complaint of David Psal 42.7 Abyssus abyssum invocat one deepe calleth vpon another deepe Here
intestine insurrections of bosome vipers at home How long haue wee carried fire in our bosomes and doe not our feete yet tread vpon Scorpions As many so great haue beene our Troubles Great enemies were stirred vp mighty Princes the most potent and puissant Kings of the earth friends to the Beast Psal 2. how were they enraged How did they bandy together against the Lord and against his Annointed Great Stratagems were laid even as deepe as Hell to the vtter ruination both of Church and State to the finall extirpation of our name and memoriall from vnder Heaven How oft hath the knife beene at our throate What treasons What conspiracies were hatched in the dayes of our late Queene Elizabeth that wonder of Women and mirrour of her sex No sooner was the fire quenched in one corner but it breakes forth in another place no sooner was one wound closed but another bleeds afresh Many a time were wee at the pits brinke and knew it not destinated as sheepe to the slaughter our Land quartered Dr Hall in his Panygericke or Doome prophecied When that Snow melts as they gaue it out triumphantly wee shall see a floud and pointed to the Gray-hayres of that then liuing Empresse But aboue all two especiall dangers never to be forgotten did threaten this Nation never any people vnder Heaven were put to the like straits You cannot forget that famous Climactericall yeare Eighty-Eight That Senacherib of Spaine how confident was he to haue swallowed vs vp quicke at one morsell How did he presume to command with his Invincible Navy Sea and Land How did he presume to put a bridle and make a bridge over the Ocean to over-run this spot of earth in one instant Now I trow you were in the midst of the waters This fifth of November mindes vs of another pinch as great if not greater then the former there wanted but the kindling of a match to haue set this Cittie all in a flame of fire this Country and Kingdome all in a flame of Combustion Were wee not now in the midst of the fire If the Lord had not beene with vs that water had overwhelmed all if the Lord had not beene with vs that fire had beene kindled and wee all had perished in that flame And thus are wee fallen suddenly from the danger to glance at the Deliverance blessed be That Iehovah that hath linked them so together that wee cannot speake of the one but wee must acknowledge the other Now since I am fled into this pleasant field I will not step backe but entreate you to follow me with your attention and as you haue tasted of the bitter so now close your Stomacks with the sweete which I haue reserved for the last as being the best and chiefest matter intended for this dayes discourse and most sutable to the occasion of our present meeting Hitherto you haue heard onely of the troubles now followes the triumphs of the Saints wherein was offered to our consideration as wee found in the resolution of the Text. 1. The victory it selfe which is acquired The flouds shall not over-flow thee the flame shall not kindle vpon thee 2. The Author of this victory to whom the glory of the day must be ascribed in those words I will be with thee The Conquest is further commended from the time When thou c. It shall come seasonably opportunely when they were in their greatest difficulties in their greatest perplexitie then even then I will be with thee c. The afflictions of Ioseph are neuer so many neuer so great but they shall find an evasion The Church can never be so straitned but first or last it shall be enlarged the Church can neuer be so distressed but sooner or later it shall be relieued Her case is oft dangerous never desperate Let her walke in the valley of the shadow of death with David Psal 23.4 let her be cast into the Denne of Lyons with Daniel with Ieremy Dan 6.16 let her be plunged into the deepe dungeon let her be projected with the Hebrew babes as was noted into the midst of the waters with the three children and with those innumerable troupes of Martyrs into the midst of the fire what though the members of her body with Isaiah passe vnder the Saw with Iames are cut off by the sword let their carkasses be mangled and chopt into pieces their bodies scorched burned racked rosted come what can come Premi potest ecclesia opprimi non potest Psal 30.5 Psal 112.4 the Israel of God may be pressed cannot be oppressed though sorrow may befall them in the euening ioy shall arise in the morning Vnto the righteous ariseth light in darknesse This is the Close as David had learned in the Schoole of Affliction Many are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord delivereth them out of all delivered they are not from one or few or many but from all Marke the end of the vpright man his latter end is Peace there may be stormes in the way but in the end there will follow an eternall Calme This Shippe may be tossed cannot be drowned Psal 112.6 this Mount Sion may be moved cannot be removed Reason Shee hath the word of Iehovah to secure her a word more firme then Heaven The Lord of Hoasts will come in to her succour He comes with salvation vnder his wings He comes in seasonably to helpe at a dead lift Mans greatest extremitie is Gods fittest opportunitie when no hope in earth then exspect helpe from Heaven then the Almightie comes riding on the Clouds and commands deliverance for his Iacob let the Sea worke and rage and boyle and foame and swell vp to Heaven his word makes all husht But what doe I preventing my selfe Let vs leaue dilating on this Subject to his proper place and now make application of the point and grow to that cōclusion which this day doth witnesse and proclaime to the whole world Looke backe my Brethren remember those Marian dayes that bloudy Quinqueinium Nero his Quinqueinium famous for those sparkles of humanitie that of Q. Mary contrary what a desperate pinch were wee brought to in time of that persecution What massacring What butchering What Bonnering What burning of those chast Virgins that would not prostitute their soules to that Whore of Babylon that would not licke vp their filthy vomit disgorged in the dayes of King Edward What streets did not flame with fires What faggots did not fry the bones of those mis-called Heretickes What Citty What Towne What Village was not watered with the blood Sanguis Martyrum semen Ecclesiae enlightned with the flames of those constant crowned Martyrs The mercies of the wicked are cruell as the wise King obserues as those barbarous savage Tygertyrants made it too true who to shew themselues more mercilesse then the mercilesse Elements fire and water retorted that Infant into the Mothers flames Fox in his Acts Mon. which the
THE TRIVMPH OF THE CHVRCH OVER WATER AND FIRE OR A Thankfull Gratulation for that Miraculous Deliverance of the Church and State of Great Britaine from the Romish Tophet or that barbarous and savage Powder-plot As it was delivered for substance in a Sermon at Blacke Fryers in London on the fifth of November 162◠By THEODOR HERING Minister of the Word of GOD. ISAI 29.15 Woe vnto them that digge deepe to hide their councell from the Lord for their workes are in darkenesse and they say Who seeth vs Who knoweth vs PSAL. 66.12 Wee went into fire and into water but thou broughtest vs out into a wealthy Land LONDON Printed by I. D. for Nicholas Bourne at the South entrance of the Royall Exchange 1625. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE IAMES LORD LEE Baron of Lee Lord High Treasurer of England one of the Lords of his MAIESTIES most Honorable privie Councell my dearly honored PATRON RIGHT HONORABLE IT is an Aphorisme of State delivered by a great and wise King When the Righteous are exalted the Citty reioyceth A good Man especially if a Great Man is a common Good Where Goodnesse and Greatnesse meete together that Happie coniunction promiseth a Gracious aspect Giue me leaue being received into and shrouded vnder the winges of your Honors Protection to congratulate that High Honor which His Maiesty hath so worthily conferred on your Lord-ship I know not whether the Place doth more Honor the Man or the Man the Place Your Honors Wisedome Experience Iustice Gravitie Pietie what good doe they not presage If the world faile not exceedingly of their expectation none more like to doe God the King and his Country better service Your Honor hath the prayers and hearts of the best and therefore need not being armed with such a Coate of Male feare the calumnies or opposition of the worst For my-selfe your Honors favour and countenance afforded me in private hath obliged me to a publike Gratulation and emboldened me to dedicate these my Labours to your Honor to whom I haue given my selfe as being a chiefe Member of this State and therefore knowing the state of this Story better then my rude draught can pourtray it wherein your Honor shall see the Combat Conflict and Conquest as of the Church in generall so of this Church this State in speciall Never any Nation so embroiled so entangled came off so faire Never any intended bloudy Tragedy shut vp with such a reall ioyfull Catastrophe The Matter cannot but yeeld delight to a Christian especially to an English-man If the Manner please not I haue done my endevour to cloath it with the best Suit my homely Wardrope could affoord more in so short a time and on so suddaine a warning I cannot promise The Grecians delivered it as a Proverbiall Precept that who ever speakes to Great Men his words must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Suauissima breuissima as wee English it Short and sweete What my Discourse wants in the one if it be not so sweete as I could wish it it shall make vp in the other and be as short as your Honors more weightie employments require to which I remit your Honor wishing many a happie New-yeare to your Noble Lordship and my Honorable Good Lady with all encrease of Honor and Happinesse here and here-after remaining Your Honors humbly devoted in all faithfull observance THEOD HERING ¶ To the Reader GEntle Reader Little did I dreame that these priuate Meditations intended only for a particular Congregation should be made thus publicke to the view of the whole world Homo proponit Deus disponit Man purposeth but God disposeth Importunitie wrung them from me not onely beside but against my intention My pleas were many if they might haue beene heard The shortnesse of time allotted for preparation multitude of other distractions which would scarce giue me leaue either to write what I had Preached or to review what I had written before the publication The curiositie of the times and various humour of men what one likes another dislikes one thinkes it too curious another too carelesse one too facile another too obscure one too loose another too elaborate So impossible is it for any one man to please all men The same sentence which pleaseth one dislikes another the same man that receiues content this houre is out of charitie the next so various is man in his thoughts so vnconstant in his censures to others and himselfe Adde to this beside the ficklenesse of some the perversenesse of others who Malchus-like heare all with the left eare and as if the right hand were withered like Ieroboams take all with the left If some passages accord in substance with certaine materiall poynts that are delivered of other Writers though never so different in the carriage and circumstance they must needes be transcribed As if divers men building on the same foundation guided by the same Spirit may not in their Meditations border each on other vnlesse they borrow one from another All these iust allegations were vrged by mee but in vaine I did but surdo narrare fabulam my friends would haue no nay for their sakes haue I ventred to put my finger once againe into the fire though already scorched with the slame Happily the subiect matter of this Discourse will procure better intertainement Many I confesse haue written of this Theame and as our Adversaries querulously complaine too many Wherefore els doe they say What nothing but the Powder-Treason nothing but the Powder-Treason When will you haue done with your Cole-worts twice thrice sodden over It vexeth them to the Heart that wee should rubbe this Soare and make this wound bleed afresh but by their leaues GODS goodnesse and Their wickednesse deserues a Monument of Marble and let them haue it They loue the Treason but hate the Memory of it Istis siquidem pudor est audiendi quae secerunt Nullus faciendi quae erubescant Let all Ages ring of this transcendent match-lesse mercilesse Plot. Let every true-hearted Englishman tell what great Wonders the Lord hath done for this Nation how Hee carried our Fathers in the yeare Eightie-Eight through the waters how Hee carried vs their children this fifth of November through the fire Let this be graven with a Penne of Iron with the Point of a Diamond on the Tables of our hearts on the Postes of our Houses on the Hornes of our Altars in such Capitall Letters as he that runnes may reade them Let the Fathers report it to their children and the children to their childrens children that the Generation to come as yet vnborne may discerne the malicious mischievous attempts of Romane Catholikes That Law of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 let it not here take place but by tradition let it successiuely descend from hand to hand from mouth to mouth from penn to penn least in time Histories Chronicles all Narrations hereof seeme to after-Ages incredible and this Truth bee entertained for a Fable which indeede exceeds all Heathen
his wrastling behold the Affliction of Ioseph the evasion of Ioseph out of his affliction behold the troubles of the Saints the Triumph of the Saints after those troubles Behold the Dangers of the Church her Deliverance and rescue from those Dangers In the wrastling note the certainty of those In the wrastling note the variety of those In the wrastling note the extremity of those afflictions with which the Israel of God doe encounter Their certainty in that he must passe through fire and water the variety in that he must passe not through water onely but fire too not through fire onely but water too vnder both all sorts and kindes of affliction are comprised The extremity fire water are those mercilesse elemēts yet they must not passe by these by the fire by the water but through the fire through the water what greater danger then as we say to run through fire and water Neither is here water mentioned onely but flouds or rivers of water nor fire onely but a flame too so the words of the Text carry it When thou passest through c. The Triumph followes where we may obserue The victory acquired The flouds c. The Author to whom the glory of this victory must be ascribed I will be with thee Therefore the flouds shall not over-flow thee the flame shall not kindle vpon thee Thus by way of resolution haue wee taken this frame asunder now let vs view the severall parts and then set it together ioynt by ioynt We will begin with the connexion which I cannot passe over seeing it affoords an excellent instruction Gods former mercies are pledges of his future favours by what he hath done he shewes vs what he will doe whom he hath created whom he hath redeemed whom he hath called they may build on it they shall be preserued protected Thus it holds vsually in temporall mercies the blessings of God never goe single wee cannot say to the Lord as Esau to Isaac hast thou but one blessing my father but rather as Leah of Gad a troupe cometh Gen. 39.11 The story obserues how he blessed Ioseph in his fathers house in his Masters house in the prison-house in his owne house when a slaue when a Lord in the stockes on the throne Gen. 30.42 where ever he goeth what euer he doth still Ioseph prospers See it in Iacob though Laban change his wages ten times yet the weakest sheepe goe to Laban the strongest fall to Iacobs share See it in Abram in Lot the Lord reueales himselfe to Abram doth that for Abram Gen. 12.1 as he had not done for any person or Nation Is that all No hee blesseth him as in his Soule so in his estate too Gen. 13.2.9 Abram growes exceeding rich Lot and he their wealth parts them one Country cannot hold them But this holds especially and infallibly in spirituall mercies one blessing here euer drawes on another so chained they are and linked together as one still treads on the heele of another the lesser makes way for the greater Take one famous instance in stead of a thousand It is presented by Paul in that Golden chaine with the linkes of it knit together Rom. 8.29.30 Those which he knew before he also predestinated moreouer those whom he predestinated them also hee called whom hee called them also hee iustified and whom he iustified them also he glorified Loe here is that Adamantine chaine one linke so fastened to another that Hell-gates cannot sunder them So Philip. 1.6 the same Apostle perswades himselfe that he that had begun that good worke in them would finish it to one fauour of Inchoation he will adde the other of Consummation The strength of this diduction was notably emproued by David and Paul both 1. Sam. 17.34.35.36 David reasons thus he that rescued him from the claw of the Lyon and the paw of the beare would not leaue him as a prey in the hand of that vncircumcised Philistim Paul thus he hath delivered vs he doth deliver vs 2 Cor. 1.10 in whom I trust he will deliver vs if this will carry force in temporall From the Greater it holds à Maiori in spirituall cases as in privatiue so in positiue blessings The reasons hereof may be drawne partly from the bounty partly from the Immutabilitie of the Almightie His bountie is such that where he begins I will not say he knowes not sure I am he cannot or at least he will not make an end First he creates them then redeemes them then cals them then protects them and yet comes not to a full period The Lord is no niggard in bestowing his favours but liberall and franke His Bounty like a perpetuall Spring runs continually over-flowes all bankes He giues exceeding abundantly aboue all that wee are able to aske or thinke Ephes 3.20 observing * His Measure is without measure Modum sine Modo The second ground is his Immutabilitie whether of his Nature or Decree Exod. 3.14 In regard of his Nature he is ever I am if mercifull in former times he is as mercifull for the present and will be for the future 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iam. 1.17 He is without variableness or shadow of change His Decree is as vnchangeable as his Nature His promises his purposes are not vnstable yea and nay but yea and Amen yesterday to day the same for ever 2 Cor. 1.10 He doth not loue one day hate the next Blesse one day curse the next assist this day forsake the next Vse A notable staffe to vnderprop our faith He will be Iehovah Exod 34.6.7 ever the same constant to himselfe and his servants Remember the dayes that are past looke backe to the times of old hath he beene the God of thy fathers he will be thy God also Gen. 13.15.17.7 the promise is made to them and their seed hath he delivered their fore-fathers he will not flinch from their children if they degenerate not but tread in their fathers steppes Let vs apply this to our selues first in particular to our Nation next in generall Hath hee created thee hath he redeemed thee hath hee adopted thee he will deliuer thee he will sanctifie thee he will glorifie thee Treasure vp experiences of forepassed fauours it will keepe thy head aboue water from sinking in present euills needes must that Man swimme which is held vp by the chinne that Soule cannot stagger which is vnderpropped by such presidents and patternes I may not dwell in specials this reacheth to our whole Nation Good the more cōmon the more Good Bonum quo communius eo melius Neuer any people enioyed more and greater testimonies of his fauour why may not we exspect the continuance of his loue He hath created vs after his owne Image redeemed vs from the slauery of sinne from that worse then Egyptian bondage from the yoake of Rome and tyranny of Antichrist he hath called vs by name entred into couenant
is a depth of misery to note the extremitie deepe and deepe to note the varietie neither was this to some one member that might fall into these quag-myres but the whole Church makes her moane Many a time baue they afflicted me from my youth may Israel now say many a time have they afflicted me from my youth vp Psal 129.12 That chosen vessell forewarnes the Antiechians that through many tribulations they must enter into the Kingdome of God Act. 14.22 As for the Apostle himselfe he had his share as deepe as any perils by Sea perils by Land c. Strange it is to see what varietie of troubles what a world of afflictions as it were can Army of Pykes 2 Cor. 6.4.11.13 2 Cor. 4.9.13 or a thicket of thornes Paul ran through David a Man after Gods owne heart what troubles vnder-went he at home What dangers abroad What from his enemies What from his friends What inward affliction What outward persecution As a man borne to sorrow that scarse ever came where tranquilitie grew So that Mirrour of patience Iob how came his crosses and losses thicke and three-fold like showers of haile-shot Iob. 1.14.15 Velut vndam vndam sequitur as waue followes waue in the midst of the Sea Solomon Proverb 24.16 tels vs they come by troupes by seavens a certaine number put for an vncertaine many come that is certaine but how many that is vncertaine Who can number the starres of the skie Who can number the drops of the water Who can number the sparkles of the fire Who can count the dust of Iacob Or who can number the fourth part of the afflictions of Ioseph But it is their nature I must insist on rather then their number did not Experience the Mistresse of fooles saue me that labour The dearest children of God as wee often finde and feele are they not put to great extremities to shrewd plunges to desperate pinches What a strait was the Church brought to thinke you when the Edomits cryed Downe with it downe with it even to the ground What should I protract time to instance in persons in places What meane these and the like phrases The plowers haue ploughed on my backe they made long furrowes Psal 129.3 And againe Psal 66.12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads wee went through fire and water the same allusion which is here in my Text. This is that bread of affliction that water of affliction that gall and wormwood wherewith he feedes his that Baptisme which our Saviour forespeakes to the Sonnes of Zebedeus Mat. 10.38.39 Luk. 12.50 Yee shall drinke indeed of that cup that I shall drinke of and be baptized with the baptisme wherewith I shall be baptized If you take it literally was not Noah carried through the water Gen. 7.18 Exod. 1.22 and the Hebrew babes did they not passe through the flouds The three Children went they not through the fire Dan. 3.23 howbeit the flame kindled not vpon them Those blessed Martyrs how many thousands were sent vp to heaven Elias-like in fiery Chariots If you take it spiritually these waters had even entred into Davids soule he was not drenched onely but almost swallowed vp of those waues Ps 69.1.2 Iob. 16.13 Iob. 7.12 Iob complaines that the Lord had set him as a Butt that the arrowes of the Almightie stucke stucke fast in his ribbes the venom whereof had drunke vp his bloud he was hedged in as a Whale Ionah cryes from the bottome of the Whale from the belly Hell Ionah 2.3.4.5 More Generall Gen. 4.8 when holy Abel lay bleeding vnder the bloudy knife of his butcherly brother Caine was not the Church at a desperate pinch When Isaac lay bound on the Altar Abrahams hand now stretched out and vp ready to giue the fatall stroake Gen 22.10 was not the Church at the last cast gasping for life When the Hebrewes were pressed in a manner oppressed with that sore intollerable Egyptian bondage when forced to march through the midst of that red Sea figuring the blood Exod 14.22 red Sea of persecution through which all the Israel of God must wade when those Assyrian Bandes the Caldean armies brake their bankes and like a violent ouerswelling torrent swept all before them as a generall inundation 2. Kings 18.11 was not Gods Ston in the middest of the waters when the Roman Troups put all to the fire and the sword not leauing one stone vpon a stone of that famous Citty and Temple the wonder of the world not throwne downe or rather in the times of those ten fiery persecutions when Nebuchadnezars Oven was heated seuen times hotter then ordinary was not the Bush all in a flame was not Sion in the middest of the fire What might be there reason will some demand that the troubles of the righteous should be so many and great the same in a manner with the former It fals out thus partly in respect of God partly in respect of their enemies in respect of thēselues partly not principally Iehovah permits it ordaines it orders it Why the more and the greater their afflictions are the more doth his mercy shine the greater doth his wisedome and power appeare in their deliuerance in their rescue When Israel was euery way distressed Exod. 14.12.12 the sea before them the army of the Egyptians behinde them pressing at their heeles the high towring Mountaines hemming them in on all sides now will the Lord get him honor vpon Pharaoh and all his hoast Exod. 14.4 Now will the Lord of Hoastes march valiantly and overthrow the horse and the rider When the people of God were scattered ouer the foure corners of the world now for God to turne againe the captivitie of Iacob Isaiah 43.12.14 as the streame back-ward to bring them home weeping with their faces toward Sion this shall be to mee sayth the Lord an euerlasting name ioy and honor now he shewes him-selfe a God The greater the streame is the skill of the Pilot if hee steere the shippe aright appeares to be the greater the more desperate the disease is the cure is the more glorious this may be one ground why the troubles of the righteous are many and mighty that the mighty and manifold wisedome power goodnes of Iehovah might shine out in their full glory to the admiration of Men and Angels Another reason followes because their enemies are many and great Their malice great their subtilty great their power great their sedulity great their cruelty great Consider their subtilty the slie Midianites haue a thousand wiles and wayes to vexe and beguile the plaine hearted downe-right Israelites Consider their malice there is an eternall enmity put by God himselfe between the seede of the woman and the seede of the Serpent which how euer smothered sometimes as it were in the ashes yet euer and anon is blowne vp by the bellowes of vnplacable malice Gen. 15. and breakes forth into an open
flame so vnsatiable it is that nothing but the heart-blood of the Lambe will content those rauenous Woolues Consider their cruelty as for craft they are foxes and for subtilty Serpents so for cruelty roaring ramping Lions that will leaue no designe be it neuer so barbarous vnattempted but will prosecute it to the vtmost of their power Consider their sedulitie as the Devill their Master himselfe goes about continually seeking whom hee may deuoure so his Impes they compasse Sea and Land to make a Proselite of their owne and to render him ten-sold more the childe of the Devill Their Enemies are many their name is Legion their enemies are mighty Ephe 6.12 they fight with Principalities and Powers which are in high places no marueile if their troubles be many and mighty Their enemies are many and mischeiuous cruell and barbarous needes must their tryals be many their case grieuous their estate dangerous Finally they may thanke themselues for it their sinnes are many their sinnes are mighty many sinnes cause many afflictions mighty sinnes procure mighty troubles Lay not the blame then on Religion but on thy Corruption Gods dearest children will venture on noisome meate and hurtfull poison they will drinke downe the very gall of Aspes they will be walking neare Hels mouth their Father therefore takes them by the heeles and makes them belieue he will throw them in They will bee dallying with the fire no marueile if they be scorched with the flame they will be running into the water no marueile if they be drenched in the waues they will be laying the Serpent in their bosome no marueile if they be stung with that Scorpion They defile them selues with grosse sins and therefore must haue much washing they take in the deadliest poison and therefore must haue working Physicke while coruption is so strong let them looke for it many and mighty corruptions will procure many and mighty afflictions Vse 1 The emprouement is made by the Apostles 1. Pet. 1.7 chap. 4.13 thinke it not strange concerning the fiery tryall so Peter Count it great ioy when you fall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into divers temptations so Iames. Iames 1.2 If wee passe vnder seuere sharpe corrections and be forced to drinke of gall and wormewood this is no new thing Those whom hee loues most hee corrects most and if wee feele not the rod at all Heb. 12.8 well may we suspect we are bastards not children when wee reade of the troubles of David when we heare of the afflictions of Ioseph when we heare or see or reade of the calamities of our Brethren let it not dismay vs too much What though the Churches in Bohemia in the Palatinate in the Low-Countries be now floating in the midst of the water What though in the midst of the fire in thee furnace What if that fire which was kindled in Bohemia which flamed in France which hath burnt vp and deuoured the Palatinate some sparkles thereof should fly ouer-sea quod omen Deus avertat which God forbid why should they or we thinke much to pledge our Sauiour in that cup which he began to vs hee dranke the very lees and dregges of that mixed wine we doe but sip and tast the top of it Let our troubles be neuer so many Christs were more neuer so great Christs were greater He went through the water when he sweat drops of blood he went through the fire when like that good Phoenix he continued on the crosse fluttering his winges ouer the burning coales of his Fathers indignation till by suffering the extremitie of it he quenched that flame with his owne blood which els had burnt to the bottome of Hell Vse 2 This secondly affoords Comfort as to all the members of Christ in particular who 〈◊〉 are baptized whether Baptismo sluminis or baptismo slaminis with this Baptisme of fire or water so especially to these our Churches and this our State of Great Britaine in Generall If the mightie God of Iacob had not called vs by name and given to this Ioseph that parti-coloured coate the livery of his loue the Covenant of grace wee should neuer haue beene so maligned by Satan so hated of the world so persecuted by Sea and Land so driven through fire and water wee should never haue beene hated so mortally handled so cruelly butchered so barbarously plotted against so divellishly If any Nation vnder the Cope of Heauen can apply this prophecie this promise to themselues wee may challenge it and finde it verified literally spiritually euery way of these Churches of this State wee haue gone through the fire Psal 129.1.2 and through them water Many a time haue they afflicted me from my youth vp may England now say many a time haue they afflicted mee from my youth vp Remember Edom may England cry remember Edom O God which said Downe with it downe with it even to the ground wee will raze out their name and memoriall from vnder Heaven True indeede while wee carried the marke of the Beast in our foreheads while wee bare like Balaams Asse that Balaam of Rome and suffered his intolerable exactions giuing vp our selues our states goods soules as slaues and vassals of Antichrist who but the English Who more favoured at the Court of Rome While our treasure was inexhastus puteus as that Pope scoffingly a Mine that could not be dreined that which the Indies are to Spaine that was England to Rome now wee were his Holines white Sonnes he our Ghostly father what blessing had we from him What Immunities What red hattes What Indulgences What not the Devill smiles while he is pleased but ever since the time of Reformation so couragiously attempted by King Henry the eight so devoutly prosecuted by that Noble Iosias whose early holines King Edward the sixth and timely seeking of the Lord deserues an everlasting Monument so happily seconded promoted after some interruption by our famous Deborah that late match-lesse peere-lesse Queene of ever blessed memory Queene Elizabeth so constantly perpetuated consummated and to this day continued by our most wise and Renowned Soueraigne Lord King IAMES Ever since wee haue shaken off that thousand times worse then Egyptian bondage ever since wee brake off that iron yoke of Babel that so long held vs vnder the Devill hath shewed himselfe in his likenesse what Buls haue roared from Rome What Excommunications What Anathema's haue bin Thundred out by that Man of sinne What cursings with Bell Booke Candle How haue wee beene adiudged for Heretickes sentenced to flames reputed worse then Infidels then Dogges Vide Dr Hall One of their Iesuites giues vp himselfe for damnd if such Heretickes as wee can be saued How is it made a meritorious Act a worke of super-errogation to murther our King to blow vp our State to desolate and depopulate our Kingdome Many haue beene our Troubles many and great many secret conspiracies many open incursions many forraine attempts of enemies abroad many