both God who saw their Works knew their naked forlorn case that they had no Host or Arms no Councel Courage or Conduct no Army or Artillery all the Militia cum malitiâ and the trained Bands were against them no help nor hope of it humane visible Nil nisi votae supersint Now God is a present help in Trouble Psal 46. 1. Quando desinit humanum Concilium ibi incipit divinum auxilium And now the Fight commences so to speak not of two Hosts but of Armed Men and Martyrs of Warriers and Worshippers of Lions and Sheep an Impar congressus God that for his own Glory and Worship-sake loves to take the weaker side not the worse now puts in for them The Point is true tho not universal and to it I say one way or other first or last most certain soon or late God stands up for his Service and Worshippers the Point is liable to Objection but not Contradiction the Exceptions are to be weighed the thing is 1. To be proved true in general 2. To be explained how in particular 3. Why God is so and the Use of all For the general proof I observe God having took knowledge of Jacob at Bethel in flight from Esau Gen 28. does after at the same Place make a more than ordinary show of his care to defend a devout Bethelite in his way to perform his Vow not only by that double Host or Apparition of Angels at Mahanaim Gen. 32. 1. 2. but by the terrour that God put on the People all about him that they pursued him not Gen. 35. 5. 7. For as they had too just a Provocation at Shechem before so he and his little Family being some Females few and also some weak and dying v. 8. lay all exposed to fury at least to such Upbraidings as what doth this King-killing Race with us These Boutfews of the Age that by Promise hope to possess others Property in Canaan that by Worship are Dissenters from all the Gods and establisht Service of the Land that are Vagrants low and poor all true yet Gods terrour on them defended him so that no pursuit is made after his Sons Exod. 34. 23. A Precept in the Law is given for all Males if they could but go up to Zion in their Fathers hand say the Jews thrice a year to appear before the Lord and not empty Quia Pater cupit filios videre as one says the Father loves to see his Sons about him to perform duty this was at the Pasche at Pentecost and at In-gathering If the last it was pritty hard to leave Harvest and not to leave a Male of 12 or 7 years at home to defend the Borders and to go 7 or 8 days Journy the Promise prevents fear A Stranger shall not destroy does it say Nay not desire thy Land * Dr. Willet citing Tostat Animâ— damna plusquam corporis vitanda sunt Soul-perils are most to be shunned And for the Land God preoccupates the doubt saying He should not desire or covet it God would restrain the Enemies very appetite to secure our Attendance from Distraction One says this Peace never was had but that is to call Truth it self in doubt yes he did so many years together and yet the Moral of it extends to our latter days for if legal Rites and Festivities were graâ—'t by such Promises then Gospel Worship obtains far greater and better Promises and though they often had ill and envious Neighbours yet I doubt not one way or other God secured the Worshippers and at least defended it and all the means of it from violence or shortly plagued the violation of it But a fuller proof yet is in Isai 29. 7. v. 1. predicts a Wo a distress threatned to Ariel and yet v. 7. is a Promise to it 1st distress by an Enemy Viz. the Assyrian that besieged the City and Mount of God as the Hebrew word is by some Or the Lion so Arr properly notes of God Oh but how is the Deliverance of Ariel The distress Vatablus says by the Assyrian or rather the Babylonian is predicted to be doleful Plurima cadavera circum Altare jacent The City all full of Ar. Mon. Vat. note Carcases and Quarters as the Altar in time of Offering both Altar and City share alike one part flaming the other all in gore full of parts mutilated as Psal 74. 7. 79. 2. all so low and base as they should petition the Assyrian 2 King 18. 14. 26. Yet after all v. 6. a sudden Visit is promised upon the Assyrian for the City amplified by a Simile he threatens the Foes that a sudden storm should scatter them and God would fight for Mount Zion and become a Munition to defend them and his Altar Other Proofs occur in the sequel One more I cite Act. 18. 9. 10. Paul by Vision is incouraged by promised success in his duty 1. His Fears are allayed next is a promise of restraint that none should set on him to hurt him 3. The Presence of God is exprest a sweet advantage and a terrour to his Foes 4. God pleads title to his People not yet called the Gentiles Though he is thrust out of the publick Synagogue he gets Justus's private House Worships there and teaches and gathers a People to God So that by this it is clear God left that Church as National to a malicious persecuting of the Gospel and Paul does so too to enjoy Gods Presence for a defence in Gods Work and by the whole 't is manifest God is a Munition to his own Worship 2. To explain it more particularly both when how or by what means he doth it and why Now the Lord that best sees his own times methods and mediums by which to make good his promise protects his servants either First Before by way of Prevention or Secondly In the Act by powerful Protection Or. Thirdly After by punishing the Opposition on the Adversary and so restoring the Worship The subsequent Instances to be remarkt are reducible to one of these Besides he has sometimes ordinary ways to do it in common Providence and they not obtaining often he has superordinary or miraculous ways to effect it Yet once God may preserve the pure Worshippers in person as in Elijah's time in Caves when the Altars are all furiously dug up And so may he preserve his House Tent and Altar and yet expose the Ark and Priesthood as in Eli's sons day to Captivity Or may stop one Zachary's mouth not all or cast Altar and all off a while But usually he measures Altar Worship and Worshippers Rev. 11. 1 2. for preservation and repair Now the first Defence is by Prevention of Evil intended God sits in Council among the Gods foresees detects and diverts them sometimes restrains the men or reproves them for his Prophets sakes So Gen. 20. he did Abimelech for Abrahams sake a righteous man and a Prophet as he 's called and Gods Friend So they that bordered Israel
Loss my Grief v. 10. And the effect was sad on his Spirit for how dejected must he needs be and what disquiet must it bring to one wont to and chear'd by a Presence to hear men that prize not a Presence rejoyce ore him that did tauntingly to say Where is thy God A Sword a drawing or at the Breast or cutting the Flesh is painful but this is a Sword in the Bones digs in the Marrow or within the Ribs at the Vitals so i◠struck at heart and life to hear the Question Where and not be able to answer to it as they did Lo this or here is our God Isai 25. 9. So in Psal 43. 3 4. What his Plant was and how great may be seen in the Cure pray'd for That by Gods Light and Truth he might be led back to the Holy Hill to God's Tabernacles and go to the Altar of God his exceeding Joy now all his Plaints would cease in a Song In another he bemoans himself as in a dry Desert Psal 63. 1 2. where no water was seeking longing thirsting following hard to see that Beauty and Glory as once in the Sanctuary The want of Sanctuary and Altar-approaches is heavy and no quieting a Child of God without those Teats and Breasts of Consolation Many the like see in Psal 74. 1 2 per totum the Congregation in Zion Oh that was lost and the fore-view of its desolations called perpetual to see what the Enemy had done in the Sanctuary c. what roaring fire reproaches and tumults in God's Assemblies they had perpetrated In another Psalm Psal 79. 1 2 3 5 7 10. complains of Heathen in the Sanctuary and the City laid on heaps our City stands not if the Sanctuary falls and next as one said to London Mr. Reeve on Jonah p. 221. c. it goes to Flesh-works from Stone and Timber-Ruines to Saints Bodies Flesh and Bones are too cheap in Romes Shambles their Blood as Water These are cited once so I leave them now One Psalm more Psal 137. 1. I cite a Prophesy of that Litteral and our Mistical Babilon Edom joyning in too See the Marginal Note to v. 1. Tho the Place was pleasant it could not stop tears or wain from the Pareus Adv. p. 396. calls it Risus Sardinius Impius i. e. of an Herb that bit on kills one laughing Or as Aurum Tholossanum true Service of God and tho in Exile mocks at their Songs were hard to bear that mirth was at Religion that is but Sardonian Laughter as one calls it and tho it be part of our Cross it will not lie on long The Sardi used to smile on him in quem malum intendebant that they envied so God's smiles serve the Wicked that make Jokes of Saints Losses To rob God's House as the Gold of Tholous one will not long be rich or merry by it One Complaint more to wave the Lamentation see in the Prophet Isaiah Isa 63. 18. and 64. 10. 11. that almost 200 years afore laments by a Spirit of Prophesy the Miseries of that People when the Sanctuary lies desolate they have trodden down the Lords Sanctuary laid Zion and the Temple waste where the Fathers praised him Now tho these Complains were verified on the Temple by the Chaldeans and once more by the Romans and Pompey trod in the Holy Place not without sore terrour to him yet it extends to any times of After-violences on the Gospel-Worshippers and in the next Chapter v. 1. it had an Answer But on the whole to summe up this Argument what signifies Complaint if wholly fruitless or why made to God if he forget them or never means to afford Relief to them Why is he stiled Elshaddai El-elohim Jehovah Nissi Jehovah Jireh and the like but to signifie his Power to help and Will to hear are any empty Titles attributed to him as airy ones are oft unto men Job says Job 21. 4. Is my Complaint to man If it was it had been lawfull but fruitless No q. d. 't is directed to God of good use and brings relief at present and after release as no greater yoak than that on the Conscience so no surer defence than is by him that is Lord thereof and over Worship I conclude with that of Daniel one that sensed the Ruines of Gods Matters deeply Dan. 9. 17. and who doth more speaking of the Roman Force on that House He shall plant the Tabernacle of his Pallace between the Seas in the Mountain of Delights Oh sad where his Peoples delights were and God did delight once to dwell One concludes thus on 't And it reaches to all Ch. 11. 45. Huit in Loc. applies it to Turks p. 343. Mahometans the Turk now the terrour of the World tho many run to him for a Refuge shall with all his Janisaries and Troops be but broken Reeds while he bears Arms against the People of God for he shall find one to encounter him to his smart for all his Rage who will make Jerusalem a Cup of trembling Zac. 12. 3. and a burthensome Stone to all that come against her And this I add what he says of him is alike proper to all the Mounsiers hunting for the like Rapine The Crys and Tears of the Oppressed Jam. 5. 4. ascends in the Ears of the Lord of Tsaboath and will in a while obtain a Michael Dan. 12. 1. to defend them A fifth ground of Gods Defence rises out of the respect he shows to true Worshippers 'T is a singular favour when we seek God often to find him once but in him a far greater Condiscention to seek for us Joh. 4. 24. And the Father seeks such to worship him saith Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. summo studio querere mirifice cupere He asks for desires cares to keep and highly esteems such nay challanges them Who will bring me such see if I keep them not What respect had God to Abel and his Gift too How tender was he of Enoch a Prophet So of Noah putting him in and filling the Ark with all Necessaries not for Food only but Sacrifice of which he offered when he came out a sweet Savour to God and God preserved him above a year to that end Thus Abraham is called out of Vrr where they worshipt Fire as God and after that first Call re-invites him to Moria to offer his Isaac and found his heart what he sought and made him faithfull calling him after his Friend Thus Jacob is called in a voluntary Exile to Bethel the Place of his first Affliction and Bethel was then Gen. 28. without doors I doubt is so still too much to it more than once was he a Seeker and Oh when will his now Race be called sought out God enquires after such in all Ages all Nations and finds them nay makes them Mal. 3. 17. his Segulah Jewels or the peculiar Treasure communes Gen. 18. ult with them as with Intimates seeks out for Moses in
in the days of Hezekiah 1 Chron. 4. 42 43. and so in Esther So that what is to do yet takes place in Christ's Kingdom when he sits on that Throne the Father's Hand was laid on to defend Nor were the Jews excused after the rejection of Christ and the Gospel the Romans came and laid waste the Nation And what 's become of the seven Asian Churches and now the Greeks all under the Curse intailed on this Crime Nor fared the Britains better as Gildas that mournful Prophet said and felt but his Injuries were paid dear for soon after As our Speed pag. 190. and others observe who says those times lasted 40 years So he cites Gildas words too long to insert here After pag. 192. Vortigern sent for the Saxons that instead of hoped Friends proved try'd Enemies for 300 years through the Tyranny of that Vortigern They did all contrary to themselves that Medicine of the truest Physician to them was needless that 's the Salvation of the Gospel Nor was the Lord's Flock or their Sheepherds better They swell'd with Pride and griping Envy yea Contempt was poured on their Princes nay as mad Horses they ran with the Bit and their Riders and left the way of Salvation And pag. 193. out of Gildas says All the Councellors with the proud Tyrant blinded in Judgment devised a way of Protection that prov'd the Countries Destruction i. e. to let in the Saxons A People hated of God and Man so he These break the Covenant waste the Land East and West like the Assyrian fire the Holy Places the dwellings of God's Name laid their Turrets Priests Altars all on the Ground gored with bloody quarters as in a Wine-Press that had no Sepulchres save Ruins of Buildings wild Beasts and Birds Maws Pag. 194. Others going over Sea sang mournfully that sad Psalm 44. 11. Thou hast given us as Sheep to be slain and scattered us among the Heathen some liv'd in Woods Thickets and Rocks at Sea all about the Year of Christ 473. Fuller of these days observes of Vortigern that in him all the Dreggs of his wicked Ancestors were setled that then one Germane and Lupus preach'd in the Fields and twice subdued the Pelagians 1. By Battle and that Hallelujah-Victory got blowless 2. By a Disputation yet they by the Example of their vicious King forsaken of God and Man and so left to himself ran to all manner of Sin Fuller's Ecclesiastical History of Gildas pag. 32. Cent. 5. S. 14. That Gildas duely styles him aetatis atramentum the very Ink blot of that Age and tho God beat 'em they as restiff Horses went worse for 't had they as carefully bemoanâ—d their Sins to God as their Sorrow to Romans their Requests in Heaven had been as graciously received as their Petitions on Earth were carelesly rejected By all which Examples we see how God by Punishments on Persons and People even to our own plagues contempt of his Worship And for Cities and Towns corporate or not no less Jealousy does he conceive and in time vent against the Abusers of Holy Things a little will sufficiently Instance it For as Cities are great Bodies and numerous in concourse so have they advantages for Good or Evil and move as they 're reigned by them that precide especially towards Evil by the dead weight tho not so strongly to Good thence 't is Lot was so furiously treated in Sodom for preaching so gravely Sobriety and Shechem rid by Abimelech posted on through the Blood of nigh 70 Men besides the War till God mingled a perverse Spirit 'twixt him and them and so they came even with one the other for the Blood and Usurpation they usher'd him in with Judg. 9. 2 5 23. ult But without Digression If Meroz sustain'd the Curse of an Angel for not helping the Lord against the Mighty Judg. 5. 23. what Curse is incurr'd for helping the Mighty against the Angels of Christ the Messengers and Assemblies of God If Jericho's Repair whose Fall was by the Arm of Faith intail'd a Curse on him and his that should rebuild it what deserves it to build up not Zion but Babel on her Ruins If Niniveh was spared that heard Jonah and repented for that Preacher in the Streets the King obeying the word of a Pilgrim what does that City demerit that banishes silences and starves more than hundreds of such what shall I say of Chorazin Bethsaida of Jerusalem the Nest of Devotion that not a Prophet must perish out on 't Luk. 13. 33. a sad Character for such a City of God! where 's the old Cities Adam Meroz Laish or No Nay Shiloe Bethlem Antioch Laodicea and many more some sack'd by War some burnt to Ashes some sunk by Inundations or subdu'd by Forreigners some betray'd to Fury by intestine Broils some shiver'd to pieces by Earthquakes and all lost by base Security So that where the Gospel and pure Devotion has ever obtain'd as earst at Rome and of late in London many Years If after all Calls it be rejected may it not prove the Motto of such Cities and Towns as of that ruin'd Town where this was found Here lies the City that perish'd with Silence So for that Head But Scripture yet adduces more matter to amplify this by some apt Metaphors that do open this how God defends us i. e. As a Bird a Shadow a Shepherd a Wall of Fire or a Camp c of which a little to each 1. As Birds Isa 31. 5. flying so will the Lord of Hosts defend Jerusalem defending he will deliver and passing over preserve it The scope is to hearten the Faithful ' gainst all Fear by various Arguments two especially 1. The promise of Defence vers 5. 2. The Presence of God and the Fire of his Altar burning in Zion as Dr. Mayer observes the former among others is illustrate by a Simile of Birds flying that denotes either 1. That Birds on the Wing were not so much in danger as on the Earth where Snares lye So they by a flight to God on the Wing of Faith might get above all Adversaries without the Snare that trust in Egypt or human help brings So the Net was in vain spread for ' em 2. Birds in flying defend their Nests and Young by giering and veering in the Air as the Plover or Lapwing that keeps a flutter at a distance to elude the danger So God would lead the Assyrian into a gross mistake by putting him in hope of his now finding the Nest of that People Chap. 10. 14. and none moved the Wing at him yet it was vain hope Or 3. As Birds of Prey the Eagle and such do soar to a high Mount in the Air yet have an Eye to their Nest and Young and finding them in danger douse down for their safety on the backs of all that rob the Nest or seize on the Young So the Lord as an Eagle would flutter o're Zion Deut. 32. 11. and save his Children secure and watch
Africa so he to England Multis vapulet we know his Will and do it not and shall be beat with many Stripes and the Pope shall gather the Rod. It may verify Campian's Exprobration The English love Preaching not the Preachers Or that of Pererius to England Veniet tandem iniquitatis complementum that is England's Sin at last comes to a fulness The latter grave Doctor has this fatal Simily As the Moon suffers no Eclipse but at Full when farthest distant from the Sun so the Church in the Fulness of Prosperity has now the greatest Eclipse being farthest off the Sun O Church of England see to 't now in thy fulness of Establishment thy Distance from Christ cause not thy Eclipse by Popery Now Ministers make way for Antichrist as being opibus potentiâ major virtutibus verò pietate minor Tho you be greater in Wealth and Power yet less in Piety and Vertue Jerome in Vita Mal. p. 740. 2. All that dare share in her Sin look assuredly to partake of her Plagues Death is in the Pot taste not the Broth or the Flesh Mourning follows that Knox refused to take a Bishoprick ' cause it had aliquid commune cum Antichristo somewhat of Antichrist Can a severer Threat be read If any do worship the Beast or his Image or take his Mark in the Forehead or Right-hand he shall be tormented with Fire and Sulphur before the Lord and the Lamb. Rev. 14. 10. That Fire they gave us shall return hotter No Papist can go beyond a Reprobate says Perkins This Text adds one Word sharper without mixture i. e. of Lenity or Mercy yet it 's fully mix'd with all that Guilt or Wrath can inflict I conclude this Dissuasive from a slavish deserting pure Worship for Antichristian Apostacy as Edw. Bagshaw does his Book with part of that pious learned Bishop Vsher's Catechism p. 441. where Antichrist is so defin'd as one that under a colour of being for Christ as his Vicegerent opposes himself to Christ in all his Offices and bearing Authority in Church and Commonwealth a Mother of Fornications to Kings and People one that causes many to sin by Laws that are advisedly made that allows incestâ—ous Marriages and to break Faith and Leagues c. and for use of it says All that partake of Rome's Sin are under her Curse and so all ought to hate her So infers that no Reconciliation can be had with Rome nor can we communicate with them unless we share in their Destruction for Popery destroys the Vitals of Religion So he concludes ibid. p. 442. those that are off it should free themselves of the Remnants of Popery Iesh God in Judgment bring the whole on them again So is the third Caution Now one more I will add Fourthly and lastly Beware of provoking your Shield of Defence to call off his glorious Covert and leave you as Aaron made the People Exod. 32. 25. naked and open to every Lash of the Tongue or Pen or to all the Feet of Beasts to tear and tread and to every Storm of God's Fury and Vengeance that may fall for if you provoke your Defence where will you flie to hide Ahab did so and in Battel tho well arm'd an Arrow drawn at a venture pierc'd him betwixt the Joints of the Harness 1 Kings 22. 34. and so verifies through his Wilfulness the Prophet's Word he hated he justly died in War that hated Micaiah a Son of Peace If the Lord be provoked to grub up the Hedge of Providence and Restraint and dig down the Wall of Protection about his Vineyard Isa 5. 6. the Entrance of the Boar and Fox is easy And then the Lord being gone he and the Enemy answer both roughly The one says God has forsaken him Psal 71. 11. persecute and take him or them now and if we cry to God he says Go to your Gods I 'll deliver you no more Judg. 10. 13. What provokes to such a Withdraw I answer briefly 1. Unfruitfulness does it The Lord served that first Vineyard so that instead of Grapes that he looked for it yielded wild and fowre ones that he looked not for and so it was trod down and eaten up Isa 5. 5 7. Ezek. 15. 2 7. And when the Master came lo he 's served so and worse they kill'd him Mat. 21. 41 43. and that Gospel Tenure was let out to â—s And if the Kingdom of God be again took from us the same Case that was theirs may be also ours 2. Formality does it A lukewarm Profession is next to none and as ungrateful and naufeous as the Water that is tepid to God's Stomach and to be cast up in any Corner out of Sight and if it be set aside afterward is coldest Rev. 3. 1 2 15 16. A Name to live is hateful to Christ Life being absent the Carcase without the Soul of Religion is good for nothing save for the Roman Eagles and Vultures to pick. They say Ravens have a Charter about London not to be shot at that so all the Carcases may be spent I wish some Roman Crows had not God's Commission and Mens Protection allow'd because our Formality is infectious to the Air of God's Worship and smells so ill with God 3. Hatred to the Power of Godliness and intestine Enmity to the Professors thereof Many a Pulpit is fill'd with this Drivel Luther's Prayer had need be said by us A Pastore glorioso c. From a vain-glorious contentious scornful scurrilous jerking envious Ministry Libera nos Domine You would have Dissenters conform and too many do but what Welcom give you them that come Griping Satyrs Jerks and Jeers bitter Reflections as Salt to rub their Eyes with Some come you say to save their Souls others to save their Bacon or Estates Is it civil to invite to a Feast and cut or pierce with the Spit Which one of yours so describes in a few Verses thus Mr. L. Gr. We 're burthen'd with our old Sir Johns That feed us not with Bread but Stones That cant an Homily or two That Daws and Parrots learnt may do That only prove themselves devout By this that Cromwel turn'd them out This tender Conscience disapproves That Ravens should return with Doves And croak in Pulpits yet to bring More Wrath both on our Church and King So he and to avoid this let that be the Prayer of any that love Sacred Fire as was of a witty Lad in Cambridge upon a Fire in the Colledge by a Snuff From Snuffs in the Quire Vnhallowed Fire From Candle-Ends and seeming Friends Libera nos Domine Other Cautions might be urged and Causes of God's wrath indigitate to clear this last but things multiply in the breaking In a word if the Lord depart upon the provocation of profest Sons and Daughters Deut. 32. 19. it may afflict some of the best first and cause them to lament after the Lord but they being hid in the day of the Lords wrath as his promise is
of old were kept from desiring their Land in times of solemn Worship or Feasts of the Lord. So Saul is diverted by a timous Providence Tydings comes of an Invasion of the Philistines 1 Sam. 23. 26 27. else had he been caught But God gave a Selah or Rock of Diremption So Julian by the Parthian War And Charles the Fifth by the Turks Inrode to Hungary Mr. Fox tells that one Justice Gilford going up stairs force Mrs. Roberts to Mass was then took by a fit of the Gout and so tortured he swore he would trouble her no more The Prophet is sent for by two Captains and their fifties but yet they miss their morsel Elisha at Dothan to be seized by a Band of Horsemen as 2 King 6. 18. but is by Angels saved they prevented Some way like to it also was Athanasius relieved and the cruel Cut-throats put by Prevention of Mischief is pure Mercy Augustine escaped in the way where he was going to Preach the Lyers in wait lost their End he loosing his way Thus the Officers sent to take Christ John 7. 26 32. being convict in hearing Christ civilly dropt off and brought him not v. 44 46. One Hen. Zutphen a Preacher at Breme the Catholicks sent oft to entrap him and as well they prospered for the most of them were convinced or converted openly owning his word to be the Truth of God undeniable and what they heard not before perswading them that sent them so to believe and be saved Thus the Catchers were caught Popish Envy prevented Soules Converted and Truth prevailed A second way of Defence about Worshippers is when in the very act of duty God does either help them to go on or else hides them from the present danger The first lyes open from the Text v. 12. That Ebenezer Stone was the Memorial of this Saints of old set up Monuments for future Memorandums to them and Posterity after some signal help obtained of God and baptized the Places as oft were the Persons that shared in the Mercy of help witness Jehovah Jireh Gen. 22. ad finem where God helpt to provide a Ram to save Isaac and Bethel is El-bethel so called for the good presence God allowed Jacob ch 28. So Moses his Jehovah-Nissi that is Gods Banner of Protection against Amalek Exod. 17. ult Samson's Well Einhakoreh Judge 15. 17. 19. and Ramath-lehi the Jawbone-cast where he was helpt and got Victory and Drink too by Prayer So David's Sela-hammah-lecoth when saved by sad News of an Invasion from Saul's furious pursuit 1 Sam. 23. 28. All which shows both that the Service was most acceptable and the Worshippers helpt much that Psalm 20. 1 2 3 4. are as affecting apt Prayers to our Design as may be he prays for 1. Audience 2. Defence 3. When in Trouble 4. What way by sitting on high above Danger 5. Whence Why from the Sanctuary out of Zion 6. Whereby v. 5. 6. By Banners set up and the saving strength of his Right Hand 7. What follows A Victory a sweet word they fall we stand how not halting bowing complying but upright Observe what help does from the Sanctuary when Gods Worshippers are exposed So Paul hunted by so many Lions persecuted by the Jews hated and deserted by false Brethren contradicted by fellow Apostles and left to the Lords Work alone once by Jo. Mark his Partner how kept he the plow a foot Why himself says Acts 26. 22. By obtain'd help from God so he continued to that day that is enough for any Ministers succour Says Luther Quo magis furunt eo amplius procedo They rage I still go on Hic unus homo totius Orbis vim sustinuit He bore the whole Worlds Opposition Oh how blessed were Germany had he intailed that litigating Spirit for Purity on the Protestants of his Name but alas and wo that Name is born without the thing yet were not God our Defence in the truth a race of late profligate titular Protestants had after 100 years growth wrapped us again in the old Swaddlings of Jewisb Rites and Romish-Pagan-Papagan Superstitions but blessed be him that hath yet helped us as once it is said of the Levites in consecrating themselves They were more upright than Priests 2 Chron. 29. 34. in helping on Reformation So had not God raised a little help for us among the more Upright tho less able we soon should lose 100 years Reformation I shall only add Deut. 33. 7. It is the blessing of Judah and a great one beg'd by Moses for him That God would help him against the Enemy all the day And so he did in Hezekiah's Time against Senacharib though in a more than ordinary way To conclude this with a Note on Dan. 11. 34. In the Maccabees Time Antiochus run the Altar and Worship of God down at a rate more wofully than any of the Persecutors before for many hundred years in which most agree he was Antichrists Type exactly for he was furious implacable and very false vicious in Life and Atheistical in Profession says one Erat omni numinis reverentiâ— vacuus reverenc'd no Deity set himself against the Lord and his Worship and Covenant will have all of one * Or as Dr. Willet all to be uniform v. 36 37. Religion prohibits Sabboths and the Rites of Gods Law did his own Will till the Rise of the Assidians and Asmonians who repaired and restored Gods Altar which is called Gods Help yet but a little v. 34. yet being prophesied of here and in Zach. 9. 13. was accordingly God 's help to a People faithful to Gods holy Law That did exploits v. 32. tho very small and few that by weak means Gods greater Strength might be seen says Trapp But after all those Sufferings Heb. 11. 35. and the false flatteries of Alcymus High Priest and other Apostates that yielded to fear * Dr. A. Willet pag. 424. God who minds his Church in Affliction sent breathing and help in some measure After three years and some few Months when in Ceslew the Temple was cleansed c. like as the two Witnesses against Antichrist shall do after the like time expires So that God gives help to his Witnesses for pure Worship in time and if he lets them fall by flame c. yet is his help in that great and glorious Pareus Adv. Loquitur de Maccabaeorum ope quod fuit parvum auxilium vix manipulus hominum cum hostibus collatics nec omnes erant sinceri To pass this God by his Spirit so boldens the face that scarce the approach of Armed men or Devils daunts the face of Steven Act. 6. 10. 7. 55. Nor could they seize on Bazil so bright did his face shine when Valens sent to take him at Prayer So are Gods Servants kept in duty 2. No less care has God in hiding both his Worshippers and the Worship too often when his Enemies are hot in hunting this Game as Saul was Acts 9. 1. Breathing as a Wolf and