churches are admonished of their duetie namely that they put themselues betweene the people God being angry For although the glory of intercession or atonement doe belong properly vnto Christ alone yet is it their partes neuer to ceasse praying whereby they may asswage the wrath of God and reconcile the people vnto him So wee reade Aaron intermingled himselfe umb 16. and stood in the middest betweene the quicke and the deade when the plague of GOD grew hote among the people 1. Sam. 12. And Samuel thought it a greate offence if hee shoulde ceasse to pray for the people which had cast off Gods yoke and gouernement For seeing GOD complaineth of this in the Prophets more then in one place or two that no man woulde offer himselfe or stand in the breache of the wall Ezech. 22. Esay 59. to stoppe the course of his wrath and fury it cannot but exceedingly displease him if the ministers themselues bee in this case forgetfull of their dueties c. Now he prescribeth the prayer in this sort Spare thy people O Lord A fourme of publike prayers and giue not thine heritage to reproche c. The petition is briefe Spare say they thy people These wordes haue in them a confession of sinne and with all they shew that all hope of saluation is to be sought onely in Gods mercy As though he should say We haue sinned O Lorde and are vtterly vnworthy of any better successe but spare vs we beseech thee and enter not into iudgement with vs. c. Vnto these wordes they adioyne reasons and the first they draw and alleadge from their owne person whilest they cal themselues Gods people and adde Neither giue thine heritage into reproch for the sense is this Exod. 19. whatsoeuer we be we are thy people thine inheritaÌ„ce thy chosen but who I pray thee will suffer his inheritance to perish if hee may saue it And thus he sendeth theÌ„ to the free couenaÌ„t of god who had made theÌ„ his peculiar people The other reasoÌ„ they fetch froÌ„ the person of god whose glory they say should be called into questioÌ„ why shal they say amoÌ„g the people where is their god for as the vngodly acknowledge no God at all but visible So are they wont to iudge of the true God and of his worship onely according to the present successe Assoone therefore as they see the professours of the true fayth and religion to bee in danger by and by they cast them in the teeth with their fayth and worship of the true God as in these daies alas for sorrow is euery where to bee seene But wee are taught in this place how prayers as well publike as priuate ought to bee ordered Publike praiers how they are to bee made when publike calamities doe vrge and oppresse vs. First and before all thinges we haue neede of the confession of sinnes which must be ioyned with faith so as wee may haue the hope of our saluation fiâ—ed onely in the grace and mercy of God Because if we looke vpon our selues we must perish without remedie seeing our sinnes doe on euery side bewray them selues and euen our righteousnesses are nothing but vncleannesse Esay 64. Secondly least this hope should wauer as a thing vncertaine Gene. 17.22 c. wee must haue recourse to the couenant of God which beeing made with our fathers and confirmed by the death of Christ cannot at any time become voyde or frustrate For if no person by his owne priuate authoritie may abolish the testament and wil of a man Gala. 3. which is lawfully written confirmed then perdy must the authoritie of Gods will and testament of necessitie bee greater wherein hee hath inrolled made vs his heires And as the Prophete calleth these folke still the people and inheritance of God notwithstanding that they were presently to bee punished for their sinnes euen so at this day the Lorde doth not by and by reiect his Churche although some spottes and infirmities doe cleaue vnto it 〈◊〉 that shee hold-fast the seede of faith and be desirous to bee reconciled with him But especially wee must bee carefull to promote gods glory which ought to bee more heere vnto vs then our owne proper welfare and saluation For this thing doth the order of the Ten commaudementes and the course of the Lords prayer teach vs euen the common sense and experience of nature which causeth children to be vigilant and carefull for the fame and honour of their parents This thing saw Moses Exod. 32. NuÌ„ 14. c. who as ofte as hee maketh intercession for the people alleadgeth chiefly godâ— glory least God shoulde giue it vp to the reproche of the Heathen And the godly cry out in the Psalmes Psal 115. Not vnto vs O Lord not vnto vs but to thy name giue the glory c. Most detestable therefore is their sinne and iniquitie who when they are not ignorant how Gods glory is blasphemed of the wicked by reason of their enormities and most corrupt maners yet can by no meanes bee brought to consider of the amendment of them Moreouer it is full of comfort in that wee see our saluation coupled with Gods glory For in as much as God is a ielous God hee will not suffer the glorye of his name to fall to the grounde and therefore his chozen in whoÌ„ the same is in hazarde hee will neuer forsake Let vs be mindefull of these things in these most dangerous dayes and return vnto God who will be mercifull to so many as conuert vnto him through Iesus Christ his onely sonne our Lord to whom be giuen blessing honour glory and dominion for euer and euer Amen Sermon 8. The text 18 THen will the Lord bee ielous ouer his lands and spare his people 19 Yea the Lorde will answere and say vnto his people Beholde I wil sende you corne and wine and oile and you shall bee satisfied therewith and I will no more make you a reproch among the heathe 20 But I will remoue farre off from you the Northren armie and I will driue him into a lande barren and desolate with his face towarde the East Sea and his ende to the vttermost Sea And his stinke shall come vp and his corruption shal ascend because he hath exalted him selfe to doe this 21 Feare not O land but bee glad and reioyce for the Lord will doe great thinges 22 Be not afraid yee beasts of the field for the pastures of the wildernesse are greene for the tree beareth her fruit the figtree the vine do giue their force The argumeÌ„t and vse of this present place GOD vseth indeede to punish mens sinnes with sundrie and greeuous penalties and yet so many as returne vnto him hee graciously receiueth into fauour There are extant of this matter many promises which are confirmed with inâ—umerable examples amongest which that is very notable that is propounded and set foorth by
number but that the matter fell so out in very deede wee may gather out of Esay also the whole discourse of the historie Esai 37. Hytherto maketh it that God nourished the Israelites forcie yeeres together after a wonderfull maner in the wildernesse to the ende hee myght teache vs by that example that weâ— liue not by bread onely Deut. 8. but by euery woorde that proceedeth out of his mouth And in the reigne of King Ioram wee reade howe that after a horrible and more then desperate scarcitie sodenly there was giuen an vnlooked for and most plentifull foyson of corne and vitaile 2. Kin. 8. Many examples like vnto these wee may see euery yeere both publikely and priuately of all which this ought to bee the vse vnto vs that wee may trust in GOD our father humbly obey his commaundements c. Secondly hee saith 2. Glory and honour I will no more make you a reproche among the Heathen For they had complained of this chiefly because his glory was in hazarde Hee promiseth therefore that they shall no more bee troubled with any such matter They therefore doe best prouide for theyr owne glory that make most of Gods glory so as they can preferre this before all maner of riches of their owne For this is Gods promise 1 Sam. 2. I will honour them that honour mee and againe contrariwise Whereby it appeareth what wee haue to doe in these dayes as well privately as publikely if in case wee desire to bee deliuered from reproches and â—â—aunders Let vs be inflamed with the zeale of gods glory and iâ—â—uour our seâ—â—eâ—â—â— aâ—uannce the same and euen foorthwith wee shall perceiue that God also will prouide for 〈◊〉 same and glory 3 Victorie against the enemie But forâ—omuch as the huge power of the Assyrians made them astonied so as they couâ—â— scarcely giue credite to these thinges hee telleth them in the third place what shall be come of that matter And hee calleth them the Northren armie for because the Assyrians haue their situation Northwar â—e from the Iewes I will driue saith hee this Northren armie farre away from you By the worde driue hee Theweth howe easily and with howe 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 he will dâ—ing this thing to pâ—â—â—e euen like as if a man with a â—â—â—â—â—lappe wouâ—â— driue away flyes or as the grasâ—â—â—â— vs are driuen away with the â—ittde which before ocâ—â—â—â—ed all places both farre neete Neither is there any cause why ye should thinke that there will bee no place lefte whither to driue him For I will driue him into desolate places so as one parte of so great an armie shall bee dispearsed euen to the East Sea and another part shall flie to the West And truly it is to hee thought that so many as eseaped from the slaughter made by the Angel being distressed with horrible feare and perpleritie were scattered by flight into diuers sundry places But he addeth And his stinck shall come vp c. Hee meaneth the infamous memorie of his name which onely and alone of so great attempts Sennacherib shoulde leaue behinde him The cause For that hee hath magnified himself to do this that is he hath proudly unpiously exalted himselfe as though hee woulde after his owne lust and liking ouer rule both God and men To the exposition of this place make those thinges Esai 10.36 The pride end of tyraÌ„ts that are recited at large in Esay as touching his outragious boasting But by this example is finely set out the pryde of Tyrants and the vnhappie ende of the same They are wont to conceâ—e mightie matters in their minds and can scarcely in the whole worlde finde any place fit to receiue them Yea and beeing aduanced aboue the cloudes in their conceites they promise to them selues euerlasting memorie vaunt forth theÌ„selues amongst men for some gods vpon earth But assone as they haue finished their course God euen in a moment scattereth their forces and enterprises so farre foorth that of all their glory and triumphes they conueigh ouer nothing els to their posteritie then a shameful remeÌ„braÌ„ce of their tyraÌ„ny which like vnto stinke rysing vp from a rotten carkasse filleth and infecteth the whole worlde Examples heereof wee haue in Histories euery where plentie For to this ranke belongeth the first authour of tyrannie Genc 10. Nimroth with all those that haue followed his steppes of which forte for the most part were all the Babylonian and Assyrian princes the Aegyptian Pharaos the Chananites Antiochusses Herodes Romayne Emperours Ezech. 32. and as many as beeing like vnto these haue caused their feare as the Prophet saith to be in the land of the liuing Let no man therefore bee afraide of their attemptes and threateninges but rather let vs feare GOD and then beeing safe vnder his protection wee shall leaue behind vs a holy and renowmed memorie of our names howesoeuer the wretched worlde deuise all kinde of reproch against vs. 4. The ioyfull restitution of the land and of the creatures But to the intent hee might prouide for their infirmitie whome the present danger held still in doubt and perpleritie he ampliâ—eth at large the happie condition of all thinges which by Gods reconcilement shoulde immediately followe And like as in the beginning hee had threatened that the sense and feeling of Gods wrath shoulde reache euen vnto the earth it selfe and bruite beasts also so nowe bee promiseth that GOD with his fauour will reioyce the earthe and likewise the beastes And hee vseth a feate figure whereby hee speaketh to the earthe and beastes as though they were endued with sense and reason Feare not O lande reioyce and bee gladde for the Lorde will doe greate thinges As though hee should say God seemeth nowe to lie along and sleepe seeing Sennacherib so proudly exalteth himselfe but euen foorthwith God wil cast him downe and shew forth his own power and restore a glad countenance to the earth And you O beasts whom famine compelleth as yet to wander about and mourne nowe lay aside all feare For the pastures of the deferr shall floorish and so shal al trees and Likewise the figtrees and vines shal bring foorth their fruite whereby foode shall be ministred both to you and vnto men And thus woulde he comforte the people and stirre vp the same to the consideration of Gods benefite that from thence foorth they might yeelde themselues thankefull and obedient vnto God For as we said of late a foule shame it is for men not to acknowledge the hande of God which euen the grosse earth and bruite beasts doe perceiue But more of this shal be saide in that which followeth It shall bee our partes in the meane time to awaken our selues by the consideration heereof and to giue thankes vnto God without eeasing Who hath giuen vs greater thinges then these in Christe Iesus who hath destroyed the power of the diuell defaced his kingdome and
the authoritie of God him selfe for albeit for the present time they laugh it to scorne abuse it with their vnseemely scoffes and iestes yet notwithstanding in their season they fynde those thinges to bee true which they will nowe by no meanes beleeue and then beyng conuicted in their owne heartes they feele horrible boylinges in their consciences In the meane tyme wee are admonished that in the Churche whiche as Paule sayth is the house of the liuing GOD 1. Tim. 3. In the Church the word of God is only to bee taught there ought nothing to bee taught and set foorth but the woorde of God For if so bee this thynge were so diligently obserued of the Prophetes and Apostles whose calling GOD confirmed by infinite argumentes and testimonies howe much more then ought the same to bee regarded of those that are by no meanes comparable vnto them Detestable therefore is their boldenesse and unpudence whiche in these dayes thinke euery thing to bee lawefull for them and that which eyther they them selues haue deuised or else receyued from their most superstitions fathers they thrust into the Churche for vndoubted oracles As for vs let vs bee mindefull of Christ who sayth My sheepe heare my voyce and they followe mee a stranger will they not follow but will flie from him because they knowe not the voyce of strangers c. Iohn 10. In the beginning of this first Sermon hee procureth attention The procuring of attention whiche is verye needfull in conceiuing the worde of God And first he stirreth vp the Elders who as they are furnished with the experience of things and therfore more apt fit to giue iudgement so by authoritie of their example they may drawe the younger sort to folowe their steppes Notwithstanding least he might seeme to speake onely to the Elders he eftsoones calleth vpon all the inhabitantes of the lande of Israel and exhorteth them not so muche to a vayne and idle hearing as vnto a diligent consideration of those things which they had hitherto suffered and which they were like afterward to suffer yea he commandeth them to commend the same to their posterity to the ende they might serue for a perpetuall instruction vnto all Hearken ye saith he all the inhabitants of the land whether such a thing that is to say any thing like vnto this hath happened in your dayes or in the daies of your fathers Tel your childrē of it let your children shew their children c. The worde of God belongeth to the instruction of all 1. Cor. 2. Psal 119. Where wee are admonished first of all that the word of belongeth to the information of all sortes of men for in as much as by the fall of sinne wee haue all of vs lost that true light of reason whiche was in our first Parentes wee nowe stande all in neede of a newe light which God vseth to offer vnto vs by his worde And hitherto serueth it that hee willeth the Elders especially to giue their attendance whome wee saide euen nowe to goe before others in experience of thinges and in giuing of aduice For albeit we be neuer so diligētly instructed nor neuer so wel seene in the long vse and experience of things yet shall we nothing at all profit in the things belonging to Gods kingdome vnlesse wee bee inlightened from aboue and hearken to God speaking vnto vs by his worde Which is the cause that the Scriptures do euery where exhort vs to the studie of the word and also do reproue the insolencie of those that neglecting it will needes be wise of themselues and follow the swindge of their owne braine How we must be occupied in Gods worde Moreouer wee are taught howe and after what sort wee ought to bee conuersant in the worde of God so as wee may reape some fruite by the exercise thereof First it behoueth vs not onely to bee hearers of it but also to marke the singuler examples of Gods iudgements whereby he vseth to adde credite to his threatnings and oracles For vnlesse wee so doe we shall euermore flatter our selues and not thinke that those thinges will euer happen vnto vs which hee threatneth to the breakers and transgressours of his lawe As oft therefore as wee heare his threatninges whereby hee denounceth his indignation against Idolaters Fornicators Adulterers couetous persons mansleaers drunkardes c. Let vs withall consider what hee hath decreed in times past against suche and besides let vs marke howe euen in our dayes hee punisheth not a fewe that defile themselues with the saide enormities Further let vs not thinke it enough to holde these thinges our selues but let vs also commende the obseruation of them to our posteritie This thing our duetie requireth whereby God hath bounde vs vnto our children and the selfesame doeth the honour and glory of God require also which as it ought to bee most highly regarded of all men so can it no other way more bee inlarged and set foorth then by the diligent instruction and information of our posteritie Exod. 13. Dout. 6. Psal 78. There are extant as touching this matter peculiar preceptes and commandements of God in the Law and in the Psalmes whereas it is written howe GOD ordeyned amongest his people that fathers shoulde declare vnto their children his wonderous workes to the ende that they also might learne to put their truste in God and become obedient vnto him And for this cause it is that GOD commendeth Abrahams soundnesse and synceritie saying I know that hee will commaunde his sonnes Gene. 18. and his housholde after him that they keepe the way of the Lorde and doe righteousnesse and iudgement c. They therefore doe hyghlye deserue of Gods glory religion and publike welfare of men that eyther priuately instructe and bring vp their children in the knoweledge of gods workes or publikely lay before them the histories of their owne countrie or also of other nations to the intent that out of them their posteritie may fetch examples of Gods iudgements and bee admonished of theyr owne dueties But greatly is the wretchednesse of our tyme to bee lamented wherein the exercise of Gods word is of the most part neglected the iudgementes of God marked of very fewe histories corrupted through the peruerse affections of men and as for our children they eyther not regarded at all or els trayned vp in those thinges that it had beene muche better for them neuer to haue knowen This negligence of ours must God needes punishe to the end wee may learne to bee wise by our owne harmes that woulde not be warned by other mens He calleth to remembrance the euils Past But the Prophet goeth on and telleth them what the thinges are in the consideration whereof hee woulde haue them to bee so carefully occupied And hee recounteth vnto them diuers and sundrie calamities which had hitherto depriued them of the fruites and increase of the earth so as euen a blinde man might
watche vppon the Walles That they may eate theyr owne doung and drinke theyr owne pisse with you And truely this was a horrible iudgement of GOD wherby he would haue his own land thus to be afflicted Neyther yet happened these thinges at that time alone but when as afterwarde they returned to the selfe same manners they had the desolation of seuentie yeeres brought vpon them by the Babylonians And at length both the Citie and Temple beeing vtterlye subuerted by the Romanes God according as hee had threatned in the Lawe wholy remooued his blessing from that lande Liuit 25. so as nowe it might seeme to bee of Brasse and to haue a firmament of yron that before flowed altogether with milke and Hony Would to GOD they would consider these thinges now adayes which doe so addict them selues to the practise of Drunkennesse that they will bee refourmed neyther by admonitions nor examples whereof there are store yet euery day both priuatly and publikely Well there hangeth ouer them also vndoubtedlye a publike and vniuersall calamitie which will plucke the Wine and fruites from their mouthes and bring deserued destruction vppon their owne heades But omitting these Drunkardes the Prophet turneth his speeche to the Churche of the Godly The Church of the godly is willed to mourne and willeth them also to mourne Mourne sayth he like a Virgin girded with sackcloth for the Lorde of her youth So calleth hee the husbande whome GOD him selfe hath commanded to take the rule and gouernment ouer the wife And hee compareth the Churche of the Godlye to a wife or spouse which parable is euery where to be met with all in the Scriptures But in this place it signifieth moste bitter mourning For like as the loue of new married folkes is most tender and ferueÌ„t so can there not bee but moste grieuous mourning if euen in the first beginning it be interrupted by the death of the husband But he prescribeth to the Godly a farre other cause of mourning then vnto the Drunkards For he willed these to mourne because of the wine taken from them for as much as they make account of nothing to be so sweete and pleasant vnto them as wine But to the other he sayth For the meate offring and drinke offring is cutte off from the house of the Lorde the Priestes that serue the Lord mourne And in these wordes he signifieth the subuersion of Gods worshippe whiche was grown by the terrour of the warre and destruction of the Land as that whiche immediath followeth doeth testifie when hee addeth The fielde is wasted the land mourneth for the Corne is destroyed Leuit. 2. 23. c. and the wine is dryed vp and the oyle is decayed For they vsed dayly in their meate offringes corne and oyle and when they offred their firste fruites they cooke also a certaine quantitie of wine And in these kindes he comprehendeth the whole externall worship which in the time of warre was for the most part intermiteed when as they could neither goe vp to the temple that dwelt in Iudea neither also were the fruites sufficient for the daily sacrifices in that horible desolation of the whole land This thing was most grieuous vnto the priestes whom he sayth therfore to haue mourned when namely they compared the present confusion of thinges with the former concourse of the whole nation vnto the holy rites But for the same cause the Prophet biddeth also the rest of the godly to mourne For although it be lawfull for vs to lament our domesticall and priuate miseries so that it be modestlie done yet for so much as the worship of God ought before all other thinges to bee most deare vnto vs it behooueth vs to mourne for this also especially if at any time we perceiue the same to fayle or decay and so muche the more bitter ought this griefe to bee vnto vs for because this thing happeneth by our default whose duetie it was by our continuall practise of godlinesse and innocencie to mamtaine and defend the true seruice and worship of GOD. It is a griefe to the childe if he heare the honour of his father to come in danger But if he see the same to happen by his owne ouersight that seemeth indeede vnto him a thing intosterable The like consideration is to bee had of Gods children who are wont to preferre the glory of God before all maner of riches and euen before their owne proper life it selfe This thing bewrayeth the great wretchednesse of the people of our dayes who are at a point whatsoeuer the state of Gods worship and religion bee so as they may keepe reuell route and enioy their goodes after their owne heartes desire But they shall one day bee compelled to lament their owne destruction that would not bewayle the losse of Gods glory and religion Thirdly he speaketh to the husbandmen vinedressers He prouoketh al the coÌ„mon people to mourne vnder which he comprehendeth all the residue of the vulgar people And because such for the most part are led onely with present things and haue no regard to those thinges that belong to the worship of God he produceth the selfesame causes which he did before to the Drunkardes and yet not so bitterly for that they sinned more through blockishnesse and ignorance then through malice Be ye ashamed O husbandmen saith hee Howle O ye vine dressers for the wheate and for the Barley because the haruest of the fielde is perished And forthwith he reckoneth vp diuers and sundry kindes and sheweth that all is nowe quite taken awaye which was wonte to bee a ioye and comforte vnto men Neither ought this so often a repetition of one and the selfesame thing to bee thought superfluous For there is no question but that they all wepte aboundantly when they sawe the cruell enemies to destroye all that euer was on euery side But they mourned no otherwise then like brute beastes for that they wanted those thinges which serued their necessitie and delight in the meane time as touching the pacifying of Gods wrath they cared not much for that Whiche blockishnesse to the ende hee might driue from them he efte soones heapeth together and inculketh whatsoeuer was done contrary to the common maner of warfaring by the vnaccustomed fury of the souldiers that so they might acknowledge the singular iudgèment of God and beginue by that occasion to consider of their sinnes These thinges therfore ought to serue also for our instruction For this blorâ—â—shnesse or stupiditie sticketh fast in all men so as they cannot euen with most grieuous plagues be brought to the acknowledgement of their transgressions for in as much as we sticke commonly in second causes wee acknowledge not these thinges to proceede from Gods wrath Our mourning therefore being ioyned with a beastly astonishment conteyneth nothing else then outcries and howlings witnesses of our impatiencie and desperation whereby we cause both our punishmentes to be more grieuous and also
same the staffe of his wrath or furye Therefore GOD vseth also the ayde of the wicked whylest hee will execute his iudgementes And yet for all that are not the wicked excused whilest they destroy Cities and Townes and make hauocke of all with fire and swoorde For by their owne proper malice they are carried vnto mischiefe and the ambition or couetousnesse or wrath or crueltie that dritteth them forwarde is of their owne growing neither is GOD to bee charged with it But GOD by his wisedome and iustice vseth theyr euill and malice to a good ende and purpose to the intent he might eyther exercise the fayth of his chosen or bee auenged on the wicked and vugodlye In these thinges shyneth foorth his prouidence which serueth greatly both for our instruction and consolation For it teacheth that no euils or calamities doe happen vnto vs without his counsel and determination whose iudgementes are Iustice and Trueth and therefore that wee must not holde plea agaynst him Agayne it is for our comforte that wee knowe him to bee faythfull who will not suffer his Children to bee tempted aboue theyr strength 1. Corin. 10. and that in the meane time hee prepareth a pitte for the vngodly as the Psalme sayth whilest by their helpe hee chasteneth his owne Psalm 94. They that weighe not these thinges as they ought thruste God from his gouernmente and Soueraintie whilest they are afrayde least they shoulde make him the Authour of some euill and besides vnto those that are afflicted and in miserye they become Authores of impaciencye and desperation Let vs acknowledge therfore his prouidence which extendeth it selfe euen vnto Sparowes and the heyres of our heade Matth. 10. Luke 12. let vs know it to be his hand if at any time wee bee afflicted againe let vs take it paciently and turning vnto him embrace his sauing health which hee offreth vnto vs in his sonne Iesus Christe to whome be giuen blessing honour glory and dominion for euer and euer Amen Sermon 6. The text 12 Therefore euen nowe also saith the Lorde turne you vnto me with all your hearte with fasting and mourning 13. And rent your heart and not your garmentes and turne vnto the Lorde your God for he is gracious and mercifull flowe to anger and of great kindenesse and repenteth him of the euil 14 Who knoweth if he will returne and repent and leaue a blessing behinde him euen a meat offring and a drinke offring vnto the Lord your God The argumēt and vse of this present place IOel hath declared in the first part of this sermon the great danger which at that rune hung ouer the Iewes by reason of The assyrian warre The ende of this declaration was to rouze by the secure and careles to the intent they might see repentance to be necessarie for them and therefore prepare themselues vnto it Hee addeth therefore now the second part wherein hee entreateth of true repentance and first verily he teacheth in this presēt place what euery one ought priuately to doe intending afterwarde also to speake of those thinges that serue to publike and solemne repentance But wee haue first and formost especially to obserue that hee expresly testifieth that these things were prescribed vnto them of the Lorde himselfe For thereby wee may gather that a perpetuall rule is giuen vnto vs which ought to bee obserued in all ages and which is the onely sole way wherby God may be pacified and the punishments at hande auerted and turned away It shall bee expedient therefore diligently to consider of euery point Hee beginneth with a noting of the time He declareth that there is yet hope and time of repentance when hee saith Therefore euen now also saith the Lord. These words haue a certaine Emphasis or force in them which may easily appeare if wee consider the thinges that went before For hee hath described the horrible vengeance of God which no man was able to abide And nowe thereunto he adioyneth these words as though hee shoulde say I woulde not haue these thinges so to bee taken as though there were no hope of grace left For albeit yee deserue vtterly to bee destroyed rooted out god hath decreed no common plague against you yet is this his decree cōditionall insomuch that if you wil euen nowe whilest your matters stande as it were vpon the rasers edge turne and conuert vnto him hee will graciously and louingly receiue you into fauour o repentāce too late so it be vnfeigned By which place wee are admonished that no repentāce commeth too late so it bee true and earnest For inasmuch as God in the Scriptures will bee called our father he resembleth good and faithfull fathers who seeke nothing so much as the conuersion and amendement of their children as Christe aboundantly teacheth in that parable of the prodigall childe Luke 15. Yea and hee himself by his Prophet saith Ezeche 18. Haue I any desire that the wicked should die and not rather that hee should turne from his euill wayes and liue Againe If your sinnes were as Crimsyn Esay 1. yet shall they be whiter then snow if they were as red as skarlet yet shal they be as white as woll And Iohn saith 1. Iohn 1. If wee acknowledge our sinnes hee is faithfull and iust to forgiue vs our sinnes c. But with infinit exāples are these promises confirmed amōg which that ought not to be lest accoūted off which is here set downe For when the Iewes imbraced the counsell of the prophete by and by the Lord was their helper and by his Angel smote the Assyrians with a mightie slaughter Esay 37. To the same ende also belongeth Manasses who after all sortes of sinne and iniquitie turning vnto the Lorde 1. Chro. 33. was of him heard and restored to his kingdome The like mercy and fauour haue that sinful woman in the Gospel Magdalen Zacheus the Thiefe crucified with Christ and many other moe felt and tasted off Of all whiche this ought to be the vse vnto vs that they may serue for our comfort against the terrors and temptations of conscience wherewith Satan is wont to weaken our fayth for euery one ought to applye this vnto him selfe and to say with himselfe Yea euen very nowe turne vnto the Lorde and let not the remembrance of thy life past dismay thee but the more heynous that it hath been so much the more earnest let thy conuersion bee and thou shalt straight-wayes perceyue Gods eares to bee open to thy prayers c. A summarie doctrine of repentance But wee ought more deepely to consider what it is that God commaundeth in this cause Turne sayth hee vnto mee with all your heart with fasting weeping and mourning and rent your heart and not your garmentes c. He comprehendeth in these woordes all that may bee spoken of repentance which we haue oftentimes saide to bee properly a turning or conuersion
mee who woulde haue you to be my people or my coÌ„federats or subjects that by this occasioÌ„ ye might come to the knowledge of the true faith and saluation But goe to seeing it liketh you so well it will bee a very easie matter for me to recompeÌ„ce you vpon your head according as you haue deserued The summe therefore and effect of the accusation is this namely that they rashly and prouoked with no wrong or iniurie at all had rysen and rebelled againste the people of GOD c. The maners of the domestical enemies of the church And by this example are expressed and laide open the maners of the Domesticall or housholde enemies of the Church who are for a time compelled to forsake their superstitions and most vile trades of liuing and to submit themselues to the discipline of the Gospel They feigne a loue of the truth as long as the truth hath the vpper hand But in the meane while there remaineth deepe setled in their minde a hatred of Christe and a loue of their Pope so kind yea they thinke themselues very heynously and intollerably dealt withall and therefore vpon occasion giuen they rise vp that they may followe and pursue the same their title and quarrell to the vttermost Examples of this sort we haue seene many in our time which because they are well knowen vnto all shall not neede to bee any longer stood vpon Let vs consider that God permitteth these thinges vnto the wicked for our sakes who for the most part doe ouer mildely and gently handle such men yea euen filthily flatter them whilest either we seeke by carnall wisedome to winne them or els in seeking againe by them forget our duties vnto God c. He laieth opeÌ„ the sinnes of the saide parties But hee recounteth also the sinnes of these men and in two kindes comprehendeth all wherein they chiefly offended First yee haue taken my siluer and my golde c. Hee accuseth them of Sacriledge and howe they had wickedly taken away perforce the riches consecrated vnto him and had carried them into their temples or pallaces where they abused them eyther to superstition or to riot and superfluitie as they sisted theÌ„selues Secondly yee haue solde the children of Iuda and Ierusalem vnto the Grecians or vnto forreigne nations that beeing banished farre off from their countrie they might be void of all hope of return Both these sinnes reigne openly at this day For after that the Romishe Bishops haue once vsurped to themselues the gouermnent of the Church by and by they conuert the goods of the Church which aforetime were consecrated vnto God and his seruice partly into superstitioÌ„s partly to the maintenance of their own pomp and prodigalitie And albeit their sacrilegious holdnesse bee euery where reproued by the light of the Gospell yet want there not false Gospellers which catching the saide goods out of their clawes do not restore theÌ„ to the Church but either scrape theÌ„ together to the common bancke or els challenge them priuately to themselues that they may the more inordinately reuel and make good cheere Either of these fortes haue their colours whereby they excuse their iniquitie and the true children of Iuda which accuse and finde fault with these thinges they eyther cast into exile or kill them with sworde and fire that so they may cease to bee troublesome vnto them But let these men remember that this is Gods golde and siluer who will not suffer their holdenesse to goe vnpunished as shal appeare in the Sermon following In the meane time let vs also bee mindfull of these thinges and paciently take this vnhappie lot and condition of the Churche trusting onely in Christe Iesu who will neuer suffer his owne cause to quaile To him bee giuen blessing honour glory and dominion for euer and euer Amen Sermon 13. The text 7 BEhold I wil raise them out of the place where yee haue sold them and will render your reward vpon your owne head 8 And I will sell your sonnes and your daughters into the hand of the children of Iuda and they shall sell them to the Sabees to a people farre off for the Lord himselfe hath spoken it 9 Publish this among the Gentiles prepare warre wake vp the mightie men let all the men of warre drawe neere come vp 10 Breake your plough shares into swordes and your siethes into speares let him that is weake say I am a strong champion 11 Assemble your selues and come al yee heathen and gather your selues togither rounde about there shall the Lord cast downe thy mightie men 12 Let the heathen be wakened and come vp to the valley of Iehosophat for there will I sit to iudge all the heathen rounde about 13 Put in your siethes for the haruest is ripe come get you down for the wine presse is full yea the presses runne ouer for their wickednes is great 14 O multitude O multitude come into the valley of threshing for the daye of the Lorde is neere in the valley of threshing 15 The Sunne and Moone shall bee darkened and the Startes shal withdraw their sight ALbeit God loueth deerly his church wil haue it to be perpetuall â—â—â—reserued The argumeÌ„t vse of this present place yet suffereth he the same to be diuersely exercised and afflicted vnder wicked vngodly enemies so farre forth that the godlye sometimes thinke themselues to be forsaken of him and the wicked promise to themselues perpetuall successe Heere therefore we haue need as well of diligent doctrine as consolation to the end we may perceiue these thinges to come to passe by the iust iudgement of God who chastineth his that they may be saued and finally rendreth to the wicked according to their deserts Hitherto maketh the last part of Ioel. For hee so comforteth the people of his time against the terrours of the Assyrian warre that looke what he sayth vnto them ought to be applied vnto al ages And of late forsooth be promised in generall that God woulde take in hand the cause of his people against their enemies whose crueltie and pride he declared at large But now hee diligently describeth the iudgment of god which haÌ„geth in like maner ouer the heads of al those that in these dayes imitate the sayd ancieÌ„t enemies of the church Let vs therefore consider euery thing in order The enemies of the church are punished by the law of like for like First he threatneth vnto them Talions Law that is such payne such punishment or so doe so haue and declareth that there shal nothing let but that he wil deliuer his people For he accused theÌ„ before that they had sold the children of Iuda to the Grecians and to a people farre off Therefore he inferreth Beholde I will rayse them out of the place c. As though he shoulde say You in deede goe about to scatter my people so as no hope of restitution should be left vnto them But
of gods wrath shal appeare in thē let these things serue for our cōfort against the assault of the wicked who howsoeuer they rage take on for a time yet shall they one day be broght before the iudgmēt seat of Christ receuie rewards according to their deedes And wtal being mindful of these things let vs embrace the grace of God which he offereth vnto vs in Christ Iesus who at the length hauing remooued vs from all dangers wil finally translate vs into the felowship of his kingdome to him be giuen blessing honour glory and dominion for euer and euer Amen Sermon 14. 16 THe Lord also shall roare out of Sion The text and vtter his voyce from Ierusalem and the heauēs and the earth shall tremble but the Lord will be the hope of his people and the strength of his people Israel 17 And you shall know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Sion mine holy mountaine and then shall Hierusalem be holy and there shall no strangers goe through her any more 18 And in that daye shall the mountaines drop down new wine and the hils shall flow with milke and al the riuers of Iuda shal runne with waters and a fountaine shal come forth of the house of the Lord and shal water the valley of Sittim 19 Egypt shall bee wast and Edome shal be a desolate wildernesse for the iniuries of the children of Iuda because they haue shed innocent blood in their land 20 But Iuda shall dwell for euer and Ierusalem frō generation to generation 21 For I wil clense their blood which I haue not cleansed and the Lorde will dwell in Zion FOrasmuch as all the promises of God are founded in Christ Iesus in whom alone the father is well pleased with vs The argumēt vse of this present place Ioel as also the rest of the Prophets doth so intreate of the deliuerance of the Iewish people that withall he cōprehendeth the misteries of the vnuiersal redēption which we haue in Christ These thinges therefore ought so to be considered of vs as that we insearch those points with a deeper and profounder sense that are fulfilled accomplished in Christ And of late he spake of the punishments of the enemies whervnto now he addeth those thinges that make to the safetie and happines of the godly as wel in this world as in the world to come Whereof we ought to reape this vse that reposing our trust in the aide and assistāce of God wee may valiantly vanquishe and ouercome all that standeth against vs and withall indeuour to be such as God may acknowledge and defend as his owne How God will be affected toward his people I Hee fraieth the wicked But Ioel beginneth with the person of God and sheweth how hee will bee affected towarde his people First The Lord saith he will roare out of Zion and vtter his voyce from Ierusalem He compareth GOD to a Lion roaring after his pray which hee will not suffer to bee taken from him And so hee teacheth that God will bee a deliuerer and defender of his people not onely faithfull and iust but also strong and valiant which will neuer permit them to bee purloyned from him Therefore hee addeth The heauen the earth shall tremble Amos 3. For if so be as Amos saith all men stande in feare of the Lion when hee roareth who doubteth but that all creatures will tremble if in case God vtter foorth the tokens and threatninges of his wrath Howbeit as wee admonished in the beginning these things belong especially vnto Christ which is that strōg Lion of the tribe of Iuda Apoc. ◠who as hee hath deliuered his owne out of the tyrannie of the Diuell so will hee by no meanes suffer them to bee taken from him Ioan. 10. My sheepe saith hee can no man take out of my hand c. Let these thinges comfore vs in our temptations For if we abide in Zion that is in the fellowship and societie of the Church no man can separate vs from the loue of God Rom. 8. For why hee that hath instructed the Lions with terrible roaring and hee that causeth the thunders to astonish mens mindes and to bellowe out of the heauens the same by the secret power of his spirite can cast downe the courages of the wicked so as will they nill they they shall cease to hurte and endammage his people c. 2 He is the hope and strength of his people But least any man shoulde thinke that God woulde also become fearefull to the godly hee addeth But the Lorde will be the hope of his people and the strength of his people Israell In that therefore hee sheweth himselfe terrible to the vngodly in that hee shaketh heauen and earth all this hee doth to the benefice and welfare of his Church that namely the wicked may bee abashed and the godly haue a stedfast and vntemoueable hope and confidence in him And heere it appeareth how notable the fruite of faith and godlines is whē as these alone cause god to be sweete and amiable vnto vs whose Maiestie and power otherwise is intollerable For as good and vertuous children are delighted with the port and magnificence of their father which they know will be honourable and profitable vnto them also but the vndutifull and rebellious are dismaide with the same because they know well enough they haue deserued punishment euen so the power and glory of God doth wonderfully cheere and comfort the godly when as they acknowledge him to bee their father and protector the wicked and vngodly in the meane time miserably trembling at the mention of him But wee haue to obserue that he saith that God will not onely bee the hope but also the strength of the godly For as hee protecteth and defendeth his people so also he furnisheth them with new force that they may be able to abide and do all things These thinges haue in like maner their accomplishment in Christ Mat. 16. For hee is that inuincible rocke against which euen the gates of hell shall not bee able to preuaile The same commaundeth vs to trust in him Ioan. 16. and saith that hee hath ouercome the worlde the prince thereof The same encourageth the faithfull with his spirite so farre forth that being prepared vnto euery good work they manfully subdue al aduersarie power and euen glory and reioyce in their afflictions Whereupon Paule saide I am able to do all thinges in Christe that strengtheneth mee See Rom. 5. Philip. 4. 3. He is a present helper defender He addeth heereunto in the third place And you shall knowe that I am the Lord your GOD dwelling in Zion my holy mountaine Hee opposeth this to the dangers which they had hytherto susteyned and by reason whereof they supposed that they had beene vtterly forsaken of God The sense is this I will shewe my selfe so fauorable vnto you that you shal feele