dry like a stick and blacker than a coale by pestilence we shall fall downe in heapes by war we shall be abolished like Jabin in Endor our bodies shall become doung on the Earth Psal 83.9 Our Land shall bee an Aceldama a field of blood a land of bloody pooles And therefore O Scotland if thou would henceforth be under a mighty Ministry a Goshen for God a land of life of light and libertie free of all the damned mists of the doctrines of Devils if thou would be free of a Service Booke Romes yoke and of all the Ceremoniall Clouts of that varnished Whoore if thou woulâ— have God as it is in my text tâ— treade downe all thine enemies for sake not the Covenant of thy Goâ— breake never thy league made wiâ— him have no fellowship with thâ— unfruitfull workes of darkness but walke as Children of light Abâ—horre all idolatrie Mic. 6.16 the statutâ— of Omri and returne to the ancâ—â—ent paths Jer. 18.15 let the Lord no morâ— have a controversie with the inhaâ—bitants of the land Hos 4.1 then shall yâ— see that the Lord shall worke great work in this land Habak 3.2 accordinâ— to Habakkuks prayer hee shaâ— revive the worke in the midst of tâ— yeeres Our nation shall finde that GODS mercie is not dead though our armies in the eyes oâ— our enemies 1 King 20 27 Judg. 7.5 Amo. 5.15 seeme but like littâ— flockes of Kiddes or weake likâ— Gideons lappers of waters if ouâ— wayes please the Lord the Lorâ— shall be gracious unto the remnanâ— of Joseph One of these shall come to passe Either which wee desire most God in a melting temper shall convert our enemies and make an incorporation of them unto us like the two sticks of Israel and Judah Eze. 37.17 who were joined one to another into one sticke being no more divided in profession which Oh that wee might register in the catologue of his favours Or if not so the LORD shall change the mindes of our enemies as he did to Esau Gen. 33.4 and shall make them that come against us to embrace us as brethren of one Isle though not in Religion Or if not so the Lord by some forraine enemy shall turne them away 1 Sam. 23 27. as he turned Saul from David by sending the Philistines against the land Or if not so he shall make them fight one against another as hee did to the Midianites whose bodies were all gore bloud by mutuall wounds Or if not so if hee permit ouâ— armies to joine which the Lorâ— avert after that by many fast and prayers we have laid dowâ— our bleeding hearts in his boâ—some and by ardent desires havâ— powred out our soules beforâ— him wee in the Name oâ— our God will set up our Banners The Lord being with us Psal 20.5 ouâ— Captaines shall be swifter the Eagles and stronger then Lions our souldiers shall not say 2 Sam. 1 23 I aâ— sicke Isa 33.24 the Lord himself shall bâ— Scotlands great Generall he shaâ— give us help from trouble he is that shall tread down our enâ—â—mies Gog and Magog papisâ— and Arminians brethren in evil the combined friends of man rotten righteouâ—nesse he alsâ— shall tread down their gods theiâ— Moloch and Chion their images Amos 5.25 Act. 7.43 the starre of their god Remphan their gods of stock and stone with all their gods baken in the Oven Hos 4.7 the LORD shall change their glory into shame the world shall hear it and shall wonder But as for us the children of his Covenant if we be not unstable as water Gen. 49.4 but stedfast in that Covenant if wee abide in the bonde of love like Scilurus arrowes in a sheafe the Lord shall blesse us our Gospel shall flourish our land shall bee fruitfull and blossome as the rose Isa 35.1 our church shall be most orient and glorious â—ike a hill of pearles a Cristall mountaine or a rock of Daimonds then shall our hearts be filled with joy and our mouths with laughter Moses and Miriam both men and women shall most sweetly sing these words of triumph Exod. 15.3 The LORD is a man of warre who hath set his triumphing foot upon the neck of aâ— his enemies as upon his vaâ—â—quished vassals 1 Tim. 1.17 Now unto the King eternall immortall invisible the onely wise GOD be honour and glory for ever and ever AMEN A SERMON FOR A BATTELL Isa 9.5 Every Battell of the warriour is with confused noise and garments rolled in blood Exod. 15.3 The LORD is a man of warre the LORD is his Name Psal 18.34 Hee teacheth my hand to warre so that a bow of steele is broken by mine armes By M. Zacharie Boyd Preacher of Gods word at Glasgow Printed at Glasgow by George Anderson 1643. POST FVNERA VIRTVS VIVET TAMEN ETSI MORS INDIES ACCELERAT A SERMON FOR A BATTELL Psal 17.13 Arise O Lord disappoint him cast him down deliver my soul from the wicked with thy Sword THE Prophet David made this Psalme in the dayes of his great troubles while he was hunted 1 Sam. 26 20. 1 Sam. 23 14. from place to place like a partridge or a flea his danger was great in Keilah from Keilah he fled unto the wildernesse of Ziph verse 14 where being discovered by the Ziphites he fled unto the wildernesse of Maon where he abode on a rock there also David made haste to get away for fear of Saul for Saul and his men there had compassed David and his men round about to take them behold how mans wrath runs like wilde-fire but even while Davids life was in his hand there came a messenger unto Saul saying haste thee and come for the Philistines have invaded the land wherefore Saul returned from pursueing after David for which cause that place was called Selah Hammahlekoth 1 Sam. 23 28 that is the rock of division because there the Lord did separate Saul from David these dangers were the occasion of the composing of this Psalme wherein David most earnestly seeketh Gods assistance against the price craft and crueltie of his enemies David in this psalme is like the Nightingale which singeth most sweetly though she have a thorne against her breast The division of the Psalme THe parts of the Psalme are three In the first part from the beginning untill the tenth verse the royall Prophet David in confidence of his integritie craveth defence of God against all his enemies In the second part from the tenth verse untill the thirtenth hee declareth their pride craft and crueltie comparing them to Lions greedy of their prey In the third part from the thirteenth verse untill the end he prayeth against them with great confidence in God The division of the text IN this text which is a prayer of David to God against his persecuters there be two parts In the first part we have him to whom the prayer iâ— directed it is
in his couâ—age so also he was wise for as â—hrough God he hoped to preâ—aile so also he would do someâ—hing himselfe he went not to â—he other extremitie as to say All is well now the Lord will be unto us a vvall and a sconce â—nd therefore we need not trouble our selves any more we may all sleep now and take our rest for God will doe all no not David himself would also doâ— something for to help the Lord through God said he vve shaâ—â— doe valiantly that Prophet saiâ—â— wisely to the King of Israel 1 King 20 22 gâ— and strengthen thy self and marâ— and see vvhat thou doest Goâ— himselfe said to Zion Zeph. 3.16 Let 〈◊〉 thine hands be slack The use The use Let us all this dâ— learne of David so to depend upon God that we neglect not tâ— doe something our selves If thâ— Lord hath a Sword Jud. 7.18 let Gideâ—â— have another THE SWORD Oâ— THE LORD AND OF GIDEON the neglect of the meanes is tempting of God when Chriâ—â— was by Satan set upon the pinacâ—â— of the Temple Mat. 4.5 he would not caâ— himselfe downe from thence aâ— Satans desire for needlesly to trâ— Gods power in his preservatioâ— but used the meanes in comminâ— downe by the staire God will never help these who are carelesse to help themselves I confesse God hath no need of our help though a mighty armie like that of the Syrians which filled the countrey should come against us gathered like two little flockes of Kiddes 1 King 20 27 the Lord should not have need to say to us as Joab said to Abishai 2 Sam. 10 11 If the Syrians be too strong for mee then thou shalt help me but if the children of Ammon bee too strong for thee then will I come and help thee the Lord hath no need of any mans help against all the armies of men though all the world were in Battell array against him and his Church what are all the strongest armies of the world but shadowes and bubles like these which little boyes out of spittle and sope in their pastimes blow up with their quils which anone being but winde within water burst of themselves what reaâ— help can such brettle things makâ— to the Lord though men neitheâ— can properly help God neitheâ— hath hee properly neede of any mans help yet he declareth thesâ— cursed with Meros who in thâ— fearefull dangers of Gods church doe not their endeavour to helâ— the Lord Judg. 5.33 to help the Lord againsâ— the mighty In such dayes of distresse leâ— all men goe to worke let thâ— young men in Abners language arise to play 2 Sam. 2 14. and let the old meâ— in Gods language arise to pray If young Joshuahs fight in the valleyes Num. 17.9 let old Moses pray on thâ— mountaines though God beâ— sufficiently able to do all yet thâ— faithfull man must doe through God through God said Daviâ— heere we shall doe valiantly leâ— these who can not do through God lye still like drones let them eat drinke lye and sleep still like Epicures but these who doe through God shall not faile to doe valiantly In the word valiantly heere I observe that the servants of God who doe through God The doctrine are the onely men of courage men qualified for valour the reason is because what they doe they doe it through God that is by Gods help and for Gods glory onely such are men of valour this was a part of Balaams prophesie Num. 24 18 and Israel shall do valiantly David speaking of his enemies said I did beat them small as the dust before the winde Psal 18.4 I did cast them out as dirt of the streets it is the Lord that giveth the heart onely Gods servants have true courage the wicked not excepting the stoutest are called the Fearfull Rev. 21.8 such sometimes may seeme to be valiant but all their courage is but rage likâ— wilde Bulls or Boares or likâ— madde dogges they may whileâ— furiously fight but he hath onely courage who is assured to enter heaven after death there be many Colonels and Captaines who will goe boldly to an assault but if they fear not God they are but madde men Onely these are valiant who can truely say in the faith and feare of God with David Through God wee shall doe valiantly what true courage can a wicked man have to die that incontinent after his death is to goe from the earth unto the hells unto the divell and his angles The use The use Before we goe to warre against men let us first make warre against our sinnes let us by repentance kill all our Minion delights and Captaine sinnes that they reigne no more in our mortall bodies Let us all now in these dayes of warre so studie the practice of pietie that all our doings may be through God that is both directed by him and for him that is by his power and for his glory If this wee doe sincerelie under Christs banner our courage shall never fail wee in greatest dangers shall be like Saul and Jonathan swifter then Eagles 2 Sam. 1.23 and stronger then Lions in the valley of the shadow of death we shall not fear any evil yea tbough the earth be removed Psal 46.2 and though the mountaines were caried into the midst of the sea we shall remaine stedfast like mount Zion if we have God with us in his favour wee shall not tremble in trouble no not Dan. 3.18 with Shadrach wee shall boldly face a fierie furnace Dan. 6.16 and with Daniel we shall not feare the Lions denne what hath made so many martyres poore simple bodies in the worlds language precise fooles so couragiously to affront and out-face the most fearfull frownings of cruell tyrants yea with the wings of faith to out-soare the hight of all humaine miseries what enabled them to suffer most horrible torments which Captaines were not able to abide the reason was this they walked with GOD and their doings were through God and for GOD and therefore through God they both did and suffered valiantly Zach. 10.5 they said Zacharie shall fight because the Lord is vvith them that was a brave speach of Luther Note Since I am sent for I am resolved and certainly determined to enter wormes in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ yea though I knew there were as many divels to resist me as there are tiles to cover the houses in wormes Now it is time in this time of triall fast comming to amend our life to be sure of Gods love to be sure of heaven after this life that when it shall come either to doe or die for the good cause we may through GOD either doe or die most valiantly let Zedekiahs 1 King 22 11 false Prophets with their hornes of yron stout in peace be Magor missabibs trembling Jer. 20.3 fearfull cowards in trouble in the dayes
is that shall tread down our enemies The use The use Let all our men of warre learne here to depend upon the Lord and not to goe to battell without the Lord they must all say to the Lord as Barak said to Deborah Jud. 4.8 If thou wilt goe with me then will I goe but if thou wilt not goe with me then I will not goe a Captaine were he never so couragious can doe nothing without the Lord an armie of Samsons without God will not prevaile it was not the cutting of Samsons haire that weakened him no not it is said of him Judg. 16.20 that he knew not that the spirit of the LORD was departed from him when that spirit of the Lord departs from men men have neither heart nor hand to do valiantly they flee like sheep before their enemies 2 Chron. 18.16 Josh 7.11 Israel hath sinned and they also have transgressed my covenant c vers 12 Therefore they could not stand before their enemies said the Lord to Joshua mourning for that shamefull flight of Israel from before the men of Ai It is onely the Lord that giveth courage to men the Lord said Psal 144.1 David teacheth my hands to warre and my fingers to fight onely the men that come from his fence-schoole will be men in the day of Battell he could make the lappers of water the smallest of the host of Israel to doe valiantly Judg. 7.13 a barley cake from his hand was sufficient to overturne all the might of Midian â—he horse saith Solomon Prov. 21.31 is prepared for the day of battell but safetie is of the LORD all victories depend upon him If we remaine still in his favour and keep his Covenant though Senacherib should arise from the dead and cover the whole land with his men in number like the sand of the sea though an armie from Rome or Spaine with all the English Papists and Arminians like an armie of Caldeans Habak 1.6 a bitter and hasty Nation should march through the breadth of our land to possesse the dwellings that are not theirs Habak 1.8 though they should come with horses swifter then Leopards and more fierce then the evening wolves yea and flee as the Eagle that hasteth to eat in a word though wee seeme to our enemies but grashoppers or creeping things that have no ruler over them Hab. 1.14 if we abide stedfastly in Gods Covenant the trueth of my text shall not lie He it is that shall treade downe our enemies he shall make them in their fairesâ— greenesse Joh. 4.7 to wither away likâ— a Kikajon or gourd some fearful destruction shall teach these thaâ— treade in their paths to tremble aâ— their end Well then seeing it is the Lord and he onely that treadeth down our enemies so that all depend wholly upon him let us by alâ— meanes beware to offend him leâ— us take good heede that we looke not to the numbers of out men as Israel did Jud. 20.10 when with foure hundred thousand men they foughâ— against the Benjamites let us learn of their losse in all humilitie to begin with fasting and prayer let us take good heed that there bee not among us an Achan Jos 7.18 that made Israel to flee from before the men of Ai let us seeke out all our sinnes as carefully as Joshuah sought out Achan as curiously as the people of Godsought out the leaven and let us cast them away Deu. 16.4 Moses said to Israel at the Passeover There shall not be seene with thee any leaven in all thy coast So the Lord saith to you all this day let not your sinnes your pride your covetousnesse Hab. 2.6 for thick clay your riot your drunkenesse your uncleanesse your chambering your charmeing your railing your backbiting your malice your envie your treacherie Mic. 6.10 and the scant measure which is abominable and all other such scandalous sinnes whatsoever let them no more be seene among you Eph. 5.3 This is the Apostles counsell but fornication and uncleannesse or covetousnesse let it not be once named among you as becometh Saints If yee would have God to be with you in the day of danger Ezek. 21.6 sigh now with the breaking of your loines and with bitternesse because the Lord is angrie with our nation and therefore loath your selves in your owne sight for your iniquities Eze. 36.31 let not your old sins abide any more in your companie let them no more be named among you woe to the pot whose scumme is in it now Ezek. 24.6 Dearly beloved strive now to redeeme the time Eph. 5.16 Yee may all see that the dayes are evill and therefore I exhort you to keepe GODS charge Zach. 3.7 and walke circumspectly not as fools Let every man turn from his evill wayes Bee like a people that hath made a Covenant with their God like a people with whom God hath made a Covenant of life and peace Mal. 2.5 If we break our Covenant with God Note which we have so solemnly sworne we shall be more fearfully plagued then that King Vladislaus who by the instigation of the Pope brake the League of a concluded Peace with Amurah the Turkish Emperour he swearing upon the Euangelists and the the other by his Ambassadours upon their Turkish Alcaron when the Turke saw the Battell joined and remembered the Christians perfidie in breaking their Covenant with him he pluckt the writing out of his bosome wherein the League was written and holding it up in his hand with his eyes cast up to Heaven said after this manner Behold thou crucified Christ Hist of the Turkes pag. 297. this is the League thy Christians in thy Name made with me which they have without cause violated now if thou be a God as they say thou art and as we dreame revenge the wrong now done unto thy name and me and shew thy power upon thy perjured people who in their deeds deny thee their God In that bloody battell of Varna as the historie records Certatum est totos dies noctesquâ—tres diu fortuna ancipiti sed tanto animorum ardore utrinque tantoque impetu ut caesorum sanâ—guine campi stagnarem That is the space of three dayes and three nights this bloody batâ—tell continued so that the field where it was foughten was turned into a poole of blood If such shame and calamities befell the Christians for breaking their League with an Infidel whaâ— worlds of miserie shall come upoâ— this Nation if we like the dog returning to his vomit break the Covenant which wee have so solemnly made with our GOD 1 Pet. 2.22 Doubtlesse all the miseries that ever came upon a Nation shall have their Rendevous heer famine pestilence and war shall not faile to revenge the quarrell of Gods Covenant By famine God shall make these who are now like Nazarites whiter than milk Lam. 4.7 to become
the Lord Arise O Lord c. In the second part wee have the petitions of his prayer which are foure in number 1. Arise 2. Disappoint him 3. Cast him downe 4. Deliver my soul from the wicked which is thy Sword Let us now come to the glosse and interpretation of every part of the text I. PART To whom the Prophet here maketh his Prayer HEE to whom the Prophet heere maketh his prayer is the Lord Arise O Lord. Observe heere the wisedome of David when he is in distresse The doctrine he goeth to the right hand even directly to the Lord As for Abraham he knew him not and therefore he spake not a word to Abraham to Jsaac or Jacob Psal 73.25 in any of his troubles whom have I in heaven but thee was his saying unto God The 1. use The 1 use Let us learne here in whom to trust at all times it is in the LORD All other things whatsoever will faile but the Lord faileth never Some helpers faile in will though they may they will not and some faile in power though they will they may not but the Lord is sure on all sides there is nothing that may doe us good but God is able to doe it looke how able he is in power he is as willing for our well If we want any thing that we desire it is either because we aske it not Jam. 4.3 or because wee aske amisse that wee may consume it upon our lusts or because what we aske is not expedient for us wee often seeke from God and weepe for things which we would have as children weepe for knives which their parents will not give unto them because they would be hurtfull unto them Many of Gods children have crying desires for wheate Psal 4.6 wine and oyle this worlds wealth and ease but God knowes that many would be hurt thereby and therefore grants not unto them their desires The Lord forbid that God had suffered us to get our hearts desire at all times the best of us had been in hell ere now if God had given us all our will a yeares peace or plentie O what a change maketh it among a people O how hurtfull is it to the souls of many who crammed with hypocrisie can crake of pietie and soulder their gracelesse doings with great ostentation The 2. use The 2 use Let this serve for reproofe to Papists who all slabbered in the dirt of mans inventions most foolishly distrusting GODS good will Jon. 2.8 forsake their owne mercie in steede of crying to the LORD they court the Lâ—dy Mary which is their Queene of heaven Isa 44.7 they also run from God to the Saints as though they had a greater regard unto us or loved us better then God If we had done the thousand parts of the wrongs to them that wee have done unto God though they had beene our fathers and our mothers they had all cursed us Gen. 9.25 as Noah did to Cham Cham so farre as I can reade had but once scorned his father and for that once his father cursed him but wee have ten thousand times scorned God and yet he hath blessed us and blesseth us still His wayes are not our wayes Isa 55 8 and his thoughts are not our thoughts for as farre as the heavens are above the earth as farre are his wayes above our wayes and his thoughts above our thoughts so it is of his mercy and love Isa 49.15 though a mother forget her childe the Lord can not forget his children thus they who goe to others then to God are deceived as if men not content with the light of the Sun would goe to seeke light from the Moone who hath all her light from the Sunne Of all such God may well say as he said in the dayes of Jeremiah Jer. 2.27 they have turned the back and not the face Jonah marketh such with this black blot Jonah 2.8 These that observe lying vanities forsake their owne mercie It was not so great a wonder under the law to see men idolaters Cant. 2.9 bcause then Christ but looked out at a window and shewed himselfe through a lattesse darklie but O now in his Gospel he come out at doores clearâ— with Behold me Behold me â— for us let our refuge in all diâ—esses bee to God and Christ his Sonne Iohn 17.3 this is life eternall said Christ in his prayer only Christ is Mediator onely by him our prayers are heard many Pagans did excell in morall things but because they knew not Christ they could not finde the doore of heaven this made a father to say of that great Philosopher Aristotle August Vae tibi Aristoteles laudaris ubi non es damnaris ubi es Wo to thee O Aristotle who art commended where thou art not and condemned where thou art The second Part. The Prayer WE have heard unto whom the Prophet here maketh his prayer it is unto the Lord now let us consider the prayer iâ— selfe Arise disappoint him caâ— him down deliver my soul from the wicked which is thy sword Iâ— this prayer there be foure petitions 1. Arise 2 Disappoinâ— him 3. Cast him down 4. Deliver my soul from the wicked witâ— thy sword Angustiati animi suspiria one calleth well thesâ— foure petitions the groanes of soul in a great straite The first Petition Arise THe first thing that the Psalmist here requireth of the Lord is that he would Arise and make him ready for his help Arise O LORD When God for causes known to himselfe delayes his help he seemeth to his servants to be like a man lying or sleeping Hence are all these formes of speaches of the godly Arise Psal 3.7 O Lord save me Psal 10.1 why standest thou afarre off O Lord why hidest thou thy selfe in times of trouble Againe Arise O Lord Psal 10.12 O God lift up thine hand forget not the humble Againe Awake Psal 44.23 why sleepest thou O Lord Arise cast us not off for ever againe vers 26 Arise for our help for thy mercies sake the Scriptures are full of Arise and awake which distressed men cry unto God whilâ— he delayes to help them The doctrine Observe here first that Goâ— cometh not ever at the first unâ—to his servants in their afflictions he will have them to taste yeâ— whiles to drink of the bitter cup before he let it passe from them that afterward they may thâ— better taste and see how good 〈◊〉 the LORD Psal 34.8 when he hath delivered them Cum differt auxilium videtur Deus sedere otiosus Isa 26.16 God sometime will seeme to his servants very carelesse of their miserie as iâ— he were a man lyen down to sleep but all that is to stirre up the hearts of his servants to cry the more mightily unto him and also to let them see their owne weaknesse of faith and how that
off his head and â—he palmes of his hands vers 4 onely the â—mp of Dagon was left to him â—fter that where ever Gods Ark â—emained prisoner the Lord smot â—is enemies on the hinder parts â—ith Emrods they had no rest â—ntill they sent it back againe â—â—us the Lord most gloriously â—elped his people from trouble If we will continue in sinceritie to fast and pray there shall 〈◊〉 be a stone in the field but shall be like that stone of Samâ—el which he called Eben-ezer tâ— stone of help in whatsoeâ—â—â— danger we shall be we shall 〈◊〉 with Samuel 1 Sam. 7 12 Am. 4.1 Hitherto hath 〈◊〉 Lord helped us hear this word yeâ— of Bashan who push with yoâ—â— hornes against Gods dear sâ—â—vants as though God did 〈◊〉 regard or could not give us from trouble The 2 use The 2. use Let this serve reproofe to these base and beaâ— bodies whose names are wriâ—â—â— in the earth Jer. 17.13 who have neitâ—â—â— heart nor hand nor tongue foâ— help Gods Church from trouble thâ—â— have not a thought of pitie thâ—â— know not what it is to be gâ—ved for the affliction of Joseâ—â— they have made their hearts an Adament-stone Amo. 6.6 they are 〈◊〉 and beastly Zach. 7.12 they have no courage in their hearts they have â—o hands for the good cause â—heir tongue by their words as â—y a Sibboleth bewrayeth them Jud. 12.6 â—at they are not on Gods side 〈◊〉 send such to hearken Deborah 〈◊〉 her song cursing bitterly all â—hose that come not to help the â—ord Jud. 5.23 to help the Lord against the mightie If Meroz was cursed because â—hey came not to help the Lord â—ll the curses of Ebal shall like fire â—nd brimstone raine downe upon â—ll these who for a short glance â—f proseritie for a vaine hope of preferment for a vanitie of â—anities for a golden dreame â—ome against the Lord for to â—urt the good cause a cloud of wrath a world of woe a hell â—pon earth shall one day come â—pon all these who rejoyceing â—n the Churches desolations say â—th so would we have it Psal 35.25 such shall either perish by fire wiâ—â— that companie of Corah or swallowed up with Dathan shall die by the sword with â—laam or shall burne themselvâ—â— with Zimri or shall hang theâ— selves with Judas and Ahitophâ— the Lord shall set wicked nâ— over them Psal 109.6 7.8 c. Satan shall stand their right hand when they shâ—â—â— be judged they shall be condeâ—ned their prayers shall be turâ—â—â— into sinne their dayes shall few and another shall take thâ— office their children shall be â—â—therlesse and their wives widowâ— their children shall be vagaboâ—â— and beg the extortioners shall caâ— all that they have c. In a vvoâ—â— their possessions shall be made tâ— breeding of nettles and a perpetâ—â—â— desolation Zach. 2.9 all the imprecatioâ— that David made in that Psalâ— against his enemies shall come â—pon these that refuse to help tâ— LORD and his Church from trouble The vvord trouble here is in the Hebrew Tsar 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth straitnesse or distresse as vvhen a man is so driven into some narrow place that he knovveth not to vvhat hand to turne him When God being angry at King David for numbering the people ordained his Prophet Gad not in a smooth and silken Court-sermon but in a divine authoritie to give the King his choise of seaven yeares famine or of three moneths flying before the enemies or of three dayes pestilence David the King said unto the Prophet 2 Sam. 24 14 I am in a great strait in the Hebrew it is Tsar-li as if he had said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I am besiedged on all sides I know not to what hand to turne me I doubt of what plague to make choise Observe heere The Doctrine vvhat is often the condition of Gods dearest children their life heere is full of troublesome turnings their condition of life is to be driven into great straits this vvas the complaint of the Church They have often afflicted mee from my youth Psal 129.1 and againe immediatly after they have often afflicted me from my youth the doore of heaven is called the straite gate and the vvay thereunto is called the narrow vvay Mat. 7.13 Satans rage is restlesse his trade is a trade of blood he is that old spevving dragon vvho casts out of his mouth floods of venime after the Church Rev. 12.15 vvhat is Christs Church on earth but like a scorched heath or a root in dry ground All these that novv sing in heaven have mourned heere before they came to these mansions of joy they all past thorovv the valley of Baca a vvorld of teares and troubles S. John in the Revelation saith that one of the Elders of heaven came unto him and said Rev. 7.13 What are these that arc arraide in vvhite robes men all filled with joy S. John could not tell what kinde of men they were Sir said he thou knowest then the Elder said to John these are they which came out of great tribulation vers 14 there be no soules in heaven now but first on earth they have beene in great tribulations they in great terrours and anxietie have all cryed Give us help from trouble in the day of their small things they all have beene in a great strait Zach. 4.10 The 1. use The 1 use Let us all heere learne that in this world many swarmes of sorrowes and vexations are prepared for us that minde the way to heaven the best hearts below are often crammed with sighs and groanes the grief of minde consumes their marrow chills their bloud wasts their spirits shortneth their life maketh them pale and wanne that we should not startle in our feares Christ hath foretold and said Joh. 16 33 In the world yee shall have tribulation Againe the vvorld shall laugh Joh. 16.20 but you shall vveep the divel the Prince of this vvorld Joh. 12.31 still goeth about to fasten his fangs upon redeemed soules and to spite fire bals at the faces of best Christians the church by Zacharie is compared to mirtle trees in a bottome Zach. 1.8 or low valley that is in a low base and contemptible condition heere is not our rest and therefore let us not thinke among so many dogged Doegs cursed Curres to come to heaven but by a way that is straite narrow and troublesome a way of deepest sighs and saltest groanes a way strovved vvith losses and crosses Satan can not forget his trade of tempting and of spewing floods of troubles against the Saints the word of God tells us that he hath fearful depths Rev. 2.24 2 Cor. 2.11 craftie devices and strange plotted wiles to bring a mischief upon all these that truely feare God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 6.11 If we live godly in Christ let us resolve to
the lame 1 Sam. 5.6 might keepe them against all forces of men yet when the Lord is away are nothing but a lye Psal 20.8 Some trust in Charets and some in Horses But we will remember the LORD our GOD from him is our deliverance And therefore in dayes of danger Let every man here learne what to say to God O LORD deliver my soul from the wicked with thy Svvord The thing he desires GOD to deliver here it is his soule that is his life for the soul is the cause of our life Also by the soul here may be understood the soul properly and that the LORD would deliver it from danger either in doing or suffering for when a man doth evill he endangereth his soul or when a man is persecuted his soul also is not without danger If he live except God save and sanctifie him his soul will fret impatiently or will be enflamed with revenge 1 Sam. 25 13 as David was against Nabal for his churlishnesse Or if at the running out of his last sand he die in battell the bloudy sword in the hand except the Lord deliver his soul he cannot be but in great danger The 3 use The third use Let us make good use of these words Deliver my soul they are good for dayes of trouble either for life or for death when it like a ster ne Serjant shall come to arrest our bodyes in the grave By this prayer our life is guarded against the rage of men and by this prayer the Soule is fenced from the danger of damnation In these wordes is advantage both in life and death these words should at all times be in all mens mouthes both at our rysing and at our lying downe in sicknesse and in health But above all let all men of warre in their greatest dangers arme themselves with this ejaculatory prayer LORD delâ—ver my Soul these aâ—e words which every Christian must take with him while he goeth to the battell But because God heareth not the prayers of sinners and this time of trouble is a time of prayer let us endeavour by all meanes with all haste to bee reconciled unto God Truely the best of us may say that we have a huge bottome of sinne to unravell by repentance which we have beene many yeares winding up by our great disobedience the worke is great the time is short wee know not but this warre may make an end of us all Let us therefore no more hazard our salvation upon a may bee we live unto another yeare I confesse that no man should dispaire of GODS mercie at any time but this is as true that no man should presume of it at any time One hath observed this well There was one theese at his lives end saved to take away desparation and but one so saved to take away presumption These from whom David heere prayeth to be delivered are called the wicked Such were the enemies that sought his life The doctrine Observe here that it is no new thing that GODS servants are troubled by the wicked This controversie began very earely For Cain the wicked killed the righteous Abel Gen. 4.8 He had no quarrell against him but because he was more sincere in Gods service then he A thief hateth the light as Ahab hated Micaiah 1 King 22 8 because by the torch of the word he shined upon his workes of darknesse The use The use As long as wicked men are in the world let Gods children look for dangers to their souls There is nothing that will content wicked men but the souls or lives of Gods servants King Ahab was sick ay untill Naboth was dead but as soone as the poor man was dead the wicked King arose up in health 1 King 21 16 and went down to the poor mans vineyard to take possession of it it is health for the wicked to destroy the children of God They are like the Divel it is their meat and their drink to do evill Let this teach us to pray continually that God would deliver our soule from the vvicked Againe whereas the wicked heere according to some interpretation is called Gods Sword Let us learne here when the wicked persecute us not to look so much to them who are the rod Sword or stafe as unto the hand of God in which the rod sword or staffe are it is but for beasts as dogges to bite the staffe when they are stricken but Gods children must fixe their eye upon the hand When wicked Shimei railed upon David and cast stones at him calling him a bloody murderer David would not suffer Abishai to touch him for hee had his eye upon GOD. The LORD 2 Sam. 16 10 said hee hath said unto him curse David who then shall say wherefore hast thou done so This is a great argument of patience for Gods children when they are afflicted or persecuted by the wicked for all the wicked while thâ—y afflict us are but a rod or staffe in the hand of GOD Isa 10.15 If we can get Gods favour we need no more be afraid for the wicked then for a Staffe or Svvord lying upon the ground they should once see this our Captaine with his Sword in his hand they should all fall down as dead-men at his feet when Captaine Gideon went out against the Midianites hee cryed Judg. 7.20 THE SWORD OF THE LORD AND OF GIDEON After that not a man had either heart or hand to fight against Gods people The use The use Let us by all meanes endeavoure by a good life to please GOD that this great Captaine with his sword may be on our side in these dayes of warre the Papists idoll is nothing Hos 8.5 thy Calf O Samaria hath cast thee off But O the LORD will never cast us off If he bee with us wee need not fear who be against us Lappers of water Judg. 7.5 any bodie though both few and weak will prevail easily Luk. 12.32 if GODS Sword be in the Battell Feare not little flock said Christ stand still said Moses to his six hundreth thousand fighting men ye need not draw a Sword the Lord shall fight for you Exod. 14.13 Onely stand still and yee shall see what GOD can doe Yee shall see the Salvation of the LORD Psal 68.21 Who shall wound the head and breake the hairie scalp of all these that in their pride shall rise up against us We shall bee able to stand against all weathers and stormes whatsoever What ever our dangers be the LORD shall give us a riddance We shall be in Covenant with the Stones of the Earth and the Starres of Heaven who as in the day of Sisera shall fight in their courses against all our enemies Judg. 5.20 In the day of Battell the Lord shall breake the Horse hooves of our enemies Judg. 5.22 by the meanes of the pransings the pransings that is tramplings or plungings of