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heart_n	according_a	let_v	lord_n	3,412	5	3.9674	3	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A80080	Gods unusuall answer to a solemne fast. Or, some observations upon the late sad successe in the west, upon the day immediately following our publique humiliation; in a sermon before the Honourable Houses of Parliament, on a fast specially set apart upon that occasion; in Margarets Westminster, Sept. 12. Anno MDCXLIV. By Th: Coleman, Preacher at Peters Cornhill London, a member of the present Assembly.	Coleman, Thomas, 1598-1647.	1644 (1644)	Wing C5051; Thomason E16_2; ESTC R17560	16,713	36

upon this duty and day of prayer 2. The sutablenesse How agreeable is this to our work in hand the occasion of this dayes solemnity 1. What the occasion is you know In a sad and terrible act from the West hath God spoke unto us 2. When it happened Give me leave to reminde Aug. 13. a Fast for that Army in 6. Churches Aug. 28. a publique Fast Aug. 30 this sad dispersion you even the day after the last Publique Fast kept in this Kingdome City Place and not many dayes after a peculiar Fast for the welfare of that very Army 3. It is plaine then that it is an answer and the thing being terrible we take up Davids words and say By terrible things in righteousnesse God answered our last day of prayer 3. The truth We must confesse to the glory of the goodnesse of our loving God he doth not ordinarily answer thus Few Scripture examples have we of such terrible consequences Dayes of prayer seldome faile of a gainfull returne yet 1. Thus it seemes to be with the Israelites 1 Sam. 4. 1. The word of Samuel was for all Israel His daily 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The common translation To all Israel is harsh a● though Samuel set them on a worke that they might be ruined words and prayers were for his people and for their good and particularly for a comfortable successe in this Expedition Thus fortified with this holy mans prayers they set the battel in aray against the Philistims and fell downe wounded before them once and againe A terrible answer 2. And thus sometimes doth God appeare to the rest of his children else why doe they oft complaine 1. Of their prayer shut out Lam. 3. 8. 2. Of their prayers not admitted God hiding himselfe in such a thick cloud that they cannot pierce thorough vers 44. 3. Of Gods being angry with the prayer of his servants Psal 80. 4. And is not this answer terrible or is it not terrible because no answer Thus God sometimes and yet but sometimes that is our happinesse Why hidest thou thy face at times in trouble Psal 10. 1. so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Originall 4. The experience And so now hath God dealt with us what the answer is and that it is an answer was said before And a terrible thing is this answer in two respects 1. The great hopes conceived of it 2. The probable consequences from it 1. The great hopes we had of this Army makes ●his sad blow so much the more contrary to expectation and that is a circumstance which much imbitters such were the miseries of Jerusalem The Kings of the earth would never have beleeved neither would the inhabitants of the world ever have thought that the enemy should have entred the gates of Jerusalem Lam. 4. 12. This occasioned bitter sighings in the Prophet O God thou hast done terrible things because such as we looked not for Isa 64. 3. But you were to blame for such expectations for Ob. looking for great things It may be so all are apt to boast themselves in the arme of flesh strength of man legs of horse and the like yet this was not without good ground for the losse is contrary To compleat preparations in the Spring this Army was terrible with Banners 2. To continuall assistance from the City I mean spirituall It was sent forth with fasting and prayer followed with fasting and prayer not onely giving them their share in the Common prayers for the whole but giving them one portion above their brethren Thou shalt not goe forth with us say Davids souldiers but thou shalt helpe us from the City by thy prayers to the God of battels and so shalt thou be as good 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as ten thousand souldiers See hence our hopes yet our hopes are perished 2. The probable consequences from it that which may follow upon this may be most terrible noterrour like that which hereupon may sit close to the amazed spirits of tender hearts I meane Thoughts of astonishment I speake not now of the prophane thoughts and Atheisticall words of the men of Belial Where is now your God What gain from your fastings and praiers Where is the truth and stability of those promises you have boasted on all day long Though those are stinging But oh the amazed thoughts of Saints themselves How will they be dejected T is not new but an experiment as ancient as the Scripture it selfe for Gods owne to be affrighted and with feare to become dumb at the proceedings of the Lord in the temporary dispences of the acts of providence 1. Heare what David saith generally Psal 60. 3. Thou shewest thy people hard things thou dealest with thine owne in severity layest them low and by so doing thou makest Us to drink the wine of astonishment Many strange cogitations that astonish us doe hence arise So speakes God himselfe Zech. 12. 2. Behold I make Jerusalem a cup of trembling to all people A cup of trembling not actively as though Jerusalem should doe something but passively the condition wherein I will place Jerusalem shall cause trembling to all that heare of it When I shall bring distresse upon them and they heare that God hath dealt with his owne City thus and among all particulars this one principally amazeth because Judah whom you would take for a friend shall be in the siege against Jerusalem This the words will beare And I tell 〈…〉 you no one thing doe we so much stand astonished at as this that many of our Judahs whom the Countries and Counties of this Kingdome chose as Patriots and intrusted with their all should perfidiously now draw their swords with other children of iniquity to ruine it 2. Heare how Job particularizeth those astonishing 〈…〉 thoughts that probably follow such unexpected calamities My soule is weary of my life I am even amazed to the death I will leave my complaint upon my selfe or rather I will helpe my complaint against my self according to the nature of tender and wounded hearts aggravating and imbittering every thought and apprehension whatsoever But observe the particulars It is good for the Lord to oppresse God despiseth the worke of his hands Hee shines upon the counsels of the wicked Strange thoughts But the most remarkable instance that ever I met with is the Prophet Habakkuk He Cap. 1. and 3. of his Prophecie expresseth his astonishing thoughts in a strange manner I may cry long enough ere God Verse 2. will heare and pray and pray againe but He will not save Oh say not so Habakkuk there are promises to the contrary Promises A promise is worth nothing that is out of date The word of God is but a loose hold Verse 4. judgement never goeth forth from him I tell you God Verse 14. mindes his people no more then he doth a fish and the like Hereupon Isaiah cap. 45. 9. Wo to him that strives with his Maker This is

Habakkuk say the Jewish Expositors and the words are to be read by way of complaint Oh the man the man Habakkuk Habakkuk that strives with God! whom also they affirme to be that Watchman cap. 21. 7 8. that seeing horses approaching cryed out by reason of his amazement A Lyon These are terrible consequences and argue the answer to be terrible 5. The improvement If such terrible consequences may follow our prayers looke upon all these acts and answers with a right eye 1. There is a double consideration of Gods doings 1. An overly superficiall view of their outside 2. A serious wise searching after God in them 2. There are also two sorts of men imployed therein 1. The ordinary and common sort which look only upon the shell 2. The godly judicious hearts that see more in things then what appeares For these note these Scriptures Psal 145. 6. Men all men all sorts will speake of thy terrible acts can relate things done But I David will speake of thy glorious honour and declare thy greatnesse in them Psal 64 9 10. Some onely see them the terrible act it selfe and these flee away as amazed but others shall be able to hold forth the work of God in them because they consider wisely of his doings Job 18. 20. They that come after him shall be amazed at his day as they that went before him were affrighted A verse of a difficult if of any sense How can they that goe before be affrighted at that which followes they that come after the ordinary vulgar sort the hindermost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the lowest sort they are amazed at the terrible things that oft come to passe but the Ancients 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 and Wisemen they balance them weigh the occurrents and seeke by a serious view to finde out the thoughts of the Lord. Let this be our endeavour not being like the foolish Philistims and the Officers in their Army 〈…〉 8 when the Ark was brought into the host the Souldiers cryed out for feare Woe unto us who shall deliver us out of the hands of these mighty Gods Who replyed the Officers Never feare these Gods for these are they that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues This God hath not another Arrow in his Quiver not another 〈…〉 Weapon in his Armory he spent all his Darts against the Egyptians or if any left upon the rebellious Israelites in the wildernesse Therefore be strong c. This their way was their folly Be we wise and minde c The second Proposition Such terrible consequences doe not at all intrench upon the righteousnesse of God God is true and as true so he doth afflict Thy judgements are righteous 't is Davids acknowledgement and of very faithfulnesse thou hast afflicted me Though we be punished yet remaines he faithfull and just and good And this righteousnesse of his is cleare even in such terrible answers Because they may be 1. According to our desires 2. According to our deserts 1. According to our desires I suppose in this passage Desires rectified and Prayers such as they ought to be and then terrible things may follow yet our prayers not by them crossed For observe In every right desire and prayer of faith there are foure things all which I gather from Psal 17. 1 2. 1. Howsoever our hearts are inclinable to decree a thing as Job speakes that is to fasten on the particular which we would have prescribing as it were to God how he should answer yet faith makes a secret reference thereof to the good pleasure of God and in that doth rest Heare the right O Lord though I faine would be answered thus yet if another kinde of answer be right in thy eyes give that for Heare the right Who knowes but this terrible occurrent was the right and so agreeable to the praier of faith 2. Heare me no farther in my praying cryes then as they proceed from lips not fained If there be dissimulation in my hand shut out my prayer And Hosea is punctuall in giving the Character of prayers proceeding from lips fained in Chap. 7. 14. 1. If heart and mouth agree not But they have not cryed to me with their hearts 2. If it be onely a generall confused inarticulate 〈…〉 supplication and deprecation praying or humbling themselves that they might not be single A praying frame is in request the fashion of the times But no particular fixed expresse mourning for such or such causes or consequents sinnes or miseries They howled 3. If onely for feare of evill They pray indeed but it is when they are ready to drop into Hell when they are on their beds of sicknesse and death lest they should be damned Vpon their beds 4. If it be onely for the baser and earthly part of the mercy for peace that their persons and estates may be safe for plenty that they may have enough They assemble themselves they troope together come with the people of God to Fasts and publique humiliations but it is for corne and for wine They look no higher 5. If they walk not in the strength of their prayers endeavoring holinesse afterward in the feare of God They rebell against me If this description lay hold upon our spirits and presents to our view the state of our hearts here in this terrible act is no crossing of our prayers because they proceeded from fained lips 3. This is my request Let the issue the consequent that followes upon my prayers appeare to be thy worke that thy hand is in it be it what it will be and I am satisfied Let my sentence come forth from thy presence Let that which is decreed upon for my prayer come from thee So that if God inables us to see his hand in this sad act it is according to our prayers Can we but see that it is a sentence came from Gods presence this terrible doing then is our answer 4. Let the uprightnesse of my heart be accepted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let thy eyes behold uprightnesse and I am contented If God doe any way evidence his acceptance of our duty to our spirits we shall see and say The duty and a day of prayer and such terrible consequents may stand together without any intrenchment upon the righteousnesse of God Goe thy way eate thy Eccles 9. meat with joy and drinke thy wine with a cheerfull heart for God now accepteth thy worke Thus this answer may be as we desire 2. According to our deserts If the answer be deserved then may God be righteous Is there not a cause why the most righteous God should answer us by terrible things Let me here according to my method and manner discover from Scripture causes of the successelesse proceedings of our Armies and lay them down positively leaving the particular application to every mans heart And I deduce them to three heads The sins of Former times Our Armies Our selves I. Of former times Hos 10.

strengthened their interests with their owne combined resolves backed herein with the countenance of Supreme Authority and had made the tye as they hoped indissoluble by a devised Oath thus folden together like thornes we saw them suddenly on a flame like stubble fully dry 2. Their hurtfulnesse Like thornes tearing the cloathes and flesh of such as came within their reach When a wicked one is growne so pestilent that a man cannot in safety speake to them choosing rather to have to doe with an angry Lyon and a raging Beare then sin lyes at the doore Oh how untoward were our Prelates and their Courts become Thousands whom they chased as Bees doe drave out of the Land imprisoned fined confined silenced deprived ruined rending them like thornes can witnesse 3. Their security crying to themselves peace and safety then shall come upon them sudden destruction 1 Thess 5. 3. When they shall be drunken as drunkards one yea a principall adjunct whereof is to be mindlesse of the times and the calamities Wo to those that follow strong drinke Why Because they regard not the worke of the Lord nor consider the operation of his hands Isa 5. 11 12. Of all men a drunkard is least fit to minde Gods doings Many among us about three yeares agone had set these since-felt miseries farre away out of their sight and as for any Items or Caveats given that way they puffed at them so drowned in ease and drunken in security were many the very day or night before God tooke away their pride Consider and be mindfull 4. Their prophanenesse drunken as drunkards abominably vitious What sin is not a drunkard guilty of When the cry of Sodome reaches to heaven and the sins of the Amorites are full the heavens rained vengeance on the one the earth spued out the other Seest thou one wicked overmuch he shall perish out of his time Beholdest thou the breaking out of filthinesse and sin touching sin these are stubble fully dry ready for the fire * See pag. fol. these are conjectures of their end and probabilities of desolation nigh at hand And unto the height of these they mount up by no step sooner then by Gods answering his servants prayers by terrible things Then they combine their party gets strength and Gods people pay for it then they scratch like Thornes and rage like Beares They flatter themselves in their wayes and say I shall never sit desolate Then prophanenesse compasseth them as a chaine and having hearts as full of mischief as Hell is of horrour drunken with prosperity are caried on with fury But in that day their thoughts perish they are gone and are no more When pride compasseth the wicked as a chaine 〈…〉 and violence covereth them as a garment when they are corrupt and speak wickedly when they set their mouthes against heaven and live as if there were no God in Israel then suddenly shall they be destroyed and that without remedy 2. So on the other side there is a time when and a disposition whereby the Saints are fitted for mercy prepared to receive God as a saving God This fitnesse see held forth in two Scriptures 1. From Psal 24. 4. Here the qualifications of one that shall ascend into the hill of the Lord are set down viz. He that hath 1. Cleane hands 2. Pure heart 3. A soule not lift up to vanity 1. Cleane hands Hands are the instrument of action and pointeth us thereby to an holy imployment 2. Pure heart or judgement cleare in the principles and spirituall grounds of the work 3. A soule not lift up to vanity Affection not wrongfully fastned on that which is nothing transitory and hurtfull That person then by these terrible occurrences is prepared to receive a saving God that hath a heart 1. Holily imployed 2. Clearly convinced 3. Rightly affected I. Holily imployed The hearts imployment is only to make its addresse to God by prayer and supplication to seek to him So David Psal 105. 4. presseth and withall sheweth in what particulars we must seek him 1. Generally Seeke the Lord. Seek him to finde his hand in his works seek him to gaine his favour to his works 2. Particularly In seeking him 1. Seek his strength spirituall support from him under these terrible answers that we may be able to stand fast 2. Seek his face his gracious acceptance of you and your prayers in your severall addresses to his Throne Seek the Lord seek his strength seek his face II. Cleerly convinced of two things 1. Of his own sin 2. Of the righteousnesse of God 1. Of his own sin and just demerit of the terrour I will goe and returne to my place till they acknowledge their offence Hos 5. 13. Gods assisting and prospering presence may be withdrawn from a Nation he may be gone to His place he may contract and as it were confine himself to the soules and faith of his Saints which is one of his dwelling places till that Nation be clearly convinced that they are justly punished for their transgression 2. Of the righteousnesse of God Mich. 6. 5. Remember but the particulars of Gods proceedings use any and all meanes you can that you may bee brought to know the righteousnesse of God III. Rightly affected This is when the heart is caried after 1. The purity of Gods wayes of Religion It is the time the set time for God to arise and have mercy upon Sion when his servants take pleasure in her stones and favour the dust thereof Psal 102. 13. 2. The publique good The Centurion Luke 7. is said to be worthy of helpe from Christ because he loves our Nation verse 5. 2 From Lam. 3. 26. This Scripture also hath a threefold qualification of one fitted for the salvation of God It is good that a man should both Or after the Originall The good man and he that hopeth and silently waiteth is for the salvation of the Lord. 1. The good man A godly sanctified man His priviledges are many Happinesses belong unto him Psal 1● All those rayes of light that streame from Sion are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his peculiars God doth thence blesse him Psal 128. in three things and these likewise happy in him 1. In himselfe 2. In his family 3. In his Country 1. In himselfe He shall share in all the common comforts of the Land What mercy soever is given to the publique is given to him He is alwayes remembred in the favour God brings to his people and his particular visited with the Lands salvation Is the Nation glad In that gladnesse he rejoyceth Psal 105. 4. c. Is Gods inheritance refreshed when it is weary In it and with it he doth glory He shall see that is injoy share in the good of Jerusalem all the dayes of his life 2. In his family He shall see his childrens children A just man walkes in his integrity and his children are blessed after him Prov. 20. 7. 3. In his Country

belongs to God not to you have an eye to your own your affections your aimes your manner of managing referre the rest to him to whom it belongs Trust you in God when the wicked bend their bowes Hold your peace from any sinfull distrustfull passages and then for the event let come on us what will Job 13. 13. 2. From shunning dangers by false wayes Let no mans judgement faile him There is no safety in falshood a complyance is odious to all A Castle is a refuge for a day or so flight prolongs the misery sinfully then to betray the Cause or trust reposed in us is to run into the danger we would avoid Remember Sampsons wife and father in law The Philistims threatned to burne them nothing but a treacherous betraying of Sampson can prevent it rather then they will hazard themselves they will break the bonds of relation By their enticements Sampson is deceived Mark the end He falls into the snare he shunned The Philistims come up and burn them both with fire Behold the severity and justice of God who brought their feares upon them So true is that of the Prophet That shall be no confidence 〈…〉 ●6 to the house of Israel which brings their iniquity to remembrance These are not the wayes therefore that God approves stand still in a full dependence on him leave him to work his own ends by his own wayes He is wise Hold you your peace Stand still and 3. See the salvation of God brought to passe three wayes to the people of God When their 1. Prayers 2. Persons 3. Cause get the victory 1. When their prayers are victorious So sometimes God fights so Moses subdued Amalek Jehoshaphat his enemies and Hezekiah Senacherib for prayer hath in it a power preservative and destructive and in this Mount is often God seene 2. When their persons get the victory In all the prevalent proceedings of the Saints the victory is of God ordinary meanes of Souldiers Weapons Stratagems a strong City are subordinate to God He useth them and effects by them what he pleaseth 3. When the Cause stands up against all oppositions though with the losse of the persons Religion gets the upper hand by the sufferings of the professours Lift we up therefore both eyes and hearts and see and behold a saving God when tempestuous round about him Gods answer the last day was Lightning and an horrible Tempest this drave us to our shelter where being freed from the fury of the storme we may with delight behold the refreshing drops intermixed This dayes imployment is this covert wherein our desire is to meet to finde God an hiding place as the shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land The signe of it and our duty after it is to double our diligence after this day to enlive our spirits in the wayes of the Lord. Jacob being blessed by Isaac met with a crosse consequent a purpose of Esau to murder him A terrible answer This makes his fathers house unsafe he leaves it but sadly and against his will And Jacob went out from Gen. 28. Beersheba He was gone verse 7. yet verse 10. hee went Probably he set forward and yet hanged back His father his mother his family his native Country all are clogs But at last gone he is and in the way at Bethel God the God of his Fathers meets with him By a banishment the God of his salvation appeared to him Then Jacob lift up his feet Cap. 29. 1. and journeyed Then he took heart to him God we hope will make this day our Bethel From this day forward up and be doing Double thy prayers paines purse Ride on prosperously because of the word of truth and righteousnesse that the right hand of the Lord may bring valiant things to passe for us and our Armies Once hath God answered by terrible things but he will doe so no more Therein he crossed not his righteous nature though he concealed the acts of his mercy If he give us grace to improve it aright the end will shew it was the way whereby he became to us a saving GOD. FINIS