force of the streame is easily plucked vp and carried away such was the people of Israel in Dauids time being compared to the Gentiles round about them such is the Church at this day compared to the Aduersaries such is euery one of vs in respect of the force and power of the malignant Spirits we are like a withered leafe soone blown from the Tree and he like a mighty winde or tempest not only blowing downe leaues but plucking vp and ouerthrowing trees and all what are we then poore wretches able to doe of our poure and strength for our defence we must learne therefore by faith wholy to rest vpon God for what is our victory but euen our faith let this be then our assured trust let this be the rock of our safety helpe and succour that God will be our defender and keeper that the great flouds and mighty waters carry vs not away Teaching vs thus much that though we haue many enemies sore aduersaries as Dauid Christ had yet they shall not preuaile against vs but wee shall preuaile against them do they what they can as Dauid and Christ did Israel in Egypt was cruelly handled but yet the more the Egyptians did vexe them the more they multiplied grew as it is in Exodus 3.12 And when they had done all the spite that they could against them yet at the last they were deliuered out of their hands they themselues being oftentimes plagued by the Almighty for their sakes in the end most fearefully drowned in the red Sea as it is most apparant in the 14 chapter of the same booke Mention is made of a great battell fought betweene Christ and the Deuill Reâ—el â—â— 7 their Armies but if you marke the sequell thereof you shall finde that Christ and his side had the victory for as it is witnessed of the Dragon who is the Diuell and his Angels who are his souldiers that they preuailed not neither was there plague found any more in Heauen in the 8. verse of this chapter so it is recorded to the glory and comfort of all those that take Christs part that they ouercome the Deuil the accuser of Gods children by the bloud of the Lambe and the word of their testimony in the eleuenth verse therof but to omit other Testimonies and examples whereof the holy Scripture is full and frequent in this case let the words of our Sauiour Christ suffice vs at this time Mat. 16.18 he tels vs that the gates of Hell whereby is meant all the power and force thereof shall not ouercome his Church c. or be able to ouerthrow such as doe depend vpon him by a true and iustifying faith In the seuenth Chapter of the same Booke Mat. 7.25 towards the latter end thereof he doth shew the stablenesse of them that belong vnto the Lord and haue care both to heare the Word of the Lord and doe it by a notable comparison whereby hee doth resemble them to an House which is built vpon a Rocke which cannot be cast downe by any tempest of weather whatsoeuer but doth stand alwayes still and cannot fall a thing neuer to be thought of enough it is so full of comfort and consolation vnto euery godly soule chiefely vnto him that is afflicted heere in this world Obiection But what may the reason thereof be may a man say that thus the godly should alwayes preuaile and be neuer ouerthrown by their enemies but ouercome them rather experience doth teach vs that they are fewer in number then the wicked are that they are weaker for power and strength that they are more simple for wit and pollicie and that they are more carelesse for diligence and watchfulnesse then their Aduersaries bee how then comes it to passe that they haue the vpper hand Answere The Prophet Esay doth declare it vnto vs in the 8. chapter of his Prophesie and the 10. verse thereof it is in few words because the Lord is with them and for them For first he is stronger then all being able to resist all power that is deuised against him and his and to doe whatsoeuer he wil both in heauen and in earth 2. He is wiser then all knowing how to preuent them in all their wayes also how to bring matters to passe for the good of his people 3. Hee is diligenter then all to stand as it were vpon his watch and to take his Aduantage when it is offered him Psal 121.4 for Hee that keepeth Israel doth neither slumber nor sleepe Lastly he is happier then all to haue good successe in all his enterprises for hee doth prosper still in all things which hee doth take in hand and none can resist a thought of his yea the very word that goeth out his mouth Esa 55.11 doth accomplish that which he will prosper in the thing whereunto hee doth send it In warre all these foure things are respected in a Captaine that will still ouercome first that he be strong secondly that he be wise thirdly that he be diligent and lastly that he be fortunate for the victory goeth not alwaies with the strong nor alwayes with the wise nor alwayes with the diligent nor alwayes with the fortunate but sometimes with the one of them and sometimes with the other but looke wher all fowre doe concure together there is allwayes the victory and therefore seeing all of them are in God it is no maruell though those whose battels he doth fight do alwayes ouercome and get the victory Obiection But mee thinks I heare some obiecting against that which hath beene said saying that it is not true that Gods children doe alwaies preuaile against their enemies but that their enemies often preuaile against them for wee see that they are murdred and put to death mention is made thereof in the booke of the Reuelation and in other of the holy Scriptures besides and a thousand examples euery where doe demonstrate the same dayly vnto vs for wee doe behold still with our owne eyes and heare with our owne eares that the godly haue the worst end of the staffe and that the wicked do beare sway and dominion ouer them how then is it true which hath beene spoken that do the vngodly what they can yet the righteous shall still preuaile against them as heere Dauid and Christ did Answere The answere hereunto may easily bee collected out of Pauls words in the eighth of the Romans the latter end of the chapter which was touched before where hee doth declare that though wee bee killed all the day long and bee accounted as Sheepe for the Slaughter yet wee bee notwithstanding that euen then and therein Conquerours yea more then Conquerours through him that loueth vs Howsoeuer that this may seeme a Paradoxe to flesh and bloud and bee as a Riddle vnto some of GODS owne Children themselues yet it is true in Diuinity and a cleere poynt to them whose eyes are opened to behold the mysteries of
the Almighty and to see the deepe things of the Lord. For tell mee I pray you is not hee a Conquerour yea more then a Conquerour that doth so subdue his enemies that they can no more rise vp against him A man may vanquish his enemie and beate him cleane out of the field yet afterward hee may gather a power against him againe and put him to the worst But heere Satan the world and all our enemies are so beaten downe and troden vnder foote by all such as suffer and dye for the truth that they can neuer assault them any more to stirre either tongue hand or foote against them to doe them any hurt for they goe immediately vpon that their death and passion to Heauen and vnto all that happinesse which is prouided there for them as Iohn doth shew Apo. 14.13 saying Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord euen so saith the spirit for they rest from their labours and their workes do follow them Christ a powerfull Sauiour stronger thē Samson yea then that strong one Iudges 16.1 O wonderfull worke Surely the weakenesse of God is stronger then man he is that strong one indeed stronger then Sampson when the Philistians thought they had him sure within the ports of Azzah Hee rose at midnight and tooke the doores of the gates of the Citty two Posts and carried them away with the bars thereof on his shoulders vp to the top of the mountaine which is before Hebron But our mighty Conqueror and deliuerer the Lord Iesus hath in a more excellent manner magnified his power for being closed in the Graue clasped in the bands of death and a stone roled to the mouth of the Graue the Sepulcher sealed and guarded with souldiers hee rose againe the third day before the rising of the Sunne hee carried like a victor the bars and Posts of death away as vpon his shoulders and vpon the mount of Oliues he ascended vpon high leading Captiuity captiue 2. King 18.35 Let Satan boast like Rabsecha that the Lord is not able to deliuer Ierusalem out of his hands Deut. 26.29 hee is a blasphemous lyer the Lord will rebuke him and will shortly tread Satan vnder our feet It is the curse of the wicked he shall bee oppressed and there shall bee none to deliuer him Psal 143.12 But blessed bee the Lord who hath prouided a strong deliuerer for vs who certainely shall set vs free glory therefore bee vnto him for euer It is good for vs to know this as also to thinke oftentimes vpon it for first by it we may learne to take heed we goe not about any thing which may be hurtfull or pernicious vnto Gods children for if we doe we see heere our labour shall bee in vaine wee shall not preuaile against them but they preuaile against vs. Hee is a very foole that will attempt a thing which he knowes for certaine hee cannot bring to passe and which hee is sure will bee his bane and destruction but wee know that wee cannot preuaile against the faithfull and wee are sure that our plots against them will turne to our ouerthrow and therefore let vs beware that wee lift not vp our selues against them at any time Againe from hence wee learne euen so many of vs as doe truely serue the Lord and feare him from our hearts that there is no cause vvhy wee should feare Man or vvhat hee can doe against vs. Oh wee may reioyce and be glad as it is required of vs in which places you may reade at your leasure feare not beloued bee of good comfort Zeph. 3.14 though that you haue enemies in euery Corner yet be not discouraged you shall haue the conquest And the Lord your God shall deliuer you 1. Pet. 3 14. out of all your troubles according to the saying of Dauid Psal 34 9 Great are ihe troubles of the righteous but ihe Lord deliuereth them out of them all he is wise he doth know how to do it and he is omnipotent he is able for to do it and as for his willingnesse he is ready at all times to accomplish it wherfore be I say of good comfort and feare not but trust in the Lord and commit your wayes vnto him and he shall bring all things to passe according to your hearts desire in the end he that deliuered Noah from the floud Lot from Sodome Iacob from Esau Ioseph from Potiphar Moses from Pharaoh Israel from Egypt the three Children from the Fire Peter from Herod Mordecay from Hamman and here Christ and Dauid from all sorts of enemies He euen he will deliuer you out of all trouble If you say that your enemies are many and that the whole world is against you I will say againe to you with Elisha the Prophet 2. Kin. 6.16 2. Chr. 32 7 and Hezechiah the King that there are more with vs then are against vs for God and all the Hoast of Heauen is for vs if you say againe that your enemies are wise and politicke and they are able to ouer-reach you by their craft and cunning considering that you are but simple and ignorant like Doues I will answere you with the Apostle 1. Cor. 1.25 That the foolishnesse of our God who is on our side is wiser then their best wisedome and that he will destroy their wisedome and bring their vnderstanding to naught to doe vs good If you say in the third place that your enemies haue hemmed you in and compassed you about that it is vnpossible for you to escape them I will answere you with the Angell Gabriel 1. Cor. 1.19 that with God nothing shall bee vnpossible and with the three Children Shadrach Meshach and Abednego that GOD both can and will deliuer you Dan. 3.17 when they say Behold our GOD wee serue is able to deliuer vs from the hot fierie Furnace and hee will deliuer vs out of thine hand O King If you say lastly that your Enemies haue already taken you and doe put you dayly vnto death I will answere you with Paul in Romanes the eight verse the seuen and thirtieth which place was touched before and with Iohn in the Reuelation the twenty two chapter the twelfth verse that by this meanes you do ouercome your enemies most of all For when you resist thus vnto bloud and dye for the truth you giue your enemies such an ouerthrow that they neuer rise vp against you any more and as for your selues you enter presently into Heauen the onely place which you striue for Euen as hee hath the victorie most in this vvorld who doth enter into the Cittie and take all the spoyle thereof and doth confound his aduersaries that they can neuer stirre any more against him In consideration of all which things cleaue fast vnto Christ I beseech you and feare no danger or perill but reioyce in the Lord and be glad alwaies fighting for the Crowne of righteousnesse which shall bee giuen
them not to bee outwardly adorned with plaited hayre and wearing of gold or putting on gorgeous apparel but let it be the hid man of the heart in that which is not corruptible euen the ornament of a meeke and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price 1. Pet. 3.3 4 5. for after this manner the holy women in olde time were adorned c. Let women and men also marke that place well but women especially as being most giuen to pride and it being properly spoken to them where we see pride in apparrell flatly forbidden by the Word of God howsoeuer my words may seeme vnsauory to the wicked and I dare say to no other but such as beare a proud minde And thus I conclude from that which hath beene sayd that the proud vnlesse they will forsake their abominable pride for then they shall haue mercy shall be as certainely damned Pro. 28.13 as God hath appointed a Iudgement day Esay 14.15 and proud Lucifer shall be brought downe to hell Mat. 11.23 and thou Capernam which art exalted vnto heauen shalt bee brought downe to hell Verse 5. But praysed bee the Lord which hath not giuen vs ouer for a prey vnto their teeth FRom the meditation of his enemies malice hee returnes againe to the meditation of Gods mercy and so it is expedient for vs to doe lest the number and greatnesse and malitiousnesse of our enemies make vs to faint When we looke vpon them it is good that we should cast our eyes vpward to the Lord then shall we see they are not so neere to hurt vs No enemy so neere to hurt vs as God is neere to helpe vs. as the Lord our God is neere to helpe vs and that there is no euill in them which wee haue cause to feare but wee shall finde in our God a contrary good sufficient to preserue vs. Comfort against the contempt of men And truely it should greatly comfort all the godly to remember that such as are their enemies are Gods enemies also sith they are farre from the obedience of Gods Law what maruell then if they be also farre from that dutie of loue which they owe vnto vs it may content vs to want that comfort in men which otherwise we might would haue when we consider that God wants his glory in them let this susteine vs when we see that godlesse men are enemies vnto vs. Comfortable examples thereof Otherwise we could not endure if when Satan his instruments come neere to persue vs the Lord were not neer to protect vs. Comfortable is it Gen. 31.24 that when Laban with great fury followed Iacob the Lord stepped in betweene them and commanded Laban not to hurt him and when Sathan many a time intended to destroy Iob he found that hee could not Iob. 1 10. because the Lord was a hedge and defence vnto him This is of GODS maruellous working that wee being in the middest of the wicked who like so many rauenning Woolues thirst for our bloud and before the mouth of that great roaring Lyon that seeketh to destroy vs wee should still bee preserued for the which wee may giue thanks with Dauid Praysed bee the Lord which hath not giuen vs ouer for a prey vnto their teeth Hee exhorteth the faithfull to bee thankfull for their deliuerance and expresseth vnto them how and as it were with what words they should declare their thankfulnesse wherein hee setteth foorth yet further by another similitude that it could not bee but they must vtterly haue perished if God had not miraculously defended them but praysed be the Lord which would not suffer vs so to perish Hee saith not Which deliuered vs albeit he did indeed mightily deliuer them but which hath not giuen vs as a prey for this is it which here specially the holy Ghost setteth foorth that the wicked cannot hurt the godly be they neuer so many mighty furious cruell and terrible like to raging and violent waters like to cruell and outragious beasts falling vpon them with open mouth except the Lord giue them into their hands Let vs therefore with Dauid sing prayses vnto the Lord our God which keepeth and defendeth vs. Let this bee then our assured trust let this bee the rocke of our safetie helpe and succour that God will be our defender and keeper that the great flouds and mightie waters carry vs not away The godly liue in this world like sheepe among wolues What the wicked are to the godly Euery wicked man in whom Sathan ruleth is like a Cananite to an Israelite a thorne in our eye a pricke in our side yea and as a dart of Sathan shot at vs to driue vs away from the feare of God if so wee can take them it should greatly strengthen vs to indure all troubles that can come from them There wil neuer bee peace among them betweene whom the Lord himselfe in Paradise proclaimed enmitie and howsoeuer to strengthen themselues in an euill cause the wicked goe together by bands and companies yet shall it not auaile them nor hurt vs. Babels builders Moab Ammon and Edom conspiring in one may tell vs though hand ioyne in hand the wicked shal not escape vnpunished the wicked are like thorns before the fire their multitude may well imbolden it but cannot resist it not one of theÌ„ shall escape the strokes of God though for a time he deferre his iudgements First this teacheth vs to remember the iudgements of God vpon the wicked that so seeing Gods dealing with them we may better rified by their example to take heede of the like sinnes that wee may preuent the lâ—ke iudgements This is a notable means against sin often enioyned vs in holy Scripture both generally and specially Generally O come and see the works of God Psal 66.5 how terrible hee is in his doing towards the children of men Psal 105.5 Vers 7. Remember the maruellous works that hee hath done his wonders and the iudgements of his mouth Hee is the Lord our God his iudgements are in all the earth And we are not onely to remember them but in remembrance of them to talke of them Praysed bee the Lord which hath not giuen vs ouer for a prey vnto their teeth publishing and declaring them vnto others that so they also may be kept froÌ„ the like escape the like punishments as Dauid did With my lips haue I declared all the iudgements of thy mouth Psal 119.13 Dauids practise was to meditate of the iudgemeÌ„ts of God in so much that he laid the iudgemeÌ„ts of God before him I remembred thy iudgements of old and comforted my selfe Psal 119.30 Vers 52. Specially we are commanded to remember Gods particular iudgements and this also is a speciall meanes to keepe vs from sinne First let vs remember his Iudgements on the wicked Angels 2. Pet. 2.4 for God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast