he threatens to reckon sharply with those whom hee betrusts with that office vers 8. God will require blood at such mens hands God doth not snatch vp the sword into his hand and presently cut men of but Psal 7. 12. First God whets his sword bends his bow makes it ready prepares the instruments of death And all this whetting time the time of making ready and preparing is a warning time God whets and makes ready in mens sight and in mens hearing that the very noyse of his whetting may giue them warning of his intentions And Deut. 32. 41 42. God first Whets his Sword before it devoures flesh and God first takes hold on iudgement before his judgements take hold on men God liu'd by his owne rule and by the same Law he gaue his people in their warres Deuter. 20. 10. 13. Hee would not haue them fall foule presently vppon their enemies but they must deale fairely with them And it was the benefit of this Law that the wise woman of Abel challenged at the hands of Ioab 2. Sam. 20. 18. and blames him that hee was come to swallow vp and neuer according to the ancient Law of Armes giues them any parley or warning of his purposes So fairely deales God in his infinite goodnesse with men before hee comes to swallow vp and to destroy hee first giues warning and offers fayre quarter Therefore Hos 5. 8. God blowes the Trumpet before he drawes the sword not a Trumpet for an Alarme and for the battle but a Trumpet to giue warning that a battle is like to come God hath his warning peeces and his murdering peeces God neuer dischargeth his murdering till hee haue discharged his Warning ones The King of Syria his plot and policy was suddenly and at unawares to surprise the King of Israel 2. King 6. 8. He would go covertly and closly to work least the King of Israel having intelligence of his designe he might thereby frustrate his action God goes not so covertly to worke but as one that would be willing to be kept off and put by he himselfe giues intelligence of his intentions hee doth afore-hand acquaint men with his projects Ier. 18. 11 Behold I frame evill against you and devise a device against you Thus God deales and giues warning 1. That if it be possible men might bee brought to 〈◊〉 Repentance as might prevent the threatned eâ—… Ier. 18. 11. 2. That he may provide for the good of his owne Sometimes God will deliver some of his people from 〈◊〉 calamity Sometimes he will haue some of them â—…dergo it In reference to both he giues warning 1. To such as shall be delivered in the day of wrath 〈◊〉 wrath should come without warning it might â—…de of Gods owne people from vnder couert and 〈◊〉 they might prooue a prey to the judgement Exod. â—… 18 19. God had a purpose that many of the Egypâ—…s servants and Cattle should escape and not bee â—…ayne in that terrible storme of fire and hayle God â—…erefore giues warning of the storme that so they â—…ight be housed that should escape If they had had 〈◊〉 warning they had heene abroad in the fields and 〈◊〉 in the fields when the storme came they had peâ—…ht inevitably God hath a purpose in a storme to 〈◊〉 some of his therefore hee giues them warning that they may get an house ouer their heads before the storme come What had Noah beene better then all the rest of the vngodly World if God had not giuen him warning God warned him that hee might be safe in the evill day When iudgements come and are walking abroad God would haue his people within doores in their Chambers their doores shut vpon them Is 26. 20 21. and therefore to this end giues them warning 2. In reference to such as shall vndergoe common calamity God giues them warning that they may lay in and lay vp that which may support and vphold them in the time of distresse God would haue the demeaner and behauiour of his people in the day of calamity be different from other mens He would haue them be of erected spirits free from those distressing perplexities that others shal be swallowed vp withall Therefore hee giues warning that so they may gather that which may strengthen them at such a time certainely if God should giue no warning there would bee little difference seene and discerned betweene the righteous and the wicked betweene him that serueth God and him that serues him not Mal. 3. 18. Little difference would bee seene in their carriages vnder the pressures of calamity You should see Euery man with his hands on his loynes as a Woman in trauaile and all faces turned into palenesse Ier. 30. 6. God would haue his people haue more blood in their faces then the common sort wil haue in such a time God would not haue Faith and Religion so pale faced and so white liuer'd as ciuility and morality will be at such a time Therefore God giues them warning that so their prouisions may be such agaynst the day of euill as that their carriages may be masculine beseeming God and Religion 3. That God may be iustified and cleare when he iudges Psal 51. 4. Talis non vis flagellari cum mundo aut flagellatus murmuras sub flagello Serue male fecisti quod Dominus iussit qui ne vapulares ista flagella ante tibi praedixit August de tem Barb. God doth it to gag and to muzzle the mouth of iniquity and to put to silence the cauelling ignorance of foolish men What can be pleaded agaynst the iustice of Gods proceedings when God may say to men as Reuben to his brethren Gen. 42. 22. Did not I warne you saying sin not Quest How doth God giue warning of wrath and iudgements comming Ans 1. God giues warning many wayes 1. By extraordinary and immediate Reuelation Thus was Noah heere warned of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The same word that is vsed of the warning giuen to the wisemen Math. 2. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 warned of God God in a dreame immediately warned them And thus were all the Prophets warned of God of the iudgements that were to come vpon the Iewes and other Nations And thus specially is that to be vnderstood Amos 3. 7. Surely the Lord God will doe nothing but he reueales his secrets vnto his seruants the Prophets God by the extraordinary reuelation of his spirit gaue them warning what hee meant to doe Thus God made knowne to Nebucadnezar what should come to passe afterwards Daniel 2. 29. 2. By prodigious signes and strange wonders both in Heauen and earth God calls his worke of iudgement a strange worke and a strange act Isa 28. 21. And when God doth these strange acts and workes of nationall iudgements hee giues warnings many times thereof by some strange precursory signes and prodigies Commonly some strange praemonitory signes fore runne strange executions of iustice We haue a text for it
law of the King let iudgement be executed speedily vpon him whether it be vnto death or to banishment or to confiscation of goods or to imprisonment There is a generation that will neither doe the law of God nor of the King who both by the law of God and the King are men of death Oh that life might be put into those lawes and iudgement might be speedily executed whether vnto death c. The Romish Locusts swarme euery where in the land and they goe about to draw away men from obedience both to God and the King And these they be whom we may thanke for the increase of Popery what wonder is it that so many are drawne into the whores bed when there be so many Panders in euery corner entising men to commit fornication with the Romish strumpet Audite videte in ipsis veteribus factis omnia futurarum rerum signa indicia Invenitur Sara afflixisse Agar ancillam afflixit cam graviter Sara fugit à facie eius Ecce libera afflixit ancillam non vocat illam persecutionem Apostolus ludit servus cum Domino persecutionem vocat Afflictio ista non vocatur persecutio lusio illa vocatur persecutio Quid vobis videtur fratres Nonne intelligius quid significatum sit Sic ergo quando vult Deus concitare potestates adversus haereticos adversus dissipatores Ecclesiae c. non mirabimur quia Deus concitat vt à Sara verberetur Agar cognoscat se Agar ponat cervicem Aug. in Euang. Ioan tract 11. Lay the axe to the roote of the tree Cleare the Kingdome of these frogs that come out of the mouth of the beast and the false Prophet Neuer thinke to haue your Arke water-light nor to prouide for our common safety till iudgement be executed vpon them It is no cruelty to call for Iustice nor persecution to doe Iustice vpon such vpon whom Iustice being done you may procure mercy from God vpon a whole Church and Nation It is worth your notice that after the hanging of the sonnes of Saul 2. Sam. 21. 14. it is said After that God was entreated for the land The land for three yeeres had beene vnder a iudgement and there was doubtlesse entreating of God for the land but when they were hanged then God was entreated for the land and then it went well with the land And as God will in some cases haue mercy and not sacrifice so in some he will haue iustice and not sacrifice This day is a day of sacrifice in prayer and humiliation for the safety of the land Honoured in the Lord God will haue iustice and not sacrifice Prou. 21. 3. To doe iustice and iudgement is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice Nay the doing of iustice is a sacrifice with the sacrifices of your prayers and humiliations let God haue the sacrifices of iustice for with such sacrifices God is well pleased and for such sacrifices will be well pleased with the land It was zeale yet in the Egyptians Exod. 8. 26. Loe shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes and will they not stone vs How foule a shame for Israelites then that they can suffer the abominable sacrifices of Egyptians you are afraid that God may let in oppressing enemies vpon vs you sue this day for mercy to God in that thing execute iustice and iudgement and then may yee pray as Dauid did Psal 119. 121. I haue done iudgement and iustice leaue me not to mine oppressors And so I haue done with the materials of your Arke the particulars whereby our safety may be procured 2. The manner followes how yee should build this Arke That stands in these things Goe to worke 1. With a spirit of concord and vnitie The Churches haue lost too much already by disunion My praier and hearty desire is that it may be with both the houses of this present Assembly as God promises to doe with the two houses of Israel and Iudah Ezek. 37. 19. that the Lord would make them one in his hand And wee shall see elsewhere the mischiefe of it when these two were two Zech. 11. 7. There were two staues of Beauty and of Binders That staffe of Binders was none other but the bond of vnity by which the two houses of Iudah and Israel were knit together God breakes the staffe of Binders v. 14. and the brotherhood breakes So Iunius expounds it and then v. 15. 16. followes the threatning of sending into the land forreine and Romane Gouernours that should eat the flesh of the fat and teare their clawes in pieces See the mischiefe of a spirit of peruersities Is 19. 14. 16. 17. making way for the ruine of Egypt Be it therefore the vtmost of your cares and wisdomes to keepe the staffe of Binders vnbroken Knit together in and for God to doe him and his Church all possible seruice 2. Set vpon the worke with speede As Christ spake to Iudas in a case of taking away life so I say to you in the case of sauing the life of the state That which ye doe doe quickly It is high time that the Arke were already made It will be too late to build Arkes when the waters are broke in you had need doe in this case as Aaron did in that Numb 16. 46. Goe quickly for wrath is gone out 3. Goe to worke thorowly and substantially make sure worke God bid Noah pitch his Arke within and without Hee bestowed a great deale of time in building it he made an huge vessell but if he had not pitcht it well within and without hee had lost all his cost and labour both his Arke and himselfe had been cast away Therefore God appoints him Copher as well as Gopher pitch as well as Pine or Cedar trees 4. Goe to worke couragiously Betray not the State and Church with any carnall and base feares If I be bereaued of my children I am bereaued was Iaaâ—…bs conclusion If I perish I perish was Esthers resoâ—…tion Let the same be yours also It is better to perish for a Kingdome than with a Kingdome If the Kingdome perish who can hope to escape If the publike wracke who can hope to saue his priuate â—…ake It is a folly when the whole Ship is in danger so to take care for ones priuate cabin as not to put ones selfe in danger to saue the Ship If the Ship drowne what becomes of the cabins then I say no more but as 2. Chron. 19. 11. Deale couragiously and the Lord will be with the good Thus we see the materialls wherewith and the manner how this sauing Arke must be built Now the Lord giue all you our Noahs and Parliament Arke-wrights hearts to say as Nebemiah spake of building the wall of Ierusalem Nehem. 2. 20. The God of heauen hee will prosper vs therefore wee his seruants will arise and build You his seruants take notice of Gods fayre warnings take notice of our feares and dangers take notice of the hopes and expectations of the Church at home and abroad take notice of the eyes of the kingdome and of all Christendome that are vpon you Doe you arise and build and the God of heauen prosper you FINIS
7. 16. He went from yeare to yeare in circuit to Bethel and Gilgal and Mizpeh and iudged Israel in all those places and his returne was to Ramah Now looke then as when Samuel was at Bethel then they had warning that hee was comming to Gilgal when he was at Gilgal then had they warning that hee was comming to do Iudgment at Mizpeh So when the sword is once walking circuit to iudge if it bee come to Bethel it is a warning that it is comming to Gilgal if at Gilgal there is a warning for Mizpeh Let other Kingdomes and Churches that stands by and looke on let them take this as a warning from God that the sword is comming to execute iudgements amongst them Then it is a warning that God will giue men to the sword when euill goes forth from nation to nation Ier. 25. 32. And why should other nations bee amazed and their Kings be horribly afraid and tremble euery man for his owne life in the day of Egypts fall by the sword Ezech. 32. 10. were it not but that Gods dealing with Egypt were a warning of the like wrath and ruine comming vppon themselues 5 God giues warning by doing as Psal 78. 50. He made a way to his anger he gaue their life ouer to the pestilence God brought the pestilence amongst them but yet first he made a way for his anger and his making of a way was a warning that wrath was comming God when he meanes that wrath shall enter indeed hee doth not presently let it breake in but first makes a way for it takes all things out of the way that may stop or hinder it in its passage or be any rub to it in its entrance Now then when we see God preparing and making the way then hee giues warning of wrath comming and being at hand When Christ was to manifest himselfe in his ministerie first Iohn Baptist must come before him and his office was Mark 1. 3. To prepare the way of the Lord. Now then those that had eyes to see Iohn Baptist preparing a way for Christ might easily see that God gaue warning that Christ himselfe was shortly to come because Iohn was preparing a way for him So when God is preparing a way for wrath such as haue eyes to see the way preparing may see God giuing warning that some heauie iudgement and calamitie is at hand When the Kings harbengers come before and prepare for the King it is a warning to such places that the King is comming God so deales in the bringing in of iudgements vpon a nation as he did in bringing in that great plague vppon the Church in bringing in Antichrist into the world 2. Thess 2. 7. The mistery of iniquitie doth already worke onely hee who letteth will let vntill he be taken out of the way That plague was breeding long before it brake forth and came to ripenesse but there was a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 namely the Romane Ethnick Emperours that stood in the way and till they were first done out of the way the man of sinne could not enter but when that let should be taken out of the way and so a way made Then shall that wicked one be reuealed v. 8. So that when that let was done away and so a way making such as had then eyes to see it might see that God gaue warning that Antichrist was now comming into the world So it is in this case Iudgement is breeding long before it comes God hath a purpose to bring it but yet many times there bee some lets in the way that it cannot well come till they bee remoued God therefore prepares and makes a way for the intended Iudgement by remouing and taking out of the way euery 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 euery let that may hinder it when it comes And when â—he way is making God giues warning that the Iudgment is comming Now God commonly makes the way by two things The Moath and the Hornet And when those two come then are the harbengers come and the Iohn Baptists of the Iudgement 1 The Moath when God meanes to bring a Iudgment vpon a Kingdome hee first giues warning by making way for it by the Moath God threatens Hos 5. 14. a terrible Iudgment that hee will be to Ephraim as a Lyon and as a young Lyon to the House of Iudah that hee will teare and goe away c. But will God giue no warning yes that he will and faire warning too And how By making way for the Lyon by the moath v. 12. I will bee vnto Ephraim as a moath and to the House of Iudah as rottennesse The moath is a secret insensible Iudgment that gradually and insensibly eates out the heart and strength of a State and by the weakning of a State prepares it for a fatall desolatory Iudgment A moath eates now one threed then another makes now one hole then another and so by degrees wasting and rotting the garment perpares it with much ease to be rent in pieces It is difficult to rende in pieces a strong sound garment but when once it is all moath eaten and rotten how easy is it for any much more for a Lion to rende it thus therefore would God prepare Ephraim for the Lion by the moath and by the moath giue him warning of the Lion VVhat this moath is wee may see plainely by that Isay 3. 1. 2. 3. with the eight verse In the eight verse God threatens the ruine and the fall of Iudah and Ierusalem But wil God come suddainly vppon them No hee will giue them faire warning But how By making way for their fatall blow and for the Lions clawes by the teeth of the moath First before the Lion comes they shal see a way making for him by the moath ver 1. 2. 3. for the Lord of hoast doth take away from Ierusalem and from Iudah the stay and the staffe First God before he ruines them will weaken them and by some precursory Iudgement wil infeeble them by taking from them whatsoeuer might strenghten them against an enemy that when an enemy comes they shal haue no stay nor staffe to rest vpon against him If an enemy doe offer to make an invasion yet if a people be well stored with prouisions they haue good store of bread trading be quick that there be no generall pouerty and penury in the Land it is a great stay against an enemy it is a strong threed in the garment Againe if an enemy doe attempt an invasion yet if the State be wel furnisht with Prudent Ancient experienced Counselors if withal it be wel prouided of braue souldiers men of war mighty men Captaines of fifty braue Leaders Commanders this is a great stay to a State these be strong threeds in the cloth that will not suffer it easily to be rent It will bee hard to rend such cloth a sunder that hath such strong threeds in it Therefore that it may the easier be rent in peices God
hee will be gone rather then brooke such neighbourhood Nay it is a signe that God is already in some measure gone for had he held his owne station and possession how could they haue entred Such a step presages great calamitie 2 When the ministerie of a Church beginnes to grow corrupt and vnfounde in doctrine and manners when Trueth and Holinesse departs God departs Hereupon a corrupt ministrie made a presage of calamitie Hos 9. 7. The dayes of visitation are come the dayes of recompence are come Israel shall know it Nay Israel may know it before they come But how The Prophet is a foole the spirituall man is mad When Prophets and spirituall men once beginne to bee fooles and to bee mad to bee out of their spirituall wits and out of the way of truth then looke for the dayes of visitation because when trueth goes God goes and when he goes no good can come 3 It is a manifest step of Gods departure when it is with a Nation as it was with Sampson Iudg. 16. 20. He wist not that the Lord was departed from him But God was departed from him and how appeared it v. 19. She began to afflict him his strength went from him he thought he would do as at other times but could not At other times he brake the greene withes at other times hee brake new roapes at other times hee went away with the pin of the beame at other times hee was still too good for the Philistins but now hee could not doe as at other times God was departed from him and therevpon followed that misery v. 21. They put out his eyes they put him in fetters of brasse c. Gods departure gaue warning of all this sorrow and in that his strength went from him that he could not doe as at other times this was the impression of Gods departing foote Thus is it with a State and Nation If God depart from them he thereby giues them warning to looke for Philistins fetters of brasse and the prison house And then may a Nation know that God is departing if not departed when their strength is departed from them and they cannot doe as they haue done at other times That same is an euident step of Gods departure Ps 60. 10. Wilt not thou O God which hadst cast vs off and thou O God which didst not go out with our armies When God theÌ„ goes not forth with a peoples armies he casts them off hee departs from them And thus God departed from Egypt and gaue them by this step of his departure warning of their destruction Ier. 46. 14. 19. Standfast prepare thee for the sword shall deuoure round about thee furnish thy selfe to goe into captiuitie But what signe or likelihood of Captiuitie See v. 15. 16. Why are thy valiant men swept away they stoode not because the Lord did driue them he made many to fal yea one fell vpon another they said Arise let vs goe againe to our owne people to the land of our natiuity from the oppressing sword God was departed from them their enemies beate them great reason hath Egypt to take warning of sword and Captiuitie comming vpon her when a Nations shield is gone what can they looke for but to bee bread for their enemies And thus doth God giue warning in these particulars Vse 1. Take wee heere notice of Gods gratious dealing with this sinfull English nation Our sinnes are such that God might haue done with vs as with Sodome Lam. 4. 6. That was ouerthrown as in a moment God might suddenly haue surprized vs haue let in the flood of his wrath to haue swallowed vs vp in a moment But heere may I say as Paul Rom. 11. 22. Behold the goodnesse and the seueritie of God The Seuerity of God in his purposes of wrath against vs The Goodnesse of God in his gratious warnings wherin he giues vs intelligence of his Intentions This day is this trueth fulfilled in our eyes Wee see it true for our parts that God giues faire warnings before Iudgement ceaze vpon a people God neuer gaue any fairer warning then he hath giuen vs we haue had warnings in all these kindes For 1. What if I should say that God giues vs warning by Oracle Seemes he not to doe it Apoc. 3. 10. Speakes he not of an houre of temptation which shall come vpon all the world Seemes not that houre to be already begunne Surely if that Scripture looke so farre towards the ends of the world and if meant of an houre of temptation to come in this last houre of the world then may we say of this as our Sauiour Christ of that This is the houre and the power of darkenesse The present troubles of the Church may seeme to be the beginning of that houre But to let this passe if God warne not vs thus yet want we no warnings 2. If prodigious signes and wonders bee warnings then judge if God haue not warned vs. Besides that common warning which God gaue vs with the rest of his Churches in that prodigious Comet wee haue had peculiar warnings in this kinde God gaue vs warning in that wonder of the doubled tydes in the riuer of Thames God gaue vs warning in that Earth-quake March 27. 1626. God gaue vs faire warning in that prodigious storme in the Citie that fetcht the dead bodies out of their graues together with that stupendious sight vppon the water And amongst diuers others I dare not slight that hand of God in sending Iohn Friths preparation to the Crosse in the fish bellie to the Vniuersitie of Cambridge a little before the Commencement That such a booke should in such a manner and to such a place and at such a time be sent when by reason of peoples confluence out of all parts notice might be giuen to all places of the land in my apprehension it can bee construed for no lesse then a diuine warning and to haue this voyce with it England prepare for the Crosse Of which â—hing I may â—…y with a litle â—hange as Aug. speakes â—f a prodigiâ—us warning God gaue the â—omanes Quod quanti â—ali signum â—…it Quod si â—oc signum â—…ntum maâ—um â—…it quantum â—…alum erit ilâ—…d cuius hoc â—…gnum fuit Aug. de ciuit â—…i lib. 3. c. 23. 3. And how long and how loude hath the Ministeriall Trumpet sounded in our eares Hath it not sounded like the Trumpet in Mount Sinai Exod. 19. 13. 16. Haue wee not heard it very long and exceeding loude Haue not Gods watchmen from their watch-Towers a long while cryed as Esay 21. 8. A Lyon A Lyon Haue we not in this kinde beene warned vnto wearysomnesse 4. But what warnings hath God giuen vs in the calamities and miseries of our neighbour and sister Churches Nec illos naturale robur corporum facit viuere nec nos naturae infirmitus vinci Nemo sibi aliud persuadeat Nemo aliud arbitretur sola nos
taking of warning was the sauing of his house Hee that takes warning shall deliuer his soule Ezek. 33. 5. The King of Syria find many dangerous proiects against the King of Israel Elisha still giues the King of Israel warning of the danger 2. King 6. 10. The King of Israel took his warning and what was the issue Hee sent to the place which the man of God had told him and warned him of and he saued himselfe there not once nor twice The way to saue our selues from the dangers wee are warned of is to take Gods warnings Looke vpon all the warnings God hath giuen vs and consider if it may not be sayd of vs as of Moab Ier. 48. 16. The calamity of Moab is neere to come and his affliction hasteth fast Yea consider if we haue not the buds of the figtree telling vs that summer is nigh and that iudgement is neere euen at the doores And hastens our affliction and sit we still As wee desire to preuent the fatall ruine of this renowmed Church and Kingdome so in the feare of God be wee perswaded to take warning But how is that to be done wherein stands this taking of warning That is now the second thing in the Text. Noahs wisedome in taking warning God giues and he takes warning and that 1. in beleeuing it 2. in fearing it 3. in making vse of it for safety 1. In beleeuing it By faith Noah c. That should indeed be mens wisedomes to take Gods warnings by beleeuing God is to bee beleeued in his threatnings aswell as in his promises And this was the Niniuites wisedome Ion. 3. 5. So the people of Niniueh beleeued God And this is the first ground of safety If Noah had not beleeued he had not feared if he had not feared he had not prepared an Arke if an Arke had not beene prepared he had perished But now his Arke saues him out of fayth and feare hee builds his Arke And this is it God lookes for at our hands that after so many warnings we should beleeue him Noah did so and though hee were warned by immediate Reuelation and in that regard had more reason to beleeue then wee haue yet againe in some respects wee hauâ— more reason to beleeue then he had For 1. He was warned onely once and that an hundreâ— and twenty yeeres before the flood came we reade oâ— no more warnings that hee had In an hundred anâ— twenty yeeres he might haue an hundred and twentâ— doubts and questions in his heart whether it shoulâ— be so or no. But we haue had warning vpon warning seuerall kinds of warnings and euery of these iterate So that as God speakes to Moses in that case Exod. 4 1. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. so it may bee sayd of vs. So that iâ— regard of the variety and frequency of our warnings we haue more reason to beleeue then Noah had 2. He was warned as the text saith of things as yet not ene and yet he beleeues there was nothing in naturall course that presaged the flouds He sees nothing till the floud begins and yet he beleeued Now in this regard wee haue more reason to beleeue than hee He was warned of things not seene but we are warned of things seene we cannot say in this case as the Church complaines in another Psal 74. 9. We see not our signes we see our signes euen all signes of a flood that may be Except ye see signes and wonders saith our Sauiour in another case ye will not beleeue Ioh. 4. 48. it was somewhat yet that they would beleeue then we see signes and wonders and yet wee beleeue not Except I may see and feele saith Thomas I will not beleeue Ioh. 20. 25. but when he did see and feele he beleeued We if we haue not lost our sight and senses both see and feele and yet will not beleeue The people of Nineveh beleeued God when Ionas warned them yet forty dayes c. The men of Nineveh will rise vp in iudgement against vs of this Nation they had farre lesse reason to beleeue than wee haue and yet they beleeued we haue farre more reason to beleeue and yet we beleeue not 1. They had but one witnesse we are compassed about with a cloude of witnesses 2. They were warned but once we haue beene warned vnto wearinesse 3. They could see no likelihood of any such suddaine danger they knew of no preparations abroad they see no enemies begirting their City with a siege they were a strong and a well prouided City we heare and know of enemies of potent and provoked enemies and of their great preparations 4. They were Heathens and Idolaters that professed not the name of God we glory in our Christian title and profession in our beleeuing in God 5. They were warned onely by a stranger one of a nation held in suspition and ielousie If some Spaniard should now come into England and threaten it with desolation within forty dayes what little regard would we giue vnto it But we are warned and threatned by those of our owne nation of whose loue loyalty and fidelity wee can make no doubt by those that pray for the welfare of the Nation and wrestle mightily with God for the peace of it Here is a great deale of oddes betweene Englands and Ninevehs warnings and yet Nineueh beleeued God and wee beleeued him not We haue more warnings they more fayth The men of Nineueh will iudge this nation for their vnbeleefe How long and how often hath God warned vs by his Ministers and yet may they say as Is 53. 1. Lord who hath beleeued our report How truely agrees that to vs. Hab. 1. 5. Behold and regard and wonder maruellously for I will worke a worke in your dayes which ye will not beleeue though it be told you It is iust our case though wee heare that which may make both our eares tingle yet we will not beleeue it It is iust with vs as it was in that case Act. 27. 10. Paul there giues them fayre warning Sirs I perceiue that this voyage will be with hurt and much dammage not onely of the lading and the ship but also of our liues And so it prooued in the sequel But v. 11. The Centurion beleeued the master and the owner of the ship more then those things which were spoken by Paul We are warned of a storme and that no small tempest is like to lie vpon vs and that all hope that wee shall be saued is like to be taken away and yet for all this we are readier to beleeue any that will comfort vs with some poore shadowes of hope then to beleeue Gods Pauls Nay wee are worse then the Centurion for he yet beleeued the Master and the owner of the ship and if hee had told him of danger hee would not haue loosed from Crete Why now the Master and Owner of the ship he and not Paul alone tells vs of the danger Our souereigne Lord
the King in his Proclamation for the Parliament and for the Generall Fast giues vs to vnderstand of potent and dangerous enemies and their preparations Nam ita cunctos sua crimina praecesserant vt nec metuerent periculum suum praenoscebatur captivitas nec formidabatur Ablatus quippe erat à peccatoribus timor ne posset esse cautela Salv. de prouid l. 6. If Paul Gods Ministers will not be beleeued yet let the Owner of the ship Gods annointed be beleeued Faith would saue vs in this kinde If the Centurion had beleeued Paul Act. 27. 21. the ship had beene saued Sirs ye should haue hearkened vnto me and haue gayned this harme and losse They beleeued it at last when the forepart of the ship stucke fast and the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waues It is too late to beleeue when all is lost it is good beleeuing when somewhat may bee saued by it 2. In fearing mooued with feare This must bee another point of wisedome to take warning so as to feare The warnings of wrath should worke deepe impressions of feare in our hearts Hab. 3. 16. When I heard my belly trembled my lips quiuered at the voice rottennesse entred into my bones Am. 3. 8. The Lion hath roared who will not feare And v. 6. Shall the trumpet be blowne in the City and the people not be afraid And yet people are not afrayd though their feare would much conduce to their safety This is the way to be hid in the day of trouble Hab. 3. 16 my belly trembled c. that I might rest in the day of trouble And Exod. 9. 20. He that feared the word of the Lord made his seruants and his cattell flie into the houses and so they were saued from the storme Much might be sayd to this point but I must contract and hasten 3. In making vse of it for safety and in taking a course for the preuention of those dangers hee was warned of prepared an Arke And this is the speciall point of wisedome aboue the rest Prou. 22. 3. A wise man foreseeth the euill That indeed is some wisdome but that is not all And he hides himselfe That 's the speciall wisedome which takes a course for safety against approaching euills This is that we are to doe and then indeed wee take Gods warnings when wee prouide for the worst And thus it concernes vs to do now if euer Doe we not see a flood comming Why then are we not at our Arkes Why will wee wilfully perish and cast away our selues When a flood cames what would a man giue for an Arke then Ah when the flood is come what will be the miserable madding feares of such as shall not haue an Arke ready then See their pitious condition Ier. 47. 2. 3. Behold the waters rise vp out of the North and shal be an ouerflowing flood and shall ouerflow the land c. Then shall the men crie and the Inhabitants of the land shall howle c. The fathers shall not looke backe to their children for feeblenesse of hands How deepe and weighty is the oppression of such feares as make parents grow vnnaturall Quest What is to be done then for the making of an Arke How may we prouide for future safety Ans For the making of an Arke and prouiding for future safety there be first some things to be done by all in generall Secondly some things by some in speciall 1. Those things that are to be done by all are two 1. Humiliation and deepe abasement of our soules vnder Gods threatning hand So that here wee haue cause by the way to breake out into thanksgiuing and to say as Ezek. 7. 27. Blessed bee the Lord God which hath put such a thing as this into the Kings heart as to call forth the whole Land to the duties of Humiliation that we may yet beg for our liues Well If euer we will make an Arke for the land and prouide for our safety this is the first piece of timber that must be felled and squared for it They bee great things that Humiliation will doe if it be done aright Iob. 22. 29. 30. When men are cast downe then shalt thou say There is lifting vp and he shall saue the humble person He shall deliuer the Island of the innocent Alas we are downe exceedingly downe from the ancient excellency of former times How now might we recouer the ancient glory of this Island Let men cast themselues downe this day euen downe to the dust and lay their mouthes in the dust in the depth a truth of humiliation and though it were ten times lower with vs then it is God would say Behold England is cast down There shall be a lifting vp What is our errand this day in these duties of humiliation but that God would be pleased to take off present euils from vs and that the future things might goe well with vs And would wee now in good earnest preuayle with God in these things Humble we then our soules seriously this day before our God Humiliation indeed will doe the deed See 2. Chron. 12. 6. 7. The Princes of Israel and the King humbled themselues and they said The Lord is righteous And when the Lord saw that they humbled themselues he sayd They haue humbled themselues therefore I will not destroy them c. And againe v. 12. And when he humbled himselfe the wrath of the Lord turned from him that hee would not destroy him and also in Iudah things went well How welcome should that man be vnto vs that could put vs into a course that might put vs in hope that all things now should goe well with vs Loe here is a course will doe it Our feares and dangers are exceeding great but be they neuer so great yet if we this day do all deepely humble afflict our soules powre out broken and bleeding hearts buckets of water before our God I dare be the man that shall promise you hope yet of sauing all I dare the boldlier doe it because I haue a text for it Ezr. 10. 1. 2. yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing Now there is hope Why now There was praying confessing weeping and the people wept very sore they wept a great weeping Yet now sayes Shecaniah there is hope as if he had sayd though our danger is great yet now vpon this humiliation there is hope all shall bee well As therefore wee would this day goe home from this duty with hope so doe we then to the purpose Let hearts split in sunder rend to peeces mourning and melting hearts in confession and supplication Doe we as Manasseh did 2. Chron. 33. 12. He humbled himselfe greatly Great humiliation will send vs away with great hope 2. Personall reformation and amendment of our owne euill wayes and prouocations Euery soule this day quit his hands of his personall guilt It is the wrath of God from whence all plagues and
iudgements come Nos coelestis irae ignem accendimus excitamus incendia quibus ardeamus rectè utique quoties ista mala perferimus ad nos dici illud Propheticum Isai 50. possit Ite in flammam ignis quam accendistis Salv. de provid lib. 8. They bee our sinnes that kindle this wrath they be the fuell that kindle and feed this fire The King of Nineueh saw this to be a speciall prouision for safety from threatned wrath Ionah threatens speedy wrath he proclayms a fast he enioines strickt abstinence from food and apparell Would that serue the turne No he will haue prayer also added thereto and not ordinary prayer neither but crying prayer nor any crying praier neither but let them crie mightily And would this serue No hee will haue more he will haue serious repentance and forsaking of sin and this not only of some few but of all let them turn euery one from his euill way Now one would thinke nothing could be added to all this and yet hee hath not done there is one thing more behinde that makes vp all Besides their generall repentance hee requires a speciall personall reformation of their speciall personall sinne And from the violence that is in their hands So well did he see the vanity of all the rest without this last 2. There is something to bee done by some speciall persons And that is by you that are now met in this great and honourable Councell of the Land You therefore that are the great Senate of the land vpon whom our eyes and hopes next vnder God and the King are Bee ye entreated in the bowels of the Lord Iesus Christ to take notice of Gods many warnings giuen to this Land and so to take them to heart as to take a course for the preuention of threatned and imminent euils God giues you fayre warning of foule weather and of a dreadfull flood that is like not only to ouerflow and goe ouer and reach to the necke as that Isai 8. 8. but of a flood like Noahs that is like to ouertop the highest hills euen many cubits The Pharisees Matth. 16. 3. were weather wise It will bee foule weather to day for the skie is red and lowring but could not discerne the signes of the times as the face of the skie Cast vp your eyes you honourable Senate of the Land and you shall see that foule weather is towards for the skie is red and lowring Ye shall see a cloud not onely as that 1. King 18. 44. as big as a mans hand but as v. 45. The heauens all blacke with cloudes and winde Listen and you shall heare a sound of abundance of raine Doe yee not already begin to feele the drops falling in your faces We question not but your wisedomes discerne the signes and the dangers of the times as well as the Pharisees did the face of the skie and that you see all sad presages and prognostications of a flood Now then so many of you as God hath called to this Parliamentary seruice we haue to tell you what God and this Realme and Church with the distressed parts of Christs Church abroad looke for at your hands God hath called you together to bee the publique Arke-wrights for the safety of this Church and state The eyes of these Dominions and the weeping eyes of Gods Churches beyond the Seas are vpon you as vpon so many Noahs Lamech when his sonne was borne gaue him the name of Noah that is one refreshing with rest bringing comfort and consolation you see his reason of the Imposition Gen. 5. 29. He called his name Noah saying This same shall comfort vs concerning the worke and sorrow of our hands because of the earth which the Lord hath cursed Now this is that we all pray and hope for that this present assembly may be an assembly of Noahs that this Parliament may comfort vs concerning the feares and griefes of our hearts and because of the land which of late the Lord hath not blessed This is that we all pray for we all looke for Now then if you would proue right Noahs to vs such as may bring vs consolation then for Christs sake fall to the making of an Arke and thereby make your selues Noahs and Barnabasses the blessed sonnes of consolation to this Church and State Thinke when you sit together in your solemne assembly that you heare the State and Church cry out vnto you as once Peter did to Christ when the winds rose and the Sea grow rough Maister Maister saue me I perish So thinke you heare the people crying from all the quarters of these Dominions Fathers Elders â—iue vs build vs an Arke or else we sinke or else reâ—edilesse we perish Thinke as you sit together in councell that you â—eare a voyce from all parts of the Land from whence â—e be come crying in your eares Helpe Helpe or else â—e are all but dead men Exod. 12. 33. Present vnto â—our thoughts the sad and disconsolate condition of the Church beyond the Seas Thinke you heare the shrikings of slaughtred and butchered infants dragd from their mothers breasts to haue their braines dasht out against the stones of the streets Thinke that you heare the sorrowfull and dolefull lamentations of ravisht matrons and defloured virgins in the bitternesse of their spirits wringing their hands and rending the hayre from off their heads Thinke that you heare the Church both at home and abroad crying out vnto you An Arke An Arke for Gods loue prouide vs an Arke Improue all the wisedome of your hearts and all the power of your places to which God hath now called you to saue vs from the rage of the mercilesse waters Gods watchmen haue a long time cried a Flood a Flood Gods people now crie an Arke an Arke Now therefore in the name of God fall close to the building of an Arke Noah built an Arke but for the sauing of his house what is an house to a Church to a kingdome to many Churches to many kingdomes Noah built an Arke for the sauing of eight persons what are eight persons to millions and worldes of Christ an people that are like to perish and be ouerwhelmed by the mercilesse enemies of Gods grace that make a noyse like the noyse of the Seas that make a rushing like the rushing of many waters like the rusâ—ing of mighty waters Is 17. 12. 13. Quest But what course is to be taken and what iâ— to be done for the building of an arke Answ I will not take vpon me to direct your wiâ—domes but since it hath pleased you to call me to thiâ— seruice giue me leaue so long as I keepe my selfe withiâ— the bounds of my profession to aduise what I conceiuâ— may make for common safety If therefore you woulâ— make an arke 1. make choyce of good materials wherwith to build 2. Haue a care to goe to worke in a due manner 1. Your Gopher wood or building materialls they be