THE MOST NOBLE ROBERT EARLE OF ESSEX AND LO: GEN OF THE FORCES FOR K PARL THE SAINTS Support in these sad TIMES Delivered in a Sermon at Tiverton in Devonshire in the time his Excellencies army raised for King and Parliament quartered there By Tho. Palmer Minister to the Honourable Major Generall Skippons Regiment Imprimater Joseph Carrill LONDON Printed by M. Okes for William Ley and are to be sold at his shop at Pauls Chaine 1644. To His EXCELLENCY Robert Earle of Essex Viscount Herreford Barron Ferrars of Chaâ—tly Lord Bourcher and Lovaine one of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Counsel and Generall of the Army raysed by the Parliament in defence of the true Protestant Râ—ligion His Majesties Person the Lawes and Liberties of the Kingdom and the Priviledges of Parliament Great Generall I Take the boldnesse to stile you what God himselfe hath certainly made you Surely as yet God never honoured any man with so great a prize as hee hath now intrusted your Excellency with God hath put you into his owne place God hath graced you with his owne Name Lord of Hosts Geneâ—all of Armies God in our appearance hath committed unto your care what is preciâ—us to himselfe A precious Gospell precious Ordinances a precious Parliament a precious people God hath called forth your Excellency as a choise worthy to be his Generall and the Champion of Iesus Christ to fight the great and last Battell with Antichrist in this your Native Kingdome Laâ— confident your Excellency is not so little read in Divine history or such a stranger to the worlds experience as to thinke this Church-workâ— this thing called Reformation will be found a matter of ease and pleasure No it is a businesse of the greatest difficvlâ—y in the world Antichrist wâ—l ingage the Kings of the earth and set the whole world in a combustion before he will leave his hold It is the nature of the devill to rage horribly towards his end It is the property of a dying Beast to give one great struggle when life is departing why may not God now make this Good in this Roman Beast amongst us Great Generall thinke not lesse of God â—r worse of this Cause for one foile Joshuahs Armie may flee and fall before the men of Ai though he had good warrant to fall on and the designe wisely managed Israel may lose two battells together before Benjamin when God had them goe Iesus Christs owne Disciples may meete with a crosse gale when they goe about his businesse Now it being within my owne verge to opâ—n Scrâ—pture I tâ—kâ— this liberty to hiâ—t unâ—o your Excellency the meaning of God in this strange dispensation and further to let your Excellency know that God haâ—h much sweet in this bitter much good in this seeming evill Israel was routed fled and fell before Ai that plundering Achan might be found out and punished Israel fell in two Battells together before Benjamin that thâ—y might learne more seriously to seeke and trust God upon the first undertaking Aâ—d the Disciples must be in a hopelesse helpelesse perishing storm that their faith in Christ though by a miraculous experience might be firmely established Little did I thinke when first I preached and writ out these collections that God intended to mâ—kâ— them so suitable to the condition of your Excellencies Armie as now I conceive them It is not the least of my thoughts in this to looke at my selfe but my aime is alone Gods glory I am not unacquainted with your Excellencies goodnesse as well as greatnesse ever discerning an unwonted humility in so great a personage which is my strong encouragâ—ment to present unto your Excellency this small tender of a most reall affection If your Excellency be pleased to peruse it it beares the character of a right Souldier and I know you wil not love it the worse for that Your Excellency will here finde a sincere heart and an undaunted Spirit in a plaine and meane Presse Flattery is fitter for the Kings Court then the Lords Campe Be pleasâ—d then great Generall to honour mee in the acceptation Protect it as you approve it and I have my desire The great God prosper his great woâ—ke in your handâ— and make your Name glorious to succeeding Ages Most Noble Generall in the Name of the Lord goe on and hee will yet do mightily for you You will expâ—esse your greatnesse in over-looking difficulties And certrinly a Generall of so many faithful prayers cannot miscarry You may yet assure your selfe Gods people have you in a high-esteeme The Saints aâ—e daily begging at the Throne of Grace of you Question it not but God will make a sweet and full returne of all the prayâ—rs teares wrongs and Blood which hath so long cryed to heaven This is the desire and the expâ—ctation Of your Excellencies most faithfâ—lly devoted in the Worke of Jesus Christ Thomas Palmer A Support for the SAINTS in these sad times PSAL. 37. vers. 40. He shall deliver them from the wicked and save them because they trust in him VArious and promiscuous are the Lords dealings with the Godly and wicked in this life God doth not infallibly feed his choisest Saints with the sweet-meates of prosperity and let the wicked onely lye under the lash of biting calamity woe and misery No for if prosperity did ever wait upon Gods people and adversity attend the ungodly then we might easily find out the wayes of God and know peâ—fectly who were his But sayth Solomon No man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them for that all things come alike to all there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked c. Eccles. 9.1 2. That is in the common dispensation of outward things during the time of Gods plâ—asure Outward providences at all times are no infallible rules to judge by Gods wisedome is above our reach we cannot say presently that any are in Gods favour because they thrive and prosper nor conclude others under a curse because that misery and trouble doth still attend them True it is the children of God may more justly expect freedome and mercy from the hand of their Father then the servants of Satan can doe the Saints have the Word and the precious Promises of God to build upon and by which God as I may say is ingaged to his faithfull ones which the other have not yet the Lord in his wisedome and by his power is pleâ—sed so to order all that for the exercise of graces and the tryall of faith he often puâ—s his people to it he many times brings them very low he knocks away all their self-props that Gods precious ones many times seemingly lye under clouds of displeasure whâ—n the wicked may be thought to have all at their hearts desire This experienced truth hath staggered not a few and even strange beleevers Davâ—d who was indued with almost unparalleled graces confesseth it of himselfe that upon
God will not nay God cannot be worse then his word God will not deceive those that trust to him that depend upon him Deliverance may be deserved but it shall not faile The needy shall not alwayes be forgotten the expectation of the poore shall not perish for ever Psal. 9.18 God in his wisedom may see cause to withhold deliverance from his afflicted Saints but he doth not forget them they shall not perish under their burden God will come in with deliverance and a seasonable deliverance too he will not stay an houre too long with it It shall come in due time 1 Pet. 5.6 It shall come in a time when it shall doe them most good Amongst men one that carries the esteem of an honest man will have a great care to keep his word his promise though it may be to his losse if he promise he will make it good This is one of the marks which David describes a godly man by He that sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not Psal. 15.4 And doe you thinke the great God of heaven and earth will fall short of a godly man No it was a speech of Christ Heaven and earth may pâ—sse but my wordâ— shall not passe away Mark 1â— 31 That is the very Fabrick of the world may be dashed and broken yet God will not break his word with the Saints for though all these meanes were away God of himselfe is able to make good his promise and will doe iâ— And hereupon the Apostle calls it a sure word of promise This is the second reason 3. Reas. The third reason is grounded upon the power of God in himselfe The Churches deliverance shall certainly coâ—e for God will doe it himselfe The Lord â—â—all helpe them and deliver them the very words before my text in the same vers. Indeed if the Churches deliverance did lye upon men and the like outward helpes truely there werâ— small hopes There is so much basenesse and treachery even amongst many of those who pretend themselves on the Churches side that she is in more danger by bosome friends then open enemies Holy David spake prophetically of this and he made it a grievous complaint You may see the place Psal. 55.12 13 14. But here is the Churches the Saints happinesse God hath the managing of the businesse himselfe hâ— will make good his promise and deliver his people in despight of all let secret enemies seeke to prolong let open enemies plot prepare and watch yet God will discover the one disappoynt the other and destroy them all He hath said it and he will make it good He will build up his Church and the gates of hell shall not prevaile againts it Mat. 16.18 Nay I will tell you further the the Church of God shall not onely out-stand all power and persecutions of the wicked but shall over-power them and destroy them I will onely open one Scripâ—ure and I will close up the reasons It is Dan. 2.44 And in the dayes of these Kings shall the God of heaven set up a Kingdome which shall never be destroyed and the Kingdome shall not be left to other people but it shall breake in peeces and consume all these Kingdomes and it shall stand for ever These words aâ—e full and to the purpose if you mark them well In this image which here Daniel interprets to the King of Babilon He tells the King that under those foure different parts of the image was understood foure persecuting Kings or Monarchies beginning with him first as vers. 38.39 40. But when the Lord shall have accomplished his whole worke upon mount Zion Isa. 10.12 When the Church is fit for deliverance even in the dayes of these proud persecuting Kings while they are yet in their power the Lord will raise up a Kingdome of Saints which shall never be destroyed Againe a little after you have the same promise almost in the samâ— words The Kingdom and dominion and the greatnesse of the Kingdome under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high whose Kingdome is an everlasting Kingdome and all dominions shall serve and obey him Dan. 7.27 Thus I hope I have now put the truth of the doctrine delivered out of dispute both by Scripture and undeniable reasons sufficiently proving That Gods people shall be the prevailing people And now by Gods help I will fall upon the Application Applic. 1. Vse of Râ—prâ— First this is enough to strike terror and amazement into the hearts of those who have any hand any way to act counsell or countenance others against the cause and people of God I could heartily wish that this portion of Gods truth might be fastned upon every doore where Malignants dwell that so this seasonable instruction might worke in them a sweet remorse for their God-provoking sins or be left without â—xcuâ—e Was there ever any truth of God more plaine Doe not you see what shall be the end the doom of all their plottings and powers counsels and armies which ever were now are or yet shall be against the Saints of God What became of proud Pharaoh and his Army were they not drownt in the Sea Exod. 14. What is become of three of the foure once poweâ—full persecuting Monarchies which in their times commanded the world as was Prophesied of by Daniel second chapter Where is bloody Nebuchadnezzar which once but Ierusalem and bore mighty sway Where now is cunning Cyrus and ambitious Alexander And I pray you what is become of Romes glory What have any nay all these got by all the blood which they have drawne from the Saints of God Have they set up themselves and pull'd downe the Churches Have they yet rooted out Religion and worne out or wasted the Saints of the most high Have they yet taken away the name of a professor as hath beene aâ—tempted out of this poor spot of the world No no blessed be God the Churches enemies are destroyed in destroying and she lives by dying Oh! If we may yet beg it that the Lord would open the eyes and soften the heart of our King to consider this Alas alas little doth the King and his party know what they lose by that they call getting that which they thinke helpes them undoeth them You may thinke I speake strange paradoxes but I will cleare it to you I say victories destroy the enemie two wayes First a victory got by the enemy fills their hearts with cruelty their mouthâ— with blasphemy and fires them on to destruction That this may not seeme a fancy of my braine I will give you Scripture proofe examples from the word A victory got by the wicked fills their heartâ— with cruelty Having once dipped their hands in blood being blooded as we said by dogs they grow bold and desperate they grow hardy and expert in murder they are lesse mercifull and more cruell every battell more then other See in the King of Babylons Army when they came against
the other side Ansâ— Alas it is the plainest thing in the world and if yet you know it not I will endeavour to cleare it and the Lord set it home upon your hearts I will not burthen your memories with abundance but only give you an infallible marke of the Child of God I pray diligently observe the words of Jesus Christ himsefe I am the good Shepheard and know my sheepe and am known of mine John 10.14 Knowne of mine will you say what 's that That is Christs Sheepe Christs flocke know him so as to heare his voyce and obey his commandâ— they will not follow strange men nor stâ—ange and unâ—arranted wayes ver. 45. They will heare Gods Word and endeavour to know Gods will in any thing and then on they goe These all speake one language looking still upon God Tâ—at which thou commandest that will we doe And whether thou sendest us thither will we goe Now then do but you consider whether of the Forces now raised in this Kingdome goes the neerest to this rule and the businesse is easily decideâ— Who is it that would submit to the Word and rule of God And who is it that would rule by prerogative Who is it that hath set upon the worke of Reformation And who it hath said they shall not and he will not Reforme furthen he pleases Who is it that are dâ—sirous to preserve the people of God and defend themselves in temple-worke by all lawfull meanes And who is it that musters up all the bloody Papists which can be got in this and other Kingdomes even making peace with proclaimed Traytors and from time to time brought them into England because they were expert murderers to destroy his owne faithfull Subjects Truely I am ashamed to rifle into the King-fins of these times and I will forbeare onely as the Minister of God in Soule-businesse I must speake out that by my silence I become not guilty of others blood The Lord helpe you to close with the truth for I protest if God should have seene it good to have brought in Christ into our Kingdome another way it would have been the joy of my soul and many others to have spoken more better for our King then now I can But I will sweeten this bitter subject with brevity and now passe into another poynt which is much more pleasing and therefore I hope length will be delight 3. Vse of Exhort The third use is of Exhortation If Gods people shall be the prevailing people if God will worke deliverance for them then be exhorted to labour after a right an intrest in Jesus Christ or else you shall have no share with the Saints You know all the old world was drownt which was not in tâ—e Arke Gen. 7.23 So all shall perish that not saved in the Aâ—ke Christ Jesus That was a Tipe of this Nay I will come neerer to you unlesse you be incorpoâ—ated into Christ unlâ—sse he be yours there is not any thing you have will doe you any good Whatsoever God gives to the Church to his Saints will not make you happy you have no part in it That which the Saints may rejoyce in for the very same you shall grieve yea it will your sorrow even the excellency of your gifts and parts will perish you Those things which are blessings to the Saints are curses to the wicked they will helpe damne them lower in hell You may thinke I goe far but I goe not beyond my rule I have the word of Jesus Christ for what I say The Scribes and Pharâ—sees were men of admirable parts much wit great learning yea they used praying and made long prayers too yet these being not sanctified to them they were but the more able to doe evill and therefore prest them deeper into hell Who unto Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites for yâ—â— devoure widdowes houses and for a pretence mâ—ke long prayers what then therefore yee shall receive the greateâ— damnation Mat. 23.14 The like you have from Christ in another place wheâ—e he upâ—raids the Cities of Coâ—azin Bethsaida and Capernaum for their security in sin notwithstanding the rich meanes of grace which God had given to them above others and therefore tells them that their judgements shall be more sharpe then others Jesus Christ begins his speech to them Mat. 11. vers. 20. But those I will refer to your examination and onely instance and explaine the 23. vers. Christs words are these And thou Capernaum which art exalted to heaven shall be brought downe to hell for if the mighty workes which have beene in thee had beene done in Sodomeâ— it would have remained untill this day Jesus Christ speaking to the other Cities gives them their doome in the former verses but here turâ—ing â—o Capernaum he speakes to her with an Emphesis But thou Câ—pernaum As if Jeâ—us Christ should say Wâ—e unto thee Corazin woâ— unto theâ— Beâ—hsaida c. but woe woe woâ— to thee Copernaum which art exalted to heaven who hast had meanes above all the rest meanes which might have brought thee to heaven such meanes as would have converted and so saved Sodome it selfe to this day even these meanes will make thâ—e most miserable and carry thee fuâ—ther into hell thâ—n Sodomes sins will doe her It shall be morâ— tollerable for the Land of Sodomâ— in the day of judgement then for thee vers. 24. I beseech you who ever you be consider this for the Lords sake take heed of neglecting abusing either meanes or gifts What a miserable case are those in which have not Christ when parts Sermons Sacraments all increase damnation On the other side is not Christ despised Christ worth the having which helpes all gives a right to all guides in all I have here a large subject to treat off and I hope you will not expect that I should be very briefe being such a Christ-concerning poynt a soule-concerning poynt but that I should fully open it before I passe I might indeed run out into many parts but I will contract my thoughts and handle onely some particulars which shall be these First I will endeavour to discover and set out the wretched estate of the wicked who are out of Christ and then come to shew the excellency of the Saints priviledges who have a right and interest in Jesus Christ I will after this lay downe some directions for the use of the Saints as certaine speciall helpes to bring a soule to Christ and close up all with some choice Motives I must begin with the lesse pleasing part the wretched estate of the wicked who have interest in Christ But this hath its use as wâ—ll as the other Nay it will helpe much to the other The danger of the one will move a gracious spirit to looke out for the other The Law saith Paul was our schoolâ—-master to bring us to Christ Gal. 3.24 That is the terrors of the Law shew us our need of Christ the law sends us to seeke
Father will send in his Name the Comforter which is the holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my Name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said to you Joh. 14.26 I hope I have in this set open a large doore of sweet comfort to every poore soule groaning under the burden of sinne I will now the Lord assisting come to point of tryall of which as briefe as I may I have hitherto endeavoured all along to discover a Christians priviledges he hath by Christ with some directions what a Christian is to doe in himselfe to get an interest in this Christ I am now come to give you some Signes or Evidences by which you may know whether as yet Christ be yours or no they shall be but few and short the Lord help me in the discovery and you in the faithfull examination of the ground upon which your building stands and there will arise abundance of sweet and full comfort to all our Soules Signe 1. The first Signe whereby a Christian may know he hath an interest in Christ is a sound and sincere love to Christ for Christ alone It 's not enough to love Christ for the Loaves so Christ hath lovers and followers too many to love Christ because you outwardly thrive and get by Christ Christ finds fault with this Joh. 6.26 It is not enough to love Christ with the Loaves with the world this also Christ cannot away with this will not doe yee cannot doe it Mat. 6.24 but Christ will be loved for himselfe he will have all your love and have you love him onely that is to love him above all more then all Christ would not have any thing here below to stand in computition with him if any thing must be parted with let it be any thing all things save Christ Goods Friends Life are all to he left for the love of Christ when they cannot stand together This is the meaning of thoâ—e two Scriptures Mat. 10.37 Luk. 14.26 Now if you solemnly and seriously aske your hearts they will tell you whether you love a naked Christ a despised Christ I say your hearts will in some measure tell you how they are disposed what longings have you after Christ what inquires doe you make after Christ what delight have yee in the Saints â—ow doe yee prize the Ordinances what soule-meetings have you with Christ what sweet communion have â—ou with Christ Object But you will say who can doe this Aâ—sw I answer every Christian may doe this nay I say further every true Christian doth doe this in a greater or lesser degree what is prayer but the soules discourse with God and Christ by the help of the holy Ghost what is the Word and preaching but a declaration of the mind of God to us Love these and love Christ neglect these and you care not for Iesus Christ Now then have these taken thy heart and ravished thy soule are these the cause of thy rejoycing and the want of these thy sorrow doest thou prize the Word of God above all the Words wealth doest thou love to follow Christ under all contempts canst thou rejoyce in Christ and account thy interest in him to be dearer to thee then all other honours and priviledges I say here are infallible signes of a sincere love to Christ when you can love any thing for Christ and all things for Christ and onely for Christ can you love Christians as they are Christs Ordinances as they are Christs doe you the more love Christians where there is the more of Christ in them do you the more love pure Ordinances as they are the more agreeable to the mind of Christ certainly unlesse you can doe this unlesse your hearts close with Christ in these I can give you no hopes that you either love Christ or have any interest in Christ This is not my owne rule but the rule of Iesus Christ this is not my word but the Word of Iesus Christ In one place Iesus Christ propounds a brotherly love to be a knowne signe of being in him By this shall all men know that yee are my Disciples if yee have love one to another Ioh. 13.35 the other place is Joh. 14.15 If yee love me keep my Commandements that is if you will make it appeared and manifest that you love me let it be knowne by your obedience in walking according to the rule I have given you to observe you see how strict Christ is and therefore it is not good for us to depart from Christ's rule from what he warrants us in I say againe for I cannot say it too often for the Lords sake take heed that you deceive not your selves in the cleering up your Evidences for Heaven your right to Christ you must not thinke because you live in the ayre of the Gospell amongst Christians and Ordinances and Bibles that this can make you Christians and intitle you to Christ no no it 's not faint prayers will bring a man to Heaven every one that saith Lord Lord shall not enter into the Kingdome of heaven but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heaven Mat. 7.21 Christ requires acting doing his will as well as confession of him nay it 's not barely a civill and strict life will bring a man to Heaven The Scribes and Pharisees went farre in this and yet fell short and therefore did Christ propound this seasonable Caution Except your righteousnesse exceed the righâ—eousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees yee can in no wise enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Mat. 5.20 Nay I must goe a little further yet it s not barely your partaking of the Seales of the Covenant doth put you into Covenant it 's not in plainer words your being baptized and receiving the Lords Supper which makes you Christians and interests you in Christ you may doe all these and yet doe nothing you may perish for all To this it is considerable which Paul writes to the Church at Galatia you may see what a stirre they kept about Circumcision Now to stint the strife and take them from their faâ—se bottomes the Apostle tels them plaine it is neither one nor the other will bring them to Heaven it 's onely the worke of faith by love For saith Paul in Iesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but faith which worketh by love Gal. 5.6 all these outward priviledges advantageth a soule nothing unlesse it can sensibly close with Christ in a full perswasion of the love of Christ to the soule in the great worke of Redemption and that it selfe have a pâ—rt therein but if the soule can thus trust Christ and hence really love Christ againe it may assuredly rest upon it it hath an inteâ—est in Christ This is the first signe of a reall love to Christ Signe 2. Secondly the soule that hath an interest in Christ will trust Christ with all the soule that hath an
moâ—ive with men to helpe a childe a friend when they are over-borne with power The Saints are also the members of Christs body Eph. 5.30 and Iesus Christ is the head Eph. 1.22 Now you know you cannot in the least manner hurt the remotest partâ— of the body not a little fingers end not a toe but the head is instantly sensible of it The head is the seat of the soule all the motions of liâ—e in the body are chiefly acted from the rationall faculties there Christ is not lesse to the Saints his members he is more to them Let the wicked take heed how they meddâ—e with the Saints they that put the Saints in prison puts Jesus Christ in prison make the Saints suffer and you make Jesus Christ suffer Jesus Christ must be with the Saints in all conditions it 's his promise and he will make it good when but the three children were cast bound into thar seven-fold fiery furnace because they would not worship an Idoll the King did see foure men loose walking in the midst of the fire and they had no hurt and the forme of the fourth was ike the sonne of God Dan. 3.25 Jesus Christ will goe through the fire with his Saints when Peter was in prison for the testimony of Jesus an Angel comes knocks off his bolts makes all the doors fly open before him and leads him away Act. 12.7 8 9 10. the like upon the matter was done to Paul and Silas Act. 16.24 25 c. I say let the Saints be where they will Jesus Christ will be with them doe what you please to the Saints you doe it to Iesus Christ Saul could not go to persecute the Saints but Iesus Christ cals to him Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Act. 9.4 and mark I pray you what an Item Iesus Christ adds ver. 5. It hard for thee to kink agaâ—nst the pricks the wicked must looke for sharp service it 's a dangerous worke to hurt the Saints their wisest way is to let them alone and not meddle with them let the Saints be never so few in appearance and the enemies never so many the Saints have more with then against them they that have Iesus Christ for them have enough at full though they be weak he is strong though they be few he hath men and Angels at his command when Elisha's servant upon the approach of the Army which came to take away Elisha cried alas my Master how shall we doe 2 Kin. 6.15 Elisha answered feare not for they that be with us are moe then they that be with them ver. 16. and these Elisha made use of ver. 17 18. the like is in that speech of Christ in his streight in the Garden he had onely a few and those fals-hearted Disciples with him when the multitude came with swords and staves about him alas saith Iesus Christ what are al these I â—ould but pray to my Faâ—her he would â—resently give me more then twelue legions of Angels Mat. 26.53 that is an infinite number I might add much sweet comfort to the Saints out of the power of Christ vvho is their companion in all but this subject is the sum of the next motive of which in its place Motive 4. Fourthly get your interest in Christ cleered up make sure of your right to him and you shall have a share in the Churches deliverance there is not a more infallible truth there is not any thing more certaine the Churches deliveraâ—ce shall come the Saints deliverance shall come God will doe it himselfe the Lord will save them and deliver them because they put their trust in him the time will come certainly yea the time will come shortly that God will give a glorious day to his poor despised saints saints feare it not it will come this encouragement is not mine but he which knew vvell the mind of God and never yet vvas lye found in his mouth even the Lord Christ Iesus I will give you his own vvords feare not little flocke it is your Fathers good pleasure it 's his owne mind to give you the Kingdome Luk. 12.32 this is so sweet to the Saints this is such a soul-affecting subject that I cannot passe without a little stay upon these excellent comforts I vvill therefore vievv them apart first it 's a great comfort and strange support to the saints to consider that a glorious deliverance shall bertainly come if there be any truth in all the book of God vvhich let them ever perish that dares deny it this position is true the Churches of Iesus Christ shall certainly be delivered from the vvicked it 's God's vvord and God's promise it 's a sure vvord of promse and God vvill not faile his people nor break his promise the Churches deliverance vvas determined by the counsell of heaven from all eternity promised vvhen the commission of persecution vvas first of all granted Gen. 3.15 and divers hundreds of times repeated in the old and nevv Testaments it vvere enough to have onely the promise of God that deliverance shall come to the saints but that vvhich confirms the certainty is that God himselfe vvill doe it it 's no lesse then three times repeated in tvvo verses of the 37. Psal. The salvation of the righteous is of the Lord he is their strength in the time of trouble The Lord shall help them and deliver them he shall deliver them from the wicked and save them because they trust in him ver. 39 40. indeed if the businesse vvas altogether left to man there might be just suspition of a long delay our eyes and our eares see and heare daily of the basenesse of many who are strong pretenders to the Religious part in these times vvherein God is about this great busines of the saints deliverance pride selfe and trechery have much prolonged our misery vvere it not that our hope vvas in the Lord vve vvere in a sad condition but I say againe Saints cheare up your drooping souls let open enemies and pretending friends doe what they can to keep off the Churches peace God will infatuate their counsels discover their treasons and destroy their strength the Lord will certainly deliver his Saints from the wicked because they trust in him Secondly the Churches dâ—liverance shall not onely certainly but shortly come I meane not comparatively but really within a little time when I say 〈◊〉 deliverance shall shortly come you must think I look above our present condiâ—ion which though blessed be God our cause hath much more life in it noâ— then outwardly could be discerned the last yeere yet our continued distempers and distractions bespeak much misery but I say I look above these I look at the Word and usually wayes of God these are my guides I know you will be desirous to heare my grounds for which I so confidently affirme and I will presâ—ntly give them to you some there are which I could urge yet think it wisdome to conceal them
but I will name two and they are strong ones First it 's a â—otable signe that our deliverance is at hand now the Lord hath put our worthies of Paâ—liament upon the work of Reformation Peace is the Babe the fruit of Reformation the Scriptures are plentifull in presidentâ— 2 Chron. 15.19 chap. 20.29 30. both these are plaine and full of comfort if you read the chapters but this 30. ver. is enough it selfe I pray you mark it so the Realm of Jehosaphat was quiet for his God gave him râ—st round about the Lord gave the Kingdome peace upon reformation that was the ground Secondly the Saints may conclude that their deliverance is neer from the height of the enemies pride and blasphemy when they are at the height then they shall down when the measure of sin is fild up then wrâ—th shall be poured down upon them you may read Senacherib's pride in Rabshaketh's blasphemy and then mark the issue it would be too much to give you the words of the whole story here but consider the event that 's the thing I ayme at In the 2 Kin. 18. you have a relation of Assyria's pride and blasphemy and in the very next chapter Assyria's Army the object and subject of the Lord's wrath now then what doe you think of the hope of the Churches deliverance when you consider the height of the enemies pride and blasphemy I will not mention the enemies pride and conceited self confidence of a promised conquest and I know now what if you be not acquainted with their fancies you may but read those printed papers which are called the Kings Declarations and you may see more then I â—m willing to expresse but if you dare beleeve reports never was there the like blasphemy known in the world as is daily heard in the enemies quarters which are now in armes to hinder the work of Reformation Alas Rabshaketh was but a learner to these of our times these are so bold that they scorne God to his face and commonly use this blasphemous expression as a familiar oath God dam me if he dare truly I hope you will excuse me in further instances I feare and tremble to think of them but certainly the Saints may build upon it God will very shortly execute vengeance upon this wicked bloody generation who have so long called for it themselves feare it not God will do it he wants not power when he is pleased to set about it this is the fourth motive Motive 5. Labour after the assurance of your interest in Christ and you shall enjoy a sweet communion with Christ nothing is so sweet and pleasing to the soule as communion with Iesus Christ this is the very reason that Paul desired to dye and to be with Christ that he might have a neerer communion with Christ then he could have in the flesh I tell you it 's a high priviledge which the Saintâ— have to have communion with Jesus Christ it 's the life of their cause it must needs goe well with you when you have such an Advocate to plead for you at the throne of grace when you have such a friend as can and will frequently carry your prayers and present your desires to the great God who is his Father and by him made your Father I say feare not the successe do you only keep to the rule labour to eye God labour to conforme your selves to the revealed will of God in his Word be earnest with Iesus Christ to intercede with you and for you to your Father lay home his promises to him and he cannot deny you God will not deceive you because you trust in him the which the Lord of his mercy speedily accomplish and that alone for the sake of Iesus Christ Amen Amen FINIS Rev. 19. Rev. 16. â—4 Rev 12.12 Josh. 1.2.3 4. Iudg. 20.18.21 Math. 14 2â—.23 24. Iosh 7.11 12.24 25 26. Iudg. 20. â—6 Math. 14.27