wicked king Achab Wilt thou helpe them that hate the Lord Wee may turne to those in our time that are enemies to the children of God Wil ye hurt them whom the Lord helpeth The children of God in all their infirmities haue the holy Spirit for their helper it cannot then otherwise be but in the end comfort must â—e to them and confusion vnto their enemies 2. Chr. 19.2 onely let those who are troubled by the malice of the tongues of wicked men make sure to themselues that they haue the spirit of grace and of glory resting in them partaker with them of their afflictions then let them be assured that either their enemies shal become their friends or then the righteous Lord shall render vengeance vnto those that trouble them For euery cuppe of trouble which the wicked fill vnto vs they fill with their owne hand another cuppe of wrath vnto themselues which how euer for awhile they set by them yet as the Lord liueth they shall bee compelled in the end to drinke them out And as concerning the losse of worldly goods whosoeuer bee the instrument learne thou to take it as a cup out of the hand of thy heauenly Father after the example of Iob Iob. 1.21 who passing by the Sabeans and the Caldeans looked to the hand of God The Lord hath giuen and the Lord hath taken sayth hee blessed bee the name of the Lord. It is not for lacke of loue that the mother withdrawes from the childe the vse of the Pappe but that shee may acquaint him with stronger meate and if the Lord take from vs these transitorie things it is not because wee are not beloued of him but that wee may set our hearts vpon those things which are more weightie and permanent which if wee doe then are our sufferings with him Who beeing rich became poore that in all things wee might bee made rich in him And the same are wee to doe in those troubles which wee sustaine in our bodyes Heb. 12.9 For if as the Apostle sayth wee haue had fathers of our bodyes who haue corrected vs and wee haue giuen them reuerence should wee not much rather bee in subiection to the father of spirits that we might liue And if wee can yeeld our bodyes to Physitions to be cut or burnt at their pleasure how much more should wee submit them to the Lord in all humble contentment to bee chastised as hee will seeing hee protests himselfe he doth it not but for our singular profit that wee might be partakers of his holinesse There is nothing that may comfort a naturall man but Duuid had it yet cannot all these keepe him from that heauinesse whereunto as witnesseth S. Peter the children of God are subiect in this life through their manifold tentations the men of the world are so farre froÌ„ this disposition that if they haue health and wealth they maruell what it is should make a maÌ„ heauy they are not acquainted with the exercises of a feeling conscience they know not the defects of the spirituall life and are not grieued at them being dead in sin they feele not that they want life all their care is to eate and drinke and make merrie but miserable are they for in their best estate they are as Oxen fed for the slaughter woe to them that laugh now they shal mourne Mat. 5.5.6 but blessed are they who mourne now for they shall be comforted Therefore there is a time appointed wherein mourners shall be comforted Pro. 24.26 The iust man falleth seuen times a day that is into distresse and trouble but riseth againe The state of the godly in the Sea of this World is like the Sea Euripus that ebbes and flowes seuen times a day it ebbes no oftener then it flowes againe so the godly haue as many comforts as sorrowes According to the saying of our Sauiour Christ Ioh. 16.20 Ye shall indeed sorrow but your sorrow shall be turned into ioy It had beene a great comfort if Christ had onely promised that their sorrow should be mitigated and more to haue said it should be shortly ended but to say it shall be turned into ioy Comfort against contempt of men whereby they scorne the godly for sighing and teares ministreth abundant consolation and strength in the patient expecting of so happie a change And here because the prophane World makes a scorne of the contrite disposition of the godly laughing at their teares taunting them in their sighes and sobs let vs looke here to Dauid if it cannot alway be an argument to moue men to godlinesse yet is it forcible to moue God to mercy The broken heart for the griefe of Sinne and loue of Righteousnesse how euer the World despise it the Lord will not despise it yea it is the Sacrifice of God acceptable to him in Christ Iesus Seeing then that all they which will liue godly in Christ Iesus must suffer persecution wee must hold fast this Consolation whereby we may as it were season these Afflictions namely that the Holy-Ghost doth here prophesie That wee must sowe in teares but biddeth vs be of good comfort notwithstanding for the more plentifull and bitter the teares be the greater laughter and ioy shall follow Like as he setteth forth also a contrary example The World soweth in laughter but afterwards it reapeth in euerlasting sorrow anguish and miserie But our Tentations and Afflictions doe here endure but for a little time Let vs therefore patiently suffer in hope that in stead of this painefull sowing for so small a time wee shall hereafter reape euerlasting ioy and blessednesse And this also bringeth great Consolation That albeit our whole Life be full of Sorrow bitter Afflictions and sowing altogether in Teares yet God will suffer no Tentations alwayes to continue but like as Stormes and Tempests haue their Seasons and afterwards commeth faire Weather as also after Labour followeth Rest and Quietnesse euen so experience doth teach vs that when our hearts haue beene vexed and oppressed with cogitations of Desparation Mistrust Impatience before God and the World for a day two or three or else longer God rayseth them vp againe with some Spirituall comfort therefore our afflictions are tempered with some consolations that we should know that God will not suffer vs to be altogether swallowed vp with sorrow He will correct vs as the Psalmist sayth but will not giue vs ouer vntill death Let vs learne therefore to know these things and that we must suffer Afflictions and sowe in Teares lest when Tentation commeth we be offended as though some new or strange thing were happened vnto vs and so flye from God and fall to dispaire and let vs hold fast this consolation that our Haruest is in Heauen euen Life euerlasting which we shall reape with ioy As the Wine fayled in that Banquet whereat Christ was present so oftentimes fayleth ioy euen in the heart where Christ dwelleth but as in the one
for vs in Heauen Let vs not be like the foolish Iewes who loued the place of their banishment in Babel better then their Home Now our life is hid with God in Christ and wee know not yet what wee shall be but wee know when hee shall appeare wee shall be like him The Lord shall carry vs by his Mercie and bring vs by his Strength into the holy Habitation He shall plant vs in the Mountaine of his Inheritance euen the Place which hee hath prepared and Sanctuarie which hee hath established Then euerlasting ioy shall be vpon our head and sorrow mourning shall flie from vs for euer The Lord strengthen our Faith that through these mystie clouds of Affliction which now compasse vs wee may see that comfortable end which God in his Word hath discouered vnto vs. So that this Seâ—d thus prolonged and carryed for a long season is nothing else but Tentations continuing and succeeding one after another one still following vpon another But what is the end of this continuance euen this that they shall possesse eternall ioy and felicitie As the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrewes doth notably declare Now no chastising for the present seemeth to be ioyous Heb. 12.11 but grieuous here you heare of Teares neuerthelesse afterwards it yeeldeth the peaceable fruit of Righteousnesse vnto them that are exercised thereby Here you heare that they shall returne with ioy Albeit then that this Seed is prolonged and deferred yet it is not so for euer but the ioy that shall follow is euerlasting Thus the Kingdome of Christ consisteth not in the power and riches of the World but in eternall Redemption which wee must attayne vnto through great Afflictions and infinite Crosses wherein notwithstanding wee are supported by the Word and Prayer vntill we come to the fulnesse of our saluation in the Kingdome of Heauen Therefore euery day should we gird vp our Loynes remembring that Warning which the Angell gaue to Eliah as most pertinent vnto vs Arise and walke thou hast yet a great Iourney to goe 1. Kin. 19.7 Of the children of God sayth Theophilactus some are at home in their owne Countrey some are in the Iourney homeward but woe vnto them who are neyther in their owne Countrey neyther in the way vnto it We are not therefore to settle our selues here as if wee had no â—urther to goe but must walke forward through this valley of teares from strength to strength till at last we appeare before the face of God in Sion Wee are still detayned in Egypt wee haue not yet obtayned the Land of Promise Psal 84.7 How then shall I sing the Songs of the Lord in a strange Land Wee are not yet past the Red Sea nor the waste Wildernesse nor the fierie Serpents what shall we doe but water our Couch night and day with teares and with feare and trembling walke on the rest of the way which yet is before vs Seeing our life is walking take heed wee keepe the right way And seeing we are in a Iourney let vs take heed that wee keepe the way otherwise our life shall be a wandring from God not a walking toward God The way is Christ I am the way Iohn 14.6 if we abide in it we shall walke with God as Enoch did before God as Abraham did toward God as Dauid did O happy turne wherein Christ is both the End the Way and the Guide Let vs walke after Christ Bernard because hee is the Truth let vs walke toward Christ because hee is the Life If yee looke to the companies of men in the World yee shall see some in stead of following Christ flying from him for he who doth euill hateth the Light Others where they should follow him runne before him not waiting vpon his Light and Direction in matters of his Worship but follow their owne Spirit doing that which is good in their owne eyes they runne with zeale but not in the right way And we haue so much the more to take heede vnto the way For he that walketh after the flesh shall at length encounter with death Gal. 6.8 because euery mans course declareth what kinde of man hee is whether carnall or spirituall and what will be his End Hee that soweth to the Flesh of the Flesh shall reape corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reape life euerlasting I am perswaded there is no man among vs who will not say hee would be at the best end which is eternall Life But here is the wonderfull folly of Men the proposed end of their Pilgrimage whereat they would be is Heauen but the way wherein they walke is the way that leadeth close to Hell Who will not esteeme him a Foole who in word sayth his Iourney is toward the South and yet for no mans warning will refraine his feet from walking toward the North but more foolish is hee who professing himselfe a Pilgrim trauelling towards heauenly Ierusalem keepes notwithstanding a contrarie course hauing his backe vpon Heauen and his face toward Hell walking not after the Spirit but after the Flesh O pittifull Blindnesse and Folly How many Witnesses of God haue forewarned thee in thy life all crying to thee with a lowd voyce This way wherein thou walkest O sinfull man is the way of Death Hee who liues after the Flesh shall die assuredly Yet wilt thou not returne nor change the course of thy life to walke after the liuing God that thou mayest be saued And hauing once found the right way Three profitable helps of a godly life which may leade vs vnto God let vs strengthen our selues to walke in it by those three most notable helpes of a godly Life deliuered vnto vs by the Prophet Dauid in three Verses of the 119. Psalme Psal 119. Verse 57. O Lord I haue determined to keepe thy Word 58. I haue made my Supplication in thy presence with my whole heart 59. I haue considered my wayes and turned my feet vnto thy Testimonies 1. Determination Determination is the first It is a good thing by settled resolution to conclude with thy selfe that thou wilt liue godly 2. Supplication Supplication is the second Except by continuall Prayer our Determination bee confirmed and strengthened by grace from God our conclusion which wee take to day shall vanish tomorrow 3. Consideration Consideration is the third and it is profitable to reduce vs againe into the way of God so often as of weakenesse we wander from it contrarie to our first determination These are the three helpes to keepe our heart in the way of God so necessarie that if without them wee doe any worke it is not possible but wee shall be snared And therefore as in a Ship which is readie to sayle so soone as the Sayles are hoysed vp presently some skilfull Mariner starts to the Rudder so euery morning wherein wee rise from our rest and make our selues
and be glad in it Now it is not enough to keepe that day as an idle holy day to rest from labor and work to ring Bels and make Bonfiers to giue our selues to eating drinking and swilling to sports and pastimes for this is no honour to God But first our thankefulnesse must appeare in a most reuerent and thankefull commemoration and Remembrance of this so great and wonderfull a deliuerance wee must call it to mind thinke of the greatnesse of it wee must speake of it to our Children and Posterity and call vpon them to bee thankfull for the Child that is yet vnborne is bound to blesse God for it Exodus 12.6 Secondly we must sing Psalmes of praise and thanksegiuing vnto God in token of thankfulnesse and that publikely in the Church and Congregation of Gods people Thirdly we must come together into Gods house to heare his word and call vpon his name and that is a speciall part of our vnfained thankfulnesse Fourthly wee must testifie our thankfulnes in most hearty dutiful obedience which is the greatest and the best sacrifice 1. Sam. 15.22 And if this be wanting all that wee do is nothing worth Esay 29.13 so that for our generall deliuerance there should be a generall thanksegiuing in a generall reformation of Church and Commonwealth of our hearts and sinfull liues otherwise wee are indeed vnthankefull if still we liue in sin rebellion Then notwithstanding our keeping a day ringing of Bels sport and play if their follow no reformation of our liues wee may iustly feare a more dreadfull iudgement if not vtter ruine and destruction to follow Now alas where is this vse of Gods mercy and our deliuerance where doth the people reforme their liues reforme their wayes grow more religious conscionable and carefull to heare reade pray in their families it is but a wonder of nine dayes men make little or no vse of it but to talke of it and speake of it And lastly our thankefulnesse should beget in vs an earnest hatred of Popery and superstition so vilde faulse mischieuous bloody and cursed religion to abhorre it to haue nothing to do with it but to abandon it which that all estates and degrees of men may do the Lord grant for his mercy sake Amen Verse 1. They had swallowed vs vp quicke when they were so wrathfully displeased at vs. THis repitition is not in vaine for whiles we are in danger our feare is without measure but when it is once past wee imagine it to haue beene lesse then it was indeed and this is the delusion of Sathan to diminish and obscure the grace of God Dauid therefore with this repetition stirreth vp the people to a more thankefulnesse vnto God for his gracious deliuerance and implyteth the dangers which they had passed Whereby we are taught how to thinke of our troubles and afflictions past least the sence and feeling of Gods graces vanish out of our Minds And heere note how God dealeth with his people in their distresse who suffereth their enemies so farre to preuaile ouer them and deferreth his helpe so long till it seeme vnpossible for them to escape so that they are compelled to confesse and acknowledge that they must needes haue perished if the mighty hand of God had not deliuered them These two things then wee see the Israelites here to acknowlegde first that the Lord was on their side that is succoured and deliuered thē then also that it had not beene possible but they must vtterly haue perished if God had not preserued and defended them Dauid saith Psalm 129 1.2.3 that albeit he was persecuted and sore oppressed for his profession yet no troubles could make him swerue from the Testimonies of God Trouble is the best tryall of true Religion It is no great thing to cleaue vnto the Testimonies of God when none pursues them for it when authority allowes it when honour and prosperity followes it It is no great praise then to professe it When the Lord gloried of his Seruant Iob That he was an vpright man fearing God yet Sathan replyed Iob. 1. And what maruell doth Iob worship God for nothing he knew there were many hirelings temporizers in the world that worshipped not God sincerely and therefore would not continue it hee thought Iob to bee one of these lay now thine hand vpon all that he hath and hee shall blaspheme thee to thy face But he was deceiued for the more he was crossed the neerer did he cleaue vnto the Lord. Let vs remember as Saint Paul hath warned vs wee haue not yet resisted vnto blood neither that which S. Peter cals the fierie triall haue we endured and yet what a shame is it to see how many are become coulder in Religion an euident argument that they were neuer truly religious for if they cannot stand against offences how should they stand against oppressions and persecutions They haue swallowed vs vp quick in these words he expresseth not onely the strength and rage and cruelty of the enemies but also how weake and vnable the Isralites were to withstand them and here he vseth a similitude takē of fierce and outragious beasts whose property is when they haue taken their prey to swallow them aliue Likewise when wee would expresse the cruelty or malice of any towards vs we are wont to say he hateth mee so deadly that hee could finde in his heart to eate mee or swallow mee vp quicke the Prophet meaneth then that their enemies were so many and so mighty that they needed no armour or weapons to destroy them but were able like fierce and cruell beasts to swallow them vp aliue being so weake and so little a flocke let vs learne then to sing with Dauid If the Lord had not bin on our side whose mighty hand hath deliuered vs whose power alone hath preserued vs and although the world rage against vs though Sathan vexe vs neuer so sore they cannot hurt vs. Be of good comfort saith Christ our Sauiour For I haue ouercome the world Againe I giue vnto them euerlasting life and none shall take them out of my hands First this teacheth vs to remember and meditate of all such gracicious deliuerances which he shewed vnto vs either in general or particular from treasons trecheries conspiracies the like in regard wherof we had long since bin consumed had not God taken our parts against those that rose vp against vs whose purpose was to haue deuoured vs in regard of which treason we may truly say as Dauid now may England say If the Lord had not been on our side if the Lord himselfe had not bin on our side when men rose vp against vs viz. the Papists they had then swallowed vs vp quick when their wrath was kindled against vs c. Let vs againe remember how nere their purpose hath bin broght to passe ready euen to take effect as we haue spoken in the 1. verse yet their net is broken and wee are
had long since beene like Sodome and like Gomorrah for the Lord our God hath not set his loue vpon vs for any thing in vs but because hee loued vs Deut. 7.7 8 hath hee deliuered preserued and redeemed vs and done all good vnto vs. Heere wee are briefely to consider of these things First how graciously God bestoweth his blessings and benefits dayly vpon vs especially how he continueth the gracious liberty of the Gospell amongst vs encreasing dayly the number of faithfull Preachers Who breake vnto vs the bread of life this is a blessing of blessings without which the soule may the sooner starue yet indeed of the wicked of the world no more esteemed of then their old shooes and therefore they seldom heare it lightly regard it but neuer practise it this is that pearle to attaine which wee ought to sell all that wee haue rarher then to want it if this meditation of the price of this word were truely in our hearts it would not bee that so many could suffer their people to starue for want of it Secondly let vs remember our health wealth peace and liberty our dayly protecting vnder so gracious a gouernment which wee enioy by God It is in Acte 17.28 Verse 25. and through him that we liue wee moue and haue our being hee giueth vs life and breath and all things wee cannot liue one minute of an howre without Gods prouidence hee dayly prouideth for vs foode and rayment and no good thing doth he withhold frō vs he defendeth vs day and night from all dangers he maketh men to be of one minde and liue together in vnity he blesseth our corne our cattell and all our substance he prospereth all our handy worke our meate might be our bane did not God continually blesse it vnto vs wee might haue our Throats cut in our beds were nothe watchful ouer vs by his fatherly prouidence he sendeth raine to moysten the earth Hee giueth grasse for the Cattell Deut 11. and Hearbs for the vse of man he causeth the Corne and oyle to come to perfection that man may eate and haue all manner of fruit in aboundance he neuer forsaketh his inheritance he blesseth our going out and comming in On foote on horseback in company and out of company in publike and secret at home and abroad sleeping and waking hee is all in all vnto vs. This meditation will make vs to receiue nothing without thankesgiuing to liue circumspectly to looke to our wayes and to study to please God to giue our hearts vnto him and to make him our treasure First this serues to put vs in mind of all those gracious promises that God hath made vnto vs either of temporall blessing or spirituall grace which we are to beleeue that in Gods due time they shal be performed and so we shal not lose our reward The not beleeuing of this truth is one maine cause of sinne and the continuance of it and no one thing doth make the wicked so desperate in euill courses as this to thinke it is altogether in vaine to liue a godly life We must therefore remember and beleeue that God is a plentifull rewarder of all those that seeke him Heb. 11.6 Ioh. 16.23 Mat. 1.28 that whatsoeuer we aske in Christ his name shall bee giuen vs. That whosoeuer commeth to Christ Ezec. 18.31 laden with the burden of his sinnes shall haue refreshing and finde rest to his soule That whosoeuer doth repent him of his sinnes from the bottome of his heart shall bee forgiuen Ios 1.5 that hee will neuer faile nor forsake his and infinite such which God hath made to all his children Heb. 13 5 But especially wee ought to Meditate and often call to mind That maine promise of life eternall Mar. 26.16 which God hath promised to all beleeuers and most surely will performe it whosoeuer beleeueth shall be saued So God loued the world that hee gaue his only begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him shall not perish but haue euerlasting life Ioh. 3.16 And herewithall to ioyne the meditation of the certainty of the future resurrection after death and the full fruition of euerlasting glory described at large 1. Cor. 15. and if any thing in the world will moue vs to forsake our sinnes and returne to God this will The want of this is the cause of all manner of sinne in the wicked they say and beleeue that it is in vaine to serue God Mal. 3.14 and what profit it is that wee haue kept GODS Ordinances and walked so mournefully before the Lord c. It profiteth a man nothing to delight himselfe in God Iob. 34.9 They say vnto God depart from vs and what can the Almighty doe for vs they take the Timbrell and Harpe and reioyce at the sound of the Organ Iob. 22.17 They spend their dayes in wealth and mirth and in a moment goe downe to the Graue therefore they say vnto God Iob 21.12 13 14 15 Depart from vs for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes What is the Almighty that wee should serue him thus as the godly are stirred vp by Gods gracious promises to serue him the better so the wicked by not being perswaded of the truth of his promises for time to come abuse Gods goodnesse and spend their dayes in all manner of sinne to their owne destruction Lastly in a word our remembrance of Gods fauour toward vs must bee constant without wearines and certaine without change as Dauid saith Psal 119.93 I will neuer forget Gods Word It must bee thankefull for all Gods mercies spirituall and temporall Psal 63.5.6 My mouth saith Dauid shall praise thee with ioyfull lips when I remember thee It must be fruitful prouoking vs to al good workes quickning vs to euery good duty I wil meditate in thy precepts Psal 119-1 5 and haue respect to thy wayes It must bee chearefull in affliction and victorious in time of trouble that we may say as Dauid Vnlesse thy law had beene my delight Psal 119.9 2 I had perished in my affliction And thus much of the remembrance of Gods workes of mercy in preseruing of vs both for time past present and to come Verse 3. Yea the waters had drowned vs and the streame had gone ouer our soules TErrible is the rage of fire but much more terrible is the violence and rage of water for that no power cannot resist Now saith Dauid like as huge mighty streams of water carried with great power and violence doe suddenly ouerthrow and beate downe whatsoeuer they meete withall euen such is the rage of the enemies of Gods Church which no power of man is able to with-stand Therefore let vs learne to trust to the Lords defence and succour for what else is the Church but as a little Boat tyed by a Riuers side and by violence of the water soone carried away or as a Reede which by
shall be euen as the Mount Sion which may not be remoued but standeth fast for euer THe Prophet vseth here a Similitude of Mount Sion because Ierusalem wherein Sion stood when the Temple was builded had most ample and notable Promises of God as appeareth in very many places of the Prophets That it should stand sure and inuincible for euer against all troubles and calamities for that the Lord had his abiding and dwelling there according to that Promise where he saith Here is my rest here will I dwell c. And therefore Dauid in another Psalme gloryeth on this wise Loe the Kings were gathered Psal 48.5 and went together when they saw it they maruelled they were astonied and suddenly driuen backe As we may see it came to passe vnder Ezechias in that great destruction of the Assyrians and other Kings as the Stories witnesse Which shew that Ierusalem remayned safe in all Dangers not by the strength and policie of the Inhabitants but by the miraculous worke of God dwelling in it They that put their trust in the Lord shall neuer bee remooued but standeth fast for euer Though others doe perish and are destroyed who doe vvithdraw their Hearts from him yet blessed and happie are those that doe depend vpon him and make him their onely trust and confidence they seruing him aright as it doth become them for here it should seeme that the word trust which is a principall part of that worship and seruice which man doth owe vnto Christ is put for the whole worship and seruice it selfe by the figure Synecdoche when one part is put for all and well might the Prophet vse this word before al others in regard of the iudgements hee spake of before to note that the godly who haue a care to obey Christ haue good hope and trust in him euen in the midst of dangers Here we learne this doctrine that they are blessed and happy that do rely vpon Christ and make him their stay and refuge Blessed is the man sayth Ieremie Ier. 17.7 that trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is Psal 146. and blessed is he saith Dauid that hath the God of Iacob for his helpe whose hope is in the Lord his God so that all that doe trust in Christ are happy and blessed And the reason thereof is this because they shall neuer perish but haue euerlasting life as it is oftentimes repeated in the new Testament where God the Father is said to haue loued the world so that hee gaue his onely begotten Son for it Ioh 3.16 that whosoeuer did beleeue in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life For in these two things all blessednesse and happines doth stand first in a freedome from all misery and destruction then in a possessiō of all ioyes and life euerlasting Therefore let euery one of vs labour soundly and truely to beleeue in Christ and to depend vpon him as vpon a sure rocke that will neuer deceiue vs for then you see we shall be blessed A man will doe much to haue happines here in this world euery one by nature doth desire the same and shall not we then trust in Christ to attaine vnto it Withdraw wee our hearts from the world and let vs place them wholy vpon him as they are cursed that doe make flesh their arme and trust in mā So they are blessed that doe make Christ their arme and trust in him remember what Dauid sayd touching this matter Lo sayth hee to God they that withdraw themselues from thee shall perish Psal 73.27 28. thou destroyest all them that goe a whoring from thee as for mee it is good for me to draw neere to God therefore I haue put my whole trust in the Lord God that I may declare all thy workes Let these things moue vp our hearts to cleane fast vnto Christ doubtlesse there is nothing wanting in him which is fit to be in one on whom we are to place our trust There are sixe things required of such a one First power that hee may bee able to helpe vs. Secondly Will that hee may bee ready to doe it Thirdly Skill that he may know how to do it Fourthly Remembrance that may mind vs for the doing of it Fifthly Carefulnesse that he may not post it off or neglect it from time to time Lastly Boldnesse that he may feare no inconuenience to ensue vpon it to hinder him from doing of it but all these are in Christ he is able to helpe vs because hee is Omnipotent he is willing because he loues vs to the death he is Skilfull because all the treasures of knowledge and wisedome are hid in him he is Mindfull because his eyes are alwayes open vpon vs as who doth neirher slumber nor sleepe but stands alwayes girded in the midst of the seuen golden Candlestickes to doe them good He is Carefull because he is Lord and King ouer all and that Lyon of Iudah that feareth nothing Withdraw not then your hearts from him but trust in him most constantly for euermore Secondly by this we see that godlinesse is great gaine or riches as the Apostle doth speake for trust here you see brings with it blessednesse it is not a barren thing but fruitfull it comes laden with all the blessings of the Lord vnto vs. Cursed man will say Mal. 3.14 that it is in vaine to serue the Lord and that there is no profite in keeping his commandements and in walking humbly before him But here wee are taught the contrary the wicked that doe rebell they are cast downe and doe perish but as for those which doe serue Christ and trust in him they stand vp and are blessed Then for as much as your labour is not in vaine in the Lord that I may vse the phrase of the Apostle Bee yee stedfast vnmoueable abundant alway in the worke of the Lord 1. Cor. 15.58 and trust you in Christ for euermore which wil thus bring blessednesse vnto you Seeing then they are blessed that doe trust in Christ euen then when others perish and are destroyed wee should not feare at any time but be of a good hope and comfort in the middest of all our calamities as knowing that then wee are blessed and in happy estate as well as at other times for Christ doth know how to make a separation betwixt vs that are his friends and others that are his enemies Questionlesse as God did put a difference betwixt the Israelites the Egyptians in all such plagues as hee sent among them sparing still the Israelites and punishing the Egyptians and as he did put a difference betwixt his seruant Noah and the olde world Gen. 7. sauing Noah and drowning the world and as he did put a difference betwixt holy Lot and wicked Sodome Gen. 17. deliuering Lot and burning Sodome with fire and brimstome from heauen so will Christ put a difference betwixt vs and others to saue vs and destroy
true diuinitie consisteth in vse and practise Wee are vexed on euerie side with wicked and peruerse scorners and others which hate the word of God and the doctrine which we professe Comfort when the godly are not esteemed of the wicked The men of this world esteeme Gods Children as the off-scowrings of the earth So Paul a chosen vessell of God yet not esteemed of men Let this confirme the godly against the contempt of men onely the Lord hath in his owne hand the ballance of Iustice which weigheth men aright according as they are but these are very trifles if wee compare them with those vexations which Sathan sinne and our owne infirmitie raise vp in our cōsciences we must learne therefore thus to iudge of all things that they are the rod or scepter of the wicked and to set the Lord against them reuealing his will here in his word and pronouncing that he will not suffer the scepter of the wicked to rest vpon the godly Since then the same Prince promiseth thus much vnto vs which hath all things in his hand what can we require more for the will of God is certaine that though he suffer vs to be afflicted yet will he not see vs troden vnder foote or perish What the rod signifieth in the Scriptures it is well knowne children when they are young are corrected with a rod and when they waxe bigger with a wand or a cudgell and if they will not amend then followeth the iron rod hereof it commeth that the rod signifieth all power and rule which is for the amendment and corrction of such as doe offend so it is taken in the 110. Psalme The Lord shall send forth the rod of thy power out of Sion That is to say Thy kingdome for here he signifieth such a rod whereby kingdomes and people are gouerned On this wise the Holy Ghost permitteth heere to the Wicked dominion and tyrannie ouer the Godly which they are compelled to suffer this dominion or tyrannie the Holy Ghost called the rodde of the Wicked and comforteth vs. That as the Lord liueth their tyrannie shall fall and shall not rest vpon the lot of the Godly The lot of the Iust is as much to say as the Portion that is the Number or Congregation of the lust like as Christ calleth them the little Flocke and Paul the poore Saints Ouer these sayth hee although the tyrants doe rule yet shall not their power endure although the persecutors of the Church doe oppresse the Faithfull yet shall they not doe so alwayes neyther shall their counsels haue that successe which they desire for they thinke to roote out this Doctrine for euer but that shall they neuer be able to doe Therefore albeit ye suffer in the meane time sayth the Holy Ghost yet know ye that my will is That they which beleeue in me shall neuer perish but shall be preserued to life euerlasting Here then haue ye whereunto ye may trust in all your tentations But behold the reason which the Holy Ghost heere vseth to proue the Scepter of the Wicked shall not rest vpon the Iust God is moued sayth he to helpe and defend the Iust For else it might so come to passe that God should haue no Church at all and the Iust should put forth their hands to wickednesse So we finde in Ieremy that before the people were deliuered into the hands of the Babylonians they had a promise that after seuentie yeares they should returne againe to Ierusalem because they should not bee brought into doubt of Gods mercy and so vtterly dispaire and falling away from God should turne to foolishnesse that is to say should blaspheme and become impatient this is the cause why God ioyneth the promise of the word with the execution and performance of the deede for else the godly should be driuen to desparation We see how many are cast downe with aduersitie by the losse of goods wife children other things which are deere vnto them except therefore their minds were raised vp againe and comforted first with the word and promise and then with the performance and execution of the same many would say there were no God therfore God must needs shew himselfe to be a God not onely in a word but also in deed Dauid had great promises of God 2. Sam. 15.30 and yet by his owne sonne was driuen out of his kingdome and so persecuted that hee was compelled to flye away bare head and bare foote this was a sore tentation wherefore the great and ample promises made vnto him could neuer haue raised him vp and comforted him againe except God had indeede deliuered him out of this great miserie and affliction euen so if we had no more but the promises of God to support vs against the Papists and aduersaries of the word yea if God did not indeede fight for vs and defend vs against their tyranny God therfore worketh both waies hee raiseth vp with the word and promise and deliuereth out of troubles and afflictions by the execution of the deed that according to the saying of Saint Paul the tentation should not be aboue our strength but should haue an end and wee learne by our owne experience that the first Commaundement I am the Lord thy GOD is most certaine and infailable therefore when he saith Least the iust should turne away from God and fall to gentilitie for GOD hath a double care ouer the faithfull first that they bee not ouercome but may ouercome the tentation And this he doth by the word and promise the second is that the tentation bee not perpetuall euen so must we be vndoubtedly perswaded that besides the infailable promises which we haue of the good will of God towards vs and in the end of euerlasting life wee shall also be deliuered and our aduersaries destroyed albeit wee can see no manner of way or possible meanes how that it may bee done But heere wee must beware that wee doe not appoint the time of this deliuerance for before that come God will haue vs tried to the vttermost and brought to that extremitie that all our hope and trust shall bee vtterly spent and we at the point of desparation Now when wee are brought into this case that wee can see nothing but desparation then euen then God sendeth comfort in death he sheweth life and euen in damnation he bringeth saluation Briefely of nothing hee maketh all things and when all hope of remedie is past then beginneth he to worke and frameth all anew againe in most perfect wise Thus cannot the God of this world doe this is the singular worke of God therefore when thou thinkest thy selfe cleane cast away and vtterly forsaken euen then thou shouldest be most sure and safe and most gloriously shine as the Day-starre in the Firmament These things are easily taught but by experience we finde and feele how farre they passe all reason and power of man and how hardly we can beleeue that God maketh all
Spirit of Grace the Spirit of Prayer that is with the redemption which was wrought by Christ the prayer of the faithfull and of the redeemed for although our redemption be fully wrought and we redeemed by the bloud of the Sonne of God yet it is necessarie that we should pray for this redemption as Christ also in his Prayer commands vs to doe that Gods Name may be sanctified Mat. 6. Which notwithstanding we know to be holy and sanctified alreadie That the Kingdome of God may come which is come and is within vs alreadie Also Christ sayth Father glorifie thy Name and the Father answered I haue glorified it and I will glorifie it againe Also Saint Paul sayth I count not my selfe to haue attained vnto it c. hee meaneth the fulnesse of the knowledge of Christ and perfect taste of the power of his Resurrection This is it which I touched before that this benefit of the Gospell this inestimable gift of our Redemption and Life euerlasting is easie to be vttered with words but most hard to be beleeued with the heart For wee haue in this life not the Tenths Rom. 8.23 but the first fruits of the Spirit but the flesh liueth fully and wholly in a manner strong and lustie True it is that wee haue entred one foot into the Kingdome of God and haue thereby obtayned the assurance of the Promise Thess 4.1 but wee must not there rest wee must draw the other foot after that is wee must continually encrease and goe forward in the knowledge of Grace and of Faith And for this cause the Prophet Zacharie sayth That the Spirit of Prayer is powred forth vpon vs which Spirit requireth this encrease in vs. And S. Paul sayth Rom. 8.22 That the Spirit sigheth with sighes that cannot be expressed yea and that euery creature also groaneth for the deliuerance of the Children of God Wherefore whilest wee are in this Body which presseth vs downe as a heauie Burthen and hindereth vs that wee cannot fully apprehend these things wee haue not onely the Spirit of Grace but the Spirit of Prayer also that we might be assured of the grace and good will of God towards vs for Christs sake in whom we beleeue and yet should not cease to pray that God would make perfect in vs that hee hath begun Sathan neuer ceaseth to assayle our Faith Hope and other Vertues which God hath planted in vs. Sathans prerogatiue And this prerogatiue hath Sathan because the Grace which is begun in vs is not yet perfect therefore he fighteth so busily against these beginnings fearing lest they should come to perfection Such is the life of Christians which haue already receiued the first fruits of the Spirit who by experience doe learne that these things cannot be fully apprehended but that in the meane while they shall oftentimes slip yea and sometimes dangerously fall so that the sparke of Faith and of the Spirit may seeme in them to be vtterly quenched As it happened to Dauid in his Adulterie 2. Sam. 11. wherein they haue need of helpe to rayse them vp againe as Christ answered to Paul My power is made perfect in infirmitie The infirmitie is theirs and remayneth theirs whilest they liue but the power and strength is Christs alone one dramme of the grace of Christ in the soule of a Christian makes him more precious in the eyes of God then any remnant-corruption in him can make him odious Therefore is it that the Lord giues vnto them the Names of his Beloued his Seruants his Sonnes his Saints who are so onely in part Both these are true Those that are borne of God sinneth not and againe If wee say wee haue no sinne wee deceiue our selues the one wee haue of the fruits of the New Man the other of the remnants of the Old Man Let vs therefore be continually displeased with our inhabitant Corruption that wee despaire not nor be discouraged neither let vs so complaine of our Sinnes that we become false witnesses against the grace of God which is in vs. If there were nothing in vs but that we haue by nature our state were most miserable but seeing besides nature there is in vs a new workemanship of grace frō which the Lord accoūts vs new and spirituall men we haue God be thanked matter of cōfort Let vs yet further consider This testimonie of the Spirit is not alwayes perceiued in a like measure of them that haue it that this testimonie of the Spirit is not all times enioyed in a like measure for that were to enioy Heauen vpon Earth The Lord doth therfore in such sort suspence it that sometimes he lets his children feele it for their consolation and againe withdrawes it from them for their humiliation When they feele it they so abound in ioy that all the terror and threatnings of Sathan all his promises and allurements are despised of them and trodden vnder their feet they sing within themselues that glorious Triumph of the Apostle Rom. 8.32 Who shall seperate vs from the loue of God But this ioy proceeding from the fulnesse of Faith continueth not the voyce of the Spirit of Adoption waxing somewhat more silent feares and doubts succeeds in that same heart which before abounded in ioy And if hereby the weake Conscience be cast downe remember that the more thou art displeased with thy selfe the more thy Lord is pleased with thee for thy dayly pollutions hee hath appointed daily washings in that fountaine which he hath opened to the house of Dauid for sinne and for vncleannesse sweepe out thy sinnes euery day by the beesome of holy anger and reuenge Cyprian and water the house of thy heart with the teares of contrition seeing we cannot be without some wounds of Conscience let vs daily goe to the next remedie that with spirituall medicines wee may cure them Chastising our selues euery morning and examining our selues vpon our bed in the euening The first fruits of our heart and tongue euery morning should be offered to God And remember O man that thou owest euery day the first fruits of thy heart and tongue to the Lord our God shouldst thou thinke of any thing before that first thou remember him in the morning or should thy tongue speake of any thing before the first fruits of thy speech be offered vnto him by Prayer and praysing of his holy Name Thus we see the great necessitie of prayse and how it ought to be continually vsed among the faithfull if not with the mouth yet with the heart and heartie sighes vnto God according to the words of S. Paul Colo. 3.16 Let the word of God dwell in you plentiously Signifying that they ought to be continually exercised therein not onely by teaching the same to others publikely and priuatly but also by earnest Meditation and Prayer when they sit at home in their houses when they walke by the way when they lye downe and when they
haue heard of the Patience of Iob and haue seene the End which the Lord made and that the Lord is very mercifull and full of pittie Hee that shall set himselfe to consider in his mind how poore Ioseph was handled and sold of his Brethren and how refusing to consent to the shamefull request of his Mistresse hee was cast into Prison and kept there two yeeres surely a man would take pittie on him as on a miserable person But let vs see the accomplishment of the Worke of God Let vs consider him by this meanes exalted to the Gouernment of all the Kingdome of Egypt and then wee shall count him happie aboue all If wee behold Iesus Christ mocked scourged crowned with Thornes crucified betweene two Theeues who would not be offended that the Prince of Glory and Sauiour of the World should be so handled But let vs behold him risen againe ascended into Heauen and sitting at the right hand of God aboue all Principalities and Power and wee will admire and prayse the Worke of God Hee that neuer saw a Haruest seeing the Plough-man taking much paines to tyll the Earth to spread it with Dung and after to cast faire Wheat into the Field so tylled hee would thinke that this Man were mad and that a Child were to be whipt that should doe such a thing But seeing the Haruest hee would change his minde and acknowledge that the Husbandman had done an excellent Worke. Now this is the time to Tyll to Dung and to Sowe the Haruest shall follow Let vs not change the course of the Season neyther let vs separate them the one from the other but let vs ioyne the time of the Death with the day of the Resurrection and let vs assure our selues as wee haue it in the Psalme that hauing sowed in teares wee shall reape with ioy Hee that had seene poore Lazarus full of sores Luke 16.9 at the Gate of the Rich man and the Rich man at the Table in all Delights and Pleasures hee would not haue chosen to be Lazarus but the Rich man but if tarrying a while hee saw the Soule of Lazarus carried straight by the Angels into Heauen and the Rich mans Soule goe to Hell hee would change his minde and would desire to be Lazarus Let vs then derest the glistering state of cursed Riches and let vs account of the poore and afflicted Condition of the Lazarusses of our Time wayting to bee carryed vp into euerlasting glorie The wicked haue nothing in Heauen nor wee in the World Blessed is the man saith Dauid whom the Lord instructeth by the power of his Spirit and by the Doctrine of his Law to haue contentment and rest in the time of aduersitie while the Graue is digged for the vngodly for the end of his felicitie Not to feare death Yea if we were called to suffer Death for the Name of Christ what other thing is this Death but after a long Conflict the day of Victorie the Birth of a blessed Soule after a great Trauell the Hauen desired after so furious Tempests the end of a dangerous and troublesome Voyage the healing of all Wounds and Sicknesses the deliuerance from all feare and terror the accomplishment of our Sanctification the gate of Heauen the entrance into Paradise the taking possession of the Inheritance of the Father the Day of our Marriage with the Lambe and the enioying of our Desires Who is then among vs who feeling with Saint Paul the Bondage of sinne would not crye out with him Alas wretched man that I am who shall deliuer mee from this Body of Death And feeling the good that Death bringeth vnto vs will not also say with him I desire to bee dissolued Rom. 7.24 and to bee with Christ If Death vvherewith God threatened our first Parents is a feeling of the Wrath of God in the Soule and in the Body because of Sinne wee may well say that Death and Life are two Twinnes vnited and knit together vntill the separation of the Soule and Body and this separation which is commonly called Death is rather the deadly stroke of Death the Body being then exempt from paine and the Soule from vice and corruption wayting vntill the rest of Death bee swallowed vp in Victorie at the day of the Resurrection First therefore it is to be considered that there is no Creature more enemie vnto Man nor more able to hurt then the Deuill and indeed he is called the Enemie the Murtherer 1. Pet. 5.8 and the roaring Lyon seeking whom hee may deuoure but the Historie of Iob sheweth plainely that God holdeth him bridled so as hee can attempt nothing nor goe eyther forward or backward more then God will permit him And this which is more hee hath not power to enter so much as into the Swine vvithout the leaue of Christ What is this then that we should feare Men Are not they also vnder the prouidence power and gouernment of God It is God said Hannah 1. Sam. 2.3 the Mother of Samuel who weigheth their Enterprises so as they cannot passe one Ounce of the Weight ordayned of God It is hee that killeth and maketh aliue againe which bringeth downe to the Pit and lifteth vp againe hee maketh poore and maketh rich hee abaseth and exalteth Psal 115.3 It is hee alone as Dauid sayth which doth whatsoeuer hee will Now wee doubt not but hee will doe that which hee hath promised vs yea and that hee hath taken vpon him to make vs happie If then the Doctrine of the Prouidence of God importeth that hee hath not onely ordayned in his eternall Councell the end and issue of his Worke which is his Glorie and the Saluation of his Elect but also the fit meanes according to his infinite VVisdome and requisite for execution and accomplishment of it Let vs be assured that there is no creature that can let or alter his VVill as Saint Paul sayth Rom. 8.30 If God be for vs who shall be against vs Let vs also be assured that whatsoeuer happeneth vnto vs it is the way whereby hee hath ordayned to leade vs to Life and euerlasting Glorie c. Secondly The end of our regeneration is that there may appeare in our Life an holy melodie and consent betweene the Righteousnesse of God and our Obedience Yee haue vnderstood here before that the desire of the heart to consecrate your selues to God is a marke of your election and adoption but see yee that this desire may shew it selfe by the workes of Godlinesse and Charitie If you make profession that yee know Christ know yee him according to the Doctrine of Saint Paul that yee haue not knowne him as yee ought if yee mortifie not the Old Man and put on the New walking in righteousnesse and true holinesse God hath drawne you out of the power of Darknesse and hath transported you into the Kingdome of his beloued Sonne Walke yee then as the Children of Light renounce this cursed