smallest with the labour of the husbandman For this cause God is wont to make readie his seruants for great graces by great crosses Affliction is his schoole in which hee traineth them vp for the best purposes This doctrine is full of comfort to all The Vse who being vnder the crosse in what kinde soeuer doe looke vp to the hand which smiteth and seeke to profit by tribulation The Lords yoke is vnpleasing to flesh and blood and his chastisements like bitter pilles which cannot goe downe without much annoyance to the stomacke but if thou wilt haue true solide comfort looke not so much vpon the present grieuance as vpon the quiet fruit of Righteousnesse m Hebr. 12.11 which will surely follow and take it for a rule which neuer faileth that the crosse if care bee had to profit thereby neuer departs but it leaueth a blessing behinde God giues some speciall fauour or other in lieu of the former burthen Zacharie who had beene dumbe ten moneths not only speakes but being furnished with a large portion of new grace he speaks more heauenly than before Learne thus to bee humbled with Zacharie and so thus thou shalt be comforted The 2. Doctrine Secondly from hence we are taught another doctrine That those whom God intendeth to imploy in any speciall seruice hee furnisheth with gifts suteable to the nature of the businesse in which he will employ them Zacharie is appointed to prophecie the businesse is waightie therefore he is filled with the holy Ghost that he may be able to performe it This may be made plaine by many particulars The Lord meant to send Moses vpon a seruice of great consequence I will send thee to Pharaoh c n Exod. 3.10 Moses being guiltie of his owne infirmitie was afraid to vndergoe it Oh my Lord I am not eloquent c o Exod. 4.10 The Lord supplied his want Goe now and I will be with thy mouth c p vers 12. Isaiah being in a vision in the presence of God and considering the nature of the seruice to which he was called cried out Wo is me for I am vndone c q Isay 6.5 After this one of the Seraphims touched his mouth with a coale from the Altar and the Prophet was thereupon so sensible of the supplie of grace that hee was as ready to go as the Lord was to imploie him Heere am I send me r vers 8. The same is to beseene in Ieremie God calling him he began to complaine of his insufficiencie O Lord beholde I can not speake for I am a childe ſ Ier 1.6 Well the Lord tooke away his feare by bestowing a competencie of gifts Behold I haue put my words in thy mouth t vers 9. Touching Ezechiel as there is mention made of Gods sending him u Eze. 1.3 c. so there is also of Gods furnishing him x Eze. 2.2 3.1 Christ told his Disciples that he would make them Fishers of men y Matth. 4.19 that is that hee would traine them vp to be competently fit for the seruice to which he ordained them For this cause before hee chose thē he spent the whole night in praier to God z Luk. 6.12 he breathed on them the Holy Ghost a Ioh. 20.22 Hee willed them after his ascension to tarie at Ierusalem vntill they were endued with power from on hie b Luk. 24.49 Bezaleel and Aholiab insomuch as they were to worke in the Tabernacle were filled with an excellent spirit c Exo. 35.31 and when God chose Saul to the kingdome he gaue him another heart d 1. Sam. 10.9 If God should not thus deale it were contrarie to those principles of holie wisedome which himselfe hath left vpon record in his Word As vineger is to the Teeth and smoke to the Eyes so is the slothfull to them that send him e Pro. 10.26 Hee that sendeth a message by the hand of a foole is as he that cuteth off the feete f Pro. 26.6 No wise man will send a foole on an errand of moment Who will set a fresh souldier ouer an armie or entrust a dumbe man with an embassage It were an odious imputation to the wisest God to thinke him lesse carefull in his businesse than men are in their affaires Besides great is the corruption of our nature our Heart wicked aboue all things g Ier. 17.9 the imaginations of it are onely euill h Gen. 6.5 Now as men doe not gather grapes of thornes nor figges of thistles i Matt. 7.16 so the heart of man which is in itselfe euen a verie mint of vanitie and a forge of profane godlesse and irreligious thoughts cannot bring foorth any good matter without speciall enabling This is a good admonition to all those which intend to enter into any seruice of weight The Vse either in the Church or commonwealth It is a dangerous thing to thrust ones selfe into the Lords businesse Heauie will that saying be when God shall say of any I haue not sent them yet they ranne k Ier. 2 21. And woe to him who shal be challenged with that Friend how camest thou in hither l Matt. 22.12 Now hee that would know whether God hath sent him must not stay for reuelations or some speciall informations from heauen but hee must search his owne heart to see with what graces he furnished If betweene the calling he intends and his sufficiencie there be any proportion there is an euidence of sending where there is not he that vndertakes it is but an intruder and his reckening will be terrible Now followeth to consider the generall nature of the businesse to which Zacharie was enabled It is said hee Prophecied To Prophecie in Scripture signifieth two things 1. To foretell things to come and so the word ordinarily signifieth in the old Testament 2. Exactly and soundly to interpret the Scripture to which sense the word is often applied in the new Testament m 1. Cor. 14.1 c. 1. Thess 5.20 Zacharie his Prophecying may not vnfitly be referred to both For he partly foretold things to come as of Iohn Baptist and partly also hee did excellently interpret things anciently written of the Messias Once this we see that the Holie Ghost in him was not idle but did discouer it selfe in some holy and religious imployment so that hence this is gathered The 3. Doctrine That the graces of Gods spirit wheresoeuer they bee are not idle but are alwaies to be seene in the doing of some spirituall good according to their places and callings who are indued therewith Zacharie is filled with the Holy Ghost and straightway he prophecieth the more graces hee had receiued in himselfe the more good proceedeth from him to others He that beleeueth on me saith our Sauiour out of his bellie shall flow riuers of life n Ioh. 7.38 The graces receiued shall issue out to the
determined In heauen the word and Sacraments shall cease but the Blessing of God shall neuer cease being the peculiar exercise of the Angels and Saints of the Lord The more wee practise this dutie now the more we haue our Conuersation in heauen r Phil. 3.20 If it bee a seruice tedious vnto vs heauen it selfe will bee a burden When this dutie is named with the particulars of it many will be ready to step forth and say with him in the Gospel All these haue I kept from my youth Å¿ Luk. 18.21 we thanke God say we for all but when it commeth to triall the case will be like that of the ten lepers Tenne were clensed but one onely returned to giue God praise t Lu. 17.17.18 Many enioiers of Gods blessings few which returne backe to shew their thankfulnesse And this appeareth by three things First by our generall carelesnesse in the duties of Christian holinesse True thankfulnesse stands not in words and shewes but in the practise of obedience The sonne in the Gospell who said I go sir yet wont not u Matt. 21.30 was he dutifull so he who saith I thanke God and Blessed be God c. and yet careth not to dishonor God is he thankfull Offering prayse and disposing ones way aright are coupled together as companions x Psal 50.23 where the latter is wanting the first is but a ceremonie He that hauing receiued a kindnesse from me shall come to me and say he thanks me and when he hath turned his backe shall doe me a displeasure I will neuer thinke him to be thankefull He that commeth to God like the Pharisee with Lord I thanke thee y Luk. 18.11 in his mouth and yet maketh no conscience of sinne is but a dissembler Hee hath Iacobs voice but Esaus hands z Gen. 27.22 His words are the words of blessing but his deeds are full of cursednesse Sith then men generally liue in grosse sinnes to the dishonor of God and to the discredit of religion let their words be as they will yet they shall be cast off as men guiltie of vnthankfulnesse The second signe of our vnthankfulnesse is our passing ouer daily fauours without respect Health libertie rest food successe in our affaires these things are daily bestowed yet wee vse them as swine who eat the mast but neuer looke vp to the tree from whence it falleth we goe to our meat to our rest to our labour without any signification of our acknowledgement from whom these things come or of our opinion that nothing can do vs good without Gods blessing The third signe is the cursednesse of many of our language Saint Iames maketh it a matter of impossibilitie that God should be blessed by a cursed toong Doeth a fountaine at one place send out sweet water and bitter a Iam. 3.11 Swearers raylers slanderers vicious speakers as holinesse cannot dwell in their hearts so neither can their toongs bee messengers of any true thankefulnesse vnto God To conclude this point then if we will be thought truly to worship God let vs make conscience of the dutie of thankfulnesse if we will be thought truly thankfull let vs declare our thankfulnesse by obedience let vs take all occasions to blesse God for blessing vs and let vs beware how we defile our tongues with cursednesse Thus much of the dutie to be performed Now followeth the description of the partie to whom it must be performed The Lord God of Israel He is the Lord of the whole earth according to that in the Psalme The Earth is the Lords and all that therein is b Psal 24.1 How then is he the God of Israel By Israel is meant the church chosen people of God and therefore the elect are called The Israel of God c Gal. 6.16 the true seruants of God Israelites indeed d Ioh. 1.47 The state and Church of Israel was a type of the Church of God selected and culled out from the rest of the world to be a peculiar people to himselfe e Tit. 2.14 so then The God of Israel is the God of his Church This is his especiall dignitie as when a great man carieth the name of his Baronry Hence we are taught two things the one is this The 5. Doctrine The absolute and impregnable safetie of Gods Church The Lord is the God thereof God would haue euen the very situation of Ierusalem to be a signe of his protection As the mountaines are about Ierusalem so is the Lord about his people f Psal 125.2 God is in the middest of it therefore shall it not bee mooued g Psal 46.5 He will couer thee saith the Psalmist to the whole bodie of Gods people vnder his wings thou shalt bee sure vnder his feathers c. h Psal 91.4 Beholde he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleepe i Psal 121.4 The Church of God is shadowed out by Solomons bed threescore strong men are round about it of the valiant men of Israel they all handle the sword and are expert in warre euery one hath his sword vpon his thigh for the feare by night k Can. 3.7.8 Deseruedly therefore said Dauid Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord l Psal 144 15. The Vse This doeth teach vs a good lesson All kingdomes haue their periods all states are subiect to innouation onely the Church of God is of perpetuitie I will giue saluation in Zion saith God m Isay 46.13 there shall be a place of refuge and a couer for the storme and for the raine n Isay 4.6 Naturall men can see the vncertaintie of all outward things and the vanitie of the greatest assurances yet they take not the right course for safegard some vse the policie of the vniust Steward o Luke 16.4 c. some verifie the saying of Salomon The rich mans riches are his strong citie and as an hie wall in his imagination p Prou. 18.11 some put all desperately to an aduenture The onely way is to cleaue to the Church of God there the Lord will create a defence q Isay 4.5 They which labour to keepe the fellowship of Gods people by the vnitie of the spirit in the bond of peace r Eph. 4.3 the Lord is their God they shall be sure of the surest protection The 6. Doctrine The other thing taught hence is That to bee one of Gods people a true liuely member of his Church is a mans greatest honour It is we see Gods greatest honor and his highest title to be called the God of Israel the God of his Church He is saith Paul the Sauiour of all men specially of them that beleeue Å¿ 1. Tim. 4.10 In the Church God is knowen there hee is worshipped there he bestoweth the greatest prerogatiues and thence he receiueth the greatest honour It is his chiefe honour to bee the God of his Church so
Scepter was departed from Iudah d Gen. 49.10 to shew that he came to effect a spirituall deliuerance and not to erect an outward state This warneth vs The Vse not to affect nor embrace the profession of Christianitie as a condition of outward greatnesse Our Sauiour must not be followed as a great Lord to grant vs Leases and Farmes and good preferment in the world these things must not be expected We must follow him rather as one contemned as the reproch of the world as a manfull of sorrowes e Isay 53.3 When Zebedeus sonnes dreaming of an outward state were suters to Christ to haue some place of respect about him Christ presently to put that conceit out of their heads told them of drinking of the cup which he was to drinke of f Math. 20.22 that is of partaking with him in his affliction shewing how much they are deceiued which looke for worldly aduancement by his seruice True it is he is able to bestow outward honors vpoÌ„ his followers for the earth is his and all that therein is g Psal 24.1 he doth often also giue them to those that feare him But yet they must not be held as matters annexed to the state of a Christian as though euerie one that hath them were by and by a good Christian and hee which hath them not were to bee reputed as no good seruant vnto Christ For the fatnesse of the earth was giuen as well to Esau as to Iacob h Gen. 27.39 and it is possible for the begger to be carried by Aâ—…to Abrahams bosome when the soule of the rich man â—…demned to hell i Luk. 16.22.23 So that this is the thing we are taught 〈◊〉 seeing Christ although he be a king yet is no earthly king therefore we betaking our selues to the seruice and profession of his name should not make outward prosperity and worldly things the end of our hope lest so doing we runne into one of these two extremities either if wee haue it not to grow discouraged and to be wearie of our profession or if we haue it to presume that we are therefore highly in Gods fauour The 6. Doctrine The fourth point noted hence is this That outward greatnesse is of no value for spirituall vses Christ was raised to doe this great worke and to be the Horne of saluation out of the poore outward estate of Dauids house Now if for the spirituall vse any outward greatnesse had beene behoouefull Christ would haue chosen a time when Dauids house was in the highest glorie and not haue come now when the honour of it lay euen in the dust And this was the reason why al things were purposely carried after a meane fashion The place of his birth was not Ierusalem the head citie of the kingdome but Bethlehem litle among the thousands of Iudah k Micah 5.2 The house not some great Gentlemans place about the town but a common Inne in the Inne not the best lodging or fairest roome but the stable not laid in some rich cradle but lapped vp in clouts thrust into a manger The tidings of his birth brought first not to the Scribes and great learned men but to a few poore shepheards himselfe followed not with any traine of note but with men of the meanest ranke contemned in his life and euill entreated in his end The Vse This serues to put downe the great rich and mightie men of the world who doe so pride themselues in their greatnesse their wealth their fulnesse their glorie their abundance that without these they suppose no great thing can bee effected They trust saith the Psalmist in their goods and boast themselues in the multitude of their riches yet a man can by no meanes redeeme his brother he cannot giue his ransome to God l Psal 49.6.7 Our Sauior in a poore despised estate hath done that which all the Monarchs and Politicians in the world though they had laid all their wealth and wit together could neuer haue brought to passe THE FOVRTH SERMON VERS 70. As he spake by the mouth of his holie Prophets which were since the world began saying That he would c. THe euidence of this worke of mans redemption commeth now next to be spoken of In which these seueral points must be handled 1. That it is necessarie for the strengthening of a mans faith to obserue the course and order and agreement of the Scripture 2. That from the worlds beginning God foretold all things concerning Christ 3. That that which was deliuered by their mouth was spoken by God 4. What the sum is of that which they spake Of these in their course So that the first doctrine now is this The 1. Doctrine That for the grounding and confirmation of Faith it is needfull to note the order agreement of the Scriptures For indeed wherupon was Zecharie his faith built but vpon the courses of holie writ vpon the accomplishment of the ancient Prophets which he now beheld He was able to say to himselfe This which I now see to come to passe I am sure is no other but that which formerly hath beene foretold as the Prophets spake so is it now fulfilled To this very thing Christ exhorts Search the Scriptures they are they which testifie of me m Ioh. 5.39 By this he endeuoured to settle his Disciples faith Hee began at Moses and all the Prophets and interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things which were written of him n Luc. 24.27 This was Pauls course for the establishing of his hearers Hee disputed by the Scriptures o Act. 17.2 hee said no other things than those which Moses and the Prophets did say should come p Act. 26.22 These and the like sayings we read often That the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled q Math. 26.56 This is done that the Scripture should bee fulfilled r Mar. 14.49 Thus the Scripture was fulfilled Å¿ Mark 15.28 which argueth the care and purpose which the Spirit of God had to ground our iudgements vpon the Scripture So in our times when we see the same things happen which wee read in Scripture to haue hapned when we see such things come to passe as we find prophecied in Scripture it is a great comfort a speciall strengthning vnto faith So did they to the Prophets saith our Sauiour t Math. 5.12 so it was Then saith Paul u Gal. 4.29 The Vse This sheweth what enemies they are to their own faith and comfort who are wilfully strangers in the Scripture Thou saiest thou doest beleeue in Christ but how knowest thou that hee is the Christ in whom thou must beleeue what assurance hast thou that hee is the person promised When Satan or the doubtings of thine own hart shall thus sift thee what certainty art thou able to allege and what is become of thy faith which is built vpon such a weake foundation
If thou didst dwell in an estate of land of which thou couldest shew no better euidence thou wouldest thinke to bee quickly shut out of doores The Lord hath precisely set downe particulars such hath beene his care to establish our faith if wee let the Scripture lie like some needlesse Historie turning ouer as too many doe the cardes oftner than the leaues of the Bible that wee might be able to say as euery Christian ought Thus it is written and thus I beleeue well may wee talke of faith but that faith should be where there is such little experience in the rule and life ground of faith which is the Scripture it is vnpossible These things were written that we might beleeue x Ioh. 20.31 Doest thou not know what is written how shouldst thou then be able to beleeue The second doctrine of the place is The 2. Doctrine That God from the worlds beginning foretold by Prophets all things concerning Christ This is manifest out of the course of the place in hand is easily confirmed First in generall it is said that vnto Christ al the Prophets giue witnes y Act. 10.43 Christ appealed to the Scriptures of the old Testament z Ioh. 5.39 and in his discourse with the two disciples iourneying to Emmaus he found in euery of the prophets something touching himselfe a Luk. 24.27 Secondly if any shall exactly peruse the old Testament he shall finde euery specialty touching Christ distinctly set downe as namely when he should be borne b Gen. 49.10 where he should bee borne c Mic. 5.2 of what stocke d Psal 132.11 of what kinde of woman e Isay 7.14 what maner of person both God f Isay 19.6 and Man g Gen. 3.15 how he should bee entertained h Isay 53.2.3 c. for what end hee should come i Isa 61.1.2.3 by whom he should be betraied k Psal 41.9 what maner of death he should die l Numb 21.9 with Ioh. 3.14 how he should be vsed in his execution m Psal 22. at large where he should be buried n Isay 53.9 how long hee should abide in the graue o Ioh 1.17 with Math. 12.40 that he should rise from death p Psal 16.10 that he should ascend into heauen q Psal 68.18 with Eph. 4.8 These many more circumstances than these the Prophets from the worlds beginning did set downe very exactly so that there was nothing befell Christ from the first moment of his conception vntill the last period of his time heere on earth I meane of those things which are reuealed to haue befallen him and which befell him as our Mediatour of which a man experienced in the Scripture might not truely saie Thus and thus it hapned as the Lord spake by his Prophets c. Besides the ceremonies in the Temple and Tabernacle in the daily Sacrifices and Sacrificers all of them shadowing out something or other in the Christ to come who was the substance of euery type and the bodie of euerie representation It is woorthy any mans paines to marke and obserue how the whole mystery of Christ is lapped vp in the Prophecies of the old Testament and how the same is explaned laid open and vnfolded in the storie and application of the new The pith and marrow and substance of both being this Iesus Christ yesterday to day and the same for euer r Heb. 13.8 The reason heereof on Gods part is twofold First the confirmation of our Faith These things were written that we might beleeue Å¿ Ioh. 20.31 Our faith by this course is strengthned after this maner we see by this exact foretelling of the Prophets that the whole course of our saluation is a matter framed by God and the whole order thereof in euery part and limme set downe in his eternall wisedome and prouidence out of which wee may gather and conclude the certeintie thereof inasmuch as a plot which God hath laid all the power of Sathan cannot alter Secondly many base wrongs many vile vsages and indignities befell our Sauiour in the daies of his flesh the consideration whereof might make a man to doubt whether he could be the Sauiour of mankinde But when we see that euerie such specialtie is foretold by the Prophets and so that nothing came to passe but according to Gods appointment and that for some speciall end that doubt is remooued and those particulars of his debasement become grounds of comfort and of reioicing vnto vs. The Vse Now for a vse of this doctrine wee see heere as in a glasse the care which God hath had in all ages from the verie cradle as it were of the world for the good and comfort of his Church Hee hath not kept a word backe which might be for the necessarie information thereof Euerie age hath beene furnished with Prophets and euerie prophet furnished with gifts to instruct the Church in the mysterie of Christ It is a true saying that the Lord did still reueale his secrets to his seruants the Prophets t Amos 3.7 And the Prophets were all like Moses faithfull in all Gods house u Heb. 3.5 and like Paul they kept nothing backe that was profitable but shewed all the counsell of God x Act. 20.20.27 Wherefore may not God then say as of old What could I haue done anie more y Isay 5.6 If wee now remaine ignorant and vnsetled in religion ready to bee caried about with euery winde of doctrine z Ephe. 4.14 Where is the fault and against whom will yee plead God hath not beene wanting to vs neither yet is but heere is the miserie of it and that which will make hell euen readie to burst with damned soules My people will not heare my voice Israel will none of me a Psa 81.11 Light is come but men loue darknes more than light b Ioh. 3.19 The Sermons of the Prophets are recorded read expounded but we will not heare them we say rather with those wicked ones Depart from vs we desire not the knowledge of thy waies c Iob. 21.14 Let vs remember what is said Vnto whomsoeuer much is giuen of him shal be much required d Luk. 12.48 We haue the mystery of Christ foretold by the Prophets explaned by the Euangelists applied and enforced by the writings of the Apostles pressed neerer to vs and made more familiar by continual preaching our ignorance is without excuse our blood will be vpon our owne heads our portion will bee deeper in the pit of hell than the Indians and Moores and Tartars which neuer had the like meanes of spirituall information The third instruction stands thus The 3. Doctrine That that which was vttered by the mouth of the Prophets God spake so are the words As he spake by the mouth c. The mouth of the Prophets deliuered those things but it was by direction and inspiration