theÌ„ that they shal see no light at al in the light it self by which bloodines of the Moone it may be likewise that he doth signifie that whereas the Moone is ordeined of God to be the instrument to send over to us some part of the light of the Sun in the night season now because they refused the light of the Sun it self and winked at it it should signisie nothing but blood or destruction to thém for their unbelief The limitation of time that is put hereunto is â—â— â—1 before the great and terrible day of the Lord doe come Whereby it seemeth the Prophet doth mean both that by these things the Lord will make a way to those his judgements in that great and terrible day when he shall judge the quick and the dead and the world by fier and that the Lord wil not keepe in all his vengeance till thén but wil be doing in the meane while to the confusion of his enemies and to the comfort of his servants Concerning the safety of the faithful in those heauy judgements against unbeleevers first the Prophet doth set it down then he confirmeth or prooueth the same He setteth it down when as he saith that e 2 32. whosoever shall call on the name of the Lorde shall be safe Whereby he teacheth not only that all such shal be safe but also that to call on the name of the Lord is the note or mark of the people of God and which should in those daies be safe His proofe or confirmation there of he buildeth on the priviledge of the place and on the speciall calling of God Concerning the place both he nameth f 2 32. mount Zion and the whole citie Ierusalem and assureth them of that deliverance that the Lord before had promised As touching the other g 2 32. both he noteth that it shall be those whom the Lord shall call and that those shal be but a remnant neither 19 As touching our selves Wé also ought to account this a speciall blessing as the Prophet doth here make mention hereof unto them in the way of a speciall blessing so are wé to take it likewise as very well we may throughout the whole if we enter into any speciall consideration of it both in respect that it is a further manifestation of the Truth and for that it proceedeth or cometh in such manner as it doth Both in respect of the thing it self For considering no more but only that it is a further manifestation of the Truth yet herein onely we may perceave it because that flesh and blood and the whole power of man may labour long to attain unto it and yet never obtein it as we in these daies may plainly behold first in our selves then also in others For how gladly would our godly fore-fathers have seen these daies that we now see and yet they could not how earnestly do many in these daies wish some of us any kind of reformation what so ever others again a much better then yet we have such as is here described unto us and yet who knoweth not how short we are yet from either of both If therefore our true and harty repentance now upon this occasion might procure us so great a blessing besides there is no man but seeth how earnestly it were to be laboured of us all both to obtein the thing it self to save much of that unprofitable labour that otherwise we have bestowed about it to litle purpose yet may we know not how long nor how vnprofitably unlesse we take that course that the Prophet here praescribeth unto us And in respect of that moner wherby it proceedeth But if we consider in what maner this reformatioÌ„ proceedeth that in this place the Prophet doth speak of or what kinde of manifestation it is there may we much more plainly see how much this blessing is to be wished not only because that it doth proceede in so gracious maner towards those that receave it but also in respect of those things likewise that do appertein to those that refuse it For as touching those that receve it Towards those that receave it we see it is in such sort bestowed on them as they are made able therby to prophecy not only al the sort of them generally but especially also such as no body would look for the old the yoÌ„g that which is most eveÌ„ the very bond-slaues theÌ„ selves With ús yet the elder sort are too old to learn the yonger are over wanton and care not for it but the poorer sort especially such as lived before like men now by their unmerciful Lords are brought so low that they may rather be accounted bond then free are in so great and urgent distresse in respect of their bodily necessities that as they have no hearts unto it being so much overwhelmed with their miserable estate as they are so have they not so much as any convenient laisure nor comfort neither to goe about it would they never so fain It is long therefore in the course that we are before that the elder and yonger sort with ús and especially those that are so fleesed or spoiled by others will bee able to attaine to the light that nowe is spoken of in such measure as here is described It were well if they understoode in some reasonable manner such thinges as were good and needefull for them to know but to be able to teach others likewise that is a point so far beyond al likelihood for them to attaine unto that we may rather wish it with great doubt never to see it then with hope expect it as though we might to the full obtaine it But if we could truly repent us of our former ill waies and turne to the Lord as by this aforesaide occasion we may justly finde our selves provoked to doe then would the Lord we neede not to doubt affoord us the same measure of goodnes that is promised here then should we all be able to prophecie our olde men thén would dreame such dreames our young folke likewise would see visions and the Spirit of God should rest even on bonds or villains And seeing that alreadie we have in divers particulars experience of it and that in so comfortable measure as many have even thát onely ought to be sufficient to teach us that the good work that is alreadie begun shoulde soone be perfited if our selves were no hinderance unto it And those that refuse it In those things that doe appertaine to them that refuse it we may see that it woulde be a speciall blessing likewise partly in respect of the judgements that belong to the wicked and partly in respect of the safety of the faithfull in the middest of all those dangers In respect of the judgements that belong to the wicked we may perceave it if not for that it is so noted by the Prophet here yet because that
and fro on the mountaines but also as a mighty people and those prepared to battaile of the effect that it worketh that it is as fire consuming stuble and such as o 2 6. maketh that the people tremble before it and that all faces are blancke and pale to beholde it Then for the other that is how readily they put in execution whatsoeuer they haue to doe and first as it is set foorth unto us out of the consideration of it selfe alone we have there set downe how they buckle themselues towards their busines before they come at it and then how they doe the thing it selfe when once they come to it In the former of which we have delivered unto us not only such things as doe appertaine unto the discipline of good souldiers but somewhat also how prosperous they are therein Those thinges that concerne the discipline of good souldiers are two one that they are industrious the other that they are orderly in all their wayes Their industrie is declared in that they are saide p 2 7. to runne like strong men and to clime up to the walles like warriours and not to stay or turne backe in the way they have to walke their orderlines also in that they are said q 2 3. not to thrust one an other but to walke everie one in his aray That which is said of their prosperousnes therein is no more but this and yet a matter of great importance that though they r 2 3. fail on the sworde yet are they not wounded therewith In what sort they doe the thing it selfe when once they come to it is set downe by the example of rifling a citie how ſ 2 9. they run vp and down therein a long by the wales into the houses to destroy and to spoil As it is set foorth unto us out of the effect that it worketh the Prophet doth not only note what effect it is that it worketh but also the reason why it cometh to passe that it hath so strong an effect The effect that it worketh is that mē shal be at their wits end t 2 10. as if the heauēs the earth were astonished at it clean confounded and as if the Sun the Moone were darkened the Stars tooke in their light a gain In giuing of the reason here of the Prophet doth not onely shewe what the reason is but also how mightily the same doth worke The reason it selfe that caused this effect to ensue is that v 2 11. the Lorde himselfe did by his word authorize and by his power enable hereunto and it is said to worke so mightily that the same day should be great and verie terrible and that none shuld be able to abide it An exhortation to publike fast In the exhortation that now doth next ensue whereby he laboureth to bring them to a publike hartie repentance we are to consider first how to that end he doth set before them the worde of the Lord then howe himselfe doth further deale with them thereupon In the word of the Lord that he setteth before them x 2 12. he doth not onely shew what it is that the Lord would have them to do that is to turn unto him with all the heart and with fasting and weeping and with moorning but also that even yet he would have thē to take that course though they have driven óf verie long alreadie That surther dealing that hereupon the Prophet himselfe useth towards them resteth in two points first that he doth in like sort cal them unto the selfe same course then that he useth some strength of reason to perswade them unto it He doth in like sort call them to the same course by willing them y 2 11. to rent their hearts and not their garments and to turne vnto the Lord their God The strength of reason that there hee useth to perswade them herein is upon the likely-hoode they have to obtaine favour which he doth first by setting downe very plainely how mercifull the Lord is then by insinuating how themselues may become partakers of it As touching the mercifulnes of God z 2 13. he plainely saith that he is gracious and mercifull Slow to anger of great kindnes and one that will readily turne from the euill that he purposed How themselues may be partakers of it though he do not plainely tell them yet both he doth insinuate the same and putteth them in good hope of a speciall blessing That which he doth insinuate to them is that they seeke it in most carnest maner as a thing that otherwise is hard to be attained and thereupon demandeth a 2 14. who doth know whether he will not be intreated to leaue a blessing behinde him The speciall blessing that he putteth them in hope to obtein is that after that great famine it might be that the Lord would yet give such great plenty that they should content themselves to part with a b 2 14. meat-offring and drink-offring vnto the Lord their God His latter repetition In his latter repetition wherein he seemeth to have it is purpose now but onely to knit up the matter briefly having already called on them sufficiently for it first the Prophet doth will them to bid or publish this fast then doth he direct them in a fewe principall things that doe concerne the maner of it In that he doth will them to publish this fast it appeareth withal both that he would have the exercise held that he would haue the congregation gathered together to solemnize the same As touching the former he willeth them again c 2 15. to blowe the trumpet in Zion and to sanctifie or publish a fast as touching the other he willeth likewise that they d 2 16. gather the people together and assemble the congregation Those fewe principall thinges that doe concerne the manner of it are but two one howe throughly hee woulde have the people to bee gathered together in this exercise the other howe they should be exercised there He would have them so throughly gathered together that he would have none wanting e 2 16. neither the old nor the young no not the verie sucking children nor so much as the bridgrome nor bride Concerning their exercise there hee f ◠17. giueth them direction both who should be the chief◠leaders therein and what it is that they should doe The chief◠leaders therein should be the Priests the Ministers of the Lorde Concerning that which they have to do he doth not onelie praescribe the thing it selfe unto them but also the place where it should be done The thing it selfe resteth in two points to weepe and to pray Concerning Weeping he doth no more but onely require it But comming to their Prayer he praescribeth unto them the maner of it both what to crave and how to plead for it He would have them to crave that the Lord would Spare his
lightnes and vanity by the peace and wealth that God hath given us and for that we have tasted so litle of the rod as now for a good time we have done that it is lesse marvaile if hardly we can growe to any such earnest and publike sorrowing or so much as like of the motion when it is made But in this case also it is good to remember that the wisedome of a Christian ought to be such as that whatsoever is an offence or hinderance unto us in the way of godlines though it be as dear as is our hand or our foote yet ought we rather to cut it óf and cast it away though we should be much mained thereby then that we should suffer our selves to be let or hindred by them If therefore we have any sense or feeling of our great manifold sins or of this geÌ„tle hand of God that for the same is cast upon us if we have any harty desire to be partakers of those great and inaestimable mercies of God a more generall and a further fruition of his aeternall Truth and so comfortable securitie from all our enemies what is there then that with any colour may stay us from that which the Prophet doth here require or if in heart we consent unto it why should not our deede also beare witnesse or rather expresse our meaning therein Well may our dalliance deceave our selves but others it cannot especially God The fruites that we beare will plainely witnesse what we are If they be ill or if they be none either of those doe plainely cast us if they be good and such as argue a sounde reverence and a readie obedience to the Worde of God then doe we finde to our singular comfort that now in deede we are the children of God and that our reward without all quaestion must needes be great Long inough have we wallowed in careles security it is time nów to looke about us to accept of those more speciall favours of God that he in this acceptable time of his doth offer unto us God give us grace ever to bee easie to bee admonished that he neede not to use any rougher meanes to quicken us up and to take such holde of those good opportunities that in these our daies he offereth unto us that wee may in like sort enjoy such blessings as are tendered withall God graunt the same through Iesus Christ his Sonne our Lorde to the advauncement of his Kingdome among us and to our own vnspeakeable comfort FINIS A praier of the same argument and meete for the time that now we are in WE acknowledge O Lord before thy most glorious and aeternall maiestie That we have deserved this and much more that we most iustly have deserved not onelie the hardest estate that thy people have at anie time had but utterlie to be cast of likewise from being thy people much more this gentle and fatherly chastisment which at this praesent thou hast cast upon us Neverthelesse because we knowe by thy holie worde that thou delightest not in the death of a sinner but wouldest rather have him to live and it is not thy pleasure that the rodde of thy chasticement should ever lie upon thine inhaeritance but covetest rather that they should soone remember them selves and turn unto thee wee are bold even now and thou hast enboldned us to seeke unto thee and to intreat thee now to take from us this hand of thine before that thou thereby hast chasticed our former sinnes anie thing neere to that measure no not by the thousand part that wee haue deserued For thy mercie ô Father in thy Sonne our Lord is verie great towards all that are his and so spread foorth over all thy workes in so plentifull measure that wee make no doubt but that at anie time wee may be bold to seeke thy fauour and to entreate thee to staie thy hand when yet thou hast scant begunne to strike notwithstanding that we have iustlie deserved that thou shouldest turn awaie from us thy face for ever That he would graunt us true repentance Howbeit that no way it tend to the impechment of thy glorie in the order and course that thou hast ordeyned in all thy woorkes laying out the meanes whereby thou dost worke it aswell as the effect that is to ensue wee humblie beseech thee and much more earnestly for this then the other that by this smal portion of this thy chasticement that nów we have felt our former securitie maie be so quickened unto a diligent and sound advicement of the corruption of our nature and of the foule and loathsome fruits that out of the same have alreadie proceeded and so truelie and earnestlie repent our selves thereof that thou having obteined that which thou soughtest at our hands maist the more easilie be induced to spare us and to withdrawe thy hand from us And both deliver us from this our praesent distresse To this ende ô Lord we most humbly beseech thee to give us a sound an hartie and a sensible feeling of our former and woonted coldnes in the advauncement of thy glorie and of that whole course of our life wherein by the immesurable thirst that wee have to the things of this world wee have beene and yet are so iniurious and hard unto manie and even to thee also among the rest and not onely to give us such a feeling of those things our selves but also to vouchsafe us such an inward detestatation thereof withall so resolute a purpose to betake our selves to a better course in all such matters that as now we make bold with thee to seeke thy favour before that ever we have beene chasticed anie thing neere as wee have deserved so we maie hereafter likewise throughout our whole life bee so carefull in all things to advaunce thy glorie and in nothing to anoy our neighbour for the bettering of our selves in worldly matters but in all things to uphold his good estate the best that we maie that neither wee provoke thee again to strike us for these offences neither yet occasion it to appeare that now thou hast withdrawne this thine hand from us over soone And because it pleaseth thee to put us in hope of much greater mercies And vouchsafe us those other mercies also then onely such relief of these our bodily necessities and these are the daies whereunto those mercies of â—â—ine are promised we likewise beseech thee in most humble manner to vouchsafe us that further manifestation of thy Truth and that notable protection from our enemies also that not onely the likelier sort of thy people but the meaner likewise may both knowe and glorifie thee and that we all being ever preserved from those that hate us for thy names sake in that our safetie may imploy our selves the best that we can to the service of thee and ever praise thy holie name for these thy mercies Our enemies ô Lord have ruled over us very long alreadie and they of long have done unto ús even as those others did unto thém They have taken away our silver and golde and whatsoeuer Iewels we had besides of spirituall graces in Iesus Christ and those have they carried into the Temples of their owne proper idols and wickednes ascribed all unto them Our selves also they have not spared but have done with us whatsoever they would Not onely the boy but the honourable also and auncient of yeares have they given for an harlot and not onely the girle but godlie matrons and the chast soules of thy faithful people have they given for a cup of wine and for their bellies And not so content they have likewise in such sort solde us as most might avail them to send us away far from our countrie that afterwards we should never be able for to returne thither again But thou ô Lord thee self hast seene it and knowest well inough that they have beene so greevous unto us not so much for any thing that we had done though in truth we be most wretched sinners and have deserved much more then it as in despight of thy holy Truth and of an inward hatred to thee Be it therefore thy gracious pleasure to undoe whatsoever they have done and to gather us together again from all those places whereinto we were dispersed by them And as théy had sold us a far óf never to see our Countrie again so we beseech thee that so manie of them as in thy secret election belong unto thee thou also would in like maner sell over not unto us but to thy holie Truth ever to have them in full possession and never to suffer them for to returne unto their woonted wandrings againe And where as heretofore they have alreadie so much praevailed against thy people now be it thy pleasure to bring them under and daily more and more to enlarge the safetie of thy peculiar people against them all We graunt ô Lord the things we desire are very great but it hehooveth thy people should know thy aboundant mercie and thine enemies also the inuincible power of thy mightie hand Graunt us therefore these things we beseech thee through Iesus Christ thy Sonne our Lord to whom with thee and the holie Ghost as of right apperteineth be ascribed all thankes honor and glorie for ever and ever Amen FINIS
downe the branches thereof are made white 8 Moorne like a vir-gin girded with sack-cloth for the husband of her youth 9 The meat-offring and the drink-offring is cut óf from the house of the Lord the Priestes the Lords ministers mourne 10 The field is wasted the land moorneth for the corne is destroyed the newe wine is dried up and the oyle is decayed 11 Be ye ashamed ô husbandmen howl ô ye vine-dressers for the wheat and for the barley because the harvest of the fielde is perished 12 The vine is dried up the fig-tree is decayed the Pomegranate-tree the Palm-tree and the Aple-tree even all the trees of the field are withered surely the ioy is withered away from the sonnes of men 13 Gird your selves and lament yee Priestes howl ye ministers of the alter come and lie all night in sak-cloth ye ministers of my God for the meat-offring and the drink-offring is taken away from the house of our God 14 Sanctifie you a fast call a solemn assembly gather the Elders and al the inhabitants of the lande into the house of the Lord your God and crie unto the Lord. Sect. 9 10. 15 Alas for the day for the day of the Lord is at hand and it commeth as a destruction from the Almightie 16 Is not the meat cut of before our eies ioy and gladnes from the house of our God 17 The seed is rotten under their clods the Garners are destroied the barnes are broken down for the corn is whithered 18 How did the beastes moorn the herdes of cattel pine away because they have no pasture and the flockes of sheepe are destroied 19 O Lord to thee will I crie for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wildernesse the flame hath burnt up all the trees of the field 20 The beastes of the field crie also unto thee for the rivers of the waters are dried up and the fire hath deuoured the pastures of the wildernes Sect. 11 12. 1 Blow the trumpet in Zion and shout in mine holie mountain let all the inhabitants of the land tremble for the daie of the Lord is come for it is at hand 2 A day of darkenes and of blackenes a day of clouds and obscuritie as the morning cloud spread upon the mountaines so is there a great people and a mightie there was none like it from the beginning neither shall be any more after it unto the yeares of manie generations 3 A fire deuoureth before him and behind him a flame burneth up the land is as the garden of Eden before him behind him a desolate wildernes so that nothing shal escape him 4 The beholding of him is like the sight of horses and like the horsemen so shal they runne 5 Like the noise of charets in the tops of the mountaines shall they leape like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble as a mightie people prepared to battell 6 Before his face shall the people tremble all faces shall gather blacknes 7 They shall run like strong men and go up to the wall like men of warre and everie man shall go forward in his waies and they shall not stay in their paths 8 Neither shall one trust another but everie one shall walke in his path when they fall upon the sword they shall not bee wounded 9 They shall run to and fro in the citieâ— they shall run upon the wall they shall clime up upon the houses and enter in at the windowes like a thiefe 10 The earth shall tremble before him the heavens shall shake the sunne and the Moone shal be darke and the starres shall with-draw their shining 11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his host for his host is verie great for he is strong that doth his word for the daie of the Lord is great and very terrible and who can abide it 12 Therefore also now the Lord saith Turne you unto me withall your heart and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning 13 And rent your heart and not your clothes and turn unto the Lord your God for he is gracious and merciful slow to anger of great kindnes and repenteth him of the euill 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent and leave a blessing behind him eveÌ„ a meat-offring and a drink-offring unto the Lord your God 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion sanctifie a fast call a solemne assemblie 16 Gather the people sanctifie the congregation gather the Elders assemble the children and those that suckt the breastes let the bride-grome go foorth of his chamber and the bride out of her bride-chamber 17 Let the Priestes the ministers of the Lord weepe betweene the Porch the Altar and let them say Spare thy people O Lord and give not thine heritage into reproch that the heathen should rule over them Wherefore should they say among the people where is their God 18 Then wil the Lord be ielous over his land and spare his people 19 Yea the Lord will answere and say unto his people Behold I wil send you corn and wine and oyle and you shal be satisfied therewith and I will no more make you a reproch among the heathen 20 But I will remove far óf from you the Northren armie and I will drive him into a land baren desolate with his face towards the East sea and his end to the uttermost sea and his stincke shall come up and his corruption shall ascend * Or although he hath exalted himself to doe this because he exalted himselfe Sect. 16 17. 21 Feare not O land but be glad and reioyce for the Lord wil do great things 22 Be not afraid ye beastes of the field for the pastures of the wildernes are grene for the tree beareth her fruit the fig-tree and the vine do give theâ—r force 23 Be glad then ye children of Zion reioyce in the Lord your God for he hath given you the rain of righteousnesse and he wil cause to come downe for you the rain even the first rain and the latter rain in the first moneth 24 And the barns shal be full of wheat the presses shal abound with wine oile 25 And I wil render you the yeres that the grashopper hath eaten the canker-woorm and the caterpiller and the palmerwoorm my great host which I sent among you 26 So you shall eat and be satisfied praise the name of the Lord your God that hath dealt marvelous with you and my people shall never be ashamed 27 Ye shall also knowe that I am in the mid of Israel and that I am the Lord your God and none other and my people shall never be ashamed Sect. 18 19. 28 And afterward will I powre out my spirit upon all flesh and your sonnes and daughters shall prophecie your olde men shall dreame dreames and your yong men shall see visions 29 And also upon the servants and upon the maids in those daies will I
notwithstanding euen Ionathan k Ibidem 2. was one a very l 1. Sam. 18 8.19 1.3 20 9 12 13 16. unfeined friend unto Dauid the iudgements of God are very deepe and himselfe is a ielous God on behalfe of his people yet would he not so content him selfe but now required a further execution to be done on those that yet remained of his line God be thanked for that which of this kinde is done alredie to verie good purpose and in comfortable measure likewise and I trust that God will so much the sooner turne his hand from us Now som vvhat vvell done but vvee ought to procede But God give us grace to know withall especially to those to whom it doth chiefly belong that if there be any of that sorte left guiltie of the innocent blood of the seruaunts of God alredie spilt and of a continuall thirst of more they ought not to be spared but to have the reward of their iniquitie laide upon them that so the hand of Gods wrath be sooner remooued from the lot of his owne inheritance Though Ionathan it may be did not discent from that slaughter of the Gibeonites yet was he ever faithfull to Dauid and yet the Lord did not spare him neither The more carefull wé are that such as be faithfull be euer praeserved and untouched by ús the lesse neede we care to put all others to their lawfull triall and to see that they have their iust deserts And all this so much the rather as wee know that it is the more hainous to determin such practises against those that are true Israelites in deede and among them against the chiefe and principall of them and that in a bitter spitefull malice to the people of God then as Saule did it but against the Gibeonites m 2. Samu. 21 2. none of the people of Israell themselues though dwelling among them and those but of the common sort and meanest of all that dwelt in the Land and that n Ibidem on a zeale on behalfe of the people of God He calleth on all to be aduised hereof the Elders and all generally 5 How earnestly this Prophet Ioel doth labour to stirre up the people unto this sensible feeling of the hand of God upon them may easily be seene both out of the maner of speech that o 1 2. 20. at the first he useth unto them and out of the repetition thereof againe that p 2 1.17 afterward he addeth thereunto In that which at the first he useth unto them by the course of his speech it seemeth that first he laboured q 1 2.12 to pre pare them unto a publique Fasting or mourning for that hand of God upon them and then after that to r 1 13.20 call them unto it He seemeth first to prepare them to that kinde of exercise because he doth so earnestly call on all sortes to stirre up them selves to an hearty sorrow and because that afterwrad in that which doth immediatly follow he doth coÌ„mend that exercise unto them so expounding in that which followeth what his minde was in that which goeth before And the better to prepare them to this publique fasting first he calleth upon all to give eare unto him then he setteth in hand with the matter that he hath to deliuer unto them He calleth on all to giue eare unto him in these woordes Å¿ 1 20. Heare this ô yee Elders and give eare unto it all yee inhabitants of the Land Wherein we are to consider on whom he calleth what he doth require of them He calleth on the Elders or the chiefe or better sort more specially then also generally on all even on all the inhabitants of the Land generally For the Elders or chiefe of the people are those whom this matter chiefly concerneth and who are able best to help to gather the people to publike repentance And yet notwithstanding all the residue must needes account it to belong unto them likewise both that they all haue iustly deserued it and therefore that they all in like sort are now to humble themselves to the Lord whom they haue offended and who likewise hereby did call them unto repentaunce That which he doth require of them is no more yet but only to hearken or give eare to this matter but thát he doth require both of the Elders and of all the inhabitants besides For neither are Elders nor the highest of all exempted from this kinde of dutie towards God and his woord besides that it concerneth likewise their peace and well-fare so much that it is best for them to give care neither may any of all the inhabitants exempt them selves from this both because it is their dutie and concerneth their peace besides 6 As touching our selves So vve like vvise â—ven from the highest unto the lovvest are to gather our selues to like advisement the matter is of that nature as that chiefly it concerneth our Elders also but yet notwithstanding all the inhabitants of this Land likewise Our Elders it doth chiefly concerne not onely because our sins for which this hand of God was upon us are of that nature that may seeme most of all to descend from them and for that their estate likewise if they doe not repent is like to be neerest to the greater fall but also because that they can best both call in the people unto repentance and amend these faults that doe prouoke the wrath of God against us Generally it concerneth all the inhabitants of this Land likewise bicause that all one way or other haue in such sort offended as that we all and euery one of us haue iustly deserved this kinde of chastisement and if wee doe not by this gentle warning gather our selues to repentaunce now then may wee pull downe an heavier judgement upon us and that not onely when none of us all doe grow to repentaunce but also bicause that by the impenitencie of some fewe the goodnesse of God is sometime restrained to all generally And unlesse we be disposed to hearken both the higher and lower together we may not only hinder our selves of that reliefe of our praesent necessitie that otherwise we might obtain at the hands of God but besides that we further prouoke him by so great contempt of his mercifull calling to cast foorth some heavier judgement against us 7 Concerning the matter that hee hath to deliuer The matter that he hath to deliuer first to prepare them to a publique fast first he doth but note it generally and afterward treateth more specially of it Generally he noteth it to be such as is strange and rare and not lightly to be esteemed which he doth two waies first sending them ouer to the time past to enquire t 1 2. whether such a thing hath bene in their daies or in the daies of their fathers then by commaunding them to v 1 3. tell their children of it and that so it
people and not to give his heritage over in reproach unto the heathen In reproach to the heathen they might easilie be given even by their famin only both because that in this case they might easily be over runne of their enimies and because it was reproachfull to them being by profession the people of God to be notwithstanding in such distresse wheÌ„ the heathen had all things needfull in plentifull maner Their pleading he would haue to relie on the honor of God teaching them to say Wherfore should they say among the people where is their God Concérning the place where it should be done he would have it not at home or wheresoever els but onely in the Temple where g 1. king 8.37 9 3. God in this kind of distresse also promised to heare even Betweene the Porch and the Temple 12 Out of which likewise wee may take to our selves many good lessons to our instruction If théy were so heauie much to be doubted that weare not alwais so verie readie And first if théy were so heauy that the Prophet needed to call on them so oft for this matter and the Prophet thereupon stook not to bestowe all this labour upon them neither may we thinke that wee are easilie woon to a godlie sorrow especially when wee are to testifie the same in publique maner neither may anie to whome it belongeth thinke much to call on those that should do it again and again We also have cause to sorrow If that also were a just cause for them to blow the truÌ„pet in Zion to shout in his holy mountain for all the inhabitants of the land to tremble truely this also was as iust occasioÌ„ to ús to doe the like in ratable maner or in such measure as theÌ„ the haÌ„d of God was on ús or yet is in much like maner as it was on them For this also was a discomfortable darknes wheÌ„ as the poorer sort were so very much streightned as then they were yet are wheÌ„ their eye waxed dim for want of needful susteinaÌ„ce wheÌ„ as this cloud of darknes was spread so generally ouer the poorer sort over many of the mountaines themselues that it darkned much the light of our wonted comfort ioy haÌ„ging on vs still so much as it doth bodeth I know not what further distresse to be towards us also Or if we cast our eyes to that armie that was so fierce sore upon them we have no great cause to coÌ„ceave our selves to be freed from it wheÌ„ we may see that oùr land also being in a maner as the gardeÌ„ of Eden before hath since been so far wasted by this that in many parts of it it hath beene in the yeeld of things needful not far unlike to a wildernes also and that the same that hitherto was woont to helpe many others with all maner of graine was since fame to seeke far óf that which we wanted to our needfull relief and yet could not get it with all wee could doe But howsoeuer it hath pleased God to take away the force of that army from us yet still doth he threaten us with certain others such as would gladly pray upon us kindly doe it if once they might attaine vnto it If we doe not it is our fault it boadeth not that we have no such reason Insomuch that if our faces also bee not abashed thereat it is but oúr fault it is no argument that we were not then streightened so far as we speake of or that yet it is not euideÌ„t that God doth shake his rod against us But wheÌ„ as so many faces were pale for waÌ„t of needfull relief yet are partly by it and partly by the sickenes that is among us and when as we may plainely perceaue that it is the hand of God that is on vs it is a foul shame for vs if our countnaÌ„ce be not somthing appauled thereat a very ill token besides if neither that distres of so many nor our own sins that haue brought such a wrath upon us can so far worke with us as to be in some good measure abashed thereat For surely that necessity of ours did also ruÌ„ very stroÌ„gly against us prÄ™pared to the battel with great speed in good aray so strengthned besides by the haÌ„d of God that in no wise we could avoyde it and so did it breake into our cities it climed up into our howses it both spoiled and rifled all I can not say that the Heavens and the Earth were astonished at it that the Sunne and the Moone were darkned nor that the stars tooke their light God be thanked wee were not there yet our distres or scarcitie was not so great that in these creatures it might be said to appeare so much as that other in that sense that the Prophet doth mean it Neverthelesse it can not be denied but that by that praesent scarcitie we were so streightned that the â—eaveÌ„s by unseasonable wether for those two yeares and the earth by the small increase of corn that it hath yeelded both together by the losse of our cattell withall did pregnantly witnes the hand of God to have bene upon us and our scarcitie being such as it was those that were distressed thereby could have so litle comfort by those other creatures that to thém the Sun Moone and Stars after a sort and in some measure were darkned also in that sense that the Prophet meaneth Our spiritual famin And if we go further to that spiritual famin that not only was but yet also is among us in all those places where the meat offring and drink-offring is taken from the house of the Lorde therein may we see though in another sense but yet verie pregnant of great importance that the heavens no doubt are astonished and that the earth might verie well tremble to see the Sunne the Moone and the Starres the Truth it self the Church among us in all such places and our verie leaders themselves to bee so darkned as they are partly by their owne former ignorance and error and partly by the negligence and carelesnes of those that now should either amend themselves That we also should give our selves to our most sorrow or at least make sure that others did it And now that wee are in this case that we are what is there more seemely or convenient for us then to turne to the Lorde and to doe that in so heartie maner that neither such fasting nor weeping nor moorning as the Prophet requireth be wanting from us For what else doe these things teach us but to turn unto him and seeing that this hand of God that was on us did in some measure lie upon all though some were much more sharplie touched therewith then were some others how could we do better then to have the profession of our repentance publike also and whereas we doe plainely and dayly see that
many were sore distressed herewith and cannot be ignorant but that our sinnes that had prouoked his wrath against us are many and great howe may wee account it any other then our bounden duety and plaine debt that this our fasting bee very throughly and kindely steeped in weeping and mourning and that wee stirre up our selves unto so unfeined and earnest sorrowe in both these respectes aforesaide that even our heartes might in some measure bee ready to rent or cleaue in sunder for the sorrowe that they conceave as not able to contein the same And this so much the rather as that we nów knowe much better then the Israelites could thén both what wrath is due unto sin in the justice of God and especially the great mercies of God and how ready he is to receave all such as do come unto him For we now see both those so plainly besides all other meanes which are infinite onely in the death and passion of Christ that as in respect of our offences and the judgements of God that are due vnto them which in the death of Christ the onely begotten Son of God we may see to be great we are strongly urged in most humble wise to seeke to him so in respect of his great mercies and his most prompt readines to be intreated of us which also we may see in the death of Christ a great deale more clearely then the light of the Sun when it shineth the clearest of all we may come with good hearts unto him and in full assurance for to obteine his gracious favor How beit we must know therwith all that the matter is very hard hard I say but yet not doubtfull So that although we may not doubt it yet must we make sure that we labour it earnestly with all our power all our strength even to the uttermost that we are able And so doing wé also may hope that notwithstanding this the Lorde will much rather leave us such meat-offring and drinke-offring as shall be needefull as also our selves shoulde take good heede that wee neuer withdrawe that from those to whome it is due no not in our owne distresse as h Deut. 2◠14 we may finde our selves directed in the lawe of the Lord. And whereas the Prophet requireth that both old yong sucklings also those that are but new-married shoulde come forth to this exercise we also might learn that it were needefull for us likewise to withdraw our selves for a time from our wonted delights worldly affaires and with one heart to assemble our selves together to seeke the Lord. Wherein as al are to stir up themselves to a godly an harty sorrow of what estate sexe or age soeuer they be so are the Ministers of the Lord especially to take so good a course therein as best may serve to stir vp themselves and others also soundly and thoroughly to doe what they haue in hand well to remember that being as they are the salt of the earth they make the same now to appeare especially in this But wheras that late scarcitie of ours the sicknes that now is the troubles that are doubted by diuers might well bee greevous unto us not onely in respect of our selves but much more for that the glory of God might be touched therby and our holy profession ill spoken of likewise although we may very well be touched with the sēse of our own necessities yet are we in any wise chiefly to respect the glory of God for that cause especially to desire the Lord to be favourable therein unto us that whereas hee hath vouchsafed us to be his people himself to be our God we may in such sort have his gracious help in al these matters that it may be seene that we haue a good a gracious God that he accounteth no otherwise of us though in our selves we can nothing deserve it but as of his peculiar entirely beloued people He that i Mat. 22 32. said that God is not a God of the dead but of the liuing upon our hearty repentance would soone procure that though our estate were so hard yet should it be so altred from worse to better from want to plēty frō sicknes to health frō troubles to godly peace that in our owne experiēce soone we should find that the father him self would accoūt it dishonorable to him that we his people shuld stil be miserable How to finde out what those sins were of which they had to repent them now as it were swallowed up with distresse 13 Those sins in particular that the people thē wer infected withal although this our Prophet doth not name thē as it semeth upō such reasō as before is declaerd yet both they may be easily gathred out of the historie of that time and it is good that we herein haue some eye unto them that so we may the more to our aedifying apply this call of the Prophet unto our selves And the historie of this praesent time is set foorth unto us sufficiently at least to this purpose both in the historie of the kings of Iudah and in certaine of the Prophets besides Out of the storie of the Kings But in the storie of the kings of Iudah there are but two of those their kings on whom we may relie for this matter which are Vzziah and Iotham his sonne To the time of Vzziah we haue recourse because it is found to be the time whereunto his prophecie doth chiefly belong as before is declared Sect. 2. to Iotham likewise not only because he succeeded next and so belongeth very much to that time likewise but because that he k 2. Chho 26 19. bare the sway in his fathers dayes after that once his father was stroken with leprosie In both which that wee may the better finde out the estate of the people in their dayes and so consequently what it was wherein they chiefly offended we are to consider of what disposition they were thēselves so shall we find in some reasonable maner the wayes of the people that were gouerned by them For besides that the Scripture doth not otherwise set downe unto us what their wayes were but very litle in this storie we see that experience doth commonly teach that such as the Prince is such also are the people generally Insomuch that if the Prince be religious the people doe so much the more imbrace religion if otherwise himselfe regarde not religion the people also make light of it and so do we euer for the most part see it not only in religion but also in all other thinges besides Vzziah First therefore to beginne with Vzziah who also l 2. Kings 14 21. is called Aziriah we are to see in what sort he is described unto us first as touching his inclination to Religion and then as touching his disposition in such thinges as belonged to his ciuil estate In his inclination to religion likewise
we are to consider what was commendable in him and what was reprovable Commendable it is that he is m 2. Chro. 26 4 5. said to have done uprightly in the sight of the Lord and that in the dayes of Zachariah who understoode the visions of God he did more specially seek the Lord and in such sort somtimes that the Lord did prosper him for it It is likewise reprovable n Ibid. vers 4. that he folowed not the Lord with all his heart but onely as his father Amaziah did of whom it is said o Ibid. 25 5. that he did uprightly in the sight of the Lorde but not with a perfect heart as also p 2. King 14 4. that he tooke not away the high places but that the people did sacrifice and burne incense thereon and that q 2. Chro. 26 16 19. himselfe did praesume to intermeddle with the Priests Office and therein woulde not be admonished by the Priests that forbad it unto him As touching his disposition in these matters that concerne his ciuill estate some there were that were honorable unto him others againe that did not so well become the person and state that he susteined Honorable it was that he r 2. Chro. 26 6 7 8. did so valiantly against the enemies the Philistines Arabians and Ammonites and that Å¿ 2. Chro. 26 9 11-15 both the fortified Ierusalem and not onely had in a readines so strong an armie for the number of men being two thousand and sixe hundreth Captaines of speciall account and three hundred and seaven thousand and fiue hundred others besides but also had in a readines for them all maner of furniture even to the very stones that were for their slings That which did not so well become the person and state that he susteined was that he had such a fansie to husbandry imployed himselfe so very much about his owne priuate gaine For t Ib. vers 10. it is saide not onely that he loved husbandrie which if he had done like a Prince careful to cherish it in his kingdome it had beene very commendable likewise but also that himselfe had much cattle in the valleyes and plaines plowmen also and dressers of vines in the mountaines and in Carmel and that for that purpose he builded towers or lodges in the wildernesse â—otham and digged Cisterns for them also Concerning Iotham his sonne it appeareth also that v 2. King 15 34 35. 2. Chro. 27 2.6 he was much like to his father and so consequently that his manner of gouernement was like unto his not onely when hee ruled for his father but when hee reigned for him selfe likewise But as touching x 2. King 15 34 35 2. Chho 27 2 3 6. his inclination to Religion wee are more specially to note that though it bee saide of him that hee did uprightly in the sight of the Lord and builded the high gate in the house of the Lord yet is it witnessed also that he sought the Lord but as his father did that the high places remained and the people corrupted their wayes and that himselfe did not enter into the Temple Out of certaine of the Prophets The Prophets that doe apperteine both to this people that we haue in haÌ„d and to the time that now wee speake of are onely Isaiah Amos and Micah of which Isaiah onely kept himselfe to the Iewes alone I meane in the first part of his prophecie which is all as I noted before that we may seeke to for this matter whereas both the others spake to the Isaralites and Iewes together But they all easily may be found in a people that have such Princes as we see that Vzziah and Iotham were Isaiah For Isaiah first rebuketh them not onely in matters that concerne Religion but also for such other vices as may very well seeme to come from such dispositioÌ„ as their Princes had Concerning Religion he plainely chargeth them that y 5 24. they had cast of the law of the Lord and contemned the word of the holy one of Israel and that they z 1 19. had groves and high places and delighted therein and therefore a 1 11-15 did the Lord earnestly protest that he misliked al their offrings holy assemblies As touching other vices among them some he layeth to the charge of all generally others againe more specially to the charge of some Generally to all that wheras now they should haue b 5.4 brought foorth the right or naturall grape they c 5 19. made light of the threatning of God and d 3 9. were of such countenances that that thereby they made their sin manifest even as Sodome More specially hee noteth the greater sort of them with two speciall faults both with hard dealing towardes others and when so they are come to immoderate wealth that then they wax insolent and excessiue therewith As touching their hard dealing some part of it he seemeth to allot to those that deale in administration of justice and some part of it to others againe indifferently Those that deale in administration of justice he charged that e 1 23. they loved gifts and followed rewardes and that f 5 7. in steede of Iudgement there was oppression and in steede of righteousnes crying That which he laid to the charge of others of them indifferently was that they g 5 8. joyned house to house and land to land that they might dwell alone that their i 1 15. handes were full of blood that they k 3 14 15. did eate up the vineyeard having the spoyle of the poore in their houses beating the people in peeces grinding the very faces of the pore As touching their owne insolencie and excesse he chargeth them also that they l 2 11.27 had high lookes and were hauty and loftie that not only all that sort of theÌ„ generally m 5 11 12. gaue themselves to immoderate drinking feasting musicke ioyned withall no man regarding the worke of the Lord but also that n 3 16-24 the women were proude nice vaine in their behaviour excessive and costly in their attire Amos. Amos dealeth not very much with the Iewes to speake of yet he also chargeth them both with great default towards religioÌ„ with those other vices besides In their default of religion he chargeth theÌ„ thus far o 3 4. that they had cast away the lawe of the Lord not to have kept his Commandements and that their lies after which their fathers walked caused them to erre As touching those other vices p 6 3. he also do charge theÌ„ that they deale violently with others or approch to the seat of iniquity that they q 6 1. take their ease on their beds of yvorie r 6 4.6 live in abundaÌ„ce plentie nothing sorrowing for the afflictioÌ„ of Ioseph that they Å¿ 6
he fel to idolatry many others it is not likely that the high places which among them were said to remain were any of those that belonged to idols but onely of those where the people were woont of old to worship the Lord which notwithstanding ought not to have bin after that once God himself had appointed the place where hee would be woorshipped For if these had bin of that other sort of high places that is of those that were ordeined to the use of idolatry then could not these Kinges that let them remain in any sense have had that coÌ„mendation that they did uprightly in the sight of the Lord c. Taking it therefore in the other sense their oversight or fault was this that they did not make the people to come to IerusaleÌ„ as the Lord had appointed to worship there but suffred theÌ„ to worship in divers other places that they had before inured themselves unto In which sense it doth challenge us also herein to be offendors with them that is that wee also have high places remaining wheresoever God is not worshiped as he hath appointed but onely after our owne custome For where so ever the maintenance of instruction is taken away to prophane uses and no other provision made for the needful reliefe of the people there of which sort there bee very many with us and those for the most part of the greatest congregations also there may we be sure is an high placé remaining there doe the people worship as they were woont but not in such sort as the Lord hath appointed And hove offensiue they are unto God Which also may be a very good cause why although the historie do give them so good commendation becáuse they did in their weake maner keepe to the Lord and turned not aside unto idols as others did yet the Prophets doe so roundly charge the people of that time as before we have heard and namely that the Lorde was nowe growne to a great hatred of their assemblies and utterly rejected both their oblations and them selves withall And it is very much to bee doubted of us likewise that God alreadie hath or else some may conceave such an hatred not only of those assemblies that yet dâ— worship in these high places of ours because that they obtrude unto him that which in no wise hee can accept of but also of all our other chiefe and highest assemblies likewise even the best that we have though there we worship him never so rightly onely because we doe but suffer those others to have naught else in effect but high places as yet â—ome of ús also somevvhat to far and others to short for lukers sake Those that were proper to either of them were but a couple for ech of them one Vzziah medled somewhat too farre in the Priests office and Iotham came as farre behind when as he entered not into the Temple And how soeuer it be that I doe not see how we are in danger of that fault of Vzziah unlesse that for matters of religion we take our direction otherwise then from the learneder and godlier sort of the Ministery which as I take it in some respects is much to be doubted yet in the other we may plainely see that we also are very great offendors divers of us absenting our selves from the Church of an inward hatred unto it and many moe for filthy luker pastime or ease nicenes or pride And diligent searchers I am perswaded might likewise find that whether it were the fault of Iotham or not that he would not enter into the Temple because his father might not thére doe what hee would yet that it might plainly be found in diuers of ús that there is no greater cause of the absence of many of us and that as Iotham that entered not into the Temple neuerthelesse bestowed cost on it so it might be founde among us that divers of those that in outwarde shewe beare a good countenance towardes the Gospell and doe somewhat for it yet neverthelesse when neede requireth are but dissembling and loose friends unto it In those things that are ciuill In matters that concerne our ciuill estate likewise it is very commendable that her Maiesty hath in so good readinesse such provision of men money and furniture as God be thanked she hath on behalfe of the state against the enimie especially seeing that their quarrel is against the Gospell and to set up Popery againe yet by the covetousnes of some fewe and to mainteine their excesse and riot the common souldier is oft times so much defrauded of his pay that himselfe is distressed others discouraged her Majesties service not a litle defeated thereby But if we come to those other vices therin may we finde our selves so plainely described Certaine speciall vices as it were so truly set out in our lively coulours that the Prophets therein may seem as much to have spoken before of ús as to have applied their speach unto theÌ„ Not so much here tofore For howsoever that the time heretofore hath been wheÌ„ those vices were not to be found so rife among us as they are now yet in these daies of ours they are grown to such head every where are so commonly found that now the Prophets may have those saynges of theirs as fully verified in us as at that time it may seeme that they were in theÌ„ When we were not only at variance among ourselves about the title of the Crowne betwixt the two houses of Yorke Lancaster untill that it pleased God of his goodnes to unite theÌ„ together in one but also in so miserable bondage to the Bishop of Rome that no body coulde have any comfortable fruitioÌ„ of lands or goods theÌ„ was there made lesse reckoning of them then might the meaner sort more quietly have theÌ„ theÌ„ were not our courts so pestred with daily complaints of oppression fraud nor the judges themselves to be so easily charged with delayes excessive charges respect of persons others such like But now very plainly But since the time that God hath vouchsafed us greater mercies that we may not onely have but also injoy in peaceable maner both lands goods without the fear of any coÌ„trary parts at home or of those Romish publicans froÌ„ abroad that so insatiably exacted of us what so ever we had now are we all generally so ready to take the advantage of this opportunity that though all doe scaÌ„ble help them selves so well as they can yet doe the mightier sort overlay the weaker daily do praevail against them more more And so prÄ™uailing what is it they do with that great immoderate wealth that they have What is it else but either that they make it a way or readier meane to attaine unto more or else to abound in such excesse as no words that these Prophets have used are sufficient to expresse the same nor former examples
in this country of ours for many ages able to match it In so much that excesse is much greater with ús then it was with them and as for oppression both it is very rife among us even the most greevous that the Prophets haue named and when our Courtes are sought unto for helpe what by the excessiue chargeablenes they are come unto and what by delayes and when matters come toward ending what by corruption or respect of persons then wee also may see that our justice is very much turned to worme-wood and gall and that oppression may sometimes be found in place of judgement and crying out for lacke of help where there ought to have been aequity done The nature of this hād of God considered may indifferent plainely teach us our offēces herein And seeing that these thinges are so rife among us we are lesse to maruel and withall to acknowledge his righteous judgements that God hath so touched us with this late scarcity both for the abuse of his plenty before and for our hard dealing with our neighbours also Whereby wee also may the better be able to see what these sins are whereof more specially we are to repent if so be that we are disposed by occasion of this hande of God upon us truely to turne our selves unto him 16 Now to returne to our Prophet againe Of those better things that upon their repentance were towards thē that better estate that afterwarde upon their repentance by the goodnes of God they were to enjoy is of so great and speciall importance that it ought to weigh very farre with them towards the working forth of their repentance when as they were to enjoy such blessinges thereby And if wé likewise may assure our selves of the like mercies when so ever we shall turne unto him although I know that our hearts bee very heavie to such a purpose yet dare I before hand set downe this for most certaine both that the benefites them selves which are promised here are of such importance and that we are in these dayes of the Gospell in so likely a way to obteine them that even this consideration onely ought to be of that account with us as that we should neede nothing else to moove us to such a publike repentance as in this place the Prophet doth call them unto Therefore concerning that better estate of theirs first l 2 18. the Prophet himselfe doth promise it unto them generally then for the better assurance thereof and the better to strengthen them therein he medleth no further him selfe in that matter but only m 2 18-31 21. alle ageth how the Lord hath answered already concerning the same In that the Prophet him selfe doth assure them of it generally we are to note both what affection the Prophet declareth the Lord to beare towards his people how favourably he is determined to deal with thē First of what affection God was towards thē His affection he noteth to be as jelousie that so they may the better see how unfeinedly he loveth thē how hardly he cā abide that any hurt should lie upō thē that according to this his inward affection he meaneth to deal favourably he sheweth likewise that notwithstāding they have otherwise deserved yet will he spare them or be gracious unto thē Then cōming to shew thē what the Lord hath answered for that matter n 2 19-27 first he sheweth what the Lorde hath answered cōcerning the removing or taking away of their praesent calamitie o 2 28-3 21. then concerning certain other blessings besides of greater importance which the Lorde the better to strengthen them in the assurance of this his promise declareth himselfe to be fully minded in time to come to bestow upon them Concerning the remooving of their praesent calamitie p 2 19 20. first he telleth them what he will doe q 2 22-27 then he raiseth up the hearts of them all to the assurance of it That which he will doe Then what proceeded out of the same first how that praesent calamity of theirs should be takē away tendeth to their helpe as touching the calamity that then they were in and first as touching the needefull reliefe of their bodies then as touching the reproach that therewithall they susteined of which also r 2 17 themselues had complained before by having such a plague cast upon them Concerning the needful relief of their bodies ſ 2 19. Both that they shuld have convenient reliefe be rid of the reproach also he doth not onely promise to sende them corne wine and oile but also in so plentifull maner that notwithstanding this their famine now yet thén that they be fully satisfied Concerning the reproach that thereby they susteined first he speaketh thereof unto them for the time to come generally then more specially of their deliverie from that reproach that then they were in Generally hee telleth them t 2 19. that he wil no more make them a reproach among the heathen More specially concerning this reproach that now they were in first he telleth them howe they shall be delivered from it then hee remooveth out of the way a doubt that otherwise might trouble them or sheweth a reason why he will so doe In telling them how they shall be delivered v 2 20. he giveth them to understand that he will make such a dispatch of that army of noysome creatures as that both themselves shall be delivered from their annoyance and that the better to abolish this reproach from them it shall be done in such sort as that it may plainely appeare that the Lord hath done it on behalfe of his people both by scattering them away into the North South East and West and for that their stinch or corruption shall bee great That the sense of the other is divers it hangeth vppon the diuers reading For if wee reade x 1 20 although it hath exalted it selfe that is the armie aforesaid to doe this then doth he remove out of the way a doubt that otherwise might trouble them But if we read because it hath exalted it selfe c. then is it a reason why the Lorde would so destroy them Either of which may stand very well and to the comfort of those that were distressed thereby The better to raise up the hearts of them all to the assurance of it he altogether directeth his speach to that end and first to the creatures from whom a good part of this their reliefe should come and then unto the people themselves Those creatures that he speaketh unto are first the earth then next thereunto the beast of the field Speaking to the earth y 2 22. both hee forbiddeth it to Fear and also willeth it to be glad and reioyce and addeth a generall reason why that this because the Lord will doe most woonderfully Speaking to the beastes of the fielde likewise z 2 22. both he forbiddeth them
our selves alreadie have some experience of it For now also may we in some measure see that such as are disobedient unto this mercifull calling of God are altogether in darkenes and stand amased and many waies pull downe upon them the fearefull but just judgements of God And because that by their incredulitie and hardnes of heart the Sun it selfe is darkenes with them why should not the Moone be turned into blood likewise It is not meete that such as so wilfully resist the known and manifest truth should have any light to them derived by such meanes as God hath provided to that purpose but much rather in steede thereof should have naught else but manifest tokens of fearefull judgements To whom therefore by their owne infidelitie the Sun is darkened to those is it meete in the justice of God that the Moone should be turned into blood likewise And because that already wee see in some measure this is done as it is to the glorie of God that the contempt of his Truth is so avenged before that great and fearefull day so is it to the strengthening of the weake likewise that thereby perceave that there is a God whose throne is in heaven and whose eyes consider the children of men and that he with cheerefull countenance beholdeth the just and raineth on others snares and tempests and many other tokens of his displeasure to be unto them a portion to drinke But that the faithfull in all these daungers are still praeserved that must needes very soone appeare to be a great and a speciall blessing both in respect of that safety that them selves enjoy and in respect of the daunger that others are in For it is no small thing to be exempted from such perils and to bee withdrawne from so heavie a wrath of God but when we consider howe those others are overtaken therein and howe fast they are as it were chained up unto perdition then is the safety of the faithfull so much the more an evident testimonie of the goodnesse of GOD towardes them and so much more comfortable vnto them selves that see what a difference GOD hath put put betwixt them and others In which place also it is good to take it unto our selves that to call on the name of the Lord is by the Prophet here set downe as a marke of those that shall be safe and that otherwise the privileges of the place and outwarde calling are to litle purpose because the Prophet doth joine or couple them so neere together In somuch that we also may see who they are unto whom this safetie is due and that neither our Zion nor Ierusalem neither nor yet our outwarde or common calling as we are ChristiaÌ„s or Catholicks rather as some have better delight to speake are to any purpose to procure us this kind of safetie but so far as we finde that inward truth concurring with all that we are of the number of those that put by all others and in all our necessities euer call on the name of the Lord. The privileges of Zion and of Ierusalem were very great and it was no small matter to haue beene an Israelite or a Iewe by lineal descent but yet notwithstanding they came to no proofe without that other and without which they deceaved them selves and ever had their greatest glorie redounding backe upon them with double shame 20 As touching the other blessing A notable protection against their enemies that is that protection of theirs against their enemies he followeth on that in all the third Chapter and to the end he may better declare it he setteth downe as it were in their right and proper colours both the h 3 1-17 wretched estate of the one the i 3 18-21 The wretched estate of the enemie blessed estate of the other Concerning the wretched estate of the enemie k 3 1.8 first he setteth it down plaine in speach l 3 9â—17 afterward hee doth more fully expresse and illustrate the same by a figure of great dignitie In that which he speaketh plainely of them first he speaketh m 3 1-3 of all generally then he directeth his talke to n 3 4-8 certaine of them more specially In that which he speaketh of all generally What he saith of all their enemies for this matter generally first he setteth downe what he will doe then he sheweth what is the cause why he wil so doe That which he will doe he describeth unto us both by the nature or substance of the thing it selfe and by certaine circumstances thereunto appertaining The thing it selfe that he will doe as touching the substance or nature of it resteth in two points that o 3 2. he will gather all nations together and plead with them for his people and for his heritage the children of Israel The circumstances hereunto apperteining are two the one of the time the other of the place The time In the circumstance of the time he sheweth that it must be p 3 1. in those daies when he would poure foorth his Spirit as before he declared and in that time when he would bring againe the captivitie of Iudah and Ierusalem For first there was to come on that people a time of wrath because of their sinnes in which they were to be possessed by the hand of their enemies but afterward by the goodnes of God they were to be brought home againe which is the time that now he doth speake of Concerning the circuÌ„stance of the place The place it is set downe that this shall be done in r 3 2. the vale of Iehoshaphat whereby may be noted that the Lord would so deal with the enemies of his people both before the faces of theÌ„ to their greater comfort in wonderful triumphaÌ„t maner It may note that he woulde execute his judgements on theÌ„ even before the face of his people because that this vale of Iehoshaphat was before the citie Ierusalem the mount of Zion that before he spake of It may likewise note that he would do it in wonderful triuÌ„phant maner be cause that the storie whence that vallie tooke his name importeth such a matter very plainly as the Å¿ a. Chro. 20 â—-28 text it self recordeth For there Iehoshaphat triumphed over the Ammonites Moabites IdumaeaÌ„s without any conflict but only in praising the name of the Lord and the spoile besides was so great that it held them occupied three daies to gather it The cause why The cause why he woulde so doe is because they have done such wrong to the people of God made so light accouÌ„t of them Wrong they had done them because they t 3 2. had both scattered his people among the nations and besides had parted their land among them They made light of them likewise v 3 3. both because they cast lots for them and gave them for naught a boy for an harlot and a girle for a cup of wine In
to bring backe again the people of God to their former captivity and seeking daily to be avenged on those that have delivered any part of thē out of their hands So that herein also they match those others Bristling against the Lord in assembling their forces together against the Lord and accounting it a sufficient provocation for them to bristle so as they do for that the Lord hath already foiled them in divers of their waies begun to deliver his peculiar people out of their hands having refused the mercifull visitation of God so long that now they have not the grace to consider that such handes of God are laide upon them for their former just deserts but wickedly account that they are a just quarrel to thém to rage and scorne so much as they doe How justly these doings of theirs may pull dovvn the like judgemēts against them When these thinges therefore are so plainely and fully found in them may we yet doubt that they are so farre from those heauie judgements that heere are denounced may wee thinke that when they have done all this wickednesse against the aeternall Majestie of GOD and against those annointed of his for whose sakes he was woont to rebuke even the mightiest Princes that were and when as it is evident that they have not onely done those things but stil persist and continue therein that yet notwithstanding the Lord will spare them and let them goe cleerely away with this and never call them to account for the same Or at least may we thinke so nów when we see that the Lord hath already entered into the like judgements with them Especially vvhen vve see the same to be begun alreadie that he promised here unto these For now may we plainely see that he hath undone much of that which they had done and himselfe hath sold diners of their children unto his people to be sent away unto the Sabaeans where they can never get them againe For he hath so opened the eyes of many thousandes of them that nowe they have left the waies of their fathers and are joyned unto the people of God They have so truly with the Queene of Saba and with the Sabaeans that came with her given eare to the wisedome of our Salomon Iesus Christ that now they meane still to make their abode there and cannot sufficiently wonder that their fathers and they them selves have beene so long so farre deceaved And if it were inough to stand for sufficient confirmation here of unto thém only for that the Lord had spoken it how much rather ought wé to be raised unto an vndoubted expectation of it when as we see not only that the Lord of ours he hath already begun with the woorke it selfe and hath done great and wonderfull things therein already 29 In the figure that he useth the more fully to expresse and to illustrate that This wretched estate of the enimie more fully expressed by a notable figure which he had in plaine speach set downe before which also he doth with great dignitie and to the speciall beautifying of the thing that he hath in hand whereas yet he holdeth on his talke with his enemies and willeth that proclamation be made among them concerning that matter we are first to consider that he will have proclamation made then what it is that he will have proclamed unto them That he would have proclamation made it appeareth most plainely for that himselfe a 3 9. willeth Proclamation to gather thē all together that the thing that he hath in hand be proclamed among the Gentiles Whereby it seemeth that he would give them to understand both that it is a matter fully determined with him and that he would have them all to know it That which he would have proclamed unto them resteth in two principal points one that he b 3 9.11 stirreth them up unto battail the other that yet notwithstanding himself doth withal c 3 12-17 denounce their overthrow And in stirring of them up unto battail first he doth it generally and then he followeth upon the same more specially That which he doth generally is no more but that d 3 9. he willeth that war be proclamed or that they do praepare themselves unto war In that which is more specially set down of that matter we are to note not onely how the Lord doth more fully follow upon it but also how the Prophet that hither hath stoode by himself and hath but recited what the Lord hath saide doth now according to the interpretatiō of the best put in a short praier of his such as he thought the matter it selfe did now require The Lord in following more fully upon it How they should get themselves in a readines at home and so come against his people calleth upō them e 3 9.10 first to get them in a readines at home f 3 11. then to come foorth and to settle them selves unto their busines To the end that they may be in a readines first he calleth on those that in common sense are meetest to such a purpose that is to the battail then he calleth on others also that are unmeete Strong Calling on those that are meete to such a purpose g 3 9. first he willeth the mightie to awake or to stirre up themselves and al the men of war to draw neere and to come up to the muster then to the ende they may all have weapons inow or that there may be weapons inow for all h 3 10. he willeth them to turne their instruments of husbandrie into weapons their plow-shares into swoordes and their siethes into speares And weak Comming to those that are unmeete for the warres that is the weake or feeble to the ende that he may better shewe foorth how faire a day the Heathen or enemies to the people of God shall seeme to themselves to have against them and how sure account they shall before hand make of the victorie he woulde have thém also to chiere up themselves to this busines and i 3 10. willeth them to say that they are strong or at least to wish that they were When thus they are gotten into a readinesse he k 3 11. willeth them all of what Countrie or Nation so ever they bee to leave their owne Countrie now and to come and joine their forces to gether against the Iewes and to compasse them round about The prayer that hereupon the Prophet doth make is l that the Lords mightie hosts or men of warre The Prophet prayeth should come down thither also on behalf of his people so opposing strength l 3 11. against strength the hosts of the Lord against all the forces of all the heathen In denouncing their overthrow he frameth his speach in that sort that he may seem to have had in some respect unto that praier of the Prophet then to proceede in or to holde
on that course that before he had intended He may seeme to have respect unto the Prophet in that he saith m 3 12. Let them be wakened The Lord heareth and let all these nations come up into the vallie of Iehoshaphat for there will I sit to iudge all these nations round about or They shall be wakened and all these nations shall come up c but there will I sit c. For wheras the Prophet immediately before declared himselfe by that praier of his to be very carefull on behalfe of the people of God especially when as he heard that the Lord stirred up so many against theÌ„ and of the mightiest and willed them to be furnished also these words of the Lord are of that nature and doe so fitly answer the quaestion as that it may seeme that the Lord thereby did quiet and comfort the heart of the Prophet in that his carefulnes over the people letting him understand that he neede not to feare that they should so be gathered together for that it should be in the vallie of Iehoshaphat himself would there iudge them In the residue of his speach wherein he seemeth for to holde on his former course His iudgements against theÌ„ n 3 13-16 hed oâ—th not onely denounce his judgements against them but also o 3 17. foresheweth certaine speciall effectes that shoulde come thereby In denouncing his judgements against theÌ„ first p 3 13. he doth direct his speach to those that shall be the executioners of this his vengeance q 3 14 16. then he discourseth further thereof at large not directing his speach unto these specially but indifferently unto all In directing his speach unto those that were to execute his judgements first he willeth them so to doe then he giveth the reason why He willeth them to set in hand with the execution of those his judgements by a figurative speach compating the enemies first unto corn in the field theÌ„ unto grapes that are in the presse In respect that they are corn though many in number yet such as may be easily cut downe he willeth these his executioners r 3 13. to thrust in their sickles giveth a reason because that now the corne was ripe or the time of harvest was come In respect that they were as clusters of grapes in the presse f 3 13. he willeth those his executioners to come to their busines that is to tred these grapes the reasoÌ„ is because grapes did not only run nów of theÌ„ selves being so fully ripe but also ran forth in plentiful measure into the streetes The reason that he giveth why he would have such execution done upon them is because t 3 13. their wickednes was great In that part of his speach wherein he discourseth further of this matter not specially unto these but indifferently unto all v 3 14. first he speaketh of their slaughter in particular then x 3 15 16. of their great distresse generally Concerning their slaughter he sheweth that it shal be very great then doth note certaine circumstances of it He sheweth that it shall be very great both for that hee sheweth that there shall bee y 3 14. great multitudes of those that are slaine and for that hee thereupon calleth it the z 3 14. vallie of threshing or of chopping them in peeces The circumstances are two one of the time the other of the place For the time it is saide that then it shoulde bee when a 3 14. the day of the Lord which himselfe had appointed for this matter should be come For the place it is said likewise that it should be in the b 3 14. vallie of threshing or of chopping them in peeces Concerning their great distresse generally both the thing it selfe is described and a reason thereof is given In the description of it we have set downe unto us what it shall be and when it should come It should bee such as that unto them c 3 15. the Sun and the Moone should be darkened and the Stars should withdraw their light In the description of the time it is not onely declared d 3 16. that it should bee when the Lorde shoulde roare out of Zion c. but also they are taught whence that same distresse of theirs doth come that is from the roaring or displeasure of the Lord because that it is saide withall that e 3 16. the heavens and the earth are mooved by it The reason is because that f 3 16. the Lord is ever a refuge unto his people and the strength of the children of Israell The speciall effects that should come hereby are two g 3 17. one that they should know that he is the Lord their God dwelling in Zion his holy mountaine the other that Ierusalem shoulde bee holie and that strangers should passe through her no more 23 Out of which that our selves may take such instruction as to us apperteineth How litle we neede to feare them áll if we can repent and turne to the Lord. whereas first the Lord willeth that proclamation be made among the Gentiles to praepare them selves to the battaile and then to come and set in hand with their enterprise seeing that he doth so openly put them in mind of it and besides that doth so eg them unto it we neede not to doubt it to be so perillous and daungerous a matter if our enemies take up such a purpose amoÌ„g themselves nor though they be so bold as to attempt to bring to passe their wicked endevors On the other side rather if once they be known to beare an hostile mind against us for the Gospels sake and thereupon to lie in waite for some opportunitie to break in upon us to their best advantage out of this we may gather that we might well be so voide of all feare of them as that our selves might bid theÌ„ make hast and soone come foorth with the woorst that they could We ought to take heed that we never giue to the least of them al any just occasion of variance with us but if they maligne us for the Gospels sake which is all the quarrell that now they have with us and for that only cause do cast to annoy us we neede not doubt to care a fig for them all our selves may put theÌ„ in mind to be doing tell them we long sore to see the woorst they can doe In which respect it is not lightly to be passed over that the Lord so earnestly calleth on the best souldiers the most valiant warriors that were in the world and would have no fewer then áll of theÌ„ neither These would he have to incampe them selves about his people and to coÌ„passe them in on every side these would he have to be a document unto themselves and to al others that either then lived or where to come how litle able any power of man should
be to praevaile against the aeternall and the invincible Truth of God If they were but of the common sort of souldiers or if there were but fewe of them that they could not to their owne desire compasse in the other on every side the matter were lesse if they could not attaine to that they desiered and though they were foiled or clean overthrowen yet that also were short of that portion of honour and comfort that God in such case would have bestowed on so good cause and on those that sincerely stand in the same Nay unlesse he have them áll in so much that none be wanting even that also is more then he in such case can affoord unto them What cause is there then why we in these dayes when God is disposed as before wee have heard to bring againe our captivitie should be so afraide when we heare of any that in this cause professe enmitie towardes us being as they are farre short of áll and such as they are neither the best Warriours themselves nor yet so strong though all their forces were united together But he doth not onely call in their persons but putteth them in minde of their furniturealso and because their provision of weapons might be over scant when now they came all generally to the end that therin also they have no want he willeth them to frame their instruments of husbandry into weapōs also that so all may be provided therof to the uttermost of their owne desire And yet when they come with al this furniture thát also shall be but a seely poore help unto thē Goliah was a mighty man very well furnished for armour weapō an expert souldier besides and David on the other side but a simple thing to be in the fielde nothing at all furnished to such a purpose never trained up thereunto But so soone as they met that great beast was laid flat on the ground David went away with his head for all he could do Neither is it to be omitted that the Lord assureth of his successe though the odswere so great on our enimies part and the likelihood so faire that even the weaker sort among them in hope of the spoile would stir up themselves to goe to the field with the rest or at least wish that any way they might be able so to do For whatsoever likelihood there is that flesh blood may thinke to have found yet can there be no sooner a triall made but that it wil most plainely appeare that flesh blood was far deceaved Yet neverthelesse it is to good purpose a seemly a needefull exercise to us that with the Prophet we also should in all such gatherings of earthly forces lift up our eyes hearts unto heaven and there desire our most mighty and mercifull Father to send downe those greater forces of his to encounter with them Which if we shal do we may likewise hope to have that gracious and comfortable answere that all the sortes of óur enemies also shoulde be gathered together to that discomfortable and irckesome vallie of Iehoshaphat to their utter destruction discomfortable and irckesome I say to all the enemies of the people of God but unto those that professe the Truth and sincerely hold it a place of great honor and joy a crowne of glorie a mountaine of inaestimable high renowne and no vallie at all of grief or reproach As stalkes of corne and ripe grapes But when the Lord compareth them further to the corn of the field and the clusters of grapes in the presse whereof the one is so easily cut downe with a sieth or may well be gotten by whole handes-full at once with no more but a sickle the others being once come to that ripenes that they are meete to come to the presse breake in sunder and bleede of themselves without any treading who is there may doubt but that in such case even the best strength that they have is nothing else but miserable weakenes and their greatest glorie not one jote better then their open and aeternall shame especially when as their wickednes now is so very great and in open sight much greater by farre then can be matched in any other sort of people and when as the Lord alreadie hath begun so to roar out of Zion in such sort to give foorth his voice in Ierusalem that the heavens and earth are therewith mooved alreadie And what reason is there why it shoulde not be as seemely for his honour now to be in these daies both a refuge and a strength to his people as heretofore it hath beene on behalfe of others We our selves I graunt doe in no wise deserve it and no more did others that have beene before us if God should have entered into judgement with them but it is meete and very much to the honour of God that in these daies also he should be knowne to be a refuge and strength to his people as at any time heretofore it hath beene without exception If we therefore shall seeke unto him in such sort as we before directed there need to be no quaestion made nor doubt conceaved but that in these daies also the Lorde will so bring downe our enemies that now also it shall be made known unto all that the Lord is óur God likewise and that Ierusalem shal henceforward be kept undefiled from such corruption as heretofore was brought into it and that her enemies shall never hereafter so praevaile against it as they have done nor make it a thorough-fare for them to passe repasse at their pleasure as heretofore over-long they have done 24 Concerning the blessed estate of the other The blessed estate of the godly that is of the Church or people of God a 3 18. first it is set downe simply or in respect of it self alone b 3 19.21 In respect of it self then by comparison or in respect of certain others In that which is but simply set down or in respect of it selfe alone we are to consider first of the time wherein that blessed estate is promised then what is that blessed estate that thén is promised For the time there is relation had to that which c 3 ◠before was named when God would bring againe the captivitie of Iudah and of Ierusalem and therefore d 3 18. it is saide in that daie The blessed estate that then was promised was concerning the lande wherein they dwelt and first as touching the aboundance of fruites that it should then yeelde and then as touching the good watering of it As touching the fruites that then it should so aboundantly yeelde wee have sette downe both what partes of the Country they were that should be so fruitfull and then what should be the fruitfulnes of them Those partes of the Country that should be so fruitfull are the very e 3 18. mountaines and hilles which for the most part are nothing so fruitfull as the
of him Much rather if we come to those spirituall graces that are promised here In spirituall graces we may then assure our selves that in the Church or kingdome of Christ they are in so great and plentifull manner that every where they doe abound and that the meanest Churches or persons therein doe more abound in these matters then else-where any others of what estate experience or learning so ever they be As also when he commeth to shewe how this land that he doth speake of is watered as he telleth us that the rivers shall be ful of water and of a fountaine that should water the vallie of Cedars so he addeth withall that they are but the rivers of Iudah that he doth speak of and that the fountaine did likewise proceede from the House of the Lorde and in truth the faithfull have such sufficiency and fulnes and most plentifull abundance in Iesus Christ in his holy word and continually are so refreshed so replenished with that fountaine proceeding from the house of the Lord that not onely all the rivers of Iudah are ever full of water even to the brinkes but even those great and mighty Cedars also of that rich and fruitfull vallie are all watered even to the full Otherwise with our enemies But on the other side if we cast our eyes to any of our unneighbourly Aegypts or Edoms such countries or states as take part with Aegypt in their idolatries and superstitions or with Edom in continuall hostilitie to the people of God though we may finde them for a time to flourish and sometimes to getunder the people of God for a season yet is it sure and sealed up in the irrevocable judgements of God that they shall be made wast and become inhabitable or as a wildernes without any to dwell therein in comparison of that which otherwise they might attaine unto with the residue of those that in spirit and truth do call upon God And howsoever they may seeme to flourish for the time and thereby to hinder the course of the Gospell yet may they be sure that it shall not be só with theÌ„ still but that needes they must come to judgement for with-holding the Truth â—n unrighteousnes so long as alreadie they have done For áll flesh is grasse and the glorie thereof but even as the flower of the field and though now they flourish as greene as the bay-tree yet he that now passing by theÌ„ in that case doth leave theÌ„ may at his returne not be able to finde the place where they were though he make good hast and doe not tarrie For in them is found innocent blood and iniurie done to the people of GOD beyonde all measure Wherein though others also have their parts yet of all others that Whore of Babylon that long since hath beene drunken with the bloode of Saints must needes beare the bell wheresoever she cometh WheÌ„ théy are wasted Ierusalem standeth in good case And as these must be laid wast so Ierusalem and all Iudah must stand for ever that when the enemies have doone what they can to overlay them to put all to the swoorde and to abolish the very name or memoriall of them from the face of the earth yet must they finde in the ende that they were in no wise able to performe their desire and that the more they have sought to bring them downe the more hath God opposed himself against their attempts set theÌ„ up Of which his goodnes because we have had so large pleÌ„tiful experieÌ„ce in these daies of ours so many waies in so great matters as we have had so much the more may we assure our selves that these are the daies wherin we shal see by the goodnes of God the ful performance of these his mercies unto his people We are our selves I graunt unworthy and that may be denied by none but he telleth us also that hé will clense the blood of those that are his By which his clensing it may well come to passe that we may be so highly in the favour of God by him that clenseth us Iesus Christ that he may well even in his justice after that once he hath affoorded us that way to his mercy vouchsafe to establish and to uphold us as here is promised especially when as he telleth us further that himselfe will dwell among us Exod. 32-34 For as on a time when the children of Israell had greevously sinned against the Lord he withdrewe himselfe from their company till upon their repentance their sinne was done away but when they repented and the Lord by the intercession of Moses had forgiven their sinne he then adjoined himself unto their tents againe and was content to keepe company with them in all their journeies untill they came to the land of promise so in this case likewise how so ever the Lord hath heretofore estraunged himself from us because of our sinne yet if it so be that now we repeÌ„t us of those our sins we may be sure that by the intercession of our Moses Iesus Christ the onely Mediatour of the New and last covenant he also will so for give us our sinnes and so circumcise our hearts withall or clense our blood that the lover of men will not account it unseemely his honour to dwell among us And because that his dwelling or continuall aboade requireth likewise a dwelling-house and that the same be ever mainteined therefore so soone as it doth appeare that the holy Ghost hath built is upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Iesus Christ being the Head-corner-stone and so hath made us Temples to him we also may assure our selves that he wil not suffer us to miscarry Houses are sometimes overthrowne by outward force sometimes againe they decay of themselves but this House or Temple of his wil he both defend against the force of all his enemies and uphold likewise against such decayes An exhortation unto such repentance as herein is required as otherwise of it selfe would grow upon it 26 Now therefore to draw to an end whereas it is cleare that we also may find our selves to be touched with the self same hande of God that was cast upon them though not in so large plentifull measure what were more seemely or meeter for us then sensibly to be touched therewith and to acknowledge it as in deed it is can be none other the speciall hand of God upon us Let the Heathen thinke that knowe not God that such thinges come by chaunce or fortune Because we may see this to be the haÌ„d of God let us acknowledge and undoubtedly perswade our selves that it is of the Lord that he for some speciall cause hath sent it unto us And if it be his doing or come froÌ„ hÃm may wé make so light of it as not to suffer the same to take any holde of us Or may we so easily passe it over as not so much as in
serious and earnest manner to bethinke our selves for what cause he should sende it unto us Is there no remedie but that needes we must be like unto them that being provoked in very strong and forcible maner to mourne yet notwithstanding wil in no wise lament nor suffer such calling to woorke upon them Are such things daily before our eyes and have we hearts to beholde the same and yet is our countnance nothing at all abashed thereat Neede we some Ioel againe to teach us what this geare meaneth Wé also have in like sort sinned Belike because we have among us no such sinnes as for the which that hande of God was cast upon thém But Lord God what thing was there ever more certaine then this Who ever did more certainely know the day to be day and the night to be night the fier to be hote and the water moist then any man that hath any sight at all may plainely perceave that those sinnes are rife among ús and growne also to a marvelous head Or did ever the Sun in his brightnes shew it self more clearely to the children of men then those thinges have made themselves to be knowne to the children of God Which way are we able to turne our eyes where we shall not see oppression and sacriledge uncondemned and uncontrouled where we shall not see the oppressed crying out for lacke of helpe or comfort either and the glorie of God cleane â—odden downe for filthy luker And doe not these more justly deserve a greater and a sharper scourge then so easie and so gentle a warning as now the Lord hath cast upon us Is it not meet that when we have so unmercifully taken froÌ„ others that which is theirs we should be so met-with in that which is ours Or when we have taken and still withholde from the Lorde himselfe his owne proper part may we not thinke that he is justly provoked so far to accurse it our owne that we mingle together Or may we looke to deale so uncharitably with our neighbour and so dishonorably with God and yet that he must ever let passe and quietly put up both the one and the other Publike offences require publike repentance Now if it so be that we know well inough that we have so offended and daily yet doe as in deede it cannot in any wise be denied is it then so small a matter with us that we cannot thinke it so needefull a course to repent us thereof and to assemble or gather our selves into some publike profession of it If those sinnes of ours be publike and offensive to all should not our repentance be publike also and such as were meete to take away the offence so far as before by them it was given May we take to our selves the liberty to offend so openly and yet must we count it so straunge a matter if it be required that the profession of our repentance be open also Or is it wisedome so far to withdraw our impenitent and proude hearts from taking away the offence our selves by some open acknowledging of it that thereby we give some just occasion to God to take it away by casting some publike vengeaunce upon us Or if in no wise our selves will doe it may we after mislike if to our further dishonour and griefe the Lord him selfe set in hand to amend it Or At least to obteine these mercies offered if nothing else could moove us unto it can we have so litle coÌ„sideration of the mercies of God now offered unto us that when as upon our repentaÌ„ce he is so ready to make them ours yet we for want of this repentance will leese them and so fouly misse so faire opportunity as this To obteine that further manifestatioÌ„ of the Truth Is it a matter of so small importance to have the good Spirit of God in such sort poured forth among us that old and yong even servaunts and al should be so plentifully endued with the worde of Truth Have we so long laboured it our selves to so litle purpose yet can we now make so light of it when the Lord himselfe doth offer it unto us and that for no greater a price then this Or have we so litle care of the glorie of God that would come therby that when we have so compendious a way to attain unto that whereby it might be notably advaunced yet notwithstanding we rather will suffer all to fall to the ground then cast our selves to be in a readines to accept and to use the meanes that are offered To get such protection from our enemies If we come unto those that are our enemies for the Gospels sake it is sufficiently knowne unto all that for certain ages late overpassed we have beene in miserable bondage unto them and have suffered at their hands whatsoever miserable captives are woont or the pride ravin riot or crueltie of the conqueror is bold for to offer and that they have laboured by many straunge and daungerous meanes and yet doe and daily will doe to bring us backe to their handes againe that so they might leade us that daunce a fresh and once againe claspe that yoke of their bondage about our neckes and then make it so sure withall that we might never be able to get out of their talents or to recover the comfortable freedome that now we enjoy And have we yet so litle remembrance of our former miseries and so litle care stil to uphold this our lawfull and needefull libertie that when so easily we might get so faire an hand against all our enemies yet notwithstanding we will not take the opportunitie that leadeth unto it Is their tyrannie become so easie that now we doe so litle feare it Is Religion with us of no greater importance but that we could again be under so grosse idolatrie Have we so litle care of our posteritie that it is no matter to us whether they be bond or free whether the Lord be glorified by them or not Can we be so senselesse or so litle touched with the consideration of these calamities and many others depending thereon that we will not redeeme our securitie from them when as now the opportunity serveth so wel the Lord himselfe so graciously offereth that favour unto us and we may purchase the same to our selves for litle or nothing Then must we pronounce against our selves that we are right worthy to fall to the depth of all distresse that so litle regard wheÌ„ so easily we may in time to praeveÌ„t it And how may we looke that God should pity us wheÌ„ in the same we should cry vnto to him Though we can hardly grow unto it yet are we not therefore to shrinke away from it wheÌ„ as now we have so litle regard thereof our selves Our hearts I graunt by the common corruptioÌ„ of nature are very hard and strongly possessed by the sinne of impenitencie and besides this we are so dissolved into all excesse