of gods wrath shal appeare in thē let these things serue for our cōfort against the assault of the wicked who howsoeuer they rage take on for a time yet shall they one day be broght before the iudgmēt seat of Christ receuie rewards according to their deedes And wtal being mindful of these things let vs embrace the grace of God which he offereth vnto vs in Christ Iesus who at the length hauing remooued vs from all dangers wil finally translate vs into the felowship of his kingdome to him be giuen blessing honour glory and dominion for euer and euer Amen Sermon 14. 16 THe Lord also shall roare out of Sion The text and vtter his voyce from Ierusalem and the heauēs and the earth shall tremble but the Lord will be the hope of his people and the strength of his people Israel 17 And you shall know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Sion mine holy mountaine and then shall Hierusalem be holy and there shall no strangers goe through her any more 18 And in that daye shall the mountaines drop down new wine and the hils shall flow with milke and al the riuers of Iuda shal runne with waters and a fountaine shal come forth of the house of the Lord and shal water the valley of Sittim 19 Egypt shall bee wast and Edome shal be a desolate wildernesse for the iniuries of the children of Iuda because they haue shed innocent blood in their land 20 But Iuda shall dwell for euer and Ierusalem frō generation to generation 21 For I wil clense their blood which I haue not cleansed and the Lorde will dwell in Zion FOrasmuch as all the promises of God are founded in Christ Iesus in whom alone the father is well pleased with vs The argumēt vse of this present place Ioel as also the rest of the Prophets doth so intreate of the deliuerance of the Iewish people that withall he cōprehendeth the misteries of the vnuiersal redēption which we haue in Christ These thinges therefore ought so to be considered of vs as that we insearch those points with a deeper and profounder sense that are fulfilled accomplished in Christ And of late he spake of the punishments of the enemies whervnto now he addeth those thinges that make to the safetie and happines of the godly as wel in this world as in the world to come Whereof we ought to reape this vse that reposing our trust in the aide and assistāce of God wee may valiantly vanquishe and ouercome all that standeth against vs and withall indeuour to be such as God may acknowledge and defend as his owne How God will be affected toward his people I Hee fraieth the wicked But Ioel beginneth with the person of God and sheweth how hee will bee affected towarde his people First The Lord saith he will roare out of Zion and vtter his voyce from Ierusalem He compareth GOD to a Lion roaring after his pray which hee will not suffer to bee taken from him And so hee teacheth that God will bee a deliuerer and defender of his people not onely faithfull and iust but also strong and valiant which will neuer permit them to bee purloyned from him Therefore hee addeth The heauen the earth shall tremble Amos 3. For if so be as Amos saith all men stande in feare of the Lion when hee roareth who doubteth but that all creatures will tremble if in case God vtter foorth the tokens and threatninges of his wrath Howbeit as wee admonished in the beginning these things belong especially vnto Christ which is that strōg Lion of the tribe of Iuda Apoc. ◠who as hee hath deliuered his owne out of the tyrannie of the Diuell so will hee by no meanes suffer them to bee taken from him Ioan. 10. My sheepe saith hee can no man take out of my hand c. Let these thinges comfore vs in our temptations For if we abide in Zion that is in the fellowship and societie of the Church no man can separate vs from the loue of God Rom. 8. For why hee that hath instructed the Lions with terrible roaring and hee that causeth the thunders to astonish mens mindes and to bellowe out of the heauens the same by the secret power of his spirite can cast downe the courages of the wicked so as will they nill they they shall cease to hurte and endammage his people c. 2 He is the hope and strength of his people But least any man shoulde thinke that God woulde also become fearefull to the godly hee addeth But the Lorde will be the hope of his people and the strength of his people Israell In that therefore hee sheweth himselfe terrible to the vngodly in that hee shaketh heauen and earth all this hee doth to the benefice and welfare of his Church that namely the wicked may bee abashed and the godly haue a stedfast and vntemoueable hope and confidence in him And heere it appeareth how notable the fruite of faith and godlines is whē as these alone cause god to be sweete and amiable vnto vs whose Maiestie and power otherwise is intollerable For as good and vertuous children are delighted with the port and magnificence of their father which they know will be honourable and profitable vnto them also but the vndutifull and rebellious are dismaide with the same because they know well enough they haue deserued punishment euen so the power and glory of God doth wonderfully cheere and comfort the godly when as they acknowledge him to bee their father and protector the wicked and vngodly in the meane time miserably trembling at the mention of him But wee haue to obserue that he saith that God will not onely bee the hope but also the strength of the godly For as hee protecteth and defendeth his people so also he furnisheth them with new force that they may be able to abide and do all things These thinges haue in like maner their accomplishment in Christ Mat. 16. For hee is that inuincible rocke against which euen the gates of hell shall not bee able to preuaile The same commaundeth vs to trust in him Ioan. 16. and saith that hee hath ouercome the worlde the prince thereof The same encourageth the faithfull with his spirite so farre forth that being prepared vnto euery good work they manfully subdue al aduersarie power and euen glory and reioyce in their afflictions Whereupon Paule saide I am able to do all thinges in Christe that strengtheneth mee See Rom. 5. Philip. 4. 3. He is a present helper defender He addeth heereunto in the third place And you shall knowe that I am the Lord your GOD dwelling in Zion my holy mountaine Hee opposeth this to the dangers which they had hytherto susteyned and by reason whereof they supposed that they had beene vtterly forsaken of God The sense is this I will shewe my selfe so fauorable vnto you that you shal feele
pasture yea and the flocks of sheepe are destroyed The meaning is that such and so great is the force of Gods wrath that the sense thereof is come euen to the bruite and sauage beastes The beastes mourne in the woods for huÌ„ger The wilde Harts bray for want of waters The hungerstarued Oxen wote not which way to turne them The sheepe for want of pasture are scattered abroade And are not you ashamed in the meane time not to acknowledge the hande of Gods wrath neither as yet mourne ye for your sins wherebye you haue deserued this so greate a miserie But that which the prophet vpbraydeth this people withall is nowe adayes too too common and vsuall And this is a great token of mans corruption All creatures feele and perceiue the blessing of the Lorde they reioyce in it and are thankefull vnto God their good benefactour whilest they constantly execute and discharge their duties The same mourne and are greeued when God is angrie For euen the bruite beastes doe percetue Gods wrath and bewaile it the signes and tokens heereof appeare in all the Elements yea and this whole frame of the world being greeued with the weight of our sinnes and malediction Rom. 8. groneth and wayteth for deliuerance Onely man neither acknowledgeth God his benefactour nor yet perceiueth his wrath and scourges but as a blocke onely poareth and poddreth about seconde causes For although hee desire to bee deliuered from euils and is greeued for them yet doth hee very seldome thinke of GOD and of his sinnes whereby hee hath proudked his wrath Let vs hee ashamed therefore of this vnthriftinesse and let vs bee inflamed with the studie of the woorde whiche alone is able to cure this maladie Heerewithall the Prophet nowe interlaceth his owne example He stirreth theÌ„ vp by his owne exaÌ„ple and whilest hee telleth them what he himselfe will doe hee admonisheth them also what they ought to doe I will cry vnto thee O Lord saith he As though hee should say Let them do as they list if they will let theÌ„ with their blockishnes exceed euen the very bruit beastes themselues yet shall they neuer cause me to fayle in my duetie For I will crye vnto the Lorde that hee may both giue them a better minde and also mercifully remoue these calamities And heere againe hee repeateth the selfe same causes to the intent he might both stirre vp himself the more and also reproue them once againe for their blockishnesse For the fire hath consumed the pastures of the wildernesse the flame hath burnt vp all the trees of the fielde And in these wordes he betokeneth the rage of the enemies or rather the horrible vengeance of God which should shew foorth it self euen in wilde and desert places But we are admonished by the example of the prophet that Bishops and Ministers ought to pray continually for the people committed to their charge so long as they be not forbidâ—en by the expresse coÌ„mandement of God as once Ieremie was Ier. 7.11.14 For why it doth not easily appeare vnto vs who they are that sinne against the holy Ghost 1. Ioan. 5. therefore vnmeete to bee prayed for And the greater that mens blockishnesse is in not acknowledging theyr miserie so much the more feruently haue wee to labour to prouide for their health and safetie Moses obserued this thing Exod. 32.33 who neuer ceased to pray for the Israelites although they oftentimes offended in the selfesame maner The same did Samuel for the children of Israel 1. Sam. 8 1â— not withstanding that the Lorde had saide vnto him They haue not reiected thee but me because I should not raigne ouer them And the Apostle Paule prayed for the Iewes day and night Rom. 10. when as hee had none gricuouser enemies then they This duetie ought also to bee transferred vnto other states and degrees as Magistrates fathers of families and whosoeuer t is haue any charge inioyned them of the Lorde Let these also doe their duetie so long as occasion ferueth though they see that they litle preuaple There will once bee a tyme when they shall see them selues to haue profited more then they woulde thinke But if all other thinges fayle Eze. 3.33 at least they shall deliuer their owne soules c. The beastes cry vnto the Lorde Last of all hee repeateth that which hee had saide of the beastes crying vnto the Lorde As though hee shoulde say Why shoulde not I crie when as the very beastes are inforced to crie from whome this destruction haue taken away not onely the pastures but also the riuers and fountaines of wateres The bruite beasts are saide to crye vnto GOD when as by their braying or roaring they testifie that they haue neede of Gods prouidence So doe the young Rauens forsaken of their dammes crie vnto the Lord for help Iob. 38. Psalm 47. Luk. 12. when as they are fed with the deawe of heauen And this consideration of Gods proiudence is very full of comfort whiche extendeth it selfe euen vnto beastes and withal it reproueth the detestable distrustfulnesse of men who refuse to depende upon God though his fatherly care towardes vs doe on euery side appeare Let these thinges therefore serue for our instruction also as touching the matter of repentance whereof is presently entreated And albeit wee see due plagues for our sinnes hanging ouer vs alreadie yet let vs not despaire of Gods goodnes but turne vnto him with our whole harts For hee that heareth the voyces of Rauens crying vnto him and the waylinges of hungrie beastes cannot neglect vs vnto whome hee hath giuen free accesse to the throne of his grace by our Lorde Iesus Christe to whome bee giuen blessing honour glory and dominion for euer and euer Amen CHAP. II. Hee prophesieth of the comming and crueltie of their enemies 13. An exhortation to moue them to conuert 18. The loue of God towardes his people 1 BLowe the trumpet in Zion and shout in my holy mountaine The text let all the inhabitants of the lande tremble for the day of the Lorde is come for it is at hand 2 A day of darknesse and of blackenesse a day of cloudes and obscuritie as the morning spreade vpon the mountaines so is there a great people mightie the like where of was not from the beginning neither shal be after it vnto the yeeres of many generations 3 Before his face is a deuouring fire behind him the flame shall burne vp the lande is as the garden of Eden before him and behinde him a desolate wildernesse so that nothing shall eseape him 4 The beholding of him is like the sight of horses and like the horsemen so shall they runne 5 Like the noyse of charrets in the cops of the mountaines shall they leape like the noyse of a flame of fire that deuoureth the stubble as a mightie people prepared to the battell 6 Before his face shall the people tremble
restored vs men vnto happines which we had lost by the fall of our first parentes To him therfore be giuen blessing honour glory and dominion for euer and euer Amen Sermon 9. The text 23 BE glad then yee children of Sion and reioyce in the Lorde your God for hee hath giuen you a teacher vnto righteousnes and he will cause to come downe vnto you the rayne euen the first rayne and the latter raine in the first moneth 24 And the barnes shall bee full of wheate and the presses shall abound with wine and oyle 25 And I will render you the yeeres that the Grashopper hath eaten the Canker worme and the Caterpiller and the Palmer worme my great hoast whiche I sent amongest you 29 So you shall eate and bee satisfyed and prayse the name of the Lorde your God that hath dealt maruellously with you my people shal neuer be ashamed 27. And you shall knowe that I am in the middest of Israel and that I am the Lorde your God and none other and my people shall neuer be ashamed The argumēt vse of this present place AS men that abounde in peace and ydlenes doe for the moste parte account all things to be cockesure vnto themselues neyther thinke they it euer likely that any aduersitie should happen vnto them So if at any time they perceyue Gods wrath to be kindled and that all thinges beginne to goe agaynst them then by and by casting away all hope they fall to trembling and can hardly bee perswaded with any comfortes This thing the Prophet Ioel did well perceiue and therefore to the doctrine of repentance he adioyneth manifolde matter of consolation wherby he confirmeth thē whom a little before by declaring the danger hee had made afrayd And of late forsooth hee descibed the zeale or ielousie of God who will so graciously receiue them into fauour that turne vnto him that the tokens of his goodnes may be seene euen in the brute beastes them selues and in the very earth But now he applieth all that matter vnto the people whom he doeth not onely comfort but also teach what it becommeth them to doe when by Gods benefite they are deliuered And so hee setteth foorth a generall doctrine what the godly haue to obserue when either they are exercised with aduersitie or finde Gods deliuerance towardes them He willeth the godly to reioyce for the promised deliuerance And first coupling this present place with that that went before he sayth Be glad thē ye children of Sion reioyce in the Lord your God c. As though he shoulde saye Seeing the earth it selfe is to reioyce and the beastes to cast off al feare how much more becōmeth it you to reioyce which are the childrē of Siō to wit of the church which God hath chosen as peculiar to himself for whose sake he blesseth the earth the rest of the creatures And thus he asswageth the sharpnes of the presēt dāger with the promise of ioy to come teacheth that such as are the childrē of the church haue a perpetual cause of reioycing albeit they be beset on euery side with dangers Where notwithstanding wee haue diligentlye to obserue what manner of ioye it is that he inioyneth vnto thē For in as much as he had promised abundance of fruites was to say yet more of that matter some might conceiue in their heartes a carnall ioy and by that occasion breake foorth into all licentiousnes which thing commonly is wont to be the cause of greater misery and mourning Hee sayth therefore Bee glad and reioyce in the Lord your God The godly ought to reioyce in the Lord. and so hee pointeth the cause and matter of their reioycement onely and alone in God whom they should finde fauorable and mercifull vnto them Hee putteth therefore a feate distinction betwixt men and beastes For these because they can conceiue no further he willed to reioyce in the happy forzon of the earth and in the abundance of fodder but men hee sendeth vnto God the fountaine and giuer of all goodnes After the same manner the Apostle willeth the faythful to reioyce in the Lord Phil. 3.4 which is diligently to be obserued if at any time we feele our prosperitie to encrease For then they that beeing mindefull of the Lord theyr God doe reioyce in him alone the same also doe compasse about their ioy with the feare and reuerence of God least it should breake forth into the libertie of the flesh yea they so much the more earnestlye giue themselues vnto godlynesse by howe much they feele the clearer testimonies of Gods goodnes towardes them As for the vngodly it is not so with them for they like brute beastes doe sticke onely in thinges present and filthily abuse the same with the losse of theyr saluation But the Prophet goeth on He declareth the causes of their ioye and declareth more diligently the causes of this holy reioycement The first is because he hath giuen you a teacher vnto righteousnesse The Hebrue word signifieth both a teacher and rayne For as it behooueth the earth to bee watered with rayne so is it necessarye that the riuers of heauenlye doctrine should flowe into the mindes of men being otherwise barren and out of kilter to the end they may be made fitte for those thinges that are prescribed vnto vs of the Lord. Whether it belongeth that God compareth his worde in Esay to the rayne Esay 55. But the Prophet vseth a doubtfull worde because he would allude to the calamitie of the present warre which like vnto a sodeine storme of rayne ouerflowed the whole land And he telleth them that this was sent from GOD not that they should perish but that they should be instructed hereby vnto righteousnes and bee made more ware and circumspecte heereafter For as we sayd in the beginning the Iewes vnder Ezechias a most excellent and godly prince sinned diuers wayes when as they both followed a most dissolute trade of life and also cleane contrary to the threatnings of the prophets trusted to the league of the Egyptians Therefore God sent vnto them the Assyrians to the intent that beeing by them driuen into extreeme hazard they might bee taught howe vayne and hurtfull and that confidence is which is reposed in the externall helpes The Prophet therefore biddeth them to reioyce for this very cause that God by such afflictions vouchsafed to instruct them whom hee might haue altogether destroyed if hee would haue vsed his owne aduantage These thinges teache vs what we ought to iudge of the afflictions wherewith God exerciseth vs. Afflictions are as teachers vnto righteousnes They are as Teachers which instruct vs vnto righteousnesse For when all thinges fall out as we would wish we become more careles in the things that concerne our dueties neyther also doe wee apply our mindes vnto those pointes that are taught vs by the woorde of God Wee haue neede therefore of
affliction whiche as the Prophet sayth maye giue vs vnderstanding and prouoke vs to the dueties of godlines Esay 28. The Saintes do acknowledge this and say with Dauid Psal 119. It is good O Lord that thou hast humbled me Againe Thy rod and thy staffe comfort me For why Psal 23. they acknowledge the fatherly hand of God in chastising theÌ„ and therefore they reioyce in afflictions which they know will woorke for the best vnto them This thing is to bee obserued of vs when eyther we are tempted publikly with warres and famine or priuatelye with disseases and other aduersities For so being made partakers of Christ in bearing his crosse wee shall reigne for euer with him in glory Neuerthelesse least they might think that this afflictioÌ„ should alwaies last coÌ„tinue God testifieth his fauour by outward benesites he repeateth that which he had said of the fruitfulnes of the earth of the most pleÌ„tifull increase of corne victual which is another cause of reioysing in the Lord namely that they should acknowledge the fauoure of God by his externall benefites and euen in very deede haue experience thereof For hee sayth He will cause the rayne to come downe vnto you euen the first rayne and the latter rayne in the first moneth That is said to be the first rayne which in the moneth of September after seede time watereth the fieldes that the seedes may grow and take roote The latter rayne which when the Corne is now in riping causeth that the Graines in the Eares are not scorched with ouermuch heat but are made more plentifull And in these two kindes he comprehendeth all other influences of the heauens which make to the happy increase and foizon of the earth Neither doeth hee promise these onely but teâ—heth also that they shall be effectuall whâ—â— hee addeth And the barnes shall be filled with wheate and the presses shall abound with wine and oyle and I will render and make good vnto you the yeeres that is those yeerely fruites which the Grashoppers haue deuoured the Canker worme and the Caterpiller and the Palmer worme my great hoast which I sent amongest you Victuall and sustenance commeth only by the blessing of God Leuit. 26. Deut. 28. Psalm 104. 145.147 In which place wee are admonished that seasonable weather and the fruites of the earth doe come to passe onely and alone by Gods blessing There are extant as touching this matter promises in the law Dauid oftentimes maketh mention thereof in the Psalmes As ofte therefore as wee inioye those benefites let vs acknowledge them to bee testimonies of Gods grace and goodnes and vse the same soberly and with thankesgiuing 1. Tim. 4. For by this Paule witnesseth that our meates are sanctified But if wee be vnthankfull and intemperate then they turne vnto our destruction which ought to haue serued our necessitie and withall God taketh awaye his giftes and punisheth them with penury and hunger which would not acknowledge his goodnes and bountie Neither is this any harde matter for him to doe when as by most vile wormes hee can sodenly cutte shorte the whole hope of the yeere Neyther doeth he without cause cal these heere in this place his hoast or army For albeit these seely creatures seeme to bee most weake and feeble thinges yet doe they make huge swarmes wherby they destroy all that euer is both farre and neere in so much that a man may more easily defend the fieldes from the inuations of enemies then from them Examples are euery where extant in hystories Exod. 10. and wee haue seene some in our tune in the consideration whereof woulde GOD wee were more diligentlye occupied and then remembring our owne weakenesse wee should haue lesse cause to be proude against GOD who is able with most vile and wretched creatures to subdue euen the cruelest Tyrantes and fiercest nations that be Hitherto maketh that which hee addeth saying How Gods benefites ought to bee vsed And you shall eate and be satisfied and prayse the name of the Lord your God who hath dealt maruellously with you In which wordes he sheweth theÌ„ how they ought to vse peace and the plenty of things belonging to mans sustenance For God would that we should enioy theÌ„ be satisfied with theÌ„ But withall he will haue vs to be mindfull of him and to prayse his name that is his power and bountifulnes It was miraculous to behold the sodeine deliuerance felicitie which happened to the Iewes after the Assyrian war But no lesse admiration deserue the things that we daily haue experience of that al creatures are occupied about maÌ„s liuelihood welfare Therfore a more then beastly blockishnes it is if in case we being satisfied with Gods giftes doe neither acknowledge his liberalitie our selues nor prayse and commeÌ„d the same vnto others c. He promiseth the present ayde and protection of God Hereunto he addeth in way of coÌ„firmatioÌ„ And you shal know that I am in the middest of Israel that is to say so great and so notable shal your happines be that if you wil not beleeue my wordes yet shal you find by experience and indeed that I am conuersant amoÌ„gst you that I stand in defence for you with mine aide and how that I am your god that only alone Because I wil theÌ„ deliuer you wheÌ„ as beeing forsakeÌ„ of al men there shal no where appeare any hope of health or safetie To be short I wil bring to passe that my people shal neuer be coÌ„fouÌ„ded And so he sheweth theÌ„ that the fountaine of al good things consisteth in the free promise couenant of God For in that that God had chosen his dwelling place amongest them it was of no merit or desert of theirs but of his owne meere grace and fauour wherewith he embraced them being vnworthie and deseruing no such matter Exod. 16. Leuit. 26. as Moses himselfe more then in one place or two witnesseth But in that the Iewes are at this day horribly confounded made a laughing stocke to the whole worlde it derogateth nothing at al from Gods promise For why this is restrained to the people of god Therefore inasmuch as they ceassed to bee Gods people and are reiected by his iust iudgement the same belongeth no more vnto them In the meane season wee ought to apply these thinges to our instruction and comfort For as in times paste the Iewes Ephes 1. 2. Corin. 6. 1. Pet. 2. Ephes 1. 2. Corin. 15. Rom. 8. so hath God by grace chosen vs in Christ Iesus Who hath not onely redeemed vs by the merit of his death but also made vs a liuing temple vnto him selfe which he vouchsafeth to dwell in by his spirit and worde Yea and he hath engrauen his spirit in our heartes as a sure and certaine pledge of our saluation whereby we cry Abba Father Of which grace there appeare sufficient trials and cleare
would haue the knowledge of saluation to bee common vnto alhis people therefore behooued the Apostles to be indued with the holy ghost that they might put vs in mind of the things that come to passe at this day in the Church c. The perillous estate of the â—â—ttâ—r time But least any man at the springing vp of Christes kingdome shoulde promise to himselfe all thinges ioyfull and prosperous Ioel consequently setteth downe what a huge masse of mischiefes and dangers shoulde euery where arise partly to the ende hee might remedie the offence of the crosse and that hee might commende and set foorth faith in Christe which alone is able to saue vs in these dangers and partly that by rehearsing of these thinges hee might terrifie and dismay those that shoulde come after least otherwise they should refuse the redeemer giuen vnto theÌ„ of God I will shew saith the Lord wonders in heauen and in earth blood fire and pillers of smoke The Sunne shal be turned into darkenesse and the Moone into blood before that great and terrible day of the Lorde come And because hee maketh mention of that greate day wherein Christe shall come to iudgement it is euident enough that hee comprehendeth all the time from Christes manifestatioÌ„ in the flesh euen to his last comming in which hee will accomplishe his kingdome in his elect and punish his enemies with the paines of eternall death and damnation And hee sheweth that there wil euery where appeare tokens of Gods wrath and that such shall bee the countenance of the whole worlde as that all the partes thereof might seeme to haue conspired together to the destruction of mankynde Heereunto agree those thinges that Christe foretelleth in the gospel of the later times Mat. 24. Mark 13. Luke 21. And they beganne to bee accoÌ„plished by and by after his ascention into heauen as touching the nation of the Iewes For there were seen wonders of al sortes after the which followed immediately the destruction both of their citie and nation But vnder the Romane Empyre whereunto the whole worlde was then subiect there raged in horrible wise seditions warres pestilences famines and all maner of mischiefes whatsoeuer and the histories are full stuffed with the rehearsall of straunge tokens These thinges haue continued euen vnto our time neither as yet are they come vnto an ende For who is ignoraunt of the Cometes and blasing starres of the Swoordes Speares and other like thinges which haue now certaine yeeres past beene seene in the skies As for Earthquakes and Inundations of waters wee haue seene very many And in some places great quantities of blood haue gushed out of the earth and els where it hath rayned blood from heauen I let passe the monstrous shapes and birthes which if I shoulde stande to recount the day woulde scarce bee sufficient And that these are no vaine scare-crowes the thing it selfe testifieth when as the wretched worlde is vexed and disquieted with warres famine pestilence other plagues innumerable The cause of the calamities of the latter time But some man may aske what the cause is of these calamities and why GOD seemeth nowe to bee more offended with all mankinde then hee was in times past before Christe was giuen vnto vs in the fleshe This question is not superfluous considering that in times past the enemies of the Christian faith tooke heereby occasion to slaunder it in that after the rising thereof they saide whole swarmes of mischiefes brake into the worlde And among the Christians there are not a fewe that are greatly troubled with the consideration heereof But if we coÌ„sider the thing it self it will appeare that the cause of these euils commeth not of the Christian faith or religion but proceedeth from the people For among these the greater part is of the wicked and vngodly who either as hogges of Epicures heard giue themselues to the lustes of the fleshe and despise all religion or els beeing superstitious and Idolaters doe dayly deuise and heape vp vnlawfull worshippinges And both these sortes hate and persecute the light of the truth so as notwithstanding that they followe diuers practises of life yet in this one thing they egregiously agree and by their wickednes it commeth to passe that there seemes no enormitie worthie of greater punishement then if any make a fyncere and free confession of the truth Is it therefore to be thought any maruell or a thing vn worthy if God punish the desperate boldnesse of these men with all kinde of plagues which wilfully refuse the saluation offered This doubtles is the cause for the which Christe himselfe foretold that the nation of the Iewes should bee rooted out Mat. 21.23 Luke 19. for which also the Romane Empire was manifoldly afflicted as Orosius in diuers places witnesseth But for so much as a number in these dayes followe and imitate the wickednesse of the Iewes and Emperours it is nieete and requisite that they shoulde suffer and abide the selfe same paines and punishments with them Where if so bee wee looke vpon those that haue giuen their names vnto Christe although they bee of a right iudgemente as touching faith and religion and also do refreine themselues from the grosser sins and superstitions yet concurre there many thinges in them which deserue the sharper kinde of discipline and chastizemente For some blinded with the loue of this worlde couet after honours and riches othersome hauing too good an opinion of themselues are made secure and carelesse others there be that become slaues to their affections and followe without measure their owne lustes and pleasures As therefore it is necessarie that these shoulde bee brydeled and prouoked to a more feruent desire of Godlinesse so the iustice of God requireth that in punishing the sins of the wicked worlde 1. Pet. 4. hee shoulde begin first with his owne house least hee might seeme to allow those things in his owne which hee so seuerely punisheth in others No man therefore hath any cause to complaine of GOD. For in as muche as the state and condition of the worlde will bee alwayes alike it is good reason also that the same should be vexed with the like punishments and afflictions vntill that great day of the Lorde appeare which as it wyll bee terrible to the wicked as the Prophete signifieth Luke 21.1 Thes 4 so will the same bee ioyfull to the Godly and bryng vnto them their full and perfect redemption Heereby are confuted the Chiliastes and as many as in these dayes doe restore againe their dotages whylest they promise to themselues a certayne golden worlde vpon earth And withall the goodnesse of GOD is to bee obserued The vse of strange tokeÌ„s who before hee bring foorth the punishments which wee haue deserued is accustomed to forwarne vs not onely by his worde but also to awake vs by signes and wonders Examples of this forte are extant in the histories of all ages and as
wee saide euen nowe there appeare great store of them in these dayes It shall bee our partes to be mooued with these thinges and to flie vnto Christe Iesus who will giue saluation to all that call vpon his name as shall bee saide in the Sermon folowing To him bee giuen blessing honour glory and dominion for euer and euer Amen Sermon 11. 32 BVt whosoeuer shall call on the name of Lorde shall bee saued The text for in mount zion and in Ierusalem shal be deliuerance as the Lorde hath saide and in the remnant whome the Lorde shall call The argumeÌ„t vse of this present place OVr Lord Iesus Christis the vniuersal redeemer not only of those that after his incarnatioÌ„ beleeued in him but also of all those that imbracing the auncient promises haue reposed the hope and confidence of their saluation in him alone This hee himselfe witnesseth when as hee saith that Abraham saw his day Ioan. 8. Apoc. 13. and reioyed in it And Iohn calleth him the Lambe of God which was staine from the beginning of the worlde that is whose merit reacheth vnto all those that haue euen from the first beginning of the worlde beleeued in him Therefore all the Prophetes are wont to prophesie of Christe and in him they fixe the foundation of all other promises This thing doth Ioel also For after hee had promised that God woulde deliuer his people from the handes of the Assyrians foorthwith by way of confirmation hee addeth an euident prophesie of Christe who hauing accomplished the worke of our redemption shoulde sende foorth his spirite spreade abrod his kingdome by the Gospell vnto all nations But because also hee foresaw the wickednesse of the Iewes and other people wherof the greater part despiseth and retecteth Christ hee denounced vnto these likewise gods wrath horrible punishmentes Heereunto nowe he annexeth the third part of this prophesie wherein hee instructeth those that are desirous to escape the sayde dangers and withall in fewe words comprehendeth the whole order of our saluation Where appeareth a wonderfull token of Gods goodnes who in the middest of our afflictions doth so mercifully shewe vnto vs a way of escaping For the selfesame thing doth Moses in the Law Leuit. 26. Deut. 30.32 where after most grecuous threatninges hee addeth a comfortable doctrine as touching the true conuersion vnto God Luk. 21. 1. Tim â— c The like order doe the Prophets obserue and also Christ and the Apostles when as they entreate of the most trouble some state of the latter times It shall be our parts therefore to acknowledge this fatherly care of God for vs and to obey his precepts c. The waye whereby men may prouide for theÌ„selues in aduersitie But as touching the wordes of the Prophet first he teacheth the maner and waye wherebye men may prouide for themselues among so greate dangers saying But whosoeuer shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saued And so hee knitteth this senâ—â—â—â—e with that which went before in so much that it is to bee taken not without a singuler force and emphasis For it is all one as if he had sayd Howsoeuer the whole world is troubled and the signes of Gods wrath do euery where appeare yet these things oght by no means to abash the godly For whosoeuer in the meane time shal cal vpon the name of the Lord shal find him to be their deliuerer redeemer Paule citeth this place in a cause of great weight Rom. 10 where hee auoucheth the calling of the Gentiles against the Iewes wherefore euery part thereof is deligently to be discussed of vs. First let vs see to whom this way and maner of saluation is prescribed The way of saluation is promised vniversally to all that embrace it But sayth he whosoeuer shall call on the name of the Lord. c. This promise therefore reacheth vnto al so far forth that neither the difference of nation nor sexe nor state or degree shal exclude or debarre any So Paule expoundeth this place when as by it he proueth the calling of the Gentiles and teacheth that the preaching of the Gospel belongeth also vnto them For hee sayth There is no difference either of Iewe or Grecian For there is one Lord of al riche vnto all that call vpon him For whosoeuer shall cal on the name of the Lord shal be saued And in another place Glory honour and peace to euery one that doeth good to the Iewe first Rom. 2. also to the Grecian For there is no respect of persons with God Whether also belongeth that saying of Peter speaking to like effect I perceiue in very deede that there is no respect of persons with God Act. 10. but in euery nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousnes is accepted of him Yea and the Scripture also maketh the promises of saluation vniuersal to the end that euery man may apply the same vnto himselfe and conceiue by them a sure and certaine hope of saluation These thinges do commend and set foorth the goodnes and bounty of God and bring with them a most effectuall comfort in temptations and withall doe admonish vs of our duetie that wee also without any enuious respect of persons should embrace those with Christian loue and charitie whome the fellowship of one fayth hath ioyned knit together with vs The way of saluation is assigned to inuocation and vpon whom God poureth forth his fauour with so great liberalitie Secondarily hee sheweth what those should doe that desire to be saued when hee sayth They that call vpon the name of the Lord. Hereunto agreeth the whole Scripture which assigneth vnto vs euery where the port of saluation in the calling vpon and inuocation of the Lord. Certes the Lord himselfe in the Psalmes sayth Psal 50. 145 and 34. Call vpon mee in the daye of thy trouble and I will deliuer thee Also He is neere vnto all that call vpon him And agayne The eyes of the Lorde are ouer the righteous and his eares are open vnto their prayers Saluation therefore is to be sought for from without vs and nothing to be attributed vnto mans strength For if it were either in our selues or might bee attained by our owne strength wee shoulde then haue no neede of inuocation For seeing inuocation belongeth onely vnto God it remayneth that all sauing health is to be sought and hoped for in him alone SaluatioÌ„ is attributed vnto inuocation by reasoÌ„ of faith Howbeit wee must marke that saluation is promised to inuocation not for the very woorke of prayer but rather for the faythe 's sake out of which true inuocation springeth Paule giueth an inkling of this when to the same effect he inferreth Howe shall they call vpon him in whom they haue not beleeued For as none craueth ayde of a man vnlesse hee be perswaded that hee both can and will help him so no man calleth vpon God
that hath not alreadye conceyued an vndoubted hope and assurance of his wil and power This the Prophet meaneth when as hee plainely expresseth the maner of inuocation For why he doeth not simply require them to call vpon the Lord him selfe but vpon the name of the Lord teaching thereby The maner confidence of praying what the true maner of praying is and whence the confidēce of prayer ought to be conceiued for in very deede God hath no name whereby his nature may be comprehended or declared In consideration whereof to Iacob in times past enquiring after his name hee sayde Why askest thou for my name Genes 32. And to Moses demaunding the same question hee answered I am that I am Exod. 3. Wherefore the Scripture speaking of God after the fashion of men calleth all that his name whereby he may be knowne as namely his goodnes mercy truth wisedome omnipotencie iustice and if there be any other titles like vnto these which are partely gathered out of his word and partly out of his workes This thing God himself teacheth whē as to Moses desirous to see him he heapeth vp a sort of words whereby hee described his owne nature saying The Lord the Lord Exod. 34. strong merciful and gratious slow to anger and abundant in goodnes and truth reseruing mercy for thousandes forgiuing iniquitie transgression sinne and not making the wicked innocent visiting the iniquitie of the fathers vpon the children vpon childrens children c. But for as much as all these thinges are found especially in the sonne of God Heb. 1. Iesus Christ who is therfore called the brightnes of his glory and the expresse image of his substance the same also is the verye true name of GOD in and by which inuocation ought to be made Of this thing God himselfe admonisheth when as he witnesseth of him from heauen Mat. 3.17 That he is his dearely beloued sonne in whom he is well pleased And he himselfe in the Gospell when he had sayd that he was the way by whiche wee come vnto the father immediately addeth Ioan. 14.16 Verily I say vnto you whatsoeuer ye shall aske the father in my name he will giue it vnto you Heb. 14.4 For which cause Paul affirmeth the same to be our altar by whom we may offer vp the sacrifice of praise yea and he testifieth that by him we haue accesse and entrance to the throne of grace Wherupon also that most ancient vsage of the Church preuailed whereby prayers for the most part are ended in the name of Christ Whilest therefore the prophet willeth vs to cal vpon the name of the Lord he inioyneth no other thing thē fayth in Christ which both commendeth vs vnto God and also maketh our prayers graceful and acceptable vnto him But he expresseth this fayth by the name of inuocation least we should imagine a dumbe and ydle faith These thinges serue for our consolation doe meruellously confirme our confidence in praying For albeit we are vnwoorthie as we must needes confesse that God should heare vs yet cannot he passe ouer our praiers with deafe eare when wee bring before hun his sonne Christ 1. Corin. 1. which of him is made vnto vs righteousnes and satisfaction The fruite of the inuocatiō of fayth This confidence is encreased by the fruit of inuocation which the Prophet addeth in the thirde place For hee sayeth Whosoeuer calleth on the name of the Lorde shall be saued or deliuered Hee vseth the word of sauing or deliuering to the end he might shew that saluation should happen euen vnto those also that seemed alreadie to be vtterly perished yea and quite fallen frō al hope There are many exāples of this sort to be found For hither belongeth that which is written of the children of Israel trying out at the redde Sea with infinite thinges beside Exod. 14. that happened vnto them whilest they were in the wildernes And in the time of the Iudges wee reads that they were heard and deliuered as ofte as they cryed vnto the Lorde Psal 107. Dauid in like manner as hee confesseth himselfe to be hearde oftentimes so heapeth hee togither very many examples of them whome God deliuered when they called for his ayde But especially this ought to be transferred to the safetie and prefernation of soules the certainetie whereof is here proued and declared for they that faithfully call vpon God through Christ receiue in him remission of their sinnes But where sinnes ceasse or bee abolished there the wrath and punishmentes of God which flowe from sinnes must of necessitie ceasse likewise Whereupon true and perfect safetie followeth which hath no maner of neede of any thing to be added to it These thinges teach vs what we ought to doe at this day The tokens of Gods wrath doe euery where appeare and all sortes of calamities breake in on euery side which Christ and the Apostles foretolde should come to passe in the last time Many there be that acknowledge these things and consult by what meanes the dangers may be auoyded But how vayne their consultations are which chalenge to thēselues the chiefe prayse of wisdome the euent and successe of thinges doeth abundantlye prooue Let vs therefore omitting our owne reasons and deuices goe that waye to woorke whiche the holy Ghoste prescribeth in this place For in as muche as it leaneth vppon the promise of GOD who is the truth it selfe wee can by no meanes erre or goe astraye Let vs acknowledge our sinnes and casting away all confidence of our owne woorkes let vs implore and call for the grace of God alone through Christ Iesus who as he hath reconciled his father vnto vs so also woorketh hee true repentance in those whome hee regenerateth by his spirit c. A confirmation of the promise comprehending the whole order of saluation But he maketh a further confirmation of that which he sayd when he addeth For in mount Sion and in Hierusalem shal be deliuerance as the Lord hath sayd that is to say albeit the church may seeme euen now to be vtterly perished yet in Siō shall saluation be had there agayne shal bee gathered togither the remnantes whiche the Lord hauing chosen from euerlasting shall call by his Gospell as he hath promised And these promises are euery where extant in the prophets God doubtlesse had sayd to Dauid as touching Hierusalem that the same should be his rest Psal 123. Esay 10. concerning the remnantes to be saued Esay expressely speaketh And to these certes the histories agree very well For this war of the Assyrians being ended the church vnder Ezechias florished notably by the space of fifteen yeres together Further albeit the people falling againe vnto wickednes their citie was of the Chaldeans together with their temple vtterly burned and consumed yet after they they were returned from Babilon they builded agayn and reedified their citie and temple Esay 2. Mich.
4. there at length by the Apostles the church beganne to be gathered and the worde of the Lord comming out of Sion in a very shorte space spread ouer the whole world Saluation only to be had in the church We are admonished here that saluation is to be fofid only alone in the church a type figure wherof in times past was Ierusalē which was situate vpō moūt Siō famous renowned through the temple of the Lord for that these thinges are not to bee taken litterally or according to the sense of the letter that we should tye the grace of God and our saluation to the terrestriall Sion and Hierusalem it appeareth abundantly by this that Christ called the same citie afterward a denne of theeues and threatened vēgeance vnto it Math. 21.23.24 such as was neuer shewed the like since the foundation of the world These promises therefore ought to be extended to the church in the bosome wherof doe lye safe Luke 19. Psal 48. Psal 84. as many as shall haue recourse vnto it For there the Sparrowes finde a nest and there the Swallowes laye their yong ones because there florisheth the merit of Iesus Christ who offering himselfe on mount Sion for our sinnes hath pacified God his father toward vs. This Church shall alwayes endure howsoeuer the world storme and rage For why it can by no meanes reele or stagger because it is grounded vpon Christ which is the rocke against whom the gates of hell shall neuer preuayle Matt 16. 28. and who hath promised himselfe to be present with vs euen vnto the end of the worlde It behoueth vs therfore to haue an eye vnto these promises if at any time we be tempted and not to measure the stabilitie of the Church or the certaintie of our saluation after the attempts and enterprises of this worlde Saluation belongeth to the elect But wee haue to marke with singular diligence vnto whom that saluation belongeth that God hath prepared in Sion Namely to the remnāts whom the Lord shall call He nameth these expressely to intent he might exclude hypocrites which trust in the merites of their owne workes and to the end he might shewe vnto vs the foundation of saluation only and alone in the grace and fauour of God For wee haue beene all of vs subiect vnto sinne and by reason of sinne to euerlasting damnation Rom. 3. and haue beene destitute of the glory of God in so muche that if the Lorde had not reserued vnto vs certayne small remnants we shoulde haue beene as Sodome and shoulde haue beene like vnto Gomorrha Esay 1. These remnantes hee hath chosen by his euerlasting purpose before this worlde was made and the same moreouer Epes 8. when it pleaseth him hee calleth and being called iustifieth them Rom. 8. and beeing iustified glorifieth them as Paule teacheth To these Dauid consenteth Psa 65. who comprizing the whole order of our saluation in the selfesame heades sayth Wicked deeds haue preuailed agaynst vs But thou wilt be mercifull vnto our transgressions Blessed is hee whom thou choosest and causest to come to thee hee shall dwell in thy courtes and shal be satisfied with the pleasures of thine house euen of thy holy temple For so much therefore as out of the corrupt masse of mankind some are saued that is onely of meere grace by the which wee are elected in Christ and by this it commeth to passe that like as in tunes past when the Tyrant of the Assyrians wasted destroyed all that euer was both far neere God saued his people in Hierusalē euen so in all ages hee deliuereth his out of the snares of the Diuel by the preaching of the Gospel calleth thē into the felowship of his church maketh them partakers of saluatiō in Christ In the meane season the wordes of remnantes reliques betokē the fewenesse of beleeuers which if they be compared with the multitude of the vngodly The fewnesse of the faythful beleeuers may be accounted very few as we are admonished euery where in the scriptures Christ verily calleth his a little flocke he saith that many are indeed called but few chosen which doe passe by the strait gate into the kingdōe of God Luke 12. Math. 20. 22. 7. There is no cause therfore why we should be mooued at this day with the slanders of such as do cast in our teeth the fewnes of thē that beleeue the Gospel gloriously vaūt of the gay shew of their owne party Neither also let vs hearkē vnto those that contēd auouch that euery man may be saued in by his own religiō For in the church onely saluation betideth vnto the elect chosen who being called by the gospel apprehēd embrace Christ Iesus Actes 2. without whō there is no name wherein men may be saued To him therfore be giuen blessing honour glory and dominion for euer and euer Amen Chap. 3. Of the iudgments of God agaynst the enemies of his people Sermon 12. 1 FOr behold in those daies and in that time when I shal bring again the captiuitie of Iuda and Hierusalem 2 I wil also gather al nations and wil bring thē down into the valley of Iehosophat will pleade with thē there for my people and for my heritage Israel whom they haue scattered amōg the nations parted my land 3 And they haue cast lottes for my people and haue giuen the childe for the harlot sold the damosell for wine that they might drinke 4 Yea what haue you to doe with me O Tyrus Sidon al the coastes of Palestina wil ye render me a recōpence if ye recompēce me I wil swiftly and speedily render your recompence vpon your heade 5 For ye haue takē my siluer my gold and haue caried into your Temples my goodly and pleasant thinges 6 The children also of Iuda and the children of Hierusalem haue you sold vnto the Grecians that yee might send thē farre from their borders The argumēt vse of this present place THe Prophet Ioel hath with many argumentes and perswasions comforted the people of his time against the terrours of the Assyrian warre and amongest other thinges he enterlaced a prophesie of Christes kingdome to the end they might vnderstand that God can by no meanes neglect that nation of whom it behooued the promised redeemer of mankinde to be borne who shoulde spreade abroade his kingdome through the whole world And vpon that occasion he entreated of the most perillous estate of the latter time and withall instructed the godly with holesome counsell vnto whom hee promised a most sure hauen refuge of saluatiō in the Church But whilest he propounded these thinges the faith of a number was not a little tempted when they saw the power of the Assyrians to be in a manner inuincible that the neere natiōs had either cōspired or otherwise taken part
innocent blood in their land Therfore the wicked are punished for their tyrannie whereby they oppresse the godly neither in deede will Christ suffer this to escape vnreuenged who testifieth himselfe to bee afflicted in his members as we said of late From hence therfore let vs fetch comfort in persecutiō neither let vs be offended with the successe of the wicked who shall one day wee reigning in the heauens bee cast into vtter darknesse and there tormented for euer 4. A perpetuitie hee promiseth a perpetuitis which thing alone sufficiently teacheth that this place ought not to be vnderstood of the carnall Iuda but of the spirituall or Church For it is euident that the people of the Iewes were cast out of the lande of promise and had lost all forme both of Church and Common weale The Prophet therefore saith But Iuda shall dwell for euer and Ierusalem from generation to generation Which may bee meant onely of the Church vnto whome Christe being about to conueigh his body from the earth into heauen Mat. 28. said Behold I am with you euen vnto the ende of the worlde And that the same shall neuer die Math. 24. 1. Cor. 15. 1. Thes 4. the prophesyinges of the same Christe and Apostles as touching the last day doe aboundantly teathe when as they testifie that then there wil be some who being caught vp in the ayre to meete Christ shall enter into possession of the heauenly kingdome Forasmuch therefore as the Churche shall bee vpon the earth euen vnto the end of the worlde and the same then beeing translated into heauen shall bee indued also with the immortalitie of the body it is plaine perdy as the Prophet speaketh that the same shall dwell for euer Why therefore doe wee feare the attempts of persecutors Why tremble wee at the dangers that hang on euery side ouer vs In times past forsooth most mightie Kinges and Emperours haue assayed to subuert ouerthrowe the Church but they haue bin so farre off from atchieuing their purpose that in so doing they haue gamed nothing but perpetuall shame and ignominie and an vurecouerable losse as well of their goods as also of their bodies and soules The like lot also shall light vpon those that doe in these dayes followe their steppes 5. A cleansing from sinnes But forsomuche as the conscience of sinnes calleth into question all the promises of God in the fift place the Lorde addeth And I will cleanse their blood which I haue not cleansed and the Lord wil dwel in Zion By blood the scriptures vnderstand al greeuous and haynous sins The meaning therefore is this Whatsoeuer filthinesse remaineth in them which might seeme as yet not to be clensed and taken away all that will I cleanse purge This was performed also in Christ whose blood as the Apostle saith cleanseth vs from all sin and of whō the Baptist witnessed Beholde the lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world But especially this seemeth to bee referred to the calling of the Gentiles who where before also they wanted the purifiyngs of the lawe God had suffered them as the Apostle saith to walk in their owne wayes Act. 14. yet the same beeing brought to the knowledge of him he deliuered set free by the merit of Christ frō their sins from condēnation Our sinnes therefore beeing cleansed done away which alone separated vs from God it followeth necessarily that God will dwell in Zion that is the Church that he wil neuer leaue it destitute of his fouour and protection Hitherto maketh the place of Paule writing to the Romanes Rom. 5. God setteth out his loue toward vs seeing that while we were yet sinners Christ died for vs. Much more then being now iustified by his blood we shal bee saued from wrath through him For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his sonne much more being reconciled we shal be saued by his life c. And thus doth the diuine Ioel conclude and shet vp his prophesie with a promise of the Gospell nay if you consider more aduisedly of him throughout yee shall finde him to bee an Euangelical Preacher For hee beganne with the rehearsall of the punishments which hee sheweth they deserued by their sins And immediately he exhorted them to repentance gaue foorth the true fourme and maner thereof Then heereunto he added promises touching the penalties of the enemies perpetual happinesse of the godly Let vs therfore transferre these thinges to our times and from hence take aduice as touching the auoyding of plagues and calamities whereof the summe is this that wee forsaking our sinnes and the cares of this wicked world doe with our whole heart 〈◊〉 turne conuert vnto God through Christ Iesus who as hee hath cleansed vs from our sinnes and reconciled vs to God his father so doth hee protect and defende those that beleeue in him amiddest the dangers of this life and finally causing them to escape and surmount all calamities hee will translate them into his owne kingdome 〈◊〉 to the places of eternall happinesse To him therefore with the father the holy ghoste three persons and one eternall and euerliuing God bee all blessing honour glory and dominion for euer and euer Amen Imprinted at London at the three Cranes in the Vintree by Thomas Dawson for William Ponnsonby 1582.