have all of them that conclusion in their brests which Haman's wisemen and wife made to him Hâ—st. 6. 13. If they begin to fall before the seed of the Jews utter ruine will follow When God begins to own his people as they in the Acts chap. 5. v. 24. they doubt whither this will grow Their hearts tell them secretly they are usurpers of all they have and when God ownes any they instantly fear lest for their sakes they should be called to account When a distinction begins to be made in Ordinances priviledges deliverances protections evidently given to some peculiar ones they tremble within that they are set apart for no good This picking and chusing of men by the Lord Psal. 4. 3. they cannot bear with Such mighty works attend the Israelites what thinkes Midian will be the end of this It is true their pride calls on them to act openly more of their malice then their fear but yet this lies at the bottome like a boasting Atheists nightly thoughts The chiefe Priests and Pharisees having gotten the Apostles before them what big words they use to countenance the businesse who gave you this power Acts 4. 7. But when they are by themselves they cry what shall we do and whereunto will this grow This lies at the bottome with many at this day though they boast and lift up their mouthes to Heaven their hearts do tremble as an Aspen leafe Learn not to be troubled at the great tumultuating which is amongst many against the wayes of God at this day God is measuring out his childrens portion giving them their bread in season viewing for them the lot of their inheritance Men of the world profane Cushanites superstitious apostaticall Midianites will not cannot be quiet Vexed they are envious and afraid and will act according to those principles Cushanites see Religion owned Midianites theirs disclaimed and both are alike provoked The Lord convert them or rebuk them or the one will have the armies the other their wiles Only judge not their hearts by the outward appearance always they seeme gallant to you indeed they are frighted galled vexed I have seen a galled horse under dressing leap and curvet as though it had bin out of metall and spirit when indeed it was paine and smart that made him do it They pretend to despise us when they envy us They look like contemners but are tremblers be not troubled at their outward appearance they have inward anguish they bite others but are lashed themselves 4. The season of the Churches deliverance being come Cushan and Midian must wax vaine and perish That there is such a season I told you before When 430 years are expired Aegypt must be destoyed the Amorites rooted out and all the Nations round made to tremble When 70 years of captivity expire Babylon must be ruined and the Caldean Monarchy quite wasted that the Jews may returne The Church being to be delivered Haman must be hanged This you have fully set out Revel. 6. 12 13 14 15 16 17. It is the fall of heathenish tyranny by the prevailing of the Gospell which you have there described Rome and Constantinople Pope and Turk are preserved for a day and an houre wherein they shall fall and be no more If the season of enjoying Ordinances and privileges be come to this Nation that the Tabernacle of God will be here amongst men wo be to Cushanites wo be to Midianites open opposers and secret Apostates They shall not be able to be quiet nor to prevaile God will not let them rest nor obtain their purposes the Story of Haman must be acted over againe their hearts shall be stirred up to their own ruin Revel. 20. 8. this is the frame of perishing Babylonians in the day of Sions-restauration The Reasons are 1. because at the deliverance of his people God will plead with their enemies for their oppressions It is the day of the Lords vengeance the yeare of Recompences for the controversy of Sion Isa. 34. 8. It is the vengeance of the Lord and his Temple that lights upon them in that day Jerem. 50. 28. The violence done to me and my flesh be upon Babylon shall the inhabitant of Zion say and my blood upon the inhabitants of Caldea shall Jerusalem say Jerem. 51. 35. in this day great Babylon must come into Remembrance Rev. 16. 19 20. 2. The discerning Triall that shall and doth come along with the Churches Vindication will cut off all superfluous false professors so that they also shall perish Mala. 3. 2 3. Christ comes with a fan to send away the chaffe in the wings of the wind Have we not seen this end of many Zelots 3. The Amorites live in Canaan and must be removed Oppressors and Hypocrites enjoy many rights of the Church which must be taken from them Rome and her adherents shall not have so much left as the Name or title appearance or shew of a Church The outward Court they have troden down and defiled shall be quite left out in the measuring of the Temple Revel. 11. Bring this Observation home to the first from this Verse and it will give you the use of it proceed we to the next Verse Was the Lord displeased against the Rivers was thine anger against the Rivers was thy wrath against the Sea that thou diddest ride upon thy Horses and thy Chariots of salvation Was the Lord displeased {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} kindled did he burne that is in wrath Heat is a great ingredient in the commotion of Anger in us here alluded to or because the effects of Anger are so often compared to fire Against the Rivers or Flouds Again was thine Anger {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} thy Nose or Face or thine anger {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} signifies both the x Face is the seate of angers appearance fury comes up into the Face Was thine anger thy troubling anger so the word against the Sea the red Sea through which thy people passed That thou diddest ride upon thy horses thy Chariots salvation or thy Chariots were salvation currus salutares thy safety-bringing Charets The words are an admiring expostulation about the mighty works of the Lord for his people upon the Sea Rivers and inanimate creatures 1. The Rivers Jordan and its driving back is doubtlesse especially intended The Lord shewed his power in disturbing that antient River in his course and making his streames run backward The story of it you have Josh. 3. 15 16. The people being to enter into Canaan the Lord divides the waters of that River making them beneath to sinke away and those above to stand on an heap This the Prophet magnifyes Psa. 114. 5. What aylest thou O Jordan that thou wast driven back what marvellous powerfull disturbing thing is happened to thee that contrary to thy antient naturall course thy streames should be frighted and run back to the springs from whence
EBEN-EZER A MEMORIALL OF THE DELIVERANCE OF ESSEX County and Committee Being an Exposition on the first ten Verses of the third Chapter of the Prophesie of HABAKKVK In Two SERMONS The first preached at Colchester before his Excellency on a day of thanksgiving for the Surrender thereof The other at Rumford unto the Committee who were imprisoned by the Enemy Sep. 28. A day set apart unto Thanksgiving for their Deliverance The Righteous man is delivered out of Trouble and the wicked commeth in his stead Prov. 11. 18. By JOHN OVVEN Pastor of the Church of God which is at Coggeshall LONDON Printed by W. Wilson for the Authour 1648. TO His Excellency Thomas Lord Fairfax c. SIR ALmighty God having made you the instrument of that deliverance and peace which in the County of Essex we do injoy next to his own Goodnesse the Remembrance thereof is due unto your name Those who Honour him he will honour and those who despise him shall be lighty esteemed 1 Sam. 2. 30. Part of these ensuing Sermons being preached before your Excellency and now by providence called forth to publick view I am imboldned to dedicate them unto your Name as a small mite of that Abundant thankfulnesse wherein all peace-loving men of this County stand obliged unto you It was the custome of former days in the provinces of the Roman Empire to erect Statuas and Monuments of gratefull Remembrance to those presidents and Governours who in the Administration of their Authority behaved themselves with wisdome courage and fidelity Yea instruments of great Deliverances and blessings through corrupted natures folly became the Pagans Deities There is scarce a County in this Kingdome wherein and not one from which your Excellency hath not deserved a more lasting Monument then ever was erected of Corinthian Brasse But if the Lord be pleased that your worth shall dwell only in the prayses of his people it will be your greater glory that being the place which himselfe hath chosen to inhabit Now for a Testification of this is This only intended beyond This towards men God pleading for you you need nothing but our silence The issue of the last ingagements whereunto you were called and enforced Answering yea outgoing your former undertakings giving Ample Testimony of the continuance of Gods Presence with you in your Army having stopped the mouths of many Gain-sayers and called to the residue in the language of the dumbe speaking Aegyptian Hieroglyphick {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} men of all sorts know that God hateth impudence It was said of the Romans in the raysing of their Empire that they were saepe praelio victi bello nunquam So naked hath the Bow of God bin made for your Assistance that you have failed neither in Battell nor War Truly had not our eyes beheld the rise and fall of this latter storm we could not have bin perswaded that the former Atcheivements of the Army under your conduct could have bin parallell'd But he who always enabled them to out doe not only others but themselves hath in this carried them out to out-doe what ever before himselfe had done by them that they might shew more kindnesse and faithfulnesse in the latter end then in the beginning The weary Oxe treadeth hard Dying bites are often desperate Halfe ruined Carthage did more perplex Rome then when it was entire Hydras heads in the Fable were increased by their losse and every new stroke begot a new opposition Such seemed the late tumultuating of the exasperated party in this Nation In the many undertakings of the enemy allwhich themselves thought secure and others esteemed probable if they had prevailed in any one too many Reasons present themselves to perswade they would have done so in all But to none of those Worthies which went out under your command to severall places in the Kingdome can you say with Augustus to Varus upon the slaughter of his Legions by Harminius in Germany Quintile Vare redde Legiones God having carried them all on with successe and victory One especially in his Northern Expedition I cannot passe over with silence who although he will not dare not say of his undertakings as Caesar of his Asian War veni vidi vici knowing who workes all his workes for him nor shall we say of the enemies multitude what Captaine Gam did of the French being sent to spy out their numbers before the Battell of Agin-Court that there were of them enough to kill and enough to take and enough to runne away yet of him and them both he and we may freely say It is nothing with the Lord to help either with many or with them that have no power The War being divided and it being impossible your Excellency should be in every place of Danger according to your desire the Lord was pleased to call you out personally unto two of the most Hazardous Dangerous and difficult undertakings Where besides the travaile labour watching heat and cold by day and night whereunto you were exposed even the life of the meanest Souldier in your Army was not in more imminent danger then oftentimes was your Own And indeed during your abode at the Leagure amongst us in this only were our Thoughts burdened with you That selfe-preservation was of no more weight in your counsells and undertakings And I bescech you pardon my boldnesse in laying before you this Expostulation of many thousands if wee may say to him who hath saved a Kingdome what was sometimes said unto a King know you not that you are worth ten thousands of us why should you quench such a light in Izrael Sir I account it among those blessings of Providence wherewith the days of my pilgrimage have bin seasoned that I had the happinesse for a short season to attend your Excellency in the service of my Master Iesus Christ As also that I have this opportunity in the name of many to cast in my {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} into the Kingdomes congratulations of your late successes What thoughts concerning your person my brestis possessed with all as in their storehouse they yeeld me delightfull Refreshment So they shall not be drawne out to the disturbance of your selfe-deniall The goings forth of my heart in Reference to your Excellency shall be chiefly to the Most-high that being more then conquerour in your Spirituall and Temporall warfare you may be long continued for a blessing to this Nation and all the people of God Sir Your Excellencies Most humble and devoted Servant JOHN OWEN Coggeshall Essex Octo. 5. 1648. To the Worthy and Honoured Sir William Masham Sir William Rowe with the rest of the Gentlemen of the Committee lately under imprisonment by the Enemie in Colchester As also To the Honoured Sir Henry Mildmay of Wansted Col. Sr. Thomas Honywood with the rest of the Gentlemen and Officers lately acting and engaged against the same Enemy SIRS THe righteous judgements of God having brought a
knowest not which shall prosper this or that or whether they shall be both alike good Eccles. 11. 6. But proceed we with the Prophets prayer From verse the 3. to the 17. He layeth down severall Arguments taken from the Majesty power providence and former works of God for the supporting of his faith to the obtaining of those good things and works of mercy which he was now praying for We shall look on them as they ly in our way God came from Teman the holy one from mount â—aran Selah his glory covered the heavens the earth was full of his praise Teman was a City of the Edomites whose land the people of Israel compassed in the wildernesse when they were stung with fiery Serpents and healed by looking on a brazen Serpent set up to be a type of Christ Teman is put for the whole land of Edom and the Prophet makes mention of it for the great deliverance mercy granted there to the people when they were almost consumed That 's Gods coming from Teman See Num. 21. v. 5 6 7 8 9. When they were destroyed by fiery Serpents he heals them by a type of Christ giving them corporeall and raising them to a faith of spirituall salvation Paran the next place mentioned was a mountain in the Land of Ismael near which Moses repeated the Law and from thence God carried the people immediately to Canaan another eminent act of mercy Unto these he addeth the word Selah as it is a song a note of Elevation in singing as it respects the matter not the form a note of Admiration and speciall Observation Selah consider them well for they were great works indeed Speciall mercies must have speciall Observation Now by reason of these Actions the Prophet affirms that the glory of God covered the heavens and the earth was full of his praise Lofty expressions of the advancement of Gods glory and the fullnesse of his praise amongst his people of the earth which attended that mercifull deliverance and gracious assistance Nothing is higher or greater then that which covers heaven and fills earth Gods l glory is exceedingly exalted and his praise increased every where by Acts of favour and kindnesse to his people That which I shall chuse from amongst many others that present themselves a little to insist upon is that Former mercies with their times and places are to be had in thankfull remembrance unto them who wait for future blessings Faith is to this end separated by them Awake awake put on strength O arm of the Lord awake as in the ancient dayes as in the generations of old art not thou it that hath cut Rahab and wounded the Dragon Art not thou it that dried the sea the waters of the great deep that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to passe over Isa. 51. 9 10 The breaking of Rahab that is Egypt so called here and Psal. 87. 4. Psal. 89. 11. for her great strength which the word signifies and the wounding of the dragon that great and crooked Afflictour Pharaoh is remembred and urged for a motive to a new needed deliverance so Psal. 74. 13 14. Thou brakest the heads of Leviathan in pieces and gavest him to be meat to the people in the wildernesse Leviathan the same Dragon oppressing persecuting Pharaoh thou brakest his Heads his Counsells Armies Power and gavest him for meat that the people for forty yeares together might be fed sustained and nourished with that wonderfull mercy Out of the eater came forth meat out of the strong came forth sweetnesse In this Reciprocation God walketh with his people Of free grace he bestoweth mercies and blessings on them by grace works the returns of Remembrance and Thankfullnesse unto himself for them then showres that down again in new Mercies The Countries which send up no vapours receive down no showers Remembrance with thankfullnesse of former mercies is the matter as it were which by Gods goodnesse is condensed into following blessings For Mercies have their proper end when thankfully remembred What more powerfull motive to the obteining of new then to hold out that the old were not abused We are incouraged to cast seed again into that ground whose last crop witnesseth that it was not altogether barren that sad spot of good Hezekiah that He rendred not again according to the benefit done unto him is set down as the opening a doore of wrath against himself Judah and Jerusalem 2. Chron. 32. 25. On the other side suitable returns are a doore of hope for further mercies The remembrance of them strengthens faith and keeps our hands from hanging down in the time of waiting for blessings When faith is supported the promise is engaged and a mercy at any time more then half obteined faith is the substance of things hoped for Heb. 11. 1. God saith the Apostle hath delivered us from so great a death and doth deliver now what conclusion makes he of this experience in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us 2 Cor. 1. 10. It was a particular mercy with it's circumstances as you may see ver. 9. which he made the bottome of his dependance In the favours of men we cannot do so they may be weary of helping or be drawne dry and grow helpelesse Pond's may be exhausted but the Ocean never The infinite fountaines of the Deity cannot be sunk one haires bredth by everlastingly-flowing blessings Now circumstances of Actions Time Place and the like oft-times take deepe impressions Mercies should be remembred with them So doth the Apostle againe 2 Tim. 4. 17 18. He did deliver me from the mouth of the Lyon Nero that Lion-like tyrant and what then he will deliver mee from every evill worke David esteemed it very good Logick to argue from the victory God gave him over the Lyon and the Beare to a confidence of victory over Goliah 1 Sam. 17. 37. The use of this we are lead unto Isaiah 43. 16 17 18. Thus saith the Lord which maketh a way in the Sea and a Path in the mighty waters which bringeth forth the chariot and the horse the army and the power they shall lie downe together they shall not rise they are extinct they are quenched as tow Remember yee not the former things nor consider the things of old Let former mercies be an Anchor of hope in time of present distresses Where is the God of Marstone-Moore and the God of Naseby is an acceptable expostulation in a gloomy day O what a catalogue of mercies hath this Nation to plead by in a time of trouble God came from Naseby and the holy one from the West Selah his glory covered the Heavens and the earth was full of his prayse He went forth in the North and in the East he did not withhold his hand I hope the poore Towne wherein n I live is more inriched with a store mercy of a few moneths then with a full trade of
many years The snares of death compassed us and the flouds of ungodly men made us afraid Psal. 18. 4. but the Lord thundred from heaven the highest gave his voyce hailestones and coals of fire yea he sent out his arrowes and scattered them and he shot out lightning and discomfited them he sent from above he tooke us he drew us out of many waters hee delivered us from our strong enemy and from them which hated us for they were to strong for us v. 13 14 16 17. How may we say with the same Psalmist in any other distresse O my God my soule is cast downe within mee therefore will I remember thee from the Land of Jordan and of the Hennomites from the Hill Missar Psal. 42. 6. where is the God of Elijah divides a new the waters of Jordan 2 Kings 2. 14. The following verses set forth the glory and power of God in the accomplishment of that great worke of bringing his people into the promised land with those mighty things he performed in the wildernesse Verse 4. if I mistake not sets out his glorious appearance on Mount Sinai of which the Prophet affirmes two things 1. That his brightnesse was the light 2. That he had hornes comming out of his hand and there was the hiding of his power For the first is it not that brightnesse which appeared when the mountaine burnt with fire to the middest of Heaven Deut. 4. 11. A glorious fire in the middest of clouds and thick darknesse The like description you have of Gods presence Psal. 18. 11 12. hee made darkenesse his secret place and brightnesse was before him As the light the sun the fountaine and cause of it called light Iob. 31. 26. Now this glorious appearance holds out the kingly power and Majesty of God in governing the world which appeareth but unto few The Lord reigneth let the earth rejoyce clouds and darkenesse are round about him a fire goeth before him his lightnings inlightened the world Psa. 97. 1 2 3. Secondly he had hornes comming out of his hand So the words most properly though by some otherwise rendred That o hornes in Scripture are taken for strength and power needs no proving The mighty power of God which he made appear to his people in that glorious representation of his Majesty on Mount Sinai is by this phrase expressed There his Chariots were seene to be twenty thousands even many thousands of Angels and the Lord among them in that holy place Psal. 68. 19. There they perceived that he had hornes in his hand An Almighty power to do what he pleased Whence it is added And there was the hiding of his power Though the appearance of it was very great and glorious yet it was but small to the everlastingly hidden depths of his omnipotency The most glorious appearance of God comes infinitly short of his own eternall Majesty as he is in himselfe it is but a discovery that there is the hiding of infinite perfection Or there his power appeared to us which was hidden from the rest of world When God is doing great things he gives glorious manifestations of his excellencies to his secret ones The appearance on Sinai goes before his passage into Canaan Surely the Lord God will do nothing but he revealeth his secrets unto his servants the Prophets Amos 3. 7. When he is to send Moses for the deliverance of his people he appeares to him in a burning unconsumed bush Exod. 3. 2. a signe manifesting the presence of his power to preserve his Church unconsumed in the middest of burning fiery Afflictions Vnto this very end were all the visions that are recorded in the Scripture All of them accommodated to the things which God was presently doing And this he doth That they may thereby be prepared to follow him and serve him in the great works he hath for them to do Great works are to be done without great incouragements If God appeares not in light who can expect he should appeare in operation He that is called to serve providence in high things without some especiall discovery of God works in the darke and knowes not whither he goes nor what hee doth Such a one travailes in the wildernesse without a directing cloud Cleare shining from God must be at the bottome of deepe labouring with God What is the reason that so many in our days set their hands to the plow and looke back againe begin to serve providence in great things but cannot finish give over in the heat of the day They never had any such Revelation of the mind of God upon their spirits such a discovery of his excellencies as might serve for a bottome of such undertakings Men must know that if God hath not appeared to them in brightnesse and shewed them the hornes in his hand hid from others though they thinke highly of themselves they 'l deny God twice and thrice before the close of the work of this Age If you have no great discoveries you will wex vaine in great undertakings Now workings on old bottomes are like new wine in old bottels both are spoyled and lost The day is the time of work and that because of the light thereof those who have not light may be spared to go to bed That they may be the better enabled to give him glory when they shall see the sweet Harmony that is between his Manifestations and his Operations When they can say with the Psalmist as we have heard so have we seene Psal. 48. 8. as he revealeth himselfe so he worketh When his power and mercy answer his appearance in the bush it is a foundation to a prayer The good will of him that dwelt in the bush blesse thee When a soule shall finde God calling him forth to Employments perhaps great and high yet every way suiting that light and gracious discovery which he hath given of himselfe one thing Answering another it sets him in a frame of honouring God aright This might be of rich consideration could we attend it for hence 1. As I said before is Apostasy from Gods work He appeares not unto me how can they go upon his Imployment Men that have no vision of God are in the darke and know not what to doe I speak not of visions beyond the word Answers of prayers gratious applications of providences with wise considerations of times and seasons Some drop off every day some hang by the ey-lids and know not what to do The light of God is not sent forth to lead and guide them Psal. 43. 3. wonder not at the strange backslidings of our days many acted upon by-ingagements and for want of light know not to the last what they were adoing 2. Hence also is the suiting of great light and great worke in our days Let new light be derided whilest men please he will never serve the Will of God in this Generation who sees not beyond the line of foregoing ages 3. And this
forefather Midian the son of Abraham by Keturah Gen. 25. 3 4. These obtained a temporall blessing for a season from the Love borne to their faithfull progenitor In the days of Jacob they were great Merchants Gen. 37. 28. At this time in lesse then 400 years they were so multiplyed that they had five Kings of their Nation Num. 31. 1. Some knowledge of the true God was retained as it should seeme untill now amongst some of them being received by tradition from their Fathers Moses Father in Law was a Priest of this Country Exod. 2. 15 16. not altogether unacquainted with Jehovah Exod. 18 and was himselfe or his son perswaded to take up his portion in Canaan Num. 10. 29 30. But for the generality of the Nation being not heirs of the promise they were fallen off to superstition and idolatry Exceeding enemies they were to the people in the wildernesse vexing them with their wiles and provoking them to abominations that the Lord might consume them Num. 25. 17. None so vile enemies to the Church as superstitious Apostates These two Nations then set out all manner of opposers grosse Idolators as Cushan and superstitious envious Apostates as Midian 2. Their state and condition severally 1 The tents of Cushan were in Affliction the tents the Arabian Ethiopians of Cush dwelling in tents the Habitation for the Inhabitant by an Hypallage They were in Affliction under vanity under iniquity the place of vanity so variously are the words rendred {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} under Affliction Vanity or Iniquity Sin and the punishment of it are frequently in the Scripture of the same name so nere is the Relation Aven is properly and most usually iniquity but that it is here taken for the consequent of it A consuming perplexed vexed condition can be no doubt The Cushamites then were in Affliction full of Anguish Feare Dread vexation to see what would be the issue of those great and mighty things which God was doing in their borders for his people u Afflicted with Israels happinesse and their owne fears as is the condition of all wicked oppressers 2. The Curtaines of the Land of Midian for the Midianites dwelling in curtained Tabernacles by the same Figure as before They trembled {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} moved themselves were moved that is shaken with feare and trembling as though they were ready to run from the Appearance of the mighty God with his people The story of it you have in the book of Numbers as it was prophetically fore-told by Moses concerning other Nations Exod. 15. 14 15 16. The people shall heare and be afraid sorrow shall take hold of the inhabitants of Palestina Then the Dukes of Edom shall be amased the mighty men of Moab c. God filled those Nations with Anguish sorrow and amazement at the protection he granted his people 3. The Prophets view of all this I saw it or I see it though it were 870 years before supposing him to prophesy about the end of Josiah or beginning of Jehojakim yet taking it under the consideration of Faith he makes it present to his view Faith looketh backwards and forwards to what God hath done and to what he hath promised to do Abraham saw the Day of Christ so many Ages after because he found it by faith in the promise Habakkuk saw the terrors of Cushan and Midian so many Ages before because faith found it recorded among the works of God to support it selfe in seeking the like mercies to be renewed so that this is the sum of this Verse O Lord faith makes it evident and presents it before my view how in former days when thou wast doing great things for thy people thou filledst all thine and their enemies with fear vexation trembling and astonishment 1. Faith gives a present subsistence to sorepast works as recorded and future mercies as promised to support the soule in an evill day I saw I have made the doctrine by Analogy look both ways though the words of the Text look but one 2. Gods dealing with his enemies in the time of his Churches deliverance is of especiall consideration I saw c. 3. The measuring out of Gods peoples portion fills Cushan with Affliction and Midian with trembling Their terrors follow Gods measuring v. 6. 4 The season of the Churches deliverance being come Cushan and Midian opposing enemies and superstitious revolters shall surely wax vaine and perish For the first that faith gives a present c. the Apostle tels us that Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11. 1. 1. Of things hoped for it looks forward to the promises and so gives the substance of them in present possession so confirming our Minds and Hearts that they may have a subsistance as it were within us though not actually made out unto us 2. It is the evidence of things not seene it extends it selfe not only to things promised but taking for its Object the whole Word of God it makes evident and present things that are past also The faith commended v. 3. is of things long since done even the making of the things that are seene of the things that do not appeare Abraham saw my day saith our Saviour Joh. 8. 56. He saw it as Habakkuk the tents of Cushan in affliction Faith made it present to him All the Ages between him and his promised seed were as nothing to his keen-sighted faith Hence the Apostle puts the mercies of the promise all in one forme and rank as already wrought though some of them were injoyed and some of them in this life cannot be Rom. 8. 30. whom he hath justifyed them he hath glorifyed He hath done it for them already because he hath made them believe it and that gives it a present subsistance in their spirits And for forepast works they are still mentioned by the Saints as if they had bin done in their days before their eyes Elisha calls up to remembrance a former Miracle to the effecting the Like 2 Kin. 2. 14. There be three things in past or future mercies which faith makes present to the soule giving in the subsistance of them 1. their Love 2. their Consolation 3. their Use and Benefit 1. The Love of them the Love that was in former works and the Love that is in promised mercies that faith drawes out and really makes ours The Love of every recorded deliverance is given to us by faith It looks into the Good-will the Free-grace the Loving-kindnesse of God in every work that ever he did for his and cryes yet this is mine this is the kernell of that blessing and this is mine for the same Good-will the same kindnesse he hath towards me also Were the same outward actings needfull I should have them also The Free-love of every mercy is Faiths proper Object It makes all Joshuah's great victories present to every one of us The promise that had
question about your enlargement could Answer only the Lord alone he knowes And now behold the Lord hath chosen you out to be examples of his loving kindnesse in fetching mercy for you from beyond the ken of Reason yea from above the reach of much pretious Faith He hath brought water for you out of the flint Reckon your deliverance under this head of operations and I hope you will not be unthankfull You that have received so great mercy we that have seen it and all who have heard the Doctrine confirmed let us learn to live by Faith Live above all things that are seene Subject them to the crosse of Christ Measure your condition by your interest in Gods All-sufficiency Do not in distresse calculate what such and such things can effect but what God hath promised Reckon upon that for it shall come to passe If you could get but this one thing by all your sufferings and Dangers to trust the Lord to the utmost extent of his promises it would prove a blessed captivity All carnall feares would then be conquered all sinfull compliances with wicked men removed c. Be exhorted to great f Thankfulnesse you that have bin made partakers of great deliverances In great distresses very nature prompts the sons of men to great promises You have heard the ridiculous story of him who in a storme at Sea promised to dedicate a Wax-candle to the blessed Virgin as big as the mast of his Ship which he was resolved when he came on shore to pay with one of 12 in the pound Let not the Morall of that Fable be found in any of you Come not short of any of your engagements no greater discovery of an Hypocriticall frame then to flatter the Lord in trouble and to decline upon deliverance in cold bloud The Lord of Heaven give you strength to make good all your resolutions as private persons in all godlinesse and honesty following hard after God in every known way of his as Magistrates in Justice Equity and faithfull serving the Kingdome of Christ Especially let them never beg in vaine for help at your hands who did not beg help in vaine for you at the hands of God Consider if there be so much g sweetnesse in a temporall deliverance Oh what excellency is there in that Eternall Redemption which we have in the Blood of Jesus If we rejoice for being delivered from them who could have killed the body what unspeakeable rejoysing is there in that mercy whereby we are freed from the wrath to come Let this possesse your thoughts let this fill your soules let this be your haven from all former stormes and here strik I sayle in this to abide with you and all the saints of God for ever FINIS Lubens meri toque â—ut de Iside Osir Kent Essex SERM. 1. a The time of his prophesie is conceived to be about the end of Josiahs raigne not long before the first Caldean invasion Obser. 1. Prov. 18. 10. b Preces et la chrimae sunt arma Ecclesiae Tertul. Obser. 2. Verse 1. c Graviter in eum decernitur â—ui etiam ipsa conectio denegatur Prosp Sent. Obser. 3. d Duplicantur lateres quando venit Moses Gen. 37. 3. e Namque bonos non blanda inflant non aspera frangunt sed fidei invictae gaudia vera juvant Prosy Epig in sent August Reas. 1. Psal. 119. 67. Hos. 5. 15. Heb. 12. 10 11. 1 Pet. 1. 6. f In caelo non in terramercedem promisit reddendam quid alibi poscisquod alibi debitur Ambros. Offic. lib. 1. cap. 16. Reas. 2. Vse g Cum vexamur ac premimur tum maxime gratias agimus indulgentissimo patri quod corruptelam nostram non pati tur long ius procedere hinc intelligimus nosesse Deo curae Lactan. Vse 2. Obs. 4. Iob 14. 4. Ch. 15. 15. 16. Prov. 16. 2. Chap. 20. 9. h 2 Sam. 24. 15. 2 Chron. 32. 25 i Omnes seculi plagae nobis in admonitionem vobis in castigationem à Deo veniunt Tertul. Apol. cap. 42 Obs. 5. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} in the inward of years Obser. 6. Reas. 1. Rea. 2. Vse k Bonum Agonum subituri estis in quo Agonothetes Deus vivus est Christarchos Spiritus Sanctus corona aeternitatis brabium Epithetes Jesus Christus Tertul. ad Mar. Verse 3. Cen. 36. 15. Jer. 49. 7. Obad. 9. Deut. 1. l Gloria est frequens de aliqua fama cum laude Ci. lib. 2. de inv. Consentiens â—â—us bonorum incorrupta vox bene judicantium de excellente virtute Idem Tusc l. 3. Obs. 7. Reas. 1. Reas. 2. Vse n No place in the County so threatned No place in the County so preserved Small undertakings there blessed Great opposition blasted Non nobis domine non nobis Verse 4. o Deut 33. 17. Psal. 75. 10. Zech 1. 18. Obser. 8. Reason 1. John 12. 35. Revel 16. 10. Reason 2. Vse Verse 5. l Exod. 9. 15. Levit. 26. 25. 2 Sam. 24. 13. Ezek. 14. 19. Mat. 24. 7. Obser. 9. Vse 1. Vse 2. Verse 6. Josh. 9. 3. Numb. 13. 33. Obs. 10. Vse Obser. 11. g Vid. Tertul. ad Scapulamde persecutione Vse 1. r Nero primus in Christianos ferociit â—ali dedicatore damnation is nostrae etiam gloriamur qui enim scit illum intelligere potest non nisi aliquod bonwn grande à Nerone damnatum Tertul. Apol. s Nova inaudita est ista praedicatio quae verberibus exigit fidem Grego Ep. 52. t Magistrum neminem habemusmsi solum Deum hic ante te est nec abscondi potest sed cui nihil facere possis Vse 2. Obser. 11. Isa. 26. 22. Vse 2 Sam. 5. 24. Verse 7. 2 Kings 19. 9. Jer. 13. 23. Joseph Antiq. Chap. 1. Isa. 37. 9. u Tantos invidus babet paenâ justa tortores quantos invidiosus habuerit laudat tores Prosp vita contempt Num. 25. ch. 27. 31. Obs. 12. Reas. 1. Rom. 10. 6 7. Reas. 2. Vse 1. Obs. 13. Reas. 1 Reas. 2. Vse Gen. 20. 6. Psal 76. 10. Obser. 14. Reason * Quisfacile potest quale sit hoc malum verbis exprimere quo invidus odio hominis persequitur divinuÌ„ munus in homine Pros. vit cont. Invidia est tristitia de bonâ— proximi prout proprium malum aestimatur est diminutivum proprii boni Aqu. 22. ae q. 36. A. 1. c. Noctu dubitant Vse Obser. 15. Reas. 1. Vse Verse 8. x Caetera licet abscondere in abdito alere ira se profert et in faciem exit Senec. de ira Obser. 16. Vse Obs. 17. v Euseb. vit. Con. Const. Orat Reas. Vse 1. Vse 2. Obs. 18. z {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Arist. Hist Anima 6. pellant nidis pullos sicut Corvi Plin. Nat. Hist. Verse 9. SERM. 2. Obser. 19. 1 Cor. 1. 24. 1 Pet. 1. 12. Col. 2. 3. Reas. 1. Rom 8. 28. Mat. 16. 18. Reas. 2. Revel. 17. 14. Vse a Quod homines peccant eorum est quod peccando hoc velillud agant ex virtute Dei est tenebras prout visuÌ„ est dividentis August de praed. Oportet haereses esse sed tamen non ideo bonum haereses quia eas esse oportebat quasi non et malum oportuerit esse nam et dominum teadi oportebat sedvae traditori Tertul. praef. ad Haer. Cen. 45. 7. Gen. 50. 20. Acts 4. 27 28. Vse 2. Deut 7. 7 8. b In beneficio reddendo plus animus quam census operatur Ambs offi li 1. c. 32. Vse 3. Vse 4. c {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Iraenae Epist. ad Vict. apud Euseb. lib. 5. cap. 23. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Clem Ep. ad Cor. Psl 105. 15. Vir bonus Commune bonum Gen. 39. 3. Obs. 19. Preached at the Committee at Rumford Gen. 22. 14. Gen. 39 c. 3 Reas. 1. Rea. 2. Psal 58. 1. 1. 1 Sam 6. 10. Vse 1. e Idem huic ur bi dominandi finis erit qui parendi fuerunt Senec. de Ro. Vse 2. Vse 3. f Erunt Homicidae Tyranni fures adulteri raptores Sacrilegi proditores infra ista omnia ingratus est Senec. Benef. l. 1. Gratiarum cessat decursus ubi recursus non fuerit Bern. Serm 50. g Si Tanti vitrum quanti Margaritum Tertul. Vse 4.