THREE SERMONS VPON MARKE THE NINTH CHAPter 22. 23. verses CONTAINING fifteene Doctrines the particulars whereof appeare in the next pages following By Robert Cleauer LONDON Printed by T C. for William Welbie and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Swan 1611. ⧠THE DOCTRINES OF THE THREE Sermons vpon Marke the 9. chapter 22. 23. verses SERMON I. DOCT. I. THat Sathans malice is bent euen against our bodies 2 That Gods owne children with their faith haue some mixture of vnbeliefe 3 That loue makes men to beare others burthens as if they were their owne SERMON II. DOCT. I. WHere Christ helpes any one in mercy he first helpes his heart 2 That no man hath faith at command 3 The faithfull are strongest and happiest 4 Faith and godly sorrow may well goe together 5 Christians must see and acknowledge their graces 6 Faith shewes men their corruptions and mooues them to seeke helpe against them SERMON III. DOCT. 1. CHrist doth all in due time 2 Enemies of Gods Children shal be rebuked 3 Sathan is desirous to bereaue vs of our senses and limbs 4 A word of Christs mouth is sufficient to helpe vs out of all distresses 5 It is all one with Christ to driue the diuell out and to keepe him out 6 Sathan neuer seemes more masterfull then when he is ouer-mastered The first Sermon MARKE 9. Verse 22. And oft times hee casteth him into the fire and into the water to destroy him but if thou canst doe anie thing helpe vs and haue compassion vpon vs. 23 And IESVS said vnto him if shou canst belieue it all things are possible to him that belieueth 24. And straight way the father of the childe crying with teares saide Lord I beleeue helpe my vnbeliefe THe occasion of these words is declared in the beginning of this historie which was this that a certaine man had a childe possessed by the diuell which had made him dumbe and deaffe and that from his childhood in so much that he could neuer speake nor heare in all his life This man in the absence of Christ brought him to his Disciples hearing that they had dispossessed others and therefore hoping to finde the like successe for himselfe But when they had made triall they found themselues vnable to cast the diuell out of his childe wherevpon their aduersaries were readie to insult and triumph ouer them In the meane season our Sauiour commeth among them readie to vndertake the cause of his poore Disciples against their enemies the father of this distressed childe doth forthwith hasten vnto him and enters into speech with him Now these wordes do containe part of that conference which passed betwixt them wherein wee may note these three things 1 1. First the petition of the man with the reason of it he besought our Sauiour if he could doe any thing that hee would haue compassion on him and his sonne and minister comfort vnto him by giuing deliuerance vnto his childe from his miserable estate wherein hee was and to moue him vn to greater commiseration he relateth vnto him in what sort Satan did tyrannize ouer him casting him oft times into the fire to burne him and into the water to drowne him Verse 22. 2 2. Secondly our Sauiours answere where wee may obserue that as the man came with an If saying If thou canst doe anie thing so hee answereth him with the like If thou canst belieue this that is if thou canst bee perswaded of my power that I am able to doe this thy sonne shall be helped for that must needs be supplyed and hee yeeldeth a reason thereof all things are possible to the belieuer vers 23 and therefore this is is not impossible as if Christ Iesus should haue saide Whereas thou makest question whether I can dispossesse thy sonne or not know this that if there be any doubt it is on thy part not on mine if thou canst belieue thou shalt finde that neither this nor any other matter is too difficult for mee this our Sauiour speakes for the helping of his weake faith 3 Thirdly wee may note the replie of this man vpon Christ his speech hee crying with teares said Lord I belieue helpe mine vnbeliefe vers 24. Where we see that he acknowledgeth the grace of God that hee did belieue in part and withall his owne weakenesse that hee was troubled with vnbeliefe against which hee desireth Christ to helpe him that is to cure him of it to giue him strength against it and deliuerance from it And thus much for the order and sense of the wordes verse 22. And oft times hee casteth him into the fire and into the water to destroy him whence obserue this doctrine that Doct. 1. Satans malice is bent euen against mens bodies Satan is not onely an enemie vnto the soules of men but also vnto their bodies Hee doth not onely seeke their destruction spirituallie by drawing Gods wrath vpon them but also corporally by bringing afflictions miseries vpon them as here wee may see by his cruell dealing towards this child albeit he had gotten an habitation in him which was a thing wherein hee much delighted Mark 5. 8. as may appeare by this that hee counted it a torment to be cast out where once he had taken possession yet hee vsed great violence towards him casting him into the fire and into the water being content to relinquish and lose his holde so that the childe might be destroyed Mark 5. 5. The like wee may reade in this same Euangelist in his first chapter where mention is made of one possessed whom the diuell caused to flie from and to eschew the companie of men and to liue in the mountaines and in the graues and to knocke himselfe with stones and so to abuse that strength which he had giuen him to his owne great hurt and torment So also in his dealing with Iob Iob. 1. and with his children and seruants we may obserue how willing hee is to take libertie to hurt mens bodies when it pleaseth the Lord to graunt it vnto him And for the further confirmation of this point Reason 1. Let vs first take experience for one reason to conuince vs of the truth hereof and that in the limmes of Satan who being led by his spirit doe plainly manifest of what disposition their maister is now concerning them it is said that the workes of their father they will doe and of Satan it is said Iohn 8. 44. that he was a murtherer from the beginning whence it may be concluded that the more diuellish men are the more murderous and bloudie mindes they carrie and therefore when the diuell was entered into Iudas he presently fell to practising against his maister 1. Iohn 3. 12. and Caine being of that euill one slue his brother 1. Sam. 18. 10. 11. and when the euill spirit came vpon Saule he laid about him with his speare with full purpose to haue
him that so they might freely take her vnto themselues Here we see carnall reason did oppose it selfe against his faith and in this particular ouerswaied him And so it was with Zacharie the husband of Elizabet though ouerwise a true beleeuer when he heard of the Angell that he should haue a sonne in his old age he was so intangled with carnall conceites that he could not giue credit thereto I am olde saith he Luke 1. 18. and my wife is olde and is it possible that such olde people as we are should haue a childe And in the same case did Sarah faile though she were the Matriarch of holy women Gen. 18. 12. when she was tolde that she should beare a sonne she laughed at it as if it were a ridiculous thing to beleeue any such matter and as carnall reason doth hinder the faith of Gods seruants so also doe distempered passions as anger and feare and the like As we may note in Moses though an admirable man and such an one as in other cases had shewed a care and worthie faith yet being vexed and troubled at the rebellious disposition of the people of Israel he manifested great vnbeliefe for when God promised him to feede all that people for a moneth with flesh in the wildernes he doubted how it could be What â—aith he NuÌ„ 11. 21. 22 shall all the beastes be killed for hem and shall all the fishes of the Sea be gathered together to make prouision for them As if God had ouershot himselfe in making them such a large promise as he would not be able to stand too Vse 1. Heere then are they to bee confuted that neuer had anie faith at all and yet thinke that they can beleeue whatsoeuer God telleth them yea they make that an argument of the strength of their faith that they perswade themselues they can beleeue at their pleasure I dare vndertake say they that I doe beleeue and will beleeue that I doe repent and will repent both which come to one reckoning and that as well as the proudest of them and therein they say true indeed as well as the proudest for the proud beleeue not at all but haue the Lord himselfe Iam. 4. to resist them when hee giueth grace to the humble Neither haue such boasters any faith at all for if they knew what it meant they would neuer so presume vpon their owne strength Vse 2. Secondly let this teach vs when wee goe about any seruice of God not to rest vpon that olde store of faith which we haue nor to be so confident thereof as to say If now I were to heare the word or to be partaker of the Sacrament I am sufficieÌ„tly prouided without any more adoe or if this or that crosse should fall vpon mee I haue vndergone greater matters then that comes too and therefore I know I shall not shrinke vnder it Let vs not I say thus builde vpon our owne strength but let euery one rather come to this my faith is not mine owne I cannot beleeue what when I will and therefore Lord make me to beleeue whatsoeuer is needfull according as occasion shall be offered if we doe not thus we shall finde by wofull experience that though we haue the shield of faith yet when we come into the field against our aduersaries we shall not be able to vse it either to Gods glorie or our owne safegard All things are possible to him that beleeueth If faith be set a worke nothing is so hard and difficult but it will goe thorough therewith whence obserue this doctrine that Doct. 3. The faithfull are strongest and happiest Of all the men in the world godly beleeuers are the most mightie and most happie None haue so great power nor so good an estate as the faithfull for they conquer the world that is internall corruptions and outward allurements according to that of the Apostle Iohn 1. Iohn 5. 4. This is our victorie whereby we ouercome the world euen our faith Without this it is impossible for men to get victorie ouer themselues and ouer their worldly lusts be they neuer so great and mightie in the earth nay the mightier they are the weaker in this conflict the world hath them in the greatest seruitude of all others it puts them as it were into the dungeon and holdes them fast in the stockes and makes them the most miserable bondslaues that are vnto pride and sensualitie and all kinde of voluptuousnes 2 Againe as faith makes men conquerers ouer the world so doth it also ouer the diuell for 1. Pet. 5. 9. Iam. 4. 7. if we resist him stedfast in the faith he will flie from vs. And concerning all other difficulties let vs reade the 11. Chap. of the Epistle to the Hebrewes where the wonderfull and strange effects of faith are at large spoken of and there we shall easily perceiue that the most incredible things that can be imagined haue by vertue thereof beene effected and accomplished Reasons And the reason hereof is 1. First because faithfull men doe lay holde of God himselfe and of his all-sufficiencie and therfore hauing the enioyment of his fauour what can be wanting vnto them 2 Secondly they build vpon the truth of God for faith is not euery slight imagination of a frenticke braine but a setled perswasion grounded on the word of God and therefore if the scriptures say simplie and without exception that they shall haue any thing they rest vpon it without any wauering but if the scriptures promise with condition onely they doe conditionally expect the things so promised and by this meanes their happinesse is as large as Gods promises and their hopes are ratified by the truth of his word Numb 23. 23. who is not as man that he should lie and of whom it is said Rom. 3. 4. Let God be free and euery man a liar Vse 1. Seeing then that there is such efficacie in faith and such happinesse depending thereon let vs preferre it before all earthly treasures and count all the glorie of the world base in comparison of it for a poore faithfull Christian is better then a rich vnbeleeuing king And why because all things are possible vnto him he may haue his hearts desire in any thing so farre as his affection is ordered by Gods word and this priuiledge haue none in the world but only beleeuers It is no where in the scripture said All things are possible to the rich to the noble to those that are strong or to those that are couragious nay such doe continually finde that their willes and desires are exceedingly crossed and that it is impossible for them to bring many of their enterprises to passe Nebuchadnezzar Dan. 4. as great as he was fouÌ„d by experience that al things are not possible to the mightie Monarches of the earth and that when they begin to exalt themselues into the place of God as hee
the proper place of such sinfull rebels as he was 2 Secondly when mens hearts are well fitted for a blessing it becomes a double blessing vnto them For it doth not alone helpe them for their present state but also for their eternall state not onely for this life but for euerlasting life not for the present alone but for euer after they being assured that God is alwaies the same in grace and fauour towards his children Vse 1. Therefore if at any time we desire any blessing or deliuerance for our selues or our friends out of dangers or debts or the like let vs intreate the Lord first of all to applie his medicine to the due place We see it ordinarie with skilfull physitians in the curing of many diseases that though the sicknesse be in the head or in any other part yet they conueigh their physicke into the stomach So let vs beseech the Lord that he will deale with vs or with such as are neere vnto vs that he will beginne his cure in our heart which is the stomacke of the soule which being soundly healed we shall finde not onely the fit staied for the present but the sicknes preuented for afterwards 2 Secondly let the wisedome of Christ in his dealing with this man serue for our imitation Are we minded to doe our neighbours a good turne in outward respects for their bodie or for their estate or for his children let vs in the first place labour as farre as God hath inabled vs to helpe their hearts to increase their repentance to strengthen their faith in Gods promises and prouidence and to minister vnto them spirituall refreshing as well as corporall And thus taking the same course with our friends in their sicknesses and in their distresse as our Sauiour did we may the more comfortably expect a full recompence of our worke from the righteous Iudge of heauen and earth and withall we shall haue this testimonie vnto our soules that we doe not good things in a carnall manner nor for fleshly respects but with an vpright heart and to a right end desiring principally that God may be glorified in the saluation of the parties to whom our beautie and kindnesse is extended 3 Thirdly seeing that the Lord vseth to begin his worke in the hart where he purposeth to vouchsafe any outward blessing in mercie Let this teach vs not to be impatient nor to thinke it too long ere God bestow any benefit vpon vs but let vs rather looke into our selues and suspect our owne preparation and fitnesse to be partakers of any speciall fauour from the Lord. Will not our aduersaries be pacified toward vs nor reconciled vnto vs Let vs examine whether we haue made peace with the Lord and procured his louing countenance to shine vpon vs otherwise we may certainely conclude that all our enemies heate is but a sparke of his displeasure against vs. Are our outward wants necessities many great and of long continuance let vs make triall whether they doe not proceed from want of religion from want of sinceritie before the Lord of a godly and honest conuersation before men haue we great imbecilitie in our bodies and doe we finde a sensible decay of our health let vs search whether the weakenesse of our faith haue not beene the cause of it in that we haue not conscionably vsed the meanes that God hath appointed for the confirming therof and whether we haue not declined in the course of our obedience and beene too well content to feele an inward decay of Gods graces for which Gods hand hath lighted vpon our outward man And if we deale thus we shall be driuen to accuse our selues rather than to murmur against God and so fitting our selues for mercie we shall finde it at his hands in due season and that to our greater comfort then if wee had obtained it sooner If thou canst belieue In that our Sauiour makes a doubt hereof that not without cause the doctrine is that Doct. 2. No man hath faith at commaund It is not in any mans owne power to beleeue when hee will and what hee will and as much as he will Faith is not at mens commaund for if it had beene our Sauiour would neuer haue propounded this question neither would the Disciples haue left the child vncured which now was brought vnto our Sauiour for they were desirous to doe what they could for the honour of their maister for their owne credite and comfort and for the stopping of the mouthes of their bitter aduersaries Now the cause why they could not cast out this diuell was as their Maister tolde them their vnbeliefe not that they were vnwilling to beleeue but that they were vnable to beleeue vnlesse they should haue vsed fasting and prayer for the obtaining of faith which they could not doe And if anie desire a proofe of this point let him read the 17. chapt of Luke where the Apostles hearing our Sauiour deliuer this lesson that if our brother sinne against vs seuen times in a day and seuen times in a day turne againe vnto vs saying it repenteth mee wee must forgiue him they take occasion thereby to pray in this sort Luk. 17. 5. Lord increase our faith Which is in effect as if they had said Lord this is a dutie which is beyond our reach our faith will not extend so farre and therefore Lord sithence thou requirest this at our hands adde vnto that measure of faith which thou hast giuen vs that so wee may be able to performe it Now if they could haue beleeued as much as they would what need had they thus earnestly to desire an increase of their faith Let this then be concluded for a certaine truth that no man is able to attaine to what measure of faith it pleaseth him Neither is this so only at mens first conuersion but afterwards also For their first conuersion there is no doubt but it proceedeth wholie from God and is his meere gift according to that of our Sauiour Iohn 6. None can come vnto mee except the father draw him And that of the Apostle Phil. 1. 19. Vnto you it is giuen for Christ that not onely yee should beleeue in him but also suffer for his sake And as for the state of a Christian after his conuersion it is as plaine that none can exercise his faith in any particular without Gods speciall assistance as may be seene in the example of Abraham who though he had a very excellent faith yet when he came into a forren countrie among a barbarous people it much failed him in that particular that he could not rest vpon Gods power and prouidence for the preseruation of his life but chose rather to expose his wife to danger by saying that she was his sister Otherwise he thought that though they were not so monstrously wicked as many now a daies are as to abuse his wife he being aliue yet they would kill
did the Lorde can quickly cause a great King to be in farre worse case then the basest beggar as indeed hee was being stript of his kingdome of his wittes and of all earthly comforts euen on a sudden when hee litle feared any such matter Sithence therefore the case stands thus that no worldlie preheminence or excellencie can yeelde men that contentment which faith will doe what remaineth but that wee set the highest price vpon that which is of the greatest worth and aboue all things seeke for that which will make vs most happie when wee haue found it 2 Secondly if we desire friends that are able and willing and euery way sufficient to stand vs in steed let vs endeuour to bee in league with such as haue the greatest measure of faith and to make them our chiefest friends who are most godly most faithful people Peter found the benefite hereof Acts 12. he had many mortall aduersaries as Herode and the whole power of the Romanes and the state of the Iewes and what friends had he to stand for him a poore companie of men and women that durst not shewe their heads for feare of their enemies who yet by the force of their prayers preuailed more for him then all the aduerse power could against him for when they spake vnto God in his behalfe neither the prison nor his chaines nor the souldiers nor any power whatsoeuer could keepe him any longer in hold but the Lord sent his Angell and freed him out of the hands of such as hated him and purposed the next day to haue taken his life from him And as the faith of Gods seruants is very mightie for their frieÌ„ds deliueraÌ„ce so is it as effectuall for the ouerthrow of their enemies as may be seene in Haman who soared so high aboue the reach of the Iewes that in all likelyhood none of them could come neere him But wheÌ„ Hester Mordecai and the rest of the faithfull ioyned together in fasting and prayer their faith pulled him downe vnto the ground and layd all his honour in the very dust Whence it is euident and cleere to those that haue any vnderstanding how needfull and beneficiall a thing it is to haue godly men on our side and and therefore if wee would be esteemed trulie wise let vs ioyne our selues in most inward friendship and familiaritie with them Vse 3. Thirdly if nothing be impossible to beleeuers then is it not impossible for them to maister subdue their strongest corruptions and therefore let not the faithfull bee discouraged though they find themselues as yet very worldly minded very angrie and passionate very vaine-glorious and ambitious c If they will set their faith a worke they shall get victorie ouer these and the like corrupt affections and albeit they haue prayed often against them and yet finde small strength to ouercome them let them not giue ouer the combatte for faith will haue the better in the ende And the like may be said for all manner of crosses it will either make an vtter riddance of them or at least furnish vs with patience and abilitie to vndergoe them Vers 24. And straight-way the father of the childe crying with teares sayd c Hence this doctrine might be noted that Doct. 4. See in Cleauers Sermon on Lament 3. Doct. 1. Faith and godlie sorrow may well goe together for both of these are apparant in this faithfull man and Gods children haue oftentimes and almost continually occasion of this holie griefe in respect of themselues and in respect of Gods Church in respect of corruptions and of afflictions either priuate or publike or both But I will not now insist vpon this point Lord I beleeue Whence ariseth this Doctrine that Doct. 5. ChristiaÌ„s must see acknowledge their graces It is not vnlawfull nor vncomely for a Christian to make profession of his owne graces though imperfect if it be done in due time and manner He may speake of them vnto God or vnto men as occasion is offered So did this man here Lord I beleeue So did Dauid Psal 86. 2. Preserue thou my soule for I am mercifull So did Ezekiah also Isai 38. 3. I beseech thee ô Lord remember now how I haue walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and haue done that which is good in thy sight The scripture aboundes with examples of this kinde Reasons But let vs consider of some reasons as namely that 1 First this must be done because it tendes to the magnifying of Gods name whereas the deniall of his graces makes for his dishonour and argues a base account thereof in the parties that haue them 2 Secondly the acknowledgement of the vertues of Christ which we haue is an effectuall meanes to strengthen our faith to comfort our harts to inable vs with feruencie to call vpon the Lord whereas vpon the omission of this dutie all the contrarie effects do follow Vse 1. Here then are Gods deere children to be put in minde of an ordinarie and daungerous fault that is in them which is that in the time of temptation they so farre giue place vnto Sathan as to yeeld that they are hypocrites and that they haue no sauing grace of God in them Indeed they cannot denie but they haue heretofore done many good things but all say they was in vaine-glorie or for some carnall respect or other they must needs confesse that they haue had many comfortable feelings but now they feare al of them were meere illusions What a follie is this what indignitie do we herein offer vnto the holy spirit of grace whereby we are sealed vnto the day of redemption why should we not rather be of Iobs resolution viz neuer to part with our innocencie vprightnes while we liue but though men accuse vs and Sathan assault vs and our owne consciences charge many heauie things vpon vs yet to stand to it vnto the death that our hearts are sincere and faithfull with the Lord our God when by sound proofes and arguments taken from the word wee can confirme so much vnto our owne soules For in truth wee haue farre better reason to stand vpon our spirituall right theÌ„ earthly men haue to defend their ciuill right Now if some craftie and subtill aduersarie should come vnto a worldly wise man tell him that all his writings euidences are meere counterfeites and of no worth at alâ—… and that therefore he is but an Intruder into that which hee possesseth would not hee if hee be able maintaine the goodnes of his euidences and prooue that the seales are authentical that his witnesses are sufficient that all things else doe concurre which may make for the proouing of his title and right in the things which he holdeth Much more then should we stand to make good the Deedes that we haue for our soules and for our assurance of the heauenly inheritance which hath
mankinde and such is that naturall force which is giuen vnto him that if hee were not curbed by a diuine hand he would not only bereaue vs of eternall saluation but also take from vs the vse of our eies and of our eares and of our other senses and limbes In this regard it is said in other places of Christ Iesus Matth. 12. 22. Luke 11. 14. that he cast out a diuell of one that was blinde dumbe to shewe what worke Sathan makes where hee hath libertie to doe according to his will in such particulars Reasons And the reasons mouing him thus to deale are these 1 First that enmitie that hee carries not onely towards the soules but also towards the bodies of men stirreth him vp herevnto his quarrell towards vs is so great that hee would not onely shut vs out of heauen and exclude vs from all spirituall comforts but also make vs miserable vpon the face of the earth and for that ende strike vs with blindenesse or lamenesse or deafenesse or the like that our life might bee vtterly voyd of all manner of pleasures and contentments This reson was touched in one of the former doctrines See Serm. 1. Doct. 1. 2 Secondly his malice against God is such that hee would not haue him to haue any seruice from men he malignes that they should haue eyes to see any thing or eares to heare any thing whereby they might be stirred vp to yeelde praises and obedience vnto the Lord and therfore his desire is to depriue them of those senses 3 Lastly he knoweth that these naturall powers and faculties are very necessarie helpes to further men vnto eternall life Rom. 10. Psal 19. he is not ignorant that faith comes by hearing and that knowledge and holinesse is much increased by seeing and obseruing the workes of God and some of the ordinances of God and therefore carrying a deadly hatred against the saluation of men he endeuors to take from them all those naturall instruments whereby they might be furthered vnto euerlasting happinesse Vse 1. The consideration whereof should in the first place stirre vs vp to continuall thankfulnesse for were not the Lords mercifull and prouident hand still stretched out for our protection and defence Sathan would make vs fearefull spectacles of much woe and miserie and cause vs to spend all our daies in heauines and pensiuenesse in regard of the euils by him inflicted on vs. We should not haue an eye to looke vpon the glorious frame and fabricke of the heauens and the earth nor vpon the beautie and excellencie of any of the creatures we should not might the diuell haue his will enioy our eares to heare the voyce of the Lord sounding forth comfort vnto vs neither should we haue the vse of our taste to refresh our selues with any of the good and sweete creatures of God appointed for that end he would cause our tongues to cleaue vnto the roofe of our mouthes so that we should not be able to vtter forth the praises of the Lord nor to speake of his wonderfull workes or of his holy word before the sons of men In a word there is none of the parts of our bodies which is now vsefull and comfortable vnto vs but he would much afflict vs therein and vtterly depriue vs of all benefite thereof which should cause vs to be very thankfull for our senses and members while we doe enioy them and wholy to consecrate them vnto the Lord who vouchaseth vs the comfortable vse of them and no way to abuse them in the seruice of Sathan least God in his iustice grant him libertie altogether to bereaue vs of any of them Vse ◠Secondly sith the diuell is euermore readie to doe vs a mischiefe let this teach vs alwaies to keepe in fauour with God for otherwise wee see in what perill wee stand if he doe but turne Sathan loose vpon vs he will quickly make vs blinde or lame or dumbe or deafe or strike vs in some grieuous fearefull manner or other he watcheth his oportunitie and if he see an aduantage he will suddenly be vpon vs ere we be aware and therefore let vs aboue all things be careful to keep our peace with God who is our keeper and preseruer that Psal 91. deliuereth vs from the snare of the hunter that couereth vs vnder his wings and keepeth vs safe vnder his feathers 3 Thirdly is it so that Sathan is maruellous malicious against our bodies then let vs looke heedfully to our soules for he carrieth farre greater spite against them and then he is in his proper element when he deales against our inward man hee laboureth to depriue vs of our natural powers of hearing seeing speaking c But especially he seeketh to keepe vs from hearing religiously from seeing spiritually and from speaking profitably the former priuation of the naturall faculties befalleth but a fewe but this latter ouertaketh all the vnregenerate men of the world and the regenerate also in a great part all men are very deafe where they should heare and blinde in things that they should see and haue their mouthes shut vp where they are required principally to speake In which regard the prophet Isaiah speaking of the cōuersion of men saith Then shall the eyes of the blinde be lightened and the eares of the deafe be opened Which is to be vnderstood spiritually not litterally the meditation of which point viz that Sathan doth so mightily preuaile against the soules of the multitude should make vs very warie least he circumuent vs and cause vs continually to cry vnto the Lord for grace and fauour and for strength and assistance that the diuell may not blinde the eyes of our minde nor shut vp our eares from listening vnto holy things nor cause vs to be as it were tongue-tyed when we should speake of such things as make for his glorie I charge thee come out of him From which words together with that which followeth to witte that the spirit came out this doctrine ariseth that Doct. 4. A word of Christs mouth is sufficient to helpe vs out of all distresses A word of the mouth of Christ is sufficient to helpe against any miseries and to set vs free from any enemies This good man and his childe were both sorely distressed by reason of this vncleane spirit yet when our Sauiour doth but speake the word their enemie is vanquished and expelled their miserie accomplished and ended This power doth the leaper in the Gospell ascribe vnto him Maister if thou wilt saith he Math. 8. 2. 3. thou canst make me cleane and so it came to passe for he putting forth his hand and touching him saying I will be thou cleane his leprosie was immediately clensed And the like doth the Centurion Verse 8. Lord speake the word onely and my seruant shal be healed And in the Gospell according to the Euangelist Marke Marke 5. 9. we reade
how our Sauiour with his onely word did presently cast forth an whole armie of diuells so that though there be ten thousand of them vniting their forces together he is as able to expell them all as if there were but one alone And as it is in these cases that haue beene named so it is in all other distresses whatsoeuer the very becke of God is sufficient to free vs from them all as is at large shewed in the hundreth and seuenth Psalme Reasons The reasons of this point are two 1 First by the word of the Lord were all the creatures made Psalm 33. euen the good Angells and those that are now euill Angells If then Gods power were such in making all Creatures it is euery whit as great for the deliuering of his seruants Secondly Heb. 1. 3. All things are supported by the Word of his power Now if all the Creatures haue their preseruation from him what difficultie is it for him to deliuer some fewe of them Vse 1. Here then is matter of great comfort for all such as doe vnfainedly and from their hearts feare the Lorde for they haue the word of Christ for them which can easily either preserue them from miserie or ridde them of it if it fall vpon them If a good earthly father could by his word alone preserue his Children from perill from the prison from death it selfe would hee bee silent and dumbe and not open his mouth in their behalfe None can imagine that a father can be so deuoide of naturall affection and shall wee thinke that the Lord is lesse pittifull then men doeth hee forbid crueltie in them and shall wee conceiue that it may be found in himselfe Bee it farre from vs nay though there bee neuer so many aduersaries that combine themselues and neuer so manie mischiefes bee intended against vs albeit the world be full of cloudes and of stormes and all things seeme to threaten an vtter ouerthrow vnto vs yet let vs satisfie and pacifie our hearts with this that one word of Christ is sufficient to helpe vs out of all dangers and difficulties And withall let vs assure our selues that the Lord will speake and that effectually in due time so that all the outrage and furie of men shall bee suppressed and all troubles and calamities that lye vpon vs shall be suddenly dispersed God needes not any long time for the effecting of it As wee see in Esters dayes when all the Church of God seemed ouernight to be the most miserable people in the world and yet the next day they were indeed and so were esteemed the happiest people vnder the Sunne So that well was hee then that might bee a Iewe. Let this therefore bee our consolation that though our ruines and decayes be neuer so many and great and grieuous yet if God doe but say the word all shall be repaired and recouered And as it is for outward miseries so doth it hold as strongly for spirituall distresses and for the enemies of our soules that if our Lord and Sauiour doe but vtter his voice against them we shall quickly preuaile ouer them though Sathan haue a deadly quarrell against vs and our owne pride and couetousnesse and wrath be farre too strong for vs yet if the Lord please to worke in vs by the mightie word of his grace wee shall easily tread these spirituall enemies of ours vnder our feete and get the victorie ouer them all Yea though we were vtter aduersaries vnto God as Paul and the Gayler were yet if he doe but speake vnto our consciences from heauen wee shall speedily alter our courses and become faithfull and seruiceable vnto his maiestie Secondly heere is matter of terror for all impious and irreligious persons for if the word of God be so mightie for the succour of his children it is euery whit as powerfull for the ouerthrow of his aduersaries and doe they thinke that they shal be able to stand when the Lord of hoastes commeth against them doe blasphemers and Sabbath-breakers and raylers and filthy persons imagine that they shall still carrie out matters as they haue done when their Creator comes to plague and punish them if they doe they greatly deceiue themselues for he needeth not to muster an armie against them but his very will and purpose is sufficient to procure their confusion and vtter destruction Come out of him and enter no more into him Whence note this doctrine that It is all one with Christ to driue the diuell out and to keepe him out he can doe the latter as well as the former Verse 26. Then the spirit cried and rent him sore Whence obserue that Sathan neuer seemes more masterfull than when hee is ouer-mastered These 2. points were noâ— proâ—ecuted for want of time FINIS LONDON Printed by Th. C. for VVilliam VVelbie and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Churchyarde at the signe of the Swanne 1611.