themselues redeemed but those who are cleansed from sinne and haue a care to forsake sinne so it is as true that none doe more keepe themselues from sinne then those that doe dayly meditate of and remember their Redemption it being the speciall end of our Redemption to cease from sinne and to serue God in righteousnesse and true holynesse all the dayes of our liues Lu. 1.74 75. As our Sauiour Christ when hee had cured him that had beene sicke thirtie eight yeeres meeting him in the Temple hee like a good Physician giueth him wholesome counsell and bids him Sinne no more But first prepares him to this dutie by calling to remembrance his mercie and fauour towards him in healing of him Iohn 5.14 Behold sayth Christ thou art made whole Sinne no more So if we would seriously remember the loue and mercy that God hath shewed in redeeming vs by his Sonne and the vnspeakable loue and care that Christ had on vs to die such a cursed Death for vs it would make vs breake forth with a full resolution of heart and say by our selues Behold I am made whole I am redeemed I will therefore defile my selfe no more I will leaue all sinne I will sinne no more lest a worse thing happen to me and it would make vs practise the contrary vertues When Paul would haue the Ephesians not to haue any fellowship with vnfruitfull works of darknesse but to walk as children of the light he doth first put them in mind of their new estate and makes them to consider of it seriously as being a notable means against sinne saying Ephes 5.8 9 10 11. Yee were once darkenesse but now are light in the Lord walke as children of the Light approouing what is pleasing to the Lord and haue no fellowship with vnfruitfull workes of darkenesse but rather reprooue them It is a manifest note of one redeemed Rom. 6.2 to be dead to sinne and if we are dead to sinne how shall wee any longer liue therein Forget not therefore this wonderfull benefit of Redemption Psal 103.2 3 4. sayth Dauid to his Soule And surely if this loue of Christ were truly remembred it could not be that we should sinne so commonly against him and so cruelly handle him by our sinnes euen by crucifying him afresh againe as wee doe First this Meditation as it is a notable meanes to preserue vs from all sinne so especially it keepeth vs from these and stirreth vs vp to the practise of the contrary vertues First it banisheth all vnthankfulnesse and stirreth vs vp to blesse and praise Gods Name who hath done so great things for vs. This was Dauids Meditation and practise Psal 103.4 Luke 1.68 1. Cor. 15.57 My soule praise thou the Lord and all within mee shall praise his holy Name and forget not all his benefites who redeemeth thy soule from destruction c. This did Zacharias thus did Paul and so will all doe that do finde and feele their part in this redemption Secondly this Meditation will keepe vs from fainting vnder the Crosse and make vs constant to vndergoe affliction and without this we cannot doe either Consider and remember therfore Christ Heb. 12.3 which endured such contradictions of sinners against himselfe lest yee bee wearied and faint in your minds Verse 1.2 and that we may cast aside euery sinne that hangeth on so fast and runne with patience the race set before vs let vs looke vnto Iesus the authour and finisher of our Faith Heere we see this is a great meanes against any sinne as well as impatiency inconstancy and the like and holds vs in a continuall course of doing well and walking aright in our Christian race Thirdly this is a speciall dutie enioyned vs in the right participation of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper without which wee cannot receiue as fit guests but vnworthily eating and drinking our owne damnation And therefore Christ himselfe in his first Institution gaue vs this in speciall charge saying 1. Cor. 11.24.25 Doe this as oft as ye doe it in remembrance of mee repeating the same to shew vs the necessitie of it Fourthly this giueth vs comfort in sicknesse and at our death and stayeth vs against despaire of Gods mercy and at our death assure vs of endlesse mercy in the world to come besides al Gods blessings in this life temporally For if we remember that he dyed for vs and rose againe for vs Some shall also rise with him from the death of sinne vnto newnesse of life here and to immortall glory hereafter For where our head and member Christ is there also must we his members redeemed bee also And if when wee were enemies to him Christ died for vs Rom. 5.10 much more being now reconciled Rom. 8.1 shall we bee saued by him as Paul saith Now there is no condemnation to vs. Fiftly it maketh vs constant in all good duties stedfast and vnmoueable it maketh vs rich in all good workes when with Iob we can say I know that my Redeemer liueth Iob 19.25 This is that which Paul remembred with thankfulnesse and remembring it did stirre vp himselfe and others to abound in good workes which none can doe but those that cease from sinne 1. Cor. 15.57.58 Thankes bee vnto God who hath giuen vs victorie through our Lord Iesus Christ therefore bee yee stedfast and vnmoueable alwaies abounding in the worke of the Lord. For as much as ye know that your labour is not in vaine in the Lord. Sixtly in way of thankfulnesse beware of turning backe to the seruice of sinne and obey the precept giuen to the blinde man as hath bene shewed before Luke 7.47 Thou art made whole sinne no more Seuenthly loue him much who hath forgiuen so much Eightly studie to please him in all things Psal 116.8 Because thou hast deliuered my soule from death mine eyes from teares and my feet from falling I will walke before the Lord in the land of the liuing Lastly magnifie and speake of this great deliuerance and saluation as the Church did Psal 126.1 Luke 1.49 The Lord hath done great things for vs whereof we reioyce and say with Marie He that is mightie hath done great things for me and holy is his Name Verse 2. Then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with ioy THis Psalme hath in it a singular Maiestie and therefore the Prophet vseth here many figuratiue or borrowed speeches By laughter he signifieth the voyce of the Gospel for the Gospel should be to vs nothing else but ioy and gladnesse especially if we compare it with the Law for the Law terrifieth and killeth whose vse and office is to breake and mollifie the hard and stonie hearts of the impenitent as Ezechiel saith for they must bee broken with this iron Scepter as it were and beaten downe to hell as the Psalmist prayeth Let the wicked be turned into hell Psal 9.17 and all
and be glad in it Now it is not enough to keepe that day as an idle holy day to rest from labor and work to ring Bels and make Bonfiers to giue our selues to eating drinking and swilling to sports and pastimes for this is no honour to God But first our thankefulnesse must appeare in a most reuerent and thankefull commemoration and Remembrance of this so great and wonderfull a deliuerance wee must call it to mind thinke of the greatnesse of it wee must speake of it to our Children and Posterity and call vpon them to bee thankfull for the Child that is yet vnborne is bound to blesse God for it Exodus 12.6 Secondly we must sing Psalmes of praise and thanksegiuing vnto God in token of thankfulnesse and that publikely in the Church and Congregation of Gods people Thirdly we must come together into Gods house to heare his word and call vpon his name and that is a speciall part of our vnfained thankfulnesse Fourthly wee must testifie our thankfulnes in most hearty dutiful obedience which is the greatest and the best sacrifice 1. Sam. 15.22 And if this be wanting all that wee do is nothing worth Esay 29.13 so that for our generall deliuerance there should be a generall thanksegiuing in a generall reformation of Church and Commonwealth of our hearts and sinfull liues otherwise wee are indeed vnthankefull if still we liue in sin rebellion Then notwithstanding our keeping a day ringing of Bels sport and play if their follow no reformation of our liues wee may iustly feare a more dreadfull iudgement if not vtter ruine and destruction to follow Now alas where is this vse of Gods mercy and our deliuerance where doth the people reforme their liues reforme their wayes grow more religious conscionable and carefull to heare reade pray in their families it is but a wonder of nine dayes men make little or no vse of it but to talke of it and speake of it And lastly our thankefulnesse should beget in vs an earnest hatred of Popery and superstition so vilde faulse mischieuous bloody and cursed religion to abhorre it to haue nothing to do with it but to abandon it which that all estates and degrees of men may do the Lord grant for his mercy sake Amen Verse 1. They had swallowed vs vp quicke when they were so wrathfully displeased at vs. THis repitition is not in vaine for whiles we are in danger our feare is without measure but when it is once past wee imagine it to haue beene lesse then it was indeed and this is the delusion of Sathan to diminish and obscure the grace of God Dauid therefore with this repetition stirreth vp the people to a more thankefulnesse vnto God for his gracious deliuerance and implyteth the dangers which they had passed Whereby we are taught how to thinke of our troubles and afflictions past least the sence and feeling of Gods graces vanish out of our Minds And heere note how God dealeth with his people in their distresse who suffereth their enemies so farre to preuaile ouer them and deferreth his helpe so long till it seeme vnpossible for them to escape so that they are compelled to confesse and acknowledge that they must needes haue perished if the mighty hand of God had not deliuered them These two things then wee see the Israelites here to acknowlegde first that the Lord was on their side that is succoured and deliuered thē then also that it had not beene possible but they must vtterly haue perished if God had not preserued and defended them Dauid saith Psalm 129 1.2.3 that albeit he was persecuted and sore oppressed for his profession yet no troubles could make him swerue from the Testimonies of God Trouble is the best tryall of true Religion It is no great thing to cleaue vnto the Testimonies of God when none pursues them for it when authority allowes it when honour and prosperity followes it It is no great praise then to professe it When the Lord gloried of his Seruant Iob That he was an vpright man fearing God yet Sathan replyed Iob. 1. And what maruell doth Iob worship God for nothing he knew there were many hirelings temporizers in the world that worshipped not God sincerely and therefore would not continue it hee thought Iob to bee one of these lay now thine hand vpon all that he hath and hee shall blaspheme thee to thy face But he was deceiued for the more he was crossed the neerer did he cleaue vnto the Lord. Let vs remember as Saint Paul hath warned vs wee haue not yet resisted vnto blood neither that which S. Peter cals the fierie triall haue we endured and yet what a shame is it to see how many are become coulder in Religion an euident argument that they were neuer truly religious for if they cannot stand against offences how should they stand against oppressions and persecutions They haue swallowed vs vp quick in these words he expresseth not onely the strength and rage and cruelty of the enemies but also how weake and vnable the Isralites were to withstand them and here he vseth a similitude takē of fierce and outragious beasts whose property is when they haue taken their prey to swallow them aliue Likewise when wee would expresse the cruelty or malice of any towards vs we are wont to say he hateth mee so deadly that hee could finde in his heart to eate mee or swallow mee vp quicke the Prophet meaneth then that their enemies were so many and so mighty that they needed no armour or weapons to destroy them but were able like fierce and cruell beasts to swallow them vp aliue being so weake and so little a flocke let vs learne then to sing with Dauid If the Lord had not bin on our side whose mighty hand hath deliuered vs whose power alone hath preserued vs and although the world rage against vs though Sathan vexe vs neuer so sore they cannot hurt vs. Be of good comfort saith Christ our Sauiour For I haue ouercome the world Againe I giue vnto them euerlasting life and none shall take them out of my hands First this teacheth vs to remember and meditate of all such gracicious deliuerances which he shewed vnto vs either in general or particular from treasons trecheries conspiracies the like in regard wherof we had long since bin consumed had not God taken our parts against those that rose vp against vs whose purpose was to haue deuoured vs in regard of which treason we may truly say as Dauid now may England say If the Lord had not been on our side if the Lord himselfe had not bin on our side when men rose vp against vs viz. the Papists they had then swallowed vs vp quick when their wrath was kindled against vs c. Let vs againe remember how nere their purpose hath bin broght to passe ready euen to take effect as we haue spoken in the 1. verse yet their net is broken and wee are
deliuered This will make vs to hate and abandon all sinne which are the cause for the most part of al his punishments Lam. 3.39 this will make vs afraid to displease God by any one sin fearing lest he should iustly giue vs ouer vnto the wil of our aduersaries this will make vs to fly to him for help succor to depend vpon him to seek by all meanes to come into his loue and fauour Least his wrath be kindled and so wee perish from the right way in a word this will be a speciall meanes to quicken vs to the performance of all dutifull obedience vnto our good God who hath been so gracious and mercifull to vs thus to deliuer vs. Secondly we must call to minde often our perils by land by water by fire at home and abroade our danger in sickenesse and diseases how many wayes God could plague vs with strange and grieuous visitations as the stone and chollicke the frencie madnesse and manifold destructions frō all which the Lord hath graciously preserued vs. We must remember Gods mercy in preseruing of vs in our conception in our birth in our infancy youth middle age old age and how he hath continually prouided for vs all things necessary whereas hee might iustly for our sinnes haue sufferd vs to starue and and famish for want of foode infinite are Gods works in preseruing of vs which neuer ought to slip out of our mindes but to be treasured vp in faithfull memories acknowledging that God and none but he doth all things for vs and who therefore would abuse this bounty and goodnesse of God and not rather as the Apostle Paul sayth Be moued by these to forsake our sinnes and turne to God by true repentance Rom. 2.4.5 being led as it were by these to returne the more speedily vnto God Here first wee are to consider how great things God hath done for our soules how he hath kept vs from the spirituall famine in giuing vs his word to bee so plainely and plentifully taught how hee hath kept vs from the powre and snare of the diuell how hee hath pulled vs out of the dungeon of hell and hath deliuered vs from Sinne Death Hel and Condemnation how he hath made vs to know his Wil to vnderstand his Word how he hath inlightned our vnderstandings informed our Iudgements in Truth Psal 24.2 sanctifying our affections renewing our wils rectified our reasons pacified our troubled consciences asswaged the maledy of our minds how hee hath kept vs from the power and dominion of sinne of children of wrath he hath made vs heires of heauen he hath not onely giuen vs his Sonne to be our Sauiour but his spirit to assure vs and his Sacraments to seale the assurance of our saluation in our hearts he hath elected called iustified and sanctified vs and many gracious promises hath hee made from which he will neuer go back that vndoubtedly he will glorifie vs he gaue vs power ouer sin and Sathan in our conuersion he hath giuen vs strength from time to time to withstand the temptations of the world the flesh and the diuell so that wee may truely say What could the Lord haue done more for his Vineyard the Lord hath not dealt so with euery Nation neither had the Heathen such knowledge of his Lawes O that men would wisely consider these things it would make them leaue sinning moue them to exercise themselues meditating day and night to liue so and to please God O my people saith God What wrong haue I done vnto thee or wherein haue I wearied thee Micah 6.4 5 6 testifie against mee I haue deliuered thee redeemed thee and sent before thee Moses Aaron and Meriam i. Minister and Magistrate O my people remember now c. and this with Dauid this will make vs cry out and say Come and I will tell you what the Lord hath done for my soule Secondly we must remember the manner how God hath thus preserued vs both in body and soule and that hath beene extraordinarily for the most part on Gods part and vndeseruedly alwayes on our part extraordinary on Gods part as in those manifold treasons and treacheries beyond all expectation when there haue beene no way as we might thinke for vs to escape when they haue beene ready to put in execution their wicked deuises then hath God awaked as one out of sleepe to rescue and deliuer vs and that miraculously discouering their hidden treacheries as wee haue shewed before which the world knew not of Psal 107. O that men would therfore remember to praise the Lord for his goodnesse and declare his wondrous workes to the Children of men Againe all this is vndeserued on our parts for we haue deserued iustly to bee cast off from God for wee diserue nothing but damnation and when we haue done all wee can doe yet still wee are vnprofitable seruants Luke 17. and therefore with Dauid wee may iustly say not vnto vs Lord not vnto vs Psal 115.1 Rom. 5. but to thy name giue the praise for thy mercy and truths sake Yea when wee were enemies to GOD yet did he looke vpon vs all which as it aggrauateth our misery and Gods mercy so it should aggrauate our hatred to all sin and loue to God and goodnesse Thirdly wee must remember the end of our preseruation that is to leaue vs so much the more without excuse at the latter day if we remember not these things to make aright vse of them Secondly to make our punishment so much the greater hauing abused Gods mercy Thirdly that we may be moued by the sight and consideration of Gods great mercy to yeeld him all possible thanks and praise expressing the same by all dutifull obedience to his commandements Fourthly that wee may hereby see our owne inabilitie weakenesse and insufficiencie how soone wee might perish were not God our good God to helpe vs and do for vs. Fifthly to make vs depend vpon his fatherly prouidence in the vse of all meanes Lam. 3.38 for out of the mouth of the most high proceedeth both euill and good That is both prosperitie and aduersitie Sixthly to make vs humble suters to Almighty God for euery good we stand in need of If the Lord himselfe had not beene on our side they had then swallowed vs vp quick for it is only Hee who preserues vs and euery good and perfect gift comes from aboue Iam. 1.17 Seuenthly to attribute nothing to chance and fortune but all to Gods mercy in Christ Iesus Lastly to deny our selues with all that wee haue acknowledging that not for any merit in vs but only because God had a fauour vnto vs he hath shewed such wonderfull deliuerance vnto vs both in soule and body for had it not beene Gods endlesse mercy wee had long since beene swept away as the Prophet Esaiah hath it Esay 19 Except the Lord of of Hosts had left vs a small remnant we
vnto euery one who doth with patience waite for the appearing of our Lord Iesus and loue the same and therefore feare not be not any whit discouraged hold out vnto the end certaine it is thou shalt be blessed and in so doing thou shalt haue a Crowne of Life If the Lord himselfe had not beene on our side the waters had drowned vs and the streame had gone ouer our soules This serues to comfort the godly in that the Lord sits vpon the flouds and that to this purpose to performe this gracious promise Whē thou passest thorough the waters Esay 42 3 I will bee with thee and through the flouds that they shall not ouerflow thee So Eliphaz telleth Iob In sixe troubles hee will deliuer thee Iob 5.19 and in the seuenth euill shall not come neere thee As if hee had sayd Though sixe and seuen troubles beset thee yet the euil of them shal not come neere thee This presence of God with his children makes them glory in their troubles as in a Crowne vpon their heads and the Apostle Paul gloried 2. Cor. 11. that he was more in affliction then all the false teachers Heb. 11.35 The Saints were in most deadly tryalls and would not bee deliuered namely vpon vnlawfull conditions because they found God as good as his word Therefore miserable men are they that withdraw their hearts from the Lord and seeke him not in his promises not in their prayers but trust to winde out themselues by other meanes some make falsehood their refuge and some embrace the world carnall meanes and leane vpon the arme of flesh these flye from their defence Ionas 2.8 wait vpon lying vanities forsake their owne mercy 'T is as if Noah for feare of the inundation should haue left the Arke and fled to the Mountaynes which had beene to haue throwne himselfe into the midst of the waters and thus doe they that to auoyd troubles feare and flye their Profession and so Apostasie and Idolatrie and corruption drownes them We must rather with the Church flye to the Rocke Psal 69.2 Saue me O God the waters are vpon me yea I am come to the deepe waters And then being deliuered wee must goe backe vnto him Psal 124 saying Saluation is the Lords if the Lord had not beene with vs Verse 3 the waters must needes haue drowned vs when they roared vpon vs. This serues to perswade euery man to become godly seeing this priuiledge belongs onely to such there is no man but desires safety in danger and yet no man but the godly man can assure himselfe of safetie therein If then thou wouldest haue assurance of this promise thou must practise pietie in these seueralls First Become an humble person How to bee safe in dangers repent and turne to God cry out of sinne sue daily for pardon as for life and death and then let all the miseries and calamities in the world come vpon thee thou shalt be safe onely sinne is as poyson cast into the Lords Cuppe GOD giues thee no poyson to drinke but that is of thy owne tempering pull the sting out of these Scorpions and the fight onely will be dreadfull but the danger is past 2. Pet. 2.7 Secondly As thou mournest for thine owne so for other mens sinnes God deliuered iust Lot vexed with the vncleane conuersation of the wicked Thirdly Get thy heart washed with the bloud of Christ be a true Israelite a true beleeuer for God is good to Israel euen to the pure of heart Psal 73.1 and deliuer Israel O Lord. Fourthly Get innocencie and vprightnesse into thy life to bee able to say with Dauid Psal 18.24 Deliuer mee according to mine vprightnesse Fifthly Drawe dayly neerer vnto God and if God be with thee or thou with him thou needest not feare Psal 23.4 though thou walkest in the shaddow of death and doe this three wayes first get neere him by thy affection loue him in his Word and Image because hee hath loued mee Psal 91.14 I will deliuer him and exalt him that is set him out of the reach of trouble Secondly In obedience I am thine saith Dauid O saue thy seruant Thirdly Psal 91.9 In thy confident prayer for hee sayd to the Lord Thou art my refuge Verse 4. The deepe waters of the proud had gone ouer our soule HEe Incists still in his complaint against his enemies and describes them from the qualitie of their persons Enemies of Dauid described they were proud This is a stile commonly giuen to the wicked because as it is our eldest euill so is it the strongest and first that striues in our corruption to carry men to a transgression of the bounds appointed of the Lord. From the time that pride entred into Adams heart that he would be higher then God had made him hee spared not to eate of the forbidden tree and what else is the cause of all transgression but that a man in his ignorant pride will haue his will preferred to the will of God Neither is it without cause that wicked men are so commonly called proud men for pride is the mother of rebellion against God and man By pride Sathan and his confederate Apostates vsurped to bee like vnto God Pride an horrible euill and by the same sinne he drew man into the similitude of his owne condemnation so that now euery man by nature is a proud man which makes him shake off the yoke of God and without regard transgresse the limits of obedience appointed vnto him by God as Pharaoh would not let Israel goe till the Lord slew his first-borne so our nature now corrupted shall neuer render obedience to God nor loue to man till the first borne sinne that is pride be subdued by grace For grace on the contrary Grace worketh humilitie in the godly euer workes humilitie so soone as the eyes of Gods children are opened to see their sinnes they abhorre themselues the combe of their naturall pride is pulled downe and they abase themselues before God and man It was the humble speech of Abraham the father of the Faithfull Gen. 18.27 I am but dust and ashes It was the voyce of Iacob I am not worthie of the least of Gods mercies Dauid hath the like Who am I Lord c. Gedions voyce My fathers house is the least in all Israel And Iohn Baptist who receiued prayse that a greater Prophet was not among the children of women acknowledged in humilitie Ioh. 1.27 that he was not worthie to loose the latchet of Christs shooe The Centurian confessed hee was not worthy that Christ should come vnder his roofe Peters voice was Depart from me for I am a sinfull man Saint Paul I am not worthy to be called an Apostle yea he confessed plainely hee was the least of all the Apostles and the chiefe of all sinners Thus all the Children of GOD giue glorie to GOD by downe casting themselues
hee calleth hee iustifieth whome hee iustifieth hee glorifieth The gift and calling of God is without repentance My sheep heare my voyce and follow me and I giue vnto them eternall life and they shall neuer perish Iohn 20.27 28.29 neither shall any man take them out of my hands And the reason is we beare not the roote but the root beares vs our saluatiō depends not vpon our selues for then indeed we were in danger to fall away euery moment of an houre but it dependeth vpon him because we are in him through him we grow and increase yea the older we be in Christ the more do we fasten our roote and floorish they which are planted in the courts of the Lord shall florish in their old age and bring forth much fruite Vse And whereas other branches are many times pulled from their stocke either by the violence of the winde by the hands of men or at least consumed by length of time it shall not be so with them that are in Christ for they are kept by him as the root bearing branches Because I am not altered nor changed therefore are you not consumed O yee sonnes of Iacob and therefore right happy is the state of that man who is in Christ Iesus For neither life nor death things present Rom. 8.18 nor things to come shall separate him from the loue of God And this comfort is confirmed to vs by most sure arguments Arguments to proue a Christians perseueranee Phil. 1.6 The first is taken from the nature of almighty God he is faithfull which hath promised And I am perswaded saith the Apostle Rom. 6.9 that he who hath begun this good worke will performe it vntill the day of Christ Iesus The second is taken from the nature of that life which Christ communicateth to his members We know that Christ being raysed from the dead dyeth no more This life of Christ is communicated to vs so that it is not wee that liue in Christ but Christ in vs. The third is taken from the nature of that Seed whereof wee are begotten 1. Pet. 1.3 4. Wee are borne anew not a mortall Seede but of immortall Now as the Seed is so is the life that comes by that Seed Our life therefore must needes be immortall This confuteth a damnable Doctrine of the Papists who hold and reach That a man elected called iustified and sanctified may for euer fall away and bee damned that he which to day is the deare child of God to morrow may become the child of the Deuill to day a member of Christ to morrow a Limbe of the Deuill to day an heire of saluation to morrow an heire of damnation Now what Doctrine can be more deuillish and vncomfortable this is nothing else but to set vp a Gibbet to torment the poore soules of Gods children to ouerthrow the nature of Faith to make God feeble and weake 2. Pet. 1.10 Psal 15. or foolish and vnwise which is manifest Blasphemy But we see here the Word of God tells vs this cannot be Rom 8.1 8.35 for what shall separate vs from the loue of God in Christ Nothing This may serue to reproue another sort of men who are ready to abuse this Doctrine Tush sayth the carnall and loose Christian it skils not how a man liues whether well or ill he that is elected and is a member of Christ shall be saued and he that is reiected shall be damned though he liue neuer so well Therefore they take libertie to sinne and make no conscience of any sinne whatsoeuer But they must know that God decrees a man as well to the meanes as to the end and it is impossible a man should be elected and called but he must liue well so he that is not elected called cannot liue well And it is all one as if a man should neuer eate or drinke and yet hope to liue and like well or lying in the fire or water and vsing no meanes to come out should not perish But wee must know that the end and the means must goe together and for a man to neglect or reiect the means it is in vaine for him to hope to be saued for if thou belong vnto God thou shalt in time be called and sanctified and where this worke is not yet alreadie wrought that man is as yet in the state of damnation Our helpe is in the name of the Lord. Here is matter of endlesse comfort to euery child of God that truly repents beleeues in Iesus Christ that howsoeuer throgh the malice of Sathan the temptation of the Deuill the alluremēts of the world and the corruption of our flesh we may grieuously sin fall Rom. 8.1 yet there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ the gates that is Matth. 16.18 al the power of Hell shal not preuaile against vs. If euer thou foūdst the sound work of grace in thee thou foundst Iesus Christ to dwell in thy hart by faith so that thou hatest all sin desirest in all things to please God though Sathan rage storme and all the gates of Hel rise vp against thee yet thou mayest comfort thy selfe in the Lord and say with Paul There is no condemnation to me that am in Christ which walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Thou mayest triumph with Paul and say Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen And if God be with vs who can be against vs. And againe I am perswaded nothing can seuer me from the loue of God in Christ Iesus no not sinne nor death it selfe Oh happie then and blessed is the estate of that man who is in Christ neyther life nor death things present nor things to come shall separate him from the loue of God PSALME 125. They that put their trust in the Lord c. THe Psalme going before is a Thanks-giuing The argument of the Psalme or a Sacrifice of Prayse because the godly see and by experience feele that the Lord is faithfull and helpeth them in the time of need This Psalme following contayneth also in a manner the same matter for it pertayneth to the Doctrine of Faith and exhorteth the faithfull likewise to a sure trust and affiance in the helpe of the Lord in all their necessities whereunto hee stirreth them vp with great and excellent promises It may also easily bee vnderstood by that which wee haue said before for like as God maketh all things of nothing and of Darkenesse Light so hee worketh by his Word that in Death there is nothing but Life They then which sticke to the Word and Promise of God and follow the same doe finde it true which Dauid sayth Hee spake the Word and it was done But before wee can come to this experience we must abide some trouble and therefore haue need of such exhortation as this Psalme here setteth forth Verse 1. They that put their trust in the Lord
names to be enrowled among his Souldiers and seruants swearing binding and oblieging our selues to reounce the seruice of the diuell the world and the flesh And this oath of resignation we haue renued so oft as wee haue communicated at his holy table whereof it is euident that they who haue giuen their names to Christ and yet liue licentiously walking after the flesh are forsworne Apostates guilty of perfidie and of foule Apostasie and desertion from Iesus Christ And thirdly Not onely are wee bought and sworne but we haue receiued wages and payment in hand Thirdly wee haue receiued wages before hand of seruices to be done which should make vs ashamed if wee haue so much as common honesty to refuse seruice to the Lord whose wages wee haue receiued already It may be sayd to euery one of vs as Malaciah in the name of the Lord spake to the Leuites of his time Mala. 1.10 Who among you shuts the dore of the Temple or kindles a fire vpon my Alter in vaine And who among vs can stand vp and say that he hath done seruice to the Lord for nought Consider it when you will for euery peece of seruice ye haue done to the Lord ye haue receiued wages more then ten times who hath called aright on his name and hath not beene heard who hath giuen thankes for benefits receiued and hath not found Gods benefits doubled vpon him who hath giuen almes in the name of the Lord and hath not found encrease I speake not of rewards which God hath promised I speake of that onely which we haue receiued already the least of all Gods mercies shewed vnto vs already doth farre exceed all the seruice that wee poore wretches haue done vnto him as therefore wee are content to receiue the Lords pay so let vs neuer refuse to giue the seruice of our bodies and spirits vnto him This is the couenant which wee haue made euery one of vs in our Baptisme and entrance into the Church of God before the presence of God and his Angels before the congregation and Church of God but alas we breake it dayly and haue no care nor consciēce to keepe it Well let vs know this for a certaine that the Lord will one day require our couenants vowes made vnto him for hee lookes wee should aswell keepe them as make them Well then wouldst thou bee loth to breake thy vow couenant or promise made to an honest mā especially it being in thine owne powre to keep it and such a promise as the keeping whereof may procure thee much peace liberty and happinesse I know you would Oh then let vs bee as carefull to keepe promise with God to renounce the world the diuell and our sinfull lusts so shall wee bring much honour to Almightie God and eeuerlasting good vnto our owne soules If the Lord himselfe had not bene on our side when men rose vp against vs c. We learne hence Publicke thankesgiuing after deliuerance required that it is the dutie of euery Christian man and woman to pray in publicke and priuate for the safetie and good estate of the Church So likewise it is our dutie publikely to render thankes vnto God for deliuerance bestowed vpon the same We must not be like the nine Leapers who haue wide mouthes to beg but no heart nor mouth to giue thankes for benefits receiued It hath euer beene the care and religious custome of Gods Church and people after great and notable deliuerances from apparant and common Iudgments to render heartie and earnest thankes vnto God in solemne and publike manner Gen. 8.20 When Noah and his Sonnes and family were newly deliuered from perishing in the flood he did the first thing builde an Altar offer sacrifice and call on the name of the Lord so Moses and the Children of Israel after their deliuerance out of Egypt when they were safe and their enemies drowned doe deuoutly and publikely sing praise and thankes vnto the Lord. Iudg. 5.1.2.3 Deborah and Barake doth the like And the Iewes being deliuered from Hamans treason Hcster 9.19 20. reioyce and keepe a solemne day to sing praise vnto the Lord. Well then let vs apply this vnto our selues we are by Gods blessing the true Church and people of God professing the Gospell of Iesus Christ truly hating all superstition and Idolatry and for this cause cannot want many enemies the Papists the most subtill cruell and malicious enemies of Gods Church haue often set vpon vs assaulted vs sought to haue inuaded our King and Countrey as in eightie eight by sundry treasons to kill our late Queene of famous and blessed memorie And to destroy our gracious King Queene and all his posteritie But amongst the rest and aboue all the rest none comparable to that last treason which was most close and cunningly wrought a long time in contriuing most bloudie and deuilish most barbarous and sauage threatning and seeking to destroy and roote out our King Councell Spirituall and Temporall Magistrates ayming at the vtter subuersion of our English Nation both Church and Common-wealth And surely if we consider well of it I doe not see in all the Bible the like deliuerance so wonderfull and admirable First being so long a time in hatching and contriuing with such secresie and concealement Secondly being vnder the ground in hell as it were in a place vnder the earth desiring darkenes more then light because the deede was euill Thirdly being brought so neare the execution of it and neuer knowne nor suspected before Fourthly being disclosed so strangely euen by one of the traytors themselues one of the chiefe Actors in the tragedie Being so generall so fearefull and so monstrous that it should not haue bin onely to the destruction of one or two but of the chiefe of the whole land King Queene Prince Iudges Bishops in a word the flowre of the whole kingdome the want of any one whereof were a blemish to a State and would bring a ruine to a kingdome Now doe as Ahashuerosh did Hest 6.1.2 cause the records to be read and chronicles to be searched ancient and moderne diuine or prophane amongst the Turkes or Painims yea if hell keepe any records search there and see if yee can patterne this conspiracy or match this danger But there is no councell against the Lord mans wisedome is foolishnesse vnto him his greatest strength but weakenesse his life but a breath and his honour but a blast So then we see we haue as great cause to render thankes vnto the Lord as any people or nation vnder heauen that fifth day of Nouember is a day to be remembred and neuer to bee forgotten a glad and ioyfull day and we ought euery one in publicke and priuate to stirre vp our hearts in thankesgiuing vnto the Lord For it was the Lords doing and it is maruelous in our eyes It is the day which the Lord hath made for the glory of his Name let vs reioyce