of God the Sonne and of God the holy Ghost that they equally and ioyntly seuerally infallibly and eternally doe know with which knowledge is ioyned Will Power and Effect how to deliuer the godly out of c. Oh sweet oh precious oh sauing knowledge of the glorious Godhead in Trinitie Vnitie thus concurring thus co-working for the Elects well-fare Now then to this holy God and soueraigne Lord Father Sonne and holy Ghost one and the same God in nature and number God ouer all blessed for euer be all all honor glorie faith loue feare obedience praise yeelded by vs by ours and by all his redeemed eternally Amen Amen Amen To this truth doe the holy Prophets Apostles beare witnesse Reade Gen. 6.5 Psal 104. throughout and Psal 145. c. But most pregnant for this purpose is that place Act. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. v. 18. where the Apostle Iames auoucheth that all the workes of God are knowne to him from the beginning And as knowne so likewise are they ordered For saith our Apostle 1. Cor. 12.6 It is he that worketh all in all things Tripliciter operatur Deus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Suidas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The anomie disorder and euill of the action God permitteth the action it self God ordereth In good creatures God worketh his will not onely by them but also in them as in Dauid c. In the rest not in them yet by them as in Iudas c. Let vs now at length come to make some vse by way of position and obseruation both of the absolute soueraigntie of our God as he is Lord and also of his infinite knowledge and prouidence which as Salomon saith doth equally reach vnto all things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 euen to euery haire of euery head and to euery bird of euery feather Matth. 10. cap. 6. And sith the Apostle 2. Tim. 3.16 affirmeth that the right vse of all holy truth is to teach to improue to correct instruct in righteousnesse we will haue some eye vnto the same in our applicatiō And first forasmuch as the Lord Iehouah who properly to speake is Lord onely doth of right as you haue heard challenge to himselfe full absolute and vniuersall Power in and ouer all things persons c. let vs all learne alwayes and in euery estate thus to acknowledge him to be our Lord and our God yea let the greatest Lords and highest Powers vpon earth acknowledge that their places power are of from this Lord and being deriued from him are dependant vpon him limitted by him and subiect vnto him and consequently that they must bee countable vnto him in a most strict account For sayth King Salomon Sap. cap. 6.3 The rule is giuen you of the Lord and your Power by the most High which will trie your workes and search out your imaginations c. Turne not therfore your power and places of eminencie into carnall Pompe or priuate gaine much lesse into personall reuenge and cruel oppression but with holy Dauid sing Mercie and Iudgement to the Lord c. Psal 101. For you exercise but a Ministerie of Iustice and Mercie vnder his holy Maiestie and not any absolute dissolute lawlesse Authoritie which is little better then plaine tyrannie Secondly seeing this high and holy Lord of heauen and earth giueth this subordinate Power to men let vs and all learne to obey them in the Lord that doe command and rule ouer vs in the Lord * Rom. 13.1.2.3 c. and that for Conscience sake Thirdly let vs all from hence learne that we are not our own nor any thing that we haue is absolutely ours but the Lords and therefore that our selues and all that wee haue ought to beat his command in all things times estates and so to make all serue for his honour and glorie cheerefully conscionably constantly Fourthly sith we are all g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fellow-seruants vnder one and the same Soueraigne Lord and Master howsoeuer otherwise wee differ in place and partes office and administration yet let no man lift vp his heart aboue that which is meet but in loue learne to serue helpe and honour one another in the Lord as becommeth fellow-seruants that are equally interessed in the Title and honour of the heauenly Inheritance h Rom. 8.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lastly let vs with these heads of duetie consider our dignitie and safetie vnder the Shield and sauing Power of this our Soueraigne Lord and God and comfort our selues in the same vnder all the basenesse of our outward estate and contempt of the world also vnder the enmitie and hostilitie of Sathan and of sinners of Pope or Papist and sing we a sweete and sacred Requiem and Al-hayle to our blessed King Queene Prince State our selues and ours so long as GOD is our Lord and wee continue his faithfull seruants in Iesus Christ Care and feare be remoued from vs and let heauenly comfort and confidence accompanie vs vntill we haue finished our course in the faith seruice of the Lord our God euen of this Lord that knoweth how to deliuer all his from euill and to bring them to neuer-ending Honour And thus may wee profit by the knowledge and faith of this point that God is the Lord our Lord absolute in Power glorious in praises doing wonders wonders I say for his seruants safetie as appeareth in vs this day Oh how blessed are the people whose God is the Lord Iehouah euen the people whom he hath chosen for his Inheritance Psa 33. So much of the first word in our Text. Now let vs come to make some vse of the next head of doctrine touching the knowledge of this Lord The Lord knoweth The Atheist beleeueth not the truth of this Text but saith Is there any such knowledge in the Almightie Others hold the Paynims principle that tho God knoweth all yet say Non vacat Ioui c. The Lord hath no leisure to attend vpon euery trifle which one thus well answereth That as God vouchsafed to create the least and basest things Sicut non dedecuit Deum infima creare sic nec creata curare so hee disdaineth not to regard and order the same The common sort of Christians will bee brought to yeelde perhaps that the Lord vnderstandeth and knoweth all and potentially is able to doe what hee will but hardly can bee brought to confesse a particular and practike knowledge in God which extendeth it selfe to all and euery least creature thing whatsoeuer vnder heauen in heauen Yet must euen this also be beleeued or else this Truth of doctrine which is the ground of our hope and safetie is violated Finally the weake Christian which yet is not wholly voide of faith in God not duely pondering this point of holy truth seeing the prosperity of the wicked and the affliction of the good doth thereupon conceiue amisse of the Lord his
honour You are stiled The children of light of wisedome of obedience and of the Kingdome a royall Priesthood a holy Nation a peculiar People anointed adopted and sealed to the day of Redemption the seruants friends and children of the euerliuing God heires fellow heires with Christ heires of Grace of life of glorie of heauen holy iust mercifull good and godly c. Doth Heauen thus heape Honour vpon you and doe you yet droope and hang down the head vnder the contempt of the World you are most happie and honourable in the sight of God and his Angels and yet you cannot see into it through the filthy fogs of the worlds vaporous words Let me tell you in loue that you are much toâ— blame thus to wroÌ„g your selues But I will leaue you a while to your second and wiser cogitations and will turne me as youâ— Aduocate to pleade your causâ— a little with the men of thiâ— world and plainely tell them that if they will not in time learne of God in his word how to thinke and speake louingly and respectiuely of his Sonnes and Daughters but will needes goe on still to ouer-cast their brightnes with clouds of scorn to blemish their beautie with termes of reproach there is a day comming and it makes haste vpon them When the Lord will speake to them in his wrath and vexe them in his sore displeasure Psal 2. I reade in the booke of Ester cap. 8. that when the Medes and Persians did see how the Lord God did deliuer and blesse his people Israel many thereupon became Iewes turned Iewes as the phrase is now turned Protestant O happy turne change So could I wish that Papists Atheists and all other euill disposed persons would vpon the knowledge of the great honor and happinesse of the Saints and true Seruants of God be moued thereby to turne Saints that is to become godly and holy men and women without which they cannot be saued For all saluation is intayled by the couenant of grace in Christ to the Saints and to their holy Seede Who haue obtayned like precious faith with vs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 through the righteousnesse of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ as it is 2. Pet. 1.1 To proceede now in the last place to the kind of deliueraÌ„ce which in this heauenly Oracle is promised to all the godly it is saith the Text from temptation The word in the Greeke is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the hebrew word is Massa of Nasah Now we find that in holy Scripture Temptations are of two sorts Two sorts of Temptations viz. Of Sinne Sorrow and so the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Temptation hath a twofold construction For first there be temptations of sin sinners from which we pray in the Lords prayer and God hath promised to deliuer his Elect in Christ namely from the curse and power of them in that degree and measure which God knoweth meet for his glorie Gradibus quibus c. Secondly there be Temptations of sorrow trouble affliction danger distresse which God sendeth vnto his Saints either as trials or chastisements or both In this latter sense the word TeÌ„ptation is to be taken in this place For so shall the Conclusion paralell the Premisses that is This generall promise of deliuerance out of Temptation shall be sutable to the foregoing Examples Instances of Gods good prouidence in sauing Noah and Lot in the times of their temptation that is of their danger distresse wherein the world of the wicked perished as is before in this chapter related by the Apostle And in this sense also you may finde the word Temptation often vsed in the holy Scripture As in the Epistle of S. Iames Iam. 1.2 Count it 〈◊〉 ioy my Brethren saith the Apostle when yee fall into manifold Temptations not of sinne but oâ— troubles afflictions and dangers for well-doing c. Likewise in this sense doth Christ himselfe vse the word Temptation when he promised to the Minister of the Church oâ— Philadelphia Reuel 3 1â— deliuerance from the houre of Temptation that should come vpon the world that is saith D. Fulke è maximis periculis acerbiss calamitatibus From the greatest perils and most bitter calamities that shall come c. Now then the thing is euident that the LORD our GOD doth here promise to all the godly that depend vpon him in the faith of this truth that he will sustayne saue helpe and deliuer them out of their temptations troubles and dangers of the greatest distresse and that according to his infinite wisedome power and goodnesse But it may be here obiected that this promise seemeth not to haue beene performed accordingly vnto the godly at all times I answere Assuredly it hath beene is and euer shall be performed in the full extent and true sense thereof I meane that God wil alwaies either preuent and repell the euils and dangers which are imminent and hang ouer the heads of the faithfull or else will preserue them vnder the same and finally either in life temporally or by death eternally will deliuer them out of al as here is promised And hereof wee haue a cloud yea a little world of witnesses besides Noah and Lot Let Abraham Isaac Iacob Ioseph c. stand forth with their stories and tell vs how the Lord did deliuer them Yea let Daniel in the Lyons Den Ieremie in the Dungeon the three Children of God in the firie fornace Ionas in the belly of the Whale deliuer vs in the Records of their preseruation for our further coÌ„firmation Holy Dauid and the â—esidue of thy Royal race keepe â—ot silence in this case And to come neerer home Queene Elizabeth Thou blessed Lady of famous memorie be not wanting to hoâ—or this word of Truth with mine owne singular experience â— Anno 88. 92. 94. 97. and in Anno 1601. The particulars I â—orbeare to mention further sith â—hey are vpon record and notoâ—ously knowne in euery place of his Christian Continent In the last course though not â—ith the least worst euidence â—f diuine deliuerance Let our â—ost deare and dread Soueraign â—ord King Iames with his royal â—pouse our noble Prince Peeres â—nd whole State come in and act their parts shew openly what great deliuerances the Lord of heauen and earth hath wrought out for them and for vs al inclusiuely wherof we may we must reioyce and whereof I in my place and course according to the trust that is reposed in me according to the taske that is imposed vpon me doe humbly craue libertie of time to make now some particular and perspicuous Relation of that late not least wonderfull Deliuerance of our gracious King Queene Prince State Church and CoÌ„mon-wealth from that most fearefull hellish Conspiracie now coÌ„monly called the Powder-Treason which is the speciall cause of our meeting here together in the presence of God in this house
precisely by religious bond of Oath and Sacrament nor more punctually in reason and policie for the preuenting of discouery in this case yet behold behold and wonder how no lesse easily then graciously the Lord our God against whom no wisedome nor counsell can preuaile and that knowes euerie worke of the Minde did defeat and scatter their counsels and wicked imaginations broght their enterprises to nought euen eluding them in the very Theoricke of trust by one of their owne complices which caused all the rest to faile in the point of practice Lend mee your eares a little with singular attention and you shall heare me truely relate vnto you how diuine Prouidence in due time euen when there was but a step between vs death stepped forth and with a gracious hand turned the wheele yea the streames of destruction another way the right way by bringing to light a few howers before the intended Massacre a darke and doubtful Letter written by one of the Conspirators and sent by way of Caution to the Lord MOVNTEAGLE ouernight to forewarne him not to come at the Parliament-house on the morrow for said that Letter A most terrible Blow will then and there be giuen to all that shall be assembled c. This letter being with good expedition sent to some of his Maiesties Honourable Priuie Councell was by them eftsoones conueyed to his Highnesse hand who perusing and pondering the same did no doubt by a diuine instinct presently discouer the Plot pointed at the very place and gaue command that priuie search should there be made which being performed accordingly the whole Stratageme was discouered and the parties therein ingaged were brought to light to Tryall to Iudgement and Death Psal 31. 32. Oh then loue yee the Lord all his Saints for the Lord preserueth them that are faithfull and plenteously rewardeth the proud-doer Great plagues remaine for the vngodly but whosoeuer trusteth in the Lord mercie shall imbrace them on euery side Wherefore also let our soules reioyce in this his great Saluation and sing prayse vnto his holy Name because hee hath dealt so louingly with vs. Blessed bee the Lord our God for euer and euer So be it Amen And now to conclude this Discourse to you right Reuerend and Religious Auditours in this Grand Cause of our conioyned comfort giue mee leaue before I leaue this sacred Cell to paralell and sute some remarkeable Occurrences coincident to this subiect some with better some with like correspondence both of speech and spirit I find in reading the publike Records of this Case that Garnet that Arch-Traytor a little before the appointed day of our death by their Calendar did cry out and pray to this effect Auferte gentem istam perfidam de finibus credentium Take away this perfidious Nation meaning vs English Protestants from the borders of true Beleeuers intending Romish Catholikes vt laudes inde Deo debitas alacriter persoluamus that wee Catholikes may ioyfully render due prayses to God for the same And againe he praied saying Non pacem petimus Superi Dedit Deus hi◠quoque funem date Gentibus iras Wee said hee pray not for peace O Heauens but for punishment to this English Nation Let vs with sober and sacred zeale answere his bitter and braine-sicke bellowings and crie to our GOD the GOD of peace and say Nulla salus bello pacem te petimus omnes Wee humbly craue of al hands continuance of our peace and safetie from thee O Lord that canst easily reforme or suppresse the causers of our trouble and disturbers of our publike peace and State And to giue correspondence also to a second and better Occurrence Let this louing and religious Citie of Norwich cry out and say as that euer-faithful and famous Citie of London did in the day of this their and our deliuerance Adhuc salua est Ciuitas nostra adhuc salua Patria adhuc salua Religio Rex nempe noster IACOBVS adhuc saluus est Hallelu-iah Legnolam Legnolam Our Citie is yet in safetie our Countrie Religion and King blessed be God And finally let vs all with one accord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 proclaime with the Psalmist in another case and say This is the day that the Lord hath made a day of deliuerance of saluation and of reioycing Let vs therfore bee glad and reioyce therin with holy ioy all the dayes of our life yea let vs tell our children and childrens children what great things the Lord himselfe hath done for vs whereof wee may we must reioyce And let our Gracious King confesse Psal 18. and say with holy Dauid Eodem animo nomine The Lord liueth and blessed be my strong Helper and praysed be the God of my Saluation euen the God that seeth that I bee auenged For this cause wil I giue thankes vnto the Lord among my People and sing vnto his Name For great deliuerances giueth hee vnto the King and will still shew mercie vnto his Anointed euen vnto IAMES his Seruant and to his Seed for euer And let all the Reuerend and holy Clergie of England make vp the Quire and with the holy Tribe of Leui Psal 134. blesse both King Queene Prince State Church Commonwealth all in one and say * The Lord Iehouah that hath formed the Heauens and the Earth blesse thee out of Sion Iebarecca Iehouah mittzijon gnoscheh schamaijm vaarets Amen Amen Amen So be it euen so be it Amen FINIS
The Seale of the Churches safetie OR A Sermon preached at NORWICH the fift of Nouember 1616. Wherein is opened the sealed assurance of the safetie of the CHVRCH in all times and estates meete for all Christians to know and acknowledge to the glorie of God and their owne comfort in life and death By N. COLT one of the Preachers appointed by publike authoritie for the common-place there 2. TIM 2.19 The foundation of God remayneth sure and hath this Seale The Lord knoweth c. PSAL. 3.8 Saluation belongeth to the Lord and his blessing is vpon his People LONDON Printed by W. Stansby 1617. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL AND RELIGIOVS Magistrates Christian Societies and other Inhabitants of the Citie of NORWICH sauing-health in IESVS CHRIST RIght Worshipfull and right deare to me in the Lord J ingenuously acknowledge that when J did obserue the publike testimonie that God gaue to the word of his Grace in the Sermon following euidenced not onely by your religious attention therunto with gracious aspect and long continued patience in hearing mee for the space almost of two houres but also by the generall and thankefull recognition of the same by many very many of sundrie sorts in your Citie I did as was meet hereat much reioyce in spirit before the Lord gaue him the glorie and blessed you in praying for you The next day going forth into the streets of your Citie to see and salute some of my friends I found vpon discourse that many were desirous to inioy the seruice of my Pen vpon this subiect for their further vse wherewith when J had acquainted some of eminent place and amongst others that learned and graue Diuine Master Doctor Suckling Deane of Norwich who hauing beene himselfe a hearer of me did I beleeue euen out of his feeling and conscience assure mee that herein J might doe good seruice to God and to his people Vpon these and other Christian incouragemēts I said in my heart Surely this thing seemeth to come of the Lord whose J am and whom I serue in the Gospell of his Sonne who also best knowes what to doe with me and my seruice So J did and indeed durst not but consent at least to trie what herein the Lord would be pleased to doe by mee for you Whereupon J returning home did surueigh my written Meditations and Notes and thereby recouered some losses of memorie recollected my spirits and put on hard for God and his people and by the helpe of his holy grace finished thus this little Frame and Jmpression of the publike Seale of the Churches safetie And when this weake conception of my barren brest was brought to light by the hand of a publike professed Midwife J meane the Printer remembring well that as J stood for Father and therefore tooke vpon me to giue it a Name sutable to the nature of the Matter subiect so likewise that you were to me herein in stead of publik Witnesses J hereupon eft-soones resolued that it was no lesse reasonable then religious for mee when I had done with it what J would could to return it home againe vnto you that so you might take it as your owne possesse it patronize it and imploy it in your seruice as you shuld thinke fit Welcome then in gracious loue Thou louing truly religious Citie of Norwich this written Monument and real Euidence of my true loue respect and thankefulnesse to thee thine in Iesus Christ and let this be as God hath appointed it some weake meanes to propagate thy Memorie and Honor vnto Posteritie And now my holy Brethren Heb. 3.1 partakers of the heauenly vocation giue me leaue vpon this occasion to speake a good word vnto you from the Lord our good God in Jesus Christ. Seeing the Lord of Heauen and Earth hath in speciall mercy seated your free and faithfull Citie within the pale of this English Paradise and in the same doth still betrust and honor you with the vnspeakable treasure of his heauenly Truth and holy Ordinances and that in the hand of many able and faithfull Ministers of Jesus Christ whom hee hath sent and set as blessings to your Citie euen as the celestiall Light Salt of the same seeing also that you doe happily inioy and sway the Sword of ciuill Gouernement and vnder the same are blessed with Health Peace Plentie and other comfortable conditions of life and estate And finally seeing the Lord Iehouah the great Patrone and Protector of this our English Israel hath also made you and your Citie glorious by great deliuerances both in generall and in special from extreme dangers of vtter desolation and namely in that your singular preseruation from the rage and ruines of Kets Campe and whiles you liue vpon earth propagate the memorie thereof vnto your posteritie by a religious obseruation of the time matter and mercy of GOD towards you therein Also in your and our late admirable freedome from the fierie effects of that hellish Popish powder-treason Let all these gracious ample euidences of Gods fauor and fatherly prouidence to you yours affect inlarge and settle your Christian soules so deeply in the true faith feare and loue of God as may cause you to abound more and more in euery good word and worke appertayning vnto you and therein giue God the glory due to his Name send in daily vnto him Tributs of dutie Presents of affection both in priuate and publike And finally liuing and dying giue his holy Ministers and faithfull People that liue with you iust cause daily to blesse you in praying for you which verily vpon tryall will prooue not the weakest way to build vp your Houses your Honour and Happinesse both in Earth and Heauen But lest I should seeme ouer-bold or busie with you my good Brethren Fathers who otherwise do aboūd with good Monitors and doe happily carry the best about you in your owne brests I will here seasonably suspend my officious Pen conclude with praier to God on your behalfe That it would please his holy Maiestie aboundantly to blesse vnto you and yours all the means and helps of holinesse and this amongst the rest which you do inioy vntill that good worke of his Grace which is begun in you shall be perfected for the praise of his glorious rich Grace in Iesus Christ In whom J shall willingly rest Yours all in all Offices of pious loue and seruice in my place and measure N. COLT LONDON the third of IVNE 1617. The SEALE of the CHVRCHES safetie c. 2. PET. 2.9 The Lord hath knowne to deliuer the godly out of temptation and to reserue the vniust to the day of iudgement to be punished WHen this solemne taske of sacred dutie was lately put vpon mee by the hand of publike Authoritie which I haue reason much to respect though the lets both publike and priuate which did wrestle with mee in the Worke were neyther few nor weake yet perceiuing that my calling hereunto was
of all straits dangers tryalls temptations euils and enemies vntill such time as they bee safely arriued in the Kingdome of Heauen The warrant and Euidence that the Apostle here sheweth for it is this That the Lord doth know how to deliuer his c. Out of which wordes I purpose though sparingly as I passe through them to giue you in the first place some Grammaticall and Punctuall Obseruations yet not to shew my selfe that vanitie were too light for the grauitie of a Diuine that knoweth himselfe and his seruice to be subiect to a strict Triall before Gods Tribunall but to shew you in part what hidden Mysteries of Diuinitie lye folded vp not onely in compleat Sentences but also in the single words of Sacred Writ In the next place you shall haue such Positions and Obseruations both for Doctrine Dutie and Comfort as I can collect fitly out of this heauenly Oracle I find in the Booke of GOD that the word Lord when it is applyed vnto God indefinitely is to bee taken two-wayes that is to say sometimes g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Essentially and sometimes h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Possessiuely For the former Acts 2.39 The promise is made to you sayth the Apostle Peter to the Iewes and to your children and to all that are a farre off euen to as many as the Lord our God shall call For the latter read Matth. 11.25 I thanke thee or as the Greeke word is I confesse vnto thee O Father i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lord of Heauen and Earth c. Possessiuely taken So likewise the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lord may I suppose admit a two-fold deriuation videlicet it may come eyther of the Verbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the Nowne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the former signifying to be the first k 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ens aeternum Essence the other the first l Ens Entium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Authour and so may paralell that essentiall name of God Iehouah who is an infinite and vnsearchable Selfe-being Essence eternall euerlasting and vnchangeable giuing being and beginning to all things c. Or else it may come of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so should intimate the possessing and gouerning of all things as absolute Lord Owner and Commander of them and so it answereth to the Hebrew word Bagnal Hos 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of-himselfe-of-himselfe-Lord simply and absolutely as he alone that hath absolute and vniuersall power in and ouer all things causes and persons whatsoeuer wheresoeuer And this of the deriuation sense of the first word Lord taken either essentially or possessiuely here you may safely take it in both senses without restraint to either The doctrine and duties to be deriued from hence I deferre vntill I haue spoken of the Etymologie of the next word and then will I prosecute them together ioyntly and seuerally It followeth in the Text The Lord knoweth c. The greeke word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which answereth to the hebrew word Iadang 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which as Scholers know doth signifie to be much and long acquainted with the thing which we know as here now to import thus much Longo vsu exercitatus in liberandis pijs in puniendis sceleratis Beza That the Lord hath beene long time exercised and accustomed with the both deliuering and preseruing of the godly and with punishing the wicked And in this very sense and in the like subiect doth the holy Prophet Psal 1. v. 6. vse the same word where hauing shewed the different conditions estate and end of the good and bad he concludeth with this intimation for the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked c. Ki-iodeang Iehouah derec tsaddikim vederecreschagnim tobedh The greeke tongue seemeth to distinguish the three kindes of common knowledge sensual rational and artificial I meane of Sense of Reason and of Art by three seuerall words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 outstrips them all and addeth vnto the three former a fourth kinde of knowledge namely experimentall In which kinde it may be that the holy Angels themselues increase in knowledge experimentally But howsoeuer the rules goe with Creatures and with their knowledge I am sure that it goeth far otherwise with the Creator whose knowledge is as himselfe infinite and vnsearchable Insomuch as me thinkes I heare the holy Apostle here proclayming openly that there is nothing so darke deepe or difficult so large and manifold which hath beene is or can be hid from the ancient perfect and plenarie knowledge of the Lord God with whom we haue to doe c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 4. Moreouer finding the verb here vsed to be put in the tense and time past for punie Scholers know that it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and therfore should be read The Lord hath known it sheweth that this knowledge of GOD our Lord is from euerlasting to euerlasting no time past present or to come cā determine his knowledge but it farre farre exceedeth all terme of time Now from all these punctuall impressions of this word of truth let me collect giue vnto you some weak definition of the knowledge of God thus The knowledge of God is that by which the Lord our God in one eternall ineffable act of infinite vnderstanding doth distinctly and perfectly know all things persons causes times and occurrences which haue beene are or shall be more and lesse first and last together with all their substances quantities qualities inclinations motions actions and ends and this not by certayne degrees and passages nor by obseruations and notions abstracted and taken from the things themselues as Men and Angels may know things Nil Creatoris aut lateat cognitionem aut effugiat potestatem Aug. but essentially of in and from himselfe absolutely simply and all at once To which his absolute diuine knowledge of all things is ioyned his infinite Act of will whereby God willeth them freely iustly eternally and vnchangeably and according to the same doth effectually precisely punctually and fully performe the same his knowledge and will in all things euermore consequently and by name in these two mayne parts of his most holy Will and decree of preseruing and deliuering his faithful-ones the godly and of reseruing the wicked to the day of iudgment to be punished as here in our Text is proclaymed And if here we may be bold to take in that ancient and orthodoxe principle in diuinitie That all the essentiall attributes of God whereof his knowledge is one doe agree Attributa Dei essentialia propter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 singulis diuinitatis Personis competunt and equally belong to all the persons of the holy Trinitie then it must needes follow that this is truly testified of God the Father
gouernement and knowledge of things here below and so also becommeth impatient and heartlesse to his owne great hurt and the offence of Heauen All these must learne to know and beleeue if they will bee saued that in God our Lord assuredly there is an eternall absolute and infallible knowledge of all things whatsoeuer together with wisedome will and power to rule order and dispose of them accordingly vntill euery thing be brought to that period and end which he hath appointed for his owne glory the saluation of the Elect and ruine of the Reprobate rout For the holy Word of â—he Lord doth here witnesse the same and his holy workes doe confirme it abundantly Now the meditation of all that herein hath beene said and truely taught out of these two words ioyned together The Lord knoweth referred to both the parts of this Prophecy as the same ought to be might me thinkes strike a strange terrour into the soule of any sinner which is not too too forlone and hardened in sinne when he shal come to himselfe and consider that hee hath sinned against a Lord First of infinite knowledge which perfectly knoweth the number and nature of all his sinnes whatsoeuer Secondly of infinite Iustice and therefore cannot let escape the least particular sinne which he was euer guiltie of originally or personally vnlesse hee find mercie in the Mediatour vpon his true repentance and faithfull conuersion from the power of Satan to the liuing Lord and from the disobedience of the wicked to the wisedome of the iust c. Thirdly of infinite power also and authoritie to cast both soule and bodie into Hell-fire perpetually vnrecouerably And lastly of infinite Eternitie to giue the impenitent sinner eternitie in that vnspeakeable miserie Oh consider this all that forget God together with his vnspeakeable knowledge power and iustice Make vp your peace with GOD in time in time I say lest he teare you in pieces and there bee none to deliuer you out of his hand that knoweth how to reserue not preserue the wicked to Iudgement to be punished eternally Moreouer let me tell you as I verily beleeue that the ignorance vnbeliefe or obliuion of this holy Truth that GOD knoweth absolutely all things euen all secrets of all mens mindes and manners and that hee hath absolute power in and ouer all as the Lord of Lords the ignorance I say and vnbeliefe of this truth is the maine cause and root of all Atheisme Prophanenesse Hypocrisie Neutralitie and to come neerer the point in hand of all sinnefull feare and despaire in dangers and distresse also of carnall confidence sinnefull securitie and shifting by corrupt courses to helpe our selues in time of need also of all base grosse and weake conceits of God and of his gouernment and finally of all impatiencie murmuring c. vnder affliction Whereas on the contrarie the sound and sanctified knowledge of GODS infinite power and wisdome to performe whatsoeuer he will and hath reuealed in his Word will helpe to afford all good Christians vnspeakeable animation affiance loue awe peace patience constancy and comfort to cast all their cares and burthen vpon the Lord as hee hath commanded and so to rest in peace and sacred securitie c. Finally that I may grow to an end in the application of this first part of the Text seeing the Lord bringeth his iudgements to light euery morning as his holy Word doth witnesse in his knowledge and power performing the same let vs learne hence-forth to make due and daily obseruation thereof that wee may say as Thusidides did in another case I haue experience of this and that Truth of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fulfilled eyther in mercie or iustice so ioyne experimentall knowledge and faith with literall and spirituall How many Christians continue weake in faith and patience c. because they bee wanting this way to God in dutie for God hath so done his maruailous workes that they ought to be had in remembrance and to themselues in wisedome Neglect not then this helpe of holinesse if you would grow vp faster in all holy feare faith loue and obedience c. Learne also this lesson of all the wise-hearted Patriarchs Prophets and Princes of the Lord his people 1. Sam. 17.37 specially of holy Dauid Psal 48.7 c. in his blessed Booke of Psalmes And so let vs proceede in the Text to the next word Deliuer The Lord knoweth to deliuer This is one singular effect of the foresaid Cause Deliuerance to the godly The knowledge of God is neyther idle nor vnfruitfull but operatiue and effectuall and that vnto these two ends principally so farre forth as it concerneth Man namely to saue the godly and to wrecke the wicked And of these because the saluation of the iust is of special consequence for the glorie of Gods sauing power and Fatherly Prouidence therefore it is here set in the first place and hath the preeminence And a singular President mee thinkes it is of good Gouernment and of the right vse of all that knowledge and power wherewith the Lord hath furnished vs or any of vs whether we be Magistrates Ministers or Masters of Families In the extent of mercie and iustice First to bee guided by knowledge euen by Diuine knowlege and vnderstanding of Gods will Secondly to limit it by the power and place which wee hold in charge Thirdly specially and aboue the rest to doe good to the good to preserue and deliuer the Iust so sauing them that should be saued in the first place Let Noah bee first shipped in safetie in GODS Arke before the flouds of Iustice ouerflow the World And let Lot be gone from Sodome yâ— Angels of the Lord before yoâ— fire the place of his Repose Consider what I haue sayd and the Lord giue you vnderstanding in all things to doe his will And thus much briefely oâ— the connexion of the effect with the cause and of the Apostles order in putting the safety of the Saints in the first place and passage of Gods most holy Gouernment Againe further obserue here with me that the Lord our God taketh the ground of his doing good to his seruants euen â—rom his owne eternall and vnchangeable knowledge wil and goodnesse which worketh freeâ—y of it selfe and from it selfe all the effects of mercie and saluaâ—ion promised to his Saints Let then our helpe also and seruice which wee yeeld to the people of God in our places not be base inforced mercinarie or any way corrupt at the root but â—ngenuous free and faithfull that so we may in our measure become merciful and iust as our heauenly Father is to vs. The Text followeth The Lord knoweth to deliuer The word here vsed doth properly signifie to take by force 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 h. e. Eripere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and to deliuer with strong hand as if the Apostle should tell all the godly that otherwise all euils and enemies dangers distresses
would hold them euen with might main in durance and in bondage videlicet if the Lord should not step forth with force to rescue and deliuer them out of all as of old he deliuered his beloued Israel By this then wee are aduertised of many things worthy on consideration As first to seâ— what is the naturall propertiâ— and practice of euill things and persons yea and of their fatheâ— the Deuill as Christ our LORD speaketh Iohn 8. namely to incline to hurt and to hold vnder the bondage of affliction distresse and death all the godly euen the good and faithfull seruants of the Lord and hereunto will bend all their strength of wit will power c. Insomuch as the Lord our good GOD is faine to arme himselfe with power euen with a strong hand and stretched out arme oftentimes to deliuer them according to that which is written in the Psalme 37. Psal 37. The Saluation of the righteous commeth of the Lord who is also their strength in the â—ime of trouble Secondly and consequently being hereby admonished to apprehend on the one side our perpetuall danger and on the other side our ignorance to discerne and weakenesse to decline the same wee must learne to walke the more wisely and circumspectly to stand vpon our Gard to keepe Sentinell and continuall watch to arme our selues as the holy Word forewarneth in the fifth and sixth Chapters of the Epistle to the Ephesians And finally in humilitie faith feeling and true thankefulnesse to professe and say with the Psalmist All our helpe hope comfort and saluation standeth in the name knowledge mercie power and goodnesse of the Lord our God the God of our strength hope and happinesse which hath made and doth rule both heauen and earth Lastly we are herein taught that there is no strength power or wisedome against the Lord or against his Seruants safetie My Father is stronger then all and no man can â—ake out of his hand sayth our blessed Sauiour Iohn 10. And â—he Apostle sayth That the weakâ—esse of God is stronger then men â—ea then all men and Deuils Care and feare away then with Gods Elect. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For the Lord euen our Lord knoweth â—ow with force to crush our â—oes that otherwise would cruelâ—y crucifie vs al our comforts â—nd that no lesse outragiously â—hen the Iewes did Iesus our Lord â—r then the Iesuites and Papists â—f the Romish List would haue â—one our deare and dread Soâ—eraigne c. as you shall â—eare more at large anon in the â—ast place and passage of our Sermon It followeth in the Text The Lord hath knowne to deliuer the godly The state of the case in hand you see concerneth them that are godly all them none else Impietie hath no part in Gods protection heere promised the vngodly person is sequestred from this saluation The word here vsed is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which commeth of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 colere which doth signifie both to haue one in high estimation and honour and also to affect and loue in speciall maner and measure Of this roote and primitiue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 commeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the nownes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in English one truely religious another irreligious a third superstitious And to these three sortes you may reduce all that liue in the visible Church but the Accent is set vpon the head of the godly For the Lord hath chosen to himselfe the Man that is godly Psal 4. But you will aske me Who be they whom the Apostle calleth godly I answer and marke it well The godly are they that rightly know the true God and doe duely worship him in Iesus Christ. Or take it thus Whosoeuer truly knoweth or endeuoureth to know loue feare and obey the true God in the faith of Christ is indeede godly in the account of Heauen whose part is in this and in all the promises of grace and saluation recorded in holy writ And seeing this point is of so great importance giue me â—eaue yet further to lay it open vnto you that you may the better discerne of the thing and of your estate thereby To know God aright which is the ground of true godlynes is to know and acknowledge him as he hath reuealed himselfe vnto vs in his holy word and in Iesus Christ Secondly in this knowledge to cleaue vnto God in the faith and loue of his holy Maiestie as to our onely Lord God in Iesus Christ Thirdly in the life of this knowledge faith and loue to serue obey and honour the Lord by doing his will according to the measure of Grace that we haue receiued humbly sincerely cheerefully prudently and constantly 2. Pet. 1.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Looke vpon the man or woman that is indeede partaker of the godly Nature not Essence more plainely to say that is renued by the spirit of grace and standeth in the state of grace iustified and sanctified in Iesus Christ for this is the partie that the Apostle intendeth to bee pious looke I say vpon his or her disposition affections and meditations as they doe manifest themselues for they can not lie long hid where indeede they are marke also their speeches prayers actions sufferings trials comforts and triumphs in life and in death and you shal finde them all more or lesse seasoned with faith pietie and the feare of God with zeale of his glorie humilitie repentance patience hope and ioy in the holy Ghost Euen thus shal you finde the godly qualified and sanctified in heart and life resolutely set to walke with God as others are dissolutely disposed to walke like themselues with the world 1. Iohn 2.16 In the lust of the eye in the lusts of the flesh or in the pride of life That is in the loue and desires of worldly Profit Pleasure or Preferment some be sotted with this some with that carnall delight not any sinner lightly with all but all with some one of these which is enough without radicall Repentance to sequester them for euer from the hope and helpe of this and all other blessings promised to the godly Thus then you see in part how precious and profitable a thing true pietie is by which all things must be squared our doctrine and doings our and your speeches pleasures and very apparell must bee such as becommeth true godlynesse 1. Tim. 2.10 there called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which the Apostle saith is profitable for all things times estates and purposes as that which hath the promises of this life and of that which is to i 1. Tim. 4.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 come Come we now then to speake comfortably to all that are truely religious and godly though it bee but in the beginnings and infancy of the true feare of God Behold how the holy Ghost in the writings of the Sanctuarie which are our Euidence for our heauenly inheritance dooth grace you with Titles of holynesse and of