ENGLANDS CONDITION PARRALELLD WITH IACOBS For Troubles Salvations Hopes Laid open in two Sermons lately preached at Marlborough in WILTS By Iohn Sedgwick Batchelour in Divinity and Pastor of the Church at Alphage neere Cripplegate London MICAH 7. 8. Rejoyce not against mee O mine enemy when I fall I shall arise when I sit in darkenesse the Lord shall bee a light unto mee LONDON Printed by R. B. for Samuell Gellibrand at the Brazen Serpent in Pauls Church-Yard 1642. To the worshipfull Philip Smith and Iohn Franklyn Esquiers Members of the Honourable House of Commons now assembled in Parliament Encrease of Courage and Constancy of Spirit SIRS Those who chose you unto your places of great trust and toyle might have justly by nativenesse of soyle expressions of Love and earnestnesse of desires challenged the dedication yet they being many and you their representative body in an eminent and publike way I hope it shall neither displease them or trouble you that the ensuing Sermons doe passe under your names to the publike view I wish them in their printing their happie successe in their preaching they were words in season to the best and words of vexation to the worst Our ministry cannot please the one but it must displease the other How ever its sit that every one have his portion It is my comfort that by the happie successe of the Gospell in the hearts of the people Marlborough is a Towne honouring and cleaving fast to the Parliament they chose not Burgesses either to disgrace or to desert them neither you nor they come under the censure of Solon's Law to the Athenians who adjudged him to die and unworthy to live that in time of civill Garboyles as carelesse of the weale publike withdrew himselfe and became a Neuter As you have not been drawne into unfaithfulnesse by the ill examples of Revolters from their fidelity to their Country so they have not beene betrayers of their owne liberties in joyning with any persons thâ—ugh great in place in any illegall courses of division twixt King and people If these Sermons had an influence on them why may they not have an effect on you The times are encreased in their troubles the Cloud is growne blacker and bigger some men are desperate others despaire most see their dangers few can believe and hope for deliverance Out of my generall respect to the Times Lamentation and for the raising up of yours with other mens spirits under our sad conditions I have gathered up my scattered Meditations which for substance are what I then delivered though they have received their further additions Sirs I will be no further troublesome to my selfe or you know that the eyes of many are upon you the prayers of many are for You Nay there are more with you then against you as you have begun well so end well and the great God who is the King of Kings even the supreame Iudge of all the world hold up your spirits against all discouragements and carry on your great works unto perfection against all oppositions giving unto you reward with himselfe so daily prayeth for you Yours in the Faith and Truth John Sedgwicke ENGLAND'S Troubles JEREM. 30. ver 7. Alas for that day is great so that none is like it it is even the time of Jacobs trouble but hee shall bee saved out of it THis Text so suitable to our times may not be unfitly resembled to that Cloud by which God led the Israelites through the dreadfull and desolate Wildernesse as that so this hath in it First a darke side viz. a dismall time for trouble and misery the face of the times gathered blackenesse the cloud of trouble appeared and calamities did so come on and encrease that nothing else could bee found among the Iewes but troubles great troubles even such as no age could parallell or foregoing president equall which makes the Prophet to cry out Alas for that day is great so that none is like it it is even the time of Jacobs trouble Secondly A light side viz. a gracious promise for salvation and deliverance though for the present they were as men in graves and deeps under many pinchings and pressures by miseries yet a day and time shall come wherein the Lord would be light and life and salvation unto them but he shall be saved out of it I might from the conjunction of the parts spend much time in opening this excellent truth That out of the same mouth proceeds both threatnings and Threatning of misery and promise of mercy conjoyned promises to the Churches of God a Christian hath but one GOD though many conditions and as God hath one heavie hand upon so hath â—ee another easing hand under his Churches as hee strikes so hee stroakes them as hee doth sad so hee doth cheare them seldome or never shall you finde the Prophets in their messages to Gods people more terrible then comfortable where they threaten misery they also promise mercy The wise Physitian roles his bitter pill in sugar Reason 1 Now God doth sweeten messages of misery with the openings of mercy partly to make it knowne that in the midst of wrath hee doth remember mercy and that in his strict proceedings against his servants hee sits upon his throne of grace what ever scourging rod God takes into his hand and what ever inâ—ittering course God takes with his Children hee is never of the Throne of grace and the remembrance of his mercies Reason 2 partly to teach that Christians cast downe outwardly should not despaire inwardly God will not that miserable times should bee despairing times to his people Though under sensible evills there will be the workings of feare yet there should be no sinking of spirits even in sad times faith must have its working and the heart ought to be raized above the present se se of evill to an expectation of much good the eye that sees those dangers which are upon the Seas may behold the safeties which are in the harbors God would have Christians to know that they lie not at the mercy of any condition and that when they are in misery they are under mercy simply to bee threatned is a curse but to have a mingling of a promise with the threatning argues both love from God and good to man unto my understanding the bitter of all threatnings is taken off by the sweet of a promise and if God will vouchsafé to men a promise of delivery they need not over feare the threatning Cloud of misery it s not the least of a Christians comforts that as hee hath a threatning so he hath a promising God This meditation I shall leave with you and betake my selfe to the words of my Text. In the darke side whereof we may take notice of these two things 1. The deep impression which he troubles of the Church made upon the heart of the Prophet laid downe in the word alas a word of sorrow and compassion all one in meaning with woe
that Nehem. 1. 3. they Were in great reproach and the History tells us that all that passed by the way did clap their hands at them they did hisse and Lamen 2. 15 16 wagge their heads upon the daughter Jerusalem saying is this the City that men call the perfection of beauty and the joy of the whole earth Sixthly they were slaying and killing times times of bloud and death wherein multitudes lost their lives by the sword of the enemie the very streetes were filled with dead bodies and the bloud of the Iewes was shed like water round about Ierusalem Psal 79. 2 3. Now when the enemy enters with a drawne sword casting off all pity and mercy toward old and young when they fall to cutting of throates ripping up of bellies strangling hanging and the like this makes it to be a time of trouble Seventhly they were wasting and spoiling times even dayes of sâ—ch destruction and desolation that Cities and houses were consumed with fire Come trod under foot Cattell consumed and the whole land devoured and turned into a Wildernesse marke the expression your Country is desolate your Cities are burnt â—â—ay 1. 7. with fire your land strangers devoure it in your presence and it is desolate as overthrowne by strangers and the daughter of Sion is left as a Cottage in a Vineyard as a lodge in a Garden of CuCumbers as a besieged City Eightly They were oppressing and evill eâ—treating times now things were not carried by right according to reason and the law of justice but by might according to tyranny and injustice the Iewes had wrong done to them and they durst not to complaine thereof or if they made complaint they could find no redresse the enemies were heavie handed and cruell hâ—arted toward them daily robbing and spoyling them and did so weaken them that they made their lives tedious to them Ninthly They were spirit imbittering and soule sadding times even dayes of such unquietnesse that they were bereft of all pleasure they enjoyed not one merry day all the while they were in captivity now their feasts were turned into mourning and all their songs into Lamentatâ—on it was a bitter day as the Prophet threatneth Amos 8. 10 the day was dark and cloudie wherein not only 〈…〉 the light of Gods countenance but all other outward and inward comforts were with drawne it was night unto them and the day was darke over them Tenthly They were treacherous and betraying times their enemies would sometimes falsly accuse and slander them giving out that they were rebels and traitors anon the Lion would put on the Foxes skin and pure enemies to their Religion would come in among them in sheepes clothing by and by they would be conspiring and confederating against them alwayes they were plodding of further mischiefe against them so that where ever they were and in what ever they did they were laid waite for which makes the time to be such as the Prophet speakes of Now if to all these things wee doe east our eyes upon the removing Lamen 1. 10. of the Candlesticke the denying them the free and pure use of the Ordinances their beholding of their Idolatries and evill manners this would make it to be the time of Iacobs trouble in a more spirituall way Having given unto you this light into the Text I come to the doctrinall result which is this That as the Churches and people of God may have their outwardly Doct. 1. Gods Church have extraordinary troublous times peace full and prosperous times so they mâ—y and oftentimes they have their wondrous troublous and miserable times It is with the Church for state and condition below as it is with the naturall day each day hath a morning and an evening or as it is with the revolution of the yeare each yeare hath its Winter and Summer seasons Even so the Church hath first days and seasons of grace times of tranquillity and stability wherin the Candle of the Lord may so shine upon them that they may enjoy many outward and inward comforts and contentments every man may sit downe under his Vine and Fig-Tree eate the fruit of his labours and no man rise up to make him afraid Next dayes and times of misery called evill dayes and in my Text the time of trouble the great day none like it Time in Troublous times what it selfe and as it is a Creature is quiet trouble is accidentall to it now it is said to be troublous as peace is withdrawne from it and a Cloud of misery drawne over it when peace takes its leave and disorder or confusion doth approach and appeare this is that which makes time to be troublous and miserable Further you may note that there are two sorts of troublous Sorts of troublous times times which may befall the Churches and people of God Inward 1 1. One inward wherein Soule and Conscience may lie under wounds and much disquietnesse if God desert and withdraw from David now hee is troubled Psal 30. 7. Outward which is 1. Personall 2. Locall or Nationall 2. Another outward wherein the body and state of a man is under disquietnesse or the Land and place wherein the Church is planted and placed is under misery and affliction I meane this sort and doe say that the Churches of GOD may meete with Land wasting house burning Women ravishing Children killing State devouring Religion scorning Ordinances casting down heart trembling and liberties overthrowing times in one word times may bee greatly miserable and afflicting to them and so full of sadnesse and confusion that they may not know what to doe with themselves or which way to turne themselves That outward troubloâ—s times are of two sorts 1. Ordinary and common even such as are usuall happening to all sorts of peoâ—le in their times 2 Extraordinâ—ry and unusuall even such as are extended and intended and cannot be equalled by any president I say that sore trouâ—le great trouble yea unmatcheable trouble may be the portion of the Church and people of God Further we doe not conceive troublous times only to bee probable and possible to the Churches but actuall it is not only true that they may have troublous times but it is also true that troublous times doe befall them which truth hath 1. The testimony of these Scripâ—ures in one place it is said it is a day of trouble and of ruine and of perplexity by the Lord of Esay â—â—â— Hostes in the valley of vision breaking downe the City and crying to the mountaines In another place Hezekiah sends the state of the Church unto the Prophet in these words This day is a day of trouble Cap. 37. 3. and of rebuke and blasphemie for the Children are come to the birth and there is no strength to bring forth adde to this that prophesie of the misâ—ries of the Churches under the cruell persecutions of Antiochus when there was a time of trouble such as never was
the wrath of God let fall upon them and his displeasure conceived against them when God is angry his Churches are troubled Thou hidâ—st thy face and I was troubled and againe by Psal 30. 7. thy wrath are we troubled This you know that a little fire causeth 90 7. a great deale of trouble say that there bee but a finger burned or an House on fire doth it not occasion a great deale of trouble and unquietnesse how much more shall Churches and people bee disquieted through the angry countenance of God Reason 4 Fourthly finally Churches have their troublous times for these ends and purposes 1. For tryall and manifestation both of soundnesse and of graces 3. Ends of the Churches troubles troublous times are trying times it is not times of peace â—ut times of Warre which trieth the mettle of a Souldier all the while the Ship lies on the shoare or is in its harbour its strength to beare its burden is not knowne but when it s put out into the Sea meetes with blustering stormes and is tossed and tumbled if it now hold out then its strength is manifested wee have many Trees with faire tops and make a goodly shew in calme seasons which topple downe in blustring weather for want of firm rooting in the earth the case is the same with men in the profession of Religion Multitudes seeme to be Religious own the Gospell and goe for Christians in dayes of peace who in more troublous dayes will quit their ground and forsake their Captaine whereas now well â—ooted and throughly sanctified Christians will keepe their standing and rather die then dem Jesus Christ grace in truth will be grace in tryall here is the faith and patience of the 〈…〉 Sainâ—s q. d. if men have faith and patience indeed troublous times will manifest it 2. For the manifestation of wickedmen their madnesse and malignity of spirit would not appeare and be evideat unto men and they would not shew themselves in their colours if there were no troublous times in peacefull dayes enemies seem to be friends and with the Viper they hide their teeth in their gummes but when troubles appeare then they will spit out their venome making that the opportunitie for their dealing cruelly with Gods Saints 3. For the correction of abused peace when Christians do not well use their peacefull times God doth punish them with troublous times Vse 1 In the first place we may informe our selves that outward durable peace is no infallible note of a true visible Church the Church of God in Heaven is beyond all troubles in Heaven there is full and lasting peace but on earth her condition is fluctuant with the Arke of Noah and Militant as an Army that is in the field beset with an enemy having so many malicious enemies she cannot be long quiet and shee may better be discerned by lasting tryalls and troubles then by constant peace Gregory the great speaking of the Church saith Ecclesiaest haeres orucis the Church is heire to the Crosse and I would demand of papists what outward peace had the Church in Aegypt under Pharaohs oppressioâ—s what peace had she in her forty yeares travell thorough the Wildernesse which was a place of temptations journeyings Warre and many other straites and inconveniencies tell me sadly had shee not many encounters by enemies in the Land of Canaan where was her outward durable peace whilst she was under 70. yeares captivity in Babilon and whilst Antiochus Epiphanes did waste and spoile her in her Ordinances and members what meaneth the three hundred yeares persecution by the heathenish Emperors could these things happen to her and yet is the true Church discernable by out ward and durable peace by this very note we can disprove Rome from being the true Church for when Rome was burnt by the Gothâ—s sackt by Charles Duke of Burbon in the dayes of Pope Clement the seventh nay when their Popes were glad to flie and hide themselves yea were banished and imprisoned where was the outward peace of that Church Wee deny not but sometimes outward peace may bee the portion of visible Churches but that alwayes they have the same only ignorance and impudencie must affirme Vse 2 Secondly weeare not to wonder when we see the Churches of God cast into troublous times we have this day this Scripture Times are and will be troublous upon foure occasions fulfilled the times are troublous the Lord in mercy looke upon us yet let us not think it strange no new thing is hapned to us let me tell you thâ—t upon foure occasions times will be troublous When Dagon is to goe downe 1. When Dagon and Baal is to goe downe no great and prevailing evill can be hindred or cast down without much trouble and tumult if Gideon cast downe the Altar of Baal and cut downe the grove by it the men of the City keep a mighty stirre about it the man they must have that did it and die he must for it or it shall cost bloud reade the History lud 6. 28 29. if the Goddesse Diana be in danger what a noise and uproare is there in the City they shout and make a hubbub Acts 19. 28 34. I conceive thus much that England hath many bad tennants who having gotten possession and can plead prescrâ—ption though no Scripture title for themselves are resolved not to goe out without blowes and bloud neither can it be imagined unlesse a miracle be wrought by God as was in the case of the Scots that so many proud Prelates so many idle scandalous Non Residents and so much Rubbish of humane invention crept into Gods worship will ever bee cast downe or carried out without troubles can you conceive thaâ— Satan will loose a Kingdom and never wag his taile believe it brethren there are many thousands in the Kingdom so set upon Idolatry Superstition and the wayes of formality that they cannot bee quiet if these things be taken from them When the Temple is to goe up 2. when the temple is to bee reedified No great and good worke can be carried on to perfection without much trouble this is certaine that God hath brought us to Church reforming times and these alwayes have beene troublous times The Angell said to Daniel the streete and the Wall shall bee built in troublous 〈…〉 times Out of which Text I note these two things 1. That when the Church begins to goe up then troubles begin to come on 2. That though troubles come on the Church shall goe up The 〈◊〉 was 〈…〉 the Temple was 〈…〉 I conceive that the times were very troublous when the City and the Temple was in building upon these eleven reasons First They were mocking and scorning times to the Iewes as is plaine in these words But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant the Ammonite and Geshâ—m the Arabian heard it they langhed us to scorne Neh. 2. 19. These fellowes fell a jearing
taken for them that they shall be safe Ieremiah was taken prisoner and carried captive into Babylon yet God so orders the matter that not a haire falls from his head hee was in more safety among the Heathens then he could be among his owne people Sometimes God doth save 〈…〉 his people out of their troubles when he shall let them fall into great and sore troubles that their case seemes to bee desperate even such as threatens death and ruine unto them and out of which no possibility of deliverance by ordinary meanes doth appeare even now when they are as a Lamb or Sheepe in the mouth and paw of a Beare or Lion shall salvation come in upon them and a doore for deliverance shall be opened to them 2. You must know that God doth save his out of troublous 2 Sam. 10 â—â— times and conditions sometimes immediately by his owne mightie arme and power no creature being used sometimes mediately by the hand and help of those creatures whether Angels or men whom he is pleased to make choice of not out of any necessity that he hath of them but to shew his Soveraignty over them and that readinesse of disposition that is in them to obey his will and helpe his Churches wee reade of salvation by Angels and of salvation by Josuah and the Judges whom God raised up to bee both Typicall and temporall Saviours and deliverers unto his Neh. 9. 2â— people 3. You must understand that salvation out of troubles being a temporall and outward mercy is vouchsafed to Churches in generall and unto Christians in particular upon Gods tearmes and conditions that is 1. If God see it to be good for them there are certaine times when God though hee can by his power yet hee will not in his wisedome save and deliver his out of troubles v. g. 1 When the truth is to be sealed and ratified with the bloud of his Times when God will not save his out of misery Saints the Lord will sometimes have his owne people to beare witnesse unto the Gospell by dying 2. When the Church is to be enlarged the bloud of the Martyrs ganguis martyrum 〈…〉 is the seed of the Church and when God will have it grow and encrease hee doth sow and water it with the bloud of his Saints the Church before and about the times of the tyrannicall Heathen Emperors when they slew tenne thousands and hundred thousands of her members did more increase them at other times 3. When enemies are preparing for and hastning unto their fearefull destruction God will give them time to ripen and fill up the measure of their sinnes to act out and over the wickednesse and poyion that is in them which they cannot doe if the Churches should have their present deliverances 4. When Christians are to bee manifested a sacrifice of sweete Savour unto God and the world wee know that perfumes are sweetest when they are throwne into the fire and spices doe send out their smell when they are bruised in the morter and Christians do send out the sweet fâ—vour of their graces then when they lie and die under their troubles 2. Then when God seeth it to be best for them Gods time for deliverance and salvation is the best time alwayes outward deliverance is not best for Churches and Christians many times wee would have our mercies before that we are fitted for our mercies all unseasonable deliverers would be hurtfull deliverances GOD Esâ—y 60. 22. saith I the Lord will hasten it in his time our times are in Gods hands and all our conditions for their kind and degree and time he doth set downe when Israel shall goe into captivity and how Times when the Churches shall be saved long she must remaine under it before she be saved out of it this I conceive that Gods times for his Churches deliverance out of troubles are these 1. When misery is come to its height mans extremity is Gods opportunity in the Mount will the Lord be seene when things Genesis 22. 14. to sense are as bad as may be so that there is little or no hope of amendment appearing then shall deliverance come and salvation appeare and that in a sâ—eciall and remarkeable way when miseriâ—s do seeme to enclose and encompasse Churches that they are as a City besieged round about having all its passages stopt up when miseries doe presse and oppresse the Spirits to their misery yea when miseries are lengthned out and have boyled out themselves to their utmost then men can scarcely see how a Church or people can bee more miserable this is the time which God takes to save his Churches as may appeare in the salvation of Israel in the Red Sea and of the Iewes in Hamans time 2. When enemies are judgement ripe God will let wicked men alone in their worke for a while they shall have their day and yeare wherein they may fill up the measure of their wickednesse as did the Amonites and this being done the Church shall have salvation according to that saying of God to Abraham But in the fourth generation they shall come hither againe for the iniquitie of the Amorites is not yet fullâ— wicked men have much 〈…〉 wickednes to commit before the Churches come to be delivered 3 When Churches are humbled under sinnes and well prepared for deliverance God He never brings Churches out of miserabled evills till they are humbled for their sinfull eviâ—ls An unhumbled people are sure to be an afflicted people but when the spirit of a people is brought downe and layd low before God in all humilitie when a people is thus fitted for deliverance it is at hand as we may see in Manasses and the Israelites 〈…〉 12 13. 〈…〉 4. When prayers are sounding usually the Lord doth make the spirit of prayer the Iohn Baptist to the work of deliverance I meane hee makes men to bee much and mightie in prayer he gives them enlarged hearts in prayer they shall strive and wrastle with him in prayer and then salvation shall come in we see that Daniel was much in praying when the Church was neare unto her deliverance and the Christians met in prayer the same night that Peter was delivered 3. In that way which se mâ—th good in his own eyes God will go his own way in the saving of his somtimes he will effect their salvation ordinarily in an usuall and common way of providence sometimes he will give them silvation extraordinarily in a marvail us and miraculous way of providence even by weake means no meanes and against meanes as may appeare in Israels deliverance out of Aegrpt and at the Red Sea and in the deliverance of the three Children out of the fiery furnace and Daniel in the Lions denne together with many others The truth of this proposition will appeare unto us 1. By the witnesse of these Scriptures Blessed art thou O Israel who is like to thee O people
is me misery hath befallen me it doth even melt and mourn my heart within mee I am a man undone to thinke of those evills which shall befall the Israel of God The spirit of pitie was not divided from the gift of prophesie ô that we could be inwardly afflicted and greatly affected with the miserablenesse of our times it is to bee feared that most men doe want sympathizing and grieving spirits 2. The Rhetoricall expressions of the trouble Troubles will make men Rhetoricall The Prophet is full and fit high and elegant in his openings of their sad condition in and under their captivity 1. He calls it a day noting the manifestation and duration of the season which was alotted for their sorrow and suffering 2. It is that day not an ordinary but a notable and remarkeable day even a day anciently decreed and frequently threatned 3. It is great and that in respect of the wrath which should be powred out and in respect of the miseries which were to bee endured both upon that day should for measure bee intended and for length extended 4. There is none like it this phrase sets the day by â— Sorts of dayes 1. Naturall 2. Sinfull 3. Sorrowfull it selfe as having no fellow Naturall dayes doe equall one ancther but sinfull and sorrowfull dayes doe many times runne unequally though men may commit sinne enough in one â—ay to make them eternally miserable yet one dayes wickednesse both materially and circumstantially may exceed all the rest of a mans dayes and though sufficient to every day is the sorrow thereof yet some dayes of misery may exceed all other dayes for bitternesse here is intimated unto us that their misery should bee unmatchable by any foregoing president of misery if that they should call to mind what they endured in times past and compare it with the present suffering it should seeme as nothing and indeed they found it to be so for the people under their captivity Lam. 1. 17. are brought in thus complaining Is it nothing to you all yet that passe by behold and see if there be any sorrow like to my sorrow which is done unto mee wherewith the Lord hath afflicted mee in the day of his fierce anger 5. It is even the time of Jacobs trouble whether we take the A twosold Iacob words personally for the man Iacob or mystically for the Nation of the Iewes the seed of Jacob and the Church of God wee cannot faile of the mind of God in the Text It is true that Jacob in his owne person from the wombe to the tombe was a man of troubles himselfe saith few and evill have the dayes of the yeares of my life beene And had the time of their captivity been filled up Genesis 47 9 with those kinds of trouble wherewithall God exercised Iacob they should have had misery enough and it is as true that the Churches and people of God wanted not their troubles when they were carried into captivity troubles entred them into and troubles continued with them under their captivity There are these tenne things which will make evident unto us that the time of Jacobs captivity was a troublous time 10 Things making the time of Isâ—aels Capâ—ivity a time of trouble First they were Warring and fighting times it was a day of battell a time of Sounding the Alarum striking up of Drummesand of arming one Nation against another on came the Babylonians and the Caldeans with a mighty Armie against the Nation â— Kings â—4 10 11 of the Iewes and they did actually wage warre with them Now we know that where God raiseth up Warre there the times must needs be full of trouble it was said of old Tubellum causa malorum all evills are conceived in the wombe of War alas for the day of Warre for in those times there was no peace to him that went 2 Chro. 15. 5 6. out nor to him that came in but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the Country c. When coveteousnesse pride discontent malice envie and desire of revenge shall bring in that unruly beast * Bellum a bâ—llâ—a dictum Silent leges inter aâ—ma War what can be expected but * Râ—â—â— sidâ—s pietasquâ— vâ—â—â— qâ—i castra seqâ—â—â—tur that Lawes should cease Religion it selfe bee laid aside and all manner of villany bee committed Secondly they were affrighting and trembling times even times over-whelming and fainting the spirits of me and women I say that in the day of captivity the people were terribly shaken God did appoint over tâ—em tâ—rror as a judgement Now Levit 26. 16. â—â—a â—3 1â— their hearts did meditate terror the noise without begat terror within now their stout spirits did faile and faint being as the heart of a Woman under her pangs they stood shivering and Ierem. 4â— 22. quaking before their misery and were enclosed with terror as was Pashur who was terror round about now trembling and fearing times must needs be troublous times Ierem. 〈…〉 Thirdly they were flying and pursuing times the Jewes were as a Partridge hunted by the Fowler upon the mountaines As they could not withstand the strength so they could not endure the Iamen 1. â— sight of their enemies Ierusalem was made to hot for them they were forced to leave their owne houses and their owne Country and to flee from place to place and knew not whither to betake themselves for safety the enemy did so â—agerly pursue them now being in this flying posture it could not but be a troublous time Fourthly they were scattering and dividing times their captivity was their dispersion now husbands were divided from Ierem. 40. 12. their wives fathers from their children and one friend from another and knew not what was become one oâ— another one runs East another runnes West a third North a fourth South wandring up and downe and it may be never seeing the faces each of other againe this makes it a trouble in deed when Husband and Wife Father and Children shall be all under one roofe and in one Towne and upon a sudden when they least thinke thereof to be parted one from another and to bee no way helpefull one unto another and it may be never to heare one of another Fifthly they were rebuking and scorning times now Iacob lay under the reproachand contempt of the foolish The children Iob 30. 8 9. of fooles and the children of base men that were viler then the earth made the Iewes their song and by word such as did sit in the Psalme 69. 12. gate spake against them and they were the song of the druâ—kards the enemies laughed thâ—â— to scorne and had them in derision all the day long they abused them by word and gestures and actions O what gybing and jearing What nodding of heads making of faces hissing of voyces and clapping of hands was to be heard and seene among their enemies the brethren tell Nehemiah
they look for see how these doating men are glewing the old stones together again as for new ones where will they get them let them alone suffer them to go on see what they will do and when they have done the most and the best that they can they shall but build Castles in the ayre yea so weake shall bee their worke that if a Fox come up hee shall with his feete overturne all we are sure that wee can overthrow all at our pleasure Tenthly They were selfe justifying and clearing times the Iewes were forced to bring out the Kings authority and to shew quo warranto they did enterprize the worke wee read of many selfe acquitting Orations which were made by them Ezra 5. They were forced to plead their owne loyalty to their Soveraigne and to testifie their owne innocency to the world Lastly They were enemies answering times Sometimes Sanballat Nehem. 6. 21. verse 2. to 9. and Geshem sent messengers for meetings and conferences they sought by Parliances to hinder them from going on in their building which when they could not obtaine though requested foure times then they fall to writing of letters some of them containing unjust charges other some expressing unreasonable demands all which tooke up much time in their reading and answering which could not but be a great trouble to Nehemiah and very delaying to the worke By these instances you see how heavily the good worke went on and how justly I affirme that a Church can neither bee founded or reformed but the times will bee very troublous if God bee casting a Corner stone upon which hee intends to raise up a spirituall building and if hee call together a company of labourers to forward that work as he hath now done among us by those worthies in PARLIAMENT resolve upon it that the Dragon will wagge his Taile and the times will bee very troublous When enemies are to goe downe 3. When enemies are to be defeated and destroyed troublous times may then happen to Gods Churches when either the disappointing or the destruction of wicked and malitious enemies is at hand this wee finde that when Pharaoh and his Hoast were nearest unto their ruine then was the trouble of Israel greatest in the Churches storms wicked men many times suffer shipwrack their owne stirrings against and strivings with the Churches have beene the meanes of their owne ruine and trouble Haman went downe in the time of the Churches trouble and this is observable that the greatest troublers of the State of England and Scotland have beene throwne downe in the times of the Churches trouble had wee not had our troublous times we had not seene so many Lucifers cast downe among us What times have more discovered enemies what times have more crossed enemies nay what times have been more destructive to enemies then the times of the Churches trouble these winds blow them no good they alwayes presage their downefall if you look that great enemies should fall downe thâ—n expect troublous times for mine owne part I doe verily beleeve that all the troubles in Ireland and in England will end in the shame and confusion of many powerfull and politicke enemies such who begin the Churches trouble must perish ere the Church hath peace 4. When mercies are at hand When the Church is nigh to the enjoying of some great and unexpected mercy this is observable that the Churches greatest mercies have sprung out of the greatest troubles Shee hath not enjoyed such mercies in her calme seasons as shee hath in her blustring times the nearer the woman is to the time of her delivery the quicker and the sharper are her pangs and paines when the frost is nearest to its breaking then is the aire sharpest in its pinching the Churches good is not divided from the Churches trouble under tossings and tumblings she is not onely expecting but prepared and fitted for mercies the crosse going of the wheeles doth further the right going of the Clocke the fruitfulnesse of the spring is it not hindred by the sharpnesse of the Winter the Churches troubles are far from hindring the comming in of mercies the Sun will shine though the winds blow and the stronger the gale of wind is the quicker is the dispatch of the ship unto the desired haven we see that when Pharaoh was in his greatest rage then Israel was nigh unto deliverance out of that troublous wombe came their greatest quiet if there were no warre there would bee no victory though troubles create not mercies yet they occasion and antecede mercies and it is Gods manner to give great mercies in troublous times I am verily perswaded that England which is now in great trouble is bigge with childe of some extraordinary mercy wee may not thinke that these troubles shall end without a blessing even that longed for reformation both of Church and Common-wealth Let the consideration of these things stay your thoughts and settle your mindes under the apprehension and sense of these present troubles Vse 3 Thirdly this may advise us well to prepare our selves for dayes and times of trouble the counsell is seasonable for we have just feares started up among us of very troublous times to befall us England hath at this day Motives to prepare for troublous times First time troubling sinnes it is the sinnes of a people that troubleth times and brings downe disquietnesse that which is the trouble of Heaven and the trouble of the heart will bee also the trouble of a Nation I say that sinnes of all sorts and in all sorts so abounding amongst us as they doe cannot but bring with with them much and great trouble unto the whole Land have wee not among us all Land wasting and Land weakening sins most of our Pastors are either ignorant and blind or corrupt and unsound or scandalous and wicked so farre from reforming themselves that they are enemies unto the much desired Reformation They see vaine and foolish things and doe not discover unto Lamen 2. 14. the people their iniquity to turne away their captivity may not God say Many Pastors in England have destroyed my vineyard Ierem. 12 10. 11. and troden my portion under feete they have made my portion a desolate Wildernesse they have made it desolate and being desolate it mourneth unto me Many of our Rulers and great ones are Idolatrous Adulterous full of pride and idlenesse leading many thousands into wickednesse by their evill example following the footsteps of Ieroboam who made Israel to sinne and as for the people of the Land the pride of Moab the cruelty of Edom the formality of Israel the Apostasie of Judah together with the abundance of all sins taketh hold of them wee are an exceeding sinfull people before the Lord and what can we expect should bee the issue but troublous times Secondly Troublous times warnings God hath fired many Beacons and shot of many warning pieces among us which doe tell us that troubles are comming
toward us not onely Germany and Ireland are all on a fire and flame but we have the breakings out of the same among us by most unhappy divisions between Prince and people O for the divisions of Reuben there should bee great thoughts of heart Thirdly Time troubling enemies we have lodging and lurking among us men of no Religion swarmes of Atheists men of a false Religion a great Popish party men of no rank and quality whose mouths are full of scoffes and hands full of bloud unworthy and base Cavaliers whose onely hopes lye in this that shortly they shall ravish our virgins defloure our wives cut our throates and divide our estates what meaneth the countenancing and maintaining those vermine and of-scouring of the Land but that troublous times are at hand certainly the kingdom cannot vomit out these frogs or quit it selfe of these Locusts without much adoe Fourthly time troubling opinions all heresies are bitter springs and can produce nothing but troubles within a Church when the Heresies of Arrius Pelagius Arminius Socinus and others crept into the Churches they did not a little encrease the troubles of the easterne and westerne parts of the world and for mine own part I cannot beleeve but that the like effects wil follow in this kingdom by mens deserting of old truths and embracing of new errors when people turne Anabaptists Eatonists Traâ—kites Antinomians Familists and what not this will fill a Land with trouble and division Fifthly time troubling actions men study nothing more than how to be unquiet each man is full of discontent and set upon thwarting and crossing who almost among us is not for his owne will and way and so that their egge may be roasted they care not though the kingdome burne for it Finding these things among us wee have great cause to feare that God is going about to make our times troublous Secondly It is to bee suspected that our long enjoyment of peaceable times hath eaten up our expectation of and preparation for troublous times we dreame of a durable peace and put away the evill day from us as did the Iewes few persons doe thinke of Amos 6. 3. troubles before hand and most wil not believe that they shall have troubles though they see nothing above them but a cloud of bloud and behold nothing beneath them but a red Sea Thirdly That troublous times are therefore to hard for many because they are not well prepared and fitted for them and indeed every the least trouble will bee too strong for an unarmed and unprepared Christian But happily you will say what would you have us to doe that when troublous times come we may look up and hold out My advice is this First Keepe faire quarter with heaven let not God bee your enemy or one that frownes upon you when troubles come acquaint 10. Preparatives against troublous times Iob 22. 21. your selves With him and be at peace and thereby good shall come unto you if men are in covenant with God and reconciled unto God in and through the Lord Jesus they cannot bee und one by troublous times the favour and love of God will bee security enough to Christians in evill times this was Noahs Arke that hee found grace in the eyes of God hee had a friend in heaven Secondly preserve purity and peace within let not Conscience bee filthy or unquiet the meeting of a foule Sea and blustring stormes doe make the passage of the ship very troublous and thus it is when a mans conscience is filthy and defiled by the love and power of lusts that there are seven abominations in it if troubles come he cannot tell what to do with himselfe for now conscience is more unquiet then the times beleeve me in this that if troublous times and a troubled conscience do meete together you will be of all men most miserable O therefore make it your worke to get your Consciences pacified and purified through the sprinkling of the bloud of Christ labour that Conscience may learne to read its own acquittall from the guilts of sin and that it may be very holy and spirituall and then though you are cast into the Seas and doe meete with the greatest of dangers you are well provided for if conscience be not your hell you are well enough for heaven Thirdly Affect not a life of ease and delicacy could wee now me our selves to hardnesse wee should the better endure troublous times if wee shall daily pamper our bodies and remaine under our wonted nicenesse being all for pleasure and ease if the meate that we are to ease is never sine enough if the wine and beare wee drinke can never be strong or sweete enough if the beds whereon wee are to lie are not soft enough and the clothes that we are to put on fashionable enough to us pray tell me what shall we doe in troublous times Good Christians consider how will you be able to runne before a bloudy Cavalier without stockings and shooes for tenne twenty or thirtie miles together to save your lives if you use now your feete to that nicenesse that you câ—n scarce endure to tread upon a stone how will you bee able to make the field your bed or a stone your Pillow if that you do not now use your selves to hard lodgings I pity most of you who now put your heads in a bagge and must have hoodes for your faces and what not for bravery and pleasure Alas should God bring many of you into the condition of your poore sisters in Ireland what would you doe how could you endure to be stript of your clothing to hide your selves in dennes and caves to drinke up puddle water and to make acornes a feast unto you ô that I could prevaile with you now to inure your selves unto hardnesse it would put you into a fit temper for troublous times it is noted of holy Bilney that being perswaded he should be burned for the Gospell he would often put his finger into the Candle to see if he could be able to endure the fire before he came into the fire I wish that in England this point were more pressed and thought upon Fourthly Get quit of the Creature in point of heart interest this you shall finde that those waters which are running downe to the maine Ocean are more unquiet then waters that are narrowed up in a well and of this I am certaine that a worldly temper is most unfit for a troublous time if troubles should come then to have a Child in the heart and an estate in the heart will prove a greater trouble to a man then the trouble it selfe O then get the Moone under your feete and the world out of your hearts Seeke not great things and engage not your hearts to worldly things trouble not the little world by the great world be as was the holy Martyrs who made nor Wife nor Children nor Estates a blocke to them in the way and could cry out
and all is lost Religion is lost Liberty lost estates lost yea and the glory of England lost Vse 3 Thirdly Let us expect and waite for the deliverance of Iacob in a praying and believing way what though the Churches miseries are great grievous and of long continuance yet bee not dejected neither doe you despaire your hearts Remember what is written O my people ye shall know that I am the Lord when I Ezek. 37 1â— have brought you out of your graves stand still feâ—re not behold Exodus 14. 13. the salvation of the Lord which he shall shew unto you this dâ—y when were these words uttered was it not then when they were going into the Red Sea Brethren pluck up your spirits deliverance shall come to the Church God will make a way for our escape Oh that we could now set our prayer and faith on working our times are fitted for prayer and faith had we not these two pillars for our uâ—holding I know not what we should doe come therefore into the presence of God seeking the Churches salvation and deliverance say with David redeem Israel O God out of all Psalme 25. 22. 13. â—1 Esay 62. 4. his trouble remember David and all his troubles Oh that with the Prophet we could say For Zions sake will I not hold my peace and for Jerusalems sake I will not rest untill the righteousnesse thereof goe forth as brightnesse and the salvation thereof as the Psalme 53. 6. lamp that burneth Let this be the daily wish of our soules Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion further be you intreated to exalt your faith in believing that the Church shal have deliverance that the earth shal open and bring forth salvation and â—say 45. 8. Esaâ— 26. 1. that God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarkes what though the times doe threaten ruine and destruction yet know 1. That God is above all the troubles of his Churches and doth command them so that they shall never exceed his will and power though dangers are great yet God is greater then all dangers 2. That God hath all deliverances in his hand and can command Psalme 44. 4. deliverances for Iacob the Lord saith I forme the light and create Isay 45. 7. darkenesse I make peace and create evill I the Lord doe all these things Say not in the feare of your hearts by whom shall Iacob arise Amos 7. 5. Esay 33. 2. for he is small Looke upon God who is our armâ— every morning our salvation also in the time of trouble doe not reason unbeleevingly can these dry bones live or Churches under such deep dangers be delivered I assure you brethren that dry bones shall live and miserable Churches shall bee delivered Say not that you see no meanes for deliverance all meanes are shut up in God and he hath means beyond our sight what men either cannot or will Esay 63. 4. not doe that God can and will doe marke what God saith the yeare of my redeemed is come and I looked and there was none to helpe and I wondred that there was none to uphold therefore mine owne arme brought salvation to me doe not stand objecting the many blockes that stand in the way or the many improbabilities and impossibilities for deliverance but know that God maketh his way through the Seas he is omnipotent a wonder working God to whom nothing is impossible remember what is written who art thou O great mountaine before Zurabbabel thou shalt become a Zech. 4. 7 plaine and he shalt bring forth the head stone thereof with shoutings crying grace grace unto it be not a disheartned people under the Churches trouble but lift up your eyes to the hils whence salvation commeth say with Dan I have waited for thy salvation ó Lord Genesis 49. 18. Psalme 3. 8. Esay 49. 8. Psalme 69. 35. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord and he will helpe or raise up his Churches in a day of salvation God will save Zion and build the Cities of Iudah that they may dwell there and have it impossession Vse 4 Fourthly Let us further the Churches salvation and deliverance God doth many times save his Churches by meanes he raiseth up men Saviours and men deliverers and there is not a Christian man and woman among us but they may doe something for tho Churches safety though we cannot doe alike yet something we may do will our riches and estates deliver bleeding Churches part from that you honour God with your riches when you lay them out for the Churches security will your persons further the salvation of Iacob goe out in your might and helpe the Lord against the mighty have you no Silver or Plate or bodies that are serviceable then helpe the Church with your prayers and tears go to God and mind him of his promise put him to it give him no rest night nor day till hee establish and till hee make Ierusalem a praise in the earth ô let none us be Esay 62. 6 â— Neuters let none of us sit still let us up and be doing and no doubt but God will be with us and for his Churches FINIS ENGLANDS HOPES HOSEA 2. 15. And the Valley of Achor for a doore of Hope IN this Chapter we have a double representation of Israel and a double representation of God First Israel is represented unto us under 1. A sinfull condition She was idolatrous adulterous unmindfull of and unthankfull for mercies She sinned under against and with mercies we reade of her whoredomes adulteries between her breasts playing the harlot going after lovers not knowing that God gave her corne and wine and oyle multiplying her silver and gold which she prepared for Baal she had her dayes of Baalim and times for lewdnesse 2. A sorrowfull condition Shee was divorced stript naked made as a wildernesse set as a dry land slaine with thirst deprived of mercies hedged in with thornes and made every way miserable Secondly God is represented unto us under 1. Acts of severe justice He doth quickly espie sharply rebuke terribly threaten and miserably punish Israel for her sins she is left to enjoy the recompences of her lewdnesse and made to feele the fury of an angry God 2. Acts of sweetest mercy In the midst of wrath God remembers mercy under her afflictions he makes her promises notwithstanding her sins which she had committed and her miseries which were to be endured God doth tell her that hee will speake to her heart words of comfort and pardon and whereas for her sins she was justly stript of all outward and inward comforts yet he would in his own time and by his own free grace make a full restitution of all good things unto her it was not the misery of her condition which should hinder or keep out the comming in of his mercy From thence I will give her her Vineyard even from the wildernesse and whereas her heart under her
looke for good from God notwithstanding all the evills I feele and suffer Object Object But happily you will object and say Sir have godly men alwaies a doore of hope in distressed times Remember whose speech was that My hope and strength is perished from the Lam. 3. 18. Lord and againe Our bones are dryed and our hope is lost wee Ezek. 37. 11. are cut off from our parts Answ Sol. I have considered of these Scriptures which speak out the Saints infirmities they do not say that they had no doore of hope but they shew the weaknesse of their faith to apprehend the same the Well of water was nigh to Hagar yet untill her eyes were opened she could not see it the question is not how clearly Christians doe see the doore of hope or how strongly they are able to raise up their expectations but whether they have not a ground for to hope for good in evill times wicked men can neither actually nor habitually hope for they have no ground the godly have a constant ground and cause for hoping and when they cannot actually yet they can habitually hope Vse 2 Secondly this may raise up our hearts this day unto much Vse 2. comfort and confidence it is true that we have a doore of great misery standing very open before us there is a threatning and a trembling doore setting up in the Land it may bee such a door which may enter us into a bloody and civill War the very beholding whereof may strike us with sadnesse Let me now tell you for your comfort Grounds of comfort 1. That there neither is or shall be set up within this Land any doore which shall enter us into misery but such as the good Lord whom we love and feare and serve shall permit and suffer God must suffer all our sufferings it is not all the power plots and projects of our revolted Nobles and Malignant party that can set up a doore of misery at their pleasure God who hath the hearts and the preparations thereof in his owne hands hath the hands of them all in his hands even to check controll and turne them at his own will 2. That if ever God suffer men to set up a foredoore of misery he will bestow upon his a backdoore of hope God is as able as willing to set up doores of hope for his Doores of hope 3. That God hath given to us this day many doores of hope I shall name these unto you The doore of the promises 1. The full and precious promises of mercy and succour abundant is God in his undertakings to relieve distressed Christians And what are all those engagements of God for good unto his but the letting fall of some hints of mercy before the soule to raise up hope had we no promises we could have no doore of hope Remember saith David thy word unto thy servant Psal 119. 49. upon which thou hast caused me to hope Object But we have no particular promise of deliverance and therefore how can wee make the promises a doore of hope Sol. It is the promises of God in generall that are the doore of hope so that if we can finde our particular condition in them we may expect mercy and deliverance The doore of experiences 2. Experiences of former times this was Davids and Pauls 1 Sam. 17. 36. 37. 2 Cor. 1. 10. doore of hope and we should make it our doore of hope what God hath done at one time he can also doe at another time nay he puts out himselfe at one time that future Ages may make him their hope at all times Could we looke into dayes of old and recall the yeares of the right hand of the most high and see what God hath done for miserable Churches and distressed Christians before us nay could we but live upon our owne particular experiences of the many passages of God among us I thinke we should have as wide a doore of hope as ever any people had The doore of prayer 3. Enlargement of spirit God hath poured out the spirit of prayer upon the people of the Land some nay many thousands there are who come to the Throne of Grace and doe mightily and daily wrastle with God for a blessing upon England and this is a strong doore of hope it is that which keepes heaven doores open we usually say that when the Cock begins to crow thick then the day is nearest breaking and this is my hope that England shall not miscarry because she hath such a pâ—aying people in it goe into all the corners of the I and and you shall finde many Jacobs many Daniels and many Nehemiahs who doe exercise themselves in praying surely a childe of so many prayers cannot perish The humbling daydoore 4. Frequency of humiliations God hath set up in England by authority twelve solemne humbling dayes in a yeare which is such a mercy that England never enjoyed and these dayes are in many places solemnly kept in these dayes multitudes meete together even whole Armies of Christians beset God the considerable part of the Land doe weep and mourne humbling themselves for their sins before the Lord and seeking mercy and pardon for the Kingdome The doore of utterance The erection of further and greater meanes of light and knowledge the doore is set open for painfull and conscientious preachers in such parishes and places in the Kingdome that for many yeares past never enioyed the soule-saving Ministry the spirituall food in many places is doubled and trebled an excellent evidence of much good to this poore Island The doore of acâ—â—pâ—ation 6. The acceptation of sacrifices and services God hath had respect to the prayers and humblings of his people there hath scarce been a day of solemn meeting which God hath not crowned with some seasonable and answerable returne which is another doore of hope when Manoah was afraid thought that he should die because that he had seen God his wife doth comfort him saying If the Lord were pleased to kill us he would Judg. â—3 23. not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands neither would he have shewed us all these things neither would hee have told us such things as these q. d. Man what talkest thou of dying so long as God is accepting The doore of Reformation 7. The foundations that are laid for a glorious Reformation God hath raised up glorious workmen who have carried out much of the old rubbish cleared in greâ—t measure the foundation and brought in place many good materials tending to the beautifying of the Church I dare say that is laid in which all hellish opposition shall never be able to overthrow The doore of the Parliament 8. The zeale and courage of the worthies assembled in Parliament they are men so raised up in their spirits and so united among themselves that no threates or discouragements can
daunt or put them off from their working they work unweariably and couragiously notwithstanding all that they doe and all that is done against them they shine in their faces so that heaven may appeare to own and comfort them The doore of opposition 9. The insolencies of enemies against the proceedings of the Parliament when enemies of Religion are high flowne and dare to fight against Parliaments against Lawes against Christians and against all that is called God it is an evidence that they are under the curse and nigh unto ruine their great braggings and base attempts must not despaire our spirits no man ever prospered or prevailed that malitiously and desperately did set himselfe against the Parliament it is that stone which whosoever thinkes to remove he shall be crushed by it The doore of assistance 10. The Earths helping of the woman We have seen the spirits of men in all places raised up to come to assist the cause of Jesus Christ help hath come in to the Worthies in an unexpected way even from such who have been thought to have no Religion men of all sorts have combined themselves to defend Religion the Lawes of the Land the Liberties of the Subiects and the Priviledges of Parliaments hating and abhorring the courses which are destructive to the same The doore of heaven 11. The constantnesse and unchangeablenesse of God in his working for us and assisting of us England may set up Samuels Stone which was called Eben-Ezer that is Hitherto 1 Sam. 7. 12. hath the Lord helped us Certainly there hath been the least of man and the most of God discovered in the late passages that ever Nation beheld yea and our God is constant with us though men and times change yet God changeth not you shall finde him in his old place even when men great men and false hearted men who have deceived the Kingdome in their trust doe slip their necks out of the coller and seem to turn Renegadoes The doore of Achor 12. We are in the valley of Achor Now is the day and time of consternation and trouble the tyde is at highest the night is at darkest our miseries are such as threaten nothing but ruine and destruction unto us and therefoâ—e we may hope I say that our very miseries may be unto us a doore of hope Psal 56. 3. Psal 130. 1. What time I am afraid I will trust in thee and Out of the deepes have I cryed unto thee O Lord Davids searing times were his beleeving times and his dangerous times were his praying times our greatest dangers cannot put us beyond our hopes The Athenians when they were in great danger at Sea were wont to cast out that great Anchor which they called the holy Anchor Sacram anchoram solvere dicimur qu ando ad extremum praesidinm Erasmi Adaz ex Lucia confugimus If the Heathens were not without hope in dangers on the Sea shall Christians think you be lest without hope nay so long as Christians have a God to look upon and a promise to relie upon they shall never faile of a doore of hope it is not all the blustering in the North by great ones and Cavaliers which can hinder God from setting up a doore of hope for his servants in England Vse 3 Thirdly let us live as men to whom a doore of hope is vouchsafed 1. Be not distracted and distressed in your spirits by the change of things or times and with the comming in of 4. Signes of such who have a doore of hope Psal 39 7. more and greater troubles let none of those things discourage you under all rumors of War and approaches of trouble say And now Lord what wait I for truly my hope is even in thee speake out yet God is good to Israel a 〈…〉 these things will not endure an age b Nâ—beâ—ia est 〈◊〉 It is but a showre that will soone passe over 3. Look for more than you have in hand your present mercies are not all your mercies there is much more behinde God hath raised up the hearts of his to expect great and wonderfull things and as we must be thankfull for what is done so we must wait upon God for that which is yet to bee done reputing all our receipts to be so many pledges and pawnes of further and future good 3. Goe on with your work you may not expect great things and cast off duty our hope for mercy and deliverance will make us industrious and endeavouring in our places to praise and please God in all things 4. Puzzle not your selves with disorderly plots do not seeke to piece heaven and earth and to compound humane and divine helpes know what man cannot God can and will doe and that things many times are better for us in the promise then in our own hands We cannot thinke of or finde out alwayes the best meanes to do our selves or the Kingdome good Flesh and blood will be often at a stand in its advice Vse 4 Fourthly learne to keep open the doore of your hope To this end 1. Make not your thoughts the measure of Gods strength Ubi desâ—nit humanum ibiincipit divinum auxilium where humane help faileth there divine help beginneth if it be a work that man can doe it is not a work fit for God to do 2. Make God who is the God of nature the orderer and over-ruler of all second causes and outward impediments all 6. Wayes of keeping open the doore of hope things must stoop to God and that in an instant oh how suddenly can God dry up and divide the Sea how wonderfully can he command the hearts of Kings and how quickly can he turne into foolishnesse the councells of all Achitophels All things are too weak to frustrate Gods purposes and promises Clouds and stormes may be in the ayre but not in the highest heaven the waters may carry down a planke but the rocke remaines still nothing can hinder the Almighty God he hath the Malignant party under his command as much as he had Rabshâ—kah 3. Keep open the doore of heaven cease not praying day and night if we keep up our spirits in prayer the doore of our hopes will be kept open 4. Advance the grace of faith to liberty of working as the promise goes before faith so faith goes before hope the expectation of good ariseth out of an apprehension and perswasion of good the truth is that hope doth so depend ex judicio fidei that if men beleeve not they shall not hope even as the inferiours doe move at the motion of the Superiours so hope riseth is furthered and continued in its working by faith Well then would you keep open the doore of hope exalt faith and let it act into the promises whilest faith is feeding and fastning it selfe upon the promises a man shall have hope in the darkest night as well as in the lightest day 5. Provoke not God by sinning There is nothing but sin which can shut up the doore of our hopes if that at such times as these wherein God is promising and we are expecting mercies we shall be an unreformed people and discover our iniquities what can God do lesse then to shut the doore againe saying I would have cured and reformed England yea I gave them faire hopes for the same but loe her inhabitants are proud and idle they sweare and whore and lie and steale and are drunken and therefore now I will not give them my mercy and grace 6. Be prudent in seeking the publique Reformation Let every man keep his standing and move to his owne Orbe Though all Christians should have publique spirits yet they have not publique places if men will be discreet and quiet things will be best amended indiscretion may shut the doore aster then most men are aware of Thinke of these things warme your spirits by them confer of them as you ride home from the Market and say to your friends and acquaintance Yet there is hope in Israel even in England FINIS