A SVPPORT FOR the sinking Heart in times of distresse OR A SERMON PREACHED in LONDON to uphold hope and allay feare Ianuary 4th Which was a day of great trouble and deepe danger in the City By SIMEON ASH PROV. 25.11 A Word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver LONDON Printed by G.M. and are to be sold by Thomas Vnderhill at the signe of the Bible in Woodstreet neare the Counter MDCXLII To the Christian Reader THE seasonablenesse of this Sermon occasioning warme workings in the hearts of many who heard it preached the Author of it was perswaded to print it but he judging it unworthy such publike view returned a denyall unto those desires of his friends Afterwards understanding that a Coppy taken by short hand from his mouth would be made common he rather chose to peruse and correct it then to expose himselfe and the reader unto greater wrong Hereupon sundry phrases are filed and some Scriptures layâ—d more open other additions or amplifications are not very many but thou now hast the body of the Sermon both for matter and method as it was first delivered When thou meetest with wants and weaknesses remember that not the confidence of the preacher but the importunity of some of his heareres hath made this discourse thus publike If by meanes hereof thy soule shall receive any spirituall edification and grow more able with hope and comfort to thrust through straights in Heaven way give God the glory of all his gracious workings upon thy spirit by Jesus Christ Martis 17. 1641. IT is this day ordered by the Committee of the House of Commons in Parliament concerning Printing that this Booke intituled A support for the sinking heart in times of distresse be printed JOHN WHITE GEN XXII XIV In the Mount of the Lord it shall be seene INterpreters call this Text a Proverbe the interpretation whereof is to be fetched from the occasion of it God by way of tryall did put his servant Abraham upon a sad taske a dead service commanding him to make a burnt offering of his sonne his sonne Isaack the sonne of his age and the sonne of Gods promise Take now thy sonne thy only sonne Isaack whom thou lovest and get thee into the land of Moriah and offer him there for a burnt offering How heavy this worke was likely to be upon Abrahams heart I leave it to the judgement of any affectionate father when he hath seriously perused the law of the Lord concerning burnt offerings The offering being slaine it was to be cut in peeces the wood being laid upon the Altar fire was to be put under the parts the head the fat were to be laid in order upon the wood the inwards and the legs being washt in water all were to be burnt on the Altar When the good old man had chewed this bitter pill for the space of three dayes towards the end of the third day he lifting up his eyes saw the place afarre off where his dearest sonne must be sacrificed Being come to his journeyes end he builds the Altar binds his sonne and layes him thereon What patheticall conference pafled betweene them two the Holy Ghost reveales not But what it was each affectionate heart will make conjecture When the father no doubt with a heavy heart had taken the knife and lifted up his hand and was ready to give the deaths blow to his beloved Isaack now imagin you what were Abrahams straights Is it not probable he might have such reasonings as these If I kill not my sonne God will be incensed because he is disobeyed If I doe how will the world clamour and censure being ignorant of my warrant and therefore apt to judge my act both impious and unnaturall Now in the Mount is the Lord seene divine providence sweetly and gloriously appeareth two wayes 1. In that Abrahams sonne is spared 2. In that a sitting sacrifice is prepared and both unexpected Abraham Abraham hold thy hand How welcome were these words to the working warme heart of Abraham being ready to let forth the life of his welbeloved sonne The execution is checkt Isaack is not killed and yet the intention of his obedience herein is graciously accepted yea and as an addition of mercy he is assured by Christ the Angell of the covenant that God accounted him one that truly feared his name Now J know thou fearest me This unexpected providence might worke in the good mans heart willingnesse to tender unto the Lord an offering in way of thankfullnesse that his Majesty might have some homage in the same place where he had shewed so much favour And though speedy provision of that kind was as farre from Abrahams thoughts as the preservation of his sonne yet when he lifted up his eyes and looked behold behind him aramme caught in a thicket by the hornes And Abraham went and tooke the ramme and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his sonne and Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah Jireh In the Mount of the Lord it shall be seene I will not trouble you in reporting the various readings of these words from the originall In short the english of my Text is this Mans extremity is Gods opportunity Or if you would have my Doctrine in other words take it thus In the Mount in the midst of straights it hath beene the manner of the Almighty mercifully to manifest himselfe for his servants comfort There are two things that I shall desire to speake too in the prosecution of this point purposeley pitched upon because of this dayes perplexity 1. Confirmation that it may be strongly beleeved 2. Application that it may be seasonably improved The Confirmation of the Doctrine I will give in 1. By Scripture 2. By Reason The Scripture proofe you shall have under two heads 1. The Promises of God 2. The experiences of the godly I will mention only two pretious Promises because they are sufficient being both pregnant and pertinent speaking both fully and punctually to the point in hand The former is in Psal. 72.12 where the sweet dispensations of Christs regall authority being tipically foretold by King Solomons government we have this recorded He shall deliver the needy when he cryeth the poore also and him that hath no helper You may doe well to marke the fitnesse and fullnesse of the Promise 1. When Christ finds his people in themselves poore and needy destitute of abilities to shelter themselves from wrong and violence 2. When in regard of others it is thus with them viz. not only that they have weake helps or few helpers but when they have no helpers none at all 3. When in this distresse they cry out as persons in an undone condition then though not till then will he deliver The other Promise is registred in Deut. 32.36 For the Lord shall judge his people and repent himselfe for his servants when he seeth that their
against us then they had swallowed us up quick when their wrath was kindled against us then the waters had overwhelmed us the streame had gone over our soule then the proud waters had gone over our soule But blessed be the Lord who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth c. 3. God thus worketh in regard of his peoples enemies both the Divell and divelish men 1. In regard of the Divell that he might stop his black and slanderous mouth which is upon all occasions wide open in wayes of calumny casting slanderous accusations upon Gods good servants When all Jobs estate was removed in a day all his children knockt dead at one blow God commending Job saith thus to Satan Hast thou considered my servant Job that there is none like him in the earth a perfect and an upright man one that feareth God and escheweth evill and still be holdeth fast his integrity although thou movedst me against him to destroy him without cause And Satan answered and said skin for skin yea all that a man hath will he give for his life put forth thy hand now and touch his bone and his flesh and he will curse thee to thy face Hereupon God bringeth Job into further straights for this very purpose to silence Satan And whereas those malignant spirits continue to be the accusers of the Brethren and are still apt to provoke his Majesty against them suggesting that if his providence put them to pinches they will then sly out and manifest their carnall fleshlinesse in the profession and practice of Religion Hereupon God puts them as it were into the stocks and sets them upon the rack and causeth them to be besieged with difficulties to prove Satan a notoriour lyar 2. In regard of divellish men Partly to fill their hearts with the more vexation Partly to chaine down their violent spirits that they may not breake forth with further fury against his cause and people and through the power of strong conviction to work some change in their lives and courses 1. To fill their hearts with the more vexation The Lord doth indeed rejoyce in the misery of the wicked I will laugh at your calamity and mock when your feare commeth yea it is a comfort to his highnesse to powre forth fury upon them I will cause my fury to rest upon them and I will be comforted And the Psalmist seems to give in this as a reason why God causeth it to be midnight with his servants before light peep forth why they are in deep danger before day-light appeare Psal. 112.9 10. Vnto the upright there ariseth light in the darknesse his heart is established he shall not be afraid untill be see his desire upon his enemies his horne shall be exalted with honour the wicked shall see it and be grieved he shall gnash with his teeth and melt away It cutteth a wicked man to the heart when he thinketh he shall have the day in the downfall of the righteous and yet the godly they rise and get ground and gather strength We have a pregnant proof of this in the example of Haman who expecting that Mordecai should be hanged when Mordecai was advanced to great honour then Haman mourned and hanged down the head And thus it will be with the popish and prophane who this day rejoyce in our dolefull straights when God shall appeare in the Mount for our deliverance 2. That chaines of restraint might be laid upon their hearts and hands by Gods strange and amazing providences When they see that God from Heaven doth give testimonialls of approbation to his poore persecuted servants and service being plunged over head and eares in the floods of deepest calamity This is made good upon Nebuchadnezzar Therefore I make a decree that every people nation and language which speake any thing amisse against the God of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego shall be cut in peeces and their houses shall be made a dung-hill because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort Then the King promoted Shadrach Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babilon In like manner the defeate of Haman and the deliverance of the poore Jewes devoted to destruction produced the same effect upon many of their enemies And truly notwithstanding this dayes feares and straights we will hope to see some such effects upon the hearts and lives of some who deride and oppose our desired reformation Thus much for Confirmation of the doctrine Application followeth There are foure uses to be made which are both naturall and seasonable Hence it followeth that people have no ground at all to suspect their own gracious standing in reference to God because of their straights Deep and devouring dangers may be ready to swallow up the righteous God may bring an Abraham into the Mount unto great difficulties Gods people may travell through the red sea in the way to Canaan seas of trouble bloody times may overtake them who are most deare to God This I rather note because Gods people are apt to dash upon this rock and to doe themselves much wrong by thus reasoning If God did love me or had been graciously respectiue to my humiliations and prayers I should not have seen so black so dark a day My selfe and mine our peace and Parliament our persons and possessions had never been in such danger if the Lord had bin favourable to me in seeking better times Herein David failed Psal. 73.13 14. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vaine and washed my hands in innocency for all the day long have I bin plagued and chastened every morning Now to keep us from adding guilt to our grief that we may not provoke God to be angry while our enemies are filled brim full of bloud-thirsting fury I will briefly suggest foure considerations to preserve us from this mistake 1. By this error acted we deny the perfection of the word of God because therein there is no such rule to judge by Yea the Scriptures openly and evidently speake the contrary Eccles. 9.1 2. No man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them All things come alike to all there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked And certainely if we shall dare to adde our devises to Gods word he will be angry Adde thou not unto his words lest he reprove thee and thou be found a lyar 2. Thus people beare false witnesse against themselves by passing unjustifiable sentences against their own soules Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour To detract from our neighbours credit and comfort is a breach of Gods law And truly it admits many aggravations when we deale thus injuriously with our selves 3. We expresse much ingratitude to God the God of all our mercies calling his love into question and overlooking or undervaluing all former favours because of present pressures and approaching dangers Let Israels
broken bones they will feele aches in hard weather and certainly if you will in time of prosperity dare to sinne against conscience it will adde sorrow to your Sops and gall to your wormwood when God commeth upon you in a way of bitter calamity Sinfull sensuall surfets upon sweet morsells will breed wringing paines and painfull vomits The sonnes of Jacob were in a great straight when they were taken for spyes as the story reports What did now wring them The remembrance of sinne though many yeers since committed ah our brothers blood our brothers blood we would not pity him when he made his moane and now God will be avenged of us Alas alas we were hard-hearted towards a brother and therefore no wonder that we meet with harshnesse amongst strangers Whereas the maintaining of a cleere conscience ô what a comfort will it be when all shall be blacknesse and blood about us See it in Paul and his companions When they made no other account but to dye what saith Paul This was our rejoycing that was strange rejoyce when the next day they might expect to goe to the stake well saith Paul our rejoycing is this the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity we have had our conversation in the world Beloved beleeve it that you cannot lay in a better cordiall to comfort and to stay your hearts in fearfull fainting distressing dying times then by exact walking with God before the storme fall The Apostles experience puts a probatum est unto this prescription For ought we know the day is at hand wherein we shall heare the warre-Horses neighing the murthering Cannons roaring the little Children skreaking and the fearfull Women skritching You know not beloved how soon you may see your City flaming your own houses burning your goods wasting It will be a sad sight to behold your Wives barbarously abused your Husbands bloudily butchered and your Children cruelly tormented I beseech you I beseech you consider now what will yeeld you comfort then When Hezekiah did daily expect to dye take notice unto what he betooke himselfe for solace and support Remember now ô Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight In like manner may we raise up our sinking hearts in such heavy times if we can truly thus speake unto the soule-searching Majesty Lord while times were peaceable and prosperous when I was surrounded with comforts on every side thou knowest I had a heart to walke with thee humbly to observe thy Sabbath holily to use thy worships purely and to aime at the honour of thy name sincerely This this will cheare you both living and dying You know that neither the lowd windes nor the black clouds nor the great showers nor the flashings of lightning nor the hideous claps of thunder doe so much affright us as an earthquake But when some vapours are got into the hollow places the bowells of the earth and the foundation of the world shakes this is terrible this is terrible indeed though the Sunne shine and no cloud appeare in the skie In like manner it is not so much an outward affliction as guilt within guilt within which causeth the heart of man to rocke and quake through feare within him Therfore take heed stop all the passages into your soules keep the heart with all diligence that no knowne guilt be admitted into it as you desire a stable firme frame of spirit prepared for the strongest stormes the greatest straights wherewith divine providence may possibly prove you Fourthly If you have made wounds and bruises in your consciences seeke an healing plaister by sound repentance suddainely A bone broken being well set they say becomes the stronger David had gashed his conscience grievously both by uncleannesse and murther in the matter of Bathsheba and Vriah Notwithstanding by means of Nathans plaine dealing being wrought to deepe sorrow the wound was healed and the same mouth which cured him by a corrasive gave him this comfort God hath forgiven thy sinne thou shalt not dye Now after this according to the threatning of Nathan God raised up evill against him out of his own house and he was in a wonderfull straight Absolom was up in armes against him This distresse occasioned the third Psalme as the title tells wherein he expresseth his perplexed condition Many are they that rise up against me many there be that say of my soule there is no helpe for him in God Now here is a straight indeed many imagining that Heaven could not helpe him yet if you will by his phrase of speech judge the frame of his heart you shall find as much confidence in him now as ever in all his life Take notice of it But thou ô Lord art a shield for me my glory and the lifter up of my head I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round about Yea this is added I laid me down and slept Consider in his supposition 1. The number of enemies viz. ten thousand 2. The manner of their opposition though they should rise up in a warlike manner against me 3. Their advantage against him and his danger to be apprehended by them It is not though they come to meete me or though they make after me for then by flight he might hope for safety But though they should beset me round about c. David having made his peace with God though now in a very great distresse yea although remembring Gods threathing he might reade his scandalous sinnes in this heavy affliction yet his confidence courage and comfort is very remarkeable If any of your consciences now wring you upon the remembrance of such a sinne or such a sinne I name none but leave it between God and your own hearts to consider of it goe home repeat repent and make your peace with God to day without any further delay that you may be sit for a straight if it should come to morrow Fiftly Mind and trade your experience God hath done already as much for England as is yet to be done to set all things right and in order againe amongst us Not many Moneths since our dayes were as darke our feares as great and our enemies as many as now Let us therefore remember our selves the Lord lives the Almighty is in Heaven he still is mindfull of his covenant and changeth not The holy Scriptures yeeld us plentifull proofe of improving former experiences to arme against future feares That of David is notable Thy servant slew both the Lyon and the Beare and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them David said moreover The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the Lyon and out of the paw of the Beare he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine When my heart is overwhelmed leade
us in the truth of the doctrine now under hand viz. That in the Mount of the Lord it shall appeare Mans extremity is Gods opportunity In case you inquire the Reasons of this divine dispensation I returne answer That God thus worketh in reference to Himselfe His people Their enemies 1. In reference to himselfe The prayse and glory of his own blessed Name designed in all his works is the supreame end aymed at in this Providence This God bringeth in as the cause why his hand carryed Israel to the very side of the Sea into the mouth of death before deliverance should appeare I will be honoured upon Pharaoh and upon all his hoast that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord Vpon such occasions the Attributes of the Lord breake forth in glory His Wisdome is most manifested when it worketh beyond meanes above meanes that humane reason cannot find out divine foot-steps His Power truimphs when all opposition shrinketh before his wondrous workings The like might be shewed concerning his other excellencies The event of Gods dealings with Daniel and the three young governours in the times of their straights discover that this was Gods intent in those providences For marke how Nebuchadnezzar and the King Darius did trumpet forth the praises of the God of Shadrach Mesech Abednego and Daniel when they were eye witnesses of those two glorious deliverances which were wrought on by omnipotency Then Nebuchadnezzar spake and said blessed be the God of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego who hath sent his Angell and delivered his servants that trusted in him and have changed the Kings word and yeelded their bodies that they might not serve nor worship any god except their owne God Therefore I make a decree that every people nation and language which speake any thing amisse against the God of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego shall be cut in pieces and their houses shall be made a dung-hill Then King Darius wrote unto all people nations and languages that dwell in all the earth I make a decree that in every dominion of my Kingdome men tremble and feare before the God of Daniell for he is the living God and stedfast for ever and his Kingdome that which shall not be destroyed and his dominion shall be even unto the end He delivereth and resoueth and he worketh signes and wonders in Heaven and in earth who hath delivered Daniell from the power of the Lyons By both these instances it is evident that the Lord doth appeare in the Mount for his owne sake to get and raise himselfe a name in the world 2. God doth thus work in respect to his own people And here I will note only foure particulars 1. Sometimes that he might discover to his servants for their encouragement both the truth and strength of his owne graces in them This was the reason why God thus tryed Abraham that he might manifest that holy feare which was planted in his breast Hereupon God putteth him to it and carrieth him into the Mount leadeth him into distresse by degrees acting him on to build the Altar to lay the wood in order to bind his Isaack to lay him upon the Altar upon the wood yea to take the knife and to stretch forth his hand to slay his sonne before he did appeare for his comfort in giving order for the lengthening of Isaacks life And now when there seemed to be but one minute of time unto the effusion of Isaacks blood heare the good newes from Heaven Abraham I know thou fearest me 2. Sometimes to manifest the feeblenesse of some grace in their hearts for their humbling Peter thought himselfe full enough of courage to come to Christ upon the sinking seas it he might have a call Well! marke the issue Christ calleth him come out Peter but when he saw the windes boysterous and when his sooting failed he began to sinke then he was afraid and cryed out hereupon observe Christs answer O thou of little faith why didst thou doubt 3. That he may set the graces of his Spirit in exercise both for their increase and for the enfeebling of contrary lusts We know that habits are strengthened by exercise and grace is augmented in its measure by being put forth vigorously in it's operations And by how much any grace gathereth strength by so much the opposing corruption becommeth feeble in a Christian brest And that the Lord hath this end in this kind of working it might be evidenced by manifold instances but for brevities sake I will only point at one in one single experiment As holy affiance in God is confirmed so by such like dispensations creature confidence is abated in holy hearts 2 Cor. 1.9 10. But we had the sentence of death in our selves that we should not trust in our selves but in God which raiseth the dead who delivered us from so great a death and doth deliver in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us Men in straights see the strength of creature helps shunke up and withered whereupon they dare leane to them no longer but Gods irresistible power profound wisdome abundant goodnesse and other glorious attributes in such difficult cases being clearely discovered the soule is incouraged confidently to cast it selfe into his armes for future times 4. That their deliverance might be more sweet to their spirits and consequently that their joyes might the more readily runne out before his Majesty in holy thankfullnesse When we expect that now our houses shall be fired the City sack it our estates wasted our wives abused our children cruelly murthered our Sabbath and weeke day meetings interrupted our Parliament dissolved and our Kingdome desolated Now to see these clouds to blow over and our Sunne to breake forth againe oh how sweet will this glorious change be to our now-dropping hearts Davids experince speaks to this purpose Psal 34.1 2 3. A Psalme of David when he changed his behavior before Abimelech who drove him away and he departed I will blesse the Lord at all times his praise shall continually be in my mouth My soule shall make her boust in the Lord the hamble shall heare thereof and be glad oh magnifie the Lord with me and let us exalt his name together Psal. 86.12 1 3. I will praise thee O Lord my God with all my heart and I will glorifie thy name for evermore For great is thy mercy toward me and thou hast delivered my soule from the lowest hell But more fully and fitly may our Kingdome concernments be expressed by Psal. 1 24. if our God be pleased now to appeare in the Mount for London for England in this day of our deep danger and exceeding exceeding great feare And our desired deliverance from present perplexities may with joy of soule be expressed by the words of that Psalme If it had not beene the Lord who was on our side now may England say if it had not beene the Lord who was on our side when men rose up
miscarriage in this kind be your looking-glasse to shew the foule face of this fault that you may take heed of this deformity When Pharaoh pursued them and the roaring seas threatned to devoure them their deliverance out of Egypt though wrought on by many miraculous providences was accounted a misery rather then a mercy for observe their language Exod. 14.11 wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us 4. By this mistake we reach a wrong to others Psal. 73.15 If I say I will speake thus behold I should offend against the generation of thy children Our carriage in this particular may cast sad discouragements upon the hearts of many deare to God causing them to question their spirituall state because of outward straights Hereby also we seeme to suspect their wisdome who uphold their hopes and maintaine their comforts notwithstanding their manifold heavy afflictions Censure not others to be rejected or abhorred by the Lord because you meet with them in the Mount you see them in straights in extremities Beloved the words of the Psalmist are considerable Blessed is he that considereth the poore the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble the Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing thou wilt make all his bed in his sicknesse As you desire favourable dealing from God in the time of your personall calamity learne to judge wisely and charitably of them who are in extremity The Barbarians did censure Paul to be a man under some black note of infamy fastened upon him by the Lord because of his suddaine and unexpected danger Acts 28.4 And when the Barbarians saw the venemous beast hang on his hand they said among themselves no doubt this man is a murderer Marke their confidence as well as their uncharitablenesse no doubt he is a murderer And why no doubt because though he hath escaped the sea yet vengeance suffereth him not to live for a venemous viper a death threatning creature now did hang upon his hand Beloved when we looke upon men arrested by credit-killing accusations and pursued with death-threatning charges and constrained to hide themselves from the bloody hands of violence let us take heed of adding to their sorrow by our censures That practice which was well beseeming Barbarians will be very uncomely for us Christians Two things consider to keep you from this fault which I will propound without much enlargement 1. The sinfullnesse of this censoriousnesse 2. The dangerousnesse of this censoriousnesse The sinfullnesse of it 1. Being forbidden by Christ judge not that you be not judged judge not that is not rashly groundlesly uncharitably 2. Arguing want of love for truth and strength of love maketh faire and canded constructions of all occurrances which concerne them whom we love Charity doth not behave it selfe unseemly is not easily provoked thinketh no evill beareth all things beleeveth all things hopeth all things 3. Weakning love for affection is enfeebled by our looking upon our brethren through the glasse which presents them as unlovely while we think them persons disregarded by God our respect to them is diminished 4. Hindering prayer the Apostle knew this and therfore I pray you consider by what an argument he presseth the Hebrews to pray for him pray for us for we trust we have a good conscience in all things willing to live honestly If you be well perswaded of the afflicted in regard of their pious frame you will be the more willing to let out your hearts for them in a way of prayer But when men thus think the Heavens frown and God is angry with such an one and therfore it is a vain thing to bestow time and breath in prayer for him this office of Christian love is interrupted By these particulars you may perceive that this censoriousnesse is very sinfull sinfull in the root and sinfull in the fruits sinfull in the heart and sinfull in the life checking grace and hindering duty 2. Consider the dangerousnesse of it 1. God is much incensed You remember how Eliphas and the other of Jobs friends loaded him with their heavy censures concluding his hypocrisie from his extremity Now when God had done with Job having schooled him out of the whirlwind and had wrought him to his own bent observe what followeth The Lord said to Eliphas the Tewanite my wrath is kindled against thee and against thy two friends for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right as my servant Job hath Therefore my beloved if you would not suffer under Gods frowns nor smart under the expressions of his displeasure if you would not have the sparks of Gods wrath to kindle upon you take heed of censuring any of Gods worthies that have bin instrumentall for good either in Church or commonwealth because for the present under a black cloud because exposed unto any disgrace or danger by reason of some sad providence 2. Our censoriousnesse may in our suffering times adde much weight to our own heavy pressures If I censure others and thereby adde affliction to their bonds I may expect that God will adde gall to my wormwood when the bitter cup commeth to my hand and I must per force take down a displeasing and distastfull draught Judge not that you be not judged for with what judgement ye judge ye shall be judged and with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you againe These meditations made use of may I hope through Gods mercy prevent our sinning against God others and our selves by uncharitable censures cast upon our distressed brethren It concerneth all of us to prepare for a journey into the Mount to make ready for tryalls by extremities Beloved this day the Heavens are black over our heads and our feares are not few for ought we know God will have us into the Mount my meaning is it may be the Lord will thrust us into such extremities as we never yet met with in all our lives There are two things that I will plainly speake to in the enlarging of this use 1. What may quicken us to prepare for straights 2. What course must be taken that we may be prepared for such a condition To perswade our preparation consider two motive 1. That we are all exposed unto perplexities 2. That we are all subject to manifold miscarriages in such a state 1. We are all subject to a distressed condition let him that denieth it bring forth his supersedias and say here I have that from Heaven signed and sealed which doth secure me I shall never come into adversity Beloved beleeve it whatsoever afflictions have seized upon any of Gods worthies formerly may overtake you and me before we dye and we cannot tell how speedily You have heard what befell Israell and why may not the same betide England you have heard what befell Abraham David Daniell Paul and why may not we looke for the like Secondly Subject we are to many miscarriages when God in his providence
power is gone and there is none shut up or left The language is large and hath much in it but because the proofe in it is apparent to every eye I will leave it The experiences of the godly which I shall produce you may please thus to consider 1. Of single Persons plunged into deepe dangers 2. Of companies whether few or many compassed about with devouring perills on every side For single Persons I will instance in foure Examples The first is of Daniell wherein fource circumstances are remarkeable 1. He was cast to Lyons not only one but many the number we know not 2. He was put into the Lyons den and the doore was shut a stone was brought and layed upon the mouth of the den that he might not get forth from those beasts of prey 3. The King sealeth it with his owne signet and with the signet of his Lords that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniell 4. In this darke den of deadly danger he continued a whole night and in this great straight the Lord by his Angell shut the Lyons mouthes that they did his servant no hurt at all The second Example is that of David 1 Sam. 23. from the 25. to the 28. Saul pursued after David in the wildernesse of Maon and Saul went on this side the Mountaine and David and his men on that side of the Mountaine and David made haste to get away for feare of Saul for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them But there came a messenger unto Saul saying hast thee and come for the Philistines have invaded the Land wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David In this Example these things are considerable 1. It was no lesse then Davids life that now was endangered 2. The Ziphites who were acquainted with Davids holds combined themselves also against him 3. All this strength did not only in a warre-like way take up armes to meete him for then by flying backe he might have made an escape but they compassed him round about 4. His strength was not sufficient safely to breake through these blood-thirsting forces Now in this straight an unexpected providence procures his preservation In this Mount was God seene gloriously The third Example is that of Paul which you have in the 21. Acts 30.31 32. All the City was moved and the people ranne together they bound Paul drew him out of the Temple and forthwith the doores were shut and as they went about to kill him tydings came to the chiefe Captaine of the band that all Jerusalem was in an uproare who immediately tooke souldiers and Centurions and ranne downe unto them and when they saw the chiefe Captaine and the souldiers they left beating Paul Herein you may note 1. The generall Insurrection All the City 2. Their violent Opposition They drew him out 3. Their bloody Intention It was to kill Paul 4. Their entrance upon execution They were beating him to beate out his life Now in this straight commeth tydings leave him there is something else to doe Thus was God in the Mount seene and Pauls life preserved The fourth Example is of Peter Acts 12.4 6 7. wherein note 1. That Herod intending to kill him having done execution upon James ver. 3. had apprehended him and imprisoned him 2. In prison he was committed to the custody of foure quaternions of souldiers that for every watch both day and night there might be 4. looking to him to prevent escape 3. The night before he was to be brought forth he was bound with two chaines and two souldiers had him betweene them And now that night and in that straight he was delivered by the Angell of God The experiences of Gods people in combined companies come in the next place to be considered and for brevities sake I will only suggest three The first is of Shadrack Mesheck and Abednego wherein their Persons are not so many as the particulars notable in their deliverance Dan. 3.19 20 21 22 23. c. Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury and the forme of his visage was changed against Shadrack Mesech and Abednego therefore he spake and commanded that they should heate the furnace seven times more then it was wont to be heated c. From these words their extreame perill with which they were besieged appeares in five circumstances 1. Their death is determined by the King who had authority to command both their tortures and executioners 2. The most mighty souldiers were appointed to bind them and doe execution upon them 3. The furnace being heated seven times more hot then ordinarily did burne to death them who undertooke their burning 4. These 3. men were cast not only into the mouth but into the midst of the furnace 5. They fell down bound in the midst of the burning fiery furnace Now in this condition conceive how little hope could be expected of life to be continued and yet it is affirmed by the Holy Ghost that they had no hurt upon their bodies the fire had no power nor was the haire of their head singed The next is of Israel when they came out of Egypt recorded Exodus 14. wherein these things set forth Israels extremity 1. The forces prepared against them The heart of Pharoah and of his servants was turned against the people and he made ready his Chariot and tooked his people with him and he tooke six hundred chosen Chariots and all the Chariots of Egypt and Captaines over every one of them 2. The pursuit made after them They pursued after the children of Israel and the Egyptians pursued after them all the horses and Chariots of Pharaoh and his horsemen and his army 3. The dreadfull apprehensions raised in the hearts of the Israelites viz. that no lesse then their death was intended Why hast thou taken us away to dye Had it not beene better for us to serve the Egyptians then that we should dye 4. The particulars whereby they were further straightned 1. The Egyptians overtooke them encamping by the Sea 2. The Seas of they went forward threatned to devoure them In this distresse God discovers himselfe and delivers them For observe the words Moses said unto the people feare ye not stand still and see the salvation of the Lord which hâ— will shew to you to day To day even just now and not before helpe comes from Heaven Herein this farther circumstances hath it's weight that Israel at this instant was provoking God by murmuring and distrustfull feares The last is of Israel in the raigne of Jeroboam sonne of Joash The Lord saw the affliction of Israel that it was very bitter for there was not any shut up nor any left nor any helper for Israel and the Lord said not that he would blot out the name of Israel under Heaven but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the sonne of Joash All these passages propounded from sacred records may abundantly satisfie
bringeth us to extremities I will only hint this in a word or two 1. Extremities doe expose us unto unbeliefe A grievous sinne it is to suffer our soules at any time to be taken from an holy adherence and firme dependance upon our God and yet thus we are in danger to dishonour his highnesse and wrong our own soules in times of distresse Davids example doth evidence this fully What more fayre promise can any man imbrace then that which God made to him particularly that he should be the King of Israel and yet when David was in a straight you heare of his distrust from his own confession I was gratly afflicted I said in my hast all men are lyars Nathan a lyar and all others who told him of succeeding Saul in the Kingdome of Israel they were all lyars And why because he saw not a faire and easie passage to the crown The like also is recorded concerning him when wearied out with the bloody pursuit of envious Saul And David said in his heart I shall perish now one day by the hand of Saul 2. In distresse we are disposed to strange impatiency and discontent of spirit which distemper doth wofully disguise our hearts and disgrace our profession It is a wonderfull thing that ever a heart furnished with grace should flye out as Jonah did First he thought he had lost his reputation because Niniveh by him threatned was by the Lord spared Well he goeth out and then the Sunne annoyed him in regard of his body but God provided a shelter and the man was calme afterward the gourd being worme-eaten and withered Jonah he chafes and frets The Lord checks him by this interrogation doest thou well to be angry Marke and be warned by his answer I doe well to be angry even unto death The history of patient Job also proves this plentifully 3. I might adde that we are subject to sinfull feares which dismay and torment the heart check duty weaken joy and interrupt our sweet communion with God Take notice of this distemper in Gods own people for which his majesty chideth them And who art thou that fearest a man that shall dye and the sonne of man that is but as grasse and for gettest the Lord thy maker that hath stretched forth the Heavens and layed the foundations of the earth and hast feared continually every day c. 4. Apt we are to use sinfull shists betaking our selves to unworthy practices to safeguard our selves in times of extremitie Observe this in Peters practice his Master is apprehended violently carried away likely to suffer death as a grievous malefactor Now he seeth himselfe surrounded with them that oppose Christ and this distresse drove him upon a dangerous rock a three-fold denyall of his dearest Master Let this move you and me to prepare that we may not in like manner misse it if God shall be pleased thus to prove us These things I beleeve doe affect your hearts whereupon in probability you will desire direction Attend therefore and I will give you some counsell briefly There are six things which I shall commend to your consideration and practice First You must labour to make sure your propriety in God When David upon service had bin abroad Ziglack the place where he left his wife and children was burnt when he commeth home there was no house to entertaine him no wife to welcome him no children to be a comfort unto him they all were carried captive hereupon he with the rest wept till they could weepe no longer c. But David incouraged himselfe in the Lord his God Heede here the ground of his support and consolation not the Lord God but the Lord his God deity and propriety hold up his heavy heart for the good man enjoying God might thus refresh his drooping spirit What though I have not an house to dwell in thou art my dwelling place my habitation a place of sweetest rest and safest refuge What though I have not a Wife I have more in God then a yoak-fellow could have afforded What though I have not a Child there is more then the comfort of a numerous posterity in the blessed Deity The souldiers cannot batter down this castle the pilfering people pillaging cannot possibly steale away this treasure the troops of robbers the desperate Cavilliers cannot deprive of this possession This might be much enlarged both seasonably and profitably but I must not insist upon any thing But this is my request that you would without delay endeavour to cleare up your interest in the almighty that your dejected hearts may not abide disconsolate in the dayes of your distresse Secondly Acquaint your selves with God and labour to be familiar with his Majesty by constant and frequent communion through Jesus Christ Men desire to know the utmost worth of what they have in possession and what improvement may be made thereof if need should so require We reade in the Parable that he that had bought a piece of ground must needs goe to see it and therefore he must be excused if other things be neglected If we were thus wise for our soules we would seek to know and to improve our God who is our inheritance yea our all unto our various advantages in the times of our greatest need Seriously therefore aske thy selfe this question What have I in having a God What have I I have infinite wisdome to advise me in all difficulties infinite power to carry me through all straights abundant goodnesse to supply all my wants the tenderest bowells to commiserate me in my most dolefull condition yea I have alsufficiency to fill me brim full and running over unto satisfaction I added converse with thy God He that would have comfort from Physitians in time of sicknesse gaineth and maintaineth acquaintance with them in time of health If you and I shall dare to keep at a distance from God in a way of estrangement from his Majesty in summer dayes and in sun-shine seasons when the Heavens are cleere and the City is peaceable and the Parliament promising and our hopes flourishing we shall want comfort through communion with God when the sunne setteth winter approacheth Parliament breaketh and misery threatneth on every side Being in hast I shall here lay heads confusedly on heapes whereas I should distinctly have discovered three things 1. How God is revealed in holy writ for our comfort in the worst of times 2. By what courses Christians should gaine and maintaine communion with their God 3. What fruitfull improvements may be made of God by such imployments But I shall leave these things to your private care having suggested this course by way of friendly counsell to make way for your comfort in the day of distresse Thirdly Walke exactly Take heed of making breaches upon your consciences by willing and willfull sinning against the God of your comforts Beloved beloved you know that those who have had bruises and