the truth they cannot be perswaded that they are enemies To whom I answer that there be millions of secret and under-hand enemies besides these who with Amalek raise up forces against the Israel of God and these enemies I range into three ranks For they are either 1. Mentall 2. Verball 3. Actuall 1. Thou mayest be an enemie in affection and desire as when out of hatred thou wishest and desirest evill and hurtfull things to befall the people of God in whole or in part Thus Balaak did but desire and affect to curse Gods people and this is called a warre against Israel Cain shewed himselfe a cursed enemie as well in casting down his lookes upon his brother as in rising up to slay him 2. Thou shewest thy selfe an enemie also when in words thou doest utter and pronounce hurtfull speeches against godly men David saith of his enemies that they invented words against him Doest thou bely the Saints cast names of reproach upon them raise or revive reports against them and art thou not an enemie Was not Haman that proud enemie hanged on his owne gallowes for such inventions and suggestions against Israel 3. Thou mayest be a cruell enemie and carrie thy selfe closely in many under-hand practises though thou marchest not so furiously under Satans standard as some other professed enemies doe as if thou beest a scoffer a derider and mocker of godly men or their godly practises Ismael laught at Isaak and this is called a persecution Christ was flouted and mocked on the crosse and this was not the least part of his passion If thou canst vex the childe of God in his trouble persecute him whom God striketh adding affliction to his bonds or secretly say to thy selfe So so thus would wee have it thou mayest easily discerne thy selfe an enemie 2. If thou doest unfit and disable them from doing good or settest hand to cast them out of their godly course thou expressest not the smallest enmitie Nebuchadnezzer shewed his hostilitie not onely in swallowing up the Church as a Dragon but also in making her as an emptie vessell and casting her out Pilates wife would not have her husband shew himselfe an enemie to Christ by having an hand against him Wouldst thou not be an enemy then have nothing to doe against any innocent and godly man 3. If thou defendest not godly men in godly wayes Ierico strucke never a stroake against Israel that wee reade of but because Ierico opened not the gates to Israel it is said to warre against Israel Meroz was cursed as an enemie because shee came not out to helpe Gods people He that gathereth not with Christ scattereth and the threatning is that not onely those that warre against the Church shall fall but those also that stand not out for it Whosoever then thou art that according to thy place and meanes servest not the Church that art not readie to put both thy hands under the feet of it to doe it all the good which is laid in thy power to doe thou canst expect no other but to be reckoned ranged among the Churches enemies for truth hath spoken it that the Nations and Kingdomes that will not serve the Church shall perish Esay 60.11 2. Others thinke it good swimming with the streame and that it is good policie to joyne with the stronger side they see the enemies set up aloft and magnifie themselves because they have power in their hand and grace of times to bring about all that they desire On the other hand they see the poore Church under hatches without helpe in herselfe or from others and therefore tread over the hedge where it is lowest to speed themselves the better in their owne projects But to these enemies I say 1. That all their combinations with the wicked be they never so potent cannot stay them from perdition unlesse they be stronger than the Lord and though they magnifie themselves against the Church and seeme to beare all downe before them yet must they fall for what God hath written hee hath written All their power is but the power of chaffe against mightie whirle-winds all their glorie and advancement against the poore members of the Church is but as the strength and stinke of dung unto him as is said of the Midianites and Iabin and Sisera who perished at Endor and were made as the dung of the earth Psal. 83.10 Who can now besides the enemies themselves beleeve that they stand on the stronger side while they stand against that side with whom the strong Lord standeth 2. As far are they deceived in their conceit that thinke the Church is helplesse and friendlesse while they see few or no great ones step in to take her part For is Israel a widow or hath the Lord forsaken her No no her husband leaves her not nor dieth away from her as other husbands doe but ever liveth and ever loveth her and will suffer no man to doe her wrong unrevenged but will rebuke even Kings for her sake 3. Others see no great danger in all these threatnings they are none of the greatest friends of these strict professors neither doe they see it safe to be so forward and yet they thrive and prosper well enough to whom I answer 1. That the Lord is not so unmindfull of his threatnings as they suppose Is it to bee prosperous to be stricken with blindnesse of minde and hardnesse of heart and so goe on blindfold as Pharaoh to destruction or is it such happinesse for a malefactor ready for execution to have his eies covered by the hangman Holy David could desire no greater revenge against most desperate enemies than that their eies might be blinded Besides when the Lord vexeth them with many secret pulls and pinches in themselves both inwardly by terror of conscience and selfe accusing thoughts as also outwardly in their estates or names or friends and posterity might they not discerne if they were not wilfully blinde that Gods iustice sleepeth not but is in his way and that one way or other hee powreth out present wrath upon the families that eat up Iacob Ierem 10.25 2. Forbearance we say is no payment so as if the Lord for the time of his patience suffer wicked men to goe on to fill up the measure of their sinnes yet the longer the blow is a fetching the heavier it will be the smart whereof is so much the more grievous as it commonly overtaketh them in their rest and in their rust and watcheth to heare them say Peace peace and then suddenly falleth upon them for God will avenge his elect which crie unto him night and day yea though he suffer long for them I tell you saith Christ he will avenge them quickly 3. Thou that hast present peace in thy pursuit of godly men little knowest thou what God is brewing and bringing on thee Pharaoh said a great while Who is the Lord but the Lord was preparing to make him know him
mine thy estate shall be mine thy children shall be mine but thy God shall not be mine thy Religion shall not be mine And for assistance we may lend Babylon no hand to uphold her we are commanded not to seeke the prosperity of Babel all our daies because the Lord hath divoted her to destructiō but especially those whose hands and swords God hath sanctified to this purpose whensoeuer God shall put it into their hearts they want neither charge nor calling to reward her as she hath rewarded them as she hath levied forces against the Princes of the earth so must they levie forces against her and the cup of death and wrath which she hath filled to them they must fill her the double 3. We must depart corporally from them even in respect of place and habitation If an house be ready to fall it must oppresse all that are under the roofe If a Citie be summoned to warre by the sound of a trumpet carefull men will desire to leave that Citie Or if a Citie be infected with a raging pestilence we need not perswade men to flie forth of that danger Here is a ruinous state ready to be made an heap Shall the little mice by naturall sagacity presage the ruine of the house and flie and shall we stay till we be oppressed under the ruine The Lord hath proclaimed open war against this rebellious city and shall we stay the mounting of the Canon No where can a man bestow himselfe in Popish countries but he shall meet with that poysoned aire a thousand times more infectious than ever was any citie with most hot pestilence and can any man be safe casting himselfe upon such adventures Secondly for the manner of our departure from Babel we must come our 1. Cito 2. Longe 3. Totaliter 4. Finaliter 1. Wee must depart hastily Lot was commanded to hasten out of Sodome and prolong no time because the danger was neere delay which is in all things dangerous may here prove desperate and therefore we are commanded to fly out of Babel which is a swift motion beseeming Gods people in their obedience and because of the neerenesse of the danger unto them 2. We must depart farre from Babel even as farre as may be Many are afraid to offend the Babylonians by departing too far from them But as Moyses calling the congregation from Corah and his complices said I pray you depart from the tents of these men and touch nothing of theirs lest yee perish in their sinnes so we must pray to have no societie or comporting with Romish Babylon in her heresies Idolatry or superstitions for this were not to depart far enough from them 3. We must depart wholly thy selfe and all thine When Lot was called out of Sodome he is willed to call and carry out with him all and every one of his kinred his wife his children his sonnes in law and all whom he loued And Moyses calleth not only the head of families from Corah but their wiues sonnes and little children we may not thinke our selves departed from Babylon unlesse our wives and children be departed with us He is but halfe departed whose other halfe is a Recusant neither can a man of reason thinke him departed that sends his pawnes his sonnes and daughters for education in Popish countreys 4. This heavenly voice would have us depart finally never to returne more Lot must not depart out of Sodome to looke backe againe nor out of Egypt with the Israelites to turne backe after the leekes and onyons nor with Spalato run backe to Babel when we have fild our purses nor for rumor of danger turne away from the truth received for suppose God should kindle a fire of persecution in his Church this were but a fire of triall and castigation whereout the Lords golden vessels should come out onely brighter and better But if we returne to Babylon there is nothing but a fire of destruction and finall ruine to burne up such huskes and chaffe as wanting substance of grace are blowne away with every wind of doctrine every blast of change and every shadow of turning I had now come to the second part of my text if there stood not three sorts of men in my way to whom I must in few words apply my selfe and this part and being men of no good qualities I will make what haste from them I may The first sort of these are Romanists the second Separatists the third Apostates The Romanists cudgell us for departing from Rome The Separatists lay load upon us for not departing from Babylon can both their blowes fall right The Papists tell us with great audaciousnesse that wee are Schismatikes and Heretikes because wee have departed from the Catholike Church and keepe out of the lap of our mother Church yea out of the Arke out of which is no salvation But our text hath taught us that wee are not departed from the Church of Christ but from Babylon Neither can they prove us Schismatikes for departing from them whom we can easily prove to have departed from Christ by a generall Apostasie contrary to the whole Kingdome of Christ onely fit for Antichrist the Catholique Heretike Neither are we departed from our Mother but from the mother of whoredome and we may not mingle with Harlots 3. Neither of our owne head but by this voice from heaven 4. Our dutie bindeth us to avoid her sinnes and our safetie to avoid her plagues Let them bring vs a Text or voice from heaven to bring us backe againe and we will returne but Texts of Scriptures and heavenly voices cannot be contrary to themselves 2. The Separatists say we are in the midst of Babylon our assemblies are Antichristian our selves no people of God because we leape not over the pale and fly out with them But first they have not nor can prove the Church of England to be Babylon unlesse Babylon be in covenant with the Lord and hath both the Deeds and Seales of that Covenant to shew in all the substantiall parts of them rightly administred according to the Institution and now standeth to the determination of the Scriptures in all things for thus doth the Church of England but not so Babell and therefore we are not scarred with the windy termes of false worship false ministry bowing downe to traditions or denying the power of Christ in ruling his Church which is both preached and defended happily amongst vs. 2. They have not nor can prove that Christ hath given us a Bill of divorce as he hath to Babel or that the reformed Churches have separated from us as they have from Babylon As for their discoveries what hath a schisme of private men to doe to excommunicate whole Churches or why get they no Churches to joyne with them or if they could get all the Reformed Churches to them we expect orderly admonition before rash excommunication For if a private man must be admonished twice or
thrice before excommunication much more may a whole Church expect it 3. We are come out of Babylon by Gods blessing in that we have pulled downe the Temples of their Idols in that both in substance of Doctrine and Sacraments our Ministery agreeth with the Scriptures the head of Dagon is cut off his stump cast downe and cast out and we labour in purging away all the scent and stinke of him so far are we from worshipping the beast or receiving his Image 4. We cannot therefore separate from the Church of England but we must goe out from the true Church of God and from the Spouse of Christ who acknowledgeth Christ for her head and foundation and by beleeving in his righteousnesse alone is made a member of his body No reason will serve these unreasonable men for then I might now get from them but their importunity staies me to answer one objection and so I will leave them Obiect But what a number of corruptions have you an heape of mens Traditions which Christ never acknowledged but bred and borne in Babylon and what a number of Gods ordinances doe you want which a true Church of Christ cannot want and can you be a Church of Christ Answ. 1. Was not Lot got out of Sodom when he saw the smoke of the Citie If it were granted then that a little smoke of the Citie did trouble our eies must it follow that we are still in the midst of Babylon 2. They point us to some corruptions and errors to which I say 1. Let them shew me a soyle in the world where Wheat groweth without some chaffe and I will goe with them But that is not at Amsterdam 2. None of the corruptions which they falsly terme are of that high nature as to call for a personall separation because none of them are fundamentall The least corruption that we can certainly espie which yet is not in constitution but in execution we must separate from in iudgement in affection in practise but to separate personally for any error not fundamentall let them teach it them to whom all errors are alike but we may not be so dull 3. Our Church being ioyned to the head Iesus Christ and retaining the vitall parts of the Word and Sacraments neither if wanting of something which should be present nor if remaining something to be cast out can thrust her from the right and title of the Church of God but is in essence and being a Spouse of Christ. For example cut off both a mans armes both his legges cut off his eares and nose now he wanteth many things which a man should have but yet so long as the head stands alive upon the body and other vitall parts remaine he is indeed a man although a maimed one Againe suppose a man had ten fingers on an hand or three armes or suppose an hand stood where the foot should stand or the mouth were set in the forehead here were a great aberration and confusion against naturall symmetrie of a mans body yet hee is a man though a very deformed one whereas where there is no head or no union of members to that head there were no body no man So whatsoeuer they can say though falsly is wanting in our Church or whatsoever they say is redundant or superfluous she being founded on Christ her head and truly dispensing the word and Sacraments they cannot overthrow her being of a true Church of Christ. 4. To conclude with them some things make to the being of a Church some to the comelinesse and well being of it if their nimble eies could finde never so many abuses not fundamentall all these shall only make to the disgrace and vncomelinesse of the Church but shall never overthrow the being of it Whatsoever we want let not God want his praise nor we thankfulnesse that we want not that whereby Gods people may enioy the ioy of their salvation And this may serve for answer to those Separatists if all the corruptions they charge us with were truly obiected against us as they are not 3. To the three sorts who goe away from us to Babylon because they were never of us would to God they would timely consider 1. If the Lord be so earnest that his people which are in Babylon should fly out of her it cannot but be too preposterous and desperate for those that are gotten out to run in againe 2. That if it be a signe of the Lords people to depart out of Babylon it must needs be a signe of him or her that is not the Lords to run into her and so to continue 3. What is the fearefull hire of Apostasie and Apostates of whom the spirit of the Lord speaketh lothsomely as of dogs and swine turning to their vomit and wallowing What can be the expectation of such as forsaking the sound profession of the Gospell fall away from Christ to Antichrist but the most dreadfull doome which is to be awarded against the Lords most cursed enemies 4. That they sinne without a cause which aggravates the sinne nay against so cleare a light and truth enacted protected crowned and in these daies after 70. yeeres of the sunshine of the Gospell which hath beene the best time the Gospell hath had in the world for so long together this thirteene hundred yeeres so as for our meanes we might have beene as stable as rocks upon our rocke and foundation 5. That they sinne against a speciall commandement of God yea against a voice from heaven in this text they cannot say in the day of the Lord they were not warned Lastly because they love to looke upon pictures now leaving them I will leave with them an Emblem of such gracelesse Apostates as themselves When Israel was in the Wildernesse God gave them a daily harvest of Mannah from heaven but they grew weary of the Lords provision they remember the garlike the leekes and onyons of Egypt and backe they will to Egypt in all haste but all the while they remembred not the oppressions tyranny stripes labours sighs burdens the bricks and fiery furnaces So doe these looke after the pompe pride wealth and liberty of Romish Egypt but remember not the miserable servitude and bondage and their tyranny upon their consciences they remember not their traiterous doctrines their miserable attempts against kings and kingdomes their furious fires their perfidious massacres their bloudy inquisition They remember not what comfortlesse hopes that doctrine and Religion will afford them in the day of their death for there 's no understanding Papist dare trust unto it and yet looke backe they will But what is the issue and conclusion of all As all they in the wildernesse miserably died and never entred into the Land of rest so these Apostates may exchange Mannah with Garlike for the present but in the day of the Lords visitation they shall reape according to their sowing when greatnesse nor wealth when Iesuiticall subtilties nor penall satisfactions neither shall
Write this Moses a Prophet of God Hee must make Canonicall Scripture of it And being so written it is unalterable and permanent It is sealed with the Kings ring as were the lawes of the Medes and Persians and is irrevocable 2. What must hee write This that is the whole narration of Gods dealing for his people against the Amalekites 1. De rebus gestis What God had done in the miraculous defeating of them already by the power of Moses his prayer 2. De rebus gerendis What God had further to doe in the finall destruction of this cursed Nation 3. Where must Moses write this In a booke Quest. What booke is this Answ. Some thinke it a booke now missing although the Scriptures yet extant be sufficient but this booke was no other than this present historie of Exodus and other his historicall Commentaries in his five bookes in the which this same storie is more fully repeated as Deut. 25.17 4. Why must he write this in a booke for a remembrance Israel saw the great works of God at least all Israel could not but heare of this and yet this is not enough it must be written to live in their memories and in the eyes of their posterities and after-generations Ob. But seeing Israel had many great and miraculous deliverances besides and above all this why is this so directly appointed to be written in a booke above the rest Answ. Israel had received a farre greater deliverance a little before from the Egyptians chasing them in the bottome of the sea and the Lord would not have this deliverance drowned in that but would have a thankfull memory of this also preserved and would have the glory of it maintained even above other great workes both by a booke and an altar and by a name God appointed it to be enrolled in parchment and Moses enrolles it in the stones of his Altar 2. Other great workes were lesse dependant and more transient in the present passages of them but this is dependant and must bee registred for future memory and use for divers passages of Scripture depend upon it and not only the present people of God then living but even the after ages descending of them must take knowledge of this fearefull sentence denounced against Amalek for these ends 1. That they might never make league or peace with them all their daies because the whole Nation stood accursed before the Lord. 2. That they might be ready in aftertimes whensoever God should command their kings to offer themselves cheerefully to the execution of this sentence in the utter extirpation of this hatefull people 3. That they should ascribe the honour of truth and iustice to the Lord when in aftertimes they should see King Saul reiected for failing in this execution and not destroying those sinners the Amalekites as the Lord had commanded him and the kingdome given to David who was better than he in that he effected the Lords whole decree in doing what Saul had omitted 1 Sam. 30.17 2. Rehearse it to Ioshua Quest. Why to him Ans. Because Ioshua must be Moses his successor and served to these two purposes 1. That hee for his time also should alwaies stand out in hostility against them not as a revenger of private wrongs and iniuries offered them but to beare in minde and publiquely to execute the iudgements of God which were charged upon them 2. That it might be an encouragement to him who was to bee the Lords Captaine and to leade out his people in the Lords battells against all the rest of the Nations in that hee seeing these enemies which made the first attempt and onset upon Israel so mightily revenged by God might hence assure his faith that God would goe on with him as he had now begun untill hee had given them actuall and full possession of that good land which he had promised them so long and so often Now from this first part of the Text wee may note 1. That in our way to heavenly Canaan we must make account of many Amalekites as Israel cannot set forth towards Canaan but Amalek will meet them Israel going into Egypt had no enemies but in their way to Canaan never wanted them A man may goe to hell merily and never meet with Amalekites to hinder him hee hath wind and tide with him But let all the Israel of God resolve in their way to meet with Amalek to fight with Amalek to overcome Amalek else there is no hope of ever seeing Canaan wee must not expect rest till we be thorow the Wildernesse 2. We hence learne to write up Gods mercies and deliverances in a booke of remembrance and as Israel keepes a Register and Catalogue of Gods mercies and favours towards us our friends our countrey our Prince our Magistrates and Ministers yea build up altars in our hearts to hold the mercies of God before our eies For 1. Nothing can more hearten our faith than the view of the monuments of Gods favour and gracious dealing of God with us 2. The renewing of them upon our selves and memorie perpetuateth every gift of God and makes us as thankfull as if we had newly received them 3. Nothing doth more binde the Lords hands from doing us good than the oblivion of his mercies when as every thankfull acknowledgement of old favours is but the invitation of a new so as it is a gainefull dutie Many have beene our deliverances publique and private of the Church and kingdome of our Prince and people of our own persons and estates when many Amalekites have risen against us But where are our bookes of remembrances where are our Altars or our Sacrifices where is our Iehova Nissi in which we proclaime God to be our banner and covert as the words import It was but one of ten of the Lepers that returned to give thankes for his cleansing For I will utterly put out the name of Amalek from under heaven In this second part of the text are two things 1. The Author of the reuenge 2. The severitie of it The Author or person executing this reuenge is the Lord who saith here I will doe it His arme is strong and power unresistable Who can turne him backe Yea although he appointed and raised meanes to doe it as Saul and David yet hee challengeth the revenge to be his owne 2. The severitie of this revenge in that the Lord will utterly destroy him with a totall and finall destruction and is not satisfied in overthrowing the kingdome and dominion only unlesse he put out the name and memorie of them from under heaven All which noteth a great detestation and an utter abolishing of this people Quest. Why what cause was there of such severitie in this execution Answ. The cause was the fierce wrath of Amalek against Gods people the Israelites if Amalek bee fierce against the people of God God will bee fierce against Amalek Now the fierce wrath of Amalek appeared against Israel because 1. It was unnaturall
Haman in his bitter hatred of the Iewes may bee invited to the Queenes banquet but little knoweth hee how neere mischiefe is unto him Herod went on a while stretching out his hand against Peter and Iames but little knew he that God was preparing lice to eat him up Shemei cursed David with an horrible curse and carried it a great while after Davids death but at length he knew that hee had spoken it against his owne life And most memorable was that example of the Iewes who carried the death of the Sonne of God forty yeares and never bethought themselves but when they thought all was forgotten then came the Lord like a lion upon them and teared and spoiled and paid them once for all and wasted and scattered them with so fearefull a curse as never befell any Nation under heaven the which lieth upon them and all their posterity even till this day Let this move all men to feare to offer the least reproach or injurie to the least of Gods Children Wise men are afraid to incurre the Kings indignation and therefore it is said that in Hesters time the feare of the Iewes fell upon the land so let the feare of Gods children fall upon thee whosoever hast formerly distasted them and let it binde thy hands and thoughts from conceiving or acting the least evill or hard measure against them Vse 1. To comfort the Church of God in these threatning times when Gebal and Ammon and Amalek have gathered and combined their forces against this citie of God For 1. If we looke towards God he hath undertaken to revenge the just quarrels of his people that if themselves would put up the wrongs and oppressions inflicted by the adversaries yet the Lord will not put them up or passe by them without revenging them Adde hereunto that he hath written in a booke the ruine of her foes neither can they prevaile in their purposes so long as the Lord turneth an enemie and fighteth against them that provoke him Let the enemies lift up their heads and hands aloft and speake presumptuously against the mountaines of Israel yet feare not worme Iacob nor faint thou citie of God thou hast the hand of the highest lifted up for thee and the arme of the Almighty stretched out for thy defence and safety 2. If we looke to the enemies they are many and mighty but Amalekites we have to doe with cruell enemies but accursed in their persons in their enterprises and in all the wicked meanes of accomplishing the same and if we looke a little into the resemblance we shall see that as Romish Amalek have notably expressed the like cruelty with these in our text so shall they meet with the same certaine perdition they being written by God to destruction as truly as the former For 1. Amalek signifieth a smiting people and of all Religions never was any so fierce or smiting as Romish Amalek their cruelty transcendeth the barbarous cruelty of Turkes or Scithians no degrees of men could avoid their strokes with both their swords they make no difference of men but strike at Princes and people Kings and kingdoms they smite the living and the dead and make no bones to blow up three whole kingdomes at once with one terrible blow or stroke The blowes of the old Amalekites were gentle and soft to the blowes of this smiting Amalek 2. Amalek then came forth against Israel presently upon their deliverance from Pharaoh presently upon the fruition of Manna from heaven and waters out of the rocke Amalek cannot endure Gods grace to Israel in those means of their sustentation nor yet in the pillar of the cloud and fire for their safety and direction Even so the Romish Amalekites presently encampe themselves against the people of God so soone as ever they are gotten out of the darknesse and bondage of Egypt Wilfull enemies are they against the grace of God and against the word of his grace which is the Mannah and Water of life for our refection thorow this our wildernesse 3. Amalek was the first enemie that Israel had after their comming out of Egypt and waged war against Israel to hinder them from going into Canaan and not onely by force but by fraud they spoile the people of God for they come as Grashoppers in multitude and destroy the fruit of the earth and leave no food for Israel so as Israel was exceedingly wasted Even so the Romish Amalek and Antichrist was one of the first enemies of the Church of the new Testament he began in his forerunners in the Apostles daies presently after our redemption wrought by Iesus Christ from the hellish Pharaoh and ever since her rise hath laid in the way of the Israel of God to hinder them from the heavenly Canaan and hath by force and fraud wasted the Church sending into our kingdomes besides forcible instruments of violence and infinite bloudshed innumerable armies of seducing Priests and Iesuits who would have left the people of God no food by the word and Sacraments and not only robbed them of their spirituall meanes but in their temporall state by crafty conveyances carving to themselves whatsoever fat or sweet the kingdomes of the earth have affoorded 4. Amalek forgetteth all kindred and all bonds and respects of Nature they regard not that they were of the same bloud with Israel which might have beene some restraint to their fury So the Romish Amalekites forget all naturall bonds and most heathenishly lay themselves in the vaults caves of blacke darknesse for the destruction of their owne naturall and loving Prince with purpose to spare neither root nor branch Old Amalek would eat up and destroy their enemies countrey these Amalekites like so many Vipers would eat up the bowels of their owne mother and native country Duke Medina his sword knew no difference betweene a Protestant and a Papist no more doth the powder and iron barres but send up suddenly to heaven as in a fiery chariot even them of their owne Religion such fiery zeale as carried Alphonsus Diazius out of one kingdome into another to kill his owne brother Iohn Diazius with his owne hands for surenesse only because he was a Protestant Old Amalek cannot equall these Savages and Monsters with whom no respect of age or sex no degree of honour or learning no plea of Religion nor Iustice no instinct of humanity or manhood it selfe can prevaile for a drop of mercy or pitie from them 5. Amalek commeth cowardly upon Israel and smiteth the hinmost and falleth upon the women and children in their fainting and wearinesse The same course doe the Romish Amalekites take in their plots for seduction and destruction Their seducing Priests fall upon the weaker sex and sort as the devill did at first and overcome first the weake and faint ones such as lag after their colours as cowardly as the old Amalekites encountred Israel so also doe these Nay they come in warlike manner after they had declared
themselves enemies but these digge deepe and fetch their counsells as low as hell and under the habit and profession of friendship and loyaltie cowardly lay traines and engines of death which can no more be perceived or prevented but onely by the piercing eie of God than can the issues of the next age 6. Amaleks warre was ill grounded and prospered accordingly for God turned it to the great good of his people who were 1. Exercised by them 2. Experienced in the goodnesse of God and in his gracious deliverance 3. Enriched and provided of armour and other necessaries by the spoile of Amalek As unprosperous have beene the wars of Romish Amalek and their plots and projects have turned against themselves and to the advantage of the truth and the Churches professing the same God hath strangely discovered the treasons against the Lords people and his anointed ones and mightily broken their armes and powers both by sea and land Such as have risen up against the Lord have fallen before him And though now of late they advance themselves as if all were to their hearts desire yet wise men see them no great gainers and were they greater than they be whosoever shall patiently wait to see Gods whole worke together shall doubtlesse rejoyce to see no difference betweene their gaines and Amaleks against Israel but onely that their confusion and overthrow shall be more dreadfull and fearefull as their sinnes have beene most Catholique and execrable 7. As Amalek after a doubtfull war must be overcome by Israel and written to perpetuall destruction so the Church hath justly deserved to sustaine a doubtfull conflict by Romish Amalek but after the triall of the Church Amalek shall be foiled being long since written to perpetuall destruction for when the childe is corrected the rod shall be cast into the fire 3. If we looke to our aids and succours we need not feare the issue of our conflict against Amalek For 1. We never want a valorous and victorious Ioshua to lead us and fight for us against Amalek That Ioshua was a Noble Generall with whom the Lord was and none was able to stand before him so as he set his foot on the necks of five kings at once but he was but a type and shadow of our Ioshua a mighty Captaine and an heavenly leader that great Michael that treadeth upon the necks of all Kings and Tyrants that rise up in armes against him and his people That Ioshua was in the valley but ours is upon the hill of his heavenly glory far exalted above all his enemies 2. As Israel had not only Ioshua fighting in the valley but also Moses praying on the hill so wee have many Mosesses lifting up hands and praiers which are powerfull and prevalent against Amalek And whereas we finde much unworthinesse in our praiers and our hands grow feeble we have an Aaron our heavenly High-Priest strengthning our armes and praiers which praiers joyned with the power of Ioshua shall bring downe the proudest Amalekites that ever ware triple Crowne and put to rout all forces levelled against the Israel of God When the Angell came to Gedeon and said The Lord be with thee thou valiant man hee replied If the Lord be with us why is it thus Why doth Amalek prosper Why doe they prevaile so long Why doe they triumph with great hopes to goe on to carry the victory If Romish Amalek be a people written to destruction why see we no meanes of their overthrow Answ. 1. We need not feare the braggs of those that use to triumph before victory The end of a thing is better than the beginning saith Salomon The issue of the doubtfull warre shall undoubtedly joyne the Churches happy triumph with their finall overthrow 2. After the Lord had written this sentence against Amalek he staied execution foure hundred yeeres till Sauls time but in the end the time of his patience being expired he forgat not the accomplishment So Amalek may prevaile awhile for the sins of the Church and we must not grudge to allow the Lord the time of his patience which though it may wait many ages yet at last will he assuredly rise up in most sharpe revenge and utterly destroy the kingdome and memory of Amalek from under heaven 3. The Church may thanke her selfe in part that Amalek prevaileth still over her For 1. Whereas the Lord hath commanded us to remember what Amalek hath done to us in our way and repeateth it againe forget it not we forget the strait injunction we remember not what they did to us in Queene Maries daies but have forgotten those furious flames and times We have forgotten what Amalek did to us in 1588. and remember not that they digged a sulphureous pit in 1605. wide enough to swallow three whole kingdomes Now while wee so easily forget that which wee are commanded to remember what marvell if God rub our memories by suffering them to be pricks in our sides and eies still 2. Neither doe we remember the Lords Oath to have war with spirituall Amalek 3. Neither doe we remember that it is the dutie of all the Israel of God to fight with God in blotting out their remembrance though the charge be very strait Deut. 25.19 Thou shalt put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven as God taketh his Churches part against Amalek so the Church must take Gods part in this great worke which the Lord will effect both for them and by them 4. It is likely also we lift not up our hands so fervently and so constantly against Amalek as we ought If Moses hold up his hands Israel prevaileth 5. It may be wee are wanting in encouraging and strengthning the enfeebled hands of our Mosesses How could Israel have expected to prevaile against Amalek if in stead of rearing up Moses his hands they had turned him off the hill with despight and contempt and taken up some Amalekite into his stead How can Popish Amalek but prevaile if Popish Priests shall finde any where better entertainement than faithfull Preachers who are so many Mosesses and men of God who would stand in the gap and are indeed the horsemen and Chariots of Israel Oh therefore deare brethren let us awaken our selves and in this tempest by the loud voice of our praiers awaken Christ who seemeth to sleepe in his ship with us Let us ply the Lord earnestly and binde him by his owne promise Gods promise and his peoples praiers are mighty Canons and battery against the thicke walls and towers of Romish Amalek While the Papists are some at their beads and some at their swords let us get us to our fortresse of faithfull and fervent praier and we shall not onely see the omnipotence of praier but the impotencie and flight of Amalek Did not our hands fall downe and our praiers grow feeble we should fill our hearts quickly with triumphant joy over them our hands with their spoiles and our mouthes would runne over with the praises of God for our deliverances from the power and plots of such fierce and implacable enemies Even so let thine enemies those accursed Amalekites perish O Lord but let them that love thy name be as the Sunne when he riseth in his might Amen FINIS Iudg. 7.18 Esr. 6.6 2 Sam. 1.21 Iudg 〈…〉 In hoc serviunt domino magistratus in quantum sunt magistratus cum ea faciunt ad serviendum illi quae non possunt facere nisi magistratus Ier. 51.45 Gen. 18.25 Gen. 19.15 16. Numb that they might not be swallowed up with them 16.26 Revel 17.8 Revel 17.5 Bellarm. Ribera Alcusan Baâ—on Viegas Lessiâ—s Malvenda c. Augustin Orosius Eusâ—b Hieron Tertull. Beda Victorinus Oecumenius Similis superbia Similis perfidia Ecclesia similis est foeminae quae ex antiqua soelicitate excidit ac signa tantum habet ornamentâ—rum enâ—m suorum thâ—cas arculas habet opâ—bus autem spâ—â—â—ata est Isidor Pâ—lusioâ— lib. 3. epist. Why Rome Papall is called the great Whore Prov. 7.13 Prov. 5.11 Marian. de reg lib. 1. cap. 7. Similis sâ—atus Similis exitus Ier. 51.37.25 Rev. 18.8 15.16 Ier. 51.63 Rev. 18.21 Ier. 50.40 Rev. 16.21 1. Mente 2. Matth. 3. Corpore 1. Cito Ier. 51.6 Longe Totaliter Finaliter Nos exivimus ab illis corpore illâ— a nobis animo nos ab illis loco illi a nobis fide nos apud illos reliquimus fundamenta parietum illâ— apud nos fundamenta scripturarum nos egressi sumus ab illâ—s secundum aspectum hominum illi a nobis secundum iudicium Dei Chrysost. de haereticis in oper imperfect in Matt. cap. 23. hâ—m 46. 1. Idolatry Isa. 21.9 2 King 17.30 Ier. 51.36 That Romanists are formall Idolaters Orat. in Christ. nat 3. Costâ—r Bellarm. De idolâ—lat lib. 2. cap. 7. Iohn 8. 2. Cruelty Ier. 51.25 50.23 Rev. 17.2.13.8 Rev. 13.19 2 Kings 26. Psal. 137.8 9. Prov. 4.14 Revel 14 8.10.17.2 2 Thess. 2. Ierem. 51. Acts 2.40 Gen. 20.12 Gal. 4.29 Ier. 51.34 Iudg. 5. 1 King 14.10 Ier. 51.5 â—saâ— 69. Isa. 41.14 Resemblance of Romanists with Amalek in 7. things Iudges 6.12 Deut. 25.17.19 Exod. 17.16 Exod. 17. â—1 Iudg. 5.31