relation to that representative body Have yee been carefull to be as quick and fervent in the building up as in the pulling downe of the Order and Government of the Church the suppressing of Sects and Heresies which are the bane of the Church as in the rooting out of Episcopacie as zealous in the keeping as ye were in the making of the Covenant How faithfully and in the feare of God with a perfect heart have yee every man walked between Law and Commandment Statute and Iudgement and the Controversies and Difficulties which have come before you Could I tell how to speak so as to point every man into his owne conscience and one mans eye might not be on another or particularize in this great and mixt Assembly without uncovering the nakednesse of any before the Congregation I might cut out much of your worke for you this day whereas now I can onely humbly offer a few enquiries to lead on your thoughts to some other particulars but though I am bounded yee are at large though the Minister must deale in generalls this day and tenderly in publique yet I beseech you doe not you with your selves in private for yee ought to sanctifie the day and keepe the Fast in private as in publique in your families apart as in the Church alone by your selves as with company When therefore yee are in your Closets thinke on these things and if there be any other thing which ye can finde out or God shall bring to remembrance fit to be repented of and amended doe not lightly regard it but spread it before the Lord together with the miserie and the perplexitie the Land is in by reason thereof in your owne behalfe and in the name of all the people of the Land Be afflicted mourne and weep Humble your selves in the sight of the Lord and hee shall lift you up Let him not alone till he suffer himselfe to be intreated Hold not your peace give him no rest Let not your fervencie and perseverance in prayer abate or waxe cold till he establish his Church and make it a praise in the earth And he give us yet * Once againe Once againe the Gospel with peace So much as in you is both in your own families in all the quarters of the kingdom procure a more solemne sanctification of the Fast dayes It is a great griefe of heart to all godly men to see how negligently the worke of the Lord is done on that day every where how formally and slightly if it be not wholly omitted while your Ordinances goe forth to compell the unwilling to come in under no other penaltie but a threat of the returne of their names I beseech you therefore revive and double your care for the generall and more orderly keeping of that day and promove and expedite the so long expected and so much longed for Reformation And because ye see many seek out interpretations of evasions inlargements from their covenants and begin to play fast and loose with that most solemne Oath and Obligation I beseech you in the name and feare of God rather renew the Covenant with asmuch severitie as Asa did that in his time then let it fall or die away remembring to go before others in the example of all due reverence and observation of that great ingagement the Oath of God and let there be care taken that the Name of the Lord our God be not taken in vaine for the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his Name in vaine But not to instance any further in particulars the summe of all is this It s fully manifest by the light of that principle which this Text holds forth the influence of God into government that as well the disorderly as the orderly managing of affaires amongst men is ordered by the foreknowledge and determinate hand of God so as there is no evill in a Kingdome but by his expresse judgement And if we understand the sense or scope of the Prophets Sermons in like cases or their doctrine be our instruction The Lords voice cryeth to the Citie and the man of wisedome shall see the name Heare ye the rod and who hath appointed it Or as Iunius reades it thy name shall see that which is and where the reading or interpretation is various to comprehend them is the safest The Lord cryeth as well by his judgements as by his Ministers His glorious Majestie seeth all things and brings them into judgement and who so is wise will see and consider it and walke humbly with his God and he shall understand that these occurrences are not casuall chances but proceed from divine providence and justice to warne men when they feele the rod to looke up to the hand of God who put it into the hands of men and enquire for what cause and for what end they are thus judged of the Lord and be zealous and repent What ever be the follies of men God must be acknowledged and justified True and righteous are thy Iudgements O Lord It is Gods controversie he is pleading with his people and it is our dutie especially of those who are betweene him and the people as well in the Magistracie as in the Ministerie to step in to heale up the breach and make the atonement There need no other words to be sought out by the Preacher as goads and nailes for the fastning of all this but those of the Prophet Amos Can a bird fall upon the earth where no gin is for him Shal one take up a snare from the earth and have taken nothing at all Shall a trumpet be blowne in the Citie and the people not be afraid Shall there be evill in a Citie and the Lord hath not done it The lion hath roared who will not feare The Lord God hath spoken who can but Prophesie Consider what I say and the Lord give you understanding in all things Having thus dispatcht that use of this doctrine which more properly and directly concernes the work of the day Beare with me yet a little longer and indeed ye do beare while I pursue the farther application of it in such other things as it fairely pointeth us unto and cannot well be baulked without a wrong both to you and the Text I will but briefly offer them in a word or two of exhortation and leave them upon your hands or your hearts rather for meditation and practise First generally to consider the work of God which wee may behold in the governing of the Nations the goings of God among the Kings and Princes Princes and Nobles and all the Iudges of the earth The judgements of God in judging among the Gods Shall I say Let us examine our selves whether we have duely heretofore understood and regarded this thing heard his voice commanding taken notice of his Spirit moving as well the living creatures as the wheeles Have we known have we acknowledged in the administration and the manifold
events and issues of government that the hand of the Lord doth all these things possibly we may finde matter of humiliation upon a diligent enquirie Certainely there is a very generall ignorance and unmindfulnesse of this matter seeing many things but observing not opening the eares but not hearing willing ignorance grosse negligence They will not see they know not neither will they understand but walke on in darkenesse slightnesse of spirit in overly and superficiall inquirie Athenian curiositie hearing and telling of news great contempt of God and his providence The wicked in the pride of his countenance will not seeke after God God is not in all his thoughts thy iudgements are farre above out of his sight Nay unbeliefe even to Atheisme and blasphemie they belie the Lord and say it is not hee It is a manifold sinne and hath its gradations and aggravations a mightie provocation They regard not the worke of the Lord nor consider the operation of his hands therefore they are gone into captivity because they have no knowledge c. It s very brutish foolishnesse not to know nor understand this and who knows but for this very cause God may be so grieved with this geneneration who erre in their hearts and have not known his wayes as to sweare in his wrath that they shall not enter into his rest It is a sore and heavy judgement to have seen the great signes and wonders of God and to want an heart to perceive eyes to see and eares to heare to this day Deut. 29. 4. Let us awake at length and be ashamed and turn aside and see what God doth Come and see come and behold the works of the Lord The works of the Lord are great sought out of all them that have pleasure therein and truly there is a myne of pleasure and profit too in the contemplation of the works of creation and common providence there is much Divinity to be read in those books of nature the Holy Ghost reades us many Lectures out of them and holy men have not thought even those unworthy their most serious meditation but there is more in the speciall providence of God about men the moderating or ordering of humane affairs by and amongst men Every handy-work of God is glorious but farre more of his glory is shed abroad in these especially if we consider them in their reference to the Church they shew all his glory and the invisible things of God are by them made very visible and very legible in the fairest Character they are his Name in great letters They are an excellent explication of the Law of God copying out the righteousnesse and justice of it in particular instances and examples a cleare Commentarie upon all the Word of God Oh let them not be counted a strange thing a sealed booke especially our own story the wayes of God amongst us some few yeeres last past and unto this day where almost every work of God in judging amongst us is not like a great lettser in a booke with a gaye about it that takes up a great deale of roome but hath nothing more then another in pronounciation but as Hieroglyphicks and emblems and some kindes of Characters full of morall and sense a Booke a volume of marvellous workes wonders repeated and multiplyed The Bible new translated and printed in a letter that best fits the Worlds dull and decayed sight the old stories wrought over againe the Promises fulfilled the Prophecies receiving their accomplishment a revelation of the Revelation which God gave unto Jesus Christ to shew unto his servants things which should come to passe an interpretation of of the visions which were seen of old a Key to open the dark and heard things in former praedictions the unclasping of the sealed Booke that even they that cannot read may yet see and consider and understand together that the hand of the Lord hath done all this A praelude or praesage rather of the great day of the Lord and the judgement to come He that stands with the wise man in the windowe of his observation may see God preparing his throne for the judging of the great Whore bringing Babylon into remembrance calling his people out from thence delivering the cup of trembling into the hands of the Nations c. Or as Moses when he was put in the cleff of the Rock may behold the glory of all Gods goodnesse made to passe before him in moderation of judgements patient forbearance unlooked for deliverance suddaine and unexpected rescuing from off the praecipice and Brink of ruine May perceive the rowling and yearnings of his bowels and compassions toward his poor afflicted people that pray May see him triumphing gloriously in the greatnesse of his excellency lifting up himself above his adversaries in the things wherein they deale proudly raising the Trophies of his Glory out of oppositions contradictions and impossibilities May observe the bright shining forth of his manifold wisdome in out-witting cunning men turning crafty counsells into foolishnesse frustrating the tokens of lyars and making diviners mad May take notice of many evident demonstrations of his faithfulnesse in remembring his promises hearing prayers and shewing himself nigh unto his people in all that they call upon him for One may see his eyes running to and fro through the earth to shew himself to the hearts of them whose hearts are towards him with very remarkable testimonies of his justice in judgements and executions done upon his enemies and may receive abundance of instruction and learne much righteousnesse But I forget my self and tyre out your patience Therefore Secondly and more particularly to you Honourable and beloved yet another word of exhortation to iudge for God and as God iudgeth 1. For God There are matters of God as well as matters of the King or Kingdome the care whereof must be upon you as well as upon us His Church his Kingdome his Citty his House his People his Spouse his Children his Body ye as nursing fathers must tender the good and welfare of them that they may find harbour and protection injoy their just Priviledges and Liberties wherewith Christ hath made them free not such licentiousnesse as is abused for a cloake of naughtinesse Ye must see to Order and unity amongst them that there be no rents and Schismes surely our Saviour that ascended into Heaven and gave gifts to men some Apostles c. that we might all meet in the unity of Faith and hath divers times and after sundry manners given that very thing in charge to his ministers would not have the magistrate left at large from providing and endeavouring that speaking or following the truth in love we may grow up making increase by edifying our selves and one another in Love Ye must do that which we are to pray that ye may do viz. Take a course that Christians may live a peaceable and quiet life
a farre off hearing and seeing imperfectly at a distance nor receiveth information by his Spie and Intelligencer within you though such an one there is but himselfe without any breach of your Priviledges is in your house in your thoughts in your hearts As sure as God is in heaven He is among you yea within you There is no an Act that ye doe not a word that ye speak not a thought that ye think not an aime that ye have not a designe that ye drive but he knows it better then you your selves when he makes inquisition he shall not need search the Parliament rolls look your journall bookes breake open your studies send to search your pockets He himselfe is more in the midst of you and within you every of you then you your own selves If any man among you should have taken the covenant with his lips his heart not consenting should pretend for God and intend for himselfe looke to Westminster and rowe to Oxford give counsell here and intelligence there should cast in any thing to trouble your proceedings retard the reformation or spinne out the Warre c. doth not God know it I beseech you in the feare of God consider this and regard it as the most fixed and resolved truth that ye may not trespasse against God in the judgement either within doors or without God standeth in the assembly of the mighty Secondly There are two or three more folded together in the Text two offer themselves in the translation He iudgeth among the gods First All your Counsells and all your workes move by his influence The whole disposing thereof is of him the guidance and successe of all your actions depend upon the Lord and they are cursed or blessed according to his pleasure looke as they crosse or comply with him so they prosper and so will the issue be There are many dâ—â—â—â—…s in a mans heart neverthelesse the counsell of the Lord that shall stand If any man or men consult or goe against God his Church his Cause his Way his Word his Ends they imagin a vain thing disquiet themselves in vain There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsell against the Lord no weapon that is formed against him or his shall prosper They consult shame to themselves and sinne against their owne souls The Lord is knowne by the iudgements which he executeth the wicked is snared in the work of his owne hands Let them multiply their party and joyne heads and hands they are never the nearer Associate your selves O ye people and ye shall be broken in pieces gird your selves and ye shall be broken in pieces take counsell together and it shall come to nought speak the word and it shall not stand for God is with us The Machiavillian is the most errant fool in the world and so are they that take counsell but not of God and cover with a covering but not of his Spirit or trust on meanes because they are many on helps because they are strong and looke not to the Holy One of Israel neither seek the Lord yet he also is wise and will bring evil and will not call back his words Let them try the conclusion when they please they shall know whose word shall stand saith God mine or theirs Againe if ye concurre with God in his Way and in his Ends who shall harm you If God be with you who shall be against you Piety is the best policy they are on the sâ—â—â—â—… side and have more then winde and tide the winde and the Sunne that have God on their side Receive it I beseech you as an incouragement to follow on to seeke and serve the Lord in the work of Reformation and what tends to it the Work is not so much yours as Gods and is carried on not by your might nor power but by his spirit Mountains shall become plaines before Zerubbabel the agent whom God sets on worke and he shall bring forth the Head stone thereof with shouting Grace Grace unto 〈◊〉 Possibly your hands that have laid the 〈…〉 also finish it Deal couragiously and the Lord shall be with the good Thirdly God is concerned in the Government and the manner of the carriage thereof by men What is done by them among whom be iudgeth is to the glory or dishonour of his name who iudgeth among them If good motions should be smothered or diverted the weighty and necessary concernments of the Church or the Common-wealth be neglected or retarded matters in debate carried by party and affection not by judgement and reason if the just complaint and cry of the poore should not be heard if justice should not be done or there be unrighteousnesse in the non-discharging of debts or unfaithfulnesse in the deceiving of trust or any such like which God forbid the damage indeed will be to the Publike or to this or that man but the sinne is against God and his Name is polluted thereby the reproaches that fall on them that doe such things fall also upon him in whose stead and place they are which doe them through them he is evil spoken of Take heed therefore what ye doe for ye iudge not for man but for the Lord who is with you in the iudgement Fourthly There is another argument may be found in the various reading of the Text He will iudge the Gods openly There is One in Authority over them that are in authority over others and they which judge others must bee judged themselves and yee know what hee saith Them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed Many times God performs it in this World our eyes have seen it Behold the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth how much more the wicked and the sinner But there is no escaping the judgement to come for the time cometh the day is appointed wherein he will judge the World in righteousnes the small and the great must stand before God and be iudged according to their works Foresee therefore and fore-consider the terrour of that day thinke the thoughts of Job When God riseth up what shall I do and when he visiteth what shall I answer him Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be instructed ye Judges of the earth serve the Lord with fear reioyce with trembling Kisse the Sonne lest he be angry and ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little Blessed are all they that put their trust in him We may yet espy one Motive more in the last verse of the Psalm Arise O God iudge the earth There are prayers for or complaints of you daily sent up to heaven and these like the vapour that ascends will be dissolved either in a shower or a storm will blesse or blast their persons and their wayes for or against whom they are directed How lightly so ever men regard prayers or
generall visitation of a Nation is the punishment of their sinne Now if we were to make a discovery by Lots wherein and whose the sinne hath been and all the chiefe of the Kingdom were to stand on the one side and the body of the people on the other side as when the triall was made between Saul and Jonathan and all Israel who should be taken may we think and which of them should escape or if we might enquire of the Lord as David did when there was three yeers famine in the Land might we not finde the answer in the words of their report to Ezra Ez 9. 2. The hands of the Princes and Rulers hath beene chiefe in the trespasse Now what is to be done in this case the story that follows will tell us even by the light of the next verse we may read that the hand of the Princes and the Rulers though they had no hand in the trespasse must be chiefe in the repentance in the humiliation confession deprecation in the making of the atonement and the reformation And because others will not ye must and the fewer come in to the Worke the more it lieth upon your hands I beseech you therefore Honourable and beloved Hear yee give ear and be not proud but humble your selves sit down astonted and mourn because of the transgression search out the sinnes of the State of our Princes and Nobles and Judges of our Parliaments former and later and weigh out if possible the trespasse with the aggravations ye have begun well blessed be God who put it into your hearts ye have taken speciall notice of many nationall sinnes and commanded publike acknowledgement and deepe humiliation for them Follow on I beseech you to seek the Lord and turne unto him make yet a further and more diligent enquierie into the sinnes of the State of our Kings our Princes our Parliaments as of the Kingdome and see if the great men have knowne the way of the Lord and the iudgements of their God if rather they have not altogether broken the yoke and burst the bonds Some sinnes and some mens sinnes are open going before to judgement They declared them as Sodome they hid them not others though done in the darke and there was digging deep to hide them yet have of late by the wonderfull providence of God beene brought to light and proclaimed upon the house tops it is like ye may have seene more then we that stand at further distance and if we might have the Prophets priviledge might we not discover greater abominations then have as yet been revealed Give me leave to offer some few Interrogatories upon which ye may examin May not God possibly be now visiting the iniquity of our fathers upon us may not we be the children within those generations who are threatned in that Law Hath there at any time by Law and practise been such a departure and separation from Rome as may undoubtedly declare a due dissent from detestation of and humiliation for the idolatry of our Ancestors may not the constant connivence at Papists the common compliancie with their superstition in matters of ceremonies and the formalities of publike worship the late toleration of Popery the generall revolting and back-sliding thitherward by erecting of altars and other innovations and joyning in affinitie with the people of those abominations revive the memorie of our fathers sinnes and wrap us up together in the crime and with good justice make us receive double from the hand of the Lord while both their sinnes and ours meet together in one condemnation The Lord our God is a jealous God and we are not an holy people Did wee ever yet requite the Lord for the riches of his grace and wonders of his providence in choosing us to be a people to himself in the day when he lifted up his hand to our fathers and brought them out of the rage and flames of persecution and made himselfe known to them remember the kindnesse of the youth of this Church and the love of its espousalls did the priests say Where is the Lord and they that handle the Law did they know him did or Prince or people seek the Lord with all their hearts as in the dayes of Asa or as Josiah and Hezekiah did for their owne parts was the Reformation carried on to the height and purity which it might and ought to have reached unto considering the opportunity and advantages of that season May not God take up a controversie against the Parliaments of this Kingdome for the lack of knowledge that is in the Land what provisions have been made for the establishing of a preaching ministery in every Parish in the Iland what countenance and incouragement to the painfull labourer in the Harvest what laws have been made for the preaching of the Word every Lords day put the case there were never a Sermon in any Church on a Sabbath day in all the Kingdome what Statute were broken Consider I pray you if the Land be yet purged of the blood of the Martyrs in times of persecution of the blood of War shed in peace by Duels and more treachereus wayes There was a time when many great men fell almost together and it was feared that blood touched blood ye can remember the murmures and whisperings then were and what artifices to prevent the judgement why may not the land be made to mourn for these things now can this Kingdome wash its hands of the blood of Germanie Rochel Ireland blood is a crying sinne who knowes but that the Lord to whom vengeance belongeth remembreth now and maketh inquisition for blood Hath there been a like zeal for the matters of God who iudgeth among you in all the course of the government of this Kingdom the long time of peace we had as for the matters of the King for the Church and gospel of Christ as for the safety of the Common-weal We remember how carefully prerogative was maintained and the puntillo's of mans honour stood upon yet the same time the power of God and Christ usurped upon the morality of his Law disproved and decried and his Sabbaths even prostituted to profanation and in a sort commanded to be violated Iudge ye your own selves whether the Magistrate hath for his part kept both or either of the Tables been for the praise of those who have done well and for the terror of evil-doers and how far partaker with the sins of the whole Land Come we to the present time since this great distemper and division It may be your thoughts are at Oxford and the Court and those armies And I confesse if the division were to be made as 1 Sam. 14. it were not hard to guesse where the lot would fall but if as Iosh. 7. 14. who might not fear Goe yee neerer home consider your selves the Assembly of the Mightie generally as a body particularly every man in his
appeales when God maketh inquisition he remembreth them and forgetteth not the cry of the poore He that prepareth the heart of men to pray will cause his own eare to hear and that with the saving strength of his right hand Lastly that every one may have something to carry home with him let us close upall in a further and more generall use of the doctrine Since God iudgeth among the Gods let us improve the knowledge of it both for the publique and our owne private a double way First for the time past and for all the evill which hath befalne us by any errour or disorder in government or by any miscarriage in any undertaking by the one side or the other for the sad thoughts of those judgements are more proper for the day let us be silent because the Lord hath done its Refraine from froward quarrelsome complaining and murmuring and give glory to God snarle not at the stone but acknowledge him that cast it It is of God hee hath done what seemed him good Surely it is meet to be said unto God I have borne chastisement I will not offend any more That which I see not teach thou me if I have done iniquitie I will doe no more And for the time to come let us ingage God by prayer In nothing be carefull but in all things let your requests be made knowne to God by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving Had we never so sure a word of Prophecie or Promise by which we might determine the time and the manner and the nature of the issue of all these judgements abroad in the earth yet we ought to pray and make our confession as Daniel Dan. 9. 1. There is a rule for it I the Lord have spoken and I will doe it I will yet for this be enquired of by the House of Israel to do it for them Be the matter never so perplexed and seemingly impossible Prayer is an Engine can help at a dead lift Prayer will draw downe from heaven the influence of God upon Parliament Assembly Commitees Armies Navies and all that serve in them and is done by them that they may doe the work of God and prosper If a man should busie himself in turning the lesser wheeles of his Watch with his finger how long and how evenly should he make it goe but let him winde up the spring and it will keep its course and measure the time exactly Neglect this and we labour in vaine our confidences will distress us and not help us but if once we can prevaile with God to plead our cause with them that strive against us to stand up for our help and lay his hand upon the hand of those who are the instruments of the preservation of the Land and the Reformation of the Church that which they advise and doe will be the Arrow of the Lords deliverance But this use is best made in kinde Let us pray c. FINIS Exod. 3. 14. Esa. 48. 12. Jam. 2. 1. Act. 2. 2. Pro. 8. 15 16. Joh. 10. 35. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Psal. 64. 6. Job 34. 24 26. a Psal. 50. Rev. 19. 16. Eccles. 5. 8. Jude 4. 1 Tim. 6. 15. Psal. 83. 18. Deut. 1. 17. 2 Chron. 19. 6. Psal. 22. 28. Joh. 10. 34. Joh. 5. 17. Quamdiu creatura est tamdiu creatur a Deo Idem esse quod ab in itio a Deo acceperunt ab eodem continenter accipiunt Esa. 44. 24. Colos. 1. 17. Vid. Psal. 104. Hos. 2. 21 22. Intelligamus vocem Dei effectricem esse natura c. Jussit Deus currere naturam aquarion ac nunquam deficit illo perpetuo compellente ipsam praecepto Basil Haxa Ho. 4. Esa 40. 26. Ezek. 1. a Rom. 13. 1. c Psa. 75. 4 5 6. d Pro. 21. 1. e Pro. 8. 15. f Jer. 1. 2 King 22. g Pro. 29. 26. h Esa. 45. 7. Idem quum duo faciunt non est idem Rom. 1. 21. 28. 2 Thes. 2. 10. 11. 12. Nec enim lex aequior ulla c. Deut. 32. 4. 5. Etiam hoc bonum Domine quicquid divina majestas effecerit id rectius et melius Psal. 73. 17. Rom. 11. 33. Propter ordinem universâ— Read 1 Cor. 12. verse 4 and onwards Aliter iudicandum est de eo qui habet curam alicuius particularis et de provisore universali Numb. 23. 21. Esay 6. 3. Gen. 18. 25. Prima causa est omnino indeflexibilis i. e. usque adeo bona ut semper importet in fluxum ad esse operis Ezek. 1. vers. 5. Job 12. 16. Prov. 8. 15 16. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Job 37. 13. Rom. 1. 19. Ephes. 2. 12. A Jove Prinâ—ipium Quam volumâ—â—… licet nos amemus tamen nec numero Hispanos c. sed pietate ae religione atque hac una sapientia quod Deorum immortalium numine omnia regi gubernarique perspeximus omnes gentes nationesque superavimus Cic. 1 Tim. 3. 16. 1 Sam. 10. 6. Rom. 2. 15. Job 15. 4. Job 36. 1 Sam. 10. 6 7. Psa. 126. 1 2 3. Exod. 8. 19. Exod. 14. Deut. 29. 2. Ioshua 24. Hab. 3. 4. Isai. 41. 18. 19. verse 20. Iob 9. 11. Brallward lib. 1 cap. 3. p. m. Psal. 92. 6. Psal. 103. 19. Titus 3. 3. James 1. 6. Psal. 33. 13. 14. 15. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Psal. 68. 30. Exod. 19. 16. Deut. 5. 24. 25. Heb. 12. 21. Deinde ipsa charitas quae sibi invicem hominos nodo charitatis astringit non haberet aditum refuadendorum et quasi miscendorum sibimet animorum si homines per homines nihil discerent Aug. de Doc. Christ Praef. Jude 8. 2 Tim. 3. 2 Pet. 2. Jude 4. c. verse 19. Gal. 5. 20. 21. 2 Cor. 11. 20. 21. Exod. 33. Joel 2. 12. 14. Mala ultoria Tertul. Amos. 5. 6. Isai. 21. 25. Ezek. 2. 10. Ezek. 21. Hos. 13. 13. Esa. 27. Ezek. 24. 6. 13 Jer. 5. 3. Jer. 13. 13. 1 King 22. Psal. 83. Jona 3. 8 â— Eccles. 5. 4. 6. Jer. 7. 5. Joel 1. 14. Levit. 4. 15. Aurem vellit admonuit Esai 23. 9. Arcana imperii Esai 3. 5. Ezek. 22. 14. 1 Sam. 14 40. 2 Sam. 21. 1. Ezra 9. 2. Jer. 13. 15. 18. Ezra 9. 3. c. Jer. 5. 5. Ezek. 8. Esay 40. 2. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} duplicia pro omnibus peccatis sc. pro suis peccatis parentum Deut. 32. 6. Jer. 2. 2 Chro. 15. Jam. 4. 9 10. Esai 6. 2. * Lâ—…imer Zach. 7. 7. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Micah 3. 9. Amos 3. 5. Esai 42. 20. Psal. 82. 5. Acts 17. Psal. 10. 45. Ier. 5. 12. Esai 5. 12. Psal. 92. 6. Psal. 95. 10 11. Psal. 111. 2. Or for all their delights {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Psal. 19. 1. Hose 8. 12. Esay 29. Reve. 1. 1. 2 Chro. 16. 9. 2 Chro. 19. Ephe. 4. Matth. 15. 9. Nehem. 10. 35. 1 Cor. 9. 9. 1 Tim. 5. 17. Numb. 9. 7. Rom. 13. 4. 6. Act. 18. 12. c. Acts 5. 38. 39. Exod. 1. 10. 2 Sam. 17. 1. Exod. 3. Primum in unoquoque genere c. James 1â— King Iames in a Speech in the Star-Chamber James 1. 17. Coloss. 1. 19. Esa. 2â— 27. 28. 29. 1 Kings 3. 9. 2 Chro. 1. 10. Job 10. 12. * Vbi non est sanctitas fides pietas instabile regum est Job 6. 15. Exod. 7. 21. Jam. 1. 15. 17. 1 Kings 3. 28. Numb. 25. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Psal. 106. 30. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 2 Chro. 14. 11. 2 Chro. 16. 8. Pro. 3. 5. 6. Vid. sup pag. 4. Pro. 19. 21. Psal. 2. Pro. 21. 30. Esa. 54. 17. Psal. 9. 16. Esay 19. 11. Jer. 8. 8. Esay 31. 1 2 3. Jer. 44. 28. Zach 4. 7. 2 Chro. 19. 6. Vid. sup pag. 4. 1 Sam. 2. 30. Pro. 11. 31. Reve. 19. 12. Job 31. 14. Psal. 2. 10. Psal. 10. 17. 1 Sam. 3. 18. Job 34. 32. Phil. 4. Eze. 36. 37.
GOD IVDGING AMONG THE GODS Opened in a SERMON Before THE HONOVRABLE HOVSE of COMMONS Assembled in Parliament upon the solemn day of Monethly Fast March 26. 1645. By IOHN WARD Minister of the Gospel in Ipswich and a Member of the Assembly of DIVINES Psal. 22. 28. The Kingdom is the Lords and he is Governour among the Nations Published by Order of that House LONDON Printed by I. L. for Christopher Meredith at the Crane in Pauls Church-yard 1645. Die Mercurii 26 Martii 1645. ORdered by the Commons assembled in Parliament That Sir Roger North and Mr Cage doe give thankes to Mr Goode and Mr Ward for the great paines they took in the Sermons they preached this day at the intreaty of the House of Commons at St Margaretts Westminster it being the day of Publique Humiliation and to desire them to print their Sermons It is also Ordered that none shall presume to print their Sermons without Licence under their hands writing H. Els Cler. Parl. D. Com. I Appoint Christopher Meredith to Print my Sermon and no man else IOHN WARD TO THE HONOVRABLE House of COMMONS Assembled in Parliament AT your Command this Sermon was Preached by your Order it hath been Printed and now it s humbly offered to your hands and under your Honourable Patronage made Publque to the view of the world I know well that the same Sermon as to the life of it is scarcely the same in the hearing and in the reading But that acceptation which it found when it came frō the Pulpit gives me hope that it will not be cast aside as disrelishing or unprofitable now it s come from the Presse The Lord command a blessing along with it unto you and make you and your unwearied labours a blessing to the Church and Kingdome So prays Your most unworthy servant in the work of the Ministerie IOHN WARD Errata Pag. 3. lin. 11. read Princes Princes p. 13. l. 4 r. part of the glory p. 15. l. 1. for their r. the l. 6 r. desired p. 16. l. 23. r. in the line l. 26. for Trusters r. Trustees p. 17. l. 11. r. within them p. 18. l. 34. r. sheweth p. 24. l. 12. r. stone for shore p. 28. l. 5. r. line for measure p. 31. l. 19 r. Tilths man p. 27 l. 4. r. they hope p. 32. l. ◠◠and boasting p 48. l. 36. r strong to the A SERMON PREACHED before the Honorable House of Commons at their late solemne monethly Fast March 26. 1645. PSAL. 82. 1. He judgeth among the Gods THere needs no Apology for the choyce of this Text at this time when those who are called Gods are met in the solemn assembly to judge themselves before him who stands daily in the assembly of the mighty and iudgeth among them It requires as little labour to make out the context and coherence of the words they lye in the very threshold or enterance of the Psalme and the Psalmes are as so many Ilands that have no continuitie or neighbourhood with their fellow Psalmes And if you read but a little forward on in the Psalme you may as quickly discerne whither they tend and what is their scope and therein also spye something that will render them both sutable to the Congregation and seasonable for the day for that which is contained in the following verses is the use and application of the Doctrine that is held forth in this verse A twofold doctrine the one of Gods presence the other of Gods presidence among the Gods the latter of the two is the subject of my Text He iudgeth among the Gods There are three Mysteries folded together in it there is one God and there be Gods many and there is one Act both his and theirs or rather his amongst them We must enquire who He is who they are and what it is which He doth among them First who He is we may see him in the first word of the Psalme for he that standeth in the assembly of the mighty is He that judgeth among the Gods God is He. The Pronoune He doth not stand by it selfe in the Originall as in the Translation but is involved in the Verbe yet so he is not hidden but proclaimed it speakes him that he may be seene for Gods workes are his Name and possibly it might be so ordered on purpose that an hint might be given to them over whom the Name of God is called to count it more honour to be knowne by the worke which they doe and the use they are of then by the office they are in or the titles that they beare Our English idiome or manner of speaking doth necessarily require a more expresse specification of Him and a fitter terme to decipher him could not be found for being the prime Active Being He cannot be defined by any thing but himselfe and therefore when Moses asked him his Name he gave it him thus I am that I am and bad him tell the children of Israel I am had sent him and speakes himselfe by the Prophet in these termes I am He yet if any man hath a thought that this is too low and unbecoming an expression of the Divine Maiestis and it had beene better to have mentioned Him by some more excellent Name or glorious Attributes let him thinke this rather that if the Holy Ghost moved holy men to speake thus homely of the Lord of glory the God of glory it may well beseeme those who are but called Gods to account it no disparagement if they be either spoken to or spoken of though every sentence be not larded with the repetition of Titles Secondly who They are The Gods are All that deale in the managing of publique Affairs as they stand some of them at least ranked in their order and distinguished by their imployment Prov. 8. 15 16. Kings Princes Nobles and all the Judges of the earth even All whether supra or subordinate from the Head of Gold to the feet of yron and clay for so the Psalmist expounds himselfe in the following part of the Psalme and our Saviour confirmes and warrants the interpretation Thirdly what it is which He doth among them He iudgeth that is Ruleth or Reigneth for the word must not be restrained as sometimes in Scripture for it is variously used to the giving of sentence or doing of justice according to a prescript law but must be extended to all that belongs to dominion or government and comprehends all that pertaines to the ordaining upholding directing and disposing of Magistracie and ordering or moderating of humane affaires thereby The Hebrew Text hath it in the Future Tense to signifie the continuation of this act among them through all successions and in all joynts of time and is accordingly rendered by severall Interpreters He hath He doth He will judge There is yet another word in the Text and we cannot well passe on till we know the meaning of that also Among
on the other the pendulousnesse the fears the jealousies the very hell that is in mens consciences as they lesse or more conscienciously or as I may so speak with the minde that is in God serve their generations or do for or against him or the dictates of his deputy with them The righteous is bold as the Lion but the wicked flies when no man pursues But I shall not need to alleadge Scripture or give an instance for this when every mans conscience beares witnesse to it their thoughts accusing or excusing one another Seventhly It may be perceived by the slumbering or awakening of an expectation in men generally and chiefly by the inclination or disposition of the hearts of the Lords remembrancers towards God in prayer according as any great change is to be made in the kingdomes of the World When things are to continue in one stay there is not perceivable any unusuall stirring in mens spirits but when the Lord is about to take up a controversie and enter into judgement with a Nation then mens hearts begin to fail them for feare and their spirits shrink up and start back with misgivings and presagings of evil to come and if the time of deliverance be not yet there is an indisposition to and heartlesnesse in prayer and even such as wait for the vision withhold prayer not of hypocrisie or self-guiltinesse as Eliphaz charged Job but as by a restraint upon their spirits by something from without as if the Lord were forbidding them to pray But if the salvation be drawing nigh though there be no appearance of it nor can one disern any probability of such a thing in the signes of the times yet there is a spirit of grace and supplication poured out upon them and their soules are drawne forth as to meet the Lord and salute and embrace their mercies and they reach forth their hearts in an earnest expectation of some good and speake one to another And if God be carrying on a worke in favour of his Church though many crosse providences intervene yet they send up fervent effectuall prayers they multiply prayers as the Cocks crow thick towards the morning and they follow on to seek the Lord and give him no rest till he heare them as we read in the stories of Daniel and Ezra and Nehemiah I doubt not but many of us can remember some yeares since when men bare rule over us at their pleasures and the measure of their iniquity was not yet full and the judgement was still in brewing with what an Asinine patience we bore all oppressions and couched downe like Issachar betweene the burdens and thought that rest was good and had no heart to lift up a prayer but a little before the wheele began to turn and since the Lord remembred mercy in wrath and revived his worke and made us see our tokens again who hath not found himself as going bound in the spirit to take hold upon the Name of the Lord to wrestle with him by prayer and supplication and who may not have observed the alterations in affairs to have answered very apparently this disposition of heart towards God Now what ever other men think of these things it plainly seems to me that as the flying of the fowle and the going of the cattell into their shelters before a storme and their coming forth again about the breaking of it away doth shew concerning the vapour so this different frame and temper of spirit in men about such seasons and in such junctures of times doth declare concerning that Divine influence whereof we are now speaking Eightly though we cannot make observation of the time and way of Gods illapse upon men and their actions yet there is something observable in the manner of the bringing in and carrying on of things that shew an higher hand then mans in the work I mean the many various accidentall dispensations of providences very chances as men term them that create seasons and advantages for severall purposes and start occasions and minister opportunities for Counsells together with the admirable ballancing of affaires casting of the scales now on this side then on that sometimes interrupting confounding preventing disappointing and tumbling of Counsells headlong at other times reviving advancing incouraging and prospering of parties and causes that any man may see it is done on purpose that there may be time and place for such judgements as none but God can do that he may get him a Name Now though we doe not much mark these things in the instant of time whē they happen yet if we cast our thoughts backe and bring times past into observation we must needs make this judgement that the things which God first causeth to come to passe do offer the thoughts and usher in the devices and lead on the contrivances of men all along in all their windings from the beginning to the ending and consequently be convinced concerning this as Saul was for himselfe when the signes happened to him whereof the Seer had foretold him That God was with him and the Spirit of God was come upon him and directed him to doe as the occasion served Ninthly This invisible working power and Godhead of God is made very visible and may be clearly seen in the issues and events of mens counsells and actions compare them with their next causes the instruments and meanes appearing in the worke and they will be found many times so disproportionable to them so utterly unlike so farre short or beyond so much beside or contrary to the intentions of the actors and the expectation of all men many of them such marvellous works so fearefully and wonderfully done as it is very hard to discerne whence they arose or how they came to passe We cannot think seriously of some of them without admiration as the people when the captivity of 〈◊〉 was turned and the very enemies are sometimes forced to confesse as the Magicians when the dust of the land became lice This was the finger of God and the Egyptians when their hoste was troubled at the Red sea The Lord fighteth for them Might I but have the libertie to preach as the Prophets did of old or to make a rehearsall of the great workes of God done of late amongst our selves as sometimes Moses and Joshua did before the people Nothing were more easie then to line this as all the rest of the observations before mentioned with examples out of our owne Storie When the Service booke was first imposed upon our neighbour Church of Scotland and the first reading thereof was so violently opposed by the rude multitude did either partie so much as foresee or forethinke what hath followed upon it ever since Who put it into the minds of those Souldiers who were first raised for the North at the same time in every corner of the Land to make an attempt and give the first overture of a Reformation How came the wheele
restraine or oppose their madnesse or men follow not on to indulge and gratifie their humour it would soon appear whether or no they would rage and swell and get over or beare downe afore them all that should stand in their way They did seem a while to cry up the Order of Parliaments and of the civill Magistrate and have their persons in admiration but meerly for advantage that so they may get above all Ecclesiasticall Authority and when they are once up to their height what they will doe with the ladder the hope to climbe and ascend by is not hard to conjecture they reckon themselves the wheat in the field and when once they are ripe they will easily be content to have all that threshed off by which they received their growth Yee have heard of the fable of the snake and the countryman that brought it unto the fire I shall not need to apply it already they begin to remove the old land-markes and straiten their bounds they deny your claime up to a high water marke and make their bankes and inclose for themselves to the very channell side But whether it be holden fit or seasonable that these Libertines be decried for my part I cannot yet discover by any activenesse to suppresse them Onely seeing the evill and fore-seeing the mischiefe I have given the warning that at least I may deliver mine owne soule I pray God the remedy be not deferred till it be too late and yee be driven to play an after-game to an extreame hazard or disadvantage But the time admonisheth mee to set aside many things that might be inferred out of this text by way of application betake my self only to the work of the day to the preaching of repentance and amendment of life That such use may be made of this doctrine is more then manifest Hee that runnes may read it in the following part of the Psalm And though I may not take the boldnes to divide this portion of the word deal it amongst you as homely as the Psalmist doth by expostulating commanding upbraiding threatning appealing and provoking to God yet I beseech you all and more especially you that have called me to this place at this time Honourable and beloved Hearken to the voyce behinde you within you if upon occasion of any thing that hath been spoken it either hath or doth or may offer and whisper to any of you any thing of that nature or tending that way and iudge your selves that yee be not iudged of the Lord I professe in the presence of God whose messenger you have made me to your selves this day that to spare you I do not forbeare that libertie Yee have given mee no cause to dread any hard measure from you in case I should assume the boldnesse to stretch my self a little beyond my measure I think I may say as the Apostle to the Corinthians Ye suffer if a man exalt himselfe if a man smite you on the face I speak as concerning reproach There are that dispute detract from and deny the just extent of your authoritie they preach they print they practise and professe to doe so still without your leave so much as asked and against your power they falsely slander and revile and libell and bring railing accusations if not against your selves and your owne Honourable assembly yet against those who by your call and command are subservient and assistant to you in advise and the parties and their fautors making their libertie a cloake of maliciousnesse out-dare complaints and think to out-face justice by fore arraigning it under the term of Persecution But I abhorre their impudence and cannot praise your connivence My conscience would flie in my face if I should wittingly let fall a word against the rule Rebuke not an Elder much lesse an Honourable Senate of Elders but intreat him as a Father Give mee leave therefore to perswade what God commands I meane the afflicting of your souls before the Lord this day because of his judgements abroad in the earth It is a day of Humiliation and we are met in the solemne Assembly as sometimes the children of Israel when they had sinned against the Lord and hee had broken in upon them by many signes of his heavy displeasure our ornaments put off to know what God will doe unto us To turne to the Lord with fasting weeping and mourning if peradventure Hee will returne and repent and leave a blessing behinde him Surely ye need not after so many Sermons so many moneths and yeares of fasting and prayer that one teach you again which be the first rudiments and elements of this holy Ordinance of God I know ye all have knowledge I beseech you onely suffer a word of Exhortation not so much to the considering of the worke of God in governing the Kingdomes of the world though that also be a dutie the Text leads to and indeed the matter is fitter for contemplation then discourse as to the acknowledgement of the hand of God in the present state of affairs in this Kingdome and the humbling and applying of our selves unto him as his word directs in like cases For if hee iudgeth among the Gods then both the good and the evill that is in the Nation by occasion of the well or ill managing of the government must be ascribed unto him And as if there were order and peace wee were to reckon them his blessings and offer the sacrifices of praise which is the work of a day of Thanksgiving so when there is warre in the gates and confusion and every evill worke it must be confessed the iudgement of God and we must come and sit trembling before him and search out the provocation lay our hands upon confesse the trespas over the head of the sacrifice pray in his pardon and break off our sins by righteousnesse that there may be atonement which is the businesse and end of a day of Humiliation and this is that which I principally aime at in the Application of this doctrine at this time Wee need not one to come and tell us There is wrath gone out from the Lord the plague is begun hee hath powred out upon us the fury of his anger and the strength of the battell and it hath set us on fire round about Onely wee have not regarded it nor laid it to heart A sword a sword is sharpned and also furbished The point of it is set against the gates and the ruines are multiplyed But I shall not spread the volume of our Story before you doubtlesse the roule like that of the Prophet â— written within and without lumentations mourning and woe hath beene often read in your eares and ye ought to know the state of the land and the Church of God therein and without question ye doe know it the report and the cry from all quarters comming first to your Cognizance allow mee but to say this that I may
or for presidents and give mee leave to tell you that though you have power to give law to others over whom yee judge yet yee must take law from God who iudgeth amongst you I confesse indeed because yee share in the Legislative power ye are not so bound up by or to the lawes of the land already prescribed as inferiour officers in courts of judicature c. But as to Gods law ye are no more at libertie to goe from or step beside the Morall equitie and justice of it then he that comes forth to sing a Song set to his hand may varie from the Notes or Dittie in the booke onely he may order his voice for the better grace of the musick and that must be his care and therein lies his skill Thirdly and lastly all must be directed to Gods ends First his glorie the dignitie and peace of his Crowne that they which live under your power may fall downe and glorifie God and say God is amongst you of a truth Secondly the publique safety and welfare of the people not your own personall honour or profit but the common-wealth for though all advantage may seeme to flow unto you yet yee doe receive the same but as the sea doth the waters to convey and transmit all back for the benefit of the land Now that we may draw to a conclusion both of this use and of the Sermon For helps to the better practise of these things and that Magistracie may reach these great and excellent ends Be pleased to receive these directions from God by the mouth of his unworthy messenger First derive all your sufficiencie from God the Father of lights and from the Lord Iesus Christ in whom it pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell Rest not in natural parts or what is gained by reading and observation learning and experience but receive something more of his Grace from whom commeth downe every good and perfect gifts and out of his hand who is the image of the invisible God even common skill for the most ordinarie businesse is taught by him God instructeth the Plow man to discretion The Fitches are beaten out with a staffe and the Cummin with a rod bread-corne is bruised c. This also commeth forth from the Lord of hasts who is wonderfull is counsell and excellent in working How much more wisedome and knowledge with an understanding heart to iudge the people and discerne betweene good and bad for who is able to iudge a great people It will therefore be your wisedome what-ever your breeding or other advantages be to take in daily from God and Christ as the pipe from the conduit head by due acknowledgement and dependencie No man ever had so much prudence and largenesse of heart as Solomon who took it in from God There cannot be so much found in a cisterne or pond as may be drawne from a spring neither will the supply be so certaine and constant by nature and morality as when it cometh downe from him with whom is no variablenesse or shadow of change the winde from the bellows is not as continued and uniforme as the breath from the lungs where Gods visitation preserves Spirit nor can it be trusted to and relyed upon as that which hee more immediatly gives and sanctifies * Brooks and Torrents though they sometimes swell high and shew much are but waters that will faile My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brooke as the streams of brookes they passe away But a fountaine that is fed from the Ocean a rill or riveret from the spring faileth seldome or never they that come thither are not ashamed they are not confounded because they hoped Meere naturall or morall parts and abilities like ditch water may corrupt the wisedome of Egypt like the waters of Egypt both by the judgement of God and the wickednesse of man may taint and stink and become unwholsome nay possibly turne into blood The wisedome that is from beneath is earthly sensuall devillish but the wisedome that is from above is first pure then peaceable gentle easie to be intreated full of mercie and good fruits without partiality without hypocrisie Neither can a man meerely by Art or Nature be made active for God and Religion though peradventure he may be a good Patriot for his Countrey Water will not rise higher unlesse it be forced then the spring from whence it came and ye will also finde it that at one time or other even the lustre and reputation of such men and such faculties will fade like faint colours that are not woaded or grained Whereas the credit and esteeme of the other is laid deeper and is more solid and lasting They feared King Solomon because they saw the wisedome of God was in him to doe iudgement Secondly Pray much oft for grace guidance and blessing The great men the Worthies in matter of government were praying men as Ezra Nehemiah and before them Moses David Solomon c. and the great things for which they are so famous were obtained by prayer It s very like that Phinehas was a praying when he was moved to doe that extraordinarie piece of justice on Zimri and Cosbi by which the wrath of God was appeased and himself became renowned else why should the Holy Ghost direct the Psalmist recording that Heroick Act to choose a word that signifies as well to pray as to doe iustice Then stood up Phinehas and prayed saith one translation and executed iudgement saith another and the plague was stayed and that was counted to him for righteousnesse unto all generations for evermore Thirdly undertake and do all both in Counsell and War in his name as David when he went out against Goliah in reliance upon him as Asa when he fought against the huge hoste of the Ethiopians and Lubims an hoste of a thousand thousand and three hundred Chariots Help us O Lord our God for we rest upon thee and in thy Name we go against this multitude and the Lord delivered them into his hand because hee relied on the Lord For it is God that girdeth with strength and maketh your way perfect he giveth you the shield of salvation his right hand hath holden you up and his gentlenes hath made you great Therefore as the Wiseman counselleth Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and leane not on thine owne understanding in all thy wayes acknowledge him and he shall direct thy pathes For motives and incitements wee shall not need to goe out of the compasse of the Psalme to finde them First there stands one in the threshold of my Text God standeth in the Assembly of the mightie Verily God is among you there needs not an empty seat be placed in the midst of your House wherein ye may imagine God to sit Hee iudgeth in the midst of you Hee doth not stand hearkening at the dangerous doore or behinde the hangings or