naturally beare but prosecute if God will on more proper and particular Grounds of Scripture Heare then first how God answers hypocrites According to severall texts of Scripture and such as pretend themselves to be vvilling to be at any cost and to doe any thing to please and appease him when hee is angry Michah 6. â— 7 Wherewith shal I come before the Lord and bow my selfe before the high God Shall I come before him with burnt offerings with calves of a yeare old Will the Lord bee pleased with thousands of rammes or with ten thousands of rivers of oyle Shall I give my first borne for my transgression the fruit of my bodie for the Sin of my soule Now heare Gods answer Hee hath shewed thee O man what is good Verse 8. and what doth the Lord require of thee but to doe justly and to love mercie and to walke humbly with thy God or to humble thy selfe to walke with thy God And then it followes shewing this was to be done especially when God shewed his displeasure against them The Lords voice cryeth unto the Citie Verse 9. and the man of wisdome shall see thy name heare yee the rod and who hath appointed it See againe what God requires of us in such case of his judgments whether threatned or inflicted I will reprove thee saith God c. Psal 50.21.22 Now consider this yet that forget God lest I teare you in pieces Hagg. 1 5.6 c. And elswhere Consider your waies yee have sowne much and bring in little ye eat but ye have not enough c. thus saith the Lord of hosts againe consider your waies Mich 6.7 Consider againe upon what condition God promiseth mercie and deliverance from captivitie If they shall confesse their iniquitie Levit. 26.40.41.42 and the iniquitie of their fathers c. And that also they have walked contrary unto mee and that 〈◊〉 also have walked contrary unto them have brought theÌ„ into the land of their enemies If then their uncircumcised harts be humbled they theÌ„ accept of the punishment of their iniquitie then will I remember my cocovenaÌ„t with Iacob c. and I will remember the land Now upon consideration and confession of sin the Lord looks also we should turne to him by true and heartie Sorrow and Repentance according to that his exhortatioÌ„ by his Prophet Ioel Therefore also now Ioel 2.12.13 saith the Lord turn you even to me with all your hart and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning and rent your heart and not your garment and turne unto the Lord your God The want hereof in time of Gods judgments the Lord both complaines of and also further threatens For all this Isa 9.12 13. his anger is not turned away but his hand is stretched out still for the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them neither doe they seeke the Lord of Hosts Amos 4.10 11 So elswhere I have sent the Pestilence among you after the manner of Aegypt your young men have I slain with the Sword c. yet have yee not returned unto mee saith the Lord 12. Therefore thus I will doe unto thee O Israel and because I will doe this unto thee prepare to meet thy God O Israel In turning to God hee would have us turne from our vvicked vvaies and seeke his face and favour not returning again to our former evill waies but renuing and also keeping our Covenant of Faith Obedience and a more holy walking with him than formerly taking it ill when it is otherwise Ier. 8.6 I hearkned and heard but they spake not aright no man repented him of his wickednesse saying What have I done Every one turned to his course as the horse rusheth into the battell Therefore that hee may shevv us mercie hee will first have us Cast away from us all our transgressions Ezek. 18.31 whereby wee have transgressed and make us a new heart and a new spirit Otherwise he should seeme to favour us in our Sins Therfore when God meant to deliver his people out of the hand of the Philistines he thus speaks to them by Samuel the Prophet If yee doe returne unto the Lord with all your hearts 1 Sam. 7.3 then put away the strange gods verse 4 5 6 and Ashtaroth from among you and prepare your hearts unto the Lord and serve him onely and hee will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines This they did and withall wept abundantly fasted and prayed and confessed their Sins and were accepted So before the Lord would grant deâ—iverance by Gideon hee would have him Destroy Baals altar which his faâ—her had Iudg. 6.25 26. and cut downe the â—rove that was by it and â—uild an altar to the Lord. The reason is God will â—hew mercie favour and â—eliverance to none in â—heir Sins Hee heares not â—inners Yet he also looks that in our afflictions wee doe call upon him Psal 50.15 Call upon mee in the day of trouble I will deliver thee And Iam 5.13 Is any among you afflicted Let him pray Now with our prayers and purposes of reformation wee must renue Covenant with God and bee carefull for ever after to performe it This we are taught by the godly example of Nehemiah and the Iewes who by the mouth of the Levites having made a religious confession as of Gods goodnesse so of their wickednesse and having in theâ—â— owne persons separateâ— themselves from all strangers Nehem. 9.1 2 3 and confessed their Sins they conclude all by â—ntring into solemne coâ—enant with God saying â—n their great distresse in which they were 38. And beâ—ause of all this wee make a sure Covenant and write it â—nd our Princes Levites â—nd Priests seale unto it And the rest of the people who had understanding chap. 10.28 29 30 c. separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the Law of God clave to their Brethren their Nobles and â—ntred into a curse and into â—n oath to walke in Gods Law and to observe and â—oe all the Commandements of the lord Now the points of their Covenant were Not to joyne in marriage with the people of the land not to buy ware or victuall on the Sabbath day and to charge themselves yearely with the third part of a shâ—kell for the service of the house of God and concerning first fruits and otheâ— offerings Thus King Hezekiah when the wrath of thâ— Lord was upon Iudah anâ— Ierusalem and that he haâ— delivered their fathers 〈◊〉 trouble 2 Chron. 29.8 9 10. c. Now saith he it is in mine heart to make covenant with the Loâ—â— God of Israel that his fierâ—â— wrath may turne away from â—s Oh worthy example See also câ— 30.6 7 8. â—ven for the best greaâ—est Christian Kings in â—â—ke case to imitate But what doth God â—ooke that in case of evils 〈◊〉 troubles
from the tempest that so wee may be hid in this day of the Lords anger and prevent greater fiercer wrath to come The Lyon also hath now roared after his prey Amos 3.1 and will wee not be afraid will wee not prostrate and humble our selves before him Prov. 19.12 16.14 The Kings wrath 〈◊〉 as the roaring of a Lyon yea it is as a messenger of death which yet wise men will pacifie and will wee neither feare the wrath of God nor goe about to pacifie it How shall hee not be unto us as once to Ephraim as a Lyon Hos 5.14 and a young Lyon which is more fierce to teare and goe away to take away and none shall rescue us Thus therefore speaketh this Lyon to us in mercie Now consider this Psalm 50.22 yee that forget God least I teare you in pieces and there be none to deliver Lastly And as fire kindled let us consider that this wrath of God is as Fire and that wee now are under it and that it is already kindled against us Now who would set the Briars or Thornes against God who is this fire in battell I would saith God Esay 27.4 even goe thorow them I would burne them together FroÌ„ which wee should withdraw fuell Fire wee know is of a catching nature and it lickes up every thing it meets withall which is of a combustible nature and growes more fierce where it finds such fuell to feed it Now Sin and Sinners in their impenitencie afford matter and fuell to this fire of Gods wrath which therefore in hell burnes for ever And will wee still by adding Sin to Sin Seeking to quench it by teares of repentance seeke to make this fire greater and fiercer Is it not yet big enough Will wee needs perish and be devoured by it Why doe wee not rather draw buckets of water and run in therewith to quench this fire by shedding unfained 1 Sam. 7.6 Iudg. 2.4 â— Ier. 9.1 â— and abundant teares of Godly sorrow and repentance for our Sins and become weepers and true mourners still wishing wee could weepe more Why doe wee not take hold on Gods strength even on Christ by faith in him Esay 27.4 5. who was signified by the Arke of Gods strength that wee may make peace with him seeing hee hath both told us that Furie is not in him and promised that thus seeking to make peace with him Wee shall make peace with him and hee will bee reconciled unto us Now would we see the proofe of this promise by and in Examples Examples of such as have turned away wrath Learne wee then to avoid Gods wrath by faith and humbling of our selves from the practise of good King Hezekiah K. Hezekiah who having offended by unthankfulness and pride for which cause there was wrath upon him 2 Chron. 32.25 26. and upon Iudah and Ierusalem did yet humble himselfe for the pride of his heart both hee and the Inhabitants of Ierusalem so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the â—â—ies of Hezekiab The â—â—â—e wee learne from the example of Gods mercie to King Iosiah K. Iosiah because his heart was tender 2 Kings 22 11-13 19 20. and be humbled himselfe before the Lord when he apprehended the greatnesse of his wrath which was kindled against him and his people and wept before him The Lord hereupon heard his prayer and â—â—ewed him mercie Yea see how graciously God dealt with King Rehoboam one K. Rehoboaâ— none of the very best who 2. Chron. 12.6 7. being punished by Shishak King of Aegypt for forsaking the Lord repented both hee and his Princes at the preâ—ching of Shemaiah aâ— humbled themselves saâ—ing The Lord is righteoâ—â— Wherupon they were delivered though not froâ— the spoile yet from destruction for thus said thâ— Lord They have humble themselves therefore I 〈◊〉 not destroy them but I 〈◊〉 grant them some deliverance and my wrath shaâ—â— not be powred out upon Ierusalem by the hand of Shishak 12. So when hee humble himselfe the wâ—ath of thâ— Lord turned from him thâ— hee would not destroy him altogether and also in Iudah things went well Now why should not the present sence of Gods wrath which is now gone out against us by Pestilence worke like effects and like humiliation in us which doubtless if it doe not wee must looke to perish in his wrath And thus for the first Motive taken from the consideration of Gods wrath CHAP. VII This Festilence is sensible wrath wrath gone out and manifested to the end that taking notice of Gods displeasure wee might with good hope by submission seeke to pacifie the same WEe are now in the next place to consider that this Pestilence in it owne nature is an outward and sensible evill God in this Pestilence would be knowne to be angry that wee might seek to appease him and therfore such as by which God calls us to repentance with hope of mercy letting us know that he is angry that so wee might search into our selves and take notice of such sinns as have proved provocations of his wrath might humble our selves before him for the same and seeke his face and favour in the pardon of them and so bee brought to know whom we have offended to feare and to doe no more any such wickednes It is such 〈◊〉 evill as whereof the Lord would have us take speciall notice for the prevention of greater evils calamities whereas if the Lord had a purpose presently or yet finally to destroy us all and every one hee would leave us in our sinns without any further warning give us over to our owne lustes without controle Hee might give us over to hardnesse of heart and to insensible judgements and so deliver us up to the hardnesse of our own harts which is a greater judgement then to be deliuered up to satan which some have bin yet haâ—â— come to repentance as thâ— incestuous Corinthian 1 Cor. 5.5 with 2 Cor. 2.6 7. bâ— such as God delivers upâ—â— hardnes of hart are leftâ— finall impenitencie Prov. 5. in thâ— insensible chains coaâ—â— of their own sins reseruâ— like the evil angels whiâ—â— fell in everlasting chainâ— under darknesse not as tâ—â— former 1 Cor. 5.5 who are deliverâ—â— to Satan for the destructioâ— of the flesh that the spirâ—â— may bee saved in the day 〈◊〉 the Lord Iesus but to be brought forth Iude ver 6. unto tâ—â— judgement of the great dâ—â— When our sinnes 〈◊〉 growne so full and so riâ—â— that God intends no meâ—cie for them As he doth such as hee hates and wil no longer shew mercie unto then hee â—â—aseth to punish sensibly and leaves men to please themselves in their owne waies without any shew of displeasure and to dally with their owne death and destruction This Silence in God whilest he forbeares outward and sensible
such as are left in this citie from the pestilence from the sword that is some lesser hurt by it from the king of Aegypt and from the famine into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and into the hand of their enemies and into the hand of those that seeke their life and hee shall smite them with the edge of the sword hee shall not spare them neither have pitie nor have mercy Pestilence is the last of Gods mercifull rods And thus I may call Pestilence the last of Gods mercifull rods which if it be neglected it serves for our further conviction to make way for mercilesse judgements and for the justification of his severitie in them seeing wee take no warning by this his last triall of us Which neglected is for conviction For vvhat may vve expect if vvhen God himselfe comes apparantly against us and stands in our vvay vvee submit not to him by humbling our selves but vvill on as it vvere in despite of him as vvee resist him he vvill resist us and become a consuming fire unto us as hee saith Esa 27.4 who would set the briars and thornes against mee in battle I would goe through them I would burn them together but of this more in the last motive Only novv consider And foreruns greater evils vvee that vvhere beginnings of vvrath as of fire and former and lesser strokes and judgements are neglected there at length a heavier vveight of vvrath follovves yea utter destruction lesser judgements neglected are but threatnings and fore runners of greater as the laying of the Axe to the root of the trees or as the lopping of them and digging at the roots of them after vvhich if they continue still barren and unfruitfull then follovves that irrevocable sentence Luke 13.7 cut it downe Whatsoever judgements haue gone before they are all as nothing and make vvay for greater to follovv as the lesser vvedge for the greater Thus said the Lord to Israel of old Isa 9.12 13 14. The Syrians before and tho Philistines behind and they shall devoure Israel with open mouth for all this his anger is not turned away but his hand is stretched out still for the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them neither doe they seeke the Lord of hosts Therefore will the Lord cut off from Israel head and tayle branch and rush in one day So hee had almost done with us as is said in the Powder Furnace And so calls on us in time to turne to the Lord. yet hath beene graciously pleased both to respite us then and since to come towards us leisurely by slow paces and approaches Now seeing wee will not seeke to pacifie him at the first going out of wrath when the Plague is as yet but only begun what may we expect but that having already sent the Pestilence into the land Ezek. 14.19 20. hee poure out his fury upon it in blood to cut off from it man and beast as hee threatned his people and when no Intercessor should be accepted for them Let us of this place especially thinke of this now On us especially of this place when God at the first going out of his wrath among us makes greater speed then ordinarily hee hath done here yea or else where in our land formerly in any one place Anno 1624. 1625. so that in the mother citie eleven yeares agoe there died not so many of the Pestilence in their 120. parishes within and without the liberties for the first 3. moneths though before all was done it became the greatest that any man living could remember and greater I take then their generall bill for the yeare would make it unlesse you will allow above eighteene thousand to die in plague-time of ordinary diseases in one year I say there died then not so many there in the first three moneths by their bils as with us in our foure parishes within the space of fourteene or fifteene dayes S. 114. and that only within liberties And considering how since it increaseth rageth rather runs spreads like wild-fire will â—it not concerne us then to use speed which if Aaron had not done here who being commanded to goe quickly unto the Congregation did run into it what had become of the whole Congregation consisting of divers hundred thousands which God threatned to consume as in a moment when for all his haste running in at the first going out of wrath and at the very beginning of the Plague before he got to doe his office and make the atonement there were dead fourteene thousand and seven hundred how soone yea how justly might God make a speedy riddance of us all by this or some other worse plague if his patience were not much yea infinitly more then our haste Let us therefore take that or the like in effect spoken to us which was spoken by the Lord to his people of old when for their sinne hee justly plagued them Exod. 32.35 Yee are a stiffe-necked people I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment and consume thee therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee that is betake thy â—elfe to fasting and to â—rayer that I may know â—hat to doe unto thee This vvas accordingly and â—orthvvith done by them Novv for us I advise that vvhat vve doe it bee done â—peedily yea and diligently Ezra 7 2â—-23 as King Artaxerxes decreed in a like case for why saith hee though an heathen should there bee wrath against the Realme of the King and his Sons Doubtlesse this motion and pace of Gods justice being naturall to him as well as that of mercy is swifter at the later end thaÌ„ at the beginning and I am afraid wee shall so find it 〈◊〉 we take not our time out 〈◊〉 hand for prevention Nearer sudden destruction wâ— of this nation cannot be to escape then we were Novem. 5.160 5. suffer we once his long patience to turne into fury and then expect wee no after-warnings some one blasâ— of hellish popish sulphurous malice or some one stroke of divine justice some other way shall doe the deed and dispatch us all at once But of this point of doctrine of the proceeding of Gods wrath against obstinate obdurate and impenitent sinners even till he utterly destroy and consume them I have selfwhere treated largely * Prognosticks Divine or Treat on Esay 9.12.13 My conclusion here shal be â—y wish The Lord in merâ—ie avert and turne such â—eavie vvrath from us by converting and turning us by the power of his grace unto himselfe Amen CHAP. IX This wrath and pestilence is from the Lord and therfore howsoever his Prophets may be despised yet God himselfe is not to bee dallyed withall whose greatnes terror should cause us seeke peace witâ— him in time A fourth Motive to speedy repentance is to consider God the Author of this plague THe fourth and last Motive from
us in mercie as the same Red Sea which swallowed up the Aegyptians And also 2 Living afforded a safe passage to the Israelites towards the land of Canaan Yea for the present Gods people find themselves more safe under his mercifull hand than they can well hope to be under mans hand when Gods hand shall be whollie removed CHAP. V. Pestilence is yet the fruit of Mans Sin The Sin of these Israelites here All evill being for Sin wee are to justifie God his truth and people and to take all blame to our selves Quest BVt is not God a God of mercie grace and goodnes Our sinne the cause of our sorrow Whence then is it that wrath hot anger is said to goe out from the Lord and particularlie this of Plague or Pestilence We must therefore conceive and may easilie imagine that in case of gods wrath and of the breaking out of Pestilence there is some great cause provoking him thereunto seeing he doth not afflict willingly or froÌ„ his heart Lament 3.33 nor grieue the children of men The great God herein is like the litle Bee which yeelds hony of its selfe but stings not till it be angred or provoked The first in this Text provoking the Lord to this great wrath was the peoples murmuring against Moses and Aaron Psal 41.42 charging them with the death of those rebels whom God destroyed justly for their sinnes and their rising accordingly against them which as it is in its owne nature highly displeasing to God who cannot indure his officers and faithfull servants should either bee envied and maligned as these two were by Corah c. or repined at when for their sake the Lord doth punish such as wroÌ„g them So for the Circumstances of it it became exceeding great for it is said But on the morrow after Corah was swallowed up and they were spared and escaped all the Congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses The sin of these Israelites here aggravated against Aaron c. Where 1. for time it was on the morrow immediatly after their 1. former sinne 2. God wrath executed on others 3. their owne sparing 4 their former and but yesterdayes shew of repentaÌ„ce or forsaking the tents of the wicked 2. For the persons who sinned they were 1. for qualitie the children of Israel from whoÌ„ God had cause to have expected better things 2. For number All the congregation of them it was a generall sin and conspiracie 3. For persons againsâ— whom it was against Mosâ—â— and Aaron against Moses a Prophet Prince against Aaron the Priest of the Lord both which had lately yea and now made intercession for them they were neither afrayde to meddle with such deare servants of the Lord who prooved edge-tooles to them nor ashamed so ill to requite them for their love This was their sin Our like Sins causes of our Iudgments now And when our sins become like either for nature or for circumstances we have great cause to looke for like wrath nay if such sins as envying hating and rising against Gods Ministers and faithfull servants and if such circumstances of sin 2 4â— as to sinn upon sin and to multiply transgressions to sin after examples of Gods wrath on others after our ovvne sparing and deliverances and after former shewes of repentance If for men in covenant with God to sin against him and to sin as it were by conspiracie and consent and if unthankfulnesse against God and his Messengers and Servants deserve wrath and be followed with Pestilence then no marvell if wrath be gone out from the Lord against us of this place yea and Nation and if the Plague be alreadie begun amongst us and so far proceeded as it is But of the Sins more particularly for which wrath goeth out from God and for which Pestilence is sent I shall speake hereafter on some other Grounds of Scripture Here wee may observe in the generall Sin procures wrath That mans Sin is the cause of his Sorrow Love to Sin procures Gods anger against the Sinner And as here The Plague of the heart and soule brings Gods Plague upon the bodie 1 Kings 8.38 Remarkable examples hereof we have in the Angels cast 2 Pet. 2 4â— out of heaven for ever because of their Pride in Adam cast out of Paradise and with him all Mankind for disobedience Gen. 3.17 in a whole world of men Gen. 6. for violence sensualitie and securitie Math. 24.38 39. in Sodom and other Cities destroied suddenlie for Pride Ezek. 16.49 50. abuse of Gods good creatures Idlenesse and abominable Lusts Lamen 1.5 in the Iewes both in their first Captivitie when the Lord so grievouslie afflicted them for the multitude of their Transgressions 2 Chro. 36.14 15 16 with 17 c. and in this their so fearfull dispersion and scattering whereby they are broken off Isa 50.1 Rom. 11.20 because of unbeliefe But leaving other evils Specially Pestilence which is both threatned consider wee that God doth 1 Threaten pestilence for Sin as Levit. 26.14 15 16-24 25. Deut. 28 15-21 22. Ezek. 6.11 12. Alas for all the evill abominations of the house of Israel for they shall fall by the Sword by the Famine and by Pestilence So heere these Murmurers were first threatned with Pestilence for their unbeliefe Numb 14.11 12. and here in my Text it was inflicted for their Sin which is already mentioned So then 2 God doth also send And inflicted for sinâ— and Inflict Pestilence for Sin as see Exod. 12.29 Psal 78.50 51. Amos 4.10 So David was met with for his pride 2 Sam. 24.10 And so now must wee take this Pestilence and other like Sicknesses to be justly sent for our Sins and why not the same or like to the Sin of Irreverence among the Corinthians who because they came to the Lords Table and returned also from it in their Sins in their contentions contempt one of another dis-respect of their Teacher Saint Paul their ignorance and other Sins it is said 1 Cor. 11.30 For this cause many among you are sicke and weake and many sleepe Now this Sicknesse and death among them is not improbably by some thought to bee that of Pestilence Whence is this 1. This is froÌ„ Such is the nature of Sin The naturâ— of Sin as that it being evill Gen. 4.13 can bring forth nothing but evill therfore doth one and the same word in the originall include in the signification of it both Sin and Punishment So that he that will sinne doth but hatch the cockatrice egge nourish a viper in his own bosom which will be his destruction 2. From God holinesse Such againe is the Holiness and Iustice of God that hee cannot spare obstinate Sinners without impeachment to his Iustice Man himselfe being the Iudge to whom God seemes to appeale saying How shall I pardon thee for this
Ierem. 5.7 Seeing thou wilt neither seeke pardon nor forsake thy Sin Tell me wouldst thou that I should violate my Iustice to spare thee in thy Sins How canst thou in reason expect it Will yee infect one another with your evill examples and company-keeping by tempting and inticing one another to Sin to my dishonour and shall I still fit still and doe nothing shal not I send my plagues among you to make you afraid one of another and to sever you one from another Shall I not multiply my plagues till you each of you see the plague of your owne heart and seeke unto me for mercie and for healing If otherwise Ierem. 5.9 Shall I not visit for these things Vse Vse 1 In our sufferings to justifie God his truth and people Now that Gods hand is so heavie upon us wee 1. See whom to thank none but our selves our pride our unfruitfulnesse our sensualitie our securitie our manifold defections from God both in his truth and holinesse have procured these to us The evils wee doe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that willingly are the cause of all the evils wee suffer unwillingly Howsoever let us in this as in other evils ever justifie God â—ament 1.18 take blame to our selves and accept of the punishment of our Sins which Lesson wee may learn of holy David Psalm 119. â—5 who having by pride vaine-glorie and selfe-confidence provoked God to smite his people with Pestilence And to blame our selves is yet soone touched in conscience and being tender-hearted hee shewes himselfe also wise to see the cause in himselfe and unpartiall to judge himselfe taking the whole blame and shame onely to himselfe saying I have sinned 2 Sam. 2 10-17 Is it not I that commanded the people to bee numbred But these Sheepe what have they done I have sinned greatly in that I have done I have done very foolishly O worthy King O most worthy example even for Kings and Magistrates to imitate It becoms us at this time every man to search and look into his own heart to find out that Achan which troubleth the campe that Ionah who troubleth the sea and causes such storms of wrath that Sheba for whose cause God layes siege to our townes and cities How this may bee done or how we may find out our sinnes as causes of present judgements I shall indeavor hereafter to shew more fully Onely now take we heed that wee doe not so far goe about to justifie our selves as to translate the cause of our sufferings from our selves to other men whether forefathers Ezek. 18.2 superiours we being in a ranke of inferioritie Inferiors if we be governors and Magistrates who are ready to account and call the people accursed David did not so as vvee have heard Exemplarie judgements on a place befall chiefly for the sinns of exemplary persons neither doth God shew himselfe Judge from heaven till his Vicegerents here on earth too much and too long neglect to execute his righteous judgements or lastly to the holy Prophets of God 1 Kings 17.18 Numb 41. as King Ahab layd the famine upon Elias and the rebellious Israelites here the death of the conspirators upon Moses and Aaron Neither let us blame Gods truth and religion as causes of our sufferings as did the idolatrous women of old Ier. 44.18 and as did the heathen in primitive times of the Christian church Si coelum stetit si terra movit si fames si lues statim Christianos ad leonem acclamatur Tertul. Apolog cap. 39. proclaiming the innocent Christians guilty of death as oft as therwas either drought famine earth-quake or plague yea as some I doubt are readie now to charge the truth we maintain against outlandish 〈…〉 novelties with these present evils and to threaten the state kingdom with ruine though neither state nor Church were ever blessed with more peace plentie prosperity then when the ancient truth of God and doctrine of our Church was more unanimously taught and maintained then now it is We may rather retort upon them Ierm 4.21.22.23 as Ieremy did upon those women do not such things rather now come into remembrance with the Lord Howsoever be we sure wee doe not at unawares charge Gods justice in these our sufferings whilest wee goe about to justifie either our Church and nation as innocent guiltles never in better condition or our selves and persons whilest wee will see and acknowledge no sinne at least by name or in particular by our selves being ready to aske Ier. 16.10 Wherefore hath the Lord pronounced and done all this great evill against us or what is our iniquity c. The Lord in no wise can indure such pride for this layes the blame on God himselfe and amounts to no lesse then horrible blasphemy for in case of such common remarkable judgements either God or man must bee acknowledged unjust but proud man will rather have God to bee thought unjust then himselfe the sinner and so going from one to one we may find sin it may be in grosse confessed the cause of this like judgements but every man for his particular will bee without fault and will be ready to justifie himselfe in his place ranck and calling Now then where must the fault lie but in God himselfe what blasphemy is this against God when may wee once expect an end 2. Wee hence see how Vse 2 to get this wrath and great evill removed from us or else sanctified to us to see sinne and to purge it out is the spirituall cure of this and all other evils as wee shall see hereafter Vse 3 3. In the meane time wee not repenting may foresee our owne utter ruine wrath is now indeed gone out but when will it take up CHAP. VI. The main Duty concerning our speedy using of means to pacifie Gods present Wrath urged and pressed by divers Motives in the Text And first because this Pestilence is Wrath. NOw all I aime at from these severall points handled and from this text is by way of generall use to inferre and inforce upon us the use of the Remedy which we are taught from the first word For wrath is gone out the Plague is begun therefore run in with thy Censer c. Or take a Censer and goe quickly and make an attonement For there is wrath gone out from the Lord the Plague is begun The maine duty of the Text hath beene named already in the beginning which now must be prosecuted and it is The maine duty repeated and urged when God once manifesteth his wrath whether it bee by Pestilence or otherwise all lawfull meanes are speedily to be used for the pacifying of the same Meanes are speedily to be used for the pacifying of Gods wrath Aaron there receiving his Injunction presently obeyed and ran into the Congregation and made the attonement The like did Moses not only here with Aaron who perceiving
the old World by water or as he destroyed Pharaoh and his whole Army at once in the red Sea or as it shall be at the last Iudgement But see instead of such sudden and universall destruction which being formerly so neere may seeme in regard of our deserts and for our great unthankefulnesse and forgetfulnesse of that and other mercies at this time to be much nearer The Lord did not onely then respite us but now when hee might justly give us over to their mercilesse hands to bee judged with their judgement that is to bee consumed at once in their boundlesse rage hee keeps the rod in his owne hand and begins as it were at an end of us smites some few in comparison of all and so gives warning to the rest hovering as it were Hee expects wee should meet him a far off and standing at our gates at our neighboring townes and cities expecting what we will doe to stay his wrath hearkning and listning as it were to heare what wee will doe what we will say to him whether wee will repent us of our wickednesse saying What have we done As hee meets us in our wayes of sinne or whether wee wil turn to our course as the Horse into the battell without all feare of his wrath as once hee did with the Iewes Ier. 8.6 in effect telling us it is much what in our power and so asking us whether he shall proceed in wrath against us or no whether this Plague now begun shall presently end or else proceed and make an end of us also notwithstanding our present seeming safety in places remote from the infection or whilst wee have removed and fled bodily from the same This is a mercy then not to be neglected that God gives us space and time to consider what we will do that hee gives us warning of his approach letting us know that hee our Iudge hath begun to ride his circuit As hee met with Balaam and is on his way already and hath sent out the destroying Angel before him with a sword of Pestilence in his hand to meet us in our sinfull wayes standing in our way for an adversary against us as once against Balaam in his way of ambition and covetousnesse being gone out to withstand us as once him Numb 22.22.32 because our way is perverse before him Oh that wee were not in this case more stupid blind then Balaams Asse which saw the Angell of the Lord standing in the way and his sword drawne in his hand and turned out of that way or would not go on but fall downe to the ground under Balaam Oh that the Lord would at length open our eyes as he did Balaams to see the Angell of the Lord standing in our way whatsoever it be whether that of Covetousnesse or whether it be Pride Ambition Malice hatred of the good defection from the goodwayes of God wearying of his yoke and Gospel sensualitie and love of pleasure selfe-confidence and carnall security feeding and feasting without feare profanation of Gods name Assuredly God by his sword and judgement is comming towards us and threatens us who once were as a fire-brand pluckt out of the burning to overthrow us Amos 4.11.12 as he overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah that is all at once and suddenly And shall wee not take that spoken unto us seeing we yet have not returned unto him which he graciously spake to Israel Because I will doe this unto thee prepare to meet thy God ô Israel ô England O sinfull towne citie or place will we yet sit still and settle on our lees through security and suffer the Destroyer to enter into our windowes our houses our bed-chambers yea our beds and bosomes will wee not run out with intreaty of peace fall downe before him and make supplication to our Iudge Let us not at least come behind Balaam who at length seeing the Angel his sword drawn in his hand bowed downe his head Numb 22.31.34 and fell flat on his face-saying I haue sinned now therefore if it displease thee I will get mee back againe This he said but it was not altogether in that sincerity seeing his heart still went after his covetousnes which his hypocrisie wee must take heed of but bee ashamed to come behind him and his Asse which also fel down before the Angell in humility whilst vve neither upon this occasion do or professe halfe so much Novv that the Angell discovered himselfe unto Balaam and hee hereupon humbled himselfe it vvas a mercy to him for othervvise Verse 33. the Angell had slaine him And as hee met with Ionah Ionah 1.1.2.3 c. So the Lord in like mercy and vvith an intent to bring to repentance reformation met vvith Ionah by stormes and tempests at Sea in the vvay of his disobedience and as I may cal it non-residence vvith Moses in the Inn With Moses in the vvay of Neglect vvhom by the way in the Inn the Lord met and sought to kill him for not circumcising through too much respect to his vvife his sonne in time And doubtlesse And the Iewes this is a mercy if vve could see it vvhen God by any judgement stands in our sinful vvaies and as the Prophet speaketh Hedgeth up our way Hos 2.5 6 7. that wee should not find our paths c. As Beastes are kept within their owne Pastures by sharp and thornie hedges least they breake out and lose themselves so the Lord when we are ready to goe astray from him proves in regard of some afflictions which he sends as a thornie hedge to us so that wee cannot offer to goe on in sinfull waies or to breake our bounds but wee runne upon the thornes And with Paul Act. 9.5 and kick against the pricks as it was told to Saul or Paul when Christ met with him in his way of Persecution and strucke him to the earth It was happy for Saul that God went out thus and me him And so it will be our happinesse if whilst God meets us by Pestilence in our evill waies as once hee met King David in the way of his Pride and selfe-confidence and vaine-glory wee would consider our waies which proove thus bitter and crosse to us and speedily turne from them lest wee meet with destruction in the same or goe on therein to perdition Wee may say and that truly that God now meets with us by this sword oâ— arrow of pestilence in ouâ— way of Sinfull companying one with another wherby wee infect one another iâ— soule by good fellowship 〈◊〉 wee call it by potting bâ—zeling gossiping excesse iâ— feasting excesse of wineâ— revellings banquetings c. So hee now meet with us in the way of ouâ— Idle discourses and unsavourie communication anâ— unprofitablenesse in companie of uncleane behaviour and adulteries of unlawful mariages of needlesse intertaining of Gods enemies and unnecessarie acquantance and familiaritie witâ— â—â—em So in our way
the text iâ— briefly to bee considereâ— from the Authour of thâ— wrath which is here saiâ— to bee gone foorth from thâ— Lord. It is the Lord theâ— we have to deale withall and who now hath to deâ—â— with us therfore it is noâ— to dally with him Wee may perhaps presume oâ— impunity from men wheâ—â— we offend them and hope by gifts friends flatteries and fained submission to asswage their displeasure or it may bee when Gods faithfull servants discover â—ur sins Who confirmes the word of his Servants denounce judgâ—ents against us for the â—â—me though they doe it â—ccording to Gods word â—et wee can count their â—ords but winde and â—â—eÌ„selves lying Prophets â—r otherwise to speake as â—et on by those wee alike â—â—ate or we threaten and â—ome even with them for â—heir boldnes sauciness â—â—r at least wee can withâ—raw our selves froÌ„ them â—nd heare them no more â—nd so at once seeke their â—isgrace as not vvorthy â—o be heard and keep our â—elves as wee thinke out â—f the lash of their words But what can we thus dâ— with the Lord himselfe when he comes to perform the word of his servants Psal 149.7 8 9. 〈◊〉 execute vengeance upon thâ— heathen and punishmenâ— upon the people to bind theâ—â— Kings with chaines anâ— their Nobles with fetters 〈◊〉 yron to execute upon theâ—â— the judgmeÌ„t written who as he will do nothing in thâ— kind but hee revealeth hâ— secret unto his servants tâ—â— Prophets Amos 3.7 so he confirmeâ—â— the word of his servanâ—â— both in good and evil aâ—â— performeth the counsell 〈◊〉 his Messengers Men maâ— then belie the Lord Isa 44.26 anâ— say it is not he neither shâ—â—â— evill come upon us neither â—â—all wee see sword nor faâ—ine Ier. 5.12 13 14. And the Prophets 〈◊〉 all become wind and the â—ord is not in them But what saith the Lord for the â—ncouragement of his serâ—ant Ieremy And will bee acknowledged to bee the author as of other evils Because yee â—â—eake this word behold I â—ill make my words in thy â—outh fire and this people â—ood and it shall devoure â—hem Loe I will bring a naâ—ion upon you c. It is good for us then if wee â—ave neglected the word of Gods servants formerâ—y not to neglect the performance of it by God himselfe but to become wise for after times who among you will give eares this Isay 42.23 24 25. who will hearken aâ—â— heare for the time to comeâ—â— who gave Iacob for a spoileâ— and Israel to the robbers did not the Lord he againâ—â— whom wee have sinned Therfore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger c. Oh let it not be saiâ— of us as there it followeth And it hath set him on fire round about So of Pestilence yet hee knew not and it burned him yeâ— hee laâ—d it not to heart Far bee this stupidity from uâ— at this time Let us consider then that this wrath iâ— gone out from the Lord. 〈◊〉 is hee against whom wee haue sinned and whom vvee haue provoked and â—â—erefore there is no dalâ—ing with him as is said 〈◊〉 is hee himselfe that â—â—mes against us Habak 3.5 Before â—m goes the Pestilence and â—â—â—rning coales or diseases â—â—e forth at his feet Now â—â—e we stronger then hee â—â—e wee able in our sinnes 〈◊〉 stand in his way hee â—â—th already often before â—â—d now also sent the Peâ—â—lence among us after the â—anner of Egypt yea he â—â—th overthrowne some of 〈◊〉 as God overthrew Soâ—om and Gomorrah and â—ee were as a fire-brand â—uckt out of the burning â—t have yee not returned to me Who is mighty in strength and not to be dallied withall or withstood saith the Lord Noâ— heare vvhat God saith us as once to Israel Theâ—â—fore thus will I doe unâ—â— thee O Israel O Englan◠ô citie ô tovvne hovv even as unto Sodom thâ— was overthrowne as in moment and because I wiâ—â— doe this unto thee Amos 4.10 11 12 13. prepareâ— meet thy God O Israel Thâ—â— is our duty then of vvhicâ— vvee also formerly heard but vvhy are vvee thus tâ— prepare that follovves For loe he that formeth thâ— mountaines and createâ— the wind or spirit and dâ—clareth unto man what is hâ— thought that maketh thâ— morning darkenesse anâ— treadeth upon the high places of the earth the Lord the God of hosts is his name Where hee invests himselfe vvith many titles of greatnesse povver yea and terrour and all to inforce the aforesaid duty of repentance and humiliation upon us letting us knovv vvho it is that â—hreatens us vvho it is that â—s gone out against us no â—ther then this mighty God this Lord of hosts who hath all creatures in â—eaven and earth at his â—ommand and ready to â—xecute his vengeance â—nd righteous judgements â—n all impenitent sinners so that when once hee shewes his displeasure it s in vaine either to seeke shelter or help from them or not to feare vengeance from them as instruments of his wrath whose are the mountaines the wind and all other creatures so that the mountaines shall noâ— save nor hide from hiâ— wrath when it is onâ—â— gone forth in fury as iâ— Noah his flood Neither is there any fleeing from him when the highest hils and moâ—â— towring mountaines coulâ— not shelter them that fleâ— thither for refuge but thâ—â— the waters of his wraâ—â— did overtake and sweeâ— them all away and 〈◊〉 wind which God sent out shall meet with disobedient Ionas who would have fled from Gods presence and the storme shall teach him obedience Nay we know God can and often doth arme base and weake creatures against proud and impenitent sinners yea their owne friends and confederates in whose helpe and assistance they trust nay sometimes their owne selues against themselues as * On Amos 4.12.13 p. â—26 c. 156. c. In l. 3. Iob. 9.4 elswhere I shew more largely He is mighty in strength who hath hardned himselfe against him and hath prospered And it would be observed God to humble us shewes his power that when God calls men to humiliation for their sinnes hee often shewes his power and terriblenesse by some not onely description of it as when he humbled Iob by asking him Iob 40 6.7-9 Hast thou an arme like God canst thou thunder with a voice like him and by shewing him his great power in the Behemoth and Leviathan Both by words and workes or in the Elephant and Whale the effect whereof in Iob was an humble submission of himselfe unto God Iob 42.1.2.3.4 5 6. but by workes oâ— his power as by sending thunder stormes greaâ— raine by which heâ— brought his people of old to confesse their sinne in asking them a King in distrust and with rejection of Gods government 1. Sam 1â— 16.17.18.19 so by a great raine which hee sent the better to prepare the people to repentance and reformation
of their wayes Esia 10.9 when Esra had assembled them to that end It is said All the people sate in the street of the house of God trembling because of this matter and for the great raine Yea God would so haue prepared us of this nation as may bee remembred by sending very * Iuly 16. being Saturday 1625. fearful thunder and raine a little before the * Iuly 20. first day of that solemne humiliation injoyned some eleven years agoe And what may we think God would haue had us doe as then so when before that hee met with us or was making towards us in our way of Security by the Spanish Armado Ann. 1588. and mighty Navie by sea and by the popish and hellish Plot of powder Ann. 1605. and so in our way of excesse by scarcity and famine and in the way of our other many sinnes by this heavie judgement of Pestilence both formerly and now Shall wee yet prooceed on in our former security excesse and all our other provocations of the divine Majesty will wee needs try our strength with him Behold saith God the flight shall perish from the swift Amos 2.14 15.16 and the strong shall not strengthen his force neither shall the mighty deliver himselfe neither shall hee stand that handleth the Bow And he that is couragious among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day saith the Lord. The like may the Lord now say to us concerning whatsoever it is wee place our confidence in whether we harden our selues against him in our pride and obstinacy or whether we hope to escape this his hand by fleeing from places infected Instead of fleeing from him no there is no flying from him in our sinnes neither any resistance of him whither shall wee flee from him hee is a consuming fire to sinners Hebr. 10. Isa 42 25. yea a fire round about circling you in which way soever you runne it is still into the fire and your name shall bee as Pashurs was Ier. 20.1.2.3 Magormissabib Feare round about And how shal wee withstand or resist his power And of resisting him Shall wee not perish by his hand Is he not the Lord of Hosts Who would set the Briars and Thornes against him in battel Isa 27.4 would he not go through them and burne them together What then is to be done We are in time to seeke to appeaze him Let us not with Adam thinke to flee from God but to him by humble submission If we flee let it be from his Iustice to his Mercie If we flee not to his Mercie goe whither we will we fall upon his Iustice Appeale we then from God just to the same God mercifull and gracious in Christ By the examples of for it is the same God that smites in his wrath and who must heale in his mercie Shimâ—i Or if not this then let us consider whether we be able to meet this great King comming against us in blood and in furie if wee be not and who is then as hath been alreadie said Luke 14.31.32 while hee is yet a great way off let us send an Embassage before us and desire conditions of Peace and make peace with him for which we have his gracious promise Isa 27.5 and herein follow wee the wisedome as of Iacob and Abigail 2 Sam. 19 1â—-19 c. so of Shemei meeting David with a present and humble intreaties and confessions after hee saw him returned as reinvested in his Kingdome And so of Rahab Rahab who hearing of Gods mightie workes in Aegypt Hebr. 11. sought peace long before with Gods people which in her was a worke of Faith The Gibeonites as in the Gibeonites of Wisedome who hearing of the fame of the God of Israel and of that hee did in Aegypt sought peace with Ioshua had it Iosh 9 3.4-6-9.10.11-15 Iosh 11.19 20. and so saved their lives which all the rest refusing to doe as hardning themselvs in their own streÌ„gth they all perished And a like fearfull signe and presage of destruction it is now to so many of us as when Gods Wrath is gone out against us and the Plague is begun doe neither seek peace with God nor yet will accept of it being offred to us Surely it is of the Lord to harden such mens hearts that they should as it were by their obstinacie in Sin come in battell against him that hee might destroy them utterly and that they might have no favour but that he might destroy them as was said of those Kings of Canaan who neither sought Deut. 20.10.11.12.13 17. nor accepted such conditions of Peace as were offered them CHAP. X. The Conclusion of the Motives urging a speedie performance of the duty of Humiliation both publikely and privately and that from the practice of the Heathen in case of Pestilence VVHat now remaines the Premises coÌ„sidered but that we everie one in his place set our selves to our duty The Authors wish that all would seek to appeaze this wrath It is our case now our Sins have provoked God and he is ready to consume us all as in a moment yea wrath is gone forth from the Lord the Plague is begun among us Wee have the Lords direction alreadie what to doe which wee shall consider hereafter as Moses here had How then is it to be wished that Moses did command Aaron to runne in with his Censer that Authoritie and the supreme Magistratâ— did injoyne the Priests of the Lord Aaron and his Sons speedily without any longer delay to run in and that they and all other whether Magistrates or other that have any Incense or other Sacrifice to offer would accordingly speedily perform their Office and use all possible meanes with like haste to stay the further proceeding of this great wrath of God Both Magistrates The Magistrate by speedy execution of Gods righteous judgements on the wicked with noble Phineas which Psal 106.30 if it either had beene universally and unpartially performed or yet were so done we never needed to feare such wrath from God or the continuance of it Ministers The Priest and Ministers of the Lord vvith Prayers and solemne Supplications in the publicke Assemblies and vvith godly Instructions Admonitions and Directions given the people yea and the people and generally all by unfained Humiliation of themselvs And others and Reformation in some good measure of things amisse and by such means as shall upon other Texts and Grounds of Scripture more particularly and fully be named if God will Such things should be done I knovv during the time of Gods patience for the prevention of his judgements As the Israelites in Egypt having cause to feare Gods plagues for their Idolatrie in Aegypt Ezek. 20.7 8. sought to turne them away namely Sword Pestilence and to prevent them by Humiliation Sacrifice though not within the land of Aegypt for
speciall reason Exod. 5.3 Exod. 8.25 26 27. Yet if the Plague and breaking out of wrath prevent our Humiliation And that speedily we must deferre our Humiliation no longer othervvise hovv soone may this spreading evill and overflovving Scourge or some other judgement sent to back it in Gods just wrath make an end of all save that God will have a remnant in whom hee will glorifie his Mercie and preserve his Church This is as the breaking out of fire or overflowing of waters unto which way and passage is not long to be given least the evill which at the first by a timely care might have beene prevented grow so great that it exceed the power and strength of man to withstand or resist it Whatsoever wee then doe in this kind Lest wee come too late it would bee done speedily and in time otherwise wee may come too late even when neither our own nor other mens prayers though never so holy will be accepted for us and when God will not be intreated for â—s See this in Gods deaâ—ing with the Iewes Pray â—ot for this people for their â—ood Ier. 14.11.12 said the Lord to Ieremie When they fast I will not heare their cry and when they offer a burnt offering and an oblation I will not accept them But I will consume them by the Sword and by the Famine and by the Pestilence Ezek. 14.19.20 So in Ezekiel If I send a Pestilence into that land and powre out my furie upon it in blood to cut off from it man and beast Though Noah Daniel and Iob were in it as I live saith the Lord God they shall deliver neither cleave unto the Lord according to his word in a perpetuall covenant This the Lord expects from the whole nation when his wrath is but toward them Zephan 2.1 2 Gather your selue together yea gather together O nation not desired before the decree bring forth before the day passe 〈◊〉 the chaffe 3. before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you before the day of the Lords anger come upon you Howsoever if this be noâ— done publickly it must noâ— be neglected in private by the meeke of the earth Seeke yee the Lord all yâ—â— meeke of the earth which haue wrought his judgements seeke righteousnesse seeke meekenesse it may be yee shall be hid in the day of the Lords anger It is a wonderfull thing Examples to move us that now when Gods anger is so manifested and his wrath revealed from heaven men should so little seeke to pacifie his wrath and should shew themselves so little touched with these evident tokens of his displeasure never much seeking the meanes by which the cause of his wrath against us might be made knowne unto us nay wholly impatient of such discovery when by Gods faithfull messengers it is in some good measure made Both of the Godly Shall I send such to the godly examples of good and holy King David 2 Sam. 21.1 2 c. who in a famine of three yeares enquired of the Lord for what and whose sinne it was sent which when it was told him hee punished and so put away the evill or of tender-hearted Iosiah who conceiving by the booke of the Law that wrath was due to his people and towards them presently dispatched honourable messengers to Huldah 2 Chron. 34.19 20 c. 〈◊〉 prophetesse to enquire oâ— the Lord for him and the people concerning the words of the book which hee caused to be read in a solemne assembly and renued his Covenant vvith God If such examples prevaile not with us let us receive reproofe shame in this our sloth and negligence from the example of the very heatheÌ„ And of the Heathen Illiad 1. Homer the Poet brings in Achilles advising the Greekes Who have in case of Pestilence sought to their Gods by solemne Supplications in a time of a sore Pestilence to enquire the cause thereof from God by some Prophet or Priest or Dreamer of dreams These being footsteps of those three waies by which Israel of old had Oracles or answers from God namely by Dreames by Vrim that is the Priest with Vrim and Thummim Numb 27.21 and by Prophets see 1 Sam. 28.6 7. Liv. l. 3. And Livie tels us that in case of common plague or other danger the Romans were by publick authority called out Ad id quod sua mala quemque cogeâ—ant and coÌ„manded with their wives and children to make supplication to their gods for according to that which their owne proper sins and evils compelled them and thus filling all their Temples Stratae passim matres criminibus Templa verrentes vâ—â— niam Irarum coelestium 〈◊〉 nemque pesti exposcunt their Matrons prostrate on the ground sweeping their Temples with the haire of their head sought pardon And Sacrifices of their children and the favour of their offended angry gods and an end to be put unto the Pestilence Many such like things hath Livie concerning their Supplications even for many daies together upon occasioÌ„ of war â—nd publike evils and dangers as I shew * A word in Season or Englands Summons on Iosh 7. ver 8 9. Virgil Aeneid lib. 4. lib. 3. elswhere So Virgil Principiò deâ—ubra adeunt pacemque per aâ—as exquirunt And elsewhere Exorant pacem Divum id est inquit Noâ—ius propitiationem The first thing they use to doe is to frequent their Temples and from Altar to Altar to seeke Peace that is Propitiation So Plautus Plaut in Mercator Act. 4. sc 1. So the Carthaginians when they were plagued with Pestilence Aris impuberes admoveruâ— pacem Deorum sanguine câ—rum exposcentes Iustin lib. 18. as Iustiâ— relates That is as thâ— Scripture expresseth thâ— like practise of the degenerate Iewes Psal 106.37 They sacrifâ—ced their sons and daughter unto devils seeking atonement with these their goâ— by the blood of their chiâ—dren of which practise 〈◊〉 the Heathen in sacrificiâ—â— their children to the devill in case especially of distresse more * Israels Idolatry in sacrificing their children c. on Psalm 106.37 elswhere Now shall the Heathen â—n case of Pestilence desire to know from God the true cause therof that they might offer him acceptable Sacrifice and shal they accordingly by solemne Supplications and all expressions of sorrow and humilitie seeke the favour of their gods that with the blood of their onely children and shall wee Christians in like case of Pestilence be so far from searching into the true causes of the same as to take it ill and not willingly of his wrath and averting of his judgements If now wee aske what these Meanes or Remedies are as it is most needfull wee be aright directed herein I shall endeavour at this time at least in the generall to shew And because we are all of us apt to use such such meanes as most
Num. 21.6 what by fiery Serpents what by other plagues ch 25.9 God hath variety of plagues to meet with sinners with whom it shall be As if a man should flee from a Lyon Amos 5.19 and a Beare met him or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall and a Serpent bit him concerning whom the Lord thus threatens I will slay the last of them with the sword 9.1.2.3.4 hee that fleeth of them shall not flee away and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered though they dig into hell thence shall mine hand take them though they climbe up to heaven thence will I bring them downe And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel I will search and take them out thence and so on Thus saith the Lord by Isaiah Isa 24.17.18 Feare and the pit and the snare are upon thee O Inhabitant of the earth And it shall come to passe that hee who fleeth from the noise of the feare shall fall into the pit and he that commeth up out of the midst of the pit shall bee taken in the snare The truth is when God will accomplish his fury as certainely hee will oâ— all obstinate and impenitent sinners It is not farnesse off from places oâ— danger which will secure a man Ezek. 6.12 7.15 Hee that is farr of shall die of the Pestilence and he that is neere shall faâ—â— by the sword and he that remaineth and is besieged shall die by the famine Thus wee see whilsâ— men by occasion of God judgements as now this eâ— Pestilence doe not humble themselves for theâ—â— sinnes there is no safety to them by fleeing which I have the more largely handled because this is that we most usually both flee to and also rest in The like I may and doe say concerning Antidotes Preservatives Powders Drinkes and whatsoever other outward and lawfull meanes are used as Preservatiues against the Pestilence and so concerning the diligence and â—are of Magistrates As also the care of Magistrates in outward things in keeping the unclean from the â—leane in providing for â—he reliefe of the poorer â—ort of such as are infeâ—ted or so suspected the â—ike This though otherwise commendably practised yet is not enough it is not to be rested in unlesse withall and in the first place or chiefly other meanes such as shall bee named be used Care in the one is not so commendable as negligence in the other is represensible and blame worthy All such outward meanes used iâ— but a beginning at the wrong end and from effecting perfect and sound cure especially if men care rest there nothing else be done for the pacâ—fying of Gods wrath 4. Riches are of little use here 4. To tell rich men the world that the wealth will not secure them from Gods wrath whilst they live in sinne in oppression in riotous courses or the like without repentance I hold it needlesse I suppose their owne consciences tell them so much unlesse wholly besotted man perhaps by gifts and bribes may bee pacified as Esau towards Iacob c. but not God when God hath to doe with rich men Ezek. 7.19 They shall cast their silver in the streets and their gold shall be removed or be for a separation or uncleannesse their silver and their gold shall not bee able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord. Great men then in their sinnes are no more secure or safe from wrath then others 2. 2. Some meanes are neither to be rested in nor used Of the second sort of meanes the popish manner of pacifying Gods wrath is first briefly to be noted and to bee taken heed of They seek to pacifie the wrath of God by workes of penance of their owne devising as by whipping of themselves â— As popâ—sh works of penance going barefoot or on bare knees by wearing hairy shirts going on pilgrimage and the like So by offering summes of money at such or such religious places c. of some of which their Councell of Trent saith Sess 14. cap. 8.9 that there was never any safer way found out in the Church for the averting of Gods vengeance as I find observed also by an other on this my text 2. 2. Heathenish sacrifâ—ces of chiâ—dren Much lesse will heathenish practises too much imitated of old by Gods people stay Gods hand when it is stretched out For wee heard how the heathen in case of Pestilence of Gods displeasure did betake themselves to their Idole gods not with prayers only and supplications prostrating themselves with other sacrifices but with the sacrificing of their owne children But of this later sort of meanes the Lord may and doubtlesse will say to hypocrites When yee come to appeare before me Isa 1 12. Ier. 7.21.20.23 who hath required this at your hand to tread my courts And put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices and eate flesh for I spake not unto your fathers nor commanded them concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices no who did then but this thing commanded I them that is this thing chiefly without which the other was but as a dead carkasse saying Obey my voice and walke yee in all the wayes that I have commanded you that it may be well unto you 3. 3. Meanes to be used on which we may expect a blessing If then indeed wee would be aright directed what to doe at such times when wrath is gone out against us let us receive our direction from God himselfe and from his word where he makes his mind known unto us for otherwise Rom. 11.34 Who hath knowne his mind Such is our blindnes and ignorance that we cannot know what service is pleasing to him unlesse he himselfe make his will knowne unto us As then we cannot see the light of the Sun by any other light than that which the Sun it selfe affords us no more can wee know what will please or appease him being angry further than he hath been pleased to make it known unto us And this is but reason for wee expect the like from our owne Servants that they doe what service wee appoint them and as we will have them doe it and not what and as they please themselves These are such as God himselfe directs unto Now God partly by Precept by way of Condition partly by way of Reproofe whilest he complaines of the neglect of what he expects besides the examples and practise of his Saints on earth in like case lets us know what we should doe when his hand is gone out against us whether by Pestilence as now with us or otherwise To which end I shall set before you some pregnant places of Scripture scatteringly out of which wee will bring the chiefe duties to a Method Here propounded 1. Seaâ—â—â—râ—â—ly which here we will onely propound not lading this Text with more then it will
of the Church â—nd Common-wealth we â—nly mind our own good â—nd safety no hee will â—ave us also according to â—ur severall places calâ—â—ngs gifts to become Inâ—â—rcessors to him for others â—lso and to helpe to turne â—way wrath from others â—nd our selves This God â—â—oked for though in â—â—aine of his people and â—his he lookes for from us now Ezek. 22.30 And I sought for 〈◊〉 man among them saith the Lord that should make 〈◊〉 the hedge and stand in the gap before me for the land that I should not destroy it but I found none therefore haue I poured out mine indignation upon them 31. I haâ— consumed them with tâ—â— fire of my wrath 2. According to Method From these places 〈◊〉 Scripture wee see whâ—â— kind of duties the Loâ—â— expects from us when â—vill is upon or yet but â—â—wards us and what he 〈◊〉 this time of Pestilenâ— expects more especiall from us of this place yâ—â— and nation generally eveâ— from such as being otherwise of the same body of our Church and nation are yet free from the infection of this noysome disease Which duties I may The meanes appointed of God to be uâ—ed in case of Pestilence c. are by God himselfe brought to foure duties for method and memories sake reduce unto those foure which God expects from us in case of Pestilence as necessary conditions without which severally and joyntly in some good manner performed we can expect no hearing of our prayers nor healing either of our soules in and by the pardon of our sinnes or of our land and place in mercy at least by taking away this plague The words runne thus which God utters by way of answere to King Solomons godly wise prayer at the dedication of the Temple which was a type of Christ in our nature in whom onely for whom all prayers are savingly heard 2. Chron. 7.13.14 If I send Pestilence among my people if my people which are called by my name shal humble themselves and pray and seeke my face and turne from their wicked wayes then will I heare from Heaven and will forgive their sinne and will heale their land The duties here are foure 1. Selfe-humbling 2. Prayer 3. Seeking of Gods face and favour in and by prayer more then any thing else seeing many pray against the outward evill of plague who not caring much for Gods displeasure otherwise never seeke his face 4. Turning from sin Vnto these foure all or most of the forenamed duties are reducible which foure also may bee reduced to these two heads Turning first to God secondly from sinne In one word there is required Turning or Conversion which according to the two termes or points 1. to what or whom and 2. from what or whom is a conversion or turning first to God and his wayes secondly from our owne sinfull wayes The first three Duties belong to our turning unto God 1. Selfe-humbling 1. Selfe-humbling Now to selfe-humbling there are three things required if they may not be called parts thereof Vnto which belong 1. Conviction First Conviction upon a due Consideration 1. Of Gods Iudgements upon us in the 1. Author 2. End 3. Nature 4. Cause which is our sin and so 2. Consideration of our sinne or sinnes as Causes of the evill which is incumbenâ— upon us which is a very large usefull and fundamentall point to consider of 2. Confession of sinne found out 3. Contrition 2. Confession or true inward and hearty Sorrow expressed outwardly by all fit and lively signes of it as by fasting weeping Outwardly expressed by al signes of Humiliation prostration of the body vile apparell and the like which may testifie truely without dissimulation the inward condition and state of the soule which not excluding the former two may more properly come under the name of Selfe-humbling 2. Prayer 2. The second dutie is Prayer and Invocation of Gods name 3. Reconciliation with God 3. The third is Seeking of the face of God and Reconciliation with him 4. Turning from our wicked wayes which implyes 1. Reformation of life 4. The fourth dutie is a Turning from our wicked wayes which implyes 1. Reformation of our lives and of things amisse and out of order by bringing all right againe both in matter of Doctrine and of life according to the only rule of Gods word 2. Renuing of covenant 2. Renuing of our Covenant with God by solemne promise vow 3. Keeping of covenant vvhy not Oath at least serious purpose and protestation 3. Ratifying and confirming of the same by a speedy and also constant performance of Covenant without returning to our former evill wayes and provocations againe With all these we must all of us as God may require it at our hands according to our several places and abilities or as wee are in favour with his heavenly Majestie labour to become Intercessours To which add 5. Intercession for others or a standing in the gap which must be done 1. By Magistrates and to stand in the gap for the land or place where wee live to turne away wrath from it vvhich must bee done 1. By Magistrates chiefe and subordinate who must both inquire into offences and punish the same Good Magistrates have a chiefe stroke in keeping off or in removing of wrath from a people God never publikely judgeth by Pestilence or otherwise but Magistrates first neglect their dutie in judging If they did unpartially execute Gods judgements God would not so immediatly with his owne hand judge us or give us into the hand of mercilesse men to bee judged vvith their judgements 2. By Ministers 2. By the Ministers of the word who must stand in the gap by a right discovery of sin and danger and many other waies and not bee like the Prophets of Israel which were like the Foxes in the deserts ye have not saith the Lord Ezek. 13 4â—.5 gone up into the gapps neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battell in the day of the Lord yet thus much the Lord requires of his Ministers 3. By All 3. By all How which wee must all strive to doe making up the hedge for our selves and others 1. By rightteousnesse 1. By becomming righteous our selves Iob 22.30 Gen. 18.32 and by seeking righteousnes Zeph. 2.3 2. Mourning 2. By mourning for and bewayling the sinnes and dangers of the time and place where wee live Ezek. 9.4 3. Prayer 3. By earnest prayer and intercession so Abraham prevaled for Lot Gen. 18. Lot for Zoar Moses for the Israelites often Iob for his friends and David and his Elders for Ierusalem the destruction of which after the death of seventy thousand else where was by his repentance and intercession prevented 1. Chron 21.14.15 c. These particulars are large and must bee handled God assisting on their severall and more proper grounds of Scripture I will not farther burthen this short text with them contenting my selfe onely here to point unto them seeing the text it selfe implyeth the use of such meanes as God hath appointed for the pacifying and averting of his wrath Now the Lord give us hearts wisedome and grace to make use of these meanes in time both for his glory and our own safety bodily and spiriâ—uall Amen FINIS The number of those that died at New-castle within the liberties from the 7. of May till December 31. of the Plague as followeth 1636. MAy 7. to 14. 59. May 14. to 21. 55. May 21. to 28. 99. May 28. to Iune 4. 122 Iune 4. to 11. 99. Iune 11. to 18. 162. Iune 18. to 25. 133. Iune 25. to 2. of Iuly 172. Iuly 2. to 9. 184. Iuly 9. to 16. 212. Iuly 16. to 23. 270. Iuly 23. to 30. 366. Aug. 30. to 7. 337. Aug. 7. to 14. 422. Aug. 14. to 21. 346. Aug. 21. to 28. 246. Septemb. 4. 520. Septemb. 4. to 11. 325. Septemb. 11. to the last of December 908. The totall is 5027. Buried in Garth-side in New-castle this present yeare 1636. as followeth May 30 to Iune 6 10 Iune 6 to 13 24 Iune 13 to 20. 19 Iune 20 to 27 34 Iune 27 to Iuly 4 40 Iuly 4 to 11 75 Iuly 11 to 18 66 Iuly 18 to 25 60 Iuly 25 to August 1 60 Aug. 1 to 8 29 Aug. 8 to 15 17 Aug. 15 to 22 18 Aug. 22 to 29 13 Aug. 29 to Septem 5 14 Septemb. 5 to 12 11 Septemb. 12 to 19 7 Septemb. 19 to 26 4 Septemb. 26 to Octob. 3 6 October 3 to 10 2 October 10 to 17 â— October 17 â— The totall is 515.
punishment is to the impenitent a Signe of the greatest anger that may be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist Rhet. 2. even as it is amongst men where such as are soone angrie and by anger doe shew their displeasure are sooâ—est pleased and appeased wheras such as whose anger is turned into hatred and who intend revenge are like the sulleâ— curre which gives no warning by barking silent threaten little conceale their hatred but secretly and silently purpose and contrive mischiefe and the utter ruine of the partie with whom they are displeased Difference betweene Anger and Hatred neither doe they care for being known to be the authors of such revenge because they seek not the partie his good or bettering but his utter ruine and destruction whereas such as are onely angry and doe not truely hate will shew their anger as when a Father or â—aster chides threatens â—â—corrects his Son or Serâ—â—nt hee would have his child or servant know that hee is displeased and for what that so hee might be feared sought unto and more respected afterward being ever ready upoÌ„ submission or amendment to shew favour and friendlinesse This difference the philosopher puts betweene Anger and Hatred Arist ut suprà And God himselfe seemes to doe somewhat like yet without all Sin in himself or wrong done any Whom hee loves and intends good to hee chastens namely by some outward sensible evils and corrections as a loving father ready to shew mercy upon submission repentance he will not let them go on securely in sin without correction though he also sensibly punish the wicked who receive no correction neither will he suffer them to goe to hell without warning and correction But for such as long contemne warnings and will not bee reformed by the word or by sensible strokes lesser judgements the Lord in greater wrath both gives them over to do their owne wicked wils and when so they do he will no longer shew his anger by using the rod sensibly though he be never more angry indeed then at such times God never is more angry with Sinners then when hee shewes it least thus leaving them insensiblie under his heavy wrath and reserving them to certaine and inevitable destruction both temporall eternall one text and instance for many In the Prophesie of Hosea thus we read Hos 4.12 13 14. My people aske counsell at their stockes for the spirit of whordomes have caused theÌ„ to erre and they have gone a whoring by Idolatry from under their God c. Therfore your daughters shall commit whoredome your spouses shall commit adultery I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredome nor your spouses when they commit adultery Thus they were left in their sinnes to finall impenitency and to finall destruction both in this life and for ever after This sensible evill is a mercie to us How justly might God even thus have dealt with us of this place and nation having especially so often before fairly and sensibly warned us and that as by other corrections so by this of plague and pestilence but in vain in regard of any amendment or reformation oh what a mercy is it then for him yet once more to put us in mind of his displeasure and anger conceived against us And should lead us to repentance and not wholly to leave us in our sinns to perish in them through our security but if it be possible to awaken us to use the means by which we may prevent greater wrath without speedy amendment inevitable destruction And certainly if this prevaile not with us to the amendment of our lives we must take it as a neere forerunner of much heavier wrath God wil not alwaies dally with us or yet bee dallied withall which we are further to consider in the next Motive CHAP. VIII In that this wrath is but gon out and this plague but begun which therefore as it may be staid froÌ„ proceeding if wee timely meet God in the way of his judgmeÌ„ts so it wil prove but the beginning of greter evils if we repent not we have cause speedily to run in with our Censers and to prevent our owne ruine LEt us now consider what cause we have to hasten our repentance froÌ„ this that is he◠〈…〉 is gone out 〈…〉 â—â—â—tance the plâ—gâ—â—◠〈…〉 â—â—gun Consider wee 〈…〉 that this wrath is but go 〈◊〉 out this plague is but begun it is not yet gone on so far as it may and will if it be not stayed in time it is not yet consummate or ended where it wil end or what the end of it will be who knows This affords us a double consideration Seeing this Plague is but begun first of Mercy secondly of Iustice and Security if wee meet not God by times 1. Wrath is but gone out 1. Gods mercy should move us in that it is but begun the Plague is but begun and therefore may be stayed if means be used in time God in his wrath doth not yet destroy us all at once as not these rebels heere though hee threatned to consume them as in a moment Verse â—5 Moses and Aaron falling on their faces And therefore may be stayed obtained some respite for them then as doubtlesse Gods faithfull servants obtaine like mercie for us now From this mercie and long-suffering in God it is that wee are not all consumed that we perish not all at once that the punishment of our Sin is not like to that of Sodom that was overthrowne as in a moment Lament 4.6 and no hands stayed on her The truth is God some thirty yeares agoe in the powder Furnâ—ce prepared by the Papists for us God destroyes us not in a moment all at once as once hee threatned did let us see both the extremity of their rage and wicked intentions toward us as also the greatnesse of our guiltinesse and how justly he might have given us then so long since into their hands to have beene swallowed up quicke by them when their wrath was kindled against us Psalm 124.3 Hee was neere then to have consumed us all at once when the fire like that of Sodome should not have begunne in some remote place as when it takes in some one or few houses in a towne or citie by which others farther off might have beene awakened taken warning and have provided for their owne safety at least if not also have stayed the farther spreading and raging of it no it should have begunne and ended all at once and at once made an end of all Thus hee then might have delt with us even destroyed us by that their mercilesse fire and sword or by some other sudden vengeance such as fell upon the host of the Assyrians And as he delt with others when the Angell of the Lord in one night destroyed an hundred fourescore and five thousand of the chiefe of them or as hee did