allude to that Word Isa. 21. 11. watch-man what of the night watch-man what of the night The watch-man said The morning cometh and also the night There may be a dark Night before the Morning and even darkest immediately before the break of day And 2. Ye are to understand these dark Providences with reference to Judgments as well as mercies Ier. 8. 7. The stork in the heavens knoweth her appointed times and the turtle and the cran and the swallow observe the time of their coming but my people know not the judgment of the Lord. And as to this ye are to understand 1. That the Lord with variety of outward Judgments oftimes smites a sinful People he hath many sickles to cut down a Nation when they are rype by abounding and being impudent and obstinat in sin Ioel 3. 13. Zach. 5. 1. And in his Soveraignity he changes them at his pleasure And in order to this he fitteth Instruments to execut his wrath and prepares them for doing his pleasure Isa. 13. 3. I have called my sanctified ones I have commanded my mighty ones for mine anger and proportions the Judgments some way to the sin of a People that they who run may read for what the Lord smitteth them when they that spoil are spoiled c. 2. That the Lord doth sometimes insensibly consume a People by spiritual and invisible Judgements sending a moth among them Hos. 5. 12. I will be as a moth to the house of Iudah and as rottenness to the house of Israel And making gray hairs to be here and there upon them Hos. 7. 9. tho they knew it not This is worthy of your search and studying to understand how the Lord secretly and insensibly by Spiritual Judgments wastes a Nation Judgments come and the noise of their feet is not heard they are effectually tho insensibly destroyed O strange A People slain and the sword not seen and the shot not heard but in his wrath they pine away by his deserting of them Mic. 3. 4. By hardning their hearts blinding their eyes and fatning their hearts Isa. 6. 9. By giving them up to spiritual barrenness Ezek. 47. 11. And to strong delusions 2 Thes. 2. 12. And by letting them run on in sin without reproof or correction Isa. 1. 5. Hos. 4. 14. And by many other spiritual plagues which makes the case the sadder that not only as I have said they consume insensibly but they are both sins and judgments Amos. 4. 4. Yea if not timously prevented by turning to the Lord they may prove the sad earnest of hell and damnation as in that forecited place 2 Thes. 2. 12. That they all might be damned who believe not the truth And 3. It 's worthy of your study to understand how that Moth. at last if a People prove incorrigible turns into a Lyon and a Leopard Hos. 13. 7. Therefore I will be unto them as a lyon and as a leopard by the way will I observe them And how the Lord by out ward and visible strokes destroyes a Nation Ier. â—4 12. I will consume them by the sword and by famine and by the pestilence 5. You are to labour to understand the great ends and designs that the Lord is driving on by these times and providences that pass over a People And if ye observe narrowly ye will find 1. That by all these Providences in the latter days he is removing these things that are or as some read it may be shaken as of things that are made that the things which cannot be shaken may remain 2. That he is making way for the utter ruin and fall of Antichrist and Popery in all the forms of it that not so much as a rag of that whore may remain Rev. 18. 2. And his Church sing a triumph Babylon the great is fallen is fallen And 3. That he is carrying on the establishment of Zion upon her right Basis and Foundation Isa. 14. last v. What shall one answer the messenger of the nations That the Lord hath founded Zion and the poor of the people shall trust in or as in the Heb. betake themselves unto it And if these great Ends be carried on by Providences It matters not much tho you and I and others miss our own particular and self Ends. And 6. I would propose to you the understanding of the Times which the Text relates unto And if there be any paralell betwixt it and our Times it is not I but Scripture and Providence the great Commentary on Scripture that hath made it And if ye will search into the case of the Text you will find 1. That Saul David's Father in Law was now dead and the Throne vacand 2. Abner and his Command that he had over the Tribes was now removed out of the way by the Lord 's remarkable hand 2. Sam. 3. 30. 33. 3. David was now magnified among the People by his victories over the Philistines his pious carriage and his zeal for the ark of the Lord and against Idolatry and for the publick good of the Land v. 18. of this chap. 4. The time of the Promise for making David King was now at hand to be fulfilled 2 Sam. 3. 9 10. 5. There was a Spirit of Zeal for this work moving all the Tribes they flock one after another to the work as here in this chap. v. 2â— 38. It 's said They came all with a perfect heart to make David King over Israel and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David King untill as v. 22. they were a great host as the host of God 6. There were both open and secret Enemies to this great work of making David King if ye will consider what is said in 1 King 12. 16. and in v. 17. of this chap. And 7. When ever David came to the Crown he gave orders to bring back the Ark to its right place And in the following chap. to this Text ye see what orders after consultation with the Leaders and Captains he issues forth to bring again the Ark of God for says he we inquired not at it in the days of Saul Yea 8. In this Juncture there were that gave the Ark a wrong touch which kindled the Anger of the Lord against him see v. 9. of the chap. next to this Text. And I must in the 9. and last place add That when the Ark was brought home several remarkable things followed As David the King his carnal fear to bring it to his own City v. 12 13. of the following Chapter The great confirmation of the Kingdom upon him by the Lords signal appearances in his behalf according to his Promise by forreign Confederacies and kindness by a numerous Family and by victories over his Enemies As in 1 Chron. 14. 1 2 10 14 c. And at last after several stops and lets the Ark is brought with shouting unto it's own place the City of David 1 Chron. 15. 28 And the called and appointed Officers of
and wonderment Psal. 74. 14. Thou brakest the heads of Leviathan in pieces and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness 5. Without this knowledge of the Times and Providences ye cannot well know how to order your Addresses to God in Prayer and Supplication anent them and your own circumstances under them Psal. 109. 4. For the right understanding of times will afford you many Articles for your Prayers prompt you to plead them and fit you for discerning the Lord's returns For when the flouds of great Waters are like to go over David he says Psal. 32. 6. For this shall every one that is godly call upon thee in a time when thou mayest be found And 6. It is a most pleasant and ravishing exercise to be studying to understand the Times and the attainments of the Saints this way fill their Souls with unspeakable delight It 's one of the Fruits of Christ that are sweet to their Taste Psal. 111 2. The works of the Lord are sought out of all these that take pleasure in them What a Heaven upon Earth will this advance thee unto O! what pleasure to perceive the Wise Counseller and excellent Worker against contrary Winds and Tides from men steering all to the Harbour of his own praise the exalting of his Son and the happiness of his Church and secretly carrying on these ends while men are driving quite contrary designs how he promotes his designs by wicked mens opposing them and enlarges and gathers his Church by their scattering of it And O! what satisfaction as to thy own particular case to behold and discern the Lord sometimes lifting thee up Psal. 102. 10. and sometimes casting thee down again sometimes laying you low as free among the dead and again setting your feet upon a Rock and making them like hinds feet so that ye walk on high places sometimes enlarging you and your steps under you and again straitning you that ye walk as with fetters now afflicted and again delivered wounded and cast down and in three dayes healed and lifted up these are part of his wayes which cannot but be pleasure to us to search into and contemplat Yea how delighting must it be to begin that exercise here that shall continue in Heaven to view and remember with delight the various and wonderful methods that the wise Lord took in bringing you there and while you are on Earth to be transported to have your Conversation in Heaven or to have a Wafe of Heaven brought unto your Soul This cannot be but an unspeakable delight II. What are these things in times that we are to search into and study to understand 1. We are to search into and to understand the hid and secret Spring of the Lord 's wise and powerful hand in directing permitting and ordering all these things that fall out in time The wheel Ezek 1. 16. that is within the wheel and the hand that is under the wings of the living creatures as in a Clock or Watch we see the Hand but we see not the secret Spring within that moves all and turns about the direct Retrograd and transverse motions of the Wheels to the discovery of the hour for Times and Providences may be obvious in their actions second Causes and the effects they produce but we are in the dark many times 1. As to the power that acts 2. As to the reasons and ends he hath before him And 3. As to the mind and disposition wherewith he moves in them these ly hid under ground as matter of inquiry to the serious and most discerning whose eyes are in their head 2. We are to search into and understand the Sins of the times that we may confess and mourn over them escape from them and get them removed Ier. 9. 12. Who is the wise man that may understand this for what the land perisheth and is burnt up like a wilderness so that none passeth through As to which ye are to understand 1. That as there hath been many Prophets that have seen vain and foolish things for us Lam. 2. 14. and have not discovered our iniquity to turn away our captivity but have seen for us false causes of banishment So the Lords people are often in the dark as to the grounds of the Lord's controversie with them and frequently put to that question Iob 9. 10. Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me 2. That there are no sins which have brought down the wrath of God upon any Nation but it hath been found in our skirts and so cannot rationally expect that he will bear with that in one people which he hath punished so severely in another but that as in Isa. 10. 11. As he hath done unto Samaria and her idols so will he do unto Ierusalem Scotland and her idols We may see the dead carcasses of other sinners and finful Nations lying in our way for the same sins we are guilty of which may make us halt in the course of our backsliding and defection And 3. If I should condescend upon the particular sins of our times as the contempt of the glorious Gospel Zech. 7. 11 12. Our Idolatry Ezek. 14. 5. and chap. 20 16 Perfidie Deut. 29. 24 25. Lukewarmness and indifferency in Religion Rev. 3. 15. Oppression Ezek. 8. 17. c. It would be fitter for a Volum than a Sermon to enumerat them and therefore I shall satisfie my self with saying as in Amos 1. 9. For three transgressions of Tyrus Scotland and for four I will not turn away the punishment thereof because c. and that in Ier. 30. 14. For the multitude of thine iniquities and because thy sins were increased I have done these things unto thee 3. Ye are to study to understand the Signs and tokens of the times Matth. 16. 3. O ye hypocrites ye can discern the face of the sky but can ye not discern the signs of the times and that both the good and bad signs of the times I will not mention the bad signs further than by way of the contrary they may be comprehended in the good but shall mention only these good and promising Signs of our times to be studied and understood Matth. 24. 22. When the fig-tree casteth her blossoms we know that summer is near As 1. It is a good and promising Token of a time when there is a melting and mourning frame amongst the Lord's people for abounding Iniquity Ier. 31. 9. When the people come with weeping and supplications asking the way to Zion which Sign is so to be understood 1. As that though our iniquities testifie against us Isai. 48. 11. yet he will do for his Names sake 2. That what is wanting in our mourning frame before our Deliverance may come alongst with it or follow after it And 3. That his Soveraign grace may prove as the dew that waiteth not for man or his frame but magnifieth it self in delivering of a sinful and indisposed yea ill-disposed people 2. When there is any
A SERMON Preached before His Grace GEORGE EARL of MELVIL Their Majesties High Commissioner AND The Nobility Barons and Burrows Members of the High Court of Parliament In the Parliament-House upon Sunday May 11. 1690. By Iohn Spalding Minister at Kirkcudbright EDINBURGH Printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson by Order Anno DOM. 1690. 1 CHRON. 12. 32. And the Children of Issachar which were men that had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do THis Text bears an excellent Character of a Party who came with others in a very Critical Juncture to Hebron to assist in making David King Saul now being out of the way and the time of fulfilling the promise to David being now at hand wherein you have 1. a description of the Party thus Characterized 1. From their Tribe they were Children of Issachar a Tribe whose Motto was a strong Ass couching down between two burdens as Gen. 49. 14. discovering their Disposition Strength and Employment about worldly concerns The Lord will bring off people from their vvorldly affairs vvhen he hath service for them 2. From their Number they were 200 that came to assist in the work Tho people be at some disadvantages yet ought they not to vvithdravv their hand from the Lord's vvork And 3. From their Station all of them had command over their Brethren either in a Civil or Military capacity Strong obligations lyes upon those in places of Trust and Command to put their hand to the Lord's work 2. You have the Character it self which beyond many others they did bear they had understanding of the times Where we are 1. to consider what is meant by times By times here is not meant properly that which Philosophers call the measure of Motion by first and last But Figuratively the state and condition of times or these Providences Affairs Changes and Vicissitudes that fall out in time Esth. 1. 13. And 2. What this understanding of the times is It were too narrow a sense to astrict it either to that Physical and Astrological knowledge which they had of the Stars and motions of the Heavens teaching them the fit Seasons they being for most part Husband-men of Sowing and Reaping c. Or to that Historical and Chronological understanding which they had of the times that were past or of right computing and ordering the times of celebrating their solemn Feasts or to that Military knowledge which they were endowed with of the fit seasons of going forth to and right management of their Wars and Battels But it hath reference 1. To that Moral Prudence and Policy whereby they knew the nature tendency and duties with their fittest seasons of the present posture of affairs And 2. To that spiritual wisdom and understanding whereby they were directed to the discovery and right improvement of the intricat providences of their time which seemed to be greatly perplexed with singular intricacies and rotations and particularly of the present dispensation of making David King And 3. In the Text you have the effect and result of this gift of their understanding of the times It was contributive to the discovery and practice of their own and all Israels present duty to know what Israel ought to do whether as a Body Politick or Ecclesiastick The words that I have chosen for the Subject of this Sermon are these which were men that had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do Wherein you have 1. a supposition of two truths the handling of which is not my present intendment 1. That there are some special times and providences which may pass over a Church or Kingdom Eccl. 3. 17. 2. That these signal times and providences are oft-times very intricat difficult to understand Ezâ—â— 1. 16. 2. A position of other two Doctrines As 1. That it is a necessary duty and commendable qualification to understand the times that a Church or Kingdom may pass under 2. That the right discerning of these times contribute much to discover unto and direct people in the right timing and management of their present duty The prosecution of these two truths is my present work Doct 1. That it is a necessary duty and commendable qualification to understand the singular times or providences that may pass over a Church or Kingdom Eccl. 8. 5. A wise mans heart discerneth both time and judgment Method requires that in the prosecution of this truth I should first give you the grounds of it 2. What are these things which in times we are to study mainly to understand And 3. What way we may best come to the understanding of times I. The grounds of this Doctrine are 1. God hath expresly commanded that ye make serious reflections upon his singular providences whether of mercy or of judgment Psal. 66. 5. Come and see the works of God he is terrible in his doings to the children of men And when the seven Seals are opened Rev. 6. 1. A thundering voice is heard crying come and see and how many Beholds are prefixed in the Scripture to his signal steps and goings amongst a people Exod. 3. 2. Behold the bush burned with fire and the bush was not consumed And Iob is in a special way called to this duty Iob 37. 14. Hearken unto this O Job stand still and consider the wondrous works of God 2. The Lord is sore displeased with and uttereth severe threatnings against a people that are not in this duty Psal. 28. 5. Because they regard not the works of the Lord not the operations of his hands he shall destroy them and not build them up It is an high contempt of God when he travelleth amongst a people in signal and singular steps of providence not to observe or take notice of his goings and lays them open to that sad challenge whereby the Lord ranks them below Bruits Isai. 1. 3. The ox knoweth his owner and the ass his masters crib but my people do not know and Israel doth not consider 3. Without this knowledge of the times the Lord loses his due praises at our hands for how can we praise him when we cannot discern his loving kindness why will ye be so foolish and unjust as to rob God of the Glory due to him of all his Works by not studying to understand them Psal. 107. contains a record of his wondrous Works and at the close of every Section there is an Exclamation O that men would praise the Lord c. And the last verse concludes Whoso is wise and will observe these things even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord. 4. As the Lord by neglect of this Duty loses his Praises so we lose the benefit of Times and Providences if we do not understand them for by his Works as well as by his Word he causes his people to profit And without this discerning of the Times we want a great part of the Food of our Faith the exercise of Patience and occasion of serious Comtemplation
measure of desirable harmony and Union in a State or Church and every one as one stick of Bands in the hand of the Lord and with one consent Zeph. 3. 9. And with one shoulder Amos 9. 11. Help up with the fallen tabernacle And ye are to understand this sign so as 1 Though people may be of different and imperfect Light and Sentiments in some things 1 Cor. â—3 9. Yet in the main Truths and Concerns of the Church and Nation they may and ought to be as one man 1 Thes. 5. 13. Not striving who shall hold the Candle least by their strugling they put it out 2. That the wisdom of God may out-wit the Devil and his Instruments in making the differences among his people not only prove the mean of Discovery of the hearts and principles of many Luke 2. 35. But to be the occasion of their more closs uniting among themselves and this fire of Division to separat Heterogenials and congregat Homogenials And 3. That this Union and Concord as it is the Ornament and Beauty of a Society set in Majesty Ezek. 7. 20. and makes them comely as Ierusalem and as it is the strength and safety of a Corporation a shaft of Arrows not being broken so easily as single ones so is it a Terror unto Enemies and makes them terrible as any Army with banners and occasions Enemies to saint in their opposition saying as in the primitive times Behold how they love one another And 3. It 's a good sign of a time when there are some hopeful beginnings of Good breaking up resembling the voice upon the top of the Mulberry-trees 2 Sam. 5. 24. And the little cloud like a mans hand seen upon the top of mount Carmel 1 King 18 44. which sign is so to be understood as 1. We are not to despise the day of small things Zech. 4 10. But 2. To look upon them as arles of and so many steps towards his Work his strange Work his Act his strange Act which shall make us all cry with shouting grace grace unto it And 3. As God mercifully engaging some in a good Cause and Course to the saving of their Souls building of their Houses and comfort at Death he hath by these beginnings wherein ye have been instrumental happily brought you over to his side and I desire to be perswaded that he will never suffer you to retreat which if ye do he hath a witness against you in these things in your own Consciences that ye condemn your selves in these things that now ye allow 4. Ye are to observe and understand the dark Providences of the times with reference both to Mercy and Judgment Eccl. 8. 5. A wise mans heart discerneth both time and judgment And 1. With respect unto mercy observe and understand 1. How the Lord doth great works by small means Deborah Iudges 5. A weak woman the worm Iacob Isai. 41. 14. Threshing mountains Rams Horns Iosh. 6. 4. bringing down high walls a Straw in the hand of Omnipotency will do great things By unexpected means bringing Instruments from afar not thought upon to do service to his Church Exod. 3. 10. From their common and ordinary Employments as Gideon Iudges 6. 11. from the Threshing-floor and from his enemies as Cyrus Isai. 45. 1. To loose the loins of kings and break the gates of brass and elevating them above their ordinary sphere and ability to do exploits making the feeble among them as David Zech. 12. 8 And the weak as an Angel of God By no visible means Zech. 4. 6. Not by power or by might but by my Spirit saith the Lord Yea from the furnace of Affliction Ioseph brought out of Prison to Rule and as many of you are lately come from your Bonds to the Bensh By contrary means that would seem to destroy Clay and Spittle that of themselves tend to mar the sight yet applyed by Christ Ioh. 9. 6. heal blind eyes by affliction to bring about the Deliverance of his Church by darkness to bring light and by scattering to gather Yea by means that have no rational or probable connexion with the effect what rational connexion can be imagined betwixt the King 's not getting sleep calling for a Book to divert him c. Esther 6. 1 2. and the Deliverance of the Church yet the Lord brings forth their Deliverance that way a Drummer in his Drunkenness Ringing the Town Bell in Beziers in France giving the Besieged Protestants the alarm just when their enemies were assaulting them was an observable Providence 2. How the Lord by very impressions and apprehensions upon the Spirits of enemies makes them fly when none pursueth and one to chase a thousand and two to put ten thousand to flight a famous instance whereof ye have in Iudges 7. 13. A Dream of a fellow that a barley cake was tumbled into the Host of the Midianites makes them all run crying this is no other but the sword of the Lord and of Gideon the Sun shining upon the Waters put an impression upon the Moabites to their ruin 2 Kin. 3. 22. c. which makes the overthrow of enemies so easie whereof we in our time have had pregnant proof that as Nahum 3. 12. Their strong Cities fall as ripe figgs into the mouth of the eater and their valiant captains melt as grashoppers in a Sunny day 3. How the Lord makes things fall out contrary to what his enemies design and in all humane appearance may expect The Lord as Isa. 24. 25. turning wise men backward and evidencing that the deceived Ioh 12. 16. and deceiver are his and turning the Counsels of Achitophels to foolishness As for instance the People of Israel would have a King to put them in a happy condition like other Nations 1 Sam 8. 5. But that King destroyed their Nation and David behoved to bear up the Pillars thereof The Church banished from Ierusalem on purpose to destroy it Acts 11. 19 20. And was a very probable mean to effectuat the design but that banishment of the Church proved the preservation of the Church when Ierusalem was destroyed And Paul bound that he might not Preach Phil. 1. 12. But his Bonds do Preach and tend to the furtherance of the Gospel 4. How the Lord brings down his Enemies when their strength is greatest their Combinations strongest and their Confidences highest Nah. 1. 10. When they were drunken as the drunkard with success and folded together as thorns by combinations confederacies and strength then shall they be devoured as stubble fully dry Yea 5. How the Lord brings the darkest hour upon a Church immediately before her delivery and makes her Furnace hotter in the very carrying on of her deliverance As faired with the Church in Esthers time and in Babylon And that is a strange word in Mic. 4. 10. Be in pain and labour to bring forth for ye shall go to Babylon and there be delivered making their light to shine out of obscurity And I may
the Lord are set to wait on it and no foul fingers to touch it 1 Chron. 16. 37 c. And then and not till then cometh peace and all the people return to their houses and David returned to bless his house v. 43. There are many other things in times that ye ought to understand but least I exceed the bounds of a Sermon I forbear to mention them and comes to the last thing I proposed in the method of this Doctrine III. What way may People best come to understand the Times Answ. 1. By Consulting the Word of God which is the best Key to unlock Providences and Times to the law and to the testimony Isa. 8. 20. and as Asaph when he was puzled with a singular Providence Psal. 73. 16 17. he went into the Sanctuary to be resolved and there was cleared as to the Times and Providences he was trysted with The Lords voice cryeth unto the city Mic. 6. 9. and the man of wisdom shall know thy name 2. Labour to have the work of Grace and Renovation thorow and clear without Clouds for the Image of God in a man is of such a nature that it hath something in it answering as Face to Face in a Glass to all the revealed Will of God and to its great and best Interpreter Times and Providences and the more powerful and lively Grace be in its Actings the more infight you will have both in his Word and Works Psal. 25. 14. the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him c. 3. Compare former Times and Providences in their Nature and Circumstances with present Times and Dispensations and that will give more Light in what seems hid and obscure to you Psal. 77. 5. Consider the days of old and the years of antient times and bring them home to the present Case and it may help you to know the Vision Mic. 6. 5. Remember from Shittim to Gilgal that ye may know the righteousness of the Lord. 4. Imploy by Prayer Christ Jesus to open the Book of Times and Providences to you for he is worthy to do it Rev. 5. 2. When ye go forward and he is not there and backward but cannot perceive him on the left hand where he doth work but cannot behold him and on the right hand but ye cannot see him then ply the Duty of Prayer for the right management of that Duty hath given great Light to the Saints in dark and difficult times Psal. 77. 19. when the Lords way is in the sea and his paths in the deep waters yet Prayer will be a mean to discover his Goings and lay open his Mind in them 5. If ye would rightly understand Times beware of Prejudices at and rash Censuring of Times and Providences as if ye were wiser than God or could amend what he hath done who art thou O man that chargeth God foolishly and findeth fault with the Almighty the wise Counseller and excellent Worker Ye ought to submit your Will to His and neither to censure nor quarrel His Ways but say as Psalm 18. 23. This is the doing of the Lord and marvellous in our Eyes I remember what is recorded that Luther said to Melanchton when he was ready to censure the Times as seeming to threaten the ruine of the Church Monendus est iste Philippus ut desinat esse mundi gubernator Let Melanchton cease says he to govern the World Men when they overlook a supreme over ruling Hand at the Helm of Providences are ready to censure them It was a severe Construction that Porphyry put upon the Israelites passing through the Red-Sea and the Egyptians being drowned That they took the advantage of a low Water as if the Ebb there had ever been so great or better known to Strangers than Natives And Neh. 4. 2. What do these feeble Iews And 6. If ye would understand the Times ye must not take a light overly view of them but ye must look attentively upon them and pry into them Psal. 107. 23. ye must look and look again on them His Works are sought out Psal. 111. 2. of them that take pleasure in them Ye must look both sides to speak so of this Book and ye will find what is dark on the one side of the Leaf is clear on the other on the one side ye may perceive nothing but Wrath Trouble Confusion Hell Death c. but if ye will turn over ye may see Love Peace Order Heaven Glory yea ye must wait upon the time of bringing forth and patiently expect the result for what ye see not now ye shall see hereafter Times are with Child of many Truths and Dispensations and there is a Month of bringing forth and here is the Faith and Patience of the Saints Doct. 2. That the right understanding of Times is very contributive to the clear discovery and seasonable performance of the proper duties which are called for in these times That I may render this Truth useful to you I shall 1. Give you some things in the general for Explication 2. Show you what are the proper Duties of this time and juncture we are fallen under 3. What Motives may perswade to the diligent and serious performance of these Duties And 4. How the right discerning of our times do contribute to the discovery and practice of these Duties And if your time will allow I shall make some Application of all I. In the general for Explication let these things be considered 1. Every time casteth up its proper and seasonable Duties and not only the lustre and beauty of Duty by imbracing the right season of it is made to shine as an Apple of Gold in a Picture of Silver but much of the success or disappointment of it depends upon the right timeing of it Every thing saith Solomon Eccl. 3. 11. is beautiful in its season mis-timed Duties as they are uneasie to others and unacceptable to God so are they of dangerous consequence both to the Church and the Persons themselves 2. As every time so every Person in the Church and State have proper Duties incumbent to them according to their several Capacities Stations and Talents for advancing the glory of God and securing their own Happiness and in order thereto particularly for preservation and transmitting of the Gospel and its Ordinances to Posterity that through your care the Children that are yet unborn may praise his Name 3. The Lord doth ordinarily Spirit some men for the Duties of their time and in a more than ordinary way furnish them with Gifts and Endowments for their Generation work elevating them above what they are in ordinary and raising their Spirits Dan. 11. 32. to do exploits making the feeble as David and the weak as an angel of God â— It s rare to find Acting and Duties of Times single and pure without the woful mixture of Self-Interest a sour Leaven that hath spoiled many glorious Actings and heavy Sufferings But of this more hereafter and therefore
reign which I pray and hope our King shall make the parallel of removed the high places brake down the images cut down the groves and brake in pieces the brazen serpent tho Moses made it and called it Nehushtan And that which in this affair was his best policy ye have in the 5 vers He trusted in the Lord God of Israel And 3. If ye will consider what Luther that famous Reformer saith That there are three great hinderances of Reformation Security among the people of God secret treachery of enemies and carnal policy in managers of the work For to offer to cure the disorders of the Church by carnal wisdom and to determine the great controversies of Religion by humane Reason is cum ratione sapientia insanire to go mad with Wisdom and Reason And I have read what Livy saith That carnal policies are in their contrivement pleasant in their management difficult and in their issue sad to them that use them and will leave them with that sad lamentation of that great Polititian Tully whose Policy had kept him in Place Honour if I remember in the time of four Emperors yet at his end cryed out O me miserum nunquam beatum It must needs then be a wicked Maxim which some Father upon Matchiavell That all the Laws and things of God are to be subjected and stoop to that which they call Reason of State 4. It 's a duty of our times if we understand them right to crucifie that grand Idol Self And all self-ends and interests when they come in competition with Christ and his Truth and when the case is Christ or Barabbas O! How many worship this Idol Self Phil. 2. 21. All seek their own not the things of Iesus Christ. But the voice of our times to you Most Noble Patriots is not to seek great things for your self with Baruch Ier. 45. 5. But with Mordecai Esth. 10. 3. to seek always the wealth of your people and labour for a more Publick Spirit Moses and Paul seem to lay their Soul and part of Heaven in Pawn for the glory of God and delivering of the Church Will ye prefer your little Stock to the safety of the whole Cargo and Vessel O cursed Self away with it away with it crucifie it crucifie it You were lately by a great Light of this Church exhorted to prefer Ierusalem to your chief joy and I hope the impression of it abideth with you For 1. It is a Spring and Source of many evils from whence flows our Pride Ambition Covetousness Vanity c. but from this they are all the Children of this cursed Mother and if ye do not slay this Idol ye will not have a heart to life at the fallen Tabernacle or to help to set on the Crown on Christ's Head 2. It is the fostering and feeding of this Idol Self that is the sad occasion of all those breaches divisions and animosities that are amongst a people for according to the frame of their Idols so are all their Methods taken and some have an Idol of one shape and some of another and according to that Mould so are all their actings to support it And 3. This selfish disposition and temper as it doth cause the enemy to blaspherne and opens the mouths of the wicked to say lo this is the man that pretended so highly for Christ now he hath left him when he hath drawn his Stake or he hath left him because he cannot mount up to preforment that way and gain nothing from that quarter so hath it provoked the Lord to cut down these self-interests that men have preferred to Christ and his Interest how many Crowns hath this made to totter and fall to the Ground because they sought a Crown to themselves and not to Christ. And how many great and fair Houses have been laid waste because they built their own Houses and let the House of the Lord ly desolat Iehu his self-ends Hos. 1. 4. brought ruin upon him and his House and all his policy could not prevent it he that saves himself this way shall lose himself 5. They that rightly understand our times will find that moderation and sobriety is one of the great duties of it Phil. 4. 5. Let your moderation be known to all men c. winding up of Instruments to the highest Peg doth not only marr the Harmony but breaketh the Strings Let not the Stretches of former times edge you to the same methods You know who it was who being inquired what was the best way of governing Kingdoms wrot only in return upon a large Paper at a great distance from other three times Modus Modus Modus moderation moderation moderation The Records of experience show us that violent Administrations and running things to the height have not been long-lived Omnis felicitas ad culmen producta Retrogreditur nihil violentum durat And 6. The Duty of our Times seems to be that ye should lay such sure and lasting Foundations as not only these two strangers in our Land Righteousness and Peace Psal. 85. 10. may meet and kiss one another but that they may live together and be perpetuated to the generations to come that the Children yet unborn may bless you As we in this time do bless you in the Name of the Lord and from the House of our God for what ye have done already Go on then I say against whatsoever opposition either from Enemies or false Builders and lay such a sure Basis that after-Generations may build upon it hear that word in Zech. 8. 9. Let your hands be strong ye that hear in these dayes these words by the month of the Prophets which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid that the Temple might be built III. Let me press these Duties of our times upon you by some Motives 1. The Concerns ye have among your hands in this time are great your Grace and this Honourable Court of Parliament have not only the Matters of an Earthly King whom God hath singled out to do Exploits for him among your hands for which ye are obliged as ye have already done to evidence a great deal of care and zeal but ye have under your care and tutory Christ's own Bride she is a tender Virgin and hath yet but little Breasts she hath been wounded in the house of her Friends as well as by Enemies and she is not yet heal her Wounds are yet bleeding for the Lord's sake prove to her as the compassionat Samaritan Luke 10. 34. Bind up her Wounds pour Oyl into them and take care of her she is Nobly-Born she is a King's Daughter Psal. 45. 13. New come from her Banishment and for her Father's Blessing for her Bridegroom's Blessing and for her own Blessing who is ready to perish deal kindly with her and be faithful Tutors to her Yea ye have Christ's Crown his Glory among your hands and if you take away or