the most comfortable word that ever was spoken Well done good and faithfull servant This is the heritage of them that feare the LORD hard words and ungodly deeds cannot discourage you now for God is with you there is your security a Christum â—sse cum Paâ—â—â— summa secuâ—itas Paulum asse cum Christo summa foelicitas 1 Thes 4. 17 18. you shal be with Him anon there is your happinesse for ever with the Lord you can comfort your selfe in these words Heare me with patience one word more touching the successe of the great work in hand and the security of this great City where the Lord hath made you a Watchman and hath found you faithfull which is your glory but in The Lord. Surely surely the work shal prosper for it is wrought by God your City shall not be destroyed for it is GODS City Surely a work carryed on with so many hands and hearts so much life and spirit love faith patience cannot be disappointed of its end And for the City b Where are many thousands that cannot speak yet is their language very moving with their Lord. Jonah 4. 11. her filthinesse is in her skirts c Lam. 1 9. Ai and upon her forehead too But yet a righteous people are there and Gaius mine Host d Rom. 16. 23. and many such as he She is a refuge to the oppressed a great Sanctuarie at this * The day of Jacobs trouble Jer. 30. 7. time and much good is found there We doe not boast of her goodnesse but we boast in The Lord Who hath instructed her to discretion To stand up for Him and His Cause above all the Cities that are or ever were in the world and at such a time Surely the Lord will watch over her her Watchmen think so too pray for her night and day And because they be such as never sought God in vaine they are bold and confident That The Lord will watch over this City for good it shal stil be said The LORD helpeth them The North shall give in unto them the south shal not keep back the East and West shall confer unto them the blessings of the Land and of the Sea But this is the complement of all Salvations will God appoint for walls and Bulwarks I will conclude with the close of a Psalm Let Ps 48. 11 12 13 mount Sion rejoyce let the daughters of Judah be glad because of Thy judgements walk about Sion and go round about her tell the towers thereof A goodly prospect and at such a time Mark ye well her Bulwarks consider her palaces that you may tell it to the generation following What shall they tell or what is this strength wherein doth it consist or where is it for it is not visible It follows For This GOD is our GOD for ever and ever He will be our guide even Psal 41. 13. unto death Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting and to everlasting AMEN and AMEN By way of Preface to the Reader INeed not tell thee what the times are how hard fierce and perillous nor how we are distracted in them so much thy very looks can tell me The news now a-dayes is so legible that he who runs may read it and in most mens faces There is a passion now quick and stirring within us which may stand us in great stead at this time as it may be ordered and pointed if in a right way and to the right object nothing can doe us better service to stay and stablish us but if out of the way and from that object nothing works us more mischiefe nothing more unsettles us It will betray all our succour it will shake us as a leafe with the wind and make us flee as a Roe before the hunter It were seasonable now to reade a Lecture upon this passion of feare not as a Philosopher but as a Christian I cannot say so I have done but I have bestowed many sad yet quiet thoughts upon its uncomfortable and unquiet motions and here I have made them legible That though the adversary doth all he can to make us afraid yet he may not have his will 1 Pet. 3. 6. so farre as to make us afraid with any amazement for we have made three Conclusions are fixed thereupon and resolved to take the Product or Result therefrom That we will doe our Duty not disquieting our selves about what The LORD will doe hereafter or what our foes are doing now The first Conclusion 1. That things stand at as great a distance from an honourable 2 King 9. 22. Peace as Israel stood when the WITCHCRAFTS of their mother Jezebel and her whoredomes were so many If one man sin against another a third may take up the difference and make an agreement betwixt them d 1 Sam. 2. 25. The case is not so here Man hath sinned against The Lord and we have provoked Him to His face by our Idolatries and bloud-shed Man shall not determine this case a case of bloud and betwixt GOD and Man There may be essayes and overtures that way to scab-over the matter but it cannot be the wound is deep much venome in the hottome it hath layne festring there these by past yeeres three or foure and now The Lord is searching into it making inquisition for bloud and before He hath done for that is His manner He will find it out and His sword shall not rest till He hath required and avenged it That is the first Conclusion The adversary makes a second That as 2. He hath done all he can by fraud so he doth and will doe all he can by force not to waste and destroy onely not to out Israel short but cleane off from being a Nation So the Psal 74. Adversary hath concluded now And now the Church makes a third Conclusion and thereon she will fixe and be established for ever 3. That God will make His Church a cup of trembling in the adversaries hand as a burdensome stone upon his Zach. 12. 2. shoulders as a torch of fire in a sheafe or amidst stubble The ver 6. Lord doth open His eyes upon His people He doth plead His owne cause So the Church hath concluded I could set downe some Premises whence she draws her Conclusion but it is her LORDS promise so and that is enough given long since but written for the generations to come Psal 74. 22 23. The Result from hence is That we do our duty as the Church doth not trouble our selves with unnecessary quaeres what how or when GOD will work He works wonders every day and let Him work as He pleaseth He will work all for good and all in the fittest season Let us doeour duty that is our work work out our salvation for the salvation of Israel by all such means wherein GOD Nature Grace have given us a capacity and power of working We must lye on our face
Of FEARE The CAUSE The VSE The CURE OR Strong Consolations The Consolations of God Cordiall at all times but most comfortable now in these uncomfortable times To fixe quiet and stablish the heart though the earth shake and make it stand stil To see the salvation of The Lord. Taken from GODS mouth And Penned by HEZEKIAH VVOODWARD That all His Servants may have assured confidence for ever PSAL. 56. 3 9. What time I am afraid I will trust in Thee When I cry unto Thee Then shall mine enemies turne back this I know for God is for me He will save me because I Trust in Him Psal 37. 40. Nil terribile nisi ipse timor LONDON Printed for Thomas Underhill and are to be sold at the signe of the Bible in Woodstreet 1643. To the Right HONOVRABLE Isaac Pennington LORD MAjOR Of the City of LONDON BY the Blessing of God upon this treatise containing His own directions there it can heale the heart and the hand palsied with feare It will be no dishonour then to take it into your hand and to lay these directions if it can be yet closer to your heart whereby the City of God have been a quiet habitation (a) Esay 33. 20. when as now The blast of the terrible ones have made the earth to shake and tremble under us And you now with such as you that love feare trust GOD doing your duty and maintaining your watch doe maintayne PEACE and at such a time (a) Ezra 4. 17. Peace is good at all times but ever best in the worst times perilous and feirce as are the times of Reformation troublous evermore when hands and * Dan. 9. 28. Jer. 20. 3. Tongues are bent to make the City of GOD MAGOR MISSABIB terrour on every side Then peace is good Then cordialls are so indeed strong consolations they are the consolations of GOD at such a time Peace in and with the world is good if it could be had upon good termes But that it not possible The world will love their own And they shall have peace such as the world can give They who can comply with the world can give out unto them the right hand of fellowship to thrust Christ from His Throne and out of the world these shall have peace for they are the worlds first born and right hands of the times but you cannot do so Such a peace peace without truth is of vile esteeme with you you abhor it at such a price and upon such termes as the world bids for it and doth purchase the same You follow peace with all men and Holynesse That is a point of the highest wisdome without which no man shall see the LORD you pursue (c) Heb. 11. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this peace as others persecute it your zeale cannot boile higher then to their As as they persecute it Pursue it so still and if you overtake it not for it flees from you else you should not need to pursue it if you cannot establish peace in the City yet in that you have done your office you have peace in your soul a peace which passeth all understanding for whatsoever things are true (d) Phil. 4. 7. 8. are henest are just are pure are lovely are of good report these things you have done and will doe you have assured confidence now in this which follows and the peace of ver 9. GOD shall be with you What a good word is this and at such a time when the Adversary doth as in all times he hath done it is no new thing when the breaches of Jerusalems walls are making up he sends and writes and lies and rayles and blasphemes what doth he not after his manner to make the work to cease d Nehe. 4. and 6. You know your charge concerning him Answer him * 2 King 18. 36. not you look to the answer from a good conscience That in zeale to you LORD The Cities peace and crown of rejoycing you have done and spoken hitherto And you are resolved so to do still To stand up for Christ still To shoulder up His Throne still And you have made up your reckoning you know what it will cost you possible as much as it hath cost All His faithfull servants in all ages at such a time And having so wisely counted your Cost you can mock at feare and laugh at your Adversaries as the LORD doth seeing their day is comming (e) Psal 37. for their rage riseth high and their rising by steps that way are but steps and degrees to utter destruction which shall rise as their rage doth unto heaven and be lifted up even to the skies * Jer. 51. 9. You cannot be deceived now as we thinke good Jeremiah was He heard the defaming of many fear was on every side and he heard a cry nay he cryed out himselfe and said Violence and spoile Then sayes Jeremy Jer. 20. 8. 10. â—â— O LORD Thou hast deceived me and I was deceived He was indeed but GOD did not deceive him He had set up Jeremtah and made him so strong for Himself and for such a time as that when the adversaries deeds and words would be as hard as iron against the Truth and him but Jeremiah should be hard enough for them The Adversary might to as good purpose strike his hand against a rock as strike Jeremiah shall iron breake Jer. 15. 12. the Northern iron and steele No no the Adversary was hard and cruell and violent against Jeremiah but God made Jeremiah too hard for them all as He will all His faithfull ones standing up for Him a defenced City and a strong brazen ver 20. wall That was the promise to Jeremiah and in him to all faithfull ones many thousand yeeres agoe and you have the comfort and your fast standing from it at this day The blast of the terrible ones what can it doe It was answered long agoe As much as a blast of winde against a brazen wall so the Spirit slights what flesh can do against Him (a) â—â—â—say 2â— 4. They shall sight against Thee The Adversary will make an experiment what mettal you are made of so you must expect but they shall not prevaile ser 1. 1â— against Thee There is the comfort and it is yours who wil stand up for God and at such a time As your expectation from the World cannot deceive you after the experiences of all the faithfull that have stood up for God All hath been done against them All shall be done against you that Angry Nations can doe Atheists and Papists swelled with wrath and big with rage So nor wil The Lord The Hope of Israel and Saviour thereof in time of trouble He will not deceive you Then you shall see your strength presently that you are better bottomed then are the perpetuall Hills and everlasting Mountains a sight worth the beholding and at such a time And because your work is
in deep humiliation while the Joshuahs are searching the tents that the accursed thing may be cast out for so they have commanded us We must doe for the cause of Christ as the spirituall Lords Devils and men doe against Christ to shoulder Him out of His throne This is to doe our duty to doe As c. and so doing we doe our duty heartily and shall rejoyce in time to come that is very comfortable as we read it but there is more comfort in it then so we shall laugh at the time to come a Prov. 21. 2â— Ridet ad tempera seqâ—â—ontra Not care so much for the Army in the north as their fore-fathers did for an Army of frogs lice swarms of flies nor for any other mountain in the way for he shall be made a plaine Wee have and will do our Duty They that do so may laugh and sing too But these are but words the Lord knows not the speech but the power of our doing our duty And He put it into our hearts and keep it there for ever We can hardly set upon it though we are set upon by the hand of violence our gods are taken away from us I mean that we dote upon which quickned a man as dead in his body as we in our spirits For thus it was The Phisitians knew no way to quicken him out of his lethargy but by gingling his baggs before him upon the table then he awakened and stirred himselfe up for he would hold Hor. li. 2. Sâ— Satyr 3. his bags as long as he could hold his breath This god is takeÌ„ from us our liberty too and that is our god also Nay our LORD Christ is taking froÌ„ us Who gives all to us He is GOD indeed Now or never we will bethink our selves and lay out all we have are to keepe Him the LIFE of our lives and SOUL of our souls we wil keepe Him There is but this that can discourage us and it is the greatest encouragement in the world if we can contend for Him we may lose our estates and lives too That is true All may be lost most happily lost in such a contention Nay it is not lost it is gained and the greatest gain for He is worthy for Whose cause we do expend all this if it be our dearest blood and all He became poor for us to make us 2 Cor. 8 9. rich e nay a Curse for us to make us a Blessing If we think of this goods shal go and life too and blesse God with all our hearts that He put such a price into our hand to lay out our selves for Christ to suffer for Him Indeed it is as glorious a work as to beleeve in Him we cannot do the one without the other but suffering hath the preheminence that no man may be dismayed at his sufferings if called thereunto and for Christ for unto you it is given in the behalfe of Christ not onely to beleeve on Him but Philip. 1. 29. also to suffer for His sake I have done prefacing The Lord give us understanding in the times and what Israel ought to do PROV 29. 25. The feare of man bringeth a snare but who so putteth his trust in The Lord shall be safe IT is ordered by the Committee of the House of Commons in Parliament concerning Printing this 22. day of December 1642. that this booke Intituled The usefulnesse of Feare c. be printed John White Of FEARE The Just Cause The True Use The Soveraign Cure SECT I. The summe and scope of this Treatise The kinds of Feare The strange effects there from What the worst effect What the great designe of the Adversary How he prosecutes it His advantage if he can effect it His power and malice that way gives us just cause of feare CHAP. I. The Introduction to and purpose of this Treatise OUr Affections doe us the greatest service or disservice that well can be imagined and this they doe as wee master them or as they master us If we master them they are the winds of the soule carrying it so as it is neither becalmed that it moves not when it should nor yet tossed that it moves disorderly If they master us they raise storms there and we are storm-like sudden and violent carryed as a ship in a tempest If we master them they are the very wings of the soule A Prayer without them so we may say of any other performance is like a bird without wings (a) Oratio sine malis avis sine alis If I cared for nothing said Melancthon I should pray for nothing (b) Si nihil curarem nihil Orarem If they master us they are the clogs of the soule or if they be as wings it is to make us flee away from God and goodnesse from our selves and Duty Our Affections are the springs of all our services to GOD we are dry and cold and dead without them with them well ordered the soule is set on work and then the work will be done when the heart is upon it David had prepared much for the house of GOD himselfe gives the reason Because I have set my AFFECTION to the house of my GOD. (c) 1 Chr. 29. 3. Feare puts on the soule almost as fast as Love doth that great Centurion or puts it farther back I cannot doe this and sin I must doe this and why Because I have set my FEARE upon GOD and knowing the TERROR of the LORD (d) 2 Cor. 5. 11. I must perswade men In a word weare as a dead sea without our affections and as a raging sea if they exceed the bounds And no affection beats more strongly upon the soule and more like waves against the banks to exceed its just bounds and get over then feare doth and when it hath got over no affection sooner drowns the Spirits sinks Reason and so becomes a Passion indeed vexatious and troublesome for where feare is in excesse there is torment (e) 1 John 4. 18. This tormenting Passion the stilling its unreasonable motions is the subject of my Discourse now but GODS work To calme the Spirit to make it stand still when the earth shakes f Exod. 1â— â—â— Ne conâ—◠〈…〉 â—un and the kingdomes are moved I say His work Who chid the winds and commanded the seas and they obeyed Him and presently there followed a great calme Feare let alone to work its owne effects for like water it hath no bounds of its owne is g 〈◊〉 Math. 8. 20. in the heart as the tongue in the body kindleth a great fire (h) Jam. 3. 5. there from every little matter quickly raiseth that little to a raging flame which no man can quench onely GOD can And what way He commands and prescribes us for we must keep to His prescriptions the same which the whole City of GOD All His People have taken in all troublous times upward to this day To
reason with this unreasonable Passion To keep it within bounds of just moderation is the maine intendment of this Treatise wherein but in passage only I must make cleare proofe to them who will be as are many now adayes willingly ignorant That the Citties feare is just and Reasonable That all the Causes and reasons both which can be imagined from within and from without commands the wisest men to feare yea commends them so fearing for they are wise men they can not be afraid with any amazement But that I may begin in order I must distinguish first CHAP. II. The Kindes of feare The disquietings therefrom and sharp effects The worst effect of all is It maketh a man choose sinne rather then affliction 1. THere is a feare which sinks Reason then raiseth up unreasonable motions such which make a man feare where no feare is heare a noise meerly fancyed flee when none pursueth so betrayeth the succors which reason offers (a) Wisdom 17. 12. This feare made the Syrians and others infamous in the sacred Writ to fly (b) 2 Kings 7 c. And the Papists in their houre of Darknesse and Saint Maries Church in * Act. and Mâ—pa 1102. Oxford To shelter their heads against the scalding lead melted in the fornace of their own conceits and guilty consciences for they heard a noise of fire onely could see none and yet they thought they should be scalded to death with the droppings of lead melted in a fancyed fire of their owne imaginary This is a Panick feare a feare where there is no cause of fear a noise which GOD causeth the wicked to heare His enemies and adversaries to feele the effects thereof as we heard 2. There is a naturall feare which all partake of that partake of the same common nature Nay all creatures that have sense have sense of feare feare of suffering It is naturall The Beares will roare Ravens Crye Doves Chatter Lambs Bleat The Swine are troubled in a windy night though I read of Pyrrhos Hogge that eate his meate quietly in the ship almost covered with waves while the Passengers there were almost dead with feare And I have knowne some men who seemed to have no other sense but that sense of feeling fearlesse men They feared nothing But this fearlesnesse was not from any cleannesse and serenity of mind not from a true security and peace from within but from a dead palsie rather a stupor a blockish stupidity upon their spirits 3. There is a feare which hath a strong foundation in nature so also must it needs have the same foundation in sin A corrupt a sinfull feare And the more or lesse sin is mastered and subdued in us so will this feare be so quieted or so disquieting And this all men partake of and in measure according to the proportion before mentioned If sin beare rule in us feare when it comes will command in chiefe too and be exceeding Weaknesse and wickednesse are the very essentialls whereof it doth consist the supporters of it and when it exceeds its bounds it becomes a passion indeed We suffer much by it and act or practise in it I know not how but as men forsaken of all wit and reason both It causeth strange and strong motions within no passion stronger or stranger then feare doth It is within us like foule weather upon the sea It no sooner riseth and getreth mastery but it cloudeth our Heaven and sils the soulâ— with thick mists and smoak The Apostle speaks all in one word Where feare is there is torment (b) 〈…〉 22. 2. It is the very Rack of the soule it slayeth without a sword Thy slaine men are not slaine with the sword nor dead c in Battell How then were they slayn with feare that surprised 〈…〉 eyeâ— coveâ—ed 〈◊〉 his death and 〈◊〉 covered again thaâ— hee might â—ead his 〈…〉 dead upon thâ— Scafâ—old 〈…〉 them before the Battell and did the part of an executioner before the sword came But that is not the worst feare can doe a worse office to a man then slay him It can put us cleane off from GOD and from Duty and that is worst of all What base shifts will the soule use when feare possesseth her Feare of mans wrath feare of losse of goods of good name of liberty of life will put a man upon the losse of all we properly call good upon strange adventures upon devilish projects It will dash his soule upon this rock and the other till He hath split himselfe and made shipwrack of those inestimable treasures which render a man rich in the lowest estate and secure in the greatest danger FAITH and a good CONSCIENCE It will make a man seek for security from every thing but where it should it will make him look to all means but one in his distracting â—eare he will not look to God and an upright conversation CHAP. III. The designe of the wicked ever was and now is To make the Godly afraid The advantage if they can effect it Tongue and hand imployed about it Their judgement from the Lord Their pretence and scarce that for their works are manifest THis the wicked know very well they have learnt it of their Fathers therefore heare what they have devised anciently to make the righteous afraid When the breaches of Ierusalems walls were making up what was the great designe of the adversary then To make the builders AFRAID We reade often Nâ—he 6. The adversaries sent and wrote Letters raised false reports hired light fellows All this they did That they might make the builders ver 13. afraid Could they have effected it according to their minds then the hands of the builders had been weakned from the worke it had not beene done (d) ver 9. If you will do any thing for The LORD keepe up your spirits and keepe out feare that infeebling Passion which cuts a Mans sinewes renders him unfit for action When the heart sinks then the hands hang downe and the work ceaseth If Nehemiah had given way to base and cowardly feare he had done so and so and sinned Besides he had given matter for an evill ver 13. report That the adversary might reproach him Thus The Adversary did anciently So hee doth now Hee takes the same way his designe and end is the very same with theirs still Hee sends hee writes hee raiseth false reports hee hires light fellowes if there bee any lighter then himselfe what tongue or hand can doe hee doth to cause terrour on every side Their tongue walketh about the City and all to disquiet the inhabitants Psal 42. 4. thereof What shall bee done unto thee thou deceitfull and mischeivous tongue for thou lovest all devouring words I cannot make full answer to that but I read The Lord shall destroy thee for ever and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place and roote thee out ver 5. of the land of the living here is also a prayer
put up against these tongues these fiery flying serpents Let the mischeife of their own Psal 140. 9. 10. lips cover them let burning coals fall upon them The Church seekes not her God in vain shee makes account it is done The hand is more rough and violent and put forth as farre as it could bee to make both Citty and Country MAGOR-MISSABIB 〈…〉 3. feare on every side What shall bee done unto thee thou violent and bloody man Man cannot answer that blood pursues him the Destroyer shall bee destroyed God hath sworne by His Holinesse utter destruction shall come unto them Hee will UNDOE all that asslict his people (a) Zeph. 3. 1â— Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feete and their eyes shall consume away in their holes and their tongues shall consume away in their mouth (b) Zeph. 14. 12. This is the portion of them that hate His Church they shall be utterly destroyed in the close of this work for there is a great work to be done upon mount Sion and about the close of the day they shall be utterly undon But first they shall bee made a terrour to themselves and round about As they thought to do to the Righteous so it shall bee done to them As they have determined so it shall bee unto them that shall bee their lot and portion of their cup from the Lord in his appointed Time But do wee not wrong these harmelesse people these innocent Lambs some of them were in sheepes clothing and they would Mal. 8. 15. bee accounted sheepe till their cloak fell off and the wolfe appeared what have they done or spoken to make the City affraid They will tell us Nothing at all We doe but fancie our feares we heare a rumour we scarce know of what or from whom and we are afraid we know not wherefore We conceit danger onely as they who took shadows for men or Judges 19. 36. as those who beholding at a distance a field over-grown with tall thistles thought verily they had been so many spearmen So the adversary saith and so say they too who should speakas the Oracles of GOD for they speak from the Pulpit And what said they As the Adversary before them That there was no cause of feare formerly nor any cause now A Phantasme a conceited thing a Panick feare the City is possessed with whereof they can give neither cause nor reason for neither is reall nor visible They have said and so they have forced themselves as unjust men doe Now we wil take leave to consider the matter and their words and give no more credit to them then we doe to such men who know no shame (a) Zeph. 3. 5. Catholique men bloody Papists universally all the world over brawned in villanies these fellowes that hate the Lord make Tumults lift up the head and yet no ground of feare not any The neighbours house is on fire there the fire rageth and the wind blows the flame directly hitherward it began there to end here yet no cause of feare That our common-house may smell of the smoak or that it is time for every common man to look to his owne No reason for that none at all speaks the adversary but he is not so mad as to think any wise man beleeves him The vile Priests and the Treacherous Prophets that have polluted the Sanctuary have done violence to the Law (c) Zeph. 3. 4. These doe rage and are swelled with malice The brutish people almost as much make tumults and they that sung forth their requests roare like Beares and are as fierce as the she-beares fearing their sweet morsels may be taken from them and their service ordered according to Rule and yet no ground of feare The tumult of those that rise up against The LORD that would dethrone Him encreaseth continually and â—et no cause of feare Indeed there is not no cause we should be afraid when we look up to GOD for it is the Tumult of those that rise up against Him and He will look to His owne Cause and Glory That shall receive no losse no diminution at all but advantage a great deale But looking down to the Adversary there is cause we should feare after a godly sort so as to make provision against him and then secure our selves and the cause in GOD. This feare is a Godly feare The Godly mans feare is his humility and casting away of Pride his reverent care to walk in the wayes of God A feare which drives out security not a feare which takes away the boldnesse of faith More of this anon This here that there is just cause of feare but of such a feare that hath been described unto us which secureth the soule the godly man and his cause in God And great need of such a feare for whatever the Adversary saith no man that hath his eyes in his head will beleeve him though his words were as soft as butter and his deeds as smooth as oyle much lesse now when his words are as drawn swords violence is in his hands war in his heart The Adversary is so mad with rage now That he casteth firebrands arrows and death and cannot deceive his neighbour Pro. 26. 18. now saying 〈◊〉 not I in sport No sure no man is so senslesse as â—â— beleeve that for when he seemed to speak faire we beleeved 〈◊〉 not â— kâ—â—wing there were seven abominations in his heart Hee that hateth may dissemble for a time and lay up deceit within him for words which are wounds and lying lips and a wicked heart may be like a potâ—â—â—ard covered with silver drosse for a time But now his hatred as active as fire cannot be covered by dâ—ceit his wickednesse is shewne before the whole congregation These are Generalls That I may be more particular I will quarter out this Legion the Adversary I meane for he is many and behold him as a man of War in his Ranks and Postures doubtlesse if we so behold him and can look no higher he will seem terrible as an Army with banners or rather as Goliah before the Israelites I said not before David for he laughed him to scorne and despised him but this I may say truly just cause we have to be afraid for consider the Churches enemies how many they are CHAP. IV. Without number for multitude 2. Without reason for rags and cruelty 3. Boundlesse in malice mischievous in projecting and watchfull in executing thereof 1. HOW many adversaries hath the Church It were well with the Church if she could number her enemies tell how many adversaries she hath We say They are but a few that can be numbred The Shepherd can tell his sheep but hee cannot tell how many Wolves nor Foxes there be nor how many dogs which doe their office the contrary way hurrying the sheep and are as bloody as the wolse or foxe every whit The Church can say They are as in former
munitions of Rocks BREAD shall be given them their WATERS shall bee sure (b) Esay 33. 16 Ac si diceâ—et pâ—ris integâ—is Dei cultoâ—ibus nihil defuturum panis â—nim a quae nomine significat omnia c. Cal. Jer. 20. 11. God is with them Then All That is in God His Goodnesse wisdome Power All shall be laid out for them to make all that is needfull for them sure unto them And then touching their Adversary though hee bee a Legion this followes hee shall fight against them but hee shall not prevaile against them The LORD IS WITH ME as a MIGHTY TERRIBLE ONE therfore my persecuters shall stumble be greatly ashamed his everlasting confusion shall never bee forgotten Nay the adversary shall bee so far from hurting them that hee shall do them good and they shall hurt him for now that God is with them they have Armes of steele and feete of brasse and they shall thresh the mountaines like straw and the hills like Chaffe and come upon Princes as Esai 41. 15. 25. upon morter 2. Are the Righteous people assured of all this Yes for the Lord hath said it as wee have read Hee hath given His word for their security they take it are secure fixed and Rest thereon As their expectation from the world never deceived them since the world was and they were in the world So nor shall their expectation from God faile them they have an assured confidence of That Shall the expectation of the Righteous faile No the Lord forbid nay the Lord forgive uâ— to them any such misgiving thoughts within them The hope of the Righteous shall bee gladnesse but the expectation of the wicked shall perish (b) 2 Pro. 6â— 10. 18. Can the Righteous feare this That their hope shal faâ—le them No It cannot bee for they have set their hope in God The hope of the wicked shal be cut off they shall be afraid and ashamed oâ— the word their expectation and of the Contentâ—â—ents there their Glory (c) Esai 20. 5. And now LORD what (d) Psal 39. 7. wait I for sayes DAVID As if the servant of The LORD had said doe I waite doe I expect doe I looke for Peace Comfort establishment and satisfaction from the world do I seeke great things for my selfe therein Thou knowest LORD what I wait for none of all this from the world But as it followes my hope is in Thee What an unreasonable thing were it how unworthy of GOD The God not of some but of all consolations how unworthy a thought of Him To thinke That a poore creature who hath set his hope in GOD expects all from Him from The world nothing at all how unworthy a thought That This GOD will deceive this poore creature that waites for Him though Hee hideth His face yet lookes for Him He frownes upon him answers him Roughly yet this soul expects from Him notwithstanding what is said or done the poore soule will not returne to vanity hee will not looke to the world hee will wait hee hath set his hope in GOD hee will looke for Him Will the LORD deceive this Man that expects all from Him hath set his hope upon Him It is sure enough Hee will not The needy shall not bee alway forgotten the hopes of thâ— afflicted shall not perish for ever (e) Psal 9. 18. The poore and needy mans expectation set upon God is not delayed but deferred and strained Why To open the mouth and heart wider that the more comfort may come in at last and that their heart and JOY there may be (g) Joh. 16. 24. Psal 40. 1. Esay 8. 17. FULL They have waited patiently for The LORD they waited upon Him They When He hid His face then they looked for Him They waited the time when He would be gracious Now hearken Therefore will The LORD wait that He may be gracious unto you and therefore He will be exalted That he may have mercie upon you for The Lord is a God of judgement Blessed Esay 30. 18. are all they that wait for Him Ai but hope deferred maketh the heart sick That is true but Pro. 13. 12. there is a time comming when the heart shall recover be made every whit whole and perfectly well againe and it shall be the more haile and comforted the sicker it was for When the desire commeth it is a tree of life Therefore though The Lord tarry the soule will patiently wait for Him because He will surely Hab. 2. 3. come and will not tarry And when He That was so long expected waited-looked-for when He commeth and then He comes and Tarries not when the Churches season is come then He makes amends for His long tarrying as the world thought and sometimes the Church also and in her haste counted it slacknesse He tarryed so long that He might come in season that His peoples joy might be brim-full when their hearts wearyed with long waiting shall the more rejoyce and their withered bones (o) Esay 66. 14 shall flourish like an herbe For it shall be said in that day after their long waltings Loe This is our GOD we have waited for Him This is The LORD we have waited for Esay 25. 9. Him and we are glad He is come with all our hearts doe we rejoyce in His salvation for it is His a marvailous great exceeding salvation the greater the longer it stayed And now these waiting people shall renew their strength they shall mount up with Esay 40. 31. wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint We are concluded now upon these Points 1. That the righteous mans expectation from the world will not deceive him what the world and the god therein can doe against him shall be done he expects it therefore they shall not be able to doe him hurt 2. His expectation from God cannot deceive him for GOD is faithfull They that wait for Him doe expect all from Him and from the world nothing but affliction thence shall not repent of their waiting for GOD will come in season and not tarry when they shall be most glad of His comming and say It is best of all that He came not sooner for now their hearts are brim-full of joy So they have concluded In assured confidence hereof thes people are not afraid now with any amazement As their hope is in GOD so is their heart and love set upon Him also This followes CHAP. II. The Righteous love God That Love casteth forth Feare Sad objections cleared to the hearts of the righteous God comes-in to succour and rescue those whom He loveth not always when they call but alwaies in season and fittest time Seldome to their wil but ever to their weal when they shall see least in themselves and most in God The persons whom God loveth shall be afflicted but for their good THe Righteous love GOD And Love to the
soule is like the Rudder to the Ship it turnes about all the powers and faculties of the soule and all to God It lades and unlades all the goods there all for GODS glory it receives all in and gives all forth for that same great end so Love doth I have said all when I have said The Righteous love GOD. It formes every work they doe and nothing forms a man or his work so dexterously as Love doth Love to God Love to His Truth Love to His People Love to their peace This inflames mens mindes works them suddenly to great perfection facilitates the work makes it slide on Nay farther as one observes truly That all other Affections though they raise the minde yet they doe it by distorting and uncomelinesse of extasies or excesses but onely Love doth exalt the mind and nevertâ—elesse at the same instant doth settle and compose it So in all other excellencies though they advance Nature yet they are subject to excesse onely Charity admitteth no excesse The righteous love God I have said all Why but all will say as much No man in the world but wil Ob. say I love GOD he dares not nay he is ashamed to say otherwise True I will reply shortly to this and once for all for all will Answ say as much touching their feare too and their trust also c. As the Kingdome of God so the love of God is not in word but in power GOD doth know that is approves not the speech of them that say (a) 1 Cor. 4. 19 20. so but the power of them that doe so That love The Lord not in word but in deed We have all I verily beleeve it a kind of faint weak waterish love which indeed the Scripture calls an hatred when the creature hath the strength and as I may say the first-borne of our love and God the after-birth which is of no account with Him but counted as aforesaid The righteous people love God They see an excellencie in God a transeendent goodnesse As it was said of Peter and Iohn when they saw their boldnesse They tooke knowledge of them that they had Acts 4. 13. been with Iesus So doe we observe the Saints love to Christ We must take knowledge That the City of God doe know The Lord Christ they have and doe see His Goodnesse They are with Him by their graces of love and faith they converse with Him day and night Therefore they so love God even as they glorifie Him As (b) Rom. 1. 21. Exod. 15. 11. 1 Tim. 6. 15. GOD glorious in holinesse fearfull in praises doing wonders The onely Potentate The King of Kings and Lord of Lords They Love GOD as they are thankefull to Him as To GOD in Whom they live move and have their Being in Whose hands is their Time their Breath and all their wayes from Whom they have all things richly to enjoy to whom He communicates Himself so they glorifie Him so they are thankfull and so they love HIM with an exceeding love a love that commands in chiefe the great Centurion it commands all within and without to speak to doe to strive for God for so they love HIM with a predominate love which carryeth the soul on high And where this love of God rules there peace rules be the earth never so unquiet Get we this love rooted in our hearts it is the fittest of any thing to expell feare to keep downe the workings of it for it maintains and guards Reason and raiseth the soule above the world so as it can bid defiance to death and then to unreasonable men and devils too If I beare a true love to God stronger then death if so then I can beare any thing I can goe through fire and water all along before the face and nose of the adversaries if I am called to do it and feare nothing The love of GOD constraines me yea commands me and as the peace of Phil. 4. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God keeps and safeguards me also It keeps my heart and mind my soul and my spirit through Christ Iesus It keeps my understanding that there be no defilement there through the errors of wicked men It keeps my will that there be no perversenesse there not subdued and brought under It keeps my affections that they be cleane and holy that my hatred be to all iniquity and my love to righteousnesse for I love God how then should I think or doe thus and thus and so sin against him The love of God keeps me in perfect peace so far as that love is perfect in me If a man can resolve himself by the Spirit That God loves him That he is in Christ reconciled unto Him This is enough To dissolve the thickest cloud of feare overcasting the soule enough to take off the edge and blunt that eager and keene passion which so cuts and lanceth the spirits for then he can say also He loves GOD with a CHILD-like love as a child loves the father so as he can repose himselfe in his fathers lap or bosome in assured confidence He careth for him and then he can be as bold as Paul was and as well perswaded That neither death nor life nor Angels nor Principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God (a) Rom. 8. 38 39. c. The work then of a Christian is to cleare this point for when that is done all is done he lives as a man in the upper Region of the world riding upon the high places of the earth above the winds Esav 58. 14. and stormes which infest and trouble us here below I remember I have read of one who being upon a tempestuous sea and his ship almost covered with waves and the passengers there almost dead with feare was not withstanding very cheerfull and comfortable calme and quiet in his mind rather inclined to sing then to mourne Being asked the reason of his settlement and so quiet repose of spirit answered thus My Father is the Pilot of the ship He is at the sterne holds the helme He loves me I love Him The winds and stormes fulfilling his word (b) Psal 148. 8 He bids them rise and they are up and so blustering then He chideth He rebuketh them then they fall and are still I know and am well perswaded Mat. 8. 26. whether stormes or calmes I shall get to my Heaven and in passage thither nothing shall doe me hurt every thing shall doe me good from His hand that loves * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Chrysost Facile impetratur semper quod filius postulat Terâ—ul de poâ—n c. 11. me And this makes me fearlesse this calmes me within what unquiet motions soever are without Oh of what mighty concernment is this in these times when the commandement is gone forth to restore and to build
Ierusalems wall evermore TROUBLOUS TIMES (c) Dan. 9. 25. That every man should labour to cleare his spirit by the Spirit at this great point The love of GOD towards him his love to GOD for this makes faire weather within however tempestuous it is abroad Here comes in an Objection I will resolve it at the first and once for all A man may love GOD and feare Him too which followes Ob. next and obey Him also and all this from the heart and yet he may be afraid he may have a great deale of love and faith too and yet have a great deale of feare he may love and feare God above many and yet feare the creature more then is meet 1. Iacob a very good man he loved God with all his heart yet Iacob was GREATLY (a) Gen. 32. 7. afraid GREATLY Marke that 2. David a man after Gods owne heart yet heare him what he saith Fearfulnesse and trembling are come upon me and terror hath overwhelmed me (b) Psal 52. 5. 3. Iehoshaphat a very good King yet he feared (c) 2 Chr. 20. 3. 4. The Disciples choise men all such as loved their Master with all their heart and with their whole soule yet fearfull (d) Mat. 8. 26. Before the Answer note this A man may love God much and yet feare much hurt from the creature And a man may have no love to God and yet no feare of the creature so stupified his spirit may be Now I answer indeed the Context answers it for me Iacob was greatly afraid and distressed how then his feare Answ did not put him off from duty but engaged him thereunto Now see how wisely he disposeth of things then rouls himselfe and Gen. 32. 7 8 9 c. all his upon GOD wraps up his soule and all his concernments in a promise and there is an end of the matter and enough for Iacob 2. Davids case was extraordinary a thick cloud was over his spirit and the face of God was clouded towards him too He 〈…〉 exeâ—â—et Deus â—â—â—la est tenta sâ—â—tâ—tudo quae 〈◊〉 â—â—bescat Calâ— in Psal 55. had troubles within and storms without whether Saul pursued him or his owne son it is not resolved but he was in the straits and God was not so present to sense and then we must give the stoutest heart leave to quaile saith Master Calvin The Conclusion is sure and certaine Cleare your evidence That God loves you and you shall cleare your spirits of these thick fogs which feare raiseth Nay if you cannot cleare your evidence but God will keep you humble all your dayes in a hanging and doubtful estate yet cast your selfe upon Him though He kill yet trust in Him But more of this a little after 3. Iehoshaphat feared also for hee heard that which would quicken any man that had life in him There commeth a great multitude against thee (e) 2 Chron. 2â— â— Then he FEARED (f) ver 3. But take the following words And set himselfe to seek the Lord c. His Feare put him upon Duty Then be remembred God in Whose hand is power and might Art not Thou God in heaven (g) ver 6. Then he pleads his interest in his God Art not Thou OUR GOD (h) ver 7. Then he cals to mind the right hand of the Almighty what He had done of old O blessed be God for that feare as was said before you cannot have too much of that feare which renders you much in seeking which makes you love much feare much obey much 4. The Disciples were fearfull but they were prayerfull They would not let GOD alone they would give Him no rest GOD seemes to be for he speaketh to our capacity as Ionah asleep when the Ship of the Church is covered with waves Nay The Lord Christ was at that time as clothed with our flesh so subject to our infirmities and was asleep And then the Disciples are fearfull All will be cast away Christ and all Indeed they that feare the Church will be drowned doe feare that Christ will be drowned too for if the Body drowne the Head must drowne and if the Head drowne not the Body cannot drown it may be overwhelmed with great waters of affliction While the Head is above the Body is safe enough But such was the Disciples infirmity at this time and such was our Lords infirmity at that time that then He was asleep What then They awoke God with their prayers as we know the manner is A blessed feare then as was said which makes a man a wake Christ by his importunity which puts a man upon duty makes him more prayerfull makes him love more and cling to his Father the faster so Iacob so David so Iehoshaphat so the Disciples feared so as they did their Duty the better But much may be said touching this love of GOD It is not Ob. such a Cure of feare not such a buckler to a person we see here how the fore-mentioned were terrified yet they loved GOD. Look I pray you and it is a sad sight Thou art become cruel to me with Thy strong hand Thou opposest Thy selfe against me Thou liftest me up to the wind Thou causest me to ride upon it and dissolvest my substance (a) Job 30. 21 22. I will defer the Answer to this till anon The Objection now runs thus Not how the Lord hath dealt with particular persons whom He loves dearly nor what those persons have said when they walked in darknesse and saw no light We must take it for granted That there are sad expressions breaking forth of the lips when there are grievous apprehensions within the soule But How he hath dealt with a whole Nation and that the dearly beloved of Hiâ— soul He hath delivered such a Nation into His enemies hands (c) Jer. 12. 7. So that they who hated them have Lorded it over them have dealt hatefully and despitefully with them (d) Ezek. 23. 28 29. This cannot be denied and since His Iudgements are manifest and the Reasons of them also are written and made legible for Answ our instruction we stand charged to take good notice of them here I meane The Reasons which moved The Lord to proceed in wrath against His dearly beloved and to cast them out of their owne Land and into the hands of them from whom their mind was alienated first 1. When GODS People doe not walke As His People when He takes them neere unto Himselfe and they walk loose with him not as a separated and peculiar people to Him whom He hath separated and bestowed upon them speciall and peculiar mercies When His people walke so contrary to Him and their owne Protestation Then His manner is to walke contrary to them He may goe out of that path when He listeth and exempt a Nation from the generall rule But this is His manner He may dâ—alâ— with us according to His Prerogative Royall which is ever in shewing
mercy He may doe so but it is extraordinary as we have cause to observe above all the Nations in the world 2. When His People do not do according to the CHARGE (l) Deut. 25 19 utterly to root out the name of Amalek that old and ancient enemy to His Church and the very same to this day when this charge is neglected or slighted and the contrary is done Amalek is countenanced encouraged fostered suffered to get head Then it shall come to passe That these Adversaries and enemies shall be pricks in your eyes and thornes in your sides and shall vâ—xe you in the Land wherein you dwell (m) Num 3â— 35. saith the Lord. They shall be snares and traps unto you untill ye perish from off the good Land which The Lord your God hath given you (n) Joâ— 23. â—â— It is the good word of The Lord which is the same for ever 3. When the Rulers the Princes and Judges of the earth are like the evening wolves ravening the prey (o) 〈◊〉 22. What then Then for their sakes Zion must be plowed as a field (p) Mich 3. 11 Zâ—ph 3. 3. â—zech 22. When the Priests violate the Law profane the holy things devoure soules hide their eyes from the Sabbath put no difference betweene the holy and profane What then Then peace is taken from the earth When the Sabbaths are gone when the people Mic. 5. 12 13. oppresse exercise tyrannie and vexe the poore and needy When the Priests are become brutish the people no better when they that are good and have power sit still and contend not against the streame Then we reade this All ye beasts of the field come to Esay 56. 9. devoure yea all the beasts of the forrest (q) Jer. 12. 9. His Watchmen are blind and the Pastors are become brutish (r) Jer. 10. 2â— what then Then all their flocks shall be scattered Behold the noise of the bruit is come and a great commotion to make Cities desolate and a den of dragons In these cases The Lord is provoked very much even til there be no remedy (Å¿) 2 Chr. 36. 16. Jer. 12. 7. And then He forsakes His house leaves His heritage gives up the dearly beloved of His soule into the hands of her enemies le ts in judgements like a floud and it carryeth down all good and bad with the impetuousnesse of its streame What good and bad together Will the LORD destroy the righteous with the wicked Yes No man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before the eye (p) Eccles 9. 1. All things come aliâ—e to all The same Common destruction takes away all together makes no difference And there is a great reason for that which we must take in in passage for The Righteous did comply too much with the time went along with the streame sided with the strongest in sight or looked on heareing Blasphemies beholding iniquity and wrong In the mean time said and did nothing * Jure istam â—â—â—am quando diâ— initus affliguntuâ— cum eis â—maram sâ—ntiunt cupus amando dulâ—ediâ—em peccanâ—ibâ—â— eis amari esse nolue unt Aug. dâ— civ l. 1. c. 9. stood not up in the gap And therefore now he is thrust down also hurried along with the Tâ—rrent and breaking in of mighty Waters he is over-whelmed in the â—lood even these good Men for the reason aforesaid No difference at all in the suffering for the manner and time thereof but in the fruit issue and end an infinite distance and inequality Where we note That this difference between the good bad in a Common Calamity is not visible not discernable by the Eye yet a great wide and an ever-lasting difference the good are delivered in it The bad utterly destroyed by it The good Manet dissimilâ—tudâ— passoâ—um etiam in â—â—â—ilâ—tudine â—assionum licet in eodem tormento non est idem â—â—tus vitium Nam sicut sub uno igne aurum ruâ—â—lat palâ—â— fumat c. Aug. de ci l. 1. c. 8. Amâ—s 9. 9. purâ—â—ed The bad consumed Good and bad are in the same calamity But as the Gold and Chaffe are in the same fire The one shines there the other smokes As the stubble and the wheat-corne are under the same flaile the one is bruised there the other cleansed freed of its Chaffe and fitted for the sâ—ive not a Corne shall be lost So also one and the same violence carryes away all the good and the bad all together destroyeth wasteth the one with an utter destruction â—ut trieth purgeth purifieth the good It is good to note this with all observation for heere we have a Cleere difference betwixt the good and the bad betwixt the persecuted now and the persecutors afterwards The good may fall but they shall bee holpen with a little help And their faling by the sword and by spoyle many dayes shall be to them as of old it was To trie them and to purge and make them white (Å¿) Dan. 11. 33 But for the wicked it is not so with them but as we heard It is a comfortable speech Rejoyce (t) Micah 7. 8. not against me O mine enemy When I fall I shall arise But when thou fallest Thou shalt fall Thy casting down shall bee like the fall of a millstone (u) Rev. 18. 21 into great waters Thou shalt rise no more When I fall I shall arise This is the heritage of them that love The Lord when their Adversarie falls he shall rise no more This is the portion of his measures for ever The conclusion is It shall be well with them that love The Lord. Nay it is well with them now though not to sense yet to faith The case of David was not ordinary Iobs case extraordinary That which follows will give some light and some satisfaction to both It is a most prevailing argument which the sister used in behalfe of her brother Lazarus LORD behold he whom Thou lovest John 11. 3. is sick This will prevaile sure It is the mightiest argument in the world LORD The Person whom Thou lovest The Cause the Faith the Truth the Religion WHICH THOU LOVEST is now in jeopardie The Malignants oppose it oppresse it they would thrust it out of the world and the professors of it That which THOU LOVEST these sons of the earth doe hate Those whom Thou lovest these men would cut off from being a Nation Certainly GOD will come in for rescue now and worke a glorious Deliverance And yet perhaps not at the just and set time of our over-hasty expectation Before Deliverance comes this person whom Christ loveth may be surprised with fearfulnesse trembling may come upon him and horror may over-whelme him that it may The Cause the Truth which GOD loveth may seem to be delivered up into the enemies hands so as they may lay the Glory of it for a time and in the eye of man in the
they make God the Vial and Man the pourer forth of the wrath whereas it is cleane contrary And Oh! the torment they feele within if their hearts be not as Nabals was like a stone when terrours is round about They shewed themselves gods against GOD and row they shew themselves slaves towards men whose bodies and consciences are alike rotten Who art thou that thou art afraid of a man (g) Esai 51. 12. Reade and resolve that Question He that forgetteth The LORD his Maker makes no more account of Him then of a meer man nor so much neither though He stretched forth the Heavens and laid the foundations of the Earth and makes a meere man a God heightens that low and diminutive thing for in Comparison he is a very small thing very little more then nothing not so big as a drop of water or the small dust of the Ballance (h) Esay 40. 15. that shall dye and be made as grasse A goodly thing if we observe it well to make our object to set our feare upon O wonderfull Ignorance of our selves and of God! Ai It is want of knowledge therefore we set our feare upon perishing things and we perish with them Truely upon due consideration who would not feare Thee O Lord He hath said ten times feare not (i) Esai 41. 10. I am thy God I am with thee I will uphold thee c. I am God and Thy God It is enough He created the Smith (k) Esai 54. 1â— that blowes the coale He is The Lord Generall of all the forces of Heaven Earth and Sea Master of the Armoryes Jer. 50. 25. There is not a Sword not an instrument there but it is for His Work He gives it forth stamps His Commission upon it Go so far do this and no more not an inch farther not to the losse of a haire more no marvaile The Righteous are as bold as a Lion they fear nothing for they feare GOD They Sanctify the Lord of Esay 8. 13. Hâ—â—â—s Himselfe What then Then He will be a Sanctuary The Righteous know it they are assured of it and it is enough to quiâ—tand calme the spirit when the Earth is moved and the Nations are anâ—ry This will seeme strange which follows THE RIGHTEOUS ARE NEVER SO SAFE AND SECURE AS IN AN EARTHQUAKE And yet why should it seeme strange It is demonstrated and made evident to sense and reason In a shaking Time when the Kingdoms are moved Nay in that time which is not yet come but hasting and coming apace when there will be a great earth-quake such as was not Revel 16. 18. 〈◊〉 mâ—n were upon the earth so mighty an earthquake and so great The Righteous then will cling the faster to The Arme of The Almighty there is security you will say And then at such a time as that The Arme of the Almighty holds them the faster We parents doe so If my childe be in danger If my childe shake I will hold it fast if I can perhaps I cannot It is not fâ—r want of love but for want of strength GOD can hold them fast for none can take His children out of His Hands There is no want in Him neither of Love nor Power Therefore it follows cleered to sense and reason both That when the Kingdome is moved wâ—en it totters like a drunken man nay when that Earth-quake shall be then the Righteous shall stand most stedfast secure and steady even then when that Earth-quake shall be so mighty an Earth-quake and so great never so secure as then then they shall lift up the head for then they hold fast by Gods Arme and they â—inde by good experience that he holds them fast I feare GOD said Ioseph (a) Gen. 42. 28. I am an Hebrew said Ionah (b) Jonah 1. 8. and I feare The Lord God of Heaven Who hath made the Sea and the dry land This put in security for them both That though they might be overcome through infirmities yet willingly they would doe no wrong But that is not the point we are now upon This is it which is cleere from hence That the true feare of God secureth the servants of The Lord against the wrong and injurious dealing from man Man for his mercies are cruell will doe the faithfull what wrong he can but he cannot hurt them nor are they carefull concerning that I remember a short Answer from a true servant of GOD to an over-hearing and tyrannicall Lord Am not I your head and Commander 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The need hath an Head All things shal be don◠〈…〉 wâ—l have it 〈◊〉 thâ—u nâ—â—st â—â—â—mand as God will have it Châ—â—sâ—st Yes said the faithfull servant but your headship hath an Heaâ— That is over you and me both I FEARE HIM Cannot I thrust thee into prison Yes if God will give you leave and I FEARE HIM And if He permits you so to doe yet His Word is not bound nor can His influence be restrained any more then can the influence from the Sunne I feare GOD said he and this was all the answer this domineering Lord could get from this good man For he professed That no mans terrour could make him afraid The terrour of The LORD that could doe it none could daunt his spirit but He Who could cast body and soule both into hell Him indeed he feared with all his heart his CREATOR therefore he could not feare his creature We have here our lesson if we do thereafter we may reade our comfort Be not afraid of their terrour neither be troubled 1 Peâ— 3. 14. but sanctifie c. We have proceeded in our Cure thus farre Expectation of evill from the world and of good from a Good God works a great Cure of Feare Love to Him feare of Him is very soveraigne also We proceed now to Trust in God and that is soveraigne indeed it establisheth it fortifies a man mightily it makes a man stand like Mount Sion he cannot be moved for he stands better bottomed then are The everlasting hills or Hab. 3. 6. perpetuall mountains CHAP. IV. The Righteous are faithfull they trust God He never deceives them that trust in Him They commit all to Him secured in His faithfulnesse THe Righteous they Trust GOD and They know Whom they have trusted To whom they have committed their lives liberties and estates their children all they have and they know He is faithfull and true and now they are fearelesse now they heare of robbing and spoiling and pillaging nay though it come home to their own houses they can suffer the spoiling of their goods with joy They Trust God He is their Guardian they are not carefull they are as was said fearelesse Master Dearing hath an excellent Speech indeed he was an excellent man Commit your health your sicknesse your body Lett. 13. your Soul your life and your death to the protection of Him That dyed for us and is risen againe
things are done and suffered that we thinke impossible and most terrible but nothing is impossible to faith Therefore we must cry after this grace and lift up Prov. 3. 22. our prayer for it it is life unto the soule and grace to the neck Thereby we walk in our way safely and at the end we lye downe and are not afraid for faith makes The LORD our confidence and therefore we will say evermore Lord encrease our faith it is the onely necessary thing For Job 18. 14. First it purifieth the heart it subdues iniquity it overcomes the world nay it gives you victory over the King of terrors I doe not meane Death though that is a most terrible King but Sin which is the strength and sting of death which makes a man seek for death as for hid treasure that he might be rid of those thoughts of eternity which is are the poison of vipers and gall of Asps It sets an edge upon our feares and our sorrows This evill a pure evill Faith subdueth and mastereth through Christ in the power of His might and so we are made more then Conquerours by laying hold-fast on Him The Rock of our salvation Secondly Faith bottomes the heart upon GOD which was said before and Faith encourageth the heart to duty which follows To live to God To improve all we have and are To His Glory so assureth the person as He walks before Him here now so he shall live in Glory for ever with The Lord. Faith then is the principall thing that excellent that admiring grace get that and we have all things compleatly fitted both to do or to suffer as good souldiers of Jesus Christ I will shut up this with the words wherewith the righteous have concluded their Psal 33. 21 22 Psalme and closed up their hearts against feare Our heart shall rejoyce in Him because we have trusted in His holy Name Let thy mercy O Lord be upon us according as we hope in thee CHAP. V. The Righteous obey from the heart True sound and sincere obedience is never found but in keeping to Gods Work and in His way They meet with Lions and Bears there but they have a safeguard over them and are not afraid They are sure they are in their way and upon Duty which must be done and the work prosper and increase with the increase of God And all this in the fittest time when the Adversary shall be most confounded and God most glorified THe Righteous obey from the (a) Rom. 6. 1â— heart An hearty obedience that is obedience indeed and it is ever found in GODS way and Work Such an obedience then a walking in GODS way an engaging the heart to GODS worke is a soveraigne meanes To quiet and calme the spirit when here is trouble on every side For thus The righteous man reasoneth Some Lion some Esau some fierce Adversary some great trouble or crosse may meet me in my way Yes but I am in GODS way I am doing my duty let GOD alone for the rest He will work for my comfort As the valiant Romane said I allude to it when it was told him That the enemie would be upon his back quickly â—go autem Sacrifico Let him come said he I will keep to my service I will do my duty for all that I would rather instance in Nehemiah he saw and heard enough to have daunted any mans spirit that was not such a man as himselfe That had not another spirit and could set his face like a flint And yet he was not carefull he was not afraid should such a man as he feare imployed in GODS worke and in His way Should he fly No not he Let the adversary rage and roare and send and write and flatter and lye and slander and blaspheme the adversaries did all this and more yet he would to his worke and abide by it for he was upon Temple-work a sworne Man to doe his Lord service And this Lord hath sworne to protect that man Truly it is so Let a Lion a she-beare or the devill meet such a person crosse him in the way he need not be carefull nor afraid being groundedly resolved of this I am in Gods way upon His worke O let me be stil found so doing What GODS work and in His way a mighty comfort this It is as a Cordiall to the heart when we suffer from the hand there That there and then we have done our duty Gods work in Gods way so obeying from the heart The Angels are a safeguard about us They beare us up what would we have more for our security The case is evident it is an exceeding comfort a marvailous establishment to a man surrounded with terrors That he is in GODS way upon His worke It is a Soveraigne Cordiall now in these perilous and exceeding feirce times It stayes and chears the heart and silenceth the reasoning of the Spirit What That I am in Gods way and upon His work the heart may meditate terrour now when the Nations are angry Esa 33. 18. the Kingdom totters like a drunken man We will consider with all our hearts the case that Nehemiah was in and his courage for it is very notable his case is the case of our Worthies even of all that are able to stand in the gap for the help of the Church And this time runs parallel with that then after the very same Line Therefore we will heare what Nehemiah sayes and reason the case about him What sayes he Should such a man as I flee And Who is there that being as I am would goe into the Temple Neh. 6. 1â— to save his life A very bold speech I pray you since it is not too late and it may be of much use now let us examine this mans confidence Why might not such a man as hee flee what manner of man was he A faithfull man one that feared God above many There is the Answer for that A faithfull man cannot be fearfull a man full of faith cannot be full of feare BEING AS I AM In what a case was Nehemiah in then In a very sad and perplexed case sure All the reason he had if hee had no more then we have could not tell him which way to take for he had heard no lesse then ten times That from all places the Adversary would be upon him (c) Nehe. 4. 12. And when The Lord brought that counsail to nought they fell upon another The devils mint * Fabricator Prov. 6. 14. is still going his servants are still hammering there The Ad-Adversary sent to Nehemiah no lesse then FOURE TIMES to procure a brotherly conference about an an Accommodation forsooth but they thought to doe him * Chap 6. 2. 3. 4. mischiefe And when Nehemiah returned the Adversary still the same Answer Foure times together I AM DOING A GREAT WORKE WHICH MUST NOT CEASE while I come downe to you to Parley about an