is miserable many a man with Sampson would bee content to perish upon condition that they whom they oppose might perish with them but that cannot be here no plot will take therefore let them alone meddle not against those men for whose sake God will be ingaged against thee this is one use The second is A use of comfort because Immanuel was with his people therefore saith he Feare not their feare be not dismayed sanctifie you the Lord of hosts in your heart he will be a sanctuary to you trust in him though he hide his face from the house of Israel In many words the Prophet here doth animate and incourage the servants of God in their greatest confusions which can possibly lie upon them not to let their faith in Immanuel goe but beare themselves upon him in the midst of all difficulties This also would I a little presse upon you because the Lord is thus engaged and will order all things for the ruine of his enemies and the good of his servants therefore in the mid'st of all our darknesses and difficulties hold your faith strong in Immanuels promises which are many hold you to them and feare not any feare of man I confesse when in my weaknesse I look upon the condition of these three Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland there is not in reference to the people of God a sadder spectacle upon earth presented to my eye Clouds of confusion hang over all our heads wee may say of our troubles as Leah said when shee had a son born shee called him Gad Behold said shee a troope cometh Troopes of misery break out against us and threaten the people of God in all these three Kingdomes the adversaries of the cause that we have beene engaged in were never more never so full of fury never so diligent they are like unto the Frogs that came out of the mouth of the Dragon and the false Prophet and the Beast that were to gather all the Kings of the earth to battaile against the Lambe setting their confederacies and sending their Emissaries into every corner into every corner of France of Holland of England and Scotland and Ireland where ever any confederacy may bee raised and wee at home are a most pitifull divided disjoynted people even we who have owned and joined in Gods cause as if wee were the children of Cadmus making it our worke to thrust our swords into one anothers bowels or like the brethren of Ishmael every mans sword is against us and our sword against them so that when I look upon the difficulties and dangers that doe inviron us seriously I see no more probability of our withstanding the invading ruine then it is for a levell of sand to withstand a Torrent of water that comes running upon it I say thus it appeares to mee when I look upon these things with carnall eyes I can then see no way but the wofullest confusion breaking in upon us which a Kingdom can be plunged in especially that the godly party are even like to be given up for a spoile and a prey all our foundations are out of joynt and our whole house seemes falling but what then Must we therefore sit downe and despaire No for Immanuel because of Immanuel wee may beare up our hearts still and to encourage you I pray you carry home these foure or five meditations First Know you for certain that there is not one of all these businesses not any of these designes and plots that are in hand against us but the best friend wee have in heaven and earth hath stirred them all no man could offer at you so much as a drawne Dagger if Jesus Christ did not draw it and put it into his hand and truly Gods people need not feare any great hurt from any designe that Jesus Christ hath his hand in the clouds which Jesus Christ raiseth will all drop fatnesse that is one Christ hath contrived them all and you may therefore look for good from them Secondly Know for certaine that in the greatest rage and fury that ever is found amongst wicked men Immanuel hath a negative voice hee is not onely privy to all the counsels that are but he hath a negative voice in them too If hee say nay all their yeas are not worth a farthing to advance their businesse wee use to say to the Papists that if a generall councel could be called in Christrendome no good could bee expected from it if the Pope bee allowed to have a negative voyce for certainly hee will never passe any thing that shall be against the Church of Rome Jesus Christ hath this negative voice you may demand over whom hath Christ a negative voice I tel you Over the Sun hee saith to the Sun doe not shine though the Sun be prepared as a Gyant to run his race if Christ doe but say doe not shine the Sun puts his head in a cloud He hath a negative voice over the Seas if he say to the Seas goe not there the raging waves of the Sea cannot stir it is an observation that Basil hath upon Egypt that the land of Egypt lies lower then the red Sea that the red Sea is higher then the land of Egypt so that there is no reason can be given why the red Sea doth not drown all Egypt and swallow it up every day but onely the Lord doth not give his voyce to it he hath said to the waves of it Hitherto ye shall come and here yee shall turne back up on a levell ground yea runne away from a lower ground and when the waves roare he but saith peace bee still and husheth them as a child Christ hath a negative voice over the Devill If the Devill would but goe into a hog and Christ say no you shall not goe he cannot enter into a Swine Hee hath a negative voyce over all mortall men in all their plots and conspiracies If hee say it shall not stand it is to no purpose certainly Beloved wee may beare up our hearts comfortably upon such grounds as these yea Thirdly as Christ contrives all and hath a negative voice in all so All these doe but work his work hee is not onely one of them but they are all his Agents too hee hath some worke to doe whatever it bee wherein hee imploys them and though hee let them worke according to their principles yet they all worke the work of the Lord the devills in hell worke the worke of Christ as well as the Angels in heaven the Pope of Rome works the worke of Christ as well as a faithfull Minister in a Pulpit doth I mean not that they doe it from right principles or doe it according to rule but de facto they doe nothing but what Christ will have done as the Iews and Romans did in crucifying Christ when they hung him upon the crosse they did nothing but what the Lords counsell had determined to bee done
Emmanuel A THANKSGIVING-SERMON PREACHED To the Honourable House OF COMMONS Upon their Solemn day of praising God for the victory obtained by the Parliaments Forces in SOUTHVVALES In the Church of Margarets Westminster May 17. 1648. By STEPHEN MARSHALL B. D. Minister of Gods Word at Finchingfield in Essex MICAH 4. 11 12 13. Now also many Nations are gathered against thee that say Let her be defiled and let our eye look upon Zion But they know not the thoughts of the Lord neither understand they his counsell for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor Arise and thresh O daughter of Zion Rom. 8. 31. If God be with us who can be against us London Printed by R. Câ—tes for Stephen Bowtell at the sign of the Bihle in Popes-head Alley 1648. Die Mercurii 17 Maii 1648. ORdered by the Commons assembled in Parliament That Sir John Trevour doe from this House give Thanks to Mr. Marshall for the great pains he took in his Sermon he preached this day at Margarets Westminster before the House of Commons it being a day of publick Thanksgiving for the Victory obtained by the Parliaments Forces in Southwales And that he be desired to Print his Sermon wherein he is to have the usuall priviledge in Printing thereof H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com. I doe appoint Stephen Bowtell to Print my Sermon STEPHEN MARSHALL To the Honourable THE House of Commons Assembled in PARLIAMENT IN obedience to your commands I here humbly present to publique view what you were pleased with ready affections lately to attend unto In it is cleared how vain the attempts of all men are against the people and Cause of God and these seasonable Mercies and Deliverances may help to confirm us in waiting for the full accomplishment of all these promises I confesse for our unworthy walking and little improving many like Mercies we continue still in a low condition and lye under many heavie pressures our times are like that day in Zach. 14. Neither clear nor dark not day nor night we are cast down but not forsaken of our God no not though our land be filled with sin against the holy One of Israel God sill appears in the mount of our difficulties Methinks this his gracious dealing shews how willing he is yet to heal our backslidings to take away our iniquities to doe us good and to preserve and establish us a people to himself O! that God would now in the end teach this Nation to leave struggling one against another for a curse and all to joyn together to wrastle with him for a blessing and seek him in his own Gospel-way O! that God would perswade such of this Nation who are engaged against the cause of God to leave plotting and contriving of Designes which shall not prosper and in stead thereof joyn hands with those who desire to see the prosperity of Zion And that all who are engaged in this Cause of God would labour to manage it in Gods own way That they would remember their Covenant what they have sworn and promised and by his grace study to make it good how abundantly should we finde the fruits of his loving kindnesses showred down upon us That this may be the study and endeavour of you all who represent the whole Commonalty of this Nation is the humble and earnest prayer of Your humble Servant in Christ STEPHâ—N MARSHALL A SERMON PREACHED Before the Honourable House of Commons at their Publick Thanksgiving May 17. 1648. Isaiah 8. 9 10. Associate your selves O ye people and ye shall be broken in pieces and give eare all ye of far Countries gird yourselves and ye shall be broken in pieces gird your selves and ye shall be broken in pieces take counsell together and it shall come to nought speak the word and it shall not stand for God is with us THis Chapter doth containe a threatning of two judgements One against the Kingdomes of Syria and the Kingdome of Israel or the ten Tribes that is in the foure first Verses and the summe of it is this The Prophet had a young son the Lord bids him at the Circumcision of his son name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz which signifies Make haste to the spoil make haste to the prey and the Lord gives the reason of it because before that child should bee able to call my Father my Mother before hee should bee able to say Dad or Mam The riches of Damascus and the spoile of Samaria shall bee taken away before the King of Assyria and it came to passe accordingly for this Prophesie was about the third yeer of King Ahaz and in the fourth yeer which was the yeer after a great part of Israel was plunder'd and spoiled and the Kingdome of Syria was wholly broken The second part of the chapter begins at the fifth verse and that containes a threatning of judgment against the Kingdome of Iudah and in it there are foure things remarkable First Here is the cause of this terrible judgement that God would bring upon the Kingdome of Iudah Secondly Here is laid down the judgement it self what it should be Thirdly Here is contained the deliverance of Gods people from the judgement and Fourthly Here is laid down the uses that God would have made of all this The cause of the judgement you have laid down in the sixt verse Forasmuch saith hee as this people refuseth or slights the waters of Shiloah which run slowly and rejoyce in Rezin and Remaliahs son because of this that is in one word because of their infidelity because they did not rest upon the Gospell promises made them in Immanuel that salvation which hee had promised to come from the house of David but slighted it because the house of David was now low and their neighbour Kingdomes of Syria and Israel were more pompous and stately then Davids throne therefore they regarded not the promises made to it but would bee glad to bee like those Kingdomes who overtopt them and to this end they made a confederacy with the King of Assyria that they might bee the better able to cope with Rezin the King of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah the King of Israel this the Prophet signifies in the words of refusing the waters of Shiloah that run softly and rejoycing in Rezin and Remaliahs son Shiloah was a little River which arose at the foot of Mount Sion whence ran slowly and in a crooked channell which some thinkes it 's called the Dragons Well Nehem. 2. 13. and this smooth stream was conveyed in some subterranean channells into that pool mentioned Iohn 9. 7. and was thence by pipes conveyed into the Kings Gardens and Orchards and was of use to the whole City yea and Temple of Ierusalem The same River of Shiloah is that which the Prophet mentions Psalm 46. There is a River the streames whereof make glad the City of God the holy place of the Tabernacle of the most High By
this River the Lord shadowes out the Kingdome of Sion and the house of David which now was in a mean and low estate and therefore despised by those unbeleeving Jews and it is usuall with the Prophets by Rivers to signify the adjacent Provinces Egypt by Nilus Babylon by Euphrates c. Now for this sinne of their unbeleif and relying upon an arme of flesh the King of Assyria was this judgment to come upon them Then Secondly Here is the judgment which therefore shall come upon them because that little River of Shiloah would not in their esteem doe them good would not comfort them the Lord would bring them waters broad enough foraine waters such as they desired but little for their good he would bring the Assyrian upon them hee who they trusted in to be their deliverer should come in and be their spoil Now therefore behold the Lord bringeth upon them the waters of the rivers strong and many even the King of Assyria and all his glory and he shall come up over all his channels and goe over all his banks and he shall passe through Judah he shall overflow and goe over he shall reach even to the neck and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land Oh Emmanuel This terrible judgement is laid downe in two comparisons one of a great river or the sea that had broke over all his banks a floud should spread over all their land and reach up to the very neck the other comparison is of an Eagle or fowl of prey he should come and spread his wings over the breadth of the whole land the whole land of Iudea should at one time be overspread by the mighty Army that Senacherib whom they expected to be their Saviour should bring upon them with a purpose to destroy them and in the close of this threatning there is an elegant Apostrophe he turns his speech to Christ he shal spread his wings over the breadth of thy land O Immanuel though it be thy land and thy people O Emmanuel yet because of their unbelief all this shall come upon them This turning of his speech to Christ seems to be an indignity to Christ that his land under the notion of his land should be wasted by such a wicked King but this appears to be added for two ends one to signifie the certainty of the judgement all that could possibly be pleaded why there should be any hope of keeping off the judgement was Emmanuels title to this land but it shall come though it be Emmanuels land secondly this is added as a secret ground of comfort of deliverance because it was the land of Emmanuel the land and people where Emmanuel was to be borne and where he was to reign where he had and would have his fire and furnace his seat â—nd habitation therefore their faith may expect deliverance these are the two first parts of the Chapter now my Text containes the third which is the deliverance which the Lord would give them notwithstanding their great unworthinesse but before I come to that let me name this one lesson from the other two parts namely That it is ordinary with God when his people doe forsake his promises and trust to an arme of flesh he makes that arme of flesh to bee their scourge which they expected to be their helper they had nothing that they would trust to against these two neighbouring Kingdomes but the power of the King of Assyria and this King of Assyria shoud be their scourge to beat and almost to breake them in pieces which is notably expressed 2 Chron. 28. 20 21. Ahaz sent all the treasure he could rap and rend thereby to ingage the King of Assyria And Tilgath-Pilneser the King of Assyria came to him and distressed him but strengthned him not he helped him not therefore Let us learne that when we do trust either to any nation to any Army or to any Councell and relie upon them with with-drawing our selves from the gratious promises of God we take the ready way to bring ruine and destruction upon our selves The third part of the Chapter is that which I intend by the Lords assistance to treat upon and that is the deliverance which the Lord was pleased to promise this unworthy people in this 9 and 10. verses for the understanding whereof I would open two things First The matter contained in these two verses Secondly The manner how the Lord is pleased to lay this down and expresse it The matter of the two verses containes these three Heads First Here is a great conspiracie against the Church of God Secondly Here is an eminent deliverance of the Church from this conspiracy Thirdly Here is both the author of the deliverance and the cause why they should be delivered The conspiracie against them is laid downe in these branches First Here is the multitude of people that were engaged in it called ye people and ye of far Countries a great many of them Secondly Here is their association their meeting about their businesse gather your selves together associate your selves ye people come and meet Thirdly Here is the Association of their Councell take counsell together contribute every one what you are able toward this designe Fourthly Here is their agreement in the Conclusion Speake the word set it positively downe nemine contradicente this is the businesse we will doe and carry it on as one man then Here is the preparation likewise of their Armes Gird your selves doe not only meet and talke and agree but arme and march and goe on with your businesse all this is the preparation to the plot Secondly Here is the defeat of this plot and that is very notable even the dissipating of their counsells the ruine of all their enterprizes Associate your selves but ye shall be broken gird your selves but ye shall be broken take counsell but it shall come to nought speak the word set downe your conclusion that you 'l never part from yet all shall not stand all shall be a vain thing it shall not onely not take effect but returne upon your owne heads to your owne ruine ye shall be broken in pieces Thirdly Here is the Authour of it and in the Author the cause for God is with us the Hebrew is for Emmanuel gather your selves gird your selves take counsell speak the word all shall come to nought for Emanuel that is for it is Emmanuels cause that you oppose it is Emmanuels people that you fight against it is Emmanuel who is the Leader the Generall of that Army one that will out-wit you and out-plot you and out-fight you one for whom you are too few and he alone will be too many for you it is against Christ and you doe but kick against the prickes this is the matter of these two verses then Secondly Note likewise the manner how the Lord is pleased to lay this downe which is done by severall
before the foundations of the World were laid Nay I adde in the last place to strengthen you that as they work all of them the Lords work So The Lords work design is the good of his Church the calling the purging the preserving the building and nourishing and growth of the Church is all the work that Jesus Christ hath to doe when that is done the world ends and he resignes up the Kingdome into his Fathers hand now certainly if we can beleeve all these things may not our hearts rest quiet May not wee if wee be ingaged in a good cause may not wee I say with comfort and confidence put it into the Lords hand and let him doe what hee will I am perswaded the ground of all the diffidence and discouragement that is found amongst the people of God this day arises from their ignorance of the interest of Jesus Christ in these publick affaires and I know also that to those men that are but Politicians and carry carnall and worldly designes of their own such a lesson as this can be of no use nor stay to them for Jesus Christ is against them but for those that have a spirituall eye and would bee glad to have some prop to lean upon this may stay and quiet their hearts they may comfortably set down this conclusion their Adversary may have great power and strength but the Church hath Immanuel they have the wealth of the World the Church hath the wealth of Immanuel the wisdome care and goodnesse of Immanuel they have the whole world to joyn with them but we have Jesus Christ with us and that 's more non est consilium contra Dominum there is no counsell nor strength against the Lord therefore stay and quiet your hearts with these things especially this might stay us against our feares of having this tender plant of Reformation blasted and spoiled by the many enemies who oppose it it hath been Christs ordinary way to let his enemies set against his worke when it s but a tender plant when in all likelihood it may bee most easily spoil'd and he orders it so purposely to make men see and know that when they have vented their utmost rage and done their worst hee will carry it on in despight of them I conclude this use in the Prophets words in this place Sanctifie the Lord in your hearts fear not mens feare looke to Christ even though hee hide his face one word spoken by him can and will in due time quiet all these stormy waves and then Thirdly with which I will end This lesson is applyed here by the Prophet likewise For duty therefore saith hee Bind up the testimonie and seale up my Law amongst my Schollers and when any say to you seek to Witches or Wizzards or they that have familiar Spirits goe not after them but hold to Immanuels testimony the plain meaning of it is this that because the salvation and deliverance of the Church from all dangers comes onely from Immanuel therefore wee should bee carefull to ingage Immanuel to us hold close to his rules bind up Immanuels testimonies seale them up that is ratifie and confirme them let them onely be of authority among his schollers goe no 〈…〉 ayes of humane policies use not any devillish arts look not succour in any unlawfull way but hold you close to the rules of Christ that Immanuel may own you and you are well enough this is the last use I shall make of it because the Lord Jesus doth thus order all things for the welfare and good of his Church and people therefore if we would bee safe let us engage Jesus Christ closely let us hold him with us and wee are well enough and herein Honorable and beloved I more especially direct my speech to you that are called to be the great Councell of the Kingdome according to my poore understanding you never stood in more need of help then you doe at this day your enemies are very many and full of rage and fury and your friends truely they are but few and they divided amongst themselves they are jealous one of another and many of them jealous of you and what advice to give you so to steere your counsels and courses to give that satisfaction which I think you would bee glad to doe to honest men dissenting one from another the Lord knowes I cannot imagine what it should be it is a hard thing to say in these difficulties what you should doe in the wayes of humane wisdome to satisfie the people and to settle and save the Kingdome but I am sure my Text doth furnish mee with somewhat upon which I can pawn what ever is pretious to mee and venture my everlasting comfort upon it if the Lord direct you to take that course you may yet save your selves and this Kingdome that is hold Immanuel to you bind up Immanuels lawes and testimonies let Jesus Christ but be ingaged with you and he hath wayes to fetch all about again beyond what the heart of man can think of Truly the mercy which this day wee praise God for is a great pledge and 〈◊〉 to us how easily the Lord could doe it when with asmall handfull such a thing was done and at such a season able time when I am confident the Malignant enemies throughout the Kingdom had set and appointed to have had risings in every corner of the land which I conceive is the reason why they so cry it down as an untruth that they might hold up the spirits of them who run in the same way a little check to our Forces there would probably have made evill affected men in forty places of the Kingdome to have appear'd suddenly Now the Lord comming in thus unexpectedly and dashing them thus easily le ts us see how soone hee can turn the stream That you may therefore ingage Immanuel to own you I beseech you receive this humble advice which I give you in his Name doe you obey his will in it I dare promise you he will yet be with you and doe all your work for you Humble your selves deeply under that hand of God which is gone out against you God hath now layed you very low it 's true there was never Parliament of England upon which God hath powred so many favours so many deliverances and victories and it 's as true that there was never Parliament upon which God hath powred so much scorne the glory and honour of Parliamentary Authority seems now utterly lost and like the lost innocent state of man never more to be repaired but by an Immanuel none but Jesus Christ is able to repaire this dishonour and reproach scorn and hatred which is east upon the Parliament now if you expect any reparation from him you must put your mouth into the dust humble your souls acknowledg the Lord to be righteous in all the contempt that he hath powred upon you and that you have deserved far worse