an excellent Method though they seeme confused to us and doe worke together for the good of them that love God whereunto the present time gives cleare evidence GReat are the works of The Lord Sought out of them that take pleasure therein SOUGHT OUT with diligent inquiry not with a curious prying into them much lesse with an over-hasty censuring and judging of them here we must walk softly taking leasure We must not judge of the acts of GODS providence by pieces here a part and there a part as we do not a peice of Arrace not halfe unfolded stay till GOD hath done His whole worke hath accomplished it upon mount Zion then unfold the work and behold a glorious symmeâ—try and uniformity all together workeing for the good of those that love Him If we looke upon GODS works apart and alone here one piece and there another they will be as unpleasing to the eye as are the members of a body divided and lying apart from the head They will seeme fearfull and terrible wondrous crosse to the marke they tend to Ioseph must be a prime and cheife man in Egypt look you how crosse all things goe he is sold for a servant and it was well he scaped so when he had gained no little favour and became a great master then his feet were put in the stocks Things went as crosse with David too How long To the very day I reckon within a few houres he was to be King that very day the people spoke of stoning of him 1 Sam. 30 6. GODS providence seemed as strange and as crosse towards Mordecai and as favourable to Haman That Enemy and Adversary Mordecai must ride in state through the city and Haman must lead the horse and lacquie by and so it was But before that day came Haman was very confident That he should see Mordecai set on high upon a gallows which he had provided for his purpose Truly the admonition is seasonable Iudge nothing before the time but remember these are GODS workes and He will work like a GOD His providences what ever they seeme to be now they wil appeare to be admirable exceeding glorious Little can we by the begining of any action guesse at Gods intention in the conclusion Now here is a piece of providence and it seemes terrible here is another piece and causeth distractions A third piece and that causeth a sword here is a fourth piece and Oh how crosse it is to the high marke it tends to for there be thoughts of accommodation of compounding the cause of Christ and that is a crosse way indeed so we judge before the time stay a little while and we shall see all these crosse wayes meet and kisse each other so as we shall say in the close of the work All was carried on in a curious Method things seeme to be carried very confusedly in our eye up and downe and then a crosse as upon wheeles But there is a wheele within the wheeles and eyes providences Ezech. 1. round about If we could see we would say All things are carried in an excellent Method The lines of Gods providence drawn in the circumference of the world seeme no lesse confused then the moaths in the sun But we shall see one day That not one line could be spared And that all tend Directly to the great center The Glory of the Workman and The rest of His people We think we see crookednesse an unevennesse in the lines and wayes of Gods Providence But we are deceived mans wayes are unequall Gods wayes are equall stay a little we shall say so too I said well stay a while as those that live by faith and do not make haste untill GOD hath wrought His whole worke till we can put all together Then we shall discerne plainly That all together worked gloriously for the promoting the great supreame and soveraigne ends GODS Glory and HIS Churches peace in the exalting His people plucking down and confounding the Adversary Nay GOD hath not wearied out His people with expectation Though He hath not yet accomplished His whole worke yet He gives His people leave to behold some pieces thereof And see how wonderfull and admirable they are what strange providences crosse wayes as was said hath he made to meet contrary natures and wills have wrought effectually towards the setling of Truth and Peace that these might meete in a sweet agreement Take a view of it at once and behold the poyson of Aspes viperous tongues embalming wounds healing weaknesse strengthening temptations fortifying straits enlarging perverse counsels ensnaring the perverse counsellours fears supporting distractions uniting troubles quieting stops pressures to beare down the spirits of men heightening the same Thus the LORD hath done in this short time What then may the people of GOD expect to see in after time when the work is done and they can put all together who have seen such strange providences and glorious workings thereof already He that hath wrought so gloriously and hath given His people such a discerning will worke much more and will be admired in the close of His whole work when His people can put all together Now we are to consider with more enlagement what The LORD hath done making crosse wayes meete in a good agreement and crosse spirits to stand in a posture for the safeguarding His Kingdome And what a good GOD do His people serve who would not feare Him who would not serve such a God who would not trust Him now Hee makes all work for good All that we call evil and to sense it is so is good to them never any thing in the world fell out to The people of GOD whereof they could not say this is good now for it works thereunto and which is yet more comfort they can say confidently it will be better anon within an hower a minute a little minute GODS Hand is with them and through Him they improove all good and evill all is good to them they find it so or they make it so or rather against the nature thereof it is made so to them things disagreeing are made to agree very well and impossible things to be possible for so we read if we read the History of these last months Can a man imagine who walkes by sense but that the noise of swords and staves would silence the lawes and daunt the spirits of men utterly yet it was not so This noise wakened the lawes and raised the spirits the higher would we not think that the sword would make divisions It was taken up for that end and so it works most naturally But so it shall not do It shall worke contrary effects it shall cement and sodder men together It shall make many to be as one man of one mind in a house and so to seek the peace of Israel Yea but the sword drawes blood makes havock in the Land It robbs and spoiles c. Very true but it had made more
Duty walking in Gods way and doing His work And this sustains them in their fainting fitts quiets and settles them in troublous times They do their duty They are upon their worke This I say for it cannot be said too often is as comfortable to them and cordiall as this remembrance was to the good king when he heard the sentence of Death Behold Lord I have walked before Thee in Truth and with 2 Kings 20. 3. a perfect heart and have done that which is good in Thy sight I may not conclude yet for there is a great difficulty behind but Let every man according to his measure and proportion of gifts and power God hath put into his hand offer himself with a willing mind wholly up to God in His way and work so doing his Duty and committing the issue and successe to God in assurance hereof That The Lord does all things well orders all for the advancing His own Glory and His Churches good He will in His own good time performe His whole work upon mount Zion and on Ierusalem and then He will punish the Esai 10. 12. stout-hearted and bring down the Glory of their lookes And in the meane time for this man that attends his Duty minds that wholly is onely carefull at that point The Lord will guide him with His eye will uphold him with His hand so as he shall not dash his foot against a stone Now the difficulty follows and that will make us dash and fall too if we look not to our bottome and our standing there upon We shall heare now of sad and grievous things that befell them which have stood to the cause of Christ and done their duty But blessed be God though wee shall heare such things which shall make some eares tingle yet we shall not heare That the righteous have forsaken their way or their duty though they have been sore broken in the place of dragons and covered with the shadow of death YET no not YET shall we heare That their heart turned back nor that their feet have declined from THY WAY No though all this which we b Psal 44. 17. 18. 19. shall heare is or may come upon them what though YET they are resolved as their Fathers before them The resolution of a gracious spirit ever To keep close to GOD and to Duty To stir â—p themselves against the hypocrite (c) Job 17. 8. 9. To hold on their way for they have cleane hands and cleane hearts washed white in the bloud of the Lambe What followes We need not make it a Question They shall be stronger and stronger Having now premised this I come to that which is said against it to scare the fearfull-hearted mentioning onely that first which occasioneth it I had said rather The Lord hath said it for me He that keeps close with GOD holds on his way doth his duty is resolved at that point The LORD hath sworne by His holinesse He will uphold this man he shall not dash his foot I will be bold to say This is good Divinity and as comfortable as any you can meet with in all your readings Now hearken what is said to scare the Israel of GOD out of it all His Antipasses that they may let-in feare and let goe Duty The Adversary shall never effect this while hee breathes with Gods help I shall be able to beat him with his owne weapons and fetch comfort and light and glory for the righteous from out of his darknesse and most ignominious usages of Gods people doing their duty and holding to His way and work But the fearfull have looked upon all this already and they object He that does his duty keeping to Gods way and worke may Ob. dash his foote and fall too and rise no more in this world if he be resolute upon that way and to doe his duty therein as like to dash upon danger and to be swallowed up of it too in no way more likely then in GODS way and when we doe our Duty Take we for example the Patirarchs Prophets Apostles that 1 Cor. 11. cloude of witnesses in the little booke of Martyrs they walked in Gods way and did their Duty and did they not dash upon danger To come neerer to our own times Looke upon those TWO WITNESSES those few * Vocatur Antipas non ficto sed vero nomine tot pene literis syllabis Martyres hujus temporis declarat fore Antipapas Revel 2. 13. Antipasses faithful Magistrates and faithfull Ministers and faithfull people opposing in all ages of the world upward to this day and so will all their Dayes Roome and their abominable Idolatries and then you will say they doe their Duty and are in Gods way But see I pray you and marke well how they are used you would not use a Dog so And see where they lye A goodly recompence for doing their Duty and walking in Gods way will the world say No matter what the world saies not a pin matter nor how they Answ use the servants of God They are vile and refuse with the world because they doe their Duty and are the excellent there not of the world A sure Testimony of perdition to the world of ungodly men whose superstitions may be out of ignorance but their cruelty is out of malice But to the point It is granted That if ever the Devil that Legion for I mean with him all his servants stand with open mouth and out-stretched arme against a man it is then when he walks in GODS way and doth his Duty The wicked are carryed with an indignation against no way no work but that onely because it is an holy way and a godly work Therefore a way of suffering it may be a way of perishing it cannot be Not a perishing way See yonder The Beast shall make war Ob. against them shall overcome them and kill them Then see where Rev. 11. 7. their bodies lye and how long and how merry the Adversary is over them very jocund and glad when he hath done such an exploit upon those that tormented them We have a proverbe he that laughs after laughs too and more Ans heartily he that laughs before is as he that girdeth-on his harnes he knows not what may happen to damp his mirth But he that laughes after sees all clear before him and is as he that putteth his harnesse off Certainly for It was never questioned yet These witnesses shall have their time again to laugh when the Adversaries shall gnaw their tongues for paine But to the point We have seene the worst that can befall the men of GOD in GODS way and upon His worke and how small a thing do we see Some Dead bodies I must take leave now To speake according to my understanding and to his capacity also who if he meets with a Dead body takes it to be a Carkesse all life is gone Doubtlesse these are not carkesses for if so They had not
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
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
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
patience To raise up their hope after an enduring substance To try them I said and to puâ—ge them to make them white even (c) Dan. 11. 35. to the time of the end To make them Meet for the inheritance of the Saints in light (d) Colos 1. 12. It is notable The Lord useth these vile wretches as scullions To purge and whiten His vessells oppointed for honour Indeed the rod of the wicked may bee so heavy upon the back of The Righteous and may raise within them such a thick cloud that hee can hardly discerne a Fatherly love and Hand through it for there are strange apprehensions and tremblings within the heart when there is a cup of trembling in the hand But it will be faire weather anon The thick cloud shall bee dissolved and The FATHERS love will shine forth the clearer the thicker the cloud hath been The FATHERS love over-rules the Adversary binds him measureth out the effects of their fury and mallice orders all as Hee did that long captivity FOR THY (c) Jer. 24. 5. GOOD whom Hee loveth That is the comfort and the conclusion of this point for their Good whom Hee loveth And who make Him their feare CHAP. III. The Righteous feare God as God they that doe so cannot feare the creature THe Righteous feare GOD what then I have said all They feare GOD then they feare neither men nor Divells If wee observe wee meete with this expression often I FEARED what The Creature what hee could doe against me I was afraid of a Man and then hee deserted his Duty ran away from GOD and from himselfe Wee read againe I know not how often I feare GOD And then hee feares nothing hee goes on as bold as a lion the enemy is behind him a mountain of straits on each hand a sea of troubles before him yet he goes on with the more courage hee sets GOD before his eyes Whom hee serves Whom hee feares His Cause His Glory and goes on breaks through the straits as you will doe through a spiders web Hee feares God of whom should he be afraid He fears God he keeps himselfe from every evill work though he might commit it in secret (d) Levit. 19. 14 no eye upon him His Lords eye Which runs through the world (e) 2 Chron. 26. 9. That is upon him That awes him even to the observing his thoughts and bringing them into subjection and them most of all So he feares GOD And the Armies of men or Devils not so much as the wicked have feared an Army of flies Let (f) Esai 33. 14. sinners in ZION who seeme to maintain the established Religion with their mouth and persecute it with their hand let them be afraid fearfulnesse must surprise the Hypocrites those that professe one thing and doe another But this man feares God that is He walks righteously speaketh uprightly despiseth the ver 15. gaine of oppressions shaketh his hands from holding of bribes stoppeth his eare from hearing of bloud Oh how far is he from shedding of it shutteth his eye from seeing evill Reade on He shall dwell on high his defence shall be the munitions of rocks bread shall be ver 16. given him and his waters shall be sure And he is sure of all this for he fears GOD and all we reade before is but the result of that feare Why then Lions and Beares and Wolves and Foxes I meane for so the Scripture doth by these bloody and treacherous men these may be hungry and starved too they may feare famine The righteous who feare God they feare it not In famine Fides famem non metuit Hieron that is in every extremity they shall be provided for they shall have enough for they have God and he is All. I will contract Indeed and in truth the feare of GOD for it contains the whole Duty of man is excellent Now I know what All will say for I know their hearts and their language there by my owne I and every man will say for himself I feare GOD too that I do hee that feares not an oath that is too paticular he that feares not to sin before The Lord nay he that doth violence to the law and sheds blood to his power the Man that neither feareth God nor reverenceth man wil say I feare GOD too It is as commonly said as any thing in the world for every man sayes it as was said and answered before It is not considerable then what men say but what men doe not what they professe with the tongue but what they act with the hand They professe saith Paul that they feare GOD for they that know GOD feare Him but in works they deny Him being abominable Titus 1. 16. and disobedient and unto every good worke reprobate They walk cleane contrary to that man that feares God wee heard how he walketh and how he speaketh and yet they feare GOD. It is but a bare profession so with the mouth onely But observe what their case will be when their (b) Jer. 2. 24. month commeth and they must cast-out their sorrows they will be afraid then fear fulnesse will surprise them and heare them what they Esai 33. 14. say Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire Who among us shall dwell with the everlasting burnings And so much be spoken to my owne heart and to theirs who professe to feare GOD yet walk so notoriously contrary to what they doe professe We also who not perhaps so notoriously wicked yet are pretenders to this HOLY AFFECTION professing wee feare GOD when indeed it is not so we doe not feare Him in Power which appeares thus When danger presents its selfe where are we then Almost dead with feare which could not be if we feared GOD in Power When trouble shews it selfe we shake at it as at some new and strange thing never looked for nor feared till it come And these shaking fits declare That we whatsoever we say and pretend do not feare GOD feare will not be concealed no more then folly can when he that is affraid Eccles 10. 8. walketh by the way his wisdom faileth him and he saith to every one he is affraid And he can give a Reason for his feare which is this That hell is let loose now and Divels are broke-in amongst us in the shape and likenesse of men Grant it to be so as so it is yet the Righteous he that feareth God in Power feareth not that is he is notvoid of feare but he is above his feare he is as bold as a Lion for he feareth GOD how As God That calâ—es and quieteth his spirit we do not as the Righteous do maintaine the feare of God Set up God ruling as chiefe over all Certaine it is They that feare God indeed as GOD do so do set Him up in their hearts and so ruling in the world They that feare the Creature do set the Creature above God
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
thy selfe thou didst make flesh thy foote and thy arme too thereon thou didst trust and not on GOD Flesh upheld thee and not spirit hadst thou trusted in GOD He had upheld thee now never more firmely then when the stay and staffe of the creature is taken away Then The Arme of the Lord upholds most gloriously when it sustaines alone made bare of flesh I know some suddain disaster some unexpected breach yet nothing is suddain or unexpected to a faithfull man may make his confidence quaile and his spirit fall but if he fall flat and there lye with his face upon the ground and upon serious considerations cannot raise himselfe and get up his spirit then certain it is The creature was his stay and confidence I meane thus If when the stay and staffe is taken away the heart fainteth away and dyes If the spirits be sunke then they will not up again then certain it is That stay and staffe be it the wedge of gold husband wife or childe that was the prop that stayed the heart up but now these bearers these supporters are taken away the person is down his spirit flat and sunke But thou maist say Thâ—u wast never put to that strait yet God never yet tooke from thee the stay and staffe Say Blessed be His Name And yet doe not trust to this trust doe not bee confident of this strength It is not tryed yet as gold in the Furnace That which holds thee up now may not be sufficient in the day of Trouble Thou thinkest now That Thou doest trust in God and He upholds thy Spirit whereas perhaps the creature is thy stay and thy staffe Examine the truth of this betimes and take all advantage of experiences from what GOD hath done and from promises what He will doe and all to make improvement of this Trust in God Till our strength be tryed till we have some experience we cannot tell how great the rebellion of the flesh will be under Gods afflicting hand It is an easie thing to be valiant before the combat to dreame of a good courage before the heart be tryed but indeed To bee unshaken in the miâ—st of a tempest and To stand upright when the ground under us doth tremble This is to know assuredly That we are strong indeed That we have boldnesse and can trust perfectly Surely never was there more cause then at this time To set our hope in GOD To make good our confidence To exercise this grace of saith and trust To looke back to what God hath done how wonderfull He hath wrought for those that put their trust in Him And so to gather experience that is a great meanes to support the heart and to engage it to trust in God I remember a passage which surely is worth the noting this it is David comes hastily to Abimeleck and after some greeting 2 Sam. 21. and some other passages betwixt them demands of the Priest Whether he could help him to a sword Yes said the Priest here is in my keeping The sword of Goliah the Philistine whom verse 9. THOU SLEWEST If thou wilt take that take it for here is no other No other thought David for so he said if thou hadst all the swords in the world yet there is none LIKE THAT give it me And why so There were other Giants in the world and other swords as great as that why none like that The Text resolves it That was the sword where with David slew Goliah the Philistine None like that sword That revived Davids spirits indeed they were fainting with the sense of experience of GODS faithfulnesse He had wrought wonderfully for David a weakling and yet He gave him strength to slay the Giant with his owne sword none like that a double weapon with a double edge it had slaine behind him it would slay before him God had delivered him from such a death and there was the sword now in his hand a memoriall of such a deliverance He would put his Trust in GOD for after-time This is the Poynt then we are engaged upon even To put our Trust in GOD and that we may do so To Consider well what God hath done and then To exercise our faith upon it for the better improvement of our Trust in Him Surely the very set time is now come That so we should doe improve our Trust in GOD live by faith now that is live upon God with God in God to God to make up a life in Him alone Therein is assurance and strength strong confidence (a) Prâ— â—4 â—â— And The LORD will reject all other confidences (b) â—â—â—â—2 3â— so as man shall not be held up by them nor prosper in them You will say you must have FAITH first before you can Ob. exercise it and live upon it True and before you have it you shall know how you got it Ans It is an admirable grace and wrought by the operation c effectuall (c) Colâ—s 2. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 working of God the great Worke of God but we must worke too use all diligence and all the meanes God hath sanctified for the getting of the same use the means faithfully and you shall get the Trâ—asure a Treasure indeed such as we heard A man may live upon it if he have nothing else Cry after this grace life up thy voice for it as for hid treasure it is the gift of God but so it must be sought for or it will never be had it is the principall thing with all thy getting get faith You will say There is need of Patience too Yes and that it hath a perfect work to calm quiet and silence the reasoning of our spirits There is no possessing of a mans soule without patience specially now in such a perilous and exceeding e feirce time as this is now the Divell is loose and rageth amongst us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 8. 28. great need of Patience Yet I say we stand in more need of faith for there is no grace like that at this time Thou shalt forgive Thy Brother seven and seven times saith the LORD CHRIST Luke 17. 4. We would think this would follow now LORD ENCREASE OUR LOVE let that have a perfect work that we may forgive an offender even so often But the Apostles said Lord increase our faith Yes That is the mother grace get that strengthen that all is done Shee is a mother in Israel never alone but honourably accompanied still with her children Patience Meckenesse Love Hope Ioy all these Would I then rest quietly in a stormy night when the winds blow the raine and haile beat upon my house would I be secure when terrour is round about would I stand still unmoveable in an earth-quake Then I must say when I close mine eyes and when I awaken Lord encrease my faith You have need of faith It is impossible to do or suffer any thing without it but by it All
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-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
at such a time when they are in the eye of the world comfortlesse free among the dead put to open shame and the Adversary jocund and merry over them Then is Gods time to come-in and that is His Promise and it is comfort enough for the present For after-time reade on how these faithfull servants have concluded That after the rate of their sorrows and sufferings shall their comforts and consolations be And by the measure of their shame and reproach for Christ here shall their robe of Glory be cut-out hereafter wherewith they shall be vested in heaven So they have concluded and cannot faint in their mindes Thirdly Consider how long the Bodies shall lye there how long shall they be so dispitefully used Three dayes and a halfe They are long dayes as we account length of time who account GODS Patience a slâ—cknesse But were they three thousand yeeres yet that length of time makes no difference in eternity Their soules are safe enough Souls and Bodies shall meet againe The spirit of life from GOD shall enter into them and then they that were so merry and glad over them shall be sad enough for great feares shall fall on them And quickly after these turmoiles they shall be for ever with the Lord more glorious then the sun when he shines in his strength for their bodies were put to open shame for Christ and where He was crucified Oh it was a sweet consideration and so long three whole long Dayes now they shall have such a length of Glory that we have not a thought to measure it He that hath observed this hath let it sinke down into his heart and he will hold to the way and worke of The LORD his countenance wil be no more sad He may heare sad things and observe crosse wayes and crosse wills hee may smart under the execution of proud wrath But he hath resolved all into this The will of The LORD be done He is most content That GOD should goe that way which shall make most for His Glory Who will make as we shall see anon all crosse wayes and wills meet at that highest point and in a sweet harmony consent good agreement and a full answerablenesse to His most Holy will In the mean time he doth and by the grace of God is resolved to do his duty and to hold to the way all the faithfull have gone in before him maintaining his watch over his enemies himself also and his own wayes so finding abundance of Peace This followes CHAP. VI. Now Gods Worke goes on and His Servants do their duty The Divell rageth and watcheth to doe mischeife Therefore the Righteous maintayne their watch and guard also but specially over themselves Considering the manner of their Adversaries and of their Masters comming VVAtchfullnesse over the Enemy and a mans selfe is the great duty of a Christian renders him Blessed highly honoured of GOD and secure against his Adversary First Blessed is he that watcheth (a) Rev. 16. 14. for he will keep his garments so that the shame of his nakednesse shall not appeare And b Rev. 3. 18. The LORD wil honour those Servants whom He finds watching with the greatest honour that can be imagined He will gird himselfe and come forth and serve them Luke 12. 37. Secondly Secure They who are found watching are secure against their Adversary he comes like a roaring Lion thinking to doe mischiefe for that is the purpose of his heart but he can doe them no hurt for he finds them waking in their watch-tower So we come to the Duty we have seen the honour of it the security in it now see the necâ—ssitie to be now as in all times the servants of The LORD have been WATCHFULL They are bold and fearlesse because they make their watch strong They maintain a wakefull eye over the Adversary to prevent his comming against them To hinder the work What needs that you Nehe. 4. 1. Jer. 31. 28. will say The Watchman of Israel keeps His servants I will watch over them to build and to plant saith the Lord And His Angels are a guard about them True But all this doth not make them carnally secure but indeed the more watchfull Gods watching over His servants His giving His Angels charge over them doth not give them license to snore in the daytime or to sleep in their harvest No they are in Gods way and upon Gods work then as The Lord Christ said to His Disciples * Mat. 26. 45. Sleep on now and take your rest He knew that could not be No time for sleeping then So these servants of The Lord cannot sleep now now they are in Gods way and work for they must look for all the opposition the devill and his Angels can make against them but the fruit of all that old enmity that is in the Spirit which rules in and amongst the children of disobedience There is no enemie in all the world but if you doe meet him it will be in GODS way and when you are upon GODS worke Church-work Temple-work making up the breaches in Jerusalems walls there the Adversaries are there c. then they will appeare in their likenesse the Lion the Adder and the Dragon Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabian (c) Nehe. 6. 1. too and the rest of your enemies there they will meet you upon That WALL and perhaps be upon you before you are aware If the Adversary may have his will ye shall neither know nor see And behold a strange greeting you Neh. 4 11. had as good meet with a Beare robbed of her whelps for you wil find that Adversary the very same he was very (a) Nehe. 4. 1. wroth taking great indignation against the work and the way perhaps he will now as then mock too and grin like a dog So it hath been ever since the first restoring of the Church When Moses came into Egypt and made his demands very peremptory for such are the demands of GOD touching His service he would have all to an hoofe not leave so much as a hoofe in Egypt Then we reade what followed How it was after their returne from Babylon Ezra and Nehemiah have told us It was so in latter times towards the close of the former Centurie and beginning of this when Luther appeared in Germanie spoiling the Pope and his Merchants of that great gaine and in-come by Indulgences It was an ordinary Merchandize with those cunning Merchants for amongst their wares they have the precious soules of men (d) Rev. 18. 13. So I say it was when Luther appeared in Germanie that glorious instrument confounding the Pope and his cunning Merchants rescuing the cause of Christ and advancing His Glory Then and not till then Germanie was full of stirs a tumultuous Nation Hell seemed to be let loose and the devils roaring upon him But then Luther was as bold as a Lion yet as wise as a Serpent He was upon
GODS worke and in His way that made him bold and confident and so he would have Melanchthon then to be strong in The Lord his incouragements are notable he did live amongst Lions his soule lay amongst those that were set on fire that kept him waking and watchfull but thus he did encourage himselfe in The LORD he was in Gods way and upon His work A marvellous comfort and which commands an holy security his heart might meditate terrour but it commands watchfulnesse too even to doe as the Builders or Reformers did in ancient dayes Make your praier unto God and set watch against them day and night because of them For as the Adversaries said then so they say now and therefore what the servants did then so they must doe now Set the people in their courses with Nehe. 4 89. their swords their speares and their bowes and the builders every one gird his sword by his side and so build And though they doe put off their clothes which the builders then did not saving that everie one put them off for washing yet they must keep a strong watch and their sword under their pillow Read M. Nâ—wcemens Sermon upon Neh. 4. 11. wherein by the good hand of God with him he hath discovered the adversaries skirts upon their face he hath shewn the Nation their nakednesse and the 3. Kingdoms their shame he hath cast abominable filth upon them made them as they are vile This is watchfulâ—nesse and as needfull now as then for now the breaches are stopping up now the enemy saith The builders shall not know neither see till we come in the midst amongst them and slay them We are assured that all the enemies in the world are now setting themselves against this way and consulting how they may hinder this worke It is temple-worke the restoring and building Ierusalems walls There is need of watchfullnesse then mighty cause to maintaine a continuall watch over this Legion for he is many and full of wrath as great cause to watch as David had when Saul sent and they did watch the house to kill him * title of the 59 Psal It is observable That where the servants of The Lord have their warrant for their greatest security there they may observe cause enough why they should be exceeding watchfull A vineyard of red wine is My Church My people unto Mee most pleasant and most Delightfull I The LORD doe keep it I will water d Rev. 18. 13. it every moment lest any hurt it I will keepe it night and day ver 3. There is security Observe now what a mighty Adversary the Church hath not to speake of the little foxes and other grievous Beasts wherewith Gods vine-yard is annoyed Leviathan ver 1. the peircing serpent even Leviathan that crooked serpent The spirit meanes All the divells in hell and all his servants on earth their force and fraud both And how prevailing by these wayes This Adversary is we may collect by the instrument The LORD brings forth against him His sore and great and strong sword very comfortable to the Church all this but it is very stirring and commanding to keep their watch strong their garments white and close girt unto them Bee sober bee vigilant because your adversary the divell as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom 1 Pet. 5. 8. he may devoure The conclusion is The Righteous must be full of eyes They had need to set a Thousand eyes over this Adversary rather that is first And then Secondly Then thousand eyes over themselves even that every man maintaine over himselfe now a double watch considering they are the souldiers of Jesus Christ engaged in the warre with the Lambe and going out against the Lambes enemies and must keep themselves according to the charge from every wicked thing therefore had they need as the devout Spaniard said to Deut. 23. 9. set ten thousand eyes over themselves then againe consider A mans enemies are those of his own house enemies also and those the strongest within his own breast Thirdly Adde to this That we know not the day nor the houre but the comming of the Lord will be at midnight in the midnight of the world when they say all is peace and think they may be secure and so fall all asleep then He comes as a thiefe Put all this together and it will command watchfulnesse wee shall double our watch we shall make it strong That we may be in a readinesse with our loines girt our armour at hand for as we said we know not at what time danger and trouble may come We know not the houre when the generall Judgement nor when the particular shall be we know not the houre when we lye downe we know not how we may be awakened with what cry nor what noise we may heare at midnight What lyeth in the wombe of a day is darknesse unto us and what a night may bring forth lyeth in the same wombe of darknesse also Wee cannot see into an houre before us Happy is that man that makes his watch strong that fortifies himselfe in The Lord his God That keeps himself in His feare all the day long and night also That closeth his eyes with GOD and makes his Christ the end of his thoughts so sleeps as in the lap or arms of The Almighty This man is prepared and what ever the cry be with which he is awakened he is in a readinesse his loines girt his lampe burning and oyle for supply So he goes forth to meet and if he meet with enemies nay with devils he is in a readinesse and as bold as a Lion But if he goe forth to meet his LORD and CHRIST O how joyfull is he Him he served all his life long with Him his last thoughts closed when he fell asleep therefore in the morning of his awaking he is bold and confident joyfull and glad all his dayes he watched for this time as the Watch-man for the morning To draw to a conclusion Truly this Mother-City the City of God have done even thus as we heard and as we all should doe so they wait for GOD so they love GOD so they feare Him so they Trust in HIM so they obey And to make clear proof that so they do so watchfull they are over the Adversary And themselves And so they thank their GOD they have profited very much by all the hatred the hard words ungodly deeds from the adversary his violent dealing hath made their love the hotter their feare more refined and fixed their confidence better bottomed more setled upon the rock their obedience more pure more single and more hearty and their watch a thousand times stronger against their enemies and over themselves Thus all things tend to the advantage of His people and work together for their good which must be considered on now in the last place CHAP. VII We must not judge hastily of Gods works These are wrought in
havock had it come upon us and found us sleeping then it had cut all our throats It had raged all the Land over with a rage reaching unto heaven as now in Ireland Blessed be God we know our friends now we see our enemies the Papists and Atheists all the World over It is not a Kingdome divided against it selfe but one Kingdome divided against another The Kingdome of CHRIST against the Kingdome of Antichrist And this Antichristian kingdom will rage as they can to their power to shed blood But The LORD hath them in His chaine and hath caused His people to set a watch over them and hath sent forth His Host against them There is this good in it now and it is a great good The enemies of the Church are in part manifest now they shall be more manifest anon So are her friends shee knowes now and can resolve her selfe in the question Who will rise up for mee against the evill doers or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity Psal 94. 16. The Church cannot forsake her confidence now in her GOD He that hath wrought HITHERTO will worke He that hath discovered the Adversary He that hath made their madnesse so manifest will goe on to doe yet more what will He do The Church can answer That which shall be best for her sons and daughters both for the time manner and meanes of doing it though all this they leave in their LORDS hand let Him work as He pleaseth if in the dark and His foot-steps are upon the waters and no print of them yet as Master Bradford said so saith the Church She will follow her LORD in the dark Though he seeme to goe by compasse by the bow as we call it yet Hee goes the straightest and neerest course to His GLORY carrying all levell thereunto The Church is marvailously contented with this That all works for her Lords Glory her spirit shall work after Him even the strength of her spirit in that way He goes though clouded and over-shadowed with daâ—knesse for she is confident This very way wherein she sees not the prints of all his foot-steps she sees very much tends most directly to her full comfort here and her glory hereafter The Church hath seene so much of God such sweet experiences so many providences so strange so wonderfull such commings-in of God unto her when in her Egypt in her wildernesse that she cannot distrust him now * Psal 22. 4. Our father 's trusted in thee What follows Thou didst deliver them They cryed unto thee and they were delivered Though we are full of changes yet God is the same to His Church for ever And to distrust now after all this were a provocation as was theirs by unbeliefe at the SLA even at the RED Sea The Church cannot question Gods love to her nor dare she question His Power Hee is GOD The King of His Church He reigneth in the midst of His enemies and then like Himself most gloriously He brought along Captivity upon His people for THEIR GOOD He hath Jer. 24 5. ordered our distractions so that they have beene for our good How so GOD will have it so and we need not ask a question when we see it to be so distractions for GOOD They have tended to union and joyning together the good with the good never faster the bad with the bad never closer like the scales of the Leviathan they stick together that they cannot be sundred Crosse spirits who will be opposite and spurne against the pricks for their hurt these shall be suffered and countenanced for the good of His people To make them more in love with Truth to contend for it more earnestly in a more orderly and unanimous way now that they see all the wicked all the Malignants of the world are bent and doe contend against them Then we must conclude All tends to advance GODS glory and His peoples good Their fears have wrought for GOOD it hath made them wait patiently for God it hath made their love more perfect their feare more refined their dependance more glorious their obedience more sincere and hearty their watch ten thousand times stronger against their adversaries and over themselves Blessed be GOD who hath done all this made their fears and disquietings to pull downe and spoile their owne strong-holds Nature and Sin and to build up and fortifie their impregnable Forts Love to God Feare of God Confidence in God Obedience unto God and Watchfulnesse in all To shut up all The Righteous wait patiently for God they love Him they feare Him they stay themselves upon Him they obey from the heart if their Obedience were not hearty their Trust were presumption they make their watch strong over themselves and against their adversaries Goe thou thy way now thou art in Gods way and doe likewise and be no longer sad if thou standest alone now and there be none that will take thee by the hand unlesse to thrust thee downe yet fear not Though an Host encamp about thee thou art in Gods way and upon His work fear not He will hold thee by His hand He wil be thy Arm every morning thy salvation also in the time of trouble Onely keep to your strong hold i. e. hold fast your confidence Let sinners in Zion be afraid fearfulnesse must surprise the Idolatrous Nation they have no God to look unto no chambers Esay 26. 20. to enter into while the indignation passeth over They are now like a tottering wall and a broken fence they are falling and dashing to pieces like a potters vessell The Lord sees their day is comming for they are very proud their rage riseth high and so many steps and degrees to their utter ruine and everlasting confusion As the righteous work out their salvation with feare and trembling so doe the wicked work out their destruction with joy and gladnesse over the ruines they have made in the world you can wait upon God you love Him you feare Him you trust in Him We have concluded Our father 's trusted in Thee they Psal 22. 4 5. trusted and Thou didst deliver them They cryed unto Thee and were delivered For the armes of the wicked shall be broken but Psal 37. 17. The Lord upholdeth the righteous FINIS