't is dangerous incroaching indeed God exactly measured Canaan because it was to be the seat of a Nationall Church If you love your lives if you love your souls be tender in this point Here if you meddle with that which belong not unto you were you Kings all your glory would be laid in the dust 2 Chr. 26. 18. woe to them who cut short the Saints of God in the least jot of what he hath allotted to them in spiritualls Is it for any of you O ye sons of men to measure out Gods childrens portion long since bequeathed them by Christ Let them alone with what is given them If God call Israel out of Egypt to serve him shall Pharaoh assigne who and how they shall go First men onely then all without their cattel nay sayes Moses we will go as God calls Exod. 10. 26. Was not one main end of the late tumults to rob Gods people of their priviledges to bring them again under the yoke of superstition What God brake in warre do not think he will prosper in Peace If you desire to thrive do not the same nor any thing like it Take they any thing of yours that belongs to Cesar the Civil Magistrate restraine them keep them within bounds But if they take onely what Christ hath given them O touch them not harm them not The heap is provided for them let them take for themselves Thinke it not strange that every one should gather his own Manna The Lord forbid that I should oversee the Magistrates of England taking away liberties priviledges ordinances or wayes of worship from them to whom the Almighty hath made a free grant of them 3 If in taking what God hath measured out for them they should not all comply with you in the manner and measure of what they take do them no harm impoverish not their families banish them not slay them not s Alas your judgements were you Kings and Emperours is not a rule to them They must be tryed by their own faith Are their souls think you more precicious to you then themselves You say they take amisse they say no t and appeal to the word Should you now smite them speak blood is that the way of Jesus Christ should it be as you affirm you would be puzled for your warrant To run when you are not sent surely in this case is not safe But what if it should prove in the close that they have followed divine Directions Do you not then fight against God wound Jesus Christ and prosecute him as an evil doer I know the usual colours the Common pleas that are used for the instigation of Authority to the contrary They are the very same and no other that have slain the Saints of God this 1200 years Arguments for persecution are died in the blood of Christians for a long season ever since the Dragon gave his power to the false Prophet they have all died as hereticks and Schismaticks Suppose you saw in one view all the blood of the witnesses of Christ which hath been let out of their veins by vain pretences that you heard in one noyse the dolefull cry of all Pastorlesse Churches dying martyrs harbourlesse children of Parents inheriting the promise wildernessewandring Saints dungeoned believers wrested out by pretended zeal to peace and truth and perhaps it may make your Spirits tender as to this point See the warrantablenesse of our contests for Gods peoples rights It was Jephthaes onely argument against the incroaching Ammonites Judg. 11. By Gods assistance they would possesse what the Lord their God should give them If a grant from heaven will not make a firm Title I know not what will Being called by lawfull Authority certainly there is not a more glorious Employment then to serve the Lord in helping to uphold the portion he hath given his people If your hearts be upright and it is the liberties the priviledges of Gods Saints conveied from the father purchased by Christ you contend for Go on and prosper the Lord is with you 2. From what God did The works and labours of Gods people are transacted from them in heaven before they once undertake them The Israelites were now going to Canaan God doth their work for them before hand They did but go up and take possession Joshua and Caleb tell the people not onely that their enemies defence was departed from them but that they were but bread for them Num. 14. 9. Not corn that might be prepared but bread ground made up ready baked ready to eat Their work was done in heaven Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world Acts 15. 18. All that is done here below is but the writing of a visible copy for the sons of men to read out of the etenall lines of his own purpose Up and be doing you that are about the work of the Lord Your Enemies are bread ready to be eaten and yield you refreshment Do you think if our Armies had not walked in a troden path they could have made such journeys as they have done of late had not God marched before them and traced out their way from Kent to Essex from Wales to the North their carcasses had long ere this been cast into the field Their work was done in heaven before they begun it God was gone over the Mulberry trees The worke might have been done by children though he was pleased to employ such worthy instruments They see I doubt not their own nothingnesse in his All-sufficiency Go on then but with this caution search by all wayes and means to find the footsteps of the mighty God going before you The trembling condition of the opposing nations round about when God appeared so gloriously for his people is held out verse 7. I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction The curtayns of the Land of Midian did tremble You have here three things considerable 1. The mention of two Nations enemies of the Church Cushan and Midian 2. The state and condition of those Nations the tents of the one in Affliction and the curtains of the other in trembling 3. The view the Prophet had of this I saw it saith he I saw c. For the first these two nations Cushan and Midian were the neigbouring people to the Israelites being in the wildernesse when God did such great things for them First Cushan that is the Tentdwelling Arabians on the south side towards Ethiopia being as the Ethiopians of the posterity of Cush thence called Cushan the eldest son of scoffing Ham Gen. 10. 6. enemies and opposers of the Church doubtlesse all the way down from their profane Ancestors These now beheld the Israelites going to root out their Allies and kindred the Amorites of Canaan the posterity of Canaan the younger brother of their progenitor Cush Gen. 10. 6. Midian were a people inhabiting on the East-side Jordan on the borders of Moab so called from their
disturbance and noyse of War for our security unthankfulnesse murmuring and devouring one another upon our Country those who were intrusted with the power thereof turned their streames into severall Channells Troublous Times are Times of triall Many shall be purifyed and made white and tried but the wicked shall do wickedly and none of the wicked shall understand but the wise shall understand Dan. 11. 10. Some God called out to suffer some to doe leaving Treacherous dealers to deale treacherously Of the two first sorts are you This honour have you received from God either with patience and constancy to undergoe unvoluntarily a dangerous restraint or with Resolution and courage voluntarily to undertake a Hazardous ingagement to give an example that Faith and Truth so shamefully despised in these evill days have not altogether forsaken the sonnes of men It is not in my Thoughts to relate unto your selves what some of you suffered and what some of you did what difficulties and perplexities you wrestled withall within and without the walls of your enemies The Birds in the cage and the feild having small cause of mutuall emulation for that which remaines of these things is only a Returnall of praise to him by whom all your works are wrought It cannot de denyed but that Providence was eminently exalted in the work of your protection and delivery yet truly for my part I cannot but conceive that it vayles to the Efficacy of Grace in preventing you from putting forth your hands unto iniquity in any sinfull compliance with the enemies of our peace The times wherein we live have found the latter more rare then the former What God wrought in you hath the preheminence of what he wrought for you as much as to be given up to the Sword is a lesser evill then to be given up to a Treacherous Spirit What God hath done for you all all men know what I desire you should do for God I know no reason why I should make alike publick The generall and particular civilities I have received from all and every one of you Advantaging me to make it out in another way I shall adde nothing then to what you will meet withall in the following Discourse but only my Desire that you would seriously ponder the 11th Observation with the deductions from thence For the rest I no way feare but that that God who hath so appeared with you and for you will so indulge to your spirits the presence and Guidance of his Grace in these shaking times that if any speak evill of you as of evill doers they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good Conversation in Christ and glorify God in the day of Visitation For these following Sermons one of them was Preached at your desire and is now published upon your Request The first part of the labour I willingly and cheerfully under went The Latter merely in obedience to your commands being acted in it more by your judgements then mine own you were perswaded meane as it was it might be for the Glory of God to have it made publick where upon my Answer was and is that for That not only it but my selfe also should by his Assistance be ready for the Presse The faillings and infirmities attending the Preaching and Publishing of it which the Lord knowes to be very many are mine The inconveniences of Publishing such a Tractate from so weak a hand whereof the World is full must be yours The fruit and benefit both of the one and other is his for whose Pardon of infirmities and removeall of inconveniences shall be as for you and all the Church of God the Prayer of Sirs Your most humble and obliged Servant in the work of the Lord JOHN OWEN Coggesh Octob. 5. 1648. SOme few literall faults have escaped viz. wrath for wroth revelled for levelled which the ingenuous Reader will amend as well as discerne A MEMORIALL Of the Deliverance of ESSEX County and Committee in two SERMONS Habakkuk Chap. 3. vers. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. 1. A Prayer of Habakkuk the Prophet upon Sigionoth 2. O Lord I have heard thy speech and was afraid O Lord revive thy worke in the midst of the yeers in the midst of the yeers make known in wrath remember mercy 3. God came from Teman and the holy One from mount Paran Selab His glory covered the Heavens and the earth was full of his praise 4. And his brightnesse was as the light he had horns comming out of his hand and there was the hiding of his power 5. Before him went the pestilence and burning coals went forth at his feet 6. He stood and measured the earth he beheld and drove asunder the nations the everlasting mountains were scattered the perpetuall hills did bow his wayes are everlasting 7. I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble 8. Was the Lord displeased against the Rivers was thine anger against the Rivers was thy wrath against the Sea that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy charets of salvation 9. Thy bow was made quite naked according to the oaths of the tribes even thy word Selah Thou didst cleave the earth with Rivers OF this Chapter there are foure parts 1. The Title and Preface of it v 1. 2. The Prophets maine Request in it v 2. 3. Arguments to sustaine his Faith in that request from v 3. unto the 17th 4. A Resignation of himselfe and the whole issue of his desires unto God from thence to the end Wee shall treate of them in Order The Prophet having had visions from God and a prediscoveries of many approaching judgements in the first and second Chapters in this by faithfull Prayer sets himselfe to obtaine a sure footing and quiet abode in those Nation-destroying stormes A Prayer of Habakkuk the Prophet that is the Title of it And an excellent Prayer it is full of Arguments to strengthen faith Acknowledgement of Gods soveraignty power and righteous judgements with Resolutions to a contented joyfull rolling him upon him under all dispensations Prayer is the Believers constant sure retreate in an evill time in a time of trouble It is the righteous mans wings to the Name of the Lord which is his strong tower A b Christian Souldiers sure reserve in the day of Battell if all other forces be overthrowne here he will abide by it no power under Heaven can prevaile upon him to give one step backwards Hence that title of Psalme 102. A Prayer of the afflicted when he is overwhelmed 'T is the overwhelmed mans refuge and imployment when he swooneth with anguish as in the originall this fetches him to life againe So for it Psal. 61. 2 3. In our greatest distresses let neither unbeliefe nor selfe contrivances justâ—e us out of this way to the Rock of our salvation Prophets discoveryes of fearfull judgements must be attended with fervent Prayers That messenger hath done but halfe his
thirdly may put all those whom God is pleased to imploy in his service upon a diligent Inquiry into his mind Can a servant do his masters work without knowing his pleasure we live for the most part from hand to mouth and do what comes next few are acquainted with the designes of God The going forth of the Lord with his people towards their rest with reference to his harbingers is described v. 5. Before him went the pestilence and burning coales went forth at his feete Before him at his face The Pestilence This is l often reckoned amongst the weapons wherewith God fighteth with any people to consume them and as speeding an instrument of destruction it is as any the Lord ever used towards the children of men At his feet went forth a burning coale A redoubling say some of the same stroke burning coals for burning diseases When one blow will not do the work appointed God redoubles the stroak of his hand Levit. 26. 22 23 24 25. Or burning coals dreadfull judgements mortall weapons as fire and flames are often taken in other descriptions of God's dealing with his enemies Psal. 11. 6. 18. 8. prevailing fire is the most dreadfull meanes of destruction Heb. 12. 29. Isa. 33. 14. Exod. 23. 28. God threatneth to send the Hornet upon the Canaanites before the children of Israel some stinging judgements either on their consciences or bodies or both Something of the same kind is doubtlesse here held out he sent plagues and diseases among them to weaken and consume them before his peoples entrance His presence was with Israel and the pestilence consuming the Canaanites before their entrance is said to be {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} at his faces or appearances before him before the entrance of the presence of his holinesse And the following Judgements that quite devoured them were the coals going out at his feet which he sent abroad when he entred their land with his own inheritance into theirs to cast out those malae fidei possessores 1. Sicknesses diseases and all sorts of judgements are wholly at Gods disposall Affliction commeth not forth of the dust neither doth trouble spring out of the ground yet man is borne to trouble as the sons of the burning coale lift up in flying Job 5. 6 7. 2. When God intends the totall destruction of a people he commonly weakens them by some previous judgements Let the truth of this be found upon them that hate us and the interpretation therof be to the enemies of this Nation but the Lord knows all our hearts may well tremble at what will be the issue of the visitations of the last years God never wants instruments to execute his Anger and ruine his enemies His treasury of judgements can never be exhausted If Israel be too weake for the Amorites he will call in the pestilence and burning diseases to their assistance What creature hath not this mighty God used against his enemies An Angell destroyes Senacheribs Host Isa. 37. 36. and smites Herod with Wormes Acts 12. 23. Heaven above sends downe a Hell of fire and brimstone on Sodome and Gomorah Gen. 19. 24. The Starres in their courses fought against Sisera Judg. 5. 20. Devils do his will herein He sent evill Angels among the Aegyptians Psal. 78. 49. Fire consumes persecuting Ahaziah's companies 2 Kings 1. 10 11. The Water drownes Pharaoh and his Chariots Exod. 14. 28. Earth swallows up Korah with his fellow rebels Numb. 16. 32. Beares rend the children that mocked Elisha 2 Kings 2. 24. Lyons destroy the strange Nations in Samaria 2 Kings 17. 25. Froggs Lice Boyles Hayle Rayne Thunder Lightning destroy the Land of Aegypt Exod. 8 9 10. Locusts are his mighty army to punish Israel Joel 2. 25. Hailstones destroy the Canaanites Josh. 10. 11. Stones of the wall slay the Syrians 1 Kings 20. 30. pestilence and burning diseases are his ordinary messengers In a word all creatures serve his providence and await his commands for the execution of his righteous Judgements Neither the beasts of the Field nor the stones of the Earth will bee any longer quiet then hee causeth them to hold a league with the sons of men To teach us all to tremble before this mighty God Who can stand before him qui tot imperat legionibus If hee will strike hee wants no weapons if he will fight he wants no Armies All things serve his Will He saith to one come and it commeth to another go and it goeth to a third do this and it doth it He can make use of our selves our friends our enemies Heaven Earth Fire Water c. any thing for what end he pleaseth There is no standing before his Armies for they are all things and himselfe to make them effectuall There is no flying from his Armies for they are every where and himselfe with them Who would not feare this King of Nations He that contends with him shall find it As if a man did flee from a Lyon and a Beare met him or went into the house and leaned upon a wall and a Serpent bitte him Amos 5. 18 19. No flying no hiding no contending Wormes kill Herod A Flie choak'd Adrian c. To be a bottome of confidence and dependence in an evill day He that hath God on his side hath also all things that are seene and that are not seene The mountaine is full of fiery Chariots for Elisha's defence when outwardly there was no appearance 2 Kings 6. 17. All things waite their Masters beck to do him service as for the destruction of enemies so for the deliverance of his What though wee had no Army in the time of war God hath millions Many thousands of Angels Psal. 68. 17. one whereof can destroy so many thousands of men in a night Isa. 37. 36. Hee can choose when few others will appeare with him against the mighty as in our late troubles foolish things to confound the wise and weak things to confound the strong Senacheribs Angell is yet alive and the destroyer of Sodom is not dead And all those things are at our command if their help may be for our good Judah ruleth with God Hos. 11. 12. hath a rule by faithfull supplications over all those mighty hosts Make God our friend and wee are not onely of the best but also the strongest side You that would be on the safest side be sure to choose that which God is on Had not this mighty all-commanding God been with us where had we been in the late tumults so many thousands in Kent so many in Wales so many in the North so many in Essex shall they not speed shall they not divide the prey is not the day of those factious Independents come was the language of our very neighbours The snare is broken and we are delivered The Lord having sent messengrs before him into Canaan stands himself as it were upon the borders and takes a view of the Land He stood and
forefather Midian the son of Abraham by Keturah Gen. 25. 3 4. These obtained a temporall blessing for a season from the Love borne to their faithfull progenitor In the days of Jacob they were great Merchants Gen. 37. 28. At this time in lesse then 400 years they were so multiplyed that they had five Kings of their Nation Num. 31. 1. Some knowledge of the true God was retained as it should seeme untill now amongst some of them being received by tradition from their Fathers Moses Father in Law was a Priest of this Country Exod. 2. 15 16. not altogether unacquainted with Jehovah Exod. 18 and was himselfe or his son perswaded to take up his portion in Canaan Num. 10. 29 30. But for the generality of the Nation being not heirs of the promise they were fallen off to superstition and idolatry Exceeding enemies they were to the people in the wildernesse vexing them with their wiles and provoking them to abominations that the Lord might consume them Num. 25. 17. None so vile enemies to the Church as superstitious Apostates These two Nations then set out all manner of opposers grosse Idolators as Cushan and superstitious envious Apostates as Midian 2. Their state and condition severally 1 The tents of Cushan were in Affliction the tents the Arabian Ethiopians of Cush dwelling in tents the Habitation for the Inhabitant by an Hypallage They were in Affliction under vanity under iniquity the place of vanity so variously are the words rendred {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} under Affliction Vanity or Iniquity Sin and the punishment of it are frequently in the Scripture of the same name so nere is the Relation Aven is properly and most usually iniquity but that it is here taken for the consequent of it A consuming perplexed vexed condition can be no doubt The Cushamites then were in Affliction full of Anguish Feare Dread vexation to see what would be the issue of those great and mighty things which God was doing in their borders for his people u Afflicted with Israels happinesse and their owne fears as is the condition of all wicked oppressers 2. The Curtaines of the Land of Midian for the Midianites dwelling in curtained Tabernacles by the same Figure as before They trembled {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} moved themselves were moved that is shaken with feare and trembling as though they were ready to run from the Appearance of the mighty God with his people The story of it you have in the book of Numbers as it was prophetically fore-told by Moses concerning other Nations Exod. 15. 14 15 16. The people shall heare and be afraid sorrow shall take hold of the inhabitants of Palestina Then the Dukes of Edom shall be amased the mighty men of Moab c. God filled those Nations with Anguish sorrow and amazement at the protection he granted his people 3. The Prophets view of all this I saw it or I see it though it were 870 years before supposing him to prophesy about the end of Josiah or beginning of Jehojakim yet taking it under the consideration of Faith he makes it present to his view Faith looketh backwards and forwards to what God hath done and to what he hath promised to do Abraham saw the Day of Christ so many Ages after because he found it by faith in the promise Habakkuk saw the terrors of Cushan and Midian so many Ages before because faith found it recorded among the works of God to support it selfe in seeking the like mercies to be renewed so that this is the sum of this Verse O Lord faith makes it evident and presents it before my view how in former days when thou wast doing great things for thy people thou filledst all thine and their enemies with fear vexation trembling and astonishment 1. Faith gives a present subsistence to sorepast works as recorded and future mercies as promised to support the soule in an evill day I saw I have made the doctrine by Analogy look both ways though the words of the Text look but one 2. Gods dealing with his enemies in the time of his Churches deliverance is of especiall consideration I saw c. 3. The measuring out of Gods peoples portion fills Cushan with Affliction and Midian with trembling Their terrors follow Gods measuring v. 6. 4 The season of the Churches deliverance being come Cushan and Midian opposing enemies and superstitious revolters shall surely wax vaine and perish For the first that faith gives a present c. the Apostle tels us that Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11. 1. 1. Of things hoped for it looks forward to the promises and so gives the substance of them in present possession so confirming our Minds and Hearts that they may have a subsistance as it were within us though not actually made out unto us 2. It is the evidence of things not seene it extends it selfe not only to things promised but taking for its Object the whole Word of God it makes evident and present things that are past also The faith commended v. 3. is of things long since done even the making of the things that are seene of the things that do not appeare Abraham saw my day saith our Saviour Joh. 8. 56. He saw it as Habakkuk the tents of Cushan in affliction Faith made it present to him All the Ages between him and his promised seed were as nothing to his keen-sighted faith Hence the Apostle puts the mercies of the promise all in one forme and rank as already wrought though some of them were injoyed and some of them in this life cannot be Rom. 8. 30. whom he hath justifyed them he hath glorifyed He hath done it for them already because he hath made them believe it and that gives it a present subsistance in their spirits And for forepast works they are still mentioned by the Saints as if they had bin done in their days before their eyes Elisha calls up to remembrance a former Miracle to the effecting the Like 2 Kin. 2. 14. There be three things in past or future mercies which faith makes present to the soule giving in the subsistance of them 1. their Love 2. their Consolation 3. their Use and Benefit 1. The Love of them the Love that was in former works and the Love that is in promised mercies that faith drawes out and really makes ours The Love of every recorded deliverance is given to us by faith It looks into the Good-will the Free-grace the Loving-kindnesse of God in every work that ever he did for his and cryes yet this is mine this is the kernell of that blessing and this is mine for the same Good-will the same kindnesse he hath towards me also Were the same outward actings needfull I should have them also The Free-love of every mercy is Faiths proper Object It makes all Joshuah's great victories present to every one of us The promise that had
the Love and Grace in it which run through them all is given him Josh. 1. 5. I will be with thee I will not faile thee nor forsake thee Now the Apostle tells us that the truth and love of this promise is ours Heb. 13. 5. Faith may doth assure it selfe that what good-will soever was in all the great mercies which Joshuah received upon that promise is all ours All the good-will and choyse Love of I will never leave thee nor forsake thee is mine and thine if we are believers He that hath this present hath all Joshuas victories present The very glory of the Saints in Heaven is ours in the love of it We enjoy that love which gave them glory and will Crowne us also in due time 2. In their comforts and refreshments Thou gavest Leviathan to be meate to the people in the Wildernesse Psal. 14. They fed their souls full of the sweetnesse of that mercy The destruction of their oppressing tyrant we chew the cud upon the blessings of former ages Who hath not with joy delight and raysed affections gone over the old preservations of the Church in former years How doe's David run them over with admiration closing every stop with His mercy endureth for ever Psal. 136. And for things to come as yet in the promise only whether generall to the whole Church as the calling of the Jews the comming in of the fulnesse of the Gentiles the breaking out of light beauty and glory upon the Churches and Saints the confusion of Nations not subjecting themselves to the standard of the Gospell c. or in particular further assurance of love then presently enjoyed neerer Communion with Father and Son being with Christ freed from misery and corruption dwelling with God for ever how do's Faith act over these and the like things in the heart leaving a savour and relish of their sweetnesse continually upon the soule O how sweet also are the things of the World to come unto poor Believers Christ leads the soule by faith not only into the Chambers of presently-enjoyed loves but also into the foreprepared everlasting Mansions in his Fathers house Thus it gives poore mortall creatures a sweet relish of eternall joyes brings Heaven into a Dungeon glory into a prison a crown into a cottage Christ into a slaughter-house From the nature of Faith Though it do not make the thing believed to be the Act cannot create its own Object yet applying it it makes it the Believers It is the bond of union between the soule and the thing promised He that believes in Christ by that believing receives Christ Joh. 1. 12. he becomes his It is a grace uniting its subject and object the person believing and the thing believed There needs no ascending into Heaven or descending the word of faith makes all things nigh even within us Some glasses will present things of a great distance very neere Faith looking through the glasse of the Gospell makes the most remote mercies to be not onely in a close distance but in Union It is the subsistence of things hoped for that which they have not in themselves it gives them in the full assured minds of believers From the Intendment of all mercies they are for every believer All things are theirs world life death things present things to come 1 Cor. 2. 22. All promises being made to every believer and all mercies being the fruit of these promises they must all belong to every believer Now if all these should be kept from us at that distance wherein they fall in their accomplishment in respect of time what would they availe us God therefore hath appointed that they shall have a reall though not a naturall presence and subsistence at all times to all believers See hence what use you may make of past mercies deliverances blessings with promised incommings Carry them about you by Faith that you may use them at need Where is the God of Elijah Awake awake oh Arme of the Lord c. I saw the Tents of Cushan Take store mercies along with you in every Tryall Use them or they 'l grow rusty and not passe in heaven Learne to eat Leviathan many yeares after his death Forget not your pearles scatter not away your treasure bee rich in a heape of Mercies Faith will make you so The Love the comfort the benefit of all former and future blessings are yours if you know how to use them Oh how have we lost our mercies in every hedge and ditch Have none of us skill to lay up the last eminent deliverance against a rainy day 2. Learne how to make the poorest and most afflicted Condition comfortable and full of Joy Store thy Cottage thy sick bed by faith with all sorts of mercies They are the richest furniture in the world Gather up what is already cast out and fetch the rest from heaven Bring the first fruits of Glory into thy bosome See the Jewes called the residue of Opposers subdued the Gospel exalted Christ enthroned all thy sinnes pardoned Corruption conquered Glory enjoyed Roll thy selfe in those Golden streames every day Let Faith fetch in new and Old Ancient mercies for thy supportment Everlasting mercies for thy Consolation He that hath Faith hath all things 2. Gods dealing with his enemies in the season of his Churches deliverance is of especiall consideration I saw the Tents c. so did the Israelites beholding the Aegyptians dead on the shore Exod. 14. 30 31. The Heathen raged the Kingdomes were moved he uttered his voyce the earth melted The Lord of hosts is with us the God of Jacob is our refuge selah Come behold the workes of the Lord what desolations he hath made on the earth Psal. 46. 6 7 8. The enemies undertaking ver. 6. Gods protection to his people ver. 7. A view of the Adversaries desolation ver. 8. are all orderly held out The Lord tells Moses that he will harden the heart of Pharaoh that he might shew his power to this very end that it might be considered and told to one another Exod. 10. 2 3. How many Psalmes have wee that are taken up in setting forth Gods breaking yoking befooling terrifying his Adversaries at such a season The remembrance of the slaughter of the first borne of Egypt was an ingredient in the chiefest Ordinance the Antient Church enjoyed Exod. 14. Much of the greatnesse and intensenesse of his love to his own is seene in his Enemies ruine Isa. 43. 3 4. I gave Egypt for thy ransome Ethiopia and Seba for thee since thou wast precious in my sight thou hast been honourable and I loved thee therefore I will give men for thee and people for thy life When God gives such mighty Kingdomes for a small handfull it appeares they are precious to him Whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake Isa. 54. 15. When God will maintaine a quarrell with all the world sweare that he will never have peace
have all of them that conclusion in their brests which Haman's wisemen and wife made to him Hâ—st. 6. 13. If they begin to fall before the seed of the Jews utter ruine will follow When God begins to own his people as they in the Acts chap. 5. v. 24. they doubt whither this will grow Their hearts tell them secretly they are usurpers of all they have and when God ownes any they instantly fear lest for their sakes they should be called to account When a distinction begins to be made in Ordinances priviledges deliverances protections evidently given to some peculiar ones they tremble within that they are set apart for no good This picking and chusing of men by the Lord Psal. 4. 3. they cannot bear with Such mighty works attend the Israelites what thinkes Midian will be the end of this It is true their pride calls on them to act openly more of their malice then their fear but yet this lies at the bottome like a boasting Atheists nightly thoughts The chiefe Priests and Pharisees having gotten the Apostles before them what big words they use to countenance the businesse who gave you this power Acts 4. 7. But when they are by themselves they cry what shall we do and whereunto will this grow This lies at the bottome with many at this day though they boast and lift up their mouthes to Heaven their hearts do tremble as an Aspen leafe Learn not to be troubled at the great tumultuating which is amongst many against the wayes of God at this day God is measuring out his childrens portion giving them their bread in season viewing for them the lot of their inheritance Men of the world profane Cushanites superstitious apostaticall Midianites will not cannot be quiet Vexed they are envious and afraid and will act according to those principles Cushanites see Religion owned Midianites theirs disclaimed and both are alike provoked The Lord convert them or rebuk them or the one will have the armies the other their wiles Only judge not their hearts by the outward appearance always they seeme gallant to you indeed they are frighted galled vexed I have seen a galled horse under dressing leap and curvet as though it had bin out of metall and spirit when indeed it was paine and smart that made him do it They pretend to despise us when they envy us They look like contemners but are tremblers be not troubled at their outward appearance they have inward anguish they bite others but are lashed themselves 4. The season of the Churches deliverance being come Cushan and Midian must wax vaine and perish That there is such a season I told you before When 430 years are expired Aegypt must be destoyed the Amorites rooted out and all the Nations round made to tremble When 70 years of captivity expire Babylon must be ruined and the Caldean Monarchy quite wasted that the Jews may returne The Church being to be delivered Haman must be hanged This you have fully set out Revel. 6. 12 13 14 15 16 17. It is the fall of heathenish tyranny by the prevailing of the Gospell which you have there described Rome and Constantinople Pope and Turk are preserved for a day and an houre wherein they shall fall and be no more If the season of enjoying Ordinances and privileges be come to this Nation that the Tabernacle of God will be here amongst men wo be to Cushanites wo be to Midianites open opposers and secret Apostates They shall not be able to be quiet nor to prevaile God will not let them rest nor obtain their purposes the Story of Haman must be acted over againe their hearts shall be stirred up to their own ruin Revel. 20. 8. this is the frame of perishing Babylonians in the day of Sions-restauration The Reasons are 1. because at the deliverance of his people God will plead with their enemies for their oppressions It is the day of the Lords vengeance the yeare of Recompences for the controversy of Sion Isa. 34. 8. It is the vengeance of the Lord and his Temple that lights upon them in that day Jerem. 50. 28. The violence done to me and my flesh be upon Babylon shall the inhabitant of Zion say and my blood upon the inhabitants of Caldea shall Jerusalem say Jerem. 51. 35. in this day great Babylon must come into Remembrance Rev. 16. 19 20. 2. The discerning Triall that shall and doth come along with the Churches Vindication will cut off all superfluous false professors so that they also shall perish Mala. 3. 2 3. Christ comes with a fan to send away the chaffe in the wings of the wind Have we not seen this end of many Zelots 3. The Amorites live in Canaan and must be removed Oppressors and Hypocrites enjoy many rights of the Church which must be taken from them Rome and her adherents shall not have so much left as the Name or title appearance or shew of a Church The outward Court they have troden down and defiled shall be quite left out in the measuring of the Temple Revel. 11. Bring this Observation home to the first from this Verse and it will give you the use of it proceed we to the next Verse Was the Lord displeased against the Rivers was thine anger against the Rivers was thy wrath against the Sea that thou diddest ride upon thy Horses and thy Chariots of salvation Was the Lord displeased {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} kindled did he burne that is in wrath Heat is a great ingredient in the commotion of Anger in us here alluded to or because the effects of Anger are so often compared to fire Against the Rivers or Flouds Again was thine Anger {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} thy Nose or Face or thine anger {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} signifies both the x Face is the seate of angers appearance fury comes up into the Face Was thine anger thy troubling anger so the word against the Sea the red Sea through which thy people passed That thou diddest ride upon thy horses thy Chariots salvation or thy Chariots were salvation currus salutares thy safety-bringing Charets The words are an admiring expostulation about the mighty works of the Lord for his people upon the Sea Rivers and inanimate creatures 1. The Rivers Jordan and its driving back is doubtlesse especially intended The Lord shewed his power in disturbing that antient River in his course and making his streames run backward The story of it you have Josh. 3. 15 16. The people being to enter into Canaan the Lord divides the waters of that River making them beneath to sinke away and those above to stand on an heap This the Prophet magnifyes Psa. 114. 5. What aylest thou O Jordan that thou wast driven back what marvellous powerfull disturbing thing is happened to thee that contrary to thy antient naturall course thy streames should be frighted and run back to the springs from whence
they came 2. The Sea that is the Red Sea which in like manner was divided Exod. 14. 21. which the Prophet also admires in the forecited Psalme the Sea saw it and fled what ayledst thou O thou Sea that thou fledst what strong mighty impression of power was on thee that the multitudes of thy waters should be parted and thy chanell discovered dry to the bottome That thou diddest ride upon thy horses and thy chariots of salvation This you have againe v. 15. thou diddest walke through the Sea with thine horses These were those Clouds and Windes which the Lord sent before the Izraelites to the Sea and Jordan to drive them back He maketh the cloudes his chariots and walketh upon the wings of the wind Psal. 104. 3. so Psal. 18. 11. hee did fly upon the wings of the Wind. After the manner of men God is represented as a mighty Conquerour riding before his armies and making way for them The Power and Majesty of God was with and upon those clouds and winds which went before his people to part those mighty waters that they might passe dry And therefore they are called his saving chariots because by them his people were delivered Or by horses and chariots here you may understand the Angels who are the Host of God Psal. 68. 17. The chariots of God are twenty thousands even thousands of Angels They have appeared as horses and chariots of fire 2 Kings 6. 17. And their Ministry no doubt the Lord used in these mighty works of drying Rivers and dividing Seas Either way the glorious Power and Majesty of God in his delivering instruments is set forth Thus the words severally now joyntly This admiring Interrogation includes a Negation Was the Lord kindled against the Rivers was thy face against the Rivers c. was it that the deep had offended the most high that by thine Angels winds and clouds thou diddest so disturbe the flouds in their antient course and madest naked their hidden channells untill the hoary deep cryed out for feare and lifted up his aged hands to the Almighty as it were for pity v. 10 No surely no such thing All those keep the order by thee unto them appointed it was all for the salvation and deliverance of thy people God was not angry with Jordan when he drove it back nor with the Sea when he divided it but all was effected for Israels deliverance The very senselesse creatures are as it were sensible of the wrath and power of the Almighty Effects of anger being in and upon the deep he utters his voyce and lifts up his hands on high v. 10. God often in the Scripture sets forth his power and Majesty by the trembling of Heaven and the shaking of the earth the vanishing of Mountaines and the bowing of perpetuall hills the professed humble subjection of the most eminent parts of the Creation The Sea shall fly as afraid the Rocks as weake rend and crumble the Heavens be darkened the Mountaines skip like Rams and the little hills like young sheep Psal. 114. 4. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Aeschilus Justin in apol. The Heavens shook the Earth dropped at the presence of God Psal. 68. 8. The Almighty Creator holds the whole frame of the building in his own hand and makes what portion he pleaseth and when he pleaseth to tremble consume and vanish before him Though many things are not capable of sense and reason yet he will make them do such things as Sense and Reason should prompt the whole subjected Creation unto to teach that part their duty who were indued therewith A servant is beat to make a child learne his duty See hence the stoutnesse of sinfull hearts More stubborne then the Mountaines more flinty then the Rocks more senselesse then the great deep Friend art thou stronger then Horeb yet that trembled at the presence of this mighty God whom it never had provoked Are thy lusts like the streames of Jordan yet they runne back from his Chariots of salvation Are thy corruptions more firmely seated on thy soule then the Mountaines on their Bases yet they leaped like frighted sheepe before that God against whom they had not sinned And wilt thou a small handfull of sinfull dust that hast ten thousand times provoked the eyes of his glory not tremble before him comming on his horses and Chariots of salvation his mighty Workes and powerfull Word Shall a Lyon tremble and thou not afraid who art ready to tremble with a thought of that poore creature Shall the Heavens bow the deepe begge for mercy and thou be senselesse Shall all creatures quake for the sin of man and sinfull man be secure know you not that the time is comming wherein such men will desire the trembling Rockes to be a covert to their more affrighted soules No creatures Seas nor Flouds greater or lesser Waters shall be able to obstruct or hinder Gods peoples Deliverance when he hath undertaken it Is the Sea against them it shall be parted Is Jordan in the way it shall be driven back both Sea and Jordan shall tremble before him Euphrates shall be dried up to give the Kings of the East a passage Revel. 16. 12. Waters in the Scriptures are sometimes afflictions sometimes people and Nations Be they Seas Kinges and Princes or be they Rivers inferior persons they shall not be able to oppose God has decked his House and made it glorious with the spoyles of all opposers There you have the spoyles of Pharaoh gathered up on the shore of the Red-Sea and dedicated in the House of God Exod. 15. There you have all the armour of Senacheribs mighty host with the rest of their spoyles hung up to shew 2 Ch. 32. 21. There you have the glory and throne and dominion of Nebuchadnezzar himselfe being turned into a Beast Dan. 4. 33. There you shall have the carcasses of Gog and Magog with all their mighty hosts for comming to encampe against the City of God Ezek. 39. There you have the Imperiall Robes of v Dioclesian and his companion abdicating themselves from the Empire for very madnesse that they could not prevaile against the Church Kings of armies shall fly apace and shee that taries at home shall divide the spoyle Psal 68. 12. All opposers though Nations and Kingdomes shall perish and be utterly destroyed Isa. 60. 12. Revel. 19. 18. God will not exalt any creature unto a pitch of opposition to himselfe or to stand in the way of his workings The very end of all things in their severall stations is to be serviceable to his purposes towards his Own Obedience in senslesse Creatures is naturall even against the course of nature in the season of deliverance Sun stand thou still upon Gibeon and thou Moone in the valley of Ajalon Josh. 10. 12. Who art thou O great Mountaine Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plaine Zech.
4. 7. The most Mountainous opposers shall be levelled when the Spirit of God sets in for that purpose There is a strength in every promise and ingagement of God unto his people that is able to carry the whole frame of Heaven and Earth before it If they can believe all things are possible to them that believe When the Decree is to bring forth the fruit of the promise it will overturne Empires destroy Nations divide Seas ruine Armies open Prisons break Chaines and Fetters and beare down all before it As the winde shut up in the Earth will shake the pillars as it were of its mighty body but it will find or make a passage The least promise of deliverance if the season thereof be come though it were shut up under strong and mighty powers crafty counsells dungeons and prisons like the doores and lasting barres of the Earth the truth and power of God shall make them all to tremble and give birth to his peoples deliverance Have we seene nothing of this in our days No Seas divided no Jordans driven back no Mountaines revelled no Hills made to tremble whence then was the late confusion of Armies casting down of mighty ones reviving of Dead bones opening of prison-doores bringing out the captive appointed to be slaine Is it not from hence that nothing can stand against the breakingout of a promise in its appointed season was the Lord displeased with the Rivers was his Anger against the Walls and Houses that he rode upon his Horses and Chariots of Salvation Let Faith be strengthened in an evill time Poore distressed soule all the difficulty of thy deliverance lies in thine own bosome If the streames of thy unbeliefe within be not stronger then all Seas of opposition without all will be easy O learne to stand still with quietnesse between an Host of Aegyptians and a raging Sea to see the salvation of God Be quiet in prison between your friends Bullets and your enemies Swords God can God will make a way If it were not more hard with us to believe wonders then it is to the promise to effect wonders for us they would be no wonders so dayly so continually would they be wrought God can make use of any of his creatures to be chariots of Salvation This is the other side of that Doctrine which we gathered from v. 5. Winds and Clouds shall obey him z Ravens shall feed Elijah that will not feed their own young The Sea shall open for Israel and returne upon the Egyptians And this both in an Ordinary way as Hos. 2. 21 22. and in an extraordinary way as before So many creatures as God hath made so many instruments of good hath he for his people this is further confirmed v. 9. Thy Bow was made quite naked according to the Oathes of the tribes thy word Sela thou diddest cleave the earth with Rivers With nakednesse thy Bow was made naked The rest is Elepticall and well supplyed in the Translation The Verse hath two parts 1. A generall proposition Thy Bow was made c. 2. A particular confirmation of that proposition by instance Thou diddest cleave the earth with Rivers The proposition holds out two things 1. What God did he made his Bow quite naked 2. The Rule he proceeded by herein according to the oaths of the Tribes even his word The assertion of this Verse is not of some particular act or work as the former but a generall head or fountaine of those particular works which are ennumerated in the following Verses 1. A Bow is a weapon of War an instrument of death and being ascribed to God after the manner of men holds out his strength power might and efficacy to do what ever he pleaseth And this is said to be quite naked when a man goes about to use his Bow he pulls it out of his Quiver and so makes it naked The exercising of Gods Power is the making naked of his Bow This he did in all those wonders wherein he stretched out his hand in bringing his people into the promised Land here pointed at And it is said that with nakednesse it was made naked because of those very high dispensations and manifestations of his Almighty Power This is the making naked of his Bow 2. For the Rule of this it is the Oathes of the Tribes or as afterward his word The Oathes of the Tribes that is the Oaths made to them the Word he stood ingaged to them in The promise God made by Oath unto Abraham that he would give him the Land of Canaan for an inheritance even to him and his posterity Gen. 12. 7 13 14 15. is here intimated This promise was often renewed to him and the following Patriarches Hence it is called Oathes though but the same promise often renewed And it had the nature of an Oath because it was made a Covenant Now it was all for the benefit of the severall Tribes in respect of actuall possession and was lastly renewed to them Exod. 3. 17. Hence called the Oaths of the Tribes not which they sware to the Lord but which the Lord sware to them So afterwards it is called his word Thy word This then is the purport of this generall proposition O Lord according as thou promisedst and ingagedst thy selfe by Covenant to Abraham Isaac and Jacob with their posterity that thou wouldest give them the Land of Canaan to be theirs for an inheritance so by the dispensation of thy mighty power thou hast fully accomplished it and this he layeth down for the supportment of faith in a time of trouble The words would afford many observations I shall insist only on one The Lord will certainely make good all his promises and ingagements to his people though it cost him the making of his Bow quite naked the manifestation of his power in the utmost dispensations thereof Gods workings are squared to his ingagements This is still the close of all gratious issues of providence God hath done all according as be promised Josh. 22. 4. 2 Sam. 7. 21. He brought out his people of old with a mighty hand with temptations signes and wonders and a stretched out arme and all because he would keepe the Oath which he had sworne and the ingagement which he had made to their Fathers Deut. 7. 8. What obstacles soever may lie in the way he hath done it he will do it Take one instance particular places are too many to be insisted on It was the purpose of his heart to bring his Elect home to himselfe from their forlorne lost condition This he engageth himselfe to do Gen. 3. 15. assuring Adam of a recovery from the misery he was involved in by Satans prevalency This surely is no easy work If the Lord will have it done he must lay out all his Attributes in the demonstration of them to the uttermost His wisdome and power must bow their shoulders as it were in Christ unto it he was the
power of God and the wisdome of God His ingaged Love must be carried along through so many secret mysterious marvels as the Angels themselves desire to looke into and shall for ever adore Though the effecting of it required that which man could not do and God could not suffer yet his wisedome will find out a way that he shall both do it and suffer it who is both God and Man To make good his engagement to his elect he spared not his onely Son and in him were hid and by him layd out all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge Now this is a president of Gods proceeding in all other engagements whatsoever What ever it cost him he will spare nothing to make them good to the uttermost He is our Rock and his worke is perfect A good man if he want not power will go through with his serious promises though he be ingaged to his own hurt Psal. 15. 4. The power of the mighty God is serviceable to his will to the utmost He cannot will what he cannot do His will and power are essentially the same And his power shall not be wanting to execute what his goodnesse hath moved him to engage unto for his own glory Deut. 32. 4. Hee is the rock and his worke is perfect all his wayes are judgement a God of truth and without iniquity Here are many Attributes of God to make good this one thing that his worke is perfect His {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} selfe-sufficiency Perfection Righteousnesse I will pitch on One He is a God of Truth So he is againe called Psal. 31. 5. and in other places The Truth of God in his promises and engagements requires an accomplishment of them what ever it cost what power soever is required thereunto This the Saints make their bottome to seeke it Remember thy loving kindnesse which thou swarest in thy Truth Psal. 89. 4. It is impossible but that should come to passe which thou hast sworne in thy Truth No stronger plea then Remember the word wherein thou hast caused thy servants to put their trust Jacob sayes he is lesse then all the Mercy and all the Truth of God Gen. 32. 10. He sees Gods Truth in all his Mercy by causing all things to come to passe which he had promised him It is true some particular promises have their conditions whose truth consists not in the Relation between the word and the thing unlesse the condition intercede But the great condition under the Gospell being only the good of them to whom any ingagement is made we may positively lay down that Gods Truth requires the Accomplishment of every engagement for his peoples good It is neither Mountaine nor Hill King Kingdome nor Nation Hell nor Mortality nor all combined that can stand in the way to hinder it His people stand in need of all that God hath engaged himselfe to them for Gods promises are the just measure of his peoples wants Whatever he hath promised that his people do absolutely want And whatsoever they want that he hath promised Our Wants and his promises are every way commensurate If thou knowest not what thou standest in need of search the Promises and see What ever God hath said he will do for thee that thou hast absolute need should be done Or if thou art not so well acquainted with the promises search thine own wants what thou standest absolutely in need of for thy good that assuredly God hath promised If then this be the case of engagements they shall all be made good Thinke you will God let his people want that which they have absolute necessity of By absolute necessity I meane such as is indispensible as to their present estate and occasions That may be of necessity in one Generation which is not in another according to the severall imployments we are called to Does God call forth his Saints to execute vengeance upon the Heathen and punishments upon the people to bind their Kings with chaines and their Nobles with fetters of Iron to execute upon them the judgement written as Psal. 149. 7 8 9 doth he bring them forth to burne the whore to fight with the Beast and overcome him and his followers it is of indispensable necessity that he give them glorious assistance in their undertakings They shall be assisted protected carried on though it cost him the making of his Bow quite naked According to the severall conditions he calls them to the severall issues of Providence which he will have them serve in so want they his Appearance in them with them for them and it shall be present Let them be assured they are in his way and then though some prove false and treacherous some base and cowardly though many combine and Associate themselves against them in many places in all places though whole Kingdomes and mighty Armies appeare for their ruine be they reviled and clamoured by all round about them all is one Help they need and help they shall have or God will make his Bow quite naked This day is this Doctrine fulfilled before us Gods Bow made quite naked according to his Word We are lesse then all the Truth hee hath shewed unto us Though great working and mighty power hath been required such as he hath not shewen in our dayes nor in the dayes of our Fathers yet the Lord hath not stood at it for his words sake wherein he hath made us put our trust I speake of the Generall mercies we have received The surrender of Colchester the particular celebrated this day though marching in the Reare for time is for the weight in the Van A mercy of the first magnitude Essex hath seene more power in a three moneths recovery then in the protection of six years That the mouths of men are stopped and their faces filled with shame who made it their trade to revile and threaten the Saints of God that the adverse strength which hath lien hid these seven years should be drawn forth united and broken to pieces that the people of God divided and mutually exasperated through their abuse of peace should by the sword of a common enemy and the help of a common friend have their wrath abated their counsells united and their persons set in a hopefull way of closing or forbearance that God by their owne counsells should shut up men collected from su dry parts to ruine others in a City with Gates and Walls for their own ruine that they should deny peace tendred upon such conditions because of the exigencies of the time as might have left them power as well as will for a further mischiefe that such salvation should go forth in other parts as that the proceedings here should not be interrupted that the bitter service which men here underwent should ever and anon be sweetned with refreshing tidings from other places to keepe up theie spirits in wet watching cold and losse of bloud All these
I say and sundry others such like things as these are the Lords doing and marvellous in our eyes Especially let us Remember how in three things the Lord made his Bow quite naked in this late deliverance 1. In leavening the counsells of the enemy with their own folly 2. In ordering all events to his Owne prayse 3. By controlling with his mighty power the issue of all undertakings 1. In leavening their counsels with their own folly a Gods Power and the efficacy of his providence is not more clearely manifested in any thing then in his effectuall working in the debates advises consultations and Reasonings of his Enemies compassing his ends by their Inventions When God is in none of the thoughts of men by his feare he is in them all by his providence The Sun is operative with his heate where he reacheth not with his light and hath an influence on pretious Mineralls in the depths and darke bottomes of Rocks and Mountaines The allpeircing providence of God dives into the deepe counsells of the Hearts of the sons of men and brings out pretious Gold from thence where the gratious light of his countenance shines not at all Men freely advise debate use and improve their own Reasons Wisdome Interests not once casting an eye to the Almighty and yet all this while do his work more then their own All the counsellings plottings of Josephs Brethren all the transactions of the Jewes Herod and Filate about the death of Christ with other the like instances abundantly prove it Take a few instances wherein God made his Bow quite naked in the counsells of his and our enemies In generall they consult to take Armes wherein God had fully appeared against them when in all probability their work would have bin done without Had they not fought by this time they had bin conquerers One halfe years peace more which we desired on any termes they would on no termes beare in all likely hood had set them where they would be Their work went on as if they had hired the Kingdome to serve them in catching weather What with some mens folly others treachery all our divisions had not their own counsells set them on fighting I think we should suddainly have chosen them and theirs to be umpires of our quarrels God saw when it was time to deale with them In their undertaking in our own County I could give sundry instances how God mixed a perverse spirit of folly and error in all their counsels A part of the Magistracy of the County is seized on therein their intentions towards the residue clearly discovered yet not any attempt made to secure them which they might easily have accomplished although they could not but suppose that there were some gentlemen of publick and active spirits left that would be industrious in opposition unto them Was not the Lord in their counsells also when they suffered a small inconsiderable party in a little Village within a few miles of them to grow into such a body as at length they durst not attempt when they might have broken their whole indeavour with halfe an hundred of men Doubtlesse of innumerable such things as these we may say with the Prophet The Princes of Zoan are become fooles the Princes of Noph are deceived they have seduced the people even they that are the stay of their Tribes the Lord hath mingled a perverse spirit in the middest of them they have caused the people to erre in every worke as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit Isa. 19. 13 14. Doubtlesse the wrath of man shall praise the Lord and the remainder of it will he restraine 2. In ordering all events to his own praise The Timing of the enemies eruptions in severall places is that which fills all hearts with wonder and all mouths with discourse in these dayes From the first to the last they had their season Had they come together to the Eyes of flesh the whole Nation had bin swallowed up in that Deluge In particular let Essex take notice of the goodnesse of God The high thoughts and threats of men which made us for divers weeks feare a Massacre were not suffered to break out into open hostility untill the very next day after their strength was broken in the Neighbour Country of Kent As if the Lord should have said I have had you in a chaine all this while though you have shewed your teeth you have not devoured now go out of my chaine I have a net ready for you For the Armies comming to our Assistance I cannot see how we needed them many dayes sooner or could have wanted them one day longer Further these homebred eruptions were timely seasoned to rouse the discontented Souldiery and divided Nation to be ready to resist the Scottish invasion God also being magnifyed in this that in this sweet disposall of events unto his glory the counsells of many of those in whom we thought we might confide run totally crosse to the appearance of God in his providence What shall wee say to these things If the Lord be for us who shall be against us All these things come forth from the Lord of Hosts who is wonderfull in counsâ—ll and excellent in Operation Isa. 28. 29. Who so is wise will ponder them and they shall understand the loving kindnesse of the Lord 3. In controlling mighty actions I meane giving successe to his people in all their undertakings The Commander in chief of all the forces in this Kingdome since his sitting down before Colchester was proffered a passe to go beyond the Seas for his security Whence is it that he hath now the necks of his enemies and hath given any of them their lives at their intreaty greater Armies then this have bin buried under lesser walles did not the number of the besieged at first exceed the number of the besiegers were not their Advantages great their skill in war amongst men of their own perswasion famous and renowned so that the sitting down before it was judged an action meete only for them who could believe they should see the Bow of God made quite naked It had bin possible doubtlesse to Reasons eye that many of those fictions wherewith a faction in the great City fed themselves of the many Routings Slaughters and Destructions of the Army might have bin true Some of them I say for some were as childish as Hellish In briefe they Associated themselves and were broken in peices they Associated themselves and were broken in peices High walls Towring imaginations lofty threats all brought down So let all thine enemies perish O Lord but let them that love him be as the Sun when he goeth forth in his might and let the Land have rest for many years Judg. 5. 31. This will discover unto us the bottome and rise of all Gods appearances for his people even the ingaging of his own free Grace He doth not make his Bow quite naked according to their deservings but