and irrecoverable time may produce Certainly this method of proceeding cannot bring us to any quick issue If these points of Government of Worship of Doctrine which yet are before us be handled as these that are behinde us which in themselves are far lesse considerable then many of the former If every opponent must be heard upon every point to object to reply to double to triple his exceptions as I know no reason why it must not be so if we proceed in an equable pace and our motions to come be of a length proportionable to these that are past This course I say if constantly kept cannot but hold us in hewing of our Stones more then a week of yeers before we can begin to lay so much as the Foundation of our Building But I must hold for unaware and unsensibly my Pen has run beyond the bounds of an Epistle Your more then ordinary benignitie did invite me to that libertie It is our comfort when either the mentioned or any other inconvenience begins to discourage us that God has put in that supreme Court men of your Zeal Wisedom and Experience by whose deep prudence and industrious Action what to us seems desperate can quickly be remedied to the full satisfaction of all whose understanding and affections permit them to be capable of reason Thus praying God to asist every man of your minde and temper that so this afflicted Church and State may come in Gods due time to a happy end of all the present troubles I rest Your Worships to be commanded ROBERT BAYLY A SERMON Preached before The Honourable House OF COMMONS At the publique FAST Febr. 28. 1643. ZECHARIAH 3. vers 1 2. And he shewed me Ioshua the high Priest standing before the Angel of the Lord and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him And the Lord said unto Satan The Lord rebuke thee O Satan even the Lord that hath chosen Ierusalem rebuke thee Is not this a brand pluckt out of the fire THe wise Preacher observes well that there is no new thing under the Sun The Intreduction It is a matter of comfort that our present trouble is no new thing Eccles 1.9.10 that there is nothing whereof truly it can be said it is altogether new but the most strange accidents of our dayes have been already of old time which was before us This wise observation was one of the Pillars whereupon Solomon setled his spirit when it was much vexed with the sense of the extreme vanity and unutterable labour which he had felt and seen under the Sunne even in his dayes which were more then ordinarily prosperous This consideration will be very proper for these people or persons who after a long prosperity are afflicted with a sudden and unexpected calamity while their spirit is new and unacquainted with such a variation it is filled with griefe with feare and amazement but when they find that no other thing hath befallen then what often before hath beene and often afterward will fall out in place of these griefes feares amazements patience contentment and hope much better guests begin to possesse the soule Doubtlesse to our first Parents the darknesse of the first night was somewhat strange Persons who had never seene any thing but the light of the day when the shadowes of the night first did incompasse them could not be without some apprehension yet when at the backe of a number of nights they had seen the day spring of the morning light constantly to arise the darknesse of the blackest nights was past over without feare and in so great security as the light of the fairest dayes To men who have always lived upon land when first they set to sea the winds waves and stormes are exceeding terrible but when they are a little beaten with the experience of tempests their feares doe change into resolution and courage It is of no small use to remember that those things which vexe most our spirit are not new but have already been in times before our dayes Unto this ground of courage against the vanities and vexations of this life Also that it is the worke of God Eccles 3.14 15. the Preacher addes another much more strong Whatsoever God doeth it shall be for ever nothing can be put to it nor any thing taken from it for God doth it that men should feare before him and God requireth that which is past All these things which now are which have already been and againe shall be hereafter are not onely managed and guided by the good hand of our God but also are so acted by him that creatures can neither adde unto nor diminish from these workes of justice and mercy which the Almighty arme of the most High doth daily worke on the earth for this end that men may acknowledge and feare may love and trust in his holy Name The children of God in this land on whom the present warre hath brought very heavy affliction Who oft of old hath brought the like evils to a happy end and who yet are afraid for sadder consequents cannot but be encouraged if they beleeve that all these fearefull accidents are wrought by the hand of their gracious Father in his deepe wisedome and great justice That as the counsels of the best men have not diminished any of them so the plots of the most malicious have added nothing to the measure wc h his hand hath mete out Neither hereafter by all the activity of our enemies men or devils shall any more trouble be brought upon us then that which the Lord our God by his owne hand shall bring on Also that no other miseries shall ever befall us then such as in former times God hath brought about to very happy ends and blessed conclusions for God now doth require nothing but what is past the acts of his providence in our dayes are but repetitions of his ancient proceedings Were the Lord now to begin to guide the world we might seeme to have reason of feare for the issue of many difficult passages When a hard piece of worke is put in the hand of an Apprentice for the first assay of his skill the beholders are justly afraid for a miscarriage in his young and unexperienced hand but when the worker is an old master of Craft none are afraid but his cunning hand can act again what so oft it hath wrought to the contentment of all the beholders Were our God a Novice in the great art of governing the world and of the Church in the bosome thereof had he to this day never given any proofe of his infinite wisedome power and goodnesse in turning about the most terrible accidents to the welfare and joy of his Saints we might indeed be amazed when ever we feele our selves sinking in the dangers wherein the practises of our Enemies oft doe plunge us over head and eares But the Lord having given in times past so many documents of his uncontroverted skill and
the feare of future mis-accidents in life in death yet at last in all these they become more then Conquerours the Devill by the mouth of Christ is chased away from further molesting them the spots of sinne are washed off as if they never had been on the strength of corruption is abated they are clothed and made Beautifull with the graces of the Spirit they are assured of perseverance and Gods acceptation of continuall service at their hand they have the Lords Protestation that after all their labours for his honour the welfare of his Church and their mother countrie they shall be translated to an Evangelick felicitie to stand before the celestiall throne injoying the face of God and all the fulnesse of joy thence flowing when others the opposits of the worke of God the retarders of the building of the Temple and Citie shall be rebuked with Satan their leader and cast with him into that utter darknesse where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth The true procurer of all these favours was Christ the Messias to come Of the third spoken of in the third part from the eight verse to the end Ioshua and his companions were wondred at as mad fools The builders of Sion are wonders who would venture their peaceable and quiet estate in Babel with the hazard of a long and dangerous voyage to the desolate Land of Judea and when they came there would not rest in ease but without feare of provoking the great King of Persia without regard of plottings within by false friends of open armes without by professed foes not considering their owne weaknesse nor the greatnesse of the interprize of building a temple of fortifying a City went on with courage this by some was derided by others wondred at Psal 96.7 Psal 124 8. yet themselves understood very well what they were doing The Lord of hosts was with them their help was in the name of the Lord. Michael their Prince was a mediatour for them at the throne of God though yet he was not borne Christ the branch yet in his divine nature he did execute the office of an intercessor for them with the Father and the time did draw neere when he was to be brought forth as a branch then he did lurke and lie hid within the vaile of heaven as a roote under the ground yea the stock of Iesse whence he was to take flesh was a withered tree in a dry Land yet he was to spring out of it as a branch which from a small twigg was to become a great boulke wherein all the plants of God behoved to be graffed that by his fatnesse they might flourish in the Courts of the Lord and bring forth their fruit in due season Also he is the carved stone full of eyes This branch was that stone which Ioshua did lay in the foundation of the second temple for Christ is the rock wherupon the Church is builded so firmely that the Ports of hell may well assault but shall not prevaile against it he is a stone with seven eyes not a dead blinde stone but living and seeing filled with the Spirit of providence able to foresee with a multitude with a great and perfect number of eyes all the dangers which can befall that House and every living stone therein which is builded upon him he is a carved and ingraven stone polished and adorned by the hand of the Father with all the perfection of divine beautie in which the carvings of his flesh by the wounds of his crosse the agonies of his Spirit From his ingraving comes our pardon and peace wherewith it pleased the Father to bruise him are not of the least consideration for from these chiefly flow the two great blessings Pardon and Peace wherewith the Chapter is closed The Father for the sake of the passion of Christ put away the sinnes of the Land Revel 13.8 Hebr. 10.4 Hebr. 10.4 and that in on day for the sacrifice of the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world was of another nature from these under the Law these though continually offered could never make the commers thereto perfect but he by one offering hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified Hence flowes a full and perfect peace they who had been long vexed with a cruell and bloody war by the Prince of peace are reconciled with God for their sinnes in one day being removed by that one sacrifice Phil. 4.7 the wrath of the Father was satisfied Peace with God brings inward peace of conscience that passeth understanding Prov. 16.7 and also peace with men so much as the Lord findeth expedient when a mans wayes pleaseth the Lord he maketh his very enemies to be at peace with him Esay 1.11.6 The branch that sprang from the stem of Jesse makes the wolfe and the Lamb to dwell together the Leopard to lie down in peace with the kid the lion to eat straw with the oxe the sucking child to play on the hole of the Aspe the weaned childe to lay his hand safely on the cockatrice den and these men who have been spoiled of all and banished from their habitations to returne to their homes and quickly so to prosper there that they can call their neighbours as of old to feast and be glad with them under their Vine and Fig-tree without the feare of any enemy being safe and secure under the shadow of the Branch the Prince of peace So the Vision of this Chapter which began with great trouble and danger ends with as great peace and joy Satan in the entry with the assistance of sinne vexing the Church with all the opposition his strength and craft was able to make Christ in the end by his passion and spirit defeating Satan and sin closeth the Churches warfare with a happy peace All these things will be grounds to intelligent mindes of many sweet meditations in these times of perplexity but leaving the rest we will stand on the two first verses In the first whereof we have the great impediment of Sions reparation In the second The division of the Text. the powerfull removall of that impediment The former for memory and order may be divided into three First the information of it he shewed unto me This strong opposition which Satan made to the work was secret till God by his Angel opened the eyes of the Prophet Zachariah to behold it Secondly its time when Joshua was standing before the Angel of the Lord. Thirdly its matter Satan stood on his right hand to resist him Consider these three in order their sense the Doctrines arising from them and the Uses of these Doctrines In the first three things must be understood The Informer The exposition of the first part The way of his Information And the person informed This he who informs by the most ancient Greek and Latine Interpreters is expressed by the Lord Who is this informing Angel but our Translators
all this wickednesse for he is the watchman of Israel who never slumbers his silly sheep would soon be catched but his all-seeing eye to which every creature is naked is alwayes imployed for their custody The seven eyes of the Lord run through the earth to search all the counsels taken against the Church his eyes pierce the thoughts and reines of the craftiest foxes Psal 139. 2 9. not a word in any mans tongue but he knoweth it altogether and their thoughts afarre off he found meanes to discover to David 2 Sam. 17.16 and to turne into meere folly the counsell of Achitophel once wise as an Angel though after wickedly crafty as a Divell all the devices of Syria were made open to the King of Israel 2 King 6.12 no word could be spoken in the bed-chamber of the King of Syria but Elisha could tell it in Samaria The Use of this Doctrine is first The first Vse for thankfull acknowledgment Who hath discovered to us the manifold most mischievous designes of the enemy these most secret and deeply contrived counsels for the overthrow of our Religion the destruction of our Parliaments the inslaving of our persons and posteritie who hath brought out these works before the eyes of the world None but that God who here by his Angel doth demonstrate to the eyes of his Prophet the most secret practises of the Divell himself against Ierusalem A catalogue of these discovered plots would be printed on the Table of our hearts for the continuall praise of the mercifull discoverer A second use is for faithful dependence The second we know not what our adversaries this very hour are working under ground this we know that they are restless in their contrivings like the Sea whose motion is perpetuall not as the heavens for carrying about of light unto the world but for defiling of the earth by casting up always upon it new dirt and tangle like Satan their leader who cannot fit still but goes ever to and fro on the earth seeking whom he may devour beginning ever some new plot where an old one ends It is good for us to have our recourse by faith to him to have our dependance upon him who is acquainted with all their consultations when they digge much deeper then we can reach them were it to the very hell our God is there to see and hear all that is amongst them we would still be praying that he would bring out their works of darknesse that by him we may be saved from their snares and carried by their pits that by his providence we may always escape the nets of these fowlers A third use is for advertisement of all The third to be very warie of secret contrivances against that cause which they have sworne to maintain let all remember that the seven eyes of the Lord are ever upon them in the darkest of all their wayes they speak not the word they write not the letter in their most secret chambers which the Lord cannot bring abroad to the ears of the whole Isle for their perpetuall shame the miscariage of others should be thy instruction wilt thou go on in a way of thine own for the hurt of those who are ingaged against the enemies of Religion and justice wilt thou also correspond in a blind and secret way to undermine upon never so faire pretexts this poore distressed State God shall find thee out and as many already have made themselves infamous thy shame likewise shall be proclaimed to this and after ages so much the greater as the evident judgements of God upon many have not diverted thee from running on to thy own ruine Some like Balaam though an Angel from heaven would discharge them from joyning with Moab against Israel yet upon the deceiving hopes of wealth and preferment will go on though they should lose in the end both their life and salvation The last use is for wise diligence to have that abolished The fourth which yet in Gods mercy is covered from the eyes of the world not to speake of publike miscariages against the Church or State whereof possibly some of whom there is no suspicion may be as guilty as others who publikely are crucified with deserved infamy But to hold upon personall faults thou knowest not how soon the Lord may bring forth not only to the light of his own countenance but to the eyes of the world thy secret wickednesse This is a day wherein thou mayest get a cloake to cover thy nakednesse that thy shame may never be seen judge thy self and thou shall not be judged confesse with heartie sorrow and the Lord shall be just to forgive lay hold on that sacrifice whose blood washes away the spots of sinne hunger and thirst for that grace and Spirit of Christ that mortifieth corruptions lest if after this dayes repentance sinne reigne in thee seven worse spirits enter into thee and the Lord bring forth not only before this world but which is much worse before man and angels in the great congregation for thy everlasting shame all the works of these devils in thee which now lie hid to the eyes of men So much for the first part the information and discovery The exposition of the second part the matter discovered followes and first the time or action wherein Ioshua was imployed when Satan did resist him he was standing before the Angel of the Lord for the exposition of these words consider first who was this Ioshua the high Priest secondly who this Angel thirdly what this standing For the first Ioshua the high Priest this man was Ioshua or Iesus the son of Iosedeck the high Priest who returned with the captives from Babel who set up the altar upon the bases before the Temple was builded who did joyn with Zerubbabel the Prince and supreame Magistrate of the Jewes in founding and perfecting the temple these two were the two olive trees which did contribute the golden oil of all the gifts which God bestowed on them in advancing the work of the Lord about the State and Church of Israel Sundry of the Ancients will have this Iesus to be Christ our Saviour but this is a conceit so unconsistent with scripture and many reasons that it needs no confutation This Ioshua was a Priest for before the death of Christ the speciall imployment of Gods ministers was to offer up those sacrifices which were types and figures of that great oblation of the Lamb of God in a true propitiatorie But when the body came the shadowes removed whosoever would have the Ministers of the Christian Church to be truely Priests would by that meanes bring backe the pedagogie of Moses would set up the Antichristian sacrifice of the Masse denying in deed as the Apostle oft reasons that Christ is yet come or hath offered a sufficient sacrifice for our redemption Ioshua was the high Priest Christ is the Lord of his own house to order it every day
when the darknesse of affliction over-shadowes Ierusalem the godly cannot rest they cannot keep silence but importune their God for the light of a glorious deliverance A second reason The second reason this Practise of the Saints is according to the will of God Ezek. 22.30 I sought for a man that should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before me for the land that I should not destroy it Isa 62.6 I have set watchmen on thy wals O Ierusalem who shall never hold their peace day nor night ye that make mention of the Lord keep not silence and give him no rest till he establish and make Ierusalem a praise on the eath A third reason The third reason this duty hath the promise of a blessing both publick and private Unto the Elders and Priests while they are assembled Ioel 2. For fasting and prayer is laid out not onely the goodnesse of God in generall that he is gracious and mercifull slow to anger and of great kindnesse repenting him of the evill but particularly in the 18 they are assured he will heare their prayer and answer it he will have pity upon the afflictions of his people and be zealous for their deliverance Besides the publick benefit the carefull practise of this duty procures much private good When the salvation of Ierusalem breaketh forth as a Lamp every Inhabitant shall not be partaker of her joy Sundry shall see it and not taste of it as that Prince of Samaria 2 Kings 7.2 when it shall be well with the Church it may be ill with them As ravenous beasts and theeves after their roving up and downe in the darknesse of the night at their pleasure when the morning light doth arise they take them to their dens and caves wherein oft they are hunted to their death However these who now stand mourning for Sion shall rejoyce in her joyes when they come they shall eat the fruit of their present labours the teares they now sow in sorrow shall then be reaped in joy See an excellent promise of this Isa 66.10 Rejoyce for joy with Ierusalem all ye that mourn for her that ye may sucke and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations that ye may milke out and be delighted with the aboundance of her glory Ye shall be comforted in Ierusalem and when ye see this your heart shall rejoyce and your bones shall flourish like an herbe Sometimes it pleaseth not God to relent his anger towards the publicke yet it goes well in private with the practisers of this duty the mourners for Ierusalem Ezek. 9. are marked by the Angel and saved in the day of destruction 2 Pet. 2.7 8. Noah and Lot who vexed their righteous souls for what they heard and saw among their wicked neighbours get themselves and their families preserved in the day of vengeance Lamenting Ieremiah Ezek. 14.14 and for his cause his servant Baruch and friend Ebedmelech are well intreated by the hand of the most cruell Enemy yea when the wrath of God is greatest when Noah Iob and Daniel are not able to save either son or daughter yet they shall deliver themselves have their own soul for a prey Another Reason The fourth Ezek. 10.18 the neglect of this duty is a dangerous provocation When the glory of God goes from the Cherub to the threshold of the Temple and from thence to the midst of the City Hos 5.15 and from thence to the mountaine when the Lord goes to his place that he may be sought after early and in his going makes frequent stands looking back if any will sollow and lay hold upon him that he may returne if so be that none take notice or care of his removall it much encreaseth his anger This is one of the complaints of Isaiah Isa 64.7 There is none that calleth on thy name that stirreth up himselfe to lay hold on thee This is made a great cause of the publike calamity Ezek. 42. I sought for a man to stand in the gap for the land but I found none therefore have I powred out my indignation upon them I have consumed them with the sire of my wrath and however God should be good to the publike yet it shall not goe well with the private contemners of this duty be they more or fewer be they high or low Publike men whose peculiar duty is to meet the Lord and stand in the gap when they see the floods of his wrath comming downe to overwhelme the people of their charge if they run away like foxes to their holes being careful for nothing but to provide for their own heads woe and vengeance from God is denounced against them Ezek. 13.4 O Israel thy Prophets are like the foxes in the desert who have not gone up to the hedge neither made up the gaps for the house of Israel to stand in the battell in the day of the Lord Therefore in the third verse Woe unto them and in the ninth they shall not be in the assembly of my people neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel What extreme woe is it to be blotted out of the book of life to be deleted out of the Catalogue of the people of God Neither onely publike men but the meanest of the people are plagued for the neglect of this duty Isa 22.12 In that day the Lord did call to weeping and mourning but behold joy and gladnesse the slaying of oxen the killing of sheep and drinking of wine this iniquity shall not be purged from you till you dye saith the Lord. The Use of this Doctrine is for your encouragement The Vse For encouragement to go on in the present exercise with diligence Ier. 48.10 Ier. 14 17. Isa 5.25 to go on with all diligence in the present work of humble supplication You see God is well pleased with this labour it hath been the exercise of all the Saints on the like occasion it is the Lords speciall command he hath annexed to it most comfortable promises and to the neglect of it very fearfull threats onely let the work be done with diligence and constancie to doe the work of the Lord negligently procures a curse wherfore this day when thou standest before the Angel in all the bent saile of thy spirit offer to God the sacrifice of thy contrite and broken heart Let thine eyes run downe with teares night and day for the great breach and grievous blow wherewith the virgin daughter of thy people is already broken that notwithstanding the rivers of blood already shed the anger of the Lord is not turned away but his hand is stretched out still that as yet there is no appearance of any cancelling of that Commission which the Lord hath given to the sword to bathe it self in the blood of men without number of all ranks and estates These judgments outward and visible are the causes of great mourning but the sinnes of the land