resolve which is the true God Doct. 4. If the Lord be God God alone is to be followed Doct. 5. Follow him Men are oft convicted Doct. 6. before they are once converted These are some generall Doctrines deduced out of this verse worthy your serious consideration These are some fruits which fall from the tree of this Text at the first touch thereof In the handling whereof Had I either the open utterance of Paul or the eloquent tongue of Tertullus or the well-tuned Cymballs of David or the shrill-sounding bells of Aaron or the silver Trumpet of Hillary or the golden mouth of Chrysostome or the mellifluous speech of Origen or the thundring voyce of Perieles these truths then would both finde and leave you attentive But I shall prosecute only the first Proposition ayming to apply it to these halting times Doct. 1. It s a great sin and shame to halt between God and Baal truth and errour light and darkenesse the word and the world Christ and Belial Because there is no communion between these Reas 1. 2 Cor. 6.14 yet such halters make a communion and union between them they joyne together what God hath put asunder and they put asunder what God hath in his Word and will joyned together They call evill good Isa 5.20 and good evill they put darkenesse for light and light for darkenesse they put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter Now such sin greatly because God denounceth woes so sharply against them nay more woes than against other grand workers of iniquity because these are wise in their owne conceite Verse 21. Reas 2. Because these halters will be wiser than God give Christ the lye set the holy Ghost to schoole Mat. 6.24 No man can serve two Masters for either be will hate the one and love the other or else be will hold to the one and despise the other Te cannot serve God and Mammon Yes we can say these halters we can serve God in the morning and the Devill in the afternoone one Master in the Temple another in the Tavern We can comply with Round heads while we are in their company and with Cavalliers when we are in their company humour and sooth Papists and Puritans and displease neither Because these are most notorious hypocrices they think they can be too hard for Reas 3. and deceive both God and Devill they halt betweene God and Mammon Christ and Belial purity and Popery They have a tongue for the Court cause and a tongue for the Countrey cause God calls for the heart Prov. 23.26 My sonne give me thy heart Satan will be content with halfe the heart 2 King 17.33 34. God is herein more covetous than the Devill he will have all or none the Devill will be contented with halfe because he knowes if he have any God will have none Let such consider if it be good to seeme to be rich it is better to be so if good to seeme to be good better to be so if it be bad to seem to be bad it is worse to be so Either therefore bee as thou seemest to be very good or seem to be as thou art indeed very bad If the Lord be God follow him if Baal follow him If thy own private be to be preferred before the publique prefer it if the publique be to be preferred before the private prefer it else professe thy selfe to be an hypocrite more woes are denounced against such than against any sinners eight severall woes in Mat. 23.13 denounced against them Vse 1. In the first place this may serve to inform us touching the Cause why so many faithfull Preachers are so zealous that they lift up their voyces like Trumpets when Trumpets lift up their voyces like Preachers the glory of God love of Christ care for the Kingdomes lawes liberties constraine them Obadiah disswades Eliah ver 10. Ahab reproveth him ver 17. God commanded him v. 1. Whether it be better to obey God or man judg ye Acts 4.19 Sin labours to destroy the word in the mouths of Ministers Ministers labour to destroy sin in the hearts of hearers when fire and water meet there is great ratling and hissing Paint a fire on a piece of cloath and cast it into the water and no noise at all nor contraries therefore no combate If ministers come with painted fire with silken sayings flattering words saying all is well no wonder if men halt limp trip and fall into the down-fall of damnation Zac. feele hell before they feare it Is it not therefore lawfull necessary to rescue mens soules as brands out of the fire Lev. 19.17 Thou shalt not hate thy Brother in thy heart but reprove him plainly Were not the people here by the zeale of Eliah first convicted then converted crying The Lord is God the Lord is God Can it be bad to be zealous in a canse that is good to preserve a plant from withering a Beast from drowning a sheepe from wandring a house from siring a ship from sinking a Citie from sacking and Kingdomes from destroying to save a soule to turne a sinner from the evill of his wayes As cold oft breeds an inflamation so the luke-warme devotion of many Pastors People have enkindled Gods wrath and Gods wrath hath blowne up these sad combustions wherewith the Land is almost consumed should not the Boanerges labour to take out fire with fire the fire of Gods wrath by the fire of the Spirit to preserve from everlasting burnings Jer. 6.29 The lungs and lips of Preachers that are touched with a coale from Gods Altar are powerfull bellowes to blow up the dying fire of zeale Is not this Gods worke and must not they be fervent in Spirit that will serve the Lord Rom. 12.11 Isa 63.15 9.7 2 King 19.31 whose work can never be done while they freeze at it It is Gods zeale that must doe all for us and must not our zeale doe all we can for him Did Christ sweate that the Christian should freeze must not all redeemed ones be zealous of good workes Titus 2.14 Hanniball by fire made way over the Alpes so must Ministers by zeale over the mountaines of oppositions the tops whereof will not be climbed without great strength violence and vivacity Palmes are the Emblemes of victory but they love to grow in a hot soyle All would have Palms heate is the meanes for them Fervency in a Christian is the grace of every action Ministers must perswade to be zealous else people cannot repent and they must repent else Christ will not come in and sup with them Rev. 3.19 And must Ministers perswade others to be zealous and shall they be dull cold luke-warme themselves Wisedome is justified of her children the people place Text and time call for it Thus having with the Cock clapt my wings on my owne breast give me leave to crow unto others also to shew men their present sin to
together Eliah and Obadiah Verse 7. Behold Eliah was in the way Saul went to seeke his Fathers Asses and found a Kingdome Obadiah went to seeke water and grasse and behold he findes a way and meanes to bring salvation to people He went in obedience to the command of a King on Earth and meetes with an unerring command of the King of Heaven Doct. Gods providence over-rules all actions Text. persons times things fell downe on his face c. The Messengers of God find favour from those that are good Doct. 1. Doct. 2. Doct. 3 Good Christians will know one another in times of adversity Good men desire to be resolved of their doubts Obadiah thought that it was Eliah yet labours to be assured thereof And he answered Verse 8. I am Goe tell c. Eliah had no French complementall formallity in his mouth of your humble servant Sir as men now a days who have more liezure and skill in promising the duty of Servants then love and wil in performing the office of friends but English down-right reallity he answers yea plain discoveries are most pleasing Doct. Eliah reveales the naked truth here no equivocation is studyed or practised There needs no Complement with men when Commands are to be delivered from God He had an Errand from the God of heaven to a King on earth Therefore gives him a short quicke plaine pithy answer From vers 9. to 15. we see Obadia's feare with the many reasons of his refusall for delivering the Message The Spirit may be willing when the flesh is weake Doct. Eliah will shew himselfe to Ahab come what ever will come on it Verse 15. The righteous are as bold as a Lyon Doct. 1. Obadiah went to meete Ahab Verse 16. Care of Cattell must be neglected when Gods will is to be performed Doct. 2. Ahabs willing journey to meete Eliah Gods worke shall be furthered whether man will or no. Doct. Obadiah went to further Gods worke Ahab to satisfie his owne lust and to further the Devills worke Doct. Man purposeth but the Lord disposeth of the purposes He can bring light out of darknesse good out of evill as the Bee honey out of weeds The sharp and short salutation that Ahab gives to Eliah Vers 17. Art thou hee that art the troubler of Israel Prophets commonly censured for Authors and Fautors of Troubles Doct. Eliah's answer to Ahabs accusation Vers 18. Where reade 1. Vindication of himselfe I am not 2. The just Taxation of the King It is thou and thy Fathers house 1. Many see faults in others not in themselves Doct. 1. 2. Kings may be blamed Doct. 2. 3. Man is the author of his owne misery Doct. 3. 4. Disobedience to God the cause of all misery to man Doct. 4. When men forsake the fountaine they dig to themselves pits that will hold no water The Prophet having told the King what he had done against him V. 19 20 tells him what he must doe for the Lord Eliah came with a message from the God of heaven therefore commands Ahab and directs him All Israel must appeare on mount Carmel before this despised Prophet God can and will honour those whom the wicked of the world condemne disgrace and persecute Doct. The 450. Prophets of Baal must come with the 400. Chaplains of Jezabell All things and persons must subject themselves to heavens decree Doct. God can and will call to an account notwithstanding Prophets Doct. people goe along in their sins Thou thoughtst I was like unto thee Psal 50. but I will set thy sinnes in order before thee Pleasure of sin may goe before when paine for sin shall follow after If the paine of the head-ach were before the pleasure of the wine none would be drunke If sinnes wages were fore-seene the worke thereof would not be so willing So Ahab sent unto all the Children of Israel Vers 20. and gathered the Prophets together to Mount Carmel Ahab executeth Eliah's or rather the Lords commands and that speedily Kings hearts are in the hand of the Lord Doct. what hee commands they must fulfill The Congregation must be assembled the King Prophets people being gathered together Vers 21. Eliah proponeth his Text as the foundation for his ensuing words and Actions which are the words for my Text at this time Why halt yee so long betweene two opinions A word spoken in season saith Solomon is like apples of gold in pictures of silver Prov. 25 15. There are times of halting and here is a Text of halting Therefore Text and time agree Here you see 1. A question propounded to the people Why halt yee so long between two opinions 2. An answer framed for them in a truth supposed If the Lord be God follow ye him Argum. but the Lord is God should they have inferred Therefore we ought to follow him 3. The obstupefaction of the people They answered not a word In the first note 1. The specification of their sin Halting 2. The aggravation of it Why halt yee so long 3. The facillity of walking uprightly in the way of Truth They were not twenty seducing mizmazing errours as in these Realm-reeling times but only the rocks of two opinions the Lord and Baal In the third wee see the wilfull obstinacy and blindnesse of the people They answered him not a word They had some-what in their minds though they had nothing in their mouths They were convinced by the truth of the Prophet proposed But they were unwilling to be converted or reformed by reason of the example of the Princes long customes thereto by the multitude of the people and their seducings through the numerosity of Baals Prophets which were 450. and Eliah but one against them all In the 2d. part we may read the rule of unerring direction prescribed and by all to have beene observed If the Lord be God follow yee him But be alone is God Ergo. The first is the Checke of Halting The 2d. is the Cause of Halting The 3d. is the Cure of Halting Or take the division if you please more briefly thus 1. A Reprehension Why halt you so long betweene two opinions 2. A Caution Limitation or Direction If the Lord be God follow him If Baall be God follow yee him 3. The non-pluse obstupefaction or obduration of the people who though they were convinced of yet would not be converted to the truth They answered him not a word It s a great sin and shame to halt between God and Baal Doct. 1. truth error Those that are good will show zeale for God Doct. 2. or zeale of Pastors a speciall helpe against peoples halting Or downe-right Doctrine must throw downe sin and Idolatry People continue long in a limping condition notwithstanding long and sharp reprehension Why halt ye so long Doct. 3. Many are yet to seeke and
gifts of nature light ayre fire water Is it not against the law of Nations Armen that those Subjects should enjoy the priviledges and immunities of Subjects who see with open face the enemies destroying all these yet lay it neither to head nor to heart They that are the same and have done the same for doing whereof others their neighbour-Neuters have had the skin torne from their flesh and their flesh from their bones these do deserve to be cast out of the land But these dissembling Neuters are the same and doe the same which they did in former times that were so punished therefore these Compounds deserve no favour but to be cast out of Citie Countrey Kingdome The Parliament accounts such no better than professed Malignants I thinke they are worse true friends to the Parliament should not esteeme them undangerous enemies to Church and to the Common-wealth these get to an upper place if not in scituation yet in speculation as Metius Suffetius did spying which side is strongest and likeliest to prevaile and then towards that side they will wheele about and joynâ— themselves But what reward did his carnall compound policy his divided heart promote him too My Author saith that the body of Metius Suffetius who stood neuter in the warres between the Romans and the Fidenates to spy which side was strongest that thereunto he might turne was adjudged by a Councell of warre to be tyed to two teemes of horses which halled contrary wayee so his body was drawne asunder and pluckt into two pieces accordingly The portraiture of which Teemes halling and Metius Suffetius body so drawne asunder I wish were set upon the walls of the houses where such Compound Neuters dwell or on the horse-heads on which they doe ride or on the sides of the cupsin which they drinke or on the bedsteads on which they lye that they might learne by other mens harmes to beware of falling into the like sinne for seare they fall into the like punishment You know the History of the men of Succoth and Penuel Iudg. 8. what Gideon desired of them for his wearied Armies in the pursuite of Zeba and Zalmunna the Sucoothites jeered at him You will returne us our bread when you have your enemie in your band When will that be Your enemies are Kings and Kings will helpe one another they have power you are weake think you to overcome two Kings with your three hundred tyred Souldiers there is a great peradventure disadvantage Wee will see the successe first cleerer Ver. 16. you question not the victory it s a great question to us Are the heads c. you know what followes as Gideon threatned to deale so he dealt with them he tooke the Elders of the Citie and the thornes and briars of the wildernesse and with them he taught the men of Succoth he taught them a sore teaching a fearefull fight to see so many blondy bones to start out of the flesh a sharp but very exemplary for unfiding men in these siding times They that will not be taught by precepts must be taught with paine I wish such briars and thornes grew and were seene in the hedges that mounded in the grounds of such Compounds fearefull faint-hearted cowardly hypocriticall dissembling lukewarme false-hearted trayterous neutralizing persons You know the parable of a man travelling falling among theeves and wounded Lake 10. that which was in parable then is in practise now the Land is fallen among theeves or theeves rather have fallen upon the body of the Land should it not work pitty compassion in all that see it are they Samaritans that regard it not woe woe to the lookers on and passers by Curse yee bitterly such Merozites Judg. 5.23 In cursing curse never cease to call for a curse Janius renders it Indesinenter Cursed be be that doth the worke of the Lord negligently and that keeps his sword from bloud Jer. 17 3. If negligent workers What no workers that are like standing water that neither ebs nor flowes These Ambodexters who are Compounds that care not what side prevailes shall be rewarded as Neuters shall not have Gods protection all left-handed persons shall be put on Christs left hand shall be sent away with a depart from mee God comes to helpe all simple ones in their misery and all such will helpe the Lord in his misery Mat. 25.35 36. For I was an hungred and yee gave mee meat I was thirstie and yee gave mee drink I was a stranger and yee took mee in naked and yee clothed mee I was sicke and yee visited mee I was in prison and yee came unto mee Having shewed the sin and shame of these Neuters I now come to shew the Cause and Remedy of their Maladie in the third Use Use 3. which you may call the Solution of the Question or satisfaction of the Doubts or removall of the rubs in the way or which I call in the Title for these times the Causes and the Cure of balting These people spake not a word to Eliabs Question yet they murmured in their minds though they manifested it not with their mouthes But now people both mutter inwardly and mouth it outwardly why they halt viz. Many 1 Cause yea the greatest part even of the Parliaments Members have deserted the Parliaments Cause Doe you not thinke they did it out of Conscience towards the Kings side And what thinke you of those few that are turned from the King Answ and offered their service to the Parliament againe confessed and recanted their errour and wondered that they could be so farre seduced to take up Armes against that Parliament which they had taken the Covenant to maintaine What if many have betrayed their trust and deserted Parliament and Kingdome doth this justisie their persidiousnesse and halting condition or condemne the sincerity of such as goe on uprightly without backsliding Can any man have any colour to free them from never dying infamle who made elaborate Orations faire promises loud protestations That they would live and dye with the Parliament to spend their lives and fortunes in the cause confessing that to be the cause of God yet either through feare or hope of favour have forsaken that Cause which at first they then so strangely maintained and have been instruments of betraying much innocent bloud and bringing more cares upon the heads of those that have continued constant If the Kingdome stand doubtlesse such Traytors shall not long stand in credit or libertie but shall be brought unto condigne punishment that others may feare Apostacy and the sincere be cherished in their fidelity If the Kingdome doe not stand for a house a Citie a Kingdome divided cannot long stand God will finde them out and reach them a rap for cursed be he that putieth his hand to the Plough and looketh backs is not fit for the Kingd me of Heaven How can it be expected otherwise but that Gods curse and shame with men should overtake
cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished is i. it shall as certainly be accomplished as if it were already effected These comfortable promises Calvin on Esay must not be whispered softly in their eares saith Calvin but cryed out aloud that they may sinke into their hearts Let us make use of these promises in our prayers Psal 119.49 50. saying with David Remember thy promise made to thy servant wherein thou hast caused mee to trust It is my comfort in my trouble for thy promise hath quickned mee Gods Providence and Power in the Lands preservation Doore 2. What are the Mightie against the Almightie The Nations of the Earth are as a drop hanging on the Bucket of water What is a drop to the Bucket What the Bucket to all the water in the Well What all the water to the whole Sea What the Sea to him that made Sea and Land Heaven and Hell men and Devils Winde Waters Heaven Earth Men Devills must obey him In comparison of whose power all the Nations of the Earth Esa 40.17 are not onely as a drop of water but lesse than nothing The Lord hath manifested his power and providence against the Spanish water-Water-workes in 88. and the Papists Fire-workes in 1605 and his hand is not shortened now The Kingdome is as it were on a light fire but as the Bush in Moses time burning yet not consumed why and how so Exod. 3.2 The Angel of the Lord appeared in the flame Where Gods presence is in a Bush a Citie an Army a Kingdome though all may burne yet can they not be consumed Esa 43.2 Feare not O Jacob when thou passest through the waters I will be with thee the floods shall not overflow thee When thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt the kindled flame shall not kindle upon thee for I am the Lord thy God It is of the Lords mercies that wee are not consumed Lam. 3.22 Esa 54.7 What it added Because his compassions faile not For a moment have I bid my face from thee in mine anger for a little season a little season a moment the one explaining the other but with everlasting mercie have I had campassion on thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer For a little while have I forsaken thee but with great compassion will I gather thee For this Kingdome is unto mee as the waters of Noah for as I have sworne that the waters of Noah shall no more goe over the Earth so have I sworne c. Behold the enemy shall gather himselfe Vers 15. but without mee Whosoever not exempting any be they never so potent or politique shall gather himselfe in thee in mustering forces and thundering threatnings against thee shall fall All the weapons that are made against thee shall not prosper Why Vers 17. Vers 16. Behold I have created the Smith and his Instrument I have power to order and dispose of all men and matters even the blowing of the coales in the fire Without mee they can doe nothing Ioh. 16.33 No weapon shall prevaile without my will In the world yee shall have affliction but saith Christ I have overcome the world The two Nations Association in the Bond or Covenant Doore 3. for the preservation of the Lawes Liberties of the two Kingdomes Voe soli woe to either if alone Danger to neither if they hold firme A threefold corde is not easily broken nor a twofold if God ties them together Collonell Carre when he was assaulted to betray his Trust answered the Tempters He was a Covenanter Therefore could not breake it The Cause hath been the more successfull since the Covenant hath been taken If more had taken and kept being taken the said Covenant and Vow the Papists would have feared it more than the Protestants doe their Popes holy water The undaunted Resolution of the Nobles Doore 4. and Commons assembled in Parliament the body of the Kingdome they have yet stood maugre the malice of Atheists Papists and all other their opposers whatsoever The Philistims assembled 2 Sam. 23.11 at a Towne where was a piece of a field full of Lentils and the people fled from the Philistims But he stood in the midst of the field and defended it and slew the Philistims for the Lord gave a great victory It is of Gods great mercy notwithstanding so many revolters that betrayed their trust to keep the rest so firme as one man with their shoulders to uphold the reeling Realme and to encourage one another in Joabs words 2 Sam. 10.12 1 Sam. 6.10.12 Let us be valiant for our people Cities c. Wee reade touching the carrying of the Arke to Bethshemesh That they took two kine and tyed them to the Cart and the Kine went the streight way to Bethshemesh and kept one path and lowed as they went and turned neither to the right hand nor to the left I think I need not bespeake your pardon in the application for the homelinesse of the comparison The Arke of God wee hope is in transportation from the Popish Philistims to be restored to its ancient puritie and power both for Doctrine and Discipline it s tyed to the two honorable Houses Those whom God hath promoted to these publique places hath he indued with publique Spirits As the Kine lowed after their calves tyed at home and much more the calves after the Kine gone abroad so these Peeres and Patriots have flesh and bloud about them as well as Spirit in them to hanker after their pleasures and profits wives and children their fresh aire their spacious houses specious Gardens choice dyets daily attendants familiar friends and acquaintances from which for a long while they have been deprived yet through divine assistance their spirits are overpowred have kept one path for the carrying home the Arke without turning to the right hand or to the left to maintain the Gospel of Christ the Lawes of the Kingdome and the libertie of the Subject though they have been denied outward liberty or life to returne to their native habitations wonted delights and enjoyments Shall not our men of Bethshemesh rejoyce more at the approach of the Arke than for the abundance of their crop in their wheate harvest Vers 13. Is it not great hope the Arke of peace and piety will be brought fully home to the Kingdome when it is within kenne of the Inhabitants The returne of some eminent persons to tender their service to the Parliament Doore 5. after they had been at the Oxonian Juncto where they meerly promoted their own honour or advanced the hopes of the Royalists Sir Edward Deering confessed as I related already under his own hand in Print that the King with forty men might come to Westminster and stay there with undoubted safetie to his person so said he I said while I was at Oxford and doe still assuredly beleeve so and God will blesse him if he doe so Did not
c. Elijah will call for water out of the foure Barrells that were filled and caused the same once twice yea the third time to be powred on the wood and on the Sacrifice and the whole Ditch also to be filled with water and then the fire from Heaven shall come downe and consume the burnt-offering and the wood and the stones and the dust and licked up the water that was in the Ditch So powerfull is God to resist the greatest resistances that Nature Men or Devils can make against the smallest number of his Saints so that all the people fell on their faces and were enforced to cry The Lord is God the Lord is God When the Kings of the Earth stand up Psal 2.1 â— and the Princes take Counsell together against the Lord his Christ his Church When the Heathen rage and the people murmure saying Let us breake their Bonds and cast their cords away from us all is in vaine He that dwelleth in Heaven shall laugh c. and breake them in pieces c. The Ten Kings shall have one minde Rev. 17.1 to yeeld all their might to helpe the monstrous Beast that was and is not and yet is all these shall fight with the Lambe yet the Lambe shall overcome The Lambe overcome What is a Lambe to a Lyon to many Lyons The wrath of a King is as the roaring of a Lyon and is the messenger of death yet the Lambe shall overcome and a good Reason is rendred Vers 14. For he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and they that are on his side are called and chosen and faithfull The Great Light of the Gospel and the many converted thereby Doore 13 The light shineth more and more till perfect day Cutting of Trees and Stones hewing of both a good signe God is about to build Act. 7.17 When the time of the promise drew nigh for Israels deliverance the people grew and multiplyed in Egypt Shall Gods fold be increased to fatten the sword of his enemies Gods sheepe may be affrighted must not be destroyed Hos 4.6 If barrennesse argueth destruction then fruitfulnesse signifies preservation Sing O Barren Esa 54.1 3 4 5. that didst not beare and breake forth on the right hand and on the left and thy seede shall inherite the Gentiles and make the desolate Cities to be inhabited Feare not for thou shalt not be ashamed Thou shalt not remember the reproach of thy widdowhood any more For thy maker is thy husband Chap 60.21 22. the Lord of Hosts is his Name Thy people shall be all righteous the Branch of my Planting the worke of my hands that I may be glorified A little one shall become a thousand a great augmentation and a small one a strong Nation â—say 66.9 I the Lord will hasten it in his time Shall I cause to travell and not bring forth Shall I cause to bring forth and shall it be barren saith thy God Reigne with Jerusalem c. When plants are put into Gods Orchard shall they not by him be preserved Shall the Church have many children â—sa 127.5 as so many Quivers of Arrowes in her hand and shall she be ashamed of her enemy in the gate Gods daily Remembrancers Doore 14. both in private and in publick which are commanded by himselfe to give him no rest night or day till he make Jorusalem a praise on the earth â—say 62.7 God will bestow a mercy when he comes to be minded of it When the seventy yeares were nigh accomplished and deliverance fully to be wrought â—an 9.2 â—er 29. God set Daniel on praying which was foretold by Jeremy Are not such prayers too pretious to be lost Shall such Watchmen be made a prey to the enemies Shall we imagine that God that raiseth such instruments for his Church and Common-wealth will suffer the same to be blasted Shall Moses and Phineas raised by God to stand up in the gap to save Gods people be unsuccessfull When Moses hands were lift up Israel prevailed when let downe the Amalekites prevailed 〈◊〉 17.11 If our sinnes blast not the blossomes of our Prayers they shall prevaile with God for our selves and others For hath not prayer been an Engine ordained by God himselfe to overcome himselfe Let me alone saith God to Moses a strength he had promised to yeild unto an authority he had promised to obey â—sa 45.11 Ask of me nay command ye me The Lord did according to the saying of Moses that Moses should doe according to the faying of the Lord had been but equall But that the Lord should doe according to Moses saying is wonderfully comfortable In Joshuah's time touching Sunne and Moon standing still he hearkened to the voyce of a man Prayer will over-rule God to any thing for our good â— Kings 8.44 â—sa 145.18 19. â—om 8. It will bow down his eare It will pull his hand out of his bosome the sword out of his sheath against his enemies put it up again when drawn against his people The Lord is at the call of his peoples prayers will fulfill the desires of those that feare him It is the work of Gods own holy Spirit made in heaven therefore true faithfull prayer never was never shall be lost Though God hide himselfe in a cloud this will scatter the cloud it will pierce the heavens and fetch God down If we wrastle with God by prayer we shall prevaile Hath not much been done with God in these warres by this weapon may not more also be done O pray pray pray Experience of Gods former favours shewed to persons Doore 15. families the kingdome which may encourage all to trust him upon triall David fought with a Lyon and a Beare and God delivered him from the danger of both Therefore will also out of the hand of the Philistine 1 Sam. â— 36 This encouraged Paul for time to come to relye on Gods help having had former experience and present supportment Lord thou hast been favourable to the Land Ergo wilt be Psa 85. Psa 22. Our Fathers trusted in thee and were delivered If we trust in him we also shall be delivered But Ergo. What God doth at one time he can doe at another Therefore he puts out himselfe in his greatnesse in his goodnesse that his people might trust in him at all times God in his justice may leave the land deformed but in his mercy reforformed because he hath given his people a taste of the first fruits already Men relye on a friend that hath never failed them in any extremity Psa 116.1 I will love the Lord there is good cause because he heard my voyce he hath inclined his eare therefore will I call upon him while I live Where Beggars speed well they will come again Can you blame them for it There is no particular person but hath experience that he hath his proper portion in the hope of
the kingdomes publick peace The great sufferings and oppressions of Gods people Doore 1 Psal 12. â— foreshewes Gods help is at hand Now for the oppression of the poore and sighing of the needy I will up saith the Lord I will set him at liberty whom the wicked have snared Thou will keep and preserve him Gods tongue hath spoken it his hand will perform it God is our hope and strength and help in troubles ready to be found Psal 46.1 Vers 8. Vers 9. Come and behold the workes of the Lord what desolations he hath made in the earth In the next words is added He maketh warres to cease unto the ends of the world Wonderfull desolations usher in the cessation of Warres in the world Be still and know that I am God and know how and when Vers 10. to crosse and cuâ—b the cruelty of the enemies of my people I am the Lord of Hosts Out of the deep places have I called unto thee O Lord. Psal 130. Psal 140.12 Psa 146.7 Mans greatest humâ—â—iâ—tion is a signe of Gods present salvation I know that the Lord will avenge the afflicted and help the poore the Lord looseth the prisoners he executeth justice for the appressed Though he try their patience a while yet will not faile of his promise made to his people and of his justice toward his enemies Consider his authority his fidelity mentioned in the former verse Vers 6. He made Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that therein is which keepeth his fidelity for ever If God from time to time hath relieved the oppressed he will doe so still But he hath done so Ergo. Therefore Blessed is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help Vers â— whose hope is in the Lord his God The Aihenians in their greatest dangers by sea cast forth sacram Anchoram the sacred Anchor of hope in hope of help from some supream power when all other hopes falled them Look unto me yee prisoners of Hope The Rubbish of Popery and Humane Traditions Doore 17. begun already to be cast forth that place may be made for Gods building Shall I bring to the Birth 〈◊〉 66.9 â—ch 4.7 and not cause to bring forth saith the Lord Shall I cause to bring forth and shut the womb Who art thou great Mountain before Zerubbabel Thou shalt be a plain and be shall bring forth the head stone thereof with shouting crying Grace Grace unto it Zerubbabel represented Christ and the Jewes were thought as nothing in comparison of their adversaries which were as a great Mountain yet the faith of the godly shall be able to remove this mountain and cast it into the Sea â—rse 9. The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this House his hands also shall finish it the hand of the Lord of Hosts shall protect him in it â—rse 10. They are checked in the next verse that despise the day of small things Antichrist hath been put from his out works in Scotland already and shall he not be frighted from his in works in England too Doctrine and Discipline have been long desired that there should be a reformation of them in the Land and why may not this be the time for it Enemies have pretended a desire of reformation as I have shewed before in the preface in the Liturgie for Ashwednesday Service and shall not friends to their uttermost power endeavour it And will not God blesse hath he not already much blessed to a successfull growth their endeavours herein Should such a thing as godly Discipline be almost an hundred yeares agoe desired and never all that time endeavoured Shall it now be prosecuted and shall it not be brought to be perfection Men pray for it Ministers preach for it the Parliament pleads for it Souldiers fight for it and all good men as on this day fast for it May not this devill by fasting and prayer be cast forth Shew me any place in the whole Bible where any people in the act of humiliation 〈◊〉 7.3 〈◊〉 8.18 were given up to be destroyed Many places manifest that for their humiliation they shall escape judgements Ahab the Ninevites the Jewes were preserved The Unity and Fervency of so many of Gods faithfull Ministers Doore 18 praying and preaching with unanimous consent in affection notwithstanding some differences in opinions in matter of Discipline for the peace of Jerusalem We read of Prolomeus Philodelphus King of Egypt that he caused the seventy Bible to be interpreted by sevnty Interpreters which 70. were severally disposed of in 70 severall Cells unknown to each other and yet they did so well agree in their severall Translations that there was no considerable difference between them in rendring of the Text. An argument they were acted with one and the same Spirit May we not be comforted when we call to mind that seventy nay seventie times seventy yea seventy hundred yea seventy thousand which bow not the knees to Baal but on the bended knees of soule doe importune the God of peace for peace that doe lift up their voyces like Trumpets even now whiles Trumpets lift up their voyces like Preachers to call upon the people for pacifying Gods wrath and to powre forth their prayers and teares to God with constancy to preserve the Gospell of Christ Lawes of the Kingdome and Liberties of the Subject yea though they knew not the faces no not the names one of another nay have never seen nor shall see one another till they meet together in Heaven yet doe they agree and center together in what they pray for while they are on earth saying to God Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Sion Psa 102.13 for the time to favour her yea the set time is come for thy servants take pleasure in the stones thereof and favour the dust of the same the more Gods Church is in misery the more will the faithfull shew their love and labour for her deliverance Thou shalt weep no more Esa 30.19 God will be very gracious unto thee at the voyce of thy cry when he shall heare it he will answer thee And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction yet shall not thy Teachers be removed into a corner any more But thine eyes shall see thy Teachers and shalt heare a word behind thee c. Teachers have been turned into corners if they return home it argues their abode with more constancy you have the word of the King of heaven for it and shall he promise and not performe The persevering waiting condition of the servants of the Lord Doore 19. in all holy and heavenly duties seale to their soules the infallibility of Gods pretions promises to be accomplished From the beginning of the world men have not heard Esa 64.4 nor understood with the eare that any God hath done so as our God hath done to him that waiteth for him What
Joshuahs time the Lord fought for Israel Ios 10.14 't was his owne cause made therefore the Sun and Moon stand still untill the people avenged themselves of their enemies In his own cause he hearkened to the voyce of a man but in an evill cause will regard voyce of many Johs Acts 9.4 Samuels Daniels Angels Saul Saul Why persecutest thou me in my members on earth now I am in heaven Be not afraid said the propheticall Levite unto Jehosophat and the people for this great multitude 2 Chro. 20 15. for the battell is not yours but Gods The Dragon and his Angels fought against Michael and his Angels Rev. 12.7 8. but the Dragon and his Angels were cast out of heaven unto the earth because they fought against Michael and his Angels Christ hath overcome the World Doore 23 Death Devill and shall these overcome him again Iohn 16.33 Col. 2.15 Rev. 17.14 It 's incredible impossible Be ye of good comfort in me ye shall have peace I have over come the world He hath openly triumphed over them on his Crosse This Lamb hath overcome all Lions Can Satan be stronger than God The efficacle of Christ his prayer Doore 24 He was heard on earth and shall he not be heard in heaven Rom. 8.33 1 Pet. 3.14 making intercession for his people Who is he that will harm you if ye follow that which is good Who harme us wicked ones will Yet blessed are you if ye suffer for righteousnesse sake Feare not their feare nor be ye troubled The conviction and conversion of Adversaries Doore 25 God enlightning them to see what they did not see before It is beyond the thoughts and expectation of man thae the Lord Inchequin seduced by the Jesuitical faction should be changed from a destroyer to Champion for God and a preserver of his cause The many cries Doore 26 prayers teares of Fathers Children Widowes for vengeance Doth not the Lord heare their cries and know their sorrowes The Lord heard the voyce of the Lad Ishmael Exod. 3.7 Gen. 21.17 Psa 146.9 weeping before him and will he not heare the voyce of thousands of Children for their parents and parents for their children wives for their husbands and friends for friends He relieveth the Fatherlesse and Widowes In whom can the Fatherlesse finde mercy but in him Hos 14.3 Luke 18.7 If an unrighteous Judge did the importune Widow justice against her adversary shall not God avenge his elect that cry day and night unto him The cry of the multiplicity of the blood that hath been shed Doore 27. Shall not the blood of so many Saints call for vengeance Gen. 4.10 Rev. 6.10 when the blood of one Abel cryed unto the Lord and he heard it The soules of the Saints slaine cry Dost thou not avenge our bloodâ— Groans are registred teares botled and shall not blood be booked Did God enquire for one Abel will he not for thousands The Relation of God towards his Church Doore 28. God sayth he is worse than an Infidell that provides not for his family 1 Tim. 5.8 Is not he a Father And will a Father give stones to children that ask bread He is to his Church a Husband a Master a Captain a King Sheepheard Creator Redeemer wise Builder He is a Sun and a Shield hath his Rod and his Staffe both for direction and preservation The great rage of Satan sheweth that his time is but short Doore 29. When the Devil was to be cast forth out of the dumb Rev. 12.12 Mat. 9.22.26 he casts him into the fire and into the water and rent him soare cryed and then came out of him Violent things continue not long in extremity especially such showers of blood The many differences between forraigne nations Doore 30. who would have joyned hand in hand against the Kingdome had they not been set together by the eares in their own lands This is none of the least of Gods mercies to our nation at this time they having enough to doe at home have the lesse leasure to be imployed as the Devils and Popes Armour-bearers abroad The prevention of many inconveniences which might ensue Doore 31. 1. Some godly ones might put forth their hands to wickednesse Psa 125.3 if the rod of the wicked should long lye on the lot of the righteous 2. That the wicked might not deny Gods power providence justice which they see executed here on earth 3. Truth of the Scriptures may not bee questioned Tribulation bringeth forth patience patience experience experience hope Rom. 5.4 Now lay all these considerations together that have been mentioned before and I beleeve they will administer joy in the times of sorrow and keep up mens hearts lesse to doubt the successe of the common cause 1. Considering God is a God of power able to finish what he hath begun 2. It stands with his wisdome the foundation laid to perfect his building 3. God is the God of order what confusion else would be 4. Kindnesse had been unkindnesse Better to have had no cluster of grapes than not to be brought into Canaan 5. Weak ones would suspect God used some stratagem to draw men out as the men of Ai to destroy them or as to gather Bees and to burn them 6. They would doubt God would not doe as much for his people now as he hath done heretofore Our Fathers trusted in him and were delivered but we have trusted in him and are not delivered 7. Gods friends would put forth their hands to wickednesse 8. His enemies blasphemies boastings cruelties would be the greater They would endeavour to build Babels to scale if possible the very walts of heaven 9. God spared the kingdome for a long season when sin was committed and with greedinesse acted Ezek. 22.30 and will he not spare it now when sinne is confessed lamented and many stand up in the gap to turn away his wrath and reform impieties according to his desire and promise 10. The courage of the Parliament Commanders Captaines Souldiers beyond ordinary expectation naturall Relations carrying Gods Ark towards Bethshemesh their wives children houses lands goods liberties lives being not deere unto them doe all confirme our hearts in the promises of the Lord that his help is at hand to deliver the Nation from slavery and Popery I beseech you by the many mercies of God that have been daily manifested and infallibly expected to lay out your selves to give up your bodies spirits estates your All for your selves posterity Cities and people of God It was dying Joshuabs argument to the Israelites to move them to a constant obedience to Gods commandements that they had experimentall knowledge in their hearts that nothing failed of all the good things that the Lord had promised to them all came to passe And have wee not as great a portion participation in Gods promises and performances as the Israelites had We may say of Gods mercies to Israel and England as one spake of Demosthenes and Tully Cicero effecit ne Demosthenes esses solus Orator Demosthenes ne Cicero primus foret The Israelites were the cause we could not be the first people whome God did so extraordinarily blesse and favour But we are the cause that they could not boast themselves to be the only people in Gods love And if Gods mercies in any age for height length depth breadth might be boasted of rejoyced in then in our dayes in this Parliament in these warres where good is fetcht out of evill light out of darknesse And if these things will be marvellous in the eares of all posterity shall they not in our hearts before whose eyes the same have been accomplished Wherefore I conclude as I began being high time to take my worke off the Loome Why halt ye so long between two opinions If Baal be God then follow him so shall you fall from sin the Suburbs into Hell it selfe the place portion expectation of all cursed neutralizing Balaaks for whom are reserved torments which are endlesse easelesse and remedilesse If the Lord be God then follow him so shall you come to see him that is invisible and shall change the society of men for Angels Earth for Heaven and the company of Lions for fellowship with the Lamb for ever Where shall be all light without any darknesse truth without error joy without sorrow health without ficknesse liberty without restraint peace without perturbation eternity without end where the Quire of Angels shall be musick to our eares where the fight of God shall be the object to our eyes where the joyes of heaven shall be the possession of our soules Unto the hearing of which Angellicall musick unto the beholding of which beatificall vision unto the possession of which celestiall joyes the Lord that is Author of all vouchsafe to bring us all let all Gods people say Amen And let the Lord Jesus Christ whose words are Yea and Amen put to his hand and seale and say Amen Amen I have now done for speaking you have now done for hearing his Chaire and Pulpit is in heaven that must perswade you to put in practice those things which I have delivered in precept which that he may doe unto him let us pray Soli Deo laus FINIS