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A02526
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Contemplations vpon the principal passages of the holy story. The second volume; in foure books. By I. Hall, Dr. of Diuinity; Contemplations upon the principall passages of the Holy Storie. Vol. 2
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Hall, Joseph, 1574-1656.
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1614
(1614)
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STC 12652; ESTC S103630
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102,855
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492
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be a better sacrifice to God then the bloud of malefactors and this first sacrifice so pleased GOD in the hands of the Leuites that hee would haue none but them sacrifice to him for euer The blood of the Idolatrous Israelites cleared that tribe from the blood of the innocent Sichemites The end of the fist Book Contemplations THE SIXT BOOKE The vayle of Moses Nadab and Abihu Aaron and Miriam The Searchers of Canaan Corah's Conspiracy At London printed by H. L. for Samuel Macham are to be sold at his shop in Paules Church-yard at the signe of the Bull-head 1614. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE THOMAS LORD VISCOVNT FENTON Captaine of the Royall Gard one of his Maiesties most Honorable Priuy Counsellors One of the happy rescuers of the deare life of our gratious Soueraigne LORD A worthy patterne of all true Honor I. H. Dedicates this part of his Meditations and vvisheth all increase of Grace and Happinesse ⸪ CONTEMPLATIONS THE SIXT BOOKE The Vayle of Moses IT is a woonder that neither Moses nor any Israelite gathered vp the shiuers of the former Tables Euery sheard of that stone and euery letter of that writing had beene a relique woorth laying vppe but hee well saw how headlong the people vvere to superstition and how vnsafe it were to feede that disposition in them The same zeale that burnt the Calfe to ashes concealed the ruines of this Monument Holy things besides their vse challenge no further respect The breaking of the Tables did as good as blot out all the writing and the vvriting defaced left no vertue in the stone no reuerence to it If GOD had not been friends with Israell hee had not renued his Law As the Israelites were wilfullie blinde if they did not see GODs anger in the Tables broken so could they not but holde it a good signe of grace that GOD gaue them his Testimonies There was nothing wherein Israel out-stripped all the rest of the world more then in this priuiledge the pledge of his couenant the Law written with GODs owne hand Oh what a fauour then is it vvhere GOD bestowes his Gospell vpon any Nation That was but a killing letter this is the power of God to saluation Neuer is GOD throughlie displeased vvith any people where that continues For like as those vvhich purposed loue vvhen they fall off call for their tokens backe againe So vvhen GOD beginnes once perfectlie to mislike the first thing hee withdrawes is his Gospell Israel recouers this fauor but with an abatement Heaw thee two Tables God made the first Tables The matter the forme was his now Moses must heaw the next As God created the first man after his owne image but that once defaced Adam begat Cain after his owne Or as the first Temple razed a second was built yet so farre short that the Israelites wept at the sight of it The first workes of God are still the purest those that hee secondarily vvorkes by vs decline in their perfection It was reason that though God had forgiuen Israel they should still finde they had sinned They might see the foot-steps of displeasure in the differences of the agent When GOD had tolde Moses before I will not go before Israel but my Angel shall lead them Moses so noted the difference that hee rested not till God himselfe vndertooke their conduct So might the Israelites haue noted some remainders of offence whiles in stead of that which his owne hand did formerly make he saith now Heaw thee And yet these second Tables are kept reuerently in the Arke when the other lay mouldred in shiuers vpon Sinai Like as the repayred image of God in our regeneration is preserued perfited and laid vp at last safe in heauen whereas the first image of our created innocence is quite defaced So the second Temple had the glory of Christs exhibition tho meaner in frame The merciful respects of God are not tyed to glorious out-sides or the inward woorthinesse of things or persons Hee hath chosen the weake and simple to confound the wise and mighty Yet God did this vvorke by Moses Moses heawed and God wrote Our true Moses repayres that Law of GOD which wee in our nature had broken Hee reuiues it for vs and it is accepted of GOD no lesse then if the first characters of his Lavv had beene still entire Wee can giue nothing but the Table it is GOD that must write in it Our hearts are but a bare-board till GOD by his finger ingraue his Law in them Yea Lord we are a rough quarrie heaw thou vs out and square vs fit for thee to write vpon Well may wee maruell to see Moses after this ouersight admitted to this charge again Who of vs would not haue said Your care indeede deserues trust you did so carefully keepe the first Tables that it would doe well to trust you with such another burden It was good for Moses that hee had to doe with GOD not with men The GOD of mercy will not impute the slippes of our infirmity to the preiudice of our faithfulnes Hee that after the misse-answere of the one talent would not trust the euill seruant with a second because hee saw a wilfull neglect will trust Moses with his second Law because hee saw fidelitie in the worst errour of his zeale Our charity must learne as to forgiue so to beleeue vvhere vvee haue beene deceiued Not that wee should wilfully beguile our selues in an vniust credulity but that wee should search diligentlie into the disposition of persons and grounds of their actions perhaps none maie bee so sure as they that haue once disappointed vs. Yea Moses brake the first therefore hee must heaw the second If GOD had broken them hee would haue repayred them The amends must bee where the fault was Both GOD and his Church looke for a satisfaction in that wherein wee haue offended It was not long since Moses his former fast of fortie dayes When he then came down from the hill his first question vvas not for meate and now going vppe againe to Sinai hee takes not any repast with him That GOD which sent the Quayles to the host of Israel and Manna from heauen coulde haue fedde him with dainties Hee goes vppe confidently in a secure trust of GODs prouision There is no life to that of faith Man liues not by bread onely The vision of GOD did not onely sate but feast him VVhat a blessed satiety shall there bee when wee shall see him as hee is and hee shall bee all in all to vs since this verie frayle mortalitie of Moses vvas sustained and comforted but with representations of his presence I see Moses the receiuer of the Lavv Elias the restorer of the Lavv CHRIST the fulfiller of the olde Law and authour of the nevv all fasting fortie dayes and these three great fasters I finde together glorious in Mount Tabor Abstinence merits not For Religion consists not in the bellie either full or emptie what are meates or
Contemplations VPON THE PRINCIPAL PASSAGES OF THE HOLY STORY THE SECOND VOLVME In foure Books By I. HALL Dr. of Diuinity At London printed by H. L. for S. MachaÌ„ are to be sold in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Bul-head 1614. TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTIE PRINCE CHARLES PRINCE OF GREAT BRITAINE Most excellent Prince ACcording to the true dutie of a seruant I intended all my Contemplations to your now-glorious Brother of sweet and sorrowfull memory The first part whereof as it was the last Booke that euer vvas dedicated to that deare and immortall name of his so it was the last that was turned ouer by his gratious hand Now since it pleased the GOD of spirits to call him from these poore Contemplations of ours to the blessed Contemplation of himselfe to see him as he is to see as he is seene to whom is this sequel of my labours due but to your Highnes the heire of his Honour and vertues Euery yeere of my short pilgrimage is like to adde somthing to this Worke which in regard of the subiect is scarce finite The whole dooth not onely craue your Highnesses Patronage but promises to requite your Princely acceptation with many saâ—red examples and rules both for piety and wisedome towards the decking vp of this flourishing spring of your Age in the hopes whereof not onely vvee liue but hee that is dead liues still in you And if any peece of these indeuours come short of my desires I shall supplie the rest vvith my prayers vvhich shall neuer bee vvanting to the GOD of Princes that your happy proceedings may make glad the Church of GOD and your selfe in either World glorious Your Highnesses in all humble deuotion and faithful obseruance J. HALL Contemplations THE FIFT BOOKE The waters of Marah The Quayles and Manna The Rock of Rephidim The Foyle of Amalek or The hand of Moses lift vp The Law The Golden Calfe TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE HENRY EARLE OF HVNTINGDON LORD Hastings Botreaux Molines and Moiles His Maiesties Lieutenant in the County of Leicester A Bountiful Fauourer of all good Learning A Noble Precedent of Vertue The First Patrone of my poore studies I. H. Dedicates this first peece of his Labours and wisheth all Honour and Happines CONTEMPLATIONS THE FIFT BOOKE The waters of Marah ISRAEL was not more loath to come to the red Sea then to part from it How soon can God turne the horror of any euill into pleasure One shore resounded with shrieks of feare the other with timbrels and dances and songs of deliuerance Euery maine affliction is our red Sea which whiles it threats to swallow preserues vs At last our songs shall be lowder then our cries The Israelitish Dames when they saw their danger thought they might haue left their timbrels behinde them how vnprofitable a burden seemed those instruments of Musicke yet now they liue to renue that forgotten minstralsie and dancing which their bondage had so long discontinued and well might those feet dance vpon the shore which had walked through the Sea The Land of Goshen was not so bountifull to them as these waters That affoorded them a seruile life This gaue them at once freedome victory riches bestowing vpon them the remainder of that wealth which the Egyptians had but lent It was a pleasure to see the floating carcasses of their aduersaries and euery day offers them new booties It is no maruell then if their hearts were tied to these banks If wee finde but a little pleasure in our life we are ready to dote vpon it Euery small contentment glewes our affections to that we like And if heere our imperfect delights hold vs so fast that we would not be loosed how forceable shall those infinite ioyes bee aboue when our soules are once possessed of them Yet if the place had pleas'd them more it is no maruell they were willing to follow Moses that they durst followe him in the wildernesse whom they followed through the Sea It is a great confirmation to any people when they haue seene the hand of God with their guide O Sauior which hast vndertaken to carry me from the spirituall Egypt to the Land of promise how faithfull how powerfull haue I found thee How fearlesly should I trust thee how cheerefully should I follow thee through contempt pouertie death it selfe Maister if it be thou bidde vs come vnto thee Immediately before they had complained of too much water now they goe three dayes without Thus God meant to punish their infidelitie with the defect of that whose abundance made them to distrust Before they saw all water no land now all dry and dusty land and no water Extreamities are the best tryals of men As in bodies those that can beare sudden changes of heats and cold without complaint are the strongest So much as an euil touches vpon the mean so much help it yeelds towards patience Euery degree of sorrow is a preparation to the next but when wee passe to extreames without the meane we want the benefit of recollection and must trust to our present strength To come from all things to nothing is not a descent but a downfall and it is a rare strength and constancy not to be maimed at least These headlong euils as they are the sorest so they must be most prouided for as on the contrary a sudden aduancement froÌ„ a low condition to the height of honour is most hard to menage No man can maruell how that tyrant blinded his captiues when he heares that hee brought them immediatlie out of a darke dungeon into rooms that were made bright and glorious We are not worthy to knowe fot what wee are reserued no euill can amate vs if we can ouercom sudden extremities The long differring of a good though tedious yet makes it the better when it comes Well did the Israelites hope that the waters which were so long in finding would be precious when they were found Yet behold they are crossed not only in their desires but in their hopes for after three dayes trauell the first fountaines they finde are bitter waters If these wells had not run pure gall they could not haue so much complained Long thirst wil make bitter waters sweete yet such were these springs that the Israelites did not so mnch like their moisture as abhor their relish I see the first handsell that God giues them in their voyage to the Land of promise Thirst and bitternesse Satan giues vs pleasant entrances into his waies and reserues the bitternes for the endâ— God â—nures vs to our worst at first and sweetens our conclusion with pleasure The same GOD that would not lead Israel through the Philistines Land least they should shrinke at the sight of warre now leads them through the Wildernesse and feares not to trie their patience with bitter potions If hee had not loued them the Egyptian fornace or sword had preuented their thirst or that Sea wherof their enimies drunk dead and yet see how