him his love prevents ours and doth not stay for it 1 Iohn 4.19 Ezek. 36.32 Isai. 48.9 11. Inspirat charitatem ut quae discendo novimus diligendo faciamus 2. The Covenant and the grace thereof is immutable and therefore changeth not with the unstable will of man God is not a man that he should lie neither the Son of man that he should repent hath he said and shall he not doe it hath he spoken and shall he not make it good Numb 23.19 his Covenant of grace is confirmed by an oath to shew the immutability of it This is as the waters of Noah unto me saith the Lord for I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth so have I sworn that I will not be wroth with thee nor rebuke thee For the Mountains shall depart and the hills be removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee Neither shall the Covenant of my peace by removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Isai. 54.9 10. A Covenant thus founded upon meer mercy and sealed by an Oath is more unmoveable then hills or Mountains the strong foundations of the Earth shall be sooner shaken then the Oath of God miscarry The oath of God is the strongest demonstration of the immutability of his Counsel that can possibly be used Heb. 6.17 for where he swears he doth not repent Psal. 110.4 Every work of mercy which he begins he carries on to a consummation Phil. 1.6 the foundation of God remaineth sure cannot be infringed shaken or undermined by the levity or inconstancy of the will of man 2 Tim. 2.19 what ever are the fluctuations of the heart of man the Counsel of the Lord shall stand Prov. 19.21 Psal. 33.10 11. 3. The Covenant and grace thereof is most powerfull and efficacious Therefore his Mercies are sure his promises yea and Amen because his word is setled in Heaven seconded with his power which will finde means to effect what ever he hath spoken God hath spoken once saith the Psalmist twice have I heard this It is a word constant and stable a word doubled to note the certainty of it as Ioseph said unto Pharaoh Gen. 41.32 That power and mercy belong to God Psal. 62.11 12. every promise which mercy makes power performs if mercy promise an heart of flesh and to put his fear into us God hath power enough to make it good hee may as soon be an impotent as an unfaithfull God Abraham considered not the impotency of his own body but the power of God to make good his promise and therefore staggered not through unbelief Rom. 4.19 20 21. and so the Apostle argues touching the conversion of the Jews Rom. 11.23 If they abide not still in unbelief they shall be graffed in for God is able to graffe them in Rom. 11.23 4. The Covenant and grace thereof is invincible by any adverse assaults nothing can alter or over-rule the will of God or cause him to recede from his own purposes of shewing mercy If any thing could sinne could But he hath assured us that that shall not If his children forsake my Law and walk not in my Iudgements if they break my Statutes and keep not my Commandements then will I visit their transgressions with a rod and their iniquity with stripes Nevertheless my loving kindnesse will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulnesse to fail my Covenant will I not break c. Psal. 89.30 34. though he punish it shall be in measure not unto rejection but unto emendation Isai. 27.8 9. As to the guilt of sinne and damnation due unto it he will pardon it I will forgive their iniquity and remember their sinne no more Ier. 31.34 As to the dominion thereof he will subdue it and purge it away Mìcah 7.19 20. Psal. 65.3 As to the particular prevalency of any lust he will awaken us to repent Make us by some word or affliction or mercy or example or providence to search and consider our wayes and return from all our evill doings so he did David by the Ministery of Nathan 2 Sam. 12.13 so Peter by the look of Christ Luke 22.61 so Iosephs brethren by his speaking roughly unto them Gen. 42.21 As to the Remainders of it he will daily mortifie and destroy them Ro. 6.6 sinne then shall not break out so far as to annull and to evacuate the Covenant For who then should be saved seeing in many things we offend all and by the grace of the Covenant alone are preserved from offending more Nay the Lord is so gracious to his people that their very sins which of themselves do only defile and endanger them are by Gods goodness ordered unto their benefit The Lord could keep his servants from falling Iude ver 24. and preserve them blameless 1 Thes. 5.23 but he is pleased sometimes to leave them that they may know themselves and their own weakness as he did Hezekiah 2 Chron. 32.31 that they may bemoan their own misery and loath themselves in their own eyes Ier. 31.18 19. Ezek. 20.43 that they may be driven to live upon free grace and pardoning mercy Psal. 51.1 that they may set the higher price upon the Lord Iesus who is a Sanctuary for the chief of sinners to fly unto Isai. 8.14 1. Tim. 1.15 that they may be the more watchfull over their loose and deceitfull hearts having once yea twice been betrayed by them Iob 40.5.34.32 that they may pray more earnestly for the subduing and mortifying of prevalent corruptions Psal. 51 7-10 Rom. 7.23 these and other the like ways the Lord hath to order the very sins of his people unto their good And if sinne shall not prevaile against the covenant we are sure nothing else shall he that pardoneth sin rebuketh Satan conquereth the world his love is above the reach of any thing to separate us from it Rom. 8 33-39 none shall be able to take us out of Christs or his Fathers hands Ioh. 10 28-30 5. The Covenant and grace thereof is founded in the blood of Christ and ratified by it as he hath by his blood purchased his people Tit. 2.14 so hath he by the same procured for them all good things specified in the Covenant Rom. 8.32 the blood of Christ can as well be vacated as any branch of the the Covenant be unfulfilled to believers for whom they were all bought with so precious a price 6. His purchase is seconded by his Intercession Intercession is the petition of his blood and therefore shall undoubtedly be granted his Father heareth him alwayes Iohn 11.41 42. and he prayeth to his Father that his people may be so kept as that they may be with him and behold his glory Ioh. 17.11.15.24 therefore accordingly they shall be kept 7. Christs Intercession is seconded with his Fathers love to his people I say not that I will pray the Father for you for the Father himself loveth you saith Christ Iohn 16.26
27. and therefore must needs be exceeding acceptable because Gods own heart is towards them and his love upon them as the woman of Tekâ—a her petition for Absolom was easily granted by David because his heart was towards him before 2 Sam. 13.39 and 14.1 2. Lastly the Lord hath promised his holy Spirit of Fear Love Grace Adoption unto his people by the help of which they are preserved from the dangers whereunto of themselves they are exposed Ezek. 36.27 Isai. 59.21 upon these and such like grounds it appeareth That because God is righteous and faithfull in his Covenant therefore we remain escaped And if it be here objected that the Promises are usually set forth as conditionall The Lord is with you while ye be with him and if ye seek him he will be found of you but if ye forsake him he will forsake you 2 Chron. 15.2 If ye be willing and obedient ye shall eat the good of the Land Isai. 1.19 He that believeth shall be saved Mark 16.16 Ioh. 3.16 except ye repent ye shall perish Luke 13.3 We answer 1. Promises are in some places made absolutely which in others are conditionally expressed as Heb. 13. I will not leave thee nor forsake thee Ier. 32.39 I will give them one heart and one way that they may fear me for ever I will give them an heart to know me they shall be my people I will be their God they shall return unto me with their whole heart Ier. 24.7 If ye will obey my voice and keep my Covenant is a Condition in one place Exod. 19.5 a free promise in another ye shall keep my judgements and doe them Ezek. 36.27 The mercy of the Lord is towards them that fear him Psal. 103.11 There the fear of God is a condition I will give them one heart and one way that they may fear me Ier. 32.39 there it is a free promise 2. The Lord doth not only give us good things under a condition but doth give the condition it self to his people compare Isai. 1.19 with Phil. 2.12 Acts 10.43 with Phil. 1.29 Ephes. 2.8 3. Precepts and Conditions are used as the vehicula of the grace promised Of our selves we can do nothing of those duties unto which Promises are annexed for all our sufficiency is of God who worketh all our works for us 2 Cor. 3.5 But the Precepts of the Word are the usual Instruments by which he worketh those things in us which he requireth of us Rom. 10.17 4 Conditionall Propositions do not imply that our performances work upon God to do what he had said as if the performance of duty were only ours and then the performance of promise alone his But they intimate the order and connexion which the Lord hath set amongst his own gifts some whereof he hath appointed to be antecedent dispositions and preparations towards others consequent upon them He that believeth shall be saved this is a conditional promise Faith the condition Salvation the Promise But we may not so understand it as if Faith were only ours and Salvation alone his But Faith is one Gift of God Antecedent to Salvation which is another Gift of God Now then since the Lord is righteous in all the wayes of his Judgements and secret providences we must for ever lay our Hand on our Mouth and put our Mouthes in the Dust and beware of Murmuring and Repining against him as if his wayes were not equall towards us Behold he taketh away who can hinder him who will say unto him what dost thou Iob 9.12 we may in our Prayers plead with God about his Judgements as Holy men have Jer. 12.1 Habak 1 2-4-13 But we may not quarrell at them nor murmure against them 2. When the Lord doth strangely vary his Providences towards a people and worketh unusuall changes and alterations among them stirreth up some helpes and then layeth them by calleth forth others and quickly revokerh them fitteth men for great actions and in the midst of those actions cutteth them off Our work here is not to censure either the Agent or the Instruments to charge the dealings of God either as unrighteous or as unreasonable but to reflect upon our selves and learn our unstedfastnesse in Gods Covenant by his diversifying of Providences towards us 1. Sometimes we over dote upon Instruments and deifie them as if God had no way to help us but one And then God breaks that Staffe when we lean too hard upon it to force us to leane upon his Name again 2. Sometimes we undervalue them and will not understand that God is doing us good by them as it is said of Moses Acts 7.25 and then God suspendeth his work which he was about to doe 3. Sometimes the hearts of the people are unprepared for mercies and then God doth not honour his Instruments with setling them Iehoshapbat was a good King yet he did not work a perfect Reformation the high places were not taken away and this the reason the people had not as yet prepared their hearts unto the God of their Fathers 2 Chron. 20 32 33. 4. Sometimes the guilt of old sinnes do remain uncleansed away as it is said of the iniquity of Baal-Peor Iosh 22.17 and in this case Instruments are too weak to divert wrath 2 Reg. 23.25 26. Never such a Reformation as Iosiah made about the eighteenth year of his reign and yet because the people returned but fainedly Ier. 3.10 within a few years after they were carried into Captivity Our Saviour was very near his Sufferings when they cryed Hosanna before him The Sun often shews biggest and shines brightest when it is ready to set The Candle blazeth most when it is in the Socket Many times dying men and it may be so with dying Churches have a lightning before death I speak not this to bode ill unto the Land of my nativity If any say it shal not be so but we shall still have Peace and Truth and Holiness flourish I will chearfully say as the Prophet did Ier. 28.6 Amen the Lord do so for this Land But withall happy is the man that feareth always Prov. 28.14 The sins of the people may weaken the hands of the best Instruments and make them unable to help us It is noted as a cause of wickedness that men have no changes Psal. 55.19 Ier. 48.11 But to be tossed and emptied and exercised with frequent alterations and our sent to abide in us still wanton under Mercies sullen under Judgements after all our Phisick to relapse after all that is come upon us again to break the Commandements this is a sad Symptome a great aggravation of our sin and justification of Gods Righteousness in all his dealings with us Again since the Lord is the God of his people and righteous to them in a way of mercy and fidelity We learn to acknowledge it a great Mercy and to glorifie God for it that we Remaine yet escaped that we may set up an Eben-Ezer and say thus far
hath the Lord holpen us Many Considerations may set on the sense of this Mercy upon our hearts 1. The many sinnes which remain amongst us even in the Israel of God sad divisions sharp animosities perverse Opinions vanity luxury severe censurings loose walking worldly mindedness c. 2. The many shakings and universal sufferings whereby the Lord hath made it appear that his quarrel was against all orders of men that the disease was all over Isai. 1.6 Ier. 5 1-5 so that none can blame others but every one acknowledge the plague of his own heart and say as David did I confess my sinne and the sin of my people Dan. 9.20 Now various shakings and concussions in a Nation use to be sore presages of greater Judgements as we may see in Gods dealing with the ten Tribes before their dissolution What shakings have been amongst us we need not recount by changes at home by differences abroad shakings on the Land and shakings on the Sea shakings at hand and shaking afar off shakings by War and shakings by sicknesses shakings in our mindes by divided Opinions shakings in our hearts by divided affections shaking in our estates by divided interests And whether these shakings have a tendency to dissolution we know not we are not ignorant of the rage which hath been upon many of our Protestant Brethren in other parts of Christendom But surely this consideration may lead us both to glorifie God that we Remain yet escaped and to humble our selves under the feare of his further wrath 3. The powerful Preaching which hath been in the Land which where it doth not kindly work where it is not honourably entertained doth exceedingly ripen Judgements and make white for the sickle It is compared to the shining of the Sun 2 Cor. 4.6 2 Pet. 1.19 and to showers of rain Deut. 32. which are intended for the bringing forth of Salvation and springing up of Righteousness Isai. 45.8 But if they fall upon sins doe hasten their maturity and make them nigh unto cursing Heb. 6.7 8. the sins of the Church are Summer Fruits they ripen faster then the sinnes of the World the sins of the Amorites were four hundred years a ripening Gen. 15.16 the sins of Israel in the Wilderness fourty years Psal. 95.10 Gods patience towards the ten Tribes after their revolt was but two hundred and sixty years from the sins of Manasseh to the Captivity brought upon Judah for those sins little more then one hundred years As at Jerico the sounding of the Trumpet seven times did lead in the falling of the wall so the long sounding of the Word in the ears of disobedient people is a shrewd presage of ensuing ruine These considerations laid together as should they justly awaken us to Humiliation so are they Evidences of Gods goodness towards us in that such a people Remain yet escaped Escaped from the bondage of Popery from the flames of persecution from the Spanish Armado from the vault of Powder from rigour in the Church from troubles in the State from the terrour of a bloudy War from renewed attempts of trouble and danger escaped from a Vote extinguishing and abolishing the whole maintenance of the Ministery the consequences whereof could not but have been unutterably miserable Any one of these evils God might have sharpned into a destruction And yet after all this Righteous art thou O Lord for we remain yet escaped 2. It reproueth our unbelief in consulting with flesh and blood betaking our selves to carnall shifts in time of danger having a faithfull Covenant and a righteous God to lay hold upon whose alone fidelity is the ground of his peoples safety who knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation 2 Pet. 2.9 this was the sin of Ahaz in sending to the Assyrian to help him when God offered him a sign to confirm his trust in him Isai. 7.11 12. 2 Chron. 28.19 The Christians in the Church of Corinth being afraid to displease their Heathen friends and endanger themselves would sit with them at the Idols Table and eat at their Tables meat offered to Idols The Apostle diswadeth them from using this Carnal shift to decline danger bids them flee from Idolatry lest that which they in carnal wisdom might judge the means of their standing should prove the occasion of their fall and directeth them to trust for safety in a faithfull God who would not suffer them to be tempted above that they were able but would with the temptation make a way to escape that they might be able to bear it 1 Cor. 10.13 14. 3. In fears therefore and dangers we should be incouraged by these two Arguments 1. The Righteousness of God 2. Our own present remaining escaped Faith in and experience of the fidelity of God to help us to trust in him at all times not to fear the wrath of man but to secure the love of God he sometimes purposely bringeth his servants to difficulties that they may make tryal of such a friend who in six and seven troubles is at hand to deliver them Faith is a venturous grace it honours God and laies hold on his strength Rom. 4.20 Isai. 27.5 It is a victorious grace and rises up above difficulties 1 Ioh. 5.4 all things are possible to it Therefore in times of danger let us plead Gods Covenant and our own experience Lord wilt thou now destroy us seeing we remain yet escaped and are Monuments of thy Mercy hast thou wrought so great deliverances and done so many wonders and snatcht us as brands out of the fire to destroy us at the last thou hast delivered and dost deliver wilt thou not give us leave to trust in thee for deliverance still Though the Lord had broken us in the place of Dragons and had cast us off and put us to shame yet even so we may lean upon his Name and plead his Covenant Psal. 44.17 19. Psal. 74 1-20 Isai. 64 8-12 Hab. 3.17 18. How much more comfortably may we plead it when by the alone mercy thereof we remain escaped When we may say as the people of Ioseph did Iosh. 17.14 we are a great people and the Lord hath hitherto blessed us and may set up a Monument as Samuel did 1 Sam. 7.12 and say thus far hath the Lord holpen us This is one chief Argument which Gods servants use in Prayer to mind him of his Word and Covenant wherein he had caused them to hope so Iacob I am not worthy of the least mercy but thou saidst I will doe thee good Gen. 32 9-12 so Moses we remain yet escaped out of the Land of Egypt thou hast brought us out thence turn from thy fierce wrath Remember Abraham Isaac and Israel thy servants to whom thou swareest c. Exod. 32 11-13 and again let the power of my Lord be great according as thou hast spoken pardon the iniquity of thy people as thou hast forgiven them from Egypt untill now As they remain yet escaped so save them still the
same Mercy and Power can do it now which did it before Numb 14.17 19. so David Thou hast spoken of thy servants house for thy words sake hast thou done these great things and now O Lord establish thy Word do as thou hast said 2 Sam. 7.19 21 25 27 29. So Solomon Let thy word be verified which thou spakest unto thy servant David 1 Reg. 8.26 So Asa O Lord we rest in thee thou art our God 2 Chron. 14.11 so Ieshaphat Thou art God our eyes are upon thee 2 Chr. 20 6-12 no such plea in Prayer as the free grace the Word the Truth the Fidelity the Righteousness of God 4. This may comfort us against all the mutability of our own wills whereby we are apt to start aside like a deceitfull Bow In as much as our safety dependeth not upon our own performances but upon the Covenant of God who is righteous and faithfull and will not suffer our weakness to annul his promise Rom. 9.16 5. This Caution notwithstanding we must take in That we beware of playing the wantons with the grace of Gods Covenant because thereby we remain escaped for the Lord will not pass by the petulancy and lasciviency of any of his Children though he doth not totally cast them off yet he hath sharp rods wherewith he can chastise them If they fly from his service he can send a Whale to swallow them and can bring all his Waves and Billows upon them if they keep not to his Commission he can send a Lion to tear them he can make them feel the weight of his Frown though they do not of his Fury and it may be cause them to walk in darkness drooping and disconsolate all their days complaining of broken Bones and of a wounded Spirit with strong cryes imploring the comforts of that Spirit which they had so unkindly greived and resisted As it is this day escaped escaped this day in which we lie under so sore and heavy a guilt This is a marvellous heightning of Gods Mercy That we may remain escaped in this day a day of so great sin and also a marvellous aggravation of the sin that it hath been committed in this day a day of so great Mercy wherein we remain yet escaped Sinne committed in a day of mercy is the more exceeding hainous mercy extended in a day of sin is the more exceeding glorious That we should so greatly provoke the Lord this day wherein we remain escaped O how prodigious and presumptuous the wickedness That we should remain escaped this day wherein we have so greatly provoked the Lord O how admirable and unsearchable the goodness 1. Sinne in a day of great Mercy is exceedingly the more hainous It is a great aggravation of sinne when it withstandeth Iudgements when the Lord changeth the corrections and men still hold fast their sins Amos 4 6-12 and turn not unto him that smiteth them Isai. 9.13 It is a brand upon Ahaz that in the day of his distresse he sinned more 2 Chron. 28.22 How much more hainous is it to abuse Mercy and Loving kindness It is the character of a wicked man that though favour be shewed him yet he will not learn righteousness Isai. 26.10 The Angell spared Balaam and yet he ran greedily after the wages of iniquity Numb 22.35 This is an unkindness the Lord often upbraideth his people with Deut. 32 13-15· Ier. 22.21 Hos. 13.5 Amos 2 9-13 This made Solomons sin the greater that he turned from the God of Israel who had appeared to him twice 1 King 11.9 This adds disingenuity unthankfulness unkindness unto disobedience when men neither fear nor love the Lord for his goodness No surfets more dangerous then those which are upon sweet things no diseases more desperate then those which reject Cordials no Fruits ripen faster then those on which the Sun continually shineth as the Apostle saith of grace where sin abounded grace did much more abound so we may by an inversion say of sin where grace aboundeth there the guilt of sin is the more abundant 2. Mercy extended in a day of sinne is the more exceeding glorious when the Lord is pleased to proclaim mercy to a divorced people Ier. 3 12-15 in the midst of provoked wrath to remember mercy Hab. 3.2 and when men go on frowardly in their own ways then to heal them to restore comfort to them to create peace Isai. 57 17-19 to heal a backsliding people and to love them freely Hos. 14.14 To look back upon a denying Peter Luke 22.61 To send a pardon to an adulterous David 2 Sam. 12.13 To call from Heaven to a persecuting Saul Acts 9.4 This is that which maketh Mercy the more radiant which magnifieth the freeness fulness and superabundance of it that it rejoyceth against judgment Iam. 2.13 These considerations tend much to humble a people which remain yet escaped as we do this day The sad conjunctions of our sins with the Lords goodness when the Lord saith I will remember my Covenant and thou shalt remember thy wayes Then he saith thou shalt be confounded and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame when I am pacified towards thee Ezek. 16 60-63 When we compare his Mercy with our corrupt doings then is a time to loath our selves in our own sigâ—t Ezek. 20 42-44 36 25-32 Sin punished doth many times harden a sinner in pride as we see in Pharaoh But sin pardoned and subdued with Mercy should melt the soul into a godly sorrow holy revenge and self displicency for it They shall shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter dayes O let us learn to bewail our wickedness in that we have ventured on it in a day of Mercy as if we had been delivered to commit abominations Ier. 7.10 as if priviledges were a protection to profaneness Certainly if mercies be aggravations of sin no Nation in the world is less excusable then we What Nation in the Earth hath God so honoured with a long possession of his Oracles and glorious light of his Word In so much that other Nations study the English Tongue to read our Books What Nation hath ever had such manifold such miraculous deliverances What Nation hath the Lord Crowned with a greater abundance of all good things What means could be used to work upon a people which the Lord hath not made use of amongst us If teaching would work upon us we have had his Word If Chastisements would amend us we have had his Sword If bounty would perswade us we have been fed and cloathed and healed and crowned and compassed with mercies more then we can recount If strange and unparalleld Providences would awaken us this Nation hath never had for many hundred years such a prospects of Gods works such interwoven mixtures of Mercies of Judgements of Wonders of Terrors Great Instruments raised up and taken away again Wars raging and again ceasing Seas roaring and again calmed And certainly the Works of the Lord should
be sought out of his people Psal 111.2 and improved to their own accompt Felt Judgements should mak them out of love with sin Renewed mercies should make them in love with God That which humbleth should heal them that which comforts should cure them that which amazeth should amend them 2. This is a strong Argument in Prayer for penitent sinners to use that God hath mercy in store even in a day of sin for his people that though we have trespassed against God yet there is hope in Israel concerning this thing Ezra 10.2 That though sin do ever forfeit mercy yet it doth not ever remove it though it do always provoke wrath yet it doth not always procure it how will mercy triumph in a day of repentance when so great provocations have not hitherto extinguished it how will fire break forth in dry wood when it hath prevailed against the green needs must that Jewel be glorious in the Sun which glisters in the Night This should exceedingly encourage us unto Repentance Doth the Lorld invite backsliding Israel doth he wait to be gracious to a secure people doth he pitty us in our blood and are his bowels kindled towards us when we compass him about with lies and deceit doth he look back with pitty upon a a denying Peter doth he speak pardon from Heaven unto a persecuting Paul doth he shew mercy on a Manasseh filling Ierusalem with blood and Idols doth he appear first unto Mary Magdalen out of whom he he had cast seven Devils O who would not be encouraged by such examples to fly for sanctuary from the wrath to come unto that mercy which hath snatched these as brands out of the fire The Lord keeps as open house for us as for them Isa. 55.1 Rev. 22.17 his mercy as abundant for any other penitents as for them Isa. 55.6 7 8. his call and invitation the same to us as to them Ioh. 7.37 38. The blood of Christ as effectuall for us as for them 1 Ioh. 2.2 They were set forth as examples to all that should after believe in him unto eternal life 1 Tim. 1.16 Only let us beware of profaning this comfort by persisting in our sins But follow the example of these penitents here though their sin had not removed Gods mercy yet Gods mercy did remove their sin They entred into a Covenant sware to the Lord gave their hands that they would put away their strange wives and separate themselves from the people of the Land Ezra 10.3 11 12 19. This is a Genuine work of true hope in mercy when it makes us purifie our selves 1 Ioh. 3.3 no man can hope for glory who is an enemy to Grace for glory is grace perfected and we can hope for nothing which we hate he that hates Grace doth not love Glory 3. We note that in solemn Humiliations there is a great Emphasis in these words As it is this day It is a circumstance greatly considerable The time wherein we have sinned and escaped Time greatly aggravates sin Exod. 8.32 Luke 19.42 Time greatly commends Mercy that God kept touch with his people to a very day Exod. 12.41 42. Therefore we should learn wisdome to improve time unto duty as it is said of the Children of Issachar that they had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do 1 Chron. 12.32 Who knoweth said Mordecai to Ester whether thou be come to the Kingdom for such a time as this Ester 4.14 Let us therefore wisely consider the condition of the times which God hath brought upon us Times of great and universal sickness and infirmity after he had not many moneths since upon Prayer removed such distempers in good part surely his anger is not turned away his hand is stretched out still because we have not unfeignedly turned unto him that smiteth us 2. Times of wonderfull changes and unsetledness many preparations and attempts to heal the breaches amongst us and many abortions and miscarriages in those attempts Honourable persons raised up by God to serve the Interests of the Nations and by his Providence laid down again And when the Lord had by his providence raised up this eminent Instrument now gone to him by whose great Wisdom accurate intelligence indefatigable vigilancy and special care we might probably have supposed that by degrees things would have wrought unto a composedness and settlement in the midst of great Actions and great Successes he likewise is suddenly taken away It is good to study the meaning of God in these things 1. That we should bewail our carnall confidence and learn to look up and to trust more in Him and less in man 2. To labour for hearts established by his grace that we may the more comfortably look for an outward establishment in order and peace for our settlement must begin in our hearts so long as our hearts are unsteadfast with God his dealings may be still in fluctuation and uncertainty towards us 3. To acknowledge notwithstanding these sad changes and concussions this great Mercy That we remain yet escaped that the Lord hath not yet said unto us that he would cast us off hath not exposed us to those flames and commotions which our sins have deserved but that yet we sit under our Vines and Fig-trees and none make us afraid Lastly to cast Anchor on the Rock of Ages and keep close to the Throne of Gace to secure his love and care of us his presence and Throne amongst us who never dies in whom there is everlasting strength to get firm holdfast of those Comforts which have nothing of Mortality nothing of Lubricity in them which will stay with us while we remain here to sweeten all the passages of our Pilgrimage and accompany us unto the presence of the Lord in whose presence is fulnesse of Joy and at whose Right Hand there are pleasures for ever more FINIS Vid. Serarium in Ios. 6. quaest 50. Pined de Rebus Solom lib. 7. cap. 4. 6 Ier. 3.5.31.19 Dan. 9.7 8. Luke 18.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Homer Iliad 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist. Qâ—i sibi male vivendi licentiam iud â—gent totidem sunt Christiâ—nismi probra et maâ—ulae Calv. Opusc. de Scandalis Magna insanis est Evangeliâ— non credere cujus veritatem sanguis MartyruÌ„ Clamat prodigia probant ratio câ—â—firmâ—t mâ—ndus testatur Elementa loquuntur daemones confitentur Sed longâ— major Insâ—nia Si de Evangelii veritate non dubitas vivere tamen quosi de ejus falsitate non dubitates Io. Picus miraâ—dula Epist. Ab eterno per praedestinationem in aeternum per glorificationem Bernard Serm. 2. in Ascentionâ— Ante mundi constitutionem vidit nos fecit nos Emendavit nos misit ad nos Redemit nos Hoc ejus consilium manet in aeternum Aug. Ser. 2. in Psal. 32. Aug. de Grat. Lib. Arbit cap. 16. Dys Anchor ipse Remunerator operis ipse Remuneratio tota Bernard in Psal. 91. Ser. 9. Ille facit ut nos faciamus quâ— praecepit nos non facimus ut ilâ—e faciat quae promisit Aug. Ep. 143. Vid. Bradward de causa Dei lib. 1. cap. 23.24 25. Iuratione Dei firmata promissio Aug. de Civ dei lib. 16. cap. 32. Adeo Iustis omnis Cooperantur in Bonum ut etiam si qui corum deviant exorbitant etiam hoc ipsum eis faciat proficere in bonum quia Humiliores redeunt atque doctiores Aug. de Corrept Grat. cap. 6. vid. de nat Grat. 28. An vero ei peccata ipsa non Cooperantur in Bonum qui ex eis humilior ferventior solicitior timoratior Cautior invenitur Bern. Scr. 1. de diversiâ— Vid. Camero de Eccles. pag. 120 -126 in 4 to Use 1. Ut totum Deodetur Hominis voluntatem bonam praparat adjuvandam adjuvat praeparatam Aug Enchirid. cap 32. Si Deus misereatur etiam volumus ad eaudem quippe Gratiam pertinet ut velimus Ad Simplicium Qu. 2. Epist. 106.
Gods fidelity THE CHURCHES SAFETY Opened in a SERMON Preached before the Lord Major Aldermen and Common-Councel at Lawrence-Iury Church on wednesday Septem 15. 1658. Being a day of Humiliation by them appointed By EDWARD REYNOLDS D. D. LONDON Printed by Tho. Ratcliffe for George Thomason at the Sign of the Rose and Crown in St. Pauls Church-yard 1659. Amplissimis Praestantissimis Consultissimis Viris D. JOANNI IRETON Honoratissimo Domino Praefecto MAGISTRATIBUS UNIVERSIS TOTIQUE SENATUI Celeberrimae Florentissimaeque Civitatis LONDINENSIS Concionem hanc coram ipsis habitam Ipsorumque jussu publici Juris factam In Honoris debitae observantiae TESTIMONIUM D. D. E. R EZRA 9.15 O LORD GOD of Israel thou art righteous for we remain yet escaped as it is this day behold we are before thee in our trespasses for we cannot stand before thee because of this IN the former part of this Book we have a Narration of many great mercies of God to his people after their long and sore captivity 1. The Edict of Cyrus for return of the people building the Temple restoreing of the holy Vessels Chap. 1. 2. The pursuance of that Edict in the return of 49000 and upward Chap. 2. 3. The beginning of the restitution of Gods worship setting up the Altar offering Sacrifices laying the Foundations of the House with Trumpets and joy Chap. 3. 4. The special assistance and encouragement they received in the work by the Prophets notwithstanding the opposition of the adversaries Chap. 5.1 6 14. 5. The gracious Decree of Darius for promoting the building after it had been obstructed his Princely munificence thereunto the command given to the Enemies to be serviceable to the work the finishing and dedication of the House and keeping of the Passeover Chap. 6. 6. The gracious commission of Artaxerxes to Ezra for further promoting the worship of God at Ierusalem his indulgence to Priests and Levites ordering of Magistrates and Judges Chap. 7. 7. The expedition of Ezra and divers others with this Commission The delivery of the Silver Gold and Vessels which the King his Counsellors Lords and all Israel had offered to the house of the Lord into the hands of twelve select men of the Priests the gracious preservation of Ezra and his company in their journey from the hands of those that lay in wait for them after they had solemnly sought God by prayer and fasting their safe arrival delivery of the offering to the House of the Lord success of the Commission Cap. 8. Thus far things went comfortably on and with good success notwithstanding the opposition and obstruction given to the work for a time by the Enemies thereof of which we read Chap. 4. But in this ninth Chapter we meet with a farre more dangerous obstruction then any had before been an horrible sinne committed by Priests Levites people wherein the hands of the Princes and Rulers had been cheif in mingling the holy seed in marriage with the people of those Lands contrary to an express command Deut. 7.1.3 Thou shalt not make marriages with them c. whereby the worship of God now newly restored was in danger to be speedily subverted again Deut. 7.4 Exo. 34.15 16. as we finde by the example of Solomon 1 Reg. 11.4 8. Hereupon Ezra is affected with zeal sorrow and astonishment ver 3 4 5. and unto him were assembled every one that trembled at the word of the God of Israel to humble themselves before God and to consult what is so desperate a case was necessary to be done for diverting that wrath which they had provoked ver 3 4. Ezra prepareth and composeth himself in a solemn manner to pray rends his garments falls on his knees spreads forth his hands stirs up his faith takes the fittest season the time of the Sacrifice when God might be minded by the blood of Attonement to recieve his prayer with favour ver 5. In the Prayer we have these particulars 1. His abasement of himself his shame and consternation of spirit a temper essential to true humiliation I will remember my Covenant saith the Lord and thou shalt remember thy ways and be ashamed Ezek. 16.60 61. and again you shall loath your selâ—es in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed Ezek. 20.43 2. A general confession of their sinnes and the sinnes of their Fathers as Nehem. 9.34 Dan. 9.8 the greatness the growth the continuance of them Our iniquities are increased over our heads as Psal. 38.4 A Metaphor from the swelling of waters Psal. 124.4 5. our Trespasses are grown up to Heaven a further and stronger expression of the atrocity of them as 2 Chron. 28.9 3. An acknowledgement of the justice of God in the punishment of their iniquities on Kings Priests and people in captivity poverty and contempt ver 7. as Psal. 44 9-14 79 1-4 4. A thankful acknowledgement of restored mercies out of free and rich grace unto a small remnant of distressed Bondmen whom God had not forsaken in their Bondage but extended mercy unto who were 1. escaped out of their captivity 2. Setled in their own land as a naile in a sure place as Isa. 22.23 3. Comforted after their darkness and sorrow by lightning their eyes who had been long in Babylon as in a Dungeon Zach. 9.11 by reviving and giving them a resurrection who had lien in Captivity as dry bones in a grave Ezek. 37.12 4. Aided and assisted by the special favour of the King of Persia to set up the House of God and repair the desolations thereof ver 9. 5. Compassed about with his protection as with a wall from the violence of Enemies ver 8 9. as Isa. 26.1 Zach. 2.5 by all which considerations the greatness of their sinnes was exceedingly aggravated 5. A particular confession of the present sin under the guilt whereof they did now lye Wherein are considerable 1. A patheticall acknowledgement that they are wholly without excuse put to silence for guilt stops the mouth Mat. 22.12 Rom. 3.19 ver 10. 2. A full aggravation of it by severall considerations 1. It was against a severe Law provided in that very case Deut. 7.3 4. 2. Against the Equity of that Law the people were unclean abominable 3. Against the Promise annexed to the Law to eat the good of the Land 4. Against the Chastening hand of God which had been upon them 5. Against the Measure of those Chastisements they were punished lesse then their iniquities deserved 6. Against the great and notable Deliverance which God had wrought for them beyond their thoughts or hopes ver 11 12 13. 6. An implicite owning of the wrath of God which might in this case justly consume and make an end of them and leave them no remnant ver 14. 7. An acknowledgement of Gods gracious fidelity in not consuming them but patiently bearing with them and letting them remain escaped ver 15. Lastly the conclusion of the Prayer the same with the introduction into
it shame and confession of guilt ver 15. O Lord God of Israel who art in Covenant with them and ownest them for thy people Deut. 26.18 and art afflicted in their afflictions in whose sufferings thy great name is concerned in whose prosperity thy sole grace is magnified Thou art righteous Just in thy Iudgements in all that is come upon us Nehem 9.33 faithfull in thy Covenant in all that thou hast said unto us And hereof thou hast given us assurance for we remain yet escaped According to thy promise that after seventy years should be accomplished in Babylon thou wouldst visit thy people and perform thy good word towards them in causing them to return to their own Land again Ier. 29.10 2 Chron. 36.21 we have deserved by our Provocations to be cut off from being a People but for thy Promise sake we yet remain for thou hast said that the Scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a Law-giver from between his feet untill Shilo come Gen. 49.10 that Immanuel was to come of the house of David before the Jews should cease to be a Nation or should have their politie utterly dissolved Isa. 7.14 Isa. 8.9 10. Isai. 10 24-27 We have deserved to have been kept Captives in Babylon still but for thy Promise sake we remain yet escaped because thou hast said that thou wouldest cause us to come up out of our graves and bring us into the Land of Israel Ezek. 37.12 13 14. It is by the blood of the Covenant alone that thou hast sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit Zach. 9.11 The words are the close of a Penitential Prayer wherein there is observable 1. A Comfortable address to God as the God of Israel 2. A Penitent acknowledgement of his righteousnesse in the evils which they suffered 3. A grateful acknowledgement of his fidelity in the Mercies which they enjoyed 4. A demonstration of this great Mercy 1. We remain we are not consumed 2. We remain an escape we are not detained in captiuity 3. As it is this day not only escaped but favoured encouraged assisted to build Gods House to restore his Worship though to this day we have had so great provocations O Lord God of Israel Thou art righteous we have sinned as a perfidious people against a God in covenant thou hast afflicted us in measure as a God in covenant Afflictions are sweetned Mercies are magnified sinnes are aggravated sinners are humbled and melted by no consideration more then by the grace of the Covenant that we have to doe with a God who is pleased to be called ours when he smites us this is our Comfort the rod is in the hand of a Father he may visit with stripes but he will not break his Covenant Psal. 89 32-34 when he loadeth us with mercies this is our joy that they are all appendices to Christ and rayes and Emanations of the Covenant Rom. 8.32 Ier. 32.41 If he hear us if he answer us if he be gracious unto us we shall weep no more though he give us bread of adversity and water of affliction Isai. 30 18-20 when we review our sinnes and set our selves seriously to turn to God this makes us loath our selves this fills our faces with shame and our hearts with sorrow that we have done it against a God in Covenant who is pacified towards us Ezek. 16.62 63. It is great presumption for aliens and strangers to despise Gods authority or abuse his bounty but for an adopted people whom he hath selected in a peculiar manner to be his own and set apart for himself for whom he reserveth the choisest of his mercies to whom he revealeth the secrets of his love for these to sinne not only against Precepts and Benefits but against the Bowels of a Father the blood of a Saviour the grace of a Comforter the Covenant of life the Charter of Salvation this is that which should greatly abase us in our own eyes that we should thus requite a Father Deut. 32.6 The Lord calls Heaven and Earth to be amazed at it Hear O Heaven and give ear O Earth for the Lord hath spoken for I have nourished and brought up children adopted them into my family brought them into my Land advanced them unto my favour vouchsafed my presence with them set up my Name and glory among them and yet they have rebelled against me Isa. 1.2 Be astonished O ye heavens and be ye horribly afraid be very desolate for my people who have heard my voice out of Heaven whom I have taken from the midst of another Nation by temptations by signs by wonders by war by a mighty hand by a stretched-out arm and by great terrors who have been the Fountain of all their blessings and the glory in the midst of them have changed their glory for vanity and their Fountain for broken cisterns Ier. 2.11 12 13. This is matter of great pressure unto him Amos 2.9 13. and should much more be so unto us Many aggravations there are in the sins of Gods people which may greatly tend to their humbling and abasement They are committed 1. Against more glorious light and more spiritual convictions after they have known God and are known of God Gal. 4.9 after he hath taught them his ways shewed his covenant imparted unto them the secrets of his salvation Ps. 25.9 14. after he had opened their ears and sealed their instruction to withdraw them from sinful purposes Iob 33.16 17. after he had caused them to hear a word behind them saying this is the way Isai. 30.21 and had shewed them the salvation of God Psal. 50.23 and had been as it were transfigured in their presence The more the beauties of holiness are discovered to the soul the greater is the unkindness and disingenuity of that soul in giving entertainment to any sinful lust again 2. Against speciall and more tender love which love of Christ passeth knowledge and therefore should constrain us to love him that loved us died for us 2 Cor. 5.14 David had been highly honoured by God Solomon was the beloved of God and this made their sins both more strange and more atrocious 2 Sam. 12.7 8 9. Nehem. 13.26 you only have I known of all the Families of the Earth therefore I will punish you for your iniquities Amos 3.2 Ier. 2.21 22. 3. Against the breathings of the Spirit of Grace whose motions being quenched whose operations being resisted whose sweet and gracious pulsations at the door of the soul being neglected he is exceedingly grieved in the hearts of his people and provoked to withdraw himself and his Comforts from them Ephe. 4.30 Cant. 5 6. and they put to cry hard for recovery of him again whom they had by their unkind usage grieved away and caused to hide his presence from them Psa 51.10 11 12. 4. Against the peace of God which should keep our hearts and mindes in Christ from yeilding to temptations Phil. 4.7 when the Lord speaks peace to