not resist Or â—â—w could Noah conduct and guide it over the tops of Hills and â—â—idst the Mountains But true obedience disputes not Gods â—â—mmands and if he enjoynes things improper and impertinent humane reason as Goe and wash in Jordan c. Or Let seven â—â—iests beare seven trumpets of Rams-hornes c. yet obey we â—â—ust our Faith requires our observance and performance And us it holds in the institution of the holy Sacraments which â—â—ve no foundation in reason yet because they are the Acts of â—â—ods wisedome and he commands their use we are not to Iudge canvas them but to observe and reverence them And as these â—â—rrow their successe from their Institution so all our labors â—â—d endeavours their blessing from his gracious providence â—â—xcept the Lord keep the City c. Psal 127.1.2.3 nothing 〈◊〉 project or enterprise but becomes either prejudiciall or unâ—ofitable unlesse God give the blessing which we finde experimentally true in some kinde famine when plenty enough of â—â—orne for the quantity but extream want in respect of the â—â—ourishment when God in his Just Judgement as the Proâ—net speaâ—eth breaketh the Staffe of Bread gives it not a nourishing faculty but it rather occasions faintnesse and decay of â—â—irits But that which makes this Observation more home and â—â—vident is yet further to observe That this Vessell which he â—â—repared was not a Ship made to all advantages of Sayling but an Arke close above without Sayles Oares or any or Engines which man hath invented and employed for the coâ—â— modious passing of Vessells upon the Seas It had no Helmeâ— steere her with no Master or Governor to command handing of Helme or Sayles God reserved to himselfe glory of Noahs Preservation he himselfe was the onely Piâ—â— to guide it upon the Waters and afterwards to Harbour it Providence the Sailts and Oares to steere and move it 〈◊〉 is many times pleased clearly to demonstrate his Wisedoâ— Power and goodnesse by using the weaknesses of our interâ—tions and employing such mean instruments as have nothing power or wisedome in themselves Give me leave thus to apâ—â— it If we see the Arke of Christs Church floating like the Isâ—â— Lemnos having no place of settlement If we see her moâ—â— upon troubled waters tossed to and fro with the waves of câ—tention If we see her without a Governor having nothing humane policy or power to direct or protect her if with Sailes having no favour nor respect from the world with Oares any humane assistances or aydes God will supply to the want of all these if she turn to God sincerely beg his mâ—cy and with a penitent heart purified by Faith crave his Pâ—tection All these deficiencies of secondary causes and wantâ— humane assistances will prove demonstrations of Gods porâ—â— and wisedome when he shall be pleased to deliver her by hand without any wayes or meanes discernable or possible be imagined by humane ingenuity In ordinary wayes of 〈◊〉 liverance there is a concurrent abundance and confluence experimented means the concurrence and ayde of second cauâ—â— the full force and strength of the arme of flesh but in specâ—â— and extraordinary deliverances when God will shew himself more signally and clearely he effects his designes by weak improper insufficient and defective means 8. Noahs Arke condemned the World because the world woâ—â— not reforme notwithstanding Gods warnings premonitions aâ—â— exhortations O then while the Arke is in building whâ—â— grace is offered whilest we are summoned to come to hiâ—â— while this opportunity of repentance lasteth turne you froâ—â— your evill wayes nothing can hinder or retard your conversion but either your own insensible duinesse and inadvertency which yet is a crime of your wills or your malitious perversenesse If the Arke be finished God deprives you of the opportunities of mercy the advantages of grace the deluge of Gods wrath is ready to fall down upon you there remains nothing but a fearefull looking for of judgement and fiery indignation which shall devoure the adversaties wanton not play not with his word seek the Lord while he may be found for a time there is when he will not be found because we cannot finde a way or place of repentance though with Esan we seek it carefully with tears and be assured that if the Ministery of his Word which answereth to the preparing of the Arke bath not converted thee it will condemn if it quicken not it will kill if this two-edged sword with one edge hath not cut off the evills of your hearts with the other it will peirce us through with eternall paines and never dying deaths If it be not the savour of life unto life it will be of death unto death 9. The World though many regard not Gods warning it s not multitude or numbers will save us in the day of wrath O then follow not a multitude to doe evill lest thou perish with them for company chuse the society of the few the little Frock and strive to get into the Arke with them it is better to be saved alone then perish with the World And here againe let me resume my former exhortation Whilest thou hast the light walk in the light take heed thou be not misled and deceived with the fashions and interests of the World or the examples of worldly men who pretend to be and transforme themselves into Angels of light lest thou perish with the World Follow the orders and discipline of Jesus Christ his holy example in him is no darknesse he is that light which enlightneth every man in the World if we shut our eyes against this light if we hate it or hate to follow it we are already condemned It is Saint Johns sentence John 3.19.20 This is the condemnation that light is come into the World and men loved darknesse rather then light c. But 10. Here is one Observable more The Deluge took not the World on a sudden As they were fore-warned long before so God in his goodnesse so ordered that it should raine also forty dayes and forty nights that seeing they could nâ— escape with their temporall lives they might in these intervaâ—â— and interims take occasion to provide for eternity O thâ— infinite goodnesse of God who allowed these perishing soulâ— time and leisure to implore mercy these dying men had a further opportunity of repentance and they might though dead 〈◊〉 the flesh yet live in the spirit I have long dwelt upon Noaâ— Building and have walked up and down too and fro his Arâ—â— yet not come to an end What he prepared was for our eâ—fication to build us up in our most holy Faith It was a greâ—â— preparation contained much in it upon the waters and yâ—â— affords plentifull matter both for Doctrine and Instruction I shall therefore descend into a more particular applycation and touch a little of the mysticall and this in three considerations In respect of Noahs Person his Arke and the Deluge 1. In respect of Noah All the
feare Let him that think he standeth take heed c. 1 Cor. 10.12 and the Apostle proposeth the caveat to the Christian Churches from the exclusion of the Jewish Rom. 11.20 3. It was a feare of respect and reverence both in respect of Gods Majesty at whose presence the Angels cover their faces Es 6. and also in consideration of Gods past goodnesseâ— and mercies towards them and expectation of future deliverances Hence that expression Psal 130.4 There is mercy with thee that thou mayest be feared well he knew that he that beleeveth in him shall not be ashamed well he knew that his mercy was nigh them that feare him that nothing more endeares and obliges God to us then an unwillingnesse to displease him nothing more restraines us from offending God then the contemplation of Gods Soveraigne Majesty and remembrance and expectation of his mercies nothing more demonstrates and expresseth our love to God then our feare to offend him res est soliciti c. 1 Pet. 1.17 Mal. 1.6 Well he knew there was a vast difference betwixt him that feareth and him that feareth not that ruine and destruction attends the latter that mercy and deliverance is provided for the former and therefore Noah not onely feared but that he might be capable of the mercies which are prepared for those that seare him he prepared an Arke which was an act of hope and confidence that God would preserve and is the second described effect of Noahs Faith He prepared an Arke he provided the materialls God ordered the forme God prescribed and lined the modell Noah raysed the structure the Platforme was Gods the workemanship Noahs which was a most cleare signall proofe of his Faith whether we respect the act it selfe or the many difficulties and discouragements which accompanied it and he was to encounter and struggle withall in the composure of this Fabricke For 1. The very subject it selfe required a great portion of Faith for well might Noah thus argue with himselfe Doth the good and gracious God delight in the ruine of his creatures Made he the World to destroy it or can nothing satisfie his wrath and justice but an universall destruction and extermination Will he actuate his threatnings to the height and execute his Judgements with the greatest severity and rigor Are all the passages of his goodnesse and tender mercies obstructed No meanes to be used to mitigate and qualifie the hardnesse of the sentence or is the Decree irreversible Will he deface the World the impresse of his glory Will he destroy man his own Image curam divini ingenii as Tertullian his Masterpiece These and many more quaeries might Noah have cogitated to distrust the prediction or dispured it and to retard him in his designe that he should not fall to his worke or slackly follow it But against all these carnall disputings he proposes to himselfe Gods veracity and faithfulnesse God hath thus declared his pleasure hath prescribed and ordered me to frame this Building there is no more dispute no foreslowing of time no neglect in the observance of the Order God hath spoken I must beleeâ—â—â— 2. The difficulties which he would meet withall in the performance of his duty might have staggered his Faith and stoâ—â— his worke For this also might he here have reasoned Must I 〈◊〉 necessity build an Arke and this of so great a capacity and largenesse or what need the expence of so much money labour aâ—â— time as will be required to this worke How can I make 〈◊〉 Arke of that stowage and bulke as will containe the severall spâ—cies of all creatures or granting I might make roome enoughâ— yet what safety for me and my family from the cruelty aâ—â— fiercenesse of ravenous beasts what agreement or peace caâ— be expected among them How will it be possible to endurâ— the variety of the hideous shrikes roaring and wildnesses of thâ— sentitives of all sorts or the filthinesse of their stinch and excrements But granting these also yet further how shall 〈◊〉 summons or what authority will my summons have amongâ— these untamed bruits Will they be decoyed into the Arke aâ— my call or supposing this to be feasable yet where shall Provision be had as the Disciples to Christ where shall we have Bread for this multitude where shall Victuals be found to furnish a Magazine or where a Magazine to containe sufficient stoâ—â— for the sustentation of all these or how shall that variety oâ— Provision be brought in as will serve for the nutriment of these strange different natures Or how was it possible for eight Persons to fodder and serve them all every day and give them every one their allowance But allowing these also to be possible yet how shall so great a bulke of that burden and capacity escape the rage of the madnesse of the Waters and Winds or splitting and foundering on some rocks or mountaines or escaping the rockes how shall I manage this hitherto unknowne Engine or what judgement can I have in this undiscovered Art But waving all these thoughts too how shall this designe goe on which is so ridiculous and absurd to all the world which iâ— so odious and ungratefull to all men that none will yeeld any asistance all of them either jeere and deride the worke or hinder and stop it These and such like thoughts and disputes as these might have shaken his resolution and puzled if not non-plussed his Faith and either broke the designe and quashed the attempt or made it goe on slowly or slackly But Noah is constant and faithfull to his Master and his service he knew whom he trusted whom he served and therefore â—eighted all these pretended difficulties and seeming impossibilities the scornes and derisions of carnall men and follow his businesse closely and cheerefully Well he knew that God is infinite in Power and Wisedome and whatsoever he willeth â—e doth in Heaven and in Earth that he is true and just in all his Decrees and Promises that he could by his word and for his words sake would strengthen and animate his spirit to goe through with his worke enable him to performe all those duties imposed on him endure all those hardships remove all those obstacles and impossibilities which flesh and bloud could object against him and that God would carry on this worke by him in despight of all opposition difficulties and discouragements for he was faithfull that Promised and therefore upon the performance of the command of God he obtained the reward Preservation of himselfe and family which is not so much an effect as a consequent recompence of his Faith For so it followes To the saving of his House eight Soules in Saint Peters expression 1 Pet. 3.10 that is eight individualls or Persons and no more of his family or his house were saved And who these eight were we have Recorded Gen. 6.18 himselfe his Wife his three Sonnes Sem. Ham and Japheth and their respective Wives none of his servants none of his
nothing and this is as great a demonâ—ration of his power and goodnesse as the former by 〈◊〉 nominy to rayse to Glory by Death to restore to Life from Poyson to draw a Preservative to bring the best out of the worst And it is Saint Aaugustines Observation Deus â—deò bonus est God is so good that we would never suffer evill to be unlesse he were so powerfull also that he could â—ring the greatest good out of the most desperate evill Titus sackes Jerusalem This the Divine Providence ordered for a punishment of the Jewes malice and wickednesse Well Ierusaâ—em is an heape of stones the lewes are disperced and this was used by God as a fairer way and more effectuall meanes for the dissemination of the Gospel This very order which God sent to Abraham hath in it much concealed goodnesse and mercy and though at first it seems harsh and rigorous yet propius inâ—uenti it is full of grace and truth as we may perceive by the following circumstances Abraham and so we need not wander for an example is commanded to quit his Countrey the Designe was he should quit Idolatry and this former a proper means to bring about the latter for to abide in his owne Countrey had been a perpetuall obstacle to his then intended course of godlinesse for what agreement hath the Temple of God with â—dols what communion hath Light with Darkenesse and Idolatry was the Epidemicall sinne of that Nation But if his abode there altered not his course yet undoubtedly it had been very dangerous and no Man is to venture his Religion upon a hazard nor subject it to a temptation in respect of his many naturall obligations and relations of Countrey Parents and Kindred whereas by quitting his Countrey and sojourning in Canaan he became disengaged from those ties of Nature and Native soyle and fitly disposed to venture on Religion and to make progresse in the wayes of godlinesse For it s most certaine what the Roman Historian Observed Falicitate corrumpimur nothing more destructive of Religion then too much worldly prosperity it makes men apt to forget to extinguish and obliterate all notions of God and godlinesse to pervert the principles of holy life and set the will and affections upon the pursuite of phantasticke unprofitable deceiving apparitions of pleasure and profit pride luxury c. is almost the inseparable companion of a full and high estate and it is a great mercy in God to afflict that we may be humble sober wise religion devout Out of very truth and faithfulnesle God causeth hiâ— People to be troubled And therefore David resolved It â—â— good for me that I have been afflicted that I may learne thâ— Statutes Psal 119.71 Afflictions makes us tractable and teach able apt to receive Instruction and to be kept to it but before his afflictions he was as Ieremy said of himselfe an uâ—â—med Calâ—e I went wrong verse 67. he despised all counsell and would have no correction and probably had wandred aâ— the dayes of his life after the lusts of his owne heart had hâ—â— not been restrained and re-called by Gods afflicting Hand 〈◊〉 Voyce 3. Religion is not a light perfunctory employment but 〈◊〉 sad serious and laborious employment Res severa est veruâ— gandium Senica Epist 49. It requires great austerity of Spirit strict performances humility selfe-denyall mortification 〈◊〉 effectuall dereliction of sinne abrenunciation of the World called 1 Thes 1.3 The worke of Faith which as Pisc in loâ— expounds it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an active working Faith to kill and crucifie the old Man and all his lusts to mortifie a beloved darling sinne to bring our bodies in subjection to be at enmity with the World to refuse worldly pleasureâ— when temptations beyond duty or safety to take paines in the cause of God which is expressed by the following Phrase the lobour of love which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a labouring love such as sets us to enquire after the Law to buy the Truth search the Scriptures to endeavour for a right understanding in the wayes of truth and godlinesse according to our respective opportunities and capacities to put on the armour of Righteousnesse on the right hand and on the left If we be not called to suffer and dye for Christ yet we must dye unto sinne and live unto righteousnesse If not to forsake our houses yet our lusts if not to goe out of the World yet to use the World aâ— if we used it not that is cut off all our portion in this life excepting so much of it as is necessary for our present subsistance to secure our Inheritance in the World to come and this is our patience of hope also as well as in the down-right suffering part Heb. 10.36 the burden of the Lord a doing the worke of the Lord in voluntary severities and abstinences 〈◊〉 a seperation from the World 2 Cor. 6.17 expressed by â—hose summons Depart depart yee goe on t from Babel flee out â—om the Chaldeans touth no uncleane thing Esay 48.20 52. 1. have no fellowship with the unfruitfull works of darkenesse no â—ommerce that is no complyance or confederacy with the workers of wickednesse Rev. 18.4 This is that which Christ â—eakes of plucking out the right Eye cutting off the right and to relinquish whatsoever is deare or neere unto us if it is an impediment or a diversion from the paths of holinesse â—r an occasion or inducement to sinne and impiety all which was represented to the Church of God under the name of the pouse in that charge Psal 45.10 Hearken O Daughter and â—usider and incline thine eare forget also thine own people and â—â—y fathers house So shall the King greatly desire thy beauty c. 4. God tempers the rigour of his precept with the sweetnesse of a Promise If the first part the Summons be dis-relliâ—ing and unpleasant The second part the sub-joyned Premiâ—s are comfortable and refreshing God sends alwayes a graous raine upon his Inheritance to refresh it when it is dry 〈◊〉 gives sharpe Physicke in a Sugred recipe after a Seed time 〈◊〉 Teares an Harvest of Joy God leaveth not Abraham deâ—itute but promiseth a great reward for his Country Canaan better Land for his Kindred a great Nation for his Fathers â—use he shall be a Father of many Nations God in our â—fferings would have us to contemplate on the excellencies â—â—d depend on the truth and rejoyce in the goodnesse of his â—romises which farre exceed both the number and greatnesse 〈◊〉 our hardnesses And thus after an order of sadnesse he addes â—ven blessings of comfort which I shall breifly describe in â—der 1. I will make thee a great Nation Great both in number and multitude Populous Nations deseended from Abraâ—m by Keturah and Hagar Gen. 25. And great also in reâ—wne and vertue men famous in their Generations who were after builders in the house of Israel issued from them