be broken So much for the sense of the word But as the Iewes said of Christ concerning the death of Lazarus Could not be that opened the eyes of the blinde have caused that even this man had not died So I say He that stilled the tempest and raging of the Sea could not he have caused it had not beene at all Yes verily Let us then search out for what causes it was his pleasure that this great tempest should arise Some of the Fathers tell us it was for Iudas his sake as the great storme arose for Ionas his sake But at this time Iudas had not betrayed his Master Doubtlesse he was a covetous wretch which gave Sathan the advantage to tempt him to that sinne but I suppose as yet Sathan had not so much as put it into his heart But because it is the Fathers I will not reject nor confute it Only by the way in a word make this use of it Let us so much as we can keepe out of the societie of wicked men as the Apostle biddeth Have no fellowship with the unfruitfull works of darknesse For as a Father saith Where sinne is there will be a storme The Scriptures are plaine to teach us that even for the sin of some one man the punishment whereof was neglected a whole familie tribe and people have beene punished As the making and worshipping of the Golden Calfe though it was not the sinne of all yet it endangered all and God told Moses he would consume them all For Achans sinne how did the people fall before their enemies Which made all Israel so afraid when the two Tribes and an halfe had erected an Altar as they conceived to offer sacrifice on contrary to the commandement of God and sent messengers to tell them that if they did rebell against the Lord that day to morrow he would be wroth with all the Congregation of Israel villanie committed by some of the Inhabitants of Gibeah in abusing the Levites concubine the heavy vengeance of God came not only upon the persons themselves but upon the whole Citie wherein such wickednesse was committed yea upon the whole Tribe because they delivered not up those wicked men to be punished but seemed to defend them yea not upon the Tribe alone which seeme justly to be condemned as accessarie but also on all such as came not up to warre and helped not to take vengeance for that wicked fact as upon all the Inhabitants of Iabesh Gilead And doe you not remember how for Sauls cruell fact in killing the Gibeonites there was a great famine in the Land for three yeeres together So good a thing it is if we can prevent it that Iudas be not in Ship House or Towne where we saile or dwell as S. Iohn fled out of the Bath where he saw the wicked Heretike was or at the least Ministers Magistrates people and all must endevour that sinne be punished and so taken away else the guilt and punishment may lie on all But I suppose there were other two principall Reasons for which Christ was pleased that this great tempest should arise viz. First for triall of his Disciples faith which is specially tried in times of danger distresse and perplexitie yea though he knew it to be weake yet themselves did not so and it was very profitable for them to know how weake their faith was Lastly that by this miraculous deliverance he might confirme their faith and teach them in all future dangers and perplexities to cleave unto him and trust in him which teacheth us that former experience of Gods providence power and goodnesse in ministring to our wants and delivering us out of evils should strengthen our faith in assurance of the like if it shall please God to bring us into them as we see David made that use of his deliverance from the paw of the Lien and Beare that that God would also deliver him out of the hand of the Philistim And so much for the Reasons Now for further instruction observe that as there is a manifold singular bodily or earthly vse of the Sea or Navigation so is there also singular Divine and heavenly use to be made and specially for contemplation There is no creature visible wherein in fairer capitall letters we may reade the goodnesse greatnesse power and Majestie of God than in the Sea that huge and uncontroulable creature and specially in a storme to see the waves how they rowle and rage and to heare them even many miles off how they roare in beating one against another and against the shore so true that is of David They that goe downe to the Sea in ships and occupie their businesse in great waters These see the workes of the Lord and his wonders in the deepe If God challenge such glory from the wings and feathers of Peacocks and Ostriches the wilde Goats Hindes Asse Vnicorne Hawke Eagle Horse Behemoth and Leviathan Iob 39. 40 41. Chap. Oh how great is his glory from creation and government of the Sea Therefore God himselfe often urgeth his Dominion over the Sea that unruly and boysterous Element for declaration of his great Majestie as unto Iob Who shut up the sea with doores who set barres and said Hitherto shalt thou come and no further and here shalt thou stay thy proud waves And againe Feare yee not me saith the Lord will yee not tremble at my presence which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetuall decree that it cannot passe it and though the waves thereof tosse themselves yet can they not prevaile though they roare yet can they not passe over it Who ever saw tempest on sea whose heart was not smitten with feare and reverence of the Majestie of that God who hath made and doth governe it And againe Thus saith the Lord who divideth the sea when the waves thereof roare the Lord of hoasts is his name As God himselfe doth urge it so holy David specially was very frequent in the meditation thereof He gathereth the waters of the sea together as on an heap layeth up the deep as in store houses Let al the earth feare the Lord let al the inhabitāts of the world stand in awe of him And againe It is God that stilleth the raging of the sea and the noise of its waves And again He turned the sea into drie land he ruleth by his power for ever And again I will meditate of all thy works and talke of thy doings thou art the God that doest wonders the waters saw thee O God the waters saw thee were afraid the depths also were troubled And againe God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the Saints and to be had in reverence of all them that are round about him O Lord God of hoasts who is a strong Lord like unto thee thou rulest the
the lesse he seemeth to heare or regard the more doe they cry and never give over till they awaken him This doth the Prophet require Yee that make mention of the Lord keepe not silence and give him not rest till he establish and make Ierusalem a praise in the earth Christ biddeth vs aske seeke knocke Yea and commendeth such as offered violence to the kingdome of God and tooke it by force Where he speaketh not of any corporall or naturall but of a spirituall force and the strength of the soule specially consisteth in two things as the hands therof First in Faith which laieth hold on all the promised mercies and goodnesse of God and will not part with them or let goe as Iob professed Though the Lord should kill mee yet will I trust in him The second is fervent Praier which as it were striveth with God breaketh open the doore of heavenly treasures and enricheth it selfe with what it wanteth So the Apostle requireth the Romanes to continue instant in prayer Yea that they would strive together with him in prayers to God for him Thus did Iacob he wrestled with God and would not let goe his hold till the Lord blessed him though he received a blow which lamed him yet hee would have a blessing though it cost him a limbe he wept and made supplication and by his strength had power with God Moses so encountered God with his praiers that Hee intreated him to let him alone And the woman of Syrophaenicia would take no nay but in the end overcame and received both commendation and reward Oh woman great is thy faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt Dixeris nisi accepero non recedam prorsus accipies Chrysost If we make application whatsoever our owne estate be yet the Church of God standeth in need of our best praiers our brethren in France and Germanie are vnder the firie triall how calme soever our Sea be there is a great storme in theirs and the ship even covered with waves and Christ fast on sleepe Oh that he would arise as David praied Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered let them also that hate him flie before him as smoake is driven away c Yea oh that he would but awake yea lift up his eye-lids and but looke at his enemies as sometimes he looked vpon the hoast of the Egyptians thorow the fierie and cloudie pillar and then all the hoast of the Egyptians was troubled But alas no marvell that the Lord sleepeth and as it were void of sense and care suffer all to goe to wrecke and ruine seeing we doe not awaken him with our praiers the most pray not at all others though saying often the Lords praier or some other yet know not what they aske and the best pray negligently and coldly if they come neere to God with lips yet the heart is farre off Their praiers are but the labour of lips without fervencie of spirit earnest intention and contention of the soule our bodies in Church our mindes at home Gods Altar is without fire prayers without heat tongue and heart are strangers the one knoweth not what the other is doing Whereas he would have his blessings as it were wrung out of his hands by spirituall violence a sluggish and drowsie praier getteth nothing it is no better than babbling Oh would you be glad to see a calme Goe to Christ by praier pray pray pray for the peace of Ierusalem Many cannot otherwise helpe the Church but none so poore that cannot this way as I have lately shewed and be bold suiters God delighteth in an holy instancie and importunitie hee hath taught it by the example of a man comming to borrow bread of his friend at midnight and by the parable of the wicked Iudge being overcome by the importunitie of the poore widow yea sometimes the Lord maketh as though he did not heare and doth purposely deferre to helpe because he would set an edge on our desire and provoke us to pray more instantly and fervently So he suspended the Syrophaenicians suit as it were to hold her long in his companie his eares being more delighted to heare her redoubled obsecrations than the sweetest instrument of Musicke it tried faith won a soule occasioned a miracle Wherefore the Apostle requiteth so often not onely that we pray but that wee pray continually and that wee be instant and labour in them and that wee watch in them Iâ— ever wee will awaken Christ by praier wee must watch in them our selves a sluggish praier doth but â—ull him on sleepe And herein many come justly to be taxed and reproved for either they pray of custome and fashion without any sense or no sooner have kneeled down lifted up hands and eyes to heaven but forthwith if they go so far as if they were asleep or in an heavy slumber they have forgotten before whom they have presented themselves and what is the thing they have in hand or if for a while they hold out well yet by and by they will suffer Satan to carrie away their mindes and set them on other things The Disciples did not so here and dost thou thinke to awaken God when thou callest on him with yawning halfe asleepe halfe waking Or dost thou thinke to obtain any good blessing at Gods hands by a cold sluggish and drowsie praier No no as the praâ—er of faithfull fervencie is an excellent service to God both exceeding pleasing and available to bring downe many blessings from the Lord c. So an idle perfunctorie praier is exceeding displeasing and taking of his name in vaine and only mightie to pull downe curses Oh pray then but take â—eâ—d how you pray be fervent in praier and put up your supplications with sobs sighs grones teares and all earnest intention of soule and bodie Double treble yea multiply your praiers and supplications for your selves and for his people vncâ—ssanâ—ly importune him and as Moses Nehemiah and Daniel urge his mercies compassions promises glorie blasphemie of enemies c. Oh this is the way to awake him but cold suters prove cold speeders And because though the spirit be willing yet the flesh is weake even Moses his hands grew wearie as hee had Aaron and Hur to helpe to stay them up so quicken thy spirit by fasting and meditation and therein consider both how happy thou art if God heare and grant thee thy blessing thou desirest and how exceeding miserable and wretched thou art if he deny thee It is a true Proverb That life is sweet and no marvell for it is the greatest blessing unto man and whereon all earthly blessings have so farre their dependance as it ceasing all they also cease to be the Disciples considering their life and all earthly happinesse was now at stake if the storme
and shall not see it Come then come I say whilest yee may and thanke God that ye may come and goe safely and pray for them that faine would and cannot Come but come not alone bring your companie say one to another Come let us goe up to the Mountaine the house of the Lord say with Ioshuah I and mine house will serve the Lord Bring those with thee to Gods House who are with thee in thine owne house Your owne good Example who have charge of families is full of power and the more eminent yee are in state and degree the more inducing is your good Example The Reason why the Lord hath prepared his table spred his servants invite so few guests come is because so few of the chiefe come and they come alone neither care they whether wives children or servants come at all or no. Oh come bring yours with you and come often yea the oftner the more welcome to Gods Table This the Apostle intended when he said As often as yee eat this bread and drinke this cup Enjoyning all such as live in a visible Church so often as the custome of the Church is to administer it and hee hath no lawfull impediment to hinder him as absence from home sicknesse so often to receive it if hee doe not it is a great neglect if not contempt of the holy Ordinance of God And how just were it in time of sicknesse and adversity such an one should be weak in faith and void of comfort seeing he neglected the meanes when he might have enjoyed them Give me leave then to reprove a common fault even in this renowmed Mother Church where the holy Sacrament at least every month is religiously and reverendly administred how few are there that come for all our calling As if to receive the Sacrament were but a thing arbitrarie once a yeare at Easter may suffice thrice a yeare a largis to what purpose oftner Thus in Paradise with eating of the forbidden fruit wee surfetted have quite lost our appetite and loath heavenly food as the Israelites did the Manna But let me tell you the only way to recover our appetite is to come and eat none have lesse stomack than such as eat least none more than they that eat most They that make their meat their God the more they eat the lesse appetite but they that make God their meat the more they eat the more they hunger This appeareth from the worthy examples of the Saints in Ancient times It appeareth from Saint Augustine That some faithfull did receive every day and make the Lords Supper their daily bread which though he neither reprehend nor commend yet he earnestly exhorted all to receive every Lords day and our Church hath godly appointed a speciall exhortation to be read when people are negligent in this kinde But me thinketh I heare some say Indeed my departure and seldome comming doth not proceed from neglect and contempt but the reverend respect I have to that heavenly and holy Sacrament fearing that if I should so often receive I should not receive it with that care conscience and preparation that is meet I answer If thine owne heart condemne thee not neither doe I Goe in peace The reverend respect that the Centurion had to Christ made him refuse to entertaine him I am not worthy thou shouldst come under my roofe But Zacheus his reverend respect of Christ made him come downe hastily and receive him ioyfully See the contrary effects of the same affect and both approved of Christ Some out of reverence come to every Sacrament and some out of reverence come seldome Charitie hopeth the best of all But take heed Sathan tempt you not and take heed that your owne consciences condemne you not if they doe God is greater than they and he is not mocked But now Communicants being prepared and come to the Lords Table what is more to be done Our Church godly prescribeth in a very short rule Lift up your hearts though knee be on ground let the heart be in heaven and the minde intently exercised in comparing the signes and spirituall things together When we see bread and wine which are for full refection of our bodies let us thinke what a perfect Saviour we have When we see them set apart for this use let us thinke how Christ the Sonne of God became man for our sakes and salvation When we see the bread and wine blessed and consecrated and as it were made fit for so holy and heavenly an use let us thinke how Christ his humanitie being united personally to the Word received all fulnesse of grace for the worke of Redemption When we see the bread broken and wine powred out let us thinke of the bitter passion of Christ the renting of his holy bodie and shedding of his most precious bloud for our sinnes When the Minister offreth these let us thinke how lovingly God offreth his Sonne to be our Saviour And as the Receiver taketh eateth and drinketh the bread and wine and it turneth into his substance so by the hand of faith we must receive and apply Christ unto us to dwell in our hearts who hath given himselfe for us Lastly let God have most hearty thanks and praise for all his mercies represented and exhibited to us in his holy Ordinances in regard whereof the Greekes call it an Eucharist Thus from a marvelling Text I have taken occasion to provoke you to marvell at the institution of this day and at the service of this day I desire that God may have the glory of all and that ye would say one to another Doubtlesse we have heard and seene and received strange things to day and the Lord make us thankfull Amen His Passiō most marvellous to say nothing of his hunger thirst wearisomnesse dangers persecution derision his whole life being a continuall passion yet can you reade and heare of his Agonie how without any violent exercise or bodily paine in an open Garden in a fresh aire in the moist dew and prostrate on the cold earth yet was in such an Agonie that his sweat was like drops of bloud trickling downe to the ground And doe yee not marvell Himselfe did marvell Is there any sorrow like my sorrow wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger Doe you reade and heare of the desperate and insolent behaviour of wicked men preferring a notorious murtherer before the innocent Sonne of God crying out to have him crucified and let his bloud be on them and their children crowning that head with thornes which is higher than the heavens spitting in that face which the Angels doe delight to behold nailing those hands to the Crosse which made heaven and earth piercing those feet which have walked on the sea but never stood in the way of
his doctrine as himselfe hath said The workes that I doe beare witnesse of me that the Father hath sent me And againe If I doe not the workes of my Father beleeve me not but if I doe though â—â—â— beleeve not mee beleeve the workes Now if wee compare this with the other Euangelists it will appeare that Christ had taught the people many things in parables and therefore went purposely to the sea that he might by miracle there as it were seale the truth of that doctrine which he had taught and delivered for as our Saviour asked Philip Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat did it onely to prove him for he himselfe knew what he would doe So our Saviour knew what he would doe on the sea and for what worke he purposely went thither at this time The fourth and last was the triall of their faith who having been now some good time with him he would make triall of their proficiencie as God tried Abraham not that God was ignorant what was in Abraham or Christ ignorant what was in his Apostles but they were ignorant what was in themselves and presumed they had more faith than they had wherefore it pleased our Saviour Christ by bringing them into this danger on the sea to let them see the weaknesse of their faith and by doing such a miracle strengthen it and make them in all future dangers to rest more stedfastly on his Almightie power and not feare any evill by water or land In whom we may behold and learne for our instruction what is the Lords usuall manner of dealing with his Disciples No Schoole-master doth make that triall of his scholars of their proficiencie that God maketh of his concerning their profiting and growth in Knowledge Faith Repentance Patience Zeale none shall be long in his Schoole but he will trie them either by sicknesse of bodie discomfort of soule losses crosses dangers by water or land false doctrine evill example one way or other All that live godly shall be sure of their trials The Apostle saith That is no strange thing yea as the Apostle Paul saith They that are without correction are Bastards and not sonnes So they that are without trials are Bastards and not sonnes all Gods children are partakers thereof you cannot be ignorant of the great trials of Abraham Isaack Iacob Ioseph Moses David Iob the Children of Israel in the wildernesse it is our common condition and therefore good counsell that Syracides giveth My son if thou come to serue the Lord prepare thy soule for temptation Thou canst not be long with Christ on the land but hee will have thee into the ship thou must to the storme and yet all for the best in regard whereof Saint Iames hath pronounced Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he is tried he shall receive the crowne of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him And Saint Peter saith Our faith being tried and found more precious than gold that perisheth shall be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Iesus Christ Oh if the graces of God as Knowledge Faith Patience Humilitie Zeale doe appeare in excellent measure as they did in Abraham Iob David and others specially the holy Martyrs how greatly is it for Gods honour and their true comfort and happinesse but if these be very weake and feeble in us and humane frailtie exceedingly appeare yet how profitable is it to know our wants as for those Apostles to know how weake their faith was that so they might walke in greater humilitie and pray the more earnestly Lord increase our faith Wherefore be not afraid of the storme if thou beest sound at the heart it shall be for thy good which made David so pray Examine me ô Lord and prove me try my reines and my heart And againe Search me ô God and know mine heart try me and know my thoughts marke well if there be any way of wickednesse in me For howsoever David knew his integritie yet the heart of man is deceitfull above all things who can finde it and he desired to know if his faith were weake or any wickednes lay lurking in any secret angle and corner of his heart as holy Iob suspected himselfe Though I were perfect yet will I not know that is justifie mine owne soule and S. Paul in jealous humilitie confesseth I know nothing by my selfe yet am I not hereby iustified he that iudgeth me is the Lord Thus in an holy humble jealousie we should be glad to know if there be any weaknesse or wickednesse in us The manifestation whereof in his Apostles was a principall motive to leade them to the sea and into this storme For a conclusion of this first point let it be observed for ever remembred that my Text saith Christ is the first that entred into the ship He sendeth not his disciples to sea and himselfe standeth fast on shore but He first entred into the ship The greatest comfort to the Church of God in generall and every Christian in particular is that Christ is present with them in all their troubles and dangers God spake to Moses out of the burning bush And this is it which he hath so often graciously promised As to Moses when he sent him to speake to Pharaoh and deliver his people Certainly I will be with thee and the like to Ioshua As I was with Moses I will be with thee all the daies of thy life I will not faile thee nor forsake thee and unto Ieremie Speake all that I have commanded thee and feare not their faces for behold I am with thee to deliuer thee yea the promise is made to all Gods people When thou passest thorow the waters I will be with thee and thorow the riuers they shall not ouerflow thee when thou walkest thorow the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee And againe Because he hath set his love upon me I will be with him in trouble I will deliuer him and bring him to honor Ps 91. penult And Christ his promise to all his disciples is Loe I am with you alwaies even unto the end of the world and for confirmation thereof appeared to IOHN walking in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks whose corporall presence gave Peter such boldnesse and comfort that he presumed to walke upon the waters towards him yea the assurance of his spirituall presence gave David such courage that hee said I will not feare to goe thorow the valley of the shadow of death for thou art with me thy rod and thy staffe comfort me But on the other side Gods absence and departure is most grievous and fearefull specially in times of danger and distresse as when God was angred by the golden
crueltie compared with the compassion of God God himselfe hath said Can a woman forget her sucking childe that shee should not have compassion on the sonne of her wombe Yea they may forget yet will I not forget thee Our Saviour therefore useth an argument from the lesser to the greater saying If yee that are evill give good gifts to your children how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that aske him The Lord professed of himselfe that his bowels were troubled for Ephraim his deare sonne and pleasant childe Yea that his heart was even turned within him and his repentings did roule together As if he had begotten mercy he is called the father of it Yea as if there were no end thereof he is called The Father of mercies Yea whereas he is called the God of many things as of Patience Comfort Hope Peace c But Father and in plurall of none but this as if he were nothing but mercy Christ had compassion on the multitude when he knew they were but hungry He had compassion when he saw them bring their sicke unto him and will he not have compassion when life is in danger Oh right deare and precious in his sight is the death of his Saints Hee wept when his friend Lazarus was dead and will he not prevent it in his disciples Yes assuredly if it be for his glory and their good they doe well therefore to goe to Christ but it is enough to tell him what is their danger and misery Lord save us we perish Is then the Church of God in danger through cruell rage of bloudy persecutors so as it cannot in likelihood subsist goe to Christ and pray for his people Lord save us we perish Art thou thy selfe in danger through hunger thirst by water fire sword pestilence c. Goe to Christ and say Lord save me I perish So did David I will cry unto God most high and he shall send from heaven and save me from such as would swallow me â—p Psal 57. 2. Yea and go to him with great comfort and confidence for he hath beene made like unto his brethren that he might be a mercifull and faithfull high Priest yea hath beene touched with the feeling of our infirmities therefore let us goe bolaly to the throne of Grace and specially in danger of death Let us with his Disciples here goe to him who hath himselfe both suffered and feared it and hath in nothing more declared his goodnesse and greatnesse love and power than in delivering his servants from it when their lives have beene for his glory as his people from rage of enemies and Red sea Moses from the water Ionah out of the Whales belly the three Children out of the fiery furnace Daniel out of the Lions den yea Paul out of the mouth of the Lion Oh the dangers that every where by sea and land at home and abroad by day and night we are continually subject unto and wherein we had long since perished if he had not mercifully by his good providence and powerful protection of his good Angels preserved us To him let us ever commend our selves Lord save us that we perish not But I heare some object against this Vse and say Doe not Gods people complaine For thy sake are we killed all the day long and as sheepe appointed for the slaughter Doe they not complaine that the enemies prevailed and gave the bodies and flesh of his servants to be meat to the beasts of the field and fowles of the heaven and shed their bloud like water And againe They breake in peeces thy people and afflict thine heritage they slay the widow and stranger and murther the fatherlesse The ungodly even for his owne hearts lust doth persecute the poore Never might such complaints be more justly made than in these daies wherefore it seemeth that Christ doth not care though his people doe perish but as the carelesse shepherd said That which perisheth let it perish Zach. 11. 9. I answer that sometimes God suffereth great havocke to be made of his Church and people for their sinnes and giveth the dearely beloved of his soule into the hands of their enemies Ierem. 12. 7. nor will heare his best servants for them Ezech. 14. 20. but casteth them off to sword pestilence captivitie Ier. 15. 2. And then the enemie groweth proud and blasphemeth Who is the Lord that he should deliver Ierusalem out of mine hands And there is no helpe for them in God and then even Davids feet had wel-nigh slipt And the Prophet Habakkuk is wonderfully offended and expostulateth with God Oh God why doest thou hold thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he Yea then such as are not sound at heart fall away and say It is in vaine to serve God what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hoasts I say to all such enemies Vnderstand ye bruitish among the people He that planted the eare shall he not heare he that formed the eye shall hee not see He heareth the sighes and groanes and seeth the misery of his people and when he hath sufficiently scourged his people and accomplished his great worke upon Sion and Ierusalem he will burne the rod and Ashur shall pay for it as he hath threatned I was wroth with my people and gave them into thine hand but thou didst shew them no mercy upon the Ancients hast thou very heavily laid the yoke Oh the persecuting enemies have an heavie day comming And I say to all such as feare God Stand still and see the salvation of God Never any father corrected his childe with more unwillingnesse than God doth afflict his people his bowels yearne He putteth all their teares in his bottell And as he will preserve them they shall never everlastingly perish so either their bodies shall not perish but be preserved from sword of enemie or if he give them for a prey he will fill them with patience comfort and joy and receive them to eternall happinesse so as they shall praise him and for ever confesse Thou hast tried us as silver thou broughtest us into the net thou layedst affliction upon our loynes thou hast caused men to ride over our heads we went thorow fire and water but thou hast brought us into a wealthy place Rest assured Most precious in the sight of God is the death of his Saints They may confidently pray they may not perish for he hath numbred their very haires Matth. 10. 30. He keepeth their very bones so as not one can be broken much lesse any one shal die but as it is for Gods glory and their good Our second
Our mother Church may be an Example who found the truth of this Doctrine by wofull experience at whose doore Christ knocking and desiring to enter shee returning a sluggish answer I have put off my coat how shall I put it on but being better advised and arising to open unto him he was gone and as Shee was hardly perswaded to arise and open to him so was He as hardly perswaded to arise and helpe her but suffered her to run up and downe in the streets to seeke him and could not finde him yea to fall into the hands of cruell watchmen who did smite and wound her Oh see the bitter fuits of dallying and late repentance So his people having provoked him and calling to be delivered out of the hands of their enemies see what a cold answer he giveth Where are your gods the rocke wherein yee trusted that did eat the fat of your sacrifices and drinke the wine of your drinke-offerings let them rise up and helpe you and be your protection Oh poore is the helpe that Idols can give to their worshippers having eyes but see not eares but heare not feet but walke not The Prophet biddeth the people that would raise God to give him no rest Christ biddeth us aske seeke knocke and commendeth spirituall violence The Apostle requireth a labouring or striving in prayer and the King of Ninivie commanded his people to cry mightily unto God All which declare that God helpeth not his people till he be raised he is not raised but with violence and as it were by being pricked under the sides as the Hebrew word signifieth Shall I conclude this point with paralelling it with another The people of God being persecuted and much distressed by their enemies David penned that most excellent Psalme the 68. wherein first he directeth them what to doe in their wofull case viz. as the Disciples did here to goe to Christ for to him the Apostle applieth that Psalme And what must they intreat him to doe To arise Arise Lord and let thine enemies be scattered The Lord did arise and went forth before his people made Kings with their Armies to â—lie rebuked the companie of spearemen the multitude of Buls and Calves of the people and scattered them that delighted in warre And what are Gods people taught to doe then Even to praise God and mutually provoke one another thereunto Blessed be the Lord even the God of our salvation he that is our God is the God of salvation and to him belong the issues of death Oh blesse yee God in the Congregations oh sing unto God yee kingdomes of the earth oh sing praises to the Lord even to him that rideth upon the heavens the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people blessed be God And is this all No but when they have praised him for the good he hath done they are also directed to pray unto him to goe forward and perfect his good worke begun Strengthen oh God that which thou hast wrought for us for thy Temples sake at Ierusalem so shall Kings bring presents unto thee Oh how fit that Comment and this Theme and both of them for this time Many have beene the troubles of Gods people for these late yeeres in many parts of the Christian world and Christ hath slept long but loe by the importunate prayers of his people he is at last awakened his head is up from the pillow he is risen and hath begun a gracious calme Though I cannot say with the Psalmist Warres are ceased in all the world yet hath he beene marvellous to breake the bow knap the speare asunder and create a glorious peace for so many thousands and millions of his worthy servants in France and to give them the shadow of a great rocke in that weary land Oh let the voice of gladnesse be heard in righteous mens dwellings and let God be praised in the congregations of his Saints and let all men pray the Lord to finish that good worke he hath begun establish that peace in all truth and sincerity and give like comfort and breathing to all his servants in Germanie and else-where Yea be assured now he is risen he will in his good time doe some great worke and cause if his people now praise and pray a great calme I say then with Moses Stand still feare not and see the salvation of God and with the Prophet Zacharie Be silent ô all flesh before the Lord for he is now raised up out of his holy habitation So much for Preparation The Reprehension followeth He rebuked the wind and the sea All the Euangelists doe use one and the same word which in the native proprietie doth signifie to reprehend and chide and charge yea charge strictly even with threatnings and menaces and accordingly translated in some Latine Copies q. d. I charge you be still and calme upon your perill be it I will make you rue it else Which majesticall threatning intendeth three things viz. first Authoritie to command secondly Power to punish if he be not obeyed lastly An acknowledgment of that power For in vaine it is to command or threaten if the parties or creatures doe not regard us But as hee had power to command and threaten and punish so winds and seas had eyes and eares and heart to see heare feare and obey he no sooner commanded and threatned but presently they obeyed There was a great calme Heare â— heaven and hearken ô earth for the Lord speaketh Esay 1. 2. If the Lord speake heaven and earth and all creatures have eares to heare O earth earth earth heare the word of the Lord Ierem. 22. penult I say againe let it be marked that Christ did not pray intreat and beseech but with authoritie he commanded Peace and be still as if he were much provoked with their impetuous insolencie And no marvell What Winds and seas not know their Maker What Have they heretofore trembled and fled at his presence and doe they now rage and roare and conspire to drowne him What high treason against the Lord of heaven and earth is this It is well they escape with a rebuke that he doth not make them feele the power of his wrath and give all posterities occasion to say with the Prophet What ailed thee oh thou sea What didst thou Lake of Gennesareth that the Lord was so angry and displeased with thee What was thy transgression ô sea of Galile for which the Lord powred out upon thee the furiousnesse of his wrath Oh let it be written and let all posterities note the meeknesie and gentlenesse of the Lord towards his creatures who did no further punish such a treasonable conspiracie against his life but with a rebuke Peace and be still Here for our instruction let us learne what is the soveraigne Regall authoritie of this great
earth for them Doe they want Pearles and Iewels The rivers and streames shall afford them Are they heavy-hearted The Vine shall glad them with wine Have they cause of mirth and feasting Oile shall make their faces to shine Are waters cast out of the Dragons mouth The earth shall swallow them up Doe winds and waves roare and threaten to drowne If Christ doe but bid be still they are calme and obey him A point of Doctrine which one of the Ancient Fathers hath abundantly confirmed and illustrated by positive and exemplarie Scriptures if I would inlarge it Oh let us thankfully admire and extoll the mercy and goodnesse of God who is so bountifull in the donation of good condonation of the evill of guilt and preservation from the evill of punishment that hath saved us from so many and so great evils of bodie soule estate by water and land and hath given us all good things abundantly to enioy pertaining to life and godlinesse sendeth us daily manifold comforts from Heaven Aire Earth Sea Sunne Moone Starres Light Birds Beasts Fishes Fruits Herbes And if he have so liberally provided for us in the wildernesse what inestimable good things are provided for us in our owne Countrie If so great things in the prison what in the Palace If such a calme in this world what in heaven If such varietie of comfort in this vale of teares and in Christ his absence what at the mariage-feast Oh when your tables are richly furnished with varietie of good things from aire earth sea praise him whom winds and sea obey and let your harts be lifted up to meditate on those future and inestimable good things prepared in heaven for them that love him Our Doctrine from the Mystery is That all creatures at Christ his command are readie to serve his Church and people though never so contrarie to their nature If the Lord rebuke the winds will not blow nor waters flow nor fire burne nor hungrie Lions devoure nor Sunne move If all things were not thus at command it were impossible for the poore Church of Christ to subsist on earth to endure such cruell conspiracies and bloudie persecutions of mightie Tyrants for his poore little flocke to dwell in the midst of so many ravening Wolves for this little Cock-boat to ride out such grievous stormes and tempests but our God who was then in the ship and rebuked winds and sea and they obeyed he is now in heaven and doth whatsoever he will and he hath promised to be with his to the ends of the world and that the gates of hell shall not prevaile against them And therefore if in times of trouble and distresse when it pleaseth Christ to scourge and fanne his Church we be too weake in faith and too strong in feare and bewray pusillanimity and cowardize let us with David ingenuously confesse This is our infirmitie not regarding the Scriptures nor the power of God Let us be ashamed of it and learne more stedfastly to trust in the Lord as David counselleth Let the house of Israel trust in the Lord hee is their helper and defender O house of Aaron trust in the Lord he is their helper and defender yee that feare the Lord trust in the Lord he is their helper and defender he will blesse the house of Israel he will blesse the house of Aaron hee will blesse them that feare the Lord both small and great Yea let this Doctrine be remembred and it will wonderfully comfort and strengthen our faith in the resurrection For as winds and sea obeyed Christ now at the last day earth and sea shall heare and obey the voice of Christ yeeld up al the dead which they have received Marvell not at this for the houre is comming in the which all that are in the graves shall heare the voice of Christ and shall come forth Whereof he hath given us assurance in the raising of Lazarus Rulers daughter and widowes sonne only with his word Lazarus come forth Damsell arise Young-man arise This was of old most lively represented to the Prophet in vision hee was caried by the Spirit of the Lord and set downe in the middest of a valley which was full of dead mens bones and very drie and he was commanded to prophesie upon those bones which he did saying Oh yee drie bones heare yee the word of the Lord and immediatly there was a noise and behold a shaking and the bones came together bone to his bone and sinewes and flesh and skinne came upon them and covered them This as one of the Ancient Fathers saith was a most lively picture of the Resurrection of the dead which shall at the end of the world be effected by the omnipotent voice of the Sonne of Man Yea scarce any of the Fathers have written of the Resurrection but have made singular use of that Vision If at any time then our faith shall stagger at that Article which as a Divine saith is so farre above though not contrary to naturall Reason let us strengthen our faith with that excellent Vision Yea this was also represented to Saint Iohn in vision The sea gave up the dead which were in it and death and hell gave up the dead which were in them No matter then where we die by sea or land or where we bee buried in earth or water these are all but Gods Gaolors and shall faithfully bring forth all such as have beene committed unto them at that generall Assises If thy faith stagger let it rest upon the omnipotent power of Christ and for ever remember what you have heard from this storie Christ rebuked the winds and the sea and they obeyed him And therefore say I will lay me downe and take my rest for the Lord sustaineth mee I know my Redeemer liveth and I shall rise againe Our second lesson from mysterie is That the maine and principall end of all Gods word and workes is that from consideration thereof man may be provoked to admire and set forth the praise and glory of Christ What manner of man is this that hath done such things The Lord hath made all things for himselfe saith the Wise-man And the perpetuall exercise of the glorified Saints in heaven is day and night to praise Christ for the great worke of Redemption Thou wast slaine and hast redeemed us unto God by thy bloud out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation and made us Kings and Priests unto God Here then is an infallible touch-stone whereby to trie all Doctrines and I would to God with charitie and sobrietie all the matters in question betwixt the Papists and us were with meekenesse brought to this touch-stone Those Doctrines are ever soundest which doe give glory to Christ and provoke men to admire praise him What manner of man is he But whatsoever