Impenitencie is the greatest malignancie and the most dangerous We are often very busie and inquisitive about some persons that doe not appeare over-active let every man first pluck the beame out of his owne eye and with the disciples suspect himselfe Master Is it I and aske as the Publicanes and the Souldiers that came out to heare John the Baptist What shall we doe they that are much abroad are little at home those that are curious about others are commonly carelesse and negligent about themselves we wast our spirits in froward passions it were better we spent them in afflicting our soules that so much water may not runne by wast and grinde nothing We know well enough there can never be a generall or particular safety for all or any when there hath been such disorders as of late unlesse there be a pardon and an Act of oblivion therefore in all Pacifications that is one Article let us transferre the wisdome hither and seeke forgivenesse of God first and cry mightily to the Lord Who can tell if God will turne and repent and turne away from his fierce anger that we perish not There is much talke and much adoe about the new Modell Oh that there were an heart in every of us to get new hearts and right spirits to put off the old man concerning the former conversation which is corrupt according to the deceitfull lusts and be renewed in the spirit of our minds and put on the new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse It is held the wisdome of a State when they are about an accommodation to take care for the securing of such persons as they have in jealousie and may be dangerous lest they kindle the fire anew and it breake out againe to more mischiefe Let us also be carefull to secure our owne deceitfull hearts desperately deceitfull and wicked above measure set a watch over them that we may be safe from their treacherie above all keepings keepe the heart out of it come murders c. For that purpose let us bring them againe under new engagements let us renew our Covenants this day we had need doe it oft and be oft put in mind to doe it and to keepe it when we have done It is not yet time out of mind of man since a solemne Oath and Covenant was framed and urged with much zeale upon all over whom there was power I doubt not but ye remember the grounds and reasons with the manner of the carriage of that businesse I have heard some speake as if they repented it and changed their judgements about the businesse of Reformation and there hath beene talke and hope of a forbearing to presse it any more upon any new occasions or a connivence at the refusers amounting to an inlargement from it reade the preface to it and wonder how such dreames should come in any mans head By what ill dint hath it been so blasted as to have lost its vertue or necessitie or upon what pretence can any amongst us imagine themselves or be thought by others so formidable or so confiding as they must therefore for the sake of libertie of conscience be left at large or be loosed from it if there be a realitie in such a fancie Lord have mercy upon us how shall the persons guilty of such levitie ever answer it to God or the world or their owne consciences or the parties who have beene already yoaked by it one thing I am sure of that whatsoever in it may be repented of yet there is no shadow or colour of cause to depart from this clause and the obligation to it And because these Kingdomes are guilty of many sinnes and provocations against God and his Sonne Iesus Christ as is too manifest by our present distresses and dangers the fruits thereof we professe and declare before God and the world our unfained desire to be humbled for our owne sinnes and for the sins of these Kingdomes And our true and unfained purpose desire and endeavour for our selves and all others under our charge and power both in publique and in private in all duties we owe to God and man to amend our lives and each one to goe before another in the example of a reall Reformation It were wickednesse to decline such a profession and a snare after such a vow to make enquirie Let every man therefore fortifie his purposes his duty in this by entring bond anew this day But remember what the Preacher saith When thou vowest a vow unto God deferre not to pay it for he hath no pleasure in fooles pay that which thou hast vowed suffer not thy mouth to sinne neither say thou before the Angel It was an errour wherefore should God be angry at thy voyce and destroy the worke of thine hands And that we may the better prevent a generall backsliding and promove an universall amendment let us unite and associate we that dwell in associated Counties can speake of the benefit of Associations by experience and therefore hope and pray the continuance thereof that we may so be mutually helpfull and exhort one another daily may watch over each other consider one another to provoke to love and good works and by good example may light and lead on others and so make the Reformation more generall and more lasting Thinke on these things and if there be any other thing which God cals us to in such a season as this let us heare it and know it for our selves as Souldiers receive the word of Command every man for himselfe not to jangle with his fellow Let us heare and doe it while it is called to day Let us arise and be doing Especially ye Honourable and beloved for this matter belongeth unto you we also will be with you consider it and doe it For first were ye all in your owne persons as free from the offence as Moses could ye apologise for your selves with Samuel or wash your hands in innocencie with David yet when wrath is upon the Congregation or the storme may be foreseene in the vapour the punishment in the sinne you ought to rent your garments and sit downe astonished with Ezra and deprecate the judgement with Hezekiah Ye know the Law in the case of uncertaine murder Deut. 21. 1 2. If a man be found slain in the land and it be not known who hath slaine him then thine Elders and thy Judges shall come forth c. He saith not the Elders of the next Citie as afterwards ver. 3. but thine Elders the generall States of the Land some of the high Court at Ierusalem the equitie and morall of it reacheth you by vertue of your middle station and relation betweene God and the people the care of making the expiation and atonement lyeth upon you and ye are the men whom God seeketh to step into the gap to make intercession The reproaches wherewith they reproach him should fall on you and ye should be
for so it is paraphrased by the Translators it primarily signifies in the middest and intimates as much as in and by them all and every of them joyntly and severally superiour inferiour good or bad whether doing good or ill Some observing that it is many times applied to the heart and entrailes because in the middest of the body and metaphorically transferred to the thoughts of the minde Psal. 64. 6. because nothing is more inward then the agitation of a matter in the thoughts of the heart doe therefore conceive that the Psalmist intended hereby an influence of God upon their very thoughts and the preparations of the heart Others expound it openly and read it thus He will iudge the Gods openly as parallel with that of Elihu Job 34. 26. He striketh the mighty as wicked men in the open sight of others or place of beholders Now though I know not whether we may reject the other two the rather because we may often observe the Holy Ghost choosing words not of ambiguous but of manifold signification to make the sense not more doubtfull but more comprehensive Yet I choose to embrace the first because it seemes to be the most naturall and Grammaticall as the most obvious and familiar sense Having thus made out the exposition of the words and thereby the interpretation of the Text we may the better take our aime and make our observations The three parts of the Text for so it naturally divideth it selfe Who What and Among whom afford us three points of doctrine 1. The first is this That God is the first the chiefe the onely universall Iudge and absolute Monarch He is a The God of Gods the King of Kings the Lord of Lords Higher then the Highest the onely Lord the onely Potentate onely the most Highest 2. The second is this That the judgement is the Lords and he is with men in the judgement or as it is in Psal. 22. 28. The kingdome is the Lords and he governeth among the nations 3. The third is this That those persons who have the honour to have the power to exercise Authoritie amongst men are greater in dignitie and neerer to God in eminencie then other men The second of the three that is drawn from that golden tache which couples the two extreames of the proposition hath in it the marrow of all the Text and is the life of the Law in the whole Psalme for so our Saviour cals it when he cites a part of it Joh. 10. 34. and therefore I shall pitch onely upon that at this time I propounded it in the words of the Scripture and may therefore spare the labour of citing those places for proofe In other termes take it thus In the delegating of power and substituting of men to beare rule amongst men He neither devests himselfe of any piece of his Soveraigne Authoritie nor after the manner of Kings in their Kingdomes appoints the office assignes the honour limits the jurisdiction prescribes the rule gives the countenance concurs sometimes to helpe and sometimes cals to account and otherwise withdraw himselfe from the worke and take his pleasure but is an immediate Agent in the judgement all along from the first ordaining the power through the ordering of every matter to the over ruling and disposing of the last issues and events thereof There is the same influence of God into Government and all that beare rule or serve in it and that which is done by them though they goe by their owne principles to their owne ends that there is in the generall administration of providence through the world the various occurrences therein and the motions of those inanimate and irrationall creatures who are acted and over-ruled to their ends by a Power without themselves so as it may be truly said of the ordering of the concernments of men by the Lord and in the same sense as our Saviour spake by the upholding of other things by the word of his Power My Father worketh hitherto and I worke He worketh in the conservation of the matter and being of things for by the continuall flowing in of the same Power upon them which gave them their first existence they continually receive their subsistance as by a continuation of creation He maketh all things He stretcheth forth the heavens He spreadeth abroad the earth by himselfe He worketh in the holding up of the frame of heaven and earth and all things in them for they abide not together as a building compact by joynts and bands but as a chaine of rings by the vertue of the Loadstone as many pieces in the hollow of a mans hand which if drawne away they fall in sunder All things consist in him He worketh in the movings of all the creatures according to their natures and the order for them in the beginning He bringeth out their host by number he calleth them all by names by the greatnesse of his might for that He is strong in power not one faileth Every wheele in the great Engine of Creation turne that the voyce and by the Spirit of him that sits above upon the Throne In like manner God is operative in the bringing in of Government the upholding of Authoritie the placing or displacing of Persons the inclining of their spirits the ordering or confounding of their counsels the exerting of their power and the bringing about of the severall effects of all these things a He ordaines the powers that be He looseth and bindeth the collars of Princes c He putteth down one and setteth up another d He turneth even the heart of the King whither soever he will e He is understanding and by him Princes decree iustice f If there be a perversenesse of spirit mingled amongst them He causeth them to erre in the worke g And though men seeke the favour of the Ruler yet every mans iudgement cometh from the Lord And the good or the evill that is in the Land He doth it h He makes peace He creates evill the Lord doth all these things So that we may boldly say there is no power in the world no person is in place or hath abilitie to exercise authoritie or hath it not there is not a devise in any mans heart not a designe in any Councel not a Law made or executed not an Action undertaken not an alteration in any State but the Hand of the Lord worketh all these things for the judgement is his and men accomplish his pleasure though they doe not know him as Cyrus Esa. 44. 45. Chap. 45. they fulfill his charge when they drive on their owne designes as the Assyrian Esa. 10. 6 7 8. they bring about his purposes when they please their owne humours as Rehoboam and his Counsellors 1 King 12. They execute his judgements when they serve their owne lusts as Baasha and Jehu 1 King 16. 7. Hos.
the inhabitants of the earth did fashion their hearts alike or alone by himself without others and considered all their works Lastly the reducing of Kingdomes and the affairs of men into Order when they are once out of course When the spirits of Princes and people are prejudiced estranged divided imbittered enraged and engaged against one another and there is envy and strife and confusion and every evil work and they bite and devoure and consume one onother whence shall a reconciliation and redemption arise if He that stilleth the raging of the waters that commands the windes and the Seas and they they him doe not also rebuke the Beast of the â—â—…ds the multitude of the Bâ—…lls with the Calves of the people till every one submit himself One may as wel suppose an instrumeÌ„t out of frame to come into tune of it self without the hand of an Artist as that a Kingdome divided within it self should return into order and be setled again in peace and quietnes without the hand of the Lord We may loose our selves in the multiplying of arguments of this nature I have named a few amongst an infinitie possibly many others far more pregnant and pertinent may offer themselves to your thoughts the multitude of them makes the choyce difficult to me nothing is harder then when one walkes on the beache by the sea side to finde the fairest shore Take all or any of them and there is enough to convince an Atheist not onely that there is a God but that He iudgeth among the Gods If ye now require the ground of this dispensation viz Why the Lord should rule in and by men rather then prepare his own throne and judge in his own Majestie alone by himself like that Miracle of Nature which doth more by the Iron wherewith it is armed then by its own body without it The reason is not any necessity of Nature or defect of power in God as in Princes but meerly the good pleasure of his will the superabundance of his goodnesse in favour and condescension to man If God should judge immediately the judgement would be more dreadfull and terrible we could not bear the glory we should be swallowed up of the Majesty we may guesse as much by some passages in story of old when God kept the matter of government more in his own hand then now particularly by that which we read in the 19 of Exodus and 5 of Deut. when He gave the Law on mount Sinai there were thundrings and lightnings and a thick cloud and darknesse and the whole mount did quake and burn with fire insomuch as the people trembled and the Elders drew neer to Moses and said Behold the Lord our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatnesse this great fire will consume us If we hear the voyce of the Lord our God any more then shall we die And so terrible was the sight as Moses said I quake and fear Now if the pomp of the promulgation of the Law was so dreadfull and lesse it could not be considering the Majesty of the King the Law-giver and the Judge what may we think would be the terrours of the Assises and Sessions while God should frequently arise to judgement and execution If God should not judge by men there could not be expected that connivence and moderation in the judgement that now is by the indulgence of men of like passions and compassions towards one another and I think the Scripture speaks something to this purpose in that passage in Exodus 33. 3. I will send an Angel before thee but I will not go up in the midst of thee for thou art a stiff-neeked people lest I destroy thee Certainly the Government thus carried is much more convenient and accommoded to our present condition and relations we could not meet and close and passe and part on all occasions with so little disadvantage to our nature and society if they that bear rule and they that are in subjection were not all of a kinde as the greater and lesser wheels in an Engine all of a metall whereas now the communion is is smoothed and sweetned and love and charity the easier brought in and made the more to abound among all men by the mutuall submission dependance and care of each another unto which they are obliged and ingaged by this administration I have been the longer in the clearing and confirming of the doctrine both because it is scarcely beleeved or but lightly regarded though commonly confessed and almost hourly spoken of and because there is hardly another truth in all the Bible of more common concernment or more generall use while we live in this world then this of my Text Like a picture drawn to the life it casts an eye every way upon every person in any relation and almost upon every occasion and businesse And it is very big and full of matter profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction and for instruction in righteousnesse Among other things it layes a sure foundation for the honour and power of Magistracy even in the matters of God and plainely holds forth as sacred and divine and not to be touched with common or profane hands that Ordinance of God which is the cement and pillar of humane things the life and soule of all order in society and communion the vitall spirits by which so many Millions of men consist comfortably And directs me to put men in minde to be subiect to be subiect to Principalities and Powers and obey Magistrates that with well-doing they may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men and gives faire occasion to grapple with the Anabaptists and Familists and other Sectaries whose Principles betray them to the despising of Dominion and speaking evill of Dignities presumptuous are they and selfe-willed such as the Apostles of our Lord fore-described and foretold us should arise in these latter perillous times These be they who separate themselves sensuall not having the Spirit They boast indeed much of the Spirit but they manifestly doe the workes of the flesh They plead for libertie but it is licentiousnesse libertie of conscience they terme it but it is libertie of practise that every man may do what is good and right in his owne eyes They pretend to nothing but pietie and godlines and seeme as if they would be content if they might but have a bare subsistence in the profession of it So did the Iesuites to learning when they they first appeared upon the stage but when they had once insinuated themselves into the good opinion of Princes and States how well they answered the expectations and requited the kindnesse of those who nursed them up all the Christian world sees and feels to their cost at this day They aske but connivence and toleration but if they once meet in a confluence and finde themselves strong enough to run in a streame let but a damme be pitcht downe to
upon earth but now since the curse the whole Creation being subjected to vanity and travailing in pain together till it be delivered from the bondage of corruption no wonder if it be ill with men and they be made to groane under much misery when all the disorder that is in the World is for their sinne and for their judgement Againe when God beholds no iniquitie in a Land no perversenesse in a people that is no publique Idolatry no universally over-spreading pollution no specially provoking transgressions there may then be peace and safetie and libertie and every man may sit quietly under his Vine and Fig-tree and they may call one another but If they rebell against him and vexe his holy Spirit and he become their enemy who shall be offended If He breake the Tables remove the Glory call them forth to Iudgement and put the Staffe or the Sword of his indignation into the hands of men and give them a charge to doe execution upon one another especially if the Gods will judge unjustly and will not understand but walke on in darknesse lesse cannot be expected but that God should arise to judge the earth and all things with good justice on his part be turned out of course Even amongst men when a Kingdome is divided within it selfe by the wickednesse of evill Counsellors and the madnesse of a distempered people a Parliament may doe many things in maintaining a warre imposing of taxes imprisoning of persons and sequesting of estates in that juncture of time excusable nay justifiable by the supreame Law which at another time all the world even themselves would condemne as most unjust Doe but take this into the Mount of transfiguration and we shall instantly lay our hands upon our mouthes and glorifie God and be thankfull whereas now we murmur and complaine there is so much disorder we may stand amazed and blesse God there is so little But I need not plead for God nor give in evidence for the Iudge of all the earth the rather because there is a conscience in man both him that offendeth and him that is offended at it which condemnes the guilty and justifieth God when he is judged There is but another difficulty that lies in our way to hinder our passage and that is a conceit of the impossibility of this thing because of the multiplicitie of operations and diversities of administrations in a world of places in every moment of time The Answer is that if the occasions be various and manifold suppose them infinite God is infinite also and there is the same proportion of infinite to infinite that there is of one to one if one man can doe one worke and ye being many may be held sufficient for the many concernments of the numerous people of the whole Land perhaps of the three Kingdomes where the number of persons are thousands many ten thousands more then your selves why should it be marvell in our eyes that one God of immense being whose perfections are his nature should be able every where among all men to worke all in all Doth not Nature teach us that the Sunne hath influence upon all creatures within the Firmament of heaven and is a concurrent cause to their being and activitie now if this may be affirmed of the creature how much more may the other be beleeved of the Almightie Creator and this is the praise of his All sufficiencie As for the imagination of some men who measuring the glory of God by the vanitie of man doe therefore judge it unworthy of such a Maiestie to stoope beneath the decreeing in the counsell of his owne will and the commanding of such things by his word to the working and effecting of every or some particulars by his owne hand it is scarce worth the mentioning for men but make a vertue of necessitie and therefore Princes doe not descend to particulars because they cannot the meane while hiding the infirmitie of nature under the fantasie and pompe of State Story hath made Xerxes famous for but distinguishing the persons and calling by their names the severall soldiers in his vast Army and Caesar for his being able to dictate to five or sixe Scribes in divers matters at the same time in what admiration would they have had the person of that Monarch if any such had been found that could comprehend in his understanding carry levell in his memory give directions by his command but to every officer cōcerning every affaire of State Now go we up by way of eminencie and this very thing will be found not onely the perfection of Gods knowledge but the abundance of his goodnesse Having thus spread and opened the Doctrine and made the light of it cleare and evident we may now goe on to the confirmation and demonstration of the truth thereof for which purpose if any further proofe be required then what hath already been alledged occasionally 1. We may see it very plainely in that emblematicall Vision represented in the first of Ezekiel where the living creatures that stood by wheeles and were commanded by the voyce and moved by the Spirit of him that sate upon the Throne had the likenesse of a man and they had the hands of a man under their wings on their foure sides and they foure had the face of a man as of other creatures to signifie this that the ordering of humane affaires is a great part the greatest part of God in the administrations of providence and if this thing had not beene comprehended in it the Vision had not served for that end for which it was exhibited viz. the confirming of the faith and corroborating of the spirit of the Prophet that he might preach the things to be revealed to him with the greater confidence and more full assurance because the accomplishment and effecting of them depended much upon the managing and the issues of government among men 2. We may read it at large in many particular instances Iob 12. vers. 9. and from the sixteenth vers to the end of the Chapter Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this with him is strength and wisdome the deceiver and the deceived are his he leadeth away Counsellors spoiled and maketh the Iudges fooles he looseth the bond of Kings and girdeth their loines with a girdle he leadeth away Princes spoiled and overthroweth the mighty he removeth away the speech of the trusty and taketh away the understanding of the aged he poureth contempt upon Princes and weakeneth the strength of the mighty he discovereth deep things out of darknesse c. i. e. The rule and the power and the skill of government is of the Lord and there happeneth nothing whether among the wise and prudent but even the wicked and crafty and such are seduced by their evill counsels or over-reached by their wiles so that nothing is done but he restraines it within certaine bounds and reduceth it to his ends
on the other the pendulousnesse the fears the jealousies the very hell that is in mens consciences as they lesse or more conscienciously or as I may so speak with the minde that is in God serve their generations or do for or against him or the dictates of his deputy with them The righteous is bold as the Lion but the wicked flies when no man pursues But I shall not need to alleadge Scripture or give an instance for this when every mans conscience beares witnesse to it their thoughts accusing or excusing one another Seventhly It may be perceived by the slumbering or awakening of an expectation in men generally and chiefly by the inclination or disposition of the hearts of the Lords remembrancers towards God in prayer according as any great change is to be made in the kingdomes of the World When things are to continue in one stay there is not perceivable any unusuall stirring in mens spirits but when the Lord is about to take up a controversie and enter into judgement with a Nation then mens hearts begin to fail them for feare and their spirits shrink up and start back with misgivings and presagings of evil to come and if the time of deliverance be not yet there is an indisposition to and heartlesnesse in prayer and even such as wait for the vision withhold prayer not of hypocrisie or self-guiltinesse as Eliphaz charged Job but as by a restraint upon their spirits by something from without as if the Lord were forbidding them to pray But if the salvation be drawing nigh though there be no appearance of it nor can one disern any probability of such a thing in the signes of the times yet there is a spirit of grace and supplication poured out upon them and their soules are drawne forth as to meet the Lord and salute and embrace their mercies and they reach forth their hearts in an earnest expectation of some good and speake one to another And if God be carrying on a worke in favour of his Church though many crosse providences intervene yet they send up fervent effectuall prayers they multiply prayers as the Cocks crow thick towards the morning and they follow on to seek the Lord and give him no rest till he heare them as we read in the stories of Daniel and Ezra and Nehemiah I doubt not but many of us can remember some yeares since when men bare rule over us at their pleasures and the measure of their iniquity was not yet full and the judgement was still in brewing with what an Asinine patience we bore all oppressions and couched downe like Issachar betweene the burdens and thought that rest was good and had no heart to lift up a prayer but a little before the wheele began to turn and since the Lord remembred mercy in wrath and revived his worke and made us see our tokens again who hath not found himself as going bound in the spirit to take hold upon the Name of the Lord to wrestle with him by prayer and supplication and who may not have observed the alterations in affairs to have answered very apparently this disposition of heart towards God Now what ever other men think of these things it plainly seems to me that as the flying of the fowle and the going of the cattell into their shelters before a storme and their coming forth again about the breaking of it away doth shew concerning the vapour so this different frame and temper of spirit in men about such seasons and in such junctures of times doth declare concerning that Divine influence whereof we are now speaking Eightly though we cannot make observation of the time and way of Gods illapse upon men and their actions yet there is something observable in the manner of the bringing in and carrying on of things that shew an higher hand then mans in the work I mean the many various accidentall dispensations of providences very chances as men term them that create seasons and advantages for severall purposes and start occasions and minister opportunities for Counsells together with the admirable ballancing of affaires casting of the scales now on this side then on that sometimes interrupting confounding preventing disappointing and tumbling of Counsells headlong at other times reviving advancing incouraging and prospering of parties and causes that any man may see it is done on purpose that there may be time and place for such judgements as none but God can do that he may get him a Name Now though we doe not much mark these things in the instant of time whē they happen yet if we cast our thoughts backe and bring times past into observation we must needs make this judgement that the things which God first causeth to come to passe do offer the thoughts and usher in the devices and lead on the contrivances of men all along in all their windings from the beginning to the ending and consequently be convinced concerning this as Saul was for himselfe when the signes happened to him whereof the Seer had foretold him That God was with him and the Spirit of God was come upon him and directed him to doe as the occasion served Ninthly This invisible working power and Godhead of God is made very visible and may be clearly seen in the issues and events of mens counsells and actions compare them with their next causes the instruments and meanes appearing in the worke and they will be found many times so disproportionable to them so utterly unlike so farre short or beyond so much beside or contrary to the intentions of the actors and the expectation of all men many of them such marvellous works so fearefully and wonderfully done as it is very hard to discerne whence they arose or how they came to passe We cannot think seriously of some of them without admiration as the people when the captivity of 〈◊〉 was turned and the very enemies are sometimes forced to confesse as the Magicians when the dust of the land became lice This was the finger of God and the Egyptians when their hoste was troubled at the Red sea The Lord fighteth for them Might I but have the libertie to preach as the Prophets did of old or to make a rehearsall of the great workes of God done of late amongst our selves as sometimes Moses and Joshua did before the people Nothing were more easie then to line this as all the rest of the observations before mentioned with examples out of our owne Storie When the Service booke was first imposed upon our neighbour Church of Scotland and the first reading thereof was so violently opposed by the rude multitude did either partie so much as foresee or forethinke what hath followed upon it ever since Who put it into the minds of those Souldiers who were first raised for the North at the same time in every corner of the Land to make an attempt and give the first overture of a Reformation How came the wheele