the Sunne in the darknesse though things differ never so much in colour yet they seeme all alike but when light commeth then the varietie of colours is soone descried In the time of ignorance men may thinke they accord in unitie of Iudgement and Affection but when the light of the word commeth the thoughts of many hearts are opened and then the diversitie of humours and varietie of affections and dispositions appeareth The very wicked doe see this truth and abuse it to a wrong end laying all the blame on the Gospel and the preaching of it What more common in these daies than to heare men say whilst all were obedient to the Pope and Church of Rome what great peace what warres but against the Turke the common enemy But since the preaching of the Gospell what sects warres tumults what divisions what killing murthering massacring and burning of one another giving advantage to the common enemy to incroach and in the end to prevaile greatly What more common than to heare country people complaine So long as we had nothing but Service or Reading we lived very lovingly peaceably and neighbourly every man medling but with his owne businesse but since we have had so much preaching there is nothing but siding and partaking all good fellowship is lost nothing but strife and contention and quarrelling of neighbour against neighbour yea many times division in the same house and father and sonne yea husband and wife divided and varying in opinion It is like enough that the most of this is true but what is properly the cause is the Question Is it Christ and his Gospell and the preaching of it So too many conceive and are not ashamed to say and wish they had lesse of it and they thinke they should have peaceable and golden times and then take occasion to open their blacke mouthes and raile upon it and the Preachers and professors of it accusing them for factious humorous turbulent seditious as Ahab to Eliah It was he that troubled all Israel 1 King 18. 17. and Tertullus accused Paul for a pestilent fellow and mover of sedition Acts 24. 5. Good Lord how clamorous are Atheists and Papists in this kinde But let me tell you Christ is the prince of peace his word the Gospell of peace his Ministers the preachers of peace his Disciples men of peace so far as is possible seeking to have peace with all men and striving to keepe the unitie of the spirit in the bond of peace Wherefore these are no causes but by accident no more than Christ and his Disciples in this ship were the cause of this storme in the Sea Alas saith David what have the righteous done Christ must die but his Iudge said he found no cause worthy of death in him You know what an uprore was in Ephesus raised by Demetrius and the Silver smiths against Paul what a confusion there was some crying one thing and some another and Gaius Aristarchus and Alexander like to be murthered but what saith the Towne-Clarke We are in danger to be called in question for this daies uprore for there is no cause of such a concourse no cause indeed given by Paul and his companions Will you then know and see whence are those stormes and tempests that doe so commonly follow the preaching and profession of the Gospell I pray you looke to the letter of your storie what caused this tempest The Winds and Seas Christ rebuked them and then there was a great calme he found no fault with any in the ship Even so there are two causes of these troubles viz. The first is Sathan the Prince that ruleth in the aire who so soone as the Gospell beginneth to be preached which is the power of God to salvation he presently bloweth and pufâ—eth and raiseth mighty winds of false doctrine and heresie he stirreth up false Brethren Sophisters and Tyrants by policie and power fraud and force and every way that he can to hinder the course of the Gospell and overthrow the Church it is He that by Gods permission raiseth these winds as he did for the overthrow of Iobs house The second is the Sea i. the corrupt and unregenerate nature of man which cannot abide the word but if Sathan blow upon it it will rage like the Sea as our Saviour saith He that doth evill commeth not to the light to have his works made manifest but hateth it The man or woman that have any sinne reigning in them though for some sinister respects they may shew a faire countenance yet doe hate the word and if occasion serve will storme and rage and procure all the trouble they can for it is as a fire they cannot endure it as we reade in the booke of the Revelation that fire went out of the mouthes of the two witnesses and tormented them that dwelt on the earth That fire is the word of God which being sincerely and powerfully preached by the two witnesses i. the Ministers of Christ doth torment and vex the Inhabitants of the earth i. unregenerate earthly carnall and worldly-minded men and this maketh them procure all the trouble they can and so to rejoyce and send gifts one to another when they are dead Oh let Sathan and mans corrupt nature be blamed for these stormes and tempests To conclude Christ and his Disciples are shipped and under saile and behold a tempest even as great a tempest as ever was so generally knowne in the Christian Sea The Lord awake and rebuke the winds and waves that make it preserve and make us thankfull for our calme which affordeth so safe harbour to so many Saints as flie hither for succour S. Ierome hath truly said There are tempests of the minde as well as of the Sea I have spoken of the tempest of the Sea according to the letter of my Text and also of the generall tempest of the Church through persecutions of Tyrants in the last Lecture Give me leave now to speake of the tempest of the minde of the inward billowes surges and waves of a troubled soule wherewith a mans particular Vessel or Cock-boat is even covered with waves of fearefull distresse and is like even every moment to sinke and be cast away Wherein for more orderly and profitable proceeding I will first speake of the tempest that the wicked have and then of the tempest that the godly are many times tried withall For the first Howsoever the wicked and ungodly may seeme most merry and joyfull and as if their consciences were marvellous quiet peaceable and calme yet the Holy Ghost assureth us their soules are ever in a tempest their very tranquillitie is a tempest There is no peace to the wicked saith my God but they are like the troubled Sea which cannot rest whose waters cast up mire and dirt and Salomon saith Their laughter is but from the lips the heart is sorrowfull
was famous throughout the world and affoorded so many Martyrs and let it be granted that this was Simon Peters ship which hee had left when Christ called him but not aliened the propertie but afterward used it for fishing Yet then let the Papists be pleased to note that if it were Peters it was but a fisher boat a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a navicula rather a cock-boat or small Barke Ascendente in naviculam Vulg. Mald. Band omnes Pontificij no man of war with flags streamers and abundance of cast peeces as theirs is a Beare with 3. ribs in his mouth Alas the Church of God is poore simple and abiect in comparison of other societies Witnes God himselfe who hath described it thus saying Oh thou afflicted tossed with tempest and not comforted far unlike the Romish Church which challengeth Vnitie Visibilitie Antiquitie Vniversalitie Miracles and whatsoever may make her glorious in the world I beseech you let us not contend with them in this for the judgement of God is so upon them that nothing doth more disprove them from being the true Church of God than what they doe most challenge for themselves But why would Christ enter into a ship seeing he could walke upon the sea was it not he that led the people of Israel thorow the red sea himselfe walked on the sea and made Peter to doe so too If then he would not enable his Disciples to doe so yet why did he not compell the Disciples to enter into a ship but himselfe to walke after them upon the sea as at another time he did I Answer though he that made the sea could have walked on it yet for three causes specially he would now go in the ship First to declare the truth of his Humanitie which hee well fore-saw would be denied by Manechies Marcionites and other Heretiques and therefore as at other times so specially when he wrought any glorious miracle for declaration of his Deitie he also gave some testimonie of true Humanitie As man he did spit upon the ground as God with clay he cured him that was borne blinde as man hee wept for Lazarus his death as God he raised him that had been foure daies dead as man he entred into a ship and slept as God he stilled the raging of the winds and seas If the Disciples seeing him but once to walke upon the sea were troubled saying It is a spirit and they cried out for feare What would they have thought if he had used it ordinarily And if they were so terrified and affrighted supposing they had seene a spirit because the doores being shut hee stood in the midst of them What would they have thought if he had alwaies so supernaturally and miraculously so behaved himselfe Wherefore to declare the truth of his Humanitie hee would now enter into a ship with his Disciples Secondly for the confirmation of their faith and enabling them to greater trials first he would now be with them and but on sleepe but the next time he will be absent see how they profited by this Thus doth God proceed from lesser to greater seeing what use wee make of former providence helpe grace and goodnesse Thirdly that by his Example hee might teach us to use lawfull meanes in our callings and as wee trauell by water or land and not tempt God by rashnesse and presumption casting our selues into needlesse perils and dangers the Devill placed Christ on a pinacle of the Temple and bade him cast himselfe downe which hee could have done without hurt yet to teach us how to carrie our selves in the like case he answered It is written Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God So if men have occasion to passe over rivers or seas we must not with Peter strive to walke upon the sea lest we linke and be drowned as he might have beene if his Master had not saved him but by bridges ships and such ordinary waies and meanes as God by mans art hath appointed So much for the sense The letter teacheth vs that it is a thing lawfull and warrantable for Christ his Disciples as occasions serve to travell in boats and ships from place to place yea and if there arise a storme and they come into danger of life yet not to be out of heart as if they were not in their waies and therefore not to hope for protection yea though they might with more toile have gone to the same place on foot and by land for Christ and his Disciples might have gone from Bethsaida to Gaderen by land this sea being but a lake so as if they would have compassed the lake they had met with no water saving Iordan over which there were doubtles bridges and safe passages but Christ and his Disciples to avoid that toile and being wearie take ship and goe by sea warranting the like yea if any shall take ship but for pleasure and recreation it is lawfull as for pleasure to ride on horse or in coach Christ hath sanctified these things to his children I am not ignorant that this doctrine is gain-said and that wise men specially amongst the Heathen have disliked Navigation and declaimed against it and the invention thereof as one saith Goe and commit thy life to the winds trusting in wood not foure inches from death Horace admireth the boldnesse of him that first went in ship It was one of the three things that Cato repented Travell by sea when by land hee might haue gone And Antigonus gaue his sonnes charge that they never hazard themselues on such adventures and the Greeke Comicke saith It is better to be poore by land than rich by sea But these were Heathen men and though some fearefull Christians be little wiser thinking it ever safest to see raging waters from the shore yet wee are better taught in Gods Schoole viz. That as all other Arts are primarily and originally from God that first and most perfect intelligible so specially this of Navigation for God himselfe gave expresse direction to Noah how to build the Arke for the saving of the creatures in the Deluge which was the first vessell for any thing we know that ever floated on the sea and which resting upon the Mountaines of Armenia was the modell or Idaea for the building of ships the Phenicians and after the Aegyptians being the first that practised this Art which is growne to a wonderfull perfection specially since the invention of the Load-stone and it is primarily from God which by experience is growne to such perfection so exceeding vsefull and profitable for Man for this is first a singular meanes of provision for how doth the sea contend with the earth for plenty variety and delicacie how many sundry sorts of most wholesome delicate fishes for food and most usefull for their bones and oile doth the sea yeeld which we
be the more grievous if Christ be on sleepe it will cause great calling and crying indeed Herein behold the example of Iob A man that feared God and eschewed evill Good Lord in what great and grievous stormes and tempests was he tossed and like to be swallowed up I meane not in regard of his body and estate but chiefly in regard of his soule when he so complained that God did set him as a But to shoot at that the terrors of God did set themselves in array against him Iob 6. 4. that hee did write bitter things against him made him possesse the sinnes of his youth would not suffer him to swallow his spittle and If I say my bed shall comfort me and my couch shall ease my complaint then thou skarest me with dreames and terrifiest me with visions thou appointest wearisome nights to me when I lie downe I say when shall I arise and the night be gone and I am full of tossings to and fro vnto the dawning of the day so as my soule chuseth strangling and death rather than life yea in weaknesse he cursed the day and all the services of his birth and was so weary of the tempest and not able to endure it any longer hee made his suit to the Pilot to cut asunder the Cable and let the ship runne against the rocks saying Oh that I might have my request and that God would grant me the thing that I long for even that it would please God to destroy me let his hand loose and cut me off Oh here was a tempest indeed so as if God had not kept him he would have leaped over boord into the Sea rather than have endured it In what a tempest was David when he said His spirit was in perplexitie and his soule amazed and that from his youth he had suffered the terrors of God with a troubled minde and as if he could afford to leape over boord too hath much adoe to perswade his soule to patience saying Why art thou cast downe oh my soule and why art thou so disquieted within me Ionah his bodie was not so tossed in the tempest as his soule in the tempest of Gods anger when he said All thy billowes and thy waves passed over me then I said I am cast out of thy sight In what a tempest were the lewes when they came in such consternation to Peter and the Apostles asking Men and brethren what shall we doe to be saved Yea Christ himselfe was in a greater tempest in his soule on the Crosse than now his bodie was on the Sea when he so cried out My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee S. Paul was often in perils on the Sea but nothing did so much shake him as his inward terrors the inward tempests of his soule made him cry out Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me So true is this doctrine and by these few examples instead of many fully confirmed that into whose soule soever Christ doth once enter to live and dwell by faith they shall be sure of stormes and tempests whereof these two principall reasons may be rendred viz. First the extreme and unappeasable malice of Sathan who so long as he doth reigne in the soule and conscience and is obeyed in his lusts there is great peace but if Christ a stronger than hee come and dispossesse him he will rage and will make that soule to shake and tremble that entertaineth Christ he will besiege it and roare with his Cannons of temptations that howsoever such a soule may have sweet peace with God yet it shall have perpetuall warre with Sathan who will doe all the mischiefe hee can If the woman be with childe and nigh in her travell and bring forth the great red Dragon will stand ready to devoure the childe and if he cannot prevaile he will cast great water-flouds after her Though the Vision most properly concerne Christ yet is it most true in his members no sooner is any childe of God conceived in the wombe of the Church by the immortall seed of Gods word and that he is formed and brought forth but Sathan the great red Dragon will seek to kill and destroy it as Christ saith He is a murtherer from the beginning and as the Apostle saith Hee goeth about like a roaring Lion seeking whom to deuoure and if herein hee be restrained yet will he cast out great flouds of temptations lies slanders feares doubts perplexities hee will not faile to raise a grievous tempest The second Reason is the corruption of our nature for though the Regeneration Sanctification of Gods children be most true yet is it imperfect in regard of degrees and the best of God children are partly spirit and partly flesh and that throughout all the inward powers and faculties and outward parts and members as in the dawning of the day when it is neither altogether light nor darke and in luke-warme water it is neither altogether cold nor hot so there is some ignorance in their minds some hardnesse in their hearts some frowardnesse in their wills sinne though it reigne not yet it dwelleth in them to defile and staine their best workes and stir vp stormes and tempests in their Soules and Consciences Here then first is a sweet comfort to Gods Children who have experience of the truth of this Doctrine in their owne Soules me thinketh I heare them thus lament The time hath beene when I could have beene merrie and glad and had abundance of joy and comfort in God it was my greatest delight to heare reade and pray I was able to be a comfort and stay to others but now my Soule is heavie and pensive sad and sorrowfull I thinke on nothing but my sinnes but those though many yeeres agoe committed I doe as perfectly remember with the circumstances thereof as if they were but yesterday I can thinke of nothing but Gods anger and the punishments of the Reprobate neither have I any delight in godly exercises or if I doe performe them I finde no comfort in them but returne from Church as void of comfort as I went thither rise up from praier with as heavie an heart as I kneeled downe I am even oppressed with feares doubts and distrusts that I have not truly repented that I doe not truly beleeve that I am not sanctified that I am not Gods Childe that he loveth me not that my sinnes are not forgiven and that I have but served him in Hypocrisie Oh behold what waves surges and billowes of discomfort may cover a poore Soule But let all such be of good comfort for first this is no other than that all Gods Children first or last more or lesse have experience of Thou thinkest none ever were in such cōdition thou art deceived Secondly it is an argument of good estate for so
this Miracle might be the more which redoundeth to Christ froÌ„ causing this calme the Euangelist telleth us there was a tempest a sudden tempest a great tempest and it appeareth it was so from divers passages of the storie For first the instrumentall Cause was a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a sudden and furious winde which God did cast upon the Sea for so the word in Ionah signifieth the waves also so lifted up and tossed with it that the very ship was covered with them or as the word signifieth was filled brim full for S. Marke useth the same word which is used in S. Iohn at the Mariage-Feast in Cana of Galile where the Water-pots are said to be filled up to the brim yea the passengers whereof some of them were Fishermen as Peter Andrew Iames Iohn were exceedingly fearefull they should be drowned Surely they had seene many a tempest before and were men inured and accustomed to such dangers of whom the Poet saith truly Their hearts are of brasse and oake to encounter dangers yet even they are as at their wits end as David saith and distracted with the greatnesse of this perill and cry out to their Master Saue vs wee perish All which declare the truth of my Text that this was a great dangerous tempest indeed wherof more hereafter wheÌ„l come to speake of the ship being covered with waves In the meane time receive this doctrine which coÌ„taineth both the History Mysterie viz. That God many times suffereth his people to come into great perills dangers extremities and very hard exigents before he deliuer them which being a doctrine lately and largely in this place handled from another Text I onely now barely propose it and proceed Vpon the Sea When God divided the waters from the dry land he called the dry land Earth and the gathering together of the waters Seas and ever since the Hebrewes have usually called all collections and gatherings together of waters Seas Yea that vessell which Solomon made for the vse of the Temple in stead of the Laver in the Tabernacle and was for containing of two or three thousand Baths of water for the Priests to wash with is called a Brasen Sea and Moulten Sea And howsoever my Text calleth this gathering of waters Sea and elsewhere it is called the sea of Galile because the promised Land being divided into three Provinces Galile Samaria and Iewrie this Sea was in the Province of inferiour Galile It is also called the Sea of Tiberias from a Citie on the banke of it of that name It is in the Old Testament called the Sea of Chinnereth and in the New Testament it is called the Lake of Genesarâ—th A lake and so it might more properly be called than Sea and so S. Luke calleth it even in recording this storie A storme of winde came on the Lake for that it was but a few leagues in compasse and the Lake of Genesereth because the countrey of Genesereth adioyned unto it Iâ— was a Sea that abounded with Fish and there was the place where Peter and Andrew Iames and Iohn were Fishers It was nourished with that sweet and pleasant Riuer of Iordan which rising at the foot of Mount Libanus running in a narrow channell did first inlarge it selfe in a small Lake called Merom where Iosuah discomfited the Canaanites Ios 11. 4 5 7. and then contracting it selfe againe kept channell till it came secondly more to inlarge it selfe in this Lake or Sea and then passing out of it againe did at the last emptie it selfe into the dead Sea a Sea though having no entercourse with the Ocean and dead because no fish or other creature doth liue in it because of the bituminous sulphureous matter I know no waters in the world comparably renowmed to this Riuer and this Sea Howsoever disgracefully Naaman once said Are not the riuers of Damascus Abanaâ— and Pharpar better than all the waters of Israel Yet hath God enabled the waters of Israel aboue all the waters of the world and the waters of Iordan aboue all the waters of Israel The waters of this Riuer betwixt this and the salt Sea did stand as on an heape at that time when Iordan overflowed all his bankes till his people Israel passed over it on drie ground into the land of Canaan right over against Iericho Eliah and Elishah divided the waters of this Riuer with their cloake and went over on dry ground Naaman the Syrian washing seuen times in it according to the word of the Prophet was clensed of his leprosie In this did the Prophet Elisha cause the Iron to swim Yea in this was Christ baptised and the Baptist saw heauen open heard the voice of the Father and saw the Spirit in likenesse of a Dove descend and light on Christ Oh that famous River of Iordan no Sea more ennobled than this thorow which it ran Here did Christ call â—oure of his first and prime Apostles On this sea Christ and Peter walked Here did hee calme the Tempest and here hee appeared after his Resurrection when they tooke an exceeding multitude of fishes On this famous sea now this great Tempest was So much for the Letter I having formerly shewed how marvellous God is in this Creature and provoked you to give him due glorie As the Ship representeth the Church so the Sea this world and may so fitly in a threefold respect First as the sea is alwaies in motion but specially tempestuous when the winds doe blow so this world is restlesse ever in action but then specially stormie and tempestuous when Tyrants and Heretikes doe blow upon it Againe as the sea is Dangerous for shelfes rocks sands unlesse men saile by a very good compasse and thousands doe make shipwracke to the losse of lives and goods So in this world are many dangers and perils and specially heresies and sins are as rockes whereon thousands even all that doe not saile by the true compasse of Gods word doe make shipwrack to the eternall destruction of soule and bodie as Saint Paul saith that Hymeneus and Alexander did Lastly as the â—ea is full of fishes and living Creatures there goe things creeping innumerable so is the world and as fishes in the sea are caught with nets so are men by the net of the Gospell as Christ said to his Apostles Follow me and I will make you fishers of men And the kingdome of heaven is like to a draw-net cast into the sea Matth. 13. 47. And as in the sea small fish are a prey to greater so in this world the poore and weake are as a prey devoured of the rich and strong In which respect the Lord by his Prophet calleth them Fishers for which and divers other respects if I would stand upon them the world may very fitly be compared to
The Heathenish Mariners in Ionahs storme did cry every man to his god In nothing were the Gentiles more sottish than in this the multitude of gods and goddesses and ascribing particular tutelar gods to particular places Babylon had Belus Egypt Isis Athens had Minerva and Ephesus Diana the Caldeans had Baal Sidonians Ashteroth Ammonites Moloch or Milcom Moabites Chamos Syrians Rimmon and the Philistims Dagon Yea the Elements had their severall gods to rule over them As the Heaven had Iupiter the Aire Iuno the Sea Neptune and Hell Pluto The times of the Yeere had also their gods As Maia and Flora of the Spring Ceres of Autumne Pan was the god of Shepherds Aeolus of Winds Apollo of Fruit Bacchus of Wine Smiths had Vulcan Physitians Aesculapius Souldiers Mars yea and Harlots had Venus Yea for every purpose and occasion yea every sicknesse or disease they had a god to call upon Alas to what purpose should I fully discover the madnesse of the Papists who in this if it were possible outgoe the Gentiles having for every Country Place Calling Creature Disease some Saint or other to call upon Our Disciples are better taught Poperie was not then hatched nor this point of Invocation knowne in the Church for 300 yeeres after for it was 300 yeeres after Christ that the Fathers used this Argument against the Arrians Christ is invocated therefore Christ is God they doe not in this storme call upon Aeolus or Neptune Saint Nicholas or Christopher no nor Noah Moses Ionah or any other who had beene in danger of Seas and waters before but they come to Christ the true and only Lord of Sea and Land and all Whose example let us follow To pray to any other than the true God hath no commandement commendation promise nor warrantable example in all the Scriptures of God To pray to dead Saints is a dishonour to the living God and as great offence to make a new as to denie the true God God hath commanded Call on me in the day of thy trouble Christ hath taught us to pray Our Father which art in heaven David renounced all other Whom have I in heaven but thee Who are Peter or Paul Samuel or Moyses Gabriel or Michael or the Virgin Mary her-selfe though more excellent than they all yet who are any or all of these that we should give them divine honour of Adoration Invocation or Intercession Nay howsoever the Papists doe plead it as a matter of honour and say in denying this we dishonour the Saints it is not so we give to the blessed mother of God and all the glorified members of Iesus Christ all honour bounded with modestie and sobrietie and never any learned Protestant did with tongue or pen out of Pulpit or Presse once touch the hem of their garments to deprive them of the least reverence which the word of Truth hath taught us to give and specially consisteth in thankfull commemoration and carefull imitation of their renowmed vertues but to pray unto them in our wants and necessities is to give them such honour as is due unto God And if Olympias the Mother of Alexander the Great wrote to her sonne when he stiled himselfe the sonne of Iupiter not to doe it for feare of procuring the envie and displeasure of Iuno I dare say it is a matter not only displeasing to God but to the Angels and Saints themselves Did an Angell here on earth refuse that Iohn should bow the knee of his bodie to him and charge him See thou doe it not I am but thy fellow-servant worship God and will they be contented now that the knees of mens hearts be bowed and prayers powred out unto them No no if it were possible for them to heare such unlawfull prayers of men they would with both hands as we say put them from them and labour to purge themselves Not unto us Lord not unto us but to thy Name be such honour ascribed Shall prayer which one of their best Writers saith doth comprehend the whole worship of Religion and Piety shall this be given to creatures Oh keepe your soules unspotted of such a sinne when yee pray pray as the Disciples here by their examples have taught you pray unto God who only is able and willing to heare and helpe you Thirdly what doe they being come to Christ doe they sit leane or lie downe and dispose themselves to sleep with him No but as in the storme the Ship-master awakened Ionah so in this storme the disciples awakened Christ or as the word signifieth they raised him up Yea the word in many places is used where mention is made of the resurrection as Destroy this Temple and in three dayes I will raise it up and Many bodies of Saints which slept arose and If Christ be risen from the dead how say some among you there is no resurrection of the dead In which and many other places and specially in that Chapter to the Corinthians the word of my Text is used and not improperly for what is deep fast and sound sleep but the image and brother of death Now Christ was in a fast or dead sleep as we have heard and therefore the Disciples are said to raise him as it were from the dead For the letter it is probable that they awakened him very turbulently and irreverently for their feare was great and faith small Their words as we shall heare bewrayed a great deale of passion and as death is of all fearefuls the most fearefull to nature so doth it dispense with ceremonies and complements and take away all respect of persons What are the clamours vociferations and cursitations of men in perill of drowning We need not inquire of Seneca Virgil Ovid and other Heathen for the Psalmist witnesseth saying They are even at their wits end and cry to the Lord in their trouble and in Ionahs storme the Mariners being afraid cried every one to his god and cast out their wares Howsoever then at other times the Disciples carried themselves in words deeds and gesture humbly dutifully courteously yet feare of death now made them forget themselves and offer violence with tongue and hand they cried with their tongues and at least jogged him with their hands never ceasing till they had awakened and raised him But I leave the letter The word being fully opened in mysterie affordeth us two singular and usefull instructions and specially for these times the former from the Disciples awakening the latter from the Master awakened in them importunitie in him opportunitie They awaken him suddenly hee awakeneth seasonably they awaken him violently hee awakeneth voluntarily For the first From this Example of the Apostles wee learne to be importunate with God in our praiers and never give over till we do awaken him and that he doe heare arise and helpe us Christ is fast on sleepe the disciples come unto him and
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
was made the greater was the truth and glory of his Resurrection yea such as were set to watch did publish it Matth. 28. 11. So the greater is the power and the more violent the assaults which enemies make against the Church of Christ the greater is Gods glory in their deliverance which the people confesse in the Psalmes If the Lord had not beene on our side now may Israel say if the Lord had not beene on our side when men rose up against us they had even swallowed us up quicke when they were so wrathfully displeased at us the waters had overwhelmed us the deepe waters of the proud had even gone over our soule But praised be the Lord who hath not given us for a prey to their teeth Our soule is escaped even as a bird out of the snare of the fowler the snare is broken and we are delivered The greater the danger of Gods people at the Red-sea the greater their deliverance the greater the evill by Iesuits intended against the Protestants in France the more glorious their peace the greater mischiefe intended by the Gunpowder treason and the nearer to execution the more marvellous our deliverance in all which cases the Church is taught to praise God and say The Lord hath done marvellous things with his owne right hand and with his holy arme hath he gotten himselfe the victory Oh trust in God be the storme and threatned hurt to the Church never so great for all shall worke for good There is no wisdome counsell or strength against the Lord But he will turne the rage of man to his praise When all that see and heare shall marvell and say with reverend awe Who is this What manner of man is this The Greeke word is very emphaticall and of greater signification than another which is thus translated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qualis For though this be often used in the New Testament yet ever translated what which one place only excepted Neither are they derived from the same root for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pavimentum as if it were written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pro 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cujas as if they had fully expressed the word thus What Countrey-man is this Which question bewrayeth their ignorance tendeth to the begetting of knowledge and is an effect of their admiration which may thus be described according to the rules of Philosophie Admiration is a painfull suspension of the minde proceeding from the knowledge of some great effects whereof the causes are unknowne I call it a painfull suspension because all men naturally desire knowledge and the more generously minded any are the more painfull it is for them to be ignorant Some say that Aristotle the Prince touchstone of Philosophers was so grieved that hee could not finde out the cause of the ebbing and flowing of the Sea that he died on it yea some say that he cast himselfe into the Sea saying Seeing I cannot comprehend thee thou shalt comprehend me but the other seemeth more probable Now admiration proceeding from ignorance of causes doth wonderfully provoke to the studie of causes that so they may be eased of that sorrow paine and griefe whereupon admiration is said to be the soule and life of Philosophie And Pythagoras being demanded what was the end of Philosophie answered To marvell at nothing intending that herein a learned Philosopher knowing the causes of things did not marvell whereas an ignorant rustick doth marvell at his owne shadow As in Philosophie so much more in Divinitie ignorance is a painfull thing to the godly disposed and therefore the more they admire the word and workes of God the more they enquire and search into the causes thereof as the Disciples here marvelling said one to another What manner of man is this Whose question intendeth three things viz. First That Christ is true man having a true soule and bodie in regard of their substance and their essentiall properties as in the soule will understanding in body true dimensions as length bredth thicknesse yea taking also the generall and blamelesse weaknesses and infirmities of both as ignorance of some things feare sorrow wearisomenesse hunger thirst sleepe ache paine sicknesse such as accompany the generall nature of man and are not repugnant to the perfection of science and grace as was more largely shewed from his being on sleepe This is it was anciently promised The seed of the woman shall breake the Serpents head And In thy seed shall all the Nations of the earth be blessed And afterwards prophesied A Virgin shall conceive and beare a Sonne A Childe is borne a Son is given A woman shall compasse a man Which promises and prophesies have bin most truly fulfilled as this day doth witnesse to the Christian Churches For the fulnesse of time being come God sent his Sonne made of a woman The word was made flesh Iohn 1. 14. Oh what a sweet comfort is this to us miserable sinners that our blessed Saviour and Redeemer is not a stranger to our nature but tooke upon him the forme of a servant did partake with his in flesh and bloud became that prophesied Shiloh wrapped in the Tunicle skinne or Secundine our kinsman as Iob calleth him If the Baptist did so spring for joy in his mothers wombe when Mary the Mother of Christ saluted his Mother and if the Angels did so rejoyce and sing at the birth of Christ what cause have we to rejoyce and sing yea our very soules to spring for joy that wee doe celebrate this Festivitie in commemoration of our Saviours birth Yea that our comfort may be full he hath not only taken upon him our nature but our infirmities also that he might become a mercifull and compassionate High Priest So as we may boldly goe to the Throne of grace and be assured we shall finde mercie and grace to helpe in time of need The second thing avouched by the proprietie of the word in this question as you have heard in opening the sense of it is That this true man is a stranger they aske whence he is whereunto Christ returneth a perfect answer Hee descended from heaven Saint Paul saith He is the Lord from heaven Not that he brought his humanitie from heaven which passed thorow the Virgins wombe as water thorow a conduit as divers Heretiques have dreamed for he was made of a woman and had the materials of his body from the blessed Virgin but he had not his beginning here on earth as men have but God came downe from heaven and was manifested in the flesh and as he came so here he lived but as a stranger not having where to be