not afraid of them nor dismaid for them they have but the arme of flesh all their help is vanity Why doe men tremble when the enemies wals shake 2 Chron. 32.78 It is a comfort 2 that the helps which uphold the enemies will faile Rejoyce be glad and â—hout for joy at this fall when Babylon with violence is thrown downe Rev. 18. 21. then abundant joy comes to all the godly rejoyce over her thou heaven the universall multitude of the Saints on earth and ye holy Apostles and Prophets the Godly and learned teachers of the Church in the dayes of reformation these more deadly hated by the whore by whom they endured much tribulation are now called to rejoyce most v. 20. Shout against Babylon round about her wals are throwne down as sure of victory as if all were already effected Ier. 50.15 It is firme ground of strong consolation 1 When the enemies be 1. In power and pride as Haman had such a principality who but he he could write what he pleased he could accuse and none could gainsay him yet he when he was well in his conceit walled and â—xpected to rise to more honour ambition is never satisfyed would be higher yet in his pride he fell as did T.E.St. in great jollity he was laid in the dust his neck brought under foot pride hath a certain fall Esth. 6.13 2 In policy full of plots and projects against Christ and Christians then all is in vain they fail they take counsell together against the Lord Psal. 2.2 to reject his commands which they judge too strict v. 3. The Lord laughs at them v. 4. and dasheth them in pieces Christ will be too hard for them who plot against him v. 9. The late Canoneers cast Canons to defend their wals but they recoiled upon themselves they travelled with iniquity conceived mischiefe and brought forth falshood Psal. 7. 14. Wicked men make pits and dig them but fall into the ditch which they made ver. 15. their mischief return upon their own head and their violent dealing comes downe upon their own pate v. 16. 3 In prosperity they fall into misery Davids observation may be presented to us I have seene the wicked in great power and spreading himselfe like a green bay tree yet he passed away and loâ— he was not yea I sought him but he could not bee found Psal. 37.35,36 How manifest is this in the Arch-B. W. L. and the reâ—t of the Prelates come downe when they were in their Pontificalibus When wicked men flourish it is an evidence they shall perish when the wicked spring as the grasse and all the workers of iniquity doe flourish it is that they shall be destroyed for ever Psal. 92.7 2 When the Church is 1. In the impotency of men 2 the enemies helps fail when friends be few and feeble The foot shall tread it the lofty city down even the feet of the poorâ— and the steps of the needy Isay. 26. 6. 2. In the insufficiency of meanes rams hornes in appearance a childish thing to cast down such walls as â—erichoes were Iosh. 6. 20. But God can cause the enemies fall 1. By a weak hand the least of the flock shall draw them out Ier. 50 45. 2. By their own hand the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands 9. 16. 3 Without hand the mighty shall be taken away without hand Iob 34. 20. 1. The Mean of this fall is faith by faith they fall the walls of Iericho could not stand before the faith of Ioshua and Israel Faith in God is mighty to remove the greatest impediments of good Faith gets victory over the mightiest enemy Faith overcomes any difficulty Faith is stronger then all the world This is the victory that overcometh the world even our Faith 1. Iohn 5. 4. David feared not the Philistine nor would have any mans heart faile because of him 1 Sam. 17.32 Davids faith in God prevailed over Goliah yet there was no sword in the hand of David verse 50. Israel by faith could goe dry where the Egyptians were drowned the Sea gives way to faith Heb. 11. 29. Caleb through faith stilled the muttering and murmuring people assuring them albeit the Canaanites were strong their cities walled and great and the children of Anak there they were well able to overcome all Numb. 13. 30. The ground of this Faith is omnipotent through Christ I can doe all things through Christ which strengthened me Phil. 4. 13. God in whom we beleeve is never put to a non-plus hee meets no impossibility for with God shall nothing be impossible Luk. 1. 37. and thus all things are possible to him that beleeveth Mark 9. 23. 1. Faith builds on Gâ—ds word as most firm as David In God will I praise his word in God will I put my trust Psal. 56. 4. there is a strength in the Scripture leane on it it cannot be broken Io. 10 35. 1. Gods word of precept is faiths warrant God bids 't is enough for faith to build on as in this compassing by Iericho God commanded them of Ioshâ—a 6. 4 Abraham also at Gods word walked through many difficulties obediently Heb 11.8 He went and followed God to his foot whose command carried him through that great tryall of offering up Isaac verse 17. Gods speciall command overcame reason affection and all hinderances God said to him Take thy son thine only sonne Isaac whom thou lovest and offer him for a burnt offering Gen 22. 2. 2. Gods word of promise is a proppe to faith God promised the walls should fall Ioshua 6 20. God hath spoken the word faith is strong upon it Beleeve in the Lord so shall ye beâ— established beleeve his Prophets so shall ye prosper 2 Chron. 20. 20. Fâ—ith for its confirmâ—tion minds in the proâ—ises 1. Gods mercy to make a promise in pity to men by it to send in reliefe to mans heart God did performe his mercy to Abraham Mic 7. 20. 2. Gods grace in his promise all is of grace to us unworthy 't is free without our desire or desert Cry grace grace to it Zechar. 4. 7. 3. Gods truth he is faithfull he failes not in his word what he promised in mercy and grace he will keep in truth he keepeth his truth for ever Psal. 146. 6. 2. Faith rests on Gods providence 2 who is by it a wall of fire about his Church Zecharâ— 2â— 5. Faith in Gods providence is sustained by beholding 1. His goodnes who is good to doe his good in a time of need which is a great strength to them The Lord is good and a strong hold in the day of trouble Nahum 1â— 7 2. His wisdome he hath millions of wayes to help his which they know not of The Lord is great in counsell who hath an art in working for his â—his wayes are not known but the wyles of his enemies be open to him Ier. 32â— 19â— 3. His power nothing is too haâ—d
safety the strength of horses cannot be the deliverance of man in danger Psal. 33. â—7 it is not well with them but woe to them who stay upon horses because they are many and strong Esay 51. 1. 2 Their men 1 are faint frail feeble men and not God when the Lord stretcheth out his hand both he that helpeth shall fall and he that is holpen shall fall down and they all shal fail together Esay 31.3 2. Are fearefull afraid to help as when the great city fals her lovers take up a lamentation but doe not dare not help her 1. The Kings of the earth the spirituall sons of the Roman See the whores slaves as the King of Spain and others who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her shall bewaile her and lament for her Rev. 18.9 Standing afar off when they see the smoke of her burning they hast not to help but are in a bodily feare by beholding the whores misery they feare their owne safety and will not venture themselves for an old withered harlot v. 10. 2. The Merchants of the earth which chaffer with spirituall matters rather then corporall who by making countries serviceable to Rome by their confederacy prove brave and gallant fellowes and gained well by this merchandise getting Bishopricks Cardinalships as C. Woolsey a notable ambitious tumultuous flourishing Romish Merchant who durst brave and beard yea out-face and out-brag King Hen. 8. a mighty Prince Rev. 18. 11. thus all stand afar off having short hornes and no hearts to repell this imminent danger v. 15. onely they cry Alas expressing the truth and terriblenesse of their grief for this change v. 16. 3. The Mariners Shipmasters Saylors they cannot not keep Romes ship from sinking nor S. Peters fishboat from the sands or rushing on the rockes although many a lusty lubber hath laboured hard to promote Romes lustfull lawes as Cardinals Patriarchs Archbishops Bishops Deanes Arch-Deanes Abbots Jesuits Priests Priors Fryers Monkes the Canonicall Clergy and all inferiour officers yet the more they would cover the more they discover the whores and the Popes filthy wickednesse and more at length when the whores wages for their acts of wickednsse be detained denyed consumed Rev. 18.17,18 Many greater and lower Churchmen are of the minde of Demetrius and the craftsmen concerning this happy Reformation intended entred upon whereby their gaine ceaseth they live by a craft By this craft we have our gain Acts 19.25 their rotten props removed corrupt courts abolished this one craft is in danger to be set at nought v. 27. Their Diana despised and her magnificence destroyed v. 27. this trade of theirs is decayed their wares not merchantable for no man buyeth their merchandise any more Rev. 18.11 2 2. In regard of God 1. His contrariety to the enemies and their helps God faith he will arise against the house of evill-doers and against the help of them that work iniquity if God arise they must fall Esay 31.2 God is contrary to them that he will make a city a heap a defensed city a ruine a palace of strangers to be no city it shall never be built 25.2 God in his power over-powreth the enemies that he bringeth down them that dwell on high the lofty city he layeth it low he layeth it low eâ—â—n to the ground he bringeth it even to the dust 26.5 2. His commination God hath threatned this fall of the enemy and his word will take hold on men they cannot evade his vindictive hand Babylon is faln is faln Revel. 14.8 3â—His Promise God in truth hath assured his Church to remove all impediments Hee is a God of his word who saith to the Deep Be dry and I will dry up thy rivers fulfilled by Cyrus who the Citizens of Babylon not dreaming of it dryed up their Euphrates and brought Babylon under his hand Isay 44. 27. God means not to leave a Canaanite in the house of the Lord and will performe the good thing which he hath promised There shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord Zechar. 14.21 1 To wicked men yet misled 1 1 Be not confident in any meanes to wall about you What can Princes protect you can Prelates support you will policy patrimony and power faile you how can you be confident Babels brickmakers would build a city to prevent scattering Gen. 11.3,4 but God disappointed them for he scattered â—hem abroad and they left off to build the city v. 8. God is against you who is unresistible for all your association Associate you selves ye shall be broken in pieces gird your selves and ye shall be broken in pieces gird your selves and ye shall be broken in pieces take counsell together and it shall come to nought speake the word and it shall not stand for God is with us Esay 8.9,10 2 Be not impenitent nor hardned in the sins of the enemies Hâ—â— will a hard heart indure wheâ— God casts downe its defence and confidence ô repent before the fall elâ—e ye are in danger to perish in the fall ô walk not in a way contrary to God ô receive not the beasts mark in the forehead which is to professe openly their homage and submission unto the holy Apostolike Catholike See of Rome the Popes vassals they called Catholikes receive not his mark in the hand to advance and preferre with your best power the Romish prerogative this Emperors Kings and great men of the earth received by being obliged to the Pope by solemne oâ—th promising and binding themselves to be defenders and protectors of the chief Bishop and the holy Church of Rome All small and great repent and worship God or else they must drinke of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation and they shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb Rev. 14.9,10 Be not at rest now in fin they have no rest day nor night who worship the beast v. 11. 2 2 To the godly 1 Come out from the enemies Come out of Babylon is counsell to Gods people have no share in Romes sins ye shall have no part in her plagues Rev. 18.4 it is our lesson when we heare such news of its fall v. 2. Doe as Rahab when she perceived their city to be in danger she provided how to get out of it Ios. 2. 12. to be saved alive v. 13. So she perished not with them who beleeved not when all who remained in Iericho were destroyed Heb. 11.31 O get out of the way of evill men and save your selves from an untoward generation which you heare will come to desolation Acts 2.40 2 Be not afraid of enemies whose wals will fall God hath threatned it Caleb and Ioshuah said to Israel Their defence but a shadow is departed from them feare them not Numb. 14.9 be strong and couragious be