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A90266
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Eben-ezer a memoriall of the deliverance of Essex, county, and committee, being an exposition on the first ten verses of the third chapter of the prophesie of Habakkuk in two sermons. The first preached at Colchester before his Excellency on a day of thanksgiving for the surrender thereof. The other at Rumford unto the committee who were imprisoned by the enemy Sep. 28. a day set apart unto thanksgiving for their deliverance. / By John Ovven pastor of the church of God which is at Coggeshall.
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Owen, John, 1616-1683.
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1648
(1648)
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Wing O742; Thomason E477_8; ESTC R203085
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54,742
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64
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forefather Midian the son of Abraham by Keturah Gen. 25. 3 4. These obtained a temporall blessing for a season from the Love borne to their faithfull progenitor In the days of Jacob they were great Merchants Gen. 37. 28. At this time in lesse then 400 years they were so multiplyed that they had five Kings of their Nation Num. 31. 1. Some knowledge of the true God was retained as it should seeme untill now amongst some of them being received by tradition from their Fathers Moses Father in Law was a Priest of this Country Exod. 2. 15 16. not altogether unacquainted with Jehovah Exod. 18 and was himselfe or his son perswaded to take up his portion in Canaan Num. 10. 29 30. But for the generality of the Nation being not heirs of the promise they were fallen off to superstition and idolatry Exceeding enemies they were to the people in the wildernesse vexing them with their wiles and provoking them to abominations that the Lord might consume them Num. 25. 17. None so vile enemies to the Church as superstitious Apostates These two Nations then set out all manner of opposers grosse Idolators as Cushan and superstitious envious Apostates as Midian 2. Their state and condition severally 1 The tents of Cushan were in Affliction the tents the Arabian Ethiopians of Cush dwelling in tents the Habitation for the Inhabitant by an Hypallage They were in Affliction under vanity under iniquity the place of vanity so variously are the words rendred {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} under Affliction Vanity or Iniquity Sin and the punishment of it are frequently in the Scripture of the same name so nere is the Relation Aven is properly and most usually iniquity but that it is here taken for the consequent of it A consuming perplexed vexed condition can be no doubt The Cushamites then were in Affliction full of Anguish Feare Dread vexation to see what would be the issue of those great and mighty things which God was doing in their borders for his people u Afflicted with Israels happinesse and their owne fears as is the condition of all wicked oppressers 2. The Curtaines of the Land of Midian for the Midianites dwelling in curtained Tabernacles by the same Figure as before They trembled {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} moved themselves were moved that is shaken with feare and trembling as though they were ready to run from the Appearance of the mighty God with his people The story of it you have in the book of Numbers as it was prophetically fore-told by Moses concerning other Nations Exod. 15. 14 15 16. The people shall heare and be afraid sorrow shall take hold of the inhabitants of Palestina Then the Dukes of Edom shall be amased the mighty men of Moab c. God filled those Nations with Anguish sorrow and amazement at the protection he granted his people 3. The Prophets view of all this I saw it or I see it though it were 870 years before supposing him to prophesy about the end of Josiah or beginning of Jehojakim yet taking it under the consideration of Faith he makes it present to his view Faith looketh backwards and forwards to what God hath done and to what he hath promised to do Abraham saw the Day of Christ so many Ages after because he found it by faith in the promise Habakkuk saw the terrors of Cushan and Midian so many Ages before because faith found it recorded among the works of God to support it selfe in seeking the like mercies to be renewed so that this is the sum of this Verse O Lord faith makes it evident and presents it before my view how in former days when thou wast doing great things for thy people thou filledst all thine and their enemies with fear vexation trembling and astonishment 1. Faith gives a present subsistence to sorepast works as recorded and future mercies as promised to support the soule in an evill day I saw I have made the doctrine by Analogy look both ways though the words of the Text look but one 2. Gods dealing with his enemies in the time of his Churches deliverance is of especiall consideration I saw c. 3. The measuring out of Gods peoples portion fills Cushan with Affliction and Midian with trembling Their terrors follow Gods measuring v. 6. 4 The season of the Churches deliverance being come Cushan and Midian opposing enemies and superstitious revolters shall surely wax vaine and perish For the first that faith gives a present c. the Apostle tels us that Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11. 1. 1. Of things hoped for it looks forward to the promises and so gives the substance of them in present possession so confirming our Minds and Hearts that they may have a subsistance as it were within us though not actually made out unto us 2. It is the evidence of things not seene it extends it selfe not only to things promised but taking for its Object the whole Word of God it makes evident and present things that are past also The faith commended v. 3. is of things long since done even the making of the things that are seene of the things that do not appeare Abraham saw my day saith our Saviour Joh. 8. 56. He saw it as Habakkuk the tents of Cushan in affliction Faith made it present to him All the Ages between him and his promised seed were as nothing to his keen-sighted faith Hence the Apostle puts the mercies of the promise all in one forme and rank as already wrought though some of them were injoyed and some of them in this life cannot be Rom. 8. 30. whom he hath justifyed them he hath glorifyed He hath done it for them already because he hath made them believe it and that gives it a present subsistance in their spirits And for forepast works they are still mentioned by the Saints as if they had bin done in their days before their eyes Elisha calls up to remembrance a former Miracle to the effecting the Like 2 Kin. 2. 14. There be three things in past or future mercies which faith makes present to the soule giving in the subsistance of them 1. their Love 2. their Consolation 3. their Use and Benefit 1. The Love of them the Love that was in former works and the Love that is in promised mercies that faith drawes out and really makes ours The Love of every recorded deliverance is given to us by faith It looks into the Good-will the Free-grace the Loving-kindnesse of God in every work that ever he did for his and cryes yet this is mine this is the kernell of that blessing and this is mine for the same Good-will the same kindnesse he hath towards me also Were the same outward actings needfull I should have them also The Free-love of every mercy is Faiths proper Object It makes all Joshuah's great victories present to every one of us The promise that had
power of God and the wisdome of God His ingaged Love must be carried along through so many secret mysterious marvels as the Angels themselves desire to looke into and shall for ever adore Though the effecting of it required that which man could not do and God could not suffer yet his wisedome will find out a way that he shall both do it and suffer it who is both God and Man To make good his engagement to his elect he spared not his onely Son and in him were hid and by him layd out all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge Now this is a president of Gods proceeding in all other engagements whatsoever What ever it cost him he will spare nothing to make them good to the uttermost He is our Rock and his worke is perfect A good man if he want not power will go through with his serious promises though he be ingaged to his own hurt Psal. 15. 4. The power of the mighty God is serviceable to his will to the utmost He cannot will what he cannot do His will and power are essentially the same And his power shall not be wanting to execute what his goodnesse hath moved him to engage unto for his own glory Deut. 32. 4. Hee is the rock and his worke is perfect all his wayes are judgement a God of truth and without iniquity Here are many Attributes of God to make good this one thing that his worke is perfect His {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} selfe-sufficiency Perfection Righteousnesse I will pitch on One He is a God of Truth So he is againe called Psal. 31. 5. and in other places The Truth of God in his promises and engagements requires an accomplishment of them what ever it cost what power soever is required thereunto This the Saints make their bottome to seeke it Remember thy loving kindnesse which thou swarest in thy Truth Psal. 89. 4. It is impossible but that should come to passe which thou hast sworne in thy Truth No stronger plea then Remember the word wherein thou hast caused thy servants to put their trust Jacob sayes he is lesse then all the Mercy and all the Truth of God Gen. 32. 10. He sees Gods Truth in all his Mercy by causing all things to come to passe which he had promised him It is true some particular promises have their conditions whose truth consists not in the Relation between the word and the thing unlesse the condition intercede But the great condition under the Gospell being only the good of them to whom any ingagement is made we may positively lay down that Gods Truth requires the Accomplishment of every engagement for his peoples good It is neither Mountaine nor Hill King Kingdome nor Nation Hell nor Mortality nor all combined that can stand in the way to hinder it His people stand in need of all that God hath engaged himselfe to them for Gods promises are the just measure of his peoples wants Whatever he hath promised that his people do absolutely want And whatsoever they want that he hath promised Our Wants and his promises are every way commensurate If thou knowest not what thou standest in need of search the Promises and see What ever God hath said he will do for thee that thou hast absolute need should be done Or if thou art not so well acquainted with the promises search thine own wants what thou standest absolutely in need of for thy good that assuredly God hath promised If then this be the case of engagements they shall all be made good Thinke you will God let his people want that which they have absolute necessity of By absolute necessity I meane such as is indispensible as to their present estate and occasions That may be of necessity in one Generation which is not in another according to the severall imployments we are called to Does God call forth his Saints to execute vengeance upon the Heathen and punishments upon the people to bind their Kings with chaines and their Nobles with fetters of Iron to execute upon them the judgement written as Psal. 149. 7 8 9 doth he bring them forth to burne the whore to fight with the Beast and overcome him and his followers it is of indispensable necessity that he give them glorious assistance in their undertakings They shall be assisted protected carried on though it cost him the making of his Bow quite naked According to the severall conditions he calls them to the severall issues of Providence which he will have them serve in so want they his Appearance in them with them for them and it shall be present Let them be assured they are in his way and then though some prove false and treacherous some base and cowardly though many combine and Associate themselves against them in many places in all places though whole Kingdomes and mighty Armies appeare for their ruine be they reviled and clamoured by all round about them all is one Help they need and help they shall have or God will make his Bow quite naked This day is this Doctrine fulfilled before us Gods Bow made quite naked according to his Word We are lesse then all the Truth hee hath shewed unto us Though great working and mighty power hath been required such as he hath not shewen in our dayes nor in the dayes of our Fathers yet the Lord hath not stood at it for his words sake wherein he hath made us put our trust I speake of the Generall mercies we have received The surrender of Colchester the particular celebrated this day though marching in the Reare for time is for the weight in the Van A mercy of the first magnitude Essex hath seene more power in a three moneths recovery then in the protection of six years That the mouths of men are stopped and their faces filled with shame who made it their trade to revile and threaten the Saints of God that the adverse strength which hath lien hid these seven years should be drawn forth united and broken to pieces that the people of God divided and mutually exasperated through their abuse of peace should by the sword of a common enemy and the help of a common friend have their wrath abated their counsells united and their persons set in a hopefull way of closing or forbearance that God by their owne counsells should shut up men collected from su dry parts to ruine others in a City with Gates and Walls for their own ruine that they should deny peace tendred upon such conditions because of the exigencies of the time as might have left them power as well as will for a further mischiefe that such salvation should go forth in other parts as that the proceedings here should not be interrupted that the bitter service which men here underwent should ever and anon be sweetned with refreshing tidings from other places to keepe up theie spirits in wet watching cold and losse of bloud All these