hee calleth hee iustifieth whome hee iustifieth hee glorifieth The gift and calling of God is without repentance My sheep heare my voyce and follow me and I giue vnto them eternall life and they shall neuer perish Iohn 20.27 28.29 neither shall any man take them out of my hands And the reason is we beare not the roote but the root beares vs our saluatiō depends not vpon our selues for then indeed we were in danger to fall away euery moment of an houre but it dependeth vpon him because we are in him through him we grow and increase yea the older we be in Christ the more do we fasten our roote and floorish they which are planted in the courts of the Lord shall florish in their old age and bring forth much fruite Vse And whereas other branches are many times pulled from their stocke either by the violence of the winde by the hands of men or at least consumed by length of time it shall not be so with them that are in Christ for they are kept by him as the root bearing branches Because I am not altered nor changed therefore are you not consumed O yee sonnes of Iacob and therefore right happy is the state of that man who is in Christ Iesus For neither life nor death things present Rom. 8.18 nor things to come shall separate him from the loue of God And this comfort is confirmed to vs by most sure arguments Arguments to proue a Christians perseueranee Phil. 1.6 The first is taken from the nature of almighty God he is faithfull which hath promised And I am perswaded saith the Apostle Rom. 6.9 that he who hath begun this good worke will performe it vntill the day of Christ Iesus The second is taken from the nature of that life which Christ communicateth to his members We know that Christ being raysed from the dead dyeth no more This life of Christ is communicated to vs so that it is not wee that liue in Christ but Christ in vs. The third is taken from the nature of that Seed whereof wee are begotten 1. Pet. 1.3 4. Wee are borne anew not a mortall Seede but of immortall Now as the Seed is so is the life that comes by that Seed Our life therefore must needes be immortall This confuteth a damnable Doctrine of the Papists who hold and reach That a man elected called iustified and sanctified may for euer fall away and bee damned that he which to day is the deare child of God to morrow may become the child of the Deuill to day a member of Christ to morrow a Limbe of the Deuill to day an heire of saluation to morrow an heire of damnation Now what Doctrine can be more deuillish and vncomfortable this is nothing else but to set vp a Gibbet to torment the poore soules of Gods children to ouerthrow the nature of Faith to make God feeble and weake 2. Pet. 1.10 Psal 15. or foolish and vnwise which is manifest Blasphemy But we see here the Word of God tells vs this cannot be Rom 8.1 8.35 for what shall separate vs from the loue of God in Christ Nothing This may serue to reproue another sort of men who are ready to abuse this Doctrine Tush sayth the carnall and loose Christian it skils not how a man liues whether well or ill he that is elected and is a member of Christ shall be saued and he that is reiected shall be damned though he liue neuer so well Therefore they take libertie to sinne and make no conscience of any sinne whatsoeuer But they must know that God decrees a man as well to the meanes as to the end and it is impossible a man should be elected and called but he must liue well so he that is not elected called cannot liue well And it is all one as if a man should neuer eate or drinke and yet hope to liue and like well or lying in the fire or water and vsing no meanes to come out should not perish But wee must know that the end and the means must goe together and for a man to neglect or reiect the means it is in vaine for him to hope to be saued for if thou belong vnto God thou shalt in time be called and sanctified and where this worke is not yet alreadie wrought that man is as yet in the state of damnation Our helpe is in the name of the Lord. Here is matter of endlesse comfort to euery child of God that truly repents beleeues in Iesus Christ that howsoeuer throgh the malice of Sathan the temptation of the Deuill the alluremēts of the world and the corruption of our flesh we may grieuously sin fall Rom. 8.1 yet there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ the gates that is Matth. 16.18 al the power of Hell shal not preuaile against vs. If euer thou foūdst the sound work of grace in thee thou foundst Iesus Christ to dwell in thy hart by faith so that thou hatest all sin desirest in all things to please God though Sathan rage storme and all the gates of Hel rise vp against thee yet thou mayest comfort thy selfe in the Lord and say with Paul There is no condemnation to me that am in Christ which walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Thou mayest triumph with Paul and say Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen And if God be with vs who can be against vs. And againe I am perswaded nothing can seuer me from the loue of God in Christ Iesus no not sinne nor death it selfe Oh happie then and blessed is the estate of that man who is in Christ neyther life nor death things present nor things to come shall separate him from the loue of God PSALME 125. They that put their trust in the Lord c. THe Psalme going before is a Thanks-giuing The argument of the Psalme or a Sacrifice of Prayse because the godly see and by experience feele that the Lord is faithfull and helpeth them in the time of need This Psalme following contayneth also in a manner the same matter for it pertayneth to the Doctrine of Faith and exhorteth the faithfull likewise to a sure trust and affiance in the helpe of the Lord in all their necessities whereunto hee stirreth them vp with great and excellent promises It may also easily bee vnderstood by that which wee haue said before for like as God maketh all things of nothing and of Darkenesse Light so hee worketh by his Word that in Death there is nothing but Life They then which sticke to the Word and Promise of God and follow the same doe finde it true which Dauid sayth Hee spake the Word and it was done But before wee can come to this experience we must abide some trouble and therefore haue need of such exhortation as this Psalme here setteth forth Verse 1. They that put their trust in the Lord
and be glad in it Now it is not enough to keepe that day as an idle holy day to rest from labor and work to ring Bels and make Bonfiers to giue our selues to eating drinking and swilling to sports and pastimes for this is no honour to God But first our thankefulnesse must appeare in a most reuerent and thankefull commemoration and Remembrance of this so great and wonderfull a deliuerance wee must call it to mind thinke of the greatnesse of it wee must speake of it to our Children and Posterity and call vpon them to bee thankfull for the Child that is yet vnborne is bound to blesse God for it Exodus 12.6 Secondly we must sing Psalmes of praise and thanksegiuing vnto God in token of thankfulnesse and that publikely in the Church and Congregation of Gods people Thirdly we must come together into Gods house to heare his word and call vpon his name and that is a speciall part of our vnfained thankfulnesse Fourthly wee must testifie our thankfulnes in most hearty dutiful obedience which is the greatest and the best sacrifice 1. Sam. 15.22 And if this be wanting all that wee do is nothing worth Esay 29.13 so that for our generall deliuerance there should be a generall thanksegiuing in a generall reformation of Church and Commonwealth of our hearts and sinfull liues otherwise wee are indeed vnthankefull if still we liue in sin rebellion Then notwithstanding our keeping a day ringing of Bels sport and play if their follow no reformation of our liues wee may iustly feare a more dreadfull iudgement if not vtter ruine and destruction to follow Now alas where is this vse of Gods mercy and our deliuerance where doth the people reforme their liues reforme their wayes grow more religious conscionable and carefull to heare reade pray in their families it is but a wonder of nine dayes men make little or no vse of it but to talke of it and speake of it And lastly our thankefulnesse should beget in vs an earnest hatred of Popery and superstition so vilde faulse mischieuous bloody and cursed religion to abhorre it to haue nothing to do with it but to abandon it which that all estates and degrees of men may do the Lord grant for his mercy sake Amen Verse 1. They had swallowed vs vp quicke when they were so wrathfully displeased at vs. THis repitition is not in vaine for whiles we are in danger our feare is without measure but when it is once past wee imagine it to haue beene lesse then it was indeed and this is the delusion of Sathan to diminish and obscure the grace of God Dauid therefore with this repetition stirreth vp the people to a more thankefulnesse vnto God for his gracious deliuerance and implyteth the dangers which they had passed Whereby we are taught how to thinke of our troubles and afflictions past least the sence and feeling of Gods graces vanish out of our Minds And heere note how God dealeth with his people in their distresse who suffereth their enemies so farre to preuaile ouer them and deferreth his helpe so long till it seeme vnpossible for them to escape so that they are compelled to confesse and acknowledge that they must needes haue perished if the mighty hand of God had not deliuered them These two things then wee see the Israelites here to acknowlegde first that the Lord was on their side that is succoured and deliuered thē then also that it had not beene possible but they must vtterly haue perished if God had not preserued and defended them Dauid saith Psalm 129 1.2.3 that albeit he was persecuted and sore oppressed for his profession yet no troubles could make him swerue from the Testimonies of God Trouble is the best tryall of true Religion It is no great thing to cleaue vnto the Testimonies of God when none pursues them for it when authority allowes it when honour and prosperity followes it It is no great praise then to professe it When the Lord gloried of his Seruant Iob That he was an vpright man fearing God yet Sathan replyed Iob. 1. And what maruell doth Iob worship God for nothing he knew there were many hirelings temporizers in the world that worshipped not God sincerely and therefore would not continue it hee thought Iob to bee one of these lay now thine hand vpon all that he hath and hee shall blaspheme thee to thy face But he was deceiued for the more he was crossed the neerer did he cleaue vnto the Lord. Let vs remember as Saint Paul hath warned vs wee haue not yet resisted vnto blood neither that which S. Peter cals the fierie triall haue we endured and yet what a shame is it to see how many are become coulder in Religion an euident argument that they were neuer truly religious for if they cannot stand against offences how should they stand against oppressions and persecutions They haue swallowed vs vp quick in these words he expresseth not onely the strength and rage and cruelty of the enemies but also how weake and vnable the Isralites were to withstand them and here he vseth a similitude takē of fierce and outragious beasts whose property is when they haue taken their prey to swallow them aliue Likewise when wee would expresse the cruelty or malice of any towards vs we are wont to say he hateth mee so deadly that hee could finde in his heart to eate mee or swallow mee vp quicke the Prophet meaneth then that their enemies were so many and so mighty that they needed no armour or weapons to destroy them but were able like fierce and cruell beasts to swallow them vp aliue being so weake and so little a flocke let vs learne then to sing with Dauid If the Lord had not bin on our side whose mighty hand hath deliuered vs whose power alone hath preserued vs and although the world rage against vs though Sathan vexe vs neuer so sore they cannot hurt vs. Be of good comfort saith Christ our Sauiour For I haue ouercome the world Againe I giue vnto them euerlasting life and none shall take them out of my hands First this teacheth vs to remember and meditate of all such gracicious deliuerances which he shewed vnto vs either in general or particular from treasons trecheries conspiracies the like in regard wherof we had long since bin consumed had not God taken our parts against those that rose vp against vs whose purpose was to haue deuoured vs in regard of which treason we may truly say as Dauid now may England say If the Lord had not been on our side if the Lord himselfe had not bin on our side when men rose vp against vs viz. the Papists they had then swallowed vs vp quick when their wrath was kindled against vs c. Let vs againe remember how nere their purpose hath bin broght to passe ready euen to take effect as we haue spoken in the 1. verse yet their net is broken and wee are
had long since beene like Sodome and like Gomorrah for the Lord our God hath not set his loue vpon vs for any thing in vs but because hee loued vs Deut. 7.7 8 hath hee deliuered preserued and redeemed vs and done all good vnto vs. Heere wee are briefely to consider of these things First how graciously God bestoweth his blessings and benefits dayly vpon vs especially how he continueth the gracious liberty of the Gospell amongst vs encreasing dayly the number of faithfull Preachers Who breake vnto vs the bread of life this is a blessing of blessings without which the soule may the sooner starue yet indeed of the wicked of the world no more esteemed of then their old shooes and therefore they seldom heare it lightly regard it but neuer practise it this is that pearle to attaine which wee ought to sell all that wee haue rarher then to want it if this meditation of the price of this word were truely in our hearts it would not bee that so many could suffer their people to starue for want of it Secondly let vs remember our health wealth peace and liberty our dayly protecting vnder so gracious a gouernment which wee enioy by God It is in Acte 17.28 Verse 25. and through him that we liue wee moue and haue our being hee giueth vs life and breath and all things wee cannot liue one minute of an howre without Gods prouidence hee dayly prouideth for vs foode and rayment and no good thing doth he withhold frō vs he defendeth vs day and night from all dangers he maketh men to be of one minde and liue together in vnity he blesseth our corne our cattell and all our substance he prospereth all our handy worke our meate might be our bane did not God continually blesse it vnto vs wee might haue our Throats cut in our beds were nothe watchful ouer vs by his fatherly prouidence he sendeth raine to moysten the earth Hee giueth grasse for the Cattell Deut 11. and Hearbs for the vse of man he causeth the Corne and oyle to come to perfection that man may eate and haue all manner of fruit in aboundance he neuer forsaketh his inheritance he blesseth our going out and comming in On foote on horseback in company and out of company in publike and secret at home and abroad sleeping and waking hee is all in all vnto vs. This meditation will make vs to receiue nothing without thankesgiuing to liue circumspectly to looke to our wayes and to study to please God to giue our hearts vnto him and to make him our treasure First this serues to put vs in mind of all those gracious promises that God hath made vnto vs either of temporall blessing or spirituall grace which we are to beleeue that in Gods due time they shal be performed and so we shal not lose our reward The not beleeuing of this truth is one maine cause of sinne and the continuance of it and no one thing doth make the wicked so desperate in euill courses as this to thinke it is altogether in vaine to liue a godly life We must therefore remember and beleeue that God is a plentifull rewarder of all those that seeke him Heb. 11.6 Ioh. 16.23 Mat. 1.28 that whatsoeuer we aske in Christ his name shall bee giuen vs. That whosoeuer commeth to Christ Ezec. 18.31 laden with the burden of his sinnes shall haue refreshing and finde rest to his soule That whosoeuer doth repent him of his sinnes from the bottome of his heart shall bee forgiuen Ios 1.5 that hee will neuer faile nor forsake his and infinite such which God hath made to all his children Heb. 13 5 But especially wee ought to Meditate and often call to mind That maine promise of life eternall Mar. 26.16 which God hath promised to all beleeuers and most surely will performe it whosoeuer beleeueth shall be saued So God loued the world that hee gaue his only begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him shall not perish but haue euerlasting life Ioh. 3.16 And herewithall to ioyne the meditation of the certainty of the future resurrection after death and the full fruition of euerlasting glory described at large 1. Cor. 15. and if any thing in the world will moue vs to forsake our sinnes and returne to God this will The want of this is the cause of all manner of sinne in the wicked they say and beleeue that it is in vaine to serue God Mal. 3.14 and what profit it is that wee haue kept GODS Ordinances and walked so mournefully before the Lord c. It profiteth a man nothing to delight himselfe in God Iob. 34.9 They say vnto God depart from vs and what can the Almighty doe for vs they take the Timbrell and Harpe and reioyce at the sound of the Organ Iob. 22.17 They spend their dayes in wealth and mirth and in a moment goe downe to the Graue therefore they say vnto God Iob 21.12 13 14 15 Depart from vs for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes What is the Almighty that wee should serue him thus as the godly are stirred vp by Gods gracious promises to serue him the better so the wicked by not being perswaded of the truth of his promises for time to come abuse Gods goodnesse and spend their dayes in all manner of sinne to their owne destruction Lastly in a word our remembrance of Gods fauour toward vs must bee constant without wearines and certaine without change as Dauid saith Psal 119.93 I will neuer forget Gods Word It must bee thankefull for all Gods mercies spirituall and temporall Psal 63.5.6 My mouth saith Dauid shall praise thee with ioyfull lips when I remember thee It must be fruitful prouoking vs to al good workes quickning vs to euery good duty I wil meditate in thy precepts Psal 119-1 5 and haue respect to thy wayes It must bee chearefull in affliction and victorious in time of trouble that we may say as Dauid Vnlesse thy law had beene my delight Psal 119.9 2 I had perished in my affliction And thus much of the remembrance of Gods workes of mercy in preseruing of vs both for time past present and to come Verse 3. Yea the waters had drowned vs and the streame had gone ouer our soules TErrible is the rage of fire but much more terrible is the violence and rage of water for that no power cannot resist Now saith Dauid like as huge mighty streams of water carried with great power and violence doe suddenly ouerthrow and beate downe whatsoeuer they meete withall euen such is the rage of the enemies of Gods Church which no power of man is able to with-stand Therefore let vs learne to trust to the Lords defence and succour for what else is the Church but as a little Boat tyed by a Riuers side and by violence of the water soone carried away or as a Reede which by
force of the streame is easily plucked vp and carried away such was the people of Israel in Dauids time being compared to the Gentiles round about them such is the Church at this day compared to the Aduersaries such is euery one of vs in respect of the force and power of the malignant Spirits we are like a withered leafe soone blown from the Tree and he like a mighty winde or tempest not only blowing downe leaues but plucking vp and ouerthrowing trees and all what are we then poore wretches able to doe of our poure and strength for our defence we must learne therefore by faith wholy to rest vpon God for what is our victory but euen our faith let this be then our assured trust let this be the rock of our safety helpe and succour that God will be our defender and keeper that the great flouds and mighty waters carry vs not away Teaching vs thus much that though we haue many enemies sore aduersaries as Dauid Christ had yet they shall not preuaile against vs but wee shall preuaile against them do they what they can as Dauid and Christ did Israel in Egypt was cruelly handled but yet the more the Egyptians did vexe them the more they multiplied grew as it is in Exodus 3.12 And when they had done all the spite that they could against them yet at the last they were deliuered out of their hands they themselues being oftentimes plagued by the Almighty for their sakes in the end most fearefully drowned in the red Sea as it is most apparant in the 14 chapter of the same booke Mention is made of a great battell fought betweene Christ and the Deuill Reâ—el â—â— 7 their Armies but if you marke the sequell thereof you shall finde that Christ and his side had the victory for as it is witnessed of the Dragon who is the Diuell and his Angels who are his souldiers that they preuailed not neither was there plague found any more in Heauen in the 8. verse of this chapter so it is recorded to the glory and comfort of all those that take Christs part that they ouercome the Deuil the accuser of Gods children by the bloud of the Lambe and the word of their testimony in the eleuenth verse therof but to omit other Testimonies and examples whereof the holy Scripture is full and frequent in this case let the words of our Sauiour Christ suffice vs at this time Mat. 16.18 he tels vs that the gates of Hell whereby is meant all the power and force thereof shall not ouercome his Church c. or be able to ouerthrow such as doe depend vpon him by a true and iustifying faith In the seuenth Chapter of the same Booke Mat. 7.25 towards the latter end thereof he doth shew the stablenesse of them that belong vnto the Lord and haue care both to heare the Word of the Lord and doe it by a notable comparison whereby hee doth resemble them to an House which is built vpon a Rocke which cannot be cast downe by any tempest of weather whatsoeuer but doth stand alwayes still and cannot fall a thing neuer to be thought of enough it is so full of comfort and consolation vnto euery godly soule chiefely vnto him that is afflicted heere in this world Obiection But what may the reason thereof be may a man say that thus the godly should alwayes preuaile and be neuer ouerthrown by their enemies but ouercome them rather experience doth teach vs that they are fewer in number then the wicked are that they are weaker for power and strength that they are more simple for wit and pollicie and that they are more carelesse for diligence and watchfulnesse then their Aduersaries bee how then comes it to passe that they haue the vpper hand Answere The Prophet Esay doth declare it vnto vs in the 8. chapter of his Prophesie and the 10. verse thereof it is in few words because the Lord is with them and for them For first he is stronger then all being able to resist all power that is deuised against him and his and to doe whatsoeuer he wil both in heauen and in earth 2. He is wiser then all knowing how to preuent them in all their wayes also how to bring matters to passe for the good of his people 3. Hee is diligenter then all to stand as it were vpon his watch and to take his Aduantage when it is offered him Psal 121.4 for Hee that keepeth Israel doth neither slumber nor sleepe Lastly he is happier then all to haue good successe in all his enterprises for hee doth prosper still in all things which hee doth take in hand and none can resist a thought of his yea the very word that goeth out his mouth Esa 55.11 doth accomplish that which he will prosper in the thing whereunto hee doth send it In warre all these foure things are respected in a Captaine that will still ouercome first that he be strong secondly that he be wise thirdly that he be diligent and lastly that he be fortunate for the victory goeth not alwaies with the strong nor alwayes with the wise nor alwayes with the diligent nor alwayes with the fortunate but sometimes with the one of them and sometimes with the other but looke wher all fowre doe concure together there is allwayes the victory and therefore seeing all of them are in God it is no maruell though those whose battels he doth fight do alwayes ouercome and get the victory Obiection But mee thinks I heare some obiecting against that which hath beene said saying that it is not true that Gods children doe alwaies preuaile against their enemies but that their enemies often preuaile against them for wee see that they are murdred and put to death mention is made thereof in the booke of the Reuelation and in other of the holy Scriptures besides and a thousand examples euery where doe demonstrate the same dayly vnto vs for wee doe behold still with our owne eyes and heare with our owne eares that the godly haue the worst end of the staffe and that the wicked do beare sway and dominion ouer them how then is it true which hath beene spoken that do the vngodly what they can yet the righteous shall still preuaile against them as heere Dauid and Christ did Answere The answere hereunto may easily bee collected out of Pauls words in the eighth of the Romans the latter end of the chapter which was touched before where hee doth declare that though wee bee killed all the day long and bee accounted as Sheepe for the Slaughter yet wee bee notwithstanding that euen then and therein Conquerours yea more then Conquerours through him that loueth vs Howsoeuer that this may seeme a Paradoxe to flesh and bloud and bee as a Riddle vnto some of GODS owne Children themselues yet it is true in Diuinity and a cleere poynt to them whose eyes are opened to behold the mysteries of
Psal 119. Behold mine affliction And notwithstanding godly men be full of afflictions sorrowes and sicknesses necessities molestations and disgraces yet al these or whatsoeuer other calamities vanish away in time and the hope of Gods fauor blessed reward from him shal out liue all these and take place when these are abolished Psal 37.37 Marke well the vpright man and hehold the iust for the end of that man is peace that which he desired hee shal enioy a faithfull man shal not be frustrated of his expectatiō nor defeated of that hee hopes for According as the Psalmes sayth The poore man shall not alway be forgotten Psal 31.29 the expectation of the poore shall not perish for euer for that is euer grounded vpon faith and faith is surely grounded vpon Gods promises Dauid was a godly man and dearely beloued of the Lord his God yet he was sore humbled by affliction Ioh. 15.2.1 for euen those branches which are fruitfull God will purge to make them more fruitful Our nature is so rebellious that without sore afflictions it cannot bee tamed and subdued Stones cannot bee squared for Pallace worke without strokes of the hammer gold cannot be purged and prepared for worke without fire neither is corn separated from the chaffe without winde we are Gods corne let vs abide the winde of temptation to clense vs from the chafe of our corruption wee must suffer the fire of afliction that wee may bee fined and made vessels of honour for the house of God and we must be content that the hammer of God strike vpon vs to beat away the prowd lumps that so we may bee squared and made readie like liuely stones to be layd in heauenly Ierusalem By the which examples we may learne to know the will of the Lord and to seeke our helpe and safety at his hands which suffereth his people to bee exercised in the furnace of Egypt not to their vtter destruction but onely to kill the old man with his vain hope and confidence which hee hath in his owne strength this is the cause why God suffereth his people so to be exercised For it is not hearing reading talking or teaching onely which maketh a Christian man but practise is that which is further required in a true Christian That is to say the crosse to plucke downe the flesh and bring it to nothing that man dispairing of his owne strength and seeing no succour in himselfe should resigne himselfe wholy to the Lord looking with patience and hope for helpe at his hands To know this doctrine is one peece of the victory for they that know it not when temptations assayleth them either doe dispayre or seeke other helpes Let vs learne then out of this Psalme that it is the will of God to exercise his Saints with troubles and afflictions Iam. 1.12 Blessed is the man who endureth temptation for when hee is tryed hee shall receiue the Crowne of life which the Lord hath promised to them who loue him Therfore this is a necessary conclusion our helpe is in the name of the Lord it is a short sentence but it setteth foorth most worthy doctrine and consolation whereof especially in these latter dayes we haue great need seeing the Pope together with the greatest part of the world so cruelly persecute the doctrine of the Gospel c. In respect of these huge mountaines what are we small mole-hils yea though they were no force nor powe of man for vs to feare how are wee able to stand against not onely so many Diuels but euen the very gates of hell also and yet this experience wee haue of the great mercy and goodnesse of the Lord our God that when we are euen in the hands and neuer so much oppressed yet are we not forsaken but are safe through our confidence and trust in his helpe but to this wisedome it is impossible for vs to attaine without continuall afflictions The fruit of afflictions Whereby it is necessary that the confidence of all worldly succours should be beaten downe for vexation and trouble bringeth vnderstanding as Isaiah sayth whereby we are compelled to cry Helpe Lord for else wee perish So in the last houre when death approcheth there is nothing wherein mans heart can repose it selfe or finde comfort but in the helpe of the Lord there is rest and quietnesse there is perfect peace he that can then say my helpe is in the name of the Lord and lay hold on Iesus Christ by a true and iustifying faith dyeth happily and is out of all danger Thus we may learne what it is to haue and enioy God euen to rest in sure trust of his mercyfull helpe and succour in all dangers these are the words therefore of a triumphing and victorious faith our helpe standeth in the name of the Lord which made heauen and earth as if he sayde the maker of heauen and earth is my God and my helper Ye see whither he flyeth in his great distresse hee dispaireth not but cryeth vnto the Lord as one yet hoping assuredly to finde reliefe and comfort rest thou also in this hope and doe as he did Dauid was not tempted to the end he should dispaire In the temptations of sinne and of the wrath of God what we ought to doe thinke not thou therefore that thy temptations are sent vnto thee that thou shouldest bee swallowed vp with sorrow desparation if thou be brought downe to the very gates of Hell beleeue that the Lord will surely rayse thee vp againe If so thou be bruised and broken know it is the Lord that will helpe thee againe If thy heart be full of sorrow and heauinesse looke for comfort from him who said Psal 51.17 That a troubled Spirit is a Sacrifice vnto him Thus hee setteth the eternall God the Maker of Heauen and Earth against all Troubles and Dangers against the flouds and ouerflowings of all Tentations and swalloweth vp as it were with one breath all the raging furies of the whole World and of Hell it selfe euen as a little drop of water is swallowed vp of a mightie flaming fire and what is the World with all his force and power in respect of him that made Heauen and Earth Let the World fret then let it rage then so that this succour neuer fayle vs and if it be the will of God that wee shall suffer Trouble and Affliction yet in him wee shall ouercome at length Onely happie and sure is the estate of that man who is in Christ neither Life nor Death things present nor things to come shall separate him from the loue of God in Christ Iesus Our helpe standeth in the Name of the Lord which hath made Heauen and Earth Hence I gather this Doctrine That no elect child of God that is truely regenerate and borne anew and a liuely member of Christs mysticall Body can perish and finally fall away Rom. 8.30 For whome hee predestinateth him hee calleth whom
shall be euen as the Mount Sion which may not be remoued but standeth fast for euer THe Prophet vseth here a Similitude of Mount Sion because Ierusalem wherein Sion stood when the Temple was builded had most ample and notable Promises of God as appeareth in very many places of the Prophets That it should stand sure and inuincible for euer against all troubles and calamities for that the Lord had his abiding and dwelling there according to that Promise where he saith Here is my rest here will I dwell c. And therefore Dauid in another Psalme gloryeth on this wise Loe the Kings were gathered Psal 48.5 and went together when they saw it they maruelled they were astonied and suddenly driuen backe As we may see it came to passe vnder Ezechias in that great destruction of the Assyrians and other Kings as the Stories witnesse Which shew that Ierusalem remayned safe in all Dangers not by the strength and policie of the Inhabitants but by the miraculous worke of God dwelling in it They that put their trust in the Lord shall neuer bee remooued but standeth fast for euer Though others doe perish and are destroyed who doe vvithdraw their Hearts from him yet blessed and happie are those that doe depend vpon him and make him their onely trust and confidence they seruing him aright as it doth become them for here it should seeme that the word trust which is a principall part of that worship and seruice which man doth owe vnto Christ is put for the whole worship and seruice it selfe by the figure Synecdoche when one part is put for all and well might the Prophet vse this word before al others in regard of the iudgements hee spake of before to note that the godly who haue a care to obey Christ haue good hope and trust in him euen in the midst of dangers Here we learne this doctrine that they are blessed and happy that do rely vpon Christ and make him their stay and refuge Blessed is the man sayth Ieremie Ier. 17.7 that trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is Psal 146. and blessed is he saith Dauid that hath the God of Iacob for his helpe whose hope is in the Lord his God so that all that doe trust in Christ are happy and blessed And the reason thereof is this because they shall neuer perish but haue euerlasting life as it is oftentimes repeated in the new Testament where God the Father is said to haue loued the world so that hee gaue his onely begotten Son for it Ioh 3.16 that whosoeuer did beleeue in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life For in these two things all blessednesse and happines doth stand first in a freedome from all misery and destruction then in a possessiō of all ioyes and life euerlasting Therefore let euery one of vs labour soundly and truely to beleeue in Christ and to depend vpon him as vpon a sure rocke that will neuer deceiue vs for then you see we shall be blessed A man will doe much to haue happines here in this world euery one by nature doth desire the same and shall not we then trust in Christ to attaine vnto it Withdraw wee our hearts from the world and let vs place them wholy vpon him as they are cursed that doe make flesh their arme and trust in mā So they are blessed that doe make Christ their arme and trust in him remember what Dauid sayd touching this matter Lo sayth hee to God they that withdraw themselues from thee shall perish Psal 73.27 28. thou destroyest all them that goe a whoring from thee as for mee it is good for me to draw neere to God therefore I haue put my whole trust in the Lord God that I may declare all thy workes Let these things moue vp our hearts to cleane fast vnto Christ doubtlesse there is nothing wanting in him which is fit to be in one on whom we are to place our trust There are sixe things required of such a one First power that hee may bee able to helpe vs. Secondly Will that hee may bee ready to doe it Thirdly Skill that he may know how to do it Fourthly Remembrance that may mind vs for the doing of it Fifthly Carefulnesse that he may not post it off or neglect it from time to time Lastly Boldnesse that he may feare no inconuenience to ensue vpon it to hinder him from doing of it but all these are in Christ he is able to helpe vs because hee is Omnipotent he is willing because he loues vs to the death he is Skilfull because all the treasures of knowledge and wisedome are hid in him he is Mindfull because his eyes are alwayes open vpon vs as who doth neirher slumber nor sleepe but stands alwayes girded in the midst of the seuen golden Candlestickes to doe them good He is Carefull because he is Lord and King ouer all and that Lyon of Iudah that feareth nothing Withdraw not then your hearts from him but trust in him most constantly for euermore Secondly by this we see that godlinesse is great gaine or riches as the Apostle doth speake for trust here you see brings with it blessednesse it is not a barren thing but fruitfull it comes laden with all the blessings of the Lord vnto vs. Cursed man will say Mal. 3.14 that it is in vaine to serue the Lord and that there is no profite in keeping his commandements and in walking humbly before him But here wee are taught the contrary the wicked that doe rebell they are cast downe and doe perish but as for those which doe serue Christ and trust in him they stand vp and are blessed Then for as much as your labour is not in vaine in the Lord that I may vse the phrase of the Apostle Bee yee stedfast vnmoueable abundant alway in the worke of the Lord 1. Cor. 15.58 and trust you in Christ for euermore which wil thus bring blessednesse vnto you Seeing then they are blessed that doe trust in Christ euen then when others perish and are destroyed wee should not feare at any time but be of a good hope and comfort in the middest of all our calamities as knowing that then wee are blessed and in happy estate as well as at other times for Christ doth know how to make a separation betwixt vs that are his friends and others that are his enemies Questionlesse as God did put a difference betwixt the Israelites the Egyptians in all such plagues as hee sent among them sparing still the Israelites and punishing the Egyptians and as he did put a difference betwixt his seruant Noah and the olde world Gen. 7. sauing Noah and drowning the world and as he did put a difference betwixt holy Lot and wicked Sodome Gen. 17. deliuering Lot and burning Sodome with fire and brimstome from heauen so will Christ put a difference betwixt vs and others to saue vs and destroy
thee and therfore feare not be not any whit dismayed hold out vnto the end and trust in the Lord for euermore Hence we learne that as many as desire to be truly happy blessed may here behold the way to bee happy blessed Wouldst thou be truely happy and blessed here in this life and hereafter in the life to come Wouldst be assured that thou art the child of God in his fauour reconciled vnto him in Iesus Christ Wouldst thou be assured of saluation of thy soule Oh labour then to become a godly and a religious man repent of thy sinnes past amend thy life walke before God in new obedience labour to keepe Faith and a good Conscience hate euery euill way cleaue vnto the Lord delight in his Word let it be the ioy of thine heart then certainly thou shalt be blessed and happy for euermore To conclude if the godly man and hee that trusts in the Lord be blessed then the wicked man must of necessitie be cursed if the estate of the righteous and religious man be so comfortable and blessed then the estate of the wicked and vngodly must needes be miserable and cursed According to that of Moses vnto the Israelites Deu. 28.15 If thou wilt not obey the voyce of the Lord thy God as indeede Obedience is farre from a wicked man howsoeuer hee may come with Sauls painted Sacrifice what followes Thou shalt be cursed in Body and cursed in Soule Psal 119.21 c. Againe Thou hast destroyed the proud and cursed are they that erre from thy Commandements Verse 2. The Hills stand about Ierusalem euen so standeth the Lord about his people from this time forth for euermore WHere many hundred thousands of men are there are scarcely seuen thousand which know God or beleeue in God and yet for their sakes the whole multitude is called Gods people euen so was it in Ierusalem albeit the greater part was wicked and godlesse yet was Ierusalem called Holy not onely in respect of a small number of the godly but also because God had his abiding there So when there was not one iust person in Sodome but Lot Gen. 19.22 with his two Daughters yet could not the Angell destroy Sodome with Fire so long as Lot was in it Likewise where foure or fiue or tenne godly persons are to bee found for their sakes the whole Cittie is called Holy For these are the Elect Corner Stones these are the precious Pearles which GOD so highly esteemeth and for those sakes hee spareth the wicked Therefore sayth Dauid As Ierusalem is compassed about with Mountaines so doth the Lord compasse his people and mightily defend them on euery side In like manner Zacharie prophecyeth of a Citie whose Wall is of Fire These similitudes doe set forth vnto vs the safetie of Gods people that weake and little poore Flocke against all Dangers vpon this promise if wee also doe rest which at this day doe enioy the inestimable benefit of Gods Word wee shall be defended against the rage of Sathan and the whole World These things albeit we cannot comprehend yet should wee beleeue them so certainely as if wee did see them with our bodily eyes If wee should see our selues compassed about with brazen Walls wee should be without all feare and triumph against Sathan but it is a matter of Faith not to trust vnto that which the eyes see but which the Word offereth and promiseth This one thing therefore is lacking in vs that wee haue not the eyes of the Spirit but wee iudge according to the eyes and sence of the Flesh We must not doubt therefore but if we beleeue we are compassed about with fierie and brazen Mountaines that is to say wee abide for euer inuincible against the rage of Sathan and all the powers of Darkenesse Blessed therefore is hee that beleeueth These Mountaines are the Angels which compasse vs on euery side that Sathan with his Angels and Ministers cannot hurt vs as he would whose malice and power is such if they did not continually behold vs continually defend vs and watch ouer vs hee would destroy vs euery moment This can all they testifie which know that Sathan is a Murtherer and a Lyar which cannot abide to see the godly prosper and therefore he seeketh by all meanes to roote them out from the face of the Earth That wee are not then vtterly consumed it is the benefit of these Mountaines by whom wee are so compassed and defended Sometimes Sathan hurleth his Darts at vs as it were through the Window to destroy vs and worketh vs indeede some sorrow but he cannot hurt vs nor moue vs. This similitude seemeth to be taken out of the storie of Helizeus where the seruant of Helizeus saw the Hills about him full of fierie Chariots and Horsemen 2. Kin. 6.17 compassing Helizeus round about and mightily defending him This succour which the seruant of Helizeus saw and the Prophet beleeued when he saw nothing is sayth the Prophet round about all them which trust in the Lord The Angell of the Lord pitcheth his Tent round about them that feare him and haue a charge of them Psal 34.7 The Saints of Heauen and Earth are their fellow Brethren the Creatures of Almightie God are their Friends yea their Seruants to doe them good all their dayes The Deuils nor all the powers of Darkenesse shall not hurt them Psal 37.25 Psal 34.7 Psal 91.11 for Christ hath spoyled Principalities and Powers and hath made a shewe of them openly Hosea 2.18 and hath triumphed ouer them vpon the Crosse yea that which is more Col. 2.15 the Lord Iesus Christ to whom all Iudgement is committed is become their Lord and Sauiour so that they shall neuer come into condemnation Ioh. 5.24 but shall passe from Death vnto Life This Promise then will neuer deceiue vs onely let vs neuer deceiue our selues If therefore wee did beleeue no doubt wee should sleepe wee should liue wee should dye wee should suffer whatsoeuer Sathan and all the World can doe against vs without all feare for thus should wee thinke If I suffer any thing it is not without the will of God nor without good cause well knowne though not vnto me yet vnto God Therefore although Sathan breake through the wall in one place yet shall he neuer bee able vtterly to ouerthrow it altogether thus should wee thinke in our troubles and afflictions and comfort our selues with the good will of God The Lord will be a wall of fire round about Ierusalem and the glory in the midst of her he will keepe her as the apple of his eye and make Ierusalem a cup of poyson to all her enemies and a heauy stone which whosoeuer striueth to lift shall bee torne therewith though all the people of the earth were gathered together against it the weapons made against her shall not prosper and euery tongue that shall rise against her in iudgement shall be condemned this