establisheth the heart to pray hee never failes to give a gratious hearing to the prayer Otherwise the worke of his owne grace should suffer losse and disparagement from himselfe 6 The fourth and last reason may be because beleeving trusting and depending on God is a thing so much despised reproched neglected and little set by in the world indeed persecuted upon the matter and this may provoke the jealousie of the Lord and cause him to cast the more honour upon it because the world doth so much disparage it As David who was well acquainted with Gods wayes reasoneth upon the like occasion 2 Sam. 16. 12. It may be the Lord will looke upon mine affliction and appoint good unto mee for his cursing this day Now the Scripture makes it cleare that this dependance upon God it is a practise in the way of Christians that hath alwaies undergone reproach and have beene made a laughing stocke in the world In the Psal 14. 6. you have shamed the counsell of the poore because the Lord is his refuge hee hath no outward support no friends in the world Hee made the Lord his refuge therefore you made a mocke at his way And so the Scribes and Pharisees mocked Christ for his dependance hee had upon his father Matth. 27. 34. Hee trusted in God let him deliver him now if hee will have him for hee said I am the sonne of God And so the Apostle tels us in the 1 Tim. 4. 10. For therefore we labour and suffer reproach because wee trust in the living God that iâ— the Saviour of all men especially of those that beleeve Now then the spirit of the world and the folly of men being set against this great worke of God in the hearts of his servants they labouring to reproch and vilifie it God sets himselfe so much the more to magnifie it and make it glorious for God hath chosen the foolish things of the World to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weake things in the world to confound the mightie 1 Cor. 1. 27. that is the things which the world counts foolish and the things which the world counts weak to confound that which the world counts wise and mightie and will despise that which the world magnifies and magnifies that which the world despiseth This for the grounds and reasons of the point come we now to Use and Application CAP. XV. An Vse of Instruction from the Doctrine in two particulars FIrst by way of instruction and that in two particulars 1 First if God will be a Sanctuary in times of dangers Troubles and all kindes of Calamities to those that sanctifie him by a sincere and single depending upon him then observe hence That there are no times so bad no daies so evill but may be redeemed that is but that the dangerousnesse and evill of them may be reduced to an equalitie with the peace safety and comfort of better times yea of the best that ordinarily this world affords to the Church and servants of God As the sharpnesse of a cold season may by a proportionable addition of warme clothing the use of fires exercise and the like be made as little offensive to a mans constitution as a temperate season is or as a man that is in a strong hold fort or tower that is sufficiently provided with ammunition men victualls and all other provisions necessary in such a case for defence is in as much safetie though hee be besieged by enemies round about as another man is that hath no enemie neere him so when a man hath God for a refuge and Sanctuary and defence when a man hath the covering of his wing spread over him what arrowes soever are flying or what windes soever are blowing or what waves soever are raging in the world about him it is as much alike to him as if all were quiet about him and the voyce of the turtle heard in his land as Solomon speakes Hee can be but safe and well at rest and ease in hâ—s minde if hee lived in those golden times prophesied of Psalm 72. 3. when mountaines and little hils shall bring forth peace to the people that is I conceive when neither high nor low rich nor poore shall be troublesome for it is generally seene that the troublesomenesse or evilnesse of times arise from one or both of these sorts of men especially and safe hee is and well apaid in the inner man when he hath taken sanctuary under the wing of God 2 As we see in Pauls case the times wherein he lived were as bad and hard to him as lightly they could be and yeelded little outward peace or comfort to him see what thornes there were in his eyes and scourges in his sides continually as if all the troubles and sorrows and miseries in the world had agreed together to fight neither against small nor great but only against Paul see his condition in the 2 Corin. 11. from the 23. to the 28. verse In labours more abundant in stripes above measure in prisons more frequent in deaths oft of the Iewes five times received I forty stripes but one thrice was I beaten with rods once was I stoned thrice I suffered shipwracke a night and a day I have beene in the deepe in journeying often in perils of waters in perils of robbers in perils of mine owne countrymen in perils by the heathen in perills in the City in perils in the wildernesse in perils in the sea in perils amongst false brethren in wearinâ—sse and painfulnesse in watchings often in hunger and thirst in fastings often in cold and nakednesse You would thinke that there was a great valley or rather a vast gulfe to be fill'd up and levelled Behold Paul was not much cast behind hand in the things of his peace and comfort with all these breaches the world made so thicke upon him hee was no loser to speake of by all this the reason is hee was safe in his Sanctuary from all feares yea and could rejoyce in the midst of all his troubles and what could he have done more had he wash't his paths in butter as Iob speakes and lived in the middest of all the pleasures and contentments of the sonnes of men As sorrowfull saith he 2 Cor. 6. 10. and yet alwayes rejoycing as having nothing and yet possessing all things His troubles were but as shadowes and appearances of troubles as sorrowfull as if hee had said other men used to be sorrowfull when they are in the like outward condition and therefore hee was thought to be sorrowfull also but his joy had the realitie strength and substance of joy allwayes rejoycing he doth not say as alwaies rejoycing but simply rejoycing that is indeed and in truth Paul knew how to make the day and night the day of prosperitie and the night of adversity to him both a like Therefore certainly there is no impossibilitie for others to do the like 3 This is a point of very pretious importance unto us
know is the great and gracious and mighty protector of the world hee defends the whole earth with his loving kindnesse as it were with a shield What shall I doe unto thee O thou preserver of men saith Iob unto God Iob 7. 20. In him saith the Apostle that is by or through him we live move and have our being viz. continued and made good unto us Act. 17. 28. And Christ Heb. 1. 3. is said to carry or beare up all things by his mighty Word as if there were nothing that could either goe or stand alone or as if the whole creation were ready to sinke rightdowne into nothing If Christ should let goe his hold but a moment And yet wee know wee are all obnoxious to him and long since put a sword into his hand wherewith he might justly have slaine us at once He that protecteth us upon these termes doth he gather in proportion above what he scatters if hee receive service and obedience from us Thirdly the law of Preservation and maintenance strengthens his title hereunto yet further Who feedeth a flocke and eateth not of the milke of the flock saith the Apostle 1. Cor. 9. 7. Support and maintenance are ready to complaine and cry out of injury and wrong if service be denyed them Because wee have maintenance from the Kings Palace it was not meete that wee should see the Kings dishonour therefore have wee sent and certified the King was a good reason though in bad men Ezra 4. 14. It is the brand of the child of perdition to have eate of our Saviours bread and yet lift up his heele against him Ioh. 13. Well then God being the great Foster Father of the World filling all our hearts daily with food and gladnesse he who opening his hand satisfieth the desire of every living thing as David speaketh Psal 145. 16. and putteth the staffe of bread into the hand of all flesh giving it strength likewise to support them How shall we despise such a great and solemne ingagement as this How shall wee breake or cast away such golden cords as these from us that is how shall wee refuse to serve him The Saints indeed shall judge the World 1. Corinth 6. 2. but the oxe and the asse shall judge and condemne us if wee know our Masters crib no better Fourthly the Law of Redemption triumpheth yet above all therest in the vindication of Gods right and title to the best of our strength in his service And as himselfe teacheth us to reason for our selfe on the one hand Hee who spared not his owne Son but gave him for us all to death how shal he not with him give us all things So on the other hand this love of his to us so richly manifested in the death of his sonne for us teacheth us to reason against our self and yet not against our selfe neither if wee knew the things of our peace and glory for him He who spared not his owne Sonne but gave him for us all to death how shall he not for such a guift expect and looke for all things from us yea how shall wee not for such a gift prevent his expectation herein if it were possible and even give him all things though hee looked for nothing To dispute the interest God hath in us or to demurre upon his service is to set abroach a new queree in the world and to aske for whom Christ died whether for Angels or for the seede of Abraham Hee that is out of Gods work and despiseth his wayes and glory seemes willing to comfort the Devills and to possesse them with a hope that it was the Captivity of hell and not of the world that was turned by the death of Jesus Christ There is no withstanding no rising up against the Majestical power and authority of this law it leaves a man nothing of himselfe it despoyleth him of all right and power of living to himselfe and seeking his owne things it seizeth upon all his heart and all his soule and all his minde and all his strength upon all that he is and all that hee hath and all that hee is able to doe for the use and service of the great God of heaven and earth and all this it doth by a strong and high hand of righteousnesse and equitie So that there is no man that acknowledgeth his Redemption wrought his ransome paid by Jesus Christ can murmur or complaine in the least degree that hee is served neither better nor worse as wee say then thus to be caught up out of himselfe and from the earth and by a holy violence constrained and compelled to serve above and to attend the throne of heaven and to live unto him that sitteth and reigneth thereon for evermore Redemption by Christ is as the most gratious Law-giver in one kinde so the most severe in another that ever was God himselfe never gave Law that reach't so farre or so deepe into his creature Other lawes and commandements of God it shooke off from it self and despised and yet God was able to beare it and to over-rule and keepe backe his fire and brimstone that they brake not out to take vengeance of the transgressours yea notwithstanding the contempt and disobedience of his creature to that Law yet hee lov'd it still yea with such a love that travailed with no lesse birth than the gift of his onely begotten sonne Jesus Christ out of his bosome for the comfort peace and blessednesse of it But the Law of that service which the gift of Christ and Redemption by him imposeth upon man is indispensable altogether that knowes no mitigation or compliance all the grace goodnesse mercy compassion bounty patience long-sufferance in God will never looke after never think the least thought of making the least provision for the peace or safety of him that shall live and die in disobedience to it There is no bit or bridle that will ever be put in the jawes of hell to keepe it from falling upon such a man nay hell will be ready to cry to heaven for more fire and brimstone if it were possible to advance the torment and destruction of such a creature Fiftly and lastly the Law of instruction rejoyceth also to do service to the God of heaven in this kinde and further ingageth his creature man to serve him Teach mee O Lord the way of thy statutes and I will keepe it unto the end Psalm 119. 33. David thought it was but reason to covenant with God to give him practise for knowledge service for teaching Yea God himselfe who is farre from overvaluing any gift or grace vouchsafed to his creature nor ever chargeth any commodity of his wherein hee deales with the world with any hard or unreasonable imposition hath yet put such an estimate or rate upon knowledge that whosoever receives it must either render service and obedience upon it or else suffer punishment above his fellowes Therefore service to God is a rent charge naturally
due and issuing out of an estate of knowledge to whomsoever it is given The servant that knew his Masters will and prepared not himselfe neither did according to his will shall be beaten with many stripes But hee that knew it not and yet did commit things worthy of stripes shall be beaten with few stripes c. Luk. 12. 47 48. with what severitie of displeasure did God proceed against those heathen that withheld the truth in unrighteousnesse Rom. 1. 18. and that especially because that when they knew God they glorified him not as God c. vers 21. that is in effect they did not serve him And David propounds it as a matter of the greatest and most apparent equitie which the consciences of all men cannot but see and acknowledge that God who teacheth men knowledge should chastise and correct namely when those that are taught knowledge refuse to tender service and obedience as a dutie or tribute belonging thereunto Psal 94. 10. upon which place the Chaldee Paraphrase hath these words Is it possible that he hath given the Law to his people and they not be rebuked when they sinne So that this service of God whereunto you are exhorted is nothing but what is due unto him by multiplicitie of Titles and ingagements from you you must trample under foot right upon right reason upon reason equitie upon equitie and turne head upon all conscience if you will stand out and rebell against the voyce of this exhortation And know this that if you will break all their golden Cords by which God hath tyed and bound you so fast to himselfe and his service and cast them from you God will gather them up from your hand and turne them into Scorpions and make a terrible scourge of them it may be for your consciences by the way but most assuredly for your soules in hell Every reason that pleads for the service of God at your hands in this world will pleade for vengeance against you at the hand of God in that which is to come if it bee despised Thirdly to make the necessitie of your serving God more weightie and prevalent upon you consider that as it is his right so it is his commandement also to be served by you Hee hath declared and testified from heaven that hee is fully purposed to stand upon his right in this behalfe that hee lookes for the hearts and hands of all flesh to be lift up unto his Commandements Serve the Lord with feare and rejoyce with trembling Psalm 2. 11. Hee doth not simply command service of men but is very choyce of the service hee commands it must be made savory and such as his soule loveth it must be prepared for him with that spirituall composition of feare and joy So againe Psalm 100. 2. Serve the Lord with gladnesse c. Besides other passages in Scripture of like importance and charge without number now then let it be seriously thought of and laid to our hearts as hot or hotter than they can well endure it of what high concernment it is to the creature both on the right hand and on the left that the voyce and commandement of God be obeyed Mallem obedire quam miracula facere etiamsi possem I had rather obey than worke miracles though I could was a straine of that wisdome which God gave unto his servant Luther The truth is that obedience it better than a being in heaven simply because without obedieÌ„ce a being in heaven would soone be turn'd into a being in hell a position ratified by the fall of Angels whereas on the contrary a being in hell would soone be turned into a being in heaven if obedience be found with it a conclusion gloriously sealed by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and his ascention into glory Thou wilt not leave my soule in hell nor suffer thy Holy One to see corruption Act. 2. 27. Hath the Lord as great pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as when the voyce of the Lord is obeyed saith Samuel to Saul 1 Sam. 15. 22. So that he that obeyeth the voyce of God pleaseth him and he that pleaseth God is a benefactour to many and pleasures the world round about him God is seldome pleased but the windowes of heaven are presently opened and the blessings thereof powred downe upon the Earth But oh who is able to abide the heate of his indignation when he comes to avenge the words of his mouth upon the disobedient and rebellious What is it that puts the foundations of the world out of their course that makes Kings and Princes to labour in the very fire What is it that teares up the mountaines by the rootes and carries them into the midst of the Sea What is it that shakes so terribly the Earth as it is at this day nation being risen against nation and Kingdome against Kingdome What is it that causeth the Sunne to be darkned and the Moone to be turned into blood and the Starres to fall out of heaven and the powers of heaven themselves to be shaken that is as some interpret the holy Angels with astonishment at the great terrour of the Almighty falling on the earth In a word What is that separates betweene the world and the peace of it having the God of Peace for its Protectour and Ruler that turnes the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort into a consuming fire to it but onely the neglect and contempt of this great commandement of the most High He commands the world to serve him and the world would make him serve with her sinnes and this is that that the jealousie of him whose name is jealous cannot beare Thus the great breach is made upoÌ„ the earth the whole world in a manner cast upon the bed of sorrow yea from the wombe of the contempt of this Commandement of God are the regions of darknesse replenished with inhabitants and the chambers of death furnished with guests to be lodged in shame and torments for ever Fourthly to ease the burthen of this exhortation to the service of God where I conceive it wringeth and pincheth most upon the shoulders of naturall and carnall men consider that if you be but once really perswaded and made willing to take this yoke upon you to consecrate your selfe to this service of God all the bitternesse and burthensomenesse and unpleasantnesse thereof unto you is past immediately The gâ—eatest snare of death wherein vaine and inconsiderate men are taken and held from the service of God I conceive is this They conceive and imagine that the waies of God and religious courses which are so contrary unto their natures and wherein they taste a bitternesse like death for the present will never be healed of this antipathy and unsutablenesse to them but will continue alike bitter and distastefull to the end Upon which apprehension the heart is enraged against all that is called holy and stands off at defiance with spirituall