Mountaynes and not of the Valleies Let not him that putteth on his Armor brag and boast as hee that puts it off Our God is able to crosse and Cursse all their plattes and practises of warre and other wretched meanes especiallie of vsing wicked InstrumeÌ„ts to bring their purposes to passe I meane not of our Papists onely which ebbe and flow at home with tydings as the Tide but Iesuites more seruiceable theÌ„ their Generals which hunger after Kings heartes Counsellors heades Captaines handes and Prophets tongues as after meate and thirst after Christian bloode as after drinke whome it is no charitie but extreeme crueltie to releaue And if this place were Golgatha where Christ was crucified and not Gilgall where ChristiaÌ„s are Circumcised I would wish theÌ„ nayled a liue on this Crosse with Anathema Amaranatha that bee so bloudy minded Great warres there was before the first comming of Christ greater there will bee before his second comming for Antechrist must war against the Saincts And vnto Tyrants warre is a felicitie but vnto good and Christian Princes a verie necessitie whose warres are nothing els but the seeking of safetie and peace Our Gracious Soueraigne did suffer long and too long almost before shee tooke the Sword in hande and stoode to her defence in the cause of the Gospel against the Enimies thereof and the People whose hearts shee had Iustilled into her selfe did offer themselues most willingly Though there might be some Inhabitants of Meroâ— who marching in their bodies did not march in their minds so Valiantlie To helpe the Lord against the mightie as speaketh Deborah Iudges 5. 23. But as Shee did then prepare her Arme and yet made God her Strength Steele So let her nowe set vp her rest in Heauen and giue no rest to them in earth that within the compasse of Her Dominions shal seek the setting vp of Dagon againe either whole or broken for why should Moses suffer the Calfe or Ezechias the Serpent or Gedeon Ball or Elias Bals Priests or Elizabeth Balaams Prophets seing both the Idol and the Idol maker the Worshipper are all accursed of God And for this cause the Pope is more odious vnto vs than Turke or Iew and Popish Princes are as Sheon and Ogg and therefore is it that wee say of Philip of Spaine as the Lacedemonians said of Philip of Macedonie we would not haue him to come into our Countrie neither a Friend nor a Foe for we haue tried his comming both wayes to be naught though worse to vs in Mariage than in Mart but our God hath deliuered vs from them both and will deliuer vs still if we bee founde faithfull and thankefull vnto him The Cherubins euer stretched foorth their wings but neuer pulled them in to flie from the mercie seate Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord for his mercie indureth for euer His Anger is but to the third or fourth Generation and of them that hate him but his mercie is to Thousands of them that loue him and Keepe his Commandements for Fiue yeeres displeasure wee haue receiued alreadie One and thirtie yeeres fauour Wherefore as I wish that Elizabeth did take vp the Prophet Dauids words in the 30. Psa. ver 1. say I will magnifie thee O Lord because thou hast exalted me and hast not made my foes to triumph ouer me So would I that the people euery where did sing euen the same song for our Day is as the Day of Iosuah when the Sun Moone stood still vntill Gods people were auenged Iosua 10. 13. Our yere as the yere of Iubile wheÌ„ euery man was freed in Israel and I hope and pray that it may prooue vnto vs the Great Iubile which was the fiftith yeere We are not yet in the December of our Dayes but in Nouember neither in the end of that Month but in the midst and Her Highnesse day this yeere is the first after the Lords day and if it be Ominous Behold the signe is in Leo next vnto Virgo and looke your Calendar who standeth in the last Day of the last moneth of December and in the signe Pisces vnder foote and you shall finde it to be Pope Siluester as I doe thinke the second of that Name who as Platina writeth got his Dignitie by the Diuel and seeking of him by Oracle how long he should liue is answered doubtfully long if he came not neere Ierusalem but there hee died the fourth yeere and hee cannot thriue or liue long that nowe is Pope nor they that hereafter shall bee Popes after him because they all follow Siluester and Siluer to the Diuell do still striue to come neere vnto Ierusalem There is no Affection in the heart but it will expresse it selfe in the bodie when Nature hath occasion offered and as it is an euill Spirit which can bee quiet when God is dishonored so that cannot bee a good spirit which is sad or silent when God is to bee praised Wherefore let vs not speake as Dauid did our case being nothing like Tell it not in Gath nor publish it in the streetes of Ashkelon that Saul is slaine least the vncircumcised Philistines do Reioyce 2. Sam. 1. 20. but rather let vs say as the foure Leapers said in the 2. Reg. 7. 9. when the Aramites had sledde and forsaken the Campe and left all their prouision for hast behinde them and when these Leapers entred their Tents and did eate drinke and carrie away they saide one to another we doe not well Because this is a daie of good tidings and we hold our peace Wherfore hold you not your peace but tell it in Spaine and in the Ilands there about where perhaps you may come that as ELIZABETH of England liued by the Grace of God the first howre so by a much more Grace of God QVEENE ELIZABETH Raigneth this present yeare For HEE that is mightie hath magnified hir and Holie is his Name And in hope of continuall Grate and fauour of God this daie let Dauid dance before the Arke let the Priests sing before the Altar let the People showte in the Presence of the Lorde let all our Siluer Trumpets sound let our Sweete perfume euer goe vp and let our Fire neuer go out and a White Lâ—â—prosie smite his Soule that reioiseth not indeede because of this day The Iewes Kept the Moneth Nisan for Egypt and Adar for Haman Let vs euerie Moone solemnelie by Sacrament remember him to whom we owe euerie Moment of our life but euery Twelue-Moneth let vs in Thankesgiuing remember Hir to whom Vnder God we owe al our seruice vpon Earth And let Hir Posie bee from hencefoorth for euer Eloi-Sabaoth Elizabeth Alleluia And he shall be hir God of Saboth of Rest and Peace who hath beene Hir God of Sabaoth of Force and Armes and if the First Psalme bee but a Preface to the rest as manie doe account then according to the Number of the Crowne I can commend vnto you the 32. Psalme which otherwise is the 33. as most precious for our purpose most proper for Hir Person And when the Prophet saith Blessed be the Lord God of Israell Let all the people of Israel say So be it And as he concludes his Psalme 106. So I conclude my Sermon Praise ye the Lord The I 〈…〉 d God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ to whom with the Holie Ghost three persons one Eternall Almightie and euerlasting God be all Honour Glorie Power and Dominion for euer and euer Amen FINIS â—iuision Ob. So. Points noted in both parts of the Diuision Multitude â—â—blicans â—â—ldiors The praise of Gods word â—â—ond â—â—rt â—ext Ob. So. Ob. So. Ob. So. Ob. Sol. Contention in the Church
the Soudiers them both and all of them God and his Christ yet notwithstāding at once preaching of the word so manie in number and such manner of men in Nature are suddenly here chaunged and as Isay prophecied it should be in the kingdome of Christ a VVoolfe is turned into a Lamb for so is this multitude and a Leopard into a Calfe for so are the Publicans and a Lyon or a Beare such as these Souldiers were into a verie Cowe and doe crie as Cowherds VVhat shall wee doe Esa. 11. 6. Howe excellent the word is the title that it beareth teacheth whē it is called the word of God and the ministers thereof in both the Testamentes are tearmed the men of God of the which the former prefers the word before all other things and the latter doth almost fellowe men with Angels but our point now is to consider the force and vertue of the word which you may see here to be as it is affirmed in the fourth of the Hebrewes Quicke and mightie in operation I speake not of the worde the Sonne and substance of his father but of that worde which bringeth the trueth which is from euerlasting As the Sunne by his beames brings downe the light vnto the worlde which light was made before the Sunne Gen. 1. 5. John cals himself a voice but not the worde much lesse the Trueth As the voice is before the word so trueth is before them both of the which truth mortall men shoulde neuer bee capable without the worde for by the worde the sonne of righteousnes doth arise vnto vs and by the worde things passed and to come are made present to our faith After manie waies and diuerslie this worde was giuen in former age as by Dreames Visions Reuelations and Angels c. But in these latter daies after one vniforme manner and order namely by the Sonne the Lord and heire of all Heb. 1. 2 A comparison here of the Law and gospell as two stones smitten together cast foorth fire would giue a light but I had rather applie my selfe vnto the Gospell whereof I am a minister And in the gospell how manie Metaphors hath the spirit to expresse this one thing vnto vs for after manie proper Epithetes As the word of faith and trueth The immortall seede 2. Pet. 1. The power of God to saue Rom. 1. and the like it is compared to leauen for seasoning to honie for swetening to the hammer for breaking the harde flinte Ier. 23. To fire for burning the drosse Ier. 5. To a Sword for cutting and to a two edged sworde Naïe it is said to be sharper thē any two edged sword Heb. 9. 12. The one can but enter the bodie and pearce the bones or if it can deuide betweene the bodie and the soule it is all But this sworde called the sworde of the spirit Eph. 6. can deuide betweene the Soule and the spirite Gaging the hare and renting the raines where no other sworde no not that brandishing firie sword of the Angel that kept the garden of Paradise can come Gen. 3. Neither are these things spoken of the worde as it goeth out of the mouth of God for so it exceedeth as it proceedeth out of the mouth of Christ which Iohn saw as a Sharp two edged sword Reu. 1. 16. but as it cōmeth out the mouth of mē therefore Peter when he called it the immortall seede 1. Pet. 1. 23. hee addeth straight this is the word which we preach vnto you Paul doth not say the word but wee are the sauor of life or death 2. Cor. 2. 16. I graunt that a hart well affected as an instrument well tuned doth sooner answere the sweetnes of it when it soundeth but where is that heart before the worde hath made him such a one likewise I confesse that men by despising thereof doe make it weake and wearish to themselues but if the worde bee weake to saue take heede for it is strong to destroye Water searcheth and Winde shaketh mightie thinges and the voyce of thunder smiteth with terror the harts of Lyons Psal. 29. But al these things can nothing moue Mans hart as the word doth which woorketh powerfullie as well in good as bad learned as vnlearned Kings as Priuate persons In all men that heare it one way or other it woundeth as well Caine as Dauid Saul and Achab as Iosias and Hezekias as well Iudas as Peter but after a diuers maner Baltasar the King when he saw it written his loynes loosed Dan. 5. 6. Iosias hearing it read his heart fayled 2. Reg. 22. 11. but after an other sorte Why the Prophets themselues when they were made but messengers thereof to other men they crie out one O my loynes my loynes Isay 29. 16. An other O my bellie Abac. 3. 16 For it searcheth all the bowels Prou. 20. 27. and cutteth as it goeth with a double edge either to plant or to supplaint the soule It sleyeth the wicked man aliue although hee woulde fayne haue it die in a tempest when he heareth it yet it leads him into a Labirinth and leaues him not vntill it sende him to death or desperation Antichrist if euer hee shall receiue his deathes wounde it is not with Iron or steele but with the breath of Gods mouth that is the word 2. Thess. 2. 8. The Diuell himselfe is put to flight in the desert with no other instrument then with the word Matth. 9. And it is a wonderfull aduantage that Sathan hath against Christ in that he holdeth the first possession in all men and except hee were more stronge in deede that commeth afterwards there were no hope of euer recouering anie one But these conuerted are good witnesses here who is greater Christ or Sathan and not onely these but their Corrupters and Captaines also euen the Pharises and Saduces doe witnesse the same thing who are said to be conuerted Matth. 8. and Iohn 12. Men doe verie hardly change their minds especially if they bee Learned or Rich and hence groweth all the mischiefe among vs that men proue Pharises in the Church Cammels in the common welth Knowledge maketh not the Pharise but the proud conceit nor Riches make a Cammel but wretchednesse by which meanes if it were possible Sathan would stoppe all the course of the word but he cannot for what Ground the gospel the Worde hath woon in the world in spite of the God thereof and all his followers the Pope the Turke and other Tyrants the Church euerie where doeth Witnesse and with vs Reioycing and Triumphing this day doth confesse to the glorie and praise of God saying that The truth is great and hath preuailed and praying that it may preuaile for euermore Amen All these here as it were with one voice do acknowledge their sinne past and their present ignorance O when wil our People Publicans Soldiers doe the like when will they say What shall wee doe I would they woulde but say What
knew how to strike a dog His faithfulnes made him bolde and a bolde Prophet is good but a bolde man and a colde Prophet are both naught Christ called him Elias for his spirite surely hee might haue called him Bonarges the sonne of thunder as the other Iohn was called Mat. 3. 17. for what a clap of thunder is this vppon the hils first to cal the Pharises Vipers and after to threaten them the fire The Axe saith he is laid to the roote of the tree and euerie tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen down and cast into the fire This Axe is death a violent death the Tree man any man a Pharisee the Fruits are workes and the Fire is hell Hel fire So that he threatneth them with no lesse than with death and damnation as I take it that presently except they doe repent for he giueth thē neither day nor time so that this seemes to sounde more terrible than that cry of Ionas Yet fortie daies and Niniuie shall be destroied Ionas 3. 4. Therefore the Multitude Publicanes Souldiers hearing these things by and by begin to looke about them and remembring the flame to be next the smoke and fearing the fire the wrath to come whereof Iohn spake they all cry out What shall we doe Vnto whome hee is said now to answere for he opposed before and that hardly and he vseth so great moderation and mildenes as he had done seuerity sharpenes and how good saith Solomon is a word spoken in season Pro. 15. It is like a sweet shoure that comes after a drought or like a light that shineth in a darke place He doth not now flatter fawning or fanning thē with wind he leaueth that vnto the Politiques of the worlde which throughly serue their God with reuiling the good praising of the bad but Iohn speaketh though sometimes sharpely sometimes smoothly yet alwaies truely charitably and to the purpose let vs examine his answere He that hath two Coates let him part with him that hath none The first Answere is to the Multitude and it is very fit and apt to perswade thē to be mercifull which seeke mercy them selues But for all that it seemes scarce sound and perfect counsell whereof the people can receiue no profit for God is not pleased with good deedes for our ill as if there were a lawe to bind him either to Accept or to Except the one for the other as the Iewes did thinke him bounde by the law for Sin to take a Sacrifice and for a Soule a Sheepe I answere it is true that there is nothing in al the Law which may comfort the Offendor because hee is vnder the Curse and therefore if hee had shapte his answere out of the lawe Hee might haue answered thus Perish and Dispaire but hee answereth them out of the Gospel for many reasons chooseth the workes of Charitie which he vrgeth not after the Lawe but after the Gospel And therefore this exhortation dependeth vppon another Principle and on a newe Lawe where to the Repentant his sinnes are assured to bee remitted and in lieu of thankefulnes a better life is inioined Wherefore hee doth not further reprooue them now but spareth them that as Iohn the Euangelist after the voice of Thunder heard the voice of Harpers from Heauen Reuel 14. 2. So these might hear of Iohn the Baptist after Anger Fauour and might see after Fire Water and receiue after Commination Exhortation wherein hee handleth them so tenderly as the Samaritan did the wounded man pouring in olde wine and not new for feare of breaking their old Bottels for he knows that the bruised Reede must not be be broken nor the smoking flaxe be quenched Isay. 42. 3. And therefore wils them rather to breake their sinnes by Almes-deedes as Dauid did perswade Nabuchadnezar Dan. 4. 24. Not with any Goates offered vnto God but with some Coates giuen to poore men Sacrifices were Ceremonies which had their time but Loue is a seruice of all times both to God Man and it is most necessarily required heere for many reasons and respects First for the Multitude as the best thing in their case For perfect loue casteth out feare 1. Iohn 4. 18. and I thinke they were afraide Secondly for the Church whose necessitie coulde not choose but be infinite then in the beginning when Hypocrisie and Tyrannie had possessed all Thirdly for Iohn himselfe who auoideth by it that same suspition so oft obiected of the Pharises vnto Christ that hee spake against the lawe as our Pharises handle vs because we constantly affirme That Faith onelie iustifieth according to the Word we haue many euill wordes for it and though otherwise we preach and teach good works a hundred times yet it will not serue our turne For they conceiue of vs as of the enemies of all goodnes where as it is not the good woorke but the merite of our good workes that we doe so disclaime and abhorre Lastly it serueth more for the honour of Christ when such a Multitude shall be turned and changed by his word not in Opinion onely which often falleth out in the common sorte through inconstancie and temeritie but by good works and such as kindely crosse the soule of an earthly minded man and for the which many did depart from Christ both sorrowfull and sad They should now witnes to the world that they esteemed nothing in comparison of the peace and quiet of their troubled Soules And there are but two effectes of true Repentance To cease from euill and to learne to doe good Hee pursueth the latter which implieth the former Hee might haue said Loue you one another but lest a People too much giuen to dissimulation should only answere in word and tongue He calls them as Iohn doth his hearers 1. Iohn 3. 18. Vnto the Deede and Truth of Loue. By Cloath and Meate here he vnderstandeth all our Substance for Foode and Raiment is the effect of all that a man can haue in this world 1. Tim. 6. 8. But who should relieue the Poore the Multitude onely It is said to the Multitude He that hath two Coates let him part with him that hath none There are certaine speciall Dueties which doe concerne one and not another but to giue to the Poore belongeth vnto all Christians with this prouiso If they haue it For Iohn counts it a disgrace in the Church which is the House of God to see one man with two Coates and another naked and yet both one mans seruants wherefore that equality where the Plentie of some supplieth the Penurie of other some is Christian and not Anabaptistical 2. Cor. 8. 14. And that inequalitie where some doe Surfet and others are hungrie is not Christian but Diuellish 1. Cor. 11. 21. I know the Multitude would post ouer this lesson to the Minister but if as they call vs men of a Coate they could proue vs to bee men of two Coates men