to destroy whence Origeâ— notes that the wicked aâ—â— as earthen vessels of dishonour to bee broken Anâ— doubtlesse the Lord by his judgements breakes iâ— upon his people like thâ— sea and makes a breaâ—â— among them as now by Pestilence by which heâ— scatters us one from another c. But especially here Pestilence And of this Plague by Pestilence wee understand the word here This same word is used also by Moses when hee speakes of the last Plague of Aegypt Exod. 12.23.27 the death of the first borne wherewith God is said by his Angell to smite them And that Angell is called a Destroyer For as God by an Angell delivered his people out of Aegypt Numb 20.16 so by an Angell hee destroyed their enemies Hebr. 11.28 So that it is very likely that those first borne were destroyed by Pestilence to which I I conceive the Lord in Amos hath reference when hee saith I have sent among you the Pestilence after the manner of Aegypt Amos 4.10 Even so in the Pestilence which was in King Davids time hee is called the Angell that destroyed the people 2. Sam. 24.16 Moreover these Murmurers were threatned to bee smitten with the Pestilence Numb 14.12 I will smite them saith the Lord with the Pestilence now when after this threatning were they so smitten unlesse at this time It is not much materiall to our maine scope whether this Plague here were the Pestilence or no yet so we now take it Doctr. and doe observe that the Pestilence is Wrath Pestilence is an effect and signe of wrath in God or a signe and effect of Wrath and of Gods displeasure Here wee see the one is explanied and expressed by the other and this is the Observation hence to be made yet it is not so much a signe of Gods wrathfull displeasure to each and every particular person smitten by it seeing a child of God may both be smitten and die of it as to the Communaltie to the Kingdome Citie To whom Towne or place where it is in which a breach is made as in Davids case Yet here in my text they were all guilty and for the most part the Pestilence as well as the Sword comming to avenge the quarrell of Gods covenant â—ev 26.25 and to punish the disobedient and obstinate its maine busines is with those against whom God hath the greatest quarrell It is no ordinary death The Plague then is and must be taken to be a fearfull signe of Gods displeasure and wrath as it was said of the Aegyptians Hâ—â— that is God cast upoÌ„ them the fiercenesse of his anger Psal 78.49 â—0 51 wrath and indignation and trouble by sending evill angels among them Hee gave their life over to the Pestilence and smote all the first-borne in Aegypt c. So Numb 25.3 4 -8. This is not an ordinarie death or death barelie VVhy or a debt we owe to God and Nature as an effect of originall Sin or of Sin generallie but this as the like deaths by Sword and Famine is an effect of some great speciall spreading and raigning Sins In it is wrath and the face of an angrie God may ought be seen in it For 1. 1. Gods hand is specially in it Gods hand is more seen or to be seen in it God is said To fall upon or to meet men with Pestilence â—xod 5.3 â—am 24. And it s A falling into the hands of the Lord. In the place Exodus 5.3 as elsewhere I know the Greeke and Chaldee translate the word there used Deber Death yet that death is Pestilence for so the Holy Ghost puts it for Pestilence in Revel 6.8 from Ezek. 14.21 So the Murraine or Pestilence on the cattel is said to be from the hand of the Lord. Exod. 9.3 2. It s full of wofull evill Psal â—1 3 2. Commonlie it is a grievous death as that a grievous Murraine Exod. 9.3 And the Psalmist cals it noysome or rather wofull Pestilence or Pest of wofull miseries or evils Now what these evils are who knows not Through the noysomnesse and contagion of it it makes a man a straÌ„ger to his own house to his dearest friends yea as it were an enemie to them and an instrument of death to wife children friends and it deprives a man of comforters in his greatest agonie and need and at length of life and of an Honorable buriall It s an enemie of trading and civill commerce it s commonlie accompanied with Famine and followed where it workes not reformation with 〈◊〉 stung by Gods wise providence with this deadlie disease so the whole point it selfe affords unto us a double instruction Vse 1 Not to bee secure in time of pestilence 1. Not to dallie with God at such times especiallie as these God is in good earnest with us truly displeased with us with our waies and would have us know so much whilest hee manifests his wrath from heaven against us by Plague and Pestilence which is one of his foure sore Iudgements Ezek. 14.21 whereby hee powres out his furie upon us in blood to cut off man and beast as wee have great cause to feare Verse 29. and which he would have us take not for an ordinarie death but for a true signe of his Wrath which hee would have us see in it and accordinglie feare and tremble and so worke out our Salvation breaking off our Sins by Repentance and amendment of life not making light thereof when his hand is so heavie upon us for the same When Pestilence finds us in our Sin it is a fearfull signe of heavie wrath from God but if it leave us in our Sin then is it yet a more fearfull signe of Gods hot displeasure for so it leaves us either to the Sword of mercilesse and everlasting destruction of soule body as the just and full desert and reward of our sinnes Alas what is the plague or any bodily evill to this that we should be so much troubled with it and use such meanes and care to prevent or fly from it and yet the mean while be no whit at all or very little touched with a sense or feare of the other And to seek Gods favour more then health or life wheras a man may escape the danger of the Pestilence and be free from it and other bodily evills and yet be and remaine under Gods heavie and sore displeasure and so be liable to all plagues and punishments which his sinns deserve to be inflicted on him in this life and in hell for ever as on the contrary one may bee smitten in body by plague and pestilence as wee conceive King Hezekiah was or by some sore Isay 34 1-21 Psal 6.1 1 3. 9. 38 1 2 deadly or dangerous disease and sicknes as David was and yet be in happie and blessed estate and condition as being in love and favour with God though it
such as are left in this citie from the pestilence from the sword that is some lesser hurt by it from the king of Aegypt and from the famine into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and into the hand of their enemies and into the hand of those that seeke their life and hee shall smite them with the edge of the sword hee shall not spare them neither have pitie nor have mercy Pestilence is the last of Gods mercifull rods And thus I may call Pestilence the last of Gods mercifull rods which if it be neglected it serves for our further conviction to make way for mercilesse judgements and for the justification of his severitie in them seeing wee take no warning by this his last triall of us Which neglected is for conviction For vvhat may vve expect if vvhen God himselfe comes apparantly against us and stands in our vvay vvee submit not to him by humbling our selves but vvill on as it vvere in despite of him as vvee resist him he vvill resist us and become a consuming fire unto us as hee saith Esa 27.4 who would set the briars and thornes against mee in battle I would goe through them I would burn them together but of this more in the last motive Only novv consider And foreruns greater evils vvee that vvhere beginnings of vvrath as of fire and former and lesser strokes and judgements are neglected there at length a heavier vveight of vvrath follovves yea utter destruction lesser judgements neglected are but threatnings and fore runners of greater as the laying of the Axe to the root of the trees or as the lopping of them and digging at the roots of them after vvhich if they continue still barren and unfruitfull then follovves that irrevocable sentence Luke 13.7 cut it downe Whatsoever judgements haue gone before they are all as nothing and make vvay for greater to follovv as the lesser vvedge for the greater Thus said the Lord to Israel of old Isa 9.12 13 14. The Syrians before and tho Philistines behind and they shall devoure Israel with open mouth for all this his anger is not turned away but his hand is stretched out still for the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them neither doe they seeke the Lord of hosts Therefore will the Lord cut off from Israel head and tayle branch and rush in one day So hee had almost done with us as is said in the Powder Furnace And so calls on us in time to turne to the Lord. yet hath beene graciously pleased both to respite us then and since to come towards us leisurely by slow paces and approaches Now seeing wee will not seeke to pacifie him at the first going out of wrath when the Plague is as yet but only begun what may we expect but that having already sent the Pestilence into the land Ezek. 14.19 20. hee poure out his fury upon it in blood to cut off from it man and beast as hee threatned his people and when no Intercessor should be accepted for them Let us of this place especially thinke of this now On us especially of this place when God at the first going out of his wrath among us makes greater speed then ordinarily hee hath done here yea or else where in our land formerly in any one place Anno 1624. 1625. so that in the mother citie eleven yeares agoe there died not so many of the Pestilence in their 120. parishes within and without the liberties for the first 3. moneths though before all was done it became the greatest that any man living could remember and greater I take then their generall bill for the yeare would make it unlesse you will allow above eighteene thousand to die in plague-time of ordinary diseases in one year I say there died then not so many there in the first three moneths by their bils as with us in our foure parishes within the space of fourteene or fifteene dayes S. 114. and that only within liberties And considering how since it increaseth rageth rather runs spreads like wild-fire will â—it not concerne us then to use speed which if Aaron had not done here who being commanded to goe quickly unto the Congregation did run into it what had become of the whole Congregation consisting of divers hundred thousands which God threatned to consume as in a moment when for all his haste running in at the first going out of wrath and at the very beginning of the Plague before he got to doe his office and make the atonement there were dead fourteene thousand and seven hundred how soone yea how justly might God make a speedy riddance of us all by this or some other worse plague if his patience were not much yea infinitly more then our haste Let us therefore take that or the like in effect spoken to us which was spoken by the Lord to his people of old when for their sinne hee justly plagued them Exod. 32.35 Yee are a stiffe-necked people I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment and consume thee therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee that is betake thy â—elfe to fasting and to â—rayer that I may know â—hat to doe unto thee This vvas accordingly and â—orthvvith done by them Novv for us I advise that vvhat vve doe it bee done â—peedily yea and diligently Ezra 7 2â—-23 as King Artaxerxes decreed in a like case for why saith hee though an heathen should there bee wrath against the Realme of the King and his Sons Doubtlesse this motion and pace of Gods justice being naturall to him as well as that of mercy is swifter at the later end thaÌ„ at the beginning and I am afraid wee shall so find it 〈◊〉 we take not our time out 〈◊〉 hand for prevention Nearer sudden destruction wâ— of this nation cannot be to escape then we were Novem. 5.160 5. suffer we once his long patience to turne into fury and then expect wee no after-warnings some one blasâ— of hellish popish sulphurous malice or some one stroke of divine justice some other way shall doe the deed and dispatch us all at once But of this point of doctrine of the proceeding of Gods wrath against obstinate obdurate and impenitent sinners even till he utterly destroy and consume them I have selfwhere treated largely * Prognosticks Divine or Treat on Esay 9.12.13 My conclusion here shal be â—y wish The Lord in merâ—ie avert and turne such â—eavie vvrath from us by converting and turning us by the power of his grace unto himselfe Amen CHAP. IX This wrath and pestilence is from the Lord and therfore howsoever his Prophets may be despised yet God himselfe is not to bee dallyed withall whose greatnes terror should cause us seeke peace witâ— him in time A fourth Motive to speedy repentance is to consider God the Author of this plague THe fourth and last Motive from
Newcastles Call To her Neighbour and Sister Townes and Cities throughout the land to take warning by her Sins and Sorrowes Lest this overflowing scourge of Pestilence reach even unto them also As also a Direction how to discover such Sins as are the procurers of Gods judgments by divers Methods By R. JENISON Dr. of D. Whereunto is added the number of them that dyed weekely in Newcastle and Garth-side from May 6. to December 31. 1636. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 LONDON Printed for Iohn Coleby at the signe of the Vnicorne neere to Fleet Bridge 1637. and there told of the Meanes both of the Safetie and also Ruine of Cities and whole Kingdomes Be yee pleased now to take in good part a word or two spoken I hope not out of season in the mournfull and sad condition of this my Mother and Nurse Foelix â—uicumque â—olore Alâ—erius disâ—es posse caâ—ere tuo in whose name I make bold to salute you all in the Lord and to wish you the happiness to be warned in time by that bittercup of ours wherin God by Pestilence seemeth to have begun to you all The times require every ones helpe to seeke to quench this fire of wrath begun in the Land I heartily wish that manie others of much abler parts would in this kind of popular and familiar Discourse and Exhortation put forth themselves and stoope to such necessarie and edifying Arguments For my part as the case is I though the meanest of most expect not who shall begin God hath begun with us here The Lyon hath roared the Lord hath spoken I cannot according to my abilitie setting aside all respect of credit with men of the world but prophesie that not by word here onely but by writing such is my desire of the publicke good and such is the occasion here offred by Gods beginning in this fierce manner with us The benefit you may by Gods blessing and your own good indeavour reap hereby will be either a prevention of and freedom to you froÌ„ this spreading evill which I chiefly by this Dedication do desire and intend or a Direction how to carry your selves that with comfort under Gods hand if it reach also unto you 〈◊〉 26.9 â— The truth is When Gods judgments are in the earth the inhabitants of the world â—ill at least should learne â—â—ghteousnesse The wise and just will so doe Who wait for God in the way of his judgements Amos 4.12 opened They will prepare to meet God and to prevent judgments which othervvise are threatned and seeme to make towards them How wee may prevent Gods judgments Which they doe or should doe by these meanes 1. By taking warning by judgements inflicted on others 1 Cor. 10.5 6 7-11 Luke 13 3-5 The want whereof God takes speciall notice of Ierem. 3.8 9 10 11. 2. By doing that in our 4. By seeking and obtaining the pardon of Sin upon Repentance Sinne once pardoned is neveâ— more remembred or punished Isa 43.25 Goâ—â— so forgives as hee alsâ— forgets 5. By mortifying such sinnes as raigne in us or among us Rom. 6.12 Coloss 3.5 c. Seeing such exemplary judgements a Pestilence war c. comâ—â— not for smaller faylings but for sinnes against conscience Rom. 1.18 and foâ— grosser evils Ephes 5.5.6 6. By newnesse of life and by bringing forth fruit meet for repentance so wâ— escape wrath to come and cutting downe Math. 3.7 8-10 By these meanes it will concerne you to prepare to meet God whom â—o you will find to meet you in mercy as the father of the Prodigall ran to meet his sonne and to welcome him Men have not heard neither hath the eye seene O God besides thee what hee hath prepared for him that waiteth for him Thou meetest him that rejoyceth and worketh righteousnesse those that remember thee in thy waies Isa 64.4 5. Now because men are apt to make ill use of Gods judgements on others to mis-judge them and to harden themselves in their security Four Conâ—usions â—ut of Luke 13.4 5. touching the use of Gods judgments on others consider we what our Saviour teacheth us Luke 13.1 2 3 4 5 Think yee that these were Sinners above all men that dwelt in Ierusalem I tell you nay but except yee repent yee shall all likewise perish Whence these Conclusions doe readily offer themselves Conclus 1 1. Extraordinary uncouth yea and sudden death doth sometime befall such as are not the greatest Sinners I suppose those seventie thousand of Davids Subjects who died by Pestilence among the other Tribes were not greater Sinners than Ierusalem it selfe Vpon which the Angell stretched out his hand to destroy it Yea the good King vvould make these in that case especially more innocent than himselfe saying Loe I have sinned but these Sheepe what have they done when God shewed his severitie against Samaria and Israel having removed them out of his sight and when the Tribe of Iudah onely was left and spared 2 Kings 1â— 18 19. Ezeâ— 16.51 â— yet saith God to Iudah They are more righteous than thou 2. On the other hand it Conclus 2 is in thee my power and that my name may be declared in all the earth â—et 2.9 Howsoever God Reserves the unjust unto the day of judgement to be punished â—â—â—s 17. â—â— 31. hee hath appointed a day of purpose for them 3. God in some cases respects his owne Glorie more then mens deserts so spares them a while though unworthie See Deut. 32.26 Ezek. 20.8 9-13 14-21 22. 4. Chiefly God remembers his covenant and promise who will reserve to himselfe a Church on earth in the greatest defections provocations and destructions of his people he will Ezek. 14.19 20 21 and doth ever reserve a remnant who otherwise deserve ill at his hand Ezek. 16.59 with 60. See Isa 6.13 Rom. 3.3 What if some did not believe shall their unbeliefe make the faith of God of none effect Si quoties peccant homines If God in generall defections and judgements thereupon should consume in his wrath all that deserve it where should hee have a Church on earth to serve him hee must and will have some in whom hee wil magnifie his mercie It is of the Lords mercies said Ieremie in the time of the captivitie when so many had perished that wee are not all consumed because his compassions faâ—le not â—et 2 â— Here is no merit to bee pleaded in such case â—om 2.4 Gods sparing mercies leade the way to his pardoning mercies Hee often spares the unworthy that they overcome with his kindnesse 9 6. might relent repent seeke and find mercie and that so his covenant and word might take effect in that remnant which is according to the Election of Grace 11.5 Hence it is that even among those in Ierusalem on whom Gods irrevocable sentence of famine Ezek. 14.19 20 21 22. noisome beasts sword and pestilence had passed
Now this is 1. It is froÌ„ his 1. Iustice from his Iustice who as hee punisheth all sinne even originall alone with Death so some sinnes with more grievous and remarkeable death and with exemplary judgements Howsoever God doth not inflict either this or any of those other his sore judgements without cause and so hee would be acknowledged whilst hee concludes the mention of these inevitable sentences Ezek. 14.21 23. saying And yee shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done Of which cause in us more in the next point 2 Wisedome 2. This is also from his wisedome punishing sinne with sutable punishments wee infect one an other by evill example Retaliating sinnes with semblable punishments communication Company-keeping though we call it good fellowship by tempting and inticing one another to sinne by unprofitablenesse in company whereby wee edifie not one an other in the best things so by excesse and abuse of Gods good creatures by Pride in apparell and garishnesse whereby we insnare and tempt others to sinne so by covetousnesse and abuse of trading and such like How wisely then as well as justly doth God meet with us by such a judgement as whereby wee infect one another in body by our breathing touching and accompanying with them and whereby hee breaketh those cursed knots of good fellowes so whereby our very clothes in which we pride our selves doe infect our selves and others to the apparant danger of life it selfe and whereby through famine and poverty which commonly accompany the Plague our excesse and abuse both of Gods good creatures and of trading by oaths cousenage false wares at least covetousnesse and our pride and confidence in regard of our wealth are justly met withall This consideration concerning Vse 1 the Authour of Pestilence To looke chiefly to God is of Vse to us 1. to acknowledge Gods hand providence in it and not to ascribe it either to Chance as the Philistines were ready to have ascribed the disease of Emerods 1. Sam. 6.9 and that great death that did befall them or to second causes or instruments so as to rest in them or to expect helpe from them these are but instrumeÌ„ts in Gods hand And not 〈◊〉 the Instrâ—ment whether they be Angels by whom God often smites with Pestilence Or occasion as in the first borne of Egypt and in Davids people or whether it be the Ayre which is infected or any other Person or thing which wee occasionally received infected or by whom or who it at first was brought to our Towne or place or whether the unseasonablenesse of the weather helpe to continue or increase it In all these and the like wee are chiefly to looke to God and not either to complaine or cry out on and curse such as by whom it might seeme first to bee brought unto us though wilfull or rash spreaders of this infection It is his hand which both wounds and must heale should and ought both be inquired after and severely punished or much to hope that when the dog-dayes end or cold weather or winter approacheth then wee shall heare no more of it or at least have it to abate no no wee must both looke higher and expect helpe from an higher hand then all these It is Gods hand that smites whosoever or whatsoever be the rod as Exod. 7.17 compared with 19. and Esay 10.5.6.7 unto this hand wee must chiefly looke This is the hand which is now stretched out against us and which will be stretched out still whilst wee turne not to him that smiteth Isay 9.12.13 neither seeke the Lord of hosts Vse 2 2. This consideration that this wrath and plague is gone out from the Lord Comfort to Gods people in covenant with God and is sent by him as the Author of it may bee for the Comfort of all such as whose God is the Lord and generally of all such as by true sorrow and penitencie by faith by hearty confession of sinne prayer and sacrifice shall seeke unto him as did David this being even in this respect one of Gods gentlest judgements such as holy David did chuse before sword and famine 2 Sam. 24.14 saying Let us fall now into the hand of the Lord for his mercies are great and let me not fall into the hand of man Oh beloved wee have yet to deale with God and not with mercilesse men who have so long waited their time and sought what by open violence as in their Spanish Navie and Forces in Ireland what by secret underminings Pestilence is often a mercy to them as in their Popish Powder-plot and secret workings to bring us under their tyrannie and to judge us with their judgements Great are the mercies of the Lord that we are not as yet given into their hands as too justly we deserve Dying by it as freeing them from greater evils Now if God have a purpose to bring this extreamest of evils upon us of this place or nation and why should wee secure our selves in these our defections from him will it not then bee a mercie to such as are in Christ to bee taken away by this more gentle correction and hand of a mercifull God from greater wrath to come The Lord in mercie took away good King Iosiah even by the sword which he made use of to remove him from those greater and more spreading evils which by the sword also were to befall his people and posterity for no sooner was hee so taken away by the sword of Pharao Necho but his successours and sons and Judah after some bondage under Necho were destroyed many of them by the bands of the Chaldees of the Syrians 2 King 24.2 Moabites and Ammonites but the land was wholly overrun destroyed captived by King Nebuchadnezzar How much rather may he remove his chosen from the raging evills of the sword and fury of the oppressour by withdrawing them with his owne hand and fetching them home to himselfe by this messenger of Death the plague 2 Chron. 7.13 for what is pestilence else but a messenger of Gods sending now if God please to call home any of his children by it why should they be afraid or too much dismayed true it is a messenger of a grim countenance and knocks at the doore somewhat fiercely and so before it bee acknowledged or well considered of it may terrifie a beloved heire but when hee shall perceive it is no other but his fathers servant to fetch him home and that from greater dangers where he is the feare abates and he goes with him cheerfully In this case our chiefe businesse will be to see that God be ours in Christ and to make our peace with him This once done we need not fear what kind of death we die seeing it befals us by the providence appointment yea hand of our mercifull father That which is sent in wrath to others shall befall
the old World by water or as he destroyed Pharaoh and his whole Army at once in the red Sea or as it shall be at the last Iudgement But see instead of such sudden and universall destruction which being formerly so neere may seeme in regard of our deserts and for our great unthankefulnesse and forgetfulnesse of that and other mercies at this time to be much nearer The Lord did not onely then respite us but now when hee might justly give us over to their mercilesse hands to bee judged with their judgement that is to bee consumed at once in their boundlesse rage hee keeps the rod in his owne hand and begins as it were at an end of us smites some few in comparison of all and so gives warning to the rest hovering as it were Hee expects wee should meet him a far off and standing at our gates at our neighboring townes and cities expecting what we will doe to stay his wrath hearkning and listning as it were to heare what wee will doe what we will say to him whether wee will repent us of our wickednesse saying What have we done As hee meets us in our wayes of sinne or whether wee wil turn to our course as the Horse into the battell without all feare of his wrath as once hee did with the Iewes Ier. 8.6 in effect telling us it is much what in our power and so asking us whether he shall proceed in wrath against us or no whether this Plague now begun shall presently end or else proceed and make an end of us also notwithstanding our present seeming safety in places remote from the infection or whilst wee have removed and fled bodily from the same This is a mercy then not to be neglected that God gives us space and time to consider what we will do that hee gives us warning of his approach letting us know that hee our Iudge hath begun to ride his circuit As hee met with Balaam and is on his way already and hath sent out the destroying Angel before him with a sword of Pestilence in his hand to meet us in our sinfull wayes standing in our way for an adversary against us as once against Balaam in his way of ambition and covetousnesse being gone out to withstand us as once him Numb 22.22.32 because our way is perverse before him Oh that wee were not in this case more stupid blind then Balaams Asse which saw the Angell of the Lord standing in the way and his sword drawne in his hand and turned out of that way or would not go on but fall downe to the ground under Balaam Oh that the Lord would at length open our eyes as he did Balaams to see the Angell of the Lord standing in our way whatsoever it be whether that of Covetousnesse or whether it be Pride Ambition Malice hatred of the good defection from the goodwayes of God wearying of his yoke and Gospel sensualitie and love of pleasure selfe-confidence and carnall security feeding and feasting without feare profanation of Gods name Assuredly God by his sword and judgement is comming towards us and threatens us who once were as a fire-brand pluckt out of the burning to overthrow us Amos 4.11.12 as he overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah that is all at once and suddenly And shall wee not take that spoken unto us seeing we yet have not returned unto him which he graciously spake to Israel Because I will doe this unto thee prepare to meet thy God ô Israel ô England O sinfull towne citie or place will we yet sit still and settle on our lees through security and suffer the Destroyer to enter into our windowes our houses our bed-chambers yea our beds and bosomes will wee not run out with intreaty of peace fall downe before him and make supplication to our Iudge Let us not at least come behind Balaam who at length seeing the Angel his sword drawn in his hand bowed downe his head Numb 22.31.34 and fell flat on his face-saying I haue sinned now therefore if it displease thee I will get mee back againe This he said but it was not altogether in that sincerity seeing his heart still went after his covetousnes which his hypocrisie wee must take heed of but bee ashamed to come behind him and his Asse which also fel down before the Angell in humility whilst vve neither upon this occasion do or professe halfe so much Novv that the Angell discovered himselfe unto Balaam and hee hereupon humbled himselfe it vvas a mercy to him for othervvise Verse 33. the Angell had slaine him And as hee met with Ionah Ionah 1.1.2.3 c. So the Lord in like mercy and vvith an intent to bring to repentance reformation met vvith Ionah by stormes and tempests at Sea in the vvay of his disobedience and as I may cal it non-residence vvith Moses in the Inn With Moses in the vvay of Neglect vvhom by the way in the Inn the Lord met and sought to kill him for not circumcising through too much respect to his vvife his sonne in time And doubtlesse And the Iewes this is a mercy if vve could see it vvhen God by any judgement stands in our sinful vvaies and as the Prophet speaketh Hedgeth up our way Hos 2.5 6 7. that wee should not find our paths c. As Beastes are kept within their owne Pastures by sharp and thornie hedges least they breake out and lose themselves so the Lord when we are ready to goe astray from him proves in regard of some afflictions which he sends as a thornie hedge to us so that wee cannot offer to goe on in sinfull waies or to breake our bounds but wee runne upon the thornes And with Paul Act. 9.5 and kick against the pricks as it was told to Saul or Paul when Christ met with him in his way of Persecution and strucke him to the earth It was happy for Saul that God went out thus and me him And so it will be our happinesse if whilst God meets us by Pestilence in our evill waies as once hee met King David in the way of his Pride and selfe-confidence and vaine-glory wee would consider our waies which proove thus bitter and crosse to us and speedily turne from them lest wee meet with destruction in the same or goe on therein to perdition Wee may say and that truly that God now meets with us by this sword oâ— arrow of pestilence in ouâ— way of Sinfull companying one with another wherby wee infect one another iâ— soule by good fellowship 〈◊〉 wee call it by potting bâ—zeling gossiping excesse iâ— feasting excesse of wineâ— revellings banquetings c. So hee now meet with us in the way of ouâ— Idle discourses and unsavourie communication anâ— unprofitablenesse in companie of uncleane behaviour and adulteries of unlawful mariages of needlesse intertaining of Gods enemies and unnecessarie acquantance and familiaritie witâ— â—â—em So in our way
of â—orldliness covetousness â—nd abuse of trading deâ—arring us of free and safe â—â—ading or commerce one with another and so in â—he way of our other Sins And will wee yet Goe on â—owardly every one of us in â—he way of his owne heart Will it not now concerne â—s to consider every one â—is owne Sin seeing wee â—annot goe on therein but wee must meet with the Destroyer It will concerne us to meet him in time as the forenamed did and hee with â—s and so Wee perish in the way one of his Pride another of his Vncleannesse a third of his Prophanenesse Superstition Disobedience Perjurie or other Sâ—n. Were it not better for us with Balaam to say bâ—â— with better sinceritie If 〈◊〉 my way displease thee Balaam will get mee backe againe with Ionah Ionah to set ouâ— selves to our charge with out feare of man Moses or loâ— of ease with Moses to obey Gods command and ordinance not caring whom we displease whilst wee please him and to Circumcise as he his Son so wee our hearts The Israelites with the Israelites to say I wilâ— goe and returne to my firsâ— Husband for then was a better for mee than now 〈◊〉 will goe no more a whoâ—ng after the world no â—ot for a world c. And â—â—stly with Paul tremâ—ling and astonied to say â—ord what wilt thou have â—ee doe and accordingly â—esolve to do it Or should â—ot wee so many of us â—s seeme as yet furthest â—rom danger while this â—reat King is gone forth â—o make waâ— against us â—eeing wee are not able to â—eet him in our Sins that â—ommeth against us And â—hile hee is yet a great â—ay off send an Embasâ—age and desire Conditions â—f Peace of him as the â—ounsell is given in another case This Embassage is our Prayers and Teares Luke 14.31 32. and the Sacrifice of a broken contrite anâ— also new heart herein also imitating the wisedomâ— of Iacob And as Iacob who knowing hâ— Brother was offended 〈◊〉 him as hee was on hâ—â— way Gen. 32 3-6-9-13 c. sent Messengers tâ— Esau and also presents 〈◊〉 soone as ever hee hearâ— that his Brother was comming against him to meeâ— him and foure hundreâ— men with him but firsâ— he earnestly prayeth unâ—â— God for his deliverance all which was done with good successe And Abigail Even 〈◊〉 wise Abigail no soone â—nderstood that evill was â—etermined by David aâ—ainst her Husband Nabal â—nd all his houshold 1 Sam. 26.17 18 19-23 24 c. but hee made haste and tooke 〈◊〉 present and sent it away â—efore her and when she â—aw David Shee hasted â—nd lighted off the Asse â—nd fell before him on her â—ace and bowed her selfe to â—he ground and by good words and intreaties shee â—acified his wrath for the present and found that favour with him that not â—ong after hee made her his wife Oh happy wee Prov. 22.3 if wee could be so wise as fore-seeing the evill to hide our selves in time to acknowledge Gods mercie in giving us such fair warning a far off and tâ— make use of it But which is the second consideration where thâ—â— mercy is neglected Otherwise fear wrath thaâ— no man speakes aright saying Ier. 8.6 What have I done 〈◊〉 man repents him of hiâ— wickednesse This plague is but begun but every â—n turnes to his course as the barr'd horse rusheth without all fear into the battell where men go on frowardly in the way of their owne hearts Esa 57.17 there they run upon their owne ruine as it is said the simple passe on and are punished Prov. 22.3 In this case then of our impenitencie and obstinacy in sinne we must know againe And will prove but a begining harbinger to greater evils That wrath is but gone out the plague is but begun that is what we suffer now is but the least part of that which wee may and must expect as elswhere it is said Math. 24.7 8. There shal be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in divers places all these are but the beginning of sorrowes Esay 28 15-18 This overflowing scourge will not here stay 〈◊〉 shall passe through and â—ome even unto us and we shall bee troden downe by it â—hough we secure ourselvs â—ever so much and make â—ur covenant with death â—ake lies our refuge under falshood hide our selves that is though we trust to our vaine confidences and secure our selves froÌ„ such things as our wit wealth friends confederates places of refuge c. vvhich wil all faile us in our greatest need and proove rods of reed unto us the plague is yet but begun and gone out especially in regard of the vvhole nation and vve who will not now be warned when we heare of it a farr off shall have this arrovv of God to reach even to us and to smite us thorovv the liver there shall be yet greater vvrath and the later the greater wheâ— repeÌ„tance intercedes not as vvee are told of seven Angels having the seven last plagues Revel 15.1 in which is filled up the wrath of God Where vve take no vvarning by beginnings there the lesser judgment is but a presage of much greater As to Famine vvhether in the same kind or some other Famine commonly accompanieth the Pestilence Anno 1630. as it did but of late yeares most grievously in Cambridge and as it should much more have prevailed with multitudes of the poorer sort among * Of Newcastle 1636 us were it not â—hat by Gods blessing and â—he care of our Magistrats in disposing the revenues of our Chamber vveekly in great summes for their reliefe as also by their and other Inhabitants free loanes some good help and assistance made freely by kind neighbours they were competently provided for not the sick or infected only but such as are impoverished throgh want of imployment in their manuall Crafts and Calings yea after pestilence where it doth no good neither workes any reformation there follovveâ— commonly some greateâ— judgment and destructionâ— As wee see in Pharoah anâ— his people against whom God came as by divers lesser plagues so at length by the death of the First-borne But especially to the Sword which wee shewed probably at least to have beene by Pestilence but when after that stroake Pharoah still hardned his heart and pursued Gods people the Lord met with him in the Sea which swallowed him and his whole armie up all at once most fearfully So it was with Ierusalem of old as God did fore-tell and threaten them by Ieremie and it is good for us to observe Gods method in his dealing with others and to take warning therby Ier. 21.6 7. I will smite the inhabitants of this city both man and beast they shall dye of a great pestilence And afterwards saith the Lord I will deliver Zedekiah King of Iudah and his servants and his people
Num. 21.6 what by fiery Serpents what by other plagues ch 25.9 God hath variety of plagues to meet with sinners with whom it shall be As if a man should flee from a Lyon Amos 5.19 and a Beare met him or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall and a Serpent bit him concerning whom the Lord thus threatens I will slay the last of them with the sword 9.1.2.3.4 hee that fleeth of them shall not flee away and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered though they dig into hell thence shall mine hand take them though they climbe up to heaven thence will I bring them downe And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel I will search and take them out thence and so on Thus saith the Lord by Isaiah Isa 24.17.18 Feare and the pit and the snare are upon thee O Inhabitant of the earth And it shall come to passe that hee who fleeth from the noise of the feare shall fall into the pit and he that commeth up out of the midst of the pit shall bee taken in the snare The truth is when God will accomplish his fury as certainely hee will oâ— all obstinate and impenitent sinners It is not farnesse off from places oâ— danger which will secure a man Ezek. 6.12 7.15 Hee that is farr of shall die of the Pestilence and he that is neere shall faâ—â— by the sword and he that remaineth and is besieged shall die by the famine Thus wee see whilsâ— men by occasion of God judgements as now this eâ— Pestilence doe not humble themselves for theâ—â— sinnes there is no safety to them by fleeing which I have the more largely handled because this is that we most usually both flee to and also rest in The like I may and doe say concerning Antidotes Preservatives Powders Drinkes and whatsoever other outward and lawfull meanes are used as Preservatiues against the Pestilence and so concerning the diligence and â—are of Magistrates As also the care of Magistrates in outward things in keeping the unclean from the â—leane in providing for â—he reliefe of the poorer â—ort of such as are infeâ—ted or so suspected the â—ike This though otherwise commendably practised yet is not enough it is not to be rested in unlesse withall and in the first place or chiefly other meanes such as shall bee named be used Care in the one is not so commendable as negligence in the other is represensible and blame worthy All such outward meanes used iâ— but a beginning at the wrong end and from effecting perfect and sound cure especially if men care rest there nothing else be done for the pacâ—fying of Gods wrath 4. Riches are of little use here 4. To tell rich men the world that the wealth will not secure them from Gods wrath whilst they live in sinne in oppression in riotous courses or the like without repentance I hold it needlesse I suppose their owne consciences tell them so much unlesse wholly besotted man perhaps by gifts and bribes may bee pacified as Esau towards Iacob c. but not God when God hath to doe with rich men Ezek. 7.19 They shall cast their silver in the streets and their gold shall be removed or be for a separation or uncleannesse their silver and their gold shall not bee able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord. Great men then in their sinnes are no more secure or safe from wrath then others 2. 2. Some meanes are neither to be rested in nor used Of the second sort of meanes the popish manner of pacifying Gods wrath is first briefly to be noted and to bee taken heed of They seek to pacifie the wrath of God by workes of penance of their owne devising as by whipping of themselves â— As popâ—sh works of penance going barefoot or on bare knees by wearing hairy shirts going on pilgrimage and the like So by offering summes of money at such or such religious places c. of some of which their Councell of Trent saith Sess 14. cap. 8.9 that there was never any safer way found out in the Church for the averting of Gods vengeance as I find observed also by an other on this my text 2. 2. Heathenish sacrifâ—ces of chiâ—dren Much lesse will heathenish practises too much imitated of old by Gods people stay Gods hand when it is stretched out For wee heard how the heathen in case of Pestilence of Gods displeasure did betake themselves to their Idole gods not with prayers only and supplications prostrating themselves with other sacrifices but with the sacrificing of their owne children But of this later sort of meanes the Lord may and doubtlesse will say to hypocrites When yee come to appeare before me Isa 1 12. Ier. 7.21.20.23 who hath required this at your hand to tread my courts And put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices and eate flesh for I spake not unto your fathers nor commanded them concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices no who did then but this thing commanded I them that is this thing chiefly without which the other was but as a dead carkasse saying Obey my voice and walke yee in all the wayes that I have commanded you that it may be well unto you 3. 3. Meanes to be used on which we may expect a blessing If then indeed wee would be aright directed what to doe at such times when wrath is gone out against us let us receive our direction from God himselfe and from his word where he makes his mind known unto us for otherwise Rom. 11.34 Who hath knowne his mind Such is our blindnes and ignorance that we cannot know what service is pleasing to him unlesse he himselfe make his will knowne unto us As then we cannot see the light of the Sun by any other light than that which the Sun it selfe affords us no more can wee know what will please or appease him being angry further than he hath been pleased to make it known unto us And this is but reason for wee expect the like from our owne Servants that they doe what service wee appoint them and as we will have them doe it and not what and as they please themselves These are such as God himselfe directs unto Now God partly by Precept by way of Condition partly by way of Reproofe whilest he complaines of the neglect of what he expects besides the examples and practise of his Saints on earth in like case lets us know what we should doe when his hand is gone out against us whether by Pestilence as now with us or otherwise To which end I shall set before you some pregnant places of Scripture scatteringly out of which wee will bring the chiefe duties to a Method Here propounded 1. Seaâ—â—â—râ—â—ly which here we will onely propound not lading this Text with more then it will
naturally beare but prosecute if God will on more proper and particular Grounds of Scripture Heare then first how God answers hypocrites According to severall texts of Scripture and such as pretend themselves to be vvilling to be at any cost and to doe any thing to please and appease him when hee is angry Michah 6. â— 7 Wherewith shal I come before the Lord and bow my selfe before the high God Shall I come before him with burnt offerings with calves of a yeare old Will the Lord bee pleased with thousands of rammes or with ten thousands of rivers of oyle Shall I give my first borne for my transgression the fruit of my bodie for the Sin of my soule Now heare Gods answer Hee hath shewed thee O man what is good Verse 8. and what doth the Lord require of thee but to doe justly and to love mercie and to walke humbly with thy God or to humble thy selfe to walke with thy God And then it followes shewing this was to be done especially when God shewed his displeasure against them The Lords voice cryeth unto the Citie Verse 9. and the man of wisdome shall see thy name heare yee the rod and who hath appointed it See againe what God requires of us in such case of his judgments whether threatned or inflicted I will reprove thee saith God c. Psal 50.21.22 Now consider this yet that forget God lest I teare you in pieces Hagg. 1 5.6 c. And elswhere Consider your waies yee have sowne much and bring in little ye eat but ye have not enough c. thus saith the Lord of hosts againe consider your waies Mich 6.7 Consider againe upon what condition God promiseth mercie and deliverance from captivitie If they shall confesse their iniquitie Levit. 26.40.41.42 and the iniquitie of their fathers c. And that also they have walked contrary unto mee and that 〈◊〉 also have walked contrary unto them have brought theÌ„ into the land of their enemies If then their uncircumcised harts be humbled they theÌ„ accept of the punishment of their iniquitie then will I remember my cocovenaÌ„t with Iacob c. and I will remember the land Now upon consideration and confession of sin the Lord looks also we should turne to him by true and heartie Sorrow and Repentance according to that his exhortatioÌ„ by his Prophet Ioel Therefore also now Ioel 2.12.13 saith the Lord turn you even to me with all your hart and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning and rent your heart and not your garment and turne unto the Lord your God The want hereof in time of Gods judgments the Lord both complaines of and also further threatens For all this Isa 9.12 13. his anger is not turned away but his hand is stretched out still for the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them neither doe they seeke the Lord of Hosts Amos 4.10 11 So elswhere I have sent the Pestilence among you after the manner of Aegypt your young men have I slain with the Sword c. yet have yee not returned unto mee saith the Lord 12. Therefore thus I will doe unto thee O Israel and because I will doe this unto thee prepare to meet thy God O Israel In turning to God hee would have us turne from our vvicked vvaies and seeke his face and favour not returning again to our former evill waies but renuing and also keeping our Covenant of Faith Obedience and a more holy walking with him than formerly taking it ill when it is otherwise Ier. 8.6 I hearkned and heard but they spake not aright no man repented him of his wickednesse saying What have I done Every one turned to his course as the horse rusheth into the battell Therefore that hee may shevv us mercie hee will first have us Cast away from us all our transgressions Ezek. 18.31 whereby wee have transgressed and make us a new heart and a new spirit Otherwise he should seeme to favour us in our Sins Therfore when God meant to deliver his people out of the hand of the Philistines he thus speaks to them by Samuel the Prophet If yee doe returne unto the Lord with all your hearts 1 Sam. 7.3 then put away the strange gods verse 4 5 6 and Ashtaroth from among you and prepare your hearts unto the Lord and serve him onely and hee will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines This they did and withall wept abundantly fasted and prayed and confessed their Sins and were accepted So before the Lord would grant deâ—iverance by Gideon hee would have him Destroy Baals altar which his faâ—her had Iudg. 6.25 26. and cut downe the â—rove that was by it and â—uild an altar to the Lord. The reason is God will â—hew mercie favour and â—eliverance to none in â—heir Sins Hee heares not â—inners Yet he also looks that in our afflictions wee doe call upon him Psal 50.15 Call upon mee in the day of trouble I will deliver thee And Iam 5.13 Is any among you afflicted Let him pray Now with our prayers and purposes of reformation wee must renue Covenant with God and bee carefull for ever after to performe it This we are taught by the godly example of Nehemiah and the Iewes who by the mouth of the Levites having made a religious confession as of Gods goodnesse so of their wickednesse and having in theâ—â— owne persons separateâ— themselves from all strangers Nehem. 9.1 2 3 and confessed their Sins they conclude all by â—ntring into solemne coâ—enant with God saying â—n their great distresse in which they were 38. And beâ—ause of all this wee make a sure Covenant and write it â—nd our Princes Levites â—nd Priests seale unto it And the rest of the people who had understanding chap. 10.28 29 30 c. separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the Law of God clave to their Brethren their Nobles and â—ntred into a curse and into â—n oath to walke in Gods Law and to observe and â—oe all the Commandements of the lord Now the points of their Covenant were Not to joyne in marriage with the people of the land not to buy ware or victuall on the Sabbath day and to charge themselves yearely with the third part of a shâ—kell for the service of the house of God and concerning first fruits and otheâ— offerings Thus King Hezekiah when the wrath of thâ— Lord was upon Iudah anâ— Ierusalem and that he haâ— delivered their fathers 〈◊〉 trouble 2 Chron. 29.8 9 10. c. Now saith he it is in mine heart to make covenant with the Loâ—â— God of Israel that his fierâ—â— wrath may turne away from â—s Oh worthy example See also câ— 30.6 7 8. â—ven for the best greaâ—est Christian Kings in â—â—ke case to imitate But what doth God â—ooke that in case of evils 〈◊〉 troubles