hope of an harvest Prov. 3.9 now is our seed time for the preservation of a Land for Reformation of Religion therefore honour God with thy substance let not this conceit hatched in thy head cause thee to halt in thy heart but remember Those that honour the Lord he will honour 1 Sam. 2.30 Feare of Plundering makes many stagger in respect of part-taking with either 6. Cause If they reveale themselves they are made a prey to the will of the adversaries therefore so they may sleepe in a whole skin they dread not the danger of a tattered Conscience Yet when these unsiding ones have used all their power and policy to escape Answ the enemy have oft-times come and been as cruell to them as to the most upright Many that for feare have been most unhelpfull and deceitfull to their Countrey have felt the hand of their conceited friends as heavy upon them as upon their neighbours estate and their hypocrisie could not be a sufficient protection to them But why shouldest thou feare Plundering and so make the feare more than the hurt They who have been Plundered their feare is already past and thou makest thy selfe by thy tormenting feare all thy life long subject to this fiend as if death were approached the King of feare Doest thou not know that either thou must be plundered from the world or the world from thee Art thou now being deprived of estate friends libertie in any other estate than thou wast in when thou camest into the world or shalt be when thou goest out of the world If thou couldest but plunder thy selfe in thy contemplation before others doe in action it would not be so grievous unto thee As Anaxagoras being told of the death of his Sonne I am not much troubled therewith said he because I long confidered before Mat. 6. that he was but mortall Did not our Saviour foretell that heere thieves should breake through and steale and cautioned us thereby to lay up Treasure there where thieves could not breake through and steale Vilescunt temporaria dum recordantur aeterna The losse of under-Moone contents Creature-Comforts cannot disturbe when the presence of spirituall mercies doe affect us Had not many been miserable for ever if they had not been miserable once Their present belly-blessings had prevented the comfort of their insuing eternall Glory The Arch Plunderer the Devill under whom others are but instruments might have snatched away their soules at their deaths and where had they then been O foole this night will they fetch away thy soule and where then shall these things he Thy Executors then had not been more nimble to have carried thy body to the grave than this unsatiable Plunderer would have been like a nimble under-Sheriffe quickly ready to take all into execution and carry thy soule into Hell Feare not therefore though they have or can hurt the body and can doe no more Mat. 10. intimating that they would hurt the soule also if they could It is true the outward condition of plundered persons deprived of some libertie wealth wife children comforts hath had a sad aspect to looke upon by the eye of reason But consider deare Christians are you driven from the Creature to the Creator what if forced from the lower yet hasted to the upper springs from the streame to the fountaine from worldly to heavenly Enjoyments Whether the losse in the one be greater than the gaine in the other Before these troubles you had Ordinances common with other beleevers but now your daily food is choicest morsells waters of life superlative refections Benjamins Messe the love of God the power of Christ the Spirit of Glory the care of Angels the prayers of Saints are all upon the wing for your present welfare your Earth is dissolved before your body your Heaven prevents you before your time your joyes are immediate you reape without sowing you feed on the kernell and breake not the shell you rest from your labours in this life the bloud of Christ the vision of God the joy of the Spirit the food of Angels 2 Pet. 1.4 the many great exceeding precious promises whereby you are made partakers of the divine nature are not these the daily repasts of your soules Such honour have all Gods Saints they have Heaven whilst they are here on Earth and can they then be in a miserable distressed condition Such are to be looked upon I doe not know whether with more compassion or holy emulation to whom it is given not only to beleeve but to suffer for the sake of Christ Philip. 1.29 Whether the depth of misery or the weight of Glory by greater in these is hard to distinguish halt not therefore at this stone Selfe-seeking Gau. 7. with the neglect of the Publique makes men goe in a lazie or limping pace when men so looke to things at home for their own private ends as that they neglect the Publique If mens eyes be seriously fixed on their own pleasure or profit their hearts cannot be guided by a right rule When our Saviour propounded the Parable of the husbandmen unto the Scribes and Pharisees saying What shall be done to these husbandmen The Jewes answered Mat. 21.41 Luk. 20.16 He shall miserably destroy these husbandmen Yet in another Gospel where our Saviour said He should miserably destroy them the Jewes answered God forbid In one Gospel their answer is related to be He shall miserably destroy them in the other Gospel the Answer is related to be on the contrary God forbid How can these agree Yes saith Chrysostome for first they say He will miserably destroy these but handmen But when they perceived Christ aymed at them then they said God forbid so helpfull to halting for owne ends and selfe-indangering-respects Many seerned forward for the Parliament at the beginning before the wars were raited but when they saw the King oppose the Parliament then they fall off likewise like Beasts that cropt the Thees that gave them shelten being resolved to account Kings to be Gods that they themselves may be accounted Kings But truth standeth in the open field knowes neither father nor mother house nor home Land nor Lordship all goe down to Church and Common-wealth may stand Christ and his Gospel may be set up But is it not reason every man should looke to himselfe I answer Object Sol. 1. is it not greater reason every man should looke to the Publique wherein every good mans private doth consist Pray for the Peace of the Citie Ier. 29.7 said the Prophet to the captived oner Knowest thou not that in the Peace thereof thou shalt have Peace What place should be left for reasoning about reason when faith should have the predominance Sol. 2. Da mihi baptizatam rationem Mortified reason saith one this is your victory that overcometh the world and all worldly reasoning even your faith 1 Ioh. 5.4 Naturall reason may be a drawer of water for
Joshuahs time the Lord fought for Israel Ios 10.14 't was his owne cause made therefore the Sun and Moon stand still untill the people avenged themselves of their enemies In his own cause he hearkened to the voyce of a man but in an evill cause will regard voyce of many Johs Acts 9.4 Samuels Daniels Angels Saul Saul Why persecutest thou me in my members on earth now I am in heaven Be not afraid said the propheticall Levite unto Jehosophat and the people for this great multitude 2 Chro. 20 15. for the battell is not yours but Gods The Dragon and his Angels fought against Michael and his Angels Rev. 12.7 8. but the Dragon and his Angels were cast out of heaven unto the earth because they fought against Michael and his Angels Christ hath overcome the World Doore 23 Death Devill and shall these overcome him again Iohn 16.33 Col. 2.15 Rev. 17.14 It 's incredible impossible Be ye of good comfort in me ye shall have peace I have over come the world He hath openly triumphed over them on his Crosse This Lamb hath overcome all Lions Can Satan be stronger than God The efficacle of Christ his prayer Doore 24 He was heard on earth and shall he not be heard in heaven Rom. 8.33 1 Pet. 3.14 making intercession for his people Who is he that will harm you if ye follow that which is good Who harme us wicked ones will Yet blessed are you if ye suffer for righteousnesse sake Feare not their feare nor be ye troubled The conviction and conversion of Adversaries Doore 25 God enlightning them to see what they did not see before It is beyond the thoughts and expectation of man thae the Lord Inchequin seduced by the Jesuitical faction should be changed from a destroyer to Champion for God and a preserver of his cause The many cries Doore 26 prayers teares of Fathers Children Widowes for vengeance Doth not the Lord heare their cries and know their sorrowes The Lord heard the voyce of the Lad Ishmael Exod. 3.7 Gen. 21.17 Psa 146.9 weeping before him and will he not heare the voyce of thousands of Children for their parents and parents for their children wives for their husbands and friends for friends He relieveth the Fatherlesse and Widowes In whom can the Fatherlesse finde mercy but in him Hos 14.3 Luke 18.7 If an unrighteous Judge did the importune Widow justice against her adversary shall not God avenge his elect that cry day and night unto him The cry of the multiplicity of the blood that hath been shed Doore 27. Shall not the blood of so many Saints call for vengeance Gen. 4.10 Rev. 6.10 when the blood of one Abel cryed unto the Lord and he heard it The soules of the Saints slaine cry Dost thou not avenge our bloodâ— Groans are registred teares botled and shall not blood be booked Did God enquire for one Abel will he not for thousands The Relation of God towards his Church Doore 28. God sayth he is worse than an Infidell that provides not for his family 1 Tim. 5.8 Is not he a Father And will a Father give stones to children that ask bread He is to his Church a Husband a Master a Captain a King Sheepheard Creator Redeemer wise Builder He is a Sun and a Shield hath his Rod and his Staffe both for direction and preservation The great rage of Satan sheweth that his time is but short Doore 29. When the Devil was to be cast forth out of the dumb Rev. 12.12 Mat. 9.22.26 he casts him into the fire and into the water and rent him soare cryed and then came out of him Violent things continue not long in extremity especially such showers of blood The many differences between forraigne nations Doore 30. who would have joyned hand in hand against the Kingdome had they not been set together by the eares in their own lands This is none of the least of Gods mercies to our nation at this time they having enough to doe at home have the lesse leasure to be imployed as the Devils and Popes Armour-bearers abroad The prevention of many inconveniences which might ensue Doore 31. 1. Some godly ones might put forth their hands to wickednesse Psa 125.3 if the rod of the wicked should long lye on the lot of the righteous 2. That the wicked might not deny Gods power providence justice which they see executed here on earth 3. Truth of the Scriptures may not bee questioned Tribulation bringeth forth patience patience experience experience hope Rom. 5.4 Now lay all these considerations together that have been mentioned before and I beleeve they will administer joy in the times of sorrow and keep up mens hearts lesse to doubt the successe of the common cause 1. Considering God is a God of power able to finish what he hath begun 2. It stands with his wisdome the foundation laid to perfect his building 3. God is the God of order what confusion else would be 4. Kindnesse had been unkindnesse Better to have had no cluster of grapes than not to be brought into Canaan 5. Weak ones would suspect God used some stratagem to draw men out as the men of Ai to destroy them or as to gather Bees and to burn them 6. They would doubt God would not doe as much for his people now as he hath done heretofore Our Fathers trusted in him and were delivered but we have trusted in him and are not delivered 7. Gods friends would put forth their hands to wickednesse 8. His enemies blasphemies boastings cruelties would be the greater They would endeavour to build Babels to scale if possible the very walts of heaven 9. God spared the kingdome for a long season when sin was committed and with greedinesse acted Ezek. 22.30 and will he not spare it now when sinne is confessed lamented and many stand up in the gap to turn away his wrath and reform impieties according to his desire and promise 10. The courage of the Parliament Commanders Captaines Souldiers beyond ordinary expectation naturall Relations carrying Gods Ark towards Bethshemesh their wives children houses lands goods liberties lives being not deere unto them doe all confirme our hearts in the promises of the Lord that his help is at hand to deliver the Nation from slavery and Popery I beseech you by the many mercies of God that have been daily manifested and infallibly expected to lay out your selves to give up your bodies spirits estates your All for your selves posterity Cities and people of God It was dying Joshuabs argument to the Israelites to move them to a constant obedience to Gods commandements that they had experimentall knowledge in their hearts that nothing failed of all the good things that the Lord had promised to them all came to passe And have wee not as great a portion participation in Gods promises and performances as the Israelites had We may say of Gods mercies to Israel and England as one spake of Demosthenes and Tully Cicero effecit ne Demosthenes esses solus Orator Demosthenes ne Cicero primus foret The Israelites were the cause we could not be the first people whome God did so extraordinarily blesse and favour But we are the cause that they could not boast themselves to be the only people in Gods love And if Gods mercies in any age for height length depth breadth might be boasted of rejoyced in then in our dayes in this Parliament in these warres where good is fetcht out of evill light out of darknesse And if these things will be marvellous in the eares of all posterity shall they not in our hearts before whose eyes the same have been accomplished Wherefore I conclude as I began being high time to take my worke off the Loome Why halt ye so long between two opinions If Baal be God then follow him so shall you fall from sin the Suburbs into Hell it selfe the place portion expectation of all cursed neutralizing Balaaks for whom are reserved torments which are endlesse easelesse and remedilesse If the Lord be God then follow him so shall you come to see him that is invisible and shall change the society of men for Angels Earth for Heaven and the company of Lions for fellowship with the Lamb for ever Where shall be all light without any darknesse truth without error joy without sorrow health without ficknesse liberty without restraint peace without perturbation eternity without end where the Quire of Angels shall be musick to our eares where the fight of God shall be the object to our eyes where the joyes of heaven shall be the possession of our soules Unto the hearing of which Angellicall musick unto the beholding of which beatificall vision unto the possession of which celestiall joyes the Lord that is Author of all vouchsafe to bring us all let all Gods people say Amen And let the Lord Jesus Christ whose words are Yea and Amen put to his hand and seale and say Amen Amen I have now done for speaking you have now done for hearing his Chaire and Pulpit is in heaven that must perswade you to put in practice those things which I have delivered in precept which that he may doe unto him let us pray Soli Deo laus FINIS
together Eliah and Obadiah Verse 7. Behold Eliah was in the way Saul went to seeke his Fathers Asses and found a Kingdome Obadiah went to seeke water and grasse and behold he findes a way and meanes to bring salvation to people He went in obedience to the command of a King on Earth and meetes with an unerring command of the King of Heaven Doct. Gods providence over-rules all actions Text. persons times things fell downe on his face c. The Messengers of God find favour from those that are good Doct. 1. Doct. 2. Doct. 3 Good Christians will know one another in times of adversity Good men desire to be resolved of their doubts Obadiah thought that it was Eliah yet labours to be assured thereof And he answered Verse 8. I am Goe tell c. Eliah had no French complementall formallity in his mouth of your humble servant Sir as men now a days who have more liezure and skill in promising the duty of Servants then love and wil in performing the office of friends but English down-right reallity he answers yea plain discoveries are most pleasing Doct. Eliah reveales the naked truth here no equivocation is studyed or practised There needs no Complement with men when Commands are to be delivered from God He had an Errand from the God of heaven to a King on earth Therefore gives him a short quicke plaine pithy answer From vers 9. to 15. we see Obadia's feare with the many reasons of his refusall for delivering the Message The Spirit may be willing when the flesh is weake Doct. Eliah will shew himselfe to Ahab come what ever will come on it Verse 15. The righteous are as bold as a Lyon Doct. 1. Obadiah went to meete Ahab Verse 16. Care of Cattell must be neglected when Gods will is to be performed Doct. 2. Ahabs willing journey to meete Eliah Gods worke shall be furthered whether man will or no. Doct. Obadiah went to further Gods worke Ahab to satisfie his owne lust and to further the Devills worke Doct. Man purposeth but the Lord disposeth of the purposes He can bring light out of darknesse good out of evill as the Bee honey out of weeds The sharp and short salutation that Ahab gives to Eliah Vers 17. Art thou hee that art the troubler of Israel Prophets commonly censured for Authors and Fautors of Troubles Doct. Eliah's answer to Ahabs accusation Vers 18. Where reade 1. Vindication of himselfe I am not 2. The just Taxation of the King It is thou and thy Fathers house 1. Many see faults in others not in themselves Doct. 1. 2. Kings may be blamed Doct. 2. 3. Man is the author of his owne misery Doct. 3. 4. Disobedience to God the cause of all misery to man Doct. 4. When men forsake the fountaine they dig to themselves pits that will hold no water The Prophet having told the King what he had done against him V. 19 20 tells him what he must doe for the Lord Eliah came with a message from the God of heaven therefore commands Ahab and directs him All Israel must appeare on mount Carmel before this despised Prophet God can and will honour those whom the wicked of the world condemne disgrace and persecute Doct. The 450. Prophets of Baal must come with the 400. Chaplains of Jezabell All things and persons must subject themselves to heavens decree Doct. God can and will call to an account notwithstanding Prophets Doct. people goe along in their sins Thou thoughtst I was like unto thee Psal 50. but I will set thy sinnes in order before thee Pleasure of sin may goe before when paine for sin shall follow after If the paine of the head-ach were before the pleasure of the wine none would be drunke If sinnes wages were fore-seene the worke thereof would not be so willing So Ahab sent unto all the Children of Israel Vers 20. and gathered the Prophets together to Mount Carmel Ahab executeth Eliah's or rather the Lords commands and that speedily Kings hearts are in the hand of the Lord Doct. what hee commands they must fulfill The Congregation must be assembled the King Prophets people being gathered together Vers 21. Eliah proponeth his Text as the foundation for his ensuing words and Actions which are the words for my Text at this time Why halt yee so long betweene two opinions A word spoken in season saith Solomon is like apples of gold in pictures of silver Prov. 25 15. There are times of halting and here is a Text of halting Therefore Text and time agree Here you see 1. A question propounded to the people Why halt yee so long between two opinions 2. An answer framed for them in a truth supposed If the Lord be God follow ye him Argum. but the Lord is God should they have inferred Therefore we ought to follow him 3. The obstupefaction of the people They answered not a word In the first note 1. The specification of their sin Halting 2. The aggravation of it Why halt yee so long 3. The facillity of walking uprightly in the way of Truth They were not twenty seducing mizmazing errours as in these Realm-reeling times but only the rocks of two opinions the Lord and Baal In the third wee see the wilfull obstinacy and blindnesse of the people They answered him not a word They had some-what in their minds though they had nothing in their mouths They were convinced by the truth of the Prophet proposed But they were unwilling to be converted or reformed by reason of the example of the Princes long customes thereto by the multitude of the people and their seducings through the numerosity of Baals Prophets which were 450. and Eliah but one against them all In the 2d. part we may read the rule of unerring direction prescribed and by all to have beene observed If the Lord be God follow yee him But be alone is God Ergo. The first is the Checke of Halting The 2d. is the Cause of Halting The 3d. is the Cure of Halting Or take the division if you please more briefly thus 1. A Reprehension Why halt you so long betweene two opinions 2. A Caution Limitation or Direction If the Lord be God follow him If Baall be God follow yee him 3. The non-pluse obstupefaction or obduration of the people who though they were convinced of yet would not be converted to the truth They answered him not a word It s a great sin and shame to halt between God and Baal Doct. 1. truth error Those that are good will show zeale for God Doct. 2. or zeale of Pastors a speciall helpe against peoples halting Or downe-right Doctrine must throw downe sin and Idolatry People continue long in a limping condition notwithstanding long and sharp reprehension Why halt ye so long Doct. 3. Many are yet to seeke and
c. Elijah will call for water out of the foure Barrells that were filled and caused the same once twice yea the third time to be powred on the wood and on the Sacrifice and the whole Ditch also to be filled with water and then the fire from Heaven shall come downe and consume the burnt-offering and the wood and the stones and the dust and licked up the water that was in the Ditch So powerfull is God to resist the greatest resistances that Nature Men or Devils can make against the smallest number of his Saints so that all the people fell on their faces and were enforced to cry The Lord is God the Lord is God When the Kings of the Earth stand up Psal 2.1 â— and the Princes take Counsell together against the Lord his Christ his Church When the Heathen rage and the people murmure saying Let us breake their Bonds and cast their cords away from us all is in vaine He that dwelleth in Heaven shall laugh c. and breake them in pieces c. The Ten Kings shall have one minde Rev. 17.1 to yeeld all their might to helpe the monstrous Beast that was and is not and yet is all these shall fight with the Lambe yet the Lambe shall overcome The Lambe overcome What is a Lambe to a Lyon to many Lyons The wrath of a King is as the roaring of a Lyon and is the messenger of death yet the Lambe shall overcome and a good Reason is rendred Vers 14. For he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and they that are on his side are called and chosen and faithfull The Great Light of the Gospel and the many converted thereby Doore 13 The light shineth more and more till perfect day Cutting of Trees and Stones hewing of both a good signe God is about to build Act. 7.17 When the time of the promise drew nigh for Israels deliverance the people grew and multiplyed in Egypt Shall Gods fold be increased to fatten the sword of his enemies Gods sheepe may be affrighted must not be destroyed Hos 4.6 If barrennesse argueth destruction then fruitfulnesse signifies preservation Sing O Barren Esa 54.1 3 4 5. that didst not beare and breake forth on the right hand and on the left and thy seede shall inherite the Gentiles and make the desolate Cities to be inhabited Feare not for thou shalt not be ashamed Thou shalt not remember the reproach of thy widdowhood any more For thy maker is thy husband Chap 60.21 22. the Lord of Hosts is his Name Thy people shall be all righteous the Branch of my Planting the worke of my hands that I may be glorified A little one shall become a thousand a great augmentation and a small one a strong Nation â—say 66.9 I the Lord will hasten it in his time Shall I cause to travell and not bring forth Shall I cause to bring forth and shall it be barren saith thy God Reigne with Jerusalem c. When plants are put into Gods Orchard shall they not by him be preserved Shall the Church have many children â—sa 127.5 as so many Quivers of Arrowes in her hand and shall she be ashamed of her enemy in the gate Gods daily Remembrancers Doore 14. both in private and in publick which are commanded by himselfe to give him no rest night or day till he make Jorusalem a praise on the earth â—say 62.7 God will bestow a mercy when he comes to be minded of it When the seventy yeares were nigh accomplished and deliverance fully to be wrought â—an 9.2 â—er 29. God set Daniel on praying which was foretold by Jeremy Are not such prayers too pretious to be lost Shall such Watchmen be made a prey to the enemies Shall we imagine that God that raiseth such instruments for his Church and Common-wealth will suffer the same to be blasted Shall Moses and Phineas raised by God to stand up in the gap to save Gods people be unsuccessfull When Moses hands were lift up Israel prevailed when let downe the Amalekites prevailed 〈◊〉 17.11 If our sinnes blast not the blossomes of our Prayers they shall prevaile with God for our selves and others For hath not prayer been an Engine ordained by God himselfe to overcome himselfe Let me alone saith God to Moses a strength he had promised to yeild unto an authority he had promised to obey â—sa 45.11 Ask of me nay command ye me The Lord did according to the saying of Moses that Moses should doe according to the faying of the Lord had been but equall But that the Lord should doe according to Moses saying is wonderfully comfortable In Joshuah's time touching Sunne and Moon standing still he hearkened to the voyce of a man Prayer will over-rule God to any thing for our good â— Kings 8.44 â—sa 145.18 19. â—om 8. It will bow down his eare It will pull his hand out of his bosome the sword out of his sheath against his enemies put it up again when drawn against his people The Lord is at the call of his peoples prayers will fulfill the desires of those that feare him It is the work of Gods own holy Spirit made in heaven therefore true faithfull prayer never was never shall be lost Though God hide himselfe in a cloud this will scatter the cloud it will pierce the heavens and fetch God down If we wrastle with God by prayer we shall prevaile Hath not much been done with God in these warres by this weapon may not more also be done O pray pray pray Experience of Gods former favours shewed to persons Doore 15. families the kingdome which may encourage all to trust him upon triall David fought with a Lyon and a Beare and God delivered him from the danger of both Therefore will also out of the hand of the Philistine 1 Sam. â— 36 This encouraged Paul for time to come to relye on Gods help having had former experience and present supportment Lord thou hast been favourable to the Land Ergo wilt be Psa 85. Psa 22. Our Fathers trusted in thee and were delivered If we trust in him we also shall be delivered But Ergo. What God doth at one time he can doe at another Therefore he puts out himselfe in his greatnesse in his goodnesse that his people might trust in him at all times God in his justice may leave the land deformed but in his mercy reforformed because he hath given his people a taste of the first fruits already Men relye on a friend that hath never failed them in any extremity Psa 116.1 I will love the Lord there is good cause because he heard my voyce he hath inclined his eare therefore will I call upon him while I live Where Beggars speed well they will come again Can you blame them for it There is no particular person but hath experience that he hath his proper portion in the hope of