faith this day ye fast this day yee pray this day yee beleeve and speed Asa cryed to God relyed on God 2 Chron. 14. 11. and the Ethiopians fled verse 12. 3. The souldiers by this triumph and the enemies fall faith is good in the field faith is the warriours Target the souldiers shield Trust in God will raise us and ruine his enemies Psal. 20. 7.8 4. God will doe much good for those who trust in him 1. God will effect what they commit to him trust to this Commissioner and he will bring all to passe works shall succeed and be prosperous when men rest on the Lord without faith things will be at a stâ—nd and not bee effected you would have all ended comfortably that is happily begun rest on the Lord and he will doe it to your hand Faith puts the businesse in and will not take it out of Gods hand as Psal. 37. 5. 2. God will carry beleevers thorow mids of manifold troubles and difficulties with great ease comfort and safety the red Sea was for beleevers made dry land Yee whose unparalleld paines have met with unheard of difficulties in your proceedings cast the eye of your faith upon the Lord to make your way plaine and passable that the Lords flock may goe albeit through the wildernesse Canaan-ward Heb. 11. 29. 3. God will shew beleevers his glory his glory of power to help of mercy to pity of truth to keep promise of wisdom to counsell them men without faith misse and meet not with God but bow the eare to that of Christ our Saviour Said I not unto thee that if thou wouldst beleeve thou shouldst see the glory of God Iohn 11.40 4. God can doe a world of good for men in a week he made a world in sixe dayes that may cause us to rest on him What great things can God doe in a day in your great councell for this sinfull Kingdome and corrupted Church mind what a day may bring forth or a week bring about and rest on the Lord who can work all our works for us were a matter as hard as to make a world yet God can by his owne hand he needs no inâ—truments who are all unactive without him plant the heavens and lay the foundation of the earth Isay 51.16 2. The manner of this fact they are diligent every day early compassing this city Iericho seven dayes having no rest till the work bee done the wals be down as the Lord had told them Faith in God is active for God till it have done the will of God the worke of God as Ioshua and Israel did as God bad them without ceasing so Caleb a man of a generous spirit having a regenerate heart when others would turne back he would on to Canaan in the act of faith he fully followed the Lord who promised them the land Numb. 14. 24. Faiths activenesse is 1. In removing stumbling-blocks as walls out of the way that Gods people may hold on in Gods way and not decline it is a command Prepare the way take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people Isay 57. 14. 2. In restoring the worship of God that all divine institutions may be enjoyed in a right manner and due order thus David was solicitous and reckoned himselfe afflicted till the Ark of God was set in its proper place Psal. 132. 1. Davids afflictions his religious care to bring the Ark home before that breach upon Vzzah â—un he vowed and layd a solemne tye upon his soule an oath a forcible obligation verse 2. he would not give sleep to his eyes or slumber to his eye-lids ver. 4. in his new house which he had builded in the city of David verse 3. till he found out a place for the Lord represented by the Ark verse 5. In that faith is so active it may informe us 1 1. 'T is no wonder that many unwilling to bee good or wise to doe evill so hinder and oppose faith in the meanes of it the enemies have reason as they would be true to a cursed cause to resist it which will not rest till it have razed their walls ruined their building crossed their cause overthrowne their helps and dashed their hopes 1. The devill hinders faith that it be not preached to men Paul would have come to the Thessalonians for the furtherance of faith but Satan an adversary hindered 1 Thes. 2. 18. the devill in his instruments turns away men desirous to heare the word of God from the faith as Elymas the child of the devill dealt with the Deputy Sergius Paulus a prudent man Acts 13. 7,8,10 2. The world allowes and likes no beleevers they are all under the observation of an envious eye as â—ahab was in Iericho Ios. 22. the men of this world not men of God forbid preaching the word of faith and salvation 1 Thes. 2. 16. they are stiffe opposers as Apostaticall Alexander greatly withstood who had once stood for Pauls preaching 2 Tim. 4. 14 15. They put away shoulder and thrust out the word of God Acts 13.46 2. Many persons be wickeâ— men men of no faith as is evident by their non-activity for God for whom faith is active and of this sort are they 1. Who be pleaders for Baal and his wall that it should not down when it was down that men if they doe not stigmatize yet they particularize reformers eminent men as Gedeon a man well known in those corrupt times by his work of faith appointed to dye Baals Altar was cast down Iud. 6.28 they said Gedeon had done it verse 29. they willed his father Ioash to bring him forth that he may dye verse 30. a fitter censure for those who will plead for Baal he that will plead for him let him be put to death verse 31. 2. Who be neuters as luâ—e-warme most loathed persons who will not medle nor have a hand in any good as cursed Meroz a people who came not to the help of the Lord Iud. 5. 23. men bitterly cursed of God as the Reubenites meer worldlings minding their folds and flocks verse 16. lazy Gilead tarried at home verse 17. Dan tarried minded his trade his ships and traffick ibid. Asher on the Sea coast abode in his breaches to fortify himselfe as weak verse 17. and secure Iabesh Gilead yeelded sent in none to punish delinquents men of great folly and villany in Israel Iud. 21. 9. albeit it was by an ordinance of their Parliament in a generall Assembly 20. verse 2. 9 10. that the children of Belial might receive condigne punishment verse 13. 3. Who be active against the Church for the enemy with the enemies of Church and State as Edom Moah Ammon joyne with Philistines Tyrians Assyrians degenerate professors fit companions in service against the Church albeit they pretend the Church-service of lewdest persons Papists Atheists and men of flagitious lives Psalm 83. 5 6 7. This did Amelek feared not God but smote the Church
this Kingdome you shall have a call to inherit a prepared Kingdom Ye blessed inherit ye it Mat. 25 34. 3 His presence behold him Moses saw him hence is your ability sufficiency safety successe think on it every day to meet with God in your Honourable assembly God is among you gods God judgeth among the Gods Hebrews 11. 27. with Psal. 82.1 1 To work before you God wrought on the Ierichuntines ere Ioshua came to them Rahab told the spies The Lord hath given you the land your terrour is fallen on them they faint because of you Ioshua 2.9 God hath wrought before you in Scotland an honoured nation our dearest brethren a loyall people most faithfull subjects You have had your feet on the neck of the enemy follow on in justice and holinesse so shall God doe to all your and his enemies God will cleare your righteousnes as the light and your judgement as the noon day Psal. 37. 6. 2 To work for you God will work all your works for you to your hand when they may be too hard for you Isay 26. 12. Christ that man with a drawne sword comes in for his as a captain of the Lords host to fight for them when Ioshua could not tell which way to assault Iericho Ioshua 5. 13 14. 3 To work with you as with Gedeon The Lord is with thee thou mighty man of valour Iud. 6. 12. the sword of the Lord and Gedeon will make the enemies run cry and fly away 7. 20 21. 4 To be rereward to you to gather you up the Lord will regard the faint and weary he will help his on he will shield his from feare of the enemies and hurt of evill The Lord shall goe before you and the God of Israel shall be your rereward Isai 52. 12. 4 His praise and glory your ultimate end your chiefe desire when the walls be down the people shout Ioshua 6. 20. the Church will praise God when Babylon falls much people in heaven the Church reformed and redeemed from the earth were saying Allelujah Salvation and glory and honour and power unto the Lord our God Revel. 19. 1. for he hath judged the great whore and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand verse 2. againe Allelujah verse 3. all the company of Saints say againe Allelujah verse 4. a voice charging meâ— to praise God vers. 5. Allelujah for the Lord God omnipâ—tent raigneth verse 6. Let the feare of the Almighty fall upon all your hearts who come this day to lay your selves low before him goe from this duty with renewed purposes and confirmed resolutions to be for the Lord and his work with all activenes Think on the enemies of the Church Be they active and not you Would they ruine all and not you study to preserve all Be they spiritlesse may not you have heartinesse Bee they falne will you feare them Consider what may carry you on in your work it is high and holy happy and honourable be of good courage and doe it ponder in your hearts the good you may doe in your work the Kings Honour the Subjects peace the way to heaven more opened the liberty of the Church procured and an addition to the Church of many scattered all call upon you and under God depend on you With deepest thoughts regard Gods word calling and commanding you Gods reward internall externall and eternall for you Gods preâ—enâ—e to work before you for you with you and to bee rereward to you Gods praise the greatest good the chiefest fruit of all your work who will allow you comfort and take the glory to himselfe vow this day to the Lord and performe it Say every soule I am the Lords that it may bee evident you have fasted to the Lord prayed to the Lord beleeved in the Lord while you work for the Lord then the Lord will turn our Trouble into Peace our Crosses into Comforts our Fasting into Feasting our Prayer into Praise our Sorrow into Ioy and our Mourning into a good day FINIS a Micah 5. 5. b {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Sept. ligator vulneram Chirurgus Reip. mediâ—us {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} ab {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} medela Cornâ—l à Lap. in Isai. 3.7 c {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} in alta omnia iverunt Melchior Adam vita Buceri p. 217. d Furere istâ—ic â—â—emere reges principes populos adversus Christum Domini foelix Omen puto ac melius quam si blandirenâ—ur c. Id. vita Lutheri p. 158. Id. vita Melan p. 358. Id. vita Zwing p. 36. Id. vita Luth p. 138. e Tanta reverentia aliquid petit ut cum Dâ—o tanta spe fide ut â—um patre amico se loqui sâ—ntiat p. 142. Lutherâ— animosa ep. de negotio Evangâ—lii ad Spalatin The Epistlâ— to the Hebrewes 1. It s author 2. Its matter Fidei documentum in toto populo ediâ—um Iun. Par. in Hebr. This text 1. Interpreted 2. Divided Nixi Dei Praecepio Promissione Par. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Observ. 1. Church-enemies helps will faile them Herodot. Xenoph. Decima persurbis est tota bodâ—erna Romae Pontificia M. Mede * The enemies vvalls 1. Principality 2. Prelacy Satans Vicar the Antichrist of Rome instigated Charles the most puissant Emperour to attempt war that by violence the doctrine of the Gospell and the liberty of Germany may be oppressed And the united Princes compelled to the service and observance of his wicked and devilish religion Sleid. Comment li 17. Exossatio non Physicè seâ— mysticè Contusiâ— Antistitum falsâ—m religionem â—â—entium Bran The defence of the enemies walls 1. Policy 1. Detected 2. defeated 2. Patrimony 3. Power of 1. One man 2. Many men Hanc urbis decimam casuram agro sibi pro patrimonio aâ—tributo spoliatam Pontiâ—ice vi iude pulso praerogativam dominium in urtes populos amissuram M. Mede Euphrates â—â—gnificat praecipua Babylonis Antichrist praesidia quibus ad tantam excrevit potentiam Et in vigore stetit hactenus Vrbs slumine qâ—à m muriâ—â—rat munitior Par. Reasons why the enemies wals will fall 1. The enemies 1. Impiety being 1. prayerlesse 2. ful of cursing 3. Idolatrouâ— 2 The vanity of their helps 1. Horses 2. Men 1. Faint 2. Fearfull 1. Kings 2. Merchants 3. Mariners Romanae sedis filii spirituales qui cum Papa perseverabunt Par. Nundinatores spirituales Camerae Pontificiae Quaestores Par. 2 God his 1. Contrariâ—ty 2. Commination 3. Promise 1 Exhort 1. Wicked men be not 1 Vain conâ—ident 2 Impenitent T.W. in his Dist. 2 Godly men 1. Come out from the enemies 2. Be not afraid of the enemies 2 Consolat Comfort when the enemies be 1. In power 2. In policy 3. In prosperity 2 When the Church is 1. In impotency of men 2. In the insufficiency of meanes God can cause
Christians duty in faith and holinesse This Chapter a little book of Martyrsâ— containes the encomium of faith commended by its heroicall acts and marvellous effects by noâ— the worlds but the Lords Worthies in every age of the Ancient Church whose neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury whereon there hang a thousand bucklers all shields of mighty men Can. 4.4 These mighty men of God are renowned and recorded powerfully to perswade men with courage and comfort to continue in the faith sustained with the precious promises of the blessed God The words read rehearse the famous fact of Israels faith under the prosperous conduct of Ioshua the Hebrews Generall the conquerour of Canaan 1. The interpretation By faith By faith both in Ioshua and Israel his and their faith not by armes and engines not by common sense nor caâ—nall reason not by faith historicallâ— yet they knew the word not by faith miraculous albeit this oracle tels us of a miracle but by faith called by Divines justifying and saving principally not only as it justifieth but as it looketh towards God and apprehends any promises works and benefits of God past present or future revealed in his word Faiths prop was 1. A word of precept to compasse the city yee shall goe round about the city Iosh. 6. 1. 2. A word of promise annexed the walls should fall the wall of the city shall fall downe flâ—t vers. 5. Iericho It was a strong walled tower in their way and first entrance into Canaan after they had so safely passed over Iâ—rdan The walls of it fell downe The great walls this townes-mens strength tumbled downe without mans hand warlike engine or violence After they were compassed about They pitched not the â—â—â—ld against it nor did they undermine or scale the walls but goe aboâ—t them A mean to mans reason 1â—Very childish seven Priests sounded seven rammes hornes would not Iericho laugh at it Iosh. 6. 4. 2. Very perilous had there been such Guns as be in these dangerous dayes M. Perk Yet after they had circuited the walls 1. In obedience to Gods command 2. In dependance on Gods promise The walls fell down Obedience to God in the event meets with good first they mind duty after it they find mercy First they goe about Iericho and then they goe into Iericho Seven dayes The walls fell not on any of the six dayes nor untill the seventh time the seventh day Till then the walls never shake and then nothing seen before they fallâ— it was Gods appointed time in which every thing is beautifull one of these dayes was the Sabbath the observation whereof yeelds for mans good to this speciall command of God the great Law-giver 2. The partsâ— Iericho's downfall the wals fell down 1. The meane of it faith in Gods word 2. The mâ—â—â—er of it in compassing it seven dayes 1. The downefall of the walls the strength of this city the hâ—lp whereby it was fortified as invincible falles this wall is cast downe and demolished the city is taken and a straight way opened to the Israel of God Ioshua 6. 20. The greatest helps of Church-enemies will faile them their walls which hinder Gods Church in the way to happinesse will fall down and their defence departs from them Numb. 14. 9. As it is with this cursed city Iericho So with old Babylon the wall of Babylon shall fall Ier. 51.44 The broad walls fifty cubits thick and two hundred cubits high say Historians of Babylon shall be utterly broken â—er 51. 58. Thus with Mystical Babylon it is thrown downe as a great milstone cast into the Sea thus with violence shall that great city Babylon bee throwne down and shall be found no more at all Rev. 18.21 The tenth part of the city the whole Kingdome of Popery Br. fell was diminished by the revolt of the Germans the Earth-quake ordinarily signifying a great change of the estate of matters Rev. 11. 13. * 1. The enemies walls to stop the Churches way which will faile and not be a shadow to them be 1. Principality and imperiall power Princes and their people Emperours and their vassals were a wall to the enemy the ten hornes shall give their power and strength to the beast Revel. 17. 13. CHARLES the Great and K. Pipin arose with stout and fierce contention in the Beasts quarrell advanced and honoured the Popedome These shall make warre with the Lamb vers. 14. in rebellion against Christ yet the Lamb Christ shall overcome them In Gods appointed time the Emperour CHARLES the fift persecuted the Princes of Germany with a lamentable warre because they required a liberty to worship the Lamb but the victorious Lamb the Lyon of the tribe of Iudah got the victory a free confessioÌ„ of truth which the Lamb wrung from the Emperour against his will And this by Christian souldiers and armies of Protestants Called chosen and faithfull vers. 14. Yet by the good pleasure of God Christian Princes shall rise and make themselves ready against Rome to bring the whore to an horrible destruction contrary to her expectation and their former profession for her 1. These shall hate her curse her which bewitched Kings of the earth 2. Make her desolate they converting to Christ revolting from her and ministring no aide to her 3. Naked by their confessions by their writings which discover her filthinesse and lewdnesse 4. Shall eat her flesh not physically but mystically cutting away her toll-money wealth gotten by her chaffering in their dominions 5. Burne with fire who will not otherwise bee purged she shall be burnt as an whore not washen with nitre Many Princes have failed Popedome Revel. 17. 16. 2. Prelacy purple Prelates and their corrupt Clergy hinder the passage of Gods redeemed ones into Canaan heaven and shall down As the troop of Trent Bishops fortified themselves and made a wall about Popery that erroneous doctrine and corrupt worship might be continued notwithstanding this the man of sin hiâ— jurisdiction and his generation must down and be destroyed that wicked one the Lord shall consume with the spirit of â—is mouth 2. Thes. 2. 8. Prelacy roâ—â— and branch shall be taken awayâ— every plant which God hath not planted shall bee plucked up by the root all false callings false doctrine false worship God threatens Mat. 15. 13. as a tree that cumbers the ground must be cut downe the Church and pure religion cannot thrive by it under it neer it Prelacy is not only not fruitfull but hurtfull and if the vinedresser find no fruit his word is Cut it down Luk. 13. 7. There is no juâ— diviâ—um to plead for it it will come to nought as Gamaliels word was Act. 5. vers. 38. The Prelates were daubing a wall with untempered morter made of Canons oathes Constituâ—ions Superstitions yet all falls that one may say where is the wall and they that daubed it God will effect it that the