with vs striken a firme League Hee hath taken vs for his people Hosca 1.10 wee chalenge him for our God Let vs but keepe to him he will not start from vs. Let the Church of God euer magnifie the riches of his super abundant grace that ladeth vs with his blessings and not onely cherisheth vs with the remembrance of old fauours but doubles the Benefits by giuing them as pledges of future and greater As the first fruites promised a plentifull crop and as the earnest though small assureth vs of the whole bargaine so the least mercy is great in this that it is but the first fruites but a beginning but an earnest a pledge of more and greater Thus may we in generall in particular if the fault be not our owne from that wee haue already receiued promise to our selues farre greater matters for the time to come But what doe I staying so long in the skirtes let vs now as Moses ascended Mount Nebo Deut. 32.4 so climbe this Mount in my Text and there take a double prospect first we may looke backward and there view the Israel of God now passing through the Red Sea now stung with fiery Serpents in the wildernes of this World wee may then looke forward and see them victorious ouer fire and water in their heauēly Canaan like their Lord and Master as here crowned with thornes so there crowned with victory and glory It seemes good to their heauenly Father to entertaine them wit stormes first and after they haue runne some dangerous hazards to bring a gracious calme The affliction of Ioseph is not nakedly propounded but notably amplyfied from the certainty the variety the extremity of it The certainty is intimated this the Lord takes for granted that his Spouse must through fire and water When thou passest c. As if the Lord had expressed his minde in other tearmes Mistake me not I neuer entended to secure my chosen wholy from danger or to set them out of the reach of affliction that the water should not touch them nor they touch the water at the fire should not come neare them nor they come neare the fire but to get my selfe a name and glory to magnifie my power and pitty by securing them in the water that the flouds shall not over-flow them by securing them in the fire that the flame shall not kindle vpon them The Saintes must haue their Purgatory on earth that of water to wash off the filth and soile contracted by sinne that other of fire to purge out the drosse of corruption The Conclusion standes as firme as Heaven and Earth The Church Militant while shee remaines in this vaile of teares and valley of misery is not priviledged from miseries and calamities Let her be the Darling of Heaven the favorite of the great King the worke of his hand his Redeemed his adopted his Beloved one no bonds no entirenes with God can plead an exemption Shee is the Lords Shippe his Marchant-royall and therefore must expect stormes while shee Sailes on the tempestuous Sea of this world His Lilly and therefore must grow in the midst of thornes his Rose and therefore must be enuironed with prickles his Gold and therefore must be cast ever and anon into the fiery furnace his Campe-royall and therefore must be ever skirmishing his vine and therefore ever and anon must be pruned This is the place of her Labour no rest from her labour till her worke be at an end no end of her worke till an end be put to these dayes of sinne Blessed are they that die in the Lord Rev. 14.13 for they shall rest from their labours So much was shadowed out and typified by the Riding of Noahs Arke on the Waters by the smoaking fire-brands Gen. 7.17 Gen. 15.17 presented to Abram by the wrastling of Iacob Gen 32.24 Exod. 3.2 by the Burning Bush presented to Moses so much is plainly expressed by our Saviour In the world you shall haue trouble Ioh. 16.33 He that will be my Disciple must take vp his crosse and follow we The ground hereof may be drawne partly from the appointment of God partly from the malice of Satan partly from that correspondence which should ever be maintained betweene the Head and the Members First It is that Decree enacted by the High Court of Parliament in Heaven a Statute more firme then the Lawes of the Medes and Persians that the way to Heaven shall be strawed with crosses that every one that will liue godly in Christ Iesus 2 Tim. 3.12 shall suffer persecution This is that thorny path which is chalked out as the common Rhode leading to Glory No man must expect two Heavens one here another hereafter Would you know the ground of this Sanction though his Will be a Law Sic volo sic iubeo stet pro ratione voluntas Eccles 8.4 though it be a saucinesse to say to the King much more to the King of Kinges What doest thou Yet sith the wise God is pleased to condescend so farre vnto our weakenes as to yeeld an account of his actions know it tends much to his glory and the good of the Saints It tends to the Glory of his wisedome that fetcheth light out of darknes life out of death Heaven out of Hell to the glory of his power that brings strength out of weaknes So the Oracle to Paul 2 Cor. 12.9 My grace is sufficient for thee My power is made perfect through weaknesse It turnes to the good of the Saints who are corrected with his children that they might not be condemned with the world Prov. 3.12 Heb. 12.6 Revel 3.19 Prov. 22.15 Whom the Lord loues he chastens There is much folly bound in the heart of the childe as that Mirror of wisedom giues out in his select divine Aphorismes but the rod of correction will fetch it out Blessed is the Man whom thou chastisest O Lord and teachest thy Law so David the Father of so wise a Sonne These Nocumenta are Documenta his Corrections are Instructions Wee see by experience these Starres shine brightest in the darkest night these sheepe thriue best in the saltest Marshes and tread surest in the roughest way Vide Christians soveraign Salue for euery Soare these Diamonds glitter most in the night this corne is purest from chaffe when vnder the staile these torches blaze most when they are most beaten Abrams faith Iobs patience Davids Repentance Salomons Recantation Manassehs humiliation all these with thousand more giue evident demonstration that the graces of the Spirit like the Arabian Spices never yeeld a more fragrant smell then when they are punned and bruzed together in the Morter of Affliction This is the first reason God hath appointed it and that for his glory and our good Deus enim adeo bonus est vt nihil mali sineret nisi etiam adeo esset potens vt ex quolibet malo possit elicere bonum Thus Austin Such is the
intestine insurrections of bosome vipers at home How long haue wee carried fire in our bosomes and doe not our feete yet tread vpon Scorpions As many so great haue beene our Troubles Great enemies were stirred vp mighty Princes the most potent and puissant Kings of the earth friends to the Beast Psal 2. how were they enraged How did they bandy together against the Lord and against his Annointed Great Stratagems were laid even as deepe as Hell to the vtter ruination both of Church and State to the finall extirpation of our name and memoriall from vnder Heaven How oft hath the knife beene at our throate What treasons What conspiracies were hatched in the dayes of our late Queene Elizabeth that wonder of Women and mirrour of her sex No sooner was the fire quenched in one corner but it breakes forth in another place no sooner was one wound closed but another bleeds afresh Many a time were wee at the pits brinke and knew it not destinated as sheepe to the slaughter our Land quartered Dr Hall in his Panygericke or Doome prophecied When that Snow melts as they gaue it out triumphantly wee shall see a floud and pointed to the Gray-hayres of that then liuing Empresse But aboue all two especiall dangers never to be forgotten did threaten this Nation never any people vnder Heaven were put to the like straits You cannot forget that famous Climactericall yeare Eighty-Eight That Senacherib of Spaine how confident was he to haue swallowed vs vp quicke at one morsell How did he presume to command with his Invincible Navy Sea and Land How did he presume to put a bridle and make a bridge over the Ocean to over-run this spot of earth in one instant Now I trow you were in the midst of the waters This fifth of November mindes vs of another pinch as great if not greater then the former there wanted but the kindling of a match to haue set this Cittie all in a flame of fire this Country and Kingdome all in a flame of Combustion Were wee not now in the midst of the fire If the Lord had not beene with vs that water had overwhelmed all if the Lord had not beene with vs that fire had beene kindled and wee all had perished in that flame And thus are wee fallen suddenly from the danger to glance at the Deliverance blessed be That Iehovah that hath linked them so together that wee cannot speake of the one but wee must acknowledge the other Now since I am fled into this pleasant field I will not step backe but entreate you to follow me with your attention and as you haue tasted of the bitter so now close your Stomacks with the sweete which I haue reserved for the last as being the best and chiefest matter intended for this dayes discourse and most sutable to the occasion of our present meeting Hitherto you haue heard onely of the troubles now followes the triumphs of the Saints wherein was offered to our consideration as wee found in the resolution of the Text. 1. The victory it selfe which is acquired The flouds shall not over-flow thee the flame shall not kindle vpon thee 2. The Author of this victory to whom the glory of the day must be ascribed in those words I will be with thee The Conquest is further commended from the time When thou c. It shall come seasonably opportunely when they were in their greatest difficulties in their greatest perplexitie then even then I will be with thee c. The afflictions of Ioseph are neuer so many neuer so great but they shall find an evasion The Church can never be so straitned but first or last it shall be enlarged the Church can neuer be so distressed but sooner or later it shall be relieued Her case is oft dangerous never desperate Let her walke in the valley of the shadow of death with David Psal 23.4 let her be cast into the Denne of Lyons with Daniel with Ieremy Dan 6.16 let her be plunged into the deepe dungeon let her be projected with the Hebrew babes as was noted into the midst of the waters with the three children and with those innumerable troupes of Martyrs into the midst of the fire what though the members of her body with Isaiah passe vnder the Saw with Iames are cut off by the sword let their carkasses be mangled and chopt into pieces their bodies scorched burned racked rosted come what can come Premi potest ecclesia opprimi non potest Psal 30.5 Psal 112.4 the Israel of God may be pressed cannot be oppressed though sorrow may befall them in the euening ioy shall arise in the morning Vnto the righteous ariseth light in darknesse This is the Close as David had learned in the Schoole of Affliction Many are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord delivereth them out of all delivered they are not from one or few or many but from all Marke the end of the vpright man his latter end is Peace there may be stormes in the way but in the end there will follow an eternall Calme This Shippe may be tossed cannot be drowned Psal 112.6 this Mount Sion may be moved cannot be removed Reason Shee hath the word of Iehovah to secure her a word more firme then Heaven The Lord of Hoasts will come in to her succour He comes with salvation vnder his wings He comes in seasonably to helpe at a dead lift Mans greatest extremitie is Gods fittest opportunitie when no hope in earth then exspect helpe from Heaven then the Almightie comes riding on the Clouds and commands deliverance for his Iacob let the Sea worke and rage and boyle and foame and swell vp to Heaven his word makes all husht But what doe I preventing my selfe Let vs leaue dilating on this Subject to his proper place and now make application of the point and grow to that cōclusion which this day doth witnesse and proclaime to the whole world Looke backe my Brethren remember those Marian dayes that bloudy Quinqueinium Nero his Quinqueinium famous for those sparkles of humanitie that of Q. Mary contrary what a desperate pinch were wee brought to in time of that persecution What massacring What butchering What Bonnering What burning of those chast Virgins that would not prostitute their soules to that Whore of Babylon that would not licke vp their filthy vomit disgorged in the dayes of King Edward What streets did not flame with fires What faggots did not fry the bones of those mis-called Heretickes What Citty What Towne What Village was not watered with the blood Sanguis Martyrum semen Ecclesiae enlightned with the flames of those constant crowned Martyrs The mercies of the wicked are cruell as the wise King obserues as those barbarous savage Tygertyrants made it too true who to shew themselues more mercilesse then the mercilesse Elements fire and water retorted that Infant into the Mothers flames Fox in his Acts Mon. which the
very fire as a mercifull Midwife had delivered from the Mothers wombe Now they insulted cracking what a sure foundation was laid for vnder-setting and propping vp their newly repaired wals of Iericho now they applaud their owne wits that had vndermined the Gospel vnder the name of Heresie so as it should never be able to peepe forth or hold vp head in the professors thereof Thus when all was desperate in the eye of flesh how suddainly was the streame turned So the Father of Iulian the Apostate nubecula est cito transibit how suddainly was that storme of blood blowne over their high wals so lately daubed vp with vntempered morter how did they fall in a moment being quashed to powder and themselues with all their rubbidge sent packing over Seas What a desperate exigent were we brought to when that strange Horned Moone appeared on our Coastes when that Invincicle Armado of Spaine as they stiled it was ready to encircle our Nation Their shippes were cast into the forme of a halfe-Moone The enemy like that great Leviâ—than had in conceit drawne vp our Iordan into his nostrils so had he devoured vs in his hopes that already ante victoriam triump hum canit he sings the Triumph before a stroake was stricken and at the putting on of his Armour The Church of Rome boasts as he that puts it off The mother of Sisera looked out at the Window and cryed through the Lattesse Iud. 5.28.29.30 Why is his Chariot so long in comming Why tarry the Wheeles of his Chariot Her wise Ladies answered yea shee turned and answered her selfe haue they not sped haue they not divided the prey to euery man a damosell or two to Sisera a prey of divers colours of divers colours needle-worke fit for the neckes of them that take the spoile Thus they solaced themselues when loe how all their hopes vanished into smoake The Sunne Moone and Starres in their courses the windes waters all fight for our England The Lord over-throwes the horse and his rider and drownes this blazing Comet in the wide Ocean which drew the eyes of all the world to see the success of that prodigeous meteor that as some dreamed others feared Babylon wished presaged a fatall period to the English Isle and Empire So true is the word of the Lord by his Prophet WEE passed through the water yet did not the flouds over-flow vs. What a desperate pinch were wee brought to this fifth day of November Now wee were in the fire indeed a fire kindled in Hell a sulphurean fire into which not Three Children but the Three States of our Realme were enwrapped and all bound together to haue perished with one cracke Let vs pause here and consider the Danger of our extremitie that wee may be stirred vp the more feelingly and heartily to magnifie the mercy power and goodnesse of the Lord manifested in out delivery Consider How cunningly it was contrived How cruelly it was intended How nearly atchieued How miraculously discovered For the cunning in contriving what secrecy of place What secrecy of person The place a place of darkenesse and therefore fit for a worke of darkenesse the secrecy of the place seemed to invite them to this bloody designe even as the opportunitie of time smiled vpon them and promised to be the vnhappie Midwife to deliver the Actors now bigge with their conception of this monstrous burden Let me now take you hand in hand and lead you to this darke Caue this hollow denne this fiery Aetna this tormenting Tophet I know not what to call it Grammar Logicke Rhetoricke all are posed no Art can yeeld a word emphaticall enough for this Artificiall Phalarian invention A strange Engin it was invented for the torment of Innocents but as that of Phaleris turned to the torment of the Inventors See here what Barrels of Powder packed close together What piles of wood billetted over those Barrels What barres of iron mingled with those piles Of all resemblances methinkes a Tophet sits it best See the description of Tophet Isa 30.33 and paralell them Isaiah 30.33 Tophet is ordained of old yea for the King it is prepared he hath made it deepe and large the pile thereof is fire and much wood the breath of the Lord like a streame of brimstone doth kindle it Loe here a right Tophet ordained of old hatched in the latter yeares of the raigne of our late Queene Elizabeth prepared not by God but by Men not by Men but by Devils Was it not digged deepe and made large made for the King yea and Queene Prince Prelates Lords Commons all the burning of it was fire and much wood a streame of Powder as a river of brimston was to kindle it a right Tophet Some place Hell in the Center or midst of the earth here you might haue found it somewhat beneath the superficies of the earth Thus were their villanies buried in the bowels of the earth Isa 29.15 they digge deepe to hide their Councell from God and Man The persons will be as secret as the place these Catholike conspirators to make all sure to sowe their lips fast sweare a silene and binde that Oath with the Sacrament O flagitious vnheard-of impietie God himselfe will he nill he must haue as much as in them lay an hand in this transcendent Treason let no man henceforth wonder at the fury of that Romish Cataline who forced his followers to pledge each other in Healths of humane blood Behold here that Romish Catesby with his Complices take the Blood of God at least his Body and 〈◊〉 they maintaine it the reall essentiall blood of 〈…〉 of God must be caroused to glue vp their lipâ—… 〈…〉 the discovery of this Hellish Designe Thus closely and covertly was it carried so lapped in the mantle of darkenesse that none but the Devill as they gaue it out the Lord was farre from their thoughts could vnvaile it and plucke off the maske from this Hagge yet was their crueltie no whit inferior to their secrecy Let me begin in the words of Moses Deut. 4.32 Aske of the dayes of old that haue bin since God created man vpon the earth from one end of Heaven vnto the other if there came to passe such a great thing as this or ever the like was heard of Search all Chronicles turne over the Records of all Nations no age no story humane or divine can match this matchlesse president so that wee may well take vp the Heathen Poets complaint Audax omnia perpeti gens humana 〈◊〉 vetitum 〈◊〉 nefas 2 Sam 16. 2 Sam. 15.31 The Treason of Absolon the Conspiracy of Achitophel the Coniuration of Cataline the Machination of Haman Esth 3.8 to roote out the whole Nation of the Iewes the Massacre of France the slaughter of the Indies wherein worldes of people were most cruelly made away all hainous transcendent crimes all fall short of this Nero that Spung of Bloud and Monster of
Men as the Stories record wished all the people of Rome had had but one head that he might chop it off at a blow that which was but desired of Nero was not wished onely but plotted and attempted by these Sanguineous Antichristian Neroes had their plot taken effect not the head of Rome but of England had beene cut off at a Blow Nero caused the Citie of Rome to be fired and laid the blame on the Christians If their traine had blowne vp our Church and State the imputation of so foule a fact by these equivocating Catholikes must haue beene cast on the Puritans Three famous kingdomes by a blessed Peace-maker vnited into one happy Monarchy Vno actu tactu ictu with one blow and blast in a day an houre a moment had perished ere they knew who hurt them no sect no sex no person nor age might be spared no not those of their owne Religion the Powder like the Duke of Medina his Sword These be your charitable Catholikes would haue knowne no difference betweene Protestant and Papist The Kings Maiestie the Golden Head of this Land the Lords Annointed and the breath of our nostrils His deare Queene the Roote that bare so royall stems His Princely heire the pledge of our succeeding hopes the Honorable Councell the eye of our Land the Noble Lords and Baron the Shields and shoulders of our Land the Reverend Bishops and Cleargie the Chariots and Horsemen of Israel the graue Sages and Iudges the Handes of our Land for execution of Iustice the flower of our Gentry and Commons the feete of this Land roote and branch Priest and people Head roote branches eyes shoulders armes tongues handes feete all all should haue beene torne vp and mounted on high to fall headlong their carkasses mangled the sheepe brained and burnt by an vnheard-of kinde of execution In their wrath they digged downe a wall and in their anger would take away a whole nation as one man Cursed be their anger for it was fierce and their wrath for it was cruell into their secrets let not the righteous enter my soule be not thou ioyned with their Assemblies How neare was it come even to the point of execution the Children were at the birth wee had but the burning of a match to liue not a haires-breadth betweene vs and this Death these flames How miraculously was the plot discovered rod how opportunely were the traytors defeated the wisedome of the King came from the inspiration of the Almightie strange it is to consider what English his Maiesty did pick out of a dark and Aenigmaticall letter going against all Grammaticall construction He that sits in Heaven made their owne handes and Pens to bewray all so the Preacher Curse not the King Eccles 10.20 no not in thy thought for the fowle of the Heauen shall carry it and that which hath wings shall declare the matter If the Lord had not now beene with vs Prov. 16.10 among vs for vs and put a word of Divination into the lippes of our gratious Soveraigne wee had all beene long ere this as Sodom and Gomorrha King Prince Noble Peeres Prelates Iudges Gentry Commons Our peace plentie the Gospel of peace the comfort of our liues and the life of all our comforts all had vanished into Ash-heapes Thus am I fallen vpon the Author of this Great Deliverance who kept vs in this fire that the flame did not so much as kindle vpon vs. So literally are the words of this Prophecie fulfilled of this Church and State who kept vs Iehovah saith my Text Iehovah saith this day I will be with thee The safetie of the Church consists in the presence of the Lord. Iehovah is that Cloud which giues light to the Israelites Exod. 14.25 strikes terror into the Egyptians and takes off the Wheeles of their Chariots Iehovah is that Wall of fire that fenceth his elect and consumes his enemies the Lord is my Rocke my Fortresse so David The name of the Lord is a strong Tower Prov. 18.10 into which the righteous Nation shall enter so Salomon This Tower is invincible this Bulwarke impregnable this Fortresse is out of Gun-shot and therefore cannot be battered this Wall reacheth higher then the Heavens and therefore cannot be scaled The Lord is ever with his Church what he speaks of the Temple the type of the Church Mat. 28.20 needs must it be verified of the Church the truth of that type 2 Chro. 7.16 I haue chosen this place that my name may be there for ever and mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually There is he present and resident and that not as a naked Spectator to behold their miseries but as a tender Father as a mightie Sauiour As a tender Father commiserating their distresses caring the cares grieuing the griefes and fearing the feares of his chosen Isa 63.9 In all their troubles he is troubled When the foote was trod vpon in earth the Head cryes from Heaven Saul Saul Acts. 9.4 why persecutest thou me He is present secondly as an Almightie powerfull Saviour is there any thing too hard for him Is his arme shortned Did not he wound Rahab Smite the Dragon overthrow the horse and his rider make a path in the great Water and allay the heate of the fire He works with meanes without meanes against means and doth what ever he will in heaven or earth Hath not he set bounds to the Sea Iob. 38.11 though it rage and foame here it must stay thus farre it shall come and no farther here the proud waues must be broken Hath not he Satan in a chaine Iob. 1. and all his instruments that they cannot plucke a haire from the head of his servants without his leaue and licence Vse 1 Si Deus nobiscum quis contra nos Rom. 8.31 Behold now the safetie the securitie of the Church if God be with vs who shall be against vs If God be with vs what need we feare what man can doe vnto vs men or Devils No maruaile if the Prophet command feare not He that is thus guided thus guarded how can he feare or faint So the same Prophet Isa 51.12.13 Chap. 51. Vers 12.13 I even I am he that comfort thee who art thou that thou shouldest be afraid of a man and of the sonne of man which shall be made as grasse and forgettest the Lord thy Maker c. Iehovah hath vndertaken to be the Lord Protector or Lord-keeper of his Red vine Isaiah 27.3 I the Lord doe watch over it by night and by day Hee will defend it against secret trecheries these are night-assaults against open Hostilities these are day-assaults What though the Ramping Lyon goe about continually 1 Pet. 5.8 seeking whom he may devoure Is not the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah as vigilant to defend as Satan to assault The destroyer of Israel never slumbreth nor sleepeth no more doth the keeper of Israel Psal 121.4
Goodnesse of God that he would permit no euill vnlesse he knew his Power to be such as he could draw good out of euill Adde to this in the second place the envy of Satan and his Instruments The Devill will at least make vs haue a wet seede-time if he cannot hinder our ioyfull harvest he will be sure to make vs liue discomfortably in earth if he cannot hinder vs from raigning gloriously in Heaven he will bruise our heele if he cannot breake our head His instruments carried with the spleene of their father the Devill will trouble vs though they cannot hurt vs with Midianitish wiles they will vexe the Israel of GOD whom they cannot Conquer these snarling bauling Curres will barke and snatch at the Moone though they cannot stay her course If wee doe but set our faces towardes Ierusalem if wee but steale a looke to Heaven-ward these Samaritans will be straight on our backes Heb. 5.7.8 The last Reason stands with equitie that wee might be made conformable to our High-Priest who was consecrated by afflictions The Head was a Man of sorrow and shall the body know no sorrow The head was crowned with thornes and all goare blood tota cicatrix shall the body be decked with Roses Ioh. 13 16. Shall the servant looke to fare better then his master Luk. 24.26 if they called me Beel-zebub how much more those of my family as the Lord fore-warnes his Disciples If that hold Opertet Christum pati then much more Oportet Christianum pati so one of the Ancients Must Christ suffer is there not the same Must for euery Christian Whence another of the Fathers descants on the name Christianus quasi Crucianus Vse 1 Let this checke those fond Christians whether lazy Protestants or ignorant Papists the former wish it were the latter affirme it that ease peace calmes and faire-weather are the markes and badges of a true Church which they set out of the reach of persecution which they make to be blessed with a perpetuated succession of an vninterrupted peace plentie and tranquilitie as if they onely contrary to the ordinary course must be carried to heaven on a feather-bed as if it were possible to saile through the tempestuous Seas of this world and never meete with a storme as if all crosses to them were turned into roses and rushes as if the servant should be more cockered then the Son Austin put this out of doubt Vnicum filium habuit sine peccato neminem habuit sine flagello God had one Sonne that knew no sinne never any that felt no smart What is if this be not repugnant to the plain Text and strong current of holy Writ Which prophesies not of peace but of warre not of securitie but of calamitie not of sleeping in a whole skinne but of bearing in our bodies the wounds or the Lord Iesus not of a smooth gale but of many crosse nay adverse blasts It is given a note rather of that Whore of Babylon to sit as a Queene a Lady Revel 18.7 having her mountaine so strongly founded so rarely assaulted that shee never dreames of a change When the Daughters of Sion hang their Harpes vpon the Willowes and sit weeping at the waters of Babel It is for Moab rather to be setled on her lees Iere. 48.11 because shee is not shaken from vessell to vessell When the Israel of God are tossed from post to pillar Psal 129.1.2 from my youth vp haue they afflicted me will Israel say from my youth vp c. It is for the Generation of Esau to carry the world before them in a continued line of succession Duke vpon Duke Twelue Dukes were found in Edom when the children of Iacob were labouring at the Brick-kils in Egypt Luk. 12.19.20 It is for the foole in the Gospel to sing a lullaby to his Soule Soule take thine ease c. Who had his Paradise his Consolation here Wee that expect that Glory to come must not looke for an Heaven vpon earth Vse 2 Let this lesson those holy Ones what to expect in this world even that which they haue ever found fire and water Oppositions troubles and persecutions God will allow no peace to the wicked the wicked will afford no peace to the godly In the midst of our discomforts let this be our comfort it is the common Lot of the Saints why should we shrug at it When so many haue broken the ice before vs since it is no new thing why should we thinke it a strange thing to heare or feele the fiery tryalls Since it is the will of God beare it patiently since it makes for the Glory of God glory in it exceedingly sith the Good will be our owne take it thankefully so shall your Crosse bee your Crowne so shall you be as glorious in your greatest misery as the wicked are miserable in their greatest glory I haue done now with the Afflictions of Ioseph and yet I haue not done neither giue me leaue to recall my selfe the Spirit puls me backe this is not all The Spouse is not subject to affliction onely this is but the beginning of sorrow but to many and great afflictions Many for varietie great for extremitie Shee must through fire and water Both these streames runne into one and the same fountaine the matter will be Co-incident that wee may not enter fiere let vs wrappe both in one and giue you the Doctrine in the words of the Kingly Prophet Doct. 2 Many are the Troubles of the righteous that is many and great Multa c magna so much the Originall word doth intimate Psal 34.19 For their number many for their measure great for their nature weightie Take the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 first that it is so and then the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 why it is so as they speake in the Schooles To begin with my Text here is not fire onely but water too not water onely but fire too fire and water comprehend all sorts of tryals there is the varietie Againe here is fire and water those two mercilesse Elements good servants but cruell Masters which comprehends the greatest danger the extremest misery that can befall a man When the tender Father in the Gospell seeking the cure of his possessed sonne would stirre vp the bowels of our Saviour to commiserate the distressed Daemoniaks how doth he paynt out the crueltie and tyranny of the Devill delivers it to the full in these emphaticall termes Loe Mat. 17.15 He casts him sometime into the fire sometimes into the water and not able to hold any longer he bursts out into tears Lord take pittie on my Sonne Yet to adde to the heape of their misery here is not water mentioned onely but waters rivers flouds of water not fire onely some few sparkles but flames of fire there is the extremitie To this of Isaiah answereth that complaint of David Psal 42.7 Abyssus abyssum invocat one deepe calleth vpon another deepe Here
he also never sleepeth never slumbreth Let their enemies be never so many all nations to him are but as the dust of the Balance Isa 40.15 the drop of a Bucket as nothing lesse then naught Let their enemies be never so mightie he hath their hearts in his hand can turne them as the Rivers of waters and make our enemies at peace with vs Ier. 33.4 changing their stabs into kisses he hath their heads in his hand and can infatuate the wiliest Herod the craftiest Achitophel turning their Councells into folly he hath their Hands and Hornes in his hand and can either binde them to their good behaviour or knocke out the Teeth of grators before they bite let them digge dippe to hide their plots the Lord will goe beyond them let them ioyne hand to hand they shall not prosper Prov. 11.21 Wee may say it wee may sweare it wee must beleeue it wee haue had experience never any Church more of the like what it is to haue such a Protector whose power is vnresistable his will vnchangeable his skill vnsearchable whose Greatnesse is such that he can doe what he will whose Goodnesse is such that he will doe what he can and ever magnifie both his Greatnesse and Goodnesse in the protection of his Israel and in the conversion or confusion of his enemies Witnesse this day of dayes on the morning of our fifth of November they would haue blowne vs vp on the evening of their fifth of November God beate them downe Vse 2 Is Iehovah the Deliverer of his Israel Why let God then haue the Honor of his owne worke not our wit not our wealth not our goodnes not our greatnes not our friends not our Bulwarkes but the Lord onely it was the Lords doing Psal 118.23.24 let it euer be marueilous in our eyes This is the Day which the Lord hath made let vs be glad and reioyce Let the wicked Politician the Machivilian Atheist sacrifice to their owne nets We will cry with that Kingly Prophet Psal 115.1 not vnto vs not vs ô Lord but vnto thy Name wee giue the glory Totum hoc quatumcunque sit quod certè miximum est totum est tuum the whole prayse of so glorious a rescue how great so euer it be which indeede is exceeding great is onely due to Iehovah Let the King say it is the Lord that giueth great deliverances vnto his David Psal 18. and sheweth mercy to his annointed and his seede for ever Let the Great Peeres and Princes say it is not our Arme that hath saued vs not our mighty strength but the Strength of Israel Iehovah Let the House of Aaron say and sing prayses sing prayses vnto the Lord that hath done wisely discouered our enemies broken their snares and we are escaped Ps 124.1.2.3 Let all England say if the Lord had not beene on our side if the Lord had not beene on our side when men rose vp against vs they had swallowed vs vp quicke when their wrath was kindled against vs. Praise waiteth for thee O God in Sion who is like our God who doth great and wondrous thinges Honored for euer be that Noble and Honorable Society The High Court of Parliament that to all ages hath set a Day apart for the Honor of that God who is the Protector of his Sion the Detector the Destroyer of his and their implacable enemies Goe on still O Noble Senate let King Prince Peeres Prelats Commons all conspire to honor the God of heaven by enacting such solemne Panagerickes to Iehovah and the God of honor will honor You this Church this State your Posterity the Generation to come shall blesse God for the deliuerance of this Day for the Record of this Deliuerance for this publicke gratulation vpon Record Blessed be that God which hath put it into the heart of that Great Assembly with an vnanimous and free consent to enact it for a Law in Israel and an Ordinance in Iacob for euer If euer we forget this mercy let our tongues cleaue to the roofe of our mouthes and our armes rott from our shoulders Let all faithfull loyall true hearted English Protestants with one heart and voice cry Amen Amen Finally doth the security of the Church State all lie in the presence of God Where God is there is no danger as where hee is nor no safetie O keepe him while we haue him driue him not from you who is our Buckler our shield all in all vnto vs keepe him in his Word in his Sabboths in his Ordinances and he will keepe you Would you know in a word what driues the Lord from a land a people sinne nothing but sinne can doe it and sinne will doe it Isa 59.2 your sinnes haue seperated betweene me and you where sinne is countenanced maintained multiplied there is no Harbor for the Almighty He is a God of purer eyes then to behold iniquitie what communion betweene God and Beliall Hab. 1.13 2 Cor. 6.14.15 light and darkenesse Christ and Antichrist Sinne chases the Lord away and leaues that person that Nation naked vnfenced exposed to the malice of men to the fury of Satan to the flames of hell Every wilfull sinner is a Traytor to God his King and Countrey as well as to his owne soule Away with beloued darling sinnes away with those wasting King-killing State-ruinating sinnes Idolatry contempt of Gods word worship Sacraments Sabbath Ministers scandalous enormous impieties out-facing Authoritie these if they should be found among vs will kindle a flame in our Citie Countrey a worse then Powder-flame that shall burne to the bottome of hell If we our selues betray not our soules our Church our State our Kingdome in vaine shall the Gates of Rome repine at the prosperitie of England if wee pull not downe our owne walls with our owne handes no Engins of theirs shall ever batter them if wee doe not open the sluces and floud-gates the Invndations of that Romish Nilus with her marish waters shall never over-flow our bankes If wee carry not Flax Tinder Gun-powder in our owne bosomes and strike not fire with our owne fingers their matches shall never take their sparkles shall not burne the flame shall not kindle vpon vs. For Gods-sake therefore for your soules-sake for your Countreys-sake if you loue your King Countrey peace plentie the Gospell of peace your goods friends children away with the toleration dispensation of knowne grosse scandalous notorious enormous Impieties maintaine a perpetuall correspondence with your Heavenly Father be in league with Heaven delight to Honour him his Name Word Worshippe Sacraments Sabbaths Messengers that hee may delight to Watch over you Serue him who saved vs and therefore saved vs that wee being redeemed from the handes of our enemies such subtle cruell barbarous savage enemies might serue him without feare all the dayes of our life in holinesse and righteousnesse before him Blessed are the people who are in such a case who haue the Lord for their God FINIS