by the sword let my soule neuer imbrace Though true Religion haue it foundation from the Blood of Christ it is no true Religion that maintaines it selfe by the shedding of the blood of Gods Saints If therfore any shall pretend themselues religious and seek in shew to gaine vs and draw vs to their societie by blowes shall we think they come from God who willeth his to shew their Faith and Religion by meeknes and loue But admit they should offer the sword of offence it is lawfull for Gods children to vse the sword of defence and we haue the same no other God then Dauid and Hezekiah had who will assuredly defend vs and maintaine his owne cause for vs. The experience of Gods protection and prouidence in former dangers cannot but incourage vs against whatsoeuer like dangers wherein he deliuered vs to the wonder of the world nothing but our sinnes and vnthankfulnes can shorten his hand or weaken his power towards vs but that he will stretch foorth his hand still to defend vs. We are now thankes be to God seeming secure there is no apparent dangers threatened but wee must remember when wee say and see peace peace who knoweth but that our sinnes may not call for troubles if they come not looked for they will bee the more dangerous If therfore we would abandon our sinnes if wee would timely returne vnto God with humble and repentant hearts God would returne vnto vs saue vs he would as he hath hitherto done deliuer vs and euer sustaine vs hee will send from heauen deliuer vs from them that would oppresse vs. Let vs not forget that our soules are among lions though we liue among the children of men they are not all of one family they are not all of one mind they are not all the children of God some are as it were set on fire against vs some haue their teeth as spears some haue their tongus as swords yet oyle in their mouthes yet let vs depend on him that seeth their hearts and ours Heâ— knoweth who are his and seeth his and our aduersaries afar off He hath his time and the meanes to deliuer his The Lord of hosts is with vs let vs not feare what man can doe vnto vs. Though an hoste of men armed should assaile vs we need not be afraid for the Lord is with vs who is of more might and power then all the potentates of the world can resist Let vs therefore euermore lift vp the eyes of our faithfull hearts vnto him he is the hill from whence commeth our help and deliuerance in all our dangers from the Lord of hostes commeth our help who hath made heauen and earth who taketh charge of his and will neuer leaue vs faile vs or forsake vs in him let vs trust A Prayer to God that he will defend vs from our strongest enemies and most malicious with thanks to God for his former deliuerances O Lord our God whose Habitation are the heauens and whose footstoole is the earth thou gouernest all things in heauen aboue and in the earth beneath thou directest and protectest those that feare thy name so as they neede not feare the powre or malice of whatsoeuer furious enemies For saluation belongeth vnto thee and thy blessing is euermore vpon thy people Wee euen we thy feeble and vnworthy creatures haue had experience of thy former fauour and defence in our troubles and of thy deliuerance out of our desperate dangers when men haue said There was no help for vs no not in thee But we haue found them lyers deceitfull and wicked men acknowledging thee most faithfull most louing of greatest wisdome and power shewing thy selfe our Buckler our Castle and our strong defence euen when our Aduersaries sought our confusion thou shewedst thy self our God and the maintainer of our cause when our enemies rose against vs in greatest multitudes malice and madnesse Thou gauest vs courage and boldnesse euen when our enemies seemed most to insult and triumph ouer vs euen then Lord didst thou fight for vs and turnedst their glory into shame their strength into weakenesse and their multitudes into a handfull of men Shorten not O Lord thy helping hand toward vs in whatsoeuer time or manner of our danger for thou knowest what our enemies caÌ„not performe with force they seeke to effect by secret mischiefes which thou hast discouered and prouidently preuented The Sâ—are was broken and we deliuered not for any merit or worthynesse of ours but euen of thy free and aboundant mercies for thine owne glory and our safetie and without our shame wee cannot but acknowledge our vnthankfulnesse for thy manifold deliuerances from them that hate vs who yet waite opportunity to betray vs if thou preuent vs not And therefore gracious Father leade and guide vs euer in thy righteousnesse because of our enemies make thy way plaine before vs lest we in offending thee giue our aduersaries occasion to say thou hast forsaken vs. It is in thy power Lord â—o reconcile them vnto vs in the band of Christian loue by opening their eyes that they may see and now at last consider their owne errors wherein they haue kicked against thy truth so should we reioice in their perfect vnion If they continue in the hardnesse of their hearts continue in vs perfect knowledge and howsoeuer they hate vs giue vs loue vnto them leauing them vnto thy wil to deale with them as thou wilt Giue vs gratious God and louing Father a liuely apprehention of thy truth faith and obedience vnto it howsoeuer our enemies may hate vs for the same we know that thou art God all-sufficient able to deliuer vs from their greatest tyranny as thou hast done and we cannot but remember thy merueilous workes which thy very enemies cannot but acknowledge to proceede of thy meere loue vnto the continuall practise and profession of thy sincere Word which thou hast maintained hitherunto through all ages by thine owne power and for thine own names sake And therefore when our enemies rose vp against vs or rather against thee in vs thou causedst them to stumble and fall still maintaining thine owne cause Who sittest in thy throne and gouernest all things and iudgest according to equitie They therefore that know thy power and thy loue and thy promises and thy righteous dealing will trust in thee for thou hast neuer fayled to bee a sure defence to them in whatsoeuer perils Vp therfore Lord disappoint al our irreconciliable enemies of their hope lest they say We haue preuailed our own policies haue brought our desired enterprises and desires to passe Lord stay our steps guide vs euer in thy pathes lest our feet slip and our enemies that watch oportunitie to betray vs take aduanâ—tage by our sinful liues and so preuaile They lay their heads together and take counsell how they may circumuent vs and to blow vs vp neuer to recouer our hope againe in thee Keepe vs therefore as the apple of thine
neuer wearieth the soules of such as delight in the liuing God whose beautie Dauid saw as neuer satisfied with the contemplation of the glorious Maiestie oâ— Iehouah whose beautie the more the Spirituall minde beholdeth in his word his workes his fauour power and prouidence the more is hee mooued with desire to see more and more And thinkes no happinesse comparable to the happinesse of a heauenly life Much were the Disciples mooued at the sight of Christs transfiguration in so much as they desired to haue built there Tabernacles to haue enioyed that blessed sight Still to desirous was Dauid still to behold the beautie of the Lord and to visite his holy Temple Where God is truely heard and duly called vpon by a holy congregation nay by one particular faithfull Christian there appeareth the glorie of God There is the Arke of the Lord the presence of the mightie God of Iaakob whose glorie filleth the Temple which onely the Spirituall man seeth with a supernaturall eye Though the carnall man bodily present apprehendeth it not Paul at his conuersion saw Gods glorie but they that were with him heard onely a voyce but saw it not Such beautie shineth in the hearts of the deere Children of God by the operation and illumination of the Holy Ghost by whom Stephen saw the glorie of God in the heauens and Christ sitting at his right-hand which none 〈◊〉 can see but such onely aâ—are inlightened who take such surpassing sweet delight in the beholding the face of God not onely in the Word wherein hee is in part seene but especially through faith that their soules are euen rauished and as it were transchanged by the splender therof as it were into the Image of the glorie of the onely begotten Sonne of the Father â—od commanding the light to shine out of darkenesse shineth in our hearts to giue light of the knowledge of the Glorie of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Let vs therefore indeuour to exercise our selues in puritie and sanctitie clensing our consciences from all counterfeit sincerity and labour to become in deed such as wee would seeme to bee And not to neglect the visiting of the materiall Temple to heare the Word of GOD and to pray vnto him if wee hope to be happie for there is none happie but they whom GOD loueth and who loue GOD if wee loue God wee will delight in him to heare him often for our instruction and confirmation of our faith and to seeke him by our prayers for he is ready to bee found of all them that are true of heart who shall heere behold his beautie and hereafter enioy his glorie A Prayer vnto God that he will prepare our hearts to the visiting of his holy Temple to heare his Word to pray vnto him and to prayse him GRant O most gracious Lord God according to the riches of thy grace that I may bee strengthened by thy Spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell in my heart by faith and so my whole spirit soule and bodie may bee kept blamelesse to the comming of the Lord Iesus for thou Lord knowest what I am by nature a man vnworthy to take thine holy Name into my mouth or to come into thy presence being inclynable to no good dutie but apt to euery vanity I come therefore vnto thee heauenly Father in the Name of Iesus Christ thy Sonne in whom thou hast promised to receiue them that sincerely seeke thee heare the voyce of my petitions O Lord when I crie vnto thee and when I lift vp my hands towards the mercies seat of thy holy Temple reiect me not vnto thee O Lord I lift vp my soule crauing pardon for my sinnes and that thou wilt admit me into the holy societie of thy Saints and that I may delight to dwell in thy holy Temple vnder the shadow of thy protecting wings for euer Let my heart bee euer vpright in thy Statutes and faithfull euer before thee for thou hast pleasure in righteousnesse and hee is blessed in whose heart are thy wayes knit my heart vnto thee that I may feare thy Name giue me a holy desire to seeke thee and to walke euer vprightly as in thy presence Indue me with thy Spirituall knowledge leade me by thy right hand to thine holy Temple shew mee thy glorie and thy beauty that I may be comforted through thy presence Open mine eares that I may heare thee and thy Word by thy holy Ministrie and prepare my heart to receiue knowledge and vnderstanding and open my mouth and fill it with thy prayses and let my prayers in thy Sons Name bee acceptable vnto thee Shew me thy way and giue mee vnderstanding that I may learn thy Commandements and walke in them My hearts desire Lord is to dwell with thee to haue the full free fruition of thine house and the place where thine honour dwelleth that I may serue thee with a pure affection and giue thee prayse in the congregation of thy Saints Turne thy face vnto me O Lord that I may see the beautie of thy countenance and bee changed into the same Image by thy Spirit and in the same Spirit bee admitted to visite thine holy Temple with faith and assurance of thy presence wherein I know is libertie and life protection and plentie of all good things Make my heart stable vnblameable before thee in holinesse that I may serue thee with a sincere and pure conscience and vndefiled that I may not come into thine house only to bee seene and to seeme seruiceable or dutifull vnto thee but may inwardly hunger thirst for thy Word the food of my soule the bread of life and imprint the same so effectually in my soule that it may prooue fruitfull in â—ee and that I may shâ—w it in my 〈◊〉 holy conuersation to thy Glorie that being filled with the comforts proceeding from the beautie of thy countenance I may euer posâ—sesse my soule in that peace which passeth all vnderstanding euer-more reuerencing thy glorious Maiâ—stie that euer-more filleâ—h both the heauens and the earth fill my heart O Lord with thy Spirit that I may draw neere vnto thee and to thy Holy place my strong Rocke to thee will I alwayes resort Make mee to heare ioy and gladnesse and that I may more abound in hope and be strengthened to euery good work through the power of the holy Ghost by Iesus Christ my Lord and onely Sauiour Lord increase my faith The Conclusion A Prayer for true happinesse which shall bee consummate onely in heauen O Lord what am I the son of dust and ashes that I should presume to come into thy presence to seeke and desire felicity and happinesse here in this wildernesse of so many vanities miseries and troubles as are among the children of men As for me Lord thou knowest wherof I am made thou remembrest that I am but dust what happinesse therfore Lord can I look to obtaine here where sinne dwelleth in my mortall body
GOD of Hostes who sent his Angell and that night destroyed in Senacheribs campe one hundred fourescore and fiue thousand men Thus God can deale with the enemies of his faithfull people hee can destroy them without their helpe as wee our selues haue found by memorable experience to shew that it is not alwayes the multitude of armed souldiers that are the absolute meanes of victorie it is the meere hand of God to declare himselfe to be in deed the GOD of Hosts against whom no power pollicie or humane wisdome can preuaile And therefore admitteth not the arme of flesh though a necessary meane to haue the glorie of the distruction of his enemies he will confound When Joshua was to goe against Jericho a Citie whom God would destroy though hee was accompanied with a multitude of armed souldiers yet the Lord would not haue the ouerthrow ascribed vnto battery and engines of warre violent instruments But at Gods command they blew with Rams-hornes onely about the wals with a shoute and the walls fell downe God by weake meanes can doe wonderfull things for his Fiue mighty kings combined their forces together against Ioshua and though God permitted Ioshua to haue the victory and slaughter of some of them yet God himselfe had the prayse who slew more with hayl stones from heauen then Ioshua slew with the sword Thus doth God manifest his power that all men may see that they that haue God on their side neede not feare though kings combine and people rage as if they would deuoure Gods people at their pleasures casting their accounts and disposing of their pray before the victorie Benadab that mighty Aramite king threatned Ahab king of Israel to depriue him of all that he had His siluer and his gold his women and his faire children But God gaue Ahab the victorie both on the Mountaines and the Vallies Because they obiected against God that he was God in the Mountaines not in the Vallies as if we should say he were God at Land but not at Sea or to impute good or ill successe in these weighty occasions to false and contrary causes as is commonly seen and obserued to ignorance or negligence of some Commanders or to this or that omission ouer-sight or rashnesse which indeed may bee blame-worthy yet for that wee attribute not good successe to God but to humane power wisdome or pollicie and ill euents and issues to our owne sinnefull deseruings and waâ—t of calling vp on God for a blessing God many times permits his owne children to suffer violence when they forget to serue him The Israelites committing wickednesse in the sight of the Lord God gaue them ouer into the hands of their enemies the Midianites for seuen yeares yet vpon their repentance and returning to God hee raysed vp Deborah and Barak to deliuer them Sinne is the cause that God permitteth a mighty multitude to bee ouer-throwne by a few foure hundred thousand Israelites for one sinne were ouercome twice by sixe and twentie thousand Beniamits If God for one sinne suffered his people to bee thus slaine by a few what will hee not permit to bee done vnto a nation that commits infinite sinnes For one seeming small sinn of one man Achan the children of Israel were chased and put to flight by a few to shew that where sinne raigneth there is no strength in the people to withstand their enemies God is a righteous God perseruing and punishing as hee findeth men faithfull or sinnefull not sparing his dearest children when they rebell against him but as long as they truely obay him no enemie shall preuaile against them Let Pharoh pursue Gods children with purpose to consume them let them but call vpon God let them bee faithfull and they shall see the saluation of God the confusion of their enemies by the immediate hand of God without the helpe or hand of man An hoste of men cannot hurt one man whom God will protect and yet permits sometimes one of his to preuaile against many as Samson who slewe one thousand men with the iaw-bone of an asse and Shamgar with an Oxe goad slew six hundred men to shew that God is not tyed to multitudes to auenge him of the enemies of his children and that a multitude to him is but as one man and as easie to bee ouercome And yet he many times permitteth the wicked to take away the liues of the most righteous and innocent as Kain to kill Abel Herod to kill Iohn Baptist James c. he permits bloody massacres and suffers his dâ—arest children to be martyred after many fearefull meanes not that he is not able to deliuer them but that his owne name by their patient suffrings may be glorified On the other side if it please him and that it stand for the good of his hee can and will defend them hee can send an hoste of Angels to defend theÌ„ and fire from hâ—auen to consume the aduâ—â—saries of them that take him for their streÌ„gth But not according to naturall mans reuengefull desire As when his disciples willed him to call for fire from heauen to consume their enemies he answered them Yee know not of what spirit yee are And therefore although he in his iustice in former times hath and yet is in his power to execute his seuere iudgments with fearefull fire as vpon Sodome vpon Nadab and Abihu and vpon the fifties which came to apprehend Eliah yet ought we to be farre from desire to haue like iudgements inflicted vpâ—on our most mortall enemies vpon such as would euen eate vs vp but rather as wee are instructed first to pray for their reformation and serious reconciliation and refer the issue to God though it may be we cannot as properly say of some malicious aduersaries as Stephen sometimes said of his Lord lay not this his death vnto their charge for they know not what they doe No our most malicious enemies are not ignorant that their malice towards vs is sinne against God to whose iudgement we are in charitie to leaue them for to him not to vs belongeth reuenge who being wise in his vnderstanding and iust in his iudgements is also mercifull and patient in punishing and in all things both to them and vs will do that which is equal right and will reward tyranous oppressors malicious persecuters of his faithful children in his time according to his owne will and for his owne he will neuer leaue nor forsake them Although our enemies may pretend Religion the cause of their malice and couer their inward hatred vnder a counterfeit pretence to worke our reformation therein and with many seeming sweet insinuations worke themselues into our thoughts it behooueth vs to be wise lest that in conceiuing they seek our good they get not our goods which are our obedience to God faith in him and perseuerance True it is that Religion is the cause of many both priuat and publike controuersies and quarrels but that Religion that is increased and maintained