of the humble Thou wilt prepare their heart Thou wilt cause thine eare to heare to helpe the fatherlesse and oppressed that the men of the Earth may no more exalt themselves Manoah said to his wife Wee shall surely dye Iudg. 13.22 23. But his wife said unto him If the Lord would kill us he would not have received a meate offering and a burnt offering at our hands neither would he have shewed or told us all these things that these Devile in the likenesse of men yet very Monsters could no otherwise be cast forth but by prayer and fasting Therefore hath the Lord God made so many precious promises that his people might have their spirits kept up and they learne to trust in him for ever Thus saith the Lord of Hostes who hath appointed these as speciall weapons in the times of warre the fast of the fourth moneth Zach. 8.19 and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth moneth shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladnesse and prosperous high feasts Therefore observe with care and conscience such feasts as you desire to shew your love to Truth and peace For if such Fastes of foure severall moneths observing have such promises What harvest of hope shall the seeds of twenty foure moneths fasting bring forth when they come to the yeares of perfection Were not the Jewes fasting dayes in the time of Queene Esther Est 8.16 17 and 9.22 turned to them from sorrow to joy and from mourning into joyfull dayes and times of feasting Wherein they had occasion to send presente every man to his neighbour and gifts to the poore in comemoration of Gods bounty shewed to them in their poore and low condition The neglecters of such dayes of fasting have professed themselves Traytors to the State and whole Kingdome The many Blasphemies and villanies of the enemies Doore 7. doe foretell Gods Justice approaching and his hand ready to be reached forth to cast them into that pit they have digged for others A Popish Doctor of Physicke confessed that the Catholike Cause never suffered so much dishonour as by that barbarous cruelty that was shewed in Ireland in the savage murdering of men When the Towne of Bolton was taken Where is the Round-heads God now said one of them Surely he is turned Cavalier I give this Roundhead one blow more said another to send him quickly to the Devill They bad William Boulton whom they found praying to â—all on his God to save him Yonder lyes one of the strongest Roundheads said the murtherer that ever I met with For one of my Pistols discharged at his heart would not enter but I thinke I sent him to the Devill with a vengeance with the other Oh Heaven oh Earth oh England oh the Judge of all beare witnesse of this calamitie crueltie Blasphemie when thou makest inquisition after bloud The patience of Gods people Doore 8. notwithstanding all Souldiers Quartering all their Payments all their Plunderings Bondage Imprisonments Mockings Deaths Here is the Patience of the Saints not onely to beare witnesse to the Truth but also that they are objects of Deliverance Where the Precept is Phil. 4.5 Be yee patient the promise is added For the Lord is at hand not onely to see but also to helpe When Gods servants humble themselves under his hand with patient submission to his correction saying He hath spoyled and he will heale us he hath wounded and he will binde us up Faith steps in Hos 6.1 2. to assure them that after two dayes i. a short time he will revive them and in the third day he will raise them and they shall live in his sight The Liberalitie of the Londoners Doore 9. and others for the Publique Cause Many have done much without compulsion the love of Christ Religion Kingdome as well as their own liberties lives constrained them I heard some Citizens say they had done thus and thus in severall Disbursements and yet beleeve they had not the lesse because God blessed the rest the better Some said since the losse in the West they would lend more than before They that sowed so plentifully feared not to reape sparingly The Discovery of so many Plots Doore 10. touching the whole Land Scotland the Parliament London and many other particular places and persons have infallibly demonstrated Surely the finger of the Lord was in them All Intelligencers in the world could not have discovered more than hath been revealed If the Lord would have destroyed the Kingdome would he have shewed Iudg. 13.23 and revealed such and such things Though the woman was weak in sexe yet was shee stronger in Faith herein than was her husband The many successfull Victories Doore 11. when few have discomfited many notwithstanding all the assistance by Papists and prophane ones secretly and openly against our Armies The many Armies of Gods Saints prayed marching before and piercing the Heavens for helpe Scarce any Fast in publique observed but thereon people were mightily encouraged to meete the Lord in prayers that daily met them even on those dayes with new mercies and matter of praises the Fasts have been sweetned with figues of feasting which occasioned our Forces in the Field to implore the unanimous Intercessions of the Saints unto the Lord of Hostes for helpe Zach. 4.10 Who art thou that despisest the Day of small things It s hopefull that those that have forsaken all for God shall never be forsaken by God he that hath wrought so on their hearts can and will worke more by their hands As this Countie is almost cleared of rude and robbing persons so may shortly the whole Kingdome be delivered He that hath delivered us 2 Cor. â— 10 doth deliver in him wee trust that he also will deliver the whole Nation The great opposition by Princes Priests People presage great mercies Doore 1 to ensue great miseries When she ayre is sharpest the weather is nighest breaking When the night is darkest the dayes dawning is nearest When the Womans Throubbes are thickest her delivery is speediest Violent things are not of long continuance 1 King 1 34. 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
inclined to comiserate dust and ashes his body was delivered from incumbent horrible dangers his feet set on a Rock all the waves and windes could not overturn it his goings were ordered men or Devils could not make him slide or goe out of Gods paths His tongue had occasion to trumpet out Gods praise The wicked that saw it were convicted the godly confirmed to trust in the Lord. Who for his patient waiting had delivered his soule from death his eyes from teares and his feet from falling how for all this could he doe lesse than praise the Lord in the land of the living Men shall say in that day Lo this is our God we have waited for him he will save us They read over their Title to him again in the same words This is the Lord we have waited for him We have waited for thee in the way of thy judgements Esay 25.9 chap. 26 8. Verse 3. chap. 30.18 Ergo Trust in the Lord for ever for in the Lord God is strength to deliver his Church for evermore yea the Lord waits in the beginning of the verse to be gracious unto man Blessed are those that wait to receive mercy from him The path of Gods present proceedings Doore 20. is a pledge of his good providence for future time in the kingdome His judgements seeme to be judgements of expostulation with rather than of extirpation of the kingdome Though these dayes seem to be as that day the Prophet mentioned Zach. 14.6 7. wherein was no clear light but it was dark it was neither quite day nor night but about the evening time it shall be light God will at the last which is with the Lord but as the length of a day send a faire and cleare evening of joy and comfort to his distressed servants We read Exod. 4.24 that God being angry with Moses for not circumcising his sons it came to passe by the way in the Inne the Lord met him and sought to kill him Sought to kill him 'T is strange Did God seek to kill him and not kill him Speak Lord speak to the fire and it shall with flâ—shings consume him to the aire and with pestilent vapours choake him to the waters and with deluges it shall overwhelme him to the earth and with yawning chops it shall devoure him Well the meaning is God sought to kill him that is in some outward visible manner whereof Moses was apprehensive God manifested his displeasure against him that so Moses might have notice and leasure to divert his anger by removing the cause thereof He that said to us Seek and ye shall find doth himselfe seek and not find And good reason for he sought with an intent not to find Thus may we say God for these many yeares sought to destroy the Kingdome manifesting an unwilling-willingnesse if men in any reasonable time will take up the matter and compound the difference by repentance The loving Father shakes the Rod over the Child not with an intent to beat him but to make him beg pardon Such hitherto hath been the Lords dealing with our Nation that he even courts and wooes us to repentance as loath to punish us if we would understand the voyce of the Rod and why it is shaken over us At what time the Lord threatneth to pluck up root out Mich. 6.9 Jer. 18.8 and to destroy it If this Nation against whom I have pronounced turn from their wickednesse I will repent appearing so to mans judgement of the plague I thought to bring upon them If men wash their hands and hearts in teares of repentance Deut. 21.7 as Israel in the blood of the Heifer all the blood that hath been or shall be shed in these warres it shall never be laid to their charge by the Lord. If thou make Conscience thy Castle let Drummes beat Trumpets sound Pikes push Bullets flye Cannons roare Death Warres Devils doe their worst thy life is hid with God and thou shalt be in safety Thus have I brought you to twenty severall Doores and have a little opened them that you looking into the roomes might have some light of comfort even on this day and in this formerly sorrowfull place for the good successe of the kingdomes cause I have a few more doores to lead you to but I must be speedy in my passage by them and give you leave but to peep into them whiles your ears attend my tongue The Saints sorrow for the Churches miseries Doore 21. and love for her prosperitie Where these duties are performed great dignities are peomiled Isa 66 10 11 12. Rejoyce ye with Jerusalem and be glad with her all ye that love her Rejoyce for joy with her all ye that mourn for her that ye may suck and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations that ye may milk out and be delighte I with the brightnesse of her glory because I will extend peace over her like a floud Peace prosperity shall come speedily and in great abundance Pray for the peace of Jerusalem They shall prosper that love thee What 's added Ps 122.6 Peace be within thy walles and prosperity within thy palaces And these duties enjoyned by the Lord and practised by his people upon his command and shall not he blesse his own commanded meanes God bids remember those that are in bonds as if we were bound with them else we cannot have a fellow feeling of their miseries Surely such precepts have obliged many to weep in secret watch fast and pray in publick for the Churches miseries as if they had been their owne It 's Gods own cause and can that ever miscarry Doore 22 Hath not he maintained it with an high hand and stretched out arme in all ages Keep not silence Psa 83.1 Vers 5. O God implying it 's as easie for God to hush all wars as it is for man to speak Thine enemies make a tumult and hate thee They have consulted in heart and made a league against thee Hath not God pleaded the cause of his Saints as if he and they were one Psa 35.1 Else David would not have been so bold with him saying Plead my cause O God In 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 efficacie 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 Joshuahs 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 sicknesse 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
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 Psa 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 Esay 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 Dan. 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 saying 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 1 Kings 8.44 â—sa 14â— 18 19. Rom. 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 the kingdomes publick peace The great sufferings and oppressions of Gods people Doore 1 Psal 12. â— foreshewes Gods help is at hand Now for the oppression of the poore and sighing of the needy I will up saith the Lord I will set him at liberty whom the wicked have snared Thou will keep and preserve him Gods tongue hath spoken it his hand will perform it God is our hope and strength and help in troubles ready to be found Psal 46.1 Vers 8. Vers 9. Come and behold the workes of the Lord what desolations he hath made in the earth In the next words is added He maketh warres to cease unto the ends of the world Wonderfull desolations usher in the cessation of Warres in the world Be still and know that I am
ones have adhered to the adverse part pag. 16 3. Misprision of prerogative pag. 17 4. Most of people siding with the contrary rather than the Kingdomes Cause pag. 19 5. The great pressure by payments pag. 21 6. Feare of being plundered pag. 22 7. Selfe-seeking with neglect of the publick pag. 24 8. Vndesire of change for feare of changing for the worse pag. 25 9. Estimation of Parliament-power too great pag. 27 10. Injustice and oppression by Countrey-Committees pag. 28 11. Flattery in and divisions between Ministers pag. 30 12. Doubt of the successe of the cause in hand make men halt herein pag. 35 Which last rub is removed in briefly opening many Doores of Hope for the good successe of the Common Cause pag. 35 36 37 to the end Errata's For 1 Kings 19. read 18. PAG. 1. in the magent for use 1. and use 2. read verse p. 2. l. 5. for pursuane r. perseverance p. 2. for use r. verse 4. and verse 5. p. 2. l. 27. for Daobolum r. Da obolum p. 3. l. 19. for liezure r leisure p. 3. l. 21. make a period between yea and plain p. 5. l. 3. for there r. these p. 7. l. 23. for nor r no p. 7. l. 35 after Pastors make no period p. 8. l. 18. in Margent read use 2. p. 8. l. 22. for defendant r defendit p 14. l. 2. after sharp but very exemplary put president p. 15. l. 7. for strangely r. strongly p. 16. l. 7 for the r. this p. 20. l. 27. for belluae r. Bellua p. 20. l. 31. ptt out they before say p. 26. l. 23. r. an after p 29. l. 7. for torror r. terrour p. 29. l. 9. for have r. had for I think some Committe-men have bought more land since then they sold before they were preferred to their Committeships p. 31. l. 3. unto seduce strayable people adde and pesecute Gods zealous ministers P. 38. l. 2. for he r. Shammah p 42. l. 4. for reigne r. rejoyce p. 47. l. l. 34. for And r. Are these duties p. 48. l. 11. in stead of an evill cause read and will not he regard the voyce c. Newes for Neuters OR The Checke Cause and cure of HALTING 1 King 19.21 And Elijah came unto all the people and said How long halt ye betweene two opinions If the Lord be God follow him but if Baal then follow him and the people answered him not a word THE Fountain or Well-head is farre from whence floweth my Text It is twenty steps off Judges 7. Give me leave with Gideons Souldiers to lap a mouthfull as I run along by the streame Before I come to my station to view these words This Chapter containes a Dialogue or Commemoration of many historicall passages 1. Betweene the Lord and Eliah Vse 1. Goe shew thy selfe to Ahab Meane ones must not be affraid to deliver messages to the Mighty Doct. Vse 2. Ch. 17.2.5 Chap. 19. Doct. 2. Eliah's ready obedience to the word of the Lord. There is a time when Eliah must flye from Ahab and Jezabell if the Lord command him Where God hath a Tongue to speake there man must have an eare to heare There is a time to flye Doct. and a time to stay God may be glorified sometimes more by flying than by staying When the force of the enemie may be too strong Mat. 10.22 and the Faith of the persecuted may be too weake When they persecute you in one City flye into another When you may glorifie God more in the place to which then in the place from which you flye You may take leave to depart from men when first in given by God Mat. 10.23 And this counsell is given Doct. When they persecute you into one City flye into another After the command of pursuance Mercies and miseries are oft mixed together Chequer worke is a daily Trade in these times God promised raine when there was a great famine in Samaria Great peace may ensue these great wars And Ahab called Obadiah who feared God greatly Some raised up to be good in a generall Apostacy from God Doct. else woe were to the Kingdome in these times Obadiah tooke a hundred Prophets Vse 4. and hid them by fifty in a Cave Wherein appeared his zeale and care This hath encouraged Londoners to entertaine Strangers in these times of danger The names and actions of the godly shall be had in everlasting remembrance Doct. A groane shall be registred A cup of cold water remembred Teares shall be botled and shall not blood be booked He feedeth them with Bread and Water Those that feare God Doct. he will shew succour to them in time of need Gods dearest Saints may be brought to a morsell of bread Doct. to a cup of cold water Bellissarius a great Commander came being blinde to stand on the high way with a Daobolum Bellissario Give one half-penny to poor blinde Bellessarius Another wrote to his friend to send to him a Spunge a Harpe and a loafe of bread A spunge to dry up his teares A harpe to solace his minde And a loaf of bread to satisfie his hunger Ahab's command to Obadiah for the preservation of grasse for the lives of the Horses and Mules Vse 5. Was Ahab so carefull for grasse how carefull should our King be for Corne and Cattle Laws and liberties persons and Kingdome Bodies and Soules of living men that all be not lost Ahab was carefull to seeke for sustenance though it was upon an if so be a peradventure to finde or not Ioabs resolution was Let us be valiant for our people 1 Sam. 10.12 and for the Cities of our God and let him doe as seemeth him good Let men doe as God commands and let God doe as he hath decreed How carefull how earnest should men be for Grace for heaven These may be sought and found Verse 6. upon certainties without peradventures shews their policie and care the King to goe one way and Obadiah another Policy to direct the best course and care to put it in execution Policy may be used so piety be not suppressed Doct. Gods providence seene in bringing 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 resolve which is the true God Doct. 4. If the Lord be God God alone is to be followed Doct. 5. Follow him Men are oft convicted Doct. 6. before they are once converted These are some generall Doctrines deduced out of this verse worthy your serious consideration These are some fruits which fall from the tree of this Text at the first touch thereof In the handling whereof Had I either the open utterance of Paul or the eloquent tongue of Tertullus or the well-tuned Cymballs of David or the shrill-sounding bells of Aaron or the silver Trumpet of Hillary or the golden mouth of Chrysostome or the mellifluous speech of Origen or the thundring voyce of Perieles these truths then would both finde and leave you attentive But I shall prosecute only
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 be 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 the Officers use but it must not have office of Command in Gods Church and Common-wealths businesse every man knoweth that the Saints in Heaven are the least propriaries to their own will Christ himselfe said I am not come to doe mine own will but the will of him that sent mee which were it but remembred it would be a meanes that many from halting might be preserved In good works doing men must not ayme at themselves much lesse in evill actions attempt to seeke their own rising by others ruine When the whole State staggers and the Realme reelds must they continue in a lazie lame halting estate and posture with their hands in their pockets moneys in their Coffers and tongues in their mouthes without bringing them forth for the preservation of the Publique
us from our own houses Wee cared not for the worth of peace God now shewes the worth by the want of it the price of many things are learn't carendo magis quà m fruendo Wee walked contrary unto him he now walkes contrary unto us Wee brake forth by lying stealing whoring one bloudy sinne touched another and now God hath had a long Controversie against all the Inhabitants of the Land and one bloudy punishment toucheth another Men by their Hell-hastening iniquities warred brake forth against the Lord and now God by Heaven-darting Judgements warreth against and breaketh in upon men Yea this heighteneth mens sinnes that they warre against the Lord yea friends against friends whiles God and man continue their warre against them both God in Justice men in hatred t is good as from God evill as from men I have spoken so much in this point it being a maine cause of halting in the people while they apprehend so much flattery in and contention among Ministers Let all Eliah's labour to preserve people from halting by occasion thereof Let them study to keepe the unity of the Spirit in the Bond of peace if there be any vertue any praise any profit in love in peace Elijah you see was bold and it mightily prevailed Can Ministers write after any fairer Copie can they walke after any more un-erring Rule Be strong and of a good courage was Gods Counsell to Josuah Iosh 1.6 and addes in the next verse onely be strong and the people close up their Counsell with the same Caution to him in the last words of the same Chapter because things last of all spoken Vers 18. commonly are best of all remembred onely be strong and of a good courage vers 18. As if courage boldnesse were the All in All required in the Leaders the Shepheards of Gods flocke as if it were the Quintessence that is most to be seene in the essence of all their ingagements and discharge of duties required by God and Man may they not by this their courage as Hannibal by sire over the Alpes make way over the mountaines of all obstructions all oppositions whatsoever Look what powder is to bullets a clapper to the Bell fire to the wood wings to a Bird sayles to a Ship winde to sayles wine to the spirits an edge to a Razor mettall to a horse the soule to the body vivacitie to any creature the same is Courage to any Christian much more to a Minister for his affection motion action Twelfth and last cause I mention of the Peoples halting 12. Cause between the two maine opinions in these times is The doubt of the successe of the Cause in Question which followes in the last not least place to be answered viz. these Doores of Hope ⧠DOORES OF HOPE WHat ever the issue and successe of these warres be yet Gods people should be of Joabs resolution 2 Sam. 10.12 Let us be valiant for our people and for the Cities of our God and let the Lord do as seemeth him good I am no Prophet nor the son of a Prophet ungainsayably to prognosticate the event his face hath never yet been seene nor tongue heard in a Pulpit that can thus Divine Therefore I will not professe so much ignorance or arrogance peremptorily to avouch These present warres suddenly shall end or that the Parliament side without any possible contradiction shall prevaile But this I affirme that there may be alledged many Arguments of probabilitie that God will shortly deliver this Land from Popery and slavery for the present and future time These Arguments I call Doores of Hope Of which Doores I shall but draw the Latches and set them a little ashoare and give you leave at your more leisure to goe into the severall roomes in your private meditations and view the materialls therein contained The first Doore 1. I bring you to is the Promise of God made to comfort his people 2 Pet. 1.4 Esa 25.8 These promises are said to be Gods gifts many great exceeding precious The Lord will wipe away teares from off all faces and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth Rev. 14.8 for the Lord hath spoken it Babylon is fallen Esa 55.10 is fallen Doubled as Phar dreame for the certainty of the thing Shall the Lord promise and shall he not performe Surely as the raine cometh downe and watereth the earth and makes it bring forth and bud that it may give seede to the sower and bread to him that eateth So shall my word be that goeth out of my mouth it shall not returne unto mee voyde but it shall accomplish that which I will and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it It s added in the next verse Vers 11. Ios 21.43 Therefore shall yee goe out with joy and be led forth with peace This Argument couragious Josuah proposed a little before his death to continue the people in constancy The Lord gave Israel all the land which he had sworne to give to their Fathers and they possessed it and dwelt therein Vers 44. Also the Lord gave them rest round about aocording to all that he had sworne unto their Fathers and there stood not a man of all their Enemies before them for the Lord delivered all their Enemies into their hand Vers 45. There failed nothing of all the good things which the Lord had said unto the house of Israel Vers 45. Ch. 23.14 but all came to passe And in the next Chap. 14. verse to the people You know in all your hearts as certainly as if things were in your bosome that nothing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God promised you but all are come to passe unto you nothing hath failed thereof The Lord commands his Prophets Esa 40.1 2 Comfort yee comfort yee my people speake comfortably unto Jerusalem and cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished Where you see is a Charge and Commission given not onely by bare affirmation or command to Ministers but by Ingemination Comfort yee comfort yee yea by Triplication speake yee comfortably unto Jerusalem by Quadruplication and cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished is i. it shall as certainly be accomplished as if it were already effected These comfortable promises Calvin on Esay must not be whispered softly in their eares saith Calvin but cryed out aloud that they may sinke into their hearts Let us make use of these promises in our prayers Psal 119.49 50. saying with David Remember thy promise made to thy servant wherein thou hast caused mee to trust It is my comfort in my trouble for thy promise hath quickned mee Gods Providence and Power in the Lands preservation Doore 2. What are the Mightie against the Almightie The Nations of the Earth are as a drop hanging on the Bucket of water What is a drop to the Bucket What the Bucket to all
the water in the Well What all the water to the whole Sea What the Sea to him that made Sea and Land Heaven and Hell men and Devils Winde Waters Heaven Earth Men Devills must obey him In comparison of whose power all the Nations of the Earth Esa 40.17 are not onely as a drop of water but lesse than nothing The Lord hath manifested his power and providence against the Spanish Water-workes in 88. and the Papists Fire-workes in 1605 and his hand is not shortened now The Kingdome is as it were on a light fire but as the Bush in Moses time burning yet not consumed why and how so Exod. 3.2 The Angel of the Lord appeared in the flame Where Gods presence is in a Bush a Citie an Army a Kingdome though all may burne yet can they not be consumed Esa 43.2 Feare not O Jacob when thou passest through the waters I will be with thee the floods shall not overflow thee When thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt the kindled flame shall not kindle upon thee for I am the Lord thy God It is of the Lords mercies that wee are not consumed Lam. 3.22 Esa 54.7 What it added Because his compassions faile not For a moment have I hid my face from thee in mine anger for a little season a little season a moment the one explaining the other but with everlasting mercie have I had campassion on thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer For a little while have I forsaken thee but with great compassion will I gather thee For this Kingdome is unto mee as the waters of Noah for as I have sworne that the waters of Noah shall no more goe over the Earth so have I sworne c. Behold the enemy shall gather himselfe Vers 15. but without mee Whosoever not exempting any be they never so potent or politique shall gather himselfe in thee in mustering forces and thundering threatnings against thee shall fall All the weapons that are made against thee shall not prosper Why Vers 17. Vers 16. Behold I have created the Smith and his Instrument I have power to order and dispose of all men and matters even the blowing of the coales in the fire Without mee they can doe nothing Ioh. 16.33 No weapon shall prevaile without my will In the world yee shall have affliction but saith Christ I have overcome the world The two Nations Association in the Bond or Covenant Doore 3. for the preservation of the Lawes Liberties of the two Kingdomes Voe soli woe to either if alone Danger to neither if they hold firme A threefold corde is not easily broken nor a twofold if God ties them together Collonell Carre when he was assaulted to betray his Trust answered the Tempters He was a Covenanter Therefore could not breake it The Cause hath been the more successfull since the Covenant hath been taken If more had taken and kept being taken the said Covenant and Vow the Papists would have feared it more than the Protestants doe their Popes holy water The undaunted Resolution of the Nobles Doore 4. and Commons assembled in Parliament the body of the Kingdome they have yet stood maugre the malice of Atheists Papists and all other their opposers whatsoever The Philistims assembled 2 Sam. 23.11 at a Towne where was a piece of a field full of Lentils and the people fled from the Philistims But he stood in the midst of the field and defended it and slew the Philistims for the Lord gave a great victory It is of Gods great mercy notwithstanding so many revolters that betrayed their trust to keep the rest so firme as one man with their shoulders to uphold the reeling Realme and to encourage one another in Joabs words 2 Sam. 10.12 1 Sam. 6.10.12 Let us be valiant for our people Cities c. Wee reade touching the carrying of the Arke to Bethshemesh That they took two kine and tyed them to the Cart and the Kine went the streight way to Bethshemesh and kept one path and lowed as they went and turned neither to the right hand nor to the left I think I need not bespeake your pardon in the application for the homelinesse of the comparison The Arke of God wee hope is in transportation from the Popish Philistims to be restored to its ancient puritie and power both for Doctrine and Discipline it s tyed to the two honorable Houses Those whom God hath promoted to these publique places hath he indued with publique Spirits As the Kine lowed after their calves tyed at home and much more the calves after the Kine gone abroad so these Peeres and Patriots have flesh and bloud about them as well as Spirit in them to hanker after their pleasures and profits wives and children their fresh aire their spacious houses specious Gardens choice dyets daily attendants familiar friends and acquaintances from which for a long while they have been deprived yet through divine assistance their spirits are overpowred have kept one path for the carrying home the Arke without turning to the right hand or to the left to maintain the Gospel of Christ the Lawes of the Kingdome and the libertie of the Subject though they have been denied outward liberty or life to returne to their native habitations wonted delights and enjoyments Shall not our men of Bethshemesh rejoyce more at the approach of the Arke than for the abundance of their crop in their wheate harvest Vers 13. Is it not great hope the Arke of peace and piety will be brought fully home to the Kingdome when it is within kenne of the Inhabitants The returne of some eminent persons to tender their service to the Parliament Doore 5. after they had been at the Oxonian Juncto where they meerly promoted their own honour or advanced the hopes of the Royalists Sir Edward Deering confessed as I related already under his own hand in Print that the King with forty men might come to Westminster and stay there with undoubted safetie to his person so said he I said while I was at Oxford and doe still assuredly beleeve so and God will blesse him if he doe so Did not God and his Conscience enforce this confestion He much wondred at himselfe how he could so long be transported to assist in a way to destroy that Parliament which he had tooke the Protestation in Parliament to preserve Ponder well the speech of this Person The many Prayers Fastings Teares Doore 6. for the successe of the Common Cause Ambrose told Monica Augustines Mother that it could not be A Woman or Mother of so many Teares and Prayers should bring forth a Sonne to be lost It cannot be that an Assembly a Parliament a Kingdome of so many Fasts Prayers Teares brought and kept with so much difficultie together should miscarry God that hath prepared Englands hearts to pray hath prepared his eare to heare Psal 10.17 Lord thou hast heard the desire