Psal 6. 12. Psal 9. 16. Then I wil vp saith the Lord to auenge the poore then shall the Lord be knowne by exempting of iudgements the wicked shall be turned into hell and all the Nations that forget God Isay 28. 15. Yea when the wicked haue made a couenant with hell and so in their security do blesse their soules as if they had Gods children so sure that none could deliuer them as if their happinesse were so sure 1 Thess 5. 3. that none could remoue them Then shall a sodaine destruction come vpon them and they shal not be able to auoid it Then shall the destruction of the wicked bee the deliuerance of the Church Thus euen from our enemyes wee may heare good newes of deliuerance their owne mouthes will tell vs their practises cannot hid eit A second probabilitie of Hesters aduancement is that shee is of the seed of the righteous Psal 111. which shall be mighty on the earth Obs 103. Gods children in this life aduanced to highest dignity she is say they The daughter of Abihail the Vncle of Mordecai i. She is a Iew to whom belongeth the birth-right whose priuiledge it was to rule the Nations to whom Esau and all his posterity should bow and do homage So faithfull is the LORD in keeping couenant for euer So truly is Godlinesse profitable for this life so all are ours both by right and possession so are Gods children best able to vse prosperity so is eternall happines hereby sealed vp vnto them So would the Lord hereby teach vs that these temporal blessings are not euil because he bestowes them in greatest measure vppon them The vses hereof see Obs 79. Onely wee may not here forget what the holy Ghost vouchsafes vs againe to remember Namely that Hester was taken by Mordecai for his daughter Thus the Lord thinks it fit againe to make honourable mention of this charitable worke of Mordecai The good deeds of Gods children are not forgotten of the Lord. As wherin he was glorified and did delight therin to confounde the practize of the wicked that seeke to obliterat the same and to approue to his children the acceptaunce of the same as also to assure them hereby of the reward to come and withall to prouoke the Saints to the imitation thereof Oh how vainely then doth the wicked hope to put out their names from vnder Heauen whose names as they are written in the booke of life so their workes also are registred in the eternall word of God how wickedly do they depraue and obscure those gratious deeds which the Lord of glory makes glorious by his remembrance how weake are the Saints to doubt of their well doing seeing the God of truth giues euidence thereto What comfort may we haue in the acceptance of our labours seeing the righteous Lord takes such delight in them how may we be established against the reproches of the world how little need we esteeme to be iudged of men 1. Cor. 44. seeing it is God that approueth who can condemne with what confidence may we prepare our selues to stand before that righteous Iudge Reue. 3. who allready presents our prayers in the golden censor of his righteousnesse and doth not onely make mention of vs but mediation for vs at the throne of glory that wee might not bee confounded in the day of refreshing A third likelyhood here set downe of Hesters aduancement is her confidence in God and relying on his immediate prouidence specified in this that it is said She desired nothing but what Hege the Kings Eunuch the keeper of the women said Wherein the spirit of God would giue vs to vnderstand that though the other maydens standing vpon there preferment vsed all art to set out there beauty as the meanes thereof and therefore spared not to demaund of the Eunuch such meanes of painting c. as might further the same yet this gratious virgin contenting her selfe with y â— image which God had set on her and resting on the diuine prouidence that had enclinde the heart of the Eunuch towards her she doth not impudently presse him further then God should moue his heart but humbly takes what Hege directs her to who no doubt being enclined of the LORD to shew her extraordinary fauour was also restrained of the LORD that hee should not offer her otherwise then was fit for her profession The LORD as it is likely giuing her a like fauour in the eyes of this Eunuch as he gaue vnto Daniel with the other that she was not defiled with this vaine and superfluous preparation but as she was willing to leaue the Eunuch to his liberty so the Eunuch also might leaue her to hers how-so-euer though in other things she might happily submit her selfe to the present necessity as to take that which the Eunuch offers her Obse 105. Gods childrens preferment is in faith and so might discouer her weakenesse and want of courage yet in this doth her faith appeare not obscurely that she doth not ambitiously seeke by corrupt meanes to aduance her selfe but soberlie entertaines the meanes that are cast vpon her resting on GODS prouidence for the good successe thereof Sect. 1. 3 Notes of faith And surely as I take it wee may here obserue diuers notes of liuelie faith One is that she presseth not impudently to insinuate into the fauour of this wicked Eunuch though by the Kings avthority shee might haue occasion thereto lest shee should seeme to depend vpon him and giue him some aduantage ouer her pretious liberty To receiue what is offered by him especially moued thereto by the LORD herein shee shewes her faith which knowing all was hers doth herein take her right and shewes her power therein in that shee refuseth not her owne though tendred by the wicked Shee knew the prophanesse of the Eunuch could not make GODS blessing ineffectuall to his children And therefore shee receiues them aright though from an vniust possessor And lastly in that she vseth such ordinary meanes as were offered not seeking to aduance her-selfe by adulterating or prophaning of nature herein also in the third place she sheweth her faith which as it refuseth not meanes so it is not curious of meanes but takes what are offered reiects such as are not warrantable Whereby we may learne that the aduancement to Gods children is warrantable and for their good seeing it is in faith and hereby to try our selues whether we be in the faith or no. A fourth token of her aduancement is this which followeth Note of Hesters aduancement And Hester found fauor in the sight of all them that looked vpon her Thus did the Lord make her gratious in the eyes of all men that her aduancement might be with more power and lesse enuy both for her owne and the good of others that shee both to the wicked might be a great terror as being conuinced with the brightnesse of maiesty appearing gloriously in her
THE CHVRCHES DELIVERANCE Contayning Meditations and short notes vppon The booke of HESTER In remembrance of the wonderfull deliuerance from the Gunpoulder-Treason BY THOMAS COOPER AT LONDON Imprinted by G. Eld for T. Adams and are to be sold at the white Lyon in Paules Church-yard 1609. ⧠To the right worshipfull and truly religious Ladies the mother and the daughter The Lady Katherine Rotheram and the Lady Elizabeth Wakerings my very good Aunt and Cousine Beloued in the LORD grace and peace in GOD the Father through IESVS CHRIST our common Sauiour RIght Christian Ladies whome I loue in the truth till IESVS CHRIST be perfited in you It hath pleased the LORD of glory by a long yet mild and fatherly visitation of late to summon me his vnprofitable seruant to make ready my Account In the casting vp whereof finding my selfe indebted vnto your Ladyships for many christian and extraordinary kindnesses conferred vpon me a dispised braÌ„ch and out-cast in the world I haue indeauoured in these my poore laboures to make acknowledgement of my debt not with any purpose to clear the score for how should true meÌ„bers of Christs body not be euer bound to each other but rather with intent to prouoke to a further debt because the debt of loue as it ought alwaies to be payd so it must alwaies be due and the more it is paid the more the debt is increased Til it be at length perfited and so fully recompenced in heauen Whether seeing it pleaseth my god very mercifully to hasten me by keeping me through many tedious and linggring infirmities in an earnest hungring and fainting after my deliuerance therfore haue I rather hastened to performe this duty vnto your Ladyships as to whom in regard of your places such mementos from a withered branche cannot be vnseasonable and most seasonable on his part to bee preformed who while hee hath tyme and can doe no other good yet hath obtained mercy of the LORD to puâ— his seruants in mind of his wonderfull mercies towards them that the memoriall thereof may hold them in due thankefulnesse vnto so gratious a father that so their happinesse in this life may be a pledge vnto them of that glorious crowne which remaines for the Saintes in that blessed Kingdome These are my heartes desire vnto our gratious GOD for you And that you may be happily furthered therto and haue a true and liuely glasse to behold the bounty of our GOD I haue bin bold to committe to your remembraÌ„ce that wonderful deliuerance of our Church and State from that horrible plot of poulder-Treason Wherin euery true hearted Christian and Subiect may take a full view of al GODS former mercies towards him and if he do beleeue may see in the same a ful assurance of whatsoeuer blessings of GOD are yet laid vp in store for him The greatnesse whereof howsoeuer I haue heretofore endeauored once and againe to measure and so commend my scantling therof to the due consideration of a thankeful heart yet seeing the measure of that blessing is like the waters of the sanctuary which the more they were measured the more vnmeasurable they did appeare till at length they became a deepe that could not be passed ouer Therfore I haue bin glad to take this oportunity of my dayes yet lengthned out once againe to measure this great deepe And by an history of a like wonderful deliuerance to reuiue the dead memory therof in the cares of a secure and vnthankefull world That so I might both pay my vowes vnto my GOD for my life of late renued me as a prey and as neere as I may haue my conuersation in heauen imploying the small residue of my wretched life in meditations of GODS wonderful mercies which is the onely seruice that the saints performe in heauen Oh what a glorious thing it is to be thankfull when by dooing this duty we come nearest to the Saints in glory And how wil this wonderful deliuerance teach vs to be thankefull How is this deliuerance of the Iewes from Hamans malice a most liuely glasse to behold our deliuerance from the bloody Papists And may not the LORD lengthen out my threed vntill I haâ—e finished this story This that I now tender you is but onely the gate into the cittie if it please GOD that I may go through the Citty as Ionas did who knoweth whether by that time Niniue may repent and turne and so the LORD may repent him of the euil and reuiue the good that is ready to dye The patient abiding of the righteous is ioy and he that beleeueth maketh not haste yet If we beleeue we shall see greater thinges then these and blessed are wee if we see a farre off A lesson which for a farewell I do heartily commend vnto your Ladyships not onely to see into the present but to behold a farre off to looke vp to Moses to the recompence of the reward and not to esteeme to be accounted the sonne of Pharoahs daughter if we see not the present blessings how can we see a farre off And yet we may so doate on the present as not to desire to see a far off and if we desire not is not the Lord iust to giue vs our present desire and send leanesse into our soules Behold therefore your present happinesse in that wonderfull deliuerance yet looke vp with Moses and see therein also your future happinesse And so I heartily commend your Ladyships to the view of this glasse and therein also to the mercy of the almighty who giue you wisdome to redeeme the time by seeing your faces often herein and hauing viewed not to forget what Iacob did gratiously remembr Genes 32 Luke 17. 12. and what our Sauiour wished to be remembred of his Disciples So shall you preuaile with GOD and find fauour with men your age shall bee a crowne of glory and your posterity shall be blessed They shal be of you which shal build the old waste places shal be called the repairers of the breach the stoÌ„es of the field shal be in league with you the beasts of the field shal be at peace with you you shal laugh at destruction death and shal not be affraid of the beasts of the earth GOD hath and shall deliuer you from all aduersity and you shall see the felicity of the chosen these blessings the LORD of glory increase vpon your Ladyships to your full perfection in IESVS CHRIST To whose blessed protection I most heartily commend both you and yours From my house at Couentry Ianuary 1609. Your poore kinsman most bounden in the Lord Iesus THOMAS COOPER To the Christian and discerning Reader wisdome to see the plague and grace to hide himselfe WHen great blessings breed security and prophanesse wee must looke for sodaine iudgements These are begun and haue increased in the land so much the more fearefull because they are especially spiritual and the rather dangerous because they are lesse discerned or discerned onely
and so to be heires with him of eternall glory Oh that we would therefore walke worthy of so high a calling that we would behaue our selues as sonnes of so gratious a Father Surely Hester in all her glory is not like the meanest of the sonnes of God and the least in the Kingdome of heauen hs greater then Salomon in all his Maiesty Well Sect. 5. State of adoption in Christ how discerned let this be our comfort that though it be not our lot to meete with a Mordecai to be adopted to an earthly Kingdome yet we haue such an enheritance which all the world cannot deptiue vs of And let vs make triall of our adoption by our strange cries vnto our Father Let this straight appeare by iustifying his cause Let his cause be maintained by increasing his kingdome and his kingdome being come Let vs lift vp our heads that his will may be done in earth as it is in heauen that God may bee all in all Obser 66. Ophanes are to be prouided for and how Psal 109 And surely though it be a curse vnto the wicked to be left as Orphanes yet it is but a temperall iudgement and so may befall and hath the Godly and therefore though the wicked being Orphanes shall seeke their bread and desolate places Deu 10. 18 yet GOD is the helper of the Fatherlesse Psal 9 19 yea he is a Father vnto them And therefore as he hath giuen expresse commandement that they should not be hurt Psal 68. 5. left the like iudgement befall the oppressors â—xod 22. 22 24 so hath the Lord also precisely inioiend that releefe and succour and that not onely vncertainely as strangers by startes and at their felemne festiuities when by reason of the aboundance Deu. 16 11 it is not so thankes worthy but as those within their gates and of their houshold that are to haue a free and setled maintenance Deut. 24. as hauing a continuall set prouision allotted thereto Oh what a sanctifying is this of our prosperitie What a comfort in our troubles Iob. 29 The benifit thereof What a sacrifice to God what a sweet sauour to man What peace doth it breed at home What true honor abroad Vse 1. Well Let this be a glorious crowne to those Citties and persons who haue set harbours for Orphanes and strangers And let it be the glorie of true religion that it hath taught such places and persons Christian duetie Let the Ostrich be ashamed that leaues her egges in the sand and let vnnaturallnesse be confounded that forsaketh her owne Crueltie bee condemned that makes the fatherlesse and let opression stoppe her mouth that turnes the fatherlesse out of their owne detest we such trechery that makes tuition a broker for priuate gaine and take we heed of hipocrisie that secretly deuoures where it pretends deuotion and in steed of Children makes slaues or spunges of their pupils I would our enclosers could wash their hands from this sinne and do not gardians of wards trample deepe herein Wel let vs not liue by examples but by lawes let good example prouoke vs to the obedience of them Mordecai takes vpon him the tuition of this orphane now let vs see what successe he hath herein it followeth And when the Kings commandement and his decree was published Vers 8 and many maides were brought together to the palace of Sushan under the hand of Hege Hester was brought also vnto the Kings house under the hand of Hege the keeper of the women In which words the holie Ghost setteth downe a second meanes by which Hester is aduanced to the Court. Namely she is taken in the generall suruay according to the Kings commandement and so togither with those many other Virgins that were chosen out by these officers out of all the Kings dominions she is brought to the Court And so the Kings commandement and the thorough execution thereof is a second meanes of her aduancement And surely if we consider the end of this commandement Namely that the King might haue a wife if we obserue the equity thereof that he might make choice of his wife where it pleased him throughout his dominions if we wisely examine the lawfulnesse of these Officers imployment in this businesse and successe therein all these will witnesse vnto vs that Hester had a lawfull calling to the Court the meanes of her aduancement were honest and honorable Shee is not thrust vpon the Court to bee a prey thereto neither doth she basely seeke to it to make sale of her chastitie shee followes it not to catch a fall by it but the court followes her and seekes her out As Daniel was sent for and Ioseph fetcht out of prison so she is sent for to the Court GOD guiding the generall intent of the King to his perticular purpose and so reseruing the issue to his speciall prouidence that though shee might feare the worst to become the Kings concubine yet she might hope the best to be receiued as his wife and so the case being doubtfull and the daunger not being inuincible she was to cast her selfe vpon the prouidence of GOD for a good issue of that which might threaten euill as vndoubtedly perswading her-selfe that as she beleeued so it should come vnto her Behold then the mercy of GOD Obs 67. God aduanceth his children by â—aire and likely meanes in the aduancement of his Children the meanes thereto shal be faire and likely Hester shall haue natures guiftes to fit her to the Kings bedde Shee shal be seasoned with affliction to beare her greatnesse more wisely Shee shal be trained vp in religion vnder a gratious Tutor that so hauing fauour with GOD she may preuaile with man And the authority of the Prince shall call her to the Court that so she may be warranted both from God and man so was Moyses Mordecai and the rest And all this to two speciall ends Namely that they may be cleered from ambition intrusion two encrochers on greatnes and dangerous enemies thereto that enuy may be remoued the moath of aduancement that pride may be abandoned which wil make their fal the greater that hauing hereby an evidence of their holy entrance to dignity they might haue better vse and longer continuance thereof Vse 1 A notable lesson for all aspirers that they wait such holy and likely meanes as GOD hath sanctified thereto not thrusting themselues to preferment Not hunting greedily after the same not by base flattery and detraction to clime into fauour Neither by â—ordid corruption to blind-fold greatnesse But wisely to esteeme their fitnesse by gifts both inward and outward and yet to wait with comfort a lawfull thereto not neglecting such gracious oportunities as GODS prouidence doth offer neither resisting such necessarie meanes as may be vnlikely thereto For to examine a little further the case of Hester the king commandeth must she not obey is it not lawfull for a subject to come to
6. The benefit of gouernment and that in such peace and outward safety that now they are one helpfull to the other and all obey one head And learne we to be thankefull for gouernment though it altogether sute not with our desires knowing that it is better to haue a Saule to defend vs from the Philistins then that there should bee no King in Israell that euery one may do what he listeth 1. Sam. 12. Iudg. 17. 1 Tim. 2. and what is wanting in gouernment learne we to supply by prayer to our God and more free and conscionable obedience And seeing policy is no better a band to bind diuers natures together but at the last they are no better then brethren in euill embrace we the bond of perfection which proceeds from the feare of God that so the Lyon and the Lambe may dwell together yea the Lyon may be so changed into the Lambe that there may be the vnity of the spirit in the bond of peace Vers 2. In those daies i. when Ahashueroth had obtained victory ouer his enemies and therevpon sat in his throne i. that is inioyed outward peace and was drowned in security 7 Obs Wicked do abuse their prosperity to the maintenance of the flesh then gaue he his mind to feasting and so made way for new troubles As if the spirit would hereby shew vnto vs how the wicked doe vse their prosperitie namely they passe and spend it all in excesse and abuse of Gods blessings A thing they must needes fall into a 7. Doctr. if wee consider either the end why God bestowes prosperitie vpon them namely to fat them vp to the day of slaughter Ierem. 12. 13. or their desire of prosperitie which is onely for the maintenance of the flesh Psal â—3 or lastly their secret feare that doth assault them for the change therof and therefore they will take their full of it while it lasteth wherby they become executioners of Gods purpose against them-selues Hereby we learne as not to measure mens happinesse by prosperitie but by the right vse of it so seeing it is so apt to be abused feare wee rather this condition then greedily desire it and seeing there is beauty in heauen which cannot bee corrupted nor taken away looke we with Moyses to the recompence of that reward Heb. 11. and so choose we rather to suffer afflictions with the people of God then to inioy the pleasures of sin for a season When King Ahashuerash sate i. 8. Obs Prosperitie breeds security in the vvicked was quiet and secure c. Behold how the fruite and peace of prosperitie in the wicked Zach Lud 18. namely they â—itte at ease are drowned in security so was the world when the church was in affliction so was Laish when euill was neere them And surely no maruaile if the prosperitig of the wicked make them secure seeing their hearts are set on it so they dreame of no other happynesse and so by Gods iustice are hereby prepared to their destruction 1 Thess 5 3. Hee that is wise shall vnderstand those thinges and to whome the Arme of the Lord shall reueale them hee will not fette his heart on such shadowes which may so grossely bewitch him but rather feare him-selfe in prosperitie to preuent securitie Prouer 22. Iudg 2. 17. he will see in the securitie of a state the iminent charge of its prosperitie And so seeing the plague will hide him-selfe and seeing all earthly happynesse carryes it bane with it Hee will secure himselfe of heauen by beeing a stranger on the earth and content himselfe with Baruch that hee hath his life for a prey 1 Pet. 2. 12 Which was at Susan 1. Loe here the Persian hauing spoyled and brought to ruine the Assyrian Monarchie translates the Imperiall state from Babilon Ierem. 45. to Susis Obser God traâ—slats Kindomes and remoueth their nest in Persia Which whether he did it for his greater security as trusting his owne nation rather then strangers or because hee would haue all the glorie and profit redoun'd to his owne cnuntrimen Yet here wee see both the power of God in changing of Kingdomes as also the truth of Gods threatning against Babell Esa 47 that it should bee desolated and Lastly the vicissitude of prosperity euen in the most happiest Babilon was and Susan is now Susan was and what is permanent Vse 1. And therefore who would set his heart vpon that which hath wings and flieth away to swiftly rather rest wee on Gods word that the glory of flesh is but as the flower of the field Esay 4. 5 and wee daylie changed by it from glorie to glorie 1 Pet. I that so wee may liue for euer in glory 2 Cor. 3. 3. Vers The third yeare hee made a Feast i. The third yeare of his raigne after in the the former yeare hee had reclaimed the Aegiptians Why this feast vvas ordained which had reuolted now beeing in peace both to glorifie his armie for the former victory also to enflame his wariors to a new expedition hee solemnizeth this royall feast A thing in it selfe indifferent Obser 10. Feasting lavvfull and in the right vse lawfull that as souldiers after long trauaile should haue some refreshing and that by the bounty of the Prince they should bee frasted together in a more liberall vse of the creatures of GOD Reasons Exod. 23. Leui. 23. so euen Christians also may bee enlarged herein As beeing both the ordinance of GOD himselfe in the ceremoniall law the equity whereof continueth to the worlds end Hauing causes and occasions fauling out in the whole course of life as thansgiuing society c. Hauing an appointed time set downe by the spirit of GOD Ecclesi 3. 3 1 Cor. 3. 23 and lastlie warrrnted by that Christian liberty which is restored vâ—to vs in Christ Iesus and by vertue thereof practized by the Saints both before and since the comming of our Lord Iesus Gene. 21 Ioh. 2 Vse And therefore as wee may not either precisely with the Anabaptist deny our selues wholy this liberty or with the superstitious Papist deminish and depraue the same Gal. 5. 13 by making difference of meates so we must bee carefull that libertine like we abuse not this holie libertie as an occasion to the flesh but herein serue one another in a most holie loue This wee shall doe if wee keepe our selues within these bounds in the vse of this liberty whereby wee shall truely examine this feast of Ahâ—shuerosh First wee must consider the persons that may feast Obser 11. Conditions of holy feasting not euery one because euery one hath not where-with-all no not euery one that hath because many haue which haue no right therein Who may feast neither know how to vse the blessings of GOD. I Tit Luk. 16. 12 1 Tim. 4. 5 Psalm 14. 8 But hee onely may lawfully feast vnto whom as
bee counted singuler and she more confirmed not only to auoid the euill which she is subiect vnto but to lead her forward in the waies of grace vsing counsell freely but reproouing warilie and commending wisely not for euery light matter vnlesse it bee iustified neither before company vnlesse they giue strength to sinne but in much wisedome and meekenesse by the euidence of the spirit 3 Due beneuolence must also bee afforded the husband must bring in and prouide cheerefully for her maintenance but within his cauling and to further in grace allowing recreation but what may further repentance and imploying her wisely wherevnto she is most fitted by the gifts of minde and ability of her bodie so as to keepe her from Idlenesse and yet not to discourage her easing him-selfe thereby of such laboures that so hee may more freely follow his owne calling and honouring his wife by that confidence in her The duties that wee must treach and exact of our wiues is that she reuerence vs in heart and stand in an holy aw of the husband as being her head vnder Iesus Christ This she shall shew 1. By meeckenesse in behauiour and 2. Lowlinesse in speech 3. auoyding both grosse and sowre words 4. And yet not sparing to aduise yea meekly to reproue quieting her selfe in mutuall loue yea reioycing her soule that she hath so good a steward and protector 2. We must procure obedience from them euen as Christ was obaied of his Church in all things that is in all lawfull for Christ would command no other and that willingly and cheerefully though it crosse priuate corruption Thus may we rightly vse wiues But as for Ahashuerosh his vse is for lust and lust is impatient And therefore that we may see sinne wants not wit for the speedy effecting thereof behold he sends an effectuall message Obs 27. The wicked abuse Gods blessings to their condemnation that in his opinion could receiue no repulse so hot was he vpon it so wise to do euill And had hee no better imployment for his counsellors then to send them on such a message which neither beeseemed his wisedome nor their grauity could all his fulnesse and attendance serue him for no better vse Oh how like is hee to all those happy children by nature who thinke the blessings of GOD are giuen them to satisfie their lustes 1 Vse and so to be furtherances to their condemnation i. But I would the children of the Kingdome were not guiltie of this sinne vnto whome GOD giues these blessinges to prouoke and further them in his seruice That they were not hindered in the seruice of GOD by them That they were not occasions to plunge them deeper in the worlde that Demas did not imbrace the world and Diotrephes loue preferment Surely if Natures fooles shall not teach wisdome by their experience yet our profession might lesson vs to imbrace the time of visitation and to vse our aduantages for our best furtherance to heauen To whome much is giuen much shall bee required at their handes and the greater blessings abused the greater torments not onely stored vp against the day of vengeance but many times in this life inflicted vppon them As may appeare in the case of the Queene whose beauty is the occasion of her so great misery Wherein we may behold the vse and end of Gods blessings in the wicked Obs 28 The blessings of the wicked proue their scourges in this life as they are giuen of GOD to fatten vp the wicked so for the execution thereof they are abused to sinne and thereby worke out shame Their tables are their snares Psal 69. and their riches a pitte to drowne them in their wisdome is their halter 2 Sam 1â— and their honour turnes them forth as beasts â— Tim 6. their craftinesse intrappes them and their friendes confound them Dan 4. Yea the wife that lies in the bosome shall pronounce sentence against them 1 Cor 3. Hest 6. By which wee may learne As not to enuy their prosperitie so not to desire their full cuppes but rather to feare this exceeding and be contented with a meane estate But if the Lord shall cast a larger portion vppon vs wee must not sette our heartes vppon it neither be puffed vp with the same neither abuse them to sinne but to make them weapons against the same And that by sanctifying them vnto vs by the word and prayer and that reuiuing this sanctification vppon their particuler vse onely to imploy them holylie to GODS glory soberly for our owne vse and cheerefully for the benefit of our poore neighbours that so we may lay vp a good foundation by them against the day of Iesus Christ But would these Counsellors and cheefe Princes bee sent so vnseasonably on such a message Ought they not rather to haue aduised their Lord of the vnfitnesse and danger thereof and so haue saued them-selues that labour and their Maister that shame Surely whatsoeuer might bee the cause of this their speed 29 Obs Courtiers slâ—ues to their Princes lusts whether they enuied the Queene and so sought occasion against her or were in the Kings predicament and therefore desired fuell to their fire Yet here wee may truly obserue the fearefull condition of Godlesse Courtiers Slaues they must bee if they will liue there and slaues they will be to choose so they may dance in golden fetters So corrupt are such Courts to admit no other seruants so base is our nature to make choyce of no better Maisters so strong a thing is loue that refuseth no abiect paynes so iust is the Lord in fitting wicked Princes thus according to their desires that so they may bee fitted for his purpose for their iust confusions 1 Vse O pray therefore for good Princes that they may commaund in GOD that so glory bee giuen vnto him there may bee peace among men And pray againe I say for constancy and holy resolution that so thou maist obey GOD rather then man seeing hee that thus looseth his life shall saue it and hee that saueth it shall loose it There is no seruice to the seruice of a King if still wee preferre the King of Kinges winning or loosing we shall be Kings Concerning the prophane Courtly life 30 Obs The Courtly life as how to be accepted vsed Ioseph Genes 41. as thou seest hereby thou hast little cause to desire it so if thou beest called refuse it not Ioseph was a Courtier and yet remained the childe of God Dan. 4. 5. Daniell a States-man and yet faithfull with his God Attendants on the Court. onely remember thou which wouldst serue the Prince what suiters and seruants will now haunt thee Looke to bee enuied if thou dost excell and prepare thy selfe to slaunders though thou dost neuer so well Nay looke for secret trechery to hoyse thee on the suddaine and make account of grosse flattery to make thee secure here ambition will not faile to
blessings and horrible prophanesse but to be so angry with his Queene that she would not come at his call this rather shewed that anger was his maister then that he recouered therein the contempt of his authority Exod 32. Moses did wel to be angry when the people had committed idolatry so did not Ahashuerosh because his wife would not make an Idoll of him God did well to be angry for the neglect of his ordinaunce so did not Ahashuerosh for the contempt of his Christ did wel to be angry because the cause was waighty and he tempered his anger against sinne Exod. 14. Matth. 3. with compasson towards the person so did not this King the cause was smale and the measure immoderate no place left for compassion no hope of reconciliation Let not the sonne go downe vpon our wrath Ephe. 4. 26. Sampson did well to be angry to whet his couradge against Gods enemies so did not our hot-spurre to enflame him-selfe against a silly woman and so to depriue him-selfe of his deerest friend Obser 37. Iudg. 14. 19. The lawfulnes of anger and it bounds Exod. 16. 1 Cause In a word to be angry is Lawfull so we consider 1. the cause it must not be at good but at things onely euill and that properly an euill of sinne neither naturall defects nor necessary burthens must be cause of anger but onely sinne and that committed with an high hand 2 Obserue the manner of anger though their be waighty cause Gal. 6. 1. 2 manner yet we must not sodenly giue the bridle to this passion for it is the part of a foole to be of an hasty spirit but consider our selues Iea. 1. 10. Math. 5. 22. whether wee be now fit for anger or no and so accordingly giue way to this passion and then it must be tempered both with loue Mar. 3. 5. 2 Cor. 12. 21. and commiseration of the party 1 Sam. 20. 3 Measure and accompanied with patience and bounded within our callings least we breake out into reuenge 3. We must obserue a measure in our anger it must both sort with our persons as lest guilty of that we are offended in others and be tempered also according to the signe of tbe person whom hereby we do humble and it must not onely end with the occasion but euen preuent the same to the better reforming thereof because where it resteth it is in the bosome of a foole Ecle 7. 11. 4 We must be sure to leuell our anger at a right marke 4 Obiect the sinne we must ayme at and spare the person and it must not be the wrong done to vs but that which concernes God that we must be angry at 5. And lastly the end of our anger must be wisely considered 1. not our credit or reuenge 5 End but the glory of God 2. not the hardning of a sinner but his breaking and conuersion Thus if we will be angry we shall not sinne Ephe. 4. 25. And herein sinned this King because he was not thus angry And therefore it had beene good for him to haue repressed this causelesse anger Obser 38. Anger causelesse how to be repressed by not giuing way vnto it or turning the matter into a iest by seeing a forehand into the euent and considering in what case he was he might haue wisely wayed that his wife was no fit obiect of anger and that she might haue had cause rather to haue beene commended he might haue not beleeued what report the Eunuchs brought or if he did beleeue them loue and wisdome would have taught him to haue let it in at one eare and out at the other Thus maist thou preuent vnseasonable anger Onely one thing the Holy Ghost addeth which may seeme to quallifie this sinne Namely that vpon his anger hee fell not presently to reuenge hauing power in his hands as furious husbands haue done vpon such occasions Verse 13. but Hee saide vnto his wise-men which knew the times That is hee takes great aduise in this small occasion as if the state of his Kingdome were now in question wherein as I take it he doth increase his sinne not only by this deliberation giuing way to his anger which being now silent was thereby more setled and so like to doe more hurt But in that hee calls a Councell to determine of so light a matter which might haue beene better decided within the curtaines mee thinkes vnto his anger hee added extreame follie disenabling his wisdome and abasing his state Behold here the wisdome of carnall men Rom 1. 1 King 13. Ioh 11. 48. when they seeme to bee wise Obs 39. The cloakes of sin are occasions to increase the same they become fooles the fairer cloake they haue for their actions the deeper thereby are they plunged in iniquitie and so prepare them to their greater distruction because the ciuill forbearing and bridling of sinne doth both secretly iustifie the same to their deceiued conscience and so furthers the committing thereof with greedinesse and securely increasing and ripening the same makes way thereby to suddaine destruction Whereby wee may learne aboue al things to take heed of being wise to do euill Vse 1. Ierem 4. 22. either blessing our soules in the outward bridling of sin or contenting our selues with the shewes of vertues but rather to become fooles in the full discouery of sinne that so being cast out of our selues we may be cast vpon Christ in whome of fooles we shall be made wise to God See wee heere the vaine imployments of the greate Councellors of the world 40 Ob. Worldly councellors how vainly imployed The best that they do is to satisfie the lusts of their Princes as whom only they count happy and by whom only they are happpy and the worst they do is to bandy against God and his Christ 1 Cor 2 8. psal 2. 1. 2. 3. whom as they know not so his yoak they will not indure vain men y â— are here said to know the times and seasons and yet were ignorant of the time of their visitation Luke 12. 56. Whereby the truly wise may learne their lesson that as they must bee skilfull which shall see the Kings face and bee principall in his kingdome so to imploy their speciall skill for the aduancing of Christs kingdome least hee count them his enemies that will not let him raigne ouer them and hauing first sought the kingdome of heauen and the righteousnesse thereof as hereby they shall best prouide for the safety of the Prince whose crowne sits most sure when it is cast at the feete of Christ so they shall finde godlinesse to bee profitable for this life yea the people hereby shall fare the better poore and rich shall dwell in safetie there shall bee no complaining nor leading into captiuitie in our streetes yea which is the greatest wisedome they shall bee wise to themselues in setling their slipperie state and
they may the rather be allured to the better Psal 17. 14 behold the Lord filles their bellies with hidden treasures and tries them thereby whether they will beleeue and see greater things then these Yea he tries them also by some crosses and afflictions that he might see what is in their hearts and whether they will obey his commandments or no. But all is one Deu. 8. 2. they haue set vp their rest they see no better and therefore must make the best of that they see Let vs eate and drinke for to morow wee shall die they haue made a couenant with hell and with death 1 Cor. 15. they are at an agreement Esay 28. they haue made a mocke at the councell of the LORD Psal 9. and for Heauen it is but a dreame and conscience a bug-beare let vs haue the present and take the future who list depart from vs Lord we will not the knowledge of thy waies Iob. 21. 14 our belly is our God and we will sacrifice to our net Thus God appointing the wicked are the choosers and is God vnrighteous to giue them their desire But how shall the wicked bee confirmed in this choyce Sect. 2. The wicked how satisfied herein how shall they blesse their soules and so harden themselues therein do they not heare of a better within them Do they not see a better before them yes beloued the conscience tells them that there is a better in that it checks them in the best vse of the present Yea their happinesse it selfe tells them that there is a better as neither yeelding them any sound contentment while it is present Ecol 2. and taking it wings on the sudden and flying away Pro. 23. Yea which is more fearefull their heart leads them to the desire of a better Num. 24 Oh that I may die the death of the righteous how is it then that they will not vse the meanes thereto how is it that seeing the better and approuing the same yet they follow the worse and that with greedinesse too Obs 8. The conscience Gods executioner in the condemnation of the wicked surely the worke of the Lord is admirable herein and worthy to be sought out of all those that will secure their election and especially wrought by the ministery of the conscience Which being GODS Agent in the wicked to accomplish his will the more it is reiected the more it is enraged and thereby prooues such an inward hand-writing to confound all their outward delights that seeing they must now make the best of their miserable choice therfore al the force shal be bent to corrupt the conscience y t so they may enioy without controulement the benefit of their choyce hence it is that the right square beeing cast off Sect. 1. The false rules which the wicked deuise to iustefie their actions which is the word of GOD false rules are deuised to blinde the light of the conscience examples are imbraced and multitude is followed Time becomes one rule and Opinion another and to take downe the edge of it that it may not cut at all or else very dully behold here they plunge them-selues deeper in sinne Sect. 2. How they dull and dead the conscience 4. Ephes 19. and giue the bridle more freely vnto all iniquitie that so they may dead the conscience and make it past feeling which howsoeuer the wicked may attayne for a season and in some measure be free from the checkes thereof that so they may blesse themselues in their choyce and thereby make vp the measure of their sinne Yet behold the iustice of God when the haruest is ripe the sickle shall be put in and who shall giue the onset but the conscience that was thought to bee dead Sect. 3. The conscience how and when reuiued in the wicked This doe the wicked surely finde in each temporall crosse and especially they drinke deepe of it when death seazeth vppon them The worme that neuer dies beginnes with them in this life yea in their laughter their heart is sad and in the end of that mirth their is vnspeakable heauinesse Pro 14. 13 1 Vse Thus doth the Lord bring about the destruction of the wicked and that especially by the ministery of the conscience so vaine is it for them to resist the power thereof so iustly they herein renounce their owne saluation in preferring credit or present safety before the gouernement of conseicnce This was right the case of this miserable great one And this is the case of the wicked of the world that are prepared to destruction their conscience would retayne them but their credit sayes no their securing for present happynesse excludes them the hope of eternall glory and makes also their present happynesse to be most fearefull and miserable So righteous is the Lord in accomplishing of his will so inexcusable are the wicked concerning their owne damnation so powerfull is the conscience which is slightly regarded so mercifull is the LORD heereby to teach his Children to count all things as dung in regard of keeping faith and a good conscence Phil. 3. 8 But may not a good name and a good conscience stand together Obser 9. Conscience and credit in the Godly go to geather may not he be secure of the earth that secures himselfe to heauen Is not Godlinesse profitable aswell for this life as the life to come 1 Tim. 4. 8 Had not Salomon wisdome giuen him and ritches to 1 Reg 3. 1 And if we do first seeke the Kingdome of heauen shall not all these things be cast vpon vs Math. 6. 33 If wee preuaile with GOD shall we not preuaile with men Are not the Children of GOD of the best report Is not wisdome iustified of her Children Nay is not wisdome Iustified of her enemies Was not our Sauiour acquitted euen of those that condemned him And when the waies of man please the Lord will he not make all his enemies at peace with him yea surely if wee could beleeue we should be stablished Pro. 16 and if we seeke aright we shall find the faithfulnesse of our GOD had Ahashuerosh his Iudgement bin right he should haue here seene no direct opposition betweene conscience and true credit but that as his conscience tould him that the decree might haue beene reuersed so it might also haue well stood euen with his credit to For to examine this point a little in the Court of conscience Why might not this decree with good conscience be reuersed was it because it was a law of a mighty Kingdome the happinesse whereof depended vpon the maintenance and obedience of good and wholesome lawes Surely though it cannot be denied but that such lawes of Kingdomes ought not to be antiquated which are expositions of the morall law of GOD and thereby entend conscionable obedience thereto such as the Gentiles are directed from the light of Nature Obs 10. Lawes
Behold how the Lord is no respecter of persons but in euery nation they that feare him shall be accepted of him here 's tribulation vpoÌ„ the Iew in general because they had forsakeÌ„ their god Acts. 10. 35. yet Mordecai the Iew is exempted because he is faithfull with his God yea here 's Mordecai of the house of Saul y â— rebellious and reprobate and yet gratiously deliuered from the common corruption that so hee might bee gratious in the eyes of GOD. So iust is the Lord to recompence euery man according to his work so little need hath hee of the sinnes of men to aduance his glory so wise is hee to distinguish the cause from the person so absolutely perfect to do all thinges by him and for him-selfe Vse Where we may learn as to be like vnto God in not respecting persons where there is equallitie in the cause so we must take heed that with the Anabaptist wee abuse not this liberty as a cloake of disobedience against such persons as the Lord hath aduanced neither lette vs robbe Gods free election with the Papist Math 23. as if because he is no respecter of persons therfore he chooseth men for their foreseen righteousnesse neither let vs preiudice the sincerity of our brethren because they want the outward complement to their persons but seeing the Lord regards not y e outside but indeed requireth the hart so principally accepts it therfore let vs not content our selues with the out-side of the platter but let vs labour to make al clean within if we be aduanced let vs take heed of oppression for God will iudge the greatest as wel as the least Obs 38. The continuance of the Church and the condition if we be oppressed let vs not dispaire for the cry of y e fatherlesse is in the eares of the Lord only let vs resigne vp our selues wholy into the hands of y t gratious God who loued vs before wee were for his own sake not for ours so let our loue be proportioÌ„able not for our sakes but for his glory y t being purged daily of this drossy corruption we may be fitted to y t glory immortal vnspeakable w c shal inuest our persons according to that measure of grace which God hath filled them withal Mordecai the Iew preserued in Susis is a Iew of the Tribe of Beniamin of the posteritie of Saul reserued among the Heathen to praise the Lord and deliuer his Church Oh y e liberty of the rich mercies of God how faithfull is he in his promises Psal 80. how mighty to the preseruation of his Church Who would haue lookt for good of Sauls posteritie y t was forsaking of God and had the Kingdome rent from him Who would haue thought that there could haue bin a remnant in Susis to call vpon the name of God and to be zealous for his glory Psal 80 Wil God plaÌ„t a vine in Canaan remoue it into Aegipt shal it be remoued out of Aegipt into the wildernes so into Canaan againe shal it be remoued out of Canaan into Babilon from Babilon to Susis shal his Church bee tossed and tumbled to all these places Reuel 2. shall all sortes of nations giue harbour thereto shall the Turke harbour it yea Antichrist himself shal not be able to roote it out but euen there shal be a Church where satan hath his throne and the diuell his Synagogue Christ shall raigne in the midest of his enemies 1. Behold here the condition of the Church in this miserable world Reasons It must be a Pilgrime vpon earth scattered it shal be ouer the face thereof that Gods power may be more magnified in the preseruation thereof Obs 39. Condition of the Church to be scattered vpon the face of the earth and his worke the better accomplished both in and by the same while it being thus posted and tossed to and fro they rather looke and long for that Citty which is aboue and by being thus changed from vessell to vessell it may both leaue sauour of it good behind it to the conuersion and reuocation of others may haue it owne drosse also purged out thereby to be prepared to her eternall rest Vse 1. By which we may learne to discerne the true Church of God Esay 47 not by her sitting as a Queene of the nations and flattering her selfe that she shall not be changed but by this we may disecrne the true Church of God namely that as she must be tossed and scattered ouer the face of the earth Ephes 6. so she hath her loines guirt vp her feet ready shod thereto not setting vp her rest because it is good to be here but wayting the Lords leisure to call her forth where it please him A notable warning to carnall Ghospellers that if they abuse the Ghospel it shal be taken away from them Iere. 7. the Temple of the Lord will be no bond Ezech. 10. 11. to hold him among them And withall a most excellent comfort to the Children of God that Sushan shall receiue them when Iudah casts them out and which may yet make for our greater comfort this remouing of the Church as it tends to the continuance therof in this life fo it also fitteth it to eternall rest in heauen And therefore let vs not thinke it strange if we find not a biding Citty but are tossed vp and downe and scattred among the nations It is the portion that our God hath allotted vs if we wil be true members of his Church and it is good for vs thus to be changed Psal 55. 15 that we may feate and trust in God who as by remouing our habitations he doth pluck vs out of those common desolations which lie vpon places that despise his word so in that he hath giuen vs the heathen for our inheritance and the vttermost bounds of the earth for our possession hereby doth he also inuest vs with the possession of each Nation and the blessings thereof which indeed properly do belong to vs and all this that his Church may be continued on the face of the earth Obs 40. The faithfulnesse of God in that the Church of God shâ—ll abide for euer yea may still preuaile and get ground in the world till all her enemies be troad vnder her feet And is it possible that this poore afflicted Church should still hold our being so scattercd and weakened shall she continue for euer and shall no power preuaile against her 1 Esay 9. shal there yet be a remnant and a little seed shal there be a truth â—say 65. and a cluster that hath a blessing in it Rom. 11 shall Mordecai and Hester both Iewes remaine to reuiue the Church of God when God had seemed vtterly to haue forsaken his people yea surely the Lord is faithfull and in indgement remembreth mercy Exod. I. The afflictions of the Church shal