spoyled Edom by his people whom they preserved And the Kingdome shall be the Lords that is God will declare himselfe to be King in the government and protection of his Church and in the victorious conquest of the enemies thereof he will settle his Church and worship at Jerusalem as in former times for then is God said to have the Kingdome when his word is a Law to his people to rule them and when the people live in the obedience and awe thereof As appeareth performed by them of the returne from the captivity who made a Covenant with God and sealed the same For we read that the children of Israel did assemble themselves with fasting and sackcloth Nehe. 9.15 and earth upon them They stood up in their place and read in the book of the law of the Lord their God one fourth part of the day Ver. 3. and another fourth part of the day they confessed and worshipped the Lord their God Note here how hearing and worshipping are distinguished they do hear first and thereby they learn to worship Then followeth their commemoration of the great mercies of God to their Fathers which David calleth Gods mercies of old and his former mercies they do also to the praise of this mercy confesse the transgressions of their Fathers Then they confesse their own sins for which they were carried away captive they acknowledge the just judgement of God upon them And now being restored again to their possessions they make a sure Covenant with God cap. 10. They entred into a Curse and into an Oath to walk in Gods law Verse 29. which was given by Moses the servant of God and to observe and do all the Commandments of the Lord and his judgments and statutes In particular they vowed Not to give nor take daughters to wife with strangers which I understand to be in respect of the difference of religion Ver. 30. because there can be no good marriage between Beleevers and Infidels between the sons of God and the daughters of men between the sons of God and the daughters of Belial that was the same that first corrupted the old world and at last followed the floud God is not acknowledged King where such marriages are 2. For observation of the Lords Sabbath they covenanted to keep it strictly and not to buy any thing of the people of the Land on that day for where the Sabbath is not kept there God is not acknowledged King 3. For forgiving of debts every seventh yeere which was a Judicial constitution and did onely binde them yet the equity of that constitution remaineth in the Church that men should lend freely and where there is no ability of repayment extremity must not be used if God be our King 4. They charged themselves yeerly every man with the third part of a Shekel for the maintenance of the service of the house of God for God is denyed his kingdome there where his holy worship hath not fit maintenance to support it from every person according to his ability for they conclude we will not forsake the house of our God Verse 39. And this they vowed to performe 1. In the maintenance of the material Temple 2. In the just provision for the Offerings of all sorts to be made unto God there 3. In the true payment of Tythes for the maintenance of the Levites that served at the Altar This was the summe of the Covenant which the people made with God and bound themselves by a Vow with a Curse to observe it as the Apostle saith taking God to record against their soules if they observed it not that the curse of God might come upon them And they sealed this Covenant to binde themselves the more yet was all this no more then they were bound before to do by the Law of God yet they vow to make the bond greater This is the literall and Historicall Exposition of these words the learned Interpreters of this Prophecy have well conceived that this Prophet this Seer did look further into the purpose of God for his Church and they say that Mount Sion doth here also signifie the whole Church of God De civ Dei l. 18.31 all the world over Saint Augustine understandeth by Mount Sion the Church of the Jews and by Edom the Church of the Gentiles and meeting with an ill translation and not understanding well the originall he perverteth the meaning of the Prophet as if the salvation of God should go out of Sion to the Edomites whereas there is a plaine prophecy of judgement against Edom in particular and therefore Edom whom God did threaten to destroy utterly in this prophecy cannot be a figure of that part of the Church which was by the preaching of the Gospel to be gathered together out of the Gentiles Lyranus gives another exposition for by Sion he understandeth Jerusalem by the Saviours he understandeth S. Peter and S. Paul and the chiefe of the Apostles as he calleth them by the Mount of Esau he understandeth Rome and by judging the Mount of Esau he understandeh their application to Constantine the first Christian Emperour who setled Christianity in the Romane Empire And by the kingdome which shall be the Lords he understandeth that Rome shall be head of the Church for that point of learning they can collect from all texts to make the Church of Rome the onely true Church I like nothing in that exposition but his resemblance of Rome to Esau for that doth fit most properly for they are the persecutors of Iacob even of all true worshippers and God hath promised them a destruction The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Master Calvin hath a learned observation upon this place for understanding it of the state of the Church under the Gospel he saith that these Saviours here spoken of are but ministeriall and so this place pointeth out the Messiah to whom these Saviours are subordinate For the expected Messiah is such a one as by whom all the other Saviours are sent and for whom all others work whom all others do serve and observe And this is the extent of this prophecy in the judgement of M. Calvin Iunius and Arias Montanus that Christ shall leave in his Church his Apostles and Ministers of the Gospel to shew to men the way of salvation in such sort aâ— that the Kingdom of God shall be advanced in the Church God ruling by his Word Others by Saviours on Mount Sion judging the Mount of Esau understand the last and finall judgement wherein the Saints shall judge the world and then the Kingdome shall be the Lords of which S. Paul saith He shall deliver up the Kingdome to God even the Father when hee hath put downe all rule and all authority and power I like those expositions that take the wings of a Dove and fly to the uttermost part of the text non relinquit locum surely this is Gods promise to his Church that it shall
in summa pericula misit Venturi timor ipse mali fortissinâ—â—â— ille est Qui promptus metunda pati The feare of evil to come hath endangered many he is the most valiant that is ready to suffer what is feared 2. It tryeth our faith Christ said to Peter Cur times exiguâ fide praedites when he so felt himselfe sinking in the waters God promised I will not leave thee nor forsake thee Do we beleeve him Dare we trust him as Christ Do you beleeve in God beleeve also in me 2 My brethren count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations Jam. 2. 3. Knowing this that the trying of your Faith worketh patience 4. But let patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing 1 Pet. 1 7. That the tryall of your Faith being much more precious then of gold which perisheth though it be tryed with fire might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Iesus Christ c. 3. This setteth before our eyes the great appearance that our enemies shall make before us either in this world when our eye shall have our desire on them that hate us or in the last day when the Saints shall judge the world which serveth to admonish us with the Prophet To commit our wayes to the Lord and to trust in him for he shall bring it to passe Excellent is the story of Elisha whom the King of Syriâ— sent an Army to take and they beset Dothan where he lodged but Elisha prayed and God smote the whole Army with blindnesse and he whom they sought offered himselfe to them to be their guide and he brought them into Samaria and then God opened their eyes and they saw themselves in the hand and power of their enemies Thus doth God blind the eyes of the enemies of his Church and when ther malice is at the height they find themselves set at the Barre to be judged by his Saints then Iacob shall judge the Mount of Esau Methinkes I see the great appearance of the boisterous Tyrants of the earth whose eyes did sparkle fire in the faces of Gods servants whole tongue spake proud words whose foot trode upon Gods Saints whose hand spared them not whose countenance darted against them scorne and disdaine and whose swords were made drunke in the bloud of Gods Holy ones With what a feareful trembling and horrible dread they come to this judgement against their wils where they shall see the Saints all in long white robes like a flock of sheep that come from the washing in whose glorified faces they shall behold their owne shame and dishonour in whose place and joy they shall behold the bloudy persecution wherewith they have oppressed them in their life and in whose setled happinesse they shall read their doom of eternall woe And as Saint Peter saith How shall the wicked and ungodly appeare there needs no more evidence against them bring them to judgement and that sight shall convince them 3. The issue and effect of all And the Kingdome shall be the Lords This is the proper fruite of our deliverance from the hands of our enemies that the Kingdome of God may be established on earth in Gods Church 1. For so long as the enemies of God do tyrannize and fill all with their grosse actions the face of the Church is covered the Temples of God are defiled and demolished the worship of God seeketh private corners and sheweth not it selfe the Saints of God fly from the Sword of Persecution wandring here and there from one Nation to another people and it is hard to say where the Church of God is During the persecution under the cruell Emperours till Constantine aross and restored the Kingdome to God the Kingdome of God on earth was not abolished quite but it was in some sort invisible not that it was then hidden from all the faithfull as it was from the world therefore concerning the invisiblenesse of this Kingdome we do affirme 1. That though this Kingdome of God be so established on earth that the gaâ—â—â— of hell shall not prevails against it because God gave to his son that asked him the heâ—â—hen for his inheritance and the utmost part of the earth for his possession And Christ promised to give the Holy Ghost to his Church to abide with it for ever 〈◊〉 yeâ—at sometimes the faithfull may be so few in number and they so separated one from another in the pursuit of their owâ—â— sâ—â—â—ty that the world cannot easily discome the face of a Church This some of the Church of Rome have confessed affirming that about the time of Christs passion and the dispersion of his Disciples theâ—â— true faith remained onely in the blessed Virgin Mary But untruly◠〈◊〉 the Disciples though they fled from the persecution of that time they fled not froâ—â— the â—aith of Christ But was it not so in Eliahs time when he knew of no more but himselfe alone that served the true God yet God had knees that had never bowed to Baal even then 2. We affirme that Satans Kingdome may so farre dilate it selfe in power and spreading that the externall government of the Church may cease the succession of Bishops and Pastors may be interrupted the Discipline of the Church hindered and the outward exercise of Gods Worship suspended the sunne of righteousnes may suffer ecclipse and thus much the Rhemists do confesse in their notes upon 2 Thes 2.2 3. That which the common opinion doth embrace for the Kingdome of God may be Satans Kingdome whose doctrine is poison whose pastors are wolves in sheeps cloathing whose children are bastards of the Strumpet of Babylon This appeares in the Church story for when Româ— forsook her first Love and began to turne saith into faction and religion into carnall policy to establish a tâ—anscendent greatnesse on the face of the earth and to tyrannize over all that stood for the truth revealed in the word then was the candle of the Church put out so farre as they could prevaile and the word of God the light of our steps was taken away from the people Then did the faithfull subjects of Gods Kingdome hide themselves from the sword and the fire and the sundry persecutions which Rome devised to oppresse them then their heresy past for truth commonly their usurpers for lawfull Bishops their mercenaries for Pastors their legendes for Gospel and they boasted themselves the only true Church of God and Spouse of Iesus Christ And when by the ministry of Dr. Lurher the Church began to lift up the head againe and that one single man opposed the Pope and was a burning and shining Lampe to whose light many dayly resorted we see that ever since that time the Church hath come more and more in sight and growne both in number and strength Kings have been nursing Fathers and Queens have been Nurses and the Kingdom of God hath been gloriously advaanced on earth Then did England
cast off the yoak of Rome and God caused a light to shine in darknesse and ever-since a face of the Church hath appeared gathering more and more fresh beauty and now we may say truly of our times the light never shone more clear in this Land then now it doth never more learning and never more communicated then now But beloved this will not serve our turne God must have as well a rule of our hearts as of our eares of our hands as of our heads Let us look to our example in my Text when God had restored this people to their land they established his Kingdome With publick Assemblies with fasting and humbling of themselves before God with confession of sinnes with weeping and mourning with solemne Vowes to performe all the Commandements of God They spent their time not all in hearing but in worshipping also of God They vowed not to make any marriages with such as were no profest subjects of the Kingdome of God such as was the marriage of Solomon with King Pharaohs daughter They vowed to keep the Sabbath holily to the service of God to deale charitably with their poor brethren To honour God with their riches setting apart a portion to maintaine the worship and publick service of God And all this must we do if we will advance the Kingdome of God amongst us not only in outward profession but in inward subjection You may know a true subject of Gods Kingdom by his walk and by his pace for he walketh 1. Circumspectly fearing danger before him to meet him behind him to follow him above him to presse him downe under him to blow him up temptations on his right hand provocations on the left hand therefore he loseth no time but redeemeth it to the service of God 2 He walketh in holines as in the sight of God who searcheth the hearts and reines and cannot be deceived with false semblances and emptie shadows and seemings of false and hypocriticall shewes but requireth truth in the inward parts He walketh in righteousnesse that is in the obedience of the Second Table of the Law living in the practise and exercise of his knowledge to the uttermost of that measure of grace that is given to him as it becometh the Saints For these know that they were therefore delivered from the hands of their enemies that they might more freely attend the service of God and the saving of their own soules Amongst such as these God reigneth and hath put on his glorious apparrel and is acknowledged God as their King Idolatry and false worship doth unking and dethrone God and trespasseth the majesty of our King swearing and blasphemy maketh the name of God which is the safety of his subjects for our help is in the name of the Lord like to a broken hedge Breach of the Sabbath which is Gods holy day is a trespasse against his moderate prerogative claiming some part of our time for his publique service and the exercise of Religion Contempt of the word is a trespasse against the Lawes of this kingdome Injury in any kind to our brethren is breach of peace amongst the subject of this kingdome Gluttony drunkennesse pride be wastfull sins and consume the outward treasures thereof and they also seem to quench the Spirit of God and to kill all good motions in our selves and others Let us remember our prayer adveniat Regnum tuum Let thy kingdome come And seeing God hath graciously establisht a Church amongst us in peace which he hath watered with early rain in the first coming thereof in this Land and with a later raine in the Government of two incomparable Princes truly called defenders of the Faith against Heresie and Schisme Let the kingdome be the Lords let our obedience to his Law bear witnesse of our Faith and let our peace amongst our selves give testimony of our charity and let us walk all one way like the horses of Pharoahs chariot let us all fight as one man against sin and Sathan against the Devil and the Pope tanquam acces ordinata For if the Lord be our King we shall have cause to be glad thereof For Blessed are the people that are in such a case blessed are the people that have the Lord for their God 2. Let us look as farre as we can by Saint Pauls prospective there will be a time when Christ our grand Captaine shall overcome all his enemies even death which is the last enemy and then shall he deliver up the kingdome to God even his Father then Israel shall have judged Esau the Church the world Then Christ resigneth his office of a Mediator and then God is all in all For then all his enemies shall be in prison in the chains of darknesse all his Elect shall be fastened together and united with Christ their head in glory God shall then have none to contest with him for sway and domination his glory shall then be great in the Salvation of his Church and in the Victory of his enemies Thus have I in a few months gone through this short but full and pithy Prophecy of Obadiah I know with what great comfort light and delight in mine own meditations I hope not unprofitably for you If you desire many houres work in a few minutes of time this is the Analysis of it It was divided into two parts 1. Titulus the Title 2. Vaticinum the prophecie 1. The Title shewed 1. Whose Obadiah 2. What. 1. Whose Obadiah Doctr. God stirreth up his servants the Prophets to give warning of the Anger to come 2. What a Vision Doctr. The faithfull Minister must see before he say and take instructions from God before he undertake to teach others 2. The Prophecie this hath two parts 1. Against Edom ad finem ver 16. 2. For the Church ver 17. ad finem In the first observe three things 1. The subject of this Prophecie Edom. 2. The suggestiorus of it The Lord. 3. The Prophecy it selfe 1. Of the subject Edom. Doctr. Riches strength honour Victory are not so pretious things as many do value them oftentimes they go away with them all a long time whom God hateth he saith I have hated Esau yet he had all these 2. Of the suggestour of the Prophecy The Lord saith thus Doctr. Gods Ministers must deale faithfully with the Church saying no more or lesse and in the same manner as God speaketh to them 3. The Prophecy that hath foure parts 1. The judgement intended against Edom v. 1 2. 2. The despaire of all Edoms hopes ver 3 ad 9. 3. The cause provoking God ver 10 ad 14. 4. Gods revenge ver 15 16. 1. The judgement intended contains 1. The discovery 2. The rumour it selfe 3. The effect 1. The discovery by a rumour from the Lord an Embassador sent among the heathen Doct. 1. The decrees of Gods judgement upon the wicked be constant and unchangeable Doct. 2. The consent of Embassadours all declaring the same judgement sheweth that the
upon the cheek bone Use 4 4. This teacheth us our duty before the War in the War and after the War 1. Before the War and in the War to joyn prayers with our prepatations and our attempts for God declared in the Wars of Israel with Amalck that Moses praying on the hill with Aaron and Hur and Joshua fighting belowe in the valley Exod 17. were both of them the forces of God And that prayers were the better fighting for when Moses ceased praying Amalek prevailed 2. After the War we are taught to whom to attribute the victory and good successe of the War that is to give the glory thereof to the Lord and so say with David The right hand of the Lord hath done valiantly the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to passe So the daughter of Jephta came out with timbrels to meet her father and confest to her father Judg. 11.36 The Lord hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies even of the chldren of Ammon Yet may we not herein smother the well deserving prowesse and valour of valiant Commanders and souldiers but give them their due honour so even the women meet Saul returning from the slaughter of the Philistines and they answered one another in their song saying Saul hath killed his thousands and David his ten thousands 1 Sam. 18 7. Doctr. 2 2. Whereas Israel saith to the Heathen Arise ye and let us arise making use of the power and strength of the Heathen against Edom we are taught that God doth use one evil man and one evil Nation to punish another The Lord did smite the Moabites by the Ammonites and took from them some part of their land Chedorlaomer maketh war against other kings and taketh away their substance The Midianiâ—â— were their own Conquerours The Lord set every ones sword against his fellow there wont all the host The children of Israel did call the Heathen here to them Jud. 7.22 they joyned in one war against Edom as if at this day Princes of the Popish Religion should joyn themselves with a Protestant Prince to maintain him in his Kingdom against the Emperour the Popes eldest son Is not this setting Egytians against Egyptians and defending the Church by the enemies of the Church Reason 1 The reason why God doth this is not for want of other strength for he is Lord of hosts but to declare him to be King and Lord over all he doth whatsoever he will in heaven and in earth and in the sea and all deeps What doth more declare his absolute Soveraignty then his Power to whip and scourge the enemies of his Church by one another of them which is to make Sathan cast out Sathan This sheweth that Sathans kingdom is subordinate to the Kingdom of God there is but one Kingdom of which it may be truly said Et Imperijs ejus non est finis There is no end of his Kingdom Christ shall one day make this good when he shall have put down all his enemies for then he shall deliver up the Kingdom to God In the mean time the subjects of Sathans kingdom are the vassalls of God and Sathan himself shall be and is at his command to be the rod of God for execution of his wrath where he pleaseth Reason 2 2. God useth to punish the wicked to declare to the Church that there can be no true love but where there is love of the Truth onely true Religion doth unite the hearts of men and all that embrace not that want the bond of peace They may cry a confederacy and give one another the right hand of fellowship for a time but if God be not the knot of their union all other respects will come short of setling a constant concurrency We see this clearly in the vicissititudes of confederacies and wars amongst the enemies of true Religion temporall respects make their leagues temporall respects do again dissolve them The Uses of this point Use 1 This doth serve to reform our judgements and to settle our hearts in our great vexation for did not the foot of David almost slip when he saw the prosperity of the ungodly and compared it with the main and great troubles of the Church For seeing God doth make this use of them to be his sword marvell not that he keepeth his sword by his side that he keepeth it in a sheath that he keepeth it bright And David saith Deliver my soul from the wicked which in thy sword that is one cause why God rewardeth the wicked with some temporall favours Psa 17.13 because he maketh use of them to punish his enemies this is fully exprest For thus saith the Lord to the Prophet Son of man Nebuchadnezzar King of Babel caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus Every head was made bald and every shoulder was peeled Ezech. 29 18.19 yet had he no mages nor the army for Tyrus that served against it therefore thus saith the Lord God Behold I will give the land of Egypt into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and he shall take her multitudes and take her spoils and take her prey and it shall be the wages for his army This may satisfie us that we grieve not at the prosperous estate of the wicked for God hath use of them and he will not let them serve him for nothing The elect of God have fairer hopes let them stay their stomack and let them wait the Lords leisure Use 2 2. We may see in this example in my text and in many more that God maketh use of the wicked in the behalf of his Church and therefore we must not give the glory of Gods justice to the means but to God The wicked know not what they do when they fight the battells of the Lord yet God doth put such mettall into them that they do most valiantly perform his will A full example hereof is The word of the Lord to Zedekiah king of Judah by his prophet Jeremiah Jer. 37.8 The Chaldaeans shall come again and fight against this city and take it and burn it with fire Thus faith the Lord deceive not your selves saying The Chaldeans shall depart from us for they shall not depart For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you and there remained but wounded men amongst them yet should they rise up every man in his tent and burn this city with fire This must needs be the hand of the Lord and therefore the glory must be given to God onely the means are weak but the Lord is strong he alone must be exalted and all the glory of victory must be ascribed to him The Church may use the help of the Heathen and of Idolaters in the Lords battells for they are the sword of the Lord as you have heard Use 3 3. We are taught that though Israel and the Heathen do come together though the godly do use the
If I have spoken evil Joh. 8.22.23 bear witnesse of the evil but if well why smitest thou me This then is spoken by our Saviour to forbid private revenge that no man should be the judge of his own wrong but should bear it with patience It is Saint Augustines answer Obedientia istanon in ostentatione corporis est sed in preparatione cordis And he saith Non maxillam tantum obtulit sed totum corpus dedit figendum cruci And he addeth Quanto melius et respondit vera placatus et ad perferenda graviora paratus est He could have withdrawn his cheek from the smiter Lam. 3 30 but he would fulfill the Prophecie He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him he is filled with reproaches Private revenge Christ forbiddeth us Christ did not take it against his adversary that smote him he reproved it in Peter he amended the maim that he made and healed his smiter But war is a publike revenge and the Magistrate beareth the sword to that purpose to execute revenge upon evil doers Vengeance is Gods and where he committeth the trust of execution thereof as he doth to the Magistrate there it is lawfull This cleareth many other like objections as that Qui gladio ferit Lam. 11. gladio peribit He that smiteth with the sword shall perish by the sword we must recompence to no man evil for evil For all this is meant of our revenge but the revenge of the Magistrate is the vengeance of God because he is Gods Minister Object 2 The prophet Isay foretold that in the time of the Gospel Isa 2.4 they shall beat their swords into plow-shares and their spears into pruning-hooks nation shall not lift up sword against nation neither shall they learn war any more Sol. These words bear three interpretations 1. That this was a signe of the coming of the Messias into the World he was born in a time of cessation from wars when the Romane Monarchy had leasure to leavie a taxation by the Poll so when David had rest then he thought of numbring his People 2. That this was fulfilled in the spirituall Peace and Unity of the Church collected now out of all nations of the World Iew and Gentile made one 3. That this is the proper effect of the Gospel where it was embraced faithfully to make Peace Under the name of Edom we may understand all the enemies of the Truth of God and Christian Religion such as are Schismaticks and Hereticks who understanding not the mystery of Godlinesse and Peace do set their wits against the Church to corrupt the Truth therein deposited and professed or to disturb the quiet professours thereof 1. Hereticks These are our brethren by outward profession 1. Heretiques calling themselves Christians but they see that we have gotten the birthright and the blessing from them and therefore they hate us and are comforted against us to destroy us The Church is Gods Israel the children of the Promise filij regni filij thalami filij lucis children of the kingdom of the Bridechamber and of the light The Embassadours that are sent to stir up to war against those be the Ministers of the Word of God for to this purpose we are sent forth to confirm the brethren against those to reconcile these to God And we are commanded to arise against these in battell The war and so the weapons with which we fight against these are not carnall but spirituall the clear light of the Gospel which is the power of God to salvation to them that beleeve and the Truth of God which is strong and prevaileth against them that beleeve not It is time for us to joyn together as one man in battell against these Especially the Papists whose Religion is ambition whose piety is worldly policy whose zeal is combustion whose faith is fury who hide the Word of Light in the darknesse of an unknown tongue to keep the people ignorant that they may not know Gods right hand from his left to emplunge them in the flames of their imagined Purgatory that they may be well paid to release them thence They mingle the sacrament of Baptisme with their own inventions which they make acquivalent in vertue to the power of Gods ordinance The mangle the sacrament of the Lords supper by robbing the people of one half thereof taking the cup from them They disable the sacrifice of Christs sufficient satisfaction for sin by addition of humane merits of erogation and super erogation They weaken the sole intercession of Christ by intrusion of more Mediatours Angels the Mother of our Lord and Saints They shorten the free and full grace of God which Christ himself from Heaven told Paul was sufficient by their lying doctrine of Free-will They flatter and abett some by their doctrine of indulgencies which attributeth to the Pope power of pardoning sins past and to come They dishonour the holy sufficient Word of God by acqui-ballancing with the same humane Traditions and false Legends They destroy true saving faith by their false doctrine of implicite faith teaching that is enough to beleeve as the Church beleeveth not declaring what the Church beleeveth and upon what ground their faith is built They maintain flat Idolatry by teaching the worshipping of Images and praying to Saints And for the power which they give to the Pope against God in dispensing with the breach of his Covenants in coining new Articles of faith in defining the interpretation of Scriptures in usurping authority over temporall Princes to enthrone and to dethrone at pleasure to arm their natural subjects against them to animate Incendiaries to abett treasons to blow up States All these things and many more call upon us take arms and joyn our strengths against this Edom this red and hairy and bloody enemy whose mercies are cruell The best weapon against this Kingdom of darknesse is the Light of Truth the more we carry this Light about us the more will the ignorant amongst them know how they are abused and mis-led For our war is spirituall not against their Persons but against their Heresies 2. Schismaticks These also call us brethren but they break the Unity and Uniformity of the Church All the children of Peace must arise against these in battel this also is a spirituall war and the sword of the spirit must be drawn and used against these to cut them off as Saint Paul wisheth I would they were cut off that trouble you Or if the Word of God cannot prevail with them to convert them to peace The discipline of the Church which Saint Paul calleth his rod must be used against them to cut them off from our congregations The Apostle calleth them Leaven and saith that a little leaven soureth the whole lump So do Schismaticks for a few of them do corrupt many and divert them from the congregations whereof they are members and distaste the established Ministery to them and set them in opposition to
Authority and at last tempt them to separation Mr. Perkins upon the Article of the Holy Catholike Church doth learnedly handle this point Object First saith hâ— they object That our Assemblies are full of grievous blots and enormities He answereth Sol. The defects must be 1. Either in Doctrine 2. Or in manners 1. Defects in Doctrine 1. Either Errours praeter fundamentum besides the foundation 2. Or contra fund mentum against the foundation He maintaineth that our Church of England doth teach no Doctrine against the foundation of Christian Religion 2. For corruption in manners he declareth that it cannot make a Church no Church but an imperfect Church therefore Christ commandeth to hear them which preach well and live ill as the Scribes and Pharisees which sit in Moses chair Object Again he findeth it objected that the Church of England doth hold Christ in word but denieth him in deed Sol. Answer Denyall of Christ is Either in judgment Or in fact To deny Christ in judgment which obstinacie is against the foundation and maketh a Christian no Christian To deny Christ in fact only sheweth us to be weak and imperfect in our profession of the Gospel and the best of Gods servants cannot keep out of this ranck because it is impossible for them that carry a body of sinne who do the evill that they would not to hold conformity of life and conversation with their knowledge and good desires And truly the authors or the actors of chisme do shew much uncharitablenesse in their separation from our Church for the Apostles rule is Be not unequally yoked with Infidels What concord hath Christ with Belial 2 Cor. 6.14 What agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols Wherefore come out from among them and separate your selves saith the Lord. And do they judge their brethren to be Infidels the sons of Belial Idolaters that they do separate from us Againe the same Apostle saith If any man teach otherwise and consent not to the wholsome words of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Tim 6 3. and to the Doctrine which is according to godlinesse from such separate your selves Can any lay this to the charge of our Church that we offend in this kind It is true that nothing is more easie then to accuse but men and Devils cannot prove this against our Church The Church of the Jewes in the times immediately after Christs Ascension was the Church of God neither did Christ forsake that Church in his time nor the Apostles after him But when certaine men heardened and disobeyed Acts 12.9 speaking evill of the way of God Saint Paul departed from them and separated from them and separated the Disciples of Ephesus from certaine Schismatiques he separated but not from the Church Therefore arise against such in battell detect them to publike authority seek their amendment or if that cannot be compassed prosecute the ridding them out of the Church for those Edomites do not love the welfare of our Jerusalem and they will not know those things which belong to peace The way of peace they have not known Under the name and title of Edom we may understand the whole Kingdome of Satan and Israel the Church of God stirred up by the embassadours the Ministers of God to arise against it in battell For this is our life called a Warfare because we fight against Satan the professed enemy of the Church against all his forces Both his outward forces in the world And his inward forces Corpus peccati the body of sin The holy Apostle Saint Paul knowing the danger of the elect doth not only awake us to fight and giveth us his owne example so fighting not as one beateth the aire But he prescribeth us to a fit armour Ephes 6.19 c. and teacheth us how to put it on that we may be able to defend our selves and to resist Satan This is no power of our own but our strength in the Lord and in the power of his might 3. To come nearer home as God told Rebecca when Iacob and Esau were yet in her womb there striving Gen. 25.23 there be two Nations in thy womb so Saint Paul will tell you that there is in every regenerate man two opposite forces The flesh and the spirit and rhese strive the spirit hath God put into us to rule the flesh rebelleth against the spirit Therefore to will is present with us but we are not able to do to good that we would yea he confesseth that he cannot do the good that he would and that he doeth the evill that he would not The spirit of God is Gods Embassadour calling upon our spirits to arise against the flesh in battell and that is the true use of all Doctrines of mortification and of godly life to strengthen the spirit against the flesh to weaken the power of the body of sin And for this Saint Paul did bring his body in subjection for such is the nature of this fight that the more we resist our naturall and sensuall desires the more we advance the force of our spirits against our flesh And it a most glorious conquest for any servant of God to overcome himself Obadiah verse 2. Behold I have made thee small among the Heathen thou art greatly despised 2. The effect of this judgment 1. From God I have made thee small c. 2. From God and man Thou art greatly despised 1. From God Three circumstances aggravate the judgment 1. Edom is made small 2. Made small among the Nations 3. I have done it 2. From God and man 2. Circumstances 1. Thou art despised 2. Thou art despised greatly Before I handle these parts two things offer themselves to consideration which make easie way unto the understanding of the Prophecie 1. The preface to this Prophecie Behold 2. The phrase thereof 1. The Preface Behold Whereby he openeth the eyes of the Idumaeans to look into their future estate it is a word much used in holy Scripture and ever maketh way to some worthy and considerable matter here the Lord would have the Idumaeans take notice of the judgment and wrath to come Not that they should repent them of their sins and turne to God for God hated them and set his face against them and they had hearts that they could not repent but hence we learn Doctr. It is Gods manner to give warning of his judgments even to those who will not take warning that they may be without excuse and Ezekiel must prophecie to those that will not receive him And thou shalt speak my words unto them Ezek. 2.7 whether they will hear or whether they will forbear for they are most rebellious He giveth a reason before Reason 1 Use 5 Yet they shall know that there hath been a Prophet amongst them God will have the ungodly know that he hath tendered to them the meanes of escape from his judgments by the ministry of his word that they may have nothing to
then was it better with me then now Therefore it is a great favour of God to his people to restore them their owne possessions againe that they may be as in yeares past for now they having wanted them do better know the favour of God then they did before in the use of them They would have esteemed it a greater favour in their captivity to have had but some ease of their burthens some liberâ—y to have eaten the fruites of their labours in great miseries every little breathing of ease is sweet and comfortable but here is a full restitution of them to their former possessions promised 2 But here is much more promised even dilatation of their borders they shall have more then they had they may call their place Rehoboth as Isaac called the Well when he had room to dig in Gen. 26.21 The Lord hath an open and a filling hand even in this also Multiplicat benefacere here is Copiosa redemptio copiosa restitutio For as it is another degree of favour to rise from restitution to dilatation so it may stand for a degree that he enlargeth their bounds out of the possession of their enemies and giveth away their Land to his people Let no man charge God with injustice herein for The earth is the Lords and all that therein is he giveth it where he will And Jesus Christ his Son hath promised the meek the inheritance of the earth for by right none but the Elect are true owners of the earth the ungodly are but intruders and usurpers thereof Thus much added to their owne to make them more territory and thus much taken from their neighbouring enemies the Edomites and the Philistims and given to them makes them gainers by their losse their banishment was a sowing in teares this is a reaping in joy David was so reasonable that he only desired of God saying Make us glad according to the dayes wherein thou hast afflicted us and the yeers wherein we have seen evill Ps 90.15 God is a more bountifull giver for he maketh his people glad not only with that which they lost but with much more he enpoverisheth their enemies to enrich them that they may take the labours of the people into their possession Job would have wisht no more then to be as he was in some months past Job v 2.10 and God not only restoreth him what he formerly had but he giveth him twise so much as he had before So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more then his beginning which Saint Gregory doth apply to the state of the Church in the last day when they shall receive full glory both in their souls and bodies in his Kingdome For in things temporal this doth not alwayes hold that God repaireth thus the losses of his children neither do they expect it for they have learned how to want but what wanteth in outward things is restored to them in spirituall graces in the gifts of patience and contentednesse in thankfulnesse and the spirit of supplications Doctr. 2 2. Doctr. God punisheth the enemies of his Church by those against whom they have prevailed for the house of Jacob shall be a flame and the house of Joseph a fire Not â—â—â—â—substant are into fire and flame as a Papist might prove as well out of this text as he hath the corporeal presence of Christ out of Hoc est corpus meum this is my body but by way of similitute and by reason of the effect that shall follow for they shall consume the house of Edom whom God will make as stubble for them easie to take fire It was Balaams Prophecy of the people of Israel then in distresse Num. 23.24 Behold the People shall rise up as a great Lyon and lift up himself 〈◊〉 a young Lyon he shall not lye down till he eate of the prey and drink the blood of the slain Which was begun to be performed by Moses continued by Joshuah further prosecuted by David fully accomplished by Christ Ps â—10 1 2 whom God made to rule in the midst of his enemies The Elect are built upon a rock in the sea of this world all the men of war that assault it shall dash themselves in the end against this rock Pro. 11.8 so Solomon The righteous escapeth out of trouble and the wicked cometh in his stead And again he saith Prov. 21.18 The wicked shall be a ransome for the righteous and the transgressor for the upright The reason of this is the equal law of Gods justice before mentioned that as it hath been done by them so it may be done to them and that their reward may fall upon them For he will avenge the blood of his servants and yeeld vengeance to his adversaries Deut. 31.43 but he will be favourable to his owne Land and be merciful to his own people Even this also must passe for a further degree of his love to overthrow the enemies of Israel by Israel for not only this Prophet but Balaam foretold it even this particular Seir shall be a possession for his enemies and Israel shall do valiantly Num. 24. â—8 19. Out of Jacob shall he come that shall have dominion and shall destroy him that remaineth of that City In Amoz God saith I will send fire upon Teman which shall devoure the palaces of Bozrah Amoz 1.1 2 here Obadiah sheweth what fire Amoz meaneth the house of Jacob shall be that fire and the house of Ioseph that flame Both expounded in plain terms by the Prophet Ezechiel Ezech. 25.24 I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel and they shall do in Edom according to mine anger and according to my fury and they shall know my vengeance saith the Lord. And what God threatneth the temporal and carnal enemies of his Church the same hath he also threatned to the spiritual enemies thereof The God of peace shall tread Satan under your feet shortly Rom. 16.20 It had been enough for us if God hâ—â— trodden him under his own feet but God will cover his enemies with shame and grief as well as smart and pain All the Elect have their part in this victory of the world for he that overcometh hath this promise such shall have power ever Nations so that they shall rule them with a rod of Iron Rev. 2.26 and as the vessels of a porter they shall be broken Which promise doth assure the Church that although here her enemies prevaile against her yet her Spouse whose power shall put down all rule and all authority and power shall conquer for her and she united to him by her faith shall by faith overcome all This admonisheth uâ— 1. Not to be troubled at the power and prevailings of the enemies of Gods Church though we see and hear evill news daily that toucheth us to the quick and all them that love the peace of this Land and the liberty of
the Gospel for the Church of God and the patrones of his truth are under the banner of Gods love and their latter end must be peace let us by daily prayers command them to the tutelary protection of God and let him hear vocem fidei the voyce of faith of those that fight his battels and vocem sanguinis the voyce of blood of those that die in his quarrel 2. It furnisheth us with patince to tarry the good pleasure of God for when he shall arise his enemies shall be scattered and they that hate him shall fall before him he hath promised his Church victory and he will not suffer his truth to faile Excellently is this comfort exprest by the Prophet Isaiah And therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious unto you and therefore will he be exalted that he may have mercie upon you for the Lord is a God of judgment Is 30.18 blessed are all they that wait for him For the people shall dwell in Sion at Jerusalem Verse 19. thou shalt weepe no more he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry when he shall hear is he will answer thee And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity Verse 20. and the water of affliction yet shall not thy Teachers be removed into a corner any more but thine eyes shall see thy Teachers 3. The assurance which the Church of God hath in all this The Lord hath spoken it They build sure that build upon the word of God for heaven and earth shall faile and perish but no word of God shall be unfulfilled Ye have a sure word saith the Apostle for God hath magnified his name and his word above all things This is my comfort in mine afflictions Thy Word hath quickned me Remember thy Word unto thy servant upon which thou bast caused me to hope Ps 119.50 Verse 49. The best faith hath many fears and terrors joyned with it to shake it and the faithfull do sometimes want the feeling of the favour of God we are directed here like wise men to let rather our understanding spiritually enlightned then informed by sense govern us The naturall mans understanding is wholly led and instructed by the outward senses and as they suggest that apprehends when the sense feeleth paine the understanding apprehends cause of feare and grief and stirreth the affections that way But the spirituall man doth not value Gods love by what the sense feeleth but by that which the Word of God suggesteth In paine the flesh smarteth the sense complaineth and Satan saith God hath forsaken thee but the spirituall man saith no for Gods Word saith I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Therefore in all afflictions the soule of man hath no better remedy then to resort to the Word Thou art my hiding place and my shield I hope in thy Word this is the poole of healing waters Gods Bethesda for all infirmities and he hath sent his Angels his Ministers to stir these waters by exposition of the Word exhortation and consolation to heale the diseases of his Saints VERSE 21. And Saviours shall come upon Mount Sion to judge the Mount of Esau and the Kingdome shall be the Lords 3. The means ordained for the performance of all this Vid. dinis supr pag. 182. Mount Sion here doth signifie the whole Church of God in the two houses of Jacob and Joseph as they are before distinguished that is the two Kingdomes of Iudah and Israel as they were divided under Rehoboam for Mount Sion was at first Caput imperii the head of the Empire the Saviours here mentioned are those that God imployed for the restablishment of the state of his Church and that Either in the procuration thereof Or in the execution of the same First In the procuration 1. Cyrus King of Persia hath the honour of the meanes of this favour for God stirred up the spirit of Cyrus King of Persia Ezra 1 1 c. and he confesseth that God The Lord of heaven gave him all the Kingdomes of the earth and charged him to build him an house at Ierusalem which is in Iudah and therefore by Proclamation he gave a large Commission to this purpose 2. The chiefe Fathers of Judah and Benjamin had the same motion from God to undertake this designe Verse 5. But Artaxerxes by a contrary Edict made this work to be given over cap. 4.17 3. Then God by the Prophecy of Haggai stirred up Zerubbabel and Ioshua the son of Iozedek to attempt the work This also was opposed and Darius then King of Persia was solicited against the Jewes to hinder their building so 4. Darius came in as a Saviour to help the people and confirmed the Decree of Cyrus cap. 6. according to that he found in the search of the Rolls and the work went on and the house of God was finished and dedicated 5. Ezra moved Artaxerxes and prevailed for a full grant both for the return of the people out of captivity and for the re-establishment of the worship of God at Ierusalem 6. Nehemiah mooveth Artaxerxes for the building again of the City of Ierusalem he prevaileth and they go to work and their enemies who by scornful speeches and violent opposinges hindred their building Nehem. 2. lost their labour These be the Saviours who by procuration did advance this work of God in his Church 2. By Execution all these concurred 1. Cyrus gave leave and meanes so did Artaxerxes and Darius restoring them the treasures of the Temple which Nebuchadnezzar had taken away and arming them with full Commission for all the helps that might advance that work 2. The Prophets of the Lord encouraged the work and Ezra the Scribe prayed and wept and mediated with the Kings 3. Zerubbabel Nehemiah and Joshua and the chief Fathers of the people laboured to hasten the execution of that work and for this all these are called here Saviours because God used them as his instruments in his preservation of his Church giving them the honour of his own proper appellation for in the fitnesse of the word and in the fulnesse of sense God only is properly and by peculiar prerogative capable of that great title as himself hath laid claime to it I Isa 43.11 Ose 13 4. even I and there is no Saviour besides me And he gave this title to his Son who thought it no robbery to be equall with God for he shall save his people These Saviours shall come upon Mount Sion to judge the Mount of Esau By the Mount of Esau Edom or the Idumaeans the posterity of Esau is understood throughout this Prophecy that people who as you heard dealt so cruelly with their brother Jacob in his posterity To judge this people is to execute those jugements upon them which God hath in this Prophecy threatned and elswhere as you have heard from other Prophets especially that of Balaam and of Ezechiel for God
Lords Trumpet dat sonum certum gives a certain sound Doct. 3. The preaching of all true and faithfull Ministers and Prophets accord to their instructions is rumor a Domino a rumor from the Lord and because weake and distressed Consciences do often heare suggestions of feare they must examine the rumor si a Domino if it be of the Lord. 2. The rumour was that God would punish Edom by war Doct. 1. All warres are ordained by God Doct. 2. God punisheth one evil Nation by another Doct. 3. Warre is one of Gods rods to punish sinne Doct. 4. The people of God may lawfully make warre 3. The effect of this warre ver 2. 1. From God I have made thee small 2. From man Thou art greatly despised In both Doct. God giveth warning of his judgements to those whom he foreseeth such as will not take warning to amend In the first God maketh small his enemies 1. God casteth down the proud Doct. In the second thou art despised 2. They that despise God shall be despised 2. The despaire of all their hopes five hopes 1. In the pride of their own hearts 2. In the safety of their dwelling ver 3 4 5 6. 3. In the strength of their confederates ver 7. 4. In their wisedome ver 8. 5. In the strength of their own men ver 9. 1. Hope in their own pride Doct. God resisteth the proud Pride is an abominable sin in the sight of God and it deceiveth man 2. Hope in the strength of their dwelling Doct. No place is safe without Gods protection for the hidden things of Esau shall be searched and found out 3. Hope in their confederates Doct. 1. God punisheth one sinne by another for the sinne of Edom in casting off their trust in God is punished by their trusting in men Doct. 2. God requiteth sinners with the same measure that they have measured to others Doct. 3. The falling out of these confederates with Edom sheweth that there is not true peace between the ungodly Doct. 4. Those who put their trust in men have no understanding 4. Hope in their wise men Doct. Humane wisdome and counsell against the Lord are no fense for any state 5. Hope in their strong men Doct. Vaine is the help of man against God 3. The cause provoking God to this severe prosecution of Edom. 1. Set down in generall termes ver â—0 2. In a particular description ver 11 12 13 14. 1. In generall they are charged with cruelty to their brother Jacob. 2. In particular they are charged 1. With cruelty of combination Doctr. They that joyne with others in action of murther or robbery are actually culpable as ayders abettors and maintainers of cruelty and wrong 2 With the cruelty of the eye Doctr. They that look upon the injuries done to their brethren with delight and without compassion or reliefe of them be equally culpable with them that wrong them 3. With the cruelty of the heart they rejoyced against their brethren Doctr. The heart of man affected to wrong though neither the head of counsell nor the hand of assistance joyne with it doth break the Law of charity 4. With the cruelty of the tongue Doctr. The proud words of the enemies of God do break peace and transgresse the current of charity 5. With cruelty of hands shewed in these things 1. Invasion of their City 2. Direption of their goods 3. Insidiation for life 4. Depopulation not sparing the residue Doct. Whatsoever is done against our brother in his person or in his goods breaketh the Law The Fourth part Gods revengement This containeth two things 1. A judgement of God revealed against the ungodly 2. A sweet consolation of the Church In the Iudgement I note six things 1. The Certainty the day set 2. The Propinquity near at hand 3. The extent to all the Heathen 4. The equity as thou hast done c. 5. The Contents they shall drink 6. The duration continually Doct. 1 God hath set a time to punish every sinne of the impenitent Doct. 2 That time is at hand Doct. 3 God doth punish those whom himselfe hath stirred up to be his instruments to punish others Doct. 4 God doth punish by retaliation Doct. 5 Though the judgement of God do begin at the House of God the wicked shall not go unpunished The judgement of the wicked and unmercifull Doct. 6 is without all mercy 2. The comfort of the Church 1. He speaketh of their judgement as past Doctrine Though the Church of God do live under the Crosse for a time it shall not be ever so Doctrine 2 He calleth Sion though thus layd waste his holy Mountaine Where God loveth once he loveth ever and though he afflicteth yet he loveth still 3. He revealth to his Church their owne deliverance and the destruction of their enemies Doctrine The Cup of wrath shall passe from the Church to her enemies the knowledge whereof is a great setling to the Church in comfort The second part of the Prophecy Containing the consolation of the Church against all her enemies wherein observe 1. A promise of restitution to their owne 2. Of victory against their enemies 3. The meanes ordained for thiâ— 1. In the promise of restitution Doct. 1 God requireth of them whom he delivereth from evils holinesse of life Doct. That God delivereth his Church first that after they may serve him 2. The victories of their enemies Doct. 1 The afflictions of the Church do turne to their greater good Doct. God punisheth the enemies of his Church by his Church against which they have formerly prevailed The Church hath good warrant to settle their faith in the assurance of this because the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Doct. 3 3. The meanes to effect this 1. Here is a promise of Saviours to them Doct. 1 Though God do long punish he doth ever love his people Doct. 2 Though God have all power and means under command yet he doth choose to make us instruments of his favour to one another men Saviours Doct. 3 We are taught to give due honour to the meanes of Gods favours by the example of Gods communicating to his instruments his owne great title of Saviours 2. Here is a promise of victory to his Church full victory They shall judge the mount of Esau Doct. Though the enemies of the Church do resist long yet God at last will give his Church a compleat victory over them all 3. The issue and effect of all The Kingdome shall be the Lords Doct. This is the proper worke and fruit of all Gods favours to his Church to advance the Kingdome of God on earth and to submit our selves a faithful subjects to the Dominion Thus have I drawn the the two breasts of this prophecy and milked it to you vâ—nite ad muâ—ctram for it hath two parts Binos alit utere faetus 1. Here is the Doctrine of Gods justice 2. The Doctrine of his mercy I have done more I have gathered the creame of this milke for these Doctrines which I have collected be Plos Lactis I confesse that I have studied this Prophecy with singular delight which hath turned the paines I took in it into sweet and gracious recreations for in this short only Chapter of this Prophecy Here is a sweet meeting 1. Of the Majesty and authority in the sender and fidelity in the Messenger 2. Of great substance and weight of matter with admirable oratory of words and sentences and with sweet disposition of order and method Righteousnesse and peace have kissed each other Righteousnesse punishing Edom and the Heathen and avenging the cause of Sion Peace establishing the Kingdome of God in the restauration of his Church The Prophecy is like a seasonable March it comes in like a Lyon to end Winter it goes out like a Lambe to bring in the cheerfull Spring For it begins at Bella horrida bella it ends with Peace be within thy borders and plenteousnesse within thy Palaces In the Title of this Prophecy which is called The Vision of Obadiah I can shew you the best Book in my Study and the light of all my Meditations even the Vision which God by his Spirit revealeth in my understanding to discerne what his will is and to suggest what I shall preach in his Church Great are the helpes of a plentifull Library to furnish us for this service but he that hath not the helpe of Vision from him that giveth eyes to the blind shall walke in the darke and not know whether he goweth I may say with S. Iohn What I have seen and heard that have I delivered unto you and I have no more to say of it but I wish the good will of him that dwelt in the Bush to second his outward Ordinance of semination with a blessing of encrease without which he that planteth is nothing he that watereth is nothing To him let us give the honour due to his name and say Gloria Patri Filio Spiritui Sancto Amen Amen Amen FINIS