wrath of God yea of the pure wine which is powred into the cup of his wrath and shal be tormented in fire and brimstone before the face of the Lambe c. Wherefore let vs learne this for our instruction and comfort that wee follow not the wicked to sin for fear of their plagues but continue in the obedience of the Lord that wee may be sure of that stay and comfort which is here promised to the faithfull Howbeit if there were no more comfort but this that our enimies should bee punished more then we it were not enough to countervaile the heavinesse of the crosse which in the mean while the godly must beare The Prophet goeth farther and raiseth vs vp higher in strong consolation setting before our eies the infinite ioies which the godly shal e◅e when being delivered from all afflictions they shall triumph over their enimies VERSE 17. 18. 17 But vpon mount Sion shal be deliverance and it shall be holy and the house of Iacob shall possesse their possessions 18 And the house of Iacob shal be a fire and the house of Ioseph a flame and the house of Esau stubble they shall kindle in them and devour them and there shal be no remnant of the house of Esau for the Lord hath spoken it THE first sense and meaning of these words is that the Ievves which should be carried captiue to Babylon should returne again to their owne land and destroie the Idumeans By mount Sion the fortresse of Ierusalem the beauty of Iewrie is meant all the land of Iudea and there by all the people By these wordes then but vpon mount Sion c. The Prophet meant that the Iewes should be delivered out of captivitie clensed frō their sinnes become holy righteous reposs◅sse their possessions and by adding that the house of Iacob should be a fire c. and Esau stubble that they should bee kin◅led and burne and be consumed till none were left aliue and that the Iewes with the Israelites should destroy the I dumeans even as the flame and fire consumeth the stubble till none be left which the Prophet sealeth with this infallible marke the Lord hath spoken it As it hath beene said before that the temporal things in the old Testament are figures vnto vs of things spirituall so is there in these words another further mea ning then that which I haue opened namely that the Church of GOD shall at length bee delivered from bondage and clensed from sinne ēdued with holines and so recover that everlasting inheritance which they were deprived of and that they shall adiudge the wicked vngodly all their enimies vnto eternal fire whereby they shall all be consumed And in this sense is that liuely doctrine fully verified which in the other is not so fully Wherein as in a picture slenderly shadowing the lineaments some part only is obscurely expressed For although the Iewes after their returne conquered the Edomites yet were they not consumed as that none of them remained For Iosephus writeth that some leved even at the sacking of Ierusalem to ◅indle and set on fire the Iewes Wherefore the especiall meaning of this place is that the Church of GOD shall be delivered from the captivitie wherein it is held endued with holines inherite heaven whence they were exiled their inheritance and consume till none of them be left because the Lord hath said it The Church of God therefore that is all the godly shall be delivered the enimies from whom their sins the chaines and bands from which they shall bee loosed are the paines and torments due vnto sinne These cords are loosed when wee beleeue and embrace the Gospell wherein Christ Iesus is preached vnto vs who saveth vs from our sinnes and from the consequents of our sinnes and as they who were caried away captiues returned to their possessions who were content to receiue the proclamation of Cyrus so all such as vpon the proclamation of Christs Gospell receiue and embrace the same are most sure to be delivered This deliverance is to returne back from Babylon to Ierusalem that is from the captivitie and slaverie of this world to the kingdome of heaven In those which are thus to be delivered there is required holines of life For so also it is said in the gospell that we are delivered from our sinnes to serue God in holinesse c. and it shall be well saith the Prophet but to whom to the iust and holy not the wicked prophane to such as are careful to performe their duty towards GOD and man to such as sanctifie the Lord in their soule and bodie There is a book of remembrance written before the LORD but it is for them that feared him thought vpon the Lord there is life for them that seek immortalitie and glorie c. Let vs then assure our selues that if we meane to attaine deliverance and the fruit thereof the repossessing of our inheritance wee must be holy and iust yer we bee delivered from the hands c. For although it may be that some of them were not holy at such time as they were dispossessed yet needs must they be holy before they can possesse them againe Such were some of you saith Paul but yee are washed let this then be especially noted of vs that none can receiue the crowne but such as fight The possessions are the kingdome of heaven w◅ich wee possesse by inheritance No Canaanite or polluted person cā enter into the Lords inheritance into the kindome of heavē And as the godly are delivered so is there another benefit promised thē namely that for their sakes the wicked shal be consumed For it is said the house of Iacob shal be fire Where first we may note the Emphaticall speach whē he saith the house of Iacob shal be a fire when he meaneth that it shal be like the name of the thing as it is vsuall being put for that which is Resembled to it Which indeed were not worthy the noting but for the fanaticall Imagination of Transubstātiation which they wil needes proue for that it is said This is my body whence they conclude that therefore it is his body indeed But so might we hence also gather that the house of Iacob was fire indeed c. For all mysticall speeches bee not like to that of our Saviour yet this is common to them that the names of the signes are given to the thing signified so Christ is called a Vine his Father a husbandman his Disciples branches and if the Papists had had any occasion to maintaine any errour on this place of the Prophet as they haue vpon that of our Saviour they might hence with greater shew haue gathered that Edom was transubstantiated into stubble for that it is in the Hebrew that Edom shall not only be stubble but into stubble For their owne Schoolemen confesse that those words of Christ doe not proue that the bread becommeth
equally in time and weight as though you should say that tenne thousand poundes were equall in time and weight to his workes that had laboured one houre But I come farre below in this comparison for there is some proportion betweene an houres worke and the greatest summe of mony for they be finite but betweene the everlasting endlesse and infinite ioy of heaven and mans workes that is betweene finite infinite there is no proportion But how could it be that any men should thus speake if the spirit of Antichrist had not thus puft them vp to vtter such blasphemte in the pride of their hearts But what shall I say when the same men in their notes on the 8. Rom. grant that if we looke to the time the ioy of heaven is a great deale more here forsooth flee they to the grace of GOD but they must consider that grace serveth them not that they may claime it by desert for whatsoever good the servants of GOD do it is by grace yet is it said when they haue done all that is commaunded they haue done but their duty and that which they owed to the Lord. So that seeing we do but our duty there is not owing to vs so much as thankes and doth then GOD owe vs the reward of eternal ioie The maÌ„ that payeth no more then that he oweth doth his creditour owe him anything for the payment of it vnlesse he count him indebted to him as he in the poet said for that the world is so nought that a man thinketh himâ—…elfe pleasured that receiveth in debts But seeing we can never pay all for who can say my heart is cleane I haue not sinned And if we haue not fulfilled the whole law done all that it commandeth wâ—… haue not paide our debt how then can wee come hereby to merit it or buy it as it were which yet though wee had most absolutely kept should be ours but by promise But how farre fâ—…om this presumption was Ioh when he said that if GOD would enter into iudgement with him he were not able to answer no not one for a thou sand How farre was David when hee said that in his sight no man living was iustified How farre was Paule when he said that none were righteous therefore con cluding that all both Iew Gentile are iustified freely by grace For to him that worketh the wages is couÌ„ted for debt not of favour But to Abraham was faith imputed for righteousnes And where the Apostle saith slatly that there is no man iust and that no flesh is iustified they say that the Virgin Mary and Apostles must needs be exempted out of this number but if it be not so that it is verified of all then is the Apostles argun eÌ„t to no purpose neither can tâ—…e conclusion which hee lâ—…boureth to proue be so inferred which is that by the workes of the law no flesh can be iustified â—…ut let vs bee assured tâ—…at whatsoever they say though they speake never so proudly yet the time shall come when this doctrine by the breath of the Lord shall bee brought to the ground Neither doe I here enter into the depth of their pride as concerning supererogation For herein haue they set their neasts not among but aboue the starres When they say that men may not only merit for theÌ„selues but the abundance thereof is sufficient for other men also But is not this to build vp to Babel is not this pride like that of Pharaoh who hoped by his owne strength to passe over there where others had passed over by grace and favour Is it not with Iezebel to set a colour and paint on our foule faces But the builders of Babel were confounded Pharaoh drowned Iezebel after shee had painted her face was cast downe from the windowe and had her braines dashed out These men that thinke it a beggarly thing to receaue the kingdome of heauen of almes shall never haue it of debt for those that say in the pride of their heart c. Lastly here we haue to marke that the Lord is said to be the author of this vengeance and yet it was said before that this should be brought to passe by nations stirred vp against Edom and sending messengers from one to another to provoke them to battell against the Idumeans whereas in the 2 and 3 verses he saith I will where we are taught that although it pleased GOD to vse men as instruments to bring his purposes to effect yet would he haue all the glory to bee proper and peculiar to himselfe For though the instrument worke yet sith the whole efficacie commeth from him therefore the whole glory ought to be giuen to him and not to the instrument In the 63 of Isaiah the Prophet demandeth who it is that commeth from Edom and why his garments bee redde Whereby answering to the question hee sheweth that it is Christ and that his garments are red because he alone had tâ—…n the winepresse and of all the nations there was not one with him which is meant of treading the Edomites and enimies of his Church and bringing them to confusion Yet he saith he trode the presse alone not that he vseth not messengers as is meÌ„tioned in this Prophet or other meanes as seemeth best to him but for that the force and efficacie alone proceedeth from him So that for this cause he is said alone to worke For Paul indeed planteth and Apollo watereth but neither he that planteth is any thing neither he that watereth is any thing but God that giueth the increase is he that worketh all in all things In the 5 of Luke the Apostles laboured all night and caught nothing but when at Christ his commandement they had let fall their nets for a draught the net was filled with fiâ—…h The King prepareth an host against the day of battell but the victory is from the LORD No king is saved by the multitude of an host A horse is countâ—… a vaine thing to helpe a man c. Wherefore that was a prophane thing of Nebuchadnezzar who when he had taken the Iewes as fishes in a net hee sacrificed to his net and offered incense vnto his yarne prophane was that opinion of the Gentiles attributing their prosperitie to fortune And that of Varro who attributed the successe of husbandry to water Whereas they might haue learned by that ceremonie which the Romans vsed in their triumph that the successe of things was to be attributed to GOD. For the Lawrell crownes which they carried when they ascended into the Capitoll and sacrificed to Iupiter they laid downe in the lap of Iupiter as 〈◊〉 recorded But let vs remember that the 24. Elders 〈◊〉 wâ—…e their crownes at the feet of the 〈◊〉 Now as all glâ—…ry is due vnto GOD so on the other side we â—…ust remember that hee calleth Ministers to do his work who must not
haue not refused thee but me But this fully performed and perfected in the deliverance of our soules by Christ who himselfe preached to the lost sheepe of the house of Israel and then by his Apostles sent from mount Sion into all the world and so were Idumea Palestina c. subiected when all were ioined to make one flock As also the kingdome is Christs king of all kings Lord of all Lords of whom the Angel said that he should raigne for ever And out of controversie the Prophet meant not so much the former bodily as the latter spirituall deliverance and restitution even as the event plainly shewed For although that the men of Iuda returned vnder Nehemiah c. yet the people of Israel were never so restored so that assuredly wee are to thinke that by corporall benefits spirituall blessings are signified By the Iewes and the Israelites the spirituall seed of Abra ham by repossession of Canaan the possession of the graces of the holy Ghost A misterie touched before and to be had in remembrāce for the better vnderstanding of Moses and the Prophets For it pleased GOD by liuely figures to foster the expectation which his people had of Christ. Ioseph and Sampson the one a Nazarite of his brethren the other for his brethren figures of Christ who should come out of Nazareth as the Evāgelists shew sold by his brethren as Ioseph slaine for their salvation as Sampson Blood on the posts Angell must not touch those that are marked with Christs blood The high Priest with all his ornaments figures of his redemption as the Apostle to the Hebrews sheweth Serpent exalted Christ raised on the crosse the sting of the Serpent dragon in the Reve. shall not hurt vs looking on him that saueth vs from all our sinnes For as Moses brought the Israelites to the border of Canaan and sight of it but none except Iosua could bring them into possession of it so the law may shew vs the blessings and promises of GOD but Christ by his gospell maketh vs enioy them So Davids stone refused Ionah in the belly of the whale his torments Christs death and resurrection And even so these things here handled are by the Apostles expounded of Israel and Iudah according to the faith That place of Isaiah 9. Zabulon and Nepthalie Mat. 4. when the light of the truth shone amōgst them That which is in the last of Amos Iames 5. Acts 9. applied not only to Israel according to the flesh but according to the spirit also In the place where it was saide yee are my people fulfil led in Christians when they are called the sonnes of GOD. As Iames Paul Matthew expoūded those so we these Namely that both the Iews Gentiles chosen to be the people of GOD shal repossesse that which was signified by the land of Canaan of which wee were deprived by our owne sinnes Which opinion is diligently to be marked against the franticke dreames of Iewish Rabbines who dreaming their men that now liue to bee they who should bee thus set in possession doe not expound that which here is said of such as were led captiue of them that Salmanasar and Nebuchadnezzar led away but of those that Titus in the destructiō of Ierusalem made captiues And because they saw themselues since dispersed through diverse parts of the Empire by Canaan they say is here vnderstood Germanie by Zarephath ◅rance and by Sepharad Spaine And so when it is said they should possesse the South side and the plaine they say is meant that they shall not haue the hils which are not for tilling but the plaine and bottomes of the hills Against which peevish exposition we need not say much onely we may note that it cannot stand with the circumstances of the text For when it is said this host it is evident that hee spoke of his owne time that is of such as presently were here caried into captivity 2. Zarephath is elsewhere in Scripture 1. King 17. Gen. 10. set downe for the border of as for that which they allege out of a tradition that with thē the names signifie these countries so deserue they to be blinded that beleeue such dreames For they say that when Iosua expelled the Cananites many of them fled into Germanie whereas in the 1. 2. 3. of Iudges it is said of such as were not slaine that they remained in this and that tribe 3. Where here the Prophet speaketh of Iudah and Ierusalem as of two distinct parts it is manifest that Titus only led away them of Ierusalem For the Israelites after their captivitie by Salmanasar were never restored 4. Where they adde that Zepharad being a proper name commeth neer to the name wherewith they call Spaine it is plaine that although the Chaldee Paraphrast expoundeth it as a proper name yet is not the name of Spaine and it might be the name of some place then knowne that now is not But the Hebrew word may be taken for a common name signifying as much as a bond or limite of dominion being made of two words which haue that signification But these be like the dreames of their Ancestours of the sitting at the right and left hand in the kingdome and of the Chiliasts and Mahomet whose blisse they say shall be to pamper vp their bellies c. But the Prophet meant spirituall blessings the ioy of the faithfull in the service of GOD and glorie of the Saints which was begunne by Christ at his first comming is continued by his servants till his latter comming which shall be then perfected Iohn saw scaled not onely of the twelue tribes but of all tongues A point to reioice in as 13. Acts the Gentiles were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. By this meanes the true Israelites are admitted to partake of the twelue tribes and of those trees that grow on both sides the river The meanes by which all this shall bee accomplished is lastly set downe by Saviours comming vp to Sion This in figure was performed when Zerubbabel with the rest came vp from Babylon to build Ierusalem these which restored that citie and temple are called Saviours as in truth such as restore vs to our ancient inheritance c Properly indeed none but GOD can be called a Saviour as in Isaiah and Hosea I even I there is no Saviour besides me but hee is so called as a principallagent men as ministeriall instruments So the name of Iesus proper to our Saviour because hee should saue his people Otherwise Paul exhorteth Timothie for so shalt thou saue thy selfe and them that heare thee so all the ministers of the gospel yea all Christians after a sort are called Saviours as Iames 5. If any erre from the truth another convert him let the same know that he shall saue a soule from death and cover a multitude of sinnes Which is vnderstood of every one that by admonishing another keepeth
to the executing of it The Earles of Northumberland and West-merland in armes with thousands of rebels When they were fled and scattered their outrage renued by Dacres and his legion The Bull it selfe proclaimed as it were by â—…elton to gather more conspiratours to it All in vaine still For the hand of the Lord was over his handmaid and made his word good that the vndeserved curse came not vpon her 〈◊〉 came to them who louedit they were clothed with it as with a garment Now what should I say of the traitours in Ireland of Stukeley the rakehell the Popes Irish Marques sent thither to subdue it slaine in Barbarie by the way of Sanders the Priest the firebraÌ„d of sedition dead there agreeably to his life of the arch rebels the Earle of Desmond and his brother served both like Sheba of the whole rabble of their mates and souldiers Italian Spanish Irish feeling by the vengeance of deserved miseries the folly and fâ—…ie of their â—…ewd attempts What of the brainesicke youth Summerfields Whose enterprise in substance like vnto Achitophels did purchase Achitophels event and end vnto him What of Parry the proud miscreant who hauing opportunity to worke his divelish vow being resolute to do it the Pope incensing him with allowance of the fact plenary pardoÌ„ of his sins the Cardinal of Como with coÌ„meÌ„datioÌ„ request the Papists some with counsel some with praier for him some with remeÌ„braÌ„ce at the altar Allens traiterous libel making it cleere in his coÌ„science that it was lawful and meritorious every word therein a warrant to a mind prepared there was but a step between her death had not God bewrayed him by his IonathaÌ„ by the haÌ„d of iustice given him that meed which his vow did merit An intent as mischievous more poteÌ„t means had the next conspiracie which dealt in before by Fr. ThorckemortoÌ„ was after prosecuted by others The Popes aide as alwaies ready to gaine kingdomes the Spanish Kings assistaÌ„ce the Duke of Guyse with forces to invade the realm the plots of coasts havens for his fit arrival the names of RecusaÌ„ts with hope of their furtheraÌ„ce the heathens â—…aging the people murmuring kings baÌ„ding theÌ„selus princes taking couÌ„sel against the Lord his anointed Yet eveÌ„ in that also were their powers policys never so out-reaching there shewed himselfe aboue theÌ„ a mightier wiser who sitteth in the heauens laugheth theÌ„ to scorne discovering and dispersing the smoaky puffes of their endevors Which of his accustomed goodnes and bounty he hath done in this to the last I beseech God it be the last that now he hath disclosed In the discomfiting wherof of the former his out-stretched arme hath appeared the more glorious because the vnderminers of her Maiesties state haue cloaked their attempts with pretence of ReligioÌ„ salvation of souls most suttle means forcible to inveigle men to steale away her subiects hearts froÌ„ hir haue reconciled theÌ„ to hir deadly enimie as to their soveraign Pastor made theÌ„ sure vnto him by badges pledges of halowed graines of medals of beads of Agnus-deis of crucifixes of pictures with Fili da mihi cor tuuÌ„ et sufficit Son giue me thy heart it sufficeth other such spiritual sorceries A practise more dangerous theÌ„ any of Davids adversaries did vse yea theÌ„ Abso lom himselfe the cunningst of theÌ„ all who had no High Priests that woulde take vpon theÌ„ to depose David nor meritoriousnesse to see devils incarnate with to murder him nor autorities for Harding others to assoile theÌ„ that would revolt froÌ„ him nor faculties for Parsons Campian to instruct theÌ„ to obey or rebell as things should fall out nor Iesuits Seminary Priests like the Donatists to spread seditious doctrine and beare the world in hand that wheÌ„ they were punished for it they were Martyrs Wherefore al the words of the text that I treate of which doe lay before vs the most provident care fatherly loue of God in saving delivering our most excellent Princesse out of the hand of her enimies of Papists of Atheists of Malecontents base noble secret open external domesticall are fulfilled verified in our eares this day It remaineth that the rest which concerne our duty to God for this benefit be likewise fulfilled verified in our eares or in our hearts rather nay both in harts bodies also The foremost degree step wherevnto is to acknowledge that the Lord our blessed strength our mighty God is the autor of 〈◊〉 it is he that liveth that saveth his anointed that giueth her reveÌ„gemeÌ„ts that bringeth people vnder her that deliuereth her froÌ„ her enimies froÌ„ the cruell man that exalteth her aboue theÌ„ who rise vp against hir that giueth great deliverances sheweth mercy to her yea to al his servants the childreÌ„ of God the seed of Christ for ever And this hath our Soveraigne provoked vs to do by her owne example ascribing not only the present detection apprehension of traitours to the great singular goodnes of God but also the infinit blessings laid vpon her as many as ever Prince had yea rather as ever creature had The Lord hath indued her Maiesties person with most rare prudence her state with CouÌ„sailers very wise faithfull her Realme with many thousands of dutiful loving subiects Nor is it to be doubted out that sundry circumspect eies loiall hands of these haue bin occupied in finding out bringing to light the conspiracy Yet because the Lord is the father of lights what hath any maÌ„ that he hath not received neither caÌ„ he effectuate ought with that he hath except the Lorde blesse it except the Lord build the house they labor in vain that build it except the Lord keepe the city the keeper watcheth in vaine therefore doth her Highnes in the meanes theÌ„selues aboue the means acknowledge the working of the principall agent vnder whose protection her selfe resteth safe seeth vengance powred on theÌ„ that wish her evill Which I woulde to God the disloiall harts if there be any more yet of that brood of Cockatrices did acknowledge also as the Prophet willeth did weigh it with theÌ„selues thinke vpon their bed of it Then were it to be hoped that in consideration thereof they would be still and after his example whose advise that is detest the very breath of such as make mention of laying violent hands vpon the Lords anointed For though it were true as the traiterous libeller endeavoureth to perswade men that the Popes sentence against her were as lawfull as Samuels was against Saul which yet is most false and proued so to be but grant it were true yet had they to remember that David did refraine to lay hands on Saul after Samuels
Christ his body It is said that the godly shall cōsume thē c. Which is also meant when it is said that Christ shall Receiue his chosen to iudge the world which is not only ment of the Apostles but of all the Saints As S. Paul saith know yee not that the Saints shall iudge the Angels the wicked Angels God indeed is he who iudgeth but because he worketh it for his chosen sake they are said to do it As it is said that whatsoever is done to one of the little ones is done to him and whosoever Receiveth the Apostles Receiveth him because this is done for his sake So that it is attributed to the godly which GOD doth for their cause As it is in the commandement honor thy Father c that thy daies may be long The words are that they may prolong thy daies That is thy parēts not as though they could do it but for that the parents pray to GOD for the prosperity of their obedient children which they therefore are said to work because God for their sake doth it In the 16 of Luke we are commanded to make vs friends of the vnrighteous mammon that when we haue need they may Receiue vs into their habitations not as if the poore and needy whom we helpe should do it but for that GOD for their sakes doth it Even so is it here said that the people of GOD should consume their enimies because God would do it for their sakes which is gathered by the Apostle that our God is a consuming fire The last point which is the seale of all is this the Lord hath spoken it This is the onely ankerhold indeed in all tempests For if we would leane on the words of man let vs remember they are lyers Flesh and bloud is not sufficient to assure and strengthen vs but onelie the word of the Lord who performeth all that he saith who is not as man to lie nor as mortall man that he should repent shall he speake and not performe For so certainely as he cannot deny himselfe so certainely wil he performe what he saith Which his name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he here vseth confirmeth vnto vs. As he saith to Moyses I haue appeared to thē not in my name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but in my name Iehovah which is hee that maketh his promises to be and so would he then be called for that hee would then make good the things which hee had before promised In like manner let vs remember that hee hath appeared vnto vs in his name Almighty in the workes of his creation and regeneration but in his good time he will appeare to vs in his name Iehovah and most certainely perfourme all his promises VERSE 19. 20. 21. 19 And they shall possesse the South with the mount of Esau and the plaine with the Philistines and they shall possesse the fieldes of Ephraim with the fields of Samaria with Beniamin and Gilead 20 And this host caryed into captivity of the children of Israel shall possesse that which was the Cananites vnto Zarephath and they of Ierusalem that were caryed into captivity shall possesse that which is in Shepharad with the cities of the South 21 And Saviours shall come vp to mount Sion to iudge the mount of Esau and the kingdome shal be the Lords OF these three verses the two former are diverslie translated expounded by reason of the diverse significations of the words And the difficulty seemeth to bee such in my eies that I dare not take on mee particularly to avouch the meaning of the Prophet in each word but submitting my selfe to your iudgements to any that shal yeeld reason of any other exposition I will impart vnto you that which in my opinion see meth most likely Which is that which agreeth with the circumstances of the text and generall drift of the Prophet Which is evident by that which hath beene set downe already and that which is afterwards added in the last verse So that wee shall not greatly erre if in in this or that particular word we hit not on the particular meaning of the Prophet so long as we keep the generall doctrine without errour It hath beene said before that the seed of Iacob should possesse their ancient inheritance and destroie their enimies These points are here againe handled but so that it is promised they should not onely repossesse their ancient right but also much more by extending the bonds and limits of their possessions every way The land of promise is so situated that it hath on the South the land of the Idumeans called here the mount of Esau on the West a low plain which was the country of the Philistines on the North lay Ephraim and Samaria and on the East Gilead c. as Iosua the best Geographer hath taught vs. The meaning is then that looke how farre the borders of their dominions in former times extended so much should they repos sesse yea that they should stretch out farther on every side and possesse much more Samaria is here mentioned with certaine shiers as it were on the north because of the difficultie which seemed to be in winning them for that the king of Assyria hauing taken Samaria and led away the people captiue had peopled that citie and the countrie about with many strangers And for the like cause it may seeme that Beniamin is here named for that being little and seated among many enimies they were in greatest danger to be dispossessed c. had they not receaued this pro mise that evē their borders by the seed of Iacob should be inhabited Now whereas they were divided into two people Israel and Iudah the Israelites were caried away captiues by Salmanasar and Iudah by Nabuchadnezzar Wherefore in the words following the promise is made vnto both laying downe the borders of both the kingdomes c. This being laid downe followeth the other point of the destruction of the enimies Saviours shall come vp to mount Sion to iudge the mount of Esau. Where by the name of Saviour the rules and governours are meant for to iudge is to rule and execute iudgement in right of the oppressed as it is commonly vsed in the booke of Iudges And this they shall doe by comming vp to Sion the strongest fort in Iewrie Finally the kingdome it is said shall be the LORDS to note the happy state of the faithfull having such a one for the governour so mightie and therefore able so mercifull and therefore willing to keep them safe from all evill and to participate with them all good things The performance of al this was in part represented by the bodily restitution of Iudah and Beniamin when by proclamation of Cyrus Zerubabel Ioshua c. came and built Ierusalem and continued by Iudas Macabeas who iudged the Edomites and so are these called Saviours where notwithstanding GOD doth this by them his lieutenants as he also said to Samuel they
him or withdraweth him from sinne Some saue with feare pulling them out the fire of Iude. Which is the dutie of every Christian man For that is a question worthy of Cain am◅ the keeper of my brother There should bee such a care in vs towards our brethren as was in Ioseph who not onely dealt with his father for them but counselled thē not to fall out by the way Would to GOD we had many Iosephs and few Cains who when they haue murthered their brethren demand whether they are their keepers Now if this bee required of all how much more of Ministers into whose mouth the word of salvatiō is put For which cause Timothie is expresly warned to continue in exhortation c. for so hee should saue himselfe and his hearers ... if he doe not exhort c. and continue therein he is no saviour but a destroyer The condition of his owne salvation is this if thou doe thus thou shalt saue thy selfe else not Let thē then which are in that place which Timothie was in consider to what they are called even to teach and exhort that not only all in generall but every particular wicked man As GOD giveth in commandement to his Prophet If thou tell the wicked man if not his blood shall be required at thy hand What then shall become of such watchmen as either cannot or doe not warne of the vnlearned that can only read and not teach of dumbe dogges that cannot barke non residents who teach not at all though they preach their Quarter sermons yet are not such as performe the commandement of Paul to cōtinue But such Shepheards shal haue their portiō with goats and not with the sheepe Both the blind and the blind guid shall fall into the ditch They also who are to bee taught are here to leatne their duty For if none can be saved but such as cal vpon the name of the Lord and none can cal on him that beleeue not and none can beleeue vnlesse they heare it is evident that if we will bee saved wee must heare 2. Kin. g 4. The Sunamite telleth her husband that shee would go to the mā of GOD he asketh her what she wil doe seeing it was neither the sabaoth nor new moone Whereby we gather that it was the vse of this good womā at such time to resort to Carmel where the Prophets did then vse to instruct the people in faith religion There be few women amongst vs like this Sunamite she went certaine miles these wil not walk a few paces to heare the same doctrine which shee learned As for the men of this Citie neither will they take the paines to come I would they did provide that the mā of GOD might come to thē or that there were in thē that loue to Gods Ministers which was in this woman who provided for Elizeus a chamber a bed c. that whē he came that way he might come in and abide there It was said that this matter was in good forwardnesse but is hindred if so be it be I must say as Paul O yee foolish Galathians who hath bewitched you that having begun in the spirit you would now be made perfect by the flesh made you such account of your hogges that for them you request Christ to depart from your coasts Wee should here speake of the second effect of GODS word whereby it is a savour of death in them that perish whē it is said they shal iudge Esau. But of this hath beene spoken heretofore It remaineth then to say somewhat of the last point which is of Gods kingdome whereof I need not speake because wee are taught dayly in our petition to say thy kingdome come Only consider what a happines it is to be of that kingdome If the Queen of Saba thought Solomons servants happy that had him to rule them how much more they which haue a greater then Solomon Christ Iesus the Lord of Lords and king of kings Wherefore we are willingly to submit ourselues to his commandements GOD forbid any of vs should say why should this man raigne over vs No greater selicitie then to bee vnder his gracious peaceable and righteous governement For if wee feele some tast of comfort in the government of Q. Elizabeth what and how great shall wee enioy vnder him Which the Lord in goodnes make vs partakers of Amen FINIS A SERMON VPON PART OF THE eighteenth Psalme PREACHED TO THE PVBLIKE assembly of Scholers in the Vniversity of Oxford the last day of August 1586. BY JOHN RAINOLDES Vpon occasion of their meeting to giue thankes to God for the detection and apprehension of Traitours who wickedly conspired against the Queenes Maiestie and the state of the Realme PSAL. 20. 6. Now know I that the Lord doth saue his annointed doth heare him out of his holy heavens by excellent strength the safegard of his right hand Printed at Oxford by Ioseph Barnes 1613. IOHN RAINOLDS TO THE REAder grace and peace in Christ. THE reasons that moved mee good Christian Reader to preach this short Sermon vpon shorter warning then gladlie I would haue prevailed with me to set it downe in writing also at more leasure and to publish it For both the godly subiects may be stirred vp thereby to greater thankefulnes for the manifolde blessings that God by her Maiesties meanes and in her safety hath bestowed vpon vs and the discontented may be put in minde to content thēselues with the w◅ters of Shiloah albeit running softly least the great and mighty waters of the River goe over all their bankes breake into Iuda and overflow it The former whereof I know that I cannot be deceived in because raine and snow do not fal in vaine vpon fruitful ground In the latter I hope I shall not altogither Vnlesse with Religion both wit and reason haue forsaken them that they care as little for honestly as for piety for profit as for honesty For what can they looke for at the hands of foreiners though knit in never so strait confederacie with them ioined in profession of the same faith or perfidiousnes rather of the falsly named Catholike religiō more then the Iews had of the Assyrians By whom for all their altar erected to the patterne of the Assyrian at Damascus they were often grievously vexed and pilled When the citizens of Papia in Italie were at dissension by reason of the faction betweene the G◅lphes the Gibellines the Gibellines procured a favorer of theirs called Facinus Canis to come and assist thē with a power of men vpon agreement and covenant that hee should haue the goods of the Guelohes for his pay But he being come once into the city with his men of warre spared neither of them his souldiours would be serued Wherof when the Gibellines did complaine vnto him saying that their goods too were spoiled against agreemēt he answered that themselues were Gibellines and shoulde be safe