Aegypt so we at the administration of the other might remember Christ by whom we are saved from our enemies and from the hands of all that hate us This Supper is not onely a representing a sealing and a conveying signe but a commemorative signe Do this in remembrance of me saith Christ There is no Gospell-ordinance whether prayer reading or hearing of the Word but there is such mention made of Christ as we ought to remember him But this ordinance of the Supper hath this signall note of excellency stamped upon it above all a speciall charge from Christ to remember him when that is administred Do this in remembrance of me for as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye shew that is ye make a commenoration of the Lords death till he come Sometimes that we may come to the subject matter intended God appointed Records and Registers of his mercies Histories and Journalls of the noble acts and loving kindnesses of the Lord to his people to be kept and conveyed to posterity that the generations to come might know them even the children that should be born who should arise and declare them to their children Thus the Lord commanded that the History of Amalek should be written in a Book their malice and Gods mercy their war and overthrow and it must be rehearsed to posterity that it might never be forgotten What this Book was we shall not much enquire Some say it was the Book of Jasher mentioned Josh chap. 10. which was a Chronicle of the acts of the people of the Lord which is lost Some say it was the Book of the Judges Some say it was a Book of the Battails of the Lord mentioned Numb 21. 14. Others and that most probably that it was no other but this Book of Exodus Junius and Calvin But why this History must be written in a Book is more worthy of our inquiry and more sutable to our purpose And the reasons may be these two 1. That a thankfull remembrance of so great a deliverance from so malicious an enemy might be continued in the generations following 2. That the people of God knowing what sentence was denounced against Amalek which should be executed in due time as it was in the Reign of Saul might be the better encouraged to fight against them and through faith expect the victory over them And thus in this Chapter God would have the Journals of the people of Israel from Aegypt to the Land of Canaan recorded that the great things God had done for them by the way might not be forgotten for so it is said in the Text. Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandement of the Lord. In this Chapter two parts are observable 1. An Israelitish Journall is recorded from vers 1 to v. 50. 2. A direction is given them concerning their proceedings in and with the Land of Canaan Which is threefold 1. That they should cast out the inhabitants v. 52 53. 2. That they should destroy their idols v. 52. 3. That they should divide the Land amongst them by lot v. 54. The two former whereof are seconded with a most sharp threatning that if they did not punctually observe Gods command therein 1. For the present that people should prove a continuall snare unto them 2. For the future what God had intended to these their enemies should fall upon their own heads all this to the end of the ch In the Israelitish Journall two things are to be considered 1. The duty is in generall propounded v. 1 2. 2. You have an Historicall enumeration of their severall Journeys in v. 2. In which three things are to be noted 1. The matter that stands upon record and that is their journeys according to their goings out 2. The Scribe that recorded them and that was Moses Moses wrote c. 3. The authority by which he did it and that was the commandement of the Lord he had very good warrant for what he did The first of these namely the matter that stands upon record their journeys is that which I shall principally take notice of In which Journall this is observable That there is not onely a particular relation of the place from which and the place to which they journeyed as from Rameses to Succoth c. but also a singular mention is made of all the great passages of Gods good hand of providence over them together with their murmurings and rebellions by which they provoked him All which are in this ch implyed and some particulars are expressed as you may finde v. 9 14 38 40. This ch being but a short Epitome or abridgement of the whole History So that in the Israelitish Journall you shall finde how here God gave them bread from heaven there water out of the rock in one place he delivered them from the violence of the mighty waters in another from the fury of their potent enemies Now he saved them from the cruelty of the Aegyptians at another time from the malice of the Amalekites and soon after from the sting of the fiery Serpents To day he gives them Manna and Quails good food for their hungry bodies to morrow he delivers them his Law with many divine ordinances and statutes for the good of their souls In all their goings out he afforded them plentifull pledges of his care of them bounty to them and patience towards them Who notwithstanding the many grievous sins by which they provoked him being full of compassion forgave their iniquities and destroyed them not yea many a time he turned away his anger and did not stir up all his wrath for he remembred that they were but flesh c. By this time we are come to the Observation that is intended and may hence be collected and that is this To keep a Journall or Diary by us especially of all Gods gracious dealings with us is a work for a Christian of singular use I say of Gods gracious dealings with us in a more especiall manner because it is good also to observe and keep a good account of the severall occurrences of the Times we meet with as they have reference to the Countrey and Nation we live in It is good to keep an History a Register a Diary an Annales not onely of the places in which we have lived but of the mercies that have been bestowed on us continued to us all our dayes This was the practice of David the Servant of the Lord who made a Psalm and Song in the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul Moses writes his Book called Deuteronomy which is nothing else but a repetition of the Journeys of the people of Israel and the great things God had done for them in their goings out to that day There was scarce any thing in Israel but was typicall their Meats their Drinks their Mannâ— their water out of
have proved the instrument of preserving his Father and his family from perishing in the famine and providing for them a dwelling place in the Land of Aegypt And yet God made choyce of him Amongst all the Sons of Jesse even Samuel the Seer would not have chosen David the youngest and the least regarded and therefore set to keep the sheep to be the man whom God would anoint amongst his Brethren to be King of Israel And yet God made choyce of him and leaves Eliab and Shammah and Abinadab though proper persons great Souldiers and prime Courtiers When this David was sent by his Father into the Camp to visit his Brethren none would have judged him a fit man to encounter with Goliah yea even Saul himself could not believe it Thou art not able saith he to go out against this Philistine to fight with him for thou art but a youth and he is a man of war from his youth And yet God chose him as the man that should slay that Giant and save Israel that day Jethro a Midianite shall give good counsel to Moses and Gideon shall be fetcht from the threshing floor and made Captain Generall over all the forces of Israel he shall save them from the hands of the Midianites and that with three hundred men alone This God doth not onely to magnifie his power and wisdome whose wayes and thoughts are above ours past finding out often secret but alwayes just but to check the haughty thoughts of proud man who is ready to limit the holy one of Israel and to conclude that if God go not his way to work that cannot be effected which is promised and expected It was the fault of good Melancthon though a man of excellent parts and very serviceable for Christs cause who was extreme pensive for fear of some sad issues of the great meeting at Auspurge who though very humble yet had this pride his projects must like the counsels of God unerringly and unchangeably stand or the cause was lost whereupon Luther wished Spalatinus his friend to exhort him yea charge him in his name Nefiat Deus that he make not himself a god It was as some have observed the proud humour of Ferdinand Alvares Duke de Alva to neglect the advice of others if beneath him though never so good and would rather stumble then beware of that block that another had warned him of because he scorned the instrument Such an one was Cardinall Matheo Langi Archbishop of Saltzburg who at the Diet of Ausburg confessed that the reformation of the Masse was needfull that liberty of meats was convenient but that Luther a poor Monk should reform all and tell them what was to be done must not be endured But he that walks much with God and observes him in the wayes of his providence shall in his owne experience finde that he receiveth least from those from whom in reason he might expect most and most oftentimes from those from whom he could expect nothing Even the Aegyptians shall favour the Israelites and lend them jewels of silver and gold for their better accommodation in their journey It was the Lord indeed that gave them favour in the eyes even of their enemies The very Ravens in a famin shall bring Elijah food morning and evening and when that means fails a poor Widow shall provide for him when never a Prince nor noble Lord in Israel did bear so much love to the Prophet as to sustain him in that extremity Ebedmelech the Aethiopian is very kinde to Jeremiah and through his interest with the King works out his inlargement When his own Countrey-men cast him into the dungeon Nebuzaradan by the commandment of Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon delivers Jeremy out of prison gives him liberty to go whither he please when Zedekiah his own King shuts him up in prison It is an excellent rule therefore I wish all that fear God to observe it Use means love prayer and trust God which was well implyed in that embleme of some Heathens A man with his hand on the plow but his eye in heaven There is no restraint with God saith Jonathan to his Armour-bearer If there be many means God must blesse them if but few means he can multiply them if they be contrary means he can use them if there be no means he can create them or work without them He it is that appoints all means of our good He gives virtue to those means that he appoints he draws out that virtue that he gives he blesseth that virtue that he draws out and by the finger of his providence points us to the use of those means that he will blesse and in the want of all will work wonderfully for our good In the Creation God had light without Sun Moon or Stars He made the earth fruitfull and caused every plant to flourish when there was no rain nor any man to till the ground and could finde out an help for Adam that was most meet though he could not 2. Observe Gods goodnesse in the choyce of the time As God doth all things well so he doth all at the best time The greatest things that God hath done in the world he hath done for his Church and the greatest things that God hath done for his Church he hath done as by the most unlikely instruments so at the most unlikely time and yet those instruments were the best instruments and that time the best time The Aegyptians had wont to picture Time with three heads Time past with the head of a greedy wolfe as one that had devoured much time Time present with the head of a crowned Lion triumphing in the enjoyment of the present time Time to come with the head of a dog fawning on that which is to come But all our times are in Gods hands and in better hands they cannot be our time to come into trouble our time to continue in trouble and our time to come out of trouble is at his dispose God seldome comes at our time alwayes at his owne And if deliverance from dangers successe in our endevours supply of our wants had come sooner or later it had not been so good for us Christ is said to be sent at the fulnesse of time or at the full time so called because it was just that time that God had designed Moses was sent to deliver Israel out of Aegypt at the full time though the tale of bricks were doubled and their burthens encreased and at the end of 430 years even the self-same day as it was promised it came to passe that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the Land of Aegypt Christ came to his Disciples when they were distressed by a storm â—t Sea in the best time though it were at the fourth Watch in the night and they most in danger Our extremity is Gods opportunity to magnifie his wisdome and goodnesse to us when we
these things in upon you if he see them good for you and as many wayes to take them from you if he perceive they prove hurtfull to you He that can blesse a little can blast a great deal He can raise you up on high and bring you downe again Job one while was the greatest man in all the East and in a short time stript of all and again the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more then his beginning who gave him twice as much as he had before You are but Tenants at will to the great Landlord of all the earth and all you have are but moveables To be ble to bear extremities of heat and cold â—iscovers a strong constitution such were â—â—r Henry the fifth King of England and 〈◊〉 Adolphus King of Sweden of whom 〈◊〉 is reported in the History of their Lives â—nd Wars that no weather of heat or â—old or wind or storms came amisse to â—hem I am sure it is an argument of a â—ery gracious heart that is strong in the Lord and in the power of his might to be able to bear comfortably severall conâ—itions even in their extremes This may be seen in Joseph who of all the twelve Patriarchs is only mentioned with honour amongst those famous believers in Heb. 11. To day he is his Fathers darling the Son of his love and none greater in that family then he to morrow he is sold for a slave by his owne Brethren and carried into Aegypt Now he is advanced by Potiphar one of the prime Peers of that Kingdome and none greater in that house then he By and by a jealous Husband at the complaint of his beastly Mistris casts him into prison where the irons entred into his soul Not long after that he is advanced by King Pharaoh to great honour even as high as Subjection could permit or Soverâ—ignty endure for onely in the throne the King would be above him And in all these turns and changes Joseph kept his integrity In the Countrey and in the Court in the Prison and at the Palace Joseph was sincere and faithfull neither did his low estate deject him nor the high sail of honor and greatnesse overwhelme him but he kept upright in both Now as affliction cometh not forth of the dust neither doth trouble spring out of the ground as Eliphas told Job but from on high So promotions come neither from the East nor from the West nor from the South but God is the Judge he putteth down one and setteth up another CHAP. V. The manner how a Journall or Diary is to be used according to the rules of Practise AND thus far of the rules of Observation We come now to the rules of Practice which are to be followed for the better improvement of such a Journall or Diary and they are these twelve 1. Look often into this Journall and read it over Of all imployments in the world a studious is the most ingenuous wherein the understanding judgement and memory the most noble faculties of the soul are principally imployed Of all studies he â—tudy of History seems to be most excelent Hence even the Scripture it self is for great part Historicall that the hearts of â—eople might be the better taken with it and â—elight in it Of all Histories the History of mens Lives is the most pleasant Such History amongst many commendations that may be given to it this is not the least that it can call back Times and give life to those â—hat are dead like a Landskip give a lively discovery of the actions of the Grandees in former ages But of all Histories of Lives should think the History of a mans owne Life even out of common principles of self-love must needs be most acceptable To be able to read our Lives even from the wombe to this present moment from the cradle within some few dayes of the grave would surely be a study as profitable as delightfull It seems that Jacob had some skil in the art of memory though he wrote not such a story who when he prayed unto God that he might be delivered from the hands of his Brother Esau that he might the better prevail with God he argues from the experience he had of his former goodnesse and gives him a brief narrative of his life in some particular passages of providence With my staffe I came over this flood Jordan and now I am become two bands And questionlesse this duty was taught every Israelite who when they came yeerly to offer their basket of first-fruits to the Lord did use to run over a short history of their Fathers lives wherein their condition had been wrapped up in these words A Syriâ—n ready to perish was my Father and he went downe into Aegypt and so journed there with a few and became there a Nation great mighty and populouâ— And the Aegyptians evill intreated us and laid upon us hard bondage and when we cryed unto the Lord God of our Fathers the Lord heard our voyce and brought us out of Aegypt into this Land c. It is reported of Aâ—ashuerosh that one night when he could not sleep he sent for the Book of the Chronicles of his owne Kingdome and they were read before him Now of all the parts of that History that which concerns things done in the time of his Reign was principally chosen wherein was written what good service Mordecai did him in discovering the treason of Bigthan and Teresh against him which probably was most acceptable to him as may appear in the sequel in that History Tamerlane the most victorious Emperour of the Tartars the night before he sought that fatall battle with Bajazet the Turkish King having cast himself upon a rich carpet in his pavillion called for a Book wherein was contained a history of the Lives of his Ancestors which he used often to read for this end that he might the better imitate that which was worthily done by them and learn also to decline such dangers as they by their over fight had faln into And surely such Histories of our Fathers are but next dore to our owne and may provoke us to look into our owne lives with more care and caution And I am assured to read a story of our owne lives would be a study next that of the holy Scripture as pleasant and profitable as any 2. When you have read over this Journall and seen what you have cast up also all your wants and see what at present you stand in need of When Israel and his family went down into Aegypt it was fair weather all the way they had rich provision for their journey Joseph his Son came out to meet him in great state and they were received into Goshen the best of all the Land of Aegypt But when Israel went out of Aegypt towards Canaan they met with many storâ—â—â— their wants were great their enemies mighty their dangers grievous a red Sea a howling Wildernesse
Lord of Israel the kindnesse of thy youth the lose of thine espousals when thou wentest after me in the wildernesse in a land that was not sown Our first works and our last works are commonly our best works when we begin first to live the life of grace and when we are ready to die and are entring upon the life of glory how excellent is our marriage how savoury our words how heavenly our conversation Even so it is when we are delivered from any great danger when enlarged with any singular comforts how lively how zealous and how active are we Call to minde the fifth of November 1605. when we were delivered from that barbarous Gunpowder-treason how forward were we in making laws against Papists how severe in suppressing Jesuites how zealous in setling true Religion Iâ— Iâ— reported of the City of Berne when first delivered from Antichrist when that State cast off that Romane bondage and reformed Religion that they wrote the day of their Redemption upon pillars in letters of gold And it is observable that in all the ages of the Church God hath set out himself to his people by such names and titles as were most suitable to his present dispensations or such as were of the last edition And why so But that his late mercies might be the better considered and remembred Hence in the beginning he was called the most high God the possessour of heaven and earth who had made all by the word of his power Under those times Melchisedech blessed Abraham Blessed be Abraham saith he of the most high God possessor of heaven and earth And Abraham covenanted to take nothing from the King of Sodome and that under these terms I have lift up my hand unto the Lord the most high God possessor of heaven and earth that I will not take from a thread to a shoe-latchet and that I will not take any thing that is thine Afterwards when God entred into a covenant with Abraham and his seed he was called the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. And under those titles God gave his charge to Moses when he sent him to bring his people out of the Land of Aegypt I am the God of thy Father the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. After that he was called the God that brought them out of the Land of Aegypt out of the house of bondage Such was the preface to his law I am the Lord thy God which have brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt out of the house of bondage And so it continued for many generations even until he brought them out of Babylon And then saith the Lord It shall be no more said The Lord liveth that brought them out of the land of Aegypt but The Lord liveth that brought the children of Israel out of the land of the North. And now under the Gospel he is known by this most excellent name The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ And why so But because our redemption by Christ is the last and the great work he hath done for his Church and most fresh in our memories Whilest therefore mercies are fresh and work most upon the heart doe something in remembrance of Gods goodness and why not then write them downe in a Journall A small matter I should think whilest the heart is warm and well affected with the present sense of some singular pledge of Gods loving kindnesse may easily perswade to this duty 5. And finally love the Lord for his goodnesse If any thing under heaven will constrain us and help forward this duty love will Oh! love the Lord all ye his Saints saith the Psalmist And indeed none but Saints can love him He knocks at every dore and as it were pulls every man by the sleeve and saith Oh! love you the Lord Let the drunkard love his cups and the adulterer his harlots and the covetous person his bags but do you that are Saints love the Lord. For the Lord preserveth the faithfull and pletifully rewardeth the proud doer When one bucket goes downe the other will come up When Pharaoh is drowned Israel is saved When Haman is hanged Mordecai is advanced When proud doers are plagued the faithful are delivered Oh! love the Lord therefore And indeed love is all that God looks at in us and expects from us and where there is love there is no lack After so large a repetition of the great things God hath done for Israel What saith Moses to them doth God now require for all this but that you would love him And indeed love is complementumlegis the fulfilling of the Law Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision availeth any thing saith the Apostle but faith that worketh by love Faith and Love are like a pair of Compasses Faith like one point fastens upon Christ as the center and Love like the other goes the round in all the works of holinesse and righteousnesse Now certainly Love hath a good memory or would have a good memory What we slight we soon forget but what we love we endevour to lay up sure in our memories Vbi amâ—r ibi animus Where our love is our minde is Where our treasure is there will our heart be It was the eye that made the match That which which the eyesees not the heart desires not And as love came in by the eye so it delights by the same dore to look after that beloved object Such a soul that hath seen God in all things and therefore loves God above all things delights still to look after God in all his wayes that he may love him more and more Such a soul loves God as Jonathan loved David 1. Amore unionis with a love of union the soul of Jonathan was knit to David for he loved him as his own soul 2. He loved him amore complacentiae with a love of delight for it is said that Jonathan delighted much in David 3. He loved him amore benevolentiae with a love of good will for Jonathan said to David Whatsoever thy souldesireth I will even do it for thee Even so doth a gracious heart love God not onely with a love of union and a love of delight but with a love of good will too who saith to God as Paul at his conversion Lord what wilt thou have me to do Such an one is ready to suffer what ever may be inflicted on him and to do what ever may be required of him especially whatsoever may testifie how well he remembers God and his loving kindnesse to him CHAP. VIII Severall arguments propounded by which Christians may be provoked to keep such a Journall or Diary as hath been commended THat such Christians as have any abilities for the keeping of such a Journal or Diary as hath been commended to them may be encouraged thereunto I shal in the second place propound these foure arguments First it is
their owne and they first set up the Altar and offered â—urnt-offerings they kept the feast of Taberacles and built the Temple before they set p the Wall And had we in our generation â—een as wise and observed Gods and his peoâ—les method that is first sought the Kingâ—ome of heaven and the righteousnesse thereâ—f then all outward good things had â—een added to us Had we sought Gods glory â—efore our owne grandure we had better â—rovided for our owne and the Kingdomes â—afety It is observed that the Disciples at sea 〈◊〉 the absence of Christ by reason of a storm â—owed slowly and dangerously but as soon â—s they willingly received Christ into the â—ip immediately they came to the land whiâ—her they intended The most politick Pilots â—hat ever sate at the stern of any Common-â—ealth were never able through the depths of State to drive on their designes with successe unlesse they took Christ along with them They that trust much to their ownâ— pates and policies without an eye to God are like Boys that stand on their heads and fling up their heels against heaven as thiâ— standing is dangerous to the state of the Body so that trusting to carnall policies with a neglect of Religion by some and a contempt of reall opposition against the truth by others are as destructive to the body of any State in the world The Bishop of Moâ—â— Pulciano told Charls the Emperor in thâ— Councell of Trent that it was one of the chief instructions Pope Paul the third gaâ— to his Legat to commend to that Assembly That Principalities cannot be preserved where Religion is lost And it was a good Law that 〈◊〉 Danish King of this Land made That at thâ— generall Court of every Shire the Bishop of tâ— Diocesse should accompany the Sheriffe that tâ— one might countenance Gods law the other maâ— Much like the practice of good Jehosaphâ— whose heart was lifted up in the ways of tâ— Lord. He sent with his Princes the Leviteâ— to teach in the Cities of Judah The Princâ— are said to teach that is either by the Levites whom they did company countâ—nance and encourage in the work or rathâ— the Princes taught the Laws of the Land tâ— Levites the Law of God and both did mutually help each other 3. Keep an account of the various and â—angeable condition of the Times in â—e Countrey where we live either for rosperity or adversity with the fruits nd effects of both Omnium retum est vicissido There are no sublunary comforts but â—e subject to change We have sometimes â—n-shine and sometimes rain we have someme day and sometime it is night with us â—he Church of the Jews under the Old Teament had sometimes War and sometimes eace Jabin King of Canaan mightily opressed Israel twenty yeers but the Lord iscomfited Sisera his Commander in chief with all his host before Baruch and the Land ad rest forty yeers How punctuall is the oly Ghost in observing the very circumâ—ances not onely of person and place but f the very time how long they had War nd how much longer time they injoyed eace Under the reign of Solomon that eople enjoyed much peace Judah and Israel â—ere many as the sand which is by the Sea shore 〈◊〉 multitude eating and drinking and making â—erry But in the dayes of Abijah his Grandhilde Israel and Judah fought one against â—other so that there fell down stain of Israel â—ve hundred thousand chosen men at that battle challenge any man that is most verst in â—istory to give me a parallel The Church of the Jews under the Goâ—pel about the time that Stephen was stoned hrough the heat of persecution was scaâ—tered abroad throughout the Regions of Jâ—dea and Samaria But when Saul became Paâ— and of a Persecuter turn'd a Preacher Tâ—â— had the Churches rest throughout Judea and Gâ—lee and Samaria c. This one thing amongst other is recordâ— in the sacred Journall of the Israelites sometimes they had plenty and sometimâ— they wanted bread and water sometimâ— they had peace and sometimes their enemiâ— made war against them sometimes thâ— enjoyed health and sometimes the plagu brake out amongst them And thus it haâ— been in all the generations and ages 〈◊〉 the world England that some have callâ— Terra Florida or the fortunate Island that wiâ— Capernaum hath been lifted up to heaven 〈◊〉 the enjoyment of peace and plenty the Gospel of peace and the peace of the Gospâ— together for many yeers so that enoug cannot be spoken upon this subject to tâ— praise of God the envy of our enemies anâ— the blot of our ingratitude But we haâ— had our changes We have sinned away aâ— our comforts Our peace brought plenty our plenty nourisht pride our pride begâ— contention our contention drew the sword and the sword a civill sword the sharpâ— and sorest of all Gods judgements haâ— turned our peace into war our plenty into penury our friends into enemies 〈◊〉 that our blood hath been spilt and oâ— treasure spent and our glory stained most beyond all example Where every â—y Marte cadunt subito per muâ—ua vulner a fratres In a battle betwixt Sylla and Marius both â—omane Commanders a Souldier having ain one and afterward understanding that 〈◊〉 was his Brother in anguish of spirit â—rust his sword into his own bowels Titus â—espastan Emperor of Rome wept when he â—aw the destruction of Jerusalem and the great aughter of the Jews chiefly occasioned hrough their owne civill dissensions but hat which hath heightned our misery and fear aggravated our sin very much we grew 〈◊〉 that height of heat and bitterness that we ejoyced over our brethren when we obtained ny victory against them Pliny reports this â—f the Dragon that fighting with the Eleâ—hant he got under the belly of that mighty â—east where he suckt out the blood so far â—at at last the Elephant fell but with his all crusht the Dragon to death He that wins most by a civill war will be a great oser at the last Philip Duke of Burgundy his embleme of a flint-stone and a steel striâ—ing one against another so long till both â—re consumed doth lively set out the miseries of that fire that is made by domesticall â—rms A forain enemy cannot wish us a greater mischief nor themselves a greater advantage then our intestine wars Hence the Turks use to pray unto God to keep the Christians at variance which caused oâ— of their Emperors to say to his Councell disswading him from making war with the Germanes because of their multitude and fortitude that he feared them not because saith he sooner would his fingers be alâ— of a length then their Princes be all of onâ— minde 4. Keep a Diary of the severall and moâ— remarkable judgements that God hath iâ— our time inflicted upon notorious offendeâ— whether persons in high places or such 〈◊〉 moved in a lower orbe The holy Ghoâ— takes speciall notice of
mighty Gâ—ant But if Goliah will go out against Dâ—vid with a sword and a spear trusting onelâ— to his own strength he shall fall Moses hâ— a great charge to go to Pharaoh and to brinâ— the people of Israel out of the Land of Aegâ— and how oft doth he through unbelief cavâ— at that call as unfit for that service sevâ— or eight times he replyes upon God as unwilling because unfit to go But througâ— Gods most gracious assistance he finished thâ— work to the glory of God the comfort 〈◊〉 his people and the shame of that proâ— enemy aad this is recorded I have fougâ— the fight saith St. Paul I have finished 〈◊〉 course I have kept the faith and this is wriâ—ten down in a book Secondly assistance in withstanding viâ—lent temptations in undergoing heavy buâ— thens and conflicting with sundry evilâ— should not be forgotten There is a timâ— when Kings go not forth to War but no â—ime wherein Christians have not some comâ—ate with temptations but God either preâ—ants them or assists us in them and makes â—s victors over them and gainers by them It is written of St. Augustine that after his conversion to the Faith he was much vexed with inward conflicts and after long strugâ—ing with them in the use of means and not prevailing as he desired he heard a voyce saying to him In te stas non stas whereby apprehending that the way to fall was to stand in his owne strength by faith in prayer he did fly unto God in Christ and his tree grace and so obtained victory At my first answer saith St. Paul no man stood by me all forsook me I pray God it be not laid to their charge But God stood by me and strengthned me and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion And indeed at such a time a gracious heart can better bear Gods stroke then endure his absence St. Paul makes speciall mention of this Faith is the gift of God and amongst many singular benefits that we have by that grace this is not the least It hath a singular dexterity in helping the heart at a sudden pinch in mustering up spirituall and those present forces against an unexpected temptation A lively faith is the best leaver at a dead lift See it in the case of Joseph fiercely and unexpectedly assaulted by his beastly Mistris Many arguments are brought in of a sudden by which he is fenced so impregnably against her sollicitations that he comes off more then a conqueror 1. It is a sin saith he against the great â—rust my Master hath in me He hath committed all into my hand c. 2. It is a sin against my place and dignity There is none greater in the house then I. 3. It is a sin against my Masters interest You are his wife 4. It is a wickednesse a great wickednesse against God The like you shall read of David who when he was reviled by Shimei with those words Come out thou bloody man thou man of Belial c. which so far provoked Abisha and edged his spirit against him that he could hardly hold his hands yet bare all patiently being armed against such an assault Three arguments are suddenly mustred up by Faith by which he comes off with victory 1. My Son rebels and he is more violent against me My Servant takes away my good name my Son would not only take the crown from my head but my head from my shoulders 2. The Lord hath bidden him curse me and therefore let him alone 3. The Lord will look on me and not onely do me good by this but for this affliction It is good to set down every affliction we have met with in our time and to observe Gods carriage towards us in them with the benefit we receive from them 3. Remember and for that end put into your Journal all deliverances from dangers vouchsafed to you or yours And indeed what is our whole life but a continued deliverance We are daily delivered either from the violence of the creature or the rage of men or the treachery of our own hearts either our houses are freed from firing or goods from plundering or our bodies from danger or our names from reproaches or our souls from snares This being the difference betwixt a gracious and a gracelesse heart a godly man is delivered a wicked man is but reserved God knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be punished Jacob is delivered from the treachery of his Uncle Laban at one time and from the fury of his Brother at another both are remembred David is delivered from the paw of the Bear and the mouth of a Lion both of them are mentioned before Saul Jeremiah cannot forget the dungeon out of which he was saved nor Daniel the Lions den out of which he escaped nor Jonah the Whales belly out of which he was delivered Read their Prophesies and you shal finde the stories Mr. Beza in his last Will bequeaths thanks unto God that being infected with the plague at Lusanna and aspersed by his enemies with grievous calumnies God delivered him from both 2. That being tossed up and down in the first Civill wars of France for many moneths God had preserved him from six hundred dangers Our deliverances are more then we can number greater then we can value Who so is wise and will observe them even they shall understand the loving kindnesse of the Lord. Every night God setteth his watch about us and every day he commands his Angels to pitch their tents for our safeguard And alas what is all our care and prudence without his watchful eye of providence over us Except the Lord keep the City the watchman waketh but in vain When Noah and all his train went into the Ark it is said the Lord shut him in It is good to open the dore in the morning and to shut the dore in the evening by prayer pray when we open them that God would dwel with us and when we lock up our dores that God would shut us in otherwise we cannot be safe Take but a little notice of the preservation of our children nay but of one childe and you will say that all our care is nothing without his watchfull eye I will give you a memorable instance of a Childes deliverance who whilest divers in the family with many other friends were met together to fast and pray went out to a pond very much frozen for it was in an hard cold Winter either to slide or to whip his top I remember not which where two holes were made in the ice for the safety of the fish and the taking up of water into one of these he fell up to the arm-holes the childe was soon mist and search being made he was found there Had the hole been wider or he not spread out his arms or he not
are worst God is ever best when we are at our wits end then he makes the storm a calm and brings us to our desired haven When we know not what to do he knows how to deliver Three persons Christ is said in the Gospel to have raised from the dead one was dead but not carryed out and that was Jairus his daughter A second was dead and carried out and that was the widows Son of Naim A third was dead and carried out and buried in the grave where he had lyen foure days so that he began to stink and that was Lazarus All these he raised at his owne time and that the best time He works as wonderfully in raising converts from the grave of sin Some are dead but not carried out these are civill persons who are dead in sin but more modest and moderate whose disorders are not so notorious and in the publick view of the world if they be drunk they are drunk in the night Some are dead and carried out these with Absalom will play their pranks on the house top that are almost in all evill in the midst of the congregation and assembly Some are dead carried out and buried whose filthy lives stink in the noâ— strils of God and men And yet when Gods time is come if he speak but the word only Lazarus come forth they shall live in his sight Even Manasseh the bloody and Mary Magdalen the filthy and Paul the persecuter shall be converted In all our tribulations both Nationall and Personall it is good to wait on God who can and will at his owne time deliver our persons from trouble and our Nation from the grave of sorrow yea even when our bones are dead and dry and scattered he can then prophesie over us and cause a gracious resurrection but we must wait till his time come as the eyes of servants upon their Masters until he have mercy upon us We are all for the time present we would all be Masters no servants Wilt thou now say the Disciples to our Saviour after his resurrection restore the Kingdome to Israel Who answered them It is not for you to know the times and seasons that the Father hath put in his owne power And it is good to wait 1. It is bonum honorandum an honorable good Happy are these thy servants saith Sheba 's Queen that stand continually before thee O King Solomon But a greater then Solomon is here 2. It is bonum utile a profitable good The longer we wait the better we speed Abraham waited long for a Son Hanna waited long for a childe so did Zachary and Elizabeth and had they not all a most gracious issue When two Monkes came to King Will. Rufuâ— to buy an Abbots place and endevoured to out-bid each other a third Monk that came to wait on them was asked what he would give and answered Not a penny I came to wait on him that shal have the place upon which he gave the waiter the place 3. It is bonum jucundum a pleasant thing to wait For all Gods wayes are wayes of pleasantnesse and all his paths are peace 4. It is bonum aequum It is most just that we should wait upon that God that would wait upon us that he might be gracious unto us Some Historians have made this difference betwixt Charls King of Sicily and Fabius the Romane Generall the first staid till the opportunity was past and so lost all the second waited till the time came cunctando restituit rem by waiting the fittest season he restored the Common-wealth to her former beauty I had fainted saith the Psalmist unlesse I had believed to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of the living But he adds by way of advice to others Wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen thy heart Wait I say on the Lord. Waiting is nothing else but faith and patience and hope lengthened out to Gods time 3. Observe Gods wisdome and goodnesse to you in the choyce of the measure just so much comfort in the creature and no more He it is that gives us our daily bread that feeds us with convenient food that is an allowance fitted to our size and stature a proportion suitable to our condition A crust of Gods carving is better then a banquet of our owne providing I am sure that is true that the Psalmist hath taught us A little that a righteous man hath is better then the riches of many wicked ones Because that little is Gods allowance Plentifull provisions have oftentimes large bills of accompt How hard a matter is it to enjoy much with an Omnia bene Many rich owners are like weary Sumpter-horses who having travelled all day under the burthen of some great treasure at night lie down in a soul stable with gall'd backs so these at last are laid down in their graves with galled distressed consciences And if it so fall out that their spirits are quiet that the tears of the oppressed do not cry out against them yet high places are slippery and great estates lie open to the blasts of envy and malice It is as great a mercy to be able to want that patiently that God denies justly as to use that wisely that God bestowes bountifully Gods measure is ever best so much health and no more so much liberty and no more so much riches and no more so much content in a wife so much comfort in a childe so much love from a friend and no more It may be our neighbour hath ten talents and we but two Gods allowance is ever best beg we for our daily bread but let God be our carver Joseph thought that his good old Father had been mistaken when he laid his right hand on Ephraim's head who was the younger and his left on Manasseh who was the elder And we are ready to entertain hard thoughts of God who oftentimes layes an heavy hand upon his Saints that are his first-born and is very open-handed to others I was envyous at the foolish saith the Psalmist when I saw the prosperity of the wicked when all the day long I have been plagued and chastened every morning But God is wise and knows what is best Some live upon their lands and some by their labours and some by both some live upon their trades and some by alms and some upon their friends God often teacheth his by the want of some mercies how to value others and to be thankfull for them and fruitfull under them Fulnesse is the bane of thankfulnesse and want a good antidote against wantonnesse I am sure surfet kills more then famine more birds are taken with a net then slain with a gun The roaring of the Canon is good Rhetorick to commend peace and that Spring is usually most pleasant that is ushered in by a sharp Winter Yea further the meanest
bloody Amalekites and fiery Serpents were in their way So falls it out with any Christian who though whilest he walked in the broad way that leads to more then an Aegyptian darknesse and bondage he had no cause of complaint but all went well with him yet when he set his face to heaven and walkt in that narrow way that leads to life then found that his wants were many and his temptations great The best even in the midst of their abundance have their just complaints and he that hath most hath not all One man hath wealth but no honour he is under a cloud another hath wealth and honour but not a dayes health scarce in a moneth a third hath all these but not a childe The life of the best is like a shuttle-cock kept up a while betwixâ— two battle-dores and at the last falls to the ground Betwixt prosperity and adversity good dayes and evill light and darknesse our lives run on and at the last we are laid in the grave The Germanes have a proverbiall saying of the three Princes Electors that the Palâ—sgrave hath the honour Brandenburg the land but the Duke of Saxony the money No man hath all Even Adam in Paradise was taught to want something he must not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evill Moses one of the five grand favourites of heaven called in one chap. five times the servant of the Lord. And to be a servant of God is a great honor Deo servire regnare est To serve God is to reign And yet Moses must not go into the Land of Canaan though he begg'd hard for it Let it suffice thee saith God to him speak no more to me of that matter I know no man that enjoys that abundance of all good things but I may say to him as our Saviour to the young man in the Gospel One thing thou lackest If the possession of many things make us proud God knows how by the want of one thing to keep us humble Oh be sure that one thing be not that one thing necessary namely faith by which we may see God in all enjoy God with all and love God above all 3. In the midst of all our wants reckon how many wayes those wants are supplyed with other comforts God usually makes us a good amends as David said to Abisha when Shimei railed on him It may be God will requite me for this cursing this day If Adam may not eat of the fruit of the tree in the midst of the Garden yet of the fruit of every tree in the Garden besides he might freely eat If Moses may not goe into the Land of Canaan yet his body shall have the most honorable buriall that ever man had the Lord buried him and no man knows of his sepulchre unto this day and his soul went to heaven which was far better If we be straightned in outward comforts and enlarged with spirituall graces if we be weak in body and strong in the Lord if poor in the world and rich in faith if forsaken of friends and God stands by us we have no great cause to complain Travellers into forain parts will tell you that those Countreys that are most Paganish are most stored with gold and silver and that those lands that are without those rich mines have more of the knowledge of Christ and his wayes One man hath little to live upon but his labours but he hath a very strong and healthy body Many times the poorest men have most children which some esteem a great blessing though others look upon it as a burthen and put it into the bill of charges Even Haman when he boasted before his wife and friends of his great wealth and honors reckons the multitude of his children amongst his great preferments If one childe be a blessing then ten children are ten blessings Children of youth saith the Psalmist are like arrows in the hand of a mighty man happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them And certainly many a man would willingly part with half his estate for the fruit of the loyns and wombe If God send mouths he will provide meat Ashur's blessing was children but God will provide for him and them Ashur shall be blessed with children saith Moses but let him be acceptable to his Brethren and let him dip his foot in oyl his shoes shall be iron and brasse and as his dayes be so shall his strength be His bread shall be fat saith Jacob and be shall yeeld royall dainties Every childe that cometh into the world commonly hath two breasts The like may be said of any other wants and the several wayes by which God is pleased to supply them very graciously to his yea sometimes to those that are without It is said of Galba the Emperor of Rome that he had a crooked body but a good head insomuch that one said of him Galbo's great wit had but an homely habitation Aesop was much deformed but very wise and Erasmus a plain man but a great Scholar Such a man and blessed be God there are many such is but one story high in the world but a very godly man and high in Gods favour and esteem of all his people To conclude could any man live the dayes of Methuselah and should all his way lie by Weeping-crosse God reconciled in Christ with the enjoyment of heaven at the last would make amends for all 4. Take great notice of the singular peculiar excellency of all Gods dispensations towards you above the world Your waters are become wine your gleanings are better then the vintage of the world God dealeth with you as with Sons the Servant shall have his wages and it may be a livery but the Son shall have better He is the Saviour of all but especially of them that believe Every passage of providence towards you if you be the Lords hath something more speciall in it God hath choyce mercies for a chosen generation peculiar favours for a peculiar people hidden comforts for his hidden ones that which eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor can enter into a carnall heart to conceive See this made good in three passages 1. Such have ever what the world hath and something more an overplus the meanest Christian may vie comforts with the greatest men of the world as Paul sometimes with the false Apostles Are they Hebrews So am I. Are they Israelites So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham So am I. Are they Ministers of Christ I am more in labours more abundant c. So a gracious heart Are the men of the world honorable So am I that am a Son of God and a partaker of the divine Nature Have they friends So have I that have union to and communion with Jesus Christ and his members Are they rich So am I that am rich in faith and an heir of heaven as poor
faln into hell if I had not faln into â—in Onesimus therefore departed saith St. Paul to Philemon that thou mightest receive him an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an eternall So it is in the Originall And thus if our sins were heavy Gods mercies would be weighty and worth the recounting Were our fins often in our eyes Gods praises would not be long out of our mouths We that see we have deserved nothing would be thankfull for every thing and rather then his mercies should be forgotten would keep some remembrances by us of Gods goodnesse to us who is every day mindfull of us 2. Remember oftne your low and poor condition It is little peradventure that yâ—â— haâ—â— but was it not lesse God commands his people this duty Remember that thou wast a serâ—ant in the land of Aegypt This they were enjoyned to do when they came yearly to offer up their basket of first-fruits to the Lord. Thus they must say A Syrian ready to perish was my Father and he went down into Aegypt and â—ojourned there with a few c. 〈◊〉 King of Sicily who was by birth but a Potters Son would alwayes be served at his Table with earthen vessels that he might ever be mindful of his low mean condition at first Jacob did so With my staff I came over this Jordan His condition was low when the earth was his bed a stone his pillow and the heaven his canopie over his head he is thankfull for this because he forgâ—t not his low estate He that well remembers what he once wanted will not forget to be thankful for what at present he enjoys Humility is a good spur to thankfulness I have read of two garments in Scripture of excellent use First the garment of humility Be 〈◊〉 with humility saith Peter and the garment of praise Christ is said to appoint to them that mourn in Zion the garment of praise for the spirit of heavynesse The under garment is commonly plain and of lesse worth but the upper is very costly Let humility be like the first It is no matter how vile we be in our own eyes but let praise be the upper garment Be ye rooted and built up in Christ faith the Apostle and established in the faith abounding therein with thanksgiving He that is rich in faith and low in humility will make his upper garment costly will be abundant in praises 3. Labour to understand a mercy aright Endevour to discern the height and breadth of a providence weigh every benefit bestowed skilfully The reason why the Israelites remembred not the multitude of Gods mercies was saith the Psalmist because they understood not his wonders in Aegypt Moses told them that they had seen all that the Lord had done before their eyes in the Land of Aegypt unto Pharaoh and unto all his servants and unto all the land The great temptations which thine eyes have seen the signes and thâ—se great miracles And yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive and eyes to see and ears to bear unto this day It is true they had eyes and ears but they wanted an understanding heart to perceive and discern God in all Hence it comes to passe that as a proud man will not be mindfull so an ignorant man cannot remember God and be thankfull It is good therefore not onely to remember our low and sinfull estate that we may be humble but to understand the loving kindnesse of the Lord that we may record his favours The reason why the Disciples forgâ—t what Christ had done done and therefore mistook him when he had them take â—eed of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadduces was they did not understand the miracles of the five loaves amongst the five thousand nor the seven loaves amongst the foure thousand nor how many baskets they took up They did not well understand nor seriously consider the mighty power of his divine nature by which he did all that You shall do well therefore to understand a mercy fully in all the causes circumstances manner and means of working Sometimes he works without means and then his works are miraculous sometimes by weak means and then his works are wonderfull sometimes by contrary means so that losses enrich us divisions unites us and our routing in battle makes us conquerors and then his works are glorious Hence the Lord commanded his people to understand why he gave them that good Land to possesse it not for their righteousnesse for they were a stiffe-necked people but for his Name sake and for the wickednesse of those Nations which were driven out before them It is not an easie matter for men to hit right oâ— the true reason of Gods dispensations of mercy or judgement Hence Samuel advised the people of Israel to consider that is to weigh ponder wel in their hearts what great things God had done for them Now we all know things that are not known and therefore lightly valued are soon forgotten when matters that are looked at as things of price and worth are laid up very carefully It is good therefore when our thoughts dwell upon mercies Omnis festinatio caca swift passengers cannot be serious observers a transient thought is too mean for a standing mercy one mercy enjoyed deserves more serious thoughts then a million of miseries do one hearty tear our mercies are from God our calamities from our selves Understand this well and consider this seriously you cannot be unmindful of the loving kindnesse of the Lord. 4. Would you write down the great things of God in a book that you might never forget them Take speciall notice of the actings of God in the wayes of his gracious providence whilest they are new and fresh in memory together with the workings of your hearts whilest they are so considered Oh! what vows covenants purposes resolutions are made and entertained then Omne novum valde mutat saith Scaliger New things fresh mercies make a wonderful change upon mens spirits for the present Omnia subita videntur majora saith Cicero All sudden and unexpected passages seem very great at first fight and work very much upon the heart Observe then what joy what thankfulnesse what meltings what resolutions And what you doe doe quickly strike while the iron is hot Qui tardâ— fecit diu noluit saith Seneca He that is slack in his performances was but unwilling in his resolutions Oh! remember your first love when you were newly converted and brought home to God how zealous lively active forward and savoury were you in the wayes of God So much the Lord tells his people by the Prophet Hosea that at their restitution and Gods reconciliation with them they should sing at in the dayes of their youth as they did when they came out of Aegypt Then sang Moses and Aaron A converted condition is a singing condition God takes special notice of this I remember thee saith the