onely in those former times but in these latter ages the persecutions of the people of God have been so great and so hot and violent that they thought not to leave the Name of a Christian on the earth but he should be persecuted and yet the more that persecution did arise the more the people of God did encrease therefore why shouldest thou be overmuch cast down seeing that God doth make the sufferings of his people to be for their encrease and advantage 2ly Consider if that the number of Gods people do not encrease yet consider and be sure of it that the graces of Gods people shall encrease by persecution The children of Israel were better in the land of Egypt then they were in their own land and better in a Wildernesse then in the land of Canaan as it is said of the Church of Rome in the Primitive times Although they had wooden Chalices they had golden Priests but now they have golden Chalices and wooden Priests So when the Church of God is highest and most in outward prosperity when they have golden times in the World yet even then are they most apt to be lowest in their graces and most apt to grow secure and sleepy in the ways of God In Cant. 4. 16. Awake thou North wind and come thou South wind blow upon my garden that the spices thereof may flow out c. Now you know that the North and the South winds are one against another and yet these two opposites make the fruit of the garden to grow This North and South wind are compared and signifie the troubles and the prosperity of the Church the North wind of affliction and the South wind of prosperity But it is the North wind the cold and the sharp persecutions and fiery trials that make the graces of the Church to grow most The Church of God was better as to the growth of their graces under the Pagan Emperors then under Constantine the Christian Emperor because though Constantine was a Christian Emperor and it was much for the comfort of the Church and for the good of Religion yet their security made them run into error and heresie when their bodies prospered their souls did not prosper Whereas when they were under the Pagan Emperors when they were under great and strong persecutions though their bodies were in trouble yet their graces did exceedingly prosper So likewise when Popery did so prevail though the people of God were exposed to great trials yet their graces did thrive and grow green and fresh As Mouliu saith Men were burnt for reading the Bible but we speaking of the French Protestants burn with zeal to be reading But now Bibles are like old Almanacks moulding in corners while Play-books the Divels cathechisms are worn out with often perusal Thirdly Consider this that the persecutions and troubles and trials of the Church of God at one time and in one place doth but make way for settlement and establishment of Gods Church and people in another time and another place this should comfort you Unius Ecclesiae destructio multarum suit aedificatio the destruction of one Church is but the building up of many Churches You may read for this purpose in Acts 8. 1. of great troubles and persecutions of the Church which was at Jerusalem and they were all scattered abroad now what fruit was by all the troubles and by all the persecutions that fell upon the Church of Jerusalem this was the fruit and benefit it set up a Church in Samaria that persecution caused the Gospel to go into those parts of the World and Samaria received the Gospel as in verse 4. They went abroad everywhere preaching the Gospel Many places which never before heard of the Gospel came to have it preached in their parts by reason of the hot persecution that was at Jerusalem So likewise some Kingdoms of the World The troubles and persecutions of Gods people here by the Prelates it was the great occasion of the transplanting the Gospel into other parts of the World as into New-England and America which places never heard of it before so the Seven Asian Churches were destroy'd by the Pogan persecution but by the destroying of them it was transplanted into Africa and all Europe and now since in America so that if God shall let the Church to be persecuted in one place it still doth gain by all troubles in going into another place and though it be persecuted in one Kingdome yet it doth by its transplantation settle and gain in another As Christ speaketh in Matthew 21. 43. I will take the Gospel from you and give it to a People and Nation that shall bring forth better fruit that is Christ would take it from the Jews and give it to the Gentiles and therefore said the Apostle when they would not receive the Gospel among them Lo we turn to the Gentiles this is the great wisdome of God that the Churches troubles and persecutions in one place shall by him be an occasion to get good in another Fourthly Consider that there are such infallible promises made to the Church of God for its preservation that it shall never be destroyed by all the rage and fury and persecution of wicked and ungodly men They may be persecuted as the Apostle speaketh but they cannot be destroyed they may be cast down but not forsaken they may be perplexed but not in despair the Church may be in sorrow but they cannot be annibillated The Church of God shall never be so persecuted as to be cast off and utterly forsaken and destroyed by wicked men but the Church of God shall continue to the end of the World therefore you read what Christ speaketh of Peter Thou art Peter and on this rock will I build my Church that is on Christ and then observe what follows The gates of hell shall not prevail against it the powers of hell and the policies of all the divels in hell shall not prevail against the Church of God then if hell cannot prevail against the Church then the earth and men by persecution shall not prevail to pull it down and to destroy it and to shake it off from the rock on which it is builded It is reported that in the year 1620. when the Wars began in Germany that a great brass Image of the Apostle Peter which had that pretended claim by which Rome would hold their Keys fairly embossed upon a roll that hang down upon the Image in these words Iues Petrus super hanc Petram aedificabo Ecclesiam tibi dabo claves c. Standing in St. Peter's Church at Rome there was a great Massie stone fell upon it and so shattered it to pieces that not a letter of all that sentence saving onely these three words Aedificabo Ecclesiam meant I will build my Church which was left fair and entire God hath not made any promises to any Kingdome or Nation of the World nor to any
their lust Hosea 13. 6. According to their pasture so were they filled they were filled and their hearts were exalted therefore they have forgotten me Their gold and silver and wool and flax did but cloath enrich and strengthen sins Now beloved wilt thou envy the prosperity of a wicked man wouldst thou envy a man to see him have silken halters and those to hang himself withal God doth give prosperity to wicked men to be as silken halters to hang them everlastingly therefore do not be disquieted though they prosper in the world Secondly Be not disquieted because wicked men have the curse of God with their prosperity this reason Job gives chap. 5. v. 2 3. he calls those men silly men that envy wicked mens prospering in the world for saith Job Certainly I saw God cursing their habitation Beloved it is better to have poverty with a blessing then to have encrease with a curse wicked men have the curse of God with all their prosperity and this reason Solomon gives you why you should not be disquieted Prov. 2. 31 32 33. Envy thou not the Oppressor and chuse none of his wayes for the froward is an abomination to the Lord but his secret is with the righteous the curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked but he blesseth the habitation of the just Though thou seest a wicked man by oppression and grinding the face of the poor become wealthy O do not envy him why because the curse of the Lord is in his house This should be a strong reason not to be troubled at the prosperity of wicked men it is observable of Esau Gen. 27. 28. I will give thee the fatness of the earth and the dews of heaven a large promise yet you read Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated Jacob had but a poor staff and Esau had the fatnesse of the earth why thou mayest be poor as Jacob with a staff and scrip and thou mayest be loved with Jacob. And wicked men may have the fatness of the earth with Esau and yet God hate them therefore be not disquieted at the prosperity of wicked men it was spoken of the Caldeans Zach. 1. 15. they were a wealthy Nation God may give you ease in the world and abound with wealth yet saith God I am sore displeased with them he doth mingle his wrath and curse with the abundance of wicked men therefore be not disquieted because wicked men prosper Thirdly Their prosperity doth cost them very dear they lose a soul to get a world they lose heavens glory for earths prosperity it is a dear purchase Wouldst thou envy a man that to purchase his house should lose his life why wicked men to purchase wealth lose their souls I have read of a Souldier that when there was a Law made by the General That none should rob the Country the Souldier robbed a Vineyard took away a bunch of grapes and for example sake was to be hanged and some did envy the man for the grapes saith he envy me not I pay dear for my grapes I apply this you may see wicked men about you to eat the fat and drink the sweet of the Land thou eatest the bread of affliction and drinkest thy tears O do not envy him his wealth is the price of blood it hath cost him dear Fourthly Do not be disquieted because the wicked prosper for this wil put thee in danger to be wicked as the wicked are that man that is troubled because the wicked prosper he is likely to be tempted to become wicked that he might prosper as they do Observe that where the Scripture speaks that good men should not be troubled because the wicked prossper it gives that caution Lest you should be wicked as the wicked are observe Prov. 3. 31. Envy not the Oppressor nor chuse none of his wayes Intimating that if you do envy wicked men that gain by oppression you will become Oppressors and will become wealthy as they are Prov. 24. 11. Be not envious against evil men neither desire to be with them A notable text that David telleth you of what danger he was in because he was disquieted when wicked men did prosper Psal 73. 2. My feet had almost slipt David saw this he did envy them and he had almost fallen into the same sin that they fell into You have a notable passage in the 10. v. Yet a little while and the wicked shall not be yea thou shalt consider his place and it shall not be He tels you of their prosperity in the foregoing verses They are not plagued like other men they have more then heart can wish and what follows in the 10. verse It is but a little while and the wickednesse of the wicked shall be at an end that is because they see wicked men prosper Gods own people return their way and do many times wickedly as they do Beloved to see men that shall break Covenants and deal treacherously to see them successeful and carry all before them if thou dost envy them thou art in great danger to sin as they do and do wickedly as they do that thou mightst prosper as they do Third Question is What Consideration should a man use to reason against these disquietings of Soul because of the prosperity of wicked men Beloved I will name to you six Considerations to allay those disquietings seeing wicked men prosper in the world First Consider with your selves it is a harder matter for godly men to use prosperity well then adversity well you know it is a harder matter to carry a cup of Wine that is brim full without shedding then to carry a cup that is half filled It is harder to carry a prosperous condition well without sin then it is to carry a state of adversity therefore in Scripture those that have been good in adversity have been bad in prosperity The men of Israel were good in Egypt but they were bad in Canaan Deuteronomy 32. even when God had delivered them and given them the Land of Canaan even then they rebelled against God When they waxed fat and plentiful in the promised Land then they spurned against God When David was in a private condition when he was hunted by Saul like a Partridge over the mountains David was a good man but when David came to the Throne then he became adulterous then he became murderous whereas before he was a man of a marvellous strict life therefore the Scripture speaks of Jehoshaphat 2 Chron. 17. 3. that he followed David's first waies intimating that David's first waies were his best waies I have read in Bernard's works chap. 12. B. 2. of considerations all that Chapter treats on this theam Majus periculum à prosperis quam ab adversis that it is more dangerous for a good man to be in prosperity then to be in adversity It is a Note Cornelius A lapide hath on Pro. 1. 32. that the same word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
see any likelihood to be delivered no visible means for their Restauration and to be brought out of captivity they were then overprest with sorrow they said Our hopes are cut off from God Ezek. 37. 11. When they were as dry bones in the valley and they thought that it was impossible for dry bones to have flesh and sinews to be brought upon them Again they thought they were utterly lost and they thought that they should never be brought out of troubles and this caused bitter complaints to arise from their spirits Thirdly Moderate sorrow it doth differ from immoderate sorrow in this True sorrow it doth stir up holy endeavours to act in thy place and calling for the deliverance of the Church Thus you read in Jeremiah 51. 50. You that have escaped the sword go away stand not still remember the Lord a far off and let Jerusalem come into your minds As if the Prophet had said Jerusalem is in trouble and under great and sore afflictions do what you can for her stand not still but improve all your interests you can in all places and conditions that it may be for her benefit Whereas a man that is possessed with a sinful care and a sinful sorrow he is so far from improving all his interest for Gods people in trouble that he is ready to sit down and say will doe no more for Religion and for the Cause of God and he is ready to think he hath done too much already and repenteth of all he hath done this is sinful trouble and sinful sorrow When they shall be ready to resolve to doe no more lend no more venture no more but if it shall go well with the Church then they will own the Church and people of God but if the Church is brought into troubles and if it lyeth under sorrows then they will desert it and will not improve any interest for it neither will they doe any thing for God and his Church and people but give all over as lost and gone without any endeavours to relieve them Fourthly Those that do thus mourn graciously they do mourn more for the Churches troubles and the people of Gods sorrows then they doe for their own particular sorrows and troubles David's sorrows and troubles that were to his own particular person they were no more to him then a little prick in his flesh I but the sorrows and troubles and sufferings of the Church they were to him as a sword in his bones Psal 42. As with a sword in my bones the enemies reproach me while they say unto me daily Where is thy God So likewise you read of Elijah in 1 Kings 19. 4 10. it is spoken concerning Elijah when he was sitting under the Juniper tree and he said O Lord I beseech thee now I pray thee take away my life for I am not better then my fathers And he said I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts For the children of Israel have for saken thy Covenant thrown down thine Altars and slain thy Prophets with the sword and I even I only am left and they seek my life to take it away Here you see that good man did mourn for Gods Church they have slain thy Prophets c. and this doth punish him and this doth greatly disquiet him and trouble his spirit I but immoderate sorrow is more let out after particular crosses and troubles and personal losses the loss of relations the loss of thy estate or any personal affliction upon thy body this doth more trouble thee then the great troubles that the Church of God are under now this is a sinful sorrow Now to allay this distemper that you may not sinfully and immoderately mourn for the calamities of the Church and people of God I shall name to you these five Considerations which is the fourth thing propounded as helps against dejected disquietings and discouragements First Do not immoderately grieve and mourn for the calamities of the Church of God on this ground because the Church of God doth grow more numerous by troubles and persecutions The Saints bloud that is shed by persecution is the seed of the Church and many encrease and grow from that seed Cyprian suffered Martyrdome many were converted by his Martyrdome and by his sufferings as well as by his preaching Souls persecuters that doe by the casting one into prison and by the putting of another to death and by banishment of another they do there by think within themselves to root out all the rest both Professors and Religion too but God by an over-ruling hand doth so order it that it is a means for to encrease multitudes of the people of God If a child comes into a Forrest and in there he sees a man cutting off of the top of a tree the child thereby thinks the man doth spoil the tree but it is otherwise for by that loping and pruning the tree doth grow more So wicked men may cut here one tree and there another and lop off the branches but God by this means doth make the Church of God to grow more in number and to grow better then before and the number of the people of God are more encreased as it was with the Church of the Jews they went down into Egypt but a small number but their being in bonds and captivity they did grow very great in number and grew more in number and multiplied more in Egypt then ever they did in their own Land For so you read in Exodus 1. 7. the Hebrews that is the Jews 't is said they filled the whole land of Egypt And the children of Israel were fruitful and multiplied and encreased abundantly and waxed exceeding mighty and the land was filled with them If you would find the Number that went down into Egypt they were Seventy souls but there came out 600 thousand O how is the goodness of God in the way of his providence appearing for the good and benefit of his own people that even in the times of persecution he should order it that then it should turn to the good of his own people to encrease and multiply them The Jews had the good land of Canaan given to them and afterward for their sins and misdoings they were carried captive into Babylon as you read in 2 Kings 24. 16. there you read of seven thousand that were carried away captive And in Zedechias reign there were four thousand six hundred and in all not above two thousand and all these were carried away captive into Babylon and one would think that in their captivity they should not encrease but decrease But it was so ordered by the Lords over-ruling power that they did exceedingly encrease to four times their number and they did return out of captivity forty two thousand three hundred and sixty thus they encreased in Seventy years this is the great providence of God to make the persecutions of his people to encrease their number And not
have not power in their hand but when they come to be warm with the prosperity of the World then they will hurt and doe mischief Secondly God doth let wicked men prosper that so their mouths might be stopped and they may have nothing to say when God shall proceed in Judgement against them when God shall say to them I gave you mercies and you never performed your duty towards me I gave you prosperity and you returned me no glory and God shall say that such a man that had no riches no prosperity in the World which you had and yet he did his duty and had more grace and brought me more glory then ever you have done I have been bountiful towards you but you have not been humble before me you have had much from me and yet returned little to me this prosperity will be an Argument to stop their mouths that they shall not be able to speak a word against God Thirdly God doth let wicked men prosper to this end that so he might see whether his people will love God for himself love Christ for his own sake whether they can love a naked God a naked Christ and a naked truth for their own sakes God doth it to try his people whether they will love holinesse and love grace and love the ways of God when they are paved with thorns as well as when they are strewed with roses and to see if his people will love Religion when it is a persecuted Religion and to love holiness and exact walking when it is scorned and the professors thereof reproached and love Religion when it shall have neither power nor successe on its side rather then to love sin and the ways of vanity when prosperity and profit and pleasure and successe and all on that side and this is one and whereby he doth try his own servants by letting the men of the world prosper to see if they will love God for himself Fourthly That thereby it may hasten and aggravate the ruine of wicked men what is the main end of putting Oxen into fat pastures but to fatten them up against the day of slaughter So the Lord doth put wicked men into fat pastures of prosperity and riches in this world but it is for this end to fatten them up against the day of flaughter and to make them be a sweeter morsel not only for worms in the grave but Divels in hell God lets wicked men for to prosper and to let them have the world at will but it is that it might carry them with the more speed into the place of darknesse Psal 92. When the wicked spring up as grasse and all the workers of iniquity do flourish that they might saith he be destroyed for ever Fifthly That the prosperity of wicked men might be a shelter and desence to his own people What was the reason that Cyrus a wicked man should so prosper in strength and power in the world and to destory the Caldees and Baby lonians he was a Heathen and God did make use of him for his own peoples safety it was by the hand of Cyrus that deliverance came to the poor Jews out of captivity It was a question what might be the reason that Egypt must be the fruitful place in the seaven years of famine when all the Nations round about them had famine in them now Gods end was this that they might have provision to maintain his own people and Jacob and his Sons So the Cananites the Land of Canaan was never so fruitful as it was that very year that the Jews were to inherite it now what was the reason God did not love the Cananites But they build houses and Gods people come and live in them they shall plant Vineyards and Gods people come and eat the fruit of them it was for their sakes that he suffered them to do this God did not love Pharoah and God did not love the Cananites but God did love his own people and for their sakes he did all this to let them prosper and thrive and grow great in the world that his own people might enjoy the lands for their possession Now you shall find that there are three Texts more particularly that do intimate and set forth this more clearly the one is in Prov. 13. 22. A good man leaveth an inheritance to his childrens children but the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just It may be a wicked man will sell his conscience and ingage the soul and all to the Divel and all to get a little wealth in the world and God may suffer him to prosper in his ways and to get wealth by this sinful way but what then then the end will be it shall be laid up for the just they shall have it God so orders it many times that that which wicked men do get godly men enjoy So likewise in Job 27. 16 17. Though they heap up silver as the dust and prepare rayment as the clay v. 16. He may prepare it but the just shall put it on and the innocent shall divide the silver This is the portion of wicked men to heap up silver as dust and to prepare rayment as clay c. But this he may do but the just shall divide it and the innocent put it on God will not let good men be so far tempted to get the world but he lets wicked men imbrace that temptation but after they have done his own people shall enjoy it The third and last place for this purpose is in Prov. 28 8. He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance he shall gather it for him that will pitie the poor Therefore we see how that many men it may be go to hell for getting riches and leave it to them that are godly and liberal to injoy that substance and shall this trouble godly men it may be thou seest wicked men get riches he doth run the hazard of losing a soul to get it and thou injoy the benefit after him the child that shall see his fathers shepherd to have many sheep shall the child envy him he doth but keep them till his father dies So do wicked men get the world and run the hazard of a soul and do not know who shall injoy what they have gotten for godly men have a right to that which God suffers wicked men to injoy I do not say they have a civil right for that they have not but they have a religious right and a spiritual right to that and to all the World for all the World is given unto you for your good and though wicked men are suffered to prosper in the World be not disquieted at them Sixthly God doth it for the spiritual good of his own people when Gods people shall see that the wicked do prosper in the world and they themselves do not prosper in the world this doth administer an occasion to them to live the life of