have every day a piece so greatly was he beloved of God that even when all the City was in want and he hated of all in the City yet was he provided for now these and the like examples of Gods kindnesse towards his people in such distresse may imbolden us to suffer with patience seeing God is the same he was and as carefull over his people as ever formerly and will assuredly relieve those that are in distresse if they doe but truly confide in him Suppose two men were to goe to prison or to such a place where they were sure to finde want of all things the one he knowes of a friend that will relieve him in necessity and therefore he with better heart and more comfort enters the undelightfull place the other he knowâ— of none that will at all help be his want never so extreem and therefore sorrowfully enters and with bitter griefe undergoes such unwelcome wants It is even thus with Gods people and ungodly men with men that have faith and unbeleeving persons those who trust in the Lord they feare not to heare of famine they know of a friend who will one way or other relieve them 1 King 17.6 the ravens shall feede them if men will not or cannot in prison they shall have bread when men that have liberty shall want pulse shall make them fat and faire Dan. 1.15 when others shall idye because they cannot undergoe hardnesse one handfull of meale shall hold out to preserve them when full barnes shall waste and be empty in a word 2 Kin. 17.14 Psal 34 1â— they know that God will provide for them and therefore they feare not but considently and constantly relye upon him On the contrary wicked and unbeleeving men in time of dearth know of no succour 2 King 6.27 if the Barne floore or the Wine-presse faile them they are at a stand they know not which way to turne themselves and so the very thought of famine terrifies them and to undergoe it seemes intolerable therefore I say let us put our confidence in God and consider what favour other of Gods servants have had in such distresses and let that worke in us an assurance of Gods favour towards us and then having that assurance we shall be ready to undergoe with patience this or the like calamity Againe if none of these forenamed judgements do molest us but that the Lord hath decreed that we shall be destroyed by Forraine Foes let us pray night and day to the Lord to keep them from us or led Captives from our own land to strange places 1 Pet. 1.11 c. to prepare to suffer this patiently os paroimois c. Vita nostra eleganter dicitur paroimia id est Peregrinatio nam Deus nobis hic Domicilium non habitandi sed commorandi de dit let us remember that we are but strangers and pilgrims here on earth we no continuing * Heb. 13.14 city here we are not now at home but even while here we live we are in a strange Countrey where onely for a while we must abide to endure afflictions that we may have algreater desire to be fetched home to that city above which is the mother of us all have we any more to doe then holy men before us have had and they counted the time which they spent upon earth but as a pilgrimage and themselves as strangers in the earth what assurance or title soever they had of or to what they did possesse therefore we are no more now to strangers all places are alike they can be as well content in one place as another Gen 47.7 12.10 Heb. 11.13 should it not then be so with us although we should be driven or carried away our God is in all places and to him we may have free accesse in all places seeing in every place those that lift up pure hearts and hands to God Sapiens ubicunque est perigrinatur are accepted his watchfull eye of providence lookes upon us in all places and he is ready to assist all that call upon him with necessaries therefore what need we care whither we be carried if God have so decreed that it shall be so for let us not doubt but he will provide for our safety even in greatest extremity Psal 90.1 let us not feare but he that gave Jeremiah favour in the sight of his enemies Jer. 40.4 so that in a time of generall captivity he had free liberty â—o goe whither he would and likewise Gen. 39.4 Dan. 2.48 caus'd Jeseph and Daniel to finde such favour in strange landâ— that they were advanced to places of trust and dignity and in the time of the greatest bondage blessed his people with all manner of blessings in a strange land Exod. 1.7 but the same God will provide for us likewise if we put our trust and confidence in him as they did for the Lord hath alwayes a speciall care over his servants chiefly in the time of dangers so that how ever it goe with the wicked it shall goe well with them To be briefe let us take the words speken to Ebedmelech as spoken to us and that may cause us stand firme against all approaching danger Jer. 39.16 17 18. But yet perhaps it may seem an hard thing to be borne with patience to many to see strangers enjoy their labours lands houses and what was theirs and they themselves either be as slaves to them or forced to fly for their owne safety or carried by force to places where there is no hope of safety This indeed may seeme hard to flesh and bloud therefore let all men as I before shewed endeavour to draw their love and delight from them and withall consider that of all we do possesse we are but tenants at will and shall we not be as well content to suffer the Lord to doe what he pleaseth with his as that our temporall Landlords should dispose of theirs as they please it is nothing to us to whom an owner of land lets or gives it why therefore should we repine at what the Lord doth The earth is the Lords and the fulnesse thereof he may therefore dispose of it as he pleaseth which thing seriously considered of should teach us to lay our hands upon our mouthes and not murmure though all we had we taken from us and given to others But againe if it should be so leâ— us consider to further and procure in us patience to endure it that we are not alone in such a condition but even the dearest of Gods children have been in the like Abraham Gen. 15.13 the Father of the faithfull had a Land promised to his seed for an inheritance but it was possessed by strangers foure hundred years before they enjoyed it nay in the most of that time they suffered hard and cruell bondage in Egypt David by the Lord was chosen King of Israel but he lived in exile
vex us if we doe amisse War is not all he uses to chastise Those people with that doe his name despise Beleeve me I am sorry to behold And too to well I doe behold it now That such securenesse should this Land infold That nought mens hearts to watchfulnesse can bow In pity therefore least the plagues should come Before men be awaked I have writ And this my writing to the view have showne That every one may notice take of it Oh! let it now awake you Countrey-men Your selves deceive not judgements still are neere Rowse up your selves from sleepinesse agen See see how wrath doth round about appeare Prepare your selves for judgemens else will take In sinne you napping e're you be awake Let no untruth prejudicate affection Disdaine or hate which any ' gainst me beare Cause you to disrespect my sound direction Which stirs up and perswades you to prepare Disdaine me not what e're I seeme I may Now speake to purpose though I simple be Althâ—ugh my writing be not deek'd or gay I nothing write but needfull verity And none can taxe me that I ever writ Any to warne but what hath proved true Credit therefore my words may sooner get Seeing at this time needfull things I shew Not that I seeke to get my selfe applause But that I would advance the publike Cause I would be loath to see now War is gone A pestilent infectious disease To come our Townes and People now among To fetch them hence to death without release Or that the Lord should cause the earth deny To bring forth fruit our people to sustaine Or bring upon us dearth or penury Or vex us with some secret feare or paine Or that he should into our strong Holds send Or to our Armies death them to devoure Or vex us as he once did Egypts Land With plagues unknowne to any man before Or make this part envied by its foes A laughing-stock to all that by it goes I say I should be loath such things should come To light upon this Countrey to its harme And that because that I doe hold my tongue And doe's not men of what I feare forwarne Who knowes but God hath rais'd me up for this To write that men may warning take and rise From that securenesse which doth them possess And to amend of their iniquities In hope of this I write but if that still Men in their dull security persist And take no warning by what now I tell Surely with hardned hearts they are accurst And God a while his judgements takes away That he may plague them more another day But thus in writing I my duty shall Discharge by giving warning to prepare And though fierce judgements shall upon us fall To all the world I guiltlesse shall appeare And these my words shall once respected be And be observ'd by those that doe them read And other places though these will not see Shall warning take and fly their sins with speed And those that will not by them warning take Shall when as plagues shall fall upon them say That it was true which unto them I spake And wish they had been warned at this day And those in whom no watchfulnesse is seen Shall wish that they had far more watchfull been My prayer shall be that this may take effect And bring to passe that for which forth I send it I will not grieve although with disrespect I hated be by men through it offended For as I seeke not for to flatter any So neither I ' gainst private persons braule I send it forth for to awaken many To all therefore I write in generall What is amisse passe by that favour doe me If ought you reape that 's good give God the glory No greater praise or favour you can show me If not there 's nought that can make me more sorry Read o're the Booke observe and marke it well Awake from your security Farewell W. Meeke The Faithfull Scout Giving an Alarme to Yorkeshire especially to the East-Ryding and to all other places at this time freed from War CHAPTER I. That God hath variety of Judgements to punish sinfull and rebellious people withall IT was not without cause that the Apostle said It is a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the living God Heb 10.31 For surely most miserable and wretched is their condition that by their evill actions have made God at senâ—ity with them it were better for such if they might so be free that a milstone were tyed about their neeks and they cast into the bottome of the Sea then that they should live to abide all the plagues judgements and miseries which the Lord hath to inflict upon them for who can name or reckon up all those sorts of punishments that he hath in his Amory ready at any time upon occasions to send to execute his fierce wrath upon those who walke perversly before him many severall sorts the Egyptians felt in their Land and them so strange as were never before that time heard of and yet the Lord threatens his owne people that if they would not be obedient but walk untowardly before him Deut. 28.61 hee would send plagues upon them which were not written in the Booke of the Law even new plagues which were never before sent upon any and yet if wee looke upon the curses threatned wee shall finde them many Deut. 28.15 63. Lev. 16.18 22. strange and fearfull for he not onely threatens to turne every Blessing into a Curse but if that will not serve to deterre them from their evill wayes he tells them he will bring seven-times more plagues upon them then before and if they would not be reformed by them but still walke contrary unto him then hee would walke contrary unto them and punish them yet seventimes more nay and if that would not serve he would plague them yet seven-times more Yea and if for all this they still would walk stubbornely before him he threatens that still hee would encrease his judgements Verse 29. and walke contrary to them in fury and chastise them yet seven-times for their sins By all which fearfull threatnings he would have us to observe what variety of plagues he hath to inflict upon stubborne and stiffe-necked people Dicit Propheta Deum aperire Thesaurum suum nempe quoniam habet varios multiplices modos qui humano sensu comprehendi nequeunt ubi vuli impios perdere Cal. in Jer. 50.25 Lob 5.14 Psal 18.26 Ps 7 11 12.13 who will not be reformed to walke according to his command seeing that every time he punisheth he can change his judgements and yet make them every time more fierce and fearfull then other well therefore may he be said to have an Armory stored with weapons of indignation and wrath when hee hath not onely one or two but many yea infinite severall sorts and them too so strange that no man can conceive of them for contrary to all expectation
and against all meanes oft-times he brings punishments upon the ungodly and wicked men For even in the day time wicked men meete with darknesse and grope at the noon-day The Sun he causes to loose his brightnesse and the cleare day its light in vaine can any expect safety if he walke in his evill wayes for with the froward God will shew himselfe froward and to those that walke contrary to him will hee walke contrary for what is man that he can strive against God For if he were never so strong he could not be free seeing God can if he pleaseth meet with him in any place at any time upon any occasion This Doctrine the Prophet taught the Jewes when they thought because one judgement was past that then they should have lived in safety for ever nay saith the Prophet Rejoyce not thou Palestina Isa 14.19 because the rod of him that smote thee is broken for out of the Serpents root shall come a Cockatrice and his fruit shall be a fiery flying Serpent So that though one judgement were taken away yet should they not be free for as much as two in its roome more fearefull should follow in vaine should they expect immunity for out of the root of one plague should spring another untill they should be consumed utterly from the face of the earth And it is no marvell that he hath such store seeing it is he that created darknesse and evill if there were no punishments apparent he could presently bring them for why he can produce them from nothing Isa 45.7 when men think the coast is cleare and there is no dangeâ— neere nor feare of any when they cry Peace peace then shall sudden destruction come upon them as upon a woman in travell and they shall not know which way to escape This the Jewes found to their woe the Egyptians had raised the Siege from before Jerusalem and all the Army of the Caldeans were gone so that there was no danger feared or expected Jer. 37.10 But what saith the Prophet If saith he ye had smitten all the Army of the Caldeans so that there had remained no more then wounded men yet should they burn this City with fire for as it is as easie for him to save by many as by few * 1 Sam. 14. â— Si Deus statuit homines perdere quamvis nemo sit hostis posse tamen solo statu eos omnes inte fiâ—ere Cal. preâ—ect in Jer. So is it as to destroy by few as well as many For he that could turn away the Assyrians from Jerusalem alone could likewise strengâ—hen a weake Army to destroy it when he pleased but though they were not a ware of it yet did he bring again the same Army which they least feared for no doubt but they were little or nothing affraid of the Army of the Caldeans which was chased from them and yet that danger came the soonest upon them for thus somtimes the Lord meets with men and againe sometimes quite * See an example of this in the hystory of Serpents contrary for sometimes when men seeme to be afraid of a judgement and therefore prepare against it because they thinke nothing can hurt them but onely that which then they fear perhaps before they be aware some other falls on them which they least expected Thus in a manner iâ— befelâ— those Israelites that came from Egypt with Moses they cry'd out against him and Aaron that because they brought them from Egypt into the Wildernesse their children and their little ones would all bee destroyed in the Wildernesse but quite contrary it fell out to them For Deut. 1.39 saith the Lord those little ones which you said should bee a prey c. they shall goe in thither and they shall possesse it but as for ye turne c. Verse 40. We ourselves in this Land may by experience know this for we once suppos'd and fear'd that Forreigne foes by invasion might worke our ruine and to this end prepar'd our Ships c. but now * And now perhaps he may destroy us by them contrary to our feare quite contrary to the expectation of most though indeed alwayes feared by some God hath met with us by sending a spirit of dis-unity among us which is now like without Gods especiall mercy to worke our utter destruction I might therefore shew how he hath somtimes feared a place with one plague and punished it with another but what hath beene spoke may shew sufficiently his variety c. For who can number his armies Job 25.3 saith Job he hath so many none can tell the number of them And yet besides all his visible judgements and the Earth the Sea and all things in them are ready to excute his command the Heavens the Stars c are all at a becke to doe what he pleaseth he hath an invinsible Army consisting of twenty thousand charets nay even thousands of Angels who are without number Psal 68.17 Dan. 7.10 therefore who can but assent to this truth that God hath variety of punishments to inflict upon wicked men c. Which yet will more manifestly appeare if we consider how he hath met with men in those places where they expected safety and where it was thought no feare could come nay which were so strong or free shot that it was thought impossible for any harme to enter from which It was thought troubles were so far that they were reforted unto by men to take delight in even in those places I say God hath oftentimes vexed men with unaâ—oydable misqâ—ies Thus he met with those rebellious Jews who notwithstanding they were fore-warn'd would needs go into Egypt because as they thought there they should neither see nor feele any evill but even there contrary to their expectation the Lord threatned evill should finde them out The sword saith he that you feared shall overtake you there in the Land of Egypt Jer. 42.14 15 16. and the famine whereof you were afraid shall follow close after you into Egypt and there ye shull dye And the very like doth another Prophet threaten against those who expected help or deliverance from Egypt Isa 30.3 The strength of Phraoh shall be your shame and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion Even there where they hoped to finde comfort and by whom they expected deliverance there they sound sorrow and they became a snare unto them and their hopes not onely failed but they were in a worse condition then otherwayes they would have been in for they on whom they leaned did not onely breake out wonnded them And indeed it befalls many times thus to men that fly from danger they finde worse entertainment then they departed from Those five Kings that warred against Joshâ— Josh 10.16 24 25 26. thought they had been past danger when they escaped from the Field and fled into a cave at Makkedah but destruction followed after
4 5 6 7 8 9. yet the Lord threatned to set a plumbe line in the midst of them and then he would not passe by them any more so though there be some places which may escape this War I mean the miseries of it in the extreamest manner yet still let them feare for their sins retained a time will come when God will not passe by them any more What shall I say more let me beseech all in all places who as yet by Gods speciall favour towards them have not undergone these heavy burthens of sufferings which many of their brethren have suffered that they would consider the great kindnesse they thus long have enjoyed and endeavour to frame themselves to be unfainedly thankfull to the Lord for the same and strive to get themselves affected with a fellow-feeling of their brethrens calamities and miseries that with sorrow of heart they may grieve for them as their owne and with all manner of humble intercessions desire the Lord to remove his hand from these parts that are afflicted and still for his mercies sake divert and turne away the judgements that are on the Land from them that as hitherto they have so still they may enjoy his favour and if it shall please him to bring any other correction upon them that he would so stir them up to be prepared at all times that they may not murmur but take patiently all manner of afflictions and be made more ready to obey him calling upon them in what manner soever he speake unto them and withall while they enjoy this rest when their brethren are in troubles let them strive so to take warning by their sufferings that they doe what God calls for by afflictions the works of repentance and good works one towards another even so and as well as if they were afflicted this doing wil witnesse to themselves and the world that they are lowly and obedient children who tremble at the sight of the rod and therefore the Lord doth to them as in mercy he did to Iosiah for his tender-heartednesse even spare them that they may enjoy peace in their dayes the consideration of which may adde inward comfort to their outward tranquillity 2 Kiâ—g 22.18 19 20. and assure them that they are a peculiar people to the Lord. But on the contrary if this peace and immunity from punishments work in stead of repentance c. vaine security pride and an increase of evills and impieties they then may have cause to feare and all other may thinke without breach of charity that because they are suffered to have their swinge in pleasures and earthly contentments God hates them and that they are bastards and not sons Heb. 12.8 even men who are allotted to most fearfull punishments to their destruction I might goe on but so much shall suffice to have spoken concerning those who as yet have not suffered the miseries of this War Now to such as have by the strength of the Holds wherein they have remained been safe and free from those troubles which many of their brethren have undergone let this word of exhortation come and be acceptable beware of growing proud by your deliverance or to a cribe that to the instrument which is due to the Author think not because you were delivered that your strength preserved you but give glory to God and praise him for it was he that delivered you and likewise take heed you doe not againe provoke him to wrath for though you as yet have escaped though formerly your enemies durst not or could not meddle with you yet I say grow not secure for if he once send your foes against you though your holds seeme invincible Ezek. 28.8.9 yet will he deliver them and you both into your enemies hands if he but once say Sword goe against such a place it cannot be still untill it hath made it desolate therefore it is a dangerous thing to have God as an enemy to fight against a place for why he hath many wayes and meanes to bring down strong Fortifications yea the strongest that can be made Strong was the fort of Sion when it was held by the Jebusites against David they were so confident * Sam. 4.6 7 Willet ibid. Quest 6. takes that to be the meaning of the words of its strength that they thought the blinde the lame were sufficient to keep it against all Davids force for they thought David could not come thither yet notwithstanding of its strength it was delivered into Davids hands and the Lord tells the Inhabitants of Jerusalem which place while it was in prosperity all the Kings of the earth durst not looke at that though there should remain but wounded men of the Caldeans Army * Psal 48.5 6. Ier. 37.10 Isa 10.4 yet should they take it and burn it with fire so strong are weak armies sent and set a work by God against any place all the policy in the world cannot disappoint what God that is infinite in wisdome shall determine to be done upon a place for as many wayes as men have to build up so many and far more hath the Lord to pull downe Of mighty strength surely was populous No Nahum 3 8 9 that was scituate amongst the rivers that had the waters round about it whose Rampart was the sea and her walls was from the sea Ethiopia and Egypt was her strength and it was infinite c. Yet was she carried away Ver. 10. shee went into captivity her children were dashed in pieces at the tops of all the streets and they cast lots for her honourable men and all her great men were bound in chaines Now where among all those strong Holdâ— and Castles which hitherto have withstood the force of the enemy is there one stronger then populous No which you hear was thus destroyed why then should any place or people presume upon their strength or think they can feele no trouble because of it Alas you see there is no resistance where God will have his judgements to enter how strong soever your workes have been formerly if Gods wrath be against you they shall be but like Fig-trees with the first ripe figs Nahum 3.12 if they be shaken they shall even fall c. Observe the place even the strongest workes when the Lord shall shake them shall be but as ripe figs which the least touch causeth to fall downe moreover that none may put any confidence in men for their number or strength though Workes fall the Prophet tells them Ver. 13 14 15 c. That their people shall be as drunkenmen and as women and the gates shall be set wide open to their enemies and their bars shall be burned with fire Read the places in the Margent there you may see at large described how weak all strong holds are Obâ—d 3 4 5 6 c. Isa 26.5 6 27.10 to save men from the fierce anger of the Lord so that I say