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B01127 Salomon's pest-house, or tovver-royall. Newly re-edified and prepared to preserve Londoners with their families, and others, from the doubted deluge of the plague. Item, a laudable excercise [sic] for those that are departed, or shall depart out of the city into the country, to spend their time till they returne, a handfull of holy meditations usefull and requisite for Gods people, men and women, of all estates and degrees, in these doubtfull dayes, whether troubled in body or minde, and whether Gods visitation of the plague increase or decrease. / By the reverend, learned and godly divine I.D. preacher of Gods word. ; Whereunto is added Mr. Holland's admonition, and Mr. Phaer's prescription for bodily physicke. Also London looke-backe: a description or representation of the great and memorable mortality ann. 1625. in heroicke matchlesse lines,. I. D.; Holland, Henry, 1583-1650? 1636 (1636) STC 6176.5; ESTC S91591 52,813 78

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vntill he haue heard vs in that which we aske of him in this afflicted time Let our prayers be now as the showers of the raine if the first showre faileth of watering the earth sufficiently the second the third or the fourth wil fulfill the thirst thereof Let vs be like vnto the widow Luk. 18. and our importunitie will draw him vnto audience but yet let vs hold a better opinion of the Iudge of the world then of a common vulgar friend It delighted his eares to heare our redoubled obsecrations and he suspendeth our desires in expectation that we should be importunate to craue The bodily Physician cannot away with the importunate patient but God Habak 2.3 King Dauids Physician loueth the importunate prayer more acceptable is to him the end of our prayer then the beginning I would the children of light were as wise in their generation as the wodden Priests 1. Reg. 18. who cried long to Baal yea cut themselues with kniues that they might be heard and what ought not wee then doe to obtaine our suite Let nothing then mooue vs to returne but as the King of the Philistines 1. Sam. 6. though they had Calues at home yet they kept the straight way to Bethshemesh and held one path turning neither to the right nor to the left hand neither euer stood still till they came into the field of Iosuah So in our going to the name of Iehouah the affection of our soules bearing the Arke and coffer of our suite though it hath worldly allurements to draw it backe as the Kine had Calues yet let it in the way to the house of God as they to Bethshemesh hold one path of perseuerance turning neither to the right or left hand with wandring cogitations till it commeth into the field and garden of God and there let it remaine Many heretofore hauing not continued in the Countrey in their hasty returning haue fallen sicke and died So many hauing not continued in this strong bulwarke haue endangered both body and soule And thus much hitherto of the second part The third part containing the houshold stuffe which we must carrie vnto that place There followeth now the third and the last which openeth vnto vs the houshold-stuffe which we must carrie with vs thither noted in the word Righteous As they which goe in the country in the time of plague carrie with them their houshold-stuffe their furniture and those things which are necessarie for their bodies and as Noah entring the Arke carried with him necessaries so likewise in our going to this place we must carrie with vs those things which are necessary for our soules that wee may be receiued by the Lord of that soyle and without which we cannot goe thither There are fiue peeces of spirituall houshold-stuffe which are necessary for vs 1. Repentance noted in the word Righteous The first is Repentance and holines of life for hee that is righteous giueth himself to righteousnes And this furniture carried with him Dauid 2. Sam. 24.11 As they which goe in the country haue their reasons why they carrie with them such and such necessaries So giue me leaue in the opening of this furniture to shew you also the reasons which must moue vs to carie them with vs. As for this first 2. Tim. 2.19 the first reason is the prescriptiō of the spiritual Physicians it is the Apostles precept Let euery one that calleth on the name of Christ depart from iniquitie The second is that we may be receiued for the righteous Lord l●ueth righteousnesse his countenance doth behold the iust Psal 11.7 His eyes are vpon the righteous and his eares open to their cry but his face is against them that doe euill Psal 66.18 to cut off their remembrance from the earth Psal 34.15.16 If I regarde wickednesse in my heart saith Dauid the Lord will not heare me For as Salomon testifieth the Lord is farre off from the wicked but he heareth the prayer of the righteous Prou. 15.29 Draw therefore neere to God and he will draw neere to you cleanse your handes ye sinners and purge your hearts ye wauering minded Prou. 28.9 Iam. 4.8.9 The third is that the bodily plague may cease for how dare we approach vnto the Lord to craue that it might be remooued and yet carie with vs the inward cause thereof let the Physicians maxime heere preuaile remooue the cause that the effect may cease Let vs not as the sonnes of Iacob bring into the presence of our father Psal 59. the garment of Ioseph which we our selues haue be blooded As Aaron could not come before the Lord before he was washed so let vs not go vnto him before we haue cleansed our selues from infection of the soule And as Iacob Gen. 42. exhorted his sonnes when they were going to Ioseph carry with you the best fruits of the land and giue them him so let vs in our going to the true Ioseph Iesus Christ carrie with vs the best fruites of our hearts to offer vp the sacrifice of our prayers leauing our corrupt affections as Abraham left behinde him at the foot of the hil his asses I conclude this first point with the saying of Chrysostome as in a garland it is not enough that the flowers be pure and cleane but the hand also which handleth them so it is not sufficient that the words of our prayers be holy but the heart also which conceiueth them 2. Faith The second piece of houshold-stuffe Faith for the righteous is also hee that beleeueth in Christ and is righteous through the righteousnes of Christ the righteous 1. Sam. 14. This furniture carried Dauid with him for as hee had a desire of health and remission of his sinne so hee had also a stedfast faith and confidence that it should be forgiuen him This persuasion of deliuerance and hope of obtaining we must haue with vs enterteining it in our hearts The reasons are first the prescription of the spirituall Physicians it is the Apostles precept Iam. 1.6 Let him aske in faith and wauer not And in the fourth to the Heb. 16. that we should goe boldely to the throne of grace drawing neere vnto him with a true heart in assurance of faith Heb. 10.22 casting not away that confidence which hath recompence of reward Vers 35. t is the counsaile of Christ Mar. 11.24 Secondly carrie it with thee that thou maist receiue that for which thou goest vnto him faithfully Psal 145.18 And whatsoeuer yee shall aske in prayer if yee beleeue yee shall receiue it Math. 21.22 Without this there is no going thither Rom. 10.14 But as righteousnes and trueth kisse each other so must prayer and faith which is the ground of prayer first beleeue and then speake this was the order of Dauid Psal 116. this faith will make vs acceptable to the Lord of that soile and make vs finde fauour at his hands Faith is a beautifull queene as highly fauored of
father in diuers places Psal 18.2 The Lord is my fortresse and my refuge and in the 32.7 Thou art my secret place and compassest me about with ioyfull deliuerance and so Psal 94.22 This is also the confession of the sonne in this place and of all the Saints of God vnto whose confessions I referre you as they are set down by the holy Ghost in the booke of God Thirdly the word runneth implieth as much which giueth me entrance to the second point opening vnto vs the feet which we need to goe vnto this place the which if ye are desirous to know The feet to carry vs thither they are two in number Faith and Praier Faith the first for if by faith we stand 2. Cor. 1 24. by faith we may also goe to the Lord who is faithfull Now how could we goe vnto him by the feete of prayer if wee did not beleeue in him Rom. 10.14 The second is prayer a spirituall legge to beare vs thither noted by Salomon making mention of running by Ionah speaking of comming Chap. 2 ver 7. And my prayer came vnto thee in thine holy temple By the Apostle when he speaketh of going let vs therefore goe vnto the throne of grace Heb. 4.16 Lastly by the holy Ghost vsing this word Climbing Apoc. 8.4 Both the name of the place which is appointed for vs to goe vnto and the spirituall legs which the Lord hath giuen vs to carry vs thither doe preach vnto the sonnes of men the admirable goodnes mercy of the Lord toward them In this world we are as pilgrims Psal 119. hauing here no continuing Citie Heb. 13.14 and while we are at home in the body wee are absent from the Lord 2. Cor. 5.6 In which pilgrimage Many are the troubles of the righteous Psal 34. O the great goodnes of the Lord then that hee hath giuen vs feete to come vnto him and made himsefe a place of refuge for vs in all our troubles which goodnesse is comfortable vnto the faithfull for as it is a comfort vnto the pilgrim shepheard or souldier to haue in the heate of the day a place of refuge to refresh their wearied members So likewise what a comfort is it for you O afflicted soules in the heat of your afflictions to haue the name of Iehouah for a sacred Sanctuarie the Lord is not like vnto the Princes of the earth who desire not to be molested with the requests of their distressed subiects It is a ioy to the wearied student that he may sometime come home to his fathers house recreate himselfe Into this world the Lord hath sent vs as in an Vniuersitie which although it is farre off from our fathers house yet the Lord hath giuen vs spirituall feet by which in a moment wee can ascend vnto our fathers house and recreate there our wearied spirits This world is a waste desart if wee neede any thing here are the legges by which speedily we may runne to this place and prouide our selues If the Lord hath cast vs downe vpon our beds and that wee cannot vse the feet of our bodies behold he hath giuen vs other feet to vse in stead of these King Ezekiah visited with the plague could not vse the feet of the flesh but with the feet of the spirit went vnto this place known vnto him by the name of Iehouah Ionah is locked vp in a prison in the belly of the Whale the Lords prison and cannot stirre himselfe and yet by the vertue of these feet out of the depth he ascendeth to the holy temple of Iehouah The hose to put on Now that these feet may be able to beare vs thither and that they may not faile vs in our voyage they must put on the hose of faith and as the Apostle speaketh our feet must be shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace And as the feet to that Image of Daniel were part of yron Eph 6 15. part of clay which the Prophet expoundeth partly strong partly weake or broken Dan 2 42. So the feet of our prayers are according to the hosen wherewith they are couered if they put on feare and distrustfulnesse they will be shiuering and sinking downeward of clay weake and impotent if they put on faith and confidence in the mercies of God they will be feet of yron strong stable and firme keeping vs vpright and will carrie vs to the very throne of grace A dirction to know the way Further as they that depart into the Countrey if they know not the way to the place whereunto they goe must haue a guide or a direction because they should not erre So in the going to this place because there are so many false guides and directions the Lord himselfe hath giuen vs a Card of direction to lead vs thereunto the witnesse of his holy word written and sealed that can neuer deceiue vs. As the fierie pillar in the desart shewed the way vnto the Israelites So this word of the Lord is a fierie pillar vnto vs in the darke desart of this world to shew vs the way to that heauenly Canaan it is the lanthorne vnto our feete and a light to our pathes Luk. 12.35 Psal 105. and therefore according to the direction of our Sauiour Let our loynes be girded and let vs beare in our hands this shining light 4 The right or interest which the faithfull haue to this place Fourthly to go to this place it is necessarie to know what right or interest we haue in it In the places whereunto men betake their selues in the time of plague either they haue some right or interest there because they are their owne or because they haue some friends or acquaintance there that will receiue them or lastly because they haue either hired or purchased a house So likewise vnto the name of Iehouah the place where we ought to goe in the time of plague as also at all other times we haue a speciall right and interest First because it is our owne for he is our God and our Lord not by nature but by gift and donation Secondly there we haue acquaintance and our bestfriends God our father Christ our brother the holy Ghost our comforter Thirdly because we haue purchased it not we our selues by corruptible gold or by our merites but Christ for vs by his precious blood hath obtained this place of refuge for vs in our troubles Dauid 1. Chro. 21.17 in his prayer sheweth vpon what right and encouragement in the time of plague he went to this place O Lord my God I beseech thee c. it was then because the Lord was his God he had a particular feeling of the loue of God toward him and knew him to be his God for hee had had some experience of deliuerance The reason why we must haue this right is because being infected with the plague of sinne we should not be receiued In the Countrie they will not receiue those
that are infected with the plague Neither can they also in whose soules the plague of sin doth reigne be admitted to this place and therefore the Lord hath giuen vs Christ the righteous to couer our vnrighteousnesse that thus as pure cleane we might come vnto him I know by mine experience that in the Country heretofore they would not admit some that came from the Citie vnlesse they had put on new apparrell To come vnto that heauenly Ierusalem by the feet of prayer we cannot be admitted Ephe. 4.24 except we put off the old man and put on the new man which is created in righteousnesse and therfore that we should not be hindered to go thither He hath put on vs the Lord Iesus Christ Rom. 13.14 that being adorned with his righteousnesse and holinesse as Iacob was with the garment of his brother Esau We might with confidence approach to the throne of grace Heb. 4. It is only then in the name of Christ that we must goe to the name of Iehouah Ioh. 14.14 Ioh. 57. Mat. 21.22 Ioh. 16 14. 1. Tim. 2.5 1. Ioh. 2.1 In his name the poore Lazarus hath as much right to go vnto it as king Salomon the infected as the sound the learned as the vnlearned for Christ prayeth for them all as Augustine speaketh Christ prayeth with vs all as our brother he prayeth in vs all as our head he is prayed vnto by vs all as our Lord but he prayeth for vs all as our high Priest Let then the Romanists in the time of plague run vnto the name of Iehouah in the name of Saint Sebastian Alas they shall not be admitted for Christ alone as Ambrose speaketh is the eye wherewith wee see the father the hand to offer vp our prayers and the mouth to speake vnto him But as for vs with Dauid let vs goe vnto him by force of this right saying with him O Lord our God we beseech thee c. The practise of King Dauid Hauing vnderstood the name of the place with other circumstances let vs now examine the practise of King Dauid vnto this place with these feete by the same right following the true direction hee runned in the time of the plague with his family the Elders of Israel For he fled not to his Castle neither departed he cut of Iewrie nor transported his family into another place but as it is storied 1. Chron. 21.26 He called vpon the Lord. Here is a foundation whereupon some prodigall of their liues vncharitable to others proude in their conceites build the vnlawfulnesse of departing out of the contagious places in the time of plague condemning it by the example of King Dauid in generall Obiection without any exception in all manner of persons which their vncharitable conceit I will not heere refute I referre the Reader to that learned Treatise of that reuerend father Theodorus Beza written touching this matter wherein he learnedly soundly and religiously refuteth their grosse opinion onely let me destroy their building which they erect vpon the example of King Dauid Answere Foure particulars can hinder them to make a generall conclusion out of this example First the short continuance of that plague for the space of three dayes or of a halfe of a day as some of the learned are of opinion whose reasons I will not alleage which left him no time to deliberate vpon departure Secondly the generalitie of the Pestilence being spred from Dan to Beershebah which left him no place free to go vnto for whither should he flie seeing that the pestilence was spread all ouer the land 2. Sam. 24. Thirdly his owne guiltinesse that plague being caused by his sinne the numbring of the people which caused such a sorrow in Dauid that he was ready by his owne death to redeeme the publike calamitie praying vnto the Lord 1. Chro. 21.17 O Lord my God I beseech thee let thine hand be on me and on my fathers house and not on thy people for their destruction Fourthly the soundnesse of Ierusalem the place where he was the Angel hauing not yet or very sparingly touched the head Citie 1. Chron. 21.15 the Lord repenting of the euill when the Angel came to Ierusalem these foure particulars are able to cast downe their building and to disprooue their consequence Dauid fled not Ergo it is vnlawfull for any man to depart the true consequence if we would argue out of this place might be this Dauid the Elders departed not Ergo let not Magistrate forsake his Citie nor the Minister his flocke Hauing pluckt out the weedes and the thistles let vs as the good husbandman sow the good seede As this then prooueth not the vnlawfulnesse of departure so on the other side it doth commend vnto vs king Dauids praying The true vse of the example and his spirituall departure teaching vs that in the time of plague our first and principall care ought to bee as well before our departure as in our departure if we are so minded for I vrge no necessitie of it to flie and runne by the feete of faith and prayer to the name of the Lord which being forgotten omitted or negligently practised maketh our departure vnlawful Imitate the King then O ye righteous soules in this threatened tempest of the plague let your soules take the wings of a Doue the motion and agility of the spirit of God and let them flie by the strength of their prayers to the bosome of Gods mercies where they shall be at rest Dauid in this his going to the name of the Lord hath showen and manifested foure things His Conscience Humilitie Memory Wisedome His Conscience that it was good his Humilitie great his Memorie holy his Wisedome right Touching the first the spirit of prayer is a signe of a good Conscience for as Tertullian speaketh Lib. de cast Oratio de conscientia procedit si conscientia erubaescat erubescet oratio Prayer doth proceede from the Conscience if the Conscience blush prayer will also be ashamed O it is an excellent thing that we can giue our selues to this holy exercise let one haue riches honour pleasures let him be adored as a little god if he haue not the spirit of prayer to push him forward with Dauid in the midst of his felicitie he is most miserable Secondly his miserie and humilitie for a King is become a begger and at the gate of the King of heauen he vseth speeches of submission I beseech thee O Lord Loe here O proud son of Adam of thy selfe thou hast nothing but like a poore suppliant begger thou art constrained to goe before the gate of that right God aswel the king that fitteth vpon his throne as poore Lazarus that sitteth before the doore of the rich man Thirdly his memory the subiect wherof was the Lord O holy remembrance Although he had as it were forgotten him by his sinne in his prosperitie yet he remembreth him by his praier in his affliction O
which also shee answered iustly then be not a King any longer for seeing that he hath promised it he is also willing his promise being signed with the finger of the holy Ghost and sealed with the blood of his beloued and annoynted Neither is he like vnto him Matth. 7. who answered trouble me not my doores are shut the gate of heauen is alwayes open for vs. God reuoketh not his promise as King Salomon 1. Reg. 2.20.21.23 Aske my mother for I will not say thee nay and yet behold how this time is changed Adoniah hath spoken this word against his owne life of the Lords promise wee need not doubt but with Dauid boldly we may speake Psal 86.7 In the day of my trouble I will call vpon thee for thou wilt heare me Thirdly His goodnesse mercie and liberalitie which is so great that he giueth meat to the yong rauens which call vpon him Psal 147.9 Doubt not then but that hee will heare the supplications of men whom he hath made a little lower then the Angels to crowne them with glorie aboue other creatures Psal 8.56 Let therefore saith Augustine thy prayer ascend and Gods mercie will descend shall wee distrust his goodnesse who is rich to all that call vpon him Rom. 10.12 Or shall we suspect his bountifulnesse which powreth out plentifully his blessings vpon all flesh Rom. 8.32 And although we haue offended him yet our offences will not stop his mercies Men when they haue done any good turne to any if they bee neuer so little offended they cast men in the teeth with the benefits they haue done them and vpbraid them with the good turnes they haue shewed wherefore men are loath to make request to such for any thing If wee goe vnto the Lord Iam 1.5 we shal not meete with one that is of such a disposition and nature he as the Apostle speaketh reproacheth no man nor keepeth his anger for euer Psal 103.9 The willingnesse mercie and goodnesse of the Prince to haue vs maketh vs also willing to goe to him who more willing then he that is our Father our Sauiour then he that hath suffered for vs scoffings spittings bands stripes and death it selfe Neuer lap of the mother hath beene so open to her babes as the bowels of Gods compassions are open to the righteous Harken to this yee faint spirits be strengthened yee weake hands and feeble knees receiue this comfort that he hath deliuered he doth deliuer hee yet will and can deliuer I ende this point with the 13.14 and 15. verses of the 10. Chapter of the Epistle to the Romanes wherein behold a singular and compendious gradation As they that would come to King Salomon sitting vpon his throne were faine to runne vp sixe staires for his throne was mounted vnto by sixe staires so the perfection and consummation of man going to the throne of the true Salomon Iesus Christ ascendeth and ariseth by sixe degrees the highest and the happiest staires being inuocating and sauing prayer and deliuerance These are then the fiue reasons by which wise Christians ought to be guided I imitate King Dauid only resorting to the wings of the Lords fauour And herein we should be wise if we leuel our hearts and affections at the very right center and marke of prayer which is the name of Iehouah alone and the period or scope in whom our requests must end Fiue sorts of men erring in the going to this place But alas there are fiue sortes of men which make choice of other places reiecting the wisedome of Dauid the counsell of the spirituall Physicians and the practise to the Saints of God going a crooked a circular and endlesse way not towards the marke nor with a right foot as the Apostle speaketh Gal. 2. The first kind flie first to the helpe of mortall man and with Asa make speed to the bodily Physician to the confections of Arte or to the purer ayre not once mindfull of this place but when all helpes faile them and that the Lord sendeth his Sergiant and heauenly Pursiphant to arrest them then they returne to runne to this place What name shall we giue you O yee of little faith but the name of weake Christians Put not your trust in the sonne of man for there is no helpe in him Psal 146. There is a second sort which runne onely to the ordinarie creatures deriding the name Iehouah yea denying that there euer hath beene or is yet at this present such a place to be found whereunto the righteous is preserued such as Dauid describeth in the 10. Psalme 3.4 Which seeke not God but contemne him and thinke they shall neuer be mooued O yee meere Atheists what name deserue you but that name which the Lord himselfe giueth you Psal 14.1 the name of fooles If Cain hath beene reicted because hee offered an vnworthie sacrifice what deserue they that offer none at all The third sort runne to a place whose name is Hell seeking to Sathan and his artes gadding to the woman of Endor or to the Idoll of Ekron as Saul as Nero as Iulian Returne returne O yee wretched and bewitched sonnes of men with the name of deuillish idolaters The fourth sort seeketh to dwell vnder the protection and assurance of their merites and good workes but these alas as Bernard writeth on the 91. Psalme are ill lodged and haue a poore Tabernacle the diuell hath soone blowen that away The last sort are the superstitious Papists who in the time of plague runne to the house of the Spider to be preserued to stickes and stones mettals and papers Angels and Saints and principally to Saint Sebastian for as euery sicknesse disease hath his Apothecarie and Physician among them So the plague hath Saint Sebastian vnto whom with their families they runne to bee preserued That execrable Psalter of the Virgine Marie compiled by them maketh her to be this secret place whereunto wee ought to runne the prayer of Dauid which he made being visited with the plague Psal 38. is blasphemously abused in this maner O Lady rebuke me not in thine anger neither chastise me in thy wrath The 91. Psalme is in the like maner abused Who so dwelleth in the secret of the blessed Virgin c. But O ye blind seducers of soules it may be first a chalenge vnto you all that neither Dauid Iob or Ezechiah visited with the plague went to Cherub or Seraphin Gabriel or Raphael Abraham or Moses whom haue I in heauen but thee saith Dauid he saith not that he had a Moses or a Samuel haue all these erred Euen so will we with them Secondly yee goe to them that cannot helpe you let them arise if they can helpe you in the time of your miserie Iere. 2. In the famine of Samaria 2. Reg. 6. a woman crying to the King helpe me O King hee answered seeing the Lord doth not succour thee how should I helpe thee Concluding secondly that if the Lord withdraw his helping
hand it lieth not in the power of mortall man to helpe So wee may answere the Papists crying in the time of plague to their Sebastian helpe and aid vs Saint Sebastian If it lieth not in the power of mortall men that are liuing with vs to helpe how much lesse can they that are dead And farre lesse one that perhaps hath neuer beene As for the Angels they are displeased that ye come to them to thrust vpon them such a dangerous honour they may say as Dauid Psal 115. Not vnto vs O Lord not vnto vs c. they that refused a farre smaller offer vpon the earth Apoc. 22.9 the onely bowing of the knee vnto them See thou doe it not will bee much more discontented to see the knees of the heart to stoup to them for the ceasing of the plague for although an Angel smote seuentie thousand in the time of Dauid yet he was but the instrument God onely the agent and therefore he onely to be prayed vnto If the Papists reply that they intreate onely Saint Sebastian to speake vnto God for them Obiection Answer the answer is that God needeth not a Sebastian nor any Saint so euer to be his Master of Requests this is a seruice not vnmeet for the gouernours of the earth the Lord is not like vnto earthly Princes vnto the which may be said that which Iethro said Exod. 18. to Moses the thing is too heauie for thee thou art not able to doe it thy selfe alone for the Almightie is able to doe it alone neither is there any defect in his hearing whose eares are open to the prayers of the poore Let vs therefore hold Christ Iesus alone for the Master of Requests it is he onely that can present our requests which we make vnto the Lord for the ceasing of the plague let others run where they will to stickes and stones from the name of the Lord I doe you no iniurie to impute this to you for as Hilarie writeth vpon the first Psalme It is as great an offence to make a new as to denie the true God The Lord annoynt your eyes with his eye-salue that ye may returne to flie to the name of Iehouah As for vs we will follow the holy Canon and leaue the broad way whose end is destruction saying with Dauid Psal 11.1 In the Lord put I my trust how say ye then to my soule flie to your mountain as a bird Matth. 7. I end the first branch of this discourse with that holy Epiphoneme of King Dauid Psal 146.5 Blessed is hee that hath the God of Iacob for his helpe whose hope is in the Lord his God After the name of the place and other circumstances The second part the properties of the place there followeth in the two places the condition properties quality and safenesse of the place whereunto we must run in the time of the plague The sonnes of men in the time of infection before their departure haue a speciall regard of the place where they will goe of the situation nature and such like and being led by the prescription of the Physician Secondly by their owne minde they make choyse commonly of a place in which they perceiue these seuen properties following and although Salomon here maketh mention but of one namly of a safe place yet giue me leaue to discourse of the rest First they go where there is a good wholsome pure ayre 1 A pure place not subiect to stinking euaporations it is the prescriptiō of the Physicians that we should go vnto places where the ayre is not corrupted far from the infection Dauid fled to such a place for such is the name of Iehouah a pure place far from the corruptions of this world for he is a pure incorruptible God in whom there is no infectiō of sin the Lord holy holy holy not admitting those in whose mortall bodies the plague of sin doth raign to pray then to repent is to returne go to a wholesom light Eccle. 17.24 The places whereunto the sons of men flye although they are for a time corrupted yet they are not warrāted stil so to remain diuers alteratiōs by sundry meanes may befall as by the resort of persons infected such like but the name of Iehouah this place of refuge shal neuer be altered for he is the immutable vnchāgeable God the gates of that Citie no vncleane person shal enter Apoc 22.14.15 Secondly men make choyse of a pleasant and delectable place 2 A pleasant place both for their bodies and soules where there is good companie to recreate themselues in their sorrow and exile foode and necessaries for their bodies further by the riuer side or where there is good water lastly where they may also haue food for their soules the word of God Preached This place of refuge the name of Iehouah is a pleasant and delectable place where canst thou better recreate thy selfe then by thy Father and brother Iesus Christ in this thy exile and miserie Comfortable is the bosome of the mother to the yong infant but more comfortable is the name of the Lord to the righteous which are called little babes by the Apostle Paul maketh mention in his voyage toward Rome of a certaine place which was called The faire hauens Act. 27. this place of refuge better deserued this name let vs goe thither for it is a harbour and rode for those which are tossed in the sea and deluge of the Pestilence happy is the soule that landeth at these hauens If we desire water there is the fountaine of life Iere. 2. the water of grace Psal 51. If we desire the word there is the word it selfe Iesus Christ Ioh. 1 the truth Ioh. 14. There is the best the first the ancientest Preacher God himselfe that preached in Paradise Thirdly in our choyse we seeke out a safe place whither we may goe without danger 3 A safe place and where we may abide safe and dwell without danger The name of Iehouah is a safe harbour the secret place and shadow of the most high Psal 91.1 vnder whose wings we shall abide safe and harmelesse Three things prooue the safenesse of this place First the name of the place it is A strong towre Prou. 18.10 A secret place Psal 32.7 A rocke and fortresse Psal 18. which is inuincible Such are not the fortresses of mortall men which they are constrained to render vp being driuen thereunto either by famine or force as Seba in the time of Dauid hereof is a witnesse Secondly the Lord of the soyle which inhabiteth that place his name is Iehouah the Almightie Psal 91.1 the strong and inuincible God who will and is able to preserue vs. Thirdly it is prooued by the successe of those who run to it by that which they receiue they are exalted preserued or deliuered saith Salomon which Dauid acknowledgeth Psal 32.7 and is confirmed by the successe of Dauids
are not once mindfull of them but we must as well carrie with vs in our prayers the seruants which are vnder vs as shee that lieth in our bosome And the Oliue plants which are round about our tables Psal 108.3 The Athenians would offer sacrifice but onely for their owne Citie and their neighbours of Chios but wee Christians must pray not onely for the mother Citie but for all the daughters Christ teacheth vs to say Our father c. as if wee all came from one wombe It is a principle both of nature and policie Vis vnita fortior Strength vnited receiueth more strength It holdeth likewise in Diuinitie If the prayer of one righteous person auaileth much the prayer of many righteous shall auaile more If the Syrophenician obtained for her daughter the sute shee made much more the whole Church of England shal obtaine for all her daughters Where two or three be gathered together in his name he is in the midst of them Much rather in the midst of a people in the midst of thousands in whom there is Anima vna cor vnum One soule one heart one tongue as if they were all but one man Lord heale the sores of our land for behold both the mother and the daughters the head and the members doe prostrate our selues before his Maiestie Yee of the sect of Rome diuide not at this time of the plague in your prayers the soule the voyce and language of the Countrey into two places Eliah and his companie praying in one place and with one stile O Lord God of Abraham and yee in another O Baal heale vs Some praying for the life of Dauid and some for the life of Iabin As for vs we will pray for the Lords annoynted our Soueraigne that God may hide Him vnder the shadow of his wings from the noysome pestilence knowing that this is one of the parts of our obedience towards him that we as Constantine the great taught his souldiers to shew their allegiance in nothing more then this should pray for him yea for his royal Consort his hopeful posterity their Families I end this point with the saying of an ancient Fathe● That there ●s no better Guard or Halbards to safegard a Prince than the prayers of the Righteous Before I come to the third branch of this discourse Three rules to be obserued in our going to this place giue leaue Christian Readers to the spirituall Physicians to lay downe three rules which are to be obserued in this our spirituall departure to the name of the Lord. The bodily Physicians touching departure prescribe as is before said three rules Longè citò tarde Goe farre off depart speedily returne slowly The same rules are to be obserued by the righteous 1 Longè First we must flie far not with the prodigall forlorne son in a far Countrey far from the feare of God and thought of death or with Ionah from the presence of the Lord who rideth on the Cherubins can ouertake vs for whither shall I goe Psal 839.9 saith Dauid from thy spirit Or whither shall I flee from thy presence But farre from this world and the earth vnto the holy temple and mountaine vnto heauen which is high aboue the earth as Dauid speaketh Psal 103 11. vnto that place which is called the land of the liuing Secondly flie farre from the plague of sinne and the infected ayre of this world and being come vnto that farre Countrey the Lord of the soyle will receiue you 2. Citò The second rule is flie speedily and deferre not your departure which rule is not in any maner to be omitted it is the counsell of the wise man Iesus Syrach Eccle. 38.9 My sonne faile not in thy sicknesse but pray vnto the Lord and he will make thee whole T is the commandement of the Lord to call vpon him in the time of need Psal 50. Which must be performed with speed according to the example of Dauid Psal 119. I will runne the way of thy Commandements If wee make hast to flie into the Countrey and forget to goe speedily vnto this Sanctuarie it is as Augustine speaketh of another matter Cursus celerrimus praeter viam A swift race besides the way Hast in this matter is praise worthy a man can neuer run too fast that runneth to this place The delay that Elizeus made let me go kisse my Father those shifts in the Gospel Let me first go burie my mother or take leaue of my friends are not admitted in this businesse commune not therfore with flesh blood If in the time of plague we make such haste to depart before we haue ordained our businesse aright or bad our friends farwel How much more ought we to hasten our spiritual voyage While the fal-bridge is let downe let vs make speed to enter Many because they went not far nor made speed to depart haue endangered their bodies but many more because they fled not from the contagion of sin with speed haue endangered their soules therfore as the Apostle speaketh 1. Cor. 9. of another matter so I may say of this going So run that yee may obtaine 3. Tardè The third rule is Returne slowly that is continue where thou art a necessarie rule to be obserued in the going to the name of the Lord. It is the rule of the spirituall Physicians Eph. 6.18 Rom. 12. 1. Thes 5. Pray continually c. As it is prescribed so it hath beene practised Luk. 21.36 the woman of Canaan continued in her prayer and returned not in hast They which are in the Countrey although there bee many things which might mooue them to returne yet for the safetie of their bodies they continue till the plague be ceased So continue in thy prayer by the Lord and be not wearie of wel doing Although three things might haue mooued the Syrophenician to returne the silence of Christ her back-friends and the odious names giuen vnto her yet these discouragements her poore soule digested obtaining both a cure for her daughters infirmitie and a commendation for her faith O woman thou hast wrought a miracle by the preseuerance of thy prayer and hast giuen to thy Sauiour occasion to doe a memorable act conuenient to his nature glorious to his holy name Let vs at this time follow her perseuerance and although the Lord should seeme to be silent for a time yet let vs not draw backe that we may receiue a cure both for our soules and bodies and deserue a commendation both by God and other nations and thereby giue occasion vnto the Lord to shew his omnipotent power in the ceasing of the plague and to doe an act in England conuenient to his nature and glorious to his holy name And as Iacob wrestled with the Angel and would not let him goe vntill he had receiued the blessing So let vs as it were striue with the Lord by our prayers and let him not goe
left your mother Citie for a time which hope to returne An exercise for the Londoners that are in the Countrey your departure I will not disprooue nor wiser then I if ye haue vsed it lawfully remembring in your exile the affliction of Ioseph And spending the time in those things which make for the peace of your Citie To refresh your minds and spend your time there because the workes of your vocation you cannot exercise diuers other exercises I know are vsed perhaps not so well as ye might all of them I doe not condemne but it is to be feared that the exercises of some haue been are friuolous game some quarrellers and that carding dicing and that Cup challenging Profession by which many drinking to health drinke themselues out of health haue beene to others as vsuall pastimes as the fields to walke in Giue me leaue beloued to shew you a better Exercise and another pastime the pastime of King Dauid a royall exercise which he vsed in the time of plague his prayer and inuocation with the elders of Israel spend herein your time beloued till ye returne when your Mother mourneth will you sport when the head smarteth shall the members be senselesse pray with the Prophet for the peace of your Ierusalem It is the Apostles precept to pray continually which if it euer was time to practise it is at this present The praise of Prayer Suffer mee to enter into the praise of this exercise diuers things doe adde commendation to it which ought to perswade you to the vse thereof 1 It is Diuine The first argument of praise may be taken from the author thereof Not Moses or Samuel Prophet or Apostle Patriarke or Martyr but God the father God the sonne God the holy Ghost the blessed Trinitie haue beene the authors which make it diuine and heauenly exercise 2 Honourable The second argument from the persons which haue vsed it we delight in Exercises which are accounted honorable which men of credite and good account doe commonly vse this Exercise is honorable yea royall not base and contemptible onely haue spent their time with it but Kings and Princes King Dauid Manasses Ezechiah and the rest The blessed Prophets Patriarks yea the Prince of glory the sonne of the immortall God Christ Iesus It is so heauenly and honourable that by prayer we doe approach neere vnto God and doe as it were conioyne our selues with him while we are in the body we are absent from home but by prayer we doe ascend into heauen prayer being as it were the band of our internall coniunction with God Further it is honourable not only in regard of the persons which haue vsed it but also to God and vs. To God for thereby we honor and glorifie him Psal 50. acknowledging that all might glory felicity health and saluation belongeth to him and that from him alone we must receiue it To vs for thereby we are familiar with the Lord if it be an honor for vs to be familiar with earthly Princes which are but dust and ashes O what an honour is it then to be familiar with the King of Kings and Monarke of the world It is the chiefest honour whereunto he can aduance vs when hee giueth vs the spirit of prayer If we desire the valour of Knighthood by prayer wee may stand in place where Gods hand hath made a breach and doe as much as all the chariots and horsemen in a kingdome If you esteeme it an honour to be in the seruice of the Prince giue your selfe to prayer it is one of the chiefest parts of Gods seruice Yea it is so excellent that the sacrifice of praier is offered alone to him Christian whom Salomon calleth excellent and glorious It is an honor to be a christian let vs therefore vse the christian exercise two things doe admonish vs our name and the example of Christ Christians we are called annointed also to be Priests and Prophets and that royall Priesthood in Christ Iesus As the Priests offered the sacrifices of bullocks and rammes so let vs offer the sacrifice of prayer which hath also beene Christs exercise Mercy hath praied and shall not miserie Charitie hath praied and shall not iniquity pray the Physician prostrated vpon the ground praieth and shall not the sicke and the patient call vpon the Lord the innocent and he in whose mouth there is no fraud praieth and shall not the sinner the Iudge prayeth and desireth that the Lord would be mercifull and spare his people and shall not the guiltie bee suppliant to receiue mercie The pleasure of it 3 Delectable may bee the third argument of commendation this exercise is pleasant and delectable To spend the time in the Country diuers vse pleasant and delectable Exercises this is both acceptable to God and pleasant to man to God for the sweet odours of our prayers ascend into heauen Apoc. 8. 1 To God And as the sent of incense Odoriferous things is pleasant to the nostrils of mortall man So the prayer of the righteous saith Chrysostome is pleasant to the immortall God It is not then the lamentation of men eiulation of women and children mingling heauen and earth together with a confusion of out-cries that is acceptable to God and which can enforce him to giue vs audience but it is humble prayer the voyce of repentance which as Iesus Syrach speaketh Eccl. 35.16 shall bee accepted with fauour 2 To man and reach vnto the cloudes Secondly to vs all that our heart desireth is in this Exercise Some being in the Countrey spend their time in discourses prayer is a discourse with our beloued If it was a pleasure to Iacob to speake vnto Rachel and to Ionathan with Dauid O what a recreation is it for our soules that they may familiarly speake with him whose loue vnto vs is better then gold or pearle If wee delight to speake languages by prayer wee may speake the excellentest language which hath euer beene the language of Canaan let vs not feare to discourse with the Lord by our prayers for hee is not like vnto the spruce and finicall sonnes of men feare not saith Chrysostome he seeketh not at thy hands painted eloquence an angelicall tongue filed phrases but beholdeth only the beauty of thy soule Others take their pleasure while they are in the Countrey to ride vp and downe in their Coaches and Chariots being carried therein betwixt heauen and earth Let prayer bee your Coach beloued it is as one saith as a Chariot of fire bearing vs aloft in the presence of God able to mount vs aboue the Eagles of the skie to seeke the Lords assistance In the time of plague there was heretofore appointed a Waggon or Coach to carry the sicke to the Pest-house there to bee healed there is no better Chariot to carry our soules vnto the house of heauen to bee healed by that heauenly Physician then humble prayer Some