Theodosius and Kings and Queenes that are nursing fathers and mothers to the Church as also godly Pastors holy Martyrs zealous professors to all whom sometime the name of Angell is ascribed in the Scripture 1. Because they are all sent from him on his errand 2. They are called his Angels by speciall propriety for he is the Lord of the holy Angels wicked men and Angels are retainers these of his house 3. Their whole service is due to him their Lord as of duty for himselfe in his one right Ob. They are called our Angels Mat. 16. 27. Ans. They are ours by speciall commission and direction from him ours onely for his sake our head and ours by his charge because wee are in communion with him Quest. 3. Why are his Angels here taken in with him to get victory over the dragon doth not hee treade the wine-presse alone or doth he need their aid or assistance Rev. 19. 15. Ans. 1. No he is the strong and armed man who alone entreth into the house of the strong man and bindeth and spoileth him neither needeth hee the helpe of any creature to whom is given all power in heaven and earth but yet quorum opera non indiget eorum ministerio utitur he pleaseth to use their Ministery not for his necessitie but for their honour incouragement and remuneration 2. There is a twofold battell 1. Of Christian redemption 2. Of Christian exercise In the former onely Christ standeth against the dragon and no Angell can stand in the battell but in the second Angels stand and men fight and resist and in the strength of the Lord represse and overcome the dragon 3. Though our Lord overcommeth the dragon alone in plaine field and single combate Mat. 4. yet it is not for the honour of the Captaine to bee without an army to lead and traine 4. Having an army of stout and couragious souldiers Angels in earth as well as in heaven he would leave them some remainders some tayle of the dragon some temptations some sufferings of Christ to bee fulfilled in the members with which hee will have his servants exercised and their fortitude tryed and put forth for how unseemly unglorious is it that an army of such power lead forth in the field should stand idle and onely look on their Captain fighting and themselves never come in to strike a stroke Here I might enter into a large discourse of the fight of the good Angels under Michael against the dragon but intending duties nearer our selves I will winde it all up in this one doctrine Seeing that all the godly are included under Michaels Angels learne That every good Christian must joyne himselfe unto the good Angels in the fight against the dragon under the Lords standard In the prosecution of which consider 1. The reasons why 2. The manner how 3. The Application If the Angels therefore fight against the dragon because the Church the party afflicted and oppressed is the Spouse of their Lord and head and members of his body much more ought we to joyne with them that professe we are these Spouse and members seeing that Michael is in a nearer bond our head than the Angels hee is their head by government and confirmation but ours by union and influence having taken our nature on him and not theirs 2. If they intend their office and calling in which they abide and are confirmed by grace which is to take part with the Church in this her military condition and come in for her succour in her assaults much more must we stand against the dragon whose cause and quarrell it is for should they stand in our quarrell according to their charge Psal. 91. Hee hath given his Angels charge c. and shall we leave it shall they sticke to it and shall wee fall from them and our selves too 3. Another reason that moveth them to fight against the dragon is their most ardent desire to promote the glory of God and uphold the true worship of God which is the beauty and safety of the Church wherein as in a glorious temple the Lord sheweth himselfe glorious And ought not we much more stand out against the dragon who are part of his Temple assaulted by the dragon to the end that both Gods glory in us and wee our selves might not be dishonoured 4. They thus stand in the fight because they not onely unfainedly love God above all according to the law even in the most perfect love that the creature can imbrace the Creator withall according to which perfect love their whole will is wholy conformed to the will of God else could they not bee happy but also because they sincerely love the Saints as themselves because they see them loved of God and elected to eternall life to bee partakers of the same heavenly inheritance with themselves The effect of this love is to desire and promote the salvation of the Saints to rejoyce in their attaining it to be sad in their manner for their sinnes impenitency and evils inward or outward Ought not wee out of our love to God and our owne salvation cleave unto God and resist the dragon resisting them both II. The manner How doe the good Angels fight against the dragon for the Church 1. By setting themselves as a strong guard round about the godly and pitching their tents round about them where Satan pitcheth his forces against them to protect their persons Psal. 34. 7. they still by their power and care thrust aside dangers Exod. 14. 19. the Angell that went before Israel when the Aegyptians pursued them went behinde them betweene the army and them When Elisha was beset a Mountaine was full of horses and Chariots 2 Kings 6. 17. If Daniel be cast into the denne the Angell shutteth the Lyons mouthes If Lot bee in danger the Angell draweth him out and can doe nothing till then If the three Children bee cast in the furnace the Angell is there as soone as they to suspend the fire from burning them Dan. 3. 2. By assisting the Ministery sundry wayes 1. They delight to bee present to behold our order and ordinances which else the dragon would soone overthrow 1 Cor. 11. 10. 2. To assist and relieve the faithfull teachers opposed and resisted most by the dragon as the Angeli helped Peter out of prison Acts 12. 3. In resisting false worshippers and removing occasions of idolatry so the Angell would not have Moses body knowne where it was buried Iud. 9. 3. By resisting and crossing the plots and purposes of the dragon Numb 22. 22. the Angell resisted Balaam in the way wherein he came forth to curse Israel 4. By supplying the Saints with needfull helps and comforts in their wants and faintings so the Angell fed Elias 1 Kings 19. 5. so the Angell shewed Hagar the Well and gave her wholesome counsell Gen. 32. 2. 5. By conveying them safe through the world and carrying their soules to heaven at their death thus the Angell
wheresoever he goeth Rev. 144. So the Saints on earth who à re those hundreth forty and foure thousand who are bought from the earth follow the Lambe where ever he goeth If he go before them in holy doctrine these sheepe heare his voice and follow him Ioh. 10. 27. If in holy example they imitate him in all wherein he propounds himselfe a patterne to them as in humilitie patience love meekenesse obedience faith and the like As for their affection to him First they love Iesus Christ with a strong flame of love which much water cannot quench and with a love stronger then death and love not their owne lives to the death for his sake Secondly they love him inseparably For as the Saints in heaven would not for al the world forgoe his presence for one day So nothing in the world can drive the Saints from their priviledges in Christ as a cloud of Martyrs do witnesse but as Ruth to Naomi Ch. 1. 16. Thirdly as he loveth them so they him Ioh 13. 1. they once loving him they love him constantly to the end and to all eternitie 5 The Saints in heaven enjoy God the meanes of all their lives Iesus Christ is their temple their light their tree of life their Christall river and all Even so is he to the saints in earth Rev. 22. 3. 5. For though they have meanes and are tyed to them here on earth yet doe they enjoy God above all meanes acknowledging him their life the length of their daies and that they live not by bread but by every word of God That it is he that giveth them power to get substance that blesseth their children with encrease that he that cloathes the Lilies cloatheth them and if all meanes should faile yet he would without them yea and against them sustaine them rather then they should want any thing good or fit for them 1 This as a touchstone trieth who be true members of the Church and who are not He that is so is partly in heavē alreadie hath more to do in heaven then in earth And therefore he cannot be a true member of the Church First who hath no birth but from earth discerned by hatred or neglect of the immortall seed of spirituall parents of the seed and issue of Iesus Christ the sonnes of God he is far from heaven that cannot abide any thing that is heavenly Secondly who hath no inheritāce but in earth discerned by minding things earthlie either onlie or principallie How dce men delude themselves that suppose themselves as neere heaven as any and yet are as farre distant thence in affection as in place having their hearts drawne downe and wedged into the earth as with Iron barres Their whole studie paines and sweat is for things below The heaven they dreame of is not onelie upon earth but earth it selfe and angrie are they when men would acquaint them with better treasure or portion But thus it cannot be with Gods children who are minded as good Nehemiah 2. 3. whose person being in the King of Persia his Court yet his heart was at Ierusalem And as Daniel while he was in the land of his captivitie yet he opens his windowes to Ierusalem Thirdly who hath no conuersation but in earth discovered when no part of the whole course thereof savours of heaven But 1. servants and slaves are they to lusts farre from freedome from sinne nay rather swimme with the streame and drinke in with delight the corruptions of the world but thoughts of heaven are tedious 2 converse and combine themselves with sinners against God and runne with all loose companie to all excesses and vanities Now would they examine this course could it goe for currant or heavenly Do the Saints in heaven sweare and swill and drinke and raile and breake Gods Sabbaths and lye and deceive and can that life be heavenly that doth so Fourthly who hath no delight but in earth discerned in that 1 It is an unwelcome voice to call them to delight in the face and presence of God And how can he be admitted to the presence of his glorie that hath no delight in the presence of his grace but is as heavy to the parts of his worship as to some punishment 2 In stead of delight in the Law of God the rule and charter of heaven they make their lusts their Law and while they professe heaven they walke by no direction but the Magna Charta of Hell And were it not for Gods restraining grace they would be as impious and impudent in sinne as Cain as Cham as the damned nay the Devill himselfe 3. In that they rest more contentedly in the meanes of their outward good then either in the meanes of grace or the author of both The newes of the smallest outward profit rejoyceth their hearts but the newes of heaven and eternall good things by Iesus Christ affects them but a little 4. In that they prize not the life of godlines nor the state of Saints nay scorne it in themselves and others So much of the triall 2 This teacheth three things First that the Christian though he be in the world he is not of the world no more then Christ himselfe was of the world Ioh. 17. 16. for they no longer cleave to the corruptiōs defilements of the world but are separated from them by regeneration Neither can they runne with the world because being in some measure conformable to Iesus Christ they also living among sinners are separate from sinners They cannot cast in their lot with wicked men but are as Lot who was in Sodom but not of Sodom for his righteous soule was vexed with their uncleane conversation Secondly that the Saints set for heaven may not enjoy the earth as their portion seeing their whole estate their friends their fathers house their treasure is not below They are here but strangers travelling home to their country and therefore by the weined carriage of themselves to these things they must as the Patriarches Heb. 11. 14. declare plainly that they seeke a countrie Thirdly that the world may not enjoy the Saints as her darlings And here First the world may not gaine our affections and desires 1 Ioh. 2. 15. Love not the world c. They must be affected as mariners in the midst of a rough sea whose wishes and desires are still at the haven and have not their mindes and affections where their bodies be Secondly it may not gaine our conformitie with it in the customes and guizes of it because it lyeth wickednesses Rom. 12. 2. Fashion not your selves like to this world The Christian must bee cast into another forme fashioned to the manner of the countrey and corporation to which he belongs Thirdly it may not gaine our strength to defend or patronage it But as the Apostle 2 Corinth 10. 3. though we walke in the flesh that is carrie this bodie of flesh
and speeches for we may bleare mens eyes but not his 3 Decently and comely When the sunne is up men must doe lawfull and justifiable things because all eyes are upon them Let the theefe cover himselfe with darkenesse let the adulterer watch the twilight let Papists and Atheists and profane persons doe shamefull things without shame But let us in so open a light doe things comely let not the light make us ashamed of any indecent and uncomly or unconscionable action let not the sunne see our nakednesse without shame or holy blushing 4 Painefully and diligently When the sunne riseth man goeth forth to his labour by Gods ordinance Ps. 104. 25. so while the sunne and day and light lasts us let us walke and worke hard for faith for repentance for oyle for the wedding garment See Iohn 12. 35 36. 2 A ground of comfort that this Sunne shall never fall to his Church The sunne may be hid and clouded for a time but at length shall breake forth with much brightnesse and comfort So Iesus Christ may hide himselfe and the cloud of our sinnes and corruptions may get betweene him and us but at length his grace and light shall shine forth againe and manifest it selfe to every soule to which it ever arose So for the publique estate of the Church As the Sunne of the world may withdraw and remove it selfe and doth in winter so as all things seeme dead and lost but be the winter never so sharpe and tedious the sunne comes backe againe and brings with it a sweet and pleasant spring So the Church may sustaine a blacke and bitter winter be afflicted and shaken with many stormes blustrings of furious enemies but these shal blow over and it shall see a happy spring againe Our sun is in the heavens and so long as the enemies cannot reach him to pull him thence whatsoever winter the Churches abroade doe now sustaine whatsoever winter our Church at home may endure faith and patience will waite and attaine a sweet spring and fruitfull summer againe which shall make the enemies gnash their teeth and the Church sing for joy as men do sing in harvest Amen We have seene what the garment is Now of the application Clothed where consider 1 How the Sonne is a garment 2 How it differs from other garments 3 How the woman is clothed with it First Iesus Christ the Sunne is in many places of the Scrpture called by the name of a garment by resemblance because his righteousnesse and meritorious obedience supplieth all the offices of a precious garment to the Church of God In observing the use of a garment we shall see what usefull offices Christ performes to his Church his body Quest. What are the chiefe ends of garments Answ. Garments serve 1 for necessity 2 ornament 3 distinction 1. The necessity of a garment is in three things 1 To cover bodily nakednesse and to hide all corporall shame and defects so the Church wrapped in this robe of Christs righteousnesse hath all her sinnes which are her speciall nakednesse and shame hid and covered from the eyes of God When Adam had sinned he saw his nakednesse and sewed figg-leaves but neither they nor any thing he could devise could hide it till God made him a cover Neither can any of the sonnes of Adam by their owne reach or power attaine a cover but the Son of God the second Adam onely can afford a garment to hide sinfull nakednesse from the eyes of God 2 To defend the body from the injurie of weather both of Summer and winter so onely Christ his meritorious righteousness can save shelter the soule from the burning heat of his Fathers wrath and from the pinching and shaking terrours of a mans self-accusing conscience Onely Christ can cover his Church from the stormes and blasts of temptation by Satan and from the raging tempests of persecution by tyrants and enemies Isai 4. 5 6. Iesus Christ was the true Cloud and Pillar protecting his people through the wildernesse by day and by night who makes a gracious promise that upon all the glory shal be a defence aud a couering shal be for a shadow in the day for the heat and a place of refuge and a cover for the storme and for the raine He will for ever supply all to his Church of all ages whatsoever he did to Israel by that Cloud which was but a shadow of his protection 3 To preserve and cherish naturall life for a while by keeping in and repressing naturall heat which else would spend too fast So doth Iesus Christ and his pretious merits preserve and cherish spirituall life and heate in the soule nay which no clothes can brings in a new and heavenly heat life where was nothing but a cold death and maintaines it not for a time onely but unto life eternall Whence this second Adam is called 1 Cor. 15. 45. a quickning spirit a spirit not changed into a spirit but for that his body after the resurrection became and remaines spirituall and glorious and quickning not onely because his holy flesh is united to the quickning word but because by his death he brings life unto the world dead and rotten in sinnes and corruptions 2 Garments serve not onely for necessitie but also for ornament When Rebecca was given to Isaac to be married Abrahams servant gave to her from Isaac in token of love not onely raiment and garments but also Iewels of gold and of silver and precious bracelets to put on her hands Gen. 24. 22. 53. A manifest type of the Church married to her Isaac Iesus Christ who endoweth her not with garments only to cover her nakednesse but Iewells also to adorne her See Ezec. 16. 10 11. the Lord covers his spouse with fine silke and deckes her with ornaments bracelets and chaines Quest. What are these ornaments An. The blessed and beautiful graces of humility faith hope love good conscience layed up in the closet and Casket of the heart within and the shining and grace of holy life and vertuous conversation of Saints which as a cleane garment adornes the righteousness of faith where ever it is Because whersoever the merit of Christ is applied there the spirit of Christ is conferred who effectually worketh all these shining graces by which the whole man is sanctified and the spirits mansion adorned 3 Garments serve for distinction as the liverie given to servants shewes to whom they belong what Masters they serve Even so the righteousnes of Iesus Christ is 1 In the external professiō of Christ a liverie and garment discerning and distinguishing the Christian from all Heathens Turkes and Infidels 2 In the sound application of it there is a reall distinction of the servants and sons of God from the slaves of sinne and the Devill not onely without the Church but within the bosome it A King is not better knowne by his purple then a
that is borne of God keepeth himselfe and the wicked one toucheth him not Keepeth himselfe that is groweth up in holy watchfulnesse and resistance of temptations to which care God addeth his blessing that he abides untouched that is of raigning sinne the wicked one strikes him not deadly nor can wholly and finally foyle him Examine this strength of CHRIST if it bee in thee for so it is called Ephes. 6. 10. 6 A sixt note is child-like affections 1 To our Father 2 To this Mother The child-like affections to our Father are two 1 Honor. Is Christ thy Father how doest thou honor him Mal. 1. 6. The Apostle Pauls care was that Christ should be magnified in his body by life or death Phil. 1. 20. What obedience shewest thou to his commandements and to his corrections doest thou honor him by trusting in him and depending upon him 2 A second child-like affection to Jesus Christ is love The child loveth his father better then all men else and canst thou be a child and not love him that begat and not as a Creator but a Father If thou canst doe no more for thy parent canst thou doe lesse then love him dearely Examine thy love to Christ and see if thou canst say as Peter Lord thou knowest I love thee Happie is the soule that dares thus appeale to Christ as a witnesse of his unfained love But how canst thou saie thou lovest him when his commandements are heavie and irkesome when thou wilt doe nothing for his sake suffer nothing for his name when thou wilt part with nothing for his words when thou hatest his servants his words and Ministers and risest up in armes against him by horrible sinnes David may have a rebellious sonne an Absalom Christ hath no such All his children love him better then their owne lives Now secondly the child-like affections to this mother are also two 1 To honor love and obey this mother in all her directions in all her corrections according to the word Good children will honor the Mother aswell as the Father according to the Commandement Ob. The Papist catcheth at this as making much for him The Commandements of the Mother Church must be obayed and therefore in their Catechismes besides the commandements of God they injoyne a number of the Churches commandements which must be obeyed in paine of damnation aswell as Gods Sol. To this I answer 1 That this Mother must be obeyed of her children as other parents of their children namely In the Lord. Eph. 6. For this is the difference between the commandements of this Father and this Mother His must be obeyed simply and absolutely as the Lords but hers onely in the Lord. If the precepts of this Father and Mother agree then the Mothers commandements must be obeyed but not if they be either contrary or diverse from his He that brings another doctrine must be accursed He or she that addes to his commandements must be accursed and all the plagues added to them And seeing Jesus Christ the Lord of his Church would deliver no doctrine nor commandements to the Church but what he heard from his Father no more must the Church but what she heares from Christ. 2 Why should Rome a particular Church rather enjoyne lawes on other Churches then other Churches on her seeing that parity admits not superiority 2 The second child-like affection to this Mother is compassion Children of the Church must be sensible and grieved in their Mothers sorrow affliction and oppression It is an unnatural child that takes not to heart his mothers miserie Humanity will make us mourne in the miserie of strangers yea of enemies as David put on sackcloth for his enemies much more will Christianity for the sorrowes of friends especially friends of God How have the Papists shewed that they have not a drop of the blood and spirit of Christians in their late joyes and triumphs and braggs before the victory as they use to doe fatting and feeding themselves in the savage barbarousnesse of Antichristian Captaines against the Church in Bohemia and the Palatinate But what other expectation from such as lay the principles of their Religion in blood and barbarous inhumanitie beyond Scithians or Man-eaters Yea and not a few sorry protestants there are who harbour but a little sorrow for the sorrowes of the Church bewraying the hardnesse and insensiblenesse of their hearts by their poore and penurious releefe Some out of base irreligion sowing scarce so many pence as they would have done pounds had they had conscience and affection of Children This Mother may wish she never stand in need of such children so flinty and degenerate 7 The seaventh note of one borne of this woman is brotherly-affection Christian love to all that are begotten of God as to brethren 1 Joh. 3. 14. highly esteeming them as the excellent in the earth Psal. 16. 3. A man borne of this woman respects not men according to their greatnesse or basenesse in the world but according to this birth be they rich or poore and according to this present relation and that future happinesse they are borne unto A child of this woman cannot disaffect and reproach his brethren because they be brethren and thinke the very brotherhood a sufficient scorne He cannot scorn them for frequenting their Mothers house Nay he cannot but affect them for the fellowship in the Gospell and their consanguinity in this new estate Now lay these notes on thy heart try by them thy estate and know it is better to be out of the number of men then out of this number And cried in paine ready to be delivered The Church bringeth forth no children to God without much travell and paine For as by an inevitable decree painefull sorrow is annexed to naturall birth so it is in this spirituall birth As our Saviour applieth that Ioh. 16. 21. A woman when she travelleth hath sorrow because her time is come I It cost Christ no small travell and sorrow to beget children to God For he must become a man of sorrowes and never was any sorrow like unto his Nay he must sustaine the sorrowes of hell and be broken to pieces with sorrowes of body and soule before one child could ever be begotten unto God and therefore the Prophet Esai 53. 11. saith He shall see the travell of his soule that is the seed for which his soule travelled And in the preaching of the Gospel sowing this seed in the dayes of his flesh in his owne person what great sorrowes sustained hee by the Scribes Pharisees Princes and wordly-wise men and was made a butte of contradiction all men resisting his person his doctrine blaspheming his miracles and mighty workes preferring murderers before him and setting him with Belzebub the prince of the devils II The painefull travell of the Church is by the Ministeriall paines and sorrowes of her Pastors and Preachers Gal. 4. 19. Little children of whom
to inlarge the dragons dominions and leavy a band against Michael by corrupting and â—educing as many as they can they would have all as they bee swearers drunkards prophane and loose but they defie all the host of Michael as Goliah all the Host of Israel Scribes and Pharises will compasse sea and land to get a proselyte and if the wicked can get in one that hath a little begun a shew of goodnesse to make him drunke as they be or abet their lewd courses they triumph as much as the Philistims when they conquered Sampson Doe gracelesse men perpetually fight against Christ what marvell to see men runne on to the extremity of sin to heare and see cursed blaspemers adulterers murderers drunkards and â—ailers no marvell if some dare openly pleade against the conscionable observation of the Lords day â—f some openly disclaime religious exercises openly cast downe godly Ministers for 1. Is it strange for the devill and his Angels to sin in hainous manner 2. Is it marvell that hee that marcheth after the devill should goe on to things unreasonable 3. Is there any other expectation from wicked Angels whose hearts Satan-fils as Iudas and worketh effectually in them 4. Thinke wee their Generall will be so modest and moderate as to sticke at any height of impiety and they being bound must they not obey being captives must they not bee ruled at his will must not every subject bee for his owne Prince and kingdome Are all these enemies so infinite in power number wrath plots against our peace and salvation Learne 1. Not to stand idle are our enemies in continuall fight and action and must wee be bound to peace if wee now bestirre our selves against them must we be counted unpeaceable and turbulent indeed if our enemies would hold their hands so might wee But what a plotte of the dragon is this that while he and his Angels are at fight and in action we under a title of peace worse than warre must not stirre for our Lords right or our owne safety but we have learned that politicall axiom Hostem si agere sinas confirmas Eliubs rebuke I know the pride of thy heart must not stop Davids going out against Goliah 2. Having so many enemies against us wee need not fight against our selves or our owne side Quest. How doe we that Ans. 1. By sinne against conscience when our consciences our brazen wall shall bee taken away from us by them and take their part in accusation and wounding us 2. By security and impenitency in sinne the peace of the strong man 3. By excusing and defending sinne in stead of condemning them or our selves for them 4. By stepping out of our way and calling by which we strip our selves of our owne strength and helpe of the good Angels Vers. 8. But they prevailed not neither was their place found any more in heaven Having spoken of the battell and armies which have joyned issue one against another now in this verse we shall see the successe and to which side the victory falleth The verse expresseth two things 1. That the dragon and his forces cannot prevaile 2. That hee is mightily prevailed against so that his place is found no more in heaven For the first Whereas the dragon by himselfe and his tyrannicall agents the heathen Emperors intended to keep under the Lord of glory chase out of the world the memory and mention of Christianity and hold the world under idolatry blasphemy and heathenish worshipping of idols and devils in stead of God and his blessed Sonne yet could they not prevaile For as the Sonne of God was mightily raised from the dead and had now taken his place at the right hand of his Father so must he for ever hold his place those usurped titles of Deity must now cease and those excessively exalted powers of heathen Emperours advanced against him must now be broken to pieces and deposed now Christ must be proclaimed in the preaching of the Gospell King of his Church and God blessed for ever now Michael and his Angels Christian Emperours faithfull Pastors holy Martyrs and Professors are in the field have wonne the field with an unresistible power against which the dragon and all his Angels could not prevaile The note is this the dragon and his Angels though never so likely can never prevaile against Michael and his Angels Pharaoh was in great likelihood to have prevailed against Israel having them at such a straite and if wise working or power would have done it he wanted neither but he neither did nor could prevaile Haman was in a faire way to have prevailed against all the Iews wheÌ„ he had the letters of death sealed with the broad seale and Posts sent forth but in the issue the dragon prevailed not The Jewes seemed to have prevailed against Michael himself when they had coÌ„demned killed and buried him laid a great stone on him set a watch about him and sealed the grave they thought they had made all sure that they should never have heard more of him but they prevailed not he rose againe gloriously notwithstanding all their policie and power Looke any way a cloud of strong reasons doth compasse us to perswade this truth If we looke upwards unto God wee see in him five things against all or any of which the dragon cannot prevaile as 1. His power who is stronger than all and none can take any out of his hands Iohn 10. 28. Principalities and powers may be potent but hee is Omnipotent and mighty to save 2. His promise that he will not suffer his elect to be tempted above that they are able to beare that hee will adde to every temptation a gracious issue and that hee will shortly tread the dragon even underfeet Rom. â—6 20. 3 His wisedome for hee hath an eye to foresee all dangers an eare to heare all counsels an heart to understand all devices and reach beyond all enemies to turne all their counsels into folly 4. Affection and love so as no curse can prevaile against his people Deut. 23. 5. the Lord would not hearken unto Balaam because the Lord loved thee This love will bring us into the good land through all enemies 5. Protection He is a wall of fire round about Jerusalem A strong tower is the name of the Lord that cannot be scaled a Buckler that cannot be pierced a shield that cannot be broken a rocke that cannot be entred a mighty fortresse that can never be surprised Now were the dragon onely to encounter us weake creatures he could not but prevaile but hee must first prevaile against the power promise wisedome affection and protection of God himselfe before hee can prevaile against us and therefore all is safe Againe if wee looke at our Leader and Generall we have in him five things which make us unconquerable for 1. He is that little stone that breakes to pieces the iron clay gold and silver all Monarches
wicked enemies of it For 1. By these overthrows the most desperate enemies are daunted for a time and by the terrour of judgements discouraged from their mischievous enterprises against the Church Did not Gods plagues on the Egyptians stop their unreasonable violence against Israel yea however the kings heart was hardened to destruction yet the people were overcome so as to do them all the good they could leaving themselves bare and naked to adorne and enrich them with their Jewels And how hath the heavy hand of God felt by our enemies made them lesse bold to attempt the like mischiefes yea rather inclined them to be at a kinde of peace with us 2. By the dreadfull overthrows of wicked men the Lord sets up his Church and makes even the enemies themselves submit and stoop to her Psalm 18. 44. When Davids sword prevailes in the Lords battels strangers shall bee in subjection though dissemblingly The proud Aramites were forced to submit themselves wiih halters about their necks to the King of Israell 1. King 20. 31. 2. Chron. 32. 22. When that memorable judgement was executed against the King of Assur and his proud army many are said to bring offerings to Jerusalem and presents to Hezekiah who was magnified thenceforth of all nations So by the fearfull hand of God against proud Herod the Lord made his word to prosper and beleevers to multiply Act. 12 23. 24. 3. By the judgements of God powred out upon wicked men they themselves are convinced in their consciences and forced to acknowledge themselves in a wrong course and that the state of the godly whom they persecute is farre more happy then their owne If Balaam in his prosperity wished himselfe in the number of Gods people what did hee when the sword came against him in the slaughter of the Midianites Numb 31. 8. And when the Egyptians were hurled among the waves did they not wish themselves in the state of the meanest Israelites And shall not all wicked enemies who now brave it out against the Saints do so also when the waters of Gods wrath arise and beginne to returne forcibly upon them III Motives to this duty are these 1. The end proposed by the Lord of all his actions is the setting up of his glory but especially when in overthrowing the dragon hee sheweth forth all his glorious attributes of power justice hatred of sinne revenge of sinne as also of mercy care and love of his Church the over-mastering of her enemies for the terrour of all proud adversaries and the encouraging and confirming the faith of the Saints 2. As this is the Lords end so wee cannot disappoint him of this end without our own great prejudice For as thankfull praises for old mercies invite new so ingratitude being a bundle of many sins hinders the course and current of Gods blessings unto us If we would continue perpetuate mercies to ourselvs we must not deprive the Lord of his due praises 3. The Lord hath manifested his pleasure and that hée is well pleased to have the mindefulnesse of his mercies towards his people to dwell with his Church to beget in them more love of himselfe and a greater desire of promoting his kingdome Hence himselfe pleased to be the institutor of feasts speciall services for perpetuall memory of mercies deliverāces as the Paslover to perpetuate the memory of the Angels passing over the Israelites houses in slaying the first born of Egypt saving thē frō the revenging Angell And in their entring into the land of Canaan hee appointed the feast of Tabernacles in remembrance of all that providence and preservation of them and theirs from all enemies while they dwelt not in walled townes but in Tabernacles forty yeares in the wildernesse 4. The very Heathens themselves after their victories would institute publique solemnities to their gods in way of thankfulnesse and dedicate dayes and temples to them for remembrance and shall Christians come behinde them and as the manner is after victories eate and drinke and bragge and sweare in the meane time forget their songs to the Lord 5. We cannot better or liker to our life of heaven exercise our selves on earth when all the Saints shall solemnly and tryumphantly sing and sound out the glory of God for their finall deliverance from the Dragon and all his Angels by Jesus Christ when the Angels Saints Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Martyrs and all the blessed company of heaven shall joyne in the song of Moses and the Lambe Now the Saints on earth must resemble and begin this life of heaven and seeing all other services and spirituall duties shall cease and onely this shall remaine in heaven our care must bee that it cease not upon earth This doctrine casts out of the society of the Church such as grieve and repine at her prosperity and happy victories for he cannot be a member of the Church who rejoyceth not in her joy nor a sonne of this mother who is not glad in her prosperity Is it a note of a righteous man to rejoyce when hee seeth the vengeance Psalm 58. 10. what is hee then that pineth when hee seeth Gods revenge powred on the heads of his adversaries 1. Such as grieve when Antichrists kingdome is shaken when they heare any newes of defeating his forces and cannot containe or conceale themselves but by magnifying the Catholike Captaines and contemptuous discourses against the Protestants forces bewray what they are and on what part they stand good subjects must they needs bee while they bewray such sure affections to the enemies of GOD our religion our Countrey our King and our Kings Children and good souldiers to Christ and trusty who are sorry when their Generall gets a victory I cannot tell whether to impute their boldnesse more to want of grace in disclaiming the truth or want of wit in such discovery of themselves 2. Such as rage and storme against the power of the Word which discovers the nakednesse of Popery So shamelesse and foolish are some ignorant sots and so earnestly set for their Popish Dagon that if they heare any thing against the doating doctrines of Popery they are ready to tumult as the Ephesians for their Diana It is nothing with them to revile the Ministers and give them all the lie and charge them with ignorance or falsification But what need clearer evidence to cast them for treachery against Christ his truth and holy religion established by the lawes in regard of which if folly it selfe did not leade them they would forbeare 3. Such as cannor endure our solemnities and daies of publike joy for our deliverances against the bloody Papists but as Vipers swell with poyson and griefe that their mother hath any cause of joy and that the Church and Kingdome was lifted up by God from such destruction as never came into the heads of any wretches but Papists or devils The barbarous heathens could not expresse their joy sufficiently in their triumphs gratulatory rites
never saw so the serpentine seed hateth all the womans seed which it never saw And as hunters know not nor never saw the particular game they take but lay nets and deadly engines for any of the kinde so these Nimrods and hunters spare none 2 The wrath of every wicked man is a sparke from hell and an ember of the dragons wrath who here hateth the Woman hid aswell as appearing And looke as the dragon hated Christ the head deadly while he was in the world and now hateth him with no lesse deadly hatâ—ed when he hath left the world he hateth him absent as much as present even so his brood hateth his members that were in the world aswell as those that are in it even those that they never knew nor saw and persecute their dead ashes and are as spitefull to their names and memory and to their posterity as their predecessors were to their persons while they lived 3 Darkenesse hateth all light neare or farre off They that hate God the chiefe good must needs hate all the godly that follow the thing that is good They that hate God himselfe must needs hate his image every where for he that hates the father hates all the children whether he know them or no. They hate the glory of God and the true worship and service of God and that they may abolish it they cannot but seek to root out all the people and persons that uphold it 4 Such a venome and poyson is seated in a wicked mans heart as knows no bounds of reason or moderation but overflowes all bancks and limits For there is no spirit to checke or restraine them so as neither sea nor Alpes bound a wicked mans wrath against godlinesse 5 They hate them whom they know not because they know them not for so it was with Christ himselfe they saw him but they knew him not for had they knowne him they would not have crucified the Lord of glory Ioh. 8. 29. When the Sonne of man shal be listed up then ye shall know that I am he So with his members they know them not nor their innocency let their lives be never so unblamable and just If they cannot picke quarrells against Daniel in the matter of the Kingdome they will see what they can do in the matter of his God If God himselfe shew favour to them and his power for them they will not know who the Lord is as Pharaoh but lay on burdens the heavier and therefore as Balak and Moab they seeke their confusion Num. 22. 2 3. A reproofe of numbers of men who in these dayes expresse with what spirit they are guided The Papists raile upon and revile al the godly restorers of our religion whom they never saw nor knew It is a third part of the Pamphlets they send dayly in amongst their Proselytes A man would thinke they had their hands full of adversaries alive and that they need not breake up the graves of the dead and persecute dead ashes What spirit besides the dragons ruled the Councell of Constance who sentenced the dead bones of Wickliffe to be digd up and burnt 41. yeares after his death did any of them ever know or see him or was not the wrath of their predecessors enough against his person Who seeth not the wrath of the dragon in a number of prophane beasts who incessantly make it their table talke to revile and use opprobriously men who never made nor medled with them men hid in their innocency and retyred in their privacy whose life in respect of them is as if they were out of the world And others that exclame against all that make shew of religion as men not worthy to live the worst of all men all dissemblers lyers factious all alike as if they knew them all Whence riseth this wrath certainely not from particular causes but from the generall not from the persons they revile but froÌ„ their own vile dragon like disposition They may pretend some personal quarrells now and then but the cause and care lyeth deeper they will hate the same goodnesse in any other person where soever they may discover it Here now is the dragons wrath against the Woman hid out of sight 2 This is a word of instruction not to marvell in observing the hatred of wicked men against the godly whom they know and see for they doe the same against those they never knew See wee Ahab hating Eliah Micaiah and all the true Prophets he knew no marvell he hath a fountaine of poison ready to flow on all that he knows not if he could reach them And so doth every wicked man if he hate any one good Minister because he is so he hates every one See wee all wicked men be they never so fallen in pieces among themselves yet all joyne in hatred of all the godly then see in them the work of the dragon who plots an unity and agreement against the Church hatred of goodnesse is the bond that joynes wicked ones together And yet Gods hand is in all this the godly must be throughly tryed and the wicked must go on to the filling up of their measure Are wee cast among men who when they cannot hurt godly men yet will not helpe them but as Balak said to Balaam neither blesse nor curse them Praise God that hath limited the power of wicked wills and violent affections They that would hurt one godly man would mischiefe all if they could and those that will not help them would hurt them if they were able See wee evill men desirous and contriving to cast downe the worship of God and a faithfull Ministery in the place where they live their wrath reaâ—heth beyond that place if it it were in their power they would abolish the true worship of God out of the world and leave no faithfull Ministery standing in the earth Hatred is of kindes and the dragon hates faithfulnesse every where fearing the decay of his Kingdome and his owne fall by their standing 3 This teacheth us 1 to unite and combine our selves to all the Saints even those whom wee never saw nor knew they being of the same Father Mother blood spirit family and inheritance with us 2 Againe as we love the head so also the members but the head though wee have not seene yet we love and beleeve 1 Pet. 1. 8 so the members whom we beleeve every where to be dispersed wee must love though wee see not for the love of the members must bee a sparkle from the flame toward the head 3 Further wee must not ground the love of Saints in our senses but in our faith which cannot but worke by love if to him that begat so also to all that are begotten 4 If faith may not be measured by sight being of things invisible no more may love the daughter of faith But if wee beleeve in him whom wee see not wee must also love them whom wee see not 5
abrogated all hand-writings which were against us and hath fastened them to his crosse Now a full atonement is made all the bonds of the Law to the rigour to the curse are all cancelled all the claimes of sinne death hell and clamors of accusing conscience are now stilled and answered all our obligations are discharged and fastened and filed up as void on the crosse of Christ for in no other place in the world could they be cancelled but there And as while the enmity lasted and the hostility was proclaimed betweene God and us there was no commerce nor no entercourse betweene us no more then is between nations who have proclaimed open warre against one another Now by this marriage and peace concluded we have a safe and happy entercourse negotiation into the kingdome of God The way is now laid open betweene heaven and earth and God himselfe pleaseth to come unto us yea into us and dwell and suppe with us to conferre with us to direct us to the advancement of our happy estate We have daily entrance and accesse unto him not as strangers or ordinary friends but as familiars yea as children in prayers praises meditations and the like See Eph. 2 18 19. The third priviledge is gracious assimilation and fitnesse betweene the bridegroome and his bride For whereas before was an infinite inequality and disproportion betweene these two parties now by this contract all this inequality is taken away and a fitnesse given by grace to make the spouse every way answerable to her Husbād as in these instances 1 The bride was of base parentage a daughter of the earth her father an Ammorite her mother an Hittite Eze. 16. 3. But now she is made a chosen generation of neere alliance to God the Daughter of a Prince yea of the King of glory 2 The bride was poore and needy had no worth no dowry to preferre her But by this contract hath an estate made her fit for a Prince That as her Lord and husband is heire of all things so she as the wife hath a right in his whole estate his love is so liberall as he hath stated her made her coheire of his own heavenly inheritance Rom. 8. 17. Here is the comfort of a Christian who hath no worth in himselfe but of damnation that he hath now a worthinesse in mercy and many compassions See Hos. 2. 19. 3 The spouse was deformed without beauty or comlinesse nay had no other but an ugly shape of sinne and unrighteousnesse far more blacke and hatefull then the Ethiopisse whom Moses married But now hath attained a perfect beauty in rightcousnes and the beauty of her husband maketh her beauty perfect See Ezech. 16. 14. Thy name was spread among the Heathen for thy beauty for it was perfect through the beauty which I set upon thee He maketh her like himselfe not having spotte or wrinkle or any such thing Ephes. 5. 27. having washed her with his blood 4 The spouse in her selfe was naked exposed to al injuries and covered with nothing but shame excepting a few ragges and figg-leaves too short and thinne a cover to hide her shame But now as mercy hath married her so it hath cloathed her here shee is cloathed with the sunne Her husband hath provided her costly garments her cloathing is of wrought gold Psal 45. 13. that is the golden righteousnesse of Christ shining as gold precious as gold durable as gold desirable as gold A garment as usefull as costly called Garments of Salvation Isai. 61. 10. This garment serveth both for necessitie and ornament The fourth priviledge is in free and liberall donation A bridegroome contracting a marriage with a Virgin gives her Iewells and Love-tokens as Isaac sent to Rebecca so the Lord Iesus doth with this woman 1 What he covenanteth and promiseth he also pledgeth with many graces and love-tokens even many graces shining as so many Iewels every one testifying his mindfulnesse and bounty toward her 2 He bestowes his person upon her and by becomming hers shee becomes his and they twaine are one flesh a gift then which heaven hath no greater 3 With his person he bestowes his goods upon her that is all his merits all his obedience all his sufferings all his glory all his prayers 4 He invests her not onely into his goods but into his inheritance and in due time consummates this marriage and brings his spouse home to his house of glory a prepared mansion for her and puts her in possession of all the wealth of heaven and that celestiall inheritance where she enjoyeth his immediate presence All which being lost in the first Adam is restored in the second by whom heaven is restored to us and wee to it The fifth priviledge is her high and honorable exaltation and advancement The whole dignity and honour of the husband is derived unto the wife be she in her selfe never so base and unworthy As in Esther a poore captive maid married to Ahasuerosh made a sharer in the honour of all his kingdome And Bathsebe a meane woman advanced to be Davids Queene But the honour of the Church goes beyond all the honor of all the Queenes that ever the sunne saw or theearth bare by reason of this marriage and contract For 1 They were matched to men and layd in the beds and bosomes of men but she comes into the bosome and greene bed of him that is God and man Cant. 1. 15. 2 They were married to Kings but earthly and mortall who dyed and left them widowes and often miserable But she to the King of Glory who onely hath immortality her King and husband never dyeth nor can leave her a widow 3 They were married to consort in some one kingdome and part of the earth and in such honor authority glory and riches as were as mortall and perishing as themselves and not long but they were parted But she to a King who rules from sea to sea to whom all Kings are subjects and by whom they rule to a kingdome that is unshaken not withering to an authority glory and wealth which is firme stable reserved in the heavens Neither is there of his kingdome any end either in respect of extent or of durance The sixt priviledge is strong and eternall consolation In that by this contract a firme and constant happinesse is assured which all the contracts in earth cannot performe This undivided conjunction of Christ with his Church answers al objections which might either prevent or discontinue the happinesse of a Christian. First for things which might seeme to prevent our happinesse Ob. 1. Our owne unworthinesse and infinite disproportion He is a divine head a mighty God ◠a base worme and man of earth How can he marry himselfe unto me An. We are not knit immediatly unto his divine nature but by the meanes of his humanity Thou canst not reach his deity he can stoope
to these duties 1 Thou shalt uphold the Crowne on the Churches head by upholding the puritie and shine of holy doctrine The faithfulnesse of Pastors crownes the Church 2 They selfe shall be held as a shining starre in the right hand of Christ here Rev. 1. 16 And this right hand shall surely protect provide for and defend thee in thy faithfulnesse then which what greater glory and crowne canst thou desire below 3 Thou shalt by thy faithfull shining attaine that unfading Crowne of glory Dan. 12. 3. by turning many to righteousnesse thou shalt shine as the starres in the firmament Remember that goad Bee faithfull to the death and I will give thee a Crowne of life Rev. 2. 10. 2 Seeing the true Church is a Crowned Queene the daughter of God and spouse of Jesus Christ then must every sonne and daughter of this woman partake of this advancement and be joynt heires of the same crowne yea in present possession of it Did men see the high and royall estate of Beleevers they could not so despise and scorne the persons and condition of Saints but admire and seeke to have part with them in such honor as have all the Saints Let us therefore a little set our eyes on this point to discerne the high estate of the Christian and we shall behold him not crowned with thornes onely but with shining starres and glory which wicked Princes were never capable of The point then is that All the Saints on earth have Kingly dignitie All the Children of this Mother are crowned as well as shee 1 Pet 2. â— Yee are a royall Priesthood The Scripture plainly saith that the Saints are already made Kings unto God Rev. 1. 6. and chap. 5. 10. And keeping the same resemblance all the children of the Church are called Queenes as she is Cant. 67. There are threescore Queenes 1 Their birth and allyance is all princely royall sons of God their father the great King of Kings As all the sons of hereditary Emperors are borne Kings and have Kingly dignitie so all the Sonnes of God much more Children of a Queene their Mother here crowned in the text All wives and spouses joyned in contract to the true Salomon and so are Kings wives to whom crownes pertaine and every one of them having right interest in his person have title unto all his estate and kingdome Thus have they all right to the crowne kingdome 1 By their fathers will Luk. 12. 32. Feare not little flocke for it is your Fathers will to give you the kingdome 2 In their mothers right whose crown descendt to al her seed being the seed of Christ Isai. 55. 3 By the pucrhase of their head Jesus Christ who gives them not promise onely but possession in present Behold I give you a Kingdome even as my Father hath given me a kingdome Luk 22. 29. but this possession is only in the entrance and first degree in this life and the full fruition and perfect possession reserved to the life to come 2 They are all anointed as Kings both in their head who is anointed with oile of gladnesse above all his fellowes Psal. 45. 7. as also in themselves for we have received that anointing 1 Iohn 2. 27. That holy oyle descendeth from Aarons head to the skirts of his garments Psal. 133. 2. All apparelled like Kings with the princely robe of righteousnesse more shining then Herods garment or then the Sun it selfe which deckes the whole man within and without All attended as Kings with Angels as a guard all styled with glorious and princely titles as kings to whom as the person and merits of Christ are communicated so also his name not called only Christians but Christs 1 Cor. 12. 12. Even so is Christ. All enthroned as kings on a more stately throne then Salomonâ— described 1 King 10. 18. For Christ shall give them to sit with him in his throne as himselfe sitteth in the throne of his Father Rev. 3. 21. All rich as princes Rev. 21. 7. Hee that overcommeth shall inherit all things 3 All the Saints have the power of Princes As 1. A commanding power not so much over others as over themselves Stronger is hee that rules himselfe then hee that rules a Citie Prov. 16 32. He layes laws upon himselfe and bindes himselfe to obedience and will command as Abraham and Ioshua all his inferiours to keepe the wayes of God 2. A performing power to effect greater things then greatest Princes Mark 9. 23. To him that beleeveth all things are possible Faith in Christ makes him receive all he can ordinately desire and performe all in Christ that he ordinately desireth to doe for it can obtaine of God power and strength to doe it 3 A conquering power Every Saint is already crowned a conquerour in part over sinne and Satan and temptation and his owne lusts and the world The devill resisted flieth him and he over-takes him and treads him under foot here is another manner of conquest then Davids was over Goliah And for the world Christ promiseth all the saints Rev. 2. 26 27 power over the nations to rule them with a rod of iron and breake them in pieces like a potters vessel Which is a power proper to Christ who received it from his Father for himselfe and his members and executeth it in his and their name also and for their common right and they also get victory by the help of faithfull Pastors 4 A power of judging All the Saints shall judge like Princes not the world onely but the wicked angels also the authors of all that unrighteous judgment which they in the world sustained 1 Cor. 6. 3. for Christs sentence shall be their sentence and shall be ratified by all the Saints And in the meane time they judge themselves by arraigning and condemning themselves for their sinnes and pleading for pardon 4 All the Saints are crowned already with twelve stars and expresse the bright shining of saving and Apostolike doctrine and uphold and maintaine it to their power and professe it and glory in it as in a crowne upon their heads 1 To magnifie the grace of God who out of so base and miserable estate and thraldome out of the chaines of hell and out of eternall damnation into which we were all cast by sinne hath lifted up his Saints into so high and excellent glory Never was poore Hester halfe so much obliged to great Ahashâ—erosh for raysing her from the dust to lay her in his owne bed and bosome as we are to the Lord for such an admirable advancement For herein he powred out all his love that while we were his enemies hee would not onely cast his skirts over us but crowne us first with compassion and then with a Crowne of twelve starres here in grace and hereafter in heavenly glory 2 To magnifie the state of Gods children who are set in
name or we will not heare Ier. 44. 16. to delight and rest in flattering and smooth Ministers that may not disturbe us Esay 30. 10. to dull us from hearing the rod not turning to the smiter to rest in the outward meanes of good and not on the Author and blesser All these fore-runneth desolation and sheweth the Church to bee neare the wildernesse II. The second point in the womans flight is her sustentation that they should feede her alluding to the feeding of the Church of the Iewes in the wildernesse this woman is fled into the vaste and desolate wildernesse where she is sure to bee safe because the Text saith God hath prepared her a place but now shee seemeth in as ill case as before what shall shee doe for food there is no tilling sowing reaping no fruits in the barren wildernesse how shal she doe for food the Text answereth They shall feed her The word They standeth in relation to some persons spoken of before for it is not said That she should be fed nor that he that is the Lord might feed her but that they should feed her Now who are those that must feed her The words then have reference to Chapter the 11. 2. so that the two witnesses shall feed her for the time of both fitly agreeth Quest. What is meant by those two witnesses Ans. The Papists grosly conceive them to bee Henoc and Elias who they say are reserved above in Paradise to returne againe in the dayes of Antichrist to oppose him whom Antichrist shall slay and trample their dead bodies in the streets of Hierusalem but they shall revive the third day at which miracle the Iews say they shall be converted to Christ and shall slay Antichrist in the Mount Olivet and cleave unto Christ who shall come againe five and forty dayes after A notorious fable without all colour of Scripture for of Henochs returne in flesh or spirit is not a syllable in the Scripture and of Elias his spirituall returne it was â—â—â—formed before Saint Iohn writ this Prophesie as our Saviour affirmeth Matth. 17. 11. in Iohn Baptist I forbeare to follow or persecute so manifest a falshood Some also understand them of such Pastors and witnesses of the truth as assisted the woman and resisted the corruptions of those times not too precisely but a few noted by that number and by that number because the law requireth two witnesses at least to confirme every truth But I doe understand the two witnesses to be the two Testaments of holy Scripture for 1. Both witnesse unto God in his holinesse truth power justice mercy and all other attributes and to Christ Iohn 5. 2. Both witnesse the will of God to man in all things to bee beleeved done 3. Both witnesse against the wicked not the Law onely not Moses onely but the Gospell the word that I speake saith Christ shall judge you at the last day 4. Both feed the woman in the wildernesse maintaining heavenly life and strength both supply her with a dayly showre of Mannah as was notably prefigured in that type to which allusion because the Spirit of God here looketh I rather chuse this interpretation of Augustine and others The words thus unfolded we may learne That God feedeth his children even in the wildernesse and provideth for his owne in times of greatest scarcity as here the woman in a place of famine barrennesse banishment and persecution is fed and provided for Never was the Israel of GOD without a showre of Mannah nor a Rocke of water in the dry and barren wildernesse 1 Kings 19. 6. Eliah flying for his life is fed by an Angell and what else would our Saviour teach by thoâ—â— two miracles of so many thousand in the wildernesse with so small meanes Matth. 14. 18. but that such as follow Christ and cleave unto his word shall not bee destitute of any thing needfull though in never so vast and terrible a wildernesse They are first in respect of God secondly of themselves In respect of God for three causes 1. Because of his gracious promise so often passed Psal. 34. 10. The Lyons shall want but they that feare the Lord they shall want nothing that is good Psal. 84. 11. no good thing shall be wanting to him that liveth uprightly Psal. 37. 19. they shall have enough in dayes of famine for godlinesse hath the promise even of this life as well as of that to come 2. Because of his mighty power who can doe what he hath promised 1. He can create food where none is as Mannah in the wildernesse and water out of a Rocke the most unlikely meanes in the world and out of an Asses tooth to Samson as dry as a flint 2 Hee can multiply a little and make it supply many and make it last long as 1 Kings 17. 14. the Meale in the barrell 2 Kings 4. 3. Oyle in the Câ—use we see the like in Christs miracles feeding many thousand with seven Loaves 3. He can by extraordinary meanes supply his servants if ordinary faile if men feed not Elias Angels shall if Angels doe not Ravens shall 4. He can without all meanes sustaine them if both ordinary and extraordinary faile them as Moses and Elias forty dayes without any food This mighty power added to his promise assureth his Church to be fed seeing nothing can hinder him from doing them good 3. Because of the fulnesse and abundance of grace in God and fulnesse of goodnesse to communicate it who can deny him to be the Ocean and full Sea even the inexhaustible fountaine of goodnesse and who can hinder his full streames from issuing forth and running abroade in all affluence or whether should it flow and issue if not to his Sanctuary who have the Buckets to draw out of this deepe Well but beleevers In regard of themselves and in this respect there are three more causes 1. The right of the Church for the beleever having Christ hath in him right to all things of this life good for them If Christ be yours then all is yours whether things present or to come 1 Cor. 3. 22. 2. Their relation to God they are nearer than Gentiles yet he feeds them they are nearer than Oxen yet God hath care of oxen they are nearer than sparrowes yet he feeds them for 1. They are his servants The Prodigall childs father is said to have bread enough for his servants much more have Gods servants in his house 2. They are childreÌ„ He that provideth for dogs and Swine will hee not provide for his children 3. They are the Spouse and wife of Christ will a loving husband suffer his deare wife to want food and necessaries if hee know her need and be able to supply it therefore so long as the Lord hath knowledge of the Chuches estate and love of her person shee shall not be destitute 3. Their power and prevailing of their faith procureth them food they trust in him and commend
the cause deserving them they are light and short 4. Not to sense but to faith they are short which apprehendeth Gods favour presence and promise of a good issue 5. Not in the glasse of the law but in the Gospel they are short in Christ his sweetning them sustaining us and shortning them 6. Not in respect of the terme of this life for so they are long but in respect of aeternall glory and rest following them they are but a moment Long and durable sorrowes are no signes of Gods hatred Eccles. 9. 1. for then the Church could have no certainty of Gods favour say not with thy selfe none was ever so afflicted with long and bitter sorrowes and God is gone for ever and a day and his mercy is cleane shut up in displeasure but consider 1. He left not the Church in this long tryall in so dreadfull and forsaken wildernesse the Arke was safe on a world of waters 2. Whether thy sinnes have not been long a growing on therefore they will not hastily away but are like spots long settled in cloth and require much scouring and rubbing 3. Whether ever thy heart and joyes would bee pulled off the world if the Lord should not with strong hand force thee out as Israel out of Aegypt dealing as the nurse weaning the childe being fond on the breast layeth mustard on it to make it distaste it 4. Whether thou hast not more cause in durable tryals to suspect thy want of love to God rather than Gods want of love to thee and whether thou hast not with thee harde knots that had neede of hard wedges To terrifie Gods owne children from presuming either to attempt or hold any of their sinnes embolden not thy selfe to sinne because thou art neare or deare to God for 1. Hee lookes to have more service from thee that standest nearer him in profession than others his eye is most on his garden and hee will bee sanctified in all that come neare him if thou wilt grow wilde it were good for thee to stand in the waste and not in the profession 2. If thou wilt hold thy sinne against him thou shalt know that though hee will not take away his grace so he will not take away his rod. Comfort the godly in their tedious and durable tryals 1. Though they belong yet the Lord supplyeth them all the time with needfull supplies and comforts hee sendeth none into the wildernesse to famish but to feed them and what comfort so ever they want yet they want not the two witnesses for if she did she were sure to perish yet were shee not sustained by the word the Lord Iesus should bee quite cast out of his possession and so lose his kingdome on earth which cannot bee 2. How long so ever they bee they are all determined by God for entrance continuance and conclusion there is a certaine time which they shall not passe for hee that setteth the bounds to the raging Sea hath set bounds to the raging of devils and wicked men and saith thus farre they shall come and no farther and then after many dayes hee will bring her out of the wildernesse into a more convenient and comfortable estate which shall be as an harbour or haven so much more sweet and desirable as the waves and billowes of a trouble some sea have been dreadfull and dangerous As there is an houre for the entrance of power of darknesse Luke 22. 53. so it is appointed for durance Exodus 12. 41. wee have seene a great part of these yeares passed and they draw to expiration therefore doe the enemies of the Church bestirre themselves because the time is but short yet this time is determined when the Church shall be eased Vers. 7. And there was a battell in heaven Having largely described the combatants in the former part of the chapter now the Spirit of God commeth to declare the battell it selfe unto which there hath been such preparation and this is no small controversie or trifling conflict but the greatest battell that ever was fought in the world and that in three respects 1. In respect of the place other battels are fought on earth but this in heaven not the heaven taken naturally but figuratively not in the highest heaven which is no place of dragons or quarrels but in the heaven on earth which is the Church militant called by the name of heaven as we have shewed verse the first for many reasons 2. It is great in respect of the armies whether we consider the greatnesse of the Generalls Michael the dragon or the valour or numbers of their forces for both these Generals come with their Angels which are great in multitude in power 3. Great in respect of the quarrell and cause namely whether Iehovah or Iupiter bee superiour whether Christ or Beliall whether Christianisme or Paganisme must prevaile whether Christian religion or Idolatrous worship bee more ancient more venerable more ample and of more worthy respect and acceptance This Verse propoundeth 1. The battell And there was a battell 2. The armies Michael and his Angels The former part predicteth this feirce fight where for the meaning are four Questions Quest. 1. Why I call it a prediction or prophesie being delivered in the time past and not in the time to come it is not said there shall bee a great battell but there was as if it had beene past rather than to come Ans. The manner of the Prophets in speaking of future events is to propound them in the time past Esay 53. 5 6 7. 1. For their more evidence and certainty in themselves as surely they shall come to passe as if they were past already 2. For the surer confirmation of the faith of the Church who are bound as certainly to beleeve bee they never so unlikely as if they were past already 3. That wee might more easily conceive of the words of the Prophets to be true and the word of God to whom past and present are both alike and who hath power to speake unto us in what manner himselfe pleaseth Quest. 2. Of what battell is this to bee understood Ans. 1. It is not to be meant of that battell between Michael and the dragon in the wildernesse for that was past but this was of a future event after Iohns time and that battell was betweene the Generals onely 2. Neither is it to be meant of that perpetual war in the militant Church between the elect and the reprobates both men and Angels which hath continued in the severall ages of the world from the beginning under the conduct of those great Captaines Christ and the dragon for this here is of a warre not yet begun when Iohn prophesied but that was 3. We properly understand it of some speciall and notable part of that warre which in the spring of the Euangelicall Church Satan raised to the overthrow of the salvation of it Now whether the Spirit of God had an aime at the warres of
our losses great hee can if hee please double our portion as Iobs at the latter end Also for things pertaining to godlinesse and a better life we have strong consolation in that Christ hath power 1. To merit 2. To apply 3. To uphold 4. To perfect our salvation 1. He hath power to merit our salvation because he hath power to satisfie wholly by himselfe the justice of God without any piecing or patching to his merit and righteousnesse He hath power to pay the whole debt and to cancell the bill and hand writing that was against all Gods chosen He is of power to pardon sinne Mat. 9. 6. that ye may know the Son of man hath power to forgive sinne on earth and he hath power to fulfill the Law 2 He hath all power to apply his merit to our salvation because to this end he did mightily raise himselfe from the dead by his owne power and ascended into heaven that by a powerfull intercession he might apply his sacrifice to the Saints From thence he hath power to send his Spirit to acquaint us with the things given us of God And he is of power to worke faith in the hearts of the Elect whereby they may apply to themselves his whole merit and obedience while they are here below 3 He is of power to uphold our salvation divers wayes By setting us upon a strong foundation and a sure rocke not to be shaken by any contrary power By strengthening us by a powerfull word which is a mighty organ and a strong arme able to save 2 Tim. 3. 16. By comforting and strengthening us by the Spirit of strength and power 2 Tim. 1. 7. God hath not given us the spirit of feare but of power And by making us invincible in suffering Phil. 4. 13. I can do all things by the power of Christ assisting me Yea to saile by hell to heaven and to passe by the crosse to the crowne 4 He is of power to perfect our salvation and hath engaged this power to this purpose 1 Pet. 1. 5 Wee are kept by the power of God to salvation And why First He is of power to make our imperfect duties pleasing to God hiding all the imperfection of them under the mantle of his mercy Secondly He hath a superior power to al enemies that none of them can separate us or plucke us out of his hands for he hath the keyes of hell and death Rev. 1. 18. Thirdly He hath power to lead us through death dust into his owne glory so as we have assurance of a glorious resurrection by the working of his mighty power Phil. 3. 21. Fourthly He hath power not only of preparing mansions for us in his Fathers house but in the last day to descend from heaven to fetch us up to himselfe that wee may be ever with the Lord. Our Ioshua hath power to bring us into Canaan II. Here is a ground of comfort and encouragement in all well-doing and to goe on fearelesly in good duties wherein commonly we have the power of the world against us For why First He is of power to strengthen us of weake to make us strong Of our selves wee are able to doe nothing that we have any power to any thing that is good it is from his power His grace alone is sufficient for us 2 Cor. 12. 9. Without mee yee can doe nothing Secondly He is of power to reward our least labour of love to his name or Saints and all the power of the world cannot hinder him Thirdly He is of power to cleare our innocency to disperse the fogs and clouds of calumnie and reproches and to make our righteousnesse shine as the sunne at noone-day He can and will make our darknesse light Fourthly His power encourageth our prayers because he is able to receive them and doe abundantly above all that we aske or thinke Fifthly He is of power to make us perserve for he is able to perfect his worke and this power shall uphold a poore Christiā if the truth should faile from the Church and Kingdome Object I am weake and oftentimes carelesse in keeping my ground and grace Answ. Quicken up thy selfe become a member of Christ and if thy faith be weake that thou canst not comprehend him his power is strong to comprehend thee yea the weakenes of God is stronger then men 1 Cor. 1. 25. Object But the enemies are strong and powerfull Jesuites other seducers subtle and sundrie adversaries armed with power grace of times cruelty c. Answ. Yet this power of Christ layes such hold on every true Beleever that no seducer can deceive him nor no power plucke him out of his hands No power can dismember this Head nor reach their graces 6 He that is of power gave us strength when we had none is of power even in death and in our dust when al strength is gone both to keepe faithfully for us what we commit unto him till the last day also to renew us with strength as the Eagles and change our vile bodies to be like his glorious body like it in quality not equality in strength shining agility incorruption fitted as a glorious member to be united to so glorious an head and that for all eternity III Another ground of comfort is that out of this power of Christ we may conclude the stability of the Church which is his Kingdome This power hath upheld the truth these many hundred yeares against the divell the world the Turke Antichrist Popish Princes and forces against tyrants massacres inquisitions torments pouder-plots against false brethren and hypocrites that against all the gates of hell it is not onely taught and preached but triumpheth and conquereth so as all the world may see a mighty power protecting it The Church is an heavie stone to lift at because it hath all Christs power for it and therefore if all nations rise against it they shall be torne in pieces The truth is stronger then all and must prevaile at last it may be smothered as fire under ashes extinct it cannot be so long as Christ who is truth hath power to uphold it The promise is strong that all the gates of hell shall not prevaile against it For as Christ is truth that uttered it so he is Omnipotent to accomplish it This power shall ever keepe this Arke upon the waters from drowning Hitherto of the consolation Instruction also ariseth from this power of Christ and 1 To Ministers that they preach Christ the power of God 1 Cor. 1. 24. that is not onely by preaching to acquaint men with the power of Christ but so to preach as Christs power may be put forth in the Gospell which is the rod of his power and so as to bring in subjects daily under this power of Jesus Christ Preaching a mans selfe will not doe it nor preaching of men will not doe it nor every learned nor every idle discourse of Christ but to speak from the spirit and
things nor every great It is for an enemy not a brother to be unnaturall to reteine stomacke to grudge envy revenge c. Object 3. Oh but I have often forborne and forgiven Answ. How often hast thou forgiven seventie times seven times so is the commaundement and he is still thy brother Object 4. But in this case I cannot beare him the wrong is so great Answ. Intwo cases a man may and must be more strict even with his brother 1 In reteining his owne innocency 2 If his brother will not see and confesse his offence But if thy brother come and say I pray thee forgive me then though the wrong be as great as that of Iosephs brethren against him as he was readier to offer pardon then they to aske so must thou Mat. 18. 33. Shouldest not thou have had compassion on thy fellow servant much more on thy brother Quest. What are the conditions of this brotherly love Ans. 1. It is universall to all Saints 2. Sincere not in tongue but in truth 3. Fruitfull in effest as in affection 4. Constant. 2 It reprooves such as scorne this title and thinke it an high reproach to be of the holy brotherhood First these persons disclayme all kindred with Christ they are of another house and blood their speech bewrayes them Secondly they scoffe at Christ himselfe who was the chiefe of this brother-hood our elder brother and was not ashamed to call us brethren it was no reproach then Thirdly They set the Holy Ghost to schoole as not knowing how to speake in the Scripture who every where cals the Saints brethren and holy brethren Heb. 2. 1. Let him that dares despight the Spirit and scorne his language know he shal be shuffled out of this society and pronounced a brother of the divell and damned ones It also reprooves such as wrong the brethren of Christ like the brethren of Ioseph seeke to cast them into pits and prisons buy and sell them in their good names and intend evill against them while they are yet a farre off Let them consider that in Mat 25 40. In as much as yee did it unto one of these my brethren yee did it unto me Go ye cursed And marke Christ disdaines not after his resurrection to call us brethren Mat. 28. 20. and darest thou wrong them whom he so honoureth 3 Here is a ground of true and just dealing with all men Be not fraudulent deceitfull cunningly by lyes oathes false weights or measures to deceive thy brother Let no man defraud his brother by any meanes the Lord is the avenger of such namely in speciall manner What wilt thou deceive thy brother be unmercifull to thy brother hide thine eyes from thy brother fall frō thy brother in his distresse was not a brother made for adversity and dost thou adde to it 4 Superiours learne moderation humility and mercy It is a good meditation every way to looke at the case of an inferiour as the case of a brother First To worke humility Deut. 17. 20. The King must not puffe up himselfe above his brethren Great schollers must not puffe up themselves above them of meaner gifts for one is your Doctor and yee are all brethren Mat 23. 9. Secondly To worke moderation the husband must moderate his authority because though he be superiour yet the wife is joynt heyre of life 1 Pet. 3. Masters must moderate themselves toward their servants because they have the same Master in heaven to whom they are with their servants fellow-servants Iob contended not with his maid because he that made one made both c. 31. 13. Onesimus a converted servant must be received as a brother Thirdly To worke mercy to the poore this poore man is not a beast but a brother not as a dog ranging for hunger but a poore Christian a poore brother and I must not turne my eyes from my poore brother mine owne flesh This sicke man is not a sheepe sicke of the rot but one of Christs field this poore servant is not my horse or Oxe whom I feed and tend and if they be sicke I aske counsell and drench them but my brother made in Gods image as I am a member of Christ as I am whom I must tender in sicknesse and health and shew my selfe a brother made for adversity 5. This may comfort poore Christians A brother is a name of equality The poorest Christian hath the same Father Mother alike pretious faith and the same common salvation with the richest Christs Kingdome is not politicall which stands of superiours and inferiours but in Christ all are one Thou poore man effectually called hast not such favour of great men but hast as great share in Gods favour and in the death of Christ as the richest Thou wantest gold and silver but that did not purchase life but Christs precious blood and that thou enjoyest at full Great men have privy stayres in their palaces but thou goest up the same stayres to heaven by the same Word Sacraments Faith Prayer of faith c. a rich mans prayer is no beter then a poore mans Thou canst not faire so daintily nor cloath thy selfe so costly in purple and silke as the rich but God at his table feasteth thee as plentifully and arayeth thee with as costly a robe of Christs righteousnesse as the highest Potentate 2 Those that are in spirituall fraternity with Christ and one with another lye open to all manner of wicked accusation Who was ever a more faithfull and trustie servant then Ioseph yet was not he accused of incontinency and for that cast into prison a long time and could never come to due triall Gen. 39. 9. Iob by the Lords owne testimony a peerelesse man and most upright before God and man yet was not he accused before our God of hypocrisie not only by the great Accuser but by his friends David whose conscience smote him for cutting the lap of Sauls garment was still accused by the Courtiers of high treason against him and one that sought his life crowne and Kingdome The Prophets who were holy men of God and mirrors of piety and grace were all accused of most haynous things Daniel of disobedience Elias of troubling all Israel Amos of conspiracy Ieremie of revolting c. The Apostles who shined in holinesse and innocency as starres of the first magnitude were accused to be authors of sedition troublers of Cities raisers of tumults contemners of lawes trumpets of rebellion preachers of ordināces not lawful to receive Act. 16. 19. Was not Paul accused by Tertullus Act. 24. 5 to be a pestilent fellow a moover of sedition among the Jewes through the world and one that taught every where against the law of Moses And whence were those rackings and mockings and scourgings and stonings and slaughters and torments of those whom the world was not worthy of Heb. 11. 36. but from the same originall of wicked slaunders and keenest darts of false accusation Quest. Why
condition saveth it Thirdly it is the onely gainefull service to thy selfe above all other Thy body thou givest to his mercy who might command it to punishment Thou offerest it weake and sinfull to receive it sinlesse and glorious Thou givest it for a while to dishonour and abasement to receive it for ever glorified Thou walkest here a while in blacke that thou mayest ever walke in white hereafter Thou sufferest a short paine but gainest joyes long and weighty 2 Cor. 4. 18. A bitter breakfast said our Martyr but a better dinner In a word what is there but cleare gaine in exchanging a miserable life for a moment into an eternall happinesse which eye never saw nor heart of man can thinke As there is no losse in serving God so much lesse in suffering for Christ. Be faithfull to the death thou shalt have a crowne of life there is gaine enough 5 Looke at the enemies they are no way so much disappointed as when a godly man loveth not his life unto death but willingly forgoeth it for the name and profession of Christ. For whereas they intend nothing but evill as Iosephs brethren God turneth all to good yea to the best as appeares in these instances 1 They hope to bring Gods people to a very few and worke wisely to keepe them under as Pharaoh But how are they disappointed for the blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church the more they are oppressed the more they increase This camomile the more it is troden under the feet of tyrants the more it spreadeth rooteth and increaseth This palme tree cannot be so oppressed with the weight of bloodie decrees but it shall more apparantly rise up from under it 2 They hope and intend to bring infamie and ignominie on their names for ever by devising the most opprobrious and exquisite torments for them But how are they disappointed for as sweet drugs stamped and pounded cast the sweetest smell so the Saints pounded in the morter of affliction sweet incense is never so sweet as cast into the fire so is it heere 3 They intend nothing but their death the chiefe of all evills which they can inflict but are disappointed for they suddenly deliver them from all evills of sinne and punishment and send them speedily to the fruition of their chiefe good which is God himselfe and all the pleasures at his right hand While they devise to kill them they doe but cure them While they thinke to banish them out of the earth they call them out of their banishment Pharaoh by tyranny will chase Israel out of his land but it is but to thrust them on to their Canaan They intend by their furious fires to burne and consume Gods golden vessells but they shall onely purge them from their drosse The heaviest flayle of affliction shall but cleanse and sunder Gods wheat from the chaffe Never were the three children so glorious as in the midst of the furnace never was the tyrant so pusled so confounded so conquered From the Meditations come to the Practises which may helpe us in this great resolution and performance 1 Labour daily in subduing and mortifying corrupt lusts Get daily power to dye to all sinne else canst thou never dye in the quarrell of grace And of all lusts beware of three which are strongest lets First selfe-love he that cannot denye himselfe can never take up the crosse Selfe-love makes a mans life so sweet and deare unto him as he cannot abide to heare of heaven it selfe in exchange so that he that hath not power to deny himselfe let him be never so wise learned civill yea or religious he will at last dishonour God by backesliding and deniall of Christ. Secondly love of the world which will not harbour with love of Christ this easily makes him look backe whose hand is on the plough Demas forsook the truth to embrace the world And if thou dost not master this lust though thou wert as neare Christ as Iudas thou wilt turne from him yea against him Thirdly pride and applause of men which will never endure the shame of the crosse To batter down this high turret the Apostle Heb. 12. 2. bids us looke on Jesus who endured the crosse and despised the shame He not onely sustained but sanctified to us the mockings and contradictions of sinners 2 Another practise is to labour for sound judgemēt in matters of faith This only produceth a threefold action which must necessarily go before undaunted profession First a sound apprehension firmely and distinctly to beleeve the truth of religion For wee must first beleeve with the heart and then confesse with the mouth Rom. 10. 9. 10. and 2 Cor. 4. 13. I beleeved and therefore I spake Secondly from sound judgment issueth an high estimation of Christ and his truth above all the world or life it selfe All things are doung in comparison of him both in themselves and in the judgement of a sound Christian. And as the Lord himselfe hath magnified truth above all things so doth sound judgment framed to his Thirdly from sound judgment issueth a wise and advised resolution to hold the best fastest and keepe this whatsoever wee let go for it and not to shrinke from the truth for saving our life no more then our Lord himselfe did This sound judgment will keepe out a treacherous purpose of saving thy selfe by betraying the truth either by silence policie or open deniall 3 Another practise is to get sound affections to Christ and his truth especially two First love that is truths keeper every Apostate knew the truth but never any loved it And only love of Christ is stronger then death Secondly sound joy by which we are made not only contented but joyfull in sufferings for Christ which is indeed a matter of true rejoycing Act. 5. 41 The disciples were glad when they were counted worthy to suffer 1 Pet. 4. 13. Rejoyce in that ye are partakers of Christs sufferings Hence the Martyrs in the Primitive Church were so forward to offer their lives up to Christ as the woman of Edissa came running with her child in her armes into the fire lest the Christians should be burned ere she came and not she with them the like of Blanditta a peerelesse woman of Accolus a mirror of patience so our owne Martyrs who sang in the midst of the flames and had more joy then their tormēters This joy none can take away 4 Because to lay downe ones life is not the past of mans weakenesse but of Gods goodnesse and to suffer for Christ is a worke above naturall strength and the holy Ghost onely can stablish men to this triall we must not presume of our owne strength as Peter but pray for the mighty power of the Spirit to make us of weake strong and that he who hath given us to beleeve would also give us to suffer and strengthen us to all patience with joyfulnesse Col. 1. 10. Consider that none have
Antichristians who are the beast rising out of the earth And they are called inhabitants of the sea for their tumult and incōstancy casting up as the sea nothing but mire and dirt and carryed as waves of the sea by every winde Jude 13. But if any thinke the Evangelist aymeth more distinctly at some particulars I am not ignorant that some by earth understand the common multitude of wicked persons enemies unto Christ and by sea the ecclesiasticall men who have corrupted the earth with bitter brinish and salt doctrine of errors and humane traditions and thus still oppose them But I conceive a further drift of the Spirit of God well suiting to our whole exposition and period of time which this part of the Chapter aymeth at That rather by earth are meant all such nations and Kingdomes of earth subjected to the spirituall whordomes of the dragon so called for their earthly profession affection and practise and by sea the then Roman Empire it selfe so called 1 For the floods of impietie that issued from it as the floods and rivers do all from the sea it was the head of wickednesses 2 For the unbridled rage of it and the unresistable power which was then the great Ocean swelling over all bankes So as the sense seemes to be Wo to the earth and all wicked nations that are enemies to the Church of God but especially wo to the sea the great Empire whose sinnes the dragon hath brought to a great height so as the great mutation of that great estate is now neare and the subversion of the Imperiall and Cesariall power is at hand For now at this time so effectually did the dragon worke in the delusions of Antichrist as that he whose comming was in all deceivablenesse of unrighteousnesse was shortly to swallow up the Imperiall power and so to take him out of the way which stood betweene him and his greatnesse as was formerly prophesied 2 Thes. 2. and not long after accomplished When the Church is happy in the midst of persecutions wicked and earthly men are unhappy and miserable So is it here rejoyce ye heavens but wo to the earth and sea Eccles. 8. 12. 13. Though a sinner do evill an hundred times and his dayes be prolonged yet surely I know that it shal be well with them that feare God which feare before him but it shall not be well with the wicked Esa. 3. 10. Say yee it shal be well to the just but wo to the wicked it shall not be so to him it shal be evill to him the reward of his hands shal be given him Psal. 37. 37. Marke the upright man and behold the just for the end of that man is peace but the transgressors shal be destroyed together One reason hereof is in the text Satan being cast out of the men of the Church gets into the swine of the world and carries them into the lake first of sin then of destruction In their best estate they are Satans possession 2 It must be so by the perpetuall rule of divine justice who neither shuffles good and evill men together as men do nor mistakes persons and actions Among men there is a righteous man to whom it commeth according to the worke of the wicked and the contrary Eccles. 8. 14. But the Lord judgeth with righteous judgement Neither doth he forget any of their workes A wise man that delivers the City by his wisdome may be forgotten among men Eccles. 9. 15. as Ioseph was but the Lord forgets not the goodnesse of his servants nor his enemies sinnes but sets up all on their heads for the day of reckoning and recompense Revel 22. 12. Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to render to every man according to his workes The just Judge of all the world must do right 3 According to a mans seed time so commonly is his harvest Gal. 6. 7. As a man sowes so must he reape he that sowes to the flesh must reape corruption but he that sowes to the spirit shall reape life everlasting Doest thou sow chaffe and darnell and weeds and lookest thou for a crop of wheat Sow righteousnesse and thou shalt have a sure reward Prov. 11. 18. but if thou sowest iniquitie looke to reape affliction 4 The truth of God in accomplishing his word must leave the godly most happy while the wicked are wrapped in hellish woes and horrors The same weight of truth which carries downe wicked men into their place hoiseth up the godly as in the other scoale For as all the precious promises of the word belong to the one whereof earth nor hell can defeat them so al the woes and execrations of Scripture belong to the other and shal be true upon him so long as God is true in himselfe There is not a wicked man but he hath all the threatnings of God all the curses of the law and all the terrors of his owne conscience standing and shall stand for ever in force against him if hee stand out impenitently against GOD. Now this is a direction to Ministers for the course and carriage of their doctrine to sing both mercy and judgment and to come both with a rod and the spirit of meekensse Wee must speake peace to godly men but feed the impenitent with judgement This text and all texts and the whole tenor of the Scriptures go before us in this course Unhappy men are they that speake all peace and preach nothing but promises as if all men were godly and the congregations not mixt or if they distinguish of men it is to encourage hearten and harden wicked men for their owne gaine and dishearten and disgrace such as feare the Lord. 2 It is a direction to all men to carry our affections differently according to the differences of men expressing our love and kindnesse to men fearing God and our dislike of evill and wicked men 1 So doth the Lord and his Spirit in this text and whosoever are guided by the Spirit of grace will shew themselves in the helping up and encouragement of godlinesse and furthering the joy of the faithfull and in the discouraging and daunting so far as lyeth in him the wickednesse of men 2 A note of a good man is that a vile person shall be contemned in his eyes and he will love them that feare the Lord. 3 True judgment helps him to discerne between an Israelite and Ismaelite and true affection will cleave to the one and disclaime the other Gods Spirit teacheth none to esteeme carefull Christians vile persons nor to cleave to enemies and resisters of the grace of God who are indeed vile persons and so are they that sort with them or plead for them and as sin makes men vile to God so it makes them seeme to good men 3 It is an incouragement to godly men in the way of holinesse for they are in the way of happiness nothing can make them fall short of
an happie condition they shall not be rolled in the destruction of evill men but shall be hid in the secret chamber of Gods providence when the storme of wrath shall come like haylestones yea like tallents of ledd upon the heads of sinners then shall there be a difference betweene him that feareth God and him that feareth him not then shall it be seene that it is not in vaine to serue the Lord. 4 It is a terror for evill men seeing it is as impossible for a sinner to avoyd wo as God to be untrue in proclayming it Sorrow followes the sinner as a shadow the body Most common it is for the wicked to applaud themselves in a wofull condition for whatever their estate seemes it is most unhappy They spend their dayes in pleasure and forecast that none shall have more pleasure then they But it is like Belshazzars when the writing on the wall appeared ouer against him They lay about them for wealth and a secure estate here below and rather then want it will curse and resist the people of God as Balaam little thinking that the Angell stands with a drawne sword to meet them in every corner to slay them No all the earth cannot make him happy who fights against heaven and whom heaven hath accursed earth cannot blesse He hath sowne tares and tares he must reape 5 Here is a spurre and incitement unto repentance and a trumpet to awaken secure soules that while it is called to day they may heare the voice lest all these woes seise upon them and oppresse them unawares It stands every sinner in hand to rise out of the bed of security and get a melting and bruised heart considering the day that commeth which shall burne as an oven and all that are proud and all that do wickedly shal be as stubble Mal. 4. 1. But seeing men are loth to apply this part to themselves we must helpe it home a little more particularly 1 What a fearefull wo is denounced in Scripture against all Popish and Antichristian Idolaters Rev. 14. 9. If any man worship the beast and his image and receive his marke in their hands and foreheads the same shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God and be tormented with fire and brimstone for ever Whosoever shall do thus and persevere after admonition and will not come out of Babylon must perish in her destruction They prepare fire and faggot for the Saints whom they call heretickes but worshipping the beast and his image Christ prepares fire and brimstone for them and the smoake of their torment shall ascend for evermore Now there is no way to avoyd this woefull damnation by wilfull persisting in that Apostasie but instead of the character of Antichrist by taking in our foreheads the seale of CHRIST by which he separates us from the world by faith and holinesse and from Antichrist by zealous profession of the truth which he persecutes and marketh us up for his owne sheep the property of which is to heare his voice and follow him Ioh. 10. 2 What a dreadfull wo belongs to our voluptuous gallants that are at ease in Sion who put the evill day farre away and remember not Iosephs affliction Amos 6. 1. Silkes and Velvets cannot cover the secure sinner from this woe Greatnesse of birth place power treasure cannot elude these threats which are more stable than the foundation of the earth but according to the cursed seeds thou sowest shall thy harvest bee Gods people sow in teares to reape in joy and thou must have a share in the sorrow for sinne and in the afflictions of Gods people or never looke to share in their joy 3. Were the Prophet Esay living where hee proclaimed one woe upon drunkards hee would powre out ten thousand upon this drunken age which is drowned with drinke Esay 5. 11. 22. Woe bee to them that rise up early to follow drunkennesse and to them that continue till night Woe bee to them that are mighty to drinke and strong to powre in strong drinke How will the drunkard escape this woe and all the threates in the Booke of God which shut him out of heaven where is no roome for drunkards There is but one way and one there is to leave thy cup of drunkennesse and come drinke another cup a cup of mercy a cup of teares for thy sinne a cup of the blood of Jesus Christ a cup of the water of life that heaven may be opened to thee a sorrowfull and sober penitent which thy sinne had shut and barred against thee 4. What a fearefull woe doth our Saviour denounce upon all contemners of the Gospell and despisers of the blessed light of it Mat. 11 24. It shall bee easier for Sodom and Gomorra in the day of the Lord then for such And whence else was the heavy woe here upon the earth and Sea but for sinnes against the Gospell not receiving the truth in the love of it 2 Thes. 2. See we any woe or heavy hand of God upon the Kingdome in this effect who seeth not the cause the contempt of the Gospell doth any extraordinary crosse and judgement lie on this City on your trades on your estates why are yee blinde to this day and will not see the cause you poare like blinde men on secondary meanes fewnesse of buyers troubles abroad scant of money scarcity of times and the like but you see not the next cause at home your contempt and sleighting of the Gospell your Sabbath-breaking your want of reformation according to the rules of Gods Word your causlesse hatred of the bringers of the truth c. change your course and God will change his entertaine his best blessings and then expect inferior else know as sinne is linked fast so are Gods judgements these shal be but the beginnings of woe and one woe shall follow upon another till repentance come between For the devill is come downe c. The reason of the former woe denounced followeth and is twofold 1. The comming downe of the devill 2. His wrathfull disposition where of the reason is given because he knowes his time is short For the Exposition Quest. What is this comming downe of the Devill was not Satan before among the inhabitants of the earth till now that this victory is gotten by Christ were not wicked men under this curse and woe before this by Satans wrath and ruling Ans. Yes the devill was the Prince of the world before this and was commander among the Inhabitants of the earth and sea but he is now said to come downe in three respects 1. In a more generall and universall mischiefe intended by the dragon which was to spread it selfe over the face of the earth which was by a generall Apostasie of the world from Christ to Antichrist foretold in 2 Thess. 2. 2. In a farre more dangerous and mischievous manner of working by which he shall prevaile farre more efficaciously than ever before For whereas
hee could not succeed by open tyrannie now by secret traines and perswasions of heretikes under a plausible forme of Christianity and piety hee shall carry the world headlong after Antichrist and wrap it up in his impostures and Apostasie that whose bodies he could not destroy by sword and tyrannie their mindes hee might poyson with errours and heresie 3. Hee descendeth with a farre more furious hatred and wrath over those who are left under his power for as a man comming angry from abroad will shew his wrath at home so the dragon seeing the Church escaped from his furious hand by Michaels helpe doth looke more narrowly to make them faster who are left in his power lest they should breake away from him as the other had done and therefore hee now commeth on them with continuall and efficacious temptations and bindes them with strong chaines and bolts of unrighteousnesse Now the devill taketh his peniworths in the earth and sea by increasing his wrath hee increaseth their woe and not only rideth the Nations but galloppeth them to hell This arising of Antichrist bringing with him a mist of blacke darknesse and Idolatry is the devills comming downe into the earth And his powerfull prevailing by strong and forcible delusions among them that perish is his fierce wrath which hee exerciseth in the earth and sea but justly upon them that had refused Christs rule over them Where Christ and his Gospel cannot prevaile the devil cōmeth armed with power and efficacy of delusion and hee prevaileth Jesus Christ came into the world and was preached in the earth and sea but could not bee received he came to his owne and his owne received him not yea they persecuted him drove him away slew the heire and crucified the Lord of glory he came by the preaching of the Apostles among the nations and set them into the true Olive when his own were broken off but they after a little lightning fell off first from their first love then from all love of the truth Now the wicked spirit makes a re-entrey into his hold whence he was cast he comes downe into the earth more forcibly with seven spirits worse than before and prevailes with them to their destructiō I come in my Fathers name that is by his authority in powerful doctrine miracles to set up his name glory in promoting your salvation ye receive me not if another come in his owne name that is seeking his own glory not Gods and intending his owne ends and good and not the good and salvation of men him will yee receive 2 Thess. 2. 11. God shall send strong delusions the effect is to beleeve lies the end that they may be damned and the reason because they loved not the truth nor beleeved it nor entertained it but rejected the happy meanes of their owne salvation The Lord sends Michaiah his Prophet to warne Ahab of his danger neare him Ahab will not heare him for his owne safety but commits him to ward feeds him with bread and water of affliction now comes the devill and is a lying spirit in the mouthes of 400. false Prophets them presently he heareth speaking to hasten his destruction 1. Mans heart will be resting and setling upon something it is like a Mill that is ever grinding if it rest not on truth it will on lies The soule of a man is such an hold or tenure that cannot want an owner or occupyer If it bee not resigned to the God of heaven it is reserved for the god of the world If Gods Spirit depart from Saul presently the evill spirit comes upon him and vexeth him A servant must every man be to one of these masters 2. The just desert of wicked men puls on them this fearfull vengeance to be delivered up to the devill The world loveth lies better than the truth and lyers above the bringers of truth how just is it that such as reject the truth and preferre lyes before it should be given up to the father of lies as children most like him What more righteous revenge can the Lord inflict on him that will not come to Jesus Christ to bee saved then that the dragon should come downe upon him with great wrath and carry him headlong into his owne damnation how just is it for those who refuse the government of a mercifull Prince to bee given up to the spoile and oppression of most cruell tyrants Is any so blinde as hee that will not see and are any so justly blinded as those that will not open their eyes to the light Who can implead the Lords justice in delivering up him to the Prince of darknesse that hateth the light or who can say it unequall in him if hee give over such as chuse death unto him that hath the power of death that is the devill 3. Refuse to come to Jesus Christ and what remedie is left to rescue us from the power of the devill If Christ and his truth bee rejected what can resist the devill when hee assaulteth with lies and false perswasions If the way to bee rescued from the power of Satan bee the knowledge of the truth so as by it to come to amendment as 2 Tim. 2. 24. then to refuse Gods grace offered in the Gospell is to assent and covenant with Satan and refuse freedome offered from his vassallage lies have no enemie no discoverer no conquerer but truth There is no freedome from the impostures of the father of lyes till truth rescue us and set us free and if truth set us free wee are free indeed Truth is the onely effectuall instrument and meanes of our salvation it is the arme of God to save us to refuse and resist this arme is to hate life and abide under damnation In a word the resistance of Christ is an inviting of Satan home to us and a kind welcomming of him with full contentment where Satan seeth such a man there is a fit subject for him to worke upon Take notice then of this fearefull sinne of refusing the voyce of Christ in the Gospell being a sinne of such provocation as it is as most injurious to God to the grace of God to the Sonne of God and to the truth of God a sinne of such a deepe dye and so deadly to the soule of the sinner who preferreth to drinke ranke poyson before the sweet waters of the Wel of life and a sinne so fearfully revenged by God with many other most hainous sinnes the just punishments of it Now because men commonly startle at the high sinnes against the law and conceive Gods wrath due to them and in the meane time seldome take knowledge of sinnes against the Gospell and the Lords severity against thē let us cast our eyes upon the Lords most severe revenge against this sinne above other as sinnes against the remedy and therefore not more severe than righteous for if God revenged upon the heathens their sinnes against the light
of nature in delivering them up to vile affections and unnaturall sinnes to receive such recompence of their errour as was meet Rom. 1. 24. 27. how much more must hee thinke it a meet recompence of such a sinne against the light of grace to give them up t◠effectuall delusion to be carryed by Satan hoodwinkt and headlong unto destruction But let us see some instances 1. How he spared not his owne people the Jews his owne first borne among whom when the Sonne of God came as to his owne they received him not when false Prophets and false Christs rose up among them those they followed both before his comming and after as both divine and humane stories make mention Iohn 10. 8. All that came before me were theeves and robbers Acts 5. 36 37. Iudas and Theudas drew away many to destruction And after false Christs and Prophets were to rise with such efficacy of delusion as to deceive if it were possible the very Elect Matth. 24. Iosephus speakes of sundry especially one Aegyptian which carryed away thirty thousand Jewes by one vaine delusion to destruction And not long after this same sinne made their nation spew them out that they are now an hissing an execration to all the nations of the earth They renounced Christ to rule over them and ever since the dragon hath had them in possession 2. Consider how the wrath of God came upon the former ages of the world according to the warning of the Gospell and how the earth and sea who would not receive Christ received Antichrist in his roome and the inhabitants of them not loving the truth were therefore led away with horrible lies See Gods retaliation First God sent them Apostles Euangelists and true Pastors who sought only the glory of God and the salvation of men but they despised and distasted them But how did the Lord plague the earth in the same kinde giving up the inhabitants to receive hypocrites Impostors Fryers and fat Monkes who onely sought themselves and to make a spoile of men eating up their estates as Locusts for number and unprofitablenesse these were willingly borne as the Church of Corinth despising the Apostle Paul gave eare to false Apostles who robbed and spoyled them Secondly Christ the Lord came with an easie and sweete yoake his doctrine and his Apostles was a freedome from the bondage and burden of Ceremonies and traditions of the Fathers 1 Pet 1. 18. and the new commandement was only to beleeve in the Sonne of God and love one another This sweet yoake was cast off but with what an exchange now the devill yoakes them with traditions superstitious ceremonies and plagues the earth with tyrannicall and Antichristian Lawes Canons Decretals devised by men his little finger is heavier then Christs loynes yet Popish Countries receive them and like them well Thirdly Christ instituted and ordained a most holy Sacrament the Communion of his blessed body and blood but the inhabitants of the earth and sea despised that simple and most chaste and Primitive institution But was not the world ever since justly plagued with that gawdy and impudent harlot of the Popish Masse the very spirit and quintessence of Antichrist Fourthly how could the world bee more severely plagued then by receiving that greasie Priesthood that hatefull sacrifice of Antichrist but could it be plagued more iustly for abolishing the Priesthood and sacrifice of Christ Fiftly Christ in the Gospell calleth men to the participation of grace life pardon heaven and salvation freely offered in the Gospel men would not heare this voyce How iustly therefore hath the world bin blinded and gulled these many hundred yeares in buying at great rates lies sleights impostures iuglings meere tricks of wit and cunning pardons dispensations merits masses and heaven it selfe Sixtly Christ ordeined in his Church holy Pastors giving them liberty to live in holy wedlocke according to Gods Ordinance This order of Christ pleased not the earth and sea but how sensibly revenged for no sooner did they refuse and reject holy Pastors but they admitted most filthy bawds and unchaste Pope-holy Priests and Nunnes into Ecclesiasticall Orders I might say into the Popes chaire A man had need of a vizard to speake of their holinesse and stop all his senses to heare it Seventhly when the world scorned and persecuted the Saints living how did the Lord give them up to worship and invocate in most idolatrous manner the Saints dead and departed And when they despised and trod under foot the living images of God the godly and holy Professors of Christ great was the Lords revenge in giving them up to worship dead images of wood stone metalls c. 3 God who is ever the same and like himselfe hath heretofore warned us in this land that we have not received Christ nor embraced his truth in that love and affection that became us 1 By the prevailing of Priests and Jesuites heretofore in the land who swarmed as the frogs of Aegypt and have seduced many thousands but never any that loved the truth 2 By the propensity and readinesse of many to receive any religion or doctrine according as the times should require And this hath ever beene the sinne of English people to swim with the streame of times And this print of Gods finger is at this day set upon many plainly convincing that they never received the truth in the love of it 3 By the generall fighting against the light and hatred of the very sent of sincerity in both preachers and people which the Apostle makes a sure note of perdition Phil. 1. 28. Let Iohn Baptist come he is excepted against and hath a divell Let Paul come too much learning hath made him mad Let Christ come he is a friend of Publicans a demoniacke c. But let Antichrist come Popery come a flatterer and deluder come the multitude applaud them receive them Delusion shal be effectual to the damnation of such as he must carrie into his owne perdition 4 The same arrowes of Gods wrath against this sinne are shot in amongst our selves many of whom plainly bewray their naturall hatred of the light and love of lies Let a man come in the name of Christ convince intreat perswade beseech men to be reconciled let him with the losse of his owne peace seeke theirs the more faithfully and sincerely he deales the more despightfully he is rejected the more paines and love such a man sheweth the lesse is he loved or recompensed by many presently they plot to sterve him out or if he stay he must live on aire or grasse for them Let a flatterer come in his owne name and call the churle liberall and sing an Omnia benè and for their owne applause profit or credit run along in all their courses no marvell if these men be put in their bosomes and how can it be but he that hates true dealing should love false Is this love of the light when God
most gracious pardon So for people and Kingdomes What may wee gather from the great and open prevayling of Antichrist in any Kingdome which will be apparant in the infinite increase and boldnesse of Papists and Recusants in such places in the swarmes and numbers of the people after a strange boldnesse running and resorting to their Masses in the open increase of multitudes of locusts and frogs Jesuites and Priests croaking in corners and streets challenging seducing and deceiving and as diligent as the dragon himselfe whose tayle they are to wrap men not loving the truth in this fearefull wrath and deepe perdition What may bee hence gathered but the provocations of such a kingdome kindling so great a wrath of God against them Did Antichrist ever come into a kingdome and the sins of that kingdome not let him in Were men not fierce against the Lord in contemning and despising his truth in open â—rophanation of his Sabbaths in desperate scoffing at religion in bringing in their sinnes to their height Had they not lost their first love their zeale their taste of Manna were not they unthankfull to the Lord for setting them out of this Aegypt and were they not looking and running back to the Onions and flesh-pots which made the Lord shake the fiercest Arrow of his Quiver against them Could any thing but hellish prophanenesse and contempt of so shining grace have entred such a wrath amongst them as heaven nor hell in this life cannot inflict a greater for Turkish tyranny is light in comparison of Antichristian Oh that our Apostasie to a very formall and powerlesse godlinesse were laid to heart as the hatcher and breeder of such wrath which will not bee so easily removed as let in Did wee still march couragiously as wee began in the beginning the reformation wee should not then need to feare our former oppression and tyranny Let us bee wise by the rod shaken over us lest the stroke and smart fall also on us and shew us our folly 5. Labour to preserve one another from this damnable way To which wee have these and sundry motives First wee pull one another out of fire and water and should much more out of the fire and water of Gods wrath yea out of hell and damnation Secondly all our Saviours course was to winne soules to seeke and save what was lost Thirdly God hath made every man his brothers keeper who hath commanded to pull our neighbours yea enemies Oxe or Asse out of a ditch And therefore every man must bee servant to every man as Paul to winne some and not bee carelesse whether hee stand or fall sinke or swimme live or die And wee must by all good meanes preserve and strengthen our brethren Ministers by discrying the danger this is our chiefe intent not wrath and anger to our people Private men by exhortation brotherly conference wise reproofs of the obstinate c. All by godly life and holy innocency which is a meanes both to stop the mouthes of malicious Papists and winne such as are tractable Knowing that he hath but a short time In these words is the reason of the dragons wrathfull disposition where consider three things 1. How Satans time is said to bee short 2. How hee knoweth it is so 3. What use he makes of this knowledge For the first Quest. How can that be said a short time which hath continued now since the writing of this Prophesie sixteene hundreth yeares or not much lesse Ans. A time long in it selfe must bee said to bee short respectively So this 1. In respect of God to whom a thousand yeares which is a long time in it selfe and to us is but as one day and so even thus long since our Lord said Rev. 21. 6. Behold I come shortly 2. In comparison of former times so this continuance of Antichrist which is simply in it selfe a long time is comparatively said to be short in respect of the time and ages going before it And so the whole time of the New Testament which is in it selfe a very long time is called the ends of the world 1 Cor. 10. 11. the last houre 1 Ioh. 2. 18. for so the manner of Scripture is which distributeth the world into three ages the first from Adam to Moses the second from Moses to Christ the third from Christ his first comming to his second This last period was called the last houre not because presently upon Christs Incarnation or Ascension the world was to end for how then could the Church have beene gathered through the Christian world but because 1. This was the last and full time in which all was consummated and ended which was fore-prophesied in former ages touching mans redemption even the full and last revelation which is to bee in earth and no other change of worship and Ministery is to bee expected as in the former till the great and last day in which the great Judge shall put an end to dayes and time which shall bee no more and to the warfare of the whole Church 2. It shall bee a farre shorter time than that which went before yea in likelyhood shorter than either of the former periods or ages for seeing it shall bee bitter and sharpe by the tyranny of Antichrist for the Elects sake Christ saith these dayes shall be shortened Mat. 24. For the second Quest. How doth Satan know his time to bee short Ans. 1. Because hee knowes his time is determined for the wicked spirits know perfectly by the accusation of their conscience and partly by the sentence already passed upon them that a day of further torment awaites them whence they say Mat. 8. 29. Art thou come to torment us before the time 2. Hee knowes this time is hastening upon him sundry wayes 1. By prediction and observation of Scriptures He observed the Apostles saying that on us the ends of the world are come 1 Cor. 10. 11. joyning himselfe with those Christians that then lived and all the rest that were to live till the end of the world being all comprehended in one body and all subjected to the same last dispensation of grace which was not to bee ended or changed but by the returne of Christ to judgement 2. By daily experience hee seeth the decrepit age of the world as in the severall parts so in the whole If old buildings cracke it threatneth ruine 3. Hee knowes and observeth most of the signes of Christs second comming to be past as 1. That many false Prophets inspired by himselfe are risen up and have deceived many as was foretold Matth. 24. 24. This is an argument of the last houre 1 Iohn 2. 18. we know it is the last houre for many Antichrists are come that is petty-Antichrists the prodromi and forerunners of that great one 2. That the Gospell hath beene preached through the world predicted Mat. 24. 14. and accomplished Rom. 10 18. Their sound is gone through all the world and their words unto the end of
are most easily foyled in these rather then in the other For the first Satan is more dangerous in these for as an enemie when he cannot overcome in a pitcht field gets him to the woods and bushes and there layes his ambushments in which he is more dangerous then in open hostility so Satan when he cannot by violence and open force conquer by secret and bewitching allurements he gets an easie victory For the secoÌ„d our-selves are more securely drawn and allured by the sweetnesse of prosperity which as a bewitching Delilah hath more prevayled by sugred words and craft against many Sampsons then by all the power of the Philistians If prosperity came out against us with a bloody ensigne or a flag of defiance or with a dreadfull sword shaking in open hostility our feare would be more and our danger lesse But it comes as Ioab or Iudas when it kisseth it killeth it killeth with kindenesse and with the sweet poison of a cunning inchanted cup. Which serves for refutation of Papists who glorie in outward prosperity as a note of the true Church but by this text and our owne experience we see that their prosperity is like Jaels milke which hath brought them on a dead sleepe as Sisera whence they shall never awake without a mortall wound and like the dead sea in which no life or living thing no grace no spirit no spirituall worship is to bee found Likewise it reprooves the folly of carnall men who wil be acquainted with religion so farre as they may profit themselves and thrive by it If godlinesse may be gainefull and wisdome come with inheritance they are forward and devoute but if it will not stand with their state ease credit and outward prosperity either they forsake it with Demas or with Demetrius persecute it Heaven it selfe hath no content because golden gaine and hurtfull prosperity powres not from thence 2 Note hence how contrary our nature is to Gods he by his infinite wisdome fetcheth good out of evill for us but wee out of our folly suâ—ke evill of good God gives us good gifts as sweet as hony but we like spiders draw infection and poison from them Lamentable it is how wee pervert all Gods gracious ends and aymes for our good There be three chiefe ends which the Lord aymeth at in raining downe the showres of good blessings and prosperity upon us but we pervert them 1 He expresseth his bountifulnesse to lead us to repentance Rom. 2 4. Every benefit should be a meanes yea Sermon of repentance But we by hardnesse of heart that cannot repent abuse them to hinder our selves from repentance or to multiply that where of wee must repent And no marvell if the wicked by their prosperity harden their own hearts when the godly are in danger by others prosperity to harden themselves as David Psal. 73. 13 14. 2 The Lord shineth upon us with the sunne of prosperity that wee might rejoyce in the beames of his love and serve him with more chearefulnesse and better hearts Deut. 28. 47. thou servedst not the Lord with joyfulnesse and a good heart for the abundance of all things But wee use them as clouds to hide from us the light of the sunne and hinder our sight from the beholding of his grace being never lesse mindfull of him then when he is most mindfull of us 3 The Lord affords outward prosperity to his servants to bee by them occasioned and incouraged in goodnesse to quicken them in the way and to make by them better speed to heavenly habitations Luke 16. 9. Make you friends of unrighteous Mammon that they may receive you into heavenly Mansions namely not as causes but witnesses of our salvation But we make it as a dead sea in which lives nothing or as nailes to fasten our hearts to earth and earthly things so as hardly and heavily are wee lifted up in heavenly meditation or conversation All this injoynes us First to bewayle the vile corruption of our nature which is so started away from God with whom we had once a similitude and conformity Secondly to watch it narrowly being so slippery and prone to decline even where it is most incouraged and fenced to the contrary Thirdly to labour to correct it and bring it backe the way it is gone from God Keepe it straightly to Gods aymes and ends For shall the Lord even by afflictions ill in their nature worke out our good in conversion sanctification and salvation and shall wee be so contrary to him as by his benefits set forward our owne damnation as if the Lord intended to kill us with kindnesse 3. If prosperity more bane the Church than adversity then must wee be more watchfull in prosperity and peace because then danger is nearer For compare these two a little and see and say whether is more dangerous For 1. Prosperity usually is a beame in the eye and shuts the eye of understanding and closeth the eare from hearing counsell whereas the rod and persecution openeth the shut eye and the eare that was sealed Iob 33. 16. For as the Sunne and dust doe hinder the sight whereas a ruffling stirring wind cleareth both the ayre and our eye so the sunshine of prosperity fils the eyes of the minde with moates and dust which suffers us not to discerne spirituall things so clearly till God by some tempest cleare our sight according to that Vexation sharpeneth the sight See Iâ—r 31. 18 19. 2. Prosperity commonly makes men secure naked open to temptation whereas persecution and tyranny makes them watchfull and armed and fit to make resistance against sinne and assaults David who could not be ouercome in his battels but was humble tender-hearted chaste and conscionable compiling holy Psalmes and prayers full of gracious soliloquies in his peace and rest was soone conquered now must hee have Bathsheba slay Vriah in the pride of his heart send out Ioab to number his people to see how hee could stand by his owne strength and what great evill comes amisse now hee is off his guard and out of his strength and as a City without wals Looke upon Hezekiah in his sicknesse and see him a picture of humility a patterne of piety full of confessions prayers praises and divine meditations Esa. 38. But look on him recovered and you shal see him glorying in his wealth priding himselfe in his treasures and confederating with enemies for as a faire hot summers day makes a man cast off his cloathes whereas a cold storme or winde makes him fasten them unto him even so it is incident to good men in the gleame of peace and rest to walke more loose and at large whereas a threatning storme will make them buckle themselves and get their graces fast unto them 3. Prosperity makes men and Churches wanton and unruly as Israel is an untamed heifer knows not his master and leapes over all hedges but adversity is as a thorny
set many wits on worke to tel us what they be But they agree not nor can seeing the meanes of the Churches safety are infinite Some define them to be faith and patience which lift her from earth to heaven Some say they are the two Testaments the Old and the New in which the Churches defence lyeth Some say they are the two Tables containing love of God and of our neighbour Some that the one is the wing of prayer the other of charity Some that the one is the contempt of earth and the other the aspiring to heaven But we need not be so acute and if wee should settle upon any two things wee should perhaps misse the minde and ayme of the holy Spirit of God as most of these must needs do The likelyest if we would restraine the number and conceive it definite were the providence of God protecting and his oracles directing the woman in this speedie flight But the number is definite for indefinite and two in this place for the propriety of the subject and metaphore For for a bird to have more wings then two or fewer then two to fly withall were harsh and improper Not that wee are not to conceive more meanes of Gods providence and the Churches safety then two for these two wings are the same with the seven pipes serving to the lamps Zech. 4. 2. alluding to the pipes of the candlesticke which were seven of which he speaketh in that place and as the number of seaven aptly agreeth with that allusion so onely the number of two aptly agreeth with this But whence had the Woman these things They were given her The text implyeth two things First That the Church had no wings of her owne all her safety and defence is layd out of herselfe as a weake woman can make small shift for herselfe against such an army of dragons Secondly Though it be not sayd who gave her the wings yet it is implyed they were given of God for he is the father of lights from whom commeth every good gift and he that prepared her the place vers 6. prepared her wings to flye to it with him onely is counsell and strength he onely can afford meanes of escape and evasion he stretcheth out his strong and oculate providence as two wings the feathers of which are the truth and faith of his promise sealed and delivered by the hand of his Two Witnesses and thus he saveth her Lastly for the similitude wings of a great Eagle So many phrases in this booke so many mysteries Here is an allusion to Exod. 19. 4. you have seene how I have caryed you on Eagles wings and brought you unto me By those Eagles wings someunderstand Moses Aaron their leaders but they themselves also were carryed upon these wings By them is meant the powerful meanes of opening a way in the sea rayning Manna from heaven breaking a rocke for water covering them with a cloud by day and night c. In this text these wings of a great eagle note to us 4. things 1 As the eagle out of her love to her young ones fluttereth and steareth them out of the neast to a safer place when she feares danger so the Lord for the love of his Church in danger urgeth her out of her neast and rest and leads her into a safer place in the wildernesse Christ out of Iudea Israel out of Egypt 2 As the eagle having gotten her young ones forth when they begin to fly supports them with her wings lest they should fall Deut. 32. 11. so the Lord supports his Church in her flight from falling carefully seeing to her that she take no hurt 3 As an eagle especially a great eagle hath strong wings agill and able to carry her in a strong flight to flye farre from danger so the Lord in the needs of his Church provides some great and powerfull meanes and by them as by strong wings sets his Church beyond al the reach of hurt and danger Thus Nebucad-nezzar a great man is called a great eagle with great and long wings and full of feathers fit to accomplish GODS word against Zedekiah Ezeck 17. 2. 4 As the eagle flyeth high aloft in the aire and beyond all sight of men by the length and strength of her wing so the Lord drawes his Church neare unto him from out of the sight of men and neare Heaven and the nearer him the further from danger Observ. 1. God who could save the woman by his word without wings doth not ordinarily save her but by wings For Gods providence excludes not but includes meanes of safety Moses must be saved from the waters to be a Deliverer but he must be put into a basket pitcht and prepared for him They in the ship Act. 27. must be saved from drowning but they must abide in the ship and then some on plankes some on boards and pieces of the ship came safe to land Exod. 15. 25. God could have sweetned the bitter waters with a word but Moses must cast in a piece of wood to sweeten them He could have divided the sea and dryed the way by his strong word but doth it by a strong East winde Which teacheth us not to neglect the meanes appointed by God for our good for God who tyeth not himselfe to wings tyeth the woman to use them when he pleaseth to afford them Hezekiah must be healed by a lumpe of dry figs. Nature teacheth that he that would reape must sow he must eate that must live and he must fight that would have victory So grace teacheth that he that would reape one harvest in glory must sow the seed of grace in the seedtime and he that would live eternally must feed on Christ by hearing reading beleeving and obeying his word and he that would be crowned must strive lawfully Observ. 2. The Woman having no wings of her owne hath wings given her of God which teacheth that the Church and members of it shall have wings sufficient to avoyd all hurtfull danger in due season For 1 Our text saith God will afford two sufficient for escape and wings of an eagle to fly swiftly and make a speedy escape and wings of a great eagle to fly strongly and aloft and far from danger 2 Gods presence is not an idle presence with his people but he is present to save Ier. 30. 11. I am with thee to save thee 3 The Arke was a type of the Church and that was all and alwaies covered with wings of Cherubins signifying the divine protection alwaies watching and covering the Church and spreading his wings over the faithfull to repell any harme further then he will turne any evill to his owne glory and his Churches good For wee must know that all promises run with exception of the crosse and God in his wisdome doth not alwayes give to every member of the Church wings to fly from externall tyranny and persecution but dealeth as a good husband man
in the promise which makes them sweeter then ordinary even the love-tokens of a father and not the wages of an hireling 3 This may assure the Church and members that in the hardest times of straightnesse and persecution they shal be spiritually fed which is here chiefly aymed at For all the adversary power of Antichrist or dragons cannot hinder God from providing and preserving to the Church faithfull Pastors secretly and conscionably to feed the woman in the wildernesse in season and out of season And as none can send Pastors but he so none can hinder the Pastors whom he sendeth to dispense his allowance whom he furnisheth raiseth and protecteth till his worke bee done and the Churches need supplyed The starres are in his hand who then can hinder them But if they could intercept his messengers they cannot hinder himselfe who can and will by himselfe feed the woman if all means else should faile as Eze. 34. 14. I will feed them my selfe And if himselfe feed not all Ministeriall labour is but lost Quest. How doth the Lord himselfe feed the Church Answ. 1. By the word of his grace He leadeth his sheepe into the greene pastures of his wholsome word By writing his word in their hearts and carrying his law into their secret parts He onely who hath his chaire in heaven can teach the heart And who can hinder his strong arme and mighty power or the might and power of his word which is omnipotent as himselfe or who can stand in his way to hinder his accesse into a beleeving soule 2 As he did with his ancient people so still he feeds the Church with bread from heaven by the gracious gift of his Sonne whose flesh is meat indeed and whose blood is drinke indeed even that onely true Manna and bread from heaven He is the gift of God Ioh. 4. if thou knewest the gift of God This is that shepheard mentioned Ezek. 34. 23. I will set up a shepheard and he shal feed them even my servant David And if CHRIST will come in and feed in and with a beleeving soule who shall hinder him 3 He will feed her by his Spirit of grace who is greater in her thē the spirit that ruleth in the world His office is to open the heart to worke faith to bring in holy light and illumination and light of consolation to bring things into remembrance to uphold by his mighty power to perseverance and salvation against all the adversarie powers of it 1 Pet. 1. 5. 4 See hence what a bootlesse thing it is for enemies to strive and struggle against the word and truth of GOD. The woman must be fed even in the wildernesse First Where God hath any called or to call his word shal be taught either openly or secretly Secondly Christ compares the course of the Gospell to the course of the lightning which flyes swiftly and suddenly from one side of heaven to another and cannot be stopped for the Gospell passeth and is protected with divine power Thirdly how impossible was it for all the tyranny and policy of the devill and flesh to hinder the power of the Gospell in the most tyrannicall times of heathen Emperors How miraculously and fully was the Church fed in that wildernesse But in this wildernesse mentioned a wonder it was that so many ages of Antichrist the enemies having as many eyes as Argus and as vigilant to destroy and root out the memory and mention of sound Professors and wanting no will nor humane power yet could not prevaile but that the darkest and most violent ages of Popery yeild us witnesses of the truth in whom wee see that the Woman in the wildernesse must be fed In our fathers dayes it was a wonder that those hot and fiery dayes of Queene Mary wasted not all that sincerely stood with Christ against Antichrist and his breadden god And when they threw down all the meanes of knowledge and Instruction how admirable was it that so many poore soules did steale up so much knowledge and resolution as to be invincible in maintaining and suffering for the truth Who sees not that the woman in the wildernesse must be fed and provided for This makes the enemies at their wits ends they cannot worke wisely enough to destroy her but ascamomile the more it is pressed the more it spreadeth and riseth up This makes the Church impregnable No hold in earth so strong but may be wonne if not by sword yet by famine onely this fort cannot be famished All the inquisitions in the world cannot intercept her food Antichristian forces may besiege her but cannot take her c. This sets them in a rage they give her bread of affliction to eate and teares to drinke she thrives with it they give her ashes and mould up her bread with them and give her blood to drinke she is in better plight with that then Kings children with dainties Thus God confoundeth them and convinceth them that they even fight against God who makes the blood of Martyrs the seed of the Church He makes poison feed her for she must be fed A time times and halfe a time In these words is the fift generall in this verse namely the time how long the Woman was fed The Lord when for the sinnes of the Church he was urged to bring some severe rod and correction that he might expresse his remembrance of mercy in judgment and shew that in love and measure he meant to chasten used to foretell the very time of deliverance before the misery was inflicted Thus the expiration of that great oppression of Israell in Aegypt was foretold about 350. yeares before it began that they must be strangers 400. yeares Num. 14. 34. Israel must walke and wander in the wildernesse forty years according to the forty dayes of searching the land The Babylonish captivity was for continuance of seventy yeares long before signified and then to determine and expire The bondage of the Jews under Syrian tyrants was precisely foretold to last sixty and two weekes So in the New Testament the sorest oppression that ever befell the Church namely by Antichrist is in these words before hand described for continuance and determination For that the persecution of Antichrist and the time of it is here noted is the consent of Interpreters For the text denyes it selfe to be meant of the Turkes treading the holy City Jerusalem underfoot because the two Prophets must helpe her Now what can two Prophets do against Turkish tyranny It is not Prophecy can represse them but sword and power with which he comes armed openly against Christ and not by under-hand seduction and lyes which must be resisted and conquered by Prophecy But where and when the period for beginning and ending of this time is very obscure and perhaps as yet unknowne to man the Spirit of God being more willing to lead us in the search then in the
law endictes every wicked man hating the godly of murder 1 Ioh. 3. 15. not only because hatred is a degree of it but because his will and desire carries him to the highest degree and execution of it 2 Members must be conformed to the head in obedience both active and passive What floods the dragon raised and cast out of his mouth to carry Christ away is manifest in the story imputing to him sorcery blasphemy sedition treason and all that was hainous and poysonfull If they called the Master of the house Belzebâ—b what will they not call his servants 3. The more innocent thou art looke thy suffering to bee the more for malice is most against grace and innocency When good men are generally maligned and floods of water cast after them the generall conceit and speech of other is some fault there is were there not some fire there could not bee so much smoake some indiscretion some oversight some fault No no there is shining grace wisdome holinesse watchfulnesse the dragon will revile good men be they never so discreet and innocent yea for innocency as Christ himselfe Againe seeing it is inevitable that the godly should bee molested with these floods and rising of waters let them for their comfort and direction thinke of these Rules 1. Against the multitude of Antichristian enemies who increase and combine as a flood to overflow all bankes oppose the promise of God Esa. 17. 12 1â— They shall make a noise as the noise of many waters but God shall rebuke them hee hath passed sentence against them which is not farre from execution and Chap 59. 19. The enemy shall come like a flood but the Spirit of the Lord will chase him away and daily shall they be blasted by the breath of his mouth all his forces cannot prosper being gathered against the Lord Deut. 33. 27. 2 Against the floods of Antichristian heresies and false doctrines wee must stablish ourselves First with true humility to containe our selves within bounds of truth Pride and conceit makes heretikes Secondly with sound love to the truth this onely will make us hate all false inventions Psal. 119. 113. Thirdly with true obedience to the truth revealed Ioh. 7. 17. If any man will do my will he shall know the doctrine whether it bee of God By these meanes wee shall sticke fast to the Rocke and hold fast by truth and not be carryed away with this flood Fourthly when they trouble our waters with traditioÌ„s fables for they are called troubled waters oppose the sweet and cleare crystall fountaines of the Scriptures the waters out of the Rocke and out of the fountaines of Iacob Deut. 33. 28. this shall bee sufficient against the full sea of Antichristian brinish salt and damnable doctrines 3. Against the drowning waters of scandals reproaches threatnings wicked Edicts false accusations or violent executions oppose those sweet refreshing waters of comfort Esa. 55. 1. These promise First Christs presence who rebukes winde and sea and makes a calme Secondly strength and patience because they are the rebukes of Christ. Thirdly a clearing of thine owne innocency as the light Againe oppose thine innocency purity sound conscience honest conversation and then assure thy selfe no reproach can take away thine innocency no more than thy head Lastly waite on God as David in Shimeis rayling hee may doe thee good for their evill hee may blesse thee for their cursing and honor thee the more for their dishonour as Mordecai And many of his servants have experience that the more evill men seek to cast them downe and carry them away with floods of injuries the more God doth establish and uphold them and carry them up above the waves and billowes which threaten to drowne them Vers. 16. And the earth helped the woman and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the stood which the dragon cast out of his mouth AGainst new dangers the woman hath still new remedies for unwonted dangers unwonted helpes Against the former dangers shee had wings to flie from them here the earth sets in for her helpe the dragon casts the flood out of his mouth and the earth takes it into her mouth By the earth is not meant the earthly globe which Mathematicians call the center of the world in which wee walke neither may wee understand it properly of this vast Element but improperly and metaphorically as wee did the flood in the former words drunke up by it By earth therefore is meant 1. In generall all the meanes by which the former flood was drunke up and the phrase is an allusion to an ancient story in Numb 16. where the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up Corah and all his company who had cast floods of reproachfull waters against Moses Aaron even so here before the Lord will suffer his Church to be drowned and overwhelmed he will command the earth to open it selfe and swallow up all such as enterprise against it as formerly he had to swallow alive Corah Dathan Abiram and all their complices 2. More specially by the earth wee meane those speciall providences by which the former floods were dryed up as 1. The floods of herefies spewed out of the dragons mouth were swallowed up of the earth for First it was the earthly and wicked Synagogue that embraced all the dragoÌ„s plausible heresies such as whose names are writen in earth but not any whose names were written in the Booke of life the true Church drunke not a drop of that poyson spewed out of the dragons mouth Secondly because that the Synods and Councils gathered out of all the earth resolved and swallowed up those pernicious heresies against the grounds of Christian religion For as of old the Councell of Nice swallowed up the poysoned flood of Arrius the Constantinopolitan supped up the hereticall flood of Macedonius and Eunomius the Ephesine of Nestorius and the Chalcedon of Eutiches so we might name a number of Canons out of Councels gathered under Antichrist resisting many main Romish errors and hereticall doctrines as the sixt generall Councell about the yeare 700. decreed against the Church of Rome the marriage of Ministers and forbad to make the Holy Ghost in likenesse of a Dove The Councell of Portugall at Bracca appointed the Cup in the Communion Sundry other Councels as of Constantinople under Leo Isauricus and after under Constantius Copronimus and of Frankeford under Charles the Great all against Images and many of their owne contradicting their fellowes in matters of greatest difference as might be cleared at large but is done already by Doctor Hall in his booke intituled The peace of Rome 2. The floods of slaunders and false suggestions have beene dryed up even by the earth earthly men and enemies of the Church who have acquitted and discharged the Christians of those horrible scandalls which were out of the dragons mouth sent after them to drowne them as in the ancient Story the Christians
yeares No Antichrists rage and floods might cause her to hide her head for that time but could not drowne her Againe here is a direction for Beleevers in extreme dangers 1 Get to the rocke beleeve in Jesus Christ by faith become a member of his body Against this rocke the gates of hell cannot prevaile and therefore a Christian built on this rocke cannot miscarry Men on a rocke are safe in high floods when houses are driven downe and men and cattell drowned Get thee to this rocke and then though the floods of wickednesse may make thee afraid yet shal they not hurt thee Psal. 18. 4. and 46. 1. 3. 2 Leane upon the power of God who can make waters stand as dry land and not flow till his people be passed over Art thou ready to faint to sinke to despaire of ever swimming out of the floods behold this power it can make iron swim 2 King 6. 6. and if thou beest in thy selfe as heavie in the floods as iron say as in Psal. 93. 4. The waves of the sea are marvellous but the Lord is more mighty 3 Cleave to the word of God which applyeth this power and makes it thine owne God hath set his powerfull word on the sea and floods and set barres and dores unto them and sayd Hitherto shall ye come and ye shall lift up your proud waves no further Againe he hath set over and passed his word unto thee for thy security Christs word makes Peter walke safely on the waters Waite on his word which only can make a great calme If thou losest this security thou canst not but sinke in thy troubles as David had it not beene for thy Law I had perished in my trouble And further if this word were weake he hath sworne to thee Esa. 54. 9. that as the waters of Noah shall never go more over the earth to drowne it so he will nevet be so angry as to cast thee into the floods to drowne thee 4 Keepe Christ in the ship awaken him with thy prayers cry to him as the Disciples O Master save us wee perish He walkes on the waters and will make thee so to do also Hee may seeme to sleepe till thou beest dashed threatned and ready to sinke but he will awaken in time and rebuke the windes and seas and make a present or seasonable calme Next in that the earth holpe the woman learne that the Church hath often helpe where she least expects it The earth is the dragons owne bounds for he was cast into the earth yet this earth affords helpe and safety to the woman against the dragon Israel at the sea environed with monntaines enemies and floods was by the sea saved from the sea whence they expected to be swallowed up The same sea that threatneth to swallow Israel saves Israel Could Daniel expect safety by the Lions from the Lions Could Ionah expect helpe from the devouring sea by the devouring Whale Could the three children expect safety from the fire by the fire 1 The Lord being the Lord of hosts hath all creatures in heaven and earth to command for the helpe and safety of his Church and hath made a league betweene them and his people for peace and ayde for warre defensive and offensive against their enemies 2 Things which are impossible to men are possible to God and therefore he worketh above al the power of nature and beyond the reach of reason and nothing can hinder his counsell or hand Zech. 8. 6. It seemed as impossible for Israel to be brought backe to a glorious estate in Jerusalem from captivity as dead men to be brought out of their graves but though this be impossible in the eyes of the remnant of the people of those dayes should it be therefore impossible in my sight saith the Lord of hosts 3 The Lord most magnifieth his wisdome when he helpeth by most unknowne and unlikely meanes for now he sheweth he hath a reach beyond the creature and what we cannot see or oversee he foreseeth for us It was an unknowne meanes proper to Omnipotency to dry up the sea for Israels passage It was an unknowne meanes beyond the creatures reach to suspend the fire from burning persons and things combustible applyed to it It was an unknown and unexpected meanes to feed Israel in the wildernesse with a dayly harvest not from earth but from heaven The dragon and Antichrist have not so many devises and reaches to offend the Woman as the Lord hath wayes to overreach them and defend his Church 4 The Lord magnifies his mighty power when he sends helpe by contrary meanes which of al other are most unlikely as here by the earth for here he brings most helpe whence is indeed most danger As when earthly and carnall-minded men intending the cleane contrary procure helpe and peace to the Church Thus the Lord helped David out of Sauls hands by the Philistimes as deadly enemies to David as Saul was Thus he helped Moses out of the water by Pharaohs daughter no lesse enemie to Israel then Pharaoh himselfe Thus when Zedekiah was taken his eyes put out and himselfe bound prisoner into Babell Ieremy being in prison must be helped out and by whom but by Nebuchadnezzar King of Babel and Nebuzaradan his chiefe steward in al appearance as great enemies to Ieremy as to King Zedekiah Ier. 40 1. 2. And rather then Paul shal be killed and have no helpe God will save him by one in likelyhood fitter to kill him then they even the chiefe Captaine Act. 21. 32. And how often was he helped by Felix Festus Agrippa men open enemies to Christ And how often did the Lord stirre up earthly instruments such as Cyrus Ebed-melech Gamaliel whose power and policy he used for the drying up of the floods risen and swelling against the Church A notable instance we have in Dan. 1. 10. What great favour and tender love God gave Daniel and his fellows from Ashpenaz an heathen and enemie and how God overruled his speach to Daniel that while he thought no such thing he secretly implyed the true way whereby Daniel and his fellowes should attaine their desire If you looke worse I shall lose my head then said Daniel put this to the triall ten dayes and so obtained their wish Note hence the justice of God upon the earth and earthly enemies of the Church They minde by raysing floods to drowne the Church but themselves must drinke up those floods to the drowning of themselves The woman flyes out of Aegypt into the wildernesse Pharaoh meanes to drowne her in the red sea but the earth must helpe her for earthly Pharaoh himselfe and all his earthly company drinke up the flood for her and she escapes it Thus comes Hamanâ— devise upon his owne head his gallowes catch himselfe Thus the gunpowder blew up the plotters and layers but not one for whom it was layd Thus the enemies drink as
Christ neither needeth nor receiveth the testimony of any man Ioh. 5. 33. Answ. Christ is true God and his truth is the truth of God infallible more certaine and firme then al mens testimony And it were very unworthy that infinite should need finite or infallible should need fallible or that the author of truth should need authority from men In this sense Christ neither needeth nor receiveth the witnesse of any man as necessarie to himselfe or for his own part but that they might be saved partly for the weaknesse of men who cannot come to understand divine things without mens testimony or ministery and partly for their salvation which by men he promoteth He useth Iohns witnesse and calleth for the witnesse of the meanest beleever Now the reasons why every one of the remnant must give witnesse to Christ are these 1 Nothing that wee can do can more honor God and Iesus Christ then this Rom. 4. 21. Abraham was strong in faith and gave glory to God What or wherein can wee give greater glory to God then when our faith giveth him a witnesse of his great power truth and goodnesse even contrary to sense and reason as Abraham did 2 Nothing can more honour our selves then to be vouchsafed witnesses to God testifying his truth and the excellency of Gods holy religion both in word and conversation Were it not a great honour for a great Prince to call a meane subject to be a witnesse on his side for the opening of a truth that nearly in honour concernes him But this honor have all the Saints it being the office and function of the whole Church to be the ground and piller of truth the upholder and maintainer of that truth which upholdeth the honor of God himselfe What an honor was it that the Lord called in the whole Church of the Iewes to be witnesses on his side Esa. 43. 10. against all the heathens to testifie of his Omniscience in predictions of things to come which their gods could not do and of his Omnipotency in admirable workes done for them in the wildernesse in the sea in the land of his singular goodnesse and providence in innumerable mercies wherein they were advanced above all people of the earth Did the Lord need them to witnesse no but it was their honour to be vouchsafed such grace that whereas all the heathens witnessed to their idolls they of all people on the earth witnessed and celebrated the great and noble acts of God done among them 3 Nothing makes us liker to Christ our head that true and faithfull witnesse this was his speciall office to witnesse the truth as the redeemer of mankinde and the author of truth Ioh. 18. 37. For this cause was I borne and came into the world that I might testifie of the truth Even so every member of Christ is borne into the Church and commeth into the world of Beleevers to give witnesse unto the truth as being taught in the truth and as the redeemed of the Lord. 4 As nothing can make us liker to God so nothing is better pleasing unto God God the Father hath often and sundry wayes testified unto his Son First Sensibly and audibly in his baptisme and transfiguration also that he was the son of his love who had all his love cast upon him Secondly By the internall revelation of his Spirit in the hearts of beleevers as to Peter Mat. 16. 17 Flesh and blood hath not revealed this but my Father in heaven Thirdly and especially by the mission ministery of the Son himselfe Ioh. 3. 33. he that receiveth his testimony fealeth that God is true for he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God If wee desire to be like God or to please God we must herein imitate him as deare children Which serves for the reproofe of such as are afraid or ashamed of this testimony contrary to 2 Tim. 1. 8. Be not ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. Many will not testifie to Christ among poore men some because great men resist it some are afraid of the strictnesse of it some of the crosses some of the scornes of it and most because this witnesse would witnesse against their own contrary courses and men of little faith are dejected in small matters But such Christ wil be ashamed of in the day of his appearing and shall witnesse against them that he never knew them Such also are condemned as do contest against the witnessing of Christ. The world is full of false witnesses such as were suborned against Christ as First all false teachers that father that on Christ which he never spake as Papists or others that deny any article of faith and Christian Religion so the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. If the dead rise not againe we are false witnesses So to teach the doctrine of mans merit of free-will to good image-worship or the like is to be a false witnesse against Christ himselfe Secondly all unbeleevers that receive not this testimony whether such as scorne to heare the witnesses of Christ if they dislike the person they will none of the witnesse loth to drinke good wine because they like not the dish or such as heare sometime but beleeve not the witnesse this infidelity makes God a liar so farre as a wicked man can 1 Ioh. 5. 11. Thirdly such as contest against his witnesses to elevate their testimony for as in the dayes of his flesh there wanted not such as witnessed against himselfe in person that he was a drunkard a devill a friend to Publicans and sinners an enemie to Caesar a blasphemer so for the same end to weaken the authority of his witnesses there never wanted such as would witnesse against Iob that he was an hypocrite that Paul was a pestilent fellow a moover of sedition a preacher of false doctrin unworthy to live And can the devill devise so foule accusations or so slaunderous which his agents will not boldly urge against the witnesses of Christ to whose innocency godlinesse God himselfe witnesseth This also serveth to comfort 1 Poore Christians despised in the world God honors the poorest Beleever to be a witnesse to his truth and a poore mans testimony is as good even in mens Courts as a rich but much more before Gods tribunall 2 Such as suffer for this testimony losses reproaches and the contempt of the world Even wee lovingly respect such as suffer for their love to us in upholding our truth and innocency and much more doth the Lord see the promise for incouragement Mat. 19. 29. It is also a word of instruction that we frame and fit our selves to this witnesse Quest. How may that be Answ. To a good testimony is required a good witnesse and to a good witnesse must concurre these five things 1 Knowledge and certaine perswasion of the truth to which we are to testifie When Christ was to raise up witnesses to the truth of the Gospell he would have them his owne
that will live godly in Christ Iesus must suffer afflictions 2. Our Lord Iesus himselfe was content to goe into the wildernesse and indure al temptations wants and dangers that he might sanctifie our wildernesse unto us and sweeten all our sorrowes and afflicted estate unto us and breake for us and from us all hostile powers which would hinder us in our translation to his heavenly kingdome 3. None of the Saints fall by chance into the wildernesse but it is a place and estate prepared by God himselfe as our Text saith and though men see us not but suffer us to sit alone and desolate God seeth his servants in that condition and tendreth them as his owne first borne 2 Cor 6. 9. as unknowne yet wel knowne as dying and yet behold we live as chastened and not killed The enemies beyond the Sea triumph as if God knew not his Church now in the wildernesse but God prepared the place for the present 4. The wildernesse being a place of Gods preparing he will make it convenient and comfortable to her for 1. The more solitary and secret the place is the more fit it is to hide and secure her 2. The more free from the pompe and glory of the world the fitter it is for her that is called out of the world and crucified to the world 3. The more inconvenient and dangerous it is the more it setteth out his wisdome and power who over-ruleth all inconveniences to the Churches good no contrary can crosse his good purpose toward his Church and people Nay here wee see he appoints a fruitlesse place to feed her a place of journey for her rest a place of danger for her safety a place of warre to uphold her peace and a place of temptation to free her from temptation Thou therefore that fearest God never feare any place state or condition prepared for thee by God if thou beest a member of the Church he will over-rule all anoyances and inconveniences to thy full and assured comfort To use warily and thankfully our peace and priviledges lest wee drive the Church from us into the wildernesse we see here the Church planted by the Apostles themselves flying into the wildernesse In what wildernesse now are the 7. famous Churches of lesser Asia Those once flourishing Churches of Rome Corinth Galatia Thessalonica to whom the Apostles writ so respectively Wee see those famous Churches of Bohemia and Palatinate now fled into the wildernesse and their countries become a wildernesse not long since as florishing and as famous as our selves GOD that hath made us yet looke on would not have us idle spectators but by their harmes to beware and be the wiser Quest. How may we prevent this so dismall an estate of the Church Ans. If we prevent and bewaile the sinnes and signes of a Church ready to flie into the wildernesse Quest. What be the sinnes which especially drive the Church into the wildernesse Ans. I. The sinnes of the Pastors have beene noted the principall cause of the Churches flight and indeed the raigning sinnes of Pastors were ever noted the first causes of banishment and captivity Lam. 2. 14. 1. Ignorant and blinde guides leading the blinde both fall into the pit 2. Or men of knowledge but corupt in judgement who mingle wheat and chaffe and mingle the sweete waters of the heavenly fountaine with puddle waters of humane devices so did the Pastors departing from the primitive simplicity of doctrine and rites chase their Church into the wildernesse 3. Or men of parts but without conscience to use them to God but to themselves pompous ambitious flattering men in their sins crying peace peace when the Lord proclaimeth warre and blood men that heale the hurt of the daughter of Zion with sweete words and harden men against goodnesse by putting darknesse for light and bitter for sweet and sweet for sower by justifying the wicked and taking away the righteousnesse of the righteous from him Isay 5. 22. this hasteneth wrath see verse 23. 24. 4. Or scandalous persons for intolerable greedines or notorious vices in themselves abetting of them in others envying and hating all the shine of grace these ring-leaders to evill chase away the Churches prosperity and where such sonnes of Eli make the religion of God to be blasphemed of Papists Atheists and but indifferent Protestants the Arke is not farre from taking and leading away into the enemies Countrey how may the Lord againe complaine as Ier. 12. 10. Many Pastors have destroyed my Vineyard and trodden my portion under foot they have laid it waste and it mourneth to mee II. The sinnes of Rulers who maintaine not the purity of Gods worship but suffer corruptions and reliques of Idolatry to grow up therein as Ivy with the Oake till it eate out the heart of it so many of the Kings of Israel suffered the remnants of Baal and the Chimarims even after some reformation which still baned and at last foyled the true worship and sent it away This we have noted a cause of the Churches flight in this place A little leaven quickely leaveneth the whole lumpe The reason is because the Lord who requireth as pure worship frō us as ever hateth idolatry false worship as much as ever can abide the sent or least cōporting with Idolaters no more thā a husband can indure wanton behaviours and suspitious gestures in his wife though she come not so farre as the adultrous act For this mingling of idolatry with true worship in Israel the Lord threatneth that he will make her as a wildernesse and leave her as a drie land Hosea 2. 3. as indeed after he did If after so glorious a liberty of the Gospell restored and renewed by five famous Princes Henry Edward Elizabeth our gracious Iames and our noble Charles we should in after ages which God forbid have Baalish Altars and Masses manifestly resorted unto Chemarims Iesuites and Priests increased but thankes be unto God for the vigilancy of our now gracious King against this mischiefe If wee should I say take up their fashions bee enamoured with their pictures and doate after the guise of the Babylonians as Samaria did after the Chaldeans Ezech. 23. 14 15. this sinne would certainly drive our Church into the wildernesse as Israel was into Babylon of whom she was so enamoured and with whom she contracted and increased so neare affinity This was a manifest forerunner of Gods justice who ordained no other scourge for Israel but Babylon whom shee so affected and to whose religion she desirously fashioned III. The generall nationall sinnes against the light and grace of God 1. Generall apostacy and falling backe more and more notwithstanding holy doctrine powerfull preaching Gods warnings heavy strokes the Lord threatneth this sinne with the same punishment Zeph. 1. 2 8. He will surely destroy all things from off the earth and make her as a wildernesse and visit them that were turned backe from the Lord. The falling from
the first love procureth the Candlesticke to bee removed Alas how is it that our love to the Word is so abated anciently in the beginning of the Gospell they would measure many miles to a Sermon wee will scarce step out of doores nay we put away the word of subjection and drive it away from us as the Jewes did Acts 13. 26. How lamentably are wee falne from the honour and high respect of the word bringers the feet of faithfull Messengers were wont to be beautifull now entertained with scorne and reproach and the more faithfull the more vile and disgraced such as the world is unworthy of are thought unworthy to live in it In good Ieremies case since I cryed out of oppression and wrong I am a derision daily every one mockes me and the word of God is made a reproach unto me Ier. â—0 7. And will the Lord continue his best mercies which are generally thrust away with hatred and scorne How are wee generally fallen off from the obedience of the Word how few can abide the sincere obedience of it in themselves or others how many esteeme the most conscionable obedience of it the most odious thing that may be terming it by disgracefull names that nothing is growne more reproachfull in most places than holy obedience Now is it possible that the Lord should suffer his priviledges to abide with them who abide not in obedience nay of all things cannot abide it Besides what a generall inclination is in our people to looke backe and runne backe to Popery to goe a whoring after their abominable Idols 2. Nationall sinne hastning the Church into the wildernesse is resistance and opposition of the power of godlinesse and religion when men generally content themselves with a forme of godlinesse but resist the power and proclame a defiance against Christ plainly in their course saying Wee will not have this man rule over us would God this sinne were not so plainly the sinne of the age as that hee that runneth might not rea d it for 1. How few can abide the power of grace in others and then is it first expulsed in themselves how few can brooke that man that frequenteth the hearing of Gods Word useth duties of piety at home that will not sweare drinke riot nor be filthy and loose in speech 2. How is the practice of Christianity growing more reproachfull than to live in any sinne and in many places is more safe to be extreamly flagitious and a noted vicious person than a godly liver and would be daily seene were not wicked men restrained by good lawes 3. How is the glorious name of a Christian become a scorne and reproach amongst the basest of men and the most abject as dogs dare barke and doe most against them who most faithfully labour to expresse the power of the Gospell 4. How doe the most like better of prophane men than of the most religious accounting of such as honest men fitter companions than such as unfainedly feare the Lord 5. How doe men generally disswade their friends from their strict courses as from that which they esteem most prejudiciall to their welfare how doe they pursue and chase godly men as their enemies as if one world were not made or fit for them both and yet what is the expectation but of wrath when they are gone and hunted away would not this drive our Church into the wildernesse if it should not be prevented thankes bee unto God for the meanes of prevention Quest. What are the signs of a Church hastning into the wildernesse Ans. The withdrawing or abating the signes of Gods presence as 1. When the sincere preaching of the word is removed Gods gracious presence is not more visible in any thing than in a faithfull Ministery nor a Christian state is more happy and conspicuous in any thing than in sound and lively doctrine in which God hath promised his presence to his Church to the end of the world Now when God removeth this the Church is going into an afflicted estate a signe that Saul is cut off when God will speake no more to him Every man in the removall of a sound Ministry may discerne the Lord removing himself 2. When the outward ordinance remaineth but without fruit and power a dead and sleepy Ministery under which men remaine blinde and unconverted God is going apace from such a people for as the inward power of the word is an infallible signe of Gods presence who by his spirit warmeth some hearts enlightneth some pierceth some converted some so hath the Lord apparently withdrawne himselfe when his word is without power that men grow not better but worse by it and if this bee generall it is a fore-runner of the Churches flight into the wildernesse How few hearing judgements denounced feare with melting hearts but rather as the Smiths Anvil the more strokes the harder How doe most fashion themselves to the licentiousnesse of the times and not to the fashion of the Word how are many more blinde more deafe more hardened apparently more prophane in life more corrupt in judgement more resolute in Popery than before In a word so small is the power of the Gospel that wee may feare lest it be taking her farewell where it may expect to prevaile more unlesse wee doe prevent it by our speedy amendment 3. As all Politicians hold that a signe of a commonwealth falling and neare the period isto restore favour and increase the number of mutinous and once rebellious Citizens so of the ruine of the Church when the number of ancient enemies are suffered daily to encrease as the heresie of Arius increased the orthodox Pastors and Professors decreased till the whole world marveiled that it became an Arrian and as the Antichristian heresie increased so dyed the visibility of the Church being forced to flie into the wildernesse If Papists and Antichristian Babylonians increase upon us in numbers power in boldnesse who are inraged with fury against us they wil easily grow too strong for us if we throw them down and make them hide their heads whom God honoureth most as in whom his image most shineth how can the Church but goe into the wildernesse where did these Wolves and Lyons ever rest but they devoured the flocke of Christ witnes the forraigne parts at this day Lenity to Vipers destroyeth common-wealths and Churches 4. Peace prosperity and wealth generally abused this was a fore-runner of the Churches flight into the wildernesse in this Text. The Historian telleth us that Foelix noÌ„ est diuturnus but is either punished of God for the abuse or by men for envy sometimes for feare of their greatnesse so it is with the Church ease slayeth her hurtfull riches wound her security feedeth upon her If we see our peace generally abused to pride and wantonnesse to boldnesse in sinning and going on in impenitency to neglect and contemne the meanes of grace and hardening our hearts saying to Prophets prophesie not in that