of her wane of her change 1 Ioh. 2. 18. And now why should we depend as Pliny speaketh of those shelfishes on the Moone subject to all her changes and not rather set up our hearts and thoughts on things certaine and lasting Why follow wee these false lights which serve to no other end but to seduce their followers The ancient nobility of Rome saith Plutarch used to weare Moones on their shooes that by this Embleme of mutability they should not swell with the glory and greatnesse of their estate A shame for Christians who neither observe that place nor use of the Moone Let us conclude that God in mercy hath made them all mutable and Moonelike that we should not rest our hopes and hearts on such restlesse things nor content our selves with things present if we may call those things present which are alwaies passing away and mutable 2 God hath put them under our feet Psal. 8. 6. thou hast set all things under his feet that we should afford them no place above our feet The croppe of the field the fleece of the flocke the treasures of gold and silver the richest mines in the bowels of the earth the costly and precious Iewels and most orient Pearles all are taken from under our feet that wee might still afford them the right place which God and nature have assigned them Indeed if they were fetched out of heaven we might have them in more estimation Oh how would we then admire them that can so advance them which we see fetcht from under our feet If God had made them our Masters what diligent service would we have given them who can be such drudges to our servants 3 God hath not put in them any such worth or value as the world esteemeth If they were of such worth would the Lord cast them as a musse to all good and bad Were they worthy our hearts surely the Lord would give them as the patrimony and portion of his children whereas he would have few of them encombred with much of them Nay he gives them as wages good enough for servants and slaves as the goods which Abraham gave to the children of the bond-women reserving in the meane time the inheritance for Isaack And as the Moone shines and rules in the night so commonly men in the night of sinne have the most because they have onely portion in the world Iob. 12. 6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper and they who provoke God are in safetie whom God hath enriched with his hand Secondly were they so good in themselves as in mens estimation most men good and bad would not be worse for thē as usually they are For as the Moone in the full is furthest distant from the Sun from whom she receiveth her light and brightnesse so men in generall when they are at the full of prosperity are farthest from the author of it For evill men who are worse by every thing no marvaile if riches be reserved for their hurt What marvaile is it that a spider turnes all to poyson that a wicked man abuseth his ease and prosperity to slay himselfe by them Prov. 1. 32. So wanton children sit and play with fire till they burne themselves Hence is it that commonly they who have most rule over other have the least over themselves and the richest Misers in goods are emptiest of true riches And even good men themselves too often resemble the Moone they can no sooner be full and prosperous in the world but presently admit a decay and wane of their light and decrease in graces Good David in his chase and low estate was as a dead dog in his owne eyes and very mercifull to spare the life of his deadly enemie when he was in his hands But in his full and glory he was not content with all the royalties of his kingdome unlesse Ioab number his people and tell him how many he may command 2 Sam. 24. 2. And now in stead of sparing his enemie he kills his most trusty friend and faithfull servant Vriah Good Hezekiah in his wane and sicknesse was praying weeping confessing and humbling himselfe but in his recovery and health as in his full he is shewing and boasting and priding himselfe in his wealth and treasure which cost him deare This is the case of many private Christians who in their low estate were humble conscionable in hearing reading praying now the world comes on them they are in the full and all in gone And no marvaile seeing even the Church herselfe this woman now clothed with the sunne beganne to decline from her virgin integrity and departing from her Sunne made way to Antichrist when pride pompe ambition and wealth came in request Now she set the Moon above her head till the Sun with his glorious light tooke his leave in which darknesse those famous Churches sit at this day Quest. How may I know whether I have the Moone under my feete or the Moone hath me under foote 1 A note of him that is a drudge and slave of the world not gotten above the Moone is to tread the Sunne that is Christ himselfe under his feet that despiseth the Gospell cares not for his merits for the promises especially the conditions of faith repentance obedience He dotes upon the Moone Christ is a tastlesse name till his soule be a tearing out of his body he will part with nothing lose nothing for Christ. If the Moone be bright the Sunne is set 2 He can treade Gods worship under foote whence the Scripture cals the worldling an Idolater Col. 3. 5. for the service of God and the world can never stand together He that hath the Moone on his head serves another God then doth the true worshipper he sacrificeth as the old Idolaters to the Queene of heaven and not to the God of heaven and behold the Moon walking in her brightnesse Oh how weary is he till the Sabbath be over what a burthen is the time of Gods service What a tedious time is the new Moone and when will it be gone that we may sell wheate and returne to the service of the old Moone Amos 8. 5 3 He can tread religion under his feet and will if occasion be offered For till the moone be under foot he will enjoy the world and by all meanes eschew the crosse he will not suffer persecution for his religion but if the sword be but shaken he wil revolte from his religion Mat. 13. 21. as soon as tribulation comes by by it withers The love of the world hath alwaies been a cause of revolt The love of the world hath made many in these dayes revolt before tribulation come The rumor of trouble is enough to these moonemongers to discharge warne away their religion 4 The wise worldling in whose heart the moone is not set because he knowes not which religion may prevaile will set up the Sunne and moone both together and make an
by the holy Scriptures a sweet concord and happy communion with the Saints with whom he fruitfully converseth an harmonicall and musicall peace of good conscience within himselfe which passeth all understanding and all needfull supplies without him both for life and godlinesse 4 By Iesus Christ he hath attained an inexhaust fountaine of Gods love the wealth and rich revenue of precious faith love and all graces heaven to bee his hope and also his inheritance and God himselfe to be his portion in whose love is no lacke in whose presence is fulnesse of joy and to be crowned with immortality and eternall glory the same with Christ our head Now consider if a thousand worlds can afford any one of these contentments or if they all could make a man so rich or happy or if ever thou sawest the greatest Potentate without Christ so rich mighty or glorious as the poorest and basest Christian treading all that vanitie and Mooneshine under his feet 1 To reproove many men who in comparison of the world despise the priviledges in Christ. As such 1 Who for want of â—ound judgemeÌ„t disesteeme the highest state of a Christian weighed with worldly respects preferments Every man makes high rekoning of earthly parentage but scarce one of a thousand cares a rush for the dignity of adoptioÌ„ in Christ as if to be the son of a King were more honor then to be a son of God Earthly preferments ravish and affect men and lift them up above themselves but offer the preferments of the kingdome of heaven to most men they refuse and scorne them How doth it rejoyce mens hearts to see worldly wealth flow in in abundance or when an heritage of a piece of earth fals upon them But how few are of Davids mind who had more joy of heart in the cheerefull countenance of God then others when their corne wine and oyle increased Few are halfe so glad to become heires apparant of heaven 2 Who for want of sound love of Christ plainely refuse Christ for the world As when men lay aside religion good conscience and their duty to get riches and preferments of the world Such as the prophane Esaus of the world who are all for pottage but despise the blessing And the gracelesse Gadarens who as swine still rooting in the earth prefer their pigges before Iesus Christ. And wretched Demasses that forsake the truth to fall to the present world Oh the dayes of tryall will discover a number such But most unhappy of all worldlings are they whose office is to preach Iesus Christ but for wealth and preferments cast off good conscience and the diligent exercise of their callings the right successors of Iudas who must have the bagge and the better to fill it turnes against his Master departs from his calling and so runnes on to destruction Let all of us against this corruption consider 1 That our Lord Iesus himselfe denyed to bee a King and was content to be poore in the world that we might be rich and to be despised in comparison of his office And must it be better with servants then the Master 2 The saints were strangers and pilgrims Heb. 11. 13. If they could not enjoy both religion and riches then they chose religion and good conscience and abandoned honour wealth preferments Moses esteemed Christs rebukes above the wealth of a Kingdome Paul glories in the marks of Iesus Christ Gal. 6. 17. 3 What will it profit a man to winne the whole world and to lose his owne soule This is an unhappy exchange The world lost may be wonne againe 4 The promise is there shall be no losse in leaving all the world for Christ Mat. 19. 29. but great gaine and advantage 5 What a folly were it to bee so affected with the light of the Moone as for it to neglect the brightnes of the Sunne 6 What a confusion were it in the world to offer to set the Moone above the Sunne Such a confusion were it in Christianity to preferre in judgement or affection earthly things before Iesus Christ and things of heaven 2 Let no member of the Church thinke that hee may set the Moone any where but under his feet A sonne of this mother may not set the Moone upon his head by placing his chiefe study how to get and keepe the world and wealth of it Nor in his Iudgement advancing them above their due place but with Mary acknowledge a better part Neither may he set them on his heart by minding earthly things or by affecting and covetous desiring them above better things Neither hold them in his hand by base and tenacious keeping them when he may exchange them for better things but in this comparison tread them under his foote and contemne such bewitching vanities The text affords us some motives 1 Because they all resemble the Moone in mutability and ever-changing inconstancy If they or any of them were to abide with us or wee with them there were more cause or colour to allow them an higher place then under our feet but they are al alike fugitive and mutable as the Moone as appeares in this short survay First riches have Eagles wings to fly away Pro. 23. 5. Iob had experience that they were uncertaine riches as Paul cals them 1 Tim. 6. 17. Salomon cals them riches of vanity Prov. 13. 11. And the Apostle Heb. 11. 25. cals their use for a season Secondly honours are as mutable as the Moone Haman the one day was the only man with the King at the banquet the next day he was hanged on his owne gallowes Nebuchad-nezzar advanced himselfe in his grear Babel as if he were a God but the same houre he is cast among beasts Dan. 4 30. Adoni-bezek Iudg. 17. now a conquerour over seaventy Kings and now under the table equall with dogs and eating their offals Great Belizarius the chiefe Duke of all the Romane Empire most potent and glorious in honourable triumphs and victories but spoyled of his wealth by Iustinian accused condemned and had his eyes put out and came to stand in the high waies to beg saying give to Belizarius one token Thirdly pleasures Moone-like goe away by post make love to many like alluring harlots are large in faire promises and winne many to like them and adulterate with them but keepe faith with none It were a vaine thing to expect to hold them if thou hadst the pleasures of Paradise it selfe Pleasures for evermore are onely at Gods right hand Fourthly the life it self passeth as a tale is in a moment changed and who can boast of tomorrow The Moone risen hasteneth not faster to her West and setting then man borne travelleth swiftly to the west and setting of his life Fitfly the whole world passeth away as the Moon is ever upon his speed This old Moone is in her last quarter yea in the houre
of the number here are but seaven heads but ten hornes not so many heads as hornes and so there are more Executors then Princes more Instruments then Captaines and heads and Generals and the title aptly bringeth them in all The Church of God is among the wicked as among so many horned beasts of great power and place to hurt and oppresse See Psal. 22. 12. Many Buls have compassed me even mighty buls of Bashan and vers 16. doggs have compassed me as a fearefull Hare beset with a kennell of doggs is in great danger so the weake Woman here beset with fierce and ravenous beastsand vers 21. Save me from the Lions mouth and from the hornes of Unicornes Hence Dan. 7. the calamitie of the Jewes is from the foure Beasts that is those great Monarchs and Rulers described under the name of sundrie beasts which with strong hornes fought one against another but all against the Church and every where tyrants are called in Scripture Lions Beares Unicornes Wolves for their cruelty in themselves and for the oppression of the people of God Mat. 10. Our Saviour forewarneth his disciples of their condition I send you as sheepe among Wolves and these have force and power far above the sheep To come to the times here aimed at how was the Church in the beginnings of the New Testament pushed and goared with the hornes of these beasts such as Herod the son of Antipas who beheaded Iohn and Herod Agrippa who slew Iames with the sword and persecuted Peter delivered by an Angell Acts 12. Such were Felix and Lysias and Festus who used their hornes power and places to persecute Paul and Christians in those daies And after these how lamentably was the Church wasted by the Romane persecuting tyrants even those ten Imperiall hornes and other savage dragons untill Constantine who all imbrued themselves till they were all red with the blood of many thousands of Christians In regard of the wicked themselves who all of them by nature are furiously and impetuously like bruit beasts carried against grace and piety and as little restraint have they in themselves as furious beasts unlesse God by common grace restraine them or by speciall saving grace change them and make them of Lions Wolves Beares Cockatrices Kids Lambs and harmles creatures Isa. 11. 6. For so there the Prophet stileth men in their nature because their enemies are so cruell and sanguinary more like beasts then men Godly men go soft pace in the way of godlinesse because they have a restraint in their reliques of flesh present with them but wicked men without restraint of grace as bruit beasts rush upon mischiefe as the horse into battaile If the godly walke they can run if the Saints runne they can fly if the godly bee foot men they are light horsemen In the Church 1. The sins of the Church often strengthen and sharpen and multiply the hornes of the dragon Psal. 81. 13. 14. O that Israel would have walked in my waies I would soone haue humbled their enemies through the whole story of Judges so often as Israel sinned God gave them into the hands of oppressors cap. 4. 2. cap. 2. 14 cap. 6. 1. 2 The afflictions of the Church make the Enemies lift up their hornes when they see and heare of their troubles and foyles when they see that their prayers and exercises of religion cannot help them especially when they see God for their humiliation leaveth them as a prey in their hands this maketh them exult as against Christ on the Crosse He trusted in God let him deliver him want of grace yea hatred of grace maketh them insult where they should pity not thinking the same or worse things may be fall themselves Lam. 24 5. and 2. 15. 3 The continuall estate of the Church is to bee in the world as a wildernesse wherein what can they looke for but to be environed with wild and furious beasts that is evill men who for their disposition are as wild and fierce as Tygers Lions Leopards Cockatrises because both of their power and desire of hurting and making a pray and spoile of the Church The world in which the Church is a stranger affordeth to her natives all her aide and mighty meanes to furnish them against the Church which maketh them advance their horns on high in pride and fury against the Church for they have 1 Carnall wisdome prudence policy in martiall exploits and whereas a good conscience can go but one way they can shift into a thousand by waies which is their advantage 2 They have multitudes power and strength of arme and flesh wherein they boast and glory 3 They have armories defenced Castles Citties and can want no weapons of death against the Woman 4 They have treasures revenues wealth large possessions gold of India which are the sine ws of warre 5 They have friends allies confederates holy leagues auxiliary forces and supplies and in these they lift up their hornes and are made very strong and bold for those that have no part in God glory and pride themselves in every thing but God Quest. But what doth the Lord all this while to suffer the dragon thus to exercise his rage and domineere over the Church can he help all this and will he not step out for his Church Answ. The Lord hath sundrie good ends of this his providence For 1 He so ordereth the matter as that the Church must be conformable to her head and the servants not above their Master Christ himselfe was in the wildernesse with wild beasts expecting the great dragon to set upon him as he did in three horrible and hellish temptations and through his whole life he was beset with these horned beasts among whom the principall was Herod Ascalonita who as soone as he was borne sought to slay him and devoured all the Infants of Bethelem hoping he had bin within his net And Pontius Pilate the Romane President who with the Scribes Pharisees and chiefe â—â—iests crucified and put him to death and yet who can deny that he was the Son of his Love and most deare unto his Father 2 He doth it not to extinguish but exercise not to destroy but trie their faith patience and graces for grace is like gold the oftner tried in the fire the purer Rev. 2. 10. 3 To acquaint them both with their owne danger and so to stirre them up to a constant watching as also to let them see their owne impotency and weaknesse so to drive them out of themselves to relie on his strength and power who is onely able to overmatch these mighty hornes in mans eie 4 To weane them from the love of this world to which wee are all naturally wedded and to hye themselves through it as through a dangerous wildernesse So Davids soule was weary with dwelling in Mesech 5 To advance not onely the patience of God suffering his enemies to rise to such a height but also to manifest his
unto Christ and what is their wages but that of Elimas who whē he could not hinder the Deputy from hearing Paul nor Paul from preaching sought to pervert him from that hee heard for which Paul cals him the childe of the devill the enemy of righteousnesse that ceased not to pervert the straite wayes of God It is a fearefull sinne of a Pharisee not to enter into the Kingdome of GOD himselfe but to hinder such as would enter is most damnable Fourthly many others sinne against this truth who cast their taunts upon no sort of men so much as those who runne after Christ and flocke to Sermons these are yet no subjects of Christ but as the unbeleeving Jews Act. 13. 45. who were inraged to see the Gentiles so ready to receive the preaching of Paul 2. Let this provoke us to testifie our joy wheresoever we see the kingdome of our God prevailing An heart zealous for Gods glory thirsting after mans salvation esteems it the greatest earthly happines to see the subiects of Christ multiplyed by the daily addition of soules to the Church Act. 2. 41. and to see Satan fal like lightning from heaven sinne mastered sinners cōverted enemies stopped or revenged for First this is a due debt and we ought to be thankfull 2 Thess. 1. 2. Secondly Christ hath commanded us to pray that his Kingdome may come therefore also wee must thankfully acknowledge it when it doth come Thirdly they shall prosper that love Jerusalem and preferre it to their chiefe joy But especially our ioy must abound when our Lords Kingdome is set up neare us as First in our Countrey and Kingdome We should pray to see and reioyce in seeing our Prince and Rulers casting downe their Crownes and Scepters at the feet of the Lambe keeping themselves bounded within that commission which they all receive from Him whose the Kingdome is opposing by all their power tyrannicall enemies who delight to spill the blood of Saints as water advancing the Word Sacraments Ministery and meanes of salvation sincere and undefiled cherishing godly Pastors and Ministers upholding holy discipline to reforme or cut off evill members encouraging the religious and sincere-hearted Professors of piety shunning evill men chasing Idolaters and profane persons out of presence and resisting the underminers and resisters of Christs Kingdome whether by secret fraud or open force All Scepters that uphold not Christs Scepter must be broken to pieces the which if it be held up at Court will bee the easier held up in the Countrey Secondly in our Cities and Townes If an eminent and conspicuous Towne as this is yeeld to Christ it is as a Beacon to the whole countrey round about as a mother City once opening to a Prince is a President to the whole Land What a ioy were it if Gods Ordinances had prevailed in this Towne that the Governours had led the way to Gods House as they were wont formerly that Gods Sabbaths were sanctifyed which none looks after that the love of God and his servants appeared among you that we might not say truly that scarce the meanest Village about you but would give both more countenance and more maintenance to a Lecture than this corporation doth What a comfort were it that you were patternes of concord and agreement to all the Countrey and not the spectacles of unquencheable discord and faction to all the kingdome What a ioyfull thing were it if we might see good men incouraged vicious persons corrected incorrigible outcasts cast out all men brought at least outwardly to the obedience of Ghrist Thirdly in our owne houses What an unspeakeable ioy is it when Gods Kingdome is come into our family when our house is a Bethel the wife is a ioynt-heire of the grace of life with the husband the children are the Children of God by adoption and sing Hosanna to Christ cur servants Gods servants and our kindred of the blood of Christ with us Wee need not bid men reioyce when their children thrive and prosper in the world the most of which ioy is carnall But where bee the hearts fearing God who more reioyce when they prove godly and religious when they see their children walking in the truth c How is the Kingdome of God in the family when the husband checketh his wife because shee is the Spouse of Christ the father frowneth on his sonne because hee is bookish and diligent in reading and good exercises the Master will not indure the servant that will bee a Saint in his service O hypocrite how canst thou reioyce in the Kingdome of God in the Kingdome and hunt it out of thy family know thou not onely wantest grace but hatest it Fourthly in our owne hearts especially to see the kingdome of God set up there will bee matter of assured and lasting ioy Matth. 13. 44. Hee that findes the Pearle goeth away reioycing and selleth all to purchase it The Eunuch converted goeth away reioycing No man can have Christ but hee hath also Christian ioy unspeakeable and glorious For that kingdome within us standeth in peace and ioy Rom. 14. 17. Quest. How shall I know that Christ raignes in me and that his Kingdome is within me Ans. 1. If our enemies be daily weakned Sathan foyled the flesh mortified if we stand with our Lord in his warres he raigneth over us 2. If lawes of evill bee reversed and the Lawes of Christ obeyed now led out of Aegypt we live by the lawes of Canaan 3. If in stead of raigning sinne grace raigne in us as Rom. 5. 21. Christ raigneth by grace This is when wee leave our sinnes and live unto God and seeke in all things to please our last Master best as servants doe 3. If wee must reioyce when wee see the Kingdome returned to the Lord then must wee mourne to see the Lords kingdome winne so little ground in the Kingdomes of the world I. What a lamentable thing is it to see the greatest Potentates of Europe to warre against this kingdome of the Lord yeeld their Thrones Crownes wealth and power to the Beast that is to Antichrist the chiefe adversary of this Kingdome In stead of the lawes of Christ which are the Scriptures of God unto which all the subiects of Christ ought to submit themselves they by all their power thrust upon the world the lawes of Antichrist who because hee cannot stand by the word of God must stand and bee upheld by the secular power and in stead of gathering and cherishing the subiects of Christ the godly Professors of his Word and Gospell they persecute them with fire and sword with proscription and banishment as men onely unworthy to live in their dominion How should our hearts mourne when such as should bee nursing fathers and nursing mothers to the Church are as fierce dragons tyrannizing and wasting the little flocke of Christ and those that should bee assistants to the Ruler of the whole earth make most resistance against him chasing the
are so far from being overcome by externall violence that when their persons are most downe their graces are most victorious and invincible even in the eyes of the enemies themselves for 1 Can they seaver them from the truth and faith of the Gospell no they will not live without it but will dye that it may live they will water the furrows of it with their dearest blood rather then it should not grow they will rake it out of the fire into which the enemies cast it 2 Can they sunder them from the love of God and Christ as they intend by torment No they see their love stronger then death all the waters in the sea nor all their seas os sorrows and deadly torments cannot quench it 3 Can they cast them out of the favour of God and possession of happinesse as by their degradations excommunications anathemaes and great curses they desire No but the Lord is apparantly with them in sixe troubles and in seaven in the fire and in the water and never leaves them till they be with him in his immediate presence-chamber as wheat laid up for ever in his garner 4 Can they overcome their patience fortitude or constancy No but by the undaunted resolution of the Saints in their torments the mindes of the persecutors themselves seeme rather overcome then the Martyrs that suffer them Even Iulians furie was conquered by the patience of the Martyrs Roman Tyrants in the first tenne persecutions were even tyred with the stedfastnesse of the Saints in suffering Thus are they in their weaknesse most strong as dying but behold they live afflicted on every side but not overcome This is the priviledge of their estate of their cause of their graces that they are never lesse overcome then when they seeme most overcome and as the text saith they most gloriously overcome when they love not their lives to the death The point of doctrine from these words thus expounded is this Godly men must contemne their lives and not love them to the death in respect of Christ and his truth Luke 14. 26. He that hateth not his owne life cannot be my disciple that is he that is not ready to bring his life in his hand and offer it up in sacrifice when my cause and the Gospels calleth for it cannot be a good Christian. Act. 20. 24. Afflictions and bands abide me every where but I passe not neither is my life deare unto me so that I may finish my course with joy Heb. 12. 4. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood as if he had said Howsoever ye have endured a great fight in afflictions while ye were made a gazing-stocke to the world and while ye were companions to them that were tossed too and fro Chap. 10. 32. yet yee are not come so farre as you must make account of in the profession of Christianity because yee have not resisted unto blood Revel 2. 20. Bee thou faith full unto the death and I will give thee a Crown of life 1 Because of Christs merit and desert hee loved not his life to death for us nay hee was earnest to die for us Luke 12. 50. I have a baptisme to bee baptized with and how am I grieved till it be ended how then should our thankfulnesse binde us to give up if wee had a thousand lives for him shall the just sufter for the unjust and shall not the unjust hold himselfe bound to suffer for the just 2 The worth of truth bindes on all Christians this dutie to despise their lives for the truths sake for the truth of the Gospell is farre more worthy than all that wee can give in exchange for it God hath magnified it above all things Psal. 138. 2. The Sonne of God magnified it above his owne life it cost him deare he bought it with his life and precious blood The Saints of God the cloud of witnesses He. 12. 1. were prodigall of their blood and would and did spend it till the last drop rather then by any torments they would bee removed from the truth and faith of the Gospell and we are injoyned to buy the truth at any rate even with our blood if God call us to it but not to sell it for any thing in the world 3 Our neare relation unto Christ bindes us not to love our lives to death for his sake For 1 Wee are his redeemed ones wee are not our owne but bought with the price of his blood 1 Cor. 6. 20. and therefore wee must glorifie him in our soules and bodies whose wee are 2 Wee are his souldiers prest under his colours and if a souldier sell his life every day for a base pay how much more ought the Christian souldier in a farre more honourable warre esteeme his life at a small rate in the cause and quarrell of his Generall and if a souldier must stand in the place his Generall sets him in and must not remove though hee dye for it how much more ought wee being called to stand fast in the faith of the Gospell keepe our ground unremoved from our holy profession though it bee by the losse of our lives Thus then must a Christian souldier animate his owne resolution Shall any fouldier more feare or more love his Commander than I my Michael my Christ shall I more feare a Tyrant threatning death and torments then my Lord requiring my faithfulnesse and constancy doth a man of valour feare the dishonor and shame of a cowardly flight above torment and terrour of present death and should such a man as I flie who preferre in true judgement an honourable and happy death above a thousand base and disgracefull lives 3 Wee are not onely souldiers but houshold servants unto Jesus Christ and therefore must shew all good faith fulnesse to our God Tit. 2. 10. And herein a faithfull servant is differenced from a slothfull a sincere Christian from an hypocrite the hypocrite may bee a great Professor and call Christ Lord Lord and in the peace of the Gospell will say with Peter Master I will dye with thee before I will deny thee but if Christ be in hands and called into question the voyee of a Maide will make him turne his copy But it is proper to the Elect to stand fast and to hold that hee hath and maintaine against all challengers to the death the profession of truth committed unto his trust 4. We are yet nearer even members of Christ and the member naturally lifteth up it selfe and will lose it selfe to beare off a blow from the head and it doth but the duty And much more ought it to bee so in the mystic all body wherein the union is farre more straite then in the naturall 4 Our service to our fellow-members putteth us in minde of this duty which we owe much more to our head If for the edificatien of the Church we are bound willingly to lay downe our lives much more for the
Princes nor Antichristian forces so long as Christ is in the ship it shall not miscarry To be nourished The fourth generall in this verse is the end why the woman fled into the wildernesse and that is both to be preserved safe and provided for there And this place is an allusion to the ancient story of the former Jewish Church whom when she cannot be safe in Aegypt God brings into the wildernesse where not having any provisiō by ordinary meanes he doth extraordinarily feed her by Manna from heaven for the space of forty yeares And thus he dealeth now with the Church of the Gentiles under the Antichristian tyranny heavier then that of Aegypt When the woman can finde no safety or peace amongst men in the publike profession and exercise of Christian Religion the Lord retyres her into secret places which afford her private exercises of religion and in this hidden desert and afflicted estate provides secret meanes of her feeding and safety The Church of God and every member in the most hard times and desert condition shal be assuredly fed and provided for Of all places the wildernesse was most unlikely to afford food and provision where was neither sowing nor reaping planting nor watering the earth affords them neither fruit nor corne for forty yeares and now the Lord affords them for one yearely a dayly harvest not of corne but of bread not from earth but from heaven he spreads for them a large table in the wildernesse and feeds them with dainty food and quailes at his pleasure So Elias flying from Iezabel was sent by God into the wildernesse where he might seeme more miserable as exposed to famine a more dreadfull death then the sword But he fled to be fed there and the ravens shal be his stewards and Caterers before he shall sterve in the wildernesse 1 The truth of Gods promise cannot faile Psal. 37. 3. Trust in the Lord and thou shalt be fed assuredly and vers 19. the upright men in dayes of famine shall have enough Psal. 84. 11. He withholdeth no good thing from them that walke uprightly He should deny his truth his faith himselfe if he should not feed and provide for his and therefore if all fields should faile and the whole earth grow barren GOD cannot fayle but feed those that trust in him 2 Gods power confirmes it who is not tyed to ordinary meanes nor limited to places nor hath bound up our life in the fruits of the earth but man lives by every word of God not only ordinary but extraordinary so as if men will not or cannot feed Elias ravens can and shall And all that he can doe with meanes he can without them 3 His love is to his owne as unchangable as his power is infinite He may alter their place and state but not his love He may change their condition but not his owne affection And if the love of the creature be so bountifull and communicative how can there be any lacke in his love which is a full sea and fountaine and all affection in the creature to his is scarce as the drop of a bucket 4 His neare relation to his Church causeth it Every man provides for his owne family else he is worse then an Infidell 1 Tim. 5. 8. Wee belong to Gods houshod and family and if an evill father can and will give good things to his children much more our heavenly father He will blesse and feed his inheritance Psal. 28. 9. And if there be no Master but will maintaine his servant in his own work much more will our Lord and Master in heaven 5 His infinite wise providence who mingleth his chastisements with mercy and crusheth not his Church out of measure nor tramples her under his feet when he suffers men to trample on her It is enough to bring her into the wildernesse and that not to starve her but to provide for her He leads her thither but leaves her not there but as a father affords her meat and cloth and at last provides her an inheritance Object But Gods people are often in want hunger thirst as Lazarus Paul the Apostles and Christ himselfe Answ. God who would not allow beggers from dore to dore which is against all order and rules of charity hath ordeined there should be poore alwaies with us to be examples of their patience and objects of our charity And many of these the deare servants of God may know great want and scarcity so did the Church Heb. 11. 37. Because corporall benefits are not alwayes not to all the godly allowed in any great measure but then only when Gods glory and their owne salvation call for them But what they are scanted in temporall things they are supplyed in spirituall which they alwaies certainly injoy And when they are most scanted they are not forsaken but have enough to bring them home and are denyed only of those things which might proove burdens Now this serves to comfort the Saints in want and to cherish our faith For First what the Lord will do he can do and wil do all for our good Secondly his providence is waking when wee sleepe Manna shall fall in the night when Israel sleepeth God watcheth to feed his Church when she sleepes He watcheth for Mordecai when he sleeps for the babe and his Mother in the night when they sleepe Thirdly his absolute soveraignty and power may make the wildernesse our portion for a time he may pitch us here or there in a faire place or in a foule in a moyst or in a dry and wee must be willingly disposed by him whose wisdome over-reacheth ours Fourthly when all meanes are turned against us he is most able and willing to succour us Ioseph and Mary shall have gold and precious things brought them a farre off when they thinke not of it Let us therefore labour to see our want of faith our greatest want and if we know not what to do let our eyes be toward him And if our thoughts be inquisitive as Isaac how shall I do for this or that or where is the ram say to thy soule as Abraham My soule God will provide Now stirre up thy faith which leaneth not on meanes or things seene but on the naked word Abraham leaned only on Gods truth and power when al was contrary Rom. 4. 20. 2 This may provoke and encourage every one in the study and practise of piety which hath so sure a reward and patron And though wee may not serve God for temporalls as hypocrites can do yet wee must honour him who hath undertaken the care not of our inheritance only hereafter but of our present maintenance and love him unfainedly who makes good unto us even the promises of this life made unto godlinesse aswell as of that to come And though this may seeme a smaller mercy because it is so common to the worst yet it is not common to enjoy temporalls
heads be not crowned they cannot long prevaile Third if he can get his diabolicall edicts once crowned they shall passe almost unquestioned and that generally and bee they never so unlawfull and wicked against Gods pure worship against Gods holy Sabbaths yet they shall prevaile not onely against the wicked who shall shew themselves good subjects in their blinde and impious obedience but especially against the godly who shall bee pursued with all the wrath of such superiours as rebels seditious disobedient to Rulers and Princes as Daniel against whom they could picke no quarrell but in the matter of his God From the desert of the Church for her sinnes crowne the Dragon God in justice appointing them to be the rodds of his wrath by whom hee whippeth his owne children for whereas the promise is that the Church obeying the commands of God he will make her the head and not the tayle and shee shall bee above and not beneath By her disobedience her adversaries become chiefe and those that hate her in affections and those that oppresse her in action get the staffe into their hand and have power as crowned Dragons over her Lament 5. 5. and especially cap 1. 5. From the justice of God against the dragon himselfe both head and members that they may runne on headlong to their perdition For the more power and greatnesse they have the more they grow in malice and madnesse against the woman and the more victories they attaine against the Church the more they exult and triumph and sooner rise to their height and fill up their measure that the Lord may awaken himselfe and rise up as a Giant and pursue and breake them and cast them as rodds into the fire as he hath ever done Note the good service that every wicked man and enemy of God and his Saints doe in the world he is of no other use and service then to hold the crowne upon the Dragons head For as every good subject must stand to the death to uphold the crowne and dignity of his lawfull Prince So doe these rebells and revolters from Jesus Christ uphold the crowne and dignity of this usurper Object God forbid there should be any such we are all Christians c. Sol. Yes the Dragon hath a number of good subjects that strongly and mightily uphold his crowne while they will protest and professe the contrary Quest. But how may we know them Sol. 1. He is free from righteousnesse that is de sacto non dejure he will have nothing to doe with that let grace wooe him and perswade him it can prevaile nothing at all let the Spirit of God perswade him to humility obedience conscience he is an enemy to the Spirits motions and perswasions but let the Dragon instigate him with wicked motions and cogitations hee is a ready agent as Iudas rejecting the good motions of the Spirit the devill entred into his heart to betray his Lord and it was soone done Let the word perswade him to change his master and of the slave of the Dragon become the Lords free man Hee resisteth the word the Spirit of God which inspired the holy Prophets and Apostles moveth us to speake the same word and the wills of beleevers to obey it But the Dragon moveth them to scorne and contradict our doctrine and so resist the holy Ghost as Steven telleth his adversaries and why because we light not candles to the Sunne nor confirme the Kings word by some of the guard nor prove the truth of Gods Spirit by men and humane spirits Eph. 2. 2. These sonnes of disobedience walke after the Prince that ruleth in the aire and being of impure cogitation and conversation how is it possible but they should judge amisse of the truth Whose eyes the god of this world hath blinded Can a blinde man judge of colours II. They walke according to the course of this world Eph. 2. 1. Frame themselves in religion and manners to the times to please men can sweare drinke scorne raile speake filthily sing beastly songs for of so wicked a Prince all the servants are extremely wicked the spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience moveth and acteth in them as the soule in the body there is no service of sinne commeth amisse and when the devill ceaseth to draw his slave from evill to worse wee may hope better things of them III. They are beleevers of lyes 2. Thess. 2. 10. They that are carried away by the effectuall working of Satan or given up to beleeve lyes carryed away with Priests Jesuites Seducers to beleeve all false doctrines contrary to truth as transubstantiation salvation by merits purging of sinne by penall workes and humane satisfactions worshippings of Angels Saints images crosses and a million of dotages being carryed about with flattering teachers to beleeve lies IV. Persecuting of godly men and ministers there Satans throne is and there the dragon is crowned Revel 2. 13. Good subjects will not indure him to be spoken against which they love well therefore they hate godly preachers and cannot abide to heare the abominations of popery and Antichrist to be detected but our Preachers say they lye as fast as their dogges runne these uphold the dragons crowne and resist the crowne and dignity of Jesus Christ what ever they prate to the contrary In beholding the battell of the woman against so many crowned adversaries learne not to esteeme of a Church by externall splendor pompe wealth or glory which is a note of the Antichristian Church Here wee see the Dragon hath seaven Crownes Dan. 11. 31. 36. Antiochus a wicked man that shall magnifie himselfe against all that is called God and speake marveilous things against the God of gods yet hee shall prosper and have armies stand on his part and Antichrist typified in Antiochus who magnifieth himselfe above all that is called God and hath on his head written names of blasphemie hath his armies standing with him Italy France Spaine and many crownes to thrust forward his Antichristian lawes and decrees It is true wee grant there is an internall splendor and glory of the Church consisting in the ornaments of faith charity patience and other vertues as also in the purity of sound and wholsome doctrine and this splendor because it constituteth the true Church it can never want and yet even in this it may be greater or lesser as the doctrine is more carefully preserved or otherwise But that outward splendor and glory which consisteth in peace wealth and multitudes of professors this may be hid oppressed and obscured for 1 This maketh for the good and safety of the Church sometimes to be hid and obscured for hereby God preserveth his Church which were it all and alway knowne all the hornes and the crowned Dragons would assault it at once to destroy it utterly 2 The greatest glory and splendor of the Church is that which appeares not to the eye of
faire City Moses was bold upon his commission and so maist thou in a good cause and calling 4. Meditate often 1. of Gods promise and this will First assure thee of his gracious presence with thee at all times Secondly supply thee with strength while thou goest forth as David against that great Goliah in the name of the Lord. Thirdly recompence thy labour and suffering for faithfull is hee which hath promised It was a great incouragement to Othniel to adventure himselfe in smiting Kiriah-sepher when Caleb promised hee would give Acsah his daughter to him that would expulse the enemy thence Iudges 1. 12. V. Keepe a good conscience alway before God and all men for this ministreth boldnesse yea makes a man as bolde as a Lyon 1 Peter 3. 13. If wee doe well who shall feare us or wrong us this is our fence and safety 2 Corinthians 1. 12. This is our rejoycing c. Now in that the manchilde is armed with a rod of iron and advanced into the Throne of God for the defence of the woman Wee note concerning Magistracy 3. observations concerning their 1. Power 2. Place 3. End That God putteth into the Princes and Magistates hand a rod of iron viz. an unresistible power Their power is Gods whose the ordinance is Prov. 8. 15. by me Princes rule 2 Chron. 19. 6. The judgment is not mans but Gods 2. Power is in God to maintain his own ordinances which if he upheld not the world must fall Beware of mutinies rebellion and resistance of higher powers Pro. 24. 21. My sonne feare the Lord and the King and meddle not with the seditious Rom. 13. 1. Let every soule bee subject to the higher powers Considering 1. He that resisteth the power resisteth God as a Gyant Rom. 13. 2. for a man cannot strive against the order of God but also against the God of order as the Lord said of Samuel they have not cast thee but me away 1 Sam. 8. 7. 2. Consider the end of rebellion in Corah Dathan Abiram for the end commeth sodainly and who knoweth their ruine Prov. 24. 21. Ob. 1. But what if they be heathens Sol. They were heathens to whom the Apostle commandeth every soule to be subject Rom. 13. Ob. 2. But what shall Cleargy men be subject to lay men must sheepheards be ruled by sheepe Sol. Aaron was subject to Moses Nathan to David Zadock to Salomon the Romish Bishops to the Christian Emperours as Princes and Magistrates are sheepheards in civill things and Bishops in this respect are under them so in respect of spirituall things Magistrates and Princes are sheepe and Ministers sheepheards Ob. 3. What if they be base men Sol. Resist not respect their function not their person their government is the Lords let the Governour be what he will Ob. 4. But what if wee be Christians are we not then the Lords free men Sol. The Gospell is no enemy to the authority of Rulers neither doth spirituall freedome fight against corporall subjection but establish it 2. Christ himselfe was subject to Parents to Governours paid tribute though he was free resisted not when he was apprehended though he was able having strucke them downe by the power of his Word Ob. 5. But what if they be tyrants oppressors and offer violence Ans. Servants must obey even curst Masters In the Primitive Church Christians suffered under tyrants most grievous persecutions yet never rose up or by armes resisted them indeed subjects may by honest and peaceable meanes avoid their fury as David fled from the fury of Saul and if they be inferiour Magistrates appeale to the superior as Paul to Caesar or take the shelter and helpe of Gods lawes but not rebell nor tumult nor mutiny against lawfull authority And this is the generall truth of Gods word as for any speciall references betweene Princes and people in elective states it is unseasonable now to intreat of Ob. 6. But what if they command unjust and wicked things Sol. In this case saith the Homily of obedience the second part we must undoubtedly beleeve that wee must obey no superior but say as the Apostle Whether is it meet to obey God or you judge you In impious commands wee must obey no Ruler all our earthly Masters must bee obeyed in the Lord as knowing wee have a Master in heaven and yet here must bee no resistance or contemptuous standing out for not to obey impious and unjust commands is no resistance of power when they are ready with patience to endure the punishments unjustly inflicted as Paul and Silas Acts 4. 3. and our owne Martyrs Let now no Papistor Popish person say our doctrine is an enemy to Magistracy but let them carry their owne burthens whose Catechismes are the shops of rebellion and whose treatises are trumpets of treason let English fugitives as Absolon beare armour against their owne fathers let Parsons Sanders Allen and other Seminary Priests by word and writing by perswasion and printing blow the bellowes of rebellion â—ad disobedience to Princes in ordine ad spiritualia yet all the world may know our doctrine by our practice whom the Gospel hath long since taught that God hath put an iron rod that is an unresistible power in the hands of Princes and whatsoever Popish persons prattle our doctrine puts no knife into any Ravillac or Feltons hand to revenge himselfe either upon the Supreme or any sent from him for whatever the Actor was in himselfe hee was so farre theirs as he was of opinion that he might by his owne hand revenge either a publike or a private quarrell for this agreeth with Popish positions as that of Reynolds that Henry the third of France was justly slaine before excommunication for publike sorrowes waite no formes and with that Pope Sixtus the fifth his Laudators Oration of the same murder comparing the fact with that of Phinees and honouring it with solemne processions and it standeth with the practises of Romanists which daily declare by Popish practises that the Pope and Popish Religion is the Arch-rebell in the earth the one lifting up himselfe above all that is called God Kings and Emperors the other teaching to despise the persons depose their Crownes and dispose their kingdoms but they cannot name one Protestant that ever stained our doctrine by the practice of such traiterous positions This concernes their place all Rulers are by God taken up to Gods Throne God himselfe hath set up the visible thrones of earthly Princes and Rulers as a darke representatton of his owne most glorious Majesty upon his owne most glorious Throne 2 Chron. 9. 8. Blessed be God who hath set thee on his Throne in stead of the Lord thy God shee saith not on thy Throne but on his where plainly the Kings Throne is Gods Throne Where God is pleased to sit there is his Throne of estate but he pleaseth to sit with them Psalm 82. God sitterh amongst the gods As their Throne is Gods so
must expresse against sinne treading in the steps of our Lord and Master Marke 3. 5. hee looked about him angrily but mourned for the hardnesse of their hearts So mee knesse forbids us not anger against mens sinnes but injoynes us pity and compassion to their persons Wee must hate the workes of the Nicolaitans and bee angry not so much against the men as their wilfulnesse and obstinacy 4. Meeknesse seasoneth zeale and zealous reproofes with Sugar that is some manifestation that the sinner may see himselfe not hated when his sinne is sharply reproved and moderateth it with a readinesse of minde to heale the sinner so soone as he seeth his wound It stints the number of stripes as in the law that they exceed not The Apostle was zealous against the incestuous Corinthian but so that upon his sorrow hee is carefull to comfort him lest hee be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow 2 Cor. 2. 7. Acts 2. 37 38. when they were pricked at their hearts Peter comforts them and Paul the Jaylor Acts 16. 31. And hee that mournes and prayes for his brothers sinne as Christ over Jerusalem and Moses for the Idolatrous Israelites Exod. 32. will rejoyce in nothing more than such a one wonne by the rebukes of the Word and receive him as joyfully as the father his lost sonne returning Well if Ministers must bee faithfull in delivering the legall part of the Word then those Ministers are reproved 1. Who want breath to blow this Trumpet dumbe and unable persons blinde guides and insufficient men who in that place let in a fludgate of sinne and mischiefe amongst the people 2. Such as are more able but as unfaithfull they winke at sinne and will not see it or coldly reprove it as afraid to blow the trumpet too loud for waking the sinner these are farre from making sinners afraid of sinne Should such a trumpet blow and not make men fear Amos 3. 6. Is not Gods word a two-edged sword to pierce the very heart of the sinner and the hammer of God to breake the heart to pieces and will this be done with dallying reproofes as if men were at foynes No no if the Minister can doe it with down-rightblowes hee shall finde them little enough Besides is not sinne growne to a great height and impudency as a disease come to the height of his crisis and is that curable with a gentle remedy No it is the blewnesse of the wound that must purge most evils of this age and the stripes within the bowels of the belly Prov. 20. 30. Add here to that all sinners are not alike for as in a materiall house all stones are not alike some are soft and easily hewed for the building some are of an harder and flinty or marble disposition which require sharpe tooles and strong blowes to frame them to their place so in the house of God some stones are more soft sooner humbled and reformed but most are harder as the Adamant and easily yeeld not to the strokes of the Word lightly to smite these is but to hearten and harden them in sinne 3. Of all other the most mischievous are they in their places that either out of a carelesse and unconscionable coldnesse or out of ayme and desire to please or feare to displease or out of purpose to get applause of being peaceable men or out of base covetousnesse flatter men in their sinnes cloake their knowne evils and dissemble their vilenesse All is well so that it may bee well to themselves all the praises of piety shall guild rotten posts for base hire and reward Oh the sinne of these men is passing great who incourage and uphold men in their wickednesle betray them into the hands of the devill drowne them deeper in the pit of destruction and set their feet on their neckes to keepe them under from ever rising any more whereas they should lend an hand and reach them the line of a faithful reproofe to helpe them out 2. This shewes the corruption of many who cannot abide to heare the threatnings of Gods word Oh our Preachers are so tart and sowre they preach nothing but hell and damnation and seeke to bring men into despaire they cannot abide these Bonarges sonnes of thunder they would faine once change them with â—ome sweet-tongued Prophets and Zidkiahs that will sew pillows under their armes and by their flatteries cause them to erre To these I answer 1. Hee is farre from reforming his sinnes that will not abide them to bee reproved and his heart shall never be pricked with godly sorrow that will not have his sinnes pricked with the sharpe needle of the Law 2. Hee is farre from pardon of his sinnes that will not heare of them David because hee willingly heares of his sinne presently heares of pardon but Herod because hee will not heare Iohn Baptist speake of his sinne never heares of pardon 3. A property of a good heart is to delight in the Law of God in the inner man Rom. 7. 22. and hold it a sweet benefit by it that it still discovers the secret evils which must bee repented of and reformed The joy of a godly soule is to bee anatomized by the Word and searched But hee is a bankrout that cannot abide his estate to be cast up 4. It is a property of soundnesse to justifie the Lord in all his sayings as David did being reproved by Nathan of foule things Psal. 51. 4. A true humble spirit acquainted with repentance will acknowledge that no part of Gods Word can bee so sharply spoken as justly If God bee sharpe in reproving and threatning it will stoupe and say it is most just I have matter enough in me and given cause enough if he threaten me with a thousand hels and damnations When the Lord threatneth Eli with the destruction of his house 1 Sam. 3. 18. hee yeelds himselfe It is the Lord let him doe what seemeth him good When Esay threatneth Hezekiah with the like destruction of his house and state hee yeeldeth 2 Kings 20. 19. The Word of the Lord is good Hee might have beene more severe and brought it in my dayes Mat. 15. 27. Christ calleth the Cannanitish woman dog she justifieth him in his saying and saith Truth Lord I am no better but give me some crummes of mercy If legall doctrine strike thee downe in thy selfe and send thee forth to seeke mercy as she here is a note of soundnesse 5 There is not a more certaine note of a wicked man and hypocrite then to taxe Gods word of too much severity If God threaten Cain for killing Abel oh his punishment is greater then he can beare he could beare an heavier sinne lightly but the punishment and threatning is too heavie Let Iohn Baptist reproove Herod for incest the reproofe is too harsh and heavie he shuts Iohn up in prison So Act. 7. 51. Steven calls the Jewes stiffe-necked uncircumcised resisters of the holy Ghost whereas they should have justified