wonderfull workes of God And whosoeuer shall duely obserue these great workes of God and shall giue him the reuerence that is due vnto his name for the execution of so great iudgments his mouth shal be opened to declare the worke of God he cannot be silent in a day of so good tydings nay he shall not onely speake of what is done but his vnderstanding shal be convinced that it was not the arme of flesh but the Lords owne doing nay he shall further vnderstand the greatnesse of the deliuerance he shall vnderstand sayth the holy Ghost what God hath done And this vse shall euerie one make of great deliuerances But the righteous who onely hath true interest therein when he hath apprehended in his iudgement the greatnesse of this mercie when hee hath attained in some measure to a large knowledge thereof then shall his heart bee enlarged to reioyce-therein and finding it to be the Lords doing which is maruailous in his eyes this shall bee a meanes to make him trust in God and thereby finding his heart vpright vnto the Lord his God hee shall againe reioyce in the greatnesse of his mercie Thus shall the righteous doe whose hearts are vpright in the Lord. Thus shall a great deliuerance bee entertained by them Now that wee may approoue our selues to bee of the number of these hauing thus briefly deliuered the sum of the Scripture let vs turne backe againe and consider the seuerall lessons therein contained that so we may lay them vnto our hearts as they lye in order and make further applicatiō of them to our building vp in Christ Iesus And first let vs consider the policies whereby Rebels and desperat persons so animate themselues in their traiterous practises that they are fearelesse and exceeding presumptuous in the deuising and prosecuting thereof They encourage them selues c. saith the holy Ghost in a wicked purpose That is they vse all outward and carnall meanes to strengthen and confirme them selues therein that so they may not be daunted driuen from their purposes A policie very vsuall among the wicked in plotting of desperate attempts and indeede uery necessary to the effecting thereof For where the conscience of so great euill must needs disharten them there all outward encouragements will proue litle ynough And herein doth appeare the wisedome of the world that what is wanting in the inward approbation shall outwardly be supplied by carnall comforts But aboue all the cunning of Satan is heere most liuely discouered who purposing to bring thē to confusion by these desperate practises doth therefore oppose these outward encouragements to the inward checkes and discouragements of the conscience that so the checks of the conscience might in some sort be counteruailed and therby neglected and the hart being by this meanes hardned and so in the end made past feeling the wicked may break out more desperately in their attempts as being now possessed with a deadly securitie whereby hauing made vp the measure of their sin when they shall say peace and securitie and feare no euill then shall a suddaine destruction come vpon them and they shall not be able to auoide it Loe heare the wisedome of the wicked in this encouraging of themselues and yet behold a further depth of their wisedome in the meanes and manner of this encouragement and yet all tending to their further confusion These meanes I haue obserued to be of two sorts The first are carnall seruing onely to satisfie the flesh but the second are spirituall pretended to satisfie the minde in these lawlesse and monstrous actions and so to giue colour of iustifying the same The Carnall furtherances to these desperate attempts are of diuers sorts First a combining and vniting of forces together by leagues and associations and that for diuers ends First to giue credite vnto their attempts in regard of the multitude secondly to breed terrour of their purposes as proceeding frō so many lastly that what cannot be don secretly may by force openly be maintained So did the nations of the earth band thēselues against the Lord and against his Annointed So did the Tabernacles of Edom cōspire with the Israelites Moab with the Ammonites Gebal Amelech the Philistines and the rest when they sayd Come let vs cut them off frō being a nation let the name of Israel be no more in remembrance So did the enemies of God combine themselues in that vnholy League euen in our age for the rooting out of the poore Church of God And so did that viperous brood thus incourage it selfe by secret leagues and associations at home and abroad to ruinate and destroy vtterly the most excellent estate of the blood Royall the Church and Common wealth And shall the wicked be thus wise in their generation to strengthen themselues in their mischiefes against God and his Church by combining their forces together and shall not wee which are the children of light much more be knit together in the bond of peace that wee may ioyntly bend our strength against the common enemie shall the the shadowes separate vs when the substance is endangered It was a comfortable speech of Iudah vnto Simeon his brother Come vp with me into my lot that wee may fight against the Canaanites and I likewise will goe vp with thee vnto thy lot so saith the spirit Simeon went vp with him So should brethren ioyne together Brethren against the common enemie that his force may be weakned Oh that Simeon and Iudah would thus ioine together for good as Simeon and Leui are brethren in euill Onely let vs be carefull that we be not yoaked vnequally that so our cōiunction being in the Lord it may be blessed of him A second carnall meanes whereby the wicked are encouraged in euill purposes is a gift in the bosome some present pay before hand wherby they are not onely blinded in the true iudgement of their sinne but in regard thereof they are also drawn on to aduenture such punishments as may befall the same So was Balaam attempted to curse the people of God So was Iudas hyred to betray his master So was Lopas enduced to poyson his mistresse so hath the forrain gold deceiued many of our Italianated Diuels Oh that we could be as bountifull to good purposes as these are to bad that wee could be as willing to employ our treasure for the good of the Church as these are open handed for the spoyle thereof that we could be as forward in aduenturing for the sauing of soules as these Pharisies are compassing Land and Sea sparing no paines neither thinking any cost too much to make one of their profession though when hee is made they make him two-fold more the child of hell than they themselues Certainly if we be not the thirtie peeces of siluer shall one day condemne vs and the earings bracelets of the people which
were giuen vp into a reprobate minde whereby they became full of vnrighteousnesse euen because they regarded not to acknowledge God And surely as the professioÌ„ of Poperie is a flat deniall of the power of God as being a voluntarie and perpetuall worship plausible to the sence and agreeable to reason so the practise thereof is nothing else but a maine Sea of impietie framing out iustly it owne shame and confusion Thus hath their spirituall fornication against God and his ordinance brought forth that fruitfull sinne of carnall Fornications and vncleannesses of all sorts And thus hath their desperate rebellion against the Lord against his Annointed exalting themselues aboue all that is called God brought forth that cursed Monster of treason and rebellion against Gods Lieutenant vpon earth It being a certaine consequent that they do not loue God whome they haue not seene who hate their brother whom they see dayly It being a righteous thing with God that their sinne of treason against his Maiestie should be knowne discouered by their treason against the Magistrate that how the Magistrate may bee iustly prouoked to fight against the beast both for the safetie of their estates and for the glorie of God vtterly to destroy the Kingdome of Antichrist Who so is wise let him consider this and in this glasse of Rebellion let him obserue an heart of Atheisme And if this Atheisme be so easily to be discerned in her brood as wee may not looke for grapes of thornes or figges of thistles any better fruit from so cursed a tree so let vs in the name of God disclaime that so Satan which in the root and fruit fights against God and man And discerne wee wisely the truth of that Religion which ioyning God and man so graciously together doth teach vs not to separate those whome God hath ioyned but to maintaine this holy Vnitie euen with the losse of our deerest blood and in the feare of God cleaue we vnspeakably vnto that holy truth which teacheth vs to giue vnto not to take from Caesar the things that are Caesars and vnto God the things that are Gods that so honouring Caesar aright in giuing him his due vnder God wee may vnder Caesar liue a quiet and peaceable life in all godlynesse and honestie And seing there is not a more effectual meanes to prouoke vs to obedience than that the eye of God is continually vpon vs As this was a spurre vnto our aduersaries for their treason against the Lords Annointed that God should not see them so let it bee a continuall motiue of our conscionable obedience vnto God and man namely that the Lord our God looketh continually vpon vs. And that we may not want a liuely euidence for the same let vs onely consider how the Lord watched ouer vs in this deliuerance that if he had been on our side and watched ouer vs when these snares were priuily layd against vs surely they had swallowed vs vp quick when their wrath was kindled against vs. Yea the waters had drowned vs and the streame had gone ouer our soules Oh that this deliueuerance may for euer stoppe the mouth of Athiesme and roote out that cursed brood which exalts it selfe against the Lord. Certainely if the defeature of such mischiefes shall not now open our mouths to acknowledge the power and mercie of God vnto his Church the practise wherof hath opened the mouthes of the wicked to say there is no God Let vs looke that as the Lord hath iustified himselfe against them by deliuering vs out of their hands so will he also iustifie himselfe against vs in laying further punishments vpon vs euen by exposing his people as a pray vnto their enemies that they may learne to giue him the honour that is due vnto his name If the feare of his rodde will not cause vs to depart from euill we shall feele the smart of his holy indignation and the shaking of the rodde shall not serue the turne if by it we haue not returned vnto the Lord our God Oh Lord it is not in man to walke and to direct his steps Turne thou vs vnto thee and then wee shall bee turned For why should the wicked say Where is now our God Why should thy Children complaine that thou hast forsaken them Oh Lord thou art our God from euerlasting and world without end thou hast magnified thy selfe in the sight of our enemies and put to confusion those that hate vs Oh let vs therefore draw nere vnto the Lord our God let vs renew our couenant with thy Maiestie to the finall confusion of our enemies and to the preuenting of all such further mischiefes that they shall practise against vs. It followeth They haue sought out iniquities That is they haue studied and inuented diuers sorts of mischiefes to accomplish thereby more certainely their desires Behold here a third policie of the wicked to supply that which may bee wanting in their former deuise of secrecy that though one plot be discouered another might take place and still another might bee one foote though a former were preuented A verie desperate and most effectuall policie to bring their purposes to passe not only in that this varietie of stratagems tyres out policie and carnall wisedome and puts it to a Non plus in preuenting so many mischiefes but further also great terrour and distraction ceaseth on the hearts of weake ones in regard of such strange and manifold snares yea by this meanes those whom God hath giuen vp to these snares are heere appalled with wofull despaire and so hereby lye open to the snares as hauing giuen ouer all hope to auoide the same We may finde some steps of this corruption euen in the Saints of God When Dauid saw that there was no end of Sauls malice but stil he was followed with new pursuits the holy Ghost signifieth that it wrought this effect in him that he sayd in his feare as des 〈…〉 airing of deliuerance I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul and thereupon beâ—ooke himselfe to a most desperate course euen to flye for succour vnto the enemies of God For where feare doth possesse vs that malâ—ce is endlesse and her mischiefes so many that they cannot be auoided there care will faile vs for the preuenting of them as thinking our labout lost against such vnauoydable snares And so being carelesse in the danger we lye open thereunto and are either betrayed by desperate securitie in the end vnto the same or else seeking to auoide them by vile and impious courses we doe hereby exclude our selues from the protection of the Lord and so cause the malice of our enemy to light more heauily vpon vs. It hath been no new thing with the enemies of God thus to multiply their snares against the seruants of the Most High Infinite was the malice of Saul against the Annointed of the Lord and as was his malice so were his snares accordingly
also to greater blessings as hauing beene faithfull in the lesse If thou shalt with a large eie behold how great things the Lord hath done for thee thou shalt herein behold the greatnesse of the giuer and so thy mouth shall confesse to saluation Great is the Lord and worthy to be praised And if thou shalt wisely behold what God hath done for thee and so shalt giue him the praise that is due vnto his name this shal be a meanes to sharpen thine eie of faith that so thou maist be able to see a farre of And then behold as our Sauiour told Nathaniel Thou shalt see greater things then these yea such which neuer eie saw nor yet euer entred into the heart of man thou shalt here see by faith and hereaftet see face to face This benefit maist thou gaine by beholding the bles sings of God But this is not all For if thou shalt with a single eye looke further into such mercies as God hath bestowed vpon thee thou shalt in the greatnesse of his goodnesse behold thine owne vilenesse then nearer thou approachest vnto God in the apprehension of his mercie the deeper shalt thou wade into the sense of thine owne miserie rottennesse shall enter into thy bones and horror shall possesse thee That is the apprehension of Gods power and great goodnesse shall abase thee in his presence that so thou maist find rest in the day of trouble that so in the sense of thine owne vilenesse acknowledging thy selfe vnworthy of the least of those mercies thou hast aheady receiued thou maist be partaker of further deliuerances Thus shall the beholding of Gods blessing causing thee aright to know thy selfe by them lead thee also to a right vnderstanding of them namely that they are the free gifts of God and not due vnto vs whereby thou shalt happily ouercome the second temptation For now in the glasse of thine owne wretchednesse thou shalt plainely see that whatsoeuer thou hast it is of the free mercie and bountie of thy God thy selfe beeing so sarre from deseruing any good as that indeed nothing is due vnto thee but shame confusion of thy selfe for euer By which as thou shalt bee humbled in the sense of thine owne vnworthynesse and so be both contented with that thou hast and imploy thy Talent in feare and trembling so shalt thou hereby reape these benefits not only that that which thou hast be it neuer so little d shal serue thy turne yea be farre better vnto thee then great riches of the vngodly so long as thou hast the vessell of a thankful heart faithful calling to entertaine and vse the blessings but further also whatsoeuer thou hast being by these meanes sanctified vnto thee it shal be a Pledge vnto thee of that vnchangeable loue of GOD who hauing bestowed these things vppon thee of his meere loue and mercye therefore seeing whom hee loueth he loueth vnto the ende as he hath begunne the worke so hee will perfect it in thee and will not cease following thee with his blessings till he hath made thee perfect in his Sonne Behold here the singular benefit of this dutie of beholding the workes of GOD namely that thereby wee Shal be prepared in some good measure to thank fulnesse Which if wee shall not attaine vnto as all haue not faith to see this spiritually into them yet behold the wonderfull wisedome and power of God in making the wicked heere inexcusable in that they shall not choose but behold the great and gratious workes of GOD and howsoeuer they shall say in their hearts there is no GOD yet with their eyes in these his workes they shall most plainely see him A very notable and effectuall meanes to conuince the Atheisme of the world and such as leaues all vtterly without excuse For though many may pretend ignorance and simplicity that they cannot comprehend GOD in his word yet who can say that hee hath not seene him in his workes what eye can bee shutte at so great a deliuerance what eare will such fearefull iudgements euen make to tingle as do light vpon Traytors Tremble therefore oh thou Atheist at the prouidence of GOD who hath a way to confound thee in thine owne wisedome and very wonderfully to condemne thee in thine owne policies Didst thou say in the depth of thy heart when thou laydest snares against the righteous That no eye should see no not the eye of GOD himselfe Flattering thy selfe in thine owne iniquity That the Lord is hidde in the Clouds and cannot see neither will the GOD of Iacob regard it And didst thou hope hereby to escape scot-free as deceiuing thine owne heart That the Lord will neither doe good nor euill Consider thou vnwise that the Lord will bring his iudgements to light that euery eye may see them and then thou shalt see the eye of God was vpon thee what thou hast Done secretly the Lord will then discouer openly that all men may see it and laugh at thee saying This is the man that tooke not God for his strength but put his strength in his malice and in his mischieuous policies yea thine owne eyes shall see now what before thou wouldest not beleeue That the Lord careth for the righteous but as for the wicked them doth his righteous soule abhor that so though thou continue thy malice against the saints yet now thou shalt not hereafter haue this comfort that thou didest it ignorantly because thou hast seene that God taketh their part and therefore against this reuealed light conuincing thine owne conscience thou shalt hereafter appeare desperately to fight against God Now shalt thou say no more Let him make speed let him hasten his worke that we may see it For thou hast seene the wonderfull iustice and mercie of thy God and if this sight will not appall thee but still thou wilt persecute know then that thou shalt one day see him to thy confusion whome thou hast now pierced in his members when thou shalt wish the mountaines to hid thee that thou maist not see him and yet shalt lie naked before the eye of his iustice by which thou shalt be pierced with eternal sorrows Oh that we would try our selues by these things that seeing the beholding of the workes of God shall condeme the Atheist because he is not able to make a further vse of them whether therfore the c Atheist may not condemne many of vs professors herein who will not vouchsafe the worke of God that entertainment as he hath done If this wonderfull deliuerance of the state and Church of God at this time hath so farre preuailed euen with the profanest enemies as that they haue stood at a gase in the view thereof as somtimes did the people of Israel at the Corpes of Amasa If the very aduersaries themselues haue wondred at the prouidence of GOD in the defeating of these practises
inheritance and exalted themselues in the temple of God aboue all that is called God so that a man would thinke they neede feare no downefall as hauing with Tyrus built their nâ—sts so high Oh but al this honour is nothing vnto them so long as Mordakie wil not bowe vnto them there is a little flocke which is a great â—oâ—â— in their eye as being founded vpon that stone â—â—wen out without hands which as the Lord hath prophesied so their consciences are conuinced withall That it shall breake in peeces whatsoeuer exalteth it selfe against God If Mordakie would bowe to Hamon and the Saints of God worship their God Mauzzim if the corner stone would endure their hay and stubble and such like trumpery then happily it should not bee pushed at And yet by your leaue there is no trusting to them in this case if eyther their be any Opposition against their ambition or their hope of spoile and pillage therby heere the goods of Papists are a like hereticall as those of Hugunots and the most deuoted popelings soonest made their prey so litâ—le do they esteeme religion in respect of their lusts so easily may we may perceiue the cause of all their quarrells And yet that they may not want a visor to deceiue themselues and others religion must be the colour the crosse must be the standard and the Church and Saints of God must goe downe because they are not profitable an aduantage vnto them Thus because the spouse of Christ cannot indure the wages and habite of the harlot because there is no halting betwixt two opinions but wee must stand for God and him alone seeing Dagon cannot stand before the Arke of God and the Kingdome of Christ will certenly confound the purple Strumpet Therefore doeth shee band her selfe with the Kings of the earth against the Lord and against his annointed makes continual war with the Saints of God But wil you see with what Issue Certenly to the exceeding good profit of the church which is continually Watred with the blood of the Martyrs and by these daily afflictions prepared vnto her bridgrome and to the hastening of their own most woeful and vnavoydable destruction For as the blood of the Saints on the one side crying for vengeance hasteneth the wrath of god vpon theÌ„ so the increase of their malice adding to the measure of their sinne doth at the length bring the same to ripenesse that so the sickle of Gods vengeance might bee put in accordingly Maruaile not therefore if the aduersary increaseth his rage against the Saints of GOD for wot you what his kingdome hath receiued his deaths wound and now the only hope is euen desperate wickednesse And shall I now be cast downe when I see them so desperate No saith our Sauiour when you see these things then lift vp your heads for your redemption draweth neere I need no truer a prophet of the destruction of Popery then to obserue how it breaketh out into desperate and most barbarous courses for the maintenance thereof neither neede I other weapons to vphold a righteous cause then what the malice of mine enemie shall minister vnto me Onely let vs bee wise to make this vse of these weapons as Hezakiahs did of the letters of Rabshacks let vs not answere these fooles according to their foolishnesse let vs not feare their feare nor fret against their mallice but let vs in the name of God commend the cause vnto God let vs bee sure that for his sake wee suffer these reproches that for him it is we are appointed as sheepe for the slaughter let vs not cast a way our confidence which hath so greate hope of reward but in patience possesse our soules reseruing vengeance for the Lord and committing our selues in well dying into the handes of our faithfull creator and then let vs looke vndoubtedly that hee that is comming will come in the needefull time the snare shal be broken and wee deliuered and our enemies shall full into the pit which they haue digged for vs. Let vs now in a word examine our selues by this second effect of Gods wonderful mercies namely that all men shal declare the worke of God We haue heard how they do open the mouthes of the wicked not onely to acknowledge the greatnesse of the worke but to giue testimony also vnto the power of the workeman yea further to approue the innocency of the saints and lastly to prophecy of the deliuerance of the rightrous and their owne confusion wee haue also heard howe they doe open the mouthes of the saints not onely to cheare vp one another in the worship of GOD and to be confirmed in the sincerity thereof but further to acknowledge the righteous power of God and to prophecy vnto themselues the continuance of Gods mercie for the time to come Uerily there is a reward for the righteous that is the Lord hath stored vp a full recompence for them in that great day Let vs by this make triall howe our mouthes haue beene opened with this greate deliueraunce which GOD hath bestowed vpon vs that so hereby wee may haue matter to discerne our estate surely this worke of God hath beene so wonderfull that if wee should bould our peace the very stones would speake thereof and therefore it is to bee feaâ—ed that the stones one day will rise vp in Iudgement against many whose mouthes haue either beene shut vp as being confounded therewith or opened blasphemously to the dishonour of God so did that bloudie monster open his mouth indeed but it was to the high dishonour of the Almightie when he said that it was not God but the deuill that disclosed so desperate a treason as thinking that God would not hinder so good a worke I pray God he haue not many fellowes thus desperately blinded If any such Athiests or Rebels shall thus open their mouthes against heauen for the discouery of this mischiefe as if their God had deceiued them and so now they will no longer stay vpon him I wish if they belong not vnto the Lord my heartie prayer is that they may bee so deceiued still that that God whom they will not honor in their obedience to his substitute may be honoured in their iust confusion from his presence for euer If any common discourses shall be put into new matter hereby to fill vp the newes at a Table or else where to get himselfe credit and giue others contentment I enuie him not neither doe I forbid him whether it be of enuie or strife vaine glory or vanitie whether of pretence sincerely that this worke be spoken of therein I ioy and therein I will ioy as knowing it shall redound to Gods glory and the good of such whom it doth concerne And I doe wish that all men may speake of this wonderfull worke of God that so God may haue the glory in that all gâ—ue testimonie therevnto and
Nowe that thou maiest haue a testimony that thy heart is purged by this meanes obserue herein the operation of the word vpon thee hath the word broken thy heart and sent thee out of thy selfe causing thee to hunger after Iesus Christ Behold he that inuites the broken heart to come vnto him and promiseth our release of that heauy burden is now ready to entertaine thee and will reioyce thy heart by his gratious presence Nowe shalt thou bee at peace with God and reioyce in the spirit and this ioy shall no man take away Art thou in Christ Iesus rooted grounded in him now shalt thou grow vp in newnesse of life If thy heart beleeue to righteousnesse thy mouth shall also confesse to saluation and thy whole life shal be a sacrifice of obedience vnto GOD. Thou shalt be zealous for thy GOD without guile in thy calling humble in thy carriage patient in thy troubles tender hearted vnto thy brethren charitable vnto thine enemies Constant shalt thou be in thy profession and yet fearefull of thy standing Thou shalt reioyce in the Saints and be grieued at the wicked obedient shalt thou be vnto authority yet preferre God before men desirous of death in respect of thy sin and yet willing to liue in respect of others not standing at a stay in these things but still growing in grace not wedded to the world but stil waining thy selfe from it that so in the end thou maiest be deliuered out of the same Thus shalt thou be able to try the soundnesse of thy heart by the meanes and seuerall fruits thereof and thus if thy heart bee right shalt thou reioyce in Gods mercies as being very gratious recoÌ„pences of thy syncerity in this life and very vndoubted pledges vnto thee of euerlasting happines in the life to come Euen so Lord may all that are true in heart reâ—oyce in thy mercies which thou hast shewen vnto vs in this great deliuerance as in an vndoubted euidence that thou art yet good vnto Israel so also a certaine assurance that thou wilt neuer faile vs nor forsake vs but will deliuer thy Church out of all her troubles That the assurance hereof quieting our hearts in thee wee may not bee troubled with any euill tidings but continuing constant in our holy profession euen in the greatest rage of all thine and our aduersaries we may cheerefully runne the race that is set before vs that hauing fought the good fight of faith ha uing finished our course we may in thy good time reape the fruit of our labours and being taken away from the euils to come may for euer be ioyned with our head Christ Iesus To whom with thine owne maiesty and God the the blessed spirit be rendred and ascribed of vs and of thy whole Church all honour praise dominion power and maiestie with all humble and hearty thanksgiuing now and for euermore Amen FINIS VVicked suddaine and and fearelesse in treasons Because they vse many policies thereunto In that this sin beeedeth feare 1. Sam. 24. 2. Sam. 1. 15. Foure Policies of the wicked to giue them encouragement in their mifchiefes 1. Leagues and Confederacies 2. Secrecie 3. Varietie of Plots 4. Confidence and presumption of good successe The godly on the contrarie feare the worst These contrary effects make away to the manifestation of Gods mercy and iustice Psa. 50. 15. 1. Thes. 5. 3. VVhich is most wonderfully discouered in coÌ„founding these seuerall policies of the wicked 1. Their deliberat plotting is confounded by sudden defeature 2. Their manifold snares with one terrible blow Psa. 12. 4. 4. Their Confederacies scattered Here followeth the vse that is made thereof 1. Generall All men shall see it 2. Shall declare it 3. Vnderstand it to be Gods doing 2. Particular to the saints 1. To reioyce 2. To trust in God 1. Obseruation The wicked strengthen and encourage theÌ„selues in their wickednesse and why 4. Ephes. 19. 1. Thess. 5. 3. Two sorts of meanes wherby the wicked doe encourage themselues Carnall and they are two Leagues and Confederacies Psa. 2. 2. Psa. 83. 3. So let vs strengthen our selues against theÌ„ Iudg. 1. 3 2. Carnall meanes are gifts and rewardes Leut. 16. 19. Num. 22. 18. Mat. 26. This teacheth libe ality to good purposes Mat. 23. Least the wicked condemn vs. Math. 26. Exod. 32. A third carnall meanes is hope of Honor prefermeÌ„t Genes 3. 45. 3. Ioh. 9. Use. 1. 2. Teaching vs to seeke heaueÌ„ as carefully in wel-doing as these hunt sha dowes with sinne 2. Cor. 14. 17. Least otherwise they be our Iudges Spirituall encouragements to resolue the conscience Being indeed but strong delusions of Satan 2. Cor. 4. 1. Thess. 3. Esay 5. 1 Rom. 28. Ioh. 16. 2. And Antichrist 1 That it is lawfull 2. Nay meritorious 3. Of extraordinarie glorie to murther Princes 1. Iustified by Buls 2. Dispensations And bound thereto 1. By Oathes 2. Vowes 3. Sacrament Learne hence to haue the conscience rightly informed Rom. 14. 1 By the word 2. Thess. 3. 2 And obediâ— therevnto 2. Thess. 2. Take wee heed of such cloakes and feare wee not such curses Psa. 910. 28. But detest wee the religion and power of Roome A second poli cy of secrecit Rom. 13. 12. Ioh. 3. 20. That which sinne delights in Mat. 25. To auoyd shame Ioh. 24. And punishment That which Satan espeâ—iaâ—â— labours either That notheing punished here may receiue it wages in bell Treshams Letter to the Lord Mounteagle As did the Iewes And so doe our aduersaries carrie their mischiefs secretly 1. Least they which professe humilitie should openly be taxed with pride and ambition 2. Least they which professe holinesse should be openly charged with such horrible impietie That they delight in secrecie appeareth in their weapons In the manner of their inquisition Their incorporating of their Canon law into the lawes of nations To cloake their wickednes by lawes of the state Their secrecieâ— further is discouered in their weapoÌ„ns VVhich are 3. 1 Sorcerie 2. Poysoning 3. Gunpowder Prooued by their weapon of poysoning In the tempering thereof that it may not kill speedilie Infecting holy things therewith that so not s 〈…〉 specting danger wee might be the sooner and yet more secretly deceiued Learne here by the way what account and to what vse seâ—ue their holy things Proued se 〈…〉 oÌ„dly by their weapons of Gunpowder And thirdly by thei 〈…〉 weapons of secrecy and enâ—hauntments So haue they labour ed secretlie when the fact is done to auoyd the hatred punishment 1 Here the cloakes are pretences of religion 2 Impudent denying and forswearing 3 Threatning 4. Refusing of oathes 5. changing of our names 6. apparell 7. Putting on of Visors 8. Laying the fault on the weakest and accusing true religion so the fact of supersâ—â—tion Psa. 75. 1. Psa. 18. 52. 1 Learne here not to iudge by the shew but the substance 2 Nor to feare their secrecie Psa. 27. 5. 3 So
A Brand taken out of the Fire Or The Romish Spider with his Webbe of Treason Wouen and Broken together with The seuerall vses that the World and Church shall make thereof Gathered out of the 64. Psalme Psal. 112. vers 18. This shall be written for the generations to come and the people that are created shall praise the Lord. AT LONDON Printed by G. Eld for Iohn Hodgets and are to be sould at his shop in Paules Church-yeard 1606. To the High and excellent Princesse ELIZABETH eldest Daughter to our Soueraigne Lord IAMES by the grace of God of Great Britaine France and Ireland King defendor of the faith MOst gracious Princesse vouchsafe I pray you the remembrance of that blessing the enioying whereof I doubt not was exceedingly welcome vnto you And let your fauourable acceptance pardon the boldnes of the remembrancer who hauing nothing of his owne worthy to congratulate your Highnesse comming vnto our Cittie hath beene glad to take the oportunitie of that gift which the Lord hath bestowed vpon you in this great deliuerance and to present you with the remembrance of your owne renewed estate For as in this deliuerance whatsoeuer you are or haue is newly giuen vnto you your most renowned Father and Princely Mother your louing brethren and tender sister yourselfe all all new gifts euen newly created by this great worke of God so is this remeÌ„brance a renuing of this great deliuerance as reuiuing the worke daily vnto you prouoking you thereby to answer it in newnes of life Accept therefore I beseech you most excellent Lady the reuiuing of that worke by which you are that which you are that so it may further you to that which by Gods mercy you shal be And to this end shall my vowes and praiers be renued vnto our God for you And so I humbly commend your Grace to the grace of God Your Graces most bounden Thomas Cooper To the right Honourable the Lord Harington and his most vertuous Ladie RIGHT HONOVRABLE seeing the Lord hath ioyned you both in the benefit of this great deliuerance therefore haue I beene emboldened to ioyne your Honours also in this remembrance thereof Though I doe not say with the Iewes concerning the Centurion that you are worthy of this blessing yet I may safely say what Peter did of the other Centurion that herein hath the Lord remembred your loue vnto the Gospell and care vnto his Saints My hearts desire is that this deliuerance may encrease these blessings vnto you that so you may grow vp from grace to grace 'till you attaine vnto the full measure of the age of Iesus Christ to whose blessed protection I commend your Honours and your Princely Charge And so I humblie take my leaue Your Honours in all dutie Thomas Cooper To the Right Worshipfull my Christian friends and Auditors maister Mayor of Couentrie Maister Arch-deacon the Iustices Maister Steward All those of the Councels together with All that doe vnfainedly loue the Lord Iesus and do long after his glorious appearance RIght Worshipfull two causes there are which haue moued me to put forth these plaine and vnpolished meditations the one is the generall good which we haue all receiued from the hand of our gracious God in this late great deliuerance of Prince and people Church and common-wealth from that bloudie and hellish practise of our desperate aduersaries the other is that particular good which I haue receiued from you since my comming among you Concerning the common good which we haue all beene partakers of surely it hath beene such and so great as that if we should holde our peace the very stones would speake And therfore that they may not be a witnesse against me I haue in your hearing spoken of this deliuerance And because it is required that we should not onely declare the worke of God but commend it also by writing vnto the generations to come therfore haue I taken this further paines to commit to writing such notes as I haue obserued concerning this great worke that they may be trials of our present thankefulnesse for the blessings receiued and furtherances also to strengthen our faith and establish our posteritie that they may waite vpon the Lord in the affiance of the like mercies And the rather haue I beene incouraged herevnto by that particular good which from time to time since my comming among you I haue receiued from you that so it might be some pledge of my thankefulnesse vnto you for the same I may well say you haue comforted my body and my soule not onely my outward man when I was a stranger to you and by reason of the visitation of my familie in some affliction A kindnesse which by Gods mercy I shall not faile to leaue recorded to posteritie when opportunitie shall serue but specially my soule and inward man in beholding your Order and loue vnto the Gospell Which though it hath made you stincke in the Nostrels of the common aduersarie yet hath this sauour of your oyntmens caused the Saints to loue you yea the hatred of your enemies hath the Lord recompenced with such extraordinary pledges of his fauour As that you haue not onely your liues liberties giueÌ„ you for a prey but further also the Lord hath honoured your Cittie with the presence and protection of a gracious Princesse not onely by making your Cittie an harbour for a season vnto that royall branch but thereby in mercy opening a way if you shall accept it by so comfortable a protection to the strengthening continuance of your holy libertie in the waies of God And surely if you shall not vse your libertie as an occasion to the flâ—sh if the dead flies of hypocrisie and luke-warmnesse shall not corrupt that pretious ointment but you shall strengâ—hen that which is ready to die and doe the first workes and continue therein you shall vndoubtedly be a sweete swelling sauour in the nostrils of the Lord and so not onely haue your Cittie blessed with the dew of heauen and fatnesse of the earth but by the mercie of God you shall be lead forth in your most holy faith to receiue the ends therof euen the saluation of your soules Which as I do heartily sigh and long after so haue I to this end thought fit to stirre vp your pure mindes by these meditations that you might haue somewhat of mine with you as a pledge of my thankefulnesse vnto you for your loue towards me and a Spurre to prouoke and continue our thankefulnesse vnto God for his wonderfull mercies renued and continued vnto vs in this great deliuerance and that herein I may free my selfe from imputation of vanity and negligence which may happily arise from the strangenesse of the Title and plainenesse of the matter giue me leaue I pray you to yeeld you reasons of them both Concerning the Title my purpose is therein to discouer the nature of our aduérsaries who would haue done vs so great euill A very cursed
they would remember how Ieroboam was smitten euen when he stretched out his hand to smite that they would remeÌ„ber the suddaine hand-writing with sauced Belshazzers sacriligious banquet Surely though sudden vengeance did not meet with vs in this life yet did we remember that for all theise things we must come to iudgment and that our iudgmeÌ„t shall come suddenly in the hower that we know not It would make vs be watchfull euen euery hower that so though it be sudden yet it may not be sudden vnto vs as being ready prepared in some measure therevnto And seeing the suddenes of a iudgment breedes great distractioÌ„ takes away time of councell or resolution as this should teach vs not to be afraid of sudden death If so be that we haue been by an holy life prepared therevnto neither to censure others for dying suddenly seeing wee haue sufficient testimony of their former liues so it should be a very fayre warning vnto vs not to put of our repentance vnto the time of our deathes least the horrour and suddenes of that messenger distract vs in our reckoning and so we be surprised before we haue made euen with our God And seing the suddeÌ„nes of a iudgment is herein onely a note of Gods wrath in that it findes the wicked vnprepared thervnto as we are therefore not to pray further against suddaine iudgments then that they may not finde vs vnprepared so are we not to distrust of Gods mercie though we be suddenly met with all if so be that our soules haue formely been prepared to temptations Onely we may rather wish if it so please the Lord to see the plague before it cometh that so fearing therod we may depart from euill and therby either remooue or sanctifie the iudgment vnto vs. Certainly as confindence in sinne makes euery iudgment suddaine so feare in the sence of our iniquities preparing vs to the end doth thereby effect that no scourge shal be sudden vnto vs As for the the wicked it is not so with them their confidence in sinne makes them secure and their security breedes a sudden iudgment And thus doth the Lord confound their wisedome in consulting and deliberating aduisedly of their mischiefs against the saints by comming vpon theÌ„ with his sudden iudgments But this is not all For though the iudgment be sudden and so take them vnprepared yet it may be slow and moderate and so giue theÌ„ time of preparation euen while the scourge is vpon them To preuent this the holy Ghost addeth that their stroake shall be at once That is their Iudgment shal be as speedie in executing as it was sudden in surprising that so not taking time before to prepare themselues now the swiftnesse and greeuousnesse of the Plague may take away time of preparation afterward and so conuincing iustly their former abuse of the time past doth thereby exclude them from all hope of mercie for the time to come yea this speedinesse of the iudgement implying also the sharpenesse and terrour of it doth hereby make to their greater confusion as being not able to vndergoe so extreame a scourge Their stroakes shall be at once Behold heere a second point of Gods wisedome and power in the punishments of the wicked hee will bee a swife witnesse against them to take them in their sinne and take away from them oportunitie of repentance that so his wrath may be powred out in full measure vpon them Surely a most holy and righteous course not onely hereby to confound their policie in deuising many snares as seeing them now all broken as it were with one stroake but further also to consume such fearefully who thought all plagues too little against the Annointed of the Lord. So doth the Lord threateÌ„ the wicked as with sudden so with speedie Iudgements vpon the wicked saith the holy Ghost he shall raine snares fire and brimstone and stormie tempest this is the portion of their cuppe all which are both sudden and speedie plagues making quicke riddance where once they take hold So hath the Lord executed from time to time when once the date of his patience hath been expired towards them So was hee long before hee reckoned with the oldworld an hundred and twentie yeares time gaue hee them to make vp their account but when he came to Iudgement in lesse than halfe a yeare did hee accomplish his fierce wrath and swallowed vp in that short time excepting onely righteous Noah and his children together with the other vnreasonable creatures that were reserued for future generation euen all the Nations and creatures of the earth So did the Lord deale with Sodâ—me and Gomorrha he rayned vpon them fire and brimstone and so with one stroake made a full end of them so that affliction did not arise the second time And howsoeuer he deales not generally thus with all sorts of sinners yet because the sinne of Treason is a monstrous and capitall offence neerely touching his Maiestie as challenging his power and spurning at his gouernement therefore hath he vsed to meet with this sin aboue all others in this fearefull and speedie manner So did hee iustifie his seruant Moses in that propheticall challenge which hee made against these desperate Rebels Corah Dathan and Abiram putting it to this tryall for the approbation of his calling that if these men died the common death of all men then the Lord had not spoken by him the Lord I say iustified herein the authoritie of his seruant and confounded their vnnaturall Rebellion by a strange and woonderfull iudgement answerable thereunto For as they were vnnaturall and would not endure a superiour ouer them so the earth became vnnaturall and would no longer endure their burthen but euen left her soliditie to swallow vp such monsters and so conueyed them iustly to the Dominion of hell who would not endure that power which was from heauen So did the Lord meete with that rebellious Absolon by as strange and speedie a iudgement answerable to his sinne making the crowne of his pride his long beautifull haire to be the halter to hang him vp betwixt heauen earth suddenly was he caught vp and speedily was he dispatcht by another who in that murther happily made way for his owne ambition and also for the like fault dranke after of the cup of vengeance Oh that the enemies of gouernement would consider this that in the depth of their consultations to lay many snares for others they would remember that one stroake of Gods vengeance would be too heauie for them Surely the consideration of this that they are not able to endure the wrath of God would bridle and qualifie their malice against the Lords Annointed and mooue them contrarywise to heartie and cheerefull obedience vnto man that so therby they might regaine the fauor of God Certainely if they say in their hearts there is no God and therefore
fearfull hand of God vpon them shal be roused hereby out of his former security and seeing his owne sinne in the glasse of their vengeance shall feare the rod which lights so heauily vpon them and fly for his life to auoid the same So do the iudgments of God scatter the deuises of the wicked So do they also awake and terrifie others that are subiect to like notorious sinnes Thus when the Captain of the host of Israell had executed the wrath of God vpon some part of those accursed Canaanites the holy Ghost witnesseth that the feare of him fell vpon all the nations round about who being guilty of the same sins did therefore expect the like iudgments and so in a desperate manner exposed them selues therevnto So when the Champion of the Philistines was cut of by the Lords warriour the holy Ghost witnesseth that the Philistines fled and were dispersed And this to haue been the effect of great iudgments vpon the enemies of God the holy Ghost witnesseth in their seuerall coÌ„fusions Yea thus haue the iudgments of God from time inflicted vpon malefactors been the meanes to awake others and so to terrifie them that haue been guilty of the same sinnes that by some token or other either by flying or blushing by complaining or pytying by iustifying or such like they haue verie wonderfully betrayd them selues and so haue exposed them selues to the like iudgments So were the companies of these rebells scattered when once the head of their treason was broken so did they further each other to their iust confusion A most wise righteous course of Gods proceeding against the wicked that they which wil not be ioined with God but say let vs breake his bandes and cast away his cords from vs should not haue any durable socyety among theÌ„selues that they which abuse society to fight against God and his church might want the comfort of society when they haue most neede thereof and be scattered from each other for their more speedy apprehension confusion who haue labored to dissolue the coÌ„munion of the saints Euen so oh Lord let all the enemies be scattered that such as belong to thee being thus disapoynted in their carnall fellowship may seeke to be members of that body of thy sonne which no malice of Satan shall euer be able to seperate Obserue wee here first the wonderfull power of God by confounding the strength of the wicked in this banding and combining of them selues against the godly and learne we that their is no councell nor confederacy against the Lord Nay though the wicked shall make a league with death and be at an agreemont with hell it selfe though Satan and all his legions should conspire with them against his little flocke yet when the Lord shall lay iudgment to the rule righteousnes to the ballance their conuenient with death shal be dissolued and their agreement with hell shall not stand Let vs not therefore be seduced to cast in our lot with the wicked let it not encouradge vs to sinne because many go the broade way seeing as multitude of offenders doth increase the sin so doth it further the punishment due thervnto as prouoking so many instruments to the executioÌ„ of vengeaÌ„ce as there are miserable partakers in the greeuousnes of the sinne If we desire to haue comfort in societie let vs haue fellowshipp with our God by the obedience of faith let our delight be in the saints that are on earth So when the wicked fly are scattered fearefully we shall see the vengeance that hath iustly ouertaken theÌ„ yea this righteous hand of God in dispersing the wicked shall be the meanes to confirme knitt vs comfortably together that we may go vp into the house of the Lord to sing prayses vnto his name Thus when the Lord shal be beneficiall vnto me then saith the prophet the righteous shall resort vnto my company who before stood a farre of for feare of my plague Yea when the Lord shall returne the captiuitie of Sion this shall further be a means of the encrease of the church Then saith the spirit shall ten men take hold out of all languages euen take hold of the skirt of him that is a Iew and say we will go with you for wee haue heard that God is with you Thus as the confounding of the practices of the wicked shal be a meanes to scatter and disolue their confideracies so the deliuerance of the church shal be a furtherance to the gathering againe of the dispersed of Israell that they may behold and conferre of what the Lord hath done for them and so be prouoked to ioyne together in due thankfullnes vnto his Maiesty for the same For so it followeth The third part of the Treatise conteining the vse of these workes 9 All men shall see it and declare the worke of God and they shall vnderstand what he hath wrought 10 But the righteous shall be glad in the Lord and trust in him and all that are vpright of heart shall reioyce WHich two verses being the conclusion of the Psalme doe lead vs to diuers vses which are to be made of such wonderfull Deliuerances which the Lord performeth vnto his seruants all tending to expresse true thankfulnesse vnto God for the same The first whereof is All men shall see it That is first whereas the eyes of men were blinded in the knowledge of God now this wonderfull deliuerance shall open the eies of all not onlie the carnall eyes of the wicked to see God in these workes but further also the spirituall eye of his Saints and deerest seruants which being much dimned and dâ—rkened with such clouds of afflictions as haue lien heauily vpon them and growne hereby euen to doubt of the eye of God prouidence ouer them as if he had forsaken and vtterly reiected them Now being deliuered and pluckt out of the snare the eye of their faith is hereby cleared the eye of their iudgement more setled in the assurance of Gods protectioÌ„ And as men rauished with the strangnesse of the deliuerance their eyes are set and fastned thervpon that so their faith may be more strongely rooted in God yea they doe euen feed their eyes with the contemplation thereof that so their faith may be nourished thereby yea they can neuer satisfie themselues in beholding so wonderfull a mercy that so the minde being thoroughly possessed therewith they may neuer satisfie themselues in thankefulnesse for the same which as it is the end and vse of all Gods mercies euen to take vp the cup of saluation and to giue thanks unto the name of the Lord for the same So shal we find this beholding of Gods wonderfull mercies to be a most effectuall meanes to further the same whether we consider those temptations that doe hinder thankefulnesse vnto God or such meanes as doe vsually further the accomplishment thereof The temptations that doe hinder
thankefulnesse are two want of vnderstanding how God hath done for vs and secondly misunderstanding and misconstering of the benefits of God either in the nature of theÌ„ as if all were done of duetie and merit and not of free grace and mercy or in the measure of them as if we knew best what was fit for vs then God himselfe The former is a disuse generall vnto those that enioy great blessings man being in honour hath no vnderstanding but may be compared to the beasts that perish the other is more g speciall vnto those that thinke they haue best right and make the best vse of theÌ„ as our meritmongers wil-worshippers of al sorts By the one whereof wee shal be so blinded that we cannot see how God hath done for vs by the other wee shal be peruerted as not to knowe what wee againe are to do for God Yf our mindes shal be so blinded as not vnderstand what God hath done for vs this disease wil be known by these symptomes and accidents h First though God hath reuealed his loue towards vs euen in all the blessings which our hearts haue desired yet will wee say impudently wherein dost thou loue vs acknowledging nothing of what the Lord hath done vnto vs Secondly if in some sort wee shall apprehend the goodnesse of God yet shall we be so blinded on the right way with the loue of these earthly thinges as that though wee haue and may farther be pertakers of spirituall graces yet shall wee account these as nothing in respect of the comforts of this life but with prophane Esau resolue what is this birthright vnto me seeing I die for hunger as seeing onely with the left eye into the blessings of the left hand still shall we crie out with those carnall beasts who will shew vs any good as if there were no good but the goods of this life as if all spirituall comforts were nothing vnto vs seeing wee wanted our bellies full of these hidden treasures A verie dangerous temptation incident to our carnall ghospellers who measuring the Lord principally by the things of this life are so affected and satisfied therewith that hauing these things they take it as a sufficient pledge of Gods fauour towards them but wanting the same they by and by murmuer and repine against the Lord as if hee had at all shewed them no good Yf therefore God giue them their desire as he did the Israelits concerning the body so farre as they see him and yet send leanenesse into their souâ—es not giuing them that which they see not nor seeke after as surely as God is not vniust in giuing them herein more then their hearts can desire so they must needs be inexcusable in that hauing asmuch nay more then indeede they sought for they would not seeke yet for more of that bountifull hand which was not wanting to giue but that they wanted faith to receaue A third token of not vnderstanding what God hath done for vs is our forgetfulnesse of such benefits which are dayly bestowed certaine it is that the mercies of the Lord are renewed euery morning and yet who is there that makes vp his audite therof once in the weeke nay may we not be iustly charged with thâ—s that God is not so ready to giue as we to forget hee not so forward in bestowing as we in burying his blessings in forgetfulnesse And is not this to forget the goodnesse of God all one as if wee did not vnderstand it nay surely we shall find it to lie more heauily vpon vs in that this forgetfulnesse both implies some apprehension of them and therefore makes vs more inexcuseable then if wee had not vnderstood them at al and so exposing vs most desperately vnto all impietie doth thereby hasten the wrath of God vpon vs. Thus may wee faile in the vnderstanding of the good that God hath done for vs and by meanes hereof wee lye open to two dangerous euils the one whereof is that not apprehending the good which we receiue we shall not be able to make vse of any good but as the Prophet Ieremie tels vs we shal be like the heath in the wildernesse neither being able to see when any good commeth and so not able to make any profitable vse thereof by which meanes proouing vnprofitable seruants we shall be subiect to a second iudgement not onely to haue such tallents taken from vs but in steed thereof as the Prophet Esaiah threatneth Seeing when mercie is shewed vnto the wicked he will not learne righteousnesse but in the land of quitie hee will doe wickedly and doth not consider the greatnesse of Iehouah therefore thus saith the holy Ghost Seeing they will not see oh Iehouah when thy hand is exalted to their good therefore they shall see and bee confounded with the zeale of thy people and the fire of thine enemies shall deuoure them Thus shall it befall those that will not behold the mercies of GOD to bee stirred vp thereby to thankefull obedience for the same if they shutte their eyes against Gods blessings the Lord will open them with his iudgements and they shall see in the day of Iudgement GOD the Aâ—enger which will not acknowledge him their great rewarde Wouldest thou therefore auoide that sight of Gods vengeance which shall spiritually blind thee that so thou maiest be oppressed with the horror of it and it shall necessarily open thine eyes that thou maiest bee the more confounded with the sense of thine owne miserie Oh then learne to beholde the good that is present with thee First if Gods hand bee exalted in fauour vpon thee if the eye of his prouidence hath waited ouer thee for thy deliuerance if hee haue not onely bestowed great blessings vpon thee but renewed them daily vnto thee by preuenting and remoouing the euills which might haue taken them away oh cease not againe againe to renew those streames of Gods mercies which he hath powred out vnto thee that they may lead thee to the fountaine so quite thee therein Certenly as the workes of God are worthy this dutie that they should be regarded so do they aboundantly herein requite the same in that the inuisible things of God namely his eternall power and godhead seene in the creation of the world beeing considered in his works do shew the glory of his kingdome speake of his power If therfore thou shalt not slightly passeouer the mercies of thy God but shalt take a full view of them as their worth doth require they shall be so manye teachers to instruct thee in the knowledge of thy God that so thou mayest acknowledge him the giuer of them yea they shal further lead thee to a knowledge of thy self that so finding thy selfe vnworthy of the least of Gods mercies thou maist both be humbled in the gift so giue glory to the giuer and aduanced
and bin compelled to acknowledge his power therein if they haue abhorred disclaimed the same outwardly with an vtter detestation nay if God haue so opened some of their eies hereby that in the glasse of this iniquity they haue seene the Mistery of Popery and so either for Feare as sometimes did the heathen vpon a like occasion or for conscience haue seene the trueth and imbrace it Certenly these shal one day rise vp in iudgement against vs if we shall eyther bury in forgetfulnesse or depraue in malice or in enuie diminish if either we shall for feare conceale or in policie suppresse this great power of God Nay if wee shall not be confirmed in the trueth by such wonderfull mercies of God if these shall not be meanes to make 〈◊〉 detest popery and no longer to glose with it which are thus able to turne the hearts of our enemies let vs looke that they shal depriue vs of the benefit of this deliuerance and reape the haruâ—st which God hath sowed for vs well let thus teach vs not to come short of an Atheist least otherwise he goe before vs in the kingdome of heauen If the Lord exalt his wonderfull workes vpon vs let vs be lifted vp in the name of God to a due contemplation of them that so beholding the mercie and Iustice of God in the same our eies may be messengers vnto the the mouth to speake of the wonderfull workes of GOD. Certenly if the eye hath effectually conueyed the obiect to the heart to affect it therewith the heart like a full vessell which cannot hold out of it aboundant apprehension will informe the mouth to declare vnto others the wonderfull workes of God and as Andrew when hee had seene his Sauiour could not holde his peace but hee must needes goe tell Simon that he had seene the Messiah that he also might be partaker of him so shall the thorough view of such mercies which the Lord hath bestowed vpon thee open thy mouth to declare them vn to others that they also may come and see how gratious the Lord is and together with thee may bee partakers of his mercies For so it followeth And declare the worke of God Behold heere a second effect of great deliuerances they shall open mens mouthes to speake thereof And that for two endes both that the righteous confessing and acknowledging the worke of God might hereby performe some parte of thankefulnesse for the same the reprobate being thus compelled to acknowledg the greatnesse of Gods mercy vnto his Church might the more be conuinced in that they will not be reconciled to the same so saith the holy Ghost concerning the poore man that is deliuered They shall looke vppon him and runne to him and their faces shall not to ashamed saying a This poore man cried and the Lord heard him and saued him out of all his troubles by the contemplation of Gods mercy vnto his seruant they shall now bee encouraged to come vnto him who before stood a farre of for feare of his plague and now ioying with the redeemed of the Lord they shall concurre with him in acknowledging the mercies of the Lord yea saith the spirit they shal not now be ashamed and confounded as if he had beene deuoured they might haue had cause but one the contrary they shal be confirmed in their calling by the experience of this deliuery of his seruant and be comforted by the same euen in the like occasion of their owne that they shal be partaker of the like mercies So when the righteous shall see the vengaunce thus inflicted vpon the wicked and shall see himselfe escaped thus out of the snare and the wicked falne thereunto he shall say verily their is a reward for the righteous that is not one but all the righteous shal be recompensed by the Lord yea hee shall collect from the experience of this deliueraunce in hand that their is a reward for the righteous yet in store a full deliuerance out of all troubles So with the Apostle Paul in the like case wheÌ„ he had witnessed how the Lord had deliuered him in the 17. ver that he concludes in the 18. And the Lord shall deliuer mee from euery euil worke and will preserue me vnto his heauenly kingdome And as the righteous shall say thus for the comfort of his soule so shall he further say to the glory of his God doubtlesse their is a God that Iudgeth the earth out of question the iudge of all the world will doe right in deliuering the soules of his seruants and clothing his enemies with perpetuall shame and confusion Thus shall the mercies of God open the mouthes of his children to giue him the glory and to comfort themselues in the meditation thereof And thus also shall the mouthes of Atheists be opened by the same that their mouthes may be for euer stopped and confounded thereby at that great day so witnesseth the spirit concerning the deliueraunce of the Iewes out of the captiuity that the verie Heathen spake thereof and said the Lord had donne great thinges for them to their iust confusion who yet refused to ioyne with them so haue the Aduersaries beene compelled to confesse that the Lord hath Fought for vs to their greater confusion who yet afterward would fight against God Nay behold here a further meanes to the confusion of the wicked When the Lord had deliuered his seruant Daniell from the iawes of the Lyons the sight of so wonderfull a worke did so affect that heathen Monarch as that hee not onely proclaimes the power of God but further also enioynes by a solemne edist that the GOD of Daniel shall be reuerenced and acknowledged and yet all this to his further condemnation because Idolatry was yet continued and maintayned And so no doubt haue our aduersaries abroad and enimies at home beene enforced to speake of Gods wonderfull mercies towards vs. And yet behold a further meanes herein for the condemnation of the wicked When Saul obserued the admirable prouidence of God not onely in deliuering his seruant Dauid out of his hands but in deliuering him to be a prey euen to him that was persecuted his mouth was further opened to his iust condemnation loe he is inforced to iustifie the seruant of God and to condemne himselfe Thus said hee vnto Dauid thou art more righteous then 〈◊〉 for thou hast rendred me Good I haue rendred thee euil oh what a coÌ„fort is it here to the seruaÌ„ts of God that wisdome shall not onely be iustified of her children but euen of her enemies our very aduersaries shall giue testimony vnto the goodnesse of our cause oh what a terror is this vnto the wicked that they shall thus desperately fight against the light of their owne consciences that when they see that the Lord doth maintaine his owne cause and when they haue beene compelled to
his children may haue the comfort in the meditations thereof I will not heare vndertake to scanne the policie in this case I know secrecie is an excellent meanes to search the bottome of a mischiefe that so in the end it may more be discouered and I pray GOD sanctifie it more and more to such an end onely my hearts desire is that the deepenesse of Sathan may be discouered and the inmost secret of the iniquitie of his instruments may be throughly laide open and truely searcht from that bitter roote of will-worship which is the ground thereof and then I doubt not but all mens mouthes will bee opened in detestation of that monster of superstition whose foundation is selfe loue and whose practise is nothinels but an â—mpâ—â—g and abasing of all others to fill and exalt it selfe and when our mouthes shal be thus iustly opened in detestation of this ambition then shall they bee opened also to giue GOD the glory for the discouery of this beast and to iustifie the Saints for not worshipping the same that so approuing of the holy ones wee may desire to bee like vnto them and GOD may giue vs according to our desire And when wee haue felt our selues how good the Lord is as the Samaritanes professed that they beleeued not because the woman told them but in that they haere and knowe him themselues so now wee our selues shal be able to speake of this deliuerance not vpon the heare say oâ— apprehension of oâ—hers but vpon our owne sownd knowledge and apprehension thereof and that this is the effect of effectuall declaring the workes of God the holy ghost is our witnesse in that he addeth And they shall vnderstand what he hath wrought It is a good effect of great workes when they shall open our eyes to behold the same as being a good furtherance to see GOD in them that so wee may reach the fountaine of these blessinges but if we onely see them and proceede no further this good will onely redownd to the Glory of GOD who being acknowledged onely of vs thus farre as in the sight of his worke shal be heerein bee Gloryfied in our iust condemnation that hauing such a light to lead vs to him as that therein wee must needes acknowledge him wee would not seeke him in a further light wherein seeing him in the face of his sonne Christ Iesus hee might acknowledge vs also to bee his Children And therefore the holy Ghost not content to tell vs that all men shall see 〈◊〉 to acknowledge a GOD addeth further in the second place that they shall declare what God hath donne signifying thereby that the workes of God shall further preuaile in them to a more particular knowledge of God in the same so that they shall declare the worke of God that is they shall say this is the Lords doing yet if onely our mouthes shall be opened to see that God hath done this and shall no further apprehend what God hath done that so we may further say is maruailous in our eyes neither shall we in the worke apprehend the power of the workeman and so come short herein of the knowledge of the Heathen neither shal we be euer able to measure true thankfulnes accordingly if we caÌ„not coÌ„prehend the greatnes of the workeÌ„ herevpoÌ„ is it that the holy Ghost hauing lead vs from the sight of the worke to a particular apprehension and acknowledgement of the workeman doth now also in the third place in the knowledge of the workeman teach vs to looke downe againe into the greatnesse of the worke when he saith And shall vnderstand what he hath wrought signifying thereby that when the workes of God shall open our eyes to see God in them then also by the knowledge of God shall we attaine to the true nature and greatnesse of the worke that so wee may returne againe vnto God a proportionable measure of thankes giuing for the same Behold here a third effect of Gods wonderfull workes as being a necessarie meanes to the dutie of thankfulnesse For neither can the affections be thoroughly inflamed with the goodnesse of a blessing vnlesse the vnderstanding comprehend the greatnesse of it and if we shall not comprehend how good the Lord is vnto vs we shall neuer resolue to returne him good againe And seeing that whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne and it is not a generall and confused knowledge but a distinct and perticular apprehension of the goodnesse of God which is the meanes to be get faith therefore that what we doe may be acceptable vnto God very requisite it is that we comprehend what is the length and the breadth the high and the depth of Gods mercies towards vs that so we may performe the obedience of faith vnto our God accordingly for the same Which comprehension as the holy Ghost desireth in the faithfull concerning the principal worke of Gods loue towards them namely their redemption by Iesus Christ that so we may be filled with all fulnesse of God so seeing all other workes of mercie are deriued from that fountaine therefore are we to labour the like apprehensioÌ„ of all such blessings as the Lord from time to time bestoweth vpon vs so farre as their compasse doth require that so our mouthes may be filled with due praises vnto our God for the same And surely the mercy of God is herein exceeding vnto vs in helping our infirmities to this profitable vnderstanding by the wisedome of the Spirit reuealed in the word For if we shall be thoroughly acquainted with the good word of God as it was inspired of God to make the man of God perfit so shall we finde it exceeding plentifull to informe our vnderstandings in the true apprehension of such blessings as are bestowed vpoÌ„ vs that so we may measure out our thaÌ„ksgiuing accordingly To instaunce onely in that a benefit of a deliuerance the present subiect of our meditations Marke I pray you how the holy Ghost helpeth our vnderstanding to comprehend the greatnesse thereof As euery deliuerance implieth two things First a danger lying vpon vs secondly a recouery of vs out of the same so hath the spirit exceedingly helped our vnderstandings to the particular apprehension of both these in expressing vnto vs most liuely the greatnesse of the danger and also inlarging most effectually the strangenesse of the recouery The greatnesse of a danger may appeare by these three circumstances first by the greatnesse of the power that threatens the sameâ— Secondly by the weakenesse of the meanes in our selues to auoide the perâ—ll lastly by that impossibilitie which appeares in any helpe elsewhere If our enemies be mightie the danger must needs be great but yet there may be hope if there be a powre to match the same If the power be wanting in our selues the danger is greater especially if our owne hearts may herein faile vs and yet
the Church might finally be extinguished as hauing neither Nurse nor Milke nor Babe remaining Oh consider the depth of this diuellish malice and magnifie the depth of Gods mercie in thy wonderfull deliuerance Remember if euer any danger was like vnto this which the Lord thy gracious God hath pluckt thee out off that so thy heart may bee inlarged to giue him due praises for the same And yet that thy heart may bee further inlarged herevnto as thou hast hetherto vnderstood the greatnesse of the danger in auoyding so many euils So consider in the second place in thy wonderfull recouerie what plentie of blessings the Lord hath conferred vpon thee And that thou mayest not mistake the nature of a deliueraâ—nce behould the Spirite leades thee to a true discerning thereof for speaking of the deliuerance which the Lord would performe vnto his Church that the memorie thereof might for euer bee continued hee saith This shal be written for the generations to come that this faithfull record might preuent forgetfulnesse And further that wee might learne to iudge rightly of a deliueraunce hee addeth And the people which shal be created shall praise the Lord meaning that a deliueraunce from so great a danger was to bee accounted no lesse then a new creation that is of nothing euen raysing vp a creature and a new giuing of such blessinges as hee is furnished withall Wouldest thou therefore vnderstand aright what God hath done for thee in this great deliueraunce Surely if thou doest not accompt as nothing whatsoeuer thou wast or hadest heretofore if thou doest not esteeme thy selfe and whatsoeuer thou art to bee a new gest euen newly created and restored of nothing thou doest yet conceiue nothing to the trueth and worth of this blessing and shalt in no sort bee able to make good vse thereof But if so bee that thou shalt acknowledge that all thinges are become new that whatsoeuer thou art or hast thou must not reckon it from thy birth but from this wonderful deliuerance consider what singular profite shall arise vnto thee hereby There is not any thing thou enioyest but shall remember this deliuerance vnto thee that so thou maiest bee prouoked to magnifie the deliuerer Nay this renuing vnto thee of whatsoeuer thou hast shall prouoke thee to concecrate the same anew vnto thy God that so thy deliuerance working that holy thinge in thee wheâ— by thou shalt be renued in the Spâ—rit of thy minde and bee cloathed with some good measure of holinesse and righteousnesse thou maiest sing the new song of praise vnto thy GOD which becometh the righteous onely to performe for so it followeth But the righteous shall reioyce in the Lord. Behold here a further dutie in the intertainment of this great deliuerance and that limited vnto the righteous namely that they shall reioyce in the Lord for the same Not that they shall not behold declare or vnderstand as well as others what God hath done for them for these are good furtherances to the dutie of thankfulnesse but that though they doe these things yet they shall not stay heere as the wicked doe but shall proceed further to reioyce in the Lord for the same by celebrating the praises of the Lord according to his benefits A dutie verie fitly appropriated to the righteous For they onely haue right in this ioy and therefore if the Lord haue done great things for them they may safelie reioyce therein and they onely know how to vse this ioy aright and therefore may with greater libertie enlarge themselues therein they onely haue true cause of ioy euen the testimonie of their consciences they onely by this ioy doe sanctifie the blessing vnto them and so procure the continuance of it And they onely shall haue no end of theirioy and therefore may not feare the ouerthrow thereof And indeede what greater outward pledge can wee haue of the fauour of GOD then that hee doth not suffer our enemyes to triumphe ouer vs And what greater cause of ioy can wee haue then this that the fauour of GOD shineth vpon vs And if the experience of Gods former deliuerances bee warrants vnto vs of his future mercies If because the Lorde hath deliuered vs from the Lyon and the Beare therefore wee can safely say that Goliah shall bee as one of these And because the Lorde hath deliuered vs and doth deliuer vs therefore wee can say further that hee will deliuer vs finally out of all our trouble this must needs enlarge our hearts with vnspeakable ioy as beeing a part of that earnest of ioy whereof one day wee shall bee full Surely as it is a righteous thing with GOD to recompence sorrowe vnto these who haue reioyced in the afflictions of the Saints So it is appointed of GOD that they which haue sowen in teares and manifolde afflictions should in due time Reape in ioye the fruite of all their troubles in the wayes of God And seeing there is a time for all things and an appointed time to reioyce as there is to mourne Therefore howsoeuer in the day of affliction wee must consider and enter into the house of moorning yet in the day of mirth and deliuerance wee must bee of good comfort and to expresse our ioy wee must sing prayses vnto our God So hath the Lord himselfe appointed this time I will deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie mee So haue the Saints imployed this time So reioyced Moses and Miriam with their seuerall companies for their delirance out of Egypt So did Debora and Barak exercise the people for their deliuerance from the Cananites So did Dauid imploy himselfe for his deliuerances from time to time from his enemies So did the Church reioyce for her deliuerance from that cruell conspiracie of Haman And as when a iudgement hath beene eyther threatned or inflicted vpon the seruants of God they haue set a part dayes of humiliation the better to fitte themselues to meete the Lord by true repentance as did the Niniuites Iehosophat and diuers others in the like case So when the Lord hath remooued the iudgement from them and hath giuen them a gratious and happy deliuerance that they might neuer forget such mercies and be fully inlarged in thankfulnes for the same they haue also seperated certaine dayes to be imployed principally in the expressing their ioy by such meanes as may fitte and further the same Such were those dayes of feasting and thanksgiuing instituted from time to time by the godly Magistrates to remember the blessings that the Lord had bestowed vpon them and to giue him speciall prayses on such dayes for the same So did Mordochie and Hester institute the dayes of Purim for that wonderful deliuerance from Hamons intended massaker which were so called from the occasion because Hamon by Lot was incouraged to that deuillish interprize of destroying the Iewes and therefore to magnifie
haue other men eased that wee should bee grieued but the matter so disposed that there may be an equalitie so in this case of reioycing wee must not so inlarge our selues that our brethren may be grieued thereby but wee must now so temper our ioy that there may be an equalitie that all the Saints of God may reioyce with vs that haue beene partaker of the same benefite with vs as their conditions and meanes doe require Indeed if the wicked shall see Gods mercie vpon vs and bee angrie If he shall gnash his teeth and consume away If the male-contents and runnegates that gaped for the spoile being now disappointed thereof hang downe their heads and eate their hearts with sorrow for the same as it is the righteous iudgement of GOD vpon them so ought we euen to inlarge our ioy that they may be the rather grieued and vexed thereby Yea wee are to make it the matter of our ioy to see the vengeance that is light vpon them so that our ioy bee spirituall euen in the Lord that they may take no aduantage against vs so that wee adde vnto their affliction not as they are ours but enemies vnto God But here is the point doest thou reioyce in this happy deliuerance and wouldest thou learne the true measure therein Surely this is it So reioyce that all may reioyce with thee Grieue not thy GOD and his Saints by the prophanesse of thy ioy Remember how Moses and Miriam carried the matter That their ioy might not be subiect to prophanesse and sensualitie Moses and the men reioyced by themselues Miriam and the women reioyced by themselues Such dancing is allowable if the cause be spirituall Grieue not the poore by taking too much libertie in the meanes of thy ioy deuouring that in thine excesse which is the blood of the poore Remember the care that the Iewes had in this case They sent not onely presents to their neighbours that could requite them againe but they gaue gifts to the poore that their hearts might bee cheered also Notable was the care of good Nehemiah to this purpose When the Church was deliuered out of captiuitie and Ierusalem was building vp againe and it fell out by reason of the inequalitie betweene the rich and the poore that the rich insteed of reioycing the poore with their aboūdance and superfluitie became very grieuous burdens vnto them by bringing them into slauerie and cruell oppression The good gouernour Nehemiah pleades the cause of the poore and by his courage and example so prouideth that in this generall cause of ioy none might bee exempted Thus doth hee plead for the poore against the mightie We according to our habilitie haue redeemed our brethren the Iewes which were solde vnto the Heathen that they also might reioyce with vs And will you sell them againe or shall they be sold vnto vs that they may be grieued and we reioyce So saith the Spirit he stopped their mouthes they held their peace and could not answer Oh that our oppressors and inclosers were thus put to silence that they were not able to answere their selling and thrusting out of the poore Well when he hath thus put them to silence though hee might haue commanded as he was their gouernour yet he falles to intreate them for a restitution in this case that so the blessing of the poore might be vpon them and they might cause the hearts of the widowes to reioyce And what followed herevpon The rich are perswaded and the poore are eased and so the mouthes of all are opened to praise the Lord. But is this all doth Nehemiah play the Pharise that would lay a burthen vpon others which he would not beare himselfe No surely marke I pray you his tender compassion and charitie herein Though he was no oppressour and therefore could restore nothing yet see how willing he is to part with his owne yea euen with that which serued for the maintenance of his estate For twelue yeares space he professeth that he had not eaten the bread of the gouernour And whereas the former gouernours had beene chargeable to the people by taking of their bread and wine and he did not so And he giues the reason because he feared God Not that simplie it is not lawfull for a religious Gouernour to bee maintained by the common-wealth for indeed it is most righteous and necessarie to be done But the meaning is to confirme vs this rule concerning equalitie of ioy that in a case of extremitie when others are in want and wee by taking our vtmost due may adde vnto their affliction if it shall please God to make vs equall in the generall blessing wherein all are to reioyce we are so to dispose of our right in inferiour blessings that they may be meanes to further vs in the right entertainment of the greater yeelding somewhat of our state and outward maintenance vnto others so as we may notwithstanding leaue a competencie to our selues to maintaine a reasonable port that so they may ioyne with vs in this dutie of thanks-giuing as they are ioyned with vs in the blessing of the deliuerance Otherwise wee shall not onely signifie that wee could haue beene well ridde of them that we had not cared so the iudgement had swept them away seeing we are escaped as counting them burdens vnto the land and eye-sores vnto vs but further also giuing them occasion of griefe when we should all reioyce This must needs follow herevpon that they crying vnto the Lord for vengeance against vs while we are reioycing in the Lord for his mercies towards vs The Lord will heare their crye and confound our ioy by deliuering them out of trouble and casting vs in their stead Oh that wee were wise to consider these things that by this we would trye our ioy whether it exceed or no if it be the occasion of griefe vnto others Farre be it from vs that seeing the Lord hath preuented this mischiefe and so hath lengthned the date of our Stewardships therefore we shall fall to beating of our fellow seruants vpon presumption that our maister will now deferre his comming because he hath so lately knocked at our doores and so insteed of furthering the generall ioy by the renuing of our liues we shall yet send the poore into the house of mourning and thereby make vp the measure of our sinne Surely saith our Sauiour that seruants Maister will come in a day when hee looketh not for him and in an houre that he is not aware of and will cut him off and giue him his portion with hypocrites there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Lastly wouldst thou know how thou maiest exceed in this ioy Surely if thou doest so ioy now that thou maiest not reioyce hereafter either by exceeding in the outward meanes whereby thy estate shall vnnecessarily be impaired or else by giuing the bridle vnto thy carnall affections