that caused it Rom. 6.23 but this hath bene spoken 〈◊〉 This is the deliuerance propounded the same further proued followeth VER 8. Doubtlesse or onely with thine eyes shalt thou behold c. WHat was before propounded is here earnestly affirmed concerning the deliuerances of Gods people in daies of trouble when thousands fall For the Prophet saith Thou shalt behold these Plagues vpon others to wit with eyes of faith and seeing or God will lay them before thee and not vpon thee prouided that thou feare before his anger and loue his goodnesse And he speaks of seeing because the experience bringeth peace vnto the godly and many good things but then they must haue eyes to see his iudgements and an eye of faith to obserue his loue his iudgements vpon the wicked his loue to them Where the Doctrine is Gods children must not passe ouer Gods iudgements vpon others Doct. 1 with a carelesse eye nor be without eyes to behold his goodnesse vpon themselues When they meete with such an experience by day or night they must haue their day-booke and night-watches for a remembrance of it So Dauid marked diligently as it were with a Selah Gods proceedings in mercie to him and his Church Psal 32.4.5.7 for where he had done any notable thing for his people or for his King he as it were foulded downe a leafe at it and committed it to tables of memorie Neither lost he by the hand nay the obseruation was gainefull to him for it ministred great courage to him against that brauing monster Goliah 1. Sam. 17.37 Abraham also was comforted in God by the same obseruation of Gods former wayes when out of him he could haue but small comfort to offer to death his best sonne Isaac in whose bloud the whole world might seeme then to haue bene drowned Genes 22.3.8 Further it was the practise of that excellent Author of 119. Psalme who in like case of Gods speciall doings meditated in his precepts and considered his wayes that is carefully considered them or wrote them downe The flesh is dull in these matters therefore Dauid summons his soule vnto them saying O my soule praise the Lord and forget not all his benefits Or let no benefit of his be forgotten Psal 103.2 as if he had said write them vp in thy memorie and let not thy forgetfull sense keepe the booke of them or trust not thy senses with them but write them in thy heart In another Psalme the same Prophet for he was a great obseruer of things in his time doth not onely penne these mercies of God as in a booke for his owne memorie but calls others to the meditation as if hee would helpe their remembrance also by reading these things out of his booke to them and therefore saith Come and behold the workes of the Lord Psal 46.8 as if he should haue said I haue noted them and do you obserue them As if one of vs should say to another Come and see what times haue bene and how they be changed what sicknesse raigned once and what health raigneth now what want of fruites at some times and what abundance at other This yeare great stormes of trouble and the next a great calme of peace v. 9. The reasons Reason 1 Gods children must be thankfull for Gods benefits which cannot be long if they forget them nor longer then they be remembred therefore God hath commanded that his high Acts should not be forgotten as where he hath beene extraordinarily good to his people or seuerely sharpe to his peoples enemies Deut. 6.12 and 25.17.19 Reason 2 Secondly the Lord doth these great things that they might be remembred Psal 111.4 and shall we by our neglect of them frustrate his ends Reason 3 Thirdly if men threaten vs we remember our danger and count it a dishonestie if they do vs good to forget their loue and shall Gods threatnings not moue vs nor his loues make vs thankfull Shall a heathen Monarch keepe a Chronicle or day-booke of good turnes done to him by his subiects Hest 6.1.2 And shall Christians keepe no memoriall of so wonderfull things done to them by the soueraigne Lord of all worlds Lastly the faithfull consideration of Gods iudgements vpon Reason 4 others mercies to vs will make vs to feare his anger and to loue his goodnesse Habac. 3.2 Exod. 14.31 Iudg. 5.1 Psal 78.35.40.42 A reproofe of the slumbring multitude that passe no obseruation Vse 1 vpon Gods doings let him be angrie or pleased they are one kind of men still and neuer care to draw any thing from his anger or kindnesse for their amendment Let him thunder maruellously with his voice Iob 37.5 it is but a voyce that passeth by and when the earth is moued they are not moued If hee bring the sea out of his place as lately he did to punish our disorder what great thing doth he worthy noting His iustice in punishing with so long and fearefull a Plague is not in our minds and wee haue forgotten his maruellous goodnesse in the discouerie of the Powder-plot which is past as if God had done nothing The earth hath trembled vnder vs the heauens haue bene vnquiet and much distempered ouer vs our houses haue bene tossed and shaken with winds the staffe of our bread hath bene broken the enemie hath threatned vs at our doores and God hath taken away the wise man and the Counsellour yea the righteous perish and who hath considered Esay 57.1 Hath the Lord done any thing to wit in our opinion in all this or have we learned ought by it more then if nothing had bene done Haue not his wonderfull works lately done deserued the pen of a readie writer in euery of our hearts but we haue prepared them not as bookes of remembrance but as graues to burie his kindnesse An admonition to Gods faithfull Ministers the louder God Vse 2 is in his iudgements the louder to sound the trumpet of exhortation in their preachings Our admonitions must not runne alwaies in one tenour but haue the point put vpon them as the Lord is more or lesse prouoked Esay 58.1 For he hath placed vs in the watch-tower of his Church that wee might haue an eye to his iudgements The like admonition to all the faithfull to obserue Gods doings and to vse the eyes that he hath giuen them to see his workes and not to behold vanitie It hath beene said of the righteous that they see the Plague that is as they thankfully score vp blessings when they come so they dolefully record the curse when it commeth Prou. 22.3 Neither do they see it onely but hide themselues from it in a pure heart and innocent life where the wicked not fearing the shot of God neither the artillerie of his iudgements go on still to wit after one fashion and in their old way of impenitencie and hardnesse till they be destroyed Good men will deepely imprint Gods doings and be sure to haue an arke of prouidence builded by
in them at such times to helpe it with prayer or to relieue it with victuals and haue esteemed it their best policie and part to keepe their people and markets from it Such behold the Plague of a Towne as Dauids flatterers beheld his trouble who beheld it a farre off Vse 2 An instruction as at all times to put on large bowels of nature and tender of compassion so especially when our neighbours miseries require the same We must at all times pray one for another but specially in trouble and one member helpe another but chiefly in that members need So when the Lord visiteth with Pestilence a Towne or Citie in that case of sicknesse and restraint of trades the rich whose store God hath blessed should in an odour of liberality to the poore there offer that Sacrifice to God which the Apostle sayth was offered to the Lord in him by Epaphroditus An Odour that smelleth sweete a Sacrifice acceptable and pleasant to God Phil. 4.18 And to prouoke them the rather to this duety let them remember that it is the exhortation of the Holy Ghost by the same Apostle While ye haue opportunitie doe good vnto all Gal. 6.10 Now is the time and they that haue this worlds goods haue the fit time of doing it or what can they tell if God wil euer put such an occasion into their hands againe neglecting this So much for the Prophets earnest affirmation the euidence spoken of followeth VERSE 9. Seeing thou hast made the Lord which is my refuge Euen the most High thy habitation THe euidence for further proofe of the secure estate of the Righteous casting themselues vpon God is in the Prophet himself who out of his owne triall assureth it calling the Lord his Refuge As if he had sayd because thou hast done as I did who ran to the bosome of the Almightie in times of temptation thou hast as good an euidence or the same for thy safetie that I euer had which is that God will bee their refuge who make him their refuge in trouble and will deliuer them This is his meaning and to trust in God is not to say so onely but by faith and with the amendment of our wayes by his word to do so Doct. 1 The Doctrine from hence is He that maketh the Lord his deliuerer by putting trust in him and by beleeuing his word shall be deliuered Asa did so as we heard when an hoste of ten hundred thousand came against him and the Lord tooke him to Sanctuarie and put them to slaughter 2. Chron. 14.11 12. The Apostle Saint Paul notwithstanding that he was enuironed and begirt with many and long afflictions on all sides yet safely passed through them as his Master through the multitude who had brought him to the edge of an hill to haue cast him downe Luk. 4. 29.30 for he had committed himself to a good keeper who neuer suffered him to take shame seeing he beleeued him 2 Tim. 1.12 or as here made him his habitation God himselfe saith by Samuel them that honour me I will honour 1 Sam. 2.30 that is them that honour him with trust he will honour with safety and Dauid prayeth with assurance not to bee confounded seeing hee trusted in him Psal 25.2 So the three seruants of God could say to the King the God whom we serue or in whom wee trust is able and will deliuer vs Dan. 3.17 viz from the fiery fornace and out of thy hand O King as if they had said we serue God or we beleeue God and therefore shall most certainely bee deliuered from the fornace by miracle or from thy power by death verse 18. the Scriptures are plentifull in this matter I say then them that trust the Lord mercy shall compasse on euery side The reasons Where God is trusted he setteth store by his credit to do for Reason 1 those that trust in him for to such he hath promised large redemption and hee cannot denie himselfe or suffer his truth to faile Secondly they that trust in God and make him their confidence Reason 2 will giue him this honour with the obedience that is better then sacrifice 1. Sam. 15.22 and more then all burnt offerings Hos 6.6 If God haue deliuered them from one fornace or kind of death by Plague or otherwise they will shine in a better life like pure gold to the glory of God their owner hauing praise in their mouth and not sinne in their right hand they will make a penitent song with Hezekiah Esay 38. and a confessing Psalme with Dauid Psal 116. and hauing bene carelesse of the word before become afterward carefull both hearers and doers of it To be short they will set themselues to serue God by that same word hauing receiued those gracious fauours as it were wages for their seruice and being resolued thus to turne vnto God and thus to put trust in his mercie how can he denie them How can he turne from them and leaue them besides they cannot truly trust in him that cannot comfortably with repentance do so and what contrite sinner was euer reiected by him Psal 51.17 and who euer was confounded that so put trust in him Reason 3 Thirdly if earthly fathers will not cast those children off that fully and altogether rest on them by promise for protection much lesse will he that is our Father in heauen forsake them or the defence of them who haue like confidence in him for their helpe in trouble and wholly rest on his promise when others go from him to second causes as to other Gods But if a child in the extreamitie of sicknesse shall chuse rather to endure any hardnesse and paine then not to content his father who will say but it must needes moue a good father the more to seeke and what he may to provide for the ease and recouery of such a child So for Gods children that so submit to him that they will patiently beare the the sorest gripes and pulles of the crosse rather then prouoke so good a Father and who so watch all their wayes that they are vnwilling to giue him the least matter of offence or his spirit of griefe by an impatience or rude moode how can they but obtaine both pitie and deliuerance at such a fathers hands and who can thinke that the Father of mercies will deale otherwise then mercifully with such children Vse 1 An instruction more to rest on God then on the greatest earthly safetie For oftentimes mans helpe proueth vaine where Gods helpe neuer faileth Man may haue mens good wills and be neuer the better but he that with repentance trusteth in God is sure to bee deliuered Dauid therefore in danger and Christ in death commended their spirit into Gods hands Psal 31.5 Luke 23.46 So the godly do not build towers to themselues but make the Lord their tower of defence This tower is on high farre aboue all troubles and Plagues and they that rest in this highly mounted castle of
of his rest vpon second causes or helpes externall on which all fearefull and vnbeleeuers cast themselues wholly for their refuge in troublesome times but will depend only and perfectly on God whom he maketh his confidence and the castle of his soule in aduersitie Psal 40.4 And here the Prophers example may teach the Prophets Doct. 1 themselues that the best way to turne soules to God is to teach them by their owne experience faith and feeling the best teachers of others are men of experience and they are likest to conuert others that first haue bene conuerted themselues So Psal 51.12.13 the Prophet first prayeth the Lord to teach him and then promiseth to the Lord to teach others being first taught of him and he assumeth when God shall stablish him with his Spirit in the receit of that fauour by a teaching spirit to turne others to God The Apostle Saint Paul speaking of himselfe and his other fellow Apostles saith that they are first comforted of God that they might be able in God to comfort others in euery affliction 2. Cor. 1.4 as if he had said till God had filled their pits they could not be spouts to others and when their cisterns were full their conduits would go and so they would teach others the comforts that they had learned themselues Christ biddeth Peter being conuerted himselfe not before he was conuerted himselfe to strengthen his brethren Luke 22.23 and he that first had learned the feare of God saith Come children hearken vnto me I will teach you the feare of the Lord. Psal 34.12 So it is plaine that the best conuerters of others are men of experience men that haue bene first conuerted themselues Pauls experience and doctrine put together wrought mightily to the edification of the bodie of Christ For as he that hath bene sicke and cured of an infirmitie being wise and tender hearted can better direct and will sooner helpe another to auoyd it or being visited with it to recouer of it then he that neuer knew the remedie of such a sicknesse nor eurer had occasion of the cure so they that haue bene cured of sinne themselues and haue felt the twitches of a sorrowfull heart wounded therewith and eased thereof are better able to preuent sinne in others or being in force to weaken it with teaching then they who liue still in their sinnes without all experience or desire of such a cure The reasons Reason 1 They who haue tasted how good the Lord is can best speake of his mercie and they can best preach his iustice that haue bene swallowed vp of his iudgements So the Apostle Iohn and the righteous Iob speaking of handling and seeing the word of life and God of life do say much more for our learning then if they had spoken of hearing onely 1. Ioh. 1.1 Iob 42.5 Reason 2 Secondly they that teach without experience and not in faith must needs teach coldly and faintly or if earnestly rather with a mind to preach themselues glorified then Christ crucified Now cold and faint exhortations die in the earn that onely or commonly pierceth to the heart that is earnest and experimentall I meane earnest not out of affectation but earnest indeed and out of a feeling heart for that gathereth with Christ the other scattereth from him An admonition to Ministers and in them to the Parents of Vse 1 the commonwealth and of priuate families to teach themselues if they meane profitably to teach those that are vnder them For how can they that haue no edge themselues cut into others and they must needs leaue much dulnesse vpon others that haue no whetting themselues Rom. 2.21 We must be followers of Christ if we would haue the people to follow vs to Christ 1. Cor. 11.1 We must make God our hope in trouble if we would not teach them by the doctrine of our ill example to leaue him in trouble for other Gods If God send pestilence among vs and we expresse our distrust in him by leauing our appointed standings forsaking the Lords watch how shall we perswade others to trust in God When the Captaines forsake the Campe what shall the common Souldiers do And when such flie that is distrustfully flie who shall tarrie The Leaders are as the partie coloured roddes at which they looke and their example is the colour by which they conceiue that are followers and therefore as those do so will these do Genes 30.29 A reproofe of those both publicke and priuate Ouerseers who Vse 2 in such cases neither teach themselues nor others For if Peter dissemble what shall Peters hearers do Galat. 2.12.13 It the high Priest be against Christ will the high Priests seruants be for him Math. 26.73 Luke 22.56 57 58. If the father be a thorne will his children be grapes Math. 7.16 If he be a swearer will they feare an oath and if he keepe no Sabbath will they keepe any Math. 12.33 Such haue spilt much Christian bloud which if their owne vessels had beene sound they might haue saued The same may be said of carelesse Magistrates who because they will amend no euill in themselues nor correct any in others with the sword of their authoritie prouoke the Lord to reuenge the breach of his couenant in the middest of vs sometimes by pestilence sometimes by warre by deaths by mortalitie of men and cattell by strange yeares by diuerse diseases and sundrie kindes of death The Prophet saith I will say as if he had said whatsoeuer others shall thinke or speake this will I say or thus am I resolued It was in the matter of his confidence in God when others in their troubles forsooke him And so when worldly men sought other resuges he made the Lord his house of rocke in aduersitie The doctrine is Doct. 2 Christians must runne to God in all extremities when multitudes tunne from him and though the many in sinne forsake him yet the few in Christ must cleaue fast to him in all alteration We must follow in good but not follow a multitude to do euill Exod. 23.2 and when many walke in the broad way of diuers distrusts we must keepe the narrow way of hope and faith in God distrusting nothing Math. 7.13.14 when foure hundred false Prophets flattered the King Micaiah Gods Prophet would not depart from the Lord by saying as they said to haue the fauour of two Kings 1. Kings 22.6.12.13.14 He trusted in God sitting sure in the good way of his word and neither the King on his throne verse 10. nor the many in another way could vnsettle him Choose you faith Ioshua to the many thousands of Israel whom ye will serue Ios 24.15 as if he had said your numbers shall not make me to digresse nor if ye serue other Gods to do so with the companie and to serue them but I and my house I and my companie and small number will serue the Lord. When many went backe and walked no more with Christ Iesus said to the
twelue wil ye also go away Ioh. 6.66.67 as if he had said when all go ye must tarrie and when the world forsakes me forsake the world to follow me The reasons Reason 1 The greatest number take not Gods name for their tower Gods numbers do or should and where the wicked seeke out euill deuices the righteous walke with God in a contrarie way Reason 2 Secondly a good nature will follow his friend in aduersitie and shall aduersitie cause any nature to depart from God Reason 3 Thirdly He hath the words of eternall life and to whom shall wee go if we go from him Ioh. 6.68 Vse 1 Not safe therefore to conforme to the multitudes behauiour in troubles or in them to do as the most do For when Gods hand is vpon a countrie in any common affliction the greatest number waxing wanton against the rod striue to forget the worke of the Lord and care not to remember the operations of his hands Esay 5.12 Should the godly do so Should they feeds without feare Iude 12. because others do so or should they not rather mourne apart with their families and more priuarely one man with another till the calamitie be at an end Zach. 12.12 the greatest part neuer vnderstand nor labour to know Gods ends in punishing a nation with scourges and snares shall the godly therefore haue as little vnderstanding and not heare the rod nor him who hath commanded it Micah 6.9 The most trust in vanitie shall the righteous therefore put their considence in a thing of nought and because not to be singular is the onely garment now in fashion shall they that should not fashion themselues to the world Rom. 12.2 put it on because they will not be singular in goodnesse nor go alone in the narrow way of life so they may like beasts fatted in all abundance of iniquitie follow the heard and droue thinking nothing but that they are going to the pasture when it is to the slaughter-house They are here reprooued who think it the best and safest way Vse 2 to doe as the most not as the best do but it is the common rode of the hypocrite neuer to be seene in a way wherein the greatest number walk not To fashion to times and multitudes hath bin and is like still to be the religion of all times and worlds Protestant Chusa's say which way the world goes will we go 2. Sam. 16 18. They refuse to enter in at the streight gate Matth. 7.13 and choose the wide gate and broad way of the multitude to enter where the most doe and to be where the most are that they may not be hit in the teeth with precisenesse and odious singularitie For the Sabbath they will rather follow the Diuell in a great company to prophane it then God the Lord in a small number to hallow it Their reasons is they must do as all the townes about them do and they say we do but as euery body doth and all the Country doth so as well as we To whom I amswer with a reuerende Writer M. Dod on 4. Com. If they will doe as euery body doth they must looke to speede as euery body speedes and bee cursed for companie if they will sinne for Companie Mal. 3.9 But let vs take heed of companies or of sinning for company All in Sodom saue Lot and his house sinned together and perished together Gen. 19. The whole world saue Noah and his house as they were buried in one graue of lusts so were they buried in one graue of waters Gen 7. And the Angels that fell in companies from heauen went and were cast downe in companies to hell 2. Pet. 2.4 Further what moueth the Lord so from yeare to yeare to strike vs with varietie of Plagues so that for twelue yeares together the land hath not bene without but this large fellowship in sinne For do not sinners in towne and countrie seeke to dash all commandements and rebuks with the force of example And because such and such do so are not their doings a sufficient buckler to warde off all strokes of the Law and directions of the Gospell that teach otherwise and contrarily Doth not the custome of sinne take away the sense and shame of sinne Doth not companie giue it grace and the committers of it boldnesse and where are so few doers of good will it not bee thought shame to do well and what shame to commit iniquitie when the committers of it are couered with a thicke cloud of so many that praise and do the same things sometimes the mountaines hide them or they hide themselues in the practise of the great ones where they liue whose height is ouer them as the high hils and couers them as the great mountaines and then how can they blush Doct. 3 Further in the text we reade these words of particular faith I will say and I will trust and my hope my fortresse my God all which shew that this Man of God did apply the former generall doctrine of Gods defence to his owne particular case and person and therefore teach whatsoeuer generall threatnings or promises we find written in the Scriptures for our learning to apply them more specially to our selues for our humbling or consolation And so when the word threatneth a sinne we must apply as if it threatned it in vs and when it maketh any promise to beleeuers beleeue that the promise so made on condition of the like faith belongeth to vs. For here euery one must be a Prophet to himselfe by laying the line of the word to the state and faring of his owne conscience and mind in things So Dauid directed the point of his owne finne to his owne heart 2. Sam. 24.10 and with that sword which God sent into Israel it was of the Pestilence and mortalitie for three dayes he smote himselfe that made the people to be numbred not Ioab that numbred them 1. Chron. 21.12.17 and in another transgression and at another time he confessed the wickednesse that was done against himselfe that did it Psal 32.5 So Paul doth not onely write himselfe a sinner but the chiefe of sinners 1. Tim. 1.15 Also what vse Ioseph made of his Masters peculiar fauour to him in the house Genes 39.9 such we must make of Gods speciall loue to vs in his word as hath the Lord in great kindnesse magnified his Name toward vs by his word Psal 138.2 it then concerneth vs with Ioseph in continuall thankfulnesse to glorifie or send backe the praise of that his Name and mercy to him by our obedience to his word That woman of Canaan which had the grace to be called the woman of great faith Math. 15.28 did make good vse for an aduantage of that little fauour that was shewed sometimes and to some of the cursed race of the Canaanites which was that God made and would make where pleased him a gleaning of them to saluation and therefore said that they had some of those
to the earthly Ierusalem the house in which the publick Minister and people praise God together or by thy preferment in death to haue thy soule carried vp to the Ierusalem aboue where thou shalt praise him without ceasing perfectly in his owne presence with Angels and Saints innumerable Though men forsake thee God will tarrie with thee by his comforts in thy flesh and by his spirit in thy heart Iohn 14.23 when thy house is shut vp God that cannot be shut vp will prouide a large walke for thee in the pleasant gallery of thy good conscience when men write Lord haue mercy on the doore he will shew mercy within doores when men keepe thee darke he will giue thee light when they close vp the windowes of thy chamber he will set open the windowes of his Kingdome and when they go from thee he will come vnto thee sup with thee Apoc. 3.20 When God restraineth the fruits of the earth by keeping in his raine or by giuing it in excess with the breaking open of the flood-gates of his waters he hath his Boaz of secret prouidence as long agoe for godly Ruth Ruth 2.8 9. so still for his faithfull children that they may eate and their soules may liue And when the wicked who haue not God for their hiding place shall vpon the bruite of euery calamitie and crosse comming runne hither and thither as men without hope or distracted thou knowing in whom thou hast beleeued maiest hide thee with the feathers of Gods truth and faithfulnesse and goe to thy Father Luke 15.18 the words that follow are in effect the same that the words are which we lastly heard and the repetition is safe for vs Philip. 3.1 for therefore doth God speake twice that we might heare him once and because through our imperfect state of faith we come fearefully as vpon the waters with Peter to Christ in long and great troubles Mat. 14.29 30. therefore are the words doubled that we might haue the stronger consolation So much for the first of the meanes by which God will deliuer his people in affliction The second and more principall followeth His truth shall be thy shield and buckler BY the truth of God is meant the truth and faithfulnesse that is in all his promises or the truth of his promise and truth in his word He that hath promised is faithfull but if I would know how much he hath promised to whom and vnder what termes I must bring all my considerations to his word as to his onely or best seale and standard By it al his truth is allowed as vnder seale and measured truly as at a iust standard and this truth is one with the word or with Gods truth in his word Iohn 17.17 Also this truth is called the godly mans shield buckler because it is as a shield buckler vnto him against al the arrowe-heads thrusts of affliction so wardeth the blowes of those crosses that come in the Pestilence in sicknesses in malicious enemies in other troubles of bodie or minde that they shall not strike him to death or turne him to hurt taking in his defence by faith the promise and truth of God for his shield and buckler So the meaning is they that keepe within the compasse of Doct. 1 Gods sure word can neuer take hurt And it teacheth that the truth of God b Lam. 3.22 cannot faile and what he hath promised shall bee done Blinde Balaam in his Parable could say shewing how true God is alway of his word hath he said it and shall hee not doe it as if he had said may it be that Gods words and deedes should not meete or will any beleeue that he cau say one thing and doe another or if he lack not will doth he want power to doe as he saith for hath he spoken and shall he not accomplish it shall any thing hinder his purpose or weaken his power So where by Hosea the Lord saith I am God and not man Hosea 11.9 what can his meaning be but that being God hee changeth not like one of vs and repenteth not like man In Malachi he putteth himselfe to the triall asking the sonnes of Iacob if it were not so for he saith I change not and yee sonnes of Iacob are not consumed Malac. 3.6 as if he had said I promised not to consume you and you can tell I haue kept promise with you for ye are not consumed to this day so I change not your selues being iudges Now as God repenteth not so his gifts and calling that is the peculiar endowments of his elect linked together vnseparably in their saluation are without repentance that is are neuer taken from them Rom. 11.29 And he that hath promised is faithfull I. Cor. 10 13. saith the Apostle his meaning is that he is not at times but alway so or alway iust in word and euer faithfull Mens promises are yea and nay his promises are yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1.20 when it is said it is done if he speake the word but wee say and vn-say and so say and doe not The reasons Reason 1 It is sealed that God is true and Christ speaking of himselfe as God saith I am truth Iohn 3.33 and Iohn 14.6 that is to be true or rather to be truth is of his being and therefore to denie his word is to denie himselfe but God cannot denie himselfe and therefore God cannot but keepe his word Reason 2 Secondly God cannot breake by vnfaithfulnesse Rom. 3.3 for he is righteous nor be hindred by weaknesse for he is Almighty 1. Ruth 21. Apoc. 1.8 He promised the land of Canaan to Abraham and all the rebellions of his children could not make him to falsifie his word but at the time appointed they received the promises and inherited the land so he promised Israels deliuerance from Aegypt and returne from Babylon and hee brake not an houre with them and when the fulnesse of time came that God should send his sonne he sent him Gal. 4.4 and when it was time he should come he came as he kept touch with Abraham for a sonne Genes 21.1 so hee kept his word truly with vs for the sending of his owne sonne Reason 3 Thirdly God when he sweareth sweareth by himselfe not only cause he hath no greater to sweare by but because hee changeth not as an oath is immutable Heb. 6.18 An admonition not to distrust God any way where hee hath Vse 1 giuen his word for our safetie and welfare for if it be intollerable to discredit an honest man in his word how intollerable is it to call Gods truth into question If then God haue promised to those that feare him that nothing shall bee wanting vnto them Psal 34.9 let not such doubt in the wants of many to bee prouided for In the wildernesse he plowed the heauens for his children and fed them with the bread of heauen Psal 78.24 so they that followed Christ were fed by miracle in
Plague of Pestilence is further described the first is that it walketh that is worketh strongly and forcibly to death in the darke or night or it spreadeth secretly and closely as they goe vnseene that walke in the darke The meaning is when God in an intended mortalitie of people sendeth forth this plague of death they whom God hath appointed to it shall not be able by any prouidence mortall to auoid the secret worke of it in themselues or theirs and the darknesse that hides it shall finde them Doct. 1 The Doctrine is no policies of men shall bee able to doe any thing where Gods wisedom worketh otherwise and contrarily This hath beene spoken of in the first Doctrine of the third Verse Againe that which is here spoken of the Pestilence that walketh in the darknesse that God will deliuer his children from it at least from the sting and malice of it come it neuer so secretly is true of all other euils closely but iustly sent from God as punishments or subtilly plotted by men as snares in the darke that is as snares laid priuily for mischiefe for the godly shall not be taken of them Doct. 2 And here we learne that God will disclose to his people what his peoples enemies shall deuise priuily as in the darke against them So what Esau had spoken in counsell against Iacob was knowne to Rebecca and told to Iacob Gen. 27.41 42. The counsels of the King of Aram were no counsell to the King of Israel 2. King 6.11 Saul determined to slay Dauid but Ionathan told him of it by three warning arrowes 1. Sam. 20.36 37. And there were certaine Iewes who bound themselues with an oath to kill Paul there were more then fortie that had made this oath of bloud against him Acts 23.12 13. Yet Gods watch was nearer then they thought and he hewed those snares in sunder by Pauls sisters sonne who told Paul what was deuised against him and by how many and how resolutely Ver 16.20 Our owne dayes can speak as much in this matter as the daies of old can tell vs for were not the daies of Queene ELIZABETH daies of miraculous discoueries Could Esau that Romane Aramite intend any thing though neuer so secretly as it were in his priuate Counsels against the Iacob of England and she not heare of it and did not the Rauens of the Valley picke out the eyes of many of her despisers Prou. 30.17 After her Graue wherein she was buried in peace and in the dayes of a iust gracious King what snares haue beene priuily layd and miraculously known How closely did the Powder-traytors walke like the Pestilence in the darknesse In their selfe-will they digged into a wall Genes 49.6 thinking through it to haue vndermined the fast ground of those happie times but they might as well haue plowed vpon the Rocke therefore they turned from that counsell and remoued the Snare to a celler vnder the Parliament house where they hid it with themselues so cunningly that it passed the wit of man to conceiue how it could haue been found out A great fornace as it were snare was prouided vnder ground and secretly to haue consumed at once and to small shiuers the most honorable assembly of Christendome with one deadly thundering burst it came almost to the birth the bowe was drawen the arrowe was vpon the string Psal 11.2 3. The candle and match were readie and we could not say Yet fortie dayes no nor so much as one full day and we should haue been destroied Ion. 3.4 Then God tooke vs as a brand out of the fire Zechar. 3.2 and sinking as he did Peter by the hand Math. 14.31 So were we deliuered they communed together to lay the Snare priuily many meetings they had about it and so secretly they did all that they could say who shall see Psal 64.5 but God caused their owne tongue to fall vpon them a Letter of their owne bewrayed them and the Lord so inspired that is so with wisedome and a spirit of diuine interpretation his holy King that out of the cloude of one darke sentence in that same Letter he pointed as with the finger at the mysterie And so the Lord saued vs at that time from the greatest Pestilence that euer walked in the darke Many and deepe were the counsels that the Leaguers of Rome haue held against these two vnmatchable Princes much hath come from the deepnesse of Satan against them and what treacheries how dangerous and detestable deuised against them by brands of hell in the dungeon of hell yet from them all hath the Lord deliuered vs 2 Tim. 3.11 The reasons If this were not so the wicked being in a confederacie and of Reason 1 kindred with the powers of darknesse should bee too hard for Gods children who walke in the light that is in their simplicitie and not in craftinesse as Satans Factors doe Secondly for this partly God is said to bee the Watchman Reason 2 of Israel or Israels keeper that will neither slumber nor sleepe Psal 121.4 this Israel is his Church ouer whose safetie hee standeth Centinel day and night to reueale to the same as her wakefull and surest Intelligencer the pits which they digge in secret for her that lay wait for her soule Vse 1 This should terrifie all our Popish workmen from practising in secret against the life and welfare of their naturall Lord and the countrie that bred them for that which hath wings will declare the matter Eccles 10.10 that is it shall quickly come out as if it were carried vpon wings or by the swiftest foule that flies In that detection by Mordecai Hest 2.21 22. heauen it selfe became the Watch-Tower for a heathen King the Treason was to be executed forthwith and when the King should go next abroad and it was no lesse then the killing of him by two that kept the doore but Mordecai heard it who sate without like a forlorne Person and informed Hester of it that is presently informed her as the diuine prouidence had informed him shee told the King and they were hanged both on a tree Such haste God did make euen to the succour of a Pagan-Monarch and will not his arme be euer as long to the defence of a Christian King state Then what security can men haue in the secret committing of that wherein God himselfe will bee their detector and wherein two cannot keepe counsell though one be away I would that whole Roman Pestilence which still walketh in the darknesse would consider this or let them remember which is yet fresh in the memories of many how many conspirators these fortie yeares past and vpward haue gone to their owne places with their bloud vpon their heads and let them not forget how lately the Lord himselfe became a reuealer of some conspiracies with a celestiall care of Prince and Country as if he should haue striuen to haue excelled himselfe in miraculous mercies towards vs more now then euer Vse 2 A
repentance to flee vnto when a floud is sent the wicked hauing no such consideration stand naked by sinne in the face of euery storme that is sent and perish in it The summe of all is this they that be Christians indeed must and will take a true inuentorie of Gods fauours and iudgements and set downe in their minds by deepe obseruation as with a pen of iron what he hath strangely done where Christians in face onely haue no such notes about them of his strange acts and forget all his workes as if they had neuer bene Let vs therefore not forget Gods acts his strange acts neither Gods workes his fearefull workes worthy to be had in remembrance And put it in your bookes what he did so lately one yeare in a spring of no raine and the next yeare in a sommer of so much raine take your bill or booke of tables and write what God did scarefully in that great Plague Luke 16.6.7 and strangely in remouing it Also what desolations he made by the sea in those West-country flouds or if we haue forgotten let vs remember how God set his heauen as brasse against our faces of brasse and made it to weepe day and night in raine of long continuance because wee would shed no teares for our sinnes Let vs not forget the signes which he sent among vs and which haue not bene few nor his tokens on earth nor his wonders in the sea nor what strange lights he hath set with his owne hand in the firmament nor what a graue was made for vs by Spaniards once and once by men of our owne nation and how we were at both times deliuered and they throwne in as our ransome nor how often the sword hath bene set to our very heart in practises against our mother in Israel and our father now Gods end in causing the righteous to see the Plagues of sinners is to assure them the more in their weake faith and patience that he will ratifie what he hath spoken and here we learne That the Lord knowing whereof we are made Psal 103.14 doth dispense with his owne right to beare with our infirmities So he did not onely burie the Aegyptians in the sea but did it his people looking on Exod. 14.30.31 who saw them to go downe quicke to those graues and Dauid saith When the wicked shall perish thou shalt see Psal 37.34 His meaning is that the wicked shall die strangely and that the godly shall see their strange death they shall perish as God hath said and the other see it that they may not doubt or they shall perish that God may magnifie his truth vpon his enemies and his people see it that he may be magnified in his children The smoke of Sodome mounted vp as the smoke of a fornace and Abraham must see it Genes 19.28 Sedome was wicked and destroyed and Abraham the friend of God beheld her destruction Likewise the fiue Kings of the Amorites appointed to the sword could not be hid but were found and brought out to be executed before all Israel that same day Ios 10.24.26 it must be done and Israel must see it done For the man of power shall be destroyed and the man of wisedome the righteous man shall see it Psal 52.5.6 The reasons Our graces of faith patience perseuerance spirituall fortitude Reason 1 and the like are very weake many times without the vphold of the outward senses and therefore hee that for our weakenesse hath added Sacraments as seales to his word to beare it vp is content to vphold his promise in other things with these sensible helps And now as there is no sense more helpefull and certaine then this of seeing none that imprinteth deeper affections in the passiue part of the soule then it So the Lord chuseth in such cases to confirme and settle vs rather by seeing then by heare-say He that is able to say that he is an eye-witnesse to a thing may better resolue himselfe and perswade another in that thing then he that can onely say he heard it Secondly if God did not thus to beare with his children by Reason 2 dispensation giuing them for the helpe of their weake faith in him proppes of sense to hold by they would quickly not stagger onely but fall downe in a despaire of his promises but God will not see the fall of his people and his people shall see the saluation of their God Reason 3 Thirdly beholding in others with our eyes the recompence of sinne it will make vs if we belong to God in a fright to forsake that way that casteth such troubles vpon those that trauell in it Now the Lord knowing that such frights are sometimes necessarie for his children to the helpe of their conuersion to him doth set the wicked before them in the recompence of their errour by some notable destruction that they may take heede in time Vse 1 This dispensation of Gods mercy to his children in a time Pestilence or other publick visitation bearing with them and not suffering them to come vpon the scaffold where others are cut off by death should teach them from such matter of his patience toward them and seuerity to others to gather benefit to their amendment and not boldnesse thereby to doe euill Rom. 2.4 If God be terrible in his works that is if he visit with a wonderfull Plague with strange sicknesses and yeares with disorderly springs and summers with dearths and death it is that the world the godly at least should worship him and sing vnto his Name Psal 66.3 4. or that they should turne to him and not turne wantons For they are not spared by chance or because they are worthy nor doe they ouerliue the calamities of those who in times of mortalitie come sooner to deaths house then they that they should flatter themselues in an euill custome because God hath beene more fauourable to them then to these but they see the destruction of others in their owne safetie that by such a sight they may be made more fearefull to offend and more carefull to please God in his commandements now then before And this good vse must all Gods children make of his sparing hand to them or theirs not carrying the grace of it into wantonnesse for God doth it in loue to their benefit and they must apply it in wisdome to the cure of their vnbeliefe and purging of their wickednesse Some as if the Lord did punish at aduenture in such cases and not directly for sinne hold on their prouocations neither changing their skinne nor altering their spots Ier. 13.23 And these are more sensles then the sensles beast for the Beast feareth exceedingly when hee seeth one of his fellowes knockt downe before his face and pitifully roareth out when he senteth his fellowes blood but these are sensles of Gods strokes lift vp vpon men like themselues and are not moued where the beast is so greatly moued neither pitie Christian blood It is said of
hee that praiseth a little will in that kinde praise much and accept all Vse 1 A comfort to the poore that can offer but a little in Gods seruice For if there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that he hath not 2. Cor. 8.12 If we doe what we are able though it be small that wee are able to doe it is welcome to God Deut. 16.17 Two yong Pigeons Leuit. 12.8 And two small mites are as good an offering where there is no more and as well accepted as richer matters from richer persons Some may offer a Lambe to the Altar and the poorest whose heart God hath made willing cannot want a mite or the worth of a yong Pidgeon to offer to it that is thou must helpe forward the seruice of God if not with the purse yet with the mite of doing somewhat toward it some other way and thy worke will be accepted All the members in this body haue their necessarie vse and can doe something the poore as well as the rich The head cannot say to the feet I haue no need of you 1. Cor. 12.21 Let Papists and Pharises then praise and onely praise rich almes Christ makes more account of the Widowes two mites then of all that they giue O therefore what a comfort is heere to a poore if true Christian seeing that euen the poorest hee that is such cannot be vnfruitfull altogether or without vse in the worke of the Lord and that God rich in mercy rewardeth euen in a poore soule weake loue and poore doings where a heart is not wanting to doe better and to loue more earnestly if he were able This may comfort him in the euill day when it comes and it may come hee cannot tell how soone For if Pestilence should be sent if some other destroying sicknesse should come or if troubles should arise for the Gospel which he professeth herein he may dwell safely that he hath not been wanting to his power in any furtherance that he could giue the Gospel or to the Professors and teachers of it for Gods sake who will not forget his worke and seruice that he hath done and and who giueth the full cup of life for a cup of cold water A terrour to those who being able to doe much in the seruice Vse 2 of God loue neuer a whit or coldly though a little be accepted done willingly in that respect and with a good minde Remember this ye that forget God hee may bring you downe in trouble though now ye be aloft in a flourishing estate of wealth peace Suddenly ye may be made poore or if your riches remaine with you you may beare this voice a voice very dolefull and bitter to all that are rich in their Mammon and not rich in God O foole this night thy soule shall be required of thee Luke 12.20 or this night that is very shortly and terribly they will fetch thy soule Then what griefe will it be and death to remember what good ye might haue done which yee neglected to doe in your wealthy and healthy dayes They that turne many to righteousnesse shall shine as the Starres Dan. 12.3 Now whether is better to shine as Starres in heauen or to burne as brands in hell Yee therefore that could haue spent hundred by your yeerely comming in and haue spent some vainely and not one nor neere one in all your life to the furtherance of Gods seruice by doing something toward the Arke of a teaching Minister in the place where your chiefe house stood and family did continue Yee that by your countenance and place might haue turned many to righteousnes and yet loued so hotely for your selues and coldly for God that the winning of soules was none of your care but rather the gathering of riches and friends and yee who hauing Tenants and followers might haue constrained them by a wise eye to haue kept the way with your selues to Gods house and good order in Gods house being assembled there had rather goe with a few then with your traine thither and rather leaue them that were in the assembly to their owne foolish wayes then watch ouer them for the wayes and duty of reuerend worshippers at Church during all the time of prayer and preachings then yee that haue thus neglected to doe good or gloried to doe euill being therefore not louers of God but rather haters of him What will ye doe or say when the day or houre commeth that ye must goe from house to graue Psal 49.14 and leaue your riches to others verse 10. Surely a good conscience in those matters will be more worth then all the goods Mannors or Lordships yee had or desired more then the loue of God in which onely is true happinenesse and peace Ye haue refused to serue him that giueth the best wages and did choose rather to serue for trifles then for an inheritance and for corruptible things then for eternall therefore God gaue you these small things dealing with you as Abraham with the sonnes of his Concubines who gaue them certaine gifts or moueables and sent them away Gen. 25.6 For so these and these onely are your portion hold them if you can the inheritance is Isaacs part and the right of the sonnes And now what will ye doe when ye can liue no longer to dishonour God and to honour your selues your children or kindred aboue him your hope cannot be in him whom you loued so little and coldly and who is a most bountifull Master to all his followers and louers giuing them here for their spirituall repast the royall feast of a good conscience and in heauen Kingdomes for their seruice for imperfect obedience perfect glory and for short troubles long life but now as Elisha a Prophet in Israel said to Iehoram the King of Israel Get thee to the Prophets of thy father and to the Prophets of thy mother 2 Kin. 3.13 so in times of Pestilence and in the houre of death yee must goe for comfort to your lands and Lordships and large heapes in which ye trusted or to your drunken cups fellowship companions and such Prophets of your fathers house the Diuell God will not looke to ward you nor see that is know you in that houre verse 14. But doth God thus remember euery little thing that is done to Vse 3 him in his seruice The vnthankfull among vs then are taxed who remember no benefit bestowed vpon them or good done for them though neuer so great The best we can doe to God or for him deserueth the pay of shame and no better recompence Luk. 17.80 and yet God reiecteth not our weakest loue Men may deserue much at our hands and sometimes doe when neuerthelesse wee reward their good with euill for their friendship become their enemies and fight against them without a cause Psal 109 4 5. We should do good for euill and pray for them that hurt vs Mat. 5.44
vs imitate the wisâ—dome that is often to be found among worldly men For if they hauing a suit to the King or some Noble man at Court misse of the successe and issue they hoped for they beginn to take themselues aside in the matter and to reckon with themselues in what circumstance point or points they sailed that the businesse went against them and hauing found their ouer-sight they seame by it to be wiser against another time So when in dealing with the Lord in our prayers wee finde that our cause sals to the ground and we are not heard as we expected we should reason with our selues religiously for what offence in matter in manner or of our persons God hath dismissed vs without hearing or refused vs in the prayers that we made vnto him and hauing found the fault to be as if we seek as we should we cannot but find to be all in our selues no blame in God we should further learn to amend that fault to beware of all such vntowardly comming to God hereafter Psal 66.18 If we pray in our sinnes or without repentance in any sinne wee must not looke to be heard nor if we pray without the putting away of wrath and the leauen of bitternesse If we aske not temporall deliuerances and blessings with a reseruation to Gods will we must looke to be denied much more if we aske things that God hath forbidden as his vengeance vpon our enemies their fall and our rising by it we deserue not onely to be denied but to be heauily plagued for our prophanenesse And if we would not be put back with shame when wee put vp our supplications to the throne of God we must keepe in with him at least wee must not prouoke his wrath by such a general vnreformednesse in tongue and manners as raignes at this day For who that meanes to obtaine his request at a mans hand will wilfully prouoke and displease him Let vs learne this for our selues that if Pestilence come or some sicknesse contagious or a dearth euer the land or some other affliction we may haue hope when they who sinne wilfully can haue no boldnes and therefore must needs despaire or haue small comfort in their prayers when in trouble they call vpon God A comfort to those who labour to take all impediments of Vse 2 hearing out of the way of their prayers by good affections and a holy life For they that pray with Faith and Repentance neede not to feare when they cry vnto God in the Plague in the Famine in oppression by foes and in other troubles Sometimes and for some time God in affliction may be as one that heareth not yet his eyes behold and his eyes may be as eyes of one that seeth not yet his eye-liddes consider Psal 11.4 that is the godly in trouble may think him absolutely gone from their help and that he is deafe in heauen at their prayers but when he winketh at the wayes of those that vexe them he sleepes not in them neither when he takes day with his afflicted and puts them to a new-hearing doth hee forsake their cause or them in aduersitie but onely taries the time when he shall see it best who onely knoweth when it is best and fittest for their deliuerance Gods eyes are not so shut at any time but hee sees vnder them what is done in the earth and when euill is deuised against the righteous the bright eye of the Lord is vpon the first thought and imagination thereof It doth not presently seeme so to vs because he takes leasure and respite to bring things to light but whatsoeuer we think or iudge to the contrary so it is And this d The Bishop of London D. King in a Sermon preached the 5. of Nouember 1608. at VVhite-hall The sometimes Reuerend Father of this Church and Right-worthy trumpet of the Gospel hath iustified plainly cleerely in Gods seuere watch ouer the Powder-traitors saying That he went with them in the whole course thereof that he saw them when they trudged to Doway and gadded to Spaine and marked the hissing of the Bee of Egypt to the Flie of Ashur and noted all the intelligence that passed betweene the Leiger Iesuit in England and the Leigers of Flanders and Spaine yet he bewrayed nothing of this at first but sate as with his eyes shut let them runne on till they had runne themselues to perdition After he shewed that hee slept not in so great danger toward vs but brought all to light and what the wicked had done which hee manifested by their own confessions and by publike example as vpon an hie Stage So when he seemeth furthest from hearing he heareth the very silence of his seruants prayers Exod. 14.15 Psal 55.17 And therefore the comfort of the righteous abideth firme which is that when they call they shall be answered first or last and alway in due time So wee haue spoken of one of the promises another followeth which is of deliuerance but otherwise then hath beene spoken of I will be with him in trouble I will deliuer him BEfore we heard of deliuerance but here it is promised in a strange manner to the righteous and that is that God will as it were put himselfe into their troubles to make himselfe a partie in them and so bee their deliuerer for by his being with them is not meant onely his being so by an infinite Essence and generall prouidence for so hee filleth all things and is with all his creatures but his being with them in a more speciall manner and more particularly by his Spirit of promise and comfort in their troubles it being certaine that the soules of the righteous sometimes eat and drinke and feast with Christ and at other times crie much and aske many watchmen for him before they can finde him Cant. 5.5 6 7 8. The meaning therefore is that God will assoone be foiled himselfe by the trouble of the righteous as suffer his children to perish in them From whence we learne Doct. that the godly haue the Lord alwaies a present deliuerer in great troubles They shall wade through many afflictions but when they begin to sinke his hand is ready to saue them Mat. 14.30.31 Psal 89.19 Hee is alwayes present with his Church but more familiarly in great troubles as a good father is alwayes affected to his childe but more tenderly in some grieuous sickenesse And as a King doth shew a more louing countenance to his houshold seruants at one time then at another sometimes frowning and sometimes smiling vpon them so the King of all the kingdomes of the earth doth not euer alike graciously shew himselfe to his dearest people though he be neuer from them more then the King from Court but sometimes in the smiles of his mercy and sometimes frowningly in displeasure hee lookes vpon them Yet howsoeuer mortall Princes may change their fauours God will neuer leaue his children The Prophet Dauid
set the Lord alway before him Psal 16.8 that is committed his wayes in all matters to him or made him Arbiter of his pathes and his reason was he was at his right hand or his readie hand who alway hedged him in with his power against present euils and dangers to come When they that were humbled for their rebellion against the words of the Lord cryed with faith to him in their affliction they were instantly deliuered from their distresse Psal 107.12 13. God was within call and so neare that if they had in that case but sighed to him which is a lesser matter then to cry hee could not but haue heard of whom the Prophet saith My sighing is not hid from thee Psal 38.9 And when the three seruants of God were in the fierie furnace God was with them in it to preserue them Dan. 3.25 and in the Kings heart to bring them foorth for the King spake and said Shadrach Meshak and Abednego the seruants of the high God goe foorth and come hither Verse 26. Thus God as a partner in sort communicateth with the righteous in their troubles being at hand to saue them from all aduersitie The Reasons Where God is said to be with them in trouble Reason it is spoken of God in Christ who by that spirituall vnion that is betweene him the Head and them his Bodie is said to be afflicted when they are in affliction Zach. 2.8 Acts 9.4.5 Zach. 12.10 Secondly when such are in trouble he remembreth that they Reason 2 are his children whom he cannot forsake and his weake children whom if he forsake he should leaue to perdition in their slipperie wayes And if the childes trouble be his fathers crosse how can we be in trouble and God our Father not troubled Psal 27.10 Esa 49.15 Thirdly the contrary would too much discomfort his people Reason 3 and comfort his peoples enemies but God will not doe so who will not break the bruised reed Esa 42.33 That is further grieue those that are much afflicted already A reproofe of the fearefull in religion who dare not be seene Vse 1 in a good cause though their conscience subscribe vnto it lest they should purchase trouble and get enemies for their forwardnesse that way Therefore that will not goe downe with them that will not go downe the narrow throat of the state and times in which they liue Acts 18.17 But what if thou be troubled for thy well guided conscience in good matters hath not God promised his presence in such troubles or will hee promise to be in place and faile thee and if hee come to thy helpe is not his goodnesse infinitely greater then mans malice and his arme stronger to saue then mans to destroy Many whom I cannot call ill men are vnreasonably afraid when God sendeth the Plague of Pestilence or a plague of raine and waters but who hath power in these Plagues and who hath promised to the righteous his comfortable presence in them Therefore put trust in God walke with him in thy good life and shrinke not from his Commandements and if Pestilence come feare it not for if â—â—ou miscarrie in it God will miscarrie with thee and if a Famine pinch the land care not for it for thou shalt bee fed or God will want power to feed thee Psal 37.3 Vse 2 A comfort to the righteous seeing that they are not singled out or exposed in troubles but haue God in company in all that they suffer suffering for his sake or by his will Such haue no cause to feare but rather they who in wronging them prouoke that God to his face who will put vp no contempt at any mans hands loseth the collar of Kings Iob 12.18 He hath builded his house strong as vpon seuen Pillars Prou. 9.1 that is the godly whom the wicked would pull downe are surely and strongly founded in his prouidence and so safely kept in his hand that none can pluck them from thence Iob 10.29 And as the righteous shall most certainly be deliuered so all that vexe them shall perish for looke what safety is to this house and them that be in it the like perill is to this hous's enemies and all that come against it God being as a wall of defence about his people so a wall of fire against all that molest them Zach. 2.5 When the Disciples were in the ship there was a great tempest in the Sea but Christ being with them in the tempest and ship immediately there followed a great calme Math. 8.26 So whatsoeuer tempests or seas of trouble come as long as Christ is with vs in them wee need not despaire of any calme of deliuerance be it from Famine Pestilence the sword of the enemy or any other noisome Plague I say so long as Christ is with vs and we deuoutly with him in the ship of our Church-assemblies calling vpon him and doing reuerence to his name But let vs be sure as he is with vs in trouble so to be with him by faith and holinesse in all our troubles he to deliuer vs we to serue him This sheweth that the best shall haue troubles yea great troubles Vse 3 for here a promise is made to the righteous of deliuerance in troubles not of freedome from them Many and great many times are the troubles of the righteous saith Dauid Psal 34.19 And how can they but feele trouble that haue many troubles Now what Dauid said that same said Dauids Lord for Christ speaking to and of his said in the world yee shall haue afflictions Ioh. 16.33 as if he had said this world is a sea and they whom my Father hath giuen me out of the world Ioh. 17.6 are as so many sloting Barkes or Boats tossed vpon huge waues of trouble hauing windes and sea against them till they put into harbour or there is no end of troubles till ye enter into the rest of God Also this that Christ said saith the faithfull witnesse of Christ Saint Paul All that will liue godly in Christ Iesus shall suffer persecution 2. Tim. 3.12 he saith all excepting none And if we shall but point to the opening of the fist seale and in the vnsealing of that mystesterie take a short view of the infinite number of the soules of them that were killed for the word of God and which therefore lye behinde the Altar crying night and day to God with the voice of the blood of Abel that hee would require all that blood at their hands that shed it Apoc. 6.9 10. how can wee be ignorant that it hath alwayes been the portion and lot of those that truely loued God through much tribulation to enter into his Kingdome Act. 14.22 If therefore being professors of the truth we haue not suffered some troubles and rubs for the same it is not sealed vnto vs that we are right professors and our profession is but as a Deed vnsubscribed For true godlinesse draweth troubles to it as the loadstone doth iron and