Princes and raiseth vp Princes according to his pleasure He chased the Amorites Exod. 34. 11. he fought for Israel Ios 10. 42. he gaue Hezekiah victorie 2. King 19. 34. hee giues the victorie he giues the ouerthrow in a word he rules all men the mightie of the earth Emperours and Kings The heart of the King is in the hand of the Lord Prou. 21. 1. and not only so but whatsoeuer is in the earth besides with life or without life * euen â—en and â—attel â—â— 8. 8. from the lion to the creeping thing he caused a lyon to destroy the disobedient prophet 1. King 13. 24. so he gaue Samson victory ouer a lyon Iudg. 14. 12 and likewise Dauid victory ouer a lyon 1. Sam. 17. 34. He sent two be 〈…〉 stroy the fortie two children that 〈…〉 ked the Prophet Elisha 2. King 2. 〈◊〉 Frogs flies lice and grashoppers are tâ—â— Lords mightie armie he spake the word and they mustred themselues vp against Pharaoh and made war against the wicked Egyptians Exod. 8. 5. 9. 1. 10. 28. The wormes likewise obey the voice of God he sent a worme to destroy Ionah his gourd Ion. 4. 7. and so doe the serpents for he sent fierie serpents amongst the children of Israel that stang them so as many died Numb 21. 6. The Lord is he that causeth 〈◊〉 trees of the earth to flourish euen th◠〈…〉 Cedars of Lebanon and the tree 〈…〉 earth to wither like the wild figg◠〈…〉 â—atâ—â— 21. 19. he raised vp a wild gourd â—â— comfort Ionah and the next morning he caused it to die away Ion. 4. 7. Hee causeth the earth to bring forth the bud of â—he herb that seedeth seede according â—â— his kind Gen. 1. 11. he I say ruleth the earth men beasts trees plants The earth is the Lords and all that therein is the round world and they that dwel therein Psal 24. 1. Whatsoeuer pleaseth the Lord that doth hee in 〈…〉 in earth In the seas Thirdly God doth that which hee pleaseth in the sea The sea is his and he made it and his hands prepared the drie land Psal 95. 5. he diuided the red sea so as the Israelites passed through vpon dry land Exo. 14. 23. He commands the sea yea the fishes of the sea are commanded of God from the greatest to the least He caused a whale to swallow vp Ionah and the same whale to cast him vp againe vpon the drie land Ion. 2. 10. and when Simon had gone a fishing all night and could catch nothing â— at length Christ caused him to lau◠〈…〉 to the deepe and then he encloas◠〈…〉 â—ole multitude of fishes Luk. 5. 〈…〉 God saith Dauid rulest the raging of the sea when the waues thereof arise thou stillest theÌ„ Psa 89. 9. his wayes in the sea and his pathes in the great waters and his footsteps are not knowne Psâ— 77. 19. When Israel came out of Egypt and the house of Iacob from the barbarous people the sea saw it and fled Iordan was turned backward Psalm 117. Thou hast faith the Psalmist placed the earth vpon her foundations thou couerest it with the deepe as with a garment the waters would stand aboue the mountaines but at thy rebuke they flie Psal 104. 5. as if he had said If thou O God didst not curbe in and bridle the raging of the sea it were impossible but that the whole world should be ouerwhelmed with water the waters would stand aboue the mouÌ„tains but at thy rebuke they flie and Psal 33. 7. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as vpon an heape and layeth vp the deepes in his treasure and yet in another Psalme The voice of God is vpon the waters he fittes vpon the floods and remaines king for euer and euer Psal 29. 10. Whatsoeuer pleases the Lord that doth he in heauen in the earth and in the sea And in all deepes First in the deepes of the sea and thus 4. Particular he deliuered Ionah beeing incompassed with the deepes Ion. 1. 2. hee makes the deepes to boile like a pot Iob. 41. 22. Secondly in the deepes of the earth The graue is naked before him Iob 26. 6. There is nothing hidden no not in the bottome of the earth but he seeth it Thirdly in the deepe of all deepes in the bottomlesse pit Reu. 20. his power is deeper then hel Iob 11. 8. hell and destruction are before the Lord Pro. 15. 11. 4. But the meaning of the place is this God ruleth not only the seas and salt waters but all fresh riuers ponds and lakes euen the deepes that spring out of the vallies and mountaines Deu. 8. 7. Oh God saith Dauid Let not the wicked haue their desire Oh cast them into the deepe pits that they rise not Psal 104. 10 Hee claue the rockes in the wildernesse and gaue the children of Israel drinke as out of the great deepes Psal 78. 15. Hee spake the word and the fountaines of the great deepe were broken vp Gen. 8. 11. The riuers of Egypt hee turned into blood Exod. 7. 17. and caused the auncient riuer the riuer Kishon to sweepe away Sisera with his mightie hoast Iudg. 5. 21. Hee turnes the floodes into a wildernesse and springs of water into drynesse againe he turnes the wildernesse into pooles of water and the drie land into water springs Psal 107. 33. Whatsoeuer pleases the Lord that doth hee in heauen in earth in the sea and in all deepes Whatsoeuer pleases the Lord that he doth The limitation of this doctrine c. Yet this must be vnderstood with limitation for som things there are which God cannot doe God cannot lie Tit. 1. 2. God cannot deceiue God cannot sin God cannot deny himselfe c. here then arises the difficulty how can it be said that God doth whatsoeuer hee pleases since you haue named particulars that he cannot effect nor bring to passe God cannot sinne God cannot cause that which is done to be vndone c. and therfore God is not omnipotent neither doth hee whatsoeuer hee wills But the answer is easie First God doth whatsoeuer hee pleases but to sinne to lie c. these are not pleasing to his Maiestie Secondly these are opera non potentiae sed impotentiae to sinne to die c. these proceed from weaknesse and infirmitie and therefore if God were subiect to these he were not Almightie for to sinne is a token of imperfection yea of slauery know you not saith Paul that his seruants you are whom you obey Ioh. 8. 34. If God could be ouercome by sinne hee should be the seruant of sinne and if hee could subiect himselfe to the bondage and slauerie and seruice and dominion of sinne and be vanquished and ouercome by it hee were not Almighty for this would derogate from his omnipotency because it implies a contradiction to be omnipotent and yet to yeeld to the conquest of sinne and therefore here rather appeares the mighty power of God that
blessed in the city and blessed in the field or that in the Psalmist blessed in thy going out comming in Ps 121. 8. Lo surely thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord Psal 128. 4. abroad at home by sea and by land Thus God dealt by the Israelites when they trauailed by land he guides them when they came to the sea he diuided the red sea and ledde them through it Psal 78. 13. when they did trauell in the day time he led them with a cloud and when they went in the night he led them with a pillar of fire v. 14. whē they were thirstie hee gaue them water out of the hard rocke v. 16. When they were hungrie he sent them Manna from heauen and rained downe flesh vpon them like dust vers 27. Thus the Lord dwels with his seruants Ioh. 14. and not only so but he followes them wheresoe-they goe Ios 1. 9. The Lord is their keeper the Lord is their shaddow at their right hand so as the sunne shal not smite them by day nor the moone by night Psal 121. 5. 6. 7. Lastly God rules the deepes therfore In the deeps shall hee likewise curbe the fresh waters that they shal not ouerflow thee Iob. 21. 11. Let Sisera oppose himselfe against the Church and the riuer Kishon shall sweepe away Sisera that auncient riuer the riuer Kishon Iud. 5. 21. And the waters of Marah though neuer so bitter yet at the prayer of Moses shal the waters of Marah be made sweete to the Israelites Exod. 15. 25. Nay they shall but only drinke of the waters of Marah no let Moses smite on the rock Horeb and the waters of Massah and Meriboth shall flow forth like a riuer Ps 105. 41. Is Naaman the Assyrian a leprous the riuer Iordan shall cure him 2. King 5. 15. Are the waters of Iericho neuer so deadly the Prophet Elisha shall heale them for euer 2. King 21. 12. And are the vngodly for their sinnes neuer so much visited with the common plagues of floods and ouerflowings and invndations yet notwithstanding we may stil say of the righteous as Dauid in another sense Surely in the floods of many waters they shall not come neere him Psalm 32. 6. Thus heauen and earth and sea and deepes are attendants vpon the Saints But behold a greater comfort then any of these God is the God of heauen and therefore euery Christian soule may be certenly assured of his owne saluation for there can be no condemnation to those which are in Christ Iesus which walk not after the flesh but after the spirit Rom. 8. 1. This then is the blessed estate of a righteous man the angels pitch their tents about them here and they shall liue an angels life after death Matth. 22. 30. The sunne shall not hurt them in the day time nor the moone by night after death they shall shine like the sunne in the glory of the father the stars and the planets shall fight for them in their courses and after death they shall glitter like the starrs for euer Dan. 12. 3. God hath spoken it in his word God that is able to performe his promise Rom. 4. 21. And I am verily perswaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any thing shal be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus Rom. 8. 38. 39. God hath promised it he that neuer promised more then he was able to performe nor neuer performed lesse then he promised I saith Christ giue eternall life to my sheep and they shall neuer perish and none shall pluck them out of my hands for my father that gaue them is greater then any and no man is able to pluck thē out of my fathers hand Ioh. 10. 29. Christ reasons here from the omnipotency mighty power of God so boundlesse and infinite and endlesse that those which repose their confidence in him need neuer be afraid If God giue eternall life to his sheepe who is able to take them out of his hand If God write our names in the booke of life who is able to raze them out againe if he iustifie who can condemne Rom. 8. 34. if God be on our side who shall dare to lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen no I am verily perswaded that neither principallities nor powers neither Belzebub nor Belial nor all the deuills in hell shall be able to seperate vs from the loue of God in Christ Iesus The deuil may goe about like a roaring Lion seeking to deuoure but God hath the Deuill in a chaine and greater is hee that is in vs then hee which is in the world Ioh. 4. 4. Trust in God and the gates of hell shall neuer bee able to preuaile against vs. Matth. 16. 18. FINIS
commission to his creatures the winds broke forth and made warre vpon Ionah Ion. 1. 4. the waters encountered with the winds and made warre vpon Ionah nay the fish the whale opened his mouth and lay wayting to deuoure Ionah the marriners that were to land him safely in Tarshish conspired to cast him into the sea nay if God but set against vs then shall we euen like Iudas set against our selues Mat. 27. 5. Ionah did not in this extremitie plead for but against himselfe Take me saith he and cast me into the sea and so shall the sea be calme vnto you Ion. 1. 12. how can wicked persons hope for the least safetie vpon the sea if the Lord but command the stormes and winds they obey him and these shall worke their ouerthrow if hee but command the sea the ship the pirats vpon the sea the rocks these shall worke their destruction But suppose that neither heauen nor earth nor sea sets against them yet hath In the deeps the Lord an other army and when hee armes himselfe to vengeance euen the sweet waters and delightfull springs shal runne vpon the world as it were with drawne swords and hath not the Lord infinitely fought against vs with his watrie armie witnes our late floods and inundations breaking downe banks carriyng away mils bridges c. the Lord armed these fresh water soldiers with such strength and power that nothing was able to resist them and therefore still see the miserable estate of an vnsanctified man if hee escapes one euill he meeteth with an other if he escape a first he meeteth with a second for the Lords quiuer is full of arrowes and his thunderbolts are neuer spent if neither heauen nor earth nor sea yet shal the deepes reuenge Gods quarrell vpon them euen thus miserable are they in this life euen as Ionah in the whales belly was compassed with waters so are these with enemies aboue beneath and round about them And yet behold this is but their miserable The 2. vse ◠the 1. part f◠terror to th◠wicked estate in regard of this world see againe their miserable estate in regard of a better life Is it possible that an vnclean person should euer thinke to dwell with God so long as God rules in heauen consider this point in the name of God and let it be a doctrine to worke terrour and amazement in vs. God hath said it in his word that neither buggerers fornicators nor adulterers shal inherit the kingdome of heauen Eph. 5. 5. God that hath the keyes of heauen and hath the keyes of hell this God hath spoken it and how canst thou then that runnest to the harlots house and makest thy selfe a slaue to vncleannesse how canst thou euer thinke to dwell with God that euer abhorred vncleannesse and so for couetous persons that forsake the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof to surfet vpon filthie Mammon how can they ouer thinke to dwell with that God that euer abhorred couetous persons malicious persons drunkards swearers liars how can they euer hope to dwel with that God that abhors malice abhors excesse abhors swearers and liars how can such deuillish and damned persons euer thinke to bee saued since the heauen of heauens is the Lords Deut. 10. 14. God he is holy God he is righteous God he is pure how canst thou then thou that art vnholy thou that art vnpure thou that art vnrighteous how canst thou euer think to set thy foot within the gates of the new Ierusalem a stinking carkasse stinkes not more vilely in the nostrils of man then an abhominable sinner stinkes odiously in the nostrils of God Let all sinnefull wretches know this that God is their mortall enemie hee will wound the head of his enemies execute vengeance vpon his enemies Deut. 32. 41. we loath not a toad nor a scorpion worse then the Lord hateth them we hate not the deuill nor the deuill hateth not man worse then God hateth them and therefore questionles the Lord will neuer admit them into his holy kingdome neither couetous earth-wormes beastly drūkards hellish blasphemers extorting vsurers God will neuer receiue these into his sacred presence but shal send them packing with the wicked and the reprobate into euerlasting damnation whosoeuer worketh abomination and lyes shal haue no part in the kingdome of heauen Reu. 21. 27. the frogs of Egypt stanke not more rankely in the Egyptians noses Ex. 8. 14. then these smell rankely in Gods nosthrils and therefore I say God will stop his nose against them and giue them their portion with hypocrites All the fearefull all the vnbeleeuing and abhominable murderers whoremongers sorcerers idolaters and liars shall haue their part in the lake that burnes with fire and brimstone Reu. 21. 8. And therefore now The conclusion of the vse in generall to drawe to a conclusion as Peter saith humble your selues vnder the mighty hand of God 1. Pet. 5. 6. so say I humble your selues vnder the mightie hand of God God he is a mighty God able to worke your ruine vpon earth and to cast both bodie and soule into hel fire humble your selues therfore before the thron of his grace for it is a fearefull thing to fall into the hands of the liuing God Thou drunkard that destroiest the temple of God and the good creatures of God by thine intemperancy and runnest into all manner of enormities that thy drunken humour hurries thee into that makest streets and townes ring of thine vnrulines thou that art mighty to drinke wine and strong drinke how darest thou rise early and goe to bed late to follow drunkennes since God hath denounced a woe against drunkards Isa 5. 11. and that God that hath denounced a woe against thee is able to cast both body and soule into hell fire Thou couetous earthworme that makest a god of thy goods that diggest downe to hell for riches and eatest the poore as men eat bread that art choaked with the loue of the world thou greedie catterpiller how darest thou continue in this sinne since God hath said it That neither theeues nor railers nor couetous persons shall inherite the kingdome of God 1. Cor. 6. 10. and this God is able to cast both bodie and soule into hell fire Thou blasphemer of the name of God that rentest and tearest the name of God in peices and spewest forth blacke and feareful and damnable oaths and makest swearing and cursing and deuillish speaking thy best language how darest thou take the name of the Lord in vaine since God hath said it that he wil not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine Exod. 20. 7. and this God is able to cast both bodie and soule into hel fire Dares a sonne offend his father durst Pilate offend Caesar Ioh. 19. 13. dares the borrower offend the lender no man will willingly offend him that is able to worke him an inconuenience and thinke wee then that it is a safe thing to
Elisha 2. King 6. 17. an Angel were sufficient to protect the whole Church one army might be sufficient but not one angel not one army but legions millions and mirriads of heauenly souldiers pitch their tents about euery one that feares the Lord. May we not say of this doctrine as was said of Goliah his sword there is none to it this this is a machlesse doctrine for a wounded spirit fal in with God and make thy peace with him and not only his other creatures but euen Archangels and Angels shall guard thee 2. God ruleth the earth and therfore In earth this may administer further comfort God raiseth vp states he casteth down states for the Lord is Iudge Psal 75. 7. It matters not then how grieuous thy distresses be nor how many thine enemies be for the Lord can raise the poore out of the dust and the needie out of the doung that hee may set them with the Princes euen with the Princes of the people Psal 113. 7. That child that hath a wealthy and powerfull and potent father feares neither pouertie nor enemies and what need we then that haue the Almighty Iehouah for our Lord and father that lookes downe with vs or against vs Psal 33. 12. and binds all his other creatures to their good-abearing Hos 2. 21. what need we feare so long as God rules the earth Let God take in with Samson not a band of Philistines can preuaile against him nay Samson without sword or speare when the spirit of the Lord came vpon him he slew a thousand men with the iawbone of an asse Iud. 15. 15. Gideons three hundred men shal with the knocking of potsheards chase their enemies that lie as thick vpon the ground as grashoppers Iudg. 7. 22. Ionathan and his armour bearer shall terrifie an hoast 1. Sam. 14. 15. little Dauid with a sling and stone shal vanquish mighty Goliah that was harnised with an helmet of bras 1. Sam. 17. 5. and had boots of brasse vpon his legges and a sheild of brasse vpon his shoulders v. 6. If the Lord be with Iacob Esau shall haue no power to bid him battell Gen. 34. 4. If the Lord be with Abraham Pharaoh his cruell enemie shal enrich him Gen. 22. 19. Thus doth the Lord order all things for the good of his people hee makes their enemies their freinds and deliuers them in battell from the power of the sword Iob. 5. 20. God is my shepheard saith Dauid and how can I want Psal 23. how can hee want that hath God for his shephard lift vp thine eyes said the Lord to Abraham Eastward Westward Northward and Southward all the land that thou seest wil I giue thee Gen. 13. 14. Gods wealth is not in the East only or the West only but Eastward Westward Northward Southward and therfore no good thing can be wanting to those that feare God Psal 34. If you keepe my Commaundements it was the Lords promise to the Iewes I will send you raine in due season and the land shal yeeld her increase and the trees of the field shall giue their fruite your threshing shall reach vnto the vintage and your vintage to the sowing time and you shal eat your bread in plenty and dwell in your land safely you shall chase your enemies and they shal fall before you vpon the sword fiue of you shal chase an hundred an hundred shal put fiue thousand to flight Leu 26. 4. 5. 6. In the name of God and feare of God let vs consider this point doe thine enemies rise vp against thee and thine adversaris encrease Ps 3. 1. as God said to Abraham feare not Abraham I am thy buckler Gen. 15. 1. so say I feare nothing God is thy buckler be thine enemies neuer so malicious God that is greater then thine enemies he shall cause those that rise against thee to fall before thy face If they come against thee one way they shall flie before thee seauen wayes Deu. 28. 7. Yea doth their malice reach to blood do they lead thee before Kings and Rulers for Christ his sake still trust in God that God that deliuered Daniel out of the lions iaws preserued Shadrach Meshack Abednego amidst the fierie fornace that deliuered the children of Israel with an high hand against Pharaoh king of Egypt Exod. 14. 8. this God is able to preserue thee in spight of thine adversaries and hee hath said it that hee will neuer forget thee Isa 49. 15. If the Lord sustaine thee what needest thou be affraid of ten thousand people though they should beset thee round about Psalm 3. 6. Againe for the things of this life how canst thou want since God ruleth the earth That God that gaue riches and treasures and honours to Salomon so as he gaue gold and siluer as stones 2. Chron. 1. 15. That God that chose Dauid from a sheepfold to a kingdome Psal 78. 70. this God is able to supply thy wants he hath promise to make thee plentifull in goods Deut. 28. 11. Let vs seriously consider this point when thine enemies rise vp against thee thinke of Gods power when the world frownes vpon thee thinke of Gods power when the streames of affliction overwhelme thy soule thinke of Gods power nay resolue with Iob though hee should slay mee yet will I trust in him Iob. 13. 15. no question the thought of it shal be as comfortable vnto thee as the coole water to the weary passenger Prov. 25. 25. Thirdly to proceed to further matter of comfort God ruleth the sea and therfore In the sea the child of God shall be safe as well by sea as by land no place is more full of perrill and daunger then the sea daungerous for pirats daungerous for stormes daungerous for rocks yet notwithstanding there doth the Lord mightily vphold his people euen amidst the billows and stormes of the sea Excellent for this purpose is that in the 107. Psalm 2. 3. 4. when the stormes rise and lift vp the waues of the sea when they mount vp to the heauens and descend to the deep so as their souls melt for trouble when they are tost to fro like a drunken man and all their cunning is gone c. when those that are vpon the sea are in this feare perplexitie ready to be deuoured by the seas to be swallowed vp in the sands and to dash against the rockes when the winds whistle the sea roars and swells and darkenes ouerspreads al when euery one is at his wits end with astonishment why then saith Dauid in the same Psalme they cry vnto God in their trouble and he brings them out of their distresse hee turnes the storme into a calm so as the waues of the sea are stil and they come to their desired hauen v. 30. Thus you see sea and land euery place is a place of Sanctuary of rest and refuge to the righteous man according to that Deut. 8. 3. thou shalt be