Commentary on 2 Peter, Commentary on 2 Peter volume 1 · Chapter 1 · Verse 13
VERSE 13. Yea, I thinke it meet, as long as J am in this tabernacle, to ſtirre you up, by putting you in remembrance.
THe Apoſtle had formerly profeſſed a good reſolution; faithfully to ſow i… their hear us the ſeed of life. Now leſt any man ſhould thinke his carefulneſſe a meritorious or ſupererogative worke, himſelfe confeſſeth it to be … more than juſt. Iuſtumaſſe arbitror, it is but the payment of a due debt. And this n… due for a while, but during life; So long as I am in this tabernacle. But it is granted, a… they know the truth, and live in the faith; yet they may be a-ſleepe; I will therefo… ſtirre them up, for living men may ſleepe. But what, is there a new leſſon … bee given them? No, that I need not, but even rubbe over the old, by putti… them in remembrance. Here he ſeemes to backe his diligence by certaine arguments; they are foure in number, and forcible in nature; derived Ab
Equitate vocationis; I thinke it meet.
Opportunitate Temporis; As long as I keepe this tabernacle.
Securitate Hominis; To ſtirre you up.
Neceſsitate Monitionis; By putting you in remembrance.
The conſideration of his owne office and calling moves him to it: it is a meet and …uſt thing for him to obſerve it, and the neglect were to do a manifeſt injurie to God, …o his Church, and to his owne conſcience. Secondly, the opportunity of the time moves him; for this life is but a Tabernacle, and will not ſtand long; and therefore he reſolves to apprehend occaſion as it is offered, and to thruſt in his ſickle while the harveſt laſts. Thirdly, the Security and dulneſſe of men moves him; who …re naturally ſo averſe and ſtupid, that they had need be ſtirred up, rowſed from their …lothfull couch, and by all inſtigations be ſet forward to religion. Laſtly, it is the …ſe of his office, and due exerciſe of his calling, alwaies to put them in mind of …heir laſt reckoning: and he cannot anſwer the neglect of it to the Iuſtice of God, who hath ſet him over them for that purpoſe,
I thinke it meet.] This is the firſt argument or motive: the nature of his office binds him to it Aequum eſt agere, quod Perſonam & conditionem deceat: but this is impoſed upon us, by him that ſent us; therfore it is moſt unjuſt to with-hold it, Eſa. 62.6. Yee that are the Lords remembrancers, be not ſilent. The precept is negative in ſound, affirmative in ſenſe. For this [Not] excluding the privation of ſpeech, anſwereth after a ſort to an Infinitans: in logicke admitting any thing rather than ſilence. Be not ſilent, is not onelyonly, Speake; but implies a continuall ſpeech: for when a man ceaſeth to ſpeake, he is ſilent. 2 Tim. 4.2. Be inſtant in ſeaſon, and out of ſeaſon. Not that Timothie ſhould breake through the rules of diſcretion, to preach at all times in themſelves unſeaſonable. For there is a time to keepe ſilence. Eccl. 3.7. There is a time to ſpeake, and a time to keepe ſilence. But opportunè volentibus, importunè molentibus: in ſeaſon, to them that will heare: out of ſeaſon, to them that will not heare. Bee not ſilent, hold your peace: hold the truth, hold your faith, hold your profeſſion, hold your zeale, hold your innocencie; hold not your peace. Tenuiſſe ſilentia clerum; Oh it is the baſeſt Tenure any Miniſter can hold his living by.
But it may be objected, that it is wiſedome to be ſilent. Many have ſurfeted by eating, none by forbearing: many have ſinned by ſpeaking, no man by holding his peace. God ſhall judge many a one Ex ore ſuo, out of his owne mouth. And, Iam. 3.2. If any man offend not in word, the ſame is a perfect man. Now he that ſaies nothing, offends not in word. But we take not ſilence in a metaphyſicall conſideration; as a meere privation. Non entis nullae ſunt operationes: that which hath no being, hath no working: and he that ſaies nothing, ſaies no harme. But we take it in a legall conſideration; as a curſed omiſſion; or neglect of that ſhould have beene performed. As he that is bound to worke, ſhall give an account of his idleneſſe: ſo he that is bound to ſpeake, ſhall anſwer for his ſilence. As the darkeneſſe in Aegypt, was a darkneſſe that might be felt: ſo ſilence in a Preacher, is a ſilence that will be felt: it ſhall ſmart to the quicke. There are graces Perſonall, and graces Miniſteriall. Perſonall graces are eſſentiall to a Chriſtian, accidentall to a Miniſter; as Faith, Hope, Charitie, Temperance, and the like. And theſe ſerve eſpecially for the good of the receiver, the perſon in whom they dwell: in a ſecond degree for the good of others. But Graces miniſteriall; as Preaching, exhorting, comforting, diſcerning of errors; confuting them, &c. reſpect him that hath them in the laſt place and principally tend to others benefit. 1 Corinthians 12.7. The manifeſtation of the ſpirit, is given to every man to profit withall. If wee hold our peace, we firſt wrap our ſelves in a criminall miſchiefe: becauſe ſilence directly croſſeth our vocation. A ſilent Preacher implies as harſh a contradiction; as a darke light, a dumbe cryer. Next in a Penall miſchiefe: and that either of the greateſt privation or loſſe in this life; the tabe and conſumption of our graces and gifts. Zach. 11.17. The Idol ſhepheard that leaveth the flocke, ſhall have his arme cleane dried up, and his right eye utterly darkned. Matth. 25.28. Take the talent from him. Or of the moſt grievous poſition of paine, and vexation of ſenſe for ever; the bloud of the loſt being required at their hands, ſo long as there is a ſeat of Iuſtice in heaven. Therefore ſaith Paul; vae mihi, ſi non evangelizavero; Woe unto me if I preach not the Goſpel. The Miniſters ſilence doth encourage the peoples going to hell, Lam. 2.14. Thy Prophets have ſeene for thee falſe burdens, and cauſes of baniſhment: but they have not diſcovered thy iniquity, to turne away thy captivity. It is a maxime in the civill Law; Qui … improbat, probat: Conſentit, qui tacet; he doth allow that doth not diſallow; and he that holds his peace,Numb. 30.4. gives his conſent. There is a caſe. The father that heares his daughters vow, wherewith ſhe binds her ſoule, and holds his peace; conſents that it ſhal ſtand. A mute indeed is no vowell, but a mute among vowells cannot avoid the office of a conſonant.Prov. 29 18. Certainly a diſable Miniſter is a grievous plague to the people. Whe… is no viſion, Gregor.the people periſh. Tot homines quotidiè occidimus, quos ad mortem ire ta… tes videmus. We kill daily ſo many men, as we ſee going to deſtruction, and ſay nothing to. Act. 20.20. Paul proteſted that he had kept backe nothing which was profitable to the Church: and from hence inferreth, Ver. 26. that he was Pure from the bloud of all men. Mundus ergo a ſanguine eorum non fuiſſet, ſi eis Dei conſilium … nuntiare noluiſſet, Gregor. He could not therefore have beene pure from their blood, if he had not diligently taught them the Goſpell. So, Verſe 27. himſelfe gives the reaſon of this Pureneſſe; Becauſe I have not ſhunned to declare unto you all the counſell of God. Ezeck. 3.18. The unwarned ſinner ſhall die in his iniquity; but his bloud will I require at thine hand. So that to be guiltie of ſilence, is to be guilty of murder. Lord, we cannot ſpeake ſo well as we ſhould; yet alwaies give us grace to ſpeake ſo well as we can.
So long as I am in this tabernacle.] This is his ſecond argument or motive; the opportunity of the time urgeth him. I cannot riſe from the dead to admoniſh, therefore I will doe it in the time of life, which is the due and afforded ſeaſon. There is no preaching in the grave, therefore Quamdiu ſum in hoc tabernaculo. Here obſerve three things.
Firſt, every thing hath the time to be done. Ioh. 4.23. Hora eſt nunc; The houre commeth and now is, Pſal. 1.3. The tree planted by the rivers of water, brings forth his fruite Tempore ſuo, in his ſeaſon, Eccl. 7.17. Be not overmuch wicked; why ſhouldeſt thou die Tempore non tuo, before thy time, 2 Theſ. 2.6. Antichriſt ſhall be revealed, Tempore ſuo, in his time, Ioh. 2.4. Nondum venit hora mea; my houre is not yet come; I muſt doe my workes, Tempore meo, in my owne time. Gal. 6.9. In due time we ſhall reape. If this be neglected, the Angell ſweares, There ſhall be no more time, Rev. 10.6. Few men doe marke what time is more than your Vſurers: they marry Time and Mony together, and ſo breed an everlaſting generation of Intereſts.
Secondly, that therefore every man muſt doe good in his time. Gal. 6.10. While we have time let us doe good to all men. Let us heare the great Shepheard and Biſhop of our ſoules. Ioh. 9.4. I muſt worke the workes of him that ſent me, while it is day: the night commeth, when no man can worke. Opportunitate nihil faelicius, amitti nihil faci… us. Occaſion is happily taken, eaſily loſt. While a Minuter is in his tabernacle, let him preach: he is now a moveable, hereafter he ſhall be fixed. There ſhall be no Sermons in heaven, for there all are full of grace: there ſhall be none in hell, for there all are paſt grace: therfore foreign, So long as I am in this tabernacle I will preach. Pſal. 88.10. Shall thy loving kindneſſe be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulneſſe in deſtruction? Shall thy wonders be knowne in the darke? and thy righteouſneſſe in the land of forgetfulneſſe? But if there be no preaching in hell, how then is it ſaid. 1 Pet. 3.19. that CHRIST went and preached to the ſpirits in priſon? I anſwer; there is no … tiation of the Goſpell; howſoever there may be a proclamation of judgement, and a declaration of CHRISTS power; a publiſhing of what the reprobates have loſt by not beleeving on him. Auguſtine objects; if there be any preaching in hell, what needed ſo much regard to it upon earth? Preaching on earth is to beget repen…ance: if there could be any in hell, it were but to encreaſe vengeance. Therefore …emember thy Quamdiu: preach while thou mayeſt, leſt God ſtoppe thy mouth …efore thou wouldeſt. Tremble at that fearefull Iudgement, Revel. 16.10. They …nawed their tongues for paine. Their tongues were once tyed up with gaines, there …hey ſhall be looſened with paines. Flattery made them (like that ſhameleſſe Sy…ophant, that licked up the Emperours ſpittle) to licke the ſores and vices of their maintainers, therefore they ſhall lambere flammas, licke thoſe unquenchable flames.
Thirdly, obſerve, that the Apoſtle compares his life to a Tabernacle; a little …ed or tilth, wherein the immortall ſoule dwels. The metaphore is taken from …ouldiers, Pilgrims, and Shepheards: who for the better expedition of their affaires, …re ſaid to have Sedes non fixas, moveable ſeats. We are Souldiers, and muſt dwell …n tents, till we have got the victory. We are travellers, and muſt ſleepe in Pavil…ons, till we come to our Citie. We are ſhepheards, and muſt lodge in the fields, …n the folds, to looke to our flockes: till the drought conſume us in the day, and the …roſt by night; and our ſleepe depart from our eyes, Gen. 31.40. This teacheth us the …aileneſſe of our life; which is ſtill moveable from one part of the earth to another, …ll it be removed to heaven, there it ſhall abide immoveable for ever. Nihil firmum …fra firmamentum: There is nothing firme under the firmament: but above there is …mmobile regnum; A kingdome which cannot be moved, Hebr. 12.28. Why art thou …roud, O man, that conſidereſt thy ſelfe? Cujus conceptus culpa, naſci miſeria, vivere …oena, mori anguſtia; Whoſe conception was ſinne, birth a miſery, life a puniſhment, …nd death a torment. The ſoule indeed that dwels in this Tabernacle, is an immor…ll gueſt: Dei inſpiratione condita, ſimilitudine inſignita, cruore redempta, fide decorata, …iritu adoptata; Created by Gods hand, formed to his likeneſſe, redeemed with his …loud, beautified with his grace, and adopted by his Spirit. She requires not ſoft …odging, and curious food of thee; but thy bodies obedience to her, that ſhe may give …bedience to Chriſt: that ſhe be not forced to ſerve, which ſhould rule: Dominam …cillari, ancillam dominari; For the ſervant to rule, and the miſtreſſe to ſerve, is a pre…oſterous overture.
Men live without conſidering themſelves; Vnde, ubi, quomodo, quo; whence …hey came, where they are, how they doe, whither they goe: that all theſe Mathe…aticall lines have earth for their center. Whence came we? from the earth. Where …re we? upon the earth. How live we? unworthy of the earth, or any bleſſing in it. Whither goe we? to the earth: Terram terra tegat; Earth to earth. We are compo…ed of foure Elements, and they ſtrive in us for the maſtery; but the lower gets the …etter, and there is no reſt till Earth have the predominance. Yet wicked men live, …s if there was no earth to devoure their bodies, nor gulfe lower than earth to ſwal…ow their ſoules. Mans life is a ſparke, a breath, a ſmoake: a ſparke in the heart, a …reath in the mouth, a ſmoake in the noſtrills. A drop of water will quench that …parke, a little haire can choake that breath, a little aire take away that ſmoake. Look …o thy wayes, thou liveſt in a Tabernacle, quickly diſſolvable: the Dart may light up…n thee next. When Harrald, King of Denmarke, made warre upon Harquinus, and …as ready to joyne battell; a Dart was ſeene flying into the aire, hovering this way …nd that way, as though it ſought upon whom to reſt. When all ſtood wondering to …ehold what would become of this ſtrange prodigie, every man fearing himſelfe; …t laſt the Dart fell upon Harquinus head, and ſlew him. This Dart of Death is ever …overing; watch, for thy turne will come.
To ſtirre you up.] This is the third motive to his diligence; an argument fet…hed from the ſecuritie of men; who ſleepe till they be wakened, and when they …re wakened, ſleepe againe: therefore they need Stirring. Wicked ones are dead, weake ones ſleepe, even the beſt have their naps. To the firſt you may crie as lowd …s the Idolatrous Prieſts did to Baal; but they will not waken. To the ſecond, though we call once and againe, they will not ſtirre; but let us give them no reſt. He that to ſuch a one knockes not mainely, knockes vainely: at laſt they will riſe. Luke 11.8. Becauſe of our importunity they will riſe. To the laſt an eaſie ſtirring ſerves: his nap is not ſo long, nor his ſleepe ſo deepe; but Cor vigilat. Cant. 5.2. I ſleepe, but my heart waketh. An Oxe hath ſtrength enough, but dulneſſe withall; there muſt be a goad to pricke him on. The ſpirit is ready, but the fleſh is heavie: we muſt be ſtirred upward, and ſpurred forward. Every good Sermon hath in it two things; a Bridle, and a Spurre. To meet with two diſpoſitions in men; Inclination to evill, averſeneſſe from good. For the former precipice; there is a bridle, for the latter; dulneſſe a ſpurre: hi preſsi, illi repreſsi; theſe muſt be ſtrained, thoſe reſtrined. Some runne ſo faſt as they can from Chriſts Enſigne, and treacherouſly confederate with his adverſary Satan; theſe be deſperate offenders. Others will not oppoſe him, ſo, nor take part with him, but cowardly ſtand and looke on. Like the curſed inhabitants of Meroz, Iudg. 5 23. that came not to the helpe of the Lord against the mightie. If a ma… could borrow of the one a little ſwiftneſſe, to quicken the others lazineſſe: and of the other a little cooleneſſe, to allay the formers heat: this might make up a reaſonable and indifferent temper.
VponUpon the whole face of the earth there is an univerſall ſlumber: as Sardi though ſhee lived, but ſhee was dead: So men dreame they are awake, but indeed they are faſt aſleepe. I doe not ſay, the Vſurer, Drunkard, Oppreſſour, the ſacrilegious are aſleepe; for mortui ſunt, they are dead. But I ſee profeſſours of religion ſlumber; acquieſcere lucro; over-give themſelves, though not give over themſelves, to the world: Doe you thinke they will ever be brought to heaven without ſtirring? No, it is well if perpetuall punction can drive them to compunction: if often repea… rules can worke any amendment. We call, and cry, and thunder; yet ſtill complain… as Aeneas for his Creûſa: Nec quicquam ingeminans, iterúmque, iterúmque voca…i. Rom. 10.21. All the day long have we ſtretched forth our hands, and lifted up our voices. Paul told his Theſſalonians, that he had no need to write unto them touching ſome duties, 1 Theſſ. 4.9. O that we could ſay ſo of our people. Eccleſ. 12.11. The words of the wiſe are as goads: now the Spirit of God infuſe into us that wiſdome, that our words may be as goads, to provoke and ſtirre you up to your owne ſalvation.
By putting you in remembrance. This is the laſt motive, drawne from the neceſſitie of often preaching and writing; otherwiſe how ſhould they bee ſtirred up? wherein we may conſider two things; the neceſſitie of the miniſtery, and the nature of that dutie.
For the former, there muſt be Remembrancers, that by them ſalvation may be conveyed to us: by them as Inſtruments, not of them as Principals. Illi non tribuunt, quae per illos tribuuntur; They doe not give that of themſelves, which the Lord doth give by them. Luke 15.22. Dixit Miniſtris, Proferte ſtolam: He ſaid to his Miniſters, Bring forth the beſt roabe. Though GOD gives you the roabe of ſalvation, yet by their hands. But you thinke, you have pick-lockes to open heaven doores, though they be not opened by us. Iohn is the voice of the Cryer, CHRIST is the Word that doth crie: he that deſpiſeth vocem clamantis, the voice of the Cryer; deſpiſeth verbum clamans, the Cryer himſelfe. Now this neceſſitie is not Infallibilitatis, ſed ordinis; Not of infallibility, but of order: GOD can ſave us without it, but he doth not. Iohn Baptiſt muſt give water, or CHRIST will give no bloud. Rom. 10.14. How ſhall they beleeve on him, of whom they have not heard? And … ſhall they heare without a Preacher? They muſt needs forget, that have none to p… them in remembrance. A people is never neerer their woe, than when they ſuſpe… their Preachers. Mic. 2.6. When they ſay to their Prophets; Prophecie not. The Citie is in hazard, when they have tyed up the alarme-bell. Newes came to a Towne once and againe, that the enemie was approaching: well he did not approach. He… upon in anger, they enacted a law, that no man on paine of death ſhould bring agai… ſuch rumours, as the newes of an enemie. Not long after the enemie came indeed; beſieged, aſſaulted, and ſacked the Towne. Of whoſe ruines nothing remain… but this proverbiall Epitaph; Here ſtood a Towne, that was deſtroyed with ſilence. We have too many ſuch townes; God keepe them from ſuch a deſtruction.
For the other; every true Miniſter is a Remembrancer. 1 Tim. 4.6.If thou put the brethren …n remembrance of theſe things, thou ſhalt be a good Minister of IESUS CHRIST. Of theſe things put them in remembrance. It is a civill terme, proper to civill officers.2 Tim. 2.14. 2 Sam. 8.16. Eſay 36.22. Iehoſhaphat the ſonne of Ahilud was Recorder. There is mention made of Ioah the ſonne …f Aſaph the Recorder. The Recorder is a prime Office, well knowne in this Citie. This the Apoſtle here naturalizeth to the Church, and ſignifies Miniſters to be Re…orders. This Remembrancing or Recording, is not a publication at randome, but … Commemoration; or a fetching backe of ſome forgotten thing. The proper principle from whence it proceeds, is no other facultie of the ſoule, but the memorative. The proper object is not occurrents of all ſorts, but occurrents paſt.
You ſee now a Preachers errand: it is not a new invention, but an ancient Record enrolled in the memory. As Saint Iude ſpeakes. Verſe 3. Of the Faith which was once delivered to the Saints. Once, not ſo much Ratione temporis, at one …eaſon: as Ratione perfectionis, in reſpect of the perfection: ſo given once, that it …eeds never be given againe. We invent no novelties, but remember you of that which was delivered to us. That good thing which was committed unto thee, keepe. 2 Tim. 1.14.Quod tibi creditum, non quod à te inventum: quod accepiſti, non quod excogitaſti: cu…us autor non eſſe debes, ſed cuſtos; That which was intruſted to thee, not invented by …hee: which thou haſt received, not conceived: whereof thou art not a founder, but a keeper. Yea, CHRIST himſelfe added no new precepts to the Law,Lyrinenſ. but revived and explained the old. Therefore he uſed to ſay, It is written; and that writ…en Law he expounded. But it is objected. Iohn 13.34. Novum mandatum; A …ew Commandement give I unto you. This was not Nouum, ſed novatum; not new in …t ſelfe, but rather renewed: there being the addition of a new Spirit, that helpes our infirmities. For, 1 Iohn 2.7. I write no new Commandement unto you, but an old Commandement which you had from the beginning. But the preaching of faith is cal…ed Nova Iuſtitia, a new Righteouſneſſe. I anſwer, It is not a contrary Righteouſneſſe to that the Law required, but a different conveyance of Righteouſneſſe. Both …equire a Righteouſneſſe; the Law an inherent, the Goſpell an imputed Righteouſneſſe. The Decalogue, without contradiction, is ſtill that Magna Charta; to which as their common Principle all doctrinall concluſions are reducible. Eccleſ. 12.13. The concluſion of the whole matter, is, Feare GOD, and keepe his Commandements; for therein is the whole dutie of man. In Arithmeticke, when we once paſſe …he number of ten, the latter numbers, though multiplied to millions of millions, …re but compounded reſumptions and repetitions of the former. When the workes of GOD were crowned with their Makers approbation; Behold, it is very good: …ll the inventions of men were but ſurveyes and diſcoveries, all actions but imita…ions; Nil novi ſub ſole; There is no new thing under the Sunne. Eccleſ. 1.9. The thing …hat hath beene, it is that which ſhall be. Is there any thing whereof it may be ſaid, See, …his is new? It hath beene already of old time before us. All are but remembrances of …is worke, but rehearſals of his praiſe. So after the full and perfect delivery of GODS Word; all praiſes are but like the hundred and fifth, the hundred and ſixth, …nd the hundred and ſeventh Pſalmes; Rehearſall Pſalmes: or as David eſpecially …ntitleth the eight and thirtieth Pſalme, Memorandum; A Pſalme of David to bring …o remembrance. All prayers, but like the Levites in the ninth of Nehemiah; Re…earſall prayers. All Sermons, but like Stephens in the ſeventh of the Acts; Re…earſall ſermons.
But there are ſome, that thinke to diſparage all Sermons, and ſhift off hearing, with this objection; Nil dictum, quod non dictum prius; nothing can be ſaid, but that hath beene ſaid. And when any good Inſtruction is commended, they thinke by …his exception to diſgrace it. Grant that all is the ſame for the matter; yet for the method, I am ſure there are many things now ſpoken, that were never ſpoken before. Some of later times have averred, that all manner of Vſury is lawfull: this was never ſaid before. The Devill himſelfe durſt not have beene ſo impudent, as to have broached this in thoſe ancient and purer times. Others have publiſhed, that Tenths are not due to the Church, Ex jure Divino: now for fourteene hundred yeeres after Chriſt this was never ſpoken. The Church would have denied her bleſſing to ſuch a ſonne, yea, refuſed him for her ſonne, that ſhould have ſaid it. As Chriſt ſaid in the caſe of unjuſt Divorce, Matth. 19.8. Non fuit ſic ab initio; From the beginning it was not ſo. We ſee opinions newly broached, that were never heard of before. There are daily productions of new acts, never done before. The blowing up of a State with Gun-powder; whoſoever ſpeakes of it, ſpeakes of a thing never ſpoken of before. Can your ſelves thinke new thoughts, ſpeake new words, execute new acts; and yet cannot we preach new Sermons? Is there a neceſſitie, that all ſuggeſtions of Gods Spirit, and contemplation of man, muſt be diſgraced for being old? Indeed we deſire to tell you of the old Righteouſneſſe, but we are faine to wi… your nice and curious attentions by new formes and methods. Matth. 13.52. The good Scribe bringeth out of his treaſure things new and old. What careth a wiſe man whether the Balme be new or old, ſo his wound be cured by it? Let it bee old or new, a preſent inſtruction, or a repetition, it is ſufficient if it may profit your ſoules.
To conclude, all our Sermons are but Remembrances, and our ſelves Remembrancers. We can doe no more, we can doe no leſſe. Act. 4.20. We cannot but ſpeake the things which we have ſeene and heard. We cannot; not that it is abſolutely impoſſible: but firſt for Outward congruitie of reaſon and law: for Id poſſumus; quod jure poſſumus; We can doe, what we may doe. And then for Inward reſolution; the Word being as burning fire ſhut up in our bones, that makes us weary of forbearing, Ier. 20.9. Or like new wine, which if it have no vent, will burſt the veſſels, Iob 32.18. I cannot, that is, I will not: love as ſtrong as death, neceſſitates me: Mori poſſum, tacere non poſſum; I can die, I cannot hold my peace. Eſth. 4.16. Howſoever I will ſpeake; If I periſh, I periſh. There is great need. Satans remembrancers are abroad in every corner: marke how they vouch their precedents. Ezra 4.15. The adverſaries of Ieruſalem ſlander her to Artaxerxes, that ſhe is a rebellious Citie, Seditious, and hatefull to Princes and Provinces. Iohn 19.7. The Iewes coloured their murther with a legall proceeding; We have a law, and by our law he ought to die. Theſe Inſtruments of the Devill ſpeake, and ſhall we hold our peace? Doe they remember you of carnall things, and ſhall not we remember you of the LORD IESUS? The ſilence of a Remembrancer in the Kings Exchequer, may diminiſh the Kings Revennews: and by the ſame fault, wee may ſhorten the Lords commings in. It is true indeed that his glory can finde other iſſues; but to our ſhame. Esth. 4.14. If thou hold thy peace, God will ſend deliverance another way; but thou and thy fathers houſe ſhall be deſtroyed. No, pray you for us, that the doore of utterance may be opened unto us: yea, Lord, doe thou open our lips, and our mouth ſhall ſhew forth thy praiſe. Our hearts ſhall meditate, our lips ſhall ſpeak: and may the words of our lips, and the meditations of our hearts, be alwayes acceptable in thy ſight; O Lord our ſtrength and our Redeemer.