Three Sermons 2, Sermon 2
The Ruine of Gods Enemies: PREACHED VponUpon the Commemoration-day of the deliuerance from the Gun-powder Treason.
Iudg. 5.31.
So let all thine Enemies perish, O Lord.
THis is the conclusion of that Diuine song which Deborah and Barak sang after that great deliuerance which God gaue the Israelites from Iabin king of Canaan,The d…pen…a… of this verie vponupon the r…t of the Chap…er. and after the ouerthrow of Sisera the generall of the field. Now when as in the latter part of this hymne, Deborah (who, I suppose was the cōpiler of it) had after a most cloquent manner, set out the fashiō of Sisera his fall, by the hands of Iael, the wife of Heber the Kenite a…, she shutteth vp all with this prophetical conclusion, So perish all thine enemies, O Lord. This is the order of the place.
The generall nature ….The clause it selfe is a Prophecie: for, albeit it run in the sorme of an Imprecation, yet it beeing considered, what Deborah was, euen a Prophetesse bChap. 4 …, we must needs thinke that the ground of her speach, was the knowledge she had, touching the future estate & condition of Gods Church, for which cause shee maketh the desire of her soule sutable to the purpose and determination of God. As therefore shee well knew that Euill should hunt the enemies of God to destruction cPsal. 14….11., and that the prouidence of God should attend vponupon those which louelove him, for their continuall preseruation, so here she testifieth the fulnes of her desire that it may be so; So let all thine, &c. but they that louelove thee, &c.
It beeing cleere then (as I take it) that this verse came out of the mouth of Deborah as a Prophetesse,The diuisio… of it. it may be diuided into two parts. The first sets downe the ruine of Gods enemies, So let all thine Enemies …erish, &c. The second declareth the prosperitie of Gods friends: But they that louelove thee shall be as the sunne, &c.
I hauehave chosen the first part only to handle at this time, the generall doctrine whereof is, That the Enemies of God shall perish so as Sisera did. For the opening whereof, two things must be done: first,The generall doctrine. it must be shewed who be Gods Enemies: secondly, it must be enquired how Sisera perished, and then the ruine of Sisera must be applied to all Gods Enemies.
In one word they be generally called Gods Enemies, Who be God; enemies.which are the Enemies of Gods Church. Thus the Lord sware that he would hauehave warre with Amalek from generation to generation, because Amalek fought with Israel dExo. 17.8.16., and Ethan in the Psalme, saith, that those which reproached the footesteps of Gods annointed, reproached the Lord ePsal. 89.51., according as Paul was said to persecute Christ fAct. 9.4.5., because he persecuted the Church g1. Cor. 15.5.: In the same sense, Saneherib, is said to hauehave rayled against the Holy one of Israel hIsa. 37 23., because he rayled against the Church and people of God in Israel. Now the enemies of Gods Church are of two sorts. Some are directly and professedly enemies vntounto Pietie, and to the truth and religion of God, and seeke by all meanes how to roote it out and to abolish it. Such were the Philistims, the Amorites, the Amalekite…, the Midianites, &c. of old, and after that the Babylonians, and other Monarchs, whom Daniel prophesied of: and such at this day are the Turkes to whom euen the verie name of a Christian is abhominable. Another sort shrowd themselues vnderunder a name of the Church and of true Religion, but yet indeed and in truth are enemies to the sinceritie of Religion. And these must also be distinguished, some doe professe a different kind of Religion, and vse another manner of worshipping God then the true Church vseth, such were the Samaritans in auncient times, who after their rent from the Iewes, retained circumcision, boasted of their fathers, and expected the MessiasiI…h. 4.12.25 yet were not Gods people kHos. 1.9., but were deadly enemies to the IeweslIoh. 4.9.. And such nowe are the Papist…, who boast that they onelyonly are the Church, but yet vnderunder this pretense persecute the Church, and are in a continuall opposition thereunto: For which cause their Church beeing typed out by the name of The great whore, is said to be drunken with the blood of Saints and Martyrs mReu. 17.6.: whereof these latter times hauehave had and still hauehave very plentifull experience. These Enemies in their malice against Gods Church vse a double course. The one is of opē hostilitie: Therfore the Antichristian Church is said to make warre with the Saints nReu 13.7.: And what warres the Romish Church with her assistants hath made, and doth still studie to make against the Protestant Churches in these parts of the World, there is no man, who knoweth any thing, can be ignorant. The other course is of secret practising, which is also twofold. First by seditions, factions, conspiracies, poisonings, and all to bring confusion vponupon Kingdoms, that so (if it were possible) they might quench the light of the Gospel, and establish their owne Idolatrie. An… euident instance whereof we hauehave had in the powder-Treason, a deuise, which a man would thinke the deuill himselfe should be ashamed to father, and yet Papists doe not blush that their Religion should be the hatcher of such a hellish enterprise. Secondly, by priuie suggestions of their creeping o2. Tim. 36.Iesuits and Seminaries, to corrupt and deceiue the minds pTit. 1.10.of the vnsetled, and to poison them with their popish drugs. They come from the Sea of Rome in amongst vsus, like the sammon and fish of that sort into the fresh riuers to doe their kind, and to beget a new spawne and frie of Catholiques. These be the Frogs which come out of the mouth of the Dragon qReu. 16.15., the little foxes which the Spouse complaineth ofrCan. 2.15., which like their predecessors, compasse sea and land to make one of their profession. sMatth. 23.1▪.
A second ranke of these Enemies shrouded vnderunder the Name of the Church, are those which professe true Religion, but yet are aduersaries to the Life and power t2. Tim. 3 5.of Religion. Such our Church is pestered with at this day, and is euen darke with them as Egypt with the grashoppers uExod. 10.15.. These are they which cannot endure the yoke of the Gospel, which will not abide to be ruled by the Word and discipline of the church, but resolue to breake those bands and to cast those cords from them xPsal. 2.3.: Our Sauiour calleth these his Enemies, who will no… that he should raigne ouer them yLuk. 19.27.. Such are they also who are aduersaries to the Word preached, hindring (as much as in them lieth) the passage of it, and seeking (like Elymas) to turne away zAct. 13.8.others from it: All seeming-wise, (for the wisdome of the flesh is enmitie against God aRom. 8.7.:) All couetous worldlings, (for, the amitie of the world is the enmitie of God bIam. 4.4.:) All Epicures and be…lie-gods, (for, such are Enemies to the Crosse of Christ cPhil. 3.18 1:) All continuers in grosse sinnes, (for, God surely will wornd the head of his Enemies, and the hairie pate of him that walketh in his sinnes dPsal. 68 2….) These and such like, liue in the Church, and professe to know God, but yet are the Enemies of God, and come within the compasse of this Prophecie.
How Sisera perished.The second thing to be laboured in, is an enquiry how Sisera perished, that so we may know how the Enemies of God shall perish. The ruine of Sisera is made a patterne for the ruine of Gods Enemies. Touching the conspirers against Gods people, the Psalmist prayeth thus, Doe thou to them as to Sisera, & as to Iabin at the riuer of Kishon ePsal. 83.1….; And, concerning these Kings of the earth, which by the perswasion of the spirits of Deuills (the frogs of Romeb) and themselues against Gods Church, it is prophecied that they shalbe gathered together to a place called Arma-gedon fReu. 16.13.14.16., that is, they shall receiue a famous foile, euen such an one as Sisera receiued at the waters of Megiddo gIudg. 5.19.: Wherefore to the end we may vnderstand how Gods Enemies shall perish, it is fit to enquire how Sisera did perish. In Sisera his ouerthrow there be to be noted three things. First, the time; that it was when Sisera was in his greatest height, he was furnished with …ine hundred charets of yron, and by him (vnderunder his master) the children of Israel had bin sore vexed twentie yeares hIudg▪ 4 3.. Secondly, the meanes; that he was sold into the hands of a woman iVer 9.. Thirdly, the manner, that it was an irrecouerable destruction: All the host of Sisera fell vponupon the edge of the sword, there was not a man left kVer. 16., Sisera himselfe sanke downe at Iaels feete, and lay there dead lIudg. 5.27.; The children of Israel preuailed against Iabin king of Canaan, vntill they had destroyed Iabin king of Canaan mChap. 4.24.. So then, The Enemies of God, shall perish as Sisera, that is; in their greatest iollity, by meanes (in mans opinion) most vnlikely, and so, as after their fall receiued, they shall be past all recouerie. It will be easie to shew the truth hereof by the Scripture. First they shall perish in their iollity, and in the height of their securitie. I hauehave seen the wicked strong, and spreading himselfe like a greene bay-tree, yet he passed away nPsal. 37.35.36.. When the workers of Iniquitie doe flourish they shall be destroyed for euer oPsal. 92.….. God will shoote an arrow at them suddenly pPsal. 64▪ 7.When they shall say, Peace and safety, th…n shall come vponupon them sodain… destruction q1. Thess. 5.….. Secoudly, the meanes but weak in comparison; Whereupon it is a generall rule, that God hath chosen weake things to confound the mightie things r1. Cor. 1.17.. Euen Wormes shall …ate King Herod sAct. 12.23., and Grashoppers, and cankers shall be the Lords great host tsoel 2.2….Thirdly, the ouerthrow shall be irrecouerable, like the breaking of a potters pot, in the breaking whereof is not found a sheard, to take fire out of the hearth, or water out of a pit uIsa. 30 17.; like smoke that vanisheth xPsal 68 …., like stubble before the wind: yPsal. 8….13.Whereupon the ruine of An…ichrists kingdom is compared to the casting of a great milstone into the sea, with such violence (saith the holy Ghost) shall the great citie Babylon be cast and shall be found no more zRou. 18.2….. Our Times hauehave had two notorious and neuer to be forgotten exampels of the truth hereof. The one in the Spanish fleete in eighty eight. The ouerthrow of it we cannot be ignorant of, and we hauehave great cause to remember it. It was like the fall of Sisera. First it was in the Iollitie thereof. The Nauy was called Inuincible: They had made themselues sure of vsus, they had shared the pleasant things of the land among them in their owne seeming: They which abode at home, said one to another, as Siser…es mother did to her Ladyes, HaueHave they not gotten and diuide the spoile aIudg. 5.30.? Secondly, the meanes was but weake in comparison. Our nauie for number and proportion of ships much smaller, our men fewer, our time of preparation much lesse. We may truly say, it was not by our owne sword, neither did our owne arme sa…e vsus bPsal. 44.3.They fought from heauen, euen the starres in their courses fought against them cIudg. 5.3….Thirdly, it was an vtter spoile, scarse a ship left to doe any further seruice. The other example is this of the Powder-Treason: touching which you shall see that the Enemies of God and of his Church engaged in it perished also as Sisera: First in their height of confidence. For (now) among Papists both at home and abroad, there was a very confident exspectation of some great good to be done for the Catholique cause, and the matter beeing brought euen to the push, and t…at mous…r of theirs beeing come almost to the Birth, they made full account of their golden day, in which they should bath their …ands in the blood of all good C…is…ans, and establish the Idolatrous seruice of their Breaden god. Secondly▪ by meanes vnlikely: It was no… b…wrai…d, nor defeated by any wit or policie of man; but in them was verisied that of the Psalme, Their owne tongues fell vponupon them d…., their own pen discouered them, and that which the watchfull e…e of gouernment did not espy, their owne priuie buzzing brought to light. I report no new thing: you know the letter, how it was endited, to whom it was sent, & how it was construed. And so was that made good which Salomon said, Curse not the King &c. that which hath wings shall declare the matter *…; It was a quill, a piece of a wing, that reuealed it. Thirdly it was an vtter fall: their putposes were defeated to their owne confusion: So that we may well take vp that of the Psalmes, They made a pit and digged it, and fell into the pit that they made; their mischiefe is returned vponupon their owne head, and their cruelly fallen vponupon their owne pate *…, and Praysed bee the Lord, which hath not giuen vsus, as a pray vntounto their teeth g…. Thus by plaine Testimonies of Scripture, and by our owne experience, it i… prooued vntounto vsus, that the E…emies of God and of his Church shall All perish so as Sisera, in the height of their pride, by meanes (in mans conceipt) improbable, by a course & ruine irrecouerable.
The first vse of this doctrine,… is to stirre vsus vp to fill our mouthes with the praises of God, so often as we recount the deliuerances which God hath vouchsafed to his Church, especially those which in our owne times we hauehave had experience of. This vse did Deborah make of the victorie against SiserahIudg. 5.2.: Moses of the ouerthrowe of Pharaoh, and the deliuerance out of Egypti…xod. 11.1.. Many be the Psalmes which were penned vponupon such occasion…. It is the chiefe thing which God exspecteth of vsus, Call vponupon me in the day of trouble, so will I deliu…r thee, and thou shalt glorifie me kPsal. …0.1….. The spirit of God no…ably describeth the ioy of the Church for the ruine of the kingdome of Antichrist, Hallelu-iah, s…luation, and glorie, and honour, and power be to the Lord our God, &c. lR…. …9.…▪2.and the seruants of God are incited and incoutaged so to doe. O heauen retoyce of her, and ye holy Apostles and Trophets, for God hath giuen you iudgement on her m…. And albeit we may hauehave cause of pity when we thinke vponupon their soules, yet so farre forth a… the Ruine of the enemies of God, makes for the churche… good, we ought to rei…ce in their cue… throwe. The Righteous (saith Dauid) shall reioyce when he s…eth the vengeance pP… ….; and, …l…sed shall he be (said the people touching Babylon, which had held them in long captiuitie) that taketh and d…s…eth thy children against the stones oPsa…. 13….. No nation hath more cause to performe this dutie then we: It were long to rehearse cuerie particular: Truely may it be said of the Church of England, as Iacob said of Ioseph in his will, The archers hauehave grieued her, and shot against her, and hated her, but her bowe hath abode strong, the hands of her armes hauehave beene strengthened by the hands of the mightie God of Iacob pG…n 49.23.4, and she may say as the Church of Israel, They hauehave of tentimes affucted me from my youth vp, but they could not preuaile against me qPsal. 12…▪ ….2. …. c.. Neither was any deliuerance giuen vsus by God, more notorious then was this, from that bloodie Massaker intended agains… the whole state by an vnheard of kind of execution, vponupon the Kings Maieslie, his deerest Queene, their Princely sonne (ou… Hope for hereafter) the honourable councellours, the noble Lords and Barons, the Reuerend Bishops, the graue Sages and Iudges of the Land, besides many worth…e gentlemen and commoners of the Realme; no storie, whether barbarous or Christian maketh mention of any the like brutish, hellish crueltie. That which (in my opinion) throughout the storie of the Scripture commeth neerest vntounto it, is that plot of Haman, for the vtter rooting out of the people of the Iewes. For the better quickning of vsus vntounto thankefullnesse, I will a little insist vponupon it, and shew you first, how these two conspiracies, (that of Haman and his adherents, and this of the Papists combined in the Powder-reason) doe agree: and then secondly, wherein, this latter doth in sauage crueltie farre exceede that: and so by consequence how our deliuerance is farre more admirable then was that of the Iewes, though that were also very famous: First touching the agreement betwixt the two plots and the deliuerances from both, marke it thus. The Iewes Enemies, were their Enemies for Gods sake: These ours for Religions sake. These had set downe a certaine day in which (as it were) in an instant to doe their villanie. Ours, bad resolued vponupon a day also, yea euen vponupon a very point of time, in which to accomplish their deuilish enterprise. These had disposed the manner of the Iewes destruction by a Lot, eueryevery conspirator was appointed his particular seruice. Ours had allotted eueryevery one his taske, some to prouide at home, some to negotiate abroad in other countries, some to make tumults in the citie, others to raise rebellion in the countrey: Nay scarse a Papist of any intelligence in the land, (as may easily be gathered by their generall confidence at that time) but he was employed at the least thus farre forth, to pray for the good successe of the Catholiques, there beeing then some speciall seruice in hand for their common Benefit. These which sought mischiefe against the Iewes had the warrant of a king, for that which they did: Ours, the allowance of him, that taketh vponupon him to be aboue kings, the Man of Rome, euen his Holines his vnholy dispensation: Indeede a thing deuised in Hell, might soone passe with Seene and allowed, at Rome. Well, in fine, these aduersaries were sodenly defeated; ours, in amoment disappointed, euen when their monstrous conception was at the very point of deliuerance. They were slaine the same day in which they thought to hauehave murthered: these perished then when they promised to themselues an eternall victorie. Thus farre we hauehave seene, Enemies alike, daunger alike, a deliuerance in some circumstances not vnlike: Now marke, how in some other things againe, this of ours farre exceedes. These enemies to the Iewes were of another Nation: these Popish conspiratours were our owne countrimen. The Iewes whome they sought to destroy were their vnderunder-lings, captiues, and such as liued in their land but by courtesie: Those whome these Romish Leaguers sought to murther, were their lawfull gouernours, to whome both by Religion and Nature they did owe obedience. Oh inhumanitie, oh Poperie, be these thy fruits! If this be religion let hell be made heauen, and let the depth of villanie, be the height of pietie. The plotters against the Iewes were heathen men, Pagans, Infidels, Haman himselfe an Amalekite, a sworne enemie to Gods truth. These, in name Christians and Catholiques of Rome, members of that church, out of which (if we will beleeue them) …here is no Holinesse. Well might Nero be a Saint, if this were holines. I may well say of them, as Iaacob did of the fact of Simeon and Leui; Cursed be their wrath, for it was fierce, and their rage for it was cruell rGen 49.7.. To proceede yet: These illwishers to the Iewes, albeit they meant nothing but mischiefe, yet they caried not their purpose so closely but that it was knowne, and the poore Iewes had warning, if not to escape death, yet to auoid the miserie which might happen to their soules by a sodaine death: These (whome we speake of) intended such a slaughter, which beeing but a blast might hauehave brought many to their reckning before god, before they had thought vponupon their account.
Neuer my rage so great among men called Christians, but although the blood was shed, yet there was leaue giuen to the soule to prepare it selfe for the Lord. But Poperie must be like it selfe, it hath euer beene a butcherie of soules. How true is the saying of Salomon: The mercies of the wicked are cruell s… 12.10.. This Romish merciemercy, to say men be Heretiques, and yet to send them away quick without any moment of time to repent them. If this be their mercy, what thinke you may their crueltie be? Hang downe your heads you Papists, and shame, you pretensed Catholikes, neuer se…ke for figleaues to couer the nakednes of your Italian mother: though she be washed with nitre, and much sope, yet this Iniquitie is so marked before God t… … 22., & so hatefull in the sight of all indifferent men, that the reproach thereof can neuer be done away. There is yet one very effectuall circumstance to note out the exceeding greatnesse of our deliuerance aboue this of the Iewes: God gaue deliuerance to these Iewes in a time when they were humbled by captiuitie, and had also cast downe themselues by fasting and prayer, for the auoiding of that which was comming towards them. I confesse here was merciemercy, but this of ours farre exceedes. For the Lord wrought this for vsus in a time, when we were (as we yet are) puffed vp by the continuance of prosperitie, and euen lulled asleepe in the depth of securitie, our great sinnes crying loud in his eares for vengeance, and euen vrging his Iustice to make vsus a by-word and an astonishment to the world, by some extraordinarie iudgement. So that in this we hauehave a greater euidence of Gods merciemercy, that when so many foule enormities, especially the long contempt of the Gospell, did euen fight against vsus, yet he wrought so for vsus, as to deliuer vsus out of the very iawes of destruction. Now all these things beeing duly considered, I may truely say of this fift of Nouember, as was said of the night in which the Israelites went out of Egypt; It is a Day to be kept holy to the Lord, it is that day of the Lord, which all the children of England must keepe throughout their generations uExod 12.4….. And although Papists, for th… hiding of their owne shame may wish of this day, as Iob in his agonie of his birth-day that it may nor be ioyned to the dayes of the yeare, xIob. 3 6., yet let vsus euer make conscience, according to the most religious appointment of the Law, to keepe it in his season from yeare to ye we yExod. 13.10., as an eternall president of Gods care for his Church, and as a neuer dying testimonie of the hideous cruelty of blood-thirsty Catholiques. And I would I could speake any thing that might be effectuall to quicken the common and vniuersall dulnesse of our spirits, whome these great and vnspeakable kindnesses of God, to vsus, to our State, our gouernours, our wiues and families doe very meanly affect. I remember what Io…b said to Dauid, when he shewed so little cheerefulnes, after the victorie against Absalom, I perceiue (said I…ab) that if Absalō had liued, and we all had died this day, that then it would hauehave pleased thee well z2 Sam. 19.6.. It may be so thought of many, that if all good people had beene swallowed vp in that gulfe, and none but Atheists and Papists lef… aliue, it would hauehave giuen them more contentment. If we can not shew our selues to reioyce in the goodnesse of God vntounto his Church, surely we shall neuer see the Felicitie of his chosen aPsal. 106 …. … 2. …..
Secondly, this Doctrine is …ll of comfort to all true Christians. For here we hauehave a… bl…lute assurance of the irrecouerable foile which shalbe giuen to all the enemies of Gods Church. They shall perish like …isera: They that hate Sion shall be all ashamed and turned backward bPsal. 129.5. God will arise and his enem… shalbe scattered, they that hate him shall she before him cPsal. 68.1.. The Lord hath said this, and he will performe it. Especially this is to be appl…ed as a comfort to all that feare God, in respect of the continuall working and tempering of the Popisher …e…they are continually plotting and deuising treasons, mutinies, murthers: They brag in their talks, and swords are in their lips dPsal. 59.7., they imagine deceitfull words against the quiet of the land ePsal. 33.20., they incourage themselues in a wicked purpose, and commune together to lay snares priuily fPsal 64.5.. But the word of God shall be true: They conceiue mischiefe, but shall bring forth a lie gPsal. 7.14.. Happely the Lord may here and there execute some personall vengeance vponupon some by them; Happely they may encrease in corners, and draw disciples after them hAct. 20.30., it beeing iust with God, so to punish the contempt of the Gospel in this land, and to send them strong delusions to beleeue lies, who will not receiue the louelove of the truth that they might be saued i2. The. 2.10.11.: but certainly their maine purpose for the confusion of protestant kingdoms which they aime at, and the publike reestablishment of Idolatrie which they gape for, I am fully perswaded that they shall neuer accomplish, but still their pollicies and enterprises shall turne backe vponupon them to their owne confusion. For doubtles the time now fast approcheth in which we shall see the verifying of that prophecie, which speaking of the ruine of Antichrists kingdome, as of a thing alreadie done, crieth out, It is fallen, It it fallen, Babylon the great citie &ckReu. 14.8. the limmes thereof shall fight with the the Lambe, but the Lambe shall consume them lReu. 17.14. The 3. Vse..
Thirdly, here is matter of Aduertisement to vsus all to beware of ioyning our seues with these Enemies of God and of his Church either in likenesse of opinion, or pliablenes of affection, or aptnes to pitie them and to think tolerably of them, or in familiaritie of conuersation. We are commanded to Go out of Babylon, that we be not partaker of her sinnes, and so receiue of her plagues mReu. 18.4.: We ought rather eueryevery main for his part to helpe forward that iudgement which God hath prepared for them: Magistrates by punishing, Ministers by confuting their errors, priuate men by discouering them: which is the effect of the charge touching Babylon, Reward her as shee hath rewarded you, and giuegive her double according to her workes nReu. 18 6., and, Put your selues in aray against Babel round about, all ye that bend the bow, shoote at her, spare no arrowes, for she hath sinned against the Lord oIer. 50.14.: Furthermore, this we are also to be admonished, not to think it inough, if in shew and outward profession, we eleaue to Gods Church, vnlesse also we respect and follow these things which may aduance Gods glor…e and edifie his Church. For this is a sure thing, that albeit the professed enemies of our Church, because of the promise of God, shall not preuaile in regard of an vniuersall ruine to the Church and State, yet if we be (as to to many are) aduersaries to the sinceritie of religion, aduersaries to the preaching of the word, contemners of the ordinances of God, worldlings, belly-Gods pPhil 3 19., louers of pleasure, more then louers of God q2. Tim. 3.4., Walkers after our owne lusts r2. Pet. 3.3.denying the power of godlines s2. Tim. 3.5.in our liues, the force of this curse touching the Ruine of Gods enemies shall light vponupon vsus; neither shall it serue our turne in the day of Christ to say, we were no Papists: For albeit we hauehave Lord, Lord tMatth. 7.22., and the Temple of the Lord uIer. 7.4., in our mouthes, yet if we hate to be reformed xPsal. 50.17.; and walke stubburnely against God yLuk. 26.25., The Lord will not be mercifull vntounto vsus, but the wrath of the Lord and his ielousie shall smoke against vsus, and he will put out our name from vnderunder heauen zDeut. 29.20..