The Prophecy of Obadiah Opened and Applied, Sermon 2
VERSE 3. 4.
3 The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the cleftes of the rocks, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, who shall bring me to the ground?
4 Though thou exalt thy selfe as the Eagle, and make thy nest among the starres, thence will I bring thee downe, saith the Lord.
THE Prophet, having shewed in the former verses, that GOD would bring to passe the destruction of Edom, by nations stirred vp against them, sending messengers from one to another, to rise vp against her in battel; doth in this place refute a reason, with the which they were prepared to come against this Judgement of GOD. For whereas the land of Edom was mount Seir, a countrey full of Rockes, their cities were strong, situated on hils, or amongst hils, seated vponupon rocks & by nature mightily fortified, for which cause they imagined, that it was impossible to conquer them; this conceipt of theirs the Prophet doth here open and reproue, saying, the pride of thy hart &c. Wherefore in few wordes hee saith thus much, GOD will destroy thee, notwit…standing thy great strength; which hee hath confirmed by the infallible worde of GOD. Hererevnto they opposed the fond and vaine imagination of man: for they said, who shall bring me downe to the ground? Because I dwell in the Clefts of the rocks, and am strong on the high mountaines. This cō ceipt is said to proceed from pride of heart; thereby being advertised, that notwithstanding their vaine conceipt of defensed places, as though by reason of them it were impossible they should bee subdued, yet they should find it false, as issuing not from the truth, but from the pride of heart. The truth also hereof, that GOD would assuredly bring them downe, is amplified by comparing their defences to the neast of an Eagle, Aristot. histor. animal. lib. 9. cap. 32.which is wont to be builded aloft in the top of high & craggie mountains, as Aristotle also writeth. And whē hee saith, that though their neast were made among the starres, by the hyperbole he signifieth, that nothing should hinder, but he will subdue them; The Lord telling Edom, that, though hee make his neast never so high, yet he will fetch him downe, and therefore will also destroy him, though he dwell in the Cleftes of the Rockes.
And although these things were proph…cied against Edom. yet were they deliuered for instruction to Israel Wherfore it seemeth, that hee turneth the person; for hauing s…id before in the second person, I hauehave made thee small; the pride of thy heart; hee immediately turneth to the third person, saying, whose habitation is high, that saith in his heart, &c. This thing then, as it is spoken to the terrour of the Idumeans, so it is for the consolation of Israel. Israel is the Church of GOD, that is the house of GOD, whose house are wee, if wee hold fast vntounto the end, the confidence, and the reioycing of the He… 3. ….hope. These things then are written for our learning, & comfort, that wee should bee neither puft vp with a vaine opinion of any gifts in vsus whatsoever: neither yet discouraged with any feare, though the Idumeans dwell in the Cleftes of the rockes, and say in the pride of their heart, who shall bring vsus downe to the ground? For though they exalt themselues, as the Eagle, and make their neast among the starres, yet thence will the Lord bring them downe. Pride goeth before destruction, and a high mind before a fal. Wel may the wicked for a while Prov. 16. 18.flourish as a greene bay tree, and draw forth their sword against the godly, but their sword shall enter into their owne bowels, and they shall be rased out, that men shall Ps. 37. 35 35.say, where is he? or with the Prophet, This is Pharaoh. Ezek 31. 18.
The Iebusites, that held the fort of Zion, so trusted in 2. Sam. 5. 6,the strength thereof, that the blind, and the lame said, David shall not come hither. So sure thought they them selues, that, though there were none to defend it but blind and lame, yet were they safe enough: yet behold GOD brought them downe, and that which before was the strongest against David, became the strongest for him.
The king of Babylon, who said hee would ascend vp, and set his seat by the st…rres, receaued this word from Isai. 14. 1….the Lord; How art thou fallen thou Luc…fer, sonne of the morning? Which place many vnskilfully apply to the fall of the Prince of darknesse, but that name is in no place of Scripture giuen him, but is here attributed to the king of Babylon, who shone as the morning starre in beautie and glory. So that those, which before marvailed at his power, did after wonder at his f…ll.
Tyrus shone, as a Cherub in the garden of Eden, but Ezec. 28. 14. 18when he had defiled his sanctification by the multitude of his iniquities, it was threatned him by Ezechiel, that he should be cast to the ground, that a fire from the midst of him should devoure him, and that hee should be brought to ashes in the sight of all that beheld him.
It seemed impossible to the Iewes, whé our Saviour told them thereof, that the glory of Ierusalem should Ioh. 2. 20. Luk. 19. 43.be brought downe; for which cause it was laid against Stephen as an especiall matter, that he should say that CHRIST would destroy that place: yet was not that generation passed, before it was made an heape of Acts. 6. 14.stones, the temple rased, and not one stone left standing on another.
And what shall I speake of the latter Babylon, which in like sort persecuted the faithfull Christians, as the other did the faithful Iewes? How did she lift vp her self, and saie, who shall bring me downe? Who was worshipped as a goddesse; and the citie called Vrbs aterna, as appeareth by writers, grounding themselues with all on that oracle of the Poet,
Imperium sine fine dedi.Virg Aen. 1. 2. 283.
Was it not taken, burnt, and laid wast by t…e Gothes & … 10. & lib. 14.…? By which examples of the Iebusites, the kings of Babylon, …d Tyrus, the cities of Ierusalem, and Rome, we see this, which is spoken by the Prophet of the Idumeans, to be verisied in all them, that follow the pride of the Idumeans.
And to come nearer home, to the state of thē, that represent the heart of the Idumeans, and desire to rase Ierusalem even to the ground & foundation: I meane to the state of the Papacie, in which is revived the Image of the former beast, but much more liuely resembling, Apocal. 13. 15not only the cruelty, but the pride also of Edom, for neither the Iebusites, nor kings of Babylon, or Tyrus, nor Iewes come so neere, as they, being partakers with vsus of the same Sacrament, baptized evē as we, no otherwise then as the Idumeans were circum…ised as well as the Israelites. But as they (notwithstanding the signe of circumcision,) were chiefe enimies vntounto Syon: even so the state of the Papacy (notwithstanding the sacrament of baptisme) are chiefe enimies to the truth of the gospell of Christ, which proceeded out of Syon.
For these also hauehave their dwelling in the clefts of the rocks, perswading themselues, that that is the rock, on which the Church of GOD is built; making their brags by reason of their power & league with so mighty Potentats, that they cānot be moved: lifting vp their nests as an Eagle, as the Emperor, whose ensigne is the Eagle, the sp… Eagle for that hee was Emperour of Constantinople and Rome, but spoyled of both, for that the Pope hath deprived him of one, even as the Turke hath done of the other. He hath lift vp his nest to the stars, & not said in his heart, but proclaimed by written bookes, and shamelesse libels cast abroad among vsus, that by reason of his flourishing estate and great power hee can not be brought low. Wherein they hauehave shewed greater arrogance, then ever the Idumeans did, in that prophesie,
Imperium sine fine dedi.Lib. 3. de … … cap. 10.
Aquinas to proue the stability of the papacie alleadgeth the Prophecie of Daniel. 2. chapter, where having spoken of the foure kingdomes, & comming to the last, which should destroy the other, and endure for ever: he applyeth it to Christs kingdome, but so, that it belongeth to the Papacie, adding, if they feed the flocke. Now for that they hold, that it cannot faile in doctrine, they conclude, that the estate of the popedome must endure for ever, according to the words of that prophecie. I stand not to shew howe true the former parte is, that Rome should destroy the other kingdomes: but on that, that he saith it shalbee eternall. Which blasphemie is as great, as that which he vttered in the former chapter, applying to the Pope that, which is spoken of our Savi our, of his fulnesse we hauehave all received. But though hereby they may say, as great B…bylon, I sit as a Queene, and Rev. 18 7 & 21shall see no sorrowes, yet the mighty Angell tooke a stone like a milstone and cast it into the sea, and said, with such violence shall the great city Babylon bee cast, and shall be found no more.
But the maintainers of them say, that this cannot be by reason of the flourishing estate of the Papacie in Rome, which hath so mighty friends, and hath beene of so long continuance. But let them remember (that Nineveh had beene a people of many generations) that the Edomites were of greater standing. For it is scarse 500. yeares passed, since the vsurped authority over kings and princes, and the whole church, began, but not 800. since the Bishop of Rome set himselfe against the Emperour, not 1000. since hee first claimed authoritie over the Bishops of Constantinople: which is a lesse time then Edom flourished; for we read, that there raigned 8. kings in Edom, before there was a king over the children of Israel, that is, before the governement of Moses. Gen. 36. 31. 32 &c.So then they flourished til the daies of this Prophet even no lesse then 1200. yeares, neither were they thē straight extinguished, for they lived to see the ruine of the second temple, as we finde in Iosephus. Wherfore let vsus assure ourselues, that though they say, who shall De be…lo Iud l…b. 7. c. 22. al. 30.bring vsus downe? yet in due time this shall be verified to them also for so shal it be to al, that hauehave said in the pride of their heart &c.
And that, which hath beene said of the state of the Papacie, extendeth also to the doctrine. For that in as great arrogancie of spirit, they magnifie their workes, making their nests amōg the starres, & claiming everlasting glory, as a reward of their deeds. For so the Remish VponUpon the 1 C. …. 3.notes say, that eternall ioy is a merit; & least we should not know by those generall tearmes, how basely they thinke of GODS mercy, how prowdly of their owne workes, they expound themselues, and say, that it is as a stipend answering in weight & time to the worke. Thē Ibidem.which, what could be said more grossely, or prophane? that the workes of man shoulde answere to eternall ioie equally in time and weight! as though you should say, that tenne thousand poundes were equall in time and weight to his workes that had laboured one houre. But I come farre below in this comparison, for there is some proportion, betweene an houres worke, and the greatest summe of mony, for they be finite; but betweene the everlasting, endlesse, and infinite ioy of heaven, and mans workes, that is betweene finite, & infinite, there is no proportion. But how could it be, that any men should thus speake, if the spirit of Antichrist, had not thus puft them vp, to vtter such blasphemte in the pride of their hearts? But what shall I say? when the same men in their notes on the 8. Rom. grant, that if we looke to the time, the ioy of heaven is a great deale more, & here forsooth flee they to the grace of GOD: but, they must consider, that grace serveth them not, that they may claime it by desert: for whatsoever good the servants of GOD do, it is by grace; Luk. 17. 10.yet is it said, when they hauehave done all, that is commaunded, they hauehave done but their duty, and that which they owed to the Lord. So that seeing we do, but our duty, there is not owing to vsus so much as thankes, and doth then GOD owe vsus the reward of eternal ioie? The mā, that payeth no more then that he oweth, doth his creditour owe him anything for the payment of it; vnlesse he count him indebted to him, as he in the poet said? Pla….for that the world is so nought, that a man thinketh him…elfe pleasured, that receiveth in debts. But seeing we can never pay all, for who can say my heart is cleane, I Prov. 20 9.hauehave not sinned? And if we hauehave not fulfilled the whole law, done all that it commandeth, w… hauehave not paide our debt; how then can wee come hereby to merit it, or buy it as it were, which yet though wee had most absolutely kept, should be ours but by promise.
But how farre f…om this presumption was Ioh? Iob. 9 3.when he said, that if GOD would enter into iudgement with him, he were not able to answer, no not one for a thou sand. How farre was David? when hee said, that in his sight no man living was iustified. How farre was Paule? Ps 143. 2.when he said, that none were righteous; therefore con Rom 3. 9. & 24.cluding, that all, both Iew, & Gentile, are iustified freely by grace. For to him that worketh the wages is coū ted for debt, not of favour. But to Abraham was faith imputed for righteousnes. And where the Apostle saith slatly, that there is no man iust, and that no flesh is iustified; they say that the Virgin Mary and Apostles must needs be exempted out of this number: but if it be not so, that it is verified of all then is the Apostles argun ēt to no purpose, neither can t…e conclusion, which hee l…boureth to proue be so inferred which is that by the workes of the law, no flesh can be iustified. …ut let vsus bee assured, t…at whatsoever they say, though they speake never so proudly, yet the time shall come, when this doctrine, by the breath of the Lord, shall bee brought to the ground.
Neither doe I here enter into the depth of their pride, as concerning supererogation. For herein hauehave they set their neasts, not among, but aboue the starres. When they say, that men may not only merit for thē selues, but the abundance thereof is sufficient for other men also. But is not this to build vp to Babel, & is Gen. 11 4.not this pride, like that of Pharaoh, who hoped by his owne strength to passe over there, where others had Exod. 14. 23.passed over by grace and favour? Is it not with Iezebel 2. King. 9 30.to set a colour and paint on our foule faces? But the builders of Babel were confounded, Pharaoh drowned, & Iezebel after shee had painted her face was cast downe from the windowe, and had her braines dashed out. These men, that thinke it a beggarly thing to receaue the kingdome of heauen of almes, shall never hauehave it of debt, for those that say in the pride of their heart, &c.
Lastly, here we hauehave to marke, that the Lord is said to be the author of this vengeance, and yet it was said before, that this should be brought to passe by nations stirred vp against Edom, and sending messengers from one to another, to provoke them to battell against the Idumeans: whereas in the 2 and 3 verses he saith, I will. where we are taught, that although it pleased GOD to vse men, as instruments, to bring his purposes to effect, yet would he hauehave all the glory to bee proper, and peculiar to himselfe. For though the instrument worke, yet, sith the whole efficacie commeth from him, therefore the whole glory ought to be giuen to him, and not to the instrument.
In the 63 of Isaiah, the Prophet demandeth, who it is that commeth from Edom, and why his garments bee Esai 63. 1.redde? Whereby, answering to the question, hee sheweth that it is Christ: and that his garments are red: because he alone had t…n the winepresse, and of all the nations, there was not one with him; which is meant of treading the Edomites and enimies of his Church, and bringing them to confusion. Yet he saith, he trode the presse alone, not that he vseth not messengers, as is mē tioned V. 3.in this Prophet, or other meanes, as seemeth best to him; but for that the force and efficacie alone proceedeth from him. So that for this cause, he is said alone to worke. For Paul indeed planteth, and Apollo watereth, but neither he that planteth is any thing, neither 1. Cor. 3 6. ….he that watereth is any thing, but God that giueth the increase, is he that worketh all in all things.
In the 5 of Luke the Apostles laboured all night, Luk. 5 5. 6.and caught nothing; but when at Christ his commandement, they had let fall their nets for a draught, the net was filled with fi…h. The King prepareth an host against the day of battell, but the victory is from the LORD. No Pro… 21. 31.king is saved by the multitude of an host. A horse is count… a vaine thing to helpe a man, &c. Wherefore that was a prophane thing of Nebuchadnezzar, who when he had taken the Iewes, as fishes in a net, hee sacrificed Hab. 1. 15. 16.to his net, and offered incense vntounto his yarne: prophane was that opinion of the Gentiles, attributing their prosperitie to fortune. And that of Varro, who attributed the successe of husbandry to water. Whereas they might hauehave learned, by that ceremonie, which the Romans vsed in their triumph, that the successe of things was to be attributed to GOD. For the Lawrell crownes, which they carried, when they ascended into the Capitoll and sacrificed to Iupiter, they laid downe in the lap ….of Iupiter, as … recorded. But let vsus remember that the 24. Elders … w…e their crownes at the feet of the …
Now, as all gl…ry is due vntounto GOD, so on the other side, we …ust remember that hee calleth Ministers, to do his work, who must not be … in the thing, whervnto he appointeth them. Hee would lead the I…raelites through the sea, but hee would hauehave M…ses to l…ft vp his rod. A…ine, he would divide Iordan, but he would …od. 14. 16. …. 3. 3. 16. …. ….hauehave the Priests …eet to be dipped in Iordan, and to carry the Arke. He meant to cast downe the wals of Iericho, yet would he hauehave them to blow the trumpets, & compasse the citie. He would build againe the Temple, whē the people returned with Zerubbabel, but the Angel shewed Zacharie a golden candle sticke, a bowle vponupon it, Zach. 4 1. 2 6. &c.seaven lampes in it, seaven pipes to the lampes, and two … trees over it: & that Angel asked him, what those were; who answering, hee knewe not, the Angel telleth him, that he should say to …; neither by an armi…, nor by strength, but by m… … saith the Lord. Yet followeth it, that … should lay the foundation thereof, and the people should cry, grac…, …race. Wherefore the Ministery of … is necessary, that hee strike the sea with his … necessary that the Priests feel… touch the water of I…rdan; necessarie that they blowe the trumpets. But if these things be cō sidered in themselues, wit…out the … of GOD, they are of no more power, to bring this to passe, then the rod was to make a s…a stand like a w…ll, the feete of men, to make a river runne backe, the sound of a trumpet, to cast downe a strong wall.
Wherefore whosoever they be, whom God will vse, they must be obedient to his appointment, as Moses, the Priests, and Zerubbabel were: And I would to GOD, that they, who hauehave the place of Moses, &c: would vouchsafe to humble themselues, and stirre vp themselues to do their duty: To strike the waters with their rod. This rod is the publishing of the word, which the Prophet saith he will send out the rod of his power, that he may rule even among his enimies. The Priests must Psal. 110. 2.carie the arke. In the arke were the tables of the law: & 1 Kings 8 9. Heb 9 4.in the month of the Ministers ought the law of the Lord to be. The Priests feete were dipped in the waters of Iordan: the Ministers feete must enter first the vvater, and beautifull are the feete of them, that bring good tidings. The Priests blew with the Trumpets; the Minister must set the Trumpet to his mouth, and sound out a lowd both the law and the gospell; the law to bring downe the high wals, and the gospell to raise and builde vp.
Is it any marvaile, if the Idumeans be so couragious and promise themselues a day, wherein they may cry out, rase it, rase it even to the foundations: if meanes bee not vsed to beate backe their pride? If the messengers, which should stirre vp the people to warre against thē be silēt! if Moses wil not strike with his rod! if the priests straine curtesie, who shall first steppe into the water! if the trumpet bee not in their mouthes! I am loath to name them, in whom this fault lyeth, but sure too cō mon it is amongst vsus; and that partly through such as hauehave spoiled the churches of the livings, wherby faithfull & painefull messengers should be mainetained. As by Impropriations the first begotten childe of the Pope and Sathan; and by the theft of such as some where hauehave charge, & goe not to it; by the negligence of others, who are somewhere, and will not instruct the people; and by the ignorance of many, that are dumbe dogges, & cannot barke. So that by reason hereof the people sit in darknesse, and those Merchants, whose wares are the soules of men, enter on the slock to spoile them of that cōfort, which they should hauehave in Ierusalem. But seeing our words cannot prevaile in this matter, let vsus befeech the Lord to be gracious and favourable to Ierusalem, and that it would please him to moue the heart of our Soveraigne, that shee would provide, that an armie of able men might be provided and mainetained, that by them the Idumeans may be discomfited, a waie opened for the children of GOD to passe without dā ger, the wals may be brought downe, and the children inherite the kingdome of promise.