The Prophecy of Obadiah Opened and Applied, Sermon 1
OBADIAH 1.
1 The vision of OBADIAH. Thus saith the Lord God against Edom; we hauehave heard a rumor from the Lord & an Ambassadour is sent among the heathen: arise, and let vsus arise vp against her in battel.
2 Behold, I hauehave made thee smal among the heathen: thou art vtterly despised.
BEfore I come to the exposition of the Prophets words, I thinke it convenient to shew vntounto you the cause, why leaving the epistle of Peter, which I had in hand, I hauehave taken vponupon me to handle this Prophesie. Saint Peter having testified, that the Gospell of Christ, was the truth of GOD, preached to men for the salvation of their soules, exho…teth them, that, not withstanding the fury and malice of the wicked, which had set themselues against the same, they would per sist in the do…trine and truth, which they had learned, to embrace the same fait…fully, and expresse the force and fruit thereof effectually in their life and conversa tion: and that in generall, to fly from evill, a…d follow that which was good, and in particular towards GOD, and man, especially Subiects to honour their kings; servants to obey their Masters; wiues, husbands; children, parents. In all which, that their endeavours might not be hindered by enemies, he exhorteth them to patience and constancie: And finally beseecheth the Elders & Pa stors to feed the stocke of CHRIST committed to their charge, as the principall meanes to bring thē to their duety, and to establish them in grace vntounto the ende. Now in expounding these things I came to the dutie of subiects, wherein I declared, that the Princes received the sword and supremacie, over all persons; & it followed that afterward I should shew, that it was also in all causes. But because, since that time it pleased GOD to call me to proue it else where, and to commit the same to writing, it seemeth not so necessary to handle that point in this place. As for the other points concerning the duties of servants, wiues, Parents, for that there are very few such come hither, least I shoulde preach to them that were absent, I thought that part might conveniently be omitted. Wherefore the last point remained which was concerning the enimies of the Church, whom for that the LORD will most certainely destroy, we must hauehave the greater patience to …ndure and continue in the stedfastnes of our profession. For which cause also he exhorteth the Pastors diligently to feed and tend vponupon their slocks. Which matter being right necessary for vsus to know, and for that I hoped this doctrine would pierce the better into our hearts, if we had the same handled out of some continued place: I chose this Prophesie of OBADIAH, where this thing is handled orderly & iointly; namely in the 16 first verses the destructiō of the enemies of the church & in the fiue last the salvation therof by the ministerie of the Pastors: whom in the last verse he calleth Saviours, for that GOD by their Ministery worketh the salvation of his people. And this also hauehave I the rather chosen, because I may vse Peter as an Interpreter of the Proph…t, whereby comparing them togither, the one may giuegive light to th'other; that so being built on the doctrine of the Apostles & Prophets we may grow vp into that building, whereof Iesus Christ is the chiefe corner stone.
The Title, The vision of OBADIAH.
Whence we gather the commodity and excellencie hereof by the Matter, and Author.
1 The matter is tearmed by the name of visiō which is a doctrine Revealed from GOD, so called because GOD Revealed them so evidently, and delivered them for such certainety, as though they had presently seene before their eies the things which they foretold. And the Lord, not onelyonly by visible sights, as he did to Ezechiel, Daniel, &c: at sometimes, but also very often by his word without visible signes, is said to hauehave delivered these visions, for so is he said to hauehave spoken to Abra ham in vision. I am thy great reward. The words which Esay saw, &c: & of this sort is this vision. That is, a doctrine Revealed from GOD, no… by sight, but by word only.
2 The Author is supposed of some to be that O BADIAH who was governour of King Achabs house who hid the Prophets of the Lord. But by the circumstances, especially by that in the 11. verse, it seemeth 1. King 18. 3.not to be he, seeing mention is made of the taking of Ierusalem, which was 800 yeares after Achab. But whether it were the same, or another of that name, whether hee before in the spirit saw, or afterwards spake by experience: It sufficeth vsus, that he was the Minister of the Lord, and servant as his name importeth, and that these prophecies came not by the will of man, but holy men of God spake, as they were moued by the 2. Pet. 2.HOLY GHOST. And for our parts, though w… know not the earthen vessel, wherein this treasure was enclosed, yet let vsus b…ing faithfull and humble hearts to the receauing and imbracing of the same, for he was but the messenger, the message was the Lords.
Edom, otherwise called Esau, conceaued a deadly hate ag…inst Iacob, because he had got from him, first the prerogatiue of the birthright, & then the blessings: which rancor and hatred descended vntounto the children and seed also of Esau, so that when the Israelites their brethren would hauehave onelyonly passed through their land, they would not shew them such mercy, but gainstood them: and when the king of Babylon had taken Ierusalem, & spoiled it, they set the worke forward by what meanes they could, calling on them, as it is in the Psa. Ra…e it, rase it, even to the foundations. Wherefore the Ps. 137 7.Lord comforting his people, with promise to execute his iudgement on such as had persecuted them, nameth Edom as the chiefe amongst them. Now where he saith, I hauehave made thee small among the heathen, Hee speaketh of a thing to come, as though it were already past, to signifie the vndoubted certainetie thereof, and so it is expounded in the 10. verse, Shame shall cover thee. Now, because the meanes hee would vse, is warre raised against them by nations confederating together, the Prophet openeth it, as though it were in doing; GOD hauing revealed it to his servant: for here is an Ambassadour sent from one nation to another, to stirre them vp against Edom, and mention is here made of a full and perfect destruction.
Here note three things.
1. Witnesses, O…ADIAH and the Prophets; we hauehave heard, &c.
2. Meanes, Heathen raising one another to warre.
3 Event, An vtter destruction of land and country.
One point, which wee are to marke for our instruction, is the ground, which the Prophet layeth for our faith, whereon the Church of God must rest, which is this. Thus saith the Lord. Which doctrine is first necessary for such, as are teachers in the Church, that the words, which they must teach, must bee wordes of the Lord, that as Peter commandeth, who so speaketh, may 1. Pet 4. 11.speake as the words of GOD And thē is it needful for t…e hearers, that they beware how they receaue any thing for the ground of faith, but this word: Nothing for assurance of building but this rocke. He is like to a wise man Luk. 6. 48.that built his house on a rocke, who heareth the wordes of Chr…st, and keepeth them, and one is our master e ven he And for the teachers, goe and teach those things whi…h I hauehave spoken. This is Christ his lesson both to Mat. 28. 20.hearer, and teacher, and his promise we see is tyed only to this word. This is the ground whereon wee must Heb. 12. 28.build the house that must not be shaken, & this is the food of life, whereby the children of God must be fed. What ever ground of Fathers decrees, traditions, coū cels, or ought else, … it is but …and, which will not hold our building; only hereto we must sticke, this must be our only Rocke and staie.
In the first booke of the kings, mention is made of Chap. 13. 1. Kin. 13. 1. 2.a man of God, who was sent to preach against the Idolatrie at Bethel. He came thither, & did the message, V. 2. 3. 4crying out against the altar, according vntounto the word of the Lord. The king first threatned him, and after allured him to come and dine with him, and receiue a reward. 7.But the man of GOD answered the king that though he would giuegive him half… his house he would not; for that hee had Received worde of the Lord against that. 8.When he was departed from the king, there meeteth him an old Prophet, he willeth him to come home and eat 11.bread with him, he denyeth, telling him, what word he had received of the Lord. The old Prophet replyeth, 15. 16.that he was a Prophet also, and that an angell had spoken to him, by the word of the Lord, & bade him bring him 1…. 18.againe. The Prophet yeeldeth and leaveth the word, which he heard the Lord speak, to beleeue an old prophet. But for this cause, because hee obeyed not that commandement which he heard of the Lord, he received this answere that his body shoulde not come into the 1, King. 13 21 22.sepulcher of his Fathers. And when he was departed a Lyon met him, and slew him. This is a good lesson for vsus, V. 24.that when we hauehave once learned the will of GOD, we go not out of our way, wee leaue not this worde though Prophets, ancient Prophets, yea such as tell you Angels from heaven hauehave taught them, yet I saie Gal. 1. 8.that wee leaue not the word of the Lord to goe with them. Now many tell you of these things, Fathers, ancient Fathers, apparitions of Saints, Angels. Would to God, there were not many deceived by them: but we see that this was a prophet of the Lord, ancient in yeares, godly in religion, for he came not vp to worship at Bethel, faithful, for he beleeved the prophecie sent by God, & had a care to be buried by the Prophet; yet whē he said that an Angel had spokē to him, he lyed, wherby we see that prophets, old &c: may deceiue; for each man is a lyar. So that wee hauehave none assurance, but of them in whom the holy Ghost spake, & that were guided by him, and they are alone to be our foundation. Wherefore whōsoever the Lord sendeth to Bethel to preach his truth against sinne, and heresie, Eph 2 20.let him not relie on any Prophet, but on that word, which he hath received of the Lord: least, not that Lyō which stood still by the carkas, but that Lyon which goeth 1. Pet. 58.Roaring about, seeking whom he may pray vponupon, meet thē and rent them in pieces, when there wilbe none to deliver them. But you that are appointed messengers to foretell, or rather to tell of Reformatiō already made, Hos 514. … 5… 22. M…l. 27. 1 Cor 39. 2 … … 1. Co… 4. 1. … … 2. 3. & 47.husbandmen to sow the seed in the Lords ground, Embassadours to do the Lords messages, Stewards to minister food to his houshold, captain…s to fight the Lords battailes; Remember that the word of GOD, is the only seed, which you must sow, milke which you must Mat 13 24 19 1 Pet 22 Luk. … … Heb. 4 12.giuegive meate which you must divide, and sword where with you must fight. Which I speake not, as though it were not lawfull to vse the benefit of that, which is taug…t by Fathers or Philosophers; for I know, that the Apostle is said to hauehave sanctified those sayings of the Poets in the Acts, Corinthians, Titus: but for that, he only Act 17 28. 2…. 1. Cor. 15 33 …. 112.alleadgeth the Prophets to them that beleeved the Prophets; and these proofes they vsed not as necessa rie proofes, but probable arguments against thē, that gaue credence thervnto. Even as though in this matter we shou'd alleage against the Papists, not one of thei… Poets but their chiefe Prophet and captaine, Aquinas teaching, that the canonicall Scriptures are only of necessitie to proue, &c. & againe, that he who goeth 1 Part Quaest. 1. …. 8 & 32 … ….about with other arguments to proue the truth of Christian Religion, maketh it ridiculous. And yet is the ground of their divinitie in the points, wherein they dissent from vsus; This saith Augustine, Chrysostome, Damascene, this saith Aristotle &c. But seldōe come they with, this saith the Lord. Wherefore by t…eir owne mout seeing they bring not rat…ones congruētes, they make Christian fai…h ridiculous. And for vsus, what …aue wee to doe to fill our pulpits with mans words, as though they were the ground of our faith. Loath we … 10. … 78 …4 …. … 11. 45.now the heav…nly …anna, and …esire we to returne to the … of Egypt? Remember wee not, that the fl…sh which the … … fall among the Murmurers tents came out at their nostri…s? Remēber I pray you, that if we may allege them, it is that the word of GOD by them may be enlightned, but in no case shadowed, for we are Ministers appointed to publish his word, & not the fanctes of mē. There is a promise to the preaching of his word, and a blessing to the hearers thereof. This hauehave we a commandement to teach. Then this ought to be as fire in our bowels, to enflame vsus to teach, and in others, with reverence to heare and attend to it, and vnlesse we knowe this, wee hauehave not learned the very principles of Religion. But let vsus, that are brought vp in his Church, bee content to bee fed with this food of Angels.
The event is; That he should be made small: the fulfilling whereof, is mentioned by Malachy. I hauehave made Ch 1. 3. & 4.his mountaines wast, and his heritage a wildernes for dragons. For, though after Malachy, Idumeans dwelt there, yet since is that of the same Prophet fufilled: They shall build, but I will destroy. Now when wee see things so lōg before told of, in their due time fulfilled, this must be a ground, & stand for our weake faith concerning things to come, as the last and eternall iudgement: that, as we hauehave seene the particular iudgemēts fulfilled on Edom, Ierusalem, &c. wee assure our selues, that what hath passed from the mouth of the Lord, Numb. 23. 19shall most certainely come to passe Gen. 41. 32.
Now as the Apostle writeth, the things which were written before, were written for our learning, &c. For as Rom. 15 4.he saith in another place, the examples of the punishment of the Israelites, are for our vse, on whom the ends 1. Cor. 10. 11. 6. 8.of the world are come, that wee lust not as some of them lusted, neither commit fornication, neither Idolatry, as some 7.of them. Even so these things wil serue vsus for example: Rom 9 6. 10.for those are Israelites, that are of the faith of Israel, & the Edomites are all the enimies of the Church. Wherefore let vsus assure our selues, that as certainely as GOD threatned destruction to Edom, so surely will he powre it on all our enimies. The Papists are the Idumeans, elder brethren. as they say; though they disdaine to be called our brethren, yet are they our brethren, as Edom was the Israelites. And they hauehave dealt with vsus, even as the Idumeans dealt with the Israelites. When that Obad 10.we would hauehave entred into the land of promise, they hauehave withstood vsus with all their might, and hauing, as they say, the keyes of knowledge would neither enter them. selues, nor suffer others that would. Againe, when the Luk. 11, 52.Church was afflicted by the king of Babylō, they were at hand to set the worke forward, and to cry, rase it, rase it, even to the foundations. Now let vsus remember the Ps. 137 7.words of the Apostle, that God can recompense, to those 2. Th… 1. 6.that afflict vsus, sufficient recompense; and if wee see it some way recompensed, & some measure of his iudgments fulfilled vponupon them, let vsus blesse his name, who revengeth the bloud of his servants, & assure our selues Rev. 16. 6.that he wil not cease from this work of his hands, but, as it is said in Amos, that his people should possesse the Amos, 9. 12.Remnant of Edom, as Peter also speaketh in the Acts, so no doubt are there many among these children of Edom, that shall inherit with the Lords people. But they also must be destroyed: or rather the errors must be destroyed, that they may bee raised, their heresies put to flight, that they may be recalled, and, as the Lord hath promised to consume Antichrist, so shall these heresies 2 Thess. 2. 8.be destroyed by the breath of his mouth. But bee not a f…aid though heresies abound, and though Iordan overflow 1. Cor. 11 19in the midst of harvest; for at his time Iordan Rev 6 10. 11.shall retire, and keepe himselfe within his bounds, and in good time the Lord will destroy these Idumeans.
Concerning the witnesses, they are the Prophets, who received it from the Lord. Wherefore he saith, we hauehave heard, not naming himselfe alone, but others. With this we are to compare a place of Ieremy speaking Chap 49 14.of the same matter, saying, I hauehave heard. This Ieremy spake before the destruction of Ierusalem, OBADIAH after, both agreeing not only in the same matter, but even in the very words. Which consent confirming the message, is well worthy the noting. I neede not here to stand on that point to shew vntounto you the consent of the Prophets, and Apostles togither, vsing the very same words; as of Amos and Iocl, Micha and Isaiah, Am 1. 2. Ioel. 3. 16.Iudas and Peter, &c: But I hartily wish, that we would all learne to speake one thing, that there may be in vsus, Mich 4 1. …. 2 2.as the Prophet speaketh, one heart, & one wa…e. At least that the Prophets would remember, that, by these ex Iud Ep. 2 P… 2. Phil. 2 2.amples of the Prophetes, and messengers of the Lord, they might say, we hauehave heard a message from the Lord. For the time is come, that wee had neede to cast our selues in a ringe and cleaue togither, that we may bee the stronger against our enemies.
As touching the meanes, it was battel raised of the heathen by mutual consent, sending amb…s from one to another to stirre them thereto. So you see that to overthrow Edom a battel is necessary, and ambassadours must be sent: for when a strong man possesseth the house. there is need of a stronger to cast him out. Christ Iesus is our captaine generall, and prince of the armie, and all f…thfull men are his souldiers. The Prophet speaking of our battell, which we are to fight vnderunder Ps 110 3.our captaine, saith, thy people shal be ready and willing in the day of battell, al the servants of God, shalbe in a readines, most willingly to sight the Lords battels. But alas! where is this readines? where is this willingnesse, which we are to shew, having to fight dayly against (not outward) but inward enemies? who hath put on that complete harnesse, which the Apostle ministreth vntounto Eph. 6 11. 12him, therewith to strine against spirituall wickednes even in high places?
The ambassadours, who are to raise the souldiers to battell are the servants and ministers of the Lord. Now 2 Cor 5. 20. Rom. 10. 15.how can they preach, vnlesse they bee sent? They therefore are al sent, that are his ambassadors. The Apostle testifieth, that there are ambassadours for Christ, as though GOD did beseech vsus through them, they pray 2. Cor. 5. 2….vsus in Christs steed to be reconciled to GOD. This was indeed an ambassage of peace with him, but consequently of battel with his enimies. For the same covenant hath he made with vsus, that he made with Abraham, Gen. 12 …. …. Pet 5. 8. 9. Rev. 12.namely, that all his Friends should be ours, and all his enimies, ours. Wherefore we must be at warre with Sathan, and all his Angels. Here, let them who are called to this function, remember to do his message, and to raise vp his people against his and their enimies. These ambassadours were sent to the heathē, some to this nation & congregation, some to that, having particular people allotted, on whom they should call: others there were sent in generall, to every nation, as Mat. 28. 19.were the Apostles: and they, as they most faithfully in their owne persons exercised this function, so hauehave they exhorted vsus to execute the same charge, committed to vsus, with the same diligence; and hereto belongeth that exhortation of Peter vntounto the Elders for the feeding and instructing of Gods slocke.
But how farre are we from this care? And how 1. Pet. 5. 2.many either preach not, neither feed not at all, or feed Ion. 1, 2, 3.not such, to whom they are sent. Ionah was sent by the Lord to preach at Niniveh, but he prepared himselfe to go to Tarsus; the ship wherein Ionah sailed was trou bled, and he knew it was because of him. Wherefore V. 4.he bade them to cast him into the sea. Tarsus was a V. 12.famous Vniversity in Cil…cia as Strabo writeth, and for some respects preferred before Athens. Ionah woulde Strab. Geog lib. 14.not go to Niniveh, but would go to Tarsus. Yee see what I would say, or rather, what I would not say. Are there not many that hauehave beene sent to Niniveh, but would go to Tarsus? The ship of our common wealth hath beene troubled and tossed with rebellions and conspiracies: I may say truely, that a great cause there of hath beene, for that Ionah sent to Niniveh, would needs go to Tarsus. But would to God there had been in them that zeale of Ionah, to hauehave beene touched in conscience with the remorse of their sinne, and confessed the same, and hauehave desired to hauehave beene cast in to the sea. Yea happy were they, if they were cast into Mat 18. 6. Hos. 4 6.the bottome of the sea never to rise vp againe, rather then that one of those little ones, of whom thousands are perished through them, should hauehave miscaried. Wherefore I beseech you in the name of Christ, & by that duty and louelove, which you owe him, if there be any care in you, any feare of his name, that you woulde go to Niniveh whither you are sent; and though Tarsus be a famous Vniversity, yet seeing GOD hath sent you thither, that you would arise and go to Niniveh.
As for vsus that remaine in Iurie, let vsus arise against her to battel: against Sathan and his angels of darknes, against the power of darknesse, those principalities and powers, and spirituall wickednes, against our owne Eph. 6. 11.lusts and concupiscenses, against the old man and law of our members; for all these are enimies to GOD and enimies to vsus, and against all these must we rise vp to battel: As also against al errors and heresies which fight … Pet 2. 1.against the truth. Against these let vsus arise, and let vsus rise vp against them to battel. For it is not now a time for vsus to say with Solomons sluggard, a little slumber, a little solding of the hands togither, least poverty come vponupon Prov 6. 9. 10.vsus, is one that travaileth by the way, & necessity as an armed man. There is great necessity in it, for the Idumeans Prov. 24. 33.are even within vsus, we hauehave no neede to folde our hands togither, but rather to rise vp with that good …, who ariseth whiles it is night, & giveth the portion to her houshold, and the ordinary to her maides.Prov. 31. …5.
In the book of Genesis we read, that Abraham hard, that his brother was taken by his enimies: wherevpon he brought forth of them, that were borne, and brought Gen. 14. 12. 13 14.vp in his house, 318 and pursued them, and that he and his servants divided themselues by night and smote them, & brought againe his brother Lot. Our brother Lot, nay many of our brethren are taken and caried away, but they are not yet so far gone, but that, if we make hast, they may be recovered. And if ever it behoved Abraham to arme his houshold, it is now time. Yee that are in the place of Abrahā, arme thē, that are brought vp in your houses, to the bringing backe of our brethren. Arme them and your selues with that spirit of Abraham, with that brotherly louelove and care over others. I cānot say to every one of you as is said to him in the Poet,
Nate Ded potes hoc sub casu ducere somnos?Virg. Aev. 4. v. 560.
But I say to each of you, Nate Deo potes hoc sub casu du cere somnos? And so much the rather for that the danger was but neere him, but it is within vsus. Wherefore let vsus vse the sword of Gods word, against these enimies. And cursed be the man, that withdraweth his sword Ier. 48. 10.from bloud. I meane not, to flay the person bodily, but I speak of the spirituall sword, & of the spiritual slaughter, to kill their errors, to slay our wicked and vngodly Rom. 7 24. Colos 3. 5.lusts, and mortifie the body of sinne, which we beare about with vsus. Which the Lord grant that each of vsus may doe.