The Prophecy of Obadiah Opened and Applied, Sermon 5
VERSE 8. 9.
8 Shall not I in that day, saith the Lord, destroy the wise men, from out of Edom & vnderstanding from the moūt of Esau.
9 And thy strong men O Teman shalbe affraide, so that the valiant of the mount of Esau shalbe cut of by slaughter.
THere be two things, whereby we purchase to our selues safety against our enimies, wisedome, & strength: wisedome in foretelling, and preventing, strength in repressing, and withstanding the attempts devised and practised against vsus. The Lord having shewed, that he would vtterly destroy and bring to cōfusion the Idumeans, for that the matter seemed not very likely, and the message not easie to be credited, seeing they were furnished with wisedome & strength, wherewith they were able to prevent and subdue any mischiefe; …e sheweth how these things shall nothing let his purpose, for as much as he would depriue them of their wise men in the 8. verse, and spoile them of their strong in the 9. verse Shall not I, &c: wisdome and policie beare the greatest sway in State matters; for armes abroade are of little force, vnlesse there bee sage counsell at home: and seeing things must by advise bee determined, before they can well and duly be practised, therefore the Prophet declaring the course, which the Lord will take in bringing his purpose about, beginneth at the wisedome saying. Shall not I, &c: and vnderstanding frō the mount of Esau, that is mount Seir, on which Esau dwelt; and by Seir is meant the land of Idumeans, the part for the whole. Out of this land, saith he, he would destroy the wisemen and vnderstanding, and bring to nought the strength and power, and that partly by taking from them wisdome and vnderstanding, as Ieremy Cap. 49. 7.sheweth, partly by cutting of, by slaughter, the vali ant of the mount of Esau. The time also is specified, whē it is said, in that day, a daie though vncertaine to them, to whom it pertained not to knowe the times & seasons Act. 1. 7.which GOD had hid in his owne power, yet most sure & certaine to him, who in his secret counsell had appointed it. Which thing is also vttered by Interrogation, to make it more effectuall by sinking deepe into their minds. And so first hauing removed their wisemen, their strongmen follow after, of whom he saith, & thy strong men: & to assure them of it, with piercing their hearts by conceiuing it, as though it were laid before their eies, he turneth his speech to them, when he saith thy strong men, O Teman, which was a part of that coū trey, inhabited by a nation which came of a Nephew of Esau of that name.
Some translations, hauehave every one of the mount of …. Gene….Esau, but sith the Hebrew word foreign, signifieth a valiant man, differing from foreign, as vir doth from homo, and foreign frō foreign; I take it here to be so vnderstood, that as in the former verse hee shewed he would destroy the wisemen of Edom, and vnderstanding from the mount of Esau, so in this verse, he saith, that the strong men of Teman should be afraid, and the valiant of the mount of Esau should be cut of by slaughter.
Thus are the faithfull assured that the Idumeans should be destroyed, notwithstanding all their policy and power, because the Lord had appointed a day, wherein he would dispoile them of their wise & strong men. Which point ought of vsus diligently to be regarded, not only in respect of the meanes, whereby but also of the time, when this worke was appointed to bee wrought.
To begin with the daie, wee be hereby taught, that as all the workes of GOD are iustice and wisdome, so also that he appointeth wisely and iustly the times to ex ecute iudgement in. For hee punisheth not by and by such as offend, but is long suffering and gentle towards Rom. 2. 4.sinners, giving time of repentāce, that they may know the truth and come to amendment, out of the snare of the Devill. For which purpose he calleth them, by benefits, …. Tim. 2. 25. 26.exhortations, threatnings, punishments, and exam ples, as the Prophet setteth out by the …militude of a husbandman; Doth the plowman plow all the day, and sowe? doth he breake the clods of his grounde when he hath made s…. 28. 24. &c.it plaine, doth he not then sowe? Fitches shall not be threshed. For hauing threatned, that GOD would destroy thē, hee answereth to such scorners, as despised the long suffering of GOD, shewing th…t sith the husbandman hath divers times for severall workes, so that hee doth not all at once, but first ploweth, then soweth, reapeth, thresheth, and that fitly according to the diversitie of the graine and corne, which is by the wisdome which GOD hath giuē him: in like sort or rather much more, will the Lord, who is perfect wisedome, appoint his time of calling, exhorting, threatning, &c. and when none of these will serue, of mowing and threshing also.
Great was the wickednesse of the old world, when as the sonnes of God seeing the daughters of men; that they Gen. 6 2.were faire, and following their lust, not their dutie, tooke them wiues of all that they liked. GOD was displeased with their sinnes, and gaue them a long time of repē tance, even an hundred and twentie yeares. At which time they not repenting, he brought the flood of waters over them. When the Lord had promised to Abraham the land of Canaan, hee told him, that first his seed should be a soiourner in a land that was not theirs even 400. yeares, for that the sinne of the Amorites Gen. 15. 16.was not as then full, shewing plainely, that he had given them a daie of repentance, which being come, if they brought not forth worthie fruite thereof, they should be mowed downe. The wickednesse of Achab receiued such iudgement as it deserued, yet even for that shadow of repentance, the plague was cast of to his posteritie. In the daies of Iosiah, Israel was not plagued 1. King. 2. 27. & 29. 2. King. 22. 19.&c. because his heart melted at the hearing of the law of God. The rest of the threatings of Isaiah, and Ieremiah, are of like manner against the Tyrians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Moabites, &c. appointing to some certaine expresse yeares, as three, other lxx. some short, but not mentioned: a short time, but a time also is threatned by Iohn Baptist, when he said, Even now is the axe laid to the root of the tree.Mat. 3 10.
That which we are to regard more specially is, that the times of iudgement appointed for the Amorites, Achab, Iewes, &c. are not only to be respected for thē selues, but to bee considered as figures of that great iudgemēt, for which there is a time appointed, which is called a daie in Scripture for an excellencie: as the Apostle preached to the Athenians, that GOD had appointed a daie in which he will iudge the world in righteousnes by that man, which he hath appointed. And though Act. 17. 31.he seeme slack in comming, yet is he not, for he saith, till the number be accomplished. The Lord will come as a theefe in the night, and he shall sit on his throne of Maiestie, before whom the earth and heavens shall fly away, the earth and sea shall yeeld vp their dead, the bookes shall bee opened, and each man shall receaue his iudgement. Which point St Peter having handled exhorteth vsus to consider 2. Epist. 3. 11.what manner of persons we should then bee, in holy conversation, and godlinesse, who should looke for, and hasten vntounto the comming of this day of God. On which occasion I am also to desire you, that you would diligently consider, if God hauehave appointed a daie for temporall and eternall punishments, how patient each one of vsus ought to be in all afflictions, how wise in all behaviour. Patient, that wee fre… not our selues nor be caried away with any evill affection, when we see God not presently execute his iudgements, that therefore wee should set our heartes to evill. Wise, …that we stand in the feare of GOD, and offend not as wicked persons, for whom another day is appointed, the last and worst of all other. Wherefore we hauehave need of patience, &c: as we are exhorted therevnto by the Apostles: Heb 1 …that we be not discomforted, though we see the wicked prosper, & liue in all iollity, lest otherwise we fal into the sinne of murmuring, as did the Israelites, being ready to fall away from the profession of GOD, because the rod had rest vponupon them for a while. And having seene so great workes wrought by Gods hand in Egypt, yet at the red sea they feared, least they shoulde hauehave beene swallowed vp of Pharaoh. But Moses biddeth them be still, and see the salvation of the Lord; for Ex. 14. 13. 14.that he knew there was a day appointed, when Pharaoh should be discomfited: which thing is not onelyonly of the Israelites concerning Pharaoh king of Egypt, but also to the comfort of all true Israelites, and to the revenge of all, that are like Pharaoh. For though they shoot out their branches for a while, and flourish, as a green bay tree, yet so so one as you shal passe by thē, they shalbe so gone, that their place shall know them no more. What greater affliction abode the Iewes, then vnderunder Antiochus, yet frō the time, that the abhomination was set vp, as Daniel sheweth, it was lesse then 4 years. The Saints of God indeed are troubled with impatiēcy, and would gladly see their desire vpō the wicked that Gods name might be the more glorified in the salvation of his Saints. which is set downe in the Revelation, where the soules vnderunder the Altar do cry, how long Lord, holie and true—but white long robes were given vntounto them, & it was said, that they should rest for a little season, &c: let vsus not thē discourage our selues with impatiēcie, let Rev. 6. 10. 11.vsus not fret our selues, lest wee bee moved to evill, for the Saints confesse that God was holy & true, true in his promise, who will no doubt take revenge of his enimies, holy in grāting repētāce to sinners. Let vsus cal to minde the end that fell vponupon Pharaoh, Antiochus, &c. & other miscreants, and let vsus wait the Lords leasure, remembring, that to the Saints were given white robes the signe of grace in this life, and of glory in the life to come.
Moreover, as wee hereby doe learne patience, that we sret not at the prosperitie of the wicked; so are we also to be wise, that wee offend not after the manner of the vngodly, through hope of escaping the iudgement Rom. 22.of GOD, hauing before our eies the daie, which the Prophet here speaketh of, and much more, that whereof this is a signe and figure, remēbring, that the slower our punishment is in comming, the heavier will it be when it commeth. When Amnon had defiled himselfe, & his Sister Thamar following his filthy lust, he streight was so displeased with her, that he could 2. Sam. 13. 14. 15.not so much as abide her sight, which is the first plague that GOD layeth on such lust. There followed after another, when hee was put to the sword: but the third most heavie, and grievous was behind, which was to 29.be cast with whoremongers into the lake that burneth. How little ioy had Absolon after hee began to rebell a gainst his Father! for within fewe daies the senselesse creatures, practised the like disobedience against him. 2. Sam 1…9that he did against his Father, so that they, which were made to hauehave served his benefit, wrought his destruction. The rich mans soule which was set at ease for many Luk 12. 19. 20yeares, as he thought, how sodainely heard hee his iudgement, that in that night it should be taken frō him! The heathen and enimies of Christ promised themselues great good by Iulian, hoping that hee should liue to root out all Christianitie: in so much that *Vid …. l…b. 6 … 2. …. …. & …. …. lib 6. …p 44. & …. li… 10. cap. 35.Libanius the Sophist meeting with a Christian Schoolemaster, asked of him in disdaine what the Carpenters sonne (for so in contempt they tearmed our Saviour) was then doing, to whom the Schoolemaster made answer that the Carpenters sonne was making a coffin for his master Iulian. And so it pleased GOD, that Iulian in his warre against the Persian king was *Hist. tr…t. lib 6 cap 47. Niceph. ….slaine and brought to a shamefull end.
Now these things are written to let vsus knowe, that not only such as offend in lust, as Amnon, in disobedi ence, as Absolon, in coveteousnesse, as the richman, in impietie, as Iulian, shall bee punished even as they were: but that it is vndoubtedly true, which Solomon saith, that GOD wil bring into iudgement, every work with every secret thing, be it good or evil. Wherfore let vsus learne Eccl. 12.his exhortation, to feare God and keepe his commandemēts, which is the whole dutie of mā. Which though I hauehave sufficiently declared by examples of the Scriptures, yet as the Apostle vsed the sentence of the Poet Menander, after other sound proofes, so for the youth, that would heare what a Poet saith, I will alleage the saying of the prince of Poets. When Turnus had taken the spoile of Pallas he receaued this threatning;
Turn… tempus erit, magno cum optaverit emptu…;
Intactum Pallanta, & cum spolia ista diem queVirg. Ae…d. 10.
Oderit—
which how truely it fell out, is in another place declared, when being striken to the heart hee heard these words,
—Pallas te hoc vulnere, PallasAeneid. lib. 12. in sine.
Immolat, & poenam scelerato ex sanguine sumit.
We are to deale with Pallas, (not Pallas Pallantis, but Pallas Pallados) that is, with the wisdome of the high est, we our selues are his, both body and soule, he hath redeemed vsus, and made vsus his owne. If then wee make our selues thrall to sinne, and wickednesse, we spoile & rob him, and then let vsus assure our selues, the time will come, when we shall wish, that we had forgone these spoiles: when it shall be said, goe yee cursed into hell fire.
Let vsus learne then to remember that daie, and out of this place, that God hath appointed a time, wherein he will avenge himselfe of his enimies; and not onelyonly that, but which is another point, the meanes by which it shall be wrought, which is, by taking away their wise men, & bereaving them of strong men, that being thus bereaved of such as might stand them insteed, they may receaue the vengeance prepared for them. How GOD doth deale with nations in these matters, the histories shew, and the Prophet Isaiah plainely, when hee saith, he will take away the wise-eloquent-artificer. Meaning, Is. 3. 1, 2, 3that howsoever they perswaded themselues, that by those meanes and enimies they could not be destroi ed, being furnished in such manner against all manner assaults, yet GOD would doe it by taking awaie whatsoever might any way stand them insteed. It was not to be thought, that Babylon hauing in it such strength and wisdome could bee so taken, as it was by Cyrus: but we read, that at such time they gaue themselues to drunkennesse and ryot. Wherefore let vsus not put our confidence in flesh and blood, perswading our selues, that because our nation is mightie in strength of people, our prince wise, our coūsellers provident, our munition great, victuals sufficient, &c. that therefore we are sure, and out of all danger; for GOD can take away our wise and strong men, and though hee leaue vsus the men, yet he can take all wisdome and strength frō them, & whatsoever we bring home seeme it never so great, yet can the Lord blowe vponupon it, as the Prophet speaketh, and it shall fall away.Hagg. 1. 9.
Here then is good comfort for vsus, if we serue & louelove the Lord: for from whome will the Lord take vnderstanding, not from David, but from Absolon, not from Israelites, but from Edomites, not from Ezechiah, but Senacherib: or if he take vnderstanding from Israel, David, Ezekiah, yet not from David, to destroy him, not from Ezechiah, when he calls vponupon him, and if he fayled the Iewes, yet the true Israelites shall be strengthned from aboue: though David be troubled, yet shall hee not want his wise Cushai, and strong Ioab: and although 2. Sam. 17. 8. 9.the counsell of men faile, and strength bee nothing, the Isa. 37. 36.Lord will send an Angel to slay the Assyrians: but as for Edom let his strength be never so great, his wisemen never so many, they shall bee quite destroyed. Though Absolon hauehave with him Achitophel, yet GOD can make his counsell foolish; though Senacherib his armies bee strong, yet may hee loose them all, and himselfe also bee murthered by his sonnes in the temple of his Gods. And as the Scripture teacheth vsus this of Absolon, Senacherib, Idumeans, so must we thinke it to be verified against al that deale as they did. Wherein not to call you to cō sider the Scribes and Pharises dealing against our Sauiour and his Apostles, I come to the Papists. Wherein J commend the consideration hereof to such as pervse the slory of the Church, how GOD hath taken wisedome from them, and bereft them of their stout men. Even from the time that Wickliffe in England, Iohn Husse, and Ierome of …rage in Boheme, made profession of the Gospell, how things amongst them hauehave fallen from evill to worse, even their owne complaints doe sufficiently shew, namely by the Councils of Constance, and Basil, & of …neas Sylvius, and by whole countries falling away from them. Luther against whome they most speake all wicked speeches, how wonderfully was hee holpen by the mightie hand of GOD, when as they by their dealing set forward, that which he preached: which seeing they will reiect, when it is taught them …. lib 1. … 23. …. lib …. …d … 1520. …t …. …. …. Angl. …27out of Sleidan, let them learne of Guicciardine declaring, that Pope Leo the 10 was the cause of that, which was done in Germanie, when his Bulls and Indulgences were sent in such vile and beastly manner, that they were sold in sheppes, and so that the sellers & Merchants pla…ed the money they tooke for them at dice: and all the world knewe, that the money was not gathered (as they pretended) to make warre against the Turkes, but indeed to maintaine the Pompe and lust of the Popes Sister, who had made a Bishop her deputie for that purpose. Wherefore he saith, that the Pope went about indeed to suppresse that Luther had preached, but hee vsed not fit medicines, and though he excommunicated them, that followed him, yet he redressed not the fault he spake against. Whereby it is declared, how GOD tooke away wisdome (from the Idumeans,) frō Pope Leo: since which time what successe hath followed i… England, Scotland, Poland, & other countries, the world seeth, and wee perceiue how GOD in part hath fulfilled, that which he here threatneth, that their wisemen should faile, and their strong men perish. The full accomplishmēt we yet see not, the time being not yet come for GOD hath his degrees. But howsoever the Iesuites make shew of wisdome and knowledge, yet GOD can take both wisdome and knowledge, from them: as wee see he hath done, both in their doctrine, discipline, and ceremonies especially, wherein their folly most notably appeareth. Let any man read their Pontificall, & let him say, whether GOD hath not taken all their wisedome from them LORD finish thy worke, which thou hast begun, take wisedome and strength from the mount of Esau, that mount S…on may reioice, &c.