The Prophecy of Obadiah Opened and Applied, Sermon 7

The Prophecy of Obadiah Opened and Applied · Sermon 7

p. 89VERSE 12. 13. 14

12 But thou shouldst not hauehave beholdē the day of thy brother, in the day that he was made a stranger; neither shouldest thou hauehave reioiced over the children of Iudah, in the day of her destruction; thou shouldest not hauehave spoken insolently, in the day of affliction.

13 Thou shouldest not hauehave entred into the gate of my people, in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest evē thou hauehave looked on their affliction, in the day of their distresse; nor hauehave laid hands on their substance, in the day &c 14 Neither shouldst thou hauehave stand in the crosse wates to cut of them, that should escape; neither shouldest thou hauehave betraied the remnant, in the day of their destruction.

THE Prophet having generally in the former verses delivered the cause of the destruction of the Idumeans, namely their crueltie, which they shewed to the Israelites their brethren, when Ierusalē was sacked, at what time they shewed themselues, as their enimies: he doth now in these wordes particularly lay the same out, that the p. 90poisoned sore of their barbarousnesse, being declared the iustice of GOD in cutting them of, might bee shewed vntounto them.

Which causes in particularitie are delivered by way of admonition, wherein is opened what they should hauehave done, and they concerne Either their

1. Affections,

2. Actions.

1. Affections

Hatred

Envy

testified by their gladnesse & reioicing at their harmes & afflictions.

2. Their actions are either concerning

words

proud

spightful

thou shouldst not hauehave spoken insolently.

deeds, spoiling thē of

goods. Entred into the gate. laid hands on substance.

life. Stood in the breach to cut of them that escaped. Betraied the remnant.

Wherefore in these points consisted the crueltie of Edom in wishing, speaking, and doing evill against Israel.

Welwillers cannot looke on our miseries, or abide to see them, for griefe and sorrow. As we read of Agar the mother of Ismael, that, whē her sonne was like to die for want of water, shee cast the child vnderunder the tree, and went and sate over against him a far off, for she said, I will not see the death of the child. But here the evill wil, that the Idumeans bore, appeareth, and the Gen. 21. 15. 16Gen 21:15Gen 21:16harme they wished them, in that they reioiced to looke vponupon the affliction of their brethren.

Neither could they keepe this evill will within thē, but they vttered it in their speech, speaking proudly a p. 91gainst them, or as it is in the Hebrew, making their foreignmouth great or wide. Which here being plainely set downe is by others elsewhere more plainely opened, Ps. 137.Ps 137when they cryed, rase it, rase it, even to the foundations; Ezec. 3… 10. & 25 8.Ezek 3:10Ezek 25:8and againe, behold the house of Iudah is like vntounto all the heathen.

Besides here they staied not, but to their evill will & naughtie words, they added naughtie deeds, for they entred into the gate, laid hands on their substance; and as though it had beene a small thing to rob them, they proceeded further, and tooke away their liues, by killing some by present death, for whom they waited in the breaches, others by lingring death, whom they betraied, that so they might die in torments & captivity. And all these albeit very grievous in themselues, yet are more increased by the circumstances.

Of

1 persons,

2 Times.

1. Persons by whō. a brother, wherefore add, neither oughtest thou: to note the indignity against whom. a brother, not beholding the day of thy brother. My people.

2 The circumstance also of the time encreaseth the cruelty, in the day he was made a stranger, in the day of affliction. Whereby is declared, what marveilous savage hearts they bore; for then even enimies are moved to pity. Wherefore to shew the grievousnes in respect hereof, this clause is repeated in each branch.

And when it is also saide that they stoode in the breach & betrayed the remnant, not sparing such as had escaped, p. 92we see that on all sides their cruelty is amplified.

Wherefore they are iustly reproved, when they are admonished not to hauehave done that which they did. By which reproofe of Edom, we are admonished to hauehave two things, if we will neither be idle nor vnfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ, namely

1 Patience.

2 Brotherly louelove

in that they

did.

should hauehave done.

1 It is a heard and heavy message, that the children of GOD must suffer so great misery & cruelty, & to beare it also: a great griefe it is, that our enemies should looke on our affliction, and reioice; greater to enter into our gates and take away our goods; greatest of all to take away our life: yet is it more then this, to kill vsus after wee hauehave escaped; especially to suffer all this of our brethren. Yet is there no remedy, the godly in all this must be patient and suffer all these things, and that not onelyonly of strangers, but also of our brethren.

The gate that leadeth to life is narrow and straite. Wee are to sit downe and cast accompts, for we are to build a costly worke. We are borne as the sonnes of Iacob vnderunder the bondage of Pharaoh, so vnderunder the thraldome of Sathan that spirituall Pharaoh. Christ is our Moses by whō through Baptisme, as through the red sea, we are led to the land of promise: but before we come thither, wee are to passe through the wildernesse where is want of meate and drinke, and other necessaries, besides wild beasts & noysome serpents, &c: Yet this must we passe through, before we can come to Canaan, that is heavē. Which floweth, not as did that with milke and hony, but p. 93with such ioy and comfort, as tongue cannot vtter, neither hauehave at any time entred into the hart of man.

Now seeing vnlesse we passe through the wildernes we cannot enter into Canaan: wee must be content to beare whatsoever affliction is therein. But if we murmure and rebell, he hath sworne in his wrath, that we shall not enter into his rest. So hard a thing is it, nay so impossible, to enter heaven, but through many tribulations.

If any man will come after me, saith our Saviour, let him take vp his crosse dayly, and follow me. The death of the crosse was not only most grievous, but most shame full also, and so much the more, for that such as were to bee handled most despitefully were put to cary their crosse themselues; for they had favour shewed thē, who had others to helpe: yet were not this worst, if they were to do it but once, or to die but once, but whē we are commanded to do it dayly, it is a sore matter: yet must those that will follow Christ be content to doe it, to beare all affliction even most grievous and shamefull, even the crosse. For Christian mens life is death, and that daily: that they may say with the Church, for thy sake are we killed dayly, not the whole day onelyonly, but every day. Christ Iesus the sonne of GOD, who thought it not robbery to be like vntounto God, was content for our sake to endure all miseries, even the death of the crosse, with all the indignities, that Edom put Iuda vntounto. For they in the day of his affliction stood staring & looking vponupon him, they reioiced against him, those goods hee had they tooke and divided amongst them: Lastly they put him to a most villanous death, as himselfe had before shewed p. 94by David a figure of him. I am become a stranger to my brethren, an alien to my mothers childrē. They stood staring and looking on me, they gaue me gall, &c: all that looke on me hauehave me in derision, &c: dogges hauehave compassed me a bout, &c: they part my garments amongst thē, and cast lots on my vesture, they pierced my hands and feete, &c: For albeit, that some of these things were performed against our Saviour by the heathen: yet were both Pilate & the souldiers but ministers of the Iewes his brethren, who were they, that sought for him, betraied him, delivered, accused him of treason, and that cried out against him, cru…fie him, &c.

This example of Christ who was thus cruelly entrea ted and put to death in such pitifull sort by his brethren, is set forth for a patterne to vsus, to learne by like patience to suffer the like cruelty. Because indeed that we are prepared and ordained for the like: As Peter declareth, here vntounto are yee called: for Christ also suffrea for vsus, leaving vsus an example, that we should follow his steppes. And Paule 1. Pet. 2. 21.1 Pet 2:21saith that we are herevnto predestinate, to be made like vn to the Image of the sonne of God: and if we will raigne with him, we must also suffer with him.

The Primitiue Church which immediatly followed Act cap 7.Acts 7Christ had sufficient proofe hereof, as in the stoning of Steven, the Imprisonment of Peter, the often persecutions even by the professors of the faith, and such as in part had it of all the Church, especially of Paul, who was abundant in labours, in siripes aboue measure, in prison plē teously, 1. Cor. 1…. 23.1 Cor 1:23in death eft, in perils among his owne nation, among false brethren. Afterwarde how barbarously the true p. 95Christians were dealt withall by the Donatists, Circumcellians, &c: who dismembred their bodies, put out their eies, beheaded and burned them vnderunder the Emperours Valentius, &c. the monuments of those daies and the Ecclesiasticall histories do abundantly shew.

And in our time the Papists hauehave in this point dealte so outragiously, that al the other, which we hauehave mentioned, seemeth nothing to it. A fresh example whereof is that committed by them about this time 13. years in Paris vnderunder Charles the 9. when in that realme there were slaine 30000 Christians, and that not in warre or Vid. comment. de sta… Relig. & Re…n Regno Gall par. 2. &c.battle mentioned, as was this of the Idumeans, but vnderunder the pretence of friendship, shadowed by the marriage of the kings Sister to a Christian prince. In which most treacherous & bloudy practise were al the points observed, that are here noted in the Idumeans.

Looked. For it is recorded that on Bartholomew night the Queene-mother with the rest went out of the palace Vid part. 4. sub Ca… 9. lib 10. 11. 12 fol 39. &c. 42.to see the carkases of such as they had murthered in the city. And besides when they caused the body of that worthy Admirall, to be hanged vponupon the gibbet, they went out of the city to fill their eies with that cruell sight.

Reioiced. They caused for ioy hereof procession to bee made throughout Paris: and when Gregory 13. heard of it, hee caused the like ioy to bee shewed in his citie, the gunnes to be shot of from his castle of Saint Angelo, & masse to be song in honour of this noble deed in Saint Vbisopia, fol. 56.Lucies Church a French Saint. And so that in that citie where neither Sylla, Caesar, nor any other ever triumphed p. 96over citizens though overcome with iust war, not traiterously murthered by vninst crueltie. Moreover by Parliament it was enacted, that in memorie hereof there should bee kept each yeare on S^t Bartholomew day a generall procession through Paris.

Opened the mouth. Which appeareth by the words of the king, who, swearing after his manner, said, that heaven with its weather seemed to reioice at their deeds. Words of the murtherers of the Admirall, &c. And by the words of the President of the Parliament of Paris, who signified, that all was done by the kings Christop. Thuanus Ann 1572. vid. … supra; fol. 43.authoritie (contrarie to that, which hee had in his letters, signified to other princes) cōmending the whole deed with that saying of Lewes one of their kings,

Qui nescit dissimulare, nescit regnare.Loco supra citato this speech cō mended by …huanus.

He knowes not how to raigne, that knowes not how to faine.

Besides the thing commended with an Oration, and the Cardinall of Loraine set vp monuments of it, which Lib. 10.also Genebrard, and Surius, the most impudent Bolsecks that ever wrote, hauehave in their Chronicle commended Vid. cos anno 1572.with this sclander, that it was done because of their conspiracie.Fol 42. ib.

Ransacking substance. They not onelyonly entred into the gate but houses of the oppressed, rifling them at their pleasures, yea so greedy were they of gaine, that they slew some that were very Papistes, to the ende that … …ol. 41 & pass….some of their complices, which were next to possesse their goods, might by that meanes be enriched.

Slaine. How they slew not only those that fell into p. 97their hands, but such as were escaped also, may appeare by the sending of their letters after this … done at Paris, to Lions, and other places, that they Fol 44, 45 &c.might, to fill vp the measure of the kings iniquitie, destroy the remnant.

We here in England hauehave not yet (GOD be praised) felt this manner of crueltie, but seeing it is our lot to abide it, we must for our part be prepared for it, and arme our selues with patiēce against it come, though we be not free presently, for all that they date doe. For there want not among vsus false brethren, as such as in their hearts murther vsus. And albeit wee suffer not so much as Abel did of Cain, yet feele we as much as Isaac did of Ismael, namely sco…es, and sclanders. Such were Davids brethren, of whom he saith that they tore him in peeces. His familiar friends with whom hee tooke sweet counsell, &c. which is so certaine to befal likewise vntounto vsus, that our Saviour out of the Prophet Michah, saith that the sonne shall rise against the father, &c. and a Chap 7. 5. 6.mans enimies shall be even they of his owne houshold. But as it is there by the Prophet laid downe for a comfort to the godlie. Let not the enimie reioice, for though I V. 8 9. 10.fall, yet shall I rise againe &c. mine …es shall behold her: now shall she be troden downe, as the m…re in the streets.

2 The second thing to be of vsus considered, was in that which they should not hauehave done; wherein as hath beene said, we are moved to brotherly kindnesse. Wherein I request you to remember the points of crueltie which hauehave beene laid out & said to hauehave been sound in them.

p. 981 Reioice. This ioy at others harmes ought to bee farre from vsus, being a token of hatred and envy. For if we goe to the root as it is delivered elsewhere, it is evident, Ezec. 35.Ezek 35that it proceedeth from an evill mind. For whō men hate, him wish they evill vntounto, and would gladly see it Cic. Offic. lib. 2. Quem qui… odit. p. r…sse expe….fall on him. Wherefore it proceedeth from the heart, as even the outward gesture also: which our Saviour declareth, when he saith, that out of the heart proceed evill thoughts, &c. and an evill eye, meaning the effects of an evill eye and envious. For many there are that see well, and yet hauehave evill eies. Namely such as delight at the harme of their brother, and sorrow at his good. Wherefore we must beware of both effects namely, that we neither behold the prosperitie of others with griefe, nor their adversitie with ioy.

And for the former, we must be so much the more diligent in avoiding it, because a good mind is sometimes subiect vntounto it. When a young man told Ioshuah, that Eldad, and Modad, prophecied in the host, hee Num. 11. 27Num 11:27willed Moses to forbid them. But Moses rebuked him; enviest thou, saith hee, for my sake? yea would to God that all the Lords people were Prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit vponupon them.

But as for the latter, which is to reioice at the adversitie of others, it is not so incident to the heart, which is sprinckled with any drop of grace; because that evē naturally, we pitie such as be in miserie. Howbeit, if there be any such among vsus, let him remember what the wise man saith; That he who reioiceth at the harme of another, shal not himselfe escape vnpunished. The p. 99summe is this, that we look to our heart the fountaine of these affections, and purifie it. The heart, as the Philosophers saie, in naturall generation is first framed, and in spiritual regeneration it is first formed. Wherefore we are first to looke that it be pure. For what the heart conceiveth, that the tongue vttereth, and what the tongue speaketh, the hand practiseth.

2 The second thing is, that we speak not against our brethren, Neither

exhorting the enimies.

scoffing and deriding our brethren, as Ezec. 25 35.Ezek 25:35the Idumeans.

To exhort men to do evill, I hope we may learne how deere it will cost vsus by the example of the Iewes; who exhorting the Romanes to slay our Saviour, and being admonished of the great wickednesse, answered, his bloud be vponupon vsus & on our children, & so it was indeed. But how sore it was vponupon them the noble history of Ierusalems destruction, which followed within the cō passe Vid. Egesip. lib. 4 &c.of their childrens life, doth sufficiently declare, of whom were slaine 1100000.

For taunting, as not onelyonly doers but abetters are culpable in faults, so these scoffers as well as the doers of evill; and so much the more, because they scoffe the Lord himselfe, as when they said, The land wherein the Lord is. How heavy the hand of the Lord was on Rabsakeh for this blasphemy, we hauehave an evident example. I will not go so farre in this assembly as to speake of such grosse blasphemy; but if there any among vsus, which are not afraid to abuse the words of Scripture p. 100in scoffe, as did those wicked Iewes which had in their mouth. The burthen of the Lord, &c. Let them consider the punishment threatned against such scorners and be afraid thereof. A shame it is, if the counsell of Trent condemne such wickednesse, for vsus to vse it. Wherefore if any prophane cogitations concerning GODS word rise in our mindes, let vsus betime quel these Impes of Babylon, dishing them against the stones, that they go no further.

3 The third thing is, that we take from them as not their life, so neither their living, whereby their life is maintained. For although wee go not so farre, as to come to sacking, yet if we lay hands vponupon the goods of Iudah, whether publique, or private. we play the part of Edom: I am loath to speak that which I should heare touch. Doe not they commit this wickednesse, which take mony for that which was provided to main taine the poore, either in the Vniversity publikely or privately in any colledge: which sell the poore for shoes, or come not so low as those beggarly iudges, but make their owne advantage by what meanes soever. …ut they will not say that they lay hands on them, but that they take that which is offered. Alas poore soules! do they offer it, yea even as men their, purses on Salisbury plaine, they yeeld their goods to saue their liues. Vid. … Vertia. 5.This was right Verres answere, hee tooke nothing but what was offered him. Or they will say that themselues receiue nothing, but yet as Maister Latimer said, their In his S… before K E…wwiues shall, or the steward of the kitchin.

Now if this be blame worthy being done in privat p. 101goods, how much more in publique. The wise Steward whē he should be put frō his office, meaning to pro vide for a deare yeare, called togither all his Masters deb ters, saying to the first, how much owest thou to my Maister, …uk. 6.and he said an hundred measures of oile, and he said take thy writings, set down quickly & write fifty, &c. The Steward cācelled not the obligations but made thē a new, & so made him friends of his masters goods. I would to GOD this practise were not too common among vsus by pub lique goods to make vsus private friends in our owne suits, &c. The Lord commended the wisedome of this vnthristy Steward, he commended his policy, not his hone stie. And if hee were among vsus and were to speake of Stewards, he would commende the policie of our Stewards no losse then that of the wise steward. The Pharisees gaue 30. pence, which were indeede 30. sicles, about in value two shillings a piece, which they tooke out of the publique treasury vntounto Iudas to betray our Saviour, when Iudas had returned them, they woulde not put them againe into the treasurie because it was the price of bloud, but bought therewith a potters field, to burie strangers in. The Pharisees gaue 30. pieces of siluer, if it had beene 30. pieces of gold, or thrise 30. it had bin fitter for my purpose.

For the sinne is such of them that hauehave given much more out of the publique treasury, to compasse such things, as when they hauehave them, they may betray the soules of Christians. And whether this practise be rise among vsus, I leaue to their consideration, who wiselie consider the dealing of the world. But let such men as p. 102be faulty herein, consider the end of the givers and takers, whereof the one strangled himselfe, the other were overthrowne in the destruction threatned against them. And for the money, what end it had, we see: I speake not because it buried strangers, but it served to no purpose, but to burie carkases: and so shall this mony serue to none other end but to bury, not the carkases but the soules of such in hel fire, which staine their hands with it.

4 The fourth thing is to abstaine from murther. I wil not propose vntounto you so high a degree of this sin: But exhorte such as to whom it appertaineth to beware, that they murther not the soules whereof they hauehave charge. The surest death and most pitifull is the famine of the soule, and the want of the preaching of the word is famine. And reason in the mouth of the Poet hath taught vsus, that it is a most miserable thing to die with hunger. Wherefore in this case it belongeth to Maisters, who hauehave charge & care of servants, Pastors of flockes, Magistrates of people, to see that they be not negligent in their duty, and that their hande be not deepe in this iniquity, and that they be not defiled with the bloud of soules, which Christ hath redeemed with his precious bloud. Oh that they would at length consider wisely of it! And here should I speake to the Magistrate of the city, if hee were present, in that matter, which hath beene often moved vntounto him, for the provision for such as might minister the word vntounto them, which in the Apostles iudgement is necessary: No man at any time goeth to warre on his own p. 103charges. And if this city can be content to set out souldiers for the prince, will they not be perswaded to furnish souldiers against Sathan, the enimy of their souls, against whom they are continually to striue? The example of Cambridge, hath beene proposed vntounto them: but if they were not worse then them of Achaia and the Barbarians of Macedonia, they would bee moved to do somewhat herein; these were content to sende reliefe to the Saints at Ierusalem, but they will not succour such as are amongst them, which are not troubled with bodily but spirituall hunger.