Evangelical Sacrifices, Text 2 – Title page 3
THE RVINE OF MYSTICALL IERICHO.
HEB. 11. 30.
By faith the Wals of Iericho fell downe, after they had beene compassed about seven dayes.
THIS Verse suites somewhat to Novemb, 5.the occasion: therefore I have made cho…se of it at this time. This Chapter containes the triumph of Faith in the hearts and soules of those in whom this blessed grace is planted; so that the excellencie and office of all graces are attributed to it, there is a stirring up of al other graces whatsoever in saith. All the Worthies that are spoken of before they did that they did, And obtained a good report by faith. The Spirit of God goes on here, and shewes a glorious effect of this blessed grace, in the falling downe of the Wals of I… richo. This short Verse is taken out of the Sto…ie of the Conquest of Iericho, mentioned in Ios. 6. in the later end of the Chapter, where Ioshua 6.you have the whole Storie set down at large, I need not rehearse it: And withall you have there a curse set downe; that whosoever should goe about againe to build the wals of Iericho, he should lay the foundation in his first borne, and in his youngest Sonne he should set up the gates. Hee that would raise up such a cursed building againe, hee should doe it with the overthrow of his owne building, of his owne Family; (as the Scripture cals a mans house a building) he should lay the foundation in his eldest Sonne, and build the Gates at the death of his youngest Sonne.
And a little to acquaint you with the fulnesse of the word, before I come to the Story: you have an audacious cursed attempt to build the wals of Iericho againe, in 1 King. 16. toward the latter end, in a wicked Kings time, in 1 King. 16. 34.Ahabs time. There was one so adventurous, one Hiell, that he would build Iericho, hee laid the foundation in Abiram his first-borne, and set up the Gates in his youngest Son Segub, according to the word of the Lord spoken by Ioshua, the Son of Nun: you see whence this storie is fetched. By faith the wals of Iericho …ll downe, after they had beene compassed about se…en dayes. They were compassed about seven …ayes, and the Arke in the midst; and the se…enth day, they went seven times about, and …en the wals fell downe, as you have it in the …tory. But to come to the words, and to ha…en to that that I specially meane to touch at this time.
First of all observe here, that Iericho had mighty wals, as you see in the Storie; it had wals, and trusted in these wals; or else they would have come out, and have made condi…ions of peace with Israel: but as they had …als, so they were confident in them; as you …ee the Spies, in Numb. 14. they tell what Numb. 14.…alled Cities they had, and that terrified them.
And next you see here, that God overthrowes their wals, and by what meanes? by …oore, and base means, by Trumpets of Rams…ornes; they had silver Trumpets, but they used not them, but meaner Instruments, Ramshornes, those were the meanes, and the time that they used them seven dayes together, and then that by faith, using these meanes, they overthrew the wals of Iericho, they fell down. From hence by Analogie, and proportion wee may see.
First of all, that carnall men they build up wals, and put their trust in them.
The secondis, that God confounds these courses.
The third is, that God doth it by weak, and silly means beleeved by faith.
The last point is, that faith in the use of these meanes overcomes all. By faith the wals of Iericho fell downe after they had beene compassed about seven dayes. And then wee shall come to other things that concerne us, and apply it to the time. Naturall men since the fall they must have somewhat to trust to.
Since man lost his first prop, and confidence, and communion with God, hee turnes to the Doct. 1. Men naturally trust to somewhat.creature, there is alway some confidence in some creature, and men leave God in what measure they trust that. When Cain was banished his Fathers house, then hefals to building of Cities, he must have some contentment▪ and those that were escaped the flood, within a hundred yeares after the Flood they must build a Tower of Babell, that should reach to Heaven, to get themselves a name, wanting better courses. Every one will have some Castle, and wall of Iericho to trust to; Riches are the Rich-mans strong hold, as Salomon saith. Achitophel trusted to a shrewd head and policie, that proved his ruine afterwards. The Iewes had outward sanctitie to trust to, opposing it to the righteousnesse of Christ, the righteousnesse of faith, Rom. 10. they would set a foot a dead Righteousnesse that could not Rom. 10.stand, and therefore they were shut from the Righteousnesse of God in Christ. Man will have a holinesse, a wisedome, a strength, and power of himselfe, in the things below here, as I might shew at large, both in examples, and otherwise: naturally we find it in our selves; if we be sicke, we trust to the Physician, and other meanes; if we be in danger, we flee to the arme of flesh, to some mighty man, wee trust in some great friend, if we have any; If we be in danger of invasion, or such like, wee trust our wals and defences, and till strong temptations come, we trust in our ownstrength till Sathan picke so many holes in it, that wee cannot stay there, and that conscience upbraids us: Alwayes a man hath somewhat to trust to, till he be brought to desperate conditions; and rather then he will have nothing to trust to, hee will trust to the broken Reed of Egypt, hee will trust to that that will deceive him, and hurt him, as the Reed of Egypt did the Iewes, rather then they would trust God, and the word brought by the Prophets, they would trust Ashur, and Egypt.
Now the Spirit of God in the Scriptures takes notice of this pronenesse to false confidence: Issue of false confidence dangerous.Trust not in uncertaine Riches. If Riches increase, set not your hearts on them. And man when he sets his heart upon false confidence, the issues are more dangerous, hee will come against God; he doth not onelyonly set up these holds, that hee hath in rebellion against God, duplicate page duplicate page but he proclaimes (as it were) defiance to God, and his word, and his ordinances, till afterwards God destroy all his false confidence, and bring him to shame.
In 2 Cor. 10. there is a notable place to shew what holds there are in the heart of man, that 2 Cor. 10.oppose against God, and his truth in his word, holds that Sathan keeps in man, and man joyning with Sathan the Enemy, holds against God and his truth. The weapons of our warfare (saith he) are not carnall, but mighty through God, to cast downe strong holds: The holds are within us, and wee are so farre from preparing our selves to Grace, and to entertaine Grace when it is offered, that naturally wee set up holds against God and Grace. There must be strong power to over-turne all, to lead them into captivi…y to the obedience of Christ; To cast downe the imaginations, and every high thing, every high thought that exalts it selfe against the knowledge of God, and to bring in Captivity every thought. So there are three mighty things in 3 things in man by nature.every naturall man.
This false reasoning, and Sophistrie; there is no man will goe to Hell without reason; take the debauchedst wretch that lives, he is 1 False reasonings.mad with some reason, and he will be damned with some reason; God is mercifull, Christ is come; and others are as bad as I, and I hope in time to repent; this vile reasoning must be turned out of a man before he can be saved.2 Proud thoughts.
Then there are proud thoughts, what? shall I yield to such a one as he? I am better then he; I understand these things as well as hee: As that proud Cardinall in Germany said, I confesse these things that Luther finds fault with are naught; but shall I yield to a base Monke? so men thinke, shall I yeeld to a Minister? the proud, rebellious heart of man, is lift up in proud thoughts against God.
And then there be fore-casts; if I do thus, 3 Fore-casts of danger.this danger will come of it, I sha…l provoke such an Enemy, I shall lose such a friend, I shal indanger my selfe: Now when the truth of God comes, downe goes all these sophistries, and high thoughts, and all these fore-casts, they all lie flat when the Spirit of God comes in the power of the word: but naturally every man hath these, hee builds up some Castle against God, hee builds up the wals of Iericho, and trusts in them too. Thy wisedome hath caused thee to rebell, saith God to the King of Baby lon: Let not the wise man trust in his wisedome, insinuating that wise men are subject to trust in their wisedome, and the rich man in his riches, and the strong man in his strength; therefore God commands that they should not doe so. Thy wisedome hath made thee to rebell.
Let us take notice of this, and make this use Vse. Trial of our trust.of triall of it, that if by the power of Gods Spirit, we can use all outward meanes, and not trust in them, that we can trust in God, and not to our strength, then wee have somewhat in us above nature; for naturally every man before he be in communion and covenant with God, he hath some earthly false support or other to trust on, either within him; some policie, and wisedome; or without him some friends, or riches; some Bulwarke or other, and this sets him against God, and against the means of salvation, till God come in effectuall calling, and overturne all: but this doth but make way to other things, therefore I only touch it.
The second thing is this, that God first or last overturnes all vaine confidence in the creature,Observ. 2. God overturnes vaine confidence in the creature.
The wals of Iericho, downe they must; and whatsoever exalts it selfe against God, either it shall end in conversion, or confusion: because the time must come, that God must have all the glory: Was there ever any man sierce against God, and prospered? The rage of man turnes to the glory of God, saith the Psalmist. There is neither wisedome, nor policie, counsell nor strength, or any earthly thing against the Lord, as the Wise-man saith, Prov. 6. God will confound all, he scattered Proverb. 6.the proud in the Imagination of their own hearts, as the blessed Virgin saith: And when they had built Babell, to get them a name, they found confusion. There is a notable place in Esay 50. Behold all you that kindle a fire, that compasse your selves about with sparks; Walke Isay 50.(saith God) in the light of your fire, and in the sparkes that yee have kindled; this yee shall have at my hand, yee shall lie downe in sorrow: Men that will walke in the light of their owne fire, that will have a wisedome of their owne; distinct may contrary (oft times) to Gods: Well, goe on, walke in the light of your own fire that ye have kindled; but take this withall with you: You shall have this at my hands, saith God, yee shall lie downe in sorrow. What became of Hamans plots? what became of Achitophels policie? they all turned upon their owne heads; although men build up Castles to secure themselves in their earthly defences, and munition, yet God overturnes all.
Therefore let us make that use that Ieremy Vse. Ier. 20.doth, Ier. 20. Therefore let not the wise man trust in his wisedome, or the strong man in his strength, or the rich man in his riches, let a man joy in none of these: but if he will joy, let him joy in this, that he knowes the Lord, that hee is in covenant with God. That for the second, briefly.
The third is this, that God doth this by base and weake meanes.
He confounds great, and mighty Enterprises, Observ. 3. God dothit by weake meanes.and mighty persons, and useth but base and despised meanes: As here the wals of Iericho fell downe with the noise of Rams-hornes. This I might carry along through all the stories in the Scripture, from the creation to this present time, to shew how God doth great things by despised meanes, sometimes by no meanes at all; sometimes cleane contrary to all meanes. When our Saviour Christ gave sight to the blind, hee put clay upon his eyes, that one would thinke were fitter to put them out. We see in the storie of the Israelites what an Oxe Goad did, and what Sampson did with the law bone of an Asse: Wee see by what a trick the Midiani es were put to flight by Gideon. In all the Stories wee see when God would doe great matters, hee doth it by base meanes: when hee would confound the pride of Pharaoh, he will doe it by Frogs, and Lice, and such base creatures, that were fittest in Gods wisedome, to overthrow the pride of that wretched King: God, as he over-turnes the pride of men; so for the most part hee doth it by weake, and despised meanes.
And the Reason is cleare, that he may have all the glory; sometimes the meanes that hee Reason. That God may have the glory.useth have no influence at al to effect the thing: but are only joyned with the thing; as here, what influence could poor Trumpets of Ramshornes have to cast downe Wals? they could have none, but only it was a thing joyned before the wals fel down; they were things that must be used to try their obedience; and that they might know that it was not by chance that they fell downe, but by Gods power, and for other reasons. But if there bee any influence from the cause to the effect, it is supposed it cannot produce the effect of it selfe: therefore I say God doth this, that he may have all the glory; for that is his end, and it ought to be our end: we see here though they had silver Trumpets, yet they must by Gods appointment use these base meanes, Trumpets of Rams-hornes.
Now they were to use them seven dayes Digression.together, and therefore on a Sabbath day: but it was no breach of the day, because God can dispense with his own Law; In case of Charity good workes may be done on the Sabbath, and in case of duty likewise, as the Priests killed the sacrifice on the Sabbath: so here was sufficient warrant for them, God gave them a command, God that made the Law, can dispense with his owne Law in things that touch not upon his nature, as his truth, and purity, &c. doth: In things that touch his nature, hee should deny himselfe, if hee should dispense: God cannot lie, because truth is naturall to him; God cannot doe any thing that is unfit for his nature: but for things that are out of him, he is Lord of dayes, hee is Lord of goods and life, hee hath a right to dispense here, as we see in the taking away the Egyptians Iewels, and the like; they were outward things: But for those things that are intrinsecall in God, hee cannot command that which is contrary to his truth, and nature, other things belong to his Soveraignty; but that by the way.
They were to compasse the wals seven dayes: if they had made an end before the seventh day, the wals had never fallen down: howsoever there was no power in their going about to effect that, yet God would not worke the effect till hee was waited on in all the seven dayes. The meanes appointed by God must be used, and so long as God will have them used, there must be a depending and waiting upon God all the time.
To give a little further light, to that I touched before, you will aske, why God useth Quest.meanes, and doth not worke immediatly? why hee did not cast downe these wals by his owne will, and pleasure?
Besides, that I said before, God useth second Answ.causes, not for defect of power, but for demonstration of his goodnesse, and for the trial of our obedience, and the like: therefore being Lord of Hosts hee hath multiplicity of rancks of creatures, which he useth to effect those things, that hee could doe himselfe, if it pleased him: therefore let such questions cease: it pleased God so to doe.
The last point is this: It was by Faith, in the use of meanes, that the Observ. 4. It is by faith in the use of means.Wals of Iericho fell downe.
If they had not depended upon God, in their going about seven dayes, the wals had stood still. It was by faith they did it, and it was a great faith, that using such a ridiculous stratagem as this, to goe about the wals with Rams-hornes, they should thinke the walls would fall: It might shake their Faith, and likewise expose them to the scorne of those of Iericho within: therefore it was a great faith in them: Not that all had faith; for certainely divers of them were unbeleeving persons: But Ioshua their Captaine, and some others of them had faith, and al of them had hope of the best. It was faith that believed this in this unlikelihood of second causes; for there is the strength of faith, when second causes are weake, then faith is strong. Abrahams faith was the stronger, by reason there was more indisposition in the second causes, in Sara's wombe to conceive a child; for her wombe was dead; in the course of nature shee could not conceive: therefore it is said by Saint Paul, Rom. 4. He being strong in faith, gave glory to God, strong faith gives glory to God. So here Rom. 4.was a strong faith, because the meanes were weake, or none at all; for these meanes had nothing in themselves to work such a glorious effect as this, that the falling of the wals should follow; it was but a meanes adjoyned; that it should be done by such a poore thing as this, it was the strength of faith. But was it the strength of faith in it selfe? could faith do this?Quest.
Oh no; but that which that faith laies hold Answ.on doth, that faith is said to doe: God honours the grace of faith, by terming that to be Faith said to doe that which God doth.done by it, that he doth himselfe; for it was the power of God, the goodnesse of God to them, and the justice of God (against the sins of these people) that overturned the wals of Iericho, faith it was, but an empty hand to lay hold upon this power; it was the grace, whereby they went out of themselves, and denied themselves, and gave glory to God, in accomplishing the truth of his word, and his wisedome, and power, and justice. So God did it, but it is said to be done by faith; because as I said, God honours faith thus much. What strength God and Christ hath, when faith la…es hold on them, faith hath that strength: because it builds upon them, faith sets a man upon God and Christ, and upon the truth of God: Hereupon it comes to be so victorious, & conquering a grace as it is, because it caries us to that that doth all, by faith they did this.
But here were other graces likewise that Why only faith is named.sprang from faith, that helped them also: There was a great deale of patience to goe about after that silly fashion, with Rams-hornes seven dayes together, here was patience, and perseverance, and hope: But as I said before, because faith doth enliven all other graces, it gives life to all, and stirs up all, therefore that is named. In the whole Chapter the exercise of other graces is attributed to faith, because they draw strength from that to quicken them all, and to stir them all to their several offices: strengthen faith, and strengthen all other graces whatsoever. Thus you see we have briefly gone over these foure maine things.
Now let us by way of proportion raise them 1 Kingdom of Sathan resembled by wals of Iericho.higher, and make use of them to other things. To give a little touch. The wals of Iericho represent to us many things. The Kingdome of Sathan in generall, the power of the Devil in himselfe, and in his instruments, who hinders what he can, our comming out of Egypt to Canaan, he labours to come betweene us, and Heaven, to hinder us all he can by all means. He hath wals of many kinds, the strength of Tyrants, the subtiltie of Hereticks. What a world of adoe was there to bring Israel out of Egypt? God was put to it (as it were) to worke so many Miracles, to bring that poore despised people out of Egypt, to bring them through the Red Sea, when they were in the wildernesse: what ado was there to bring them thence? what opposition? and then when they came to Iordan, what Miracles were wrought? the division of the waters by the Arke comming through, and then the first, the frontier Towne, that was (as it were) the key to let in all, and to stop all: Iericho the first towne, for the entrance into Canaan, there was opposition made, when they would have entred into Canaan. It is no easie thing to come out of Egypt, and to enter into Canaan, it is a mighty worke to bring a poore Christian out of the Kingdome of Sathan, to bring him out of spirituall Egypt, through the Wildernesse of this life, … bring him through Iordan, those waves of death to put him into Heaven, to bring him at length to his owne countrey, to Canaan: because there is spirituall wickednesses stand in the way, both in regard of Sathan himselfe, and in regard of the instruments hee useth.
But Christ came to destroy the workes of the Devill, as it is said 1 Ioh. 3. 8. and he himselfe 1 Ioh. 3. 8.overcame Sathan, and triumphed over him, as it is Colos. 2. He lead him in triumph: hee triumphed Coloss. 2.over Sathan himselfe, and he will triumph over Sathan in all his members: as hee over-came Sathan in himselfe; so hee will overcome in us all; For stronger is he that is in us, then he that is in the world. The Spirit of God, as he is in us, is stronger then Sathan, not only Christ our glorious Captaine overcame him, and is now in Heaven, but the Spirit of God in us weak creatures, with faith laying hold upon the word of God, is stronger then he that is in the world, he is stronger then the Devill, and all that are against us.
But besides Sathan, there is in us much opposition, 2 Our owne corruptions.that must be subdued before we come to Canaan: as we saw before, in 2 Cor. 10. those reasonings and sophistries, proud high thoughts, all must be brought downe, because Sathan doth joyne with these; and if it were not for enemies within us, Sathan could not prevaile over us; as it was Dalilah that betraied Sampson, or else the Philistines could not have hurt him: so it is with our owne corruptions, there be these wals within us, these betray us to Sathan, he could not hurt us, but that wee …etray our selves.
Now by little and little, all these wals …hall fall; not all at once, as the wals of Ieri…ho did, but they shall molder in pieces by lit…le and little; God by degrees will perfect the worke of mortification, and sanctification, …ill hee make us take his Son Christ; like our Husband, and Head, that wee may be fit for so glorious a Head.
But to come to the particular occasion: 3 The Kingdom of Antichrist.Besides other enemies that are betweene us, and Heaven, Sathan is powerfull, and effectu…ll, and strong in the Kingdome of Antichrist: And by all meanes, that Church (which is opposite to Christ) hath studied to build up wals, to build up Iericho, and to stop the Church of Christ, to hinder it what they could. Now what wals have they built up? As Pharaoh said, Let us deale wisely, how wittily have they gone to worke, to overthrow the Church of God in all times, and to set up themselves, and their owne Kingdome? It were a large discourse, it would take up the whole time to shew their policie and the plots they have had, to give an instance in a few.
How strongly have they built up wals in their owne conceit, when they had got the whole world almost into subjection to them? before Luthers time all the world followed them: They had used the matter so, that Kings themselves had betrayed their very Crownes to them, they had betrayed their Kingdomes, they were rather Vassals to them then Kings; they had gotten the temporall sword into their hands, as well as the spirituall. And they had raised up to themselves a bloody Inquisition, to suppresse all light of tru…h as soone as ever it sparkled out, all beames of truth were stopped with their bloody Inquisition; they thought they had fenced themselves safe enough. Then againe they had disabled all the Kings, and Princes of Christendome. And then because the Pope would ingage Princes to him, to strengthen the wals higher, and to make them stronger; the young sonnes of Princes hee would make them Cardinals. And then hee would arrogate to himselfe a power absolute to dispense in case of marriage, and oathes, and such like: And besides, what plots have they had for the counterfeiting of Authors, for falsifying of Authors, purging out true Authors, that they might have none give witnesse against them? what tricks have they to keepe people in ignorance? (because it is a Kingdome of darkenesse) the Bible they must have: God hath preserved that; but they would have it in an unknowne tongue: And what other devises to abuse the people withall? How have they fenced themselves, by applying themselves to humour all sorts of people? For even as the Devill enlargeth his Kingdome, by applying himselfe to the cursed sinfull disposition of men: so doth the Pope here upon earth, apply himselfe to the …infull disposition of all sorts of men. There …re no kind of men, but they have a baite in Popery. For loose Libertines, there are stewes. For others that are of a more reserved, and severe disposition, there are Monasteries. For superstitious persons, there they have a world of ridiculous Ceremonies, devised to themselves of their owne braine, and never used in the Primitive Church: For those that are covetous, they have the riches of the world in their owne hands; they have had at least before, more then they now have. For proud ambitious persons, they have honours of all sorts. For the people, they have many carnal liberties for them. And for all the senses of the body, they have something to delight them, to draw people from the power of Religion, to carnall outward worship. So they have studied, and whetted their wits all the wayes that might bee to apply themselves to the dispositions of all sorts of men whatsoever, that so they might strengthen the wals of Iericho. I might be large, I give you but a taste.
Well, but what hath God done? God hath infatuate, and overthrowne their wals, and by weake meanes. Luther a poore Monke, with a Luther.Trumpet of Rams-hornes, with his preaching, and with his writing; you see how he shooke the wals of Rome, how much they have lost within the last hundred yeares, the last age, the last Centurie of yeares they have lost a great part of this Westerne part of the world, that they had in slavery before, and how by weak meanes (as you heard) by the preaching of the Gospel, by Learning, and Knowledge. It is no wonder that the Devill hates Knowledge and Learning, as Luther saith well, Hee hates the quils of Geese, because they are Instruments to write against them. Hee hath a Kingdome of darkenesse; and Hell, and the Pope is a King of darkenesse: Now when the light of Knowledge, the light of the Word of God, the ordinance of God, when preaching came; these poore Trumpets did shake the Church of Rome: As wee see in England, the wals of Iericho fell downe; by what m…anes? by a Child (in manner) King Edward the sixt, and Edward 6.after by a woman; and if the word of God had gone on in like proportion in other places▪ Popery had beene lower then it is.
So wee see then, that as high as they built, and as much as they fortified, though they bee not wholly cast downe, yet they are shaken, and that by weake meanes. Now the way to effect this, that these wals may fall down more The means to cast down the wals of mystical Iericho.and more: It must be by the spiritual meanes that God will use; wee must use the meanes that God hath appointed us, poor contemptible meanes, Trumpets of Rams hornes, the 1 The preaching of the word.preaching of the Word, the discoverie of the truth; and by this meanes we shall more and more gaine upon them. And undoubtedly, let them but give free liberty, to the preaching of the Word in other countries, and wee shall see them shortly as hereticall (as they terme it) even as London, and England is. Such a power there is in Gods Ordinance, the Spirit of God accompanying it, that it carries all before it, it layes all flat, it beats all strong holds downe before it.
What shall wee doe then?
By faith use the meanes that God hath appointed, the weapons appointed, and sanctified by God, they are strong through God, to beat downe all strong holds. And take heed especially that we doe not build up the wals of Iericho againe, nor suffer them to build them: You know Ioshua pronounceth a curse upon al that should build the wals of Iericho, he should lay the first stone in the death of his eldest Sonne, and the last at the death of his younger; and so as wee have it in the storie of Hiel, it was made good. I beseech you therefore, let every one of us in our place, labour to ruinate these wals of Iericho, and take heed how wee build them againe, or suffer any to build them againe.
What way have we to prevent their building, Quest.that the wals of Iericho be not built again? they goe about it what they can; we see what course they take: They have all the art of Hell, to helpe them, lies, and equivocations; How many Kings, and great ones have they at this day to support, and helpe them, to keepe them from falling? they doe all that they can to keepe life now; how shall we prevent this, that they build not up the wals of this spirituall Iericho againe?
First of all, every one labour to doe what they can in their callings. Magistrates to execute Answ. How to prevent the building the wals of spiritual Iericho.the Lawes of the Kingdome, which (as those say that are well acquainted with them) are very beneficiall to the Church of God: Therefore the Magistrates in their place should do what appertaines to them.
And so for Ministers; the spirituall means, 1whereby such heresies must be confounded, it 2is by the breath of the mouth of Christ, as it is 2 Thess. 2. He shall consume him with the breath of his mouth: For things are dissolved contrary 2 Thess. 2.to that way that they were raised at the first, and contrary to that way they were maintained: Popery, as it was raised; so it is maintained by darkenesse, and blindnesse, and ignorance of the word of God, and of divine truth: the way to hinder it therefore from being built againe, is to lay open divine truths, and to plant the ministerie: Every one must labour for this, to be faithfull in their place, and standing. Saint Paul saith, 2 Tim. They shall prevaile no longer, because their madnesse shall be manifest. How doth that follow? The very manifestation of errour hinders the prevailing of it: That is the way to hinder Popery from prevailing, to manifest it by preaching, and writing, and such good meanes: For the demonstration of errours to be so, is a refuting of them: For who would willingly be deceived? Therefore the laying open of the madnesse of Popery, and the folly of their devises, it hinders their prevailing; no man willingly would have his soule led into errour: Therefore let us lay their errours open in the Ministerie, and the grounds of them, the danger of Popery, how pernicious it is. When this is discovered in the Ministerie, men as they love their owne soules will take heed: That is the way therefore to keepe the wals of Iericho from being built, to set an able Ministerie every where, and to countenance them; and those that are Gods Captaines to fight his battels against them.
It is a world of hurt that comes to the Church by impropriations, especially in the North parts; as wee heare too much by reports: In great and mighty Parishes to set up poore, and weake men, and others wholly to receive the Revenues, and that is the reason of the swarm of dangerous Papists in those parts. Oh! that these things had beene looked to in time; The wals of Iericho had not beene built againe in those parts so much as they are. This is one maine way, the planting of an able ministery: for this painted Harlot, shee cannot endure the breath of the Ministerie, it discovers all her painting, it layes her naked and open, she knowes it well enough.
Then againe, take heed of the spreading of 3infections: Men should bee carefull this way; they build up their Religion thus, that else would fall downe more and more: Wee are so confident in our cause, that we suffer men to reade any Popish Treatises. They on the other side watch all things, so that there cannot a Sparke of our light breake into them, what by their Inquisition, and other cou ses that they take; Confidence in our cause hath made us carelesse, and secure in this kind; therefore care this way is one meanes to helpe it.
And then incouragement of good learning: Popery fell with the beginning of good learning; 4Religion, and good learning came in together; If I were in some place, I should speake more of this; for as I said before, it is a darke Religion, not onelyonly in regard of the Religion it selfe; but it growes, and thrives with Ignorance, and Barbarisme, and not understanding of Arts, and tongues, they have helped very much towards the overthrow of these wals of Iericho. Every one should contend for the faith once given. As Saint Iude admonisheth; every one, the poorest man may contend with his prayers. He that saith, Thy Kingdome come, what doth he pray for? If he pray in faith, he desires that God would pul downe all opposite Kingdomes, to the Kingdome of his Sonne Christ; that the Kingdome of Christ may come, more and more in the hearts of his people, that he may raign every where more freely, and largely then he doth; every one may helpe forward the Kingdom of Christ, he may helpe forward Ierusalem, and …ull downe Iericho, every one that hath a fer…ent devotion of prayer.
And by a holy life; for when men are vicious, 5and carnall, they occasion God (for not …oving, and imbracing the truth) to give them …p to Popish errours, and such like. Many waies there be to stop the building up of Iericho.
But this is one especiall, which this day occasions; 6that is, thankfulnesse to God, a thank…ull Remembrance, how God hath fought for …; how God hath by little and little ruinated the wals of this Iericho, and hath helped us to build the wals of our Ierusalem. A thankful Remembrance is a notable meanes to hinder the growth of Poperie: For when we remember their attempts, how God hath cursed and crossed them, it will make us love our Religion, that God hath witnessed to by so many Deliverances, and it will make us hate theirs the more: Therefore it was a worthy worke of that Reverend Bishop, that set out in a Treatise all the Deliverances that have beene from Popish Conspiracies, from the beginning of Queene Elizabeths time to this present; it was a worthy worke, beseeming that grave, and Reverend Person. Prayer gets blessings, but thankefulnesse keeps them: so thankefulnesse to God for that which is past, for so many Deliverances, is a means to preserve Gods love, and care of us still; that he wil be our Buckler and castle, & hold, and al defence, thankfulness will do this. We are over prone to looke upon civill grievances (which are to be regarded, and helped in season) but naturally our nature is subject to complaine more then to be thankefull; we are so sensible of ill, as to pray for remedy: but then let us alway be thankfull to God for the good we have had these many years together, and the good that still (blessed be God) wee enjoy. What cause have we to be thankfull, that we are as the three young men in the Furnace? Al Europe hath been in combustion, and wee have beene untouched, and safe in the middest of the Furnace, under a quiet government. What cause have wee to blesse God, f… continuing the liberties of the Gospel, where by the soule is built up in saving knowledge, and Ignorance banished? It was a fault in Rehoboams time, in the beginning of his Raigne, it was a fault in these men, they could complaine of the government of Salomon; and certainly there were many grievances in Salomons: He was a great Builder, and it was not without some cause they complained: Yet notvvithstanding Salomons time vvas a blessed time, and they had great cause to blesse God, for the government of Solomon: Novv it is very likely in the story, that they forgat it, and only lighted upon some grievance. I beseech you let us in these times stirrpour hearts to be thankful, as upon other occasions; so upon occasion of this day, we are to blesse God for this glorious deliverance, vvhichwhich vvee have spoken of … againe, and againe, and therefore we need …t be much in the particular setting out that …inorous, and prodigious fact, that gives the …y occasion to be remembred, as it hath oft …ne before. Let that Remembrance I say …re us up to thankefulnesse, to shew our …ankefulnesse, and love to that truth that God …th defended. Hath God beene a wilder…sse to us? As the Prophet complaines; hath …ligion done us any harme? why should …e grow cold, and luke-warme? why should … decay in our first love? why should we be … unfruitfull, when God hath given us so …any encouragements to be thankefull, and …, as he hath done? I beseech you let … consider with our selves, if we be not more …ankefull upon these occasions for these deli…erances, and worke our hearts to love Reli…on, and to hate Poperie more; it will be just …ith God, that they shall bee thornes in our …des, more then they have beene, and pricks … our eyes, that wee shall see what a dangerous …ction they are, and what case we are in. For …ose that are drunk with the Cup of this Har…t, it takes away their wits from them, those …hat worship Images and stocks, they are stocks …hemselves. Though the danger be great to …hemselves, yet they labour to make others …orse than themselves, there is no trusting to …hem: we should more feare them, then forrain …nemies; both reasons of State, and reasons of Religion, and reasons of our owne safety, all duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page should be forcible to have a speciall regard to prevent the growth of Popery.
For our selves, that heare of the destruction of this Iericho; we have heard what Iericho was How to prevent our own destruction.before it was destroyed. For ought we know God may destroy Ierusalem, as well as Iericho, and by a worse people then themselves, as the Prophet saith, Ezek. 17. by a base people. It Ezek. 17.is no matter, though others be worse then ourselves: God when he plagues his people, will doe it by worse then themselves, and cast the Rod into the fire when he hath done, Ash… the Rod of my wrath, Esay 10. Therefore let us Isay 10.looke to our selves, that we bee thankfull to God: It will be no plea that we have bin safe thus long, thus many years: for these people of Iericho, God let them alone foure hundred years, as it is in Gen. 15. They were threatned, but Gen. 15.the sinnes of the Amorites were not yet … Iericho was a part of that Countrie; but when their sins were full, then they were destroyed. God had patience foure hundred years, to the sins of the Amorites, to this people: And at last judgement came upon them fearfully. So howsoever God hath beene forbearing, and long suffering towards us: Yet let us looke about us, oh destruction may be neer. It is not sufficient to thinke that God will destroy Antichrist, that the wals of Iericho shall down, he may doe that, and yet he may destroy us, there may bedanger toward us too. And it is no comfort to them neither, that God will punish us; or that easeth not their overthrow neither: …or if hee doe so to the greene Tree, what will hee …oe to the dry? If his Children bee whipped with Scorpions, what will he doe to Rebels? …f the Children of God scarcely be saved, where …hall the sinner and ungodly appeare? If the Children taste of the wrath of God, then the enemies shall taste of the dregs of his wrath; it is no comfort for them; for their Doome is set downe, Babylon is fallen. It will not be so much comfort to us, that God will destroy them, as it will be to looke to our selves in time before a peremptorie Decree come forth to make our peace with God. The King of Sodom, and others, were delivered by Abraham: but a… terwards we see how fearfully they perished. Pharaoh was let alone for a time, yet after hee was destroyed in the Sea: Ierusalem had warning after warning; yet afterwards it was destroyed: so, though we have had deliverance upon deliverance, yet if we make not more of Religion, and grow more in detestation of that Religion, that God would have us set our selvs against, it will be just with God to punish us, and to lay us open to them that wee have sinfully favoured.Vse. To set against Popery by faith.
Wee see what great matters faith will doe in the use of meanes: though they be poore, weake, base meanes: Therefore let us set upon Popish Religion in our places, and callings in a spirit of faith, in the use of meanes; and let us never thinke, we are too weake, and now duplicate page duplicate page they are mighty, and strong. It was said to Luther, when hee began to write against the Luther.Pope, oh! poore Monke, get thee into thy Cell, and say Lord have mercy upon thee, dost thou thinke to overcome the whole world with thy writing? so the wals of Iericho may seeme so mighty, the opposite power that we are to set against, as if wee should loose our labour to set against it: but whatsoever is opposite to Christ we have a promise, it shall be overthrowne: Let us, in a spirit of faith set upon them in the use of meanes, and God wil make it good, as in former times.
And for all other things that stand between To set against our corruptions by faith.us, and heaven, all the wals of Iericho, all opposition, let us set upon them with a spirit of faith in the use of meanes: for hee that hath overcome for us (as I said) will by little and little overcome in us: These corruptions of ours shall fall before the Spirit of God, by little and little; And as Hamans wife could tel him, If thou begin to fall before that people, th… shalt certainly fall: so if the worke of Grace be begun in us, that corruptions begin to fall, undoubtedly, and certainly they shall fall: they cannot stand before the Spirit. For grace is in growing, and corruption is in decaying continually in a Christian.Quest. Why God doth not subdue corruption at …
Why doth not God all at once subdue these wals of Iericho in us; but by little, and little?
God will exercise our faith, and patience: wee are Warriers here in this world, our life is Answ.a warfare, and he will exercise grace in us, hee …ill have us combate with enemies; these in…ard enemies among the rest.
Againe, he will let us see what he hath done …r us: If we were not exercised with enemies, …e should not be thankfull sufficient, for victo…e over the Devill: When we have bin vexed …ith the Devills temptations, then blessed be God, and Christ, that at last these troubles are …ased. How much are wee beholding to Christ, that hath freed us from the danger of …hese? we are only annoyed with the trouble. …his will make us thankfull, when wee have …arted.
This keepes us likewise from soule devour…g sins: lesse infirmities in us, keepe us from …ide, and securitie: God hath many ends. …ut to cut off other things, because the point … large, I only give a taste.
Let this comfort us, that the wals of Iericho …hat is to say, whatsoever opposeth us in …ur comming out of the state of nature, and …ur entrance into the state of heaven, whatsoe…er opposition is between shall fall: Therfore …et us strengthen our faith, in the use of means.
How shall we strengthen our faith this way?Quest.
Faith is strengthened by the knowledge of Answ. How to strengthen faith in the fall of our corruptions.…he attributes of him, whom we lay hold upon, …hose power doth all: the more wee know …im, the more wee shall trust him: Let us la…our to know God in Covenant, to be our Fa…her, and to know Christ as he is, in his nature, and offices, what he is to us: to know his wisedome, and power, and truth, that there may be a bottome for faith to build on: the more wee grow in spirituall knowledge, the more wee shall grow in faith, and the more wee grow in faith (the more we shall grow in other graces) whereby we overcome all our enemies that set against us.
Againe, let us make use of all former experience to strengthen faith: Hath God beg…n the worke? doe the wals of Iericho begin to f…ll? He that hath begun a good worke, will finish it to the day of the Lord. Let us take in trust the time to come, by experience of Gods truth for the time past: for the worke of the Spirit is a continued worke. The Spirit of God in subduing our corruptions, he would not have begun, if he had meant to have left off, and interrupted the worke. The Spirit suffers us to fall sometimes, but it is to teach us to stand better afterward; he turnes our very fals, and slips to our good. Let us strengthen faith therfore from former experience, as David did: we have overcome the Beare, and the Lyon; therefore let us set on the Philistine: And as Ioshua set his foot on the necks of the tenne Kings, and said; Thus shall the Lord thy God destroy all thine enemies: so hath the Spirit of God, set his foot as it were upon some corruptions? thus shall God deale with all corruptions, and temptations at length, and never leave the blessed government of us, till hee have subdued all. Let us rise from one experi…ent to another, to strengthen faith; God is …like in all truths. You know in Iudges 5. saith Iudg. 5.…he holy woman Deborah. So let all thine ene…ies perish: The heart of that blessed woman …as (as it were) enlarged prophetically; when …ne fals, they shall all fall, there is like reason. See how gloriously Hannah in her Song enlargeth her faith, by Gods power, and goodnesse, …ecause she had experience in her selfe: so ex…erience in our selves, or others will-inlarge …ur faith to looke for greater matters stil from …ur gracious, powerfull God: thus we ought …o labour to strengthen our faith.
And the third thing to helpe faith in all spi…ituall 3oppositions that we meet with, is daily …xercise in using it, to make it brighter conti…ually every day, by working with it upon …ur enemies. And in the state of Grace to live by it, both for this present life, to depend upon God for all things; and likewise for necessary grace: As the Disciples when they were enjoyned a hard dutie, Lord increase our faith, say they; they goe to exercise their faith upon it. If that be increased, all is increased. And so in our callings, exercise it by depend…ng upon God for strength, and successe. Saith Peter to Christ, Lord at thy word I will cast out the Net, though it were very unlikely it should doe any good; they had fished all day, and catched nothing: but yet he would wait, and goe on still, At thy word I will cast out the Net: He did it, and the Net brake with the multitude of fish. Let us exercise our faith, in daily obedience to God, depend upon him in the use of meanes.
And learne this, to wait in the exercise of 4our faith; as they that went about the wals of Iericho, they did it seven dayes: Put case they had done it sixe, and no more, the wals had stood still. He that hath ten miles to goe, and goes but nine, she shall never come to his journies end: When God hath set downe such a time, so long thou shalt waite, and use the meanes, and depend upon me by faith, in the use of the meanes; if we be short spirited, and lengthen and strengthen not our faith in the use of the meanes, wee shall never attaine our desire; therefore let us labour to wait. Here is the difference betweene Christians, and others; Difference betweene Christians and others.there is no man, but he would be happy, if so be it were not for this waiting: If a wicked man should see Hell open, would hee commit sinne, if hee should see it present? If hee should see Heaven open, and Christ comming with his reward with him, hee would be godly: there is not the vilest wretch in the world, but hee would be so, if these things were present: but because it is only discovered in the word of God, and faith must beleeve, and wait for the reward, and faith must waite all the time of our life, here is the trial: So that a Christian differs nothing from a worldly man, but in a Spirit of faith, and waiting, and continuance of that faith, in the …ane time before a man come to enjoy, and …eive what hee looks for: Faith gives God … glory of all his attributes, the glory of his …th he hath spoken, and therefore hee will …ke it good. The glory of his wisedom that … hath found out such a course for us to walke …; The glory of his mercy that hee hath …de such promises to such wretches; so all …er attributes faith gives glory to; therfore …od glorifies faith, and the speciall act of …ith is waiting: If I tarrie long, waite thou: …nd we have need of patience: Faith stirs up …tience to helpe, and assist it, as wee see here …ese waited seven dayes: Remember there…re to exercise faith in continuall dependance …pon God; take heed of being short spirited, …ough God deferre the rewarding of the …ighteous, and the punishment of the Wic…ed: yet hold out still, hee that hath promi…d will come in time, and make good that that …e hath said in due time. Give God the glory …f appointing the fittest time; Hee is the best …iscerner of opportunities, Our times are in …is hand, all kind of times, therefore let us de…end upon him for that, only labour to have a …trong spirit of faith, that wee may waite his good leisure.
And to helpe us, doe but consider, what if wee waite a few yeares, what is that to Eternitie? I might inlarge the point: what great matters faith will doe, both in heaven, and earth, every way. Wee see here, faith shakes the very earth: God he is the Lord of heaven, and earth. The earth is the Lords, because these wals were built upon Gods earth, we see here one puffe of God blowes them all down; and faith laying hold upon this casts them downe; though faith doth it not immediatly, yet God doth it, because he is laid hold on by faith.
Let us labour therefore to have faith above all other graces: It is the Mother Grace, it is To labour for faith.the Grace that is the spring of all Graces, if we wo…ld have patience, and hope, and love, and perseverance, and constancie together; let us labour to have faith strengthened, and to feed our faith the more, let us looke to the word of God, make it familiar to us: the Spirit goes together with the word, to strengthen and increase our faith, and that being strengthned, all is strengthned whatsoever.
Now the way to try, whether we have this To try if vve have faith.faith or no (not to speake largely of the point, but as the Text leads me) is, if we humbly attend upon the meanes that God hath appointed, though they seeme base to carnall reason: As how doe we know that these Israelites had faith, when they went about the wals of Iericho? because they have humbled themselves to use the base means, that God had appointed, though they were very unlikely. Naaman, out of the pride of his heart, saith he, what are the waters of Iordan? have not wee waters that can doe as much? but if the servants had not beene wiser then the Master, hee had gone home a Leaper as he came: so when men hear the word preached, they thinke, cannot wee reade good bookes at home? and for the Sacrament, it is a poore Ordinance; what is there, but wine and bread, and such like? Take heed of a proud heart: God will have weaker meanes to try us, whether we will humble our selves to his vvisedome, or no: vvhere there is true faith, it will be carefull to use all good meanes, or else it is a tempting of God, and not a trusting of him, when wee doe not use the meanes that he hath sanctified.
And where there is faith, as there will bee a carefull use of all meanes, so there wil be a care in the use of meanes, not to depend upon the meanes, but to trust in God. There will bee a joyning of both together; faith doth not take away the use of means; nay, he that is most certaine of the end, should strive to be most careful of al means used to that end. There ought no man to be more diligent in using the means, then he that is most certaine of the end; because hee is incouraged to use the meanes, knowing that he shall not beat the aire, that he shall not loose his labour, so if we by faith lay hold upon God for the destruction of Antichrist, and that God would subdue our corruptions, and that they shall fall before the Spirit by little, and little; if by faith we lay hold upon this that God will perfect the good worke hee hath begun in the use of good meanes; this will stirre us up to use all means with chearfulnesse, and constancie. There are none that are more carefull of the means, then those that are most sure of the issue. Those that are carelesse of the meanes, let them pretend what they will, they are presumptuous persons, they have no faith: for that will stirre us up to use the meanes, and in the use of meanes to depend upon God: so carefull is faith to use the meanes, as if without them God would doe nothing; and yet in the meanes it is so carefull to depend upon God; as if the means could not doe any thing without God▪ Thus, faith walkes betweene the means, and the great God.
Let us goe on constantly in living the life of faith, and using all the blessed means that God hath sanctified: God ha…h sanctified the preaching of the Word to beat downeal these spirituall wals, let us goe on, all our life time, and at length, the last Trump shall sound, another Trumpet shall sound; and then not only the wals of Iericho, but the wals of heaven and earth shall fall downe; and then wee shall enter into that heavenly Canaan, both body and soule. In the meane time, let us exercise faith: and to quicken our faith the more, let us have those blessed times in the eye of our soule; let us see them as present: It is the nature of faith to apprehend things to come, as present: let us see heaven, and earth on fire: see Christ coming to judgement; let us see …ll the wals downe, the Graves open, whatsoe…er opposeth, and stands betweene us, and glo…y; see all gone, let us see our selves at the …ight hand of Christ, and triumphing in hea…en: For the Scripture speakes of that, that is …o come, as if it were past: Wee sit in heavenly …laces with Christ, and we are saved by faith, and …ee are glorified. Thus the Spirit of faith …eakes of the glorious times to come, when …ll enemies shall be trodden under foot: Sa…han, and all enemies whatsoever, shall goe to their place, the opposite Church shall bee no longer; when the last Trump shall blow, wee shall all stand together at the right hand of Christ, and be for ever glorious with Him.
THE VNPROSPEROVS BVILDER. A Sermon preached upon the 5th of November, in remembrance of Our Deliverance from the Papists Powder-Treason.
BY The late Learned and Reverend Divine, RICH. SIBBS: Doctor in Divinity, Mr. of KATHERINE Hall in Cambridge, and sometimes Preacher to the Honourable Society of GRAYES-INNE.
HAB. 2. 12.
Woe to him that buildeth a Towne with blood, and establisheth a Citie by Iniquity.
LONDON, Printed by T. B. for N. Bourne, at the Royall Exchange, and R. Harford, at the guilt Bible in Queenes-head Alley in Pater-noster-Row. 1639.