A Map of Rome, Sermon 3
THE ROMISH FOWLER.
Psalm. 124.7.
Our soule is escaped euen as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are deliuered.
THE matter of this Psalme is gratulatory: the occasion, some great deliuerance of the Church, from some deadly plot, and imminent danger: Or (as some thinke) Dauid recounteth and collecteth all those speciall deliuerances, which God had wrought for Israel, since their comming forth of Egypt, till this time: which being many and great, he compiles this Psalme, and giues the Lord the glory of them all.
In the words of my Text are two things considerable:
Diuision of the Text.1. A danger, the extremity whereof is set downe by a similitude.
2. A deliuerance: in it
1. The meanes: the snare is broken.
2. The end: wee are deliuered.
The danger is set out by comparison of a Fowler, who hath layd his nets, and hath caught a silly bird within the meashes of it, of which himselfe and eueryevery man else thinks he hath it sure enough. Where the danger is amplified, 1. By the Authors of it, Fowlers: 2. Their instruments, nets and snares: 3. The crafty laying of them, so as they hauehave compassed the seely bird within the snare.
I. The Scriptures compare the enemies of the Church (the seely Doue of Christ) to Fowlers, Fishers, Hunters:Enemies of the Church compared to Fowlers, in 4. respects. 1. In respect of their purpose, which is to take and catch that they hunt for: they intend to kill and destroy ere they returne. This was Cains purpose against Abel, if hee could get him alone; Pharaohs against Israel; Nero, Dioclesian, and the other Emperours against the Primitiue Church. 2. The Fowler makes but a sport of taking his prey: as also the Hunter: So the enemies of the Church count it but a sport to destroy and waste the Church and people of God. Yea, as they feede vponupon the seely birds they catch, with delight; so these feede on Gods people as on bread, Psal. 14 4. 3. Fowlers are so cruell, that they spare none, young nor olde, male nor female; all goe together into the bagge. And Popish Persecutors spare no age or sexe, neither olde men nor children, but hauehave pulled them out of the belly to the fire; neither vnlearned nor learned, but hauehave cut off Pastors, Doctors, Bishops, Archbishops; neither the liuing, nor yet the dead. Most barbarous inhumanity. 4. Fowlers and Hunters will be at great cost to maintaine their game, and count no paines painefull, through frost and snow; they will endure much hardnesse in hope of their prey. So the enemies of the Church care not what cost and charge they be at, what paines they take, to waste and destroy the Church: they cannot sleepe, till they hauehave done euill; Prou. 4.16.their sleepe departs from them, that is, nothing else troubles them but to be disappointed. Such great Fowlers of the Church in the olde Testament were the enemies on eueryevery side: On the East: Ammonites, Moabites, Chaldeans, Assyrians: on the West: the Philistims: on the North: the Syrians: on the South: Egyptians, Arabians, and Idumeans: and the Church of God as a little bird in the midst of them all. Haman hath ten thousand talents for the Kings treasurie,… 9. i… all the Iewes may be vtterly rooted out. Such great Fowlers of the Church in the new Testament hauehave beene the vassals of Antichrist,Romish Nimrod a mighty Hunter of the Lords flocke. and especially that great Nimrod of Rome, who with his Popish Kings, Tyrants, and persecuting Bishops, hath eaten vp the poore Saints of Christ in all Countries; as did their Predecessors the ancient Tyrants, Psal. 83.4. Come, let vsus cut them off from being a nation, and let the name of Israel be no more in remembrance. Our owne booke of Martyrs records, that one of our Popish Bishops was so violent a fowler to furnish his Maisters dishes,Bonner, a Bonfire. that himselfe in fiue yeares space tooke and rosted 300. seely Martyrs, most of them in his owne walke and dioces. Such were our Fauxes and Fawkners, who made sure account of such a prey as was neuer before layd▪ for, namely for three whole Kingdomes at once: which would hauehave filled all their nets. For God and man concurred to punish the iniquity of this time, Great labour and cost for the powder-treason.said the Letter to L. Mounteagle: for the obtaining whereof they despised all danger, and all labour is thought little in digging halfe a yeare together through hard foundations; they will bestow any cost whatsoeuer, of their owne and other mens; Digby promised 1500. pounds, Tressam 2000. Percy all that he could get of the Earle of Northumberlands rents, besides tenne galloping Horses. And nothing troubled Faux, Foure thousand pounds. Practises of the wicked termed snares, 1. for secrecie, 2. suddainnesse.but that he was disappointed.
II. The Scripture both here and else where compares their meanes and instruments, to snares, nets, and ginnes, which are set in the wayes of Gods Saints to take them And that for two causes.
1. It notes the secrecie of the danger, which makes it farre more dangerous and ineuitable: for nets and snares vse to be layd in secret, and out of sight. In vaine were the net layd before the eyes of all that hath wings, Prou. 1.17. As therfore the fowlers or fishers go about their matters craftily and subtilly, they will stand priuily behinde a tree, they dissemble all, they will lay meate as though they intended to feed the seely bird, which they meane to feed vponupon; they hauehave a Lure or Call, as if they were friends and birds themselues; but the end is to kill and destroy: So doe the Fowlers of Gods Church, Psal. 83.3. They hauehave taken crafty counsell against thy people, and hauehave consulted against thy secret ones. So euer hauehave done the Romish Antichristian Fowlers, who hauehave beene taught by their great Nim…od, leoninae pelli assuere vulpinam, Alwayes to match together the Lyon and the Foxe.Cum Petri nihil efficiant ad praelìa claues, Auxilio Pauli forsitan ensis erit. Iulius the 2. can turne him either way, to Peters keyes or Pauls sword. What they cannot doe by open force, they can doe by secret fraud, wherein oftentimes there lyes more strength than in the former.
The Syrian Antiochus Epiphanes was a liuely type of the Romish Antiochus: of whom it is sayd, Dan. 8.24.25. His power shall be mighty, but not in his strength: he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people, and by his policie shall cause craft to prosper in his hand. A liuely description of the Romish Antiochus or Antichrist, that beast arising out of the sea, hauing as well the hornes of the Lambe as the speech of the Dragon. Reuel. 13.1.11.He intrudes himselfe as the head and husband of the Church, while he robs and wastes it. He professeth himselfe a seruant of seruants, True onelyonly in No…hs sence of Cham. Gen. 9.25.while he sets himselfe aboue all Kings and Commanders: as Boniface the 8. in the yeare of Christ 1300. before a great concourse in a solemne Iubilee, one day shewed himselfe in his Priestly Pontificals, with the crosse carried before him: the next day in an Emperours roabes, with a naked sword before him, and this title proclaimed, Ego sum Pontifex & Imperator: terrestre ac coeleste imperium habeo: Luk. 4.6.All this is mine, and to whomsoeuer I will I giuegive it.
What is the whole religion of Rome but a mysterie of iniquity ▪ a bundle of policie,2. Thess. 2.7. which by secret conueyances and t…ines both brought and held all the Kingdomes and Countries in Europe, within the snare and bondage of a silly Fryar, by sembled sanctity, lying myracles, false donations, forged writings, and the like: and thus hath ensnared mens bodies, goods, liues, and consciences. Neuer saw the world so cunning a fowler.
Are his emissaries and such as he sends out, of better disposition than himselfe? No, witnesse Gregory the great: As Christ sent out simple and seely plaine men to raise vp his Kingdome, so shall Antichrist make choise of crafty, and double, Astuti et duplices.and deceitfull persons for his businesse. How subtilly did these two friars, Clemēt and his Associate lay their snares, when they flew the French King, Henry the 3. pretending great good businesse for the Church and State?
When the Papists in France could not by open force oppresse the Prince of Condy, and Casper Colignius the Admirall of France: they could by fraude and cunning, as by a lure, pretending peace and nuptiall solemnity, raise a sudden Massacre, by which thirty thousand Protestants fell into their snare, who most perfidiously were slaine, against all laws of God, nature, and nations, not much without the space of one monethmonth.
What Potentate euer layd the foundation of obedience in conscience,Srange fetches of the Pope to vphold his throne. or could ouercome his enimies without warre, by a parchment Bull, or maintaine himselfe and his pompe at all mens costs and deuotions, or conquer opposite Princes by their owne subiects, or stabl…sh himselfe by dispensing with vnlawfull marriages and lawfull oaths, or mainetaine so many Intelligences by Confession, or pleasure all men in their humours, by wealth, pouertie, austerity, voluptousnesse? What a notable combination of knaueries is there in that religion, wherein all these things and many more, are most eminent, most vsuall?
To come to our owne Country: what did those trayterous bandits and emissaries, All…n, Harding, Sanders, Parsons, Campion, and others, but by writing and speaking pretend singular louelove, Instruction, and care ouer their Country-men, whose religion they left? yet indeed what intended they but destruction of Prince and State, being trumpets to rebellion, raising vp armes, some out of Spaine, some out of Ireland, some desperate cut-throts at home, to take away the life of that blessed Lady Elizabeth of eternall happy memory? What a number hauehave they snared vnderunder the pretext of peace, truce, and friendship, as Duke Alba in the Low Countries? and as the King of Spaine in 88. while he was prouiding that invincible nauy against our Prince and Country, he sent the Duke of Parma to intreat of peace; as if it were honesty in Catholikes, whome they cannot kill by warre, to delude and spoile them vnderunder the name of peace, not without villany and per…ury.
How secretly did our late foolish fowlers lay their nets and traines? with what faire pretences?Papists bound in conscience to kill Gods Anoynted. It was meerely and only for religion, sayd Faux: and he was bound inconscience to do it, because the King was an heriticke: he was sent by the name of Iohn Ionson to Percy, to conferre for releefe of the Catholike cause. All of them tooke an oath for secrecy, yea heard Masses, and tooke the Sacrament neuer to reueale any thing. Now to the laying of snares as deep as hell: 36, barrels of gunpouder are prouided, & numbers of iron bars, to blow vp with one deadly blow, in time of peace, in time of Parliament…al England, Scotland, and Ireland, in their King and posterity, in their lawes and gouernments, in their Church and Religion, in their Common welths and Iustice, in their tenures and records, yea in their whole State and policy: that he that could carry his heart into the suruey of the consequents, might clerely see a fearefull doomesday of all these three goodly kingdomes. And, as before it was done it was cloked vnderunder the title of some famous exployt for the deliuerance of persecuted Catholikes: So afterward, to turne the odiousnesse of so foule a fact as might hauehave turned the sunne into darknes, & the moone into blood, they had prepared their Proclamations, to lay it vponupon Puritans, vnderunder which title they would hauehave reuenged it by the Massacre of all the godly in the Land, within their reach. Here be cunning Fauxes and Foxes indeed, in whom we may see the true picture and pourtraiture of eueryevery sound Catholike: who by the principles of Popery are taught to be as true to their Soueraigne as Iudas to our Sauiour.
Vse.What great need hauehave we then to get vsus into that secret, which their secrets cannot come into? namely vnderunder the secret of the Almighty: vnderunder the shadow of his wing.Palm. 91.1.3. For the promise to such a one is, Surely he will deliuer thee from the snare …f the hunter. The poore bird is safe no where abroad, but in the nest: and the Church is no where safe in earth, but onelyonly in heauen, while it saith with the Prophet Dauid, Thou art my secret place, Psalme 32.7.
So much for the secrecie of fowlers.
2. Their instruments of mischiefe are compared to snares and nets, in respect of the suddennesse of that destruction, which they intend to Gods people. A snare or a net windes in a bird suddenly, thinking on no such thing: Nay sometime, while the poore bird is playing or singing, as if it were without all danger, the net or grin wraps it in on all sides. So the enemies of the Church, knowing, that sudden and vnexpected euills can hardlyest be preuented, and wound the deepest, commonly effect most deadly stratagems when Gods people least expect them. This is the guise of Antichristian enemies to the Church of God: which while it is not suspicious, but sometimes too charitable and credulous, they lay their snares where no man can possible suspect. Would any man think the Pope would instigate to kill Christian Princes at the very Masse? yet by the counsell of Pope Sixtus the 4. the two Princes of Medices were hurt and slaine euen at Masse; and the lifting vp of the hoast was made a signe of the murder by the Popes Legate:Henry the 6. Emperor, by Bernard a Monke, vnderunder Pope Clement the 5. as their owne Volateran writes. Would a Prince thinke to be poysoned (of purpose) in receiuing the Sacrament, by these charitable Catholikes? yet one was by the powder of diamonds tempered with the wine of the Sacrament. Would a Catholique King, most deuoted to Romish religion, and a champion for it, expect to be slaine by Catholiques, and men of peace, before excommunication? yet this was iust (saith Reinolds) and the charitable Pope Sixtus the 5. said, A true Fryar had slaine a countefeit Fryar. Could any man hauehave expected that suddaine terrible blow, and an vniuersall destruction from vnderunder the Parliament house, from which the honor, iustice, happinesse, life and soule of our Country (vnderunder God) hath beene so long maintained and preserued?
This shewes vsus, that Papists are not to bee trusted, though neuer so fawning, neuer so flattering.Vse. For indeed they are most cruell, both in their positions, and in their dispositions. Their positions are these, and such like: 1. The Oath of Allegiance is against Catholique faith, and the health of soules, saith the Popes Breue. 2. Princes excommunicate by the Pope, may be deposed and killed by their subiects. 3. No faith is to be kept with heretickes: and all are hereticks that are not of their religion.Arctissimo conscientiae vinculo. 4. All men are bound to resist hereticall Kings, in the straitest bond of conscience. 5. Euen a secret hereticke is ipso iure deposed, and all his leaprous posterity, saith Symancha. 6. It is a iust and honourable warre for the Nobles to rise vp in Armes against Queene Elizabeth, saith Cardinall Allan. Such also are their dispositions: and such are their practices.
We hauehave seene the Fowlers, and their nets: now let vsus proceede.
III. The crafty laying of these snares is such, as they hauehave compassed the bird,Dangerous and mischieuous plots may prosper for a while. and it seems impossible any way to escape. For the danger was, as if the Prophet had said: We were on eueryevery side included in the nets of the fowlers, that what way so euer we could turne vsus, we were hemd in; the danger met vsus on eueryevery hand, and death eueryevery way layd hold vponupon vsus. Thus Dauid (Psal. 18.4.5.) confesseth, that the snares of death compassed him: hee was euen as a man bound and piniond to execution, so as hee saw nothing but death before him. And the snares or cords of the graue beset him: so hopelesse was his estate, as if hee were laid forth already, and wrapped in the bands and cloathes of death to the buriall, both in his enemies conceit, and his owne.
The same was our condition in that Gunpowder treason: the enemies made sure of their prey: they saw their expectation euen in their hands: and brought their wicked conception to the very birth: the Crowne and Kingdome was theirs: they had disposed of the chiefe Offices, the chiefe holds, and reuenue of the Land: onelyonly one terrible blow was to be giuen, and the hand of wickednes lifted vp on high, reaching fire to the fewell, which should hauehave turned three Kingdomes into one Bonfire.
There is an houre of darknesse for the wicked to worke in, foure reasons.Quest. Why doth the Lord suffer the enemies thus to ensnare his people, that the Case seemes desperate, the deliuerance impossible?
Answer. 1. That wee may see our owne simplicity, who cannot obserue or preuent their snares, the crafty wiles of Satan and his instruments against the Church. 2. That wee may take notice of Gods patience toward his enemies, suffering them as long as he may, and then his iustice in taking them at the height. 3. That we may learne to depend on Gods power and wisedome, for safety and defence; who onelyonly is able to match and ouermatch the enemies in both: for there is no power or policie against the Lord. 4. That the greater the dangers be, Gods goodnes may be the more manifest, and that in most desperate euils we may acknowledge our deliuerance to be miraculous, and so the praise of all may be referred to the Lord,Psal. 9.9. who is a very present refuge in the troubles of his Church; as our selues found in this our danger.
Now we come to the second generall part of the Text, namely the deliuerance of the Church, Our soul… is escaped.] that is, our liues were hunted, our heads euen on the block, & the stroke a giuing, and death fetching his blow: but yet we are deliuered, wee hauehave escaped with our liues.
Herein consider, 1. the manner, 2. the meanes of the deliuerance.
The manner, as a bird escaped out of the net: The meanes, the net is broken.
For the manner: 1. Beyond and aboue the expectation of the Church, when all things seemed desperate, when all counsell and meanes failed among men, and no hope was left, euen then came deliuerance. How can a poore bird, wound in the nets of the Fowler, expect but to be taken? And this is matter of more ioy & gladnesse, than if the danger had bin lesse. 2. Beyond and beside the expectation of the fowlers themselues, to their greater disappointment & confusion. How will the fowler rage and storme, when a silly bird is gotten away out of his net? so doe the enemies of the Church, who hauehave beene at great cost, and charge, and paines, and beaten all their wits to lay their nets, to be disappointed euen then when they hauehave their expectation betweene their hands; as the case of these Conspirators was.
For the meanes: the net is broken.] God alone hath broken in pieces their crafty counsels and deuises: God hath frustrated all their purposes: when they had hemd in the people of God, as a bird in a net, on eueryevery side, God himselfe makes a way out; as when the net is broken asunder, the bird escapeth.
Doctr. The Lord in his season powerfully deliuers his Church, by breaking the nets of the enemie.God still findes a time to rescue his Church from the snares of the wicked. Psal. 33.10. The Lord breakes the counsell of the Heathen, and brings to nought the deuises of the people.
Reasons. 1. Because GOD is euer present with his Church, in the midst of it, to helpe it at the greatest pinches. Esa. 8 9.10. Gather together on heapes, ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces, &c. for God is with vsus, namely as our shield and protection: and, if God be with vsus, Rom. 8.31.who can be against vsus? Zeph. 3.14. Reioyce O daughter of Syon, be ioyfull O Israel, reioyce with all thy heart O daughter Ierusalem: the Lord hath taken away thy iudgement, and cast out thine en…mies: the King of Israel, euen the Lord is in the midst of thee; thou shalt see no more euill. The Lord is eueryevery where present, but not eueryevery where as in his Church: he is the King, and the shelter of it by a speciall prouidence.
2. The Church is Gods darling and delight: his people is deare vntounto him: he that toucheth them, toucheth the apple of his eye, Zach. 2.8. In all their troubles he is troubled, and taketh wrong done to them as done to himselfe: and therefore must needes reuenge vponupon the enemies one time or other. See Nahum. 1.2.9. because the Lord is iealous ouer his people, hee reserues wrath for their enemies: he shall come vntounto them as vntounto thornes. The cause also is his: they hate the godly for his sake: and therefore he takes their part.
3. As God is willing to saue his people, so also he is eueryevery way most able. 1. Hee is more watchfull for his Church, than all his enemies can be against it: Hee that keepeth Israel, Psal. 121.4.doth neither slumber nor sleepe: in which he out-matcheth the enemies, who, though they often break their sleepe through greedinesse of the prey, yet sometime they must sleepe. Hee is a more watchfull guard than Sauls, when Dauid came and tooke away his speare and pot from his head.1. Sam. 26. The phrase is taken from watchmen, who stand on walls in time of warre, to fore-see the approach of enemies, and giuegive warning: they may be treacherous, or sleepy, as when the Capitall in Rome had beene taken by the French-men, if the Geese had not beene more waking than the watch-men of the walls. But the Lord is a faithfull and watchfull keeper: let neuer so many watch the mischiefe of the Church, he is sufficient against them all, hath seauen eyes, Zach. 4.10. 2. He is wiser than all his enemies, and herein ouer-matcheth them, that he knowes all their counsels, they know none of his: which aduantage the King of Israel had of the King of Syria by reason of Gods Prophet.2. King 6.12. Hee knowes their whole plot and proiects, and suffers them to carrie them a long time, but knowes when to preuent them, and how to dispose them to the good of his Church: for there is neither counsell nor wisedome against the Lord. 3. He is stronger than all the enemies: Ioh. 10.29. My father is stronger than all: no one, no nor all together can resist his power. And therefore when great men hauehave banded and bended all their forces against Christ and his Church, they imagine but a vaine thing, Psal. 2.1.
4. God hath waies enow to deliuer his Church, euen when things seeme very desperate. He hath seuen pipes to his seuen lampes, Zach. 4 2.and these oftentimes laid very secret and out of sight. He can make a way in the sea, and the waters a wall for his people: which cannot be expected by man: yea he can suspend and stay the course of nature; he can suffer his children to be cast into the fire, then qualifie and coole the furnace.
5. The Lord commonly delighteth in such a deliuerance of his Church,The righteous shall dip his foot in the blood of his enemies. as is ioyned with the confusion of his enemies: as in the red sea, the same way and waters, which were the preseruation of the one, were the destruction of the other. Esai. 33.11.12. Ye shall conceiue chaffe, and bring foorth stubble: the fire of your breath shall deuoure you. And the people shall be as the burning of li…e: & as the tho…nes cut vp, shall they be burnt in the fire.
And hereby the Lord manifesteth his power and iustice. 1. That the wicked, while they take craftie counsell together, should be pauing a way to their owne destruction. Hee takes the wise in their craftinesse, 1. Cor. 3.19.that they lay a net in which themselues fall. When they make couenants with death, and digge to hell to make Gods children so sure as none should escape them, then their owne destruction shall be the Churches deliuerance. What a broad net had Haman laid for the Iewes? None could be fairer for the game than he that had the Kings edict, ring, postes, and all he desired. But in due season his net tooke himselfe and his familie: his gallowes caught himselfe and his sonnes: in whose destruction God laid the preseruation of his Church at that time. The same in the powder-plot: what deuice was euer fairer, or neerer? or when was there a more vniuersall net laid for Gods Church these thousand yeeres? yet the Lord in the very full season ioyned our deliuerance with their detection and destruction.
2. Thess. 1.6.2. It is iust with God, that wicked men, while they deuise mischiefe, should onelyonly make rods for their owne backes: though their pretenses be neuer so faire and specious. As for example: Dan. 6.7. the Courtiers of Darius, (as they can easily lay their plots, to sway Princes to euill counsels) come to the King, whose power they would abuse, and none wish him so well as they, O King, liue for euer: none so obseruant of the Kings edicts as they, All the rulers of the kingdome, officers, gouernours, counsellors and Dukes hauehave made a decree concerning the worship of thee O King, that none shall aske any thing for thirtie daies, saue onelyonly of thee. This Daniel, one of the children of the captiuitie, regards not thee nor thy decree. They proclaime him seditious, rebellious, and a traitor that hath no respect either of King or law, but despiseth authoritie and edicts, well and wisely deuised and published. These are ordinarie nets laid against godly men by vngodly. Then must the law of the Medes and Persians, sealed with the Kings signet, be executed vponupon him. He is cast into the denne. They hauehave him in their net. But they cannot hold him: Nor can he be deliuered but with the destruction of them all by the lions. Here, by plausible speeches what did they but make their owne rods? And so was it in our owne instance, in whom Gods iustice shined most eminently: All the while, they digged a pit for themselues, and fell into the pit they had digged for others: according to that of the Psalmist, He hath digged a pit, and is fallen into the pit hee hath made: his mischiefe shall returne vponupon his head, Psal. 7.15.and his crueltie vponupon his owne pate. As their heads and pates vponupon stakes are still eye-witnesses.
3. Gods iustice is herein manifest,…arò antecedentem scelestum, D…seruit pede poena claudo. that for the deliuerie of his Church hee not onelyonly breakes their nets, but makes them breake their owne nets and neckes: And this is the greater confusion, when the authors of sin are made the authors of their own punishment. For example: Such is their thirst after the ouerthrow of the Church and godly, that they still call in more company, and take in more partners, that if one misse, another may hit, and all may be sure not to faile. But Gods hand now ouerruleth the matter, and makes their owne carnall counsell their confusion: that whereas one could keepe counsell, company shall reueale it: As in the many conspirators about the powder-plot, in which one of them furthered the punishment of another, but not the performance.
This shewes vntounto vsus,Vse. 1 Church of God inuincible. that the Church is altogether inuincible: no net shall long hold it, but it shall breake thorow all nets. It may bee pressed, not oppressed: oppugned, not expugned. It is an heauie stone to heaue against, Zach. 12.3. For, 1. The enemies cannot worke wisely enough to preuaile, but, as the more the Egyptians oppressed Israel, the more they incresed; so is it here. 2. Though the godly be in themselues fewer, weaker,Exod. 1.12. more simple, more shiftlesse, yet are they strangely and strongly preserued, and may say with the Prophet, there be more with them than against them. 2. King. 6.16.3. The Church stands vponupon two sure pillars, like Boaz and Iachin: first, Gods promise, which is, that the gates of hell shall not preuaile against her. Secondly, her foundation is on a rocke, against which if the floods beate, and the windes blow, it shall surely stand, Matth. 7.25. Why then doe the Pope, and Papists, and that Antichristian league, still trauell with wickednesse, and conceiue mischiefe, to bring foorth a lye? What doe yee imagaine against the Lord? Nahum. 1.9.
This is a ground of comfort for vsus, when wee see enemies leaguing themselues against Gods people, that they make no spare of destroying either by secret meanes, or open. Gods helpe and deliuerance will shew it selfe in due season: he is a present helpe in trouble. Is he a God a farre off, and not at hand? on the mountaines, and not in the vallies? Doth he heare his people before he call, and not when they call?Esa. 65.24. No, the Church is neuer so neere some great deliuerance, as when her enemies are at the top of their pride and rage. For when they will roote out the name of Israel, and destroy the law, then is it high time for the Lord to put to his hand.Psal. 119.126. When they hauehave power in their hand, and no arme of flesh to represse them: when none will offer himselfe in the cause of God, then the Lords owne arme shall saue it,Esa. 59.16. but so as wee be found in the way of deliuerance, carrying our selues in this affliction, as children when they see the father hath taken vp the rod, runne vntounto our father, confesse our sins, bewaile them, begge merciemercy, and sue for it as for life and death. This is the way to stay our fathers blow, to obtaine compassion, and cause him to throw his rod into the fire: as the Prophet brings him in relenting for his people, Hos. 11.8. How shall I giuegive thee vp, O Ephraim? how shall I deliuer thee, O Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? Mine heart is turned within me: my repentings are rowled together. For this is the condition, 2. Chron. 7.14. If my people, among whom my Name is called vponupon, doe humble themselues, and pray, and seeke my presence, and turne from their wicked wayes, then will I heare out of heauen, and be mercifull to their sinne, and will heale their land.
When we hauehave receiued such a seasonable deliuerance, it becommeth vsus to breake out into the praise of God,Vse. 3. Praise is comely for the vpright. and perpetuate the memory of it, and prouoke our selues vntounto thankfulnesse. So doth our holy Prophet in this Psalme: he sings out the praise of God to all posterity, for so great a deliuerance in so present a danger. Motiues heereunto: 1. How many monuments hath the Lord himselfe erected from time to time, to preserue in memory speciall mercies bestowed on his people? 2. Hath he not taken order to write them in his booke of mercies and monuments? Psalm. 102.18. This shall be written for the generations to come and the people which shall be created, shall praise the Lord. 3. Hath he not established and appointed speciall dayes for the memorie of speciall mercies, most worthy to be had in euerlasting remembrance?
And surely (my brethren) if Moses and Israel had cause to compile a song for their so strange a deliuerance, and the ouerthrow of their enemies; as Exod. 15.1.— If Deborah had cause to praise the Lord with voyces and instruments, for the ouerthrow of the Canaanites, and victory ouer Sisera; as Iudg. 5.1.—. If the good women came with Timbrels and dances to praise the Lord, when the Lord brought an horrible slaughter vponupon the Philistians, and their chiefe Champion Goliah, who defied the hoast of Israel, and railed vponupon the God of Israel, and so saued Israel that day; as 1. Sam. 18.6.7. If that day were a day of ioy and gladnesse, of light and reioycing, wherein the Iewes preuailed against their enemies, and saw the ruine of their chiefe aduersary Haman that cursed Amalekite; as Hest. 9.17. Then surely hauehave we iust cause to sing out, and declare abroad, and reioyce both in Gods house, and in our owne houses, for the great things that the Lord hath done for vsus in our admirable deliuerance out of a more admirable red sea, not of water, but of fire and brimstone, and from the hands of those furious Champions of Antichrist, those Romish Siseraes, Goliahs, that defied the hoast of British Israel, and those cursed Amalekites, against whom the sentence is passed, that the name of Amalek shall be put out from vnderunder heauen. Exod. 17.14.16But neuer let the fact of this Amalek, nor this day of Purim be put out of the Kalender: to the perpetuall infamy of the Popish generation, so long as the Sunne courseth about the earth.
Looke we often in this glasse, which God holdeth this day before our eyes; O come and behold the workes of the Lord, Psal. 46.8.the great workes that he hath wrought for this English nation; a people whom God hath now redeemed from a second hell, which was indeed to bee a lake of fier and brimstone, a very sparke out of hell▪ brought by furies and diuels rather than men. Consider wee seriously, how our soules …are deliuered from the nether most hell. As in the first and great redemption from the lowest hell, God of his mercy redeemed vsus by the blood of his owne only Sonne: so of his mercy hath he extinguished the flames of this intēded hell, by no other meanes than by the blood of those sonnes of Beliall. And, as for that greater redemption wee must magnifie the grace of God,Luke 1.74.75. being redeemed from the hands of our enemies to serue him in righteousnesse and holynesse all the dayes of our life: so in this lesser redemption, we must stirre vp our selues to the cherefull praise of God, not in word and tongue, but in heart and life. Let vsus call vponupon our selues eueryevery one apart, as Dauid, Psal. 9.1.2.3. I will praise the Lord with all my heart, &c. for that mine enemies are turned back: and Psal. 116.12. what shall I render to the Lord for all his louing kindnesse towards me? and let vsus call vponupon one another, as he doth, Psal. 34.3. Praise the Lord with me, and let vsus magnifie the Lord together. He hath filled our hearts with gladnesse, our mouthes with laughter, our tongues with matter of triumph: when we were as a bird in the net of these fowlers, he brake the net, and we are escaped.
Verse 8. Our helpe standeth in the Name of the Lord, who hath made heauen and earth.
THese words are the conclusion of the whole Psalm, wherein the whole benefit of all the deliuerance of the Church, both for time past and future, is ascribed to the Lord of heauen and earth. He had sayd before, the snare is broken but had not told vsus by whome, now hee expresseth him, Our helpe is in the Name &c.
Quest. why saith he not in the Lord, but, in the Name of the Lord?Exposition.
Answ. By the Name of God is meant that by which he reuealeth himselfe to his Church, as a man is knowne by his name. And in this argument the Name of God signifieth the ayd, the power, the strength, and the goodnesse of God: so it is vsed, Psalme. 44.5. in thy Name wee shall tread downe our enemies, that is, in thy strength and power. Our helpe consists in that power and strength which the Lord putteth forth for vsus.
Who hath made heauen and earth.] Qust. Why is this added? Answ. 1. To aduance the Lord in his Attribute of Omnipotency. 2. To strengthen our faith when meanes fayle vsus: for this power is not tied to meanes. Therefore these are set the first words of the Creed, I beleeue in God the Father Almighty, maker of heauen and earth. 3. To shew vsus to what end the world, the heauens and the earth were made, namely that it might be a Theater and glasse of the diuine power and glory of God. 4. To intimate how easie it is for God in most desperate cases to helpe his children: much mor easie than to make heauen and earth. 5. To shew, that he can dispose all things both in heauen and earth for their safetie.
I. Note hence the nature and worke of faith in eueryevery beleeuer: which is,Faith in dangers lifts vp the hearts to Gods promises and Atributes. to eleuate the minde to God in perils and dangers which is the time wherein faith most bestirres it selfe, and to apply Gods promise of ayd, his presence and deliuerance in all our troubles: not only beleeuing his Omnipotency and goodnesse, but that he is so vntounto vsus and all his chosen. For this is a speech of faith, which looketh beyond all external meanes, and fixeth the eye of the soule only vponupon God, in whose hand help is. And farther, the nature of faith is, to search into all the Atributes of God, whereby it may fortifie it selfe and become inexpugnable. It looketh to the Name of the Lord. It considereth him as Iehoua, one that is willing to accomplish all his promises to his Church; else he could not bee Iehoua, by which Name he would be knowne to his people. It beholdeth his power and omnipotency at the same time: and then what shall hinder the Churches safety, if God be both able and willing? It seeth also all his power exercised for hir safety. It beholds at once both the pillers of the Temple,1. Kings 7.12. Boaz, with him is strength; but what are wee the better, if we apply it not? and Iachin, that is, the Lord will establish.
Vse. Hab. 2.4.Let vsus liue by faith at all times, especiall in dangers, stil looking beyond the means: and giuegive glory to God with Abraham, Rom. 4.20. who was strong in faith, and fully perswaded, that he who promised was able also and willing to performe. Obiect. What then? must we reiect meanes?Faith and the vse of meanes how they stand together. Answ. No, for God giueth meanes for our good: But 1. No meanes can helpe vsus without God, as God can without meanes. 2. Meanes must be vsed, but not trusted in: Psalm. 20.7. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember the Name of the Lord our God. Heere he condemnes not the vse of chariots and horses, but trust and confidence in them. 3. Neuer let vsus stand in the meanes as our helpers, but in the Name of God, who affords both them and successe in them. Hence it is, that God sometimes, yea for the most part worketh his greatest workes by weakest meanes,Meannesse of instruments commends the vertu of the Agent. that the meanes might be as a glasse through which we might behold the brightnesse of his own Maiesty and grace. Dan. 11.34. They that vnderstand and instruct many shall fall, and when they shall fall they shal be holpen with a little helpe. Why a little? Because through weake meanes wee may see Gods greater strength. So in the yeare 88. there was a little helpe for England: but the victory was Gods. So in the Gunpowder treason, a little helpe and meanes by his Maiesties singular care: but this was, that through it we might easier see that Omnipotent helpe of him, who made heauen and earth.
Church of God helplesse in it selfe.II. Note that the Churches helpe is not in it self: and the dangers of it, and harmes threatning it, are farre greater than it is able, without better help than it own, to withstand. So was it with the Church at the red sea: so with the three children of God in the fire; what help had they of themselues being bound? So it was in Hamans deuice, and so in Per…ies.
Reason. 1. That the members of the Church may herein acknowledge the sleights of Satan and wicked men, who are mad against soundnesse of grace, and yet most wittie to combine their malice and madnesse against Gods people. 2. To trie them to the vttermost, and proue their soundnesse, in faith and patience. Fire that must trie gold, must be quicke and piercing, and seeme vtterly to burne and consume it. 3. That the Lord may herein hauehave occasion, both to vphold his chosen in the affliction with strong inward consolation; and also to put foorth this his omnipotent power in some strong and glorious deliuerance. 4. That his children being driuen out of all other expectations may be vehement in prayer, and fetch helpe from heauen, which they want in themselues. That extremitie of the Israelites at the sea, made Moses to crie vntounto the Lord with vehemencie, Exod. 14.15. and when Iehosaphat knew not what to doe, his eyes were to the Lord, 2. Chron. 20.12.
Mistake not the estate of the Church,Vse. when it seemes to be oppressed, nor yet of the members. God for these ends suffers Satan and his instruments so cunningly to carie their malice and matters, as oftentimes Gods deare children are in the eyes of the world helplesse. But, did Christ cease to be the Sonne of God, because the Iewes said, Let God helpe him now, if hee will hauehave him? or the Saints of olde, who receiued no corporall deliuerance,Matth. 27.43. but a better resurrection? or our owne Martyrs, who seemed helplesse in their hands and flames? No,Heb. 11.35. the Lord was their helpe, and he will not suffer the soules of the righteous to perish: which we shall further see in the next obseruation.
III. Note that the Church and people of God are neuer so helplesse,Church at weakest is made strong enough to hold out. but that they hauehave an omnipotent power with them, and for thē, euen his Name who made heauen and earth. This is their priuiledge and sanctuarie. The name of God is a strong tower, the righteous slie vntounto it & are exalted ▪ Prou. 18.10. Psal. 33.17. An horse is a vain… thing in battell & shall not deliuer any by his strength: Why, what shall helpe them? The eye of the Lord is on them that feare him, and vponupon them that trust in his merciemercy, to deliuer their soules from death, and preserue them in the time of famine. 2. Tim. 4.16. At my first appearing no man assisted me: (small helpe indeed:) Notwithstanding the Lord assisted me, and strengthened me, &c.
Reason. 1. This comes to passe by Gods promise of his constant presence with his people, to be with them in sixe troubles, and in seuen, in fire, and water, and extremest perils.Iob. 5.19. Esai. 43.2. All which promises, although they runne with exception of the crosse, yet are neuer frustrate, but made good one time or other, one way or other. This promise is their safe conduct. And it is equall, seeing they labour in his seruice, and cast themselues vponupon his hand. 2. What else is it that keepes the Church as an Arke vponupon the waters from drowning and perishing among so many tyrants, enemies, and persecutors as thick as waues, but this most helpfull hand and power of God the Pilot of it? The Church hath mightie power against it, all the helpe of the wicked, and the gates of hell. But his eye and wing is neerer thē than the hens to preserue her silly chickens, Psal. 91.2. 3. As it was with the Son of God our head, so is it with the members, who faithfully follow his steps in patient labouring and enduring. What his estate was, see Ioh. 16.32. Behold, the houre commeth, and is now already, that yee shall be scattered eueryevery man to his owne house, and shall leaue me alone: but I am not alone, for the Father is with me. Christ was very helplesse, when his followers fled for feare, and his Disciples durst not tarrie with him, but left him alone: yet then hee had this presence and power of his Father: And so hauehave the godly, both Pastors and people. 4. They can neuer be so helplesse as they shall not be able to crie for helpe, and bemoane their case to God. Neither want they friends to solicite their cause at the highest Court, but hauehave all the godly, petitioners for them.
The faith of the doctrine is a chiefe part of worship and honour giuen to God:Vse. 1 when the Saints referre the whole work of their saluation and safetie to the Lord: as Psal. 3.8. Saluation belongeth vntounto the Lord, and thy blessing is vponupon thy people. And when they can commend their whole safetie, for the continuance and preseruation of it, vntounto the Name of the Lord wherein all helpe lieth.
It is a most firme prop to stay and leane vponupon in all trials,Vse 2. able to sustaine the heart continually with strong comfort: when we can oppose this helpe of God against all the threats and boysterous proceedings of Gods enemies. As subiects hauehave no way but to flie to the King for refuge and helpe against the oppressor: so Gods people hauehave a way of helpe, by which they lie safe in the midst of danger, and shall hauehave the better end of the staffe against their aduersaries, because they may say as Dauid against Goliah, 1. Sam. 17.45. I come to thee in the Name of the Lord. A godly heart grounded in the truth of this doctrine, may securely contemne whatsoeuer Satan or his instruments doe machinate against it. Looke at any thing in heauen or earth, it hath in it matter of strength and comfort. He that made them, hath power to commaund all things in them for thy safetie and good. Here is a faithfull helper, a very sure refuge in trouble: men may promise helpe, and faile, or helpe on the trouble of the Saints;God is a faithfull, and powerfull, and constant helper. but God will not. Here is a powerfull helper: men would helpe oftentimes, but are weake and cannot, where the enemie hath fortified himselfe with aduantages and resolutions; but the Lords Name is a strong helper: if Nebuchadnezzar shall say, Who shall, Dan. 3.15.17.or who is able to deliuer you out of my hands, wee may say with the three children, Our God is able: He can say to the raging sea, Thus farre shalt thou come, and here shall thy proud waues stay. Prou. 8.29.He can drie vp Ieroboams arme, stretched out against the Prophet. Finally, here is a constant helper: men are vnconstant and light: one speech or suspition may driue away many from following Christ himselfe, and m…ny in daies of triall slip away, and are helplesse: but the Lord helpeth constantly: our helpe is euer in the Name of the Lord: hee is vnchangeable in his goodnesse toward the Church, neuer wearie of well-doing as men bee. And without this ground in the heart, men must needs shake like trees in the forrest with eueryevery winde,Esai. 7.2. and feare where no feare i…: but those shall not neede to feare any euill tidings, whose heart is fixed on the Lord.Psal. 112 7.
Vse. 3.Labour to be a member of the Church: stand in the way and station, in which God hath set thee: Goe on in thy holy course: keepe the way of vprightnesse. For in this way God hath promised helpe and protection, and thou maist expect it. Arme thy selfe, and addresse thee to beare b…unts and blowes as a souldier: but feare not victorie, so long as God is neere thee, and thou neere him and his helpe. Put on patience to waite without haste-making: though he delay helpe awhile, he denies it not. Neuer seeke to preuent troubles by laying aside integritie and good conscience. It is no way of safetie to prouoke God, nor a meanes of defence to lay aside the armour. This is the condition of diuine protection, 1. Pet. 3. vers. 13. No man shall hurt you, while you follow the thing that is good. Ionas would faine auoid trouble by flying from God: but God fetcheth him backe againe with a witnesse.
Here by the way note a speciall difference betweene the wicked and the godly in their troubles.Difference betweene the helpe of the godly and wicked. One hath his helpe from heauen, others from hell, or not higher than from the earth. One from the Name of God, others against the Name of God. The wicked expect helpe one from another, and combine against the righteous, and can helpe themselues by lying, slandering, violence, and turning themselues into all fashions and formes for aduantage: but the godly, expecting helpe from the name of God, keepe themselues in Gods right waies, and will meet with helpe onelyonly thence.Hos. 14.9.
Let vsus trust our selues with God in troubles as well as in peace,Vse 4. expecting the accomplishment of that gracious promise, Psal. 34.19. Great are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord deliuereth him out of all. If we take Gods Name with vsus for our helpe, the number of crosses shall not foile vsus, nor the power of persecutors daunt vsus, nor the continuance of trials breake vsus. For nothing can hinder his helping hand from his seruants. Nothing but sin separates betweene God and vsus: be humbled for sinne, meete God in repentance, keepe not silence, be instant in prayer, and all shall be well. Christ is our ship: if we be neuer so tossed, wee shall not be drowned; come to him, awaken him as his Disciples, Master saue vsus, Matth. 8.25.Master of the great ship of thy Church helpe vsus, we perish: and he will in due time stirre vp himselfe, and speake to the winde, and the sea, and there shall be a great calme.
The end of the third Sermon.