Gods Arrows, Sermon 2
The second Sermon.
YOU hauehave heard in the former sermon. First against whome the Lord here threatneth plagues, and Iudgements, viz. the disobedient, and them that feare not his glorious Name. And secondly, what maner of seruice he requireth, for auoyding of his Iudgements, namely, not onelyonly the hearing, but also the keeping and doing of his Law, and that not of this or that part of it, but of all the words of his Law.
Now commeth the third general part to bee handled, which doth shewe the cause of the iudgements of God threatned, and now fallen vponupon vsus, & that is, sin, or the not kéeping and doing of al the wordes of Gods Law. But first let me answere one obiection which may hence arise. Some man may say, Why doeth God threaten temporall plagues and punishments in this life, and eternall torments in the life to come against those that doe not obserue and doe all the words of his Law, whereas (Christ onelyonly excepted) no man can, nor euer did performe and doe the whole law so perfectly and absolutly as God requireth at our hands? To this I answere: The Lord requireth nothing but what we are bounden to doe, and that wee might hauehave done had not Adam sinned: And therefore considering the corruption of our nature, we ought to acknowledge our frailtie, and to call vponupon God by faithful prayer, that he would vouchsafe by his holy Spirit to direct vsus how to frame our liues according to his Law, and accept of vsus in Christ and for his sake, who hath fulfilled the Law for vsus. And although the best Saints of God be farre short of that perfection which the Lord requireth, yet let it bee our comfort that the Lord accepteth of our willingnesse, and desire to doe that he commandeth: So he accepted of Abraham, Gen. 22. 10. And so also will hee Gen. 22. 10, 11 12.accept of all Abrahams children: For though Abraham did not sacrifice his son yet his willingnesse to hauehave done it at Gods commandement, was accepted as if he had done it: So if thou hauehave a willing minde, and vnfained desire to kéepe and doe all the wordes of Gods Lawe, though thou come much too short of it, yet the Lord will accept of thy willing mind & vnfained desire to do it, as if thou haddest done it. Nehem. 1. 11. But will Nehem. 1. 11.a willing minde & vnfained desire serue the turne? Yes, If thou labour to walke in the feare of God, and desirest more faith, when thou hast not so much as thou wouldest hauehave: If, I say, thou desirest in thine heart, not to offend God, féelest wants in thy selfe, thirstest to doe better, & féelest an inward griefe ye thou canst do no better, thy willing mind being aboue thine hability, doubtlesse God doth accept of thée as if thou hadest kept and done al ye words of his Law. 2. Cor. 2. Cor. 8. 2, 12.8. If first there be a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. If a father willing to prooue the obedience of his child, should bid him goe, & fetch such a great ston, which he knew wel enough he were not able to mooue, much lesse to carie, the child should goe and strugle with it, and finding that he could not by any meanes doe it, should returne to his father, and tell him, Father, I hauehave done what I am able, and vsed all my strength, but it will not be: What father is it, that will not accept of his chiids willing minde and endeuour, as if he had done it? So our heauenly Father accepteth of our willing and obedient mindes, though we be not able to kéepe and doe all the words of his Law.
But to our purpose, What is the cause of Gods iudgements? Sinne, for it doeth kindle the wrath of God as a fire, and brings down his iudgements. Lam. 3. 39. Man suffereth for his sin. Psal. Lam. 3. 39. Psal. 107. 34.107. 34. A fruitfull land maketh he barren, Why? for the wickednesse of them that dwell therein. Yea, sinne is so filthy a thing before God, that it is said to defile the earth. Gene. 6. 12. God looked vponupon the earth, and behold, It was corrupt, for all Gen. 6. 12. 1. Reg. 8. 35.flesh had corrupt his way vponupon the earth. 2. Pet. 2. God created the Angels in singular 2. Pet. 1. 4.perfection, yet when they committed sinne against God, all his louelove was turned vengeance, he cast them downe into hell, and deliuered them into chaines of darknesse to be kept vntounto damnation. Gen. 1▪ 26. God created Adam and Heuah, Gen. 1. 26, 27placed them in paradise, subiected all creatures vntounto them, ioyned them in mariage, blessed them, and performed all tokenes of louelove vntounto them; Adam commited but one sinne, and that by his wiues procurement, no sooner had he done it, but frendship was broken betwéene God and him, God cursed him, and cast him out of Paradise. Num. 20. Num. 20. 12, 24.Moses and Aaron men highly in Gods fauour, yet when as at the wildernesse of sinne they doubted of the miracle promised by God, though they repented, yet God answered them, Because you hauehave dishonoured me before the people, and not beleeued me, to sanctifie me in the presence of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this people into the land which I hauehave giuen them. 2. Sam. 11. Dauid a 2. Sam. 11. 4.man after Gods owne heart committed adultery, but what came of it? though he bewayled and repented his sinne all the dayes of his life after, with many a sigh and bitter teare: yet notwithstanding, as he had brought shame vponupon an other mans wife, so he saw shame vponupon his own children while he liued: Ammon, one of his sonnes, cōmitted incest with his owne sister Thamar. 2. Sam. 13. 28. Absolon and other of Dauids sonnes killed 2. Sam. 13. 1, 14. 2. Sam. 13. 28, 29, 32.his brother, Ammon for that filthie facte. The same Absolon, not long after droue his father Dauid out of his kingdome, and most impudently laie with his fathers wiues, whereupon 2. Sam. 15. 7, 8. 2. Sam. 16. 21.followed horrible slaughter among the people, and sharpe battell, wherein Absolon, and many thousands moe were slaine.
If God so punished his déerest children in this life for sinne, what hauehave we deserued which doe multiplie our transgressions, and heape one sinne vppon another, how can it bee but God must néedes make our plagues wonderfull? Nay; sinne doth not onelyonly bring Gods iudgements in generall, but also more particularlie, it is the cause of plague, pestilence, sickenesses and bodilie diseases. Ierem. 21. 6. For Iere. 21. 6.sinne (saith the Lord) I will smite the inhabitants of Ierusalem, and man and beast Exod. 9. 10.shall die of a great pestilence. Exodus 9. God brought vponupon Egypt botch, blayne, boile, and grieuous diseases vponupon the people for their crueltie towards the Leuit. 26. 25.Israelites, and contempt of the Prophets. Leuiticus 26. 25. The Lorde threatneth the sworde, sickenesse, and 2. Reg. 5. 27.pestilence vponupon the people for their sins. 2. Reg. 5. 27. Gehesie was plagued with the leprosie of Naaman the Syrian, Psal. 38. 3.for his couetousnesse and bribery. Psal. 38. 3. Dauid confesseth that Gods hand was heauie vponupon him for his sinne, and that hee had no rest in his bones by reason of his iniquities. Iohn 5. 14. Christ hauing healed him that Ioh. 5. 14.was diseased thirtie and eight yeeres willed him to sinne no more, least a worse thing happened vntounto him: Signifying, that the cause of his sickenesse was his sinne. Let vsus not impute this present heauie Iudgement of God vponupon vsus to any secondarie causes, but let vsus acknowledge our sinnes to bee the cause of it. Let vsus say with Iosephs brethren, Genesis Gen. 42. 21, …242. 21. Wee hauehave sinned, and therefore this trouble is come vppon vsus. And let eueryevery one looke into himselfe, and say, as Micha. 7. 9. It is my sinne that hath procured Micah 7. 9.this. Some say, It is Londons sinnes that hath brought this iudgement vponupon them and vsus: I say, not they onelyonly, but we as well as they hauehave sinned, and deserued this and worse then this, and except we repent we shall all likewise perish. There is no sect nor sort of people Luc. 13. 2.can excuse themselues: Looke amongst men of worth and wealth, and you shal find many of them contemners of the word, giuen to oppression, prodigalitie. 2. Tit. 3. 4. Louers of pleasures Tit. 3. 4.more then louers of God. Looke into the Cleargie, and you shal sée some carelesse, some idle, some ignorant. Many Lawiers, more respecting gaiue then Iustice, mayntaining the falsest cause for money, and promising the poore clyents that all shall be well for them, till they hauehave emptied their purses of coyne and themselues of honestie. Artificers, tradsemen, buyers, and sellers, what is more common among them then fraud, and deceipt, swearing, lying, and forswearing, & setting conscience behind the doore, In a word, sinne so aboundeth among all sorts of people that Ionas was Ionah. 1. 8, 12.neuer better knowen to be the cause of the tempest, then sinne is knowen to be the occasion of this present iudgement of God vponupon vsus. If then we would hauehave Gods wrath pacified, and his plagues turned away from vsus, we must first turne from our sinnes, and make conscience to keepe and do all the words of Gods law, els God will not hauehave done with vsus yet, Lam. 3. 40. we must eueryevery one of vsus, search and try our owne waies and condemne our selues guiltie of sinne, and be truely conuerted vntounto 1. Cor. 11.God, which if we doe, then, Psal. 91. 7. Psal. 91. 7.A thousand shall fall beside vsus, and ten thousand on our right hand, but it shall not come nie vsus. And thus much concerning the generall cause of this heauie Iudgements of God.
The Scriptures doe also mention certaine particular sinnes, for which God threatneth & inflicteth the plague and pestilence vponupon the people. And first, I find that the want of worshipping and seruing of God is one speciall sinne that bringeth his fearefull iudgement. Exod. 5. 3. Moses and Aaron came Exod. 5. 3.to Pharao, and required that the people might goe three daies iourney into the wildernesse, and sacrifice to God, least he brought the pestilence or sword. If want of worshiping and seruing of God be one cause of the pestilence, then such prophane wretches amongst vsus as had rather doe any thing then come to Church to serue God, are as cartropes to drawe downe the plague vponupon this our English nation. And, as the Iewes Esay 5. 18. Mat. 27. 25.cried. Mat. 27. 25. His blood be on vsus, and vponupon our children: So the sinne of such prophane wretches crieth for vengeance vponupon themselues, and vponupon the whole land. Let vsus looke into our selues, and sée what cold and carelesse comming to Church there is no Sabbath daies: some lie in their beds, some about their ordinarie businesses, others follow vanities, whooring, & drunkennesse, vponupon the Lords day, no threatning will preuaile with some, sometimes not halfe the people in a parish present at holy exercises vponupon the Sabbath day, so hard a thing it is to drawe them to the meanes of their saluatiō. Séeing then that want of worshipping and seruing of God bringeth the plague, howsoeuer hitherto wee hauehave béene negligent, let vsus now be diligent in seruing of God, that so the punishing Angel may cease. Exod. 23 25. Thou shalt serue the Lord thy God, Exod. 23. 25.and he shall blesse thy bread, and thy water, and I will take all sicknesses away from the mids of thee. To serue God should bee our chiefest delight, that so we may bee made pertakers of Gods blessings, and hauehave his iudgements remooued from vsus. Hee that serueth God, shall not Mat. 6. 33.loose his reward. It is neuer with God as it is sometimes with men, A young Seruing-man, an olde begger; But it may be our comfort, that if we serue God, hee will neuer forsake vsus, nor leaue vsus comfortlesse, Nay, though the Deuill turne all his power loose at vsus, they shall not be able to hurt vsus. Psalme 91. He will deliuer vsus from the snare of the hunter, and from the Psal. 91. 3, 6, 7.noysome pestilence: Wee néede not to feare the pestilence that walketh in the darknes▪ nor the plague that destroyeth at the noone day, &c. Let eueryevery houshoulder then studie to bee like Cornelius, Act. 10. 2.Actes 10. 2. who serued God with all his houshold, And say as did Ioshua, Iosh. 24. 15. I and my house will serue the Lord. And let all mistresses Iosh 24. 15.and dames say with Hester. I and my maides will doe the like. And as Ioseph Hest. 4. 16.and Mary went eueryevery yéere to Ierusalem Luk. 2. 4….with all their houshold, to serue God: So let all godly housholders with their whole families eueryevery Sabbath day resort to the Church, to serue God: And as you would hauehave your owne worke and businesse done vponupon the worke dayes, So be as willing, nay, a great deale more willing and forward to further, and no way to hinder the Lordes worke on the Sabbath day. But (alas) too many now a dayes are like Pharao, who had something else for the Iewes Exod. 5. 6.to doe when they should hauehave serued God: So many of our housholders hauehave one businesse or other for themselues, and seruants when they should goe to Church: Such men are meanes to bring vngeance vponupon themselues, and others, whereas on the other side they that serue God hauehave promises of temporall blessings in this life, and eternall in the life to come.
An other perticuler sin, and so a cause or meanes to bring the plagues is contempt of the Ministers of the word, the Ministers are named in the Scriptures by name reuerent and high titles, and specially they are called Angels, and Ambassadours of God. Apo. 1. 20. 2. Cor. 5. And therefore it is not a calling Apoc. 1. 20. 2 Cor 5. 20. Gal 4. 14.to be contemned, but an excellent thing to be an Angell or Messenger of God. Christ Iesus was so called, The Angell or Mal. 3. 1. Apo. 10. 1. Apo. 14. 17.Messenger of God to the Church. Mal. 3. 1. Apo. 10. 1. The office of an Ambassadour is an excellent office, euen when they are sent from an earthlie Prince; And therefore howsoeuer the Lordes Ambassadours be lightlie and slightlie estéemed of, nay contemned, and nought set by among the wicked, yet among good men, and such as feare God, and louelove God, as Obadia did. 1. Reg. 18. 1. Reg. 18. 3, 4.they are, and euer hauehave béene highlie accounted of, at least waies for his sake whose message they bring, and vouchsaffeth to grace them with such high titles. When Obadia saw that wicked Iesabell hated and persecuted Gods Prophets, he, both with daunger, and to his great charges, found meanes to preserue them, hid them, and fed them, because they were the Lordes Ambassadours: But now Obadia is dead and gone, and hauehave left few behind him that hauehave the like care, but for the most part cary a contrary disposition, and therefore no maruel if God make our plagus wonderfull. Few in these sinfull times hauehave any care to giuegive or consecrate their sonnes to God, as Anna did, 1. Sam. 1. 1. Sam. 1. 28.28. and to place them in the seruice of God, because (for the most part) they want both their due mayntenance and reuerence, Nay, many thinke it a disgrace if their child or kinseman be a Minister, but Christ Iesus the Lord of all, Heb. 1. 2. accounted it no disgrace to bee Heb. 1. 2.of this calling, neither the Apostles of Christ, to whom though the Ministers of this age be not comparable in Spirituall graces, yet in this one thing they are the Lords Ambassadours as well as they, and therefore not so basely to be estéemed of, 1. Cor. 4 1. But as the Mynisters of Christ, and disposers of the secrets of 1. Cor. 4. 1.God: Because we are not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, Rom. 1. 16. nor of Rom. 1. 16.his message whose Ambassadour wee are. Though a man be neuer so simple, yet if hee be admitted to be the Ambassadour of an earthlie Prince, eueryevery man will reuerence him, and who dare contemne him? So though a man bee neuer so meane, poore, or beggerly, yet when he is allowed to be the Messenger of Christ Iesus, and able to deliuer his Message in any good sort, hee ought not to be contemned, for so Christ is despised in him. If a man for his son or kinseman be preferred to princely or Lordly state as Ioseph was in Egypt, Gen. 41. or as Mordecai was in Ahasuerosh his Court, Ester 6. or in fauour Gen. 41. 40. Ester 6. 11. Dan. 2. 4….with the King as Daniel was, Dan. 2. 28.
All men with cappe and knee will reuerence such a one, and account him happie, yea, a happie father that hath such a sonne, and happy hee that hath such a kinseman: But they see it not that it is a thousand times more happy to bee the Messenger of God: This is such an excellent calling and profession, that no man is sufficient for it, And therefore the name of an Apostle and Byshoppe is at tributed to Christ. Heb. 3. 1. Heb. 8. 1, 2. what a blessed thing is it to be ioyned Heb. 3. 1. Heb. 8. 1, 2.with Christ in such an high preferment? If it were an honour to Iosuah to bring the people into the land of Canaan, what an excellent thing is it to conduct the people of God into the heauenly Gaanan and celestiall Ierusalem. It goeth hard with the poore Ministers of the Gospell, and Messengers of Christ, when for doing good they shall reape contempt at their handes of whom they should bée much set by. Phisitions that cure the sicknesses and diseases of the bodie are honoured; and highly estéemed of. Souldiars that defend the land, should be much made of; but the Ministers that cure the sicknesses of mens soules, féed them with the heauenlie Manna, and arme and defend them against Satans assalts, if they be not regarded, they hauehave the more wrong, and the sharper w…ll Gods arrowes be against the vnthankfull people. Xerxes, mourned and wept▪ when he cosidered that of so populous a… armie not one should be left aliue, within an hundred yeeres: But if Christ b… condemned and Barabbas deliuered, if good men be contemned, and bad men estéemed of, few good men will shortly be left in the world, and the iudgements of God for such contempt will cause vsus to sorrow, mourne, and wéepe, and bring heauie iudgements vponupon vsus. The contempt of the Ambassadour, is the contempt of the Prince, and to despise or basely to estéeme of Gods Mynisters, is to despise God himselfe. Luc. 10. Mat. 10. 40. Luk. 10. 16.He that despiseth you, despiseth me, and hee that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me. When the Messengers of King Dauid had their skyrts and beards cut off, 2. Sam. 10. hee tooke it as his owne reproch: 2. Sam. 10. 4, 7And if the Messengers of God be contemptuously or vnreuerently receiued, not man, but God is despised. When the people refused Samuel, 1. Sam. 1. Sam. 8. 7.8. 7. God said, They hauehave not cast thee away, but they hauehave cast me away. If a man should hauehave tolde the Iewes that they despised God, when they contemned his Prophets and Apostles, they would not hauehave beleeued it, but men in resisting Gods ordinance, resist God, Ezek. 3. 7. This people will not obey thee, for they will Ezek. 3. 7.not obey me. This is perpetuall, when God prepared messengers, who so contemneth them, contemneth and despiseth him that sent them. 1. Thess. 4. 8. It is 1. Thes. 4. 8.God that speaketh by his Ministers and Messengers. God is the cryer. Heb. 4. 7. Heb. 4. 7.To day if you will heare (his voice) not our voyce, for God speaketh by his Ministers. If King Dauid was angrie when his messengers were shamefully intreted and despised, then how much more will the King of glorie be prouoked to wrath, and to execute his Iudgements vponupon such a people as this is, which set at naught both his message and messengers, and often make more account of a minstrell then a Minister. Ier. 29. 18. I Ier. 29. 18, 19.will persecut them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence &c. Because they hauehave not heard my words, saith the Lord, which I sent vntounto them by my seruants the Prophets, rising vp earely and sending them, but yee would not heare, sayeth the Lord. Num. 14. The people would hauehave Num. 14. 10, 12.stoned Moses and Aaron, but verse 12. the Lord threatned to smite them with the pestilence, and destroy them. I… they deserued the plague of God tha… despised Moses and Aaron in the Message Numb. 16. 46, 49.of the earthlie Canaan, what plagues doe they deserue which contemne and set them at naught which call them to the heauenly Canaan? The Mynisters of the Word were neuer lesse accounted off in any age, euerie base and badde fellowe doeth and may reuile them to their faces, and speake reproachfully of them behinde their backes, Yea, they would stone them, as they threatned Caleb and Iosuah, and dealt with Stephen if there were Acts 7. 59.no Lawes to restrayne them. And as the Iewes iested vponupon the Prophets of God Ieremie and Ezechiel, Iere. 20. 7. Ezek. 33. 31.Ierem. 20. 7. Ezeki. 33. 31. So many amongst vsus, not onelyonly in their table-talke, but also vponupon their ale-benches take pleasure to play vponupon the poore Mynisters of the Gospel: But as Ham for his vnreuerent caryage Genes. Gen. 9. 22, 25.9. 22, 25. towards his Father being Gods Mynister, was accursed in himselfe, in his posteritie, in earth, in heauen, of God and man: So the wicked that contemne and scorne the Lords Ministers are accursed themselues, and a meanes also to bring downe Gods vengeance on others. And if the sinfull Sodomites were by Gods iust iudgement destroyed with fire and brimstone from heauen, and cast to condemnation, because they vexed Gen. 19. 24.the righteous soule of Lot from day to day, can we deny but that this heauie Iud. 6. 7. 2. Pet. 2. 8.iudgement of God by plague and pestilence is iustly and deseruedly fallen vppon vsus for contemning and despising the Lords Ministers?
A third perticular sinne that brings the plague, is Idolatry. Ezek. 5. 11, 14. Because you hauehave defiled my Sanctuary, I Ezek. 5. 11, 14, 17.will make you wast and abhorred among the nations: I will send vponupon thee famine, and euil beasts, and they shall spoile thee, and pestilence and blood shall passe through thee, and I will bring the sword vponupon thee, I the Lord hauehave spoken it.
Though Idolatry be taken out of our Churches, yet secret Idolatry is committed in many places: And besides that, whatsoeuer a man loueth as much or more then God, it is his Idole, and he committeth Idolatry therewith. 2. 2. Sam. 24. 2. 10.Sam. 24. Dauid numbred the people, &c. To number the people was nothing, but Dauid did it in a brauery and trusted to his power, and respected not God as he should, and therefore God sent a plague to destroy them. If we put our trust in outward things, we commit Idolatry, and deserue the plague: But many trust more in earthly things then in the Lorde, as in riches, knowledge, power, and strength of men. If England be true within it selfe (some say) wee néede not to feare any nation in Christendome. In déede prouision and preparation against the enemy is necessary, but to séeke to God is most necessary, and to trust in strength, or other outward meanes, is to commit Idolatry, and a meane to bring the iudgement of God vponupon vsus by plague and pestilence.
Pride also is another sinne that bringeth the pestilence, and maketh our plagues wonderfull. Soph. 1. 8. In the day Soph. 1. 8.of the Lords sacrifice (that is, in the day of his vengeance) hee threatneth to visit the Princes and the Kings children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparell. How strangely is the fashion of our apparell altered within one thrée score or foure score yeares, That which is in fashion this yeare is out of fashion the next. Psal. 119. 21.Psal. 119. 21. Thou hast destroyed the proud, and cursed are they that doe erre from thy commandements. Pro. 16. 18. Prou. 16. 18.Pride goeth before destruction, and an high mind before the fall. 2. Sam. 18. 9. Absolon 2. Sam. 18. 9.in the pride of his heart, seeking to leape into his fathers seate, was hanged in an oke, and slayne, his ruffin-like long heare serued as an halter to hange him withall, his pride had a fall. 2. Reg. 2. Reg. 9. 30, 35, 37.9. Iesabell, that filthie, proud, wicked Quéene, who in her pride painted her face, to make her seeme beautifull, found that pride had a fall, and her proud carkasse had a fall too, when being cast out at a windowe, and trampled vnderunder foot of horses, the dogs licked vp her blood, & eate her flesh, so as nothing was left of her but the scull of her head, her féet, and palmes of her hands. Mac. 9. 4, 7. Antiochus 2. Mac. 9. 4, 7, 9, 10.intending to ouerthrowe Ierusalem, to spoile the Sanctuarie, and Temple of the Lord, and to kill the people of God, was for his pride, ouerthrowen in his Chariot, ryding thitherward, his belly hurst, lothsome wormes cralled out, and at last his filthy sauour was such as his owne seruants could not abide it: His pride had a fall. So Herod Actes 12. 21. in the pride of his heart, Act. 12. 21, 22, 23.putting on his royall apparell, and delighting in the applause of the people, was smitten be the Angel of God, because hee gaue not glory vntounto God, so that hee was eaten of wormes, and gaue vp the Ghost, his pride had a fall. In like manner our English people, especially in our chiefest city, hauing vanted themselues to the height of pride hauehave already tasted the scourge of Gods vengeance by plague and pestilence, and hauehave found it true by their woefull experience, that pride will hauehave a fall. For (alas beloued) is there not many a proud hearted Absolon, and many an high minded Herod in England, puffed vp to such exceeding height of pride, that God must needes at last put them in minde of mortalitie. And is there not many a cursed Iesabell, that delight in nothing so much as in paynting their faces, and hiding Gods handyworke, spending time (which is so precious) either in sitting and deuising how to talke with a maiestie, and iesture to deceiue them that deale with them, or practising with their looking glasses to sée if all be well without, but neuer looke into the glasse of Gods word, to sée if all be well within. If pride then goe before destruction, and bee one speciall meane to bring Gods wrath vponupon a people, then must we needs confesse that the hande of Gods vengeance is iustly sealed vponupon vsus, especially vponupon our proud sinfull citie London. Let London then repent, whom God in the height of her pride hath pulled downe, And let the whole land repent, knowing that destruction followeth pride. God made man of the dust of the earth, not of the Gen. 2. 7.fire, nor ayre, least hee should be apt to mount or aspire in his owne conceit, but of the earth which hath the lowest place. God clothed Adam and Euah in beastes skinnes: and in nought but thine owne skinne shalt thou be clothed at the day of Iudgement. Why then art thou proude, O earth and ashes! Eccles. Eccles. 10. 12.10. 12.
Fiftly, Adultery and whoredome is another sinne, for which God punisheth with plague and pestilence. Numb. 25. Numb. 25. 1, 91, 9. The Israelites committed whoredome with the daughters of Moab, and 1. Cor. 9. 8. Ios. 5. 6.there died of the plague in one day foure and twentie thousand: yea in the end, there was no moe left of those sixe hundred thousand which came out of Egypt, but onelyonly Iosua and Caleb. If the Lord made such hauocke by pestilence, among his owne people, for this sinne of whordome: what should wée looke for but plagues and feareful iudgements to destroy vsus, who for the most part make no conscience of this sinne, but many amongst vsus neye after ther neighbours Ier. 5. 8. Ezek. 22. 11.wiues like féed horses, Beniamin, among the twelue sonnes of Iacob, was déerest to his father, and beloued of God, and his Tribe placed in the best of the land, Gen. 42. 38. And yet for whoredome Gen. 42. 38. Iude 19. 20.committed once with one Leuites wife, by certane priuate men among them. Iud. 29. 20. God punished the whole tribe, he made the other eleauen Tribs to warre against them, and to kill men, women, children, and their cattell, and to burne vp ther houses. If then that Tribe were so destroyed by Gods owne appointment, and so generally plagued for whoredome comitted with one woman: what plagues hath England deserued wherein many are growen impudent in this sinne, and some of them that are in place to see this sinne punished, are most giltie of it themselues. The Lords may say of vsus as hee said of the Iewes, Ier. 5. 7. How should I spare England? Though I hauehave fed them to the full, yet they commit adultery, and assemble themselues Ier. 5. 7. 8, 9.by companies in the harlots houses, ver. 9. Shall I not visite for these things (saith the Lord) shall not my soule be auenged of such a Nation as this? The stewes in Rome are not more filthie then the secrete whoredomes in England: It serueth many in stéed of an afternoones recreation, and whereas heretofore this sinne hath beene committed in hugger mugger, now it walketh about in the day light, noe man is ashamed of it, nay many bragge and boast of it.
A sixt particuler sinne that bringeth the pestilence is, Abuse of the Lords Supper, 1. Cor. 11. 30. Because the Corinthians Cor. 11. 30.came not prepared to that Sacrament, many were sicke among them, and many died; It is very likely God sent some plague which swept them away. Many when they come to the Lords supper are like the Iewes, that fasted. Esay 58. They hang downe their Esai. 58. 5.heads a day or two, and then came to their olde by as againe: They care to bring cleanly apparell to the table, but filthy and poluted soules without faith, repentance, or reconsiliation. If God so dealt with the Corinthians for the abuse of this Sacrament, wee néede not doubt but our carelesse comming to the supper of the Lord without preparation, without reuerent regarde, or making difference of the Lords body is one cause for which this heauy Iudgement is fallen vponupon vsus. Séeing then that these and such other like sinnes hauehave long cryed for vengeance from heauen vponupon vsus, and are iustly fallen on vsus, It stands vsus now vponupon, if euer, to looke about vsus, and to make no tarying to turne to the Lord, Ecclus 5. 7. that the Lord in merciemercy, may spéedely turne away his wrath Ecclus. 5. 7.from vsus, and shewe vsus the light of his countenance, Psal. 67. 1. and be mercifull Psal. 67. 1.vntounto vsus.
Now the fourth generall part of my text sheweth what these Iudgements are, which sinne doeth thus cause, and God doeth heere threaten, and they are plagues and diseases, wonderfull, great, soare, and of long durance. It is a small thing with God in his wrath for sinne either by weake meanes, or without meanes to bring fearefull and strange Iudgements vponupon a people, because he Esay 1. 24. Ier. 11. 17. 20. Mal. 1. 6. 2. Reg 19 35. Ioel 2. 25▪ Ecclus 34. 28, 29, 30. Exod. 7 19. Exod. 8. 5, 17, 24. Exod 9. 3, 25. Exod. 10. 14, 15. Acts 12. 23.is the Lord of hostes, and hath all creatures at his becke to execute his will, He hath Angels at his command, Nay, legions of Angels, and deuils too, hee hath men, the Sunne, Moone, starres, earth, water, ayre, fire, and all creatures for his host or army, to execute his vengeance: whereas the simplest, and weakest of them are by his appointment, able to destroy the greatest potentates in the world, as we see in Pharao, Herod, and others. This is to our comfort, If we walke in the wayes of our God, and hauehave care to kéepe and do all the words of his Law, He can and will defend and deliuer vsus from great dangers by his weakest creatures: he will make the verie stones at a league with vsus. Iob 5. Iob 5. 23.If the Lord of hostes be with vsus, wee néede not feare what man can doe against vsus: He will frustrate all the plots and deuilish deuises of papists; and traytors, and by weake meanes bring their purposes to nought, He will deliuer vsus from the noysome pestilence, and commaund his punishing Angel to passe by vsus: But if we serue not God, nor frame our selues to the kéeping and doing of his commandements, we lye open to eueryevery danger: though we be lockt vp in a castle of brasse, or conney our selues vnderunder the hatches with Ionas, wee can not so hide our selues frō the presence of God, but the pestilence that walketh in the darkenesse, and the swift arrow of Gods vengeance will ouertake vsus, and the weakest of Gods creatures will be able to destroy vsus, hee will make our plagues wonderfull, soare, and of long durance. The Lorde will make thy plagues wonderfull. Of all the visitations that God layeth vponupon man, the plague is most fearefull, and vncomfortable. The Leuit. …3. 2. Num. 12. 15.leprosie was a filthy disease, but not comparable to the plague. It taketh away the precious life of man, it maketh their garments and their goods odious. It hindreth the Minister from comming to them, to giuegive them comfort, and it taketh away all worldly comfort too, for what a discomfort is it for men to be imprisoned in their owne houses, as children appoynted vntounto death, and to be watched, and kept in at their owne doores? What a griefe is it when the husband is driuen to leaue his wife, or the wife not suffered to come to her husband, children dare not come to their parents, nor parents to their children, but to be shut vp without any worldly comfort. But (were it worse then it is) our sinnes hauehave deserued it, they are growen to be so wonderful, great, soare, and of long continuance & durance▪ And therefore it is no maruel if God proportion his iudgments to our sinnes: Nay, if we still preseuere in our wickednesse, and doe multiply our transgressions, God will not yet hauehave done with vsus, but he will also multiply his iudgments vponupon vsus, and make our plagues more wonderfull, Pro. 24. There shall be none Prou. 24. 20. Leuit. 26. 18, 21, 24, 28.end of plagues to the euil man, Leuit. 26. 18. If you will not obey me, I will punish you yet seuen times more, according to your sinnes, and seuen times more according to your sinnes, &c. If our sinnes continue, Gods Iudgements shall continue, and the Lords hand will be stretched out still agaynst vsus. Esay 9. 17. As God made Esay 9. 17.Pharao his plagues wonderfull while he was hardened in his sinne, so will hee also deale with vsus. Let vsus then (beloued) breake off the course of sinne betime, that God in merciemercy may looke vponupon vsus, and remooue his iudgements from vsus, which are, and hauehave beene so wonderfull, that the best Phisitions in England can neuer shew the reasons of it, nor afford remedies for it, but are compelled to confesse, it is beyond the reach of their skill, and that it is The fingar of God, Exod. 8. 19. And of such continuance Exod. 8. 19.and durance it hath bene, that many thousands hauehave beene consumed therewith. The plague in Dauids time continued but thrée dayes, 2. Samu. 24. 2. Sam. 24. 13, 15.but this (I thinke) hath continued now almost thrice three monethes, and yet the hand of God is stretched out still.
Further, here I obserue that God doth not threaten to bring these iudgements vponupon strangers, and reprobates, but vponupon his owne people. I will (saith hee) make Thy plagues wonderfull. God hath in all ages bene sharpe with his owne people. Consider how hee dealt with the Iewes from time to time, till at last he dispersed them: He suffered them to be in bondage, and slauery in Egypt: when he brought them thence, he punished them in the wildernesse: afterwards in Iosuah his time, how did God giuegive them ouer to the vncircumcised, and so continued afflicting them, till at last he brake off his couenāt with them? He threatned sword, famine, and pestilence against them, and performed it. Neuer any people tasted more plenteously of outward afflictions then the Iewes. Exod. 12. 37. Sixe hundred thousand of them, besides children came out Exod. 12. 37.of Egypt: but for their sinnes God made hauocke of them: within the citie of Ierusalem in fourteene moneths space the sword, famine, and pestilence consumed eleuen hundred thousand of them, and so lamemtable was their state, that the very enemie entring the citie, pitied them, and commaunded that no man should be slaine, but that they should be sold, thirtie for a peny, as they had sold Christ before for thirtie pence: So that being once the people of God, they are now no people, yea, the very name of a Iew is become odious, and therefore the Prophet in the person of Ierusalem complayned, Lam. 1. 12. Was euer any sorrow Lam. 1. 12.like mine? The reasons why God doeth thus afflict his owne people are many. First, the people of God are tyed to obedience, and to glorifie Gods Name; but when they sinne, they make his glory and Name to be blasphemed, and their profession to be dishonoured, and therefore God punisheth them more grieuously. 2. Sam. 12. 14. So Dauid by 2. Sam. 12. 14.his sinne made the enemies of God to blaspheme. Rom. 2. 24. The Iewes are reprooued Ro. m 2. 24.for not kéeping the Lawe, The Name of God (saith the Apostle) is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you: And this also is one speciall cause wherfore the Lord thus punisheth vsus, we are now Gods people, bounden so obedience as were the Iewes, but (alas) many among vsus dishonour their profession, and by their badde conuersation make the Gospell to bee blasphemed, and ill spoken of, and therefore he executeth his iudgements vponupon vsus.
A second reason wherefore God so afflicteth his deerest children is, that as he aduaunceth them highest by his mercies, so if they abuse, or contemne them, it is right that he should cast them down to greatest miseries. So Capernaum Mat. 11. 23.which was lifted vp to heauen (because it had the preaching of the word, and miracles) was brought downe to hell, by corporall punishment. And the seauen Churches in Asia, and those to Reuel. 1. 4.whom Saint Paul writte his Epistles, once had the glorious light of the Gospell, but for their contempt and disobedience their candelsticke was remoued. Neuer nation vnderunder heauen tasted more plenteously of Gods mercies then we, God hath exalted vsus to heauen, by the preaching of his Gospell: but if we continue to abuse his great and many blessinges vponupon vsus, let vsus take héed lest in his Iustice he cast vsus downe into an hell of miseries. For if God hauehave so aflicted his déerest children, and his own people, how can wee promise impunitie to our selues, or perswade our selues that because wee are his people, wee hauehave the word preached, and Sacraments (according to Christs Institution) administred, therefore hee will not punish vsus? Nay, hée will so much the rather afflict vsus. This deceiued the Iewes, Ierem. 7. Iere. 7. 4, 6, 8, 9.4, 6, 8, 9. And let vsus take heede it deceiue not vsus. Let vsus beware of sinne, which stirreth vp God to take vengeance: for, 1. Peter 4. 17. If iudgement beginne at the house of God, what shall 1. Pet. 4. 17.the end be of them which obey not the Gospell of God. Thou seest a childe of God afflicted, thy conscience can witnesse against thée that thou hast not liued so godly a life as hee; know then that if God forbeare thee in this life, hee reserueth thee for a further vengeance in the life to come.
Secondly, if God hauehave not spared his déerest seruants, in their sinnes, wée must not spare, nor beare with them that are néere vntounto vsus, or déere vntounto vsus, but reprooue them roundly for their sinnes. And that in louelove to their soules. Let not the Minister beare with any for friendshippe or fauoure, but reprooue them, and deale faithfully with all. And let the fearefull example of Elie serue as a looking-glasse to all parentes, not to bolster their children in any bad actions, but sharpely to corect them. Ely, hearing of the wickednesse of his sonnes, reprooued them in déed, but with too much lenitie, as good neuer a white, as neuer the better. 1. Sam. 2. 23. Why doe yee 1. Sam. 2. 23, 24.such things? for of all this people I heare euill reportes of you: doe no more my sonnes, for it is no good report that I heare, which is, that yee make the Lordes people to trespasse &c. But because he did not reproue and correct them with more seueritie, 1. Sam. 1. Sam. 4. 18.4. 18. the iudgements of God ouertooke, him, for, being old, he fell from his seate backeward, and brake his necke, and died. We hauehave many Elies now a daies, who hearing and knowing of the wickednesse of their children, and seruants, hauehave learned without booke Ely his maner of reprouing. Why doe you thus? doe no more so. But let them take héede lest the like or worse Iudgementes fall on them. As God hateth and punisheth sinne in his owne people, and deerest seruants: so doe thou hate sinne, and condemne it, both in thy self and others. He hateth sinne so much, that if thou were as the signet of his fingar, hee would plucke thée off, if thou sin against him. A godly father will not beare with his childe in wickednesse, because hee loueth him: the husband will not smother vp his wiues faultes, but by gentle perswasions, or (if that will not serue) with sharpe reprehensions reproue her, because he loueth her: So God oft times aflicteth his children because he loueth them.
Thirdly, whereas God doeth for the most parte, sharpely correct his owne people in this life, we ought not rashely to iudge, nor condemne those that are here most subiect to crosses and aflictions, If we sée Gods hand extraordinarily heauie vponupon any man, let vsus not therefore giuegive sentence vponupon him that he is a badde man, or a reprobate: So Iobs frendes dealt with him, when they sawe his strong aflictions, they inferred that hee was an hypocrite, and God Iob 8. 13. Iob 15. 34. Iob 20 4, 5.punished him for his sinnes: but of all Iobs afflictions none troubled him more then this. So Christ was accounted a badde man because hee had many Esay 53. 3.troubles: Whereas hee was without any spot of sinne, neither was there any guile found in his mouth. Let vsus not then iudge hardly of those that are afflicted, because God will so trie his deerest children; and by many tribulations we must enter into eternall Ioy: We may not looke to goe to heauen on a fether-bedde, but if wee see a notorious badde man afflicted, then we may say, such a man is punished for his sinnes.
Lastly, I note that God doeth here threaten to punish disobedience and prophanation of his name euen in a mans posterity. I will make (sayth hee) thy plagues wonderfull, and the plagues of thy seede. The Iewes for their disobedience and contempt of Gods Lawe, did not onelyonly feele and finde in themselues the iudgements of God, but also their posterity smarted for it: It was the cause of the ouerthrowe of Ierusalem, and that so many thousands (as I hauehave shewed you) perished therewith sword, famine, plague, and pestilence: It was the cause of the Iewes captiuitie, and that their seede and posteritte are made vagabonds vponupon the earth. Genes. 9. 25. Cham did no more but discouer the priuie parts of his father, Gen. 9. 25.but for his so doing, hee was not onelyonly accursed, but also of a free childe became a bound seruant for euer, both in himselfe, and also in his posterity. Howe much more shall they feele the iudgements of God vponupon themselues and their seede, which doe not only disobey Gods cōmandements, but also cast away the feare of his glorious Name, which ought not once to bee spoken of, nor so much as thought vponupon, but with reuerence? Iosh. 9. 15. When Ioshuah Ios. 9. 15. 2. Sam. 21. 1.and the Princes of Israel had made a faithfull oath to the Gibeonites, Saul afterward violated it, Almighty God in the dayes of Dauid punished it with three yeeres famine thoroughout Israel, till the seuen sonnes of Saul were giuen to the Gibeonites to bee slayne. When Mataniah named by Nabuchodonosor Zedichiah had sworne subiection 2. Reg. 24. 17. 2. reg. 25. 6, 7, 8.to the King, but afterward forswearing himselfe, and rebelling, was periured: The Lord punished his perinry by the King of Babylon, who tooke him prisoner, slewe his sonnes, before his face, then put out both his eyes, and caryed him bound into Babylon, where he was kept in misery. Edward the fourth tooke a solemne oath at Yorke, Edward 4.to hold him contented with his owne Duke-dome, and to yeelde obedience to King Henry, but (casting away the feare of Gods glorious Name) he soone brake that oath, and God punished his periury, euen in his séed, for none of his posterity came euer to possesse the Crowne. Take heede then howe thou kindlest Gods wrath: It is as a fire, it wil burne euen to a mans posterity. Though the anger of a King be as the roaring of a Lyon, Pro. 19. 12. yet thou mayest flee Prou. 19. 12. Prou. 20. 2. Mat. 2. 14, 15. Amos 9. 3.from it, as Ioseph did, Mat. 2. 14. but not from the wrath of God. Amos 9. 3. The wrath of a King may be pacified, but Gods anger may be such, that though Moses and Samuel stood before the Lord, he will not be intreated, but execute his vengeance vponupon the wicked, and their vngodly posterity.
The last part sheweth vsus the author of these plagues, namely, The Lord. Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderfull. Prophane and ignorant men thinke that the plague commeth by the infection of the ayre, and that they are safe enough if they come not into such places as are infected. But the Spirit of God here teacheth vsus that God is the author of all plagues and afflictions, he punisheth where he will, and whom he will: they beginne, continue, and increase by his appointment, neither doe they cease (though man and Angels do what they can) till the punishing Angel, by Gods appoyntment stay his hand. Gen. 19. 24 Gen. 19. 24The Lord rayned fire and brimstone from heauen. When the land sinneth against me (sayeth the Lord) Ezek. 14. 13, 17, 19. Ezek. 14. 13, 17, 19.I will breake the staffe of bread, I will send famine vponupon it, I will destroy man and beast forth of it, ver. 7. if I bring a sword vponupon the land, verse 9. if I send a pestilence into the land. It is the Lord then you sée that rained fire and brimstone vponupon Sodoma, It is he that bringeth famine, sword, and pestilence into a land. When the people were vnthanfull to God for his Deut. 32. 23.benefits, he saith, Deut. 32. 23. I will spend plagues vponupon them, I will bestow mine arrows Deut. 32. 23.vponupon them. Dauid being troubled with sicknesse, though he might hauehave imputed it to the disorder of diet, or to other secondary meanes, yet hée directeth his spéeches to God, and saith, Psal. 32. 4. Thine hand is heauie vponupon me day and night. Psal. Psal. 32. 4. Psal. 38. 2.38. Thine arrowes sticke fast in me, and thy hand presseth me soare. When the Lord by his Prophet Gad bad Dauid make his choice of three plagues, &c. 2. Sam. 24. We will (said he) fall into the hands of the Lord, 2. Sam. 24. 13.and not into the hands of men. The plague then is Gods hand, and his prouidence is in it: Who then dare say, that this fearefull iudgment of God is fallen vponupon our land by chance, or other externall meanes? but it is the Lord that hath sent it: It is a blowe of his hand, and it is one of Gods Arrowes, It hittes where it pleaseth God to leuell it: God that sent it, must stay it, else it will goe thorough the land; there is no complete armour can beare off the dint of it: If thou flee into the vttermost part of the earth, thou art not free from this Arrow of God.
Seeing then that the plague is Gods hand, and Gods Arrow: they that are wounded with it, must beare it patiently, and know that God will not afflict them further then for his owne glorie, and their good, and let them say with Iob Iob 1. 21. The Lord giueth, and the Lord taketh away, &c. And with Ely, 1. Sam. 3. Iob 1. 21. 1. Sam. 3. 1….It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good.
Secondly, the cōsideration hereof may worke humility in vsus. It is the hand of God, let vsus therfore humble our selues vnderunder it: let vsus not murmur nor grudge, but rather be humbled, considering that whatsoeuer commeth, cōmeth worthily, our sinnes hauehave deserued worse.
Thirdly, it serueth for our comfort, for howsoeuer the wicked thinke that sicknesses & diseases come by il diet, by heat, cold, &c. yet the godly do know yt God layeth them vponupon them: & therefore we are to comfort our selues, considering it is the hand of our mercifull God, who correcteth vsus for our good, and amendment, not for our destruction. Consider moreouer the afflictions of Christ, who neuer sinned, comfort thy selfe, & know that what thou sufferest is but as a flea-biting to that which Christ suffered for thée.
And lastly, that the more God afflicts thee, the more he loueth thee; Let these and the like considerations comfort them that are afflicted.
Fourthly, it serueth not only against the papists, but also against the wicked, who in sickenesse, losse of goodes, and such like, séeke to wytches, or vse secondarie meanes, and forget God, whose hand it is that presseth them. Such a one was Ahazia. 2. Reg. 1. 2. who in his sicknes sent to Baal-zebub the god of Eknon, 2. Reg. 1. 2.for the recouery of his health. But when Gods Arrow sticketh fast in thée, and when his hand presseth thée sore, thou shouldest rather suffer ten thousand deaths, then séeke remedy in such sort, It is God that hath wounded thée, and none but God can heale thee. If then we would hauehave the plague stayed or remoued, we must séeke to God for it, by earnest prayer: all meanes shall not preuaile vnlesse God put to his helping hand. Let vsus then labour the Lord by faithfull prayer. Let vsus séeke him while he may be found, and let vsus often and eueryevery day assemble our selues together in earnest prayer, that it would please him to command the punishing Angel to stay his hand and cease. This was Dauids practise, when there died by the hand of God in three dayes three score 2. Sam. 24. 17. 25.and tenne thousand, 2. Sam 24. Dauid consecrated himselfe to the Lorde by faithfull prayer, and so the plague ceased. Let vsus not then (brethren) make so light account of prayer as some among vsus doe. Faithfull prayer is of more force then some thinke it is. It hath brought fire from heauen, 2. Reg. 2. Reg. 1. 10, 12 1. Reg. 18. 42. 2. Reg. 4. 3…, 34.1. 10, 12. It hath brought downe raine in time of drought. 1. Reg. 18 42. It hath raised vp the dead. 2. Reg. 4. It hath made the Sunne to stand still in the Ios. 10▪ 12, 13. 2 Reg. 20. 9, …1. Esay. 38 8. Gen. 25. 21. 1 Sam. 1. …0. Exod 1… …1. 2. Reg 19 15. 2. Reg 6 18. 2. Reg. 13. …. 1 Sam. 7. 8. Exod▪ 3…. ….mids of heauen, the space of a whole day Iosh. 10. 12, 13. and to goe backeward in his course. 2▪ Reg 20. 9, 11. It hath made the barren fruitfull. Gen▪ 25. 21. 1. Sam. 1. 10. It hath vanquished enemies. Exo. 17▪ 11. 2. Reg. 19. …. Chron. 20. 3, 6, 7, 8, 9. 2 Reg. 6 18. 2. Reg 13. 4. 1. Sam. 7. 8▪ Numb. 16 22. It hath stayed the plague and pacified Gods wrath. Exod. 32. 11 Numbe. 14. 12, 13, 17. Numbers 16 48. Psal. 106. 23, 30. Whatsoeuer therfore Numb. 14 12. Numb. 16. 8. Psal. 10…. 23. 30.the deuill or deuilish men can say to the disgrace of prayer, let vsus practise it, and be earnest with God, who hath sent his plagues vponupon vsus, that in his good time hee will take them away, which God for his mercies sake grant, &c.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Ward, Gods Arrows (1607)